Introduction
Metal nanomaterials have received considerable attention in the last decade in science and technology. The nature and behavior of the metal nanomaterials are different from that of the bulk material. Metal nano particles find wide application in various fields. Metals are unique in their physical and chemical properties as compared to other compound materials such as metal oxides, sulphides and nitrides. Metals have ductility, malleability, luster, high density, fewer defects and are generally crystalline in nature. Though the metal nanoparticles were synthesized and used from the ancient days even in the era of the Alchemists, lack of enough characterization techniques such as electron microscopes has left the nanoscience unexplored till recently.
Metal nanomaterials have received considerable attention in the last decade in science and technology. The nature and behavior of the metal nanomaterials are different from that of the bulk material. Metal nano particles find wide application in various fields. Metals are unique in their physical and chemical properties as compared to other compound materials such as metal oxides, sulphides and nitrides. Metals have ductility, malleability, luster, high density, fewer defects and are generally crystalline in nature. Though the metal nanoparticles were synthesized and used from the ancient days even in the era of the Alchemists, lack of enough characterization techniques such as electron microscopes has left the nanoscience unexplored till recently.
In ancient days, the only characterization of metal nanoparticles is naked eye. The colouring nature of Au and Ag nanoparticles was fundamental identification for their nanoparticle colloid formation. Making use of this, they have been used as coloring agents in decorative glasses and clothing. This is due to light-absorbing nature of the surface of Au and Ag nanoparticles because of the surface plasmon resonance. Pt nanoparticles are catalytically active for oxidation and reduction reactions. As a result, these nanomaterials find applications for catalytic use. Since Au, Ag and Pt nano particles have considerable stability as compared to other metals, they have gained importance.
However, in the near future, all metals will be possibly shaped in nanosize by using suitable stabilizing agents and medium. In this chapter nature and applications of the nanomaterial of chosen metals are described. However, closer to each other in the periodic table, the physical properties of the nanosize materials of these metals vary drastically. To begin with, it is essential to comprehend fundamental properties of these (Ag, Au and Pt) metals.