THEME: "Fostering Advancements in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology"
Nano mechanics is a branch of nanoscience studying fundamental
mechanical (elastic, thermal and kinetic) properties of physical systems at the
nanometre scale. Nano mechanics has emerged on the crossroads of biophysics,
classical mechanics, solid-state physics, statistical mechanics, materials
science, and quantum chemistry. As an area of nanoscience, nano mechanics
provides a scientific foundation of nanotechnology.
It deals with the study and application of fundamental mechanical
properties of physical systems at the nanoscale, such as elastic, thermal and
kinetic material properties.
Often, nanomechanics is viewed as a branch of nanotechnology,
i.e., an applied area with a focus on the mechanical properties of engineered
nanostructures and nanosystems (systems with nanoscale components of
importance). Examples of the latter include nanomachines, nanoparticles,
nanopowders, nanowires, nanorods, nanoribbons, nanotubes, including carbon
nanotubes (CNT) and boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs); nanoshells, nanomembranes,
nanocoatings, nanocomposite/nanostructured materials, (fluids with dispersed
nanoparticles); nanomotors, etc
Some of the well-established fields of nanomechanics are:
nanomaterials, nanotribology (friction, wear and contact mechanics at the
nanoscale), nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS), and nanofluidics.