Smaller than ever—exploring the unusual properties of
quantum-sized materials

The development of functional nanomaterials has been a
major landmark in the history of materials science. Nanoparticles
with diameters ranging from 5 to 500 nm have unprecedented
properties, such as high catalytic activity, compared to their bulk
material counterparts. Moreover, as particles become smaller,
exotic quantum phenomena become more prominent. This has enabled
scientists to produce materials and devices with characteristics
that had been only dreamed of, especially in the fields of
electronics, catalysis, and optics.