Nanostructures are the structures built from nanoparticles to do the work.Nanotechnology requires macroscale materials to be useful. Often these are based on microscopic structures built bit by bit from the basic nanoparticles. In the "bottom-up" approach atoms and molecules are first assembled to form larger nanostructures which in turn are assembled to form the large macroscopic material.In the "top-down" approach structures are assembled and rearranged macroscopically without individual atom or molecule control. This is more or less how the chemist has been doing things for centuries.
Structures such as quantum dots, nanotubes and fullerenes are used as colloids in bulk form such as suntan lotion, cosmetics, protective coatings and stain resistant clothing.
Quantum Dots
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