Nanophysics: Principles and Emerging Technologies

Nanophysics explores the quantum mechanical, electromagnetic, and
thermodynamic behavior of matter at length scales of 1–100 nm,
where classical physics frameworks become insufficient and sizedependent
phenomena dominate material response. At the
nanoscale, quantum confinement, surface plasmon resonance,
ballistic electron transport, and enhanced surface-to-volume ratios
(>10⁶ m⁻¹) fundamentally alter optical, electrical, magnetic, and
mechanical properties relative to bulk counterparts. Quantum dots
exhibit tunable bandgaps of 1.2–3.5 eV, carbon nanotubes
demonstrate electron mobilities exceeding 10⁵ cm²/V·s, and
plasmonic nanostructures concentrate electromagnetic fields with
enhancement factors of 10³–10⁸. This review systematically examines
the core physical principles governing nanoscale phenomena and
surveys emerging technological applications spanning quantum
computing, nanoelectronics, nanomedicine, and energy harvesting drawing on quantitative performance data from peer-reviewed
literature to identify both current capabilities and critical research
frontiers.