Science glossary film: Nanometre

One billionth of a metre. The nanometre gives its name to nanotechnology and nanomaterials, because the size of the structures and objects involved are of the order of a few nanometres. This is the scale of atoms and molecules – a typical atom is about a third of a nanometre in diameter.

The nanometre gives its name to nanotechnology and nanomaterials, because the size of the structures and objects involved are of the order of a few nanometres. This is the scale of atoms and molecules – a typical atom is about a third of a nanometre in diameter.