Question

In a nanomaterial, quantum confinement occurs when the particle size becomes comparable to the?

• A. Thermal wavelength of electrons
• B. Gravitational wavelength of electrons
• C. De Broglie wavelength of electrons
• D. Electron magnetic moment

Hint:

Quantum confinement occurs in nanomaterials when the particle size becomes comparable to the electron's De Broglie wavelength, leading to observable quantum effects.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Quantum confinement refers to the phenomenon where the motion of particles (like electrons) is confined in a limited region of space. In nanomaterials, quantum confinement occurs when the size of the material becomes comparable to the wavelength associated with the particles. The relevant wavelength for this phenomenon is the De Broglie wavelength of the electrons, which is given by: \[ \lambda = \frac{h}{p} \] where \( h \) is Planck's constant and \( p \) is the momentum of the electron.
When the particle size approaches the De Broglie wavelength of the electrons, quantum effects dominate the material's behavior. This is characteristic of nanomaterials, where classical physics no longer applies and quantum effects become significant.
The other options do not directly relate to quantum confinement:
- The thermal wavelength is associated with the random thermal motion of particles.
- The gravitational wavelength is extremely small and irrelevant at the nanometer scale.
- The electron magnetic moment pertains to the intrinsic magnetic property of the electron, which is unrelated to quantum confinement.
Thus, the correct answer is De Broglie wavelength of electrons.