Nanotechnology and materials are among the most important fields in R&D of new products and technologies. Consequently, recent developments in design, synthesis, and application of different nanostructured materials have been the focus of much attention. This book covers a wide range of topics in nanostructured materials, which are organized into 18 chapters and written in clear language. Figures and references suitably complement the text, allowing the reader to gain a detailed understanding of each chapter. However, there are no exercises in this book.
Although there are books published with similar themes, this book offers an updated, comprehensive overview of different aspects related to the fundamentals, properties, synthesis, characterization, processing, and applications of nanostructured materials. Its readability, simplified presentations of key concepts and formulas, and solid number of topics and applications distinguish it from other books devoted to this subject. It can be used as a reference for researchers and professionals who are interested in this topic, or as a textbook for undergraduate studies in nanotechnology, nanoscience, and materials science. This book not only describes basic concepts and fundamentals of nanostructured materials, but it also summarizes their diverse applications in different areas such as electronics, optics, biomedicine, energy, and photonics. In addition, it explores various examples of nanostructured materials, including quantum dots, nanowires, nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), fullerenes, semiconductor nanostructures, organic nanostructures, and hybrid nanostructures.
The first four chapters focus on basic concepts: the fundamentals of nanotechnology (chapter 1); properties, synthesis, and applications of nanomaterials (chapter 2); and the definition, types, and physical and chemical properties of nanostructures (chapters 3 and 4). The following two chapters describe types of nanostructures, such as CNTs, fullerenes, and dendritic (chapter 5); and semiconductor, organic, and hybrid nanostructures (chapter 6). Chapters 7 through 10 are devoted to the properties, design approach, functionalization, and technical analysis of nanostructured materials. Chapter 11 explains techniques used to fabricate nanostructures. It discusses substrates, lithography, and etching processes including wafer bonding and packaging.
The subsequent four chapters emphasize the applications of nanostructures in: optics and electronics (chapter 12), bioapplications (chapter 13), photonics (chapter 14), environmental remediation (chapter 15), and miscellaneous applications from aerospace to cosmetics (chapter 16). The final two chapters provide a discussion on nanomaterial toxicity and its impact on human health and ecosystems (chapter 17), and an overview of methods for R&D and applied life-cycle assessment models (chapter 18).
The diversity of topics and focus on key issues in nanostructured materials make this book a great reference in three aspects: (1) summarizing the fundamental aspects of synthesis, properties, and characterization of these materials; (2) describing different types of these materials and their characteristics; and (3) demonstrating the practical importance of these materials, detailing their applications in various areas. It is a good resource for anyone interested in studying the fundamentals and applications of nanostructured materials.