Nanoscopic Materials

Lots of helpful illustrations and some of them in full colour....each of the eleven chapters includes a summary box at the end where the 'key points' are reiterated in clear and concise language, complete with bullet points.A timely reminder of how much every-thing we think we know about matter can change when the packaging unit of that matter becomes very small.

• 1: Introduction;1.1: Clusters and nanoparticles;1.2: Feynman's vision;2: Bulk and interface;2.1: Gradients near surfaces;2.2: The coordination number rules the game;2.3: Surface science, a source of information;for nanoscience 2.4: Particle size and microstrain;2.5: Biomimetics: nature as a source of inspiration for strategies in nanotechnology;3: Geometric structure, magic numbers, and coordination numbers of small clusters;3.1: The consequences of the range of the radial potential energy function;3.2: Magic numbers by geometric shells closing;3.3: Magic numbers by electronic shells closing;3.4: Cohesive energy and coordination number;4: Electronic structure;4.1: Discrete states versus band structure;4.2: The effects of dimensionality and symmetry in quantum structures;4.3: The nonmetal-to-metal transition;4.4: Work function, ionisation potential and electron affinity;4.5: Electronic structure of semiconductor and metal clusters;4.6: A semiconductor quantum dot electronic device;5: Magnetic properties;5.1: A brief primer on magnetism;5.2: The concept of frustration;5.3: Magnetic properties of small clusters;5.4: Ferromagnetic order in thin films and monoatomic chains;5.5: Finite size effects in magnetic resonance detection;6: Thermodynamics for finite size systems;6.1: Limitations of macroscopic thermodynamics;6.2: The basics of capillarity;6.3: Phase transitions of free liquid droplets;6.4: The Lotus effect;6.5: Classical nucleation theory;6.6: Shape control of nanocrystals;6.7: Size effects on ion conduction in solids;6.8: Principles of self-assembly;7: Adsorption, phase behaviour and dynamics of surface layers and in pores;7.1: Surface adsorption and pore condensation;7.2: Adsorption hysteresis and pore criticality;7.3: The melting point of pore-confined matter;7.4: Layering transitions;7.5: Liquid coexistence and ionic solutions in pores;7.6: The effect of pressure;7.7: Dynamics in pores;8: Phase transitions and dynamics of clusters;8.1: Melting point and melting enthalpy;8.2: Dynamics of metal clusters;9: Phase transitions of two-dimensional systems;9.1: Melting of thin layers;9.2: Structural phase transitions in thin layers;9.3: Glass transition of a polymer thin film;9.4: Surface alloy phases;10: Catalysis by metallic nanoparticles;10.1: Some general principles of catalysis by nanoparticles;10.2: Size-controlled catalytic clusters;10.3: Shape dependent catalytic activity;10.4: The effect of strain;10.5: The effect of alloying;10.6: Metal-support interaction;10.7: The influence of external bias voltage;11: Applications: facts and fictions;11.1: Nanomaterials;11.2: Nanotechnology;11.3: Hopes, hazards and hype;