Faraday Discussions – serie

The role of particles in many complex environments is poorly understood and quantified and there is a considerable gap between the complexity of particles characterised in the atmosphere and those studied in controlled laboratory measurements. This book focuses on the spectroscopy and dynamics of microparticles, and considers the chemistry of microparticles in a range of environments. Discussions in the title review new and developing characterization techniques as well as techniques for examining the chemical dynamics of particles in controlled laboratory investigations. The focus is on micron sized particles and this book will be of exceptional interest for anyone working in this field. Faraday Discussions document a long-established series of Faraday Discussion meetings which provide a unique international forum for the exchange of views and newly acquired results in developing areas of physical chemistry, biophysical chemistry and chemical physics. The papers presented are published in the Faraday Discussion volume together with a record of the discussion contributions made at the meeting. Faraday Discussions therefore provide an important record of current international knowledge and views in the field concerned.

In this exciting new title all aspects of nanoalloys are explored, including synthesis, characterisation, theory and simulation, property measurements and technological applications. Nanoalloys are of great interest due to their unique structures and properties which are distinct from those of the pure elemental clusters. They are used in a wide range of applications and their chemical and physical properties can be tuned by varying composition, atomic ordering, or clusters. This book will be of interest to academics working at the interfaces between chemistry, materials, physics and nanoscience, and to those working in the nanotechnology, catalysis and optoelectronics areas of industry.

This unique discussion meeting will bring electrochemists, surface scientists and theoreticians together and foster the development of both in situ spectroscopic methods in electrochemistry and theoretical methods which model the electrocatalytic interface. This unique discussion meeting will bring electrochemists, surface scientists and theoreticians together and foster the development of both in situ spectroscopic methods in electrochemistry and theoretical methods which model the electrocatalytic interface. It will be opened with an introductory lecture by Marc Koper from Leiden University in the Netherlands. Discussion sessions: Structure in Electrocatalysis: from nanoparticles to single crystals Spectroscopy and Electrocatalysis Hydrogen oxidation and oxygen reduction Biological electrocatalysis and alcohols as fuels

This book discusses the contemporary techniques and the latest applications in the field of nucleation, growth, inhibition and dissolution of solids. It covers techniques, including diffraction, small angle scattering, probe microscopy, optical microscopy, crystallization techniques and both atomistic and meso-scale modelling methods; and applications, which consider inorganic materials, micro-porous and meso-porous materials, molecular crystals, biomaterials, minerals, semi-conductors and pharmaceuticals. It is a key point of reference for researchers working in related fields and offers a comprehensive guide to research and opinion in this area. Faraday Discussions document a long-established series of Faraday Discussion meetings which provide a unique international forum for the exchange of views and newly acquired results in developing areas of physical chemistry, biophysical chemistry and chemical physics. The papers presented are published in the Faraday Discussion volume together with a record of the discussion contributions made at the meeting. Faraday Discussions therefore provide an important record of current international knowledge and views in the field concerned.

Atomic transport in solids is one of the central themes in contemporary solid state science. Recent major advances have often been driven by technological needs for improved materials. In this book a wide variety of topics are covered and perspectives from different inter-related areas are provided. Topics covered include transport mechanisms, defect processes, structure-property relationships, and nanoscale and interface effects. Discussions of materials, applications and techniques cover topics from sensors, membranes and nanostructured materials through to spectroscopy and computer modelling. This book offers valuable insight into research and opinion for all working in related fields. Faraday Discussions document a long-established series of Faraday Discussion meetings which provide a unique international forum for the exchange of views and newly acquired results in developing areas of physical chemistry, biophysical chemistry and chemical physics. The papers presented are published in the Faraday Discussion volume together with a record of the discussion contributions made at the meeting. Faraday Discussions therefore provide an important record of current international knowledge and views in the field concerned.

This volume concentrates on the measurement, synthesis, assembly and manipulation of molecular wires and nanostructures. It incorporates the assembly and use of molecules into nanostructures (nanoparticles, quantum dots, catenanes, conducting oligomers, DNA) for electronic switching. Work is presented in the following areas: single molecule conductance; biomolecular conductors; electronic nanostructures; the theory of charge transport in molecular wires and nanostructures; conjugated electronic oligomers; nanogap devices. Faraday Discussions document a long-established series of Faraday Discussion meetings which provide a unique international forum for the exchange of views and newly acquired results in developing areas of physical chemistry, biophysical chemistry and chemical physics. The papers presented are published in the Faraday Discussion volume together with a record of the discussion contributions made at the meeting. Faraday Discussions therefore provide an important record of current international knowledge and views in the field concerned.

This new title discusses recent astronomical observations of molecules in various regions and eras of the Universe, and on describing the processes that determine the chemistry. These processes include gas phase neutral exchanges and ion-molecule reactions, surface reactions on dust grains, and the radiative processing of dirty ices. Coverage includes chemistry in the early Universe and in galaxies at high redshift, the role of chemistry in star-forming regions, circumstellar disks and planet formation and habitable zones, astrochemistry as the initiator of astrobiology, and the role of cometary chemistry. Faraday Discussions document a long-established series of Faraday Discussion meetings which provide a unique international forum for the exchange of views and newly acquired results in developing areas of physical chemistry, biophysical chemistry and chemical physics. The papers presented are published in the Faraday Discussion volume together with a record of the discussion contributions made at the meeting. Faraday Discussions therefore provide an important record of current international knowledge and views in the field concerned.

Carbon is ubiquitous in electrochemical research and has played an important role in the development of the discipline. Carbon paste and glassy carbon electrodes have been indispensable in electroanalysis as cheap alternatives to noble metals. The development of the carbon fibre microelectrode revolutionised the use of electrochemical measurements in investigating biological function. In recent years the use of carbon in more novel forms (e.g. carbon nanotubes, graphene) has impacted on all areas of fundamental and applied electrochemistry and this is likely to continue into the future. Advanced electrochemical techniques such as scanning electrochemical microscopy, electrochemical AFM and spectroelectrochemistry have moreover increased our understanding of the interfacial properties of traditional carbon electrode materials.Carbon also plays an important role in technologically applied areas of electrochemistry - in energy generation and storage and catalyst support. The use of carbon electrodes thus spans a range of disciplines, from materials chemists, engineers and physicists as well as those engaged in more traditional aspects of electrochemistry. The subject area is of both academic and technological relevance. This title will also be of relevance to researchers investigating energy, water and health.

The development of renewable, low cost, high performance energy technologies is a key scientific challenge for the 21st century. Many of these energy applications involve numerous dynamic energy and mass transfer processes at the length scale of sub-nanometers to micrometers that require the collaborative participation of various functional material components. To create efficient, stable and reproducible energy systems, effective integration of material components from atomic, molecular, nano to meso-scale is crucial. However, the most challenging aspect is to integrate the required components together while optimising the performance of each component and even creating new synergetic effects. In the past decade, considerable research attention has been devoted to the fabrication of single-length scale / component materials for energy applications. This title will centre on discussing how individual functional components at different length scale can be effectively integrated into next-generation energy materials. Aimed at today’s experimentalists and theoreticians, chemists, physicists and materials scientists, this book will cross-boundaries and discuss energy-related information.

Carbon nanomaterials have a unique place in nanoscience owing to their exceptional electrical, thermal, chemical and mechanical properties and have found application in areas diverse as composite materials, energy storage and conversion, sensors, drug delivery, field emission devices and nanoscale electronic components. Conjugated carbon nanomaterials cover the areas of carbon nanotubes, fullerenes and graphene. Carbon nanotubes continue to gain attention and have impacted many fields and the number of potential applications continues to grow. The chemistry of carbon nanotubes, control over electronic properties and the assembly of nanotube devices are particularly active areas. Work in fullerenes has renewed vigour with significant advances in the field of superconductivity, thin films and supramolecular assembly being made over the last few years. Graphene is perhaps the newest of the carbon nanomaterials and promises to be a very active field. Already since its 'isolation' in 2004 it has grabbed the attention of the chemistry, materials and physics communities. It promises to rival carbon nanotubes in terms of properties and potential applications with the number of publications rising from ca. 130 in 2005 to ca. 2,800 in 2010. The discussion covers three key areas: carbon nanotubes, fullerenes and graphene which although look very different have much, often unrealised, common ground. Much of the work on carbon nanotubes has origins in fullerene research and now graphene is building on carbon nanotube work.

Organic semiconductors (OSCs), based on pi-conjugated molecules and macromolecules, are revolutionising the electronics industry. The most topical and potentially lucrative applications to date include organic light emitting diode (OLED) displays and lighting, organic photovoltaics (OPVs) and organic field effect transistors (OFETs). Applications for these technologies are varied and include sensing, medical diagnostics, artificial assemblies, computing and information and communication technologies. This discussion encompasses a range of topical subjects, centred on the theme of organic electronics and photonics, focussing on four specific topics: organic photovoltaics and energy, organic lasers, bioelectronics and sensors and molecular electronics, representing the most exciting developments in organic electronics research.

Nanotechnology, especially nanoparticle research, has played very important roles in many scientific discoveries, laying the foundation for their applications in many aspects of our life, such as healthcare, efficient energy and cleaner environments. The field is moving very quickly, with an increasing number of researchers. This Faraday Discussion focusses on one very fundamental issue of nanoparticle (NP) research: functionalization, relating specifically to biomedical applications. Without the right functionalisation, NPs will be rendered useless. So, how can NPs be synthesised with the desired functionality?

Faraday Discussions covers a variety of topics in rapidly developing areas of the physical sciences, with a focus on physical chemistry and its interfaces with other scientific disciplines. The journal publishes the papers presented and a record of the questions, discussion and debate that took place at the corresponding Faraday Discussions meeting and provides an important record of current international knowledge and opinions in the relevant field. Each Faraday Discussion covers a topic in a rapidly developing area of chemistry and will be of interest to academic and industrial chemists across all areas of the chemical sciences.

Biology, chemistry and materials science make extensive use of computational methods ranging from applications at the cellular level to detailed atomistic simulations of molecular assemblies, materials or small molecules. Many of these computational methods are nowadays routinely used to complement experimental studies. However, despite maturity of this intrinsically multi-disciplinary field, recent progress in the computational sciences has only slowly found its way into numerical simulations. In particular, the enormous potential of immersive and interactive virtual reality approaches, and advanced visual analysis of simulation data, have not been well explored so far. This title aims to illustrate and discuss the potential of human computer interaction and virtual reality for computational molecular sciences for researchers involved in the natural sciences and computational sciences whilst exploring beyond the boundaries of each discipline.

Mechanochemical reactions utilise mechanical force to achieve chemical transformation. Because they can be both solvent-free and less energy consuming than standard solution reactions, mechanochemical transformations are rapidly becoming popular as a sustainable alternative to conventional solution-based and solvothermal chemical processes which are inherently wasteful of solvent and energy in both the laboratory and industry.The growing interest in mechanochemical processes has in the past decade provided exciting developments in the areas of supramolecular, pharmaceutical, materials and organic chemistry and catalysis. These developments indicate that mechanochemistry will play a key role in future clean and sustainable technologies, ranging from "green" synthesis to mineral manufacturing and nanoparticle synthesis.However, such development requires improving the understanding of the underlying principles of mechanochemistry and extensive communication between researchers in its different areas. The 170th Faraday Discussion will facilitate further development of mechanochemistry in terms of applications, definitions and mechanistic understanding, and explore how its innovative, clean and energy-efficient applications could form the basis of new paradigm for academic and industrial chemistry.In this volume the topics covered include:the mechanochemistry of organic molecules and soft organic moleculesthe mechanochemistry of inorganic compounds and coordination-based materialssonication and macromolecular mechanochemistrythe mechanistic understanding, catalysis and scaling up of mechanochemistry

Understanding the mechanism of physical, chemical and biological change at the microscopic scale is critical for a broad range of science and technology. A common goal is to develop this understanding to the point where it becomes possible to tailor functionality through material design, or by the application of electric, magnetic or optical fields. Across a broad range of disciplines the scientific community is currently frustrated by its inability to dynamically image matter down to the atomic scale. We can at present only observe relatively slow motion changes to structure, or infer dynamical effects via indirect measurements. Yet many critically important processes evolve on the femtosecond timescale and at the molecular and sub-cellular level requiring nanometre and sub-nanometre scale spatial resolution. The properties of light from newly developing photon sources such as free electron lasers (FELs) are dramatically different from those of storage rings (in terms of spectral brightness), and from conventional lasers (in terms of wavelength range). In the course of the last few years FELs and other sources have emerged as exceptionally exciting tools for new science – for example, solution phase chemistry, enzyme and surface catalysis and DNA photo-induced radiation damage. In this volume the topics covered include: Chemical reaction dynamics; Electron dynamics in atoms, molecules and clusters; Correlated systems, surfaces and catalysis; Nanoscale and bio imaging

Recently crystallography and spectroscopy have reached a level of experimental sophistication and theoretical and computational advancements such that it is possible to understand the structure of even the most complex molecular systems, such as, proteins. The modern generation of synchrotrons and the powerful free electron lasers (X-FEL) offer new opportunities and exciting challenges in structural science, but they will require a coordinated approach of complementary methods if they are to achieve maximum impact. Researchers are constantly improving technical and computational methods to accelerate and automate characterisation processes and this is crucial to the fields to be explored in this book. Bringing together world experts in computational, crystallographic, spectroscopic, chemical, biological and numerous characterisation methods, this title will promote new interdisciplinary research and complementary approaches and techniques in the rapidly emerging areas of 'time resolved studies', leading to a greater overall understanding of structural dynamics.

Recent advances in nanofabrication and subwavelength optical characterisation have led to significant new advances in plasmonics. In addition to traditional top-down nanofabrication techniques, chemical-based fabrication has emerged as an inexpensive and viable alternative with electrochemical and self-organisation methods for fabrication of plasmonic nanoparticles and extended plasmonic structures.This volume aims to highlight the most recent breakthroughs in this multidisciplinary field and hear from the different perspectives of physicists, chemists and biologists. It connects the various subdisciplines in the field and defines the most challenging problems for the future.This volume is focused on areas where progress is expected to have a most significant impact on a whole area of nanoplasmonics and on commercial exploitation.In this volume the topics covered include:Plasmonic nanoparticles and metamaterials with designed optical propertiesSurface plasmon enhanced spectroscopiesQuantum plasmonics, gain and spasersBiosensing and biomedical applications of plasmonics

The crystallisation phase transformation process and the resulting creation of crystalline materials from liquid phase precursors are central to the science and process engineering of materials in their broadest sense. Crystallisation involves two distinct stages: nucleation and growth. Due to the nano-scale size domain within which the nucleation process functions it is a much less understood process compared to the growth process. As a result, elucidating the fundamental physics and chemistry that govern the formation and structure of the nucleation supra-molecular transition state remains one of the truly unresolved 'grand challenges' of the physical sciences. Following the Nucleation - A Transition State to the Directed Assembly of Materials: Faraday Discussion (April 2015), this book brings together the growing body of theoretical and experimental work. It assesses recent progress in this field, highlights on-going challenges, and discusses future work still needed.

Over the last decade or so, there has been immense progress in the development of tools, both experimental and theoretical, for probing the solid/fluid interface at the nanoscale. These advances open the way towards mechanistic understanding, and potentially prediction, of chemical processes occurring at this interface. Amongst the fields beginning to benefit from such effort is corrosion science, which is primarily concerned with degradation of metallic materials immersed in either liquid or gaseous environments. Thia Faraday Discussion focuses on the nanoscale interfacial chemical processes relevant to corrosion and its control. Corrosion science is becoming increasingly important as we move towards a world where every atom counts, e.g. in maintaining the performance of nano-devices, as well for ensuring sustainability through optimum use of natural resources.

Nanoparticles can be viewed as a new type of ‘atom’ with size dependent physical, optical and electronic properties that make them suitable for a wide variety of applications. There are many open questions in the field of nanoparticle synthesis and assembly: how does the nanoparticle-nanoparticle potential govern nanoparticle formation or assembly? Can we design a nanoparticle from the ground up, according to theoretical predictions, which will self-assemble into a given nanoparticle superlattice structure? How does the assembly process vary with nanoparticle shape and the ligand coating which surrounds each nanoparticle? The answers to these questions require the coordination and collaboration of nanoparticle theorists, synthesizers, and assemblers. Following the Nanoparticle Synthesis and Assembly: Faraday Discussion (April 2015), this book brings together a diverse group of scientists to deliberate the latest developments in nanoparticle theory, synthesis and assembly and to generate new ideas and engender new collaborations between these groups.

There is great interest in converting electricity overcapacity e.g. from renewables; from fuels such as hydrogen and synthetic gasoline; or for the conversion of nitrogen to ammonia. Solid oxide electrolysis offers a high efficiency route to these conversions utilising technology similar to solid oxide fuel cells. However, there are significant differences between electrolysis and fuel cell operation, and the fundamental aspects of electrolysis have received little attention. This Faraday Discussion brings together the research of leading scientists to address the fundamental aspects of solid oxide electrolysis. Research in this field could yield a new clean chemical industry, potentially allowing greater harvesting of renewables by storing excess energy in a more useful and higher energy density form than electricity.

Since their inception, optical detection and spectroscopy of single molecules have steadily expanded to an amazing variety of disciplines in the natural sciences. Domains such as optical microscopy, quantum optics, nanophotonics and soft matter/ material science have all benefited from the new, "average-free" insights provided by the optical isolation of single molecules, quantum dots, metal nanoparticles, and other nanometre-sized objects. The techniques themselves have also made spectacular progress with developments in super-resolution microscopy, time-resolved measurements, absorption-based detection, combination with mechanical or electrical manipulation and recording, live-cell imaging, and metal nanoparticle-phenomena.Following the Single-Molecule Microscopy and Spectroscopy: Faraday Discussion (September 2015), this book discusses the recent advances and maps out future avenues in the field, covering topics such as quantum optics and plasmonics; probes and sensors for molecular biophysics; super-resolution and imaging of soft and biological matter; and nonlinear optics and coherence in biophysics.

Since its inception in 1987, research into supramolecular photochemistry has experienced impressive growth and now impacts on many topics. The field has now matured, taking advantage of new instrumentation and advances in synthesis, and it is time to consider where we are and where we want to be in the near future.Following the Supramolecular Photochemistry: Faraday Discussion (September 2015), this book discusses new information derived from the study of natural systems and its use in aiding the design of artificial photosynthetic systems, such as synthetic light-harvesting antennae and molecular devices capable of efficacious charge-separation. The book explores multi-component systems where illumination induces controlled mechanical movements (machines). The effect of supramolecular assembly on the photoactivation of nanostructures such as liquid crystals and dendrimers is also considered. By studying the in-situ changes in the local topology and the concentration of selected substrates, the application of such assemblies in luminescent devices becomes a reality.

Carbon dioxide utilisation processes convert CO2 into commercially viable products such as chemicals, polymers, building materials and fuels. This emerging technology can contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by using CO2 to manufacture useful products. While generally un-reactive, CO2 can be activated, particularly through catalysis, to yield a vast array of chemical feedstocks, intermediates and value-added products. For this to be effective, a synergistic approach is needed where multiple technologies and energy sources are integrated over a complete system. Following the Carbon Dioxide Utilisation Faraday Discussion (September 2015), this book provides a holistic approach, identifying where efficiencies can enhance the whole process economics and predicting where there may be bottlenecks in the supply chain. Carbon dioxide utilisation is presented as a complementary rather than competitive approach to carbon capture and storage, where the product produces a viable profit that can be used to off-set carbon capture technologies.

There is a need for the study of disordered self-assemblies of nanoparticles (NP), in contrast with the focus on ordered nanoparticle assemblies, with a view to understanding how evolving developments in the fundamentals can be translated into science/property principles underpinning applications. This Faraday Discussion focusses on the rapidly evolving field of nanoparticle self- and driven assembly, with a view to understanding how evolving developments in the fundamentals can be translated into science/property principles underpinning applications. Examining ordered superlattice arrays of ligand-passivated inorganic clusters, with applications related to size scalability and processing, this book emphasises the importance of considering both ordered and disordered assemblies, and the translation of fundamental science to applications.

Catalysis is a core area of contemporary science posing major fundamental and conceptual challenges, while being at the heart of the chemical industry. At this discussion, we bring the catalysis community together to explore the modern methods used to design new catalysts and how these approaches can bridge across the disciplines of physical sciences and chemical engineering.

Urban atmospheres are clearly distinguishable from most rural and all remote atmospheres by their high primary pollutant loadings and relatively fast reaction times. However, these rapid reactions are currently poorly captured by numerical models. Recent research on urban air pollution has focused upon cities as a source of air pollutants to the regional and global atmosphere. This neglects the impact of urban air pollution upon human health. With the increasing urbanisation of human populations, this topic is of great importance. This Faraday Discussion addresses both the key questions and the over-arching issues related to understanding chemistry in the urban atmosphere. It explores the chemical complexity of the urban atmosphere; the relative timescales of mixing and of chemical processes; lessons from past major studies of the urban atmosphere; and numerical modelling strategies.

Anisotropy at the nanoscale is a critical factor in the mechanical, optical, electronic, and magnetic properties of nanoparticles. Many unusual properties of colloidal materials arise due to heterogeneous spatial confinement of electrons, plasmons and electric fields around the particles. As the field of nanoparticle synthesis and application matures, there is an increasing need for the design of novel and more complex nanosized objects. In particular, the incorporation of multiple functionalities, the directionality of such functions, and the incorporation of lower or higher dimensional order have great relevance and interest for biomolecule detection, diagnosis and therapeutic medical applications. This Faraday Discussion brings together chemists, physicists, theoreticians, engineers, and biomedical researchers to discuss the use of anisotropy as a tool to design, organize and provide special functions to nanoparticles. It explores the synthesis, formation mechanisms and novel characterization tools of anisotropic nanoparticles; the preparation and properties of particles with two or multiple domains; and biomedical applications.