Handbook of Metal Physics – serie

Metallic nanoparticles display fascinating properties that are quite different from those of individual atoms, surfaces or bulk rmaterials. They are a focus of interest for fundamental science and, because of their huge potential in nanotechnology, they are the subject of intense research effort in a range of disciplines. Applications, or potential applications, are diverse and interdisciplinary. They include, for example, use in biochemistry, in catalysis and as chemical and biological sensors, as systems for nanoelectronics and nanostructured magnetism (e.g. data storage devices), where the drive for further miniaturization provides tremendous technological challenges and, in medicine, there is interest in their potential as agents for drug delivery.The book describes the structure of metallic nanoparticles, the experimental and theoretical techniques by which this is determined, and the models employed to facilitate understanding. The various methods for the production of nanoparticles are outlined. It surveys the properties of clusters and the methods of characterisation, such as photoionization, optical spectroscopy, chemical reactivity and magnetic behaviour, and discusses element-specific information that can be extracted by synchrotron-based techniques such as EXAFS, XMCD and XMLD. The properties of clusters can vary depending on whether they are free, deposited on a surface or embedded in a matrix of another material; these issues are explored. Clusters on a surface can be formed by the diffusion and aggregation of atoms; ways of modelling these processes are described. Finally we look at nanotechnology and examine the science behind the potential of metallic nanoparticles in chemical synthesis, catalysis, the magnetic separation of biomolecules, the detection of DNA, the controlled release of molecules and their relevance to data storage.The book addresses a wide audience. There was a huge development of the subject beginning in the mid-1980s where researchers began to study the properties of free nanoparticle and models were developed to describe the observations. The newcomer is introduced to the established models and techniques of the field without the need to refer to other sources to make the material accessible. It then takes the reader through to the latest research and provides a comprehensive list of references for those who wish to pursue particular aspects in more detail. It will also be an invaluable handbook for the expert in a particular aspect of nanoscale research who wishes to acquire knowledge of other areas.The authors are specialists in different aspects of the subject with expertise in physics and chemistry, experimental techniques and computational modelling, and in interdisciplinary research. They have collaborated in research. They have also collaborated in writing this book, with the aim from the outset of making it is a coherent whole rather than a series of independent loosely connected articles.Appeals to a wide audienceProvides an introduction to established models and techniques in the fieldComprehensive list of references

The present book describes a large variety of different types of chain systems (nanowires), including shorter chains that are artificially produced for instance in break-junction experiments, chains synthesized as guests inside the channels of a host crystal, crystalline chain compounds, organic polymers (synthetic metals), and charge-transfer salts, thus covering an unusual wealth of systems. Both experimental and theoretical studies are discussed. Particular emphasis is put on illustrating the special phenomena that occur in such quasi-one-dimensional systems, and how theoretical and experimental efforts have been used in identifying those properties that are specific for truly one-dimensional systems from those of quasi-one-dimensional systems. Moreover, it is shown that metallic chains can be found in a large range of systems, but also that chains of metals not always are metallic.� Gives a unifying description of very many different phenomena and systems� High-Tc superconductors, conjugated polymers, gold nanowires, carbon nanotubes, chain compounds, and charge-transfer salts are all treated in one volume� Illustrates the very broad range of quasi-one-dimensional systems

This book is aimed at researchers who are working in a field of quasicrystals to provide a reference to recent developments and ideas in the field and also at graduate students, who intend to study quasicrystals, to provide introduction of ideas. Topics in this book cover an entire field of quasicrystals, both experimental and theoretical, including new developments: the state of the art in quasicrystallography, new families of quasicrystals, phasons in aperiodic solids, ab initio studies on stability mechanism, quantum transport phenomena, elastic/plastic properties and surface of quasicrystals.� Comprehensive reviews by experts in the field� Complete reference of original papers and new topics � Intelligible introduction of quasicrystals by experts

The book on Heavy-Fermion Systems is a part of the Book series "Handbook of Metal Physics", each volume of which is written to facilitate the research of Ph.D. students, faculty and other researchers in a specific area. The Heavy-Fermions (sometimes known as Heavy-Electrons) is a loosely defined collection of intermetallic compounds containing rare-earth (mostly Ce) or actinide (mostly U) elements. These unusual names were given due to the large effective mass (100-1,000 times greater than the mass of a free electron) below a critical temperature. They have a variety of ground states including superconducting, antiferromagnetic, paramagnetic or semiconducting. Some display unusual magnetic properties such as magnetic quantum critical point and metamagnetism. This book is essentially a summary as well as a critical review of the theoretical and experimental work done on Heavy Fermions.� Extensive research references.� Comprehensive review of a very rapidly growing number of theories.� Summary of all important experiments.� Comparison with other highly correlated systems such as High-Tc Superconductors.� Possible Technological applications.