Nanoscopic Materials

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

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.

Ideal for graduate students, this book focuses on the physico-chemical and physical aspects of nanoscience.