Professor Dieter Vollath has more than 20 years experience in the research of synthesis and properties of nanomaterials. He was Department Head at the Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe, Germany, and gives lectures at the Technical University Graz, Austria. Since 2003 he is acting as nanotechnology consultant with his own company NanoConsulting. His courses on nanomaterials formed the basis for this textbook.

Meeting the demand for a readily understandable introduction to nanomaterials and nanotechnology, this textbook specifically addresses the needs of students - and engineers - who need to get the gist of nanoscale phenomena in materials without having to delve too deeply into the physical and chemical details.

PREFACE
 
INTRODUCTION
 
NANOPARTICLES - NANOCOMPOSITES
Nanoparticles
Elementary Consequences of Small Particle Size
 
SURFACES IN NANOMATERIALS
General Considerations
Surface Energy
Vapor Pressure of Small Particles
Hypothetical Nanomotors Driven by Surface Energy
 
GAS-PHASE SYNTHESIS OF NANOPARTICLES
Fundamental Considerations
Inert-Gas Condensation Process
Physical and Chemical Vapor Synthesis Processes
Laser-Ablation Process
Plasma Processes
Flame Processes
Synthesis of Coated Particles
 
ONE- AND TWO-DIMENSIONAL NANOPARTICLES
Basic Considerations
Vibrations of Nanorods and Nanotubes - Scaling Law for Vibrations
Nanostructures Related to Compounds with Layered Structures
 
NANOFLUIDS
Background
Nanofluids for Improved Heat Transfer
Ferrofluids
 
THERMODYNAMICS OF NANOPARTICLES AND PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
Basic Considerations
Influence of the Particle Size on Thermodynamic Properties and Phase Transformations
Thermal Instabilities Connected to Phase Transformations
Heat Capacity of Nanoparticles
 
MAGNETIC NANOMATERIALS, SUPERPARAMAGNETISM
Magnetic Materials
Fundamentals of Superparamagnetism
Susceptibility of Superparamagnetic Materials
Superparamagnetic Particles in the Mößbauer Spectrum
Applications of Superparamagnetic Materials
Exchange-Coupled Magnetic Nanoparticles
 
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
General Remarks
Adjustment of the Index of Refraction and Visually Transparent UV Absorbers
Size-Dependent Optical Properties - Quantum Confinement
Semiconducting Particles in the Quantum-Confinement Range
Metallic Nanoparticles - Plasmon Resonance
Luminescent Nanocomposites
Selection of a Lumophore or Absorber
Electroluminescence
Photochromic and Electrochromic Materials
Magneto-Optic Applications
 
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
Fundamentals of Electric Conductivity; Diffusive versus Ballistic Conductivity
Carbon Nanotubes
Other One-Dimensional Electrical Conductors
Electrical Conductivity of Nanocomposites
 
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
General Considerations
Mechanical Properties of Bulk Nanocrystalline Materials
Deformation Mechanisms of Nanocrystalline Materials
Superplasticity
Filled Polymer Composites
 
CHARACTERIZATION OF NANOMATERIALS
Specific Surface Area
Analysis of the Crystalline Structure
Electron Microscopy
 
INDEX

Meeting the demand for a readily understandable introduction to nanomaterials and nanotechnology, this textbook specifically addresses the needs of students - and engineers - who need to get the gist of nanoscale phenomena in materials without having to delve too deeply into the physical and chemical details.
 
The book begins with an overview of the consequences of small particle size, such as the growing importance of surface effects, and covers successful, field-tested synthesis techniques of nanomaterials. The largest part of the book is devoted to the particular magnetic, optical, electrical and mechanical properties of materials at the nanoscale, leading on to emerging and already commercialized applications, such as nanofluids in magnetic resonance imaging, high-performance nanocomposites and carbon nanotube-based electronics.
 
Based on the author's experience in teaching nanomaterials courses and adapted, in style and level, for students with only limited background knowledge, the textbook includes further reading, as well as information boxes that can be skipped upon first reading.