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A clear primer on the basics of this emerging field
What is nanotechnology? What does it do, and why is it expected to have a significant impact on our lives? These seemingly simple questions do not have easy, direct answers. There are so many aspects to nanotechnology that the uninitiated often find it challenging to begin to understand and appreciate it. Introduction to Nanoscience and Nanotechnology explains the basics in clear language, even to those who do not have a scientific background. It reveals the present state of the art and latest applications in nanotechnology, makes estimates of where the technology is headed, and predicts what will be possible in the future.
The book begins by addressing how small the nanometer length scale is in comparison to macroscopic objects and why it is special. From a discussion of naturally occurring nanoparticles and nanoparticles composed of carbon, the book then presents the tools of nanotechnology that can build, image, and manipulate nanostructures to build materials and devices (such as MEMS devices and scanning probe technologies), as well as one of the most exciting aspects of the field-combining Bottom-up and Top-down approaches so that individual nanostructures can be probed.
Readers will learn about artificially produced nanostructures that have a built-in functionality, such as magnetic nanoparticles that can store a data bit. They'll see how it is possible to produce biologically active nanoparticles that can interact with specific cells in the body, which can lead to powerful new treatments for diseases such as cancer. In addition, they'll discover the potential for building autonomous machines with nanoscale components-and how the tools of nanotechnology may one day lead to a deeper understanding of our universe.
From new areas of biomedical applications to probing the "quantum vacuum," Introduction to Nanoscience and Nanotechnology is accessible to all general science readers, as well as to undergraduates and graduate students studying nanotechnology.
List of contents
Preface.Acknowledgments.Nanotechnology Time Line.Introduction.0.1 Incremental Nanotechnology.0.2 Evolutionary Nanotechnology.0.3 Radical Nanotechnology.0.4 Bottom-Up/Top-Down Nanotechnology.References.1 Size Matters.1.1 The Fundamental Importance of Size.1.2 The Magnetic Behavior of Nanoparticles.1.3 The Mechanical Properties of Nanostructured Materials.1.4 The Chemical Properties of Nanoparticles.1.5 Nanoparticles Interacting with Living Systems.Problems.References.2 Nanoparticles Everywhere.2.1 Nanoparticles in the Atmosphere.2.2 Atmospheric Nanoparticles and Health.2.3 Nanoparticles and Climate.2.4 Marine Aerosol.2.5 Nanoparticles in Space.Problems.References.3 Carbon Nanostructures: Bucky Balls and Nanotubes.3.1 Why Carbon?3.2 Discovery of the First Fullerene - C60.3.3 Structural Symmetry of the Closed Fullerenes.3.4 Smaller Fullerenes and "Shrink-Wrapping" Atoms.3.5 Larger Fullerenes.3.6 Electronic Properties of Individual Fullerenes.3.7 Materials Produced by Assembling Fullerenes (Fullerites and Fullerides).3.8 Discovery of Carbon Nanotubes.3.9 Structure of SWNTs.3.10 Electronic Properties of SWNTs.3.11 Electronic Transport in Carbon Nanotubes.3.12 Mechanical Properties of Nanotubes.3.13 Thermal Conductivity of Nanotubes.3.14 Carbon Nanohorns.3.15 Carbon Nanobuds and Pea Pods.Problems.References.4 The Nanotechnology Toolkit.4.1 Making Nanostructures Using Bottom-up Methods.4.2 Making Nanostructures Using Top-Down Methods.4.3 Combining Bottom-up and Top-Down Nanostructures.4.4 Imaging, Probing and Manipulating Nanostructures.Problems.References.5 Single-Nanoparticles Devices.5.1 Data Storage on Magnetic Nanoparticles.5.2 Quantum Dots.5.3 Nanoparticles as Transistors.5.4 Carbon Nanoelectronics.Problems.References.6 Magic Beacons and Magic Bullets: The Medical Applications of Functional Nanoparticles.6.1 Nanoparticles Interacting with Living Organisms.6.2 Treatment of Tumours by Hyperthermia.6.3 Medical Diagnosis and "Theranostics" Using Nanomaterials.Problems.References.7 Radical Nanotechnology.7.1 Locomotion for Nanobots and Nanofactories.7.2 On-Board Processing for Nanomachines.7.3 Medical Nanobots.7.4 Molecular Assembly.References.8 Prodding the Cosmic Fabric.8.1 Zero-Point Energy of Space.8.2 The Casimir Force.8.3 The Casimir Force in Nanomachines.References.Glossary.Index.
Report
"This work is especially valuable for undergraduates as well as beginning graduate students. Moreover, even general readers with some science background should be able to follow the text. Highly recommended." (Choice , 1 April 2011)
"It would be incomprehensible to a layman, but provides an interesting overview at graduate level of some aspects of the subject". (Chemistry & Industry, 10 January 2011)
