This book is an excellent compilation of cutting-edge research in heterogeneous catalysis and related disciplines - surface science, organometallic catalysis, and enzymatic catalysis. In 23 chapters by noted experts, the volume demonstrates varied approaches using model systems and their successes in understanding aspects of heterogeneous catalysis, both metal- and metal oxide-based catalysis in extended single crystal and nanostructured catalytic materials. To truly appreciate the astounding advances of modern heterogeneous catalysis, let us first consider the subject from a historical perspective. Heterogeneous catalysis had its beginnings in England and France with the work of scientists such as Humphrey Davy (1778-1829), Michael Faraday (1791-1867), and Paul Sabatier (1854-1941). Sabatier postulated that surface compounds, si- lar to those familiar in bulk to chemists, were the intermediate species leading to catalytic products. Sabatier proposed, for example, that NiH moieties on a Ni sur- 2 face were able to hydrogenate ethylene, whereas NiH was not. In the USA, Irving Langmuir concluded just the opposite, namely, that chemisorbed surface species are chemically bound to surfaces and are unlike known molecules. These chemisorbed species were the active participants in catalysis. The equilibrium between gas-phase molecules and adsorbed chemisorbed species (yielding an adsorption isotherm) produced a monolayer by simple site-filling kinetics.

Recent developments in the technology of silicon nanocrystals and silicon nanostructures, where quantum-size effects are important, are systematically described including examples of device applications. Due to the strong quantum confinement effect, the material properties are freed from the usual indirect- or direct-bandgap regime, and the optical, electrical, thermal, and chemical properties of these nanocrystalline and nanostructured semiconductors are drastically changed from those of bulk silicon. In addition to efficient visible luminescence, various other useful material functions are induced in nanocrystalline silicon and periodic silicon nanostructures. Some novel devices and applications, in fields such as photonics (electroluminescence diode, microcavity, and waveguide), electronics (single-electron device, spin transistor, nonvolatile memory, and ballistic electron emitter), acoustics, and biology, have been developed by the use of these quantum-induced functions in ways different from the conventional scaling principle for ULSI.

Nanobiotechnology holds the promise of providing revolutionary insight into aspects biology ranging from fundamental questions such as elucidating molecular mechanisms of brain disorders to extraordinary applications such as the detection of a single cancer cell in a population of a million cells. The second edition of Nanobiotechnology Protocols expands upon the previous editions with current, detailed protocols for nanobiotechnology; imaging and detection. With new chapters that explore nano-bio constructs and toxicology of nanomaterials. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology (TM) series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and practical, Nanobiotechnology Protocol, Second Edition highlights important current areas of development and directions of the field for the future.

This book is aimed at all those who are interested to understand the current research going on in nanomaterial science from the perspectives of biomedical, sensorial and energy applications including all aspects of physical chemist, chemical engineers and material scientist. Nanoscience and nanotechnology are at the forefront of modern research. The fast growing economy in this area requires experts with outstanding knowledge of nanoscience in combination with the skills to apply this knowledge in new products. A multidisciplinary scientific education is crucial to provide industry and research institutes with top quality experts who have a generic background in the different sub disciplines such as electronics, physics, chemistry, material science, biotechnology. The book covers recent advancement in nanoscience and nanotechnology particularly highlights the utilization of different types of nanomaterials in biomedical field, sensor and in the energy application. On the other hand, it leads the reader to the most significant recent developments in research. It provides a broad and in-depth coverage of the nanoscale materials and its depth significant applications.

Nanoneuroscience is the study of computationally relevant biomolecules found inside neurons. Because of recent technological advances at the nanometer scale, scientists have at their disposal increasingly better ways to study the brain and the biophysics of its molecules. This book describes how biomolecules contribute to the operations of synapses and perform other computationally relevant functions inside dendrites. These biomolecular operations considerably expand the brain-computer analogy - endowing each neuron with the processing power of a silicon-based multiprocessor. Amazingly, the brain contains hundreds of billions of neurons.

Laser materials processing has made tremendous progress and is now at the forefront of industrial and medical applications. The book describes recent advances in smart and nanoscaled materials going well beyond the traditional cutting and welding applications. As no analytical methods are described the examples are really going into the details of what nowadways is possible by employing lasers for sophisticated materials processing giving rise to achievements not possible by conventional materials processing.

This book mainly focuses on the study of the high-temperature superconductor Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8 by vacuum, ultra-violet, laser-based, angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES). A new form of electron coupling has been identified in Bi2212, which occurs in the superconducting state. For the first time, the Bogoliubov quasiparticle dispersion with a clear band back-bending has been observed with two peaks in the momentum distribution curve in the superconducting state at a low temperature. Readers will find useful information about the technique of angle-resolved photoemission and the study of high-temperature superconductors using this technique. Dr. Wentao Zhang received his PhD from the Institute of Physics at the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

This is the second volume in a series of books on selected topics in Nanoscale Science and Technology based on lectures given at the well-known INFN schools of the same name. The aim of this collection is to provide a reference corpus of suitable, introductory material to relevant subfields, as they mature over time, by gathering the significantly expanded and edited versions of tutorial lectures, given over the years by internationally known experts. The present set of notes stems in particular from the participation and dedication of prestigious lecturers, such as Andrzej Huczko, Nicola Pugno, Alexander Malesevic, Pasquale Onorato and Stefano Bellucci. All lectures were subsequently carefully edited and reworked, taking into account the extensive follow-up discussions. A tutorial lecture by Huczko et al. shows how a variety of carbon and ceramic nanostructures (nanotubes, nanowires, nanofibres, nanorods, and nanoencapsulates) have in particular great potential for improving our understanding of the fundamental concepts of the roles of both dimensionality and size on physical material properties . Bellucci and Onorato provide an extensive and tutorial review of the (quantum) transport properties in carbon nanotubes, encompassing a description of the electronic structure from graphene to single-wall nanotubes, as well as a discussion of experimental evidence of superconductivity in carbon nanotubes and the corresponding theoretical interpretation. In the first contribution by Pugno, new ideas on how to design futuristic self-cleaning, super-adhesive and releasable hierarchical smart materials are presented. He also reviews the mechanical strength of such nanotubes and megacables, with an eye to the visionary project of a carbon nanotube-based 'space elevator megacable'. In his second contribution, Pugno outlines in detail the role on the fracture strength of thermodynamically unavoidable atomistic defects with different size and shape, both numerically and theoretically, for nanotubes and nanotube bundles. Focusing on graphitic allotropes, the chapter by Bellucci and Malesevic aims to give a taste of the widespread implications carbon nanostructures have on research and applications, starting from an historical overview, followed by a discussion of the structure and physical properties of carbon nanotubes and graphene, in particular in the context of the several different synthesis techniques presently available.

This book details the chemistry of visible light-induced photocatalysis using different classes of nanocomposites. Starting with a general introduction and explanation of basic principles and mechanisms of (visible) light-induced photocatalysis in the first two chapters (not omitting a plaidoyer for furthering research and development in this promising field), the following chapters detail the different types and classes of nanocomposites currently used in light-induced photocatalytic applications, including e.g. metal and mixed metal-oxide nanoparticles and -composites, nanoporous materials, polymeric and carbon-based nanocomposites. They explain the characteristics and importance of the different types of nanocomposites, as well as their synthesis and fabrication.In the end of the book an outlook on the unique applications of novel nanocomposites is offered, for example in water treatment and disinfection and removal of pollutants from wastewater, self-cleaning window panes based on photoactive materials, and many more. The book also addresses the challenges in present photocatalytic research, and therefore is a must-read for everybody interested in the developing field of nanocomposites and visible light-induced photocatalysis.

This book offers readers a snapshot of the progression of molecular modeling in the electronics industry and how molecular modeling is currently being used to understand materials to solve relevant issues in this field. The reader is introduced to the evolving role of molecular modeling, especially seen from the perspective of the IEEE community and modeling in electronics. This book also covers the aspects of molecular modeling needed to understand the relationship between structures and mechanical performance of materials. The authors also discuss the transitional topic of multiscale modeling and recent developments on the atomistic scale and current attempts to reach the submicron scale, as well as the role that quantum mechanics can play in performance prediction.

By using nanotechnological methods, we can now poke around protein molecules, genes, membranes, cells and more. Observation of such entities through optical and electron microscopes tempt us to touch and manipulate them. It is now possible to do so, and scientists around the world have started pulling, pushing and cutting small structures at the base of life processes to understand the effect of our hand work.
The book describes the physical properties of such life supporting structures from the molecular level with a special emphasis on their designs based on the mechanical strength and flexibility, membrane and other biological nanostructures.

- Describes the basic mechanical features of proteins, DNA, cell membrane and other biological nanostructures
- Explains the basic concepts and mathematics of elementary mechanics needed to understand and perform experimental work

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and Boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) are part of the so-called B-C-N material system, which includes novel nanostructures of carbon (C), doped-carbon, boron (B), boron nitride (BN), carbon nitride (CNx), boron-carbon nitride (BxCyNz), and boron carbide (BxCy). BNNTs and CNTs are structurally similar and share extraordinary mechanical properties, but they differ in chemical, biological, optical, and electrical properties. Therefore, hybrid nanotubes constructed of B, C, N elements are expected to form a new class of nanotubes with tunable properties between those of CNTs and BNNTs. In addition, these B-C-N nanostructures will further enhance and complement the applications of CNTs and BNNTs. With contributions from leading experts, B-C-N Nanotubes and Related Nanostructures is the first book to cover all theoretical and experimental aspects of this emerging material system, and meets the need for a comprehensive summary of the tremendous advances in research on B-C-N materials in recent years.

This thesis focuses on two areas - the development of miniature plastic lasers that can be powered by LEDs, and the application of these lasers as highly sensitive sensors for vapours of nitroaromatic explosives (e.g. TNT). Polymer lasers are extremely compact visible lasers; the research described in the thesis is groundbreaking, driving forward the technology and physical understanding to allow these lasers to be routinely pumped by a single high-power LED. A notable advance in the work is the demonstration of nanoimprinted polymer lasers, which exhibit the world's lowest pump threshold densities by two orders of magnitude. The thesis also advances the application of these compact, novel lasers as highly sensitive detectors of explosive vapours, demonstrating that rapid detection can be achieved when microporous polymers are used. This work also demonstrates a prototype CMOS-based microsystem sensor for explosive vapours, exploiting a new detection approach.

This volume documents the first International Workshop on Atomic Scale Interconnection Machines organised by the European Integrated Project AtMol in June 2011 in Singapore. The four sessions, discussed here in revised contributions by high level speakers, span the subjects of multi-probe UHV instrumentation, atomic scale nano-material nanowires characterization, atomic scale surface conductance measurements, surface atomic scale mechanical machineries. This state-of-the-art account brings academic researchers and industry engineers access to the tools they need to be at the forefront of the atomic scale technology revolution.

Nanophotonics, a novel optical technology, utilizes the local interaction between nanometric particles via optical near fields. The optical near fields are the elementary surface excitations on nanometric particles, i.e. dressed photons that carry material energy. Of the variety of qualitative innovations in optical technology realized by nanophotonics, this books focuses on fabrication. To fabricate nano-scale photonic devices with nanometer-scale controllability in size and position, we developed a self-assembly method for size- and position-controlled ultra-long nanodot chains using a novel effect of near-field optical desorption. A novel deposition and etching scheme under nonresonant conditions is also demonstrated and its origin is reviewed.

Channels of nanotubular dimensions exist in a variety of materials (examples are carbon nanotubes and the nanotubular channels of zeolites and zeotypes) and show promise for numerous applications due to their unique properties. One of their most important properties is their capacity to adsorb molecules and these may exist in a variety of phases.

"Adsorption and Phase Behaviour in Nanochannels and Nanotubes" provides an excellent review of recent and current work on adsorption on nanometerials. It is an impressive collection of papers dealing with the adsorption and phase behaviour in nanoporous materials from both experimental and theoretical perspectives.

"Adsorption and Phase Behaviour in Nanochannels and Nanotubes" focuses on carbon nanotubes as well as zeolites and related materials.

Biosensors are making a large impact in environmental, food, biomedical, and other applications. In comparison to standard analytical detection methods, such as minimal sample preparation and handling, they offer advantages including real time detection, rapid detection of the analytes of concern, use of non-skilled personnel, and portability. The aim of this book is to focus on research related to the rapid detection of agents and weapons of bioterrorism and provide a comprehensive review of the research topics most pertinent to advancing devices applicable to the rapid real-time detection of toxicants such as microbes, pathogens, toxins, or nerve gases. The ongoing war on terrorism and the rising security concerns are driving the need for newer faster biosensors against bio-warfare agents for both military and civil defence applications. The volume brings together contributions from the most eminent international researchers in the field, covering various aspects of work not so far published in any scientific journal and often going beyond the "state of art" . Readers of these review articles will learn new technological schemes that can lead to the construction of devices that will minimize the risk of bio-terrorism."

Nanopores are vital biological features, described as tiny holes in cellular membranes used for recognition and transport of ions and molecules between compartments within the cell, as well as between the extracellular environment and the cell itself. Their study, ever growing in esteem, leads toward the promise of ultra-fast sequencing of DNA molecules with the ultimate goal of building a nanoscale device that will make rapid and cheap DNA sequencing a reality. In Nanopore-Based Technology, expert researchers in the forefront of the field explore the cutting-edge of nanopore technology for single molecule sensing, detection, and characterization. Divided into four convenient parts, this volume covers single molecule characterization techniques utilizing biological pores, methods for biomolecule characterization with nanoporous artificial membranes, computational studies of the biomolecule confined within the nanopore environment, as well as techniques that use novel materials in conjunction with nanopore sensing. Written for the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology (TM) series, this work provides the kind of detailed description and implementation advice that is crucial for achieving optimal results. Authoritative and state-of-the-art, Nanopore-Based Technology serves as an excellent representation of the present-day available techniques for biomolecule characterization with nanoporous membranes in order to guide researchers toward developing the next generation of technologies for fast and cheap DNA sequencing with practically no limitations on the read lengths.

Photons are an attractive option for testing fundamental quantum physics and developing new quantum-enhanced technology, including highly advanced computers and simulators, as well as precision sensing beyond shot-noise. Traditionally, bulk optical components have been bolted onto optical benches to realize metre-scale quantum circuits. However this approach is ultimately proving unwieldy for increasing the complexity and for scaling up to practical quantum technologies based on photons. The work presented here demonstrates a series of quantum photonic devices based on waveguide circuits embedded in miniature monolithic chips. This represents a paradigm shift in the underlying architecture of quantum optics and provides key building blocks for all-optical and hybrid quantum technologies.