This thesis explores the dispersion stability, microstructure and phase transitions involved in the nanoclay system. It describes the recently discovered formation of colloidal gels via two routes: the first is through phase separation and second is by equilibrium gelation and includes the first reported experimental observation of a system with high aspect ratio nanodiscs. The phase behavior of anisotropic nanodiscs of different aspect ratio in their individual and mixed states in aqueous and hydrophobic media is investigated. Distinct phase separation, equilibrium fluid and equilibrium gel phases are observed in nanoclay dispersions with extensive aging. The work then explores solution behavior, gelation kinetics, aging dynamics and temperature-induced ordering in the individual and mixed states of these discotic colloids. Anisotropic ordering dynamics induced by a water-air interface, waiting time and temperature in these dispersions were studied in great detail along with aggregation behavior of nanoplatelets in hydrophobic environment of alcohol solutions.

At the heart of this thesis is the young field of free electron laser science, whose experimental and theoretical basics are described here in a comprehensible manner. Extremely bright and ultra short pulses from short wavelength free-electron lasers (FELs) have recently opened the path to new fields of research. The x-ray flashes transform all matter into highly excited plasma states within femtoseconds, while their high spatial and temporal resolution allows the study of fast processes in very small structures. Even imaging of single molecules may be within reach if ultrafast radiation damage can be understood and brought under control. Atomic clusters have proven to be ideal model systems for light-matter interaction studies in all wavelength regimes, being size scalable, easy-to-produce gas phase targets with a simple structure. With FELs, "single cluster imaging and simultaneous ion spectroscopy" makes possible experiments under extremely well defined initial conditions, because the size of the cluster and the FEL intensity can be extracted from the scattering images. For the first time large xenon clusters up to micron radius were generated. Their single cluster scattering images were analyzed for cluster morphology and traces of the ultrafast plasma built-up during the femtosecond FEL pulse. The simultaneously measured single cluster ion spectra yield unprecedented insight into the ion dynamics following the interaction. The results will feed both future experimental effort and theoretical modeling.

Provides the theoretical background needed by physicists, engineers and students to simulate nano-devices, semiconductor quantum dots and molecular devices. It presents in a unified way the theoretical concepts, the more recent semi-empirical and ab initio methods, and their application to experiments. The topics include quantum confinement, dielectric and optical properties, non-radiative processes, defects and impurities, and quantum transport. This guidebook not only provides newcomers with an accessible overview (requiring only basic knowledge of quantum mechanics and solid-state physics) but also provides active researchers with practical simulation tools.

Using an in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) approach to investigate the growth mechanism of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as well as the fabrication and properties of CNT-clamped metal atomic chains (MACs) is the focus of the research summarized in this thesis. The application of an in situ TEM approach in the above-mentioned research provides not only real-time observation but also monitored machining and structural evolvement at the atomic level. In this thesis, the author introduces a CNT tubular nano furnace that can be operated under TEM for investigation of the CNT nucleation mechanism. By studying the nucleation process of CNTs in the presence of various catalysts, including iron-based metallic catalysts and silicon oxide-based non-metallic catalysts, the physical states of the catalysts as well as the nucleation and growth process of CNTs are revealed. Based on the understanding of the nucleation mechanism, the author proposes a hetero-epitaxial growth strategy of CNTs from boron nitride, which provides a new route for the controllable growth of CNTs. In addition, the author presents an electron beam-assisted nanomachining technique and the fabrication of a CNT-clamped MAC prototype device based on this technique. The formation process of CNT-clamped Fe atomic chains (ACs) can be monitored with atomic resolution. The demonstrated quantized conductance and uninfluenced half-metallic properties of Fe ACs indicate that CNTs can be promising nanoscale electrodes or interconnectors for the linking and assembly of nano and subnano structures.

This book explores the aggregation-induced emission (AIE) effect, which has opened new avenues for the development of advanced luminogenic materials in the aggregate or solid state. By enabling light emission in the practically useful solid state, AIE has the potential to significantly expand the technological applications of luminescent materials. This book addresses principles, methods, and applications of AIEs, offering a new platform for the investigation of light-emitting processes from luminogen aggregates. Applications of AIE include biomedical diagnostics, sensor materials, and optoelectronic devices, among others, and are described in detail within the book. The development of a new generation of AIEgens, a deep understanding of the AIE mechanism(s), and the exploration of advanced technological applications will enable this exciting field to develop further. Headed by the pioneering researcher who started the field, Professor Ben Zhong Tang, this book combines both principles and applications and brings together global researchers in the field to report the progress, current challenges, and potential breakthroughs that may be accomplished in the near future. Provides an authoritative account of the fundamentals, properties, and potential of AIE by the pioneer of this active, highly-researched field; Highlights technological applications of AIE spanning biomedicine, sensor materials, and optoelectronics, among others; Presents a comprehensive view on challenges in the further development of AIE and derived technologies.

Medicinal chemistry is both science and art. The science of medicinal chemistry offers mankind one of its best hopes for improving the quality of life. The art of medicinal chemistry continues to challenge its practitioners with the need for both intuition and experience to discover new drugs. Hence sharing the experience of drug research is uniquely beneficial to the field of medicinal chemistry. Drug research requires interdisciplinary team-work at the interface between chemistry, biology and medicine. Therefore, the topic-related series Topics in Medicinal Chemistry covers all relevant aspects of drug research, e.g. pathobiochemistry of diseases, identification and validation of (emerging) drug targets, structural biology, drugability of targets, drug design approaches, chemogenomics, synthetic chemistry including combinatorial methods, bioorganic chemistry, natural compounds, high-throughput screening, pharmacological in vitro and in vivo investigations, drug-receptor interactions on the molecular level, structure-activity relationships, drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, elimination, toxicology and pharmacogenomics. In general, special volumes are edited by well known guest editors.

This book covers the state-of-the-art research in nanoporous metals for potential applications in advanced energy fields, including proton exchange membrane fuel cells, Li batteries (Li ion, Li-S, and Li-O2), and supercapacitors. The related structural design and performance of nanoporous metals as well as possible mechanisms and challenges are fully addressed. The formation mechanisms of nanoporous metals during dealloying, the microstructures of nanoporous metals and characterization methods, as well as miscrostructural regulation of nanoporous metals through alloy design of precursors and surface diffusion control are also covered in detail. This is an ideal book for researchers, engineers, graduate students, and government/industry officers who are in charge of R&D investments and strategy related to energy technologies.

The realms of aerospace and structural mechanics have been revolutionized due to a plethora of technological advances. These two important sectors most notably have been impacted by the advancement of nanotechnology and have introduced potential groundbreaking changes for lightweight, high strength, and improved electronic properties of nanomaterials. Nanotechnology in Aerospace and Structural Mechanics aims to provide a collection of innovative research on the latest development of materials and methods for designing smart and intelligent devices for use in the field of space research and structural mechanics. It provides a thorough study of the fabrication and control of mechanical systems required for the successful application of nanotechnology in aerospace and structural engineering. While highlighting topics including nanomaterial properties, aerospace electronics, and polymer nanocomposites, this book is ideally designed for engineers, researchers, students, and academicians with interests in the fields of civil engineering, mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, and nanoscience.

This book presents highlighted results coming up from NanoCarbon2011, a Brazilian Carbon event. The topics cover the latest advances in Brazilian basic and applied research related to different carbon materials. The chapters address reviews on their fundamental and outstanding properties and describe various classes of new promising high-tech applications for carbon materials.

Unlike most natural colours that are based on pigment absorption, the striking iridescent and intense colouration of many butterflies, birds or beetles stems from the interaction of light with periodic sub-micrometer surface or volume patterns, so called "photonic structures". These "structural colours" are increasingly well understood, but they are difficult to create artificially and exploit technologically. In this thesis the field of natural structural colours and biomimetic photonic structures is covered in a wide scope, ranging from plant photonics to theoretical optics. It demonstrates diffractive elements on the petal surfaces of many flowering plant species; these form the basis for the study of the role of structural colours in pollinator attraction. Self-assembly techniques, combined with scale able nanofabrication methods, were used to create complex artificial photonic structures inspired by those found in nature. In particular, the colour effect of a Papilio butterfly was mimicked and, by variation of its design motive, enhanced. All photonic effects described here are underpinned by state-of-the-art model calculations.

This thesis focuses on the controlled synthesis of Pt-Ni bimetallic nanoparticles and the study of their catalytic properties. It discusses in detail the nucleation mechanism and the growth process of bimetallic systems, which is vital for a deeper understanding of the design of bimetallic catalysts. The author presents four pioneering studies: (1) syntheses of water-soluble octahedral, truncated octahedral, and cubic Pt-Ni nanocrystals and the study of their structure-activity relationship in model hydrogenation reactions; (2) a strategy for designing a concave Pt-Ni alloy using controllable chemical etching; (3) defect-dominated shape recovery of nanocrystals, which is a new synthesis strategy for trimetallic catalysts; (4) a sophisticated construction of Au islands on Pt Ni, which is an ideal trimetallic nanoframe catalyst. This thesis inspires researchers working in materials, catalysis as well as other interdisciplinary areas.

Most textbooks explain quantum mechanics as a story where each step follows naturally from the one preceding it. However, the development of quantum mechanics was exactly the opposite. It was a zigzag route, full of personal disputes where scientists were forced to abandon well-established classical concepts and to explore new and imaginative pathways. Some of the explored routes were successful in providing new mathematical formalisms capable of predicting experiments at the atomic scale. However, even such successful routes were painful enough, so that relevant scientists like Albert Einstein and Erwin Schroedinger decided not to support them. In this book, the authors demonstrate the huge practical utility of another of these routes in explaining quantum phenomena in many different research fields. Bohmian mechanics, the formulation of the quantum theory pioneered by Louis de Broglie and David Bohm, offers an alternative mathematical formulation of quantum phenomena in terms of quantum trajectories. Novel computational tools to explore physical scenarios that are currently computationally inaccessible, such as many-particle solutions of the Schroedinger equation, can be developed from it.

The very first major reference text on this topic, this book provides a unique collection of articles reviewing the state of the art in the field. It gives particular emphasis to emerging technologies, from bioengineering and bio-tissues to nanotechnology. The integration of the different topics is presented via a combination of theoretical and applied methodology to provide a self-contained major reference that is appealing to both the scientist and the engineer.

This book brings together the recent cutting-edge work on computational methods in photonics and their applications. The latest advances in techniques such as the Discontinuous Galerkin Time Domain method, Finite Element Time Domain method, Finite Difference Time Domain method as well as their applications are presented. Key aspects such as modelling of non-linear effects (Second Harmonic Generation, lasing in fibers, including gain nonlinearity in metamaterials), the acousto-optic effect, and the hydrodynamic model to explain electron response in nanoplasmonic structures are included. The application areas covered include plasmonics, metamaterials, photonic crystals, dielectric waveguides, fiber lasers. The chapters give a representative survey of the corresponding area.

This thesis reports a major breakthrough in discovering the superconducting mechanism in CeCoIn5, the "hydrogen atom" among heavy fermion compounds. By developing a novel theoretical formalism, the study described herein succeeded in extracting the crucial missing element of superconducting pairing interaction from scanning tunneling spectroscopy experiments. This breakthrough provides a theoretical explanation for a series of puzzling experimental observations, demonstrating that strong magnetic interactions provide the quantum glue for unconventional superconductivity. Additional insight into the complex properties of strongly correlated and topological materials was provided by investigating their non-equilibrium charge and spin transport properties. The findings demonstrate that the interplay of magnetism and disorder with strong correlations or topology leads to complex and novel behavior that can be exploited to create the next generation of spin electronics and quantum computing devices.

This second volume of the series Lecture Notes in Applied and Computational Mechanics is the second part of the compendium of reviewed articles presented at the 11th EUROMECH-MECAMAT conference entitled "Mechanics of microstructured solids: cellular materials, fibre reinforced solids and soft tissues," which took place in Torino (Italy) in March 10-14, 2008, at the Museo Regional delle Scienze. This EUROMECH-MECAMAT conference was jointly organized by the Dipartimento di Matematica dell'Universita di Torino, Italy and the INPL Institute (LEMTA, Nancy-Universite, France). Prof. Franco Pastrone and Prof. Jean-Francois Ganghoffer were the co-chairmen.

Fourth volume of a 40volume series on nano science and nanotechnology, edited by the renowned scientist Challa S.S.R. Kumar. This handbook gives a comprehensive overview about Surface Science Tools for Nanomaterials Characterization. Modern applications and state-of-the-art techniques are covered and make this volume an essential reading for research scientists in academia and industry.

This book traces the quest to use nanostructured media for novel and improved optoelectronic devices. Starting with the invention of the heterostructure laser, the progression via thin films to quasi zero-dimensional quantum dots has led to novel device concepts and tremendous improvements in device performance. Along the way sophisticated methods of material preparation and characterization have been developed. Novel physical phenomena have emerged and are now used in devices such as lasers and optical amplifiers. Leading experts - among them Nobel laureate Zhores Alferov - write here about the fundamental concepts behind nano-optoelectronics, the material basis, physical phenomena, device physics and systems.

A dense sheet of electrons accelerated to close to the speed of light can act as a tuneable mirror that can generate bright bursts of laser-like radiation in the short wavelength range simply via the reflection of a counter-propagating laser pulse. This thesis investigates the generation of such a relativistic electron mirror structure in a series of experiments accompanied by computer simulations. It is shown that such relativistic mirror can indeed be created from the interaction of a high-intensity laser pulse with a nanometer-scale, ultrathin foil. The reported work gives a intriguing insight into the complex dynamics of high-intensity laser-nanofoil interactions and constitutes a major step towards the development of a relativistic mirror, which could potentially generate bright burst of X-rays on a micro-scale.

Size effect in structures has been taken into consideration over the last years. In comparison with coatings with micrometer-ranged thickness, nanostructured coatings usually enjoy better and appropriate properties, such as strength and resistance. These coatings enjoy unique magnetic properties and are used with the aim of producing surfaces resistant against erosion, lubricant system, cutting tools, manufacturing hardened sporadic alloys, being resistant against oxidation and corrosion.

This book reviews researches on fabrication and classification of nanostructured coatings with focus on size effect in nanometric scale. Size effect on electrochemical, mechanical and physical properties of nanocoatings are presented.

This book presents an overview of the ways in which the latest experimental and theoretical nanotechnologies are serving the fields of biotechnology, medicine, and biomaterials. They not only enhance the efficiency of common therapeutics and lower their risks, but thanks to their specific properties, they also provide new capabilities. Nano-scale measurement techniques, such as nano-indentation and nano-scratch methods, could potentially be used to characterize the physical and mechanical properties of both natural tissues and synthetic biomaterials in terms of strength and durability.

This book presents an in-depth discussion on molecular electronics in an easy-to-understand manner, aiming at chemists, computer scientists, surface scientists, physicists, and applied mathematicians. Lighter overviews are provided for the science-minded layperson and the high tech entrepreneur in this nanoscale science. The author has included a detailed synthetic chemistry treasure chest, protocols of self-assembling routes for bottom-up fabrication atop silicon platforms, representative currentvoltage and memory readouts from molecular devices, and overviews of present architectural and mathematical approaches to programming molecular computing machines. The investment and commercial insertion landscape is painted along with a "Who's Who" in the molecular electronics business space. Advice and forewarnings are provided in a practical yet witty manner for the aspiring academic corporate founder and the business CEO wannabe seeking to establish a high tech company while wading through the idiosyncratic morass of university personalities and university-owned intellectual property.

Tian Lu's dissertation describes major advances in ultrathin-layer chromatography (UTLC), liquid chromatography and surface-assisted laser desorption ionization (SALDI), and matrix-enhanced SALDI (ME-SALDI) mass spectrometry. Lu describes the fabrication of electrospun polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) UTLC plates using an in-situ crosslinking electrospinning technique. The author improved the efficiency of PVA plates greatly compared to the efficiency of silica HPTLC plates. Also highlighted in this thesis is an edge-plane based ordered-carbon surface that provides unique selectivity in liquid chromatography. Further developments include polar analytes, such as amino acids, nucleotides and nucleosides which can be well-retained and separated in the edge-plane ordered-carbon stationary phase. Also, the author studied and detected mass spectra of organic polymers as high as 900,000 Da, the highest molecular weight that has been studied by SALDI to date using the carbon nanofibrous substrate. This thesis has led to a number of publications in high-impact journals.