Contents:
Preface. Section 1: metal and Semiconductor Nanostructures. Semiconductor Nanocrystal Colloids. Injection and Transport of Spin Coherence in Semiconductors. Synthesis of Nanowires from Laser Ablation. Level Spacing in Small Clusters. A Phenomenological Model of Percolating Magnetic Nanostructures. Structure of nc-Si:H Films. Nano-Oxidation Kinetics of Titanium Nitride Films. Origin of Enhanced Photoluminescence in Si-Covered POPS. Spin Split Cyclotron Resonance in GaAs Quantum Wells. The Effect of Intermixing on Tensile-Strained Barriers GaAs/GaAsP Quantum Well Structure. Section 2: Carbon Nanostructures. Carbon Nanotubes: Interactions, Manipulation Electrical Properties and Devices. Mono-Sized Carbon Nanotubes in AFI Crystal. Preparation and Properties of Processible Polyacetylene-Wrapped Carbon Nanotubes. Electronic Structure of the Endohedral Metallofullerence Lu@C82. Localized-Density-Matrix Methods, and its Application to Carbon Nanotubes. CuC60 Interaction and Nano-composite Structures. Section 3: Functional Nanostructured Materials. Microstructures Particles for Electomagnetorheological (EMR) Application. Energy Barrier in the Quantum Nanomagnet: Mn12. The Percolation Model - the Tribological Mechaanism of Nanoparticle Filled Polymer Composites. Tribological Properties of Self-Assembled Monolayers. Nanosized Rare Earth Activated Phosphors. Properties of Co/Al2O3/Co Tunnel Junction with Co Nanoparticles Embedded in AL2O3. Investigations of GaN Blue Laser Semiconductor. Section 4: Nanocomposites. Layer-by-Layer Assembly: A Way for Multicomposite Ultrathin Films. Sol-Gel Preparation and luminescence Properties of Nano-structured Hybrid Materials Incorporated with Europium Complexes. Preparation of Narrowly Distributed Novel Stable and Soluble Polyacetylene Nanoparticles. Liquid Crystalline Behaviour of Polystyrene/Clay Nanocomposite. Luminscent Properties of Nano-structured Monolith Containing Rare Earth Complexes. Alternating LB Film of Ferric Oxide Nanoparticles-Copper Phthalocyanine Derivative and Its Gas Sensitivity. Photoconductive TiOPc Nanoparticles Embedded in Polymer Prepared from LPDR. Dielectric Properties of Au/SiO2 Nanostructured Composite Material. Author Index. Subject Index.

Currently, the reliance on fossil fuels raises concerns on the increasing global energy demand, the rapid anthropogenic climate changes and growing environmental problems. The grand challenge is to search for viable carbon-neutral sources of renewable energy. Nanomaterials are arguably the base that integrates nanotechnology, information technology, and biotechnology; the major drivers of technological development today. Over the past decades, the understanding of form-function relations surrounding nanomaterials has significantly brightened the prospects of the transition from fossil fuels to solar fuels. This book introduces the latest developments in nanomaterials aimed at the applications in clean energy areas. It overviews the close link between nanomaterials development and energy applications from the experience and perspective of the authors. It discusses the bottom-up synthesis and interface engineering of new materials of different dimensions and describes their applications in future energy devices such as secondary batteries, novel solar cells, luminescent devices, and water splitting electrolyzers. .

The development of nanostructured materials represents a new and fast evolving application of recent research in physics and chemistry. Novel experimental tools coupled with new theory have made this possible. Topics covered in this book include nanocrystals, semiconductor heterostructures, nanotubes, nanowires, and manipulation and fabrication techniques. The core of the book consists of ten lectures by five distinguished researchers, Paul Alivisatos, D.D. Awschalom, Sumio Iijima, Charles Lieber and Phaedon Avouris, presented at an Advanced Study Institute in Hong Kong in January 1999. It should interest materials physicists and chemists as well as materials scientists with an interest in the growth and characterisation of sophisticated materials.