Nanoscale Science and Technology - Hardcover

Robert W. Kelsall; Ian Hamley; Mark Geoghegan

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0470850868 ISBN 13: 9780470850862

Publisher: Wiley, 2005

Synopsis

Nanotechnology is a vital new area of research and development addressing the control, modification and fabrication of materials, structures and devices with nanometre precision and the synthesis of such structures into systems of micro- and macroscopic dimensions. Future applications of nanoscale science and technology include motors smaller than the diameter of a human hair and single-celled organisms programmed to fabricate materials with nanometer precision. Miniaturisation has revolutionised the semiconductor industry by making possible inexpensive integrated electronic circuits comprised of devices and wires with sub-micrometer dimensions. These integrated circuits are now ubiquitous, controlling everything from cars to toasters. The next level of miniaturisation, beyond sub-micrometer dimensions into nanoscale dimensions (invisible to the unaided human eye) is a booming area of research and development. This is a very hot area of research with large amounts of venture capital and government funding being invested worldwide, as such Nanoscale Science and Technology has a broad appeal based upon an interdisciplinary approach, covering aspects of physics, chemistry, biology, materials science and electronic engineering. Kelsall et al present a coherent approach to nanoscale sciences, which will be invaluable to graduate level students and researchers and practising engineers and product designers.

About this title

Review

"...a refreshing work, a very readable introduction to nanotechnology..." (CHOICE, February 2006 )

" ...the book reads well (and) abounds with instructive diagrams ..." (Chemistry World, July 2005)

From the Author

Nanoscience and Technology is an area in the news at the moment. One moment we are about to be swamped by grey goo, the next we are going to be poisoned by nanoparticles. Yet the science advances and governments pour money into the area, industry prides itself on its nanotech patents to demonstrate the hi-tech nature of their products (L'Oréal claims the most). In many cases nanotech is a refinement of other technologies and is in truth incremental. In others their is a profound difference between the nanoscale and the macroscale : dimensionality changes the properties of semiconductors; surfaces become more important than bulk, and so on. In this book we describe the principles of nanoscience, from sample preparation to the methods used to study them. We consider the electronic properties of semiconductors in reduced dimensions and the new science surrounding carbon-based electronics. We treat nanomagnetism and nanomaterials, as well as self-assembly in bulk and at surfaces. We also consider bionanotechnology, perhaps the most exciting (and presently unrealised) area of nanoscience. The reader is assumed to have a degree level knowledge of a physical science and the material is treated by acknowledged experts in the fields in a logical pedagogic fashion, with many examples of the state of the art.

At Sheffield and Leeds Universities we collaborate on a highly successful Masters degree in Nanoscale Science and Technology. Although either Leeds or Sheffield could have set up this MSc on their own - they both have excellent reputations for the quality of their research - it was rightly believed that the complementary nature of their different expertise would lead to a better product. Being one of the first to teach nanoscience in Europe led to several requests for a book, which we were keen to do as this would provide an ideal text for the course.

The task of describing interdisciplinary science in a single text presents many challenges. The easiest way to produce a coherent volume is to use a single author . However, such an approach is usually inadequate for a subject like nanoscience, which requires much more breadth of knowledge than any one person can provide. Other writers may define nanoscience within a narrow area of their own particular interests, which does not emphasize the multidisciplinary nature of the subject. An alternative approach is to collect a team of experts to write the book, promoting the multidisciplinary nature of nanoscience and having sufficient expertise to present different subjects, but at the risk of repetition throughout the book and poor co-ordination.

We chose the second approach, with each chapter written by a different person or people, but we applied some brutal (on occasion!) editing to eliminate duplication, provide cross referencing, and achieve continuity of style and a strong sense of progression and continuity throughout the book. In otherwords, Nanoscale Science and Technology reads like a single-author text, but carries the combined authority and expertise of leading nanotechnology researchers distributed across two universities. We believe that it is an ideal text for postgraduate (MSc and PhD) students, nanotechnology researchers and also for final year science/engineering undergraduates who are taking a nanoscience option.

About this edition

• Publisher: Wiley
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 0470850868
• ISBN 13: 9780470850862
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 472