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.

From the reviews: "...A class in nanoscale science and technology is daunting for the educator, who must organize a large collection of materials to cover the field, and for the student, who must absorb all the new concepts. This textbook is an excellent resource that allows students from any engineering background to quickly understand the foundations and exciting advances of the field. The example problems with answers and the long list of references in each chapter are a big plus for course tutors. The book is organized into seven sections. The first, nanoscale fabrication and characterization, covers nanolithography, self-assembly, and scanning probe microscopy. Of these, we enjoyed the section on nanolithography most, as it includes many interesting details from industrial manufacturing processes. The chapter on self-assembly also provides an excellent overview by introducing six types of intermolecular interactions and the ways these can be employed to fabricate nanostructures. The second section covers nanomaterials and nanostructures. Out of its 110 pages, 45 are devoted to carbon nanotubes. Fullerenes and quantum dots each have their own chapter that focuses on the properties and applications of these nanostructures. Nanolayer, nanowire, and nanoparticle composites of metals and semiconductors are briefly covered (just 12 pages), with slightly more discussion of specific applications. The section on nanoscale electronics begins with a history of microelectronics before discussing the difficulties in shrinking transistor size further. The discussion of problems (leakage current, hot electrons, doping fluctuations, etc.) and possible solutions (high- k dielectrics, double-gate devices) could easily motivate deeper discussions of nanoscale electrical transport. A chapter on molecular electronics considers transport through alkanes, molecular transistors, and DNA in a simple, qualitative manner we found highly instructive. Nanoscale magnetic systems are examined in the fourth section. The concept of quantum computation is nicely presented, although the discussion of how this can be achieved with controlled spin states is (perhaps necessarily) not clear. We found the chapter on magnetic storage to be one of the most lucid in the book. The giant magnetoresistive effect, operation of spin valves, and issues in magnetic scaling are easier to understand when placed in the context of the modern magnetic hard disk drive. Micro- and nanoelectromechanical systems are covered with an emphasis on the integration of sensing, computation, and communication. Here, the student can see advanced applications of lithography. The sixth section, nanoscale optoelectronics, describes quantum dots, organic optoelectronics, and photonic crystals. The chapter on organic optoelectronics is especially clear in its discussion of the fundamentals of this complicated field. The book concludes with an overview of nanobiotechnology that covers biomimetics, biomolecular motors, and nanofluidics. Because so many authors have contributed to this textbook, it suffers a bit from repetition. However, this also allows sections to be omitted without any adverse effect on student comprehension. We would have liked to see more technology to balance the science; apart from the chapters on lithography and magnetic storage, little more than an acknowledgment is given to commercial applications. Overall, this book serves as an excellent starting point for the study of nanoscale science and technology, and we recommend it to anyone with a modest scientific background. It is also a great vehicle to motivate the study of science at a time when interest is waning. Nanotechnology educators should look no further." (MATERIALS TODAY, June 2005)

Die Nanotechnologie ist ein relativ junges, stark aufstrebendes Forschungsgebiet. Durch seine ausgeprägte Interdisziplinarität müssen sich Absolventen der einzelnen naturwissenschaftlichen Fachrichtungen (etwa Physik, Chemie, Materialwissenschaften) gezielt weiterbilden, um in die Nanotechnologie einsteigen zu können. Als eines der ersten einschlägigen Bücher bereitet dieses Werk das Gebiet praxisorientiert und anschaulich speziell für diesen Zweck auf.

Contains lesson plans, activities, and reproducible pages for use in sixth through twelfth grade units on nanoscale science.

One-dimensional (1D) nanostructures, including nanowires, nanotubes and quantum wires, have been regarded as the most promising building blocks for nanoscale electronic and optoelectronic devices. This book presents exciting, state-of-the-art developments in synthesis and properties of 1D nanostructures with many kinds of morphologies and compositions as well as their considerable impact on spintronics, information storage, and the design of field-effect transistors.

From the reviews: "...A class in nanoscale science and technology is daunting for the educator, who must organize a large collection of materials to cover the field, and for the student, who must absorb all the new concepts. This textbook is an excellent resource that allows students from any engineering background to quickly understand the foundations and exciting advances of the field. The example problems with answers and the long list of references in each chapter are a big plus for course tutors. The book is organized into seven sections. The first, nanoscale fabrication and characterization, covers nanolithography, self-assembly, and scanning probe microscopy. Of these, we enjoyed the section on nanolithography most, as it includes many interesting details from industrial manufacturing processes. The chapter on self-assembly also provides an excellent overview by introducing six types of intermolecular interactions and the ways these can be employed to fabricate nanostructures. The second section covers nanomaterials and nanostructures. Out of its 110 pages, 45 are devoted to carbon nanotubes. Fullerenes and quantum dots each have their own chapter that focuses on the properties and applications of these nanostructures. Nanolayer, nanowire, and nanoparticle composites of metals and semiconductors are briefly covered (just 12 pages), with slightly more discussion of specific applications. The section on nanoscale electronics begins with a history of microelectronics before discussing the difficulties in shrinking transistor size further. The discussion of problems (leakage current, hot electrons, doping fluctuations, etc.) and possible solutions (high- k dielectrics, double-gate devices) could easily motivate deeper discussions of nanoscale electrical transport. A chapter on molecular electronics considers transport through alkanes, molecular transistors, and DNA in a simple, qualitative manner we found highly instructive. Nanoscale magnetic systems are examined in the fourth section. The concept of quantum computation is nicely presented, although the discussion of how this can be achieved with controlled spin states is (perhaps necessarily) not clear. We found the chapter on magnetic storage to be one of the most lucid in the book. The giant magnetoresistive effect, operation of spin valves, and issues in magnetic scaling are easier to understand when placed in the context of the modern magnetic hard disk drive. Micro- and nanoelectromechanical systems are covered with an emphasis on the integration of sensing, computation, and communication. Here, the student can see advanced applications of lithography. The sixth section, nanoscale optoelectronics, describes quantum dots, organic optoelectronics, and photonic crystals. The chapter on organic optoelectronics is especially clear in its discussion of the fundamentals of this complicated field. The book concludes with an overview of nanobiotechnology that covers biomimetics, biomolecular motors, and nanofluidics. Because so many authors have contributed to this textbook, it suffers a bit from repetition. However, this also allows sections to be omitted without any adverse effect on student comprehension. We would have liked to see more technology to balance the science; apart from the chapters on lithography and magnetic storage, little more than an acknowledgment is given to commercial applications. Overall, this book serves as an excellent starting point for the study of nanoscale science and technology, and we recommend it to anyone with a modest scientific background. It is also a great vehicle to motivate the study of science at a time when interest is waning. Nanotechnology educators should look no further." (MATERIALS TODAY, June 2005)

A small revolution is remaking the world. The only problem is, we can’t see it. This book uses dazzling images and evocative descriptions to reveal the virtually invisible realities and possibilities of nanoscience. An introduction to the science and technology of small things, No Small Matter explains science on the nanoscale. Authors Felice C. Frankel and George M. Whitesides offer an overview of recent scientific advances that have given us our ever-shrinking microtechnology—for instance, an information processor connected by wires only 1,000 atoms wide. They describe the new methods used to study nanostructures, suggest ways of understanding their often bizarre behavior, and outline their uses in technology. This book explains the various means of making nanostructures and speculates about their importance for critical developments in information processing, computation, biomedicine, and other areas. No Small Matter considers both the benefits and the risks of nano/microtechnology—from the potential of quantum computers and single-molecule genomic sequencers to the concerns about self-replicating nanosystems. By making the practical and probable realities of nanoscience as comprehensible and clear as possible, the book provides a unique vision of work at the very boundaries of modern science.