Cubes, triangular prisms, nano-acorn, nano-centipedes, nanoshells, nano-whiskers. . . . Now that we can create nanoparticles in a wide variety of shapes and morphologies, comes the next challenge: finding ways to organize this collection of particles into larger and more complex systems. Nanoparticle Assemblies and Superstructures, edit

Many of the devices and systems used in modern industry are becoming progressively smaller and have reached the nanoscale domain. Nanofabrication aims at building nanoscale structures, which can act as components, devices, or systems, in large quantities at potentially low cost. Nanofabrication is vital to all nanotechnology fields, especially for the realization of nanotechnology that involves the traditional areas across engineering and science. Includes chapters covering the most important Nanofabrication techniques, which aids comprehensive understanding of the latest manufacturing technologies encountered in the field of nano-level manufacturing which is essential for preparing for advanced study and application in nanofabrication techniques by enabling thorough understanding of the entire nanofabrication process as it applies to advanced electronic and related manufacturing technologies Each chapter covers a nanofabrication technique comprehensively, which allows the reader to learn to produce nanometer-level products as well as collect, process, and analyze data, improve process parameters, and how to assist engineers in research, development and manufacture of the same Includes contributions from recognized experts from around the globe, making the reader aware of variations in similar techniques applied in different geographical locations and is better positioned to establish all possible global applications

The use of spontaneous self-assembly, as a lithographic tool and as an external field-free means to construct well-ordered and intriguing patterns, has received much attention. This book offers a spectrum of experimental and theoretical advances in evaporative self-assembly techniques.

Serving as the only systematic and comprehensive treatment on the topic of nanoparticle-based materials, this book covers synthesis, characterization, assembly, shaping and sintering of all types of nanoparticles including metals, ceramics, and semiconductors. A single-authored work, it is suitable as a graduate-level text in nanomaterials courses.

Metal Oxide Nanoparticles in Organic Solvents discusses recent advances in the chemistry involved for the controlled synthesis and assembly of metal oxide nanoparticles, the characterizations required by such nanoobjects, and their size and shape depending properties. In the last few years, a valuable alternative to the well-known aqueous sol-gel processes was developed in the form of nonaqueous solution routes. Metal Oxide Nanoparticles in Organic Solvents reviews and compares surfactant- and solvent-controlled routes, as well as providing an overview of techniques for the characterization of metal oxide nanoparticles, crystallization pathways, the physical properties of metal oxide nanoparticles, their applications in diverse fields of technology, and their assembly into larger nano- and mesostructures. Researchers and postgraduates in the fields of nanomaterials and sol-gel chemistry will appreciate this book’s informative approach to chemical formation mechanisms in relation to metal oxides.

While significant effort has been made to synthesize molecular wires for electronic applications, the ability to insert these molecules between two metallic contacts with directional control has yet to be demonstrated. Control over molecular orientation is critical to the development of molecular devices such as diodes, capacitors and transistors. In this study, directional control is achieved using orthogonal self-assembly to synthesize electronic junctions between nanoparticles of different compositions. Phenyl ethynylene oligomers were synthesized with different end groups. One molecule was functionalized with a thiol which exhibits preferential binding to gold and an isocyanide which exhibits preferential binding to platinum. The other was functionalized with a thiol for binding to gold and a carboxylic acid which exhibits preferential binding to metal oxides. One of the major challenges of this work was the synthesis of nanoparticle building blocks that were suitable for the formation of these heterodimeric structures. Metal and metal oxide particles were synthesized with capping ligands that provided stability yet did not sterically hinder heterodimer formation. Once appropriate nanoparticles had been identified, preliminary studies indicated heterodimer formation. However, characterizing these structures presented additional challenges. Several characterization techniques, including transmission electron microscopy (TEM), size-exclusion chromatography (SEC), several types of electrophoresis and small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS), were evaluated for their ability to characterize these structures with statistical accuracy. While all of these techniques did indicate the presence of dimers or larger aggregates in solution, accurate statistical information was not obtained using any single method.