Given the rapid advances in the field, this book offers an up-to-date introduction to nanomaterials and nanotechnology. Though condensed into a relatively small volume, it spans the whole range of multidisciplinary topics related to nanotechnology. Starting with the basic concepts of quantum mechanics and solid state physics, it presents both physical and chemical synthetic methods, as well as analytical techniques for studying nanostructures. The size-specific properties of nanomaterials, such as their thermal, mechanical, optical and magnetic characteristics, are discussed in detail. The book goes on to illustrate the various applications of nanomaterials in electronics, optoelectronics, cosmetics, energy, textiles and the medical field and discusses the environmental impact of these technologies. Many new areas, materials and effects are then introduced, including spintronics, soft lithography, metamaterials, the lotus effect, the Gecko effect and graphene. The book also explains the functional principles of essential techniques, such as scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning near field optical microscopy (SNOM), Raman spectroscopy and photoelectron microscopy. In closing, Chapter 14, ‘Practicals’, provides a helpful guide to setting up and conducting inexpensive nanotechnology experiments in teaching laboratories.

This book highlights the implications of nanotechnology in plant sciences, particularly its potential to improve food and agricultural systems, through innovative, eco-friendly approaches, and as a result to increase plant productivity. Topics include various aspects of nanomaterials: biophysical and biochemical properties; methods of treatment, detection and quantification; methods of quantifying the uptake of nanomaterials and their translocation and accumulation in plants. In addition, the effects on plant growth and development, the role of nanoparticles in changes in gene and protein expression, and delivery of genetic materials for genetic improvement are discussed. It also explores how nanotechnology can improve plant protection and plant nutrition, and addresses concerns about using nanoparticles and their compliances. This book provides a comprehensive overview of the application potential of nanoparticles in plant science and serves as a valuable resource for students, teachers, researchers and professionals working on nanotechnology.

This book gives a summary of the rapidly growing field of nanotechnology and includes materials and technologies that help in developing particles of various sizes, which can be utilized in different areas of research. It discusses the role of nanotechnology in different aspects, such as healthcare, especially in target-specific drug therapy for managing a number of medical disorders; agriculture, for developing smart field systems; and food industry, for improving and stabilizing the quality, healthiness, and shelf life of food. Being multidisciplinary, this book brings together the principles, theory, practices, and applications of not only nanotechnology but also those of nanobiotechnology, pharmaceuticals, food packaging, biosensors, and electronic devices. The book will be an exhilarating read for advanced undergraduate- and graduate-level students, general readers interested in nanotechnology, and researchers in chemistry, biology, and engineering. The scope of the book extends from basic research in physics, chemistry, and biology, including computational work and simulations, through to the development of new devices and technologies for applications in a wide range of industrial sectors (including information technology, medicine, manufacturing, high-performance materials, and energy and environmental technologies). It covers organic, inorganic, and hybrid materials and is an interdisciplinary book.

Nanotechnology has the potential to revolutionize the agricultural and food industry with new tools for the molecular treatment of diseases, rapid disease detection, enhancing the ability of plants to absorb nutrients etc. Nanotechnology combines solid state physics, chemistry, electrical engineering, chemical engineering, biochemistry and biophysics, and materials science. It is a highly interdisciplinary area meaning that it involves ideas integrated from many traditional discipline. Nanotechnology (NT) is the production and use of materials with purposely engineered features close to the atomic or molecular scale. NT deals with putting things together atom by atom and with structures so small they are invisible to the naked eye. It provides the ability to create materials, devices and systems with fundamentally new functions and properties. The promise of NT is enormous. It has implications for almost every type of manufacturing process and product. Nanomaterials have extremely small size which having at least one dimension 100 nm or less. Nanomaterials can be nanoscale in one dimension (e.g. surface films), two dimensions (e.g. strands or fibres), or three dimensions (e.g. particles). They can exist in single, fused, aggregated or agglomerated forms with spherical, tubular, and irregular shapes. Common types of nanomaterials include nanotubes, dendrimers, quantum dots and fullerenes. Nanoparticle research is currently an area of intense scientific research, due to a wide variety of potential applications in biomedical, optical, and electronic fields. Nanoparticles are of great scientific interest as they are effectively a bridge between bulk materials and atomic or molecular structures. A bulk material should have constant physical properties regardless of its size, but at the nano-scale this is often not the case. This book introduces the reader to the world of nanotechnology by giving them in-depth details of different aspects of the field.

Enthusiasts look forward to a time when tiny machines reassemble matter and process information but is their vision realistic? 'Soft Machines' explains why the nanoworld is so different to the macro-world that we are all familar with and shows how it has more in common with biology than conventional engineering.