This book provides a comprehensive introduction to a recently-developed approach to the growth mechanism of thin films and nanostructures via chemical vapour deposition (CVD). Starting from the underlying principles of the low pressure synthesis of diamond films, it is shown that diamond growth occurs not by individual atoms but by charged nanoparticles. This newly-discovered growth mechanism turns out to be general to many CVD and some physical vapor deposition (PVD) processes. This non-classical crystallization is a new paradigm of crystal growth, with active research taking place on growth in solution, especially in biomineralization processes. Established understanding of the growth of thin films and nanostructures is based around processes involving individual atoms or molecules. According to the author’s research over the last two decades, however, the generation of charged gas phase nuclei is shown to be the rule rather than the exception in the CVD process, and charged gas phase nuclei are actively involved in the growth of films or nanostructures. This new understanding is called the theory of charged nanoparticles (TCN). This book describes how the non-classical crystallization mechanism can be applied to the growth of thin films and nanostructures in gas phase synthesis. Based on the author’s graduate lecture course, the book is aimed at senior undergraduate and graduate students and researchers in the field of thin film and nanostructure growth or crystal growth. It is hoped that a new understanding of the growth processes of thin films and nanostructures will reduce trial-and-error in research and in industrial fabrication processes.

This book provides an overview of chemical vapor deposition (CVD) methods and recent advances in developing novel materials for application in various fields. CVD has now evolved into the most widely used technique for growth of thin films in electronics industry. Several books on CVD methods have emerged in the past, and thus the scope of this book goes beyond providing fundamentals of the CVD process. Some of the chapters included highlight current limitations in the CVD methods and offer alternatives in developing coatings through overcoming these limitations.

Nano-sized Multifunctional Materials: Synthesis, Properties and Applications explores how materials can be down-scaled to nanometer-size in order to tailor and control properties. These advanced, low-dimensional materials, ranging from quantum dots and nanoparticles, to ultra-thin films develop multifunctional properties. As well as demonstrating how down-scaling to nano-size can make materials multifunctional, chapters also show how this technology can be applied in electronics, medicine, energy and in the environment. This fresh approach in materials research will provide a valuable resource for materials scientists, materials engineers, chemists, physicists and bioengineers who want to learn more on the special properties of nano-sized materials. - Outlines the major synthesis chemical process and problems of advanced nanomaterials - Shows how multifunctional nanomaterials can be practically used in biomedical area, nanomedicine, and in the treatment of pollutants - Demonstrates how the properties of a variety of materials can be engineered by downscaling them to nano size

Offering thorough coverage of atomic layer deposition (ALD), this book moves from basic chemistry of ALD and modeling of processes to examine ALD in memory, logic devices and machines. Reviews history, operating principles and ALD processes for each device.

"This book gives an introduction to self-assembly, classical crystallization, colloidal crystals, and mesocrystals. - This book will be of value to scientists involved with crystallization, materials science, self-assembly, colloid science, nanosciences, biomineralization, and graduate students of material science."--Jacket.

Since the size, shape, and microstructure of nanocrystalline materials strongly impact physical and chemical properties, the development of new synthetic routes to nanocrystals with controlled composition and morphology is a key objective of the nanomaterials community. This objective is dependent on control of the nucleation and growth mechanisms that occur during the synthetic process, which in turn requires a fundamental understanding of both classical nucleation and growth and non-classical growth processes in nanostructured materials. Recently, a novel growth process called Oriented Attachment (OA) was identified which appears to be a fundamental mechanism during the development of nanoscale materials. OA is a special case of aggregation that provides an important route by which nanocrystals grow, defects are formed, and unique—often symmetry-defying—crystal morphologies can be produced. This growth mechanism involves reversible self-assembly of primary nanocrystals followed by reorientation of the assembled nanoparticles to achieve structural accord at the particle-particle interface, the removal of adsorbates and solvent molecules, and, finally, the irreversible formation of chemical bonds to produce new single crystals, twins, and intergrowths. Crystallization and Growth of Colloidal Nanocrystals provides a current understanding of the mechanisms related to nucleation and growth for use in controlling nanocrystal morphology and physical-chemical properties, and is essential reading for any chemist or materials scientist with an interest in using nanocrystals as building blocks for larger structures. This book provides a compendium for the expert reader as well as an excellent introduction for advanced undergraduate and graduate students seeking a gateway into this dynamic area of research.

Prepared as a textbook complete with problems after each chapter, specifically intended for classroom use in universities.