This self-confessed introduction provides technical administrators and managers with a broad, practical overview of the subject and gives researchers working in different areas an appreciation of developments in nanotechnology outside their own fields of expertise.

"Part of this book adapted from "Introduction aux nanosciences et aux nanotechnologies" published in France by Hermes Science/Lavoisier in 2006."

This book covers the basics of nanotechnology and provides a solid understanding of the subject. Starting from a brush-up of the basic quantum mechanics and materials science, the book helps to gradually build up understanding of the various effects of quantum confinement, optical-electronic properties of nanoparticles and major nanomaterials. The book covers the various physical, chemical and hybrid methods of nanomaterial synthesis and nanofabrication as well as advanced characterization techniques. It includes chapters on the various applications of nanoscience and nanotechnology. It is written in a simple form, making it useful for students of physical and material sciences.

The maturation of nanotechnology has revealed it to be a unique and distinct discipline rather than a specialization within a larger field. Its textbook cannot afford to be a chemistry, physics, or engineering text focused on nano. It must be an integrated, multidisciplinary, and specifically nano textbook. The archetype of the modern nano textbook

Tomorrow's nanoscientist will have a truly interdisciplinary and nano-centric education, rather than, for example, a degree in chemistry with a specialization in nanoscience. For this to happen, the field needs a truly focused and dedicated textbook. This full-color masterwork is such a textbook. It introduces the nanoscale along with the societal

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)

This compact introductory textbook in the emerging discipline of nano-science and nanotechnology, presents the fundamental principles and techniques to students of science and engineering. The book presents the information in a pedagogically sound manner, and is especially designed for students of M.Sc. (Physics) and M.Tech. courses in nanotechnology. With the increasing applications of nonoscience and nanotechnology in the areas of biotechnology, electronics, integrated circuits, chemistry, physics, materials science, etc. the study of nanostructured materials is also becoming a core part of undergraduate and postgraduate courses of many science and engineering disciplines. The book emphasizes the underlying concepts of nanomaterials with neatly drawn diagrams and illustrations. Modern applications are included to highlight the relevance and importance of nanoscience and nanotechnology in everyday life. The book should therefore be of interest to students of several disciplines of science and engineering as well as research scholars.