Nanotechnologies

Nanotechnologies: Concepts, Processing and Applications
describes and explains how nanotechnologies have entered our
everyday lives through scientific and industrial applications with
the emphasis placed on the new perspectives in various fields
related to societal problems. This book details how successive
discoveries of new nanocarbon structures along with progress in
different microscopy techniques have caused nanomaterials to take
on an increasingly important role in electronics, electrochemical
energy storage - batteries and fuel cells - and the
electrical conversion of solar energy. Views once seen as
futuristic on nanomachines and nanorobotics, therapeutic hopes and
medical advances - such as those resulting from the
application of new in-situ drug-delivery nanotechniques - are
all presented.

The most innovative developments are analyzed in terms of
applications and should enable the reader to form his or her own
opinion about the reality of the progress that can be expected from
nanotechnologies in the near future. The book offers background
reading for teachers in colleges who wish to have an overview on
this subject.

Auteur

Pierre-Camille Lacaze is Professor Emeritus at Univerity Diderot, Paris 7, France.

Résumé
Nanotechnologies: Concepts, Processing and Applications describes and explains how nanotechnologies have entered our everyday lives through scientific and industrial applications with the emphasis placed on the new perspectives in various fields related to societal problems. This book details how successive discoveries of new nanocarbon structures along with progress in different microscopy techniques have caused nanomaterials to take on an increasingly important role in electronics, electrochemical energy storage batteries and fuel cells and the electrical conversion of solar energy. Views once seen as futuristic on nanomachines and nanorobotics, therapeutic hopes and medical advances such as those resulting from the application of new in-situ drug-delivery nanotechniques are all presented.
The most innovative developments are analyzed in terms of applications and should enable the reader to form his or her own opinion about the reality of the progress that can be expected from nanotechnologies in the near future. The book offers background reading for teachers in colleges who wish to have an overview on this subject.

Contenu

Preface xi

Acknowledgments xv

PART 1. CONCEPTS, DISCOVERIES AND THE RAPID DEVELOPMENT OF NANOTECHNOLOGIES1

Chapter 1. Nanotechnologies in Context: Social and Scientific Awareness of their Impact 3

1.1. Feynman, the visionary 3

1.2. Nanotechnologies and their definition 5

1.3. The consideration of nanotechnologies by scientific organizations 8

1.4. Bibliography 11

Chapter 2. The Rapid Expansion of Nanotechnology: New Ways of Observing the Infinitesimal and the Discovery of Carbonaceous Nanomaterials with Unusual Properties 13

2.1. Improving tools for observing the infinitesimal 15

2.1.1. Transmission electron microscopes 15

2.1.2. Scanning electron microscopes 18

2.1.3. Near-field microscopes 21

2.1.3.1. The tunnel-effect microscope (STM or scanning tunneling microscopy) 22

2.1.3.2. Atomic force microscopy 26

2.2. The discovery of new carbonaceous nanomaterials 28

2.2.1. Some basic concepts relative to the electronic structure of carbon and to the bonding rules between carbon atoms 29

2.2.1.1. The enigma of carbon atoms 29

2.2.1.2. Diamond or the perfect and unique tetrahedral chain of carbon atoms 31

2.2.1.3. Graphite or the intrusion of electrons in the assembly of carbon atoms 32

2.2.2. The fullerenes or graphite sheets rolled into a ball 34

2.2.3. Carbon nanotubes: tubes of graphite sheets 36

2.2.4. Graphene or graphite sheets39

2.2.4.1. The identification of graphene 39

2.2.4.2. Some remarkable electrical properties 41

2.2.4.3. Remarkable progress: solid, flexible and easily manipulated graphene paper 43

2.2.5. Link between conjugated carbonaceous nanomaterials 45

2.3. Conclusions 46

2.4. Bibliography 46

Chapter 3. Nanomaterials in All Their Forms: New Properties Due to the Confinement of Matter 49

3.1. The different types of nano-objects: main methods of preparation 50

3.1.1. Colloidal solutions of gold NPs 50

3.1.2. Hybrid and magnetic NPs (ferromagnetic fluids) 52

3.1.3. Semiconducting NPs (quantum dots) 54

3.1.4. Phospholipid vesicles and encapsulation by liposomes 58

3.1.5. Nanowires 60

3.2. Organizing nanoparticles into arrays 63

3.2.1. Self-assembly 64

3.2.1.1. Molecular self-assembly and the formation of nanometric networks 65

3.2.1.2. Self-assembly of NPs on solid surfaces 70

3.2.2. Assembling by ultrathin alumina membranes 74

3.2.3. Assembling by colloidal lithography 75

3.3. Conclusions 78

3.4. Bibliography 78

Chapter 4. Some Amazing Properties of Nanomaterials and of Their Assembly into Networks 81

4.1. The first effect of the confinement of matter: unusual catalytic and physicochemical properties 81

4.2. The optoelectronic properties of NPs due to confinement 82

4.2.1. Some concepts of physics that can be applied to solid materials 83

4.2.2. The plasmon resonance effect and the optical properties of gold NPs 85

4.2.3. Surface enhanced Raman scattering 87

4.2.4. The photothermic effect or how to heat up gold NPs 89

4.2.5. The optoelectronic properties of Quantum Dots 89

4.3. The amazing properties of NP networks or nanostructured surfaces 91

4.3.1. Wettability of structured surfaces 91

4.3.2. Optical properties 94

4.3.2.1. Photonic crystals 97

4.3.2.2. Waveguides 98

4.3.2.3. Qdot LASER diodes 100

4.3.2.4. Antireflective surfaces 105

4.3.2.5. Plasmonic crystals and the SERS effect 106

4.3.3. Nanoelectronics applied to the detection of trace elements: nanowire transistors 109

4.3.3.1. The operating principle of the FET sensor 110

4.3.3.2. An example of how it could be applied: detecting explosives 110

4.3.3.3. Electronic noses 113

4.4. Conclusions and perspectives 113

4.5. Bibliography 114 **PART 2. APPLICATION...