Introduction to Nanotechnology

xii PREFACE
covering a wide variety of subjects ranging from the chemistry of the catalysis of
nanoparticles, to the physics of the quantum dot laser. As a result researchers in
any one particular area need to reach beyond their expertise in order to appreciate
the broader implications of nanotechnology, and learn how to contribute to this
exciting new field. Technical managers, evaluators, and those who must make
funding decisions will need to understand a wide variety of disciplines. Although
this book was originally intended to be an introduction to nanotechnology, due to
the nature of the field it has developed into an introduction to selected topics in
nanotechnology, which are thought to be representative of the overall field. Because
of the rapid pace of development of the subject, and its interdisciplinary nature, a
truly comprehensive coverage does not seem feasible. The topics presented
here were chosen based on the maturity of understanding of the subjects, their
potential for applications, or the number of already existing applications. Many of
the chapters discuss present and future possibilities. General references are included
for those who wish to pursue fiuther some of the areas in which this technology
is moving ahead.
We have attempted to provide an introduction to the subject of nanotechnology
written at a level such that researchers in different areas can obtain an appreciation
of developments outside their present areas of expertise, and so that technical
administrators and managers can obtain an overview of the subject. It is possible that
such a book could be used as a text for a graduate course on nanotechnology. Many
of the chapters contain introductions to the basic physical and chemical principles of
the subject area under discussion, hence the various chapters are self contained, and
may be read independently of each other. Thus Chapter 2 begins with a brief
overview of the properties of bulk materials that need to be understood if one is to
appreciate how, and why, changes occur in these materials when their sizes approach
a billionth of a meter. An important impetus that caused nanotechnology to advance
so rapidly has been the development of instrumentation such as the scanning
tunneling microscope that allows the visualization of the surfaces of nanometer
sized materials. Hence Chapter 3 presents descriptions of important instrumentation
systems, and provides illustrations of measurements on nano materials. The
remaining chapters cover various aspects of the field.
One of us (CPP) would like to thank his son Michael for drawing several dozen
of the figures that appear throughout the book, and his grandson Jude Jackson
for helping with several of these figures. We appreciate the comments of
Prof. Austin Hughes on the biology chapter. We have greatly benefited from the
information found in the five volume Handbook of Nanostructured Materials and
Nanotechnology edited by H. S. Nalwa, and in the book Advanced Catalysis
and Nanostructured Materials edited by W. R. Moser, both from Academic Press.