Nanoscopic Materials

1: Introduction;

1.1: Clusters and nanoparticles;

1.2: Feynman's vision;2: Bulk and interface;

2.1: Gradients near surfaces;

2.2: The coordination number rules the game;

2.3: Surface science, a source of information;

for nanoscience 2.4: Particle size and microstrain;

2.5: Biomimetics: nature as a source of inspiration for strategies in nanotechnology;

3: Geometric structure, magic numbers, and coordination numbers of small clusters;

3.1: The consequences of the range of the radial potential energy function;

3.2: Magic numbers by geometric shells closing;

3.3: Magic numbers by electronic shells closing;

3.4: Cohesive energy and coordination number;

4: Electronic structure;

4.1: Discrete states versus band structure;

4.2: The effects of dimensionality and symmetry in quantum structures;

4.3: The nonmetal-to-metal transition;

4.4: Work function, ionisation potential and electron affinity;

4.5: Electronic structure of semiconductor and metal clusters;

4.6: A semiconductor quantum dot electronic device;

5: Magnetic properties;

5.1: A brief primer on magnetism;

5.2: The concept of frustration;

5.3: Magnetic properties of small clusters;

5.4: Ferromagnetic order in thin films and monoatomic chains;

5.5: Finite size effects in magnetic resonance detection;

6: Thermodynamics for finite size systems;

6.1: Limitations of macroscopic thermodynamics;

6.2: The basics of capillarity;

6.3: Phase transitions of free liquid droplets;

6.4: The Lotus effect;

6.5: Classical nucleation theory;

6.6: Shape control of nanocrystals;

6.7: Size effects on ion conduction in solids;

6.8: Principles of self-assembly;

7: Adsorption, phase behaviour and dynamics of surface layers and in pores;

7.1: Surface adsorption and pore condensation;

7.2: Adsorption hysteresis and pore criticality;

7.3: The melting point of pore-confined matter;

7.4: Layering transitions;

7.5: Liquid coexistence and ionic solutions in pores;

7.6: The effect of pressure;

7.7: Dynamics in pores;

8: Phase transitions and dynamics of clusters;

8.1: Melting point and melting enthalpy;

8.2: Dynamics of metal clusters;

9: Phase transitions of two-dimensional systems;

9.1: Melting of thin layers;

9.2: Structural phase transitions in thin layers;

9.3: Glass transition of a polymer thin film;

9.4: Surface alloy phases;

10: Catalysis by metallic nanoparticles;

10.1: Some general principles of catalysis by nanoparticles;

10.2: Size-controlled catalytic clusters;

10.3: Shape dependent catalytic activity;

10.4: The effect of strain;

10.5: The effect of alloying;

10.6: Metal-support interaction;

10.7: The influence of external bias voltage;

11: Applications: facts and fictions;

11.1: Nanomaterials;

11.2: Nanotechnology;

11.3: Hopes, hazards and hype;