Introduction to nanomaterials and nanotechnology

Special lecture course for bachelors, MSc, post-graduates and specialists in nanotechnology. Physics and chemistry of nanostructures or nanophysics and nanochemistry are relatively new areas of science arisen in last decade of past century after discovery of fullerenes and nanotubes. It is introduction into more extent interdisciplinary integrated modern science known now as nanotechnology rapidly developing. At this stage of growing knowledge authors have shortly outlined the subject and classifications of nanostructures, interesting milestones, main principles, methods, techniques, as well as general directions of future perspective research to be a guideline in a see of modern research. Main mechanisms of physico-chemical processes affected formation of nanostructured materials and their properties are clearly expressed, in particular, a dielectric permittivity as a principal characteristic of electric, magnetic, acoustic, optic transparency, superconducting, and other properties of nanoceramics and nanometals. The peculiar properties of nanostructures are emphasized to be result of size effects, external and internal, classical and quantum ones, that arise in zero-dimensional quantum dots, one-dimensional wires, and two-dimensional layers. Numerous applications are considered including microlasers, photonic crystals, probe microscopy, left-handed materials with negative refraction index, etc. Novel idea is advanced that new discovery of novel fundamental laws, phenomena and applied effects are possible only in artificially fabricated nanostructures with new effect theoretically predicted and designed in advance. Content of the course covers the types, classification and peculiarities of nanostructures, size effects, synthesis and growth, fullerenes, nanotubes, microlasers, photonics, scanning probe microscopy, nanomanipulation, etc. The course is based on the lectures given during several years for students of Kiev National University (Ukraine), Tartu University and Tallinn Technical University (Estonia). RAK/NSF Meede 1.1 Project has supported this work. Also Estonian Science foundation grants no. 6658,6537, 6660 and Ukraine Nanotechnology Science Foundation. Estonian Nanotechnology Competence Center projects were also engaged to this work