To the Reader /xiii

Nomenclature /xv

1 Introduction /1

1.1 Definitions /1

1.2 What Is Nanotechnology, and What Should We Expect from It? /2

1.3 Nanotechnology and Society /6

References /8

Bibliography /8

2 Low-Dimensional Structures /11

2.1 Brief Survey of Quantum Mechanics /12

2.2 Two-Dimensional Structures: Quantum Wells /14

2.3 One-Dimensional Structures: Quantum Wires and Nanowires /20

2.4 Zero-Dimensional Structures: Quantum Dots and Nanodots /25

2.5 Chapter Summary /28

References /29

Bibliography /29

3 Properties of Nanostructures /31

3.1 Band Diagrams /32

3.2 Electrical-Transport Properties /33

3.3 Thermal-Transport Properties /37

3.4 Magnetic Properties /39

3.5 Optical Properties /42

3.6 Mechanical Properties /47

3.7 Chapter Summary /49

References /50

Bibliography /51

4 Nanofabrication /53

4.1 Physical Vapor Deposition /53

4.2 Chemical Vapor Deposition /57

4.3 Atomic Layer Deposition /58

4.4 Molecular Beam Epitaxy /59

4.5 Nanolithography /60

4.6 Nano-imprint Lithography /63

4.7 Scanning Probe Lithography /63

4.8 Focused Ion-Beam Technique, Proton-Beam Writing, and Ion-Beam

    Sculpting /65

4.9 Self-Assembly, Self-Organization, and Self-Assembled

     Monolayers /67

4.10 Langmuir–Blodgett Method /68

4.11 Layer-by-Layer Assembly /70

4.12 Other Techniques /72

References /73

Bibliography /74

5 Characterization of Nanostructures and Nanomaterials /77

5.1 Electron Microscopy /77

5.2 Other Electron-Based Techniques /81

5.3 Spectroscopic Techniques /81

5.4 Scanning Probe Microscopy /85

5.5 Magnetic Resonance Techniques /86

5.6 Ion-Based Techniques (RBS, PIXE, ERDA, SIMS, NRA) /87

5.7 Other Techniques /90

References /92

Bibliography /93

6 Nanomaterials and Applications /95

6.1 Carbon Nanostructures /95

    6.1.1 Spherical fullerenes /95

    6.1.2 Carbon nanotubes /97

    6.1.3 Other carbonic nanomaterials /100

6.2 Porous Nanomaterials /101

    6.2.1 Porous Silicon /101

    6.2.2 Other Porous Nanomaterials /101

6.3 Sculptured Thin Films /105

6.4 Aerogels, etc. /108

6.5 Semiconductor Quantum Dots /112

6.6 Langmuir–Blodgett Films /115

6.7 Nanowires, Nanorods, and Nanopillars /117

6.8 Polymer Nanocomposites /121

References /124

Bibliography /126

7 Future Prospects /129

7.1 Avenues of Promise /129

7.2 The Evolution of Nanotechnology /130

7.3 Balancing of Risk /132

References /133

Bibliography /133

Index /135

To the Reader

Suppose that you recently graduated with a B.S. degree in science or engineering and will commence your first professional employment tomorrow. Earlier this afternoon, your manager called to ask if you know something about nanotechnology, so that tomorrow you can begin developing an internal proposal for your division. But either your college did not offer a course on nanotechnology or you decided not to take one. You need a crash course in nanotechnology, just to get you off the ground.

Suppose that you are a doctoral student in a department whose candidacy examination requires you to write a 5–10-page research proposal on an emerging topic assigned by the faculty committee. Suppose that your assigned topic intersects with nanotechnology, but all that you know about nanotechnology came from a couple of hour-long graduate seminars that you attended the previous semester. You need a crash course in nanotechnology, not only to write an impressive introduction but also to acquaint yourself with terminology to conduct efficient searches on Google Scholar, Web of Science, Scopus, etc.

Suppose that you are a post-doctoral researcher at either an academic or an industrial research institution. Your supervisor has asked you to advise a shining undergraduate student for a summer project in nanotechnology, although the focus of your own research is elsewhere. You need a crash course in nanotechnology, to start the student off in a promising direction.

Suppose that you are a new assistant professor. Your departmental head advises that your research proposal to a government program to assist new faculty members in beginning research programs lacks that “wow” factor that would virtually guarantee success. “Put in a nano angle,” you are told. You need a crash course in nanotechnology, to clothe your proposal in the glory of “nano.”

Suppose that you are a middle-aged professor undergoing a midlife crisis. Instead of changing your family or lifestyle, you may choose to change your research focus to an emerging research area. You need a crash course in nanotechnology, to assess your current resources and future needs.

With your particular need in mind, we persuaded SPIE Press to publish our short and readable introduction to nanotechnology. While Nanotechnology: A Crash Course is unlikely to convert you overnight into a nanostar, it would meet your immediate need and very likely help you steer your professional life in a new direction.

Suppose that you simply have some time on your hands and wish to enrich your mind. But your financial health does not permit you to travel to a remote part of our planet or to buy an audio or video course on an ancient civilization. You, too, may like to read Nanotechnology: A Crash Course. Borrow it from a public library, buy yourself a hard copy, or purchase it as an eBook from the SPIE Digital Library.

Raúl J. Martín-Palma
Akhlesh Lakhtakia
May 2010