A Journey through the Nanoworld Self-Assembling Organic and Inorganic Materials

Nanomaterials have been part of our world for centuries, although it is only in the last thirty years that we have come to understand that the color of nanomaterials, for example, is tied directly to their size, opening up a new realm of discovery. By controlling the size of nanocrystals, chemists have joined forces with physicists and theorists to explore the extraordinary and unexpected properties of nanomaterials. In particular, these properties depend not only on the size of the nanomaterials but also on their shape and the way in which they are assembled into crystalline networks. This book traces the remarkable journey that led to this discovery. This journey into the nanoworld invites both budding scientists and anyone fascinated by advancements in science to explore a universe where no prior knowledge of chemistry or physics is required, only curiosity and a willingness to embrace unexpected discoveries across various scientific domains. This book emphasises how foundational concepts transcend scales, offering insights from the nano to the meter scale, and highlights the immense potential of the nanoworld to revolutionize biomedical studies paving the way for innovations.

Marie Paule Pileni is a pioneering force in nanotechnology, renowned for her groundbreaking and multidisciplinary research that has opened new frontiers in science. Her work focuses on nanocrystal self-assemblies into unique crystalline structures, revealing distinctive chemical and physical properties influenced by crystalline order, all while maintaining the intrinsic properties of the individual nanocrystals. In a recent breakthrough, Pileni demonstrated that these assemblies can form within tumours and persist even beyond cell death-a discovery patented in 2021, with promising implications for biomedicine. Pileni has authored over 450 scientific publications and holds the title of Grand Officer of the Legion of Honor.