Foundations for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology

Do you ever wonder why size is so important at the scale of nanosystems? Do you want to understand the fundamental principles that govern the properties of nanomaterials? Do you want to establish a foundation for working in the field of nanoscience and nanotechnology? Then this book is written with you in mind. Foundations for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology provides some of the physical chemistry needed to understand why properties of small systems differ both from their constituent molecular entities and from the corresponding bulk matter. This is not a book about nanoscience and nanotechnology, but rather an exposition of basic knowledge required to understand these fields. The collection of topics makes it unique, and these topics include: The concept of quantum confinement and its consequences for electronic behaviour (Part II) The importance of surface thermodynamics for activity and interactions of nanoscale systems (Part III) The need to consider fluctuations as well as mean properties in small systems (Part IV) The interaction of light with matter and specific applications of spectroscopy and microscopy (Part V) This book is written for senior undergraduates or junior graduate students in science or engineering disciplines who wish to learn about or work in the areas of nanoscience and nanotechnology, but who do not have the requisite background in chemistry or physics. It may also be useful as a refresher or summary text for chemistry and physics students since the material is focused on those aspects of quantum mechanics, thermodynamics, and statistical mechanics that specifically relate to the size of objects.

Part I: Introduction Why Study the Foundations for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology? Part II: The Postulates of Quantum Mechanics Time-Dependent and Time-Independent Schrödinger Equations Solving the Time-Independent Schrödinger Equation Applicationsto Systems with Many Electrons Part III: Understanding Surface Thermodynamics The Basics of Thermodynamics Surface Thermodynamics The Work Function Understanding Interactions Between Surfaces Part IV: Understanding Fluctuations in Small Systems Basic Statistical Concepts Partition Functions Fluctuationsin Closed and Open Systems Measuring Concentration Changes Part V: Understanding Light-Matter Interactions The Principles of Absoption and Emission of Light Molecular Spectroscopy Application of Fluorescence Microscopy Optical Propertiesof Relevanceto Nanomaterials Epilogue and Acknowledgments Part VI: Problems and References Problems References

Nils O. Petersen was the Director of the National Institute for Nanotechnology in Canada for seven years and a professor of chemistry and biochemistry for 34 years. He has worked in the nanoscale field since 1972, specifically with lipid and cell membranes, and has taught courses in quantum mechanics, thermodynamics, spectroscopy, and membrane biophysics. The content of this book arises in part from a course provided for junior graduate students engaged in nanoscience and nanotechnology research at the University of Alberta.