Nature's Nanostructures

Natural nanomaterials and nanotechnologies are all around us, which inevitably leads to these questions: What are these natural nanomaterials made of? Where can we find them? What can they do? Answering these questions will facilitate new and environmentally friendly ways of creating and manipulating nanoscale materials for the next generation of new technologies. A truly multidisciplinary resource, this book brings together studies from astronomy, physics, chemistry, materials science, engineering, geology and geophysics, environmental science, agricultural science, entomology, molecular biology, and health and provides an invaluable resource for learning how various scientists approach similar problems.

Preface, H. B. Guo and A. S. BarnardNaturally Occurring Inorganic Nanoparticles: General Assessment and a Global budget for One of Earth’s Last Unexplored Major Geochemical Components, M. F. Hochella Jr., D. Aruguete, B. Kim, and A. S. MaddenUncovering the Physical and Chemical Properties of Nanominerals and Mineral Nanoparticles, R. L. PennNanostructures of Natural Iron Oxide Nanoparticles, H. Konishi, H. F. Xu, and H. B. GuoThermodynamic Modeling of FeS2, S. P. Russo and A. HungNoble Metal Nanoparticles in Ore Systems, R. Hough, M. Reich, and R. NobleDiamondoids, C. Bostedt, L. Landt, T. Möller, J. E. Dahl, and R. M. K. CarlsonRole of Nanopores in Regulating Reactivity and Transport of Uranium in Subsurface Sediments, H. F. XuBiomineralization of Natural Nanomaterials, J. Wu, J. M. Yao, and Y. R. CaiMagnetic Nanoparticles in Magnetosomes, A. Körnig and D. FaivreNanoscale Magnetoreceptors in Birds, I. A. Solov’yov and W. GreinerNucleation and Growth of Biomaterials: the Role of Simulations for Understanding, J. H. Harding, C. L. Freeman, D. Quigley, and P. M. RodgerPhotonic Crystals in Beetles, A. E. Seago and V. SaranathanNanoparticles That Are Out of This World, F. J. M. Rietmeijer and J. A. NuthLarge Molecules and Nanograins in Space, A. G. G. M. TielensNanoparticles in the Solar System, I. MannFormation and Growth of Atmospheric Aerosol Particles, T. Petäjä, M. Dal Maso, M. Sipilä, I. Riipinen, Veli-Matti Kerminen, and M. KulmalaEngineered Nanoparticles and the Environment: Inadvertently and Intentionally Produced, P. Biswas, W.-J. An, and W.-N. WangUltrafine Particles on and Near Roadways, Y. F. ZhuAllophane and Imogolite Nanoparticles in Soil and Their Environmental Applications, G. D. Yuan and S.-I. WadaTransformation of Engineered Nanostructures in the Natural Environment, P. Bhattacharya, E. Salonen, and P. C. Ke

Haibo Guo is a postdoctoral fellow and an early-career researcher at Virtual Nanoscience Laboratory (VNLab), led by Dr. Amanda Barnard. He received his BS in 2001 and PhD in 2006 from Tsinghua University, Beijing, China. His research interests include modeling and simulation of surfaces and interfaces in environmental and energy sciences. Amanda S. Barnard is leader of the Virtual Nanoscience Laboratory at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australia’s national science agency. She has a BSc and PhD in physics from RMIT University, Australia, and has held research positions at Argonne National Laboratory (USA) and the University of Oxford (UK). Using thermodynamic theory and first principles computer simulations, she is a pioneer in the mapping of nanomorphology and the environmental stability of nanomaterials (thermodynamic cartography) and in the development of structure/property relationships for predicting the reliability of nanoparticles in high-performance applications.