As nanotechnology has developed over the last two decades, some nanostructures, such as nanotubes, nanowires, and nanoparticles, have become very popular. However, recent research has led to the discovery of other, less-common nanoforms, which often serve as building blocks for more complex structures.
In an effort to organize the field, the
Handbook of Less-Common Nanostructures
presents an informal classification based mainly on the less-common nanostructures. A small nanotechnological encyclopedia, this book:
Describes a range of little-known nanostructures
Offers a unifying vision of the synthesis of nanostructures and the generalization of rare nanoforms
Includes downloadable resources with color versions of more than 100 nanostructures
Explores the fabrication of rare nanostructures, including modern physical, chemical, and biological synthesis techniques
The
discusses a classification system not directly related to the dimensionality and chemical composition of nanostructure-forming compounds or composite. Instead, it is based mainly on the less-common nanostructures. Possessing unusual shapes and high surface areas, these structures are potentially very useful for catalytic, medical, electronic, and many other applications.