Nanostructured materials nanomaterials

Hydrogen interaction with the carbon nanostructural materials (nanotubes, nanofibers, fullerenes C60 and C70 has been intensively studied over the last years. A developed surface of nanotubes and nanofibers induced a considerable applied interest aimed at hydrogen storage and reduced consumption of organic fuel in modem industry. For the academic studies, of interest is the nature of the hydrogen interaction with the carbon nanomaterials. 

Catalysts were some of the first nanostructured materials applied in industry, and many of the most important catalysts used today are nanomaterials. These are usually dispersed on the surfaces of supports (carriers), which are often nearly inert platforms for the catalytically active structures. These structures include metal complexes as well as clusters, particles, or layers of metal, metal oxide, or metal sulfide. The solid supports usually incorporate nanopores and a large number of catalytic nanoparticles per unit volume on a high-area internal surface (typically hundreds of square meters per cubic centimeter). A benefit of the high dispersion of a catalyst is that it is used effectively, because a large part of it is at a surface and accessible to reactants. There are other potential benefits of high dispersion as well— nanostructured catalysts have properties different from those of the bulk material, possibly including unique catalytic activities and selectivities. 

The synthesis, characterization and properties of nanomaterials have become very active areas of research in the last few years. In particular, nanostructured materials assembled by means of supramolecular organization offer many exciting possibilities. These include self-assembled monolayers and multilayers with different functionalities, intercalation in preassembled layered hosts and inorganic three-dimensional networks. The reader is referred to the special issue of Chemistry of Materials91 for an overview of present day interests. There are many recent reviews on the varied aspects of nanomaterials. The work of Alivisatos92 on the structural transitions, elec-... 

Raw nanomaterials Nanoparticle coatings Nanocrystalline materials Nanostructured materials Cyclic peptides Dendrimers Detoxification agents Fullerenes... 

The bottom-up approach represents the concept of constructing a nanomaterial from basic building elements, that is, atoms or molecules. This approach illustrates the possibility of creating materials of SEs with exactly the properties desired. The second approach, the top-down method, involves restructuring a bulk material in order to create a nanostructure. Inert gas condensation, considered a bottom-up technique, was the first method used to intentionally construct a nanostructured material, and has become a widespread means of producing nanostructured metals, alloys, intermetallics, ceramic oxides, and composites... 

Nanomaterials energy and applications As nanocrystals and nanotubes are better understood, it becomes possible to rationally design nano-structured materials for specific purposes. This area includes both chemical synthesis and physical properties of nanostructured materials incorporating fullerenes, organic conductive polymers, and inorganic nanostructures. A central goal is composite materials for solar energy utilization—new types of solar cells. 

As the rapid development of nanostructured materials continues, this book illustrates the impact of this class of materials on performance improvements of alternative energy devices, particularly those based on electrochemical processes. The authors make a powerful case for nanomaterials and nanotechnology as a way to transform such alternative energy sources into significant contributors to the future global energy mix. 

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