Nanotechnology-Based Materials

Due to their unique electronic and chemical properties fullerenes have a tremendous potential as building blocks for molecular engineering, new molecular materials and supramolecular chemistry [54, 133], Many examples of fullerene derivatives (Section 14.1), which are promising candidates for nanotechnological or medical applications, have been synthesized already and even more exciting developments are expected. A detailed description of the potential of fullerene derivatives for technological applications would require an extra monograph. Since this book focuses on the chemical properties and the synthetic potential of fullerenes only a few concepts for fullerene based materials will be briefly presented. 

Fullerenes and their chemical compounds are perspective materials for application in nanotechnology, spintronics and single-electronics [1], Thus, the search of ways of high-speed, contactless, selective control of electron-optical properties of fullerene-based materials is actual problem. It is well known, that weak magnetic field (MF) with induction B < IT effectively influences electron-optical properties of some organic compounds (for instance, anthracene, tetracene, etc.) [2]. 

Coordination chemistry will continue to strengthen its role as a central expertise and discipline for materials science. It is critical to the development of new materials for nanoscience and nanotechnology. In materials science, light-driven processes are of enormous importance and processes based on molecular-level phenomena may provide the basis for photonics and information storage in the future. In catalysis, the use of metals will grow, particularly when control of asymmetric processes is mastered. 

Here we have presented a review of selected investigations of the fiillerene species where computational methods were especially productive and have attempted to elucidate prospective directions for fiiture researches. Interestingly, when the interest in fiillerenes seems to decrease, there always appear new topics which maintain the continuing interests of scientists. Such milestones have been the discovery of superconductivity, carbon nanotubes, and recent advances in applications of fiillerene-based materials in nanotechnology. 

Nanoscience refers to the study, the discovery and understanding of matter at the nanometric scale (2.1) where properties and phenomena associated with the size and stracture, unlike those associated with molecules individual atoms or base materials, can present themselves . ISO/TS 80004-1 2010, Title Nanotechnologies. Vocabulary. Part 1 Core terms. 

In the nanotechnology field, carbon-based materials and associated composites have received special attention both for fundamental and applicative research. In the first kind, carbon compounds may be included, often taking the form of a hollow spheres, ellipsoids, or mbes. Spherical and ellipsoidal carbon nanomaterials are referred to as fullerenes, while cylindrical ones are called nanombes and nanofibers. In the second class, one includes composite materials that combine carbon nanoparticles with other nanoparticles, or nanoparticles with large bulk-type materials. The unique properties of these various types of nanomaterials provide novel electrical, catalytic, magnetic, mechanical, thermal, and other features that are desirable for applications in commercial, medical, military, and enviromnental sectors. This is the case for conducting polymers (CPs) and carbon nanombes (CNTs) [1-5]. 

In summary, nanoparticles and polymers can form two distinct components in a composite with a diverse set of properties. The origin of these properties is distinctly different in the two components. One can tailor properties in composites by exploiting the various attributes. Nanoparticle-polymer composites demonstrate a synergistic approach to enhance efficiency in a variety of phenomena and in certain instances to achieve a complete set of novel properties. Considerable efforts to sort out issues such as processibility and stability should lead to the use of such combinations of materials as potential routes to many nanotechnology-based device applications. 

The connections between molecular level characteristics and the macroscopic properties of materials are not always easy to discern, but current research in materials science and computer modeling are advancing our ability to make them. In this chapter, we will introduce ideas that can be used to infer the molecular scale explanations of why materials behave the way they do. Along the way, we will be able to answer at least some of the questions we have raised about carbon-based materials and the emerging field of nanotechnology. 

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