Properties, Fabrication Methods and Applications of Nanostructured Materials

Materials having at least one dimension in the range of 1-100 nm are referred to as nanostructured materials or nanomaterials. Some naturally occurring nanomaterials are milk, blood, nacre and cotton. Nanostructured materials engineered for specific purposes include carbon black and titanium dioxide nanomaterials. While carbon black finds extensive use in the tire industry, titanium dioxide is found in sunscreens and cement. On the basis of external dimensions, nanostructured materials can be classified into nanotubes, nanowires, fullerenes, etc. Manufacturing of nanomaterials involves application of various fields such as mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and materials science. The two most common approaches to produce nanomaterials are the top-down approach and bottom-up approach. This book outlines the processes and applications of nanostructured materials in detail. It includes some of the vital pieces of work being conducted across the world, on various topics related to nanostructured materials. As this field is emerging at a rapid pace, the contents of this book will help the readers understand the modern concepts and applications of the subject.