Expectations of a technological revolution are associated with nanotechnology, and indeed the generation, modification and utilization of objects with tiniest dimensions already permeates science and research in a way that the absence of nanotechnology is no longer conceivable. It has progressed to an independent interdisciplinary field, its great success due to the purposeful combination of physical, mechanical and molecular techniques. This book starts out with the most important fundamentals of microtechnology and chemistry on which the understanding of shaping nanoscale structures are based. Next, a variety of examples illustrate the fabrication of nanostructures from different materials, before, finally, methods for characterization of the generated structures are presented. This fascinating introduction provides both scientists and engineers with insights into the «other side» of nanotechnology.
Expectations of a technological revolution are associated with nanotechnology, and indeed the generation, modification and utilization of objects with tiniest dimensions already permeates science and research in a way that the absence of nanotechnology is no longer conceivable. It has progressed to an independent interdisciplinary field, its great success due to the purposeful combination of physical, mechanical and molecular techniques. This book starts out with the most important fundamentals of microtechnology and chemistry on which the understanding of shaping nanoscale structures are based, then a variety of examples illustrate the fabrication of nanostructures from different materials. Subsequently, methods for characterization of the generated structures are presented to the reader. Through this fascinating introduction, both scientists and engineers gain insights into the «other side» of nanotechnology.
Adopting a novel approach, this book provides a unique «molecular perspective» on plasmonics, concisely presenting the fundamentals and applications in a way suitable for beginners entering this hot field as well as for experienced researchers and practitioners. It begins by introducing readers to the optical effects that occur at the nanoscale and particularly their modification in the presence of biomolecules, followed by a concise yet thorough overview of the different methods for the actual fabrication of nanooptical materials. Further chapters address the relevant nanooptics, as well as the various approaches to combining nanostructures and biomolecules to achieve certain desired functionalities for applications in the fields of probing, sensing and particle manipulation. For analytical biologists, physical chemists, materials scientists and medicinal chemists.