– historical background – nature, scope and content of the subject – multidisciplinary aspects – industrial, economic and societal implications.
for investigating and manipulating materials in the nano scale – electron microscope – scanning probe microscope – optical and other microscopes – light scattering – x-ray diffraction.
Fullerenes – discovery, synthesis and purification – chemistry of fullerenes in the condensed phase – orientational ordering – pressure effects – conductivity and superconductivity – ferromagnetism – optical properties. Carbon Nanotubes – synthesis and purification – filling of nanotubes – mechanism of growth – electronic structure – transport properties – mechanical and physical properties – applications.
Self-assembled Monolayers – monolayers on gold – growth process – phase transitions – patterning monolayers – mixed monolayers – applications. Gas Phase Clusters – history of cluster science – formation and growth – detection and analysis – type and properties of clusters – bonding in clusters.
– synthesis – electronic structure of nanocrystals – how quantum dots are studied – correlation of properties with size – uses.
Monolayer-protected Metal Nanoparticles – method of preparation–characterization – functionalized metal nanoparticles – applications – superlattices. Core-shell Nanoparticles – types – characterization – properties – applications. Nanoshells – types – characterization – properties – applications.
Nanobiology – interaction between biomolecules and nanoparticle surfaces – materials used for synthesis of hybrid nano-bio assemblies – biological applications – nanoprobes for analytical applications – nanobiotechnology – future perspectives. Nanosensors – what make them possible – nanoscale organization for sensors – characterization – nanosensors based on optical properties – nanosensors based on quantum size effects – electrochemical sensors – sensors based on physical properties – nanobiosensors – sensors of the future. Nanomedicines – approach to development – nanotechnology in diagnostic and therapeutic applications.
Molecular Nanomachines – covalent and non-covalent approaches – molecular motors and machines – other molecular devices – single molecular devices – practical problems involved. Nanotribology – studying tribology on the nanoscale – applications.