CHAPTER 9
Introduction to Functional
Nanomaterials
CHAPTER OVERVIEW
This chapter consists of a survey of several common nanomaterials and
their applications, combined with the fundamental physics required to
understand the function of those materials, including transfer of energy
and/or charge between components of a device. The second half of the
chapter is written more like a scientific review of nanomaterials, with the
goal of helping the student to transition from the fundamental textbookstyle material to the primary scientific literature. There are many other
potential applications of nanomaterials, and both the range of applications and technologies implemented is constantly evolving; the examples
discussed represent only a small subset of emerging materials and
technologies. Thin films and other 2D systems will not be heavily covered
in this chapter, as they will be discussed in detail in Chapter 10.
9.1 NANOSCALE MACHINES
Nanoassemblies consist of many components held together by a series of
specific interactions, whether covalent or noncovalent. Functional
nanoassemblies, which are capable of responding to the presence of a
target compound or energy source and responding to it by changing their
own structure or performing work on their surroundings, are common in
nature. Living organisms contain a wide variety of proteins that consist of
many different chemical functional groups connected to one or more
polymer chains and cofactors (small molecules or inorganic clusters) that
allow them to harness energy from a chemical reaction (such as the
hydrolysis of ATP to ADP and phosphate) or light (e.g., photosynthesis)
and perform some task. An example of a complex natural nanoscale
Introduction to Functional
Nanomaterials
CHAPTER OVERVIEW
This chapter consists of a survey of several common nanomaterials and
their applications, combined with the fundamental physics required to
understand the function of those materials, including transfer of energy
and/or charge between components of a device. The second half of the
chapter is written more like a scientific review of nanomaterials, with the
goal of helping the student to transition from the fundamental textbookstyle material to the primary scientific literature. There are many other
potential applications of nanomaterials, and both the range of applications and technologies implemented is constantly evolving; the examples
discussed represent only a small subset of emerging materials and
technologies. Thin films and other 2D systems will not be heavily covered
in this chapter, as they will be discussed in detail in Chapter 10.
9.1 NANOSCALE MACHINES
Nanoassemblies consist of many components held together by a series of
specific interactions, whether covalent or noncovalent. Functional
nanoassemblies, which are capable of responding to the presence of a
target compound or energy source and responding to it by changing their
own structure or performing work on their surroundings, are common in
nature. Living organisms contain a wide variety of proteins that consist of
many different chemical functional groups connected to one or more
polymer chains and cofactors (small molecules or inorganic clusters) that
allow them to harness energy from a chemical reaction (such as the
hydrolysis of ATP to ADP and phosphate) or light (e.g., photosynthesis)
and perform some task. An example of a complex natural nanoscale