Bottom-up synthesis: In this approach, nanostructures are built by
continuously extending a thread of bound molecules. Subsequent
layers are built atop previous ones exploiting intermolecular
forces.
Boundary conditions: Constraints that define the value of a function at
the boundary of a region. In quantum mechanics, boundary
conditions typically define the region in which a particle is confined (e.g., spatial quantization).
Bulk phase: Solvent region above or below an interface. The term is used
in context to adsorption. For example, molecules move from the
bulk phase and aggregate on the surface.
Cassie–Baxter wetting: A wetting state in which water rests upon nanoor micro-sized “pins” with air spaces in between.
Catalyst: A species that when added to a reaction mixture speeds up the
rate of the reaction by reducing the activation energy of the
reaction.
Charge overcompensation: Refers to the tendency of a charged layer to
attract excess counter ions during self-assembly. In this way,
layers can be subsequently built atop one another with the
overcompensated charge acting as a medium for continued
growth of molecules of alternating charge.
Charge reversal: Integral to the iterative process of electrostatic selfassembly. A charged molecule can aggregate atop a preexisting
surface of opposite charge. The resulting surface is the opposite
charge of the original layer, an instance of charge reversal. See
also charge overcompensation.
Charge transfer: Transfer of electrons or holes (unfilled orbitals)
between different molecules or materials.
Chemical equilibrium: The state in which the rates of forward and
reverse reaction for a process are equal and the Gibbs energy
change of the system is zero, such that the concentrations of all
species in the reaction remain constant.
Chemical kinetics: The study of the rates of reactions and the implication of these rates.
Chemical potential: The partial molar Gibbs energy of a species.
Glossary
437
continuously extending a thread of bound molecules. Subsequent
layers are built atop previous ones exploiting intermolecular
forces.
Boundary conditions: Constraints that define the value of a function at
the boundary of a region. In quantum mechanics, boundary
conditions typically define the region in which a particle is confined (e.g., spatial quantization).
Bulk phase: Solvent region above or below an interface. The term is used
in context to adsorption. For example, molecules move from the
bulk phase and aggregate on the surface.
Cassie–Baxter wetting: A wetting state in which water rests upon nanoor micro-sized “pins” with air spaces in between.
Catalyst: A species that when added to a reaction mixture speeds up the
rate of the reaction by reducing the activation energy of the
reaction.
Charge overcompensation: Refers to the tendency of a charged layer to
attract excess counter ions during self-assembly. In this way,
layers can be subsequently built atop one another with the
overcompensated charge acting as a medium for continued
growth of molecules of alternating charge.
Charge reversal: Integral to the iterative process of electrostatic selfassembly. A charged molecule can aggregate atop a preexisting
surface of opposite charge. The resulting surface is the opposite
charge of the original layer, an instance of charge reversal. See
also charge overcompensation.
Charge transfer: Transfer of electrons or holes (unfilled orbitals)
between different molecules or materials.
Chemical equilibrium: The state in which the rates of forward and
reverse reaction for a process are equal and the Gibbs energy
change of the system is zero, such that the concentrations of all
species in the reaction remain constant.
Chemical kinetics: The study of the rates of reactions and the implication of these rates.
Chemical potential: The partial molar Gibbs energy of a species.
Glossary
437