Due to their unique size-dependent physicochemical properties, nanostructured thin films are used in a wide range of applications from smart coating and drug delivery to electrocatalysis and highly-sensitive sensors. Depending on the targeted application and the deposition technique, these materials have been designed and developed by tuning their atomic-molecular 2D- and/or 3D-aggregation, thickness, crystallinity, and porosity, having effects on their optical, mechanical, catalytic, and conductive properties. Several open questions remain about the impact of nanomaterial production and use on environment and health. Many efforts are currently being made not only to prevent nanotechnologies and nanomaterials from contributing to environmental pollution but also to design nanomaterials to support, control, and protect the environment. This Special Issue aims to cover the recent advances in designing nanostructured films focusing on environmental issues related to their fabrication processes (e.g., low power and low cost technologies, the use of environmentally friendly solvents), their precursors (e.g., waste-recycled, bio-based, biodegradable, and natural materials), their applications (e.g., controlled release of chemicals, mimicking of natural processes, and clean energy conversion and storage), and their use in monitoring environment pollution (e.g., sensors optically- or electrically-sensitive to pollutants)

Nanostructured Thin Films: Fundamentals and Applications presents an overview of the synthesis and characterization of thin films and their nanocomposites. Both vapor phase and liquid phase approaches are discussed, along with the methods that are sufficiently attractive for large-scale production. Examples of applications in clean energy, sensors, biomedicine, anticorrosion and surface modification are also included. As the applications of thin films in nanomedicine, cell phones, solar cell-powered devices, and in the protection of structural materials continues to grow, this book presents an important research reference for anyone seeking an informed overview on their structure and applications. - Shows how thin films are being used to create more efficient devices in the fields of medicine and energy harvesting - Discusses how to alter the design of nanostructured thin films by vapor phase and liquid phase methods - Explores how modifying the structure of thin films for specific applications enhances their performance

This book highlights the latest advances in chemical and physical methods for thin-film deposition and surface engineering, including ion- and plasma-assisted processes, focusing on explaining the synthesis/processing–structure–properties relationship for a variety of thin-film systems. It covers topics such as advances in thin-film synthesis; new thin-film materials: diamond-like films, granular alloys, high-entropy alloys, oxynitrides, and intermetallic compounds; ultra-hard, wear- and oxidation-resistant and multifunctional coatings; superconducting, magnetic, semiconducting, and dielectric films; electrochemical and electroless depositions; thin-film characterization and instrumentation; and industrial applications.

Chemical Solution Synthesis for Materials Design and Thin Film Device Applications presents current research on wet chemical techniques for thin-film based devices. Sections cover the quality of thin films, types of common films used in devices, various thermodynamic properties, thin film patterning, device configuration and applications. As a whole, these topics create a roadmap for developing new materials and incorporating the results in device fabrication. This book is suitable for graduate, undergraduate, doctoral students, and researchers looking for quick guidance on material synthesis and device fabrication through wet chemical routes. Provides the different wet chemical routes for materials synthesis, along with the most relevant thin film structured materials for device applications Discusses patterning and solution processing of inorganic thin films, along with solvent-based processing techniques Includes an overview of key processes and methods in thin film synthesis, processing and device fabrication, such as nucleation, lithography and solution processing

This book discusses advances in functional thin films for sensors and novel concepts for future breakthroughs. The focus is on guidelines and design rules for sensor systems, interaction between functional thin films and other sensor subsystems, fundamentals behind the intrinsic functionality in sensing thin films and nanostructures, state-of-the-art technologies used to develop sensors today and concrete examples of sensor designs.

Nanomanufacturing includes bottom-up or top-down techniques, each of which gives an advanced, reliable, scaled-up, and economical methods in the production of nanomaterials. The text discusses fundamental concepts, advanced topics, and applications of nanomanufacturing in a comprehensive manner. Features Discussion of the design and fabrication of nano- and micro-devices in a comprehensive manner. Covers nanofabrication techniques for photovoltaics applications. Lists constitutive modelling and simulation of multifunctional nanomaterials. Introduces nanomanufacturing of nanorobots and their industrial applications. Presents nanomanufacturing of a high-performance piezoelectric nanogenerator for energy harvesting. Important topics include nanomanufacturing of high-performance piezoelectric nanogenerators for energy harvesting, nanosensor, nanorobots, nanomedicine, nano diagnostic tools, 3D nano printing, additive nanomanufacturing of functional materials for human‐integrated smart wearables, and nanofabrication techniques. Nanomanufacturing and Nanomaterials Design covers the latest applications of nanomanufacturing for a better understanding of the concepts. The text provides scientific and technological insights on novel routes of design and fabrication of few-layered nanostructures and their heterostructures based on a variety of advanced materials. It will be a valuable resource for senior undergraduate, graduate students and researchers in the fields of mechanical, manufacturing, industrial, production engineering and materials science.

Due to their unique size-dependent physicochemical properties, nanostructured thin films are used in a wide range of applications from smart coating and drug delivery to electrocatalysis and highly-sensitive sensors. Depending on the targeted application and the deposition technique, these materials have been designed and developed by tuning their atomic-molecular 2D- and/or 3D-aggregation, thickness, crystallinity, and porosity, having effects on their optical, mechanical, catalytic, and conductive properties. Several open questions remain about the impact of nanomaterial production and use on environment and health. Many efforts are currently being made not only to prevent nanotechnologies and nanomaterials from contributing to environmental pollution but also to design nanomaterials to support, control, and protect the environment. This Special Issue aims to cover the recent advances in designing nanostructured films focusing on environmental issues related to their fabrication processes (e.g., low power and low cost technologies, the use of environmentally friendly solvents), their precursors (e.g., waste-recycled, bio-based, biodegradable, and natural materials), their applications (e.g., controlled release of chemicals, mimicking of natural processes, and clean energy conversion and storage), and their use in monitoring environment pollution (e.g., sensors optically- or electrically-sensitive to pollutants).

This book covers remarkable contemporary nanomaterials such as carbon nanomaterials, nanoclays, quantum dots, MXene, and metal-organic frameworks. Each chapter discusses the synthesis techniques, characterization methods, properties, and the nanomaterials’ use in different aspects of biomedical, energy, polymers, material construction, biosensors, coatings, and catalysis. Moreover, commercialization challenges and environmental risks of nanomaterials are also covered in depth. The book provides an understanding of the fundamental properties, limitations and challenges in nanomaterials synthesis, serving as a valuable resource for researchers, graduate students, academicians, and consultants working with nanomaterials for engineering applications.

This book, "Multilayer Thin Films-Versatile Applications for Materials Engineering", includes thirteen chapters related to the preparations, characterizations, and applications in the modern research of materials engineering. The evaluation of nanomaterials in the form of different shapes, sizes, and volumes needed for utilization in different kinds of gadgets and devices. Since the recently developed two-dimensional carbon materials are proving to be immensely important for new configurations in the miniature scale in the modern technology, it is imperative to innovate various atomic and molecular arrangements for the modifications of structural properties. Of late, graphene and graphene-related derivatives have been proven as the most versatile two-dimensional nanomaterials with superb mechanical, electrical, electronic, optical, and magnetic properties. To understand the in-depth technology, an effort has been made to explain the basics of nano dimensional materials. The importance of nano particles in various aspects of nano technology is clearly indicated. There is more than one chapter describing the use of nanomaterials as sensors. In this volume, an effort has been made to clarify the use of such materials from non-conductor to highly conducting species. It is expected that this book will be useful to the postgraduate and research students as this is a multidisciplinary subject.

This volume contains proceedings of the NATO-Russia Advanced Research Workshop on Nanostructured Thin Films and Nanodispersion Strengthened Coatings (December, 2003, Moscow). During this Workshop leading researchers from twelve countries had presented and discussed most recent developments in the fields of plasma physics and surface engineering related to the preparation and applications of nanostructured thin films and nanodispersion strengthened coatings. These presentations are encompassed in 31 individual chapters. The chapters are assembled in five parts in according to the workshop sessions. Part I is a compilation of chapters on hard and tribological coatings. The recent advances in this area are significant in that it is now possible to engineer strong, hard, and tough coatings that can operate at temperatures higher than 1200 ?C and exhibit ‘smart’, adaptive characteristics. These coatings are based on an amorphous matrix, e. g. nitrides, carbides, borides, or carbon, in which there is a controlled nucleation and growth of ultra hard nanoparticles of crystalline carbides, nitrides, borides and oxides. The critical feature is the control of both the particle size, i. e. , less than 10 nm, and interpartical spacing of a few nanometers. The ‘smart’ or adaptive characteristic is engineered into the nanostructures using similar sized (less than 10 nm) particles of metallic chalcogenidese, ductile metals, or glass forming elements to provide high lubricity and chemical adaptation at the environment change, e. g. , high and low humidities and temperatures.