Microtechnology has changed our world since the last century, when silicon microelectronics revolutionized sensor, control and communication areas, with applications extending from domotics to automotive, and from security to biomedicine. The present century, however, is also seeing an accelerating pace of innovation in glassy materials; as an example, glass-ceramics, which successfully combine the properties of an amorphous matrix with those of micro- or nano-crystals, offer a very high flexibility of design to chemists, physicists and engineers, who can conceive and implement advanced microdevices. In a very similar way, the synthesis of glassy polymers in a very wide range of chemical structures offers unprecedented potential of applications. The contemporary availability of microfabrication technologies, such as direct laser writing or 3D printing, which add to the most common processes (deposition, lithography and etching), facilitates the development of novel or advanced microdevices based on glassy materials. Biochemical and biomedical sensors, especially with the lab-on-a-chip target, are one of the most evident proofs of the success of this material platform. Other applications have also emerged in environment, food, and chemical industries. The present Special Issue of Micromachines aims at reviewing the current state-of-the-art and presenting perspectives of further development. Contributions related to the technologies, glassy materials, design and fabrication processes, characterization, and, eventually, applications are welcome.

Sol-gel processing is a low temperature, low cost wet chemistry route to a range of different materials, particularly glassy and ceramic oxides, including nanoparticles and powders, fibers, thin films and membranes, or monoliths and composites. Thin films and coatings represent by far the most important category of sol-gel derived products with optical, electronic and magnetic functionalities, for example photoresist and dielectric spin-on-glass layers, flat screen displays, anti-reflection, conducting and magnetic disk coatings, as well as photochromic, electrochromic and photovoltaic coatings. Sol-gel derived materials are homogeneous at the molecular level and are a good example of a bottom-up approach to materials synthesis. There is increasing need of new optical and photonic materials with improved performance, where molecular level homogeneity and easy fabrication in film form may be especially convenient, highlighting a decisive advantage of sol-gel over other more established technologies to obtain graded index optical components, solar control coatings, phosphors, glass ceramics or multilayer photonic structures. There is no book available yet which focuses in particular on optical and photonic sol-gel derived materials. This is what makes this book unique at this point for those especially or exclusively interested in optical and photonic functional materials and applications. This book represents an important tool to update scientists and engineers with recent advances in the rapidly evolving field of optical and photonic materials, components and devices. Our target audience are those working in materials science, physics, engineering and chemistry disciplines, in particular academics and researchers working in advanced optical/photonic processing technologies, research and development engineers in high technology industries and research project leaders. This book will also be an essential tool for graduate students pursuing a PhD or even a Master's degree. - Reviews wide range of sol-gel derived coatings including reflective and anti-reflective, self-cleaning, and electrochromic - Discusses latest advances in sol-gel derived photonic crystals including one dimensional, two dimensional, and three dimensional structures - Addresses key applications in solid state lighting, solar cells, sensors, fiber optics, and magneto-optical devices

The Handbook of Silicon Based MEMS Materials and Technologies, Second Edition, is a comprehensive guide to MEMS materials, technologies, and manufacturing that examines the state-of-the-art with a particular emphasis on silicon as the most important starting material used in MEMS. The book explains the fundamentals, properties (mechanical, electrostatic, optical, etc.), materials selection, preparation, manufacturing, processing, system integration, measurement, and materials characterization techniques, sensors, and multi-scale modeling methods of MEMS structures, silicon crystals, and wafers, also covering micromachining technologies in MEMS and encapsulation of MEMS components. Furthermore, it provides vital packaging technologies and process knowledge for silicon direct bonding, anodic bonding, glass frit bonding, and related techniques, shows how to protect devices from the environment, and provides tactics to decrease package size for a dramatic reduction in costs. - Provides vital packaging technologies and process knowledge for silicon direct bonding, anodic bonding, glass frit bonding, and related techniques - Shows how to protect devices from the environment and decrease package size for a dramatic reduction in packaging costs - Discusses properties, preparation, and growth of silicon crystals and wafers - Explains the many properties (mechanical, electrostatic, optical, etc.), manufacturing, processing, measuring (including focused beam techniques), and multiscale modeling methods of MEMS structures - Geared towards practical applications rather than theory

blends materials, fabrication, and structure issues of developing nanobio devices in a single volume. treats major nanobio application areas such as drug delivery, molecular diagnostics, and imaging. chapters written by the leading researchers in the field.

Capillary electrophoresis (CE) is a powerful analytical technique that is widely used in research and development and in quality control of pharmaceuticals. Many reports of highly efficient separations and methods have been published over the past 15 years. CE offers several advantages over high-pressure or high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). These include simplicity, rapid analysis, automation, ruggedness, different mechanisms for selectivity, and low cost. Moreover, EC requires smaller sample size and yet offers higher efficiency and thus greater resolution power over HPLC. These characteristics are very attractive in research and development, even more so in pharmaceutical quality control (QC) and stability monitoring (SM) studies. This book will provide busy pharmaceutical scientists a complete yet concise reference guide for utilizing the versatility of CE in new drug development and quality control.- Provides current status and future developments in CE analysis of pharmaceuticals.- Explains how to develop and validate methods.- Includes major pharmaceutical applications including assays and impurity testing.

M.I. Pividori, S. Alegret: DNA Adsorption on Carbonaceous Materials .- F. Luderer, U. Walschus: Immobilization of Oligonucleotides for Biochemical Sensing by Self-Assembled Monolayers: Thiol-Organic Bonding on Gold and Silanization on Silica Surfaces.- Y. Okahata, T. Kawasaki: Preparation and Electron Conductivity of DNA-Aligned Cast and LB Films from DNA-Lipid Complexes.- A. del Campo, I.J. Bruce: Substrate Patterning and Active Strategies for DNA Chip Fabrication.- D.V. Nicolau, P.D. Sawant: Scanning Probe Microscopy Studies of Surface-Immobilised DNA/Oligonucleotide Molecules.- A. Guiseppi-Elie, L. Lingerfelt: Impedimetric Detection of DNA Hybridization: Towards Near Patient DNA Diagnostics

ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING With NOVEL MATERIALS The book explores practically the latest advancements and techniques in 3D and 4D printing using innovative and unconventional materials. This book comprehensively provides insights into various additive manufacturing processes, novel materials, and their properties, as well as the basic knowledge of AM process parameters, post-processing techniques, and their applications. It also explores the fundamental concepts and recent advancements in the development of novel materials for several applications, with special emphasis on platforms like AM techniques for polymers, ceramics, metallic materials, composites, nanomaterials, hydrogels, etc. Specific topics like environmental aspects of 3D printing and advanced 4D printing are also introduced. The technological aspects of AM are discussed in a concise and understandable way, with extensive illustrations. Also covered are the challenges and opportunities that arise from 3D printing with these materials. Audience The book will benefit researchers and industry engineers who work in additive manufacturing, mechanical engineering, 3D/4D printing, and materials science.

With contributions by numerous experts

This book covers various aspects of lasers in materials science, including a comprehensive overview on basic principles of laser-materials interactions and applications enabled by pulsed laser systems. The material is organized in a coherent way, providing the reader with a harmonic architecture. While systematically covering the major current and emerging areas of lasers processing applications, the Volume provides examples of targeted modification of material properties achieved through careful control of the processing conditions and laser irradiation parameters. Special emphasis is placed on specific strategies aimed at nanoscale control of material structure and properties to match the stringent requirements of modern applications. Laser fabrication of novel nanomaterials, which expands to the domains of photonics, photovoltaics, sensing, and biomedical applications, is also discussed in the Volume. This book assembles chapters based on lectures delivered at the Venice International School on Lasers in Materials Science which was held in Isola di San Servolo, Venice, Italy, in July, 2012.

The world is on the threshold of a revolution that will change medicine and how patients are treated forever. Bringing together the creative talents of electrical, mechanical, optical and chemical engineers, materials specialists, clinical-laboratory scientists, and physicians, the science of biomedical microelectromechanical systems (bioMEMS) promises to deliver sensitive, selective, fast, low cost, less invasive, and more robust methods for diagnostics, individualized treatment, and novel drug delivery. This book is an introduction to this multidisciplinary technology and the current state of micromedical devices in use today. The first text of its kind dedicated to bioMEMS training. Fundamentals of BioMEMS and Medical Microdevices is Suitable for a single semester course for senior and graduate-level students, or as an introduction to others interested or already working in the field.