Low-Dimensional Solids

Preface.

List of Contributors.

1 Metal Oxide Nanoparticles (Alan V. Chadwick and Shelly L.P. Savin).

1.1 Introduction.

1.2 Oxide Types; Point Defects and Electrical Conductivity.

1.3 Preparation of Nanoionic Materials.

1.4 Characterisation.

1.4.1 Determination of Particle Size and Dispersion.

1.4.2 Characterisation of Microstructure.

1.4.3 Transport Measurements.

1.5 Review of the Current Experimental Data and their Agreement with Theory.

1.5.1 Microstructure.

1.5.2 Transport.

1.5.3 Mechanical Properties.

1.5.4 Magnetic Properties.

1.6 Applications.

1.6.1 Gas Sensors.

1.6.2 Batteries.

1.6.3 Fuel Cells.

1.6.4 Catalysis and Adsorption.

1.6.5 Biomedical Applications of Magnetic Nanocrystalline Oxides.

1.7 Overview and Prospects.

References.

2 Inorganic Nanotubes and Nanowires (C.N.R. Rao, S.R.C. Vivekchand and A. Govindaraj).

2.1 Introduction.

2.2 Inorganic Nanotubes.

2.2.1 Synthesis.

2.2.2 Functionalisation and Solubilisation.

2.2.3 Properties and Applications.

2.3 Nanowires.

2.3.1 Synthesis.

2.3.2 Self-Assembly and Functionalisation.

2.3.3 Properties and Applications.

2.4 Outlook.

References.

3 Biomedical Applications of Layered Double Hydroxides (Jin-Ho Choy, Jae-Min Oh and Dae-Hwan Park).

3.1 Introduction.

3.1.1 Layered Nanohybrids.

3.1.2 Layered Nanomaterials.

3.2 Nanomaterials for Biological Applications.

3.2.1 Layered Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications.

3.2.2 Cellular Uptake Pathway of Drug-Inorganic Nanohybrids.

3.2.3 Targeting Effect of Drug-Inorganic Nanohybrids.

3.3 Nanomaterials for DNA Molecular Code System.

3.3.1 Genetic Molecular Code in DNA.

3.3.2 Chemically and Biologically Stabilised DNA in Layered Nanoparticles.

3.3.3 Invisible DNA Molecular Code System for Ubiquitous Application.

3.4 Conclusion.

References.

4 Carbon Nanotubes and Related Structures (M. Angeles Herranz, Juan Luis Delgado and Nazario Martín).

4.1 Introduction.

4.2 Endohedral Fullerenes.

4.2.1 Endohedral Metallofullerenes.

4.2.2 Surgery of Fullerenes.

4.3 Carbon Nanotubes.

4.3.1 Covalent Functionalisation.

4.3.2 Noncovalent Functionalisation.

4.3.3 Endohedral Functionalisation.

4.4 Other Carbon Nanotube Forms.

4.4.1 Cup-Stacked Carbon Nanotubes.

4.4.2 Carbon Nanohorns.

4.4.3 Carbon Nanobuds.

4.4.4 Carbon Nanotori.

4.5 Carbon Nano-Onions.

4.6 Graphenes.

4.7 Summary and Outlook.

Acknowledgements.

References.

5 Magnesium Diboride MgB₂: A Simple Compound with Important Physical Properties (Michael Pissas).

5.1 Introduction.

5.1.1 Electronic Structure of MgB₂.

5.1.2 Substitutions in MgB₂ Superconductor.

5.2 Preparation of Pure and Alloyed MgB₂.

5.2.1 Preparation of Pure and Alloyed Polycrystalline MgB₂.

5.2.2 Single Crystal Growth of Pristine and Alloyed MgB₂.

5.3 Physical Properties of MgB₂.

5.3.1 Boron Isotope Effect.

5.3.2 Evidence for Two Energy Gaps in MgB₂.

5.3.3 Dependence of the Superconducting Transition Temperature on Hydrostatic Pressure.

5.3.4 Resistivity Measurements in MgB₂.

5.4 Flux Line Properties in Single Crystals of MgB₂, Mg_1-xAl_xB₂ and MgB_2-xCx.

5.4.1 Type II Superconductors.

5.4.2 Flux Line Properties of Pristine MgB₂.

5.4.3 Aluminium Substituted Single Crystals.

5.4.4 Carbon Substituted Single Crystals.

5.4.5 Two-Band Superconductivity and Possible Implications on the Vortex Matter Phase Diagram.

5.5 Conclusions.

References.

Index.