About the Author Contents Preface 1 Introduction 1.1 Importance of Nanoscale 1.2 Inorganic Nanoparticles 1.2.1 Plasmonic Nanoparticles 1.2.2 Magnetic Nanoparticles 1.3 Organic Nanoparticles 1.4 Synthesis 1.4.1 Top-Down Synthesis 1.4.2 Bottom-Up Synthesis 1.5 Functionalization 1.6 Characterization 1.7 Applications 1.8 Study Questions 1.9 References 2 Nucleation 2.1 Classical Nucleation Theory 2.1.1 Activity-Based Supersaturation 2.1.2 Primary Nucleation 2.1.3 Nucleation Rate 2.1.4 Phase Stability and Phase Transitions 2.2 Alternative Nucleation Hypotheses 2.3 Concluding Remarks 2.4 Study Questions 2.4.1 Concept-Based Questions 2.4.2 Research-Based Questions 2.5 References 3 Crystal Growth 3.1 Classical Theory of Crystal Growth 3.2 Experimental Determination of Growth Rates 3.2.1 Seeded Batch Experiments 3.2.2 Seeded Constant Composition Experiments 3.3 Crystal Size and Size Distribution 3.4 Crystal Morphology 3.5 Concluding Remarks 3.6 Study Questions 3.6.1 Concept-Based Questions 3.6.2 Research-Based Questions 3.7 References 4 Synthesis of Metal Nanoparticles 4.1 Reduction of Metal Precursors in Solution 4.1.1 Mechanism 4.1.2 Parameters Influencing Nucleation and Growth 4.1.3 Examples of Metallic Precursor Reduction in Solution 4.2 Colloidal Templating: Reverse Micelles as Spherical Nanoreactors 4.3 Sol-Gel Method 4.4 One-Pot Synthesis Methods: Globular Proteins, Viruses, and Microorganisms 4.5 Nucleotide-Mediated Synthesis of Metal Nanoparticles 4.6 Natural Selection of Biomolecules Capable of Nanoparticle Formation 4.7 Seeded Growth of Gold Nanostructures 4.7.1 Under-Potential Deposition 4.7.2 Face-Specific Capping 4.7.3 Surfactant Templating 4.8 Study Questions 4.8.1 Concept-Based Questions 4.8.2 Research-Based Questions 4.9 References 5 Functionalization of Metal Nanoparticles 5.1 In Situ Functionalization 5.2 Post-Synthesis Functionalization 5.3 Langmuir Adsorption 5.3.1 Theoretical Basis 5.3.2 Assumptions, Caveats, and Validity 5.3.3 Macromolecular Adsorption 5.3.4 Protein Adsorption 5.3.5 Quartz Crystal Microbalance for Studying Adsorption 5.4 Study Questions 5.4.1 Concept-Based Questions 5.4.2 Research-Based Questions 5.5 References 6 Synthesis of Polymer-Based Nanoparticles 6.1 Classification of Polymer-Based Nanoparticles 6.1.1 Morphology 6.1.2 Hydrophilicity 6.1.3 Charge 6.1.4 Preparation Techniques 6.1.5 Phase-Based Classification 6.1.6 Mode/Type-Based Classification 6.1.7 Examples of Polymer-Based Nanoparticles: pNIPAm-Based Systems 6.2 Stimuli-Sensitive Hydrogels 6.3 Study Questions 6.3.1 Concept-Based Questions 6.3.2 Research-Based Questions 6.4 References 7 Functionalization and Properties of Hydrogels 7.1 Functionalization 7.1.1 In Situ Functionalization 7.1.2 Post-Synthesis Functionalization 7.2 Properties of Hydrogels 7.2.1 Size 7.2.2 Swelling Collapse 7.2.3 Optical Properties 7.2.4 Water Content 7.2.5 Mechanical Properties 7.3 Study Questions 7.3.1 Concept-Based Questions 7.3.2 Research-Based Question 7.4 References 8 Characterization of Metal Nanoparticles 8.1 Optical Properties 8.1.1 Scattering and Absorption 8.1.2 Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance 8.1.3 UV-Vis Spectroscopy 8.2 Dynamic Light Scattering 8.2.1 Theory 8.2.2 Autocorrelation Function 8.2.3 Stokes–Einstein Equation 8.3 Differential Scanning Calorimetry 8.3.1 Mathematical Background 8.3.2 Modulated Differential Scanning Calorimetry 8.4 Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy 8.5 Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy 8.6 X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy 8.7 Study Questions 8.7.1 Concept-Based Questions 8.7.2 Research-Based Questions 8.8 References 9 Applications in Catalysis 9.1 Introduction 9.1.1 Brief Introduction to Heterogeneous Catalysis 9.1.2 Adsorption 9.2 Nanoporous Materials—Catalyst Supports and Active Materials 9.2.1 Oxide Supports 9.2.2 Alumina and Silica 9.2.3 Zeolites and Zeotype Materials 9.3 Carbon Materials 9.4 Metal Particles 9.5 Summary and Further Reading 9.6 Study Questions 9.6.1 Concept-Based Questions 9.6.2 Research-Based Questions 9.7 References 10 Applications in Drug Delivery and Biomedicine 10.1 Drug Delivery 10.1.1 Passive Targeting 10.1.2 Active Targeting 10.1.3 Loading and Encapsulation 10.1.4 Drug Release and Mathematical Models 10.2 Magnetic Resonance Imaging 10.2.1 Fundamentals of Magnetic Resonance Imaging 10.2.2 Nanoparticle Contrast Agents for Magnetic Resonance Imaging 10.3 Biosensing 10.4 Study Questions 10.4.1 Concept-Based Questions 10.4.2 Research-Based Questions 10.5 References 11 Applications in Water Management 11.1 Wastewater Treatment 11.1.1 Adsorption 11.1.2 Membrane Separation 11.2 Hydrological Tracers in Water Management 11.2.1 Potential of Covered DNA Tracers: Case Studies 11.2.2 Colloidal Forces Governing Particle–Surface and Particle–Particle Contact 11.2.3 Colloid Filtration and Mechanistic Prediction of Retention 11.2.4 Continuum-Scale Transport Models 11.2.5 Transport of DNA Tracers in Surface Water 11.2.6 Challenges 11.3 Study Questions 11.3.1 Concept-Based Questions 11.3.2 Research-Based Questions 11.4 References 12 Applications in Energy Harvesting 12.1 Harvesting Energy from Heat 12.1.1 Overview 12.1.2 Nanomaterials for Heat Energy Harvesting 12.2 Photovoltaics 12.2.1 Overview 12.2.2 Nanomaterials for Photovoltaics 12.3 Mechanical Energy Harvesting 12.3.1 Overview 12.3.2 Nanomaterials for Mechanical Energy Harvesting 12.4 Magnetic Energy Harvesting 12.4.1 Overview 12.4.2 Magnetic Nanomaterials 12.5 Summary 12.6 Study Questions 12.7 References Index