Introduction to Nanoscience and Nanotechnology explains nanotechnology to an audience that does not necessarily have a scientific background. It covers all aspects, including the new areas of biomedical applications and the use of nanotechnology to probe the "quantum vacuum.

Preface. Acknowledgments. Nanotechnology Time Line. Introduction. 0.1 Incremental Nanotechnology. 0.2 Evolutionary Nanotechnology. 0.3 Radical Nanotechnology. 0.4 Bottom-Up/Top-Down Nanotechnology. References. 1 Size Matters. 1.1 The Fundamental Importance of Size. 1.2 The Magnetic Behavior of Nanoparticles. 1.3 The Mechanical Properties of Nanostructured Materials. 1.4 The Chemical Properties of Nanoparticles. 1.5 Nanoparticles Interacting with Living Systems. Problems. References. 2 Nanoparticles Everywhere. 2.1 Nanoparticles in the Atmosphere. 2.2 Atmospheric Nanoparticles and Health. 2.3 Nanoparticles and Climate. 2.4 Marine Aerosol. 2.5 Nanoparticles in Space. Problems. References. 3 Carbon Nanostructures: Bucky Balls and Nanotubes. 3.1 Why Carbon? 3.2 Discovery of the First Fullerene - C60. 3.3 Structural Symmetry of the Closed Fullerenes. 3.4 Smaller Fullerenes and "Shrink-Wrapping" Atoms. 3.5 Larger Fullerenes. 3.6 Electronic Properties of Individual Fullerenes. 3.7 Materials Produced by Assembling Fullerenes (Fullerites and Fullerides). 3.8 Discovery of Carbon Nanotubes. 3.9 Structure of SWNTs. 3.10 Electronic Properties of SWNTs. 3.11 Electronic Transport in Carbon Nanotubes. 3.12 Mechanical Properties of Nanotubes. 3.13 Thermal Conductivity of Nanotubes. 3.14 Carbon Nanohorns. 3.15 Carbon Nanobuds and Pea Pods. Problems. References. 4 The Nanotechnology Toolkit. 4.1 Making Nanostructures Using Bottom-up Methods. 4.2 Making Nanostructures Using Top-Down Methods. 4.3 Combining Bottom-up and Top-Down Nanostructures. 4.4 Imaging, Probing and Manipulating Nanostructures. Problems. References. 5 Single-Nanoparticles Devices. 5.1 Data Storage on Magnetic Nanoparticles. 5.2 Quantum Dots. 5.3 Nanoparticles as Transistors. 5.4 Carbon Nanoelectronics. Problems. References. 6 Magic Beacons and Magic Bullets: The Medical Applications of Functional Nanoparticles. 6.1 Nanoparticles Interacting with Living Organisms. 6.2 Treatment of Tumours by Hyperthermia. 6.3 Medical Diagnosis and "Theranostics" Using Nanomaterials. Problems. References. 7 Radical Nanotechnology. 7.1 Locomotion for Nanobots and Nanofactories. 7.2 On-Board Processing for Nanomachines. 7.3 Medical Nanobots. 7.4 Molecular Assembly. References. 8 Prodding the Cosmic Fabric. 8.1 Zero-Point Energy of Space. 8.2 The Casimir Force. 8.3 The Casimir Force in Nanomachines. References. Glossary. Index.

"This work is especially valuable for undergraduates as well as beginning graduate students. Moreover, even general readers with some science background should be able to follow the text. Highly recommended." (Choice , 1 April 2011) "It would be incomprehensible to a layman, but provides an interesting overview at graduate level of some aspects of the subject". (Chemistry & Industry, 10 January 2011)