Nanophase and Nanocomposite Materials II: Volume 457

Book excerpt: This book provides an international and interdisciplinary forum for the discussion of advances in the research of nanophase and nanocomposites. The term 'nanophase' refers to nanoscale particles of one phase, whereas the term 'nanocomposite'refers to a composite of more than one Gibbsian solid phase where at least one dimension is in the nanometer range. The book, the second in a series, features reports showing that bulk materials with nanostructure (‹ 0.5µm) often have enhanced and unique properties when compared to their coarse-structured (›1µm) equivalents. A wide range of science and engineering disciplines are represented, with topics ranging from synthesis and processing, to properties and applications. Topics include: nanophase oxides; nanophase metals, alloys and non-oxides; nanophases - simulation studies; magnetic and metal nanocomposites; oxide, non-oxide and oxide-metal nanocomposites; organic-inorganic and sol-gel nanocomposites; and nanocomposites of layered and mesoporous materials.