Contributor contact details ........................................ ix Foreword by T.W.Turney ........................................... xiii Acknowledgements ................................................... xv Introduction: special properties resulting from nanodimensionality ............................................... xvii A.J.Hill and R.Hannink, CSIRO, Austrialia 1 Nanoparticle technologies and applications .......................... 1 P.Casey, CSIRO, Australia 1.1 Introduction .................................................... 1 1.2 Commercial production of nanoparticles .......................... 4 1.3 Synthesis and production processes .............................. 7 1.4 Examples of commercial production .............................. 19 1.5 Applications ................................................... 24 1.6 Future challenge of nanoparticle production .................... 27 1.7 Useful websites ................................................ 27 1.8 References ..................................................... 27 2 Nanometric architectures: emergence of efficient non-crystalline atomic organization in nanostructures .............. 32 T.Aste and T. Di Matteo, The Australian National University, Australia 2.1 Introduction .................................................. 32 2.2 Equal spheres packings ........................................ 34 2.3 Searching for structure: the radial distribution function ..... 35 2.4 Local motifs and orientation symmetry ......................... 37 2.5 Understanding the structure: local geometrial organization .................................................. 39 2.6 A packing of tetrahedra ....................................... 42 2.7 Structural organization and packing fraction .................. 44 2.8 Packing hierarchy: the topological structure beyond first neighbors ............................................... 48 2.9 Can disorder be more efficient? ............................... 50 2.10 Conclusions ................................................... 54 2.11 Acknowledgments ............................................... 54 2.12 References .................................................... 54 3 Nanostructure characterisation using electron-beam techniques ...... 57 J.Riches and J.Drennan, University of Queensland, Australia 3.1 Introduction ................................................... 57 3.2 Sample preparation ............................................. 59 3.3 Nanoanalysis ................................................... 62 3.4 Imaging ........................................................ 67 3.5 Future trends .................................................. 69 3.6 Acknowledgments ................................................ 72 3.7 References ..................................................... 72 4 Organic-inorganic nanocomposite membranes for molecular separation processes ..................................... 76 T.C.Merkel and I.Pinnau, MembraneTechnology and Research Inc., USA 4.1 Introduction ................................................... 76 4.2 Transport in dense membranes ................................... 77 4.3 Transport in composite materials ............................... 77 4.4 Nanocomposite membrane research ................................ 78 4.5 Conclusions and future trends .................................. 92 4.6 References ..................................................... 94 5 Developing fast ion conductors from nanostructured polymers ........ 97 M.Forsyth, J.Adebahr, N.Byrne and D.Macfarlane, Monash University, Australia 5.1 Introduction ................................................... 97 5.2 Polymer electrolytes ........................................... 97 5.3 Composite electrolytes ........................................ 100 5.4 Conclusions ................................................... 110 5.5 References .................................................... 111 6 Nanostructures in biological materials ............................ 115 H.Gao and H.Yao, Max Planck Institute for Metals Research, Germany and B.Ji, Tsinghua University, China 6.1 Introduction .................................................. 115 6.2 Nanostructures of biological materials ........................ 116 6.3 Mechanics of bulk nanostructures of bone-like materials ....... 122 6.4 Mechanics of surface nanostructure of gecko-like materials ..................................................... 131 6.5 Conclusions ................................................... 139 6.6 Future trends ................................................. 141 6.7 Acknowledgement ............................................... 142 6.8 References .................................................... 142 7 Mechanical behavior of metallic nanolaminates ..................... 146 A.Misra, Los Alamos National Laboratory, USA 7.1 Introduction .................................................. 146 7.2 Methods of synthesizing metallic nanolaminates ................ 147 7.3 Overview of strengthening mechanisms .......................... 150 7.4 Dependence of nanolaminate strength on layer thickness ........ 153 7.5 Modeling of single dislocation behaviour ...................... 156 7.6 Plastic stability of nanolaminates ............................ 162 7.7 Conclusions ................................................... 172 7.8 Acknowledgments ............................................... 174 7.9 References .................................................... 174 8 Preparation of monolithic nanocrystallirie ceramics ............... 177 G.Rixecker, Z.Burghard and F.Aldinger, Max Planck Institute for Metals Research, Germany and L.Gao, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China 8.1 Introduction .................................................. 177 8.2 Synthesis of nonmetallic-inorganic nanoparticles .............. 181 8.3 Green shaping of nanoceramic bodies ........................... 186 8.4 Densification ................................................. 194 8.5 Specific properties and applications .......................... 208 8.6 Conclusions and future trends ................................. 210 8.7 References .................................................... 211 9 Nanoengineering of metallic materials ............................. 219 R.Lumley and A.Morton, CSIRO, Australia and I.Polmear, Monash University, Australia 9.1 Introduction .................................................. 219 9.2 Nanoengineering of metallic materials ......................... 219 9.3 Age hardened alloys ........................................... 222 9.4 High strength low alloy (HSLA) steels ......................... 228 9.5 Mechanical alloying ........................................... 233 9.6 Amorphous solids and controlled crystallisation through rapid solidification .................................. 240 9.7 Future trends ................................................. 247 9.8 References .................................................... 247 10 Using magnetic resonance to study nanoprecipitation in light metal alloys ................................................ 251 K.Nairn and T.Bastow, CSIRO Manufacturing and Infrastructure Technology, Australia 10.1 Introduction to age hardening of light metal alloys .......... 251 10.2 NMR - a novel method for studying precipitation in alloys .................................................... 254 10.3 NMR spectra of alloys ........................................ 257 10.4 Conclusions .................................................. 264 10.5 References ................................................... 264 11 Nanocrystalline light metal hydrides for hydrogen storage ......... 266 T.Klassen, GKSS Research Centre Geesthacht GmbH, Germany 11.1 Introduction ................................................. 266 11.2 Production of nanocrystalline light metal hydrides ........... 267 11.3 Processes of hydrogen absorption and desorption .............. 267 11.4 Nanocrystalline Mg-based hydrides ............................ 268 11.5 Nanocrystalline alanates ..................................... 286 11.6 Evaluation of technical potential of nanocrystalline hydrides ..................................................... 291 11.7 Future trends ................................................ 298 11.8 References ................................................... 300 12 Nanofabrication ................................................... 303 E.Harvey and M.Ghantasala, MiniFAB, Australia 12.1 Introduction ................................................. 303 12.2 Nanomaterials - top-down and bottom-up approaches ............ 304 12.3 Fabrication technologies - additive/subtractive methods ...... 305 12.4 Lithography-based technologies ............................... 306 12.5 Deposition techniques ........................................ 318 12.6 Fabrication of nanowires - different technologies ............ 323 12.7 Future trends ................................................ 327 12.8 References ................................................... 328 Index ................................................................ 331