Synthesis, Functionalization and Surface Treatment of Nanoparticles

Book excerpt: Synthesis, Functionalization and Surface Treatment of Nanoparticles is an area of crucial importance in the emerging field of nanotechnology. Controlling the surface chemical composition and mastering its modification at the nanometer scale are critical issues for high-added value applications involving nanoparticles. The basic applications of surface functionalization range from altering the wetting or adhesion characteristics and improving the nanoparticles dispersion in matrices to enhancing the catalytic properties and ordering the interfacial region, and such. The creation of specific surface sites on nanoparticles for selective molecular attachment is considered a promising approach for their applications in nanofabrication, nanopatterning, selfassembly, nanosensors, bioprobes, drug delivery, pigments, photocatalysis, LEDs, etc. This book presents novel and improved synthesis methods and approaches for controlling and functionalizing the nanoparticle surfaces to enhance the overall performance of the nanoparticles for targeted applications.