ISBN-10: 953-51-0762-3
ISBN-13: 978-953-51-0762-0

Preface:
Nanoscience, nanotechnology and nanomaterials have become a central field of scientific and technical activity. Over the last years the interest in nanostructures and their applications in various electronic devices, effective optoelectronic devices, bio-sensors, photodetectors, solar cells, nanodevices, plasmonic structures has been increasing tremendously. This is caused by the unique properties of nanostructures and the outstanding performance of nanoscale devices. At the nanoscale, a material’s property can change dramatically. With only a reduction in size and no change in the substance itself, materials can exhibit new properties such as electrical conductivity, insulating behavior, elasticity, greater strength, different color, and greater reactivity-characteristics that the very same substances do not exhibit at the micro- or macroscale. Additionally, as dimensions reach the nanometer level, interactions at interfaces of phases become largely improved, and this is important to enhance materials properties. Composite materials are multi-phased combinations of two or several components, which acquire new characteristic properties that the individual constituents, by themselves, cannot obtain. A composite material typically consists of a certain matrix containing one or more fillers which can be made up of particles, sheets or fibers. When at least one of these phases has dimensions less than 100 nm, the material is named a nanocomposite and offers in addition a higher surface to volume ratio. These are high performance materials that exhibit unusual property combinations and unique design possibilities and are thought of as the materials of the 21st century. Nowadays, nanocomposites offer new technology and business opportunities for all sectors of industry, in addition to being environmental- friendly. A glance through the pages of science and engineering literature shows that the use of nanocomposites for emerging technologies represents one of the most active areas of research and development throughout the fields of chemistry, physics, life sciences, and related technologies. In addition to being of technological importance, the subject of nanocomposites is a fascinating area of interdisciplinary research and a major source of inspiration and motivation in its own right for exploitation to help humanity. Based on the simple premise that by using a wide range of building blocks with dimensions in the nonosize region, it is possible to design and create new materials with unprecedented flexibility and improvements in their physical properties. Nanocomposites are attractive to researchers both from practical and theoretical point of view because of combination of special properties. Many efforts have been made in the last two decades using novel nanotechnology and nanoscience knowledge in order to get nanomaterials with determined functionality. This book reports on the state of the art research and development findings on this very broad matter through original and innovative research studies exhibiting various investigation directions.