Summary

Nanotechnology is one of the most important growth areas of this century. Nanoscience, the science underpinning nanotechnology, is a multidisciplinary subject covering atomic, molecular and solid state physics, and much of chemistry. Nanostructures are known to exhibit novel and improved material properties, fundamentally because the physical and chemical properties are very different when dimensions are reduced to the nanometer range.

Suitable for undergraduate students or advanced high school students, this book introduces the basic principles and knowledge needed for students to understand science at the nanoscale. Many ideas proposed in nanotechnology are frontier and futuristic, although some have immediate technological applications. The core scientific principles of all nanotechnology applications, however, are grounded in physics and chemistry. This practical, student-friendly introduction helps students recognize the connections among these various disciplines and how they play a part in nanoscience and technology.

Choice Review

Science at the Nanoscale is a valuable introductory course resource for undergraduate students. In a certain way, the book might be too introductory, since Chin, Haur, and Wee (all, National University of Singapore) cover many basic physical and chemical principles in some detail, and not all of this content specifically relates to nanotechnology. However, the author's approach will allow less experienced readers to follow the presented concepts. The structure of the text and the figures and illustrations in each of the nine chapters are well organized and of exceptional quality. Chapters end with a brief list of further suggested reading and a set of exercises/problems. A companion Web site contains PowerPoint slides and solutions to some of the end-of-chapter problems. A complete set of all figures would have been a great addition to the site. The book lacks a concise legend of symbols used in equations and abbreviations, but most are obvious or listed in the text. This work is useful for undergraduates and beginning graduate students; even general readers with some science background should be able to follow the text. Summing Up: Recommended. All levels of students and general readers. H. Giesche Alfred University