Nanomaterials--A Membrane-Based Synthetic Approach

摘要

Nanomaterials constitute an emerging, interdisciplinary field of science thatdeals with the development of methods for preparing nanoscopic bits of a desired material (e.g. a polymer, metal, semiconductor) and with scientific investigations of the nanomaterials obtained. Nanomaterials have numerous possible commercial and technological applications. In addition, this field poses an important fundamental philosophical question--how do the properties of a nanoscopic bit of a material differ from the analogous properties for a macroscopic sample of the same material. We have been exploring a membrane-based approach for preparing nanomaterials. This method entails synthesis of the desired material within the pores of a nanoporous membrane. Because the membranes employed contain cylindrical pores of uniform diameter, monodisperse nanocylinders of the desired material are obtained. This template method for preparing nanomaterials is very general; we, and others, have used it to prepare nanopolymers, nanometals, nanosemiconductors and other nano materials. Nanomaterials, Nanometals, Nanoelectrodes, Nanochemistry.