This is the ?rst volume in a series of books on selected topics in
nanoscale science and technology, based on lectures given at the
well-known Italian Institute for Nuclear Physics (Instituto Nazionale di
Fisica Nucleare, or in short INFN) schools of the same name (Nanoscience
& Nanotechnology 2006, Nanosceience & N- otechnology 2007). The aim of
this collection is to provide a reference corpus of suitable,
introductory material to relevant sub?elds, as they mature over time, by
gathering the signi?cantly expanded and edited versions of tutorial
lectures, given over the years by internationally known experts. The
?eld of nanoscience has witnessed a rapid growth in the last decade. -
cently, the attention of the community of nanoscientists has been
focusing more and more on technological applications. Nanotechnology is
an enabling technology, with a high potential impact on virtually all
?elds of human activity (industrial, health-related, biomedical,
environmental, economy, politics, etc.). Its potential yields high
expectations for solutions to the main needs of society, although it
issues of sustainability and compatibility need to be addressed. The
?elds of research - plication in nanoscience include aerospace, defence,
national security, electronics, biology, and medicine.