Nanotechnology-Driven Engineered Materials : New Insights

Nanostructured materials are emerging as a new class of materials that exhibit unique microstructures and enhanced mechanical performance. As an outcome of this, these materials have attracted considerable attention in scientific communities all over the world.

There is continuous research to facilitate product development, thereby improving product quality and reliability in industry. This volume is devoted to novel architectures at the nano-level with an emphasis on new synthesis and characterization methods. Special emphasis is given to new applications of nanostructures and nanocomposites in various fields, such as nano-electronics, energy conversion, catalysis, drug delivery and nano-medicine.

The chapters are divided into sections focusing on:

• Nanoparticles Assembly and Nanostructured Materials
• Nanocomposites Properties
• Nanostructured Materials for Biomedical Applications

Sabu Thomas, DSc, PhD, CChem, FRSC

Sabu Thomas, PhD, is the Pro-Vice Chancellor of Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, India. He is also Founding Director of the International and Inter University Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology and Professor of Polymer Science and Engineering at the School of Chemical Sciences at the same university. Professor Thomas has received a number of national and international awards, including a Fellowship of the Royal Society of Chemistry; Distinguished Professorship from the Josef Stefan Institute, Slovenia; an MRSI medal; a CRSI medal; and the Sukumar Maithy award. He is on the list of most productive researchers in India, holding the fifth position. University of Lorraine, France and Université Bretagne Sud, France have awarded honoris causa (especially of a degree awarded without examination as a mark of esteem) to him. Professor Thomas has published over 600 peer-reviewed research papers, reviews, and book chapters. He has delivered over 300 plenary, inaugural and invited lectures at national/international meetings across 30 countries. He has established a state-of-the-art laboratory at Mahatma Gandhi University in the area of polymer science and engineering and nanoscience and nanotechnology through external funding from various organizations and institutes, including DST, CSIR, UGC, DBT, DRDO, AICTE, ISRO, TWAS, KSCSTE, BRNS, UGC-DAE, Du Pont, USA, General Cables, USA, Surface Treat, Czech Republic, and Apollo Tyres. The h-index of Professor Thomas is 87, and his work has been cited more than 23,850 times. He also has four patents to his credit.

Yves Grohens, PhD

Yves Grohens, PhD, is Director of the ComposiTIC Technical Platform and Head of the composites research group of the IRDL-CNRS laboratory (Material Engineering) at the Université de Bretagne Sud, France. His master’s and PhD degrees were from Besançon University, France. After finishing his studies, he worked as Assistant Professor and later as Professor in various reputed universities in France. He has been an invited professor to many universities in different parts of the world as well. His areas of interest include physicochemical studies of polymer surfaces and interfaces, phase transitions in thin films confinement, nano- and bio composites design and characterization, and biodegradation of polymers and biomaterials. He has written several book chapters, monographs, and scientific reviews and has published 230 international papers. He is chairman and member of advisory committees of many international conferences.

Nandakumar Kalarikkal, PhD

Nandakumar Kalarikkal, PhD, is Associate Professor of Physics at the School of Pure and Applied Physics, as well as Joint Director of the Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Mahatma Gandhi University, India. He has published more than 80 research articles in peer-reviewed journals and has co-edited several books. Dr. Kalarikkal’s research group focuses on the specialized areas of nanomultiferroics, nanosemiconductors, nanophosphors, nanocomposites, nanoferroelectrics, nanoferrites, nanomedicine, nanosensors, ion beam radiation effects and phase transitions. The research group has extensive exchange programs with different industries and various research and academic institutions all over the world and is performing world-class collaborative research in various fields. The Dr. Nandakumar Kalarikkal Centre is equipped with various sophisticated instruments and has established state-of-art experimental facilities that cater to the needs of researchers within the country and abroad.

Oluwatobi Samuel Oluwafemi, PhD

Oluwatobi Samuel Oluwafemi, PhD is Professor and a National Research Foundation (NRF), South Africa-rated researcher at the Department of Applied Chemistry, University of Johannesburg, South Africa. His research is in the broad area of nanotechnology and includes green synthesis of semiconductor and metal nanomaterials for different applications which include, but are not limited to, biological (imaging, labeling, and therapeutic), optical, environmental, and water treatment. He has authored and co-authored many journal publications, book chapters, and books. He is a reviewer for many international journals in the field of nanotechnology and has won many accolades both local and international.

Praveen K. M.

Praveen K. M. is Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Saintgits College of Engineering, India. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Engineering Sciences at the Université de Bretagne Sud – Laboratory IRDL PTR1, Research Center “Christiaan Huygens,” Lorient, France, in the area of coir-based polypropylene micro composites and nanocomposites. He has published an international article in Applied Surface Science and has presented posters and papers at national and international conferences. He also has worked with the Jozef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia; Mahatma Gandhi University, India; and the Technical University, Liberec, Czech Republic. His current research interests include plasma modification of polymers, polymer composites for neutron-shielding applications, and nanocellulose.