Sonochemical Production of Nanomaterials (SpringerBriefs in Molecular Science)

This book discusses the ultrasonic synthesis, characterization and application of various nanoparticles, as well as the ultrasonic synthesis of metal and inorganic nanoparticles such as noble metals, transition metals, semiconductors, nanocomposites, alloys and catalysts. In addition, it describes the engineering of micro- and nanosystems using ultrasound-responsive biomolecules. In acoustic cavitation, unique phenomena based on bubbles dynamics, extreme high-temperature and pressure conditions, radical reactions, extreme heating and cooling rates, strong shockwaves, and microstreaming are generated, and under certain conditions, mist generation (atomization of a liquid) is effectively induced by ultrasonic irradiation. These unique phenomena can be used to produce various high-performance functional metal and inorganic nanoparticles. Nanoparticles and nanomaterials are key materials in advancing nanotechnology and as such ultrasound and sonochemical techniques for producing nanoparticles and nanomaterials have been actively studied for the last two decades. Although a few professional books related to “ultrasound” and “nanomaterials” have been published, these mainly target professional researchers. This book covers this topic in a way that appeals to graduate students, researchers and engineers. Francesca Cavalieri is a Future Fellow in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at The University of Melbourne. She has interdisciplinary expertise in synthesis and structure/function characterization of soft biomaterials based on natural and synthetic macromolecules such as proteins, polysaccharides nucleic acids and hydrophilic polymers. Her research focuses on the interaction of biomacromolecules with biological systems as well as synthetic approaches, including ultrasound, to the design of novel biomaterials. Kenji Okitsu, is a professor in the Graduate School of Humanities and Sustainable System Sciences at Osaka Prefecture University in Japan. His major research focus is on the sonochemical synthesis of metal nanoparticles, sonochemical degradation of hazardous organic chemicals and analysis of the chemical and physical effect of acoustic cavitation.