http://www.mdpi.com/journal/materials/special_issues/nanomaterial/ Dear Colleagues, Nanomaterials, as one of the fast-growing discipline fields, contain true nanoscale structures that enable novel properties or advanced functions. The production of advanced materials has brought more and more focus on nanomaterials due to their significant chemical physical properties and surface effect. Not only materials scientists but also researchers from other disciplines such as physics, chemistry and biology have been involved in working on science and applications of nanostructured materials with varied emphasis on synthesis, processing, characterization, and applications (energy, environment, life science, electronics etc.). The special issue covers current trends and developments in nanomaterials. The papers can involve both the basic research and the application development relating to experimental, theoretical, computational, and applications of nanomaterials. Dr. Mingdong Dong Guest Editor {snippet name="submission_info"} http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/4/1/55/ The effect of the surfactant on the size, polydispersity, type of size distribution and structure of nanoparticles synthesized in microemulsions has been studied by computer simulation. The model simulates the surfactant by means of two parameters: the intermicellar exchange parameter, kex, related to dimer life time, and film flexibility parameter, f, related to interdroplet channel size. One can conclude that an increase in surfactant flexibility leads to bigger and polydisperse nanoparticle sizes. In addition, at high concentrations, the same reaction gives rise to a unimodal distribution using a flexible surfactant, and a bimodal distribution using a rigid one. In relation to bimetallic nanoparticles, if the nanoparticle is composed of two metals with a moderate difference in reduction potentials, increasing the surfactant flexibility modifies the nanoparticle structure, giving rise to a transition from a nanoalloy (using a rigid film) to a core-shell structure (using a flexible one). http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/4/1/55/ Wed, 29 Dec 2010 00:00:00 CET Materials 2010-12-29 4 1 Review 55 72 1996-1944 Surfactant Effects on Microemulsion-Based Nanoparticle Synthesis 2010-12-29 doi: 10.3390/ma4010055 Concha Tojo Miguel de Dios Fernando Barroso http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/3/12/5220/ Layered double hydroxides (LDHs), also well-known as hydrotalcite-like layered clays, have been widely investigated in the fields of catalysts and catalyst support, anion exchanger, electrical and optical functional materials, flame retardants and nanoadditives. This feature article focuses on the progress in micro-/nanostructured LDHs in terms of morphology, and also on the preparations, applications, and perspectives of the LDHs with different morphologies. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/3/12/5220/ Thu, 09 Dec 2010 00:00:00 CET Materials 2010-12-09 3 12 Review 5220 5235 1996-1944 Morphologies, Preparations and Applications of Layered Double Hydroxide Micro-/Nanostructures 2010-12-09 doi: 10.3390/ma3125220 Ye Kuang Lina Zhao Shuai Zhang Fazhi Zhang Mingdong Dong Sailong Xu http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/3/10/4811/ Nanopatterning of solid surfaces by low-energy ion bombardment has received considerable interest in recent years. This interest was partially motivated by promising applications of nanopatterned substrates in the production of functional surfaces. Especially nanoscale ripple patterns on Si surfaces have attracted attention both from a fundamental and an application related point of view. This paper summarizes the theoretical basics of ion-induced pattern formation and compares the predictions of various continuum models to experimental observations with special emphasis on the morphology development of Si surfaces during sub-keV ion sputtering. http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/3/10/4811/ Fri, 22 Oct 2010 00:00:00 CEST Materials 2010-10-22 3 10 Review 4811 4841 1996-1944 Ion-Induced Nanoscale Ripple Patterns on Si Surfaces: Theory and Experiment 2010-10-22 doi: 10.3390/ma3104811 Adrian Keller Stefan Facsko