Nanoparticles of Metal-Containing Compounds: Fundamental Studies and Applications

Dear Colleagues,

As is known, nanoparticles formed both by elemental metals and their chemical compounds currently play a very important role in modern chemistry and chemical technology. First of all, this applies to chemical compounds containing atoms of p-, d- and/or f-elements. According to the accepted definition, nanoparticles usually include those particles of a substance that have a size in the range of 1 to 100 nm; however, there is also a broad interpretation of this term, within the framework of which they include all particles whose size is less than 100 nm in at least one direction. Particles smaller than 1 nm are usually classified in another category called "clusters of atoms" (although this term, given its origin, cannot be fully recognized as correct). Nanoparticles are widely distributed in nature and are the objects of study in many sciences, including chemistry, physics, geology and biology primarily. Located between bulk materials and atomic or molecular structures, they often demonstrate phenomena that are not observed for macro- and even microparticles. At the same time, they can play both a useful and a harmful role. The first of these manifests itself, for example, in the fact that they are key ingredients in many industrial products, such as paints, plastics, metals, ceramics and magnetic products, acting as a kind of "precursor" for the production of micro- and nanoparticles of metal oxides, metal sulfides and chalcogenides. Metals (which, in turn, seem to be very convenient starting materials for the production of, for example, ceramics, materials, and catalytic and sorption systems) themselves have a number of specific (and very useful) properties from an anthropogenic point of view. They are an important component of environmental pollution. However, be that as it may, it is difficult to find that branch of modern anthropogenic activity in which these objects could not be used; in this regard, it is not by chance that the production of nanoparticles with special properties is singled out as a separate branch of science and technology, called "nanotechnology". Additionally, although this specific branch of science is still quite young, the number of publications and technologies developed in this area is already measured in the hundreds of thousands, which once again emphasizes its significance.

For the purposeful synthesis of nanoparticles, however, it is necessary, on the one hand, to know the specifics of their formation, and on the other hand, to be able to predict their properties and control this process. This side of the development of nanoscience and nanotechnologies, despite the already achieved (and rather significant) successes, cannot yet be considered adequately developed, and the following three main problems need to be addressed:

• The development of scientific bases for the synthesis of nanoparticles of p-, d-, f-metal-containing chemical compounds;
• The development of adequate theoretical models (above all, quantum-chemical ones), which make it possible to predict with sufficient reliability the molecular and electronic structures of nanoparticles of the above compounds, as well as their spectral, magnetic, thermal, and other physical and chemical characteristics;
• The modernization of existing methods and the development of new methods for the synthesis of nanoparticles of the above chemical compounds.

In view of the forementioned, this Special Issue is intended to include primarily original full papers and brief communications on any research that in one way or another aims to solve any of these problems. We also welcome articles that will present results that contribute to the solution of any particular issues not directly related to these problems, but that are related to the nano-objects indicated in the title of this Special Issue (including the improvement of their terminology or metrology, as well as those regarding related historical events and facts). Review articles may also be submitted for publication in this Special Issue.

Prof. Dr. Oleg V. Mikhailov
Guest Editor

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• nanoparticles
• synthesis
• molecular structure
• p-, d-, and f-metals
• quantum-chemical modeling
• physico-chemical research methods