Investigation on Metallic Nanoparticles

Dear Colleagues,

At the beginning of the 21st century, ideas and achievements in nanoscience and nanotechnology penetrated, to a lesser or greater extent, almost all directions of modern technologies, including large-scale ones such as construction and building materials. On the nanoscale, metals demonstrate some unique properties which are of interest from both a scientific and applied point of view. I propose to prepare and publish a Special Issue of the journal Metals where achievements, advantages, and disadvantages of experimental and theoretical studies on metal nanoparticles (NPs), including basic and applied aspects, will be discussed. I hope that such an open discussion will promote further development of investigation of metal NPs and, perhaps, give rise to some quite new directions of basic and applied nanoscience concerning metal NPs. Below, some recommended specific topics of the issue are listed:

(i) Metal NPs, including metal nanoclusters: specific behavior in comparison with bulk metals (structural transformations, the melting temperature depression and other size effects); characterization of metal NPs; experimental studies: achievements and unsolved problems;

(ii) Theoretical approaches in nanoscience, including development, verification, and application of nanothermodynamics; atomistic simulations of metal NPs; first principles approaches to metal nanoclusters;

(iii) Bottom–up and top–down technologies of NP fabrication; bottom–up (self-assembly) technologies on the basis of metal NPs; regulations and mechanisms of coalescence and sintering on the nanoscale; metal nanomaterials and nanostructured metals;

(iv) Binary and multicomponent metal NPs (nanoalloys); segregation in metal NPs; NANOCALPHAD; bimetallic NPs, including Janus structures and core–shell structures (manufacturing, properties, applications);

(v) Metal NPs in nanomedicine: diagnostics (including applications of magnetic NPs), drug delivery, therapy effects; nanotoxicology.

Some other proposals, including very specific but interesting topics, e.g. ,prospects of manufacturing and application of high-entropy nanoalloys, are also welcomed.

Prof. Dr. Vladimir M. Samsonov
Guest Editor

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