Molecular self-assembly is the spontaneous association of molecules under equilibrium conditions into stable, structurally well-defined aggregates joined by noncovalent bonds. Molecular self-assembly is ubiquitous in biological systems and underlies the formation of a wide variety of complex biological structures. Understanding self-assembly and the associated noncovalent interactions that connect complementary interacting molecular surfaces in biological aggregates is a central concern in structural biochemistry. Self-assembly is also emerging as a new strategy in chemical synthesis, with the potential of generating nonbiological structures with dimensions of 1 to 10(2) nanometers (with molecular weights of 10(4) to 10(10) daltons). Structures in the upper part of this range of sizes are presently inaccessible through chemical synthesis, and the ability to prepare them would open a route to structures comparable in size (and perhaps complementary in function) to those that can be prepared by microlithography and other techniques of microfabrication.

Molecular self-assembly and nanochemistry: A chemical strategy for the synthesis of nanostructures

Synthesis, properties, and applications of magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles

Metal oxides are the key ingredients for the development of many advanced functional materials and smart devices. Nanostructuring has emerged as one of the best tools to unlock their full potential. Tungsten oxides (WOx) are unique materials that have been rigorously studied for their chromism, photocatalysis, and sensing capabilities. However, they exhibit further important properties and functionalities that have received relatively little attention in the past. This Feature Article presents a general review of nanostructured WOx, their properties, methods of synthesis, and a description of how they can be used in unique ways for different applications. Tungsten oxides (WOx) are unique functional materials that can be obtained in a vast variety of nanostructured forms. This Feature Article presents a comprehensive review on the properties of WOx that goes beyond chromism and photocatalysis, for which they are usually investigated for. This is followed by a survey of their synthesis methods and implementations for different applications.

Nanostructured Tungsten Oxide – Properties, Synthesis, and Applications

Giant and isotropic magnetoresistance as huge as −53% was observed in magnetic manganese oxide La0.72Ca0.25MnOz films with an intrinsic antiferromagnetic spin structure. We ascribe this magnetoresistance to spin‐dependent electron scattering due to spin canting of the manganese oxide.

31p-S-4 Giant Magnetoresistance in Magnetic Manganese Oxide with Intrinsic Antiferromagnetic Spin Structure

Water purification using magnetic assistance: a review.

Half-metallic ferromagnetism of zinc-blende CrS and CrP: a first-principles pseudopotential study

A sol-gel procedure was used to cover Fe3O4 nanoparticles with SiO2 shell, forming a core/shell structure. The core/shell nanocomposites were synthesized by a two-step process. First, Fe3O4 nanoparticles were obtained through co-precipitation and dispersed in aqueous solution through electrostatic interactions in the presence of tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAOH). In the second step, Fe3O4 was capped with SiO2 generated from the hydrolyzation of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS). The structure and properties of the formed Fe3O4/SiO2 nanocomposites were characterized and the results indicate that the Fe3O4/SiO2 nanocomposites are superparamagnetic and are about 30 nm in size. Bioconjugation to IgG was also studied. Finally, the mechanism of depositing SiO2 on magnetic nanoparticles was discussed.

Characterization and application of Fe3O4/SiO2 nanocomposites

Synthesis and characterization of ultrafine well-dispersed magnetic nanoparticles

The electronic structure and the ferromagnetism of V- and Cr-doped zinc-blende semiconductor CdTe have been investigated by spin-polarized calculations with first-principles plane-wave pseudopotential method within the generalized gradient approximation for the exchange-correlation potential. We find that the V- and Cr-doped zinc-blende CdTe show half-metallic behavior with a total magnetic moment of 3.0 and 4.0 mu(B) per supercell, respectively. It may be useful in semiconductor spintronics and other applications. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Half-metallic ferromagnetic semiconductors of V- and Cr-doped CdTe studied from first-principles pseudopotential calculations

huazhong univ sci & technol, dept phys, wuhan 430074, peoples r china. huazhong univ sci & technol, state key lab laser technol, wuhan 430074, peoples r china. chinese acad sci, int ctr mat phys, shenyang 110015, peoples r china. tongji med coll, wuhan 430030, peoples r china.;liu, zl (reprint author), huazhong univ sci & technol, dept phys, wuhan 430074, peoples r china;wangxin207@sohu.com klyao@hust.edu.cn

Z.L. Liu

Papers

Half-metallic ferromagnetism of zinc-blende CrS and CrP: a first-principles pseudopotential study

Characterization and application of Fe3O4/SiO2 nanocomposites

Synthesis and characterization of ultrafine well-dispersed magnetic nanoparticles

Half-metallic ferromagnetic semiconductors of V- and Cr-doped CdTe studied from first-principles pseudopotential calculations

Synthesis of magnetite nanoparticles in W/O microemulsion