Chemistry of Functional Materials Surfaces and Interfaces — Fundamentals and Applications (Link to downloading options...) Modern materials science is governed not only by what materials are made of, but by what happens at their boundaries. Every object in the three-dimensional world is defined by interfaces—between solid and liquid, liquid and gas, or between different materials. These interfaces control adhesion, wetting, self- assembly, electron transfer, and ultimately the performance of technologies ranging from self-cleaning surfaces and smart-phone coatings to oil recovery and semiconductor manufacturing. Chemistry of Functional Materials: Surfaces and Interfaces presents a unified and intuitive framework for understanding these phenomena across length scales—from molecular surfactants to nanoparticles and macroscopic functional surfaces. The book introduces the fundamental physicochemical principles governing interfacial energy, cohesion, adhesion, and self-assembly, and shows how these principles translate into real technologies and advanced materials. At the molecular level, the behavior of matter is governed by a simple balance of energies. In the bulk of a material, interactions are symmetric, but at interfaces this symmetry is broken, giving rise to interfacial tension. By controlling this balance—through surfactants, amphiphiles, or nanostructured surfaces—scientists can tune wettability, stabilize emulsions, drive self-assembly, or control electron transfer at metal–organic interfaces. A central idea of the book is that amphiphilicity is a scalable concept: it applies not only to molecules, but also to polymers, nanoparticles, and micro-objects. These building blocks can spontaneously organize at interfaces and form complex suprastructures, enabling the bottom-up creation of functional materials with adaptive, responsive, or “environmentally aware” properties. The text is structured to guide the reader from fundamental energy concepts and interfacial thermodynamics to advanced topics such as colloids, polymer nanoparticles, Pickering emulsions, metal–organic interfaces, and photolithography. Throughout the book, theoretical concepts are connected to practical case studies drawn from nanotechnology, polymer science, electronics, and industrial processes. Rather than focusing on formal derivations alone, the book emphasizes conceptual understanding, physical intuition, and real-world relevance. It is intended for students, researchers, and engineers who need a coherent understanding of interfacial chemistry in order to design the next generation of functional materials and technologies.

Honciuc, Andrei. Chemistry of Functional Materials: Surfaces and Interfaces—Fundamentals and Applications; Elsevier: Amsterdam, 2021; 280 pp https://www.sciencedirect.com/book/monograp h/9780128210598/chemistry-of-functional- materials-surfaces-and-interfaces

Morphological Design and Synthesis of Nanoparticles (Link to downloading options...) Nanoparticles occupy a unique domain of matter, where size, shape, and surface structure determine physical, chemical, and biological behavior. At this scale, materials exhibit properties that differ fundamentally from their bulk counterparts, arising from high surface-to-volume ratios, quantum effects, and specific atomic arrangements. The edited volume Morphological Design and Synthesis of Nanoparticles brings together a collection of recent contributions that highlight the central role of nanoparticle morphology in defining functionality. The guiding idea of the book is that shape is not merely a geometric attribute, but a design parameter that controls how nanoparticles interact with their environment, assemble into structures, and perform specific technological tasks. Across fields such as medicine, electronics, energy, and environmental science, nanoparticles are enabling transformative technologies. They serve as targeted drug-delivery vehicles, components of high- efficiency electronic devices, catalysts for clean-energy production, and active materials for pollution remediation and water purification. The versatility of nanoparticles stems from the ability to engineer their morphology, composition, and surface chemistry to achieve precise functions. A central theme of the volume is the correlation between nanoparticle morphology and performance. For example, asymmetric or Janus nanoparticles exhibit amphiphilic character, allowing them to adsorb at interfaces, stabilize emulsions, self-assemble into superstructures, or function as directional nanomotors. Similar morphology-driven functionalities appear in catalysis, drug delivery, optoelectronics, magnetic materials, and environmental remediation systems. The book presents a broad snapshot of contemporary nanoparticle research, covering synthetic strategies for uniquely shaped nanostructures, physicochemical investigations of their behavior, and the design of advanced materials and devices based on these particles. Contributions span topics from biomedical nanoparticles and luminescent materials to nanoalloys, magnetic nanostructures, catalytic systems, and environmental applications. Intended for chemists, materials scientists, environmental researchers, and students, this volume provides a cross-section of current directions in nanoparticle synthesis and design. By emphasizing the structure–property–function relationship, it highlights how deliberate morphological control can unlock new applications and guide the next generation of nanomaterials.

Honciuc, Andrei; Honciuc, Mirela, Eds. Morphological Design and Synthesis of Nanoparticles; MDPI: Basel, 2024; 338 pp. https://www.mdpi.com/journal/nanomaterials/s pecial_issues/YQ0YE5QQV5