| Introduction | p. 1 |
| Clusters and Nanoparticles | p. 1 |
| Feynman's Vision | p. 2 |
| Bulk and Interface | p. 5 |
| Gradients Near Surfaces | p. 5 |
| The Coordination Number Rules the Game | p. 6 |
| Surface Science, a Source of Information for Nanoscience | p. 8 |
| Particle Size and Microstrain | p. 11 |
| Biomimetics: Nature as a Source of Inspiration for Strategies in Nanotechnology | p. 17 |
| Geometric Structure, Magic Numbers, and Coordination Numbers of Small Clusters | p. 21 |
| The Consequences of the Range of the Radial Potential Energy Function | p. 21 |
| Magic Numbers by Geometric Shells Closing | p. 26 |
| Magic Numbers by Electronic Shells Closing | p. 29 |
| Cohesive Energy and Coordination Number | p. 34 |
| Electronic Structure | p. 41 |
| Discrete States Versus Band Structure | p. 41 |
| The Effects of Dimensionality and Symmetry in Quantum Structures | p. 42 |
| The Nonmetal-to-Metal Transition | p. 47 |
| General Criteria | p. 47 |
| The Special Case of Divalent Elements | p. 49 |
| Experimental Criteria of Metallic Behaviour | p. 51 |
| Work Function, Ionisation Potential and Electron Affinity | p. 55 |
| Electronic Structure of Semiconductor and Metal Clusters | p. 60 |
| Optical Transitions in Semiconductor Nanoclusters | p. 60 |
| Photochemical and Photophysical Processes of Semiconductor Nanoparticles | p. 65 |
| Optical Properties of Metal Nanoclusters | p. 69 |
| A Semiconductor Quantum Dot Electronic Device | p. 74 |
| Magnetic Properties | p. 81 |
| A Brief Primer on Magnetism | p. 81 |
| The Basic Parameters | p. 81 |
| Curie Paramagnetism | p. 82 |
| Curie-Weiss Paramagnetism | p. 83 |
| Antiferromagnetism | p. 84 |
| Ferromagnetism and Ferrimagnetism | p. 84 |
| Molecular Magnets | p. 86 |
| Superparamagnetism | p. 88 |
| Other Forms of Magnetism | p. 90 |
| The Concept of Frustration | p. 91 |
| Magnetic Properties of Small Clusters | p. 95 |
| Theoretical Predictions | p. 95 |
| Experimental Observations of Magnetism in Clusters | p. 100 |
| Ferromagnetic Order in Thin Films and Monoatomic Chains | p. 106 |
| Finite Size Effects in Magnetic Resonance Detection | p. 109 |
| Nuclear Magnetic Resonance | p. 109 |
| Electron Spin Resonance | p. 111 |
| Thermodynamics for Finite Size Systems | p. 119 |
| Limitations of Macroscopic Thermodynamics | p. 119 |
| A Formal Approach | p. 119 |
| Systems Beyond the Thermodynamic Limit | p. 120 |
| The Breakdown of the Concept of Phases | p. 122 |
| The Basics of Capillarity | p. 124 |
| Phase Transitions of Free Liquid Droplets | p. 128 |
| The Lotus Effect | p. 129 |
| Classical Nucleation Theory | p. 136 |
| Shape Control of Nanocrystals | p. 141 |
| Size Effects on Ion Conduction in Solids | p. 148 |
| Principles of Self-Assembly | p. 152 |
| Adsorption, Phase Behaviour and Dynamics of Surface Layers and in Pores | p. 163 |
| Surface Adsorption and Pore Condensation | p. 163 |
| The Langmuir Adsorption Isotherm | p. 163 |
| The Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) Equation | p. 163 |
| Adsorption in Micropores | p. 166 |
| Adsorption and Condensation in Mesopores | p. 168 |
| Determination of Mesopore Volumes and Mean Pore Size | p. 169 |
| Adsorption Hysteresis and Pore Criticality | p. 170 |
| The Melting Point of Pore-confined Matter | p. 178 |
| Layering Transitions | p. 185 |
| Layering of Solids and Liquids Adsorbed on Smooth Surfaces | p. 185 |
| Layering Transitions of Confined Fluids in Smooth Pores | p. 187 |
| Liquid Coexistence and Ionic Solutions in Pores | p. 191 |
| The Effect of Pressure | p. 193 |
| Dynamics in Pores | p. 194 |
| Dielectric Properties | p. 194 |
| Diffusion and Viscosity Under Confinement | p. 198 |
| Nucleation, Phase Transitions and Dynamics of Clusters | p. 209 |
| Melting Point and Melting Enthalpy | p. 209 |
| Introduction | p. 209 |
| Supported Tin Clusters | p. 210 |
| Melting of Cadmium Sulfide Nanocrystals | p. 214 |
| Free Sodium Clusters | p. 214 |
| Isolated Silver Clusters | p. 219 |
| Simulated Melting Behaviour of Further Metal Clusters | p. 221 |
| Discrete Periodic Melting of Indium Clusters | p. 221 |
| Hydrogen-Induced Melting of Palladium Clusters | p. 222 |
| Dynamics of Metal Clusters | p. 223 |
| Phase Transitions of Two-Dimensional Systems | p. 233 |
| Melting of Thin Layers | p. 233 |
| Structural Phase Transitions in Thin Layers | p. 233 |
| Glass Transition of a Polymer Thin Film | p. 235 |
| Surface Alloy Phases | p. 236 |
| Catalysis by Metallic Nanoparticles | p. 239 |
| Some General Principles of Catalysis by Nanoparticles | p. 239 |
| Size-Controlled Catalytic Clusters | p. 241 |
| Shape-Dependent Catalytic Activity | p. 246 |
| The Effect of Strain | p. 248 |
| The Effect of Alloying | p. 252 |
| Metal-Support Interaction | p. 255 |
| The Influence of External Bias Voltage | p. 257 |
| Applications: Facts and Fictions | p. 263 |
| Nanomaterials | p. 263 |
| General Considerations | p. 263 |
| Applications in Medicine | p. 263 |
| Intelligent Surfaces | p. 265 |
| Applications in Catalysis | p. 265 |
| Applications in Environmental Technologies | p. 265 |
| Nanotechnology | p. 266 |
| Applications to Nanomechanics | p. 267 |
| Applications in Nanoelectronics | p. 269 |
| Applications of Single Spin- and Nanomagnetism | p. 272 |
| Applications of Optical Properties | p. 273 |
| Hopes, Hazards and Hype | p. 275 |
| Is Nanotechnology Useful? | p. 275 |
| Potential Health and Environmental Hazards | p. 276 |
| Ethical and Social Threats from Nanotechnology | p. 276 |
| Is Nanotechnology but Hype? | p. 278 |
| Subject Index | p. 281 |
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