The only standard reference in this exciting new field combines the physical, chemical and material science perspectives in a synergic way. This monograph traces the development of the preparative methods employed to create nanostructures, in addition to the experimental techniques used to characterize them, as well as some of the surprising physical effects. The chapters cover every category of material, from organic to coordination compounds, metals and composites, in zero, one, two and three dimensions. The book also reviews structural, chemical, optical, and other physical properties, finishing with a look at the future for chiral nanosystems.

Table of Contents

An introduction to chirality at the nanoscale Optically active supramolecules Chiral Nanoparticles Gels as a media for functional chiral nanofibers Expression of chirality in polymers Nanoscale exploration of molecular and supramolecular chirality at metal surfaces under ultrahigh-vacuum conditions Expression of chirality on physisorbed monolayers observed by scanning tunnelling microscopy Structure and function of chiral architectures of amphiphilic molecules at the air/water interface Nanoscale stereochemistry in liquid crystals The nanoscale aspects of chirality in crystal growth: Structure and heterogeneous equilibria Switching at the nanoscale: Chiroptical machines and switches Chiral nanoporous materials

Author Biography

David Amabilino is a tenured scientist at the Materials Science Institute (ICMAB, CISC) near Barcelona, where he is presently the vice-director. He worked as a postdoc on self-assembly of interlocked molecules in Fraser Stoddart's group (then in Birmingham, Engalnd), on porphyrin-containing assemblies in Jean-Pierre Sauvage's group (ULP, Strasbourg) and chiral polymers in Jaume Veciana's group (ICMAB, CSIC) after receiving both BSc (hons.) and PhD from Royal Holloway and Bedford New College (University of London). His current interests include the influence of supramolecular and stereochemical effects on molecular materials, and especially the expression of chirality at the nanoscale and the effects it has on the hierarchical passage of handedness. In research related to this, he is coordinating two projects founded by the European commission.