The demand for new materials with novel properties on the micro- and nano-scale continues to grow. This book provides an overview of state-of-the-art techniques for the synthesis and characterization of inorganic nanomaterials including techniques such as XPS, XAS, single crystal X-ray diffraction, X-ray microimaging, electron microscopy, and solid state NMR. Essential for all researchers in nanoscience.

Michele Aresta, University of Bari, Italy; Angela Dibenedetto, University of Bari, Italy.

1;Introduction: Nano- (and micro-)materials and human wellbeing;152;1 Coating antibacterial nanoparticles on textiles: Towards the future hospital in which all textiles will be antibacterial;172.1;1.1 Introduction: Application of nanotechnology for "smart" textiles;172.2;1.2 Sonochemical method for the synthesis of nanostructured materials and their adherence to solid substrates;202.3;1.3 Ultrasound assisted deposition of metal nano-oxides on textiles and their antibacterial properties;222.3.1;1.3.1 Synthesis and deposition of CuO nanoparticles;222.3.2;1.3.2 Finishing of textiles with crystalline TiO2 nanoparticles via a one-step process;242.3.3;1.3.3 Synthesis and deposition of ZnO;302.3.4;1.3.4 Enzymatic pretreatment as a means of enhancing antibacterial activity and stability of ZnO nanoparticles sonochemically coated on cotton fabrics;362.3.5;1.3.5 Size dependence of the antibacterial activity of ZnO NPs;422.4;1.4 Conclusion;422.4.1;Bibliography;433;2 Automated solutions for high-throughput experimentation in heterogeneous catalyst research;493.1;2.1 Introduction;493.2;2.2 The preparation of solid catalysts;513.3;2.3 Automation challenges examples;513.3.1;2.3.1 Integration of commercially available devices;523.4;2.4 A fully-automated solution;533.4.1;2.4.1 SOPHAS-CAT HT;533.4.2;2.4.2 The loading;533.4.3;2.4.3 The synthesizer;543.4.4;2.4.4 Extrudate preparation;553.4.5;2.4.5 Impregnation and drying;553.4.6;2.4.6 Calcination;563.4.7;2.4.7 Scraping and pelletizing;563.4.8;2.4.8 Grinding;573.4.9;2.4.9 Sieving;573.5;2.5 Conclusion;583.5.1;Bibliography;594;3 Insights from XPS on nanosized inorganic materials;614.1;3.1 Introduction;614.2;3.2 XPS in the nanodomain;614.3;3.3 Conclusions;674.3.1;Bibliography;695;4 Single crystal and powder XRD techniques: An overview;715.1;4.1 The single crystal XRD technique;715.1.1;4.1.1 Basics of the radiation-matter interaction;725.1.2;4.1.2 Basics of crystallography and X-ray diffraction by crystal;755.1.3;4.1.3 Solving the phase problem by direct methods;835.2;4.2 The powder XRD technique;885.2.1;4.2.1 Indexation;885.2.2;4.2.2 Space group determination;905.2.3;4.2.3 Profile decomposition and intensity extraction;915.2.4;4.2.4 Structure solution;935.2.5;4.2.5 Rietveld refinement;985.2.6;4.2.6 Examples;995.3;4.3 Conclusions;1025.3.1;Bibliography;1036;5 Structural and electronic characterization of nanosized inorganic materials by X-ray absorption spectroscopies;1076.1;5.1 Introduction;1076.2;5.2 XAS spectroscopy: Basic background;1076.2.1;5.2.1 Theoretical background of XAS spectroscopy;1086.2.2;5.2.2 The XANES region;1106.2.3;5.2.3 The EXAFS region;1106.2.4;5.2.4 Advantages and drawbacks of the technique;1136.3;5.3 CuCl2/Al2O3-based catalysts for ethylene oxychlorination;1146.3.1;5.3.1 Industrial relevance of the CuCl2/Al2O3 system;1146.3.2;5.3.2 Preliminary in situ XAFS experiments;1156.3.2.1;5.3.2.1 The determination of the Cu-aluminate phase: How to avoid possible pitfalls in the EXAFS data analysis;1156.3.2.2;5.3.2.2 Catalyst reactivity with the separate reactants: In situ XAFS experiments;1176.3.3;5.3.3 Operando experiments and criteria used to face the presence of more than one phase in the sample;1196.4;5.4 Structural and electronic configuration of Cp2Cr molecules encapsulated in PS and Na-Y zeolite and their reactivity towards CO;1236.4.1;5.4.1 Structure of Cp2Cr encapsulated in PS and Na-Y zeolite matrices;1236.4.2;5.4.2 Determination of the electronic structure of Cp2Cr by combined UV-Vis and XANES spectroscopies;1256.4.3;5.4.3 Reactivity of Cp2Cr hosted in PS and in Na-Y zeolite towards CO: IR and XAFS results;1286.5;5.5 Transition metal complexes in solution: The [cis-Ru(bpy)2(py)2]2+ case study;1316.5.1;5.5.1 Structure refinement of cis-[Ru(bpy)2(py)2]2+ in aqueous solution by EXAFS spectroscopy;1326.5.2;5.5.2 Advanced details of the EXAFS structure refinement of cis-[Ru(bpy)2(py)2]2+ complex;1346.6;5.6 EXAFS stud