Foreword to the French Edition
Nanomaterials constitute an important branch in the burgeoning field of
nanoscience. Size reduction can lead to a whole range of new physicochemi-
cal properties and a wealth of potential applications. However, access to these
nanostructured entities requires the development of suitable methods for their
elaboration.
This book, aimed at MSc or PhD students and young engineers, research
scientists and teachers, provides a complete review of all relevant aspects from
the fabrication of nanomaterials able to carry out new functions to the self-
assembly of complex structures.
Part I provides a theoretical description of the basic principles and fun-
damental properties of nanomaterials, whilst Part II treats the physical and
chemical properties of nanoscale structures. Methods for designing and fabri-
cating such structures are then discussed in Parts III and IV.
In Part V, a great many industrial applications, some still under develop-
ment, are used to demonstrate the significant economic potential of these new
structures and their consequences in various areas of everyday life.
Supramolecular chemistry can provide novel ways of moving forward in
this domain. Indeed, molecular recognition phenomena, based on molecular
information, can be used to form supramolecular materials in a spontaneous
but controlled manner, by self-organisation starting from their components.
Self-organisation processes thus represent a powerful method for building func-
tional nanomaterials, which may provide a way of avoiding ever more delicate
and costly nanofabrication and nanomanipulation processes.
It seems fair to hope that the meeting of supramolecular chemistry with
materials science will soon open up new lines of development in nanoscience
and nanotechnology. The present work lays the foundations on which these
prospects may be pursued.
Coll`ege de France, May 2006 Jean-Marie Lehn
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