Book and Media Review pubs.acs.org/jchemeduc
Review of Nanoscale Materials in Chemistry, 2nd Edition C. M. Woodbridge* Department of Biology and Chemistry, Baker University, Baldwin City, Kansas 66006, United States A review of the previous edition2 suggested that the text would be improved by including more about the technological applications of nanoparticles. The first edition focused on inorganic nanomaterials, which the reviewer commented on as well. In the second edition, the editors have addressed these constructive criticisms by including chapters on some of the materials mentioned in the review2 and including chapters that focus on applications (e.g., Chapter 20, Nanomaterials for Environmental Remediation; or Chapter 13, Commercial Applications of Carbon Nanostructures), and chapters that include applications (e.g., Chapter 15, Nanomaterials in Energy Storage Systems; or Chapter 12, DNA-Modified Gold Nanoparticles as Antisense Agents). The editors have created a second edition that is not just the first edition with some cosmetic changes, as we frequently see in textbooks. Instead, this is a completely new, significantly longer, and updated volume in which new topics and current trends are addressed. The bad news is that if you have not read the first edition, you have missed out on the topics covered in that edition. The first part of the text, which contains three articles, is a very good summary of the background a novice to the field would need in order to learn (in a few pages) how nanomaterials are different than “ordinary” materials. Klabunde’s introduction to the text (or Chapter 1), in particular, would be suitable reading for students at any level. The problems chosen are very good. Although they are likely beyond the average general chemistry student, anyone working through these problems will very quickly learn the skills necessary to use the remainder of the text. Although it is hard to pick just one favorite, my favorite chapter is Chapter 21, Nanoscience and Nanotechnology: Environmental and Health Impacts. This chapter touches on many areas: structure−property−function relationships; cost− risk−benefit analysis; environmental issues; and biochemical− physiological issues. The chapter is well written and well organized and provides a good balance of the necessary background materials as well as summaries of up-to-date research in the areas described. It exemplifies the interdisciplinary aspect of nanomaterials and should appeal to chemists, engineers, and biologists. Both the reading and the problems should inspire excellent discussions that are suitable to capstone-type courses. Like most of the text, this chapter has given me quite a list of articles to look up in order to learn more about (selected) topics. That, I think, is the hallmark of a good text. This is a text I would adopt for an upper-level undergraduate or introductory graduate course on nanomaterials. It could also be used as a supplement to a physical chemistry, inorganic, or materials course. Even if it is simply a text one has on the shelf
Nanoscale Materials in Chemistry, 2nd Edition, edited by Kenneth J. Klabunde and Ryan M. Richards. John Wiley and Sons, Ltd.: Hoboken, New Jersey, 2009. pp. (Includes figures and tables along with selected figures reproduced in color; also available as an e-book.) ISBN: 978-0470222706 (hardcover). $163. anotechnology continues to be an ever-expanding field as well as a buzzword incorporated more and more frequently into products. Apple’s iPod Nano was one product that (possibly) made sense, but the 2012 Nano car1 is a bit much for me. Scientists may know how silly it is to apply this type of terminology to a car (or an iPod, for that matter), but students might not be as familiar with the definition of “nano” or the field of nanoscience. Texts such as Nanoscale Materials in Chemistry, edited by Kenneth Klabunde and Ryan Richards, are a big help to define how terms like “nano” should be correctly used and, indeed, what nanomaterials actually are.
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Cover image provided by John Wiley and Sons, Ltd., and reproduced with permission.
The second edition of Nanoscale Materials in Chemistry is a collection of 22 articles on nanomaterials written by some of the leading experts in the field. If one does not want to use the whole text, each article can be used as a stand-alone topical article. The topics of the articles span several salient subjects: defining nanomaterials; how to synthesize nanomaterials; their physical properties; applications of nanomaterials; and potential hazards of nanomaterials. Overall, the text provides a good overview of some of the work being done by leading scientists. The articles are well chosen and survey a broad range of topics, although the text is by no means a complete review of nanomaterials. However, this edition has been expanded to include carbon nanotubes and mesoporous materials, which were not covered in the first edition. © 2012 American Chemical Society and Division of Chemical Education, Inc.
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dx.doi.org/10.1021/ed300528f | J. Chem. Educ. 2012, 89, 1226−1227
Journal of Chemical Education
Book and Media Review
to use as a reference, this is a text worth having. The introductions to each chapter and summaries are very well written; one can quickly get a snapshot of the chapter simply by reading these two sections. All the chapters are well referenced and many have Further Reading sections in addition to a list of sources cited. While I appreciate having answers available to students, the answers immediately follow the problems, so problems are not suitable for graded homework exercises. The problems would be a good basis for class discussions. I look forward to seeing an updated third edition of this text and plan on scouring libraries and used-book dealers so I can acquire a copy of the first edition.
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AUTHOR INFORMATION
Corresponding Author
*E-mail:
[email protected]. Notes
The authors declare no competing financial interest.
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REFERENCES
(1) Homepage for Tata Motor’s Nano Automobile. http://tatanano. inservices.tatamotors.com/tatamotors/home.htm (accessed Aug 2012). (2) Taton, T. A. Nanoscale Materials in Chemistry. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2002, 124 (35), 10629−10630.
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