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Nanotechnology provides us with tools to create functional materials, devices, and systems by controlling materials at the atomic and molecular scales by making use of novel properties and phenomena. Considering that most chemical and biological sensors, as well as many physical sensors, depend on interactions occurring within the nanoscale range, the impact that nanotechnology will have on the sensor world is significant. Nanotechnology-enabled sensors find applications in several fields such as health and safety, medicine, process control and diagnostics. Nanostructured materials will be increasingly used for the development of next-generation of chemical, physical and biosensors, attracting interests in the scientific and industrial communications. This book provides the reader with information on how nanotechnology enabled sensors are currently being used and how they will be used in the future in such diverse fields as communications, building and facilities, medicine, safety, and security, including both homeland defense and military operations.
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Nanotechnology-Enabled Sensors Nanotechnology-Enabled Sensors Kourosh Kalantar-zadeh RMIT University School of Electrical Engineering Melbourne, Victoria Australia Benjamin Fry RMIT University Biotechnology and Environmental Biology Melbourne, Victoria Australia Kourosh Kalantar-zadeh RMIT University School of Electrical Engineering Melbourne, Victoria, 3001 Australia Benjamin Fry RMIT University Biotechnology and Environmental Biology Melbourne, Victoria, 3083 Australia Library of Congress Control Number: 2007934285 ISBN 978-0-387-32473-9 e-ISBN 978-0-387-68023-1 Printed on acid-free paper. © 2008 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC All rights reserved. This work may not be translated or copied in whole or in part without the written permission of the publisher (Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, 233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013, USA), except for brief excerpts in connection with reviews or scholarly analysis. Use in connection with any form of information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now know or hereafter developed is forbidden. The use in this publication of trade names, trademarks, service marks and similar terms, even if they are not identified as such, is not to be taken as an expression of opinion as to whether or not they are subject to proprietary rights. 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 springer.com Preface Nanotechnology enabled sensors is an exciting field to enter into. It is our intention to provide the readers with a deep understanding of the concepts of nanotechnology enabled sensors, handing them the information necessary to develop such sensors, covering all aspects including fundamental theories, fabrication, functionalization, characterization and the real world applications, enabling them to pursue their research and development requirements. This book can be utilized as a text for researchers as well as graduate students who are either entering these fields for the first time, or those already conducting research in these areas but are willing to extend their knowledge in the field of nanotechnology enabled sensors. This book is written in a manner that final year and graduate university students in the fields of chemistry, physics, electronics, biology, biotechnology, mechanics and bioengineering, can easily comprehend. Nanotechnology enabled sensors is multidisciplinary by nature. It is important that the readers are armed with the necessary knowledge of physics, chemistry and biology related to these sensors and associated nanosciences. This book does not assume that its readers are experts in the multidisciplinary world; however, a basic understanding of university level chemistry and physics is h