In the highly active research field of nanophase materials, nanocomposites have recently been identified as one of the main international research topics which may open up ways of developing novel functional and structural materials. Constructed from individual nanoscale building blocks and a high fraction of external or internal interfaces, the properties of nanocomposites may impart new application possibilities not accessible by their single components.
The contributions to this book, based on the EUROMAT symposium, address novel or advanced properties and functionalities (e.g. optical, electronic, mechanical, magnetic, catalytic, etc.) of nanocomposite materials based on inorganic, organic or biological nanoscaled building blocks. Material classes to be dealt with comprise dispersions, cluster assemblies, thin films and coatings, porous, tubular and membrane-based structures, as well as bio/artificially-based composites.