Bulk Nanostructured Materials: Non‐Mechanical Synthesis

Abstract

AbstractAn overview of the synthesis and processing techniques for bulk nanostructured materials that are based on “bottom‐up” approaches is presented. Typically, these processes use nanoparticles, which can be produced by a variety of methods in the gas, liquid or solid state, as the basic building blocks. Their assembly into bulk nanostructured materials requires at least one more processing step, such as compaction or the formation of thick films. For certain nanostructures, film deposition techniques can also be employed. A wide range of nanostructures – from thick films with theoretical density to bulk nanocrystalline materials with nanoporosity – exhibiting novel structural and functional properties useful in many fields of applications are presented. Additionally, the properties of these bulk nanostructured materials can be categorized as either tailored, i.e., microstructure‐dependent and inherently irreversible, or tunable, i.e., reversible by the application of an external field. Examples of both categories of properties are presented and the special role of the synthesis and processing routes to achieve the necessary nanostructures is emphasized.