Todays science and technology moves at a breakneck speed making it difficult for newcomers to determine what research challenges and opportunities exist for them. In this regard, this volume begins with a birds eye view of recent advances to provide breadth; followed with detailed discussion of selected topics to provide depth. (by Apparao M. Rao, R. A. Bowen Professor of Physics, Clemson University.) This volume presents an interesting and eclectic volume presenting interesting research from a broadswath of applied physics and materials science. From the insightful update on nanotechnology research to the chapters on sustainable energy and environmental ecology, there is sure to be something of interest to everyone. (by Vince Rotello, Charles A. Goessmann Professor of Chemistry, University Distinguished Professor at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.) I believe that this book offers broad examples of recent developments in nanotechnology research and an excellent introduction to nanoelectronics, nanomaterial applications, and bionanocomposites. (Jianbin Luo, State Key Laboratory of Tribology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.)

Dr. Jiajun Zhu is a research physicist in Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Currently, he has been awarded a DAAD Fellowship, working in Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Germany. Before that, he worked in Key Laboratory of Polar Materials and Devices, Ministry of Education, East China Normal University.