Bruno Pignataro, born in Bologna in 1972, is Professor of Physical Chemistry at the University of Palermo. He received his degree in chemistry in 1995 from the University of Catania and his PhD in materials science five years later. He has helped establish a wide network of international collaborations and organized several scientific activities at national and international level, including coordinating the Young Chemists Group of the Italian Chemical Society and chairing the first three editions of the European Young Chemist Award. Professor Pignataro's group research focus on the fields of nanoscience and nanotechnology, molecular electronics, and biotechnology.

PREFACE

PART I: Self Assembly

YOCTOLITER-SIZED VESSELS AS POTENTIAL BIOLOGICAL MODELS
Introduction
Cavities on Glass Plates and Gold Surfaces
Preparation and Confirmation of Rigid Yoctowell Cavity
Molecular Sorting
Yoctowell-Based Molecular Recognition Events
Conclusion

SWITCHABLE HOST-GUEST INTERACTIONS OF SUPRAMOLECULAR RINGS AND CAGES
Introduction
Host - Guest Chemistry
Switching in Supramolecular Systems
Natural Paragons
Types of External Input and Methods for Analysis
Conclusion

PART II: Nano Materials

TAILORED GRAPHENE-TYPE MOLECULES BY CHEMICAL SYNTHESIS
Introduction
Synthetic Concepts toward Expanded PAHs - Nanographenes
Conclusion and Outlook

ANALYZING THE SURFACE AREA PROPERTIES OF MICROPOROUS MATERIALS
Introduction
Microporous Materials
Porosity
Porous Materials and Calculating Surface Areas
Summary

NANOSTRUCTURED MATERIALS BASED ON CORE-SUBSTITUTED NAPHTHALENE DIIMIDES
Introduction
Synthesis of Novel cNDI Derivatives
Electron Transfer
Supramolecular Self-Assembly of cNDI
Conclusion

METAL PHOSPHIDES: FROM CHEMIST'S ODDITIES TO DESIGNED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
Introduction
Bulk Metal Phosphides: A Long History
White Phosphorus for the Low-Temperature Synthesis of Metal Phosphide Nanoparticles

'ARTIFICIAL SUPERMOLECULE': PROGRESS IN THE STUDY OF II - V COLLOIDAL SEMICONDUCTOR NANOCRYSTALS
Introduction
Optical Properties of II - V Nanocrystals
Synthesis of II - V Nanocrystals
Conclusions and Outlook

LUMINESCENT DENDRIMERS
Introduction
Intrinsic Photochemical and Photophysical Properties of Organic Dendrimers
Energy Transfer and Energy Upconversion in Multichromophoric Dendrimers
Dendrimers as Ligands for Metal Ions
Self-Assembly
Dendrimers as Photoswitchable Hosts
Conclusion and Perspectives

FABRICATION OF ULTRAMICROPOROUS SILICA MEMBRANES FOR PERVAPORATION AND GAS SEPARATION
Ultramicroporous Silica Membranes
MxOy - Silica Membrane
Hybrid Organic-Silica Membranes
Perspectives in the Fabrication and Application of Silica Membranes

NEW DIRECTIONS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CANCER: FROM METAL COMPLEXES TO NANOSTRUCTURED MATERIALS
Introduction
Metal Complexes in Cancer Treatment
Nanostructured Materials in Cancer Treatments

PART III: Molecular Machinery

MOLECULAR ROTORS IMAGING INTRACELLULAR VISCOSITY
Introduction
Theoretical Background
Biological Applications of Molecular Rotors
Conclusions and Outlook

SURFACE-FUNCTIONALIZED INORGANIC COLLOIDAL NANOCRYSTALS IN FUNCTIONAL
NANOCOMPOSITE MATERIALS FOR MICROFABRICATION
Introduction
Colloidal Nanocrystals: Properties, Synthesis, and Surface Functionalization
NC-Based Nanocomposites for Microfabrication
Conclusions and Future Perspectives

FLUORESCENCE SENSING OF TEMPERATURE AND OXYGEN WITH FULLERENES
Introduction
Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence: Fundamental Aspects
Sensing Applications
Conclusions and Future Perspectives

GOING BEYOND GLUCOSE SENSING WITH BORONIC ACID RECEPTORS
Introduction
Indicator Displacement Assays for the Detection of Sugars
Glucose Sensing with Boronic Acid Receptors
Solution-Phase Sensor Arrays with Boronic-Acid-Appended Bipyridinium Salts
Carbohydrate-Active Enzyme Assays
Boronic-Acid-Appended Bipyridinium Salts at Work - NOVOSIDES
Conclusions and Perspectives

DESIGN OF NOVEL IRIDIUM COMPLEXES TO OBTAIN STABLE AND EFFICIENT LIGHT-EMITTING ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
Brief History of Electroluminescence and Optoelectronic Devices
Light-Emitting Electrochemical Cells: Motivation and Definition
Ionic Transition-Metal Complexes Based on Ir(III) Metal Core for LECs
Strategies to Design Iridium(III) Complexes for Highly Efficient LECs
Strategies to Design Iridium(III) Complexes for Highly Stable LECs
Outlook and Conclusions

PHOTOCHEMICALLY DRIVEN MOLECULAR DEVICES AND MACHINES
Introduction
Switches and Logic Gates
Molecular Machines
Conclusions