The control of structure and function of materials on the nanometer scale is becoming increasingly feasible and important. Scientists are fascinated by the prospects of molecule-based electronics, electrooptic elements, and sensor structures rivalling nature in size and selectivity. The notion of molecule-based nanostructures was the theme of a workshop held in Germany (in Monrepos Castle, Ludwigsburg) in October 1991, from which this book was developed. As with many emerging areas of interdisciplinary scientific activity, a definition of what constitutes nanostructures based on molecular materials is difficult. The scope of this book emphasizes the design of molecules for "molecular electronics", and their assembly in Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films. Several additional contributions deal with liquid crystals, photoelectric processes, nonlinear optical systems, and sensors. Other fields of research activity on nanostructures, such as self-assembled monolayers, host-guest chemistry in layered compounds and zeolites, organic inclusion chemistry, and nanocomposites, are not covered in detail. However, for those interested in a current overview of concepts and realized systems in molecular electronics, this book is a valuable resource. Most articles provide short reviews (some quite brief) on the author's research, with references to the original literature. Many readers would probably have appreciated a subject index.
An overview of the topics of the book (Gopel) presents an optimistic view on the rapid development of nanometer structures on a broad basis, including the controlled preparation of 0 -3 dimensional structures, scanning probe microscopies, and important applications such as those mentioned above, as well as catalysts, ordered polymers, and membranes. The important difference between bottom-up ap-