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The various effects of ion irradiation on the nanoscale hardness of the ZnO microcone structures are analyzed. The hardness of the ZnO cones is shown to increase significantly with irradiation.

The force-distance spectroscopy technique is employed to explain the impact of energetic ions on the enhancement of the stiffness of the vertically standing Si nanosprings. The results prove that the higher surface-to-volume ratio leads to delay of the anisotropic deformation process.

In situ glancing angle x-ray diffraction (GAXRD) analysis is used for studying Pd nanoparticle and thin film samples at various hydrogen concentrations over a wide temperature and hydrogen pressure range. The results have shown that the increased surface area, interparticle gaps, and electronic enhancement have resulted in increased Pd-H interaction in case of nanoparticles.

Tin doped CuIn[O.sub.2] thin films deposited by rf magnetron sputtering method has shown columnar structure with (006) preferred orientation and the change in the electrical conductivity value and activation energy value in undoped films and in tin doped samples is explained in terms of change in crystallite orientation on doping. The spectroscopic ellipsometry measurements are used for determining the optical constant and dielectric function of CuIn[O.sub.2] and CuIn[O.sub.2]:Sn films and have shown a band gap value of 4.5 eV in tin doped samples due to removal of structural defects.

Inert gas evaporation method is used for preparing Pd nanoparticles and their electronic structures are analyzed. The results have provided evidence of interplay of quantum confinement and coordination reduction.

The changes in the optical properties of Pd capped Pr thin film and nanoparticle layers, which are prepared by vacuum evaporation and inert gas evaporation methods, are analyzed as a function of time during hydrogen loading and deloading. Enhanced surface area and smaller structural changes in nanoparticles layers have resulted in larger and faster changes in the optical properties during loading when compared to that of thin film.

In order to investigate the dependence of gas-sensitive properties of undoped tin oxide nanoparticle films on particle size, a thin film synthesis technique has been developed. This process, comprising several independent but controllable steps, allows better control over particle and film properties than the single step synthesis procedures and it has been shown clearly that using smaller tin oxide particle leads to higher values of the sensitivity for ethanol vapor and a more rapid response to changing gas conditions.

A study was conducted, by using the x-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, spectroscopic ellipsometry, photoluminescence, and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy techniques, to investigate the effect of 120 MeV Ag(super 9+) ion irradiation on nanocrystalline Cu2O thin films grown by the activated reactive evaporation technique. The result demonstrates that the phase and the size of nanocrystallites in the Cu2O thin films and associated surface states can be tailored by controlling ion fluence.