Scientific and technological advancement in nanoscience and technology demands high-quality spectroscopic characterization and a thorough understanding of spectral characteristics of nanomaterials. At these dimensions, it is important to realize that along with confinement, surface effects such as defects, surface energy, and structural facets play a significant role in determining the properties. Thus, it is imperative to study these materials with surface-sensitive techniques like X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS) to correlate surface effects with its properties.

Spectroscopic characterizations of individual nano-materials is a challenging area. Electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) in conjunction with a scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) showing a subnanometer spatial resolution is uniquely capable of tackling the spectral characteristics of single nano-objects from near-infrared to soft X-ray regimes and an emergent approach for exploring frontiers of physics and chemistry in nano-materials. Scanning probe microscopy combined with scanning tunneling spectroscopy has also made strides in relating atomic and electronic structure of individual nanoparticles. Raman spectroscopic technique is another major field of research where the concept of acoustic and optical phonon confinement in small metallic and/or semiconductor nanoclusters is extensively used to elucidate physical properties at nanoscale. Surface or interface modes and zone boundary phonon-related issues in the nanoscale can derive potential information related to breakdown of crystal symmetry.

We are interested in research articles as well as review articles depicting special features in spectral signature in nano structured materials probed by different spectroscopic techniques in conjunction with complementary microscopic tools, thereby discussing size-dependent exotic properties of these materials. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• X-ray photoelectron spectral line-shape analysis of core-shell-type nanoparticles
• Spectroscopic analysis of the interaction of nanoclusters with biological or organic systems
• Size-dependent spectral features in X-ray photoelectron spectra and Auger electron spectra of nanoparticles
• Spatially resolved electron energy-loss spectroscopy
• Phonon (acoustic, optical) confinement and line-shape analysis
• Surface, interface modes, and break down of crystal symmetry

Before submission authors should carefully read over the journal's Author Guidelines, which are located at http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijs/guidelines/. Prospective authors should submit an electronic copy of their complete manuscript through the journal Manuscript Tracking System at http://mts.hindawi.com/ according to the following timetable: