This book presents an overview of nanostructure determination and ways to find relationships to the electronic and optical properties. The methods described can be applied to a large number of other granular metal-insulator systems and used as a guideline for characterisation and modelling. In addition, the book describes the manufacture of artificially structured nanomaterials using laser or electron-beam irradiation.

1. Introduction.- 2. Film Deposition.- 3. Nanostructure.- 4. Nanostructural Changes.- 5. Electronic Properties.- 6. Nanostructure and Optical Properties.- References.