Semiconductors and Related Materials
A. IMPORTANCE OF SEMICONDUCTORS Semiconductors are found in virtually every technological device, from computers, telephones, radios, light-emitting diodes, lasers, and television screens to medical sensors, smoke detectors, cameras, and automobile…
Optical and Photonic Materials
A. OVERVIEW 1. Passive versus Responsive Optical Materials The optical properties of materials have been important almost from the beginnings of civilization. Windows, decorative glass, and jewelry are well-known examples….
Fundamental Principles that Underlie Materials Chemistry
A. WHY ARE DIFFERENT MATERIALS DIFFERENT? Different substances have different properties because They contain different elements and different combinations of elements. They contain different types of chemical bonds. There are…
Solid Ionic Conductors: Advanced Materials for Energy Generation and Energy Storage
A. GENERAL OBSERVATIONS The generation and storage of energy is one of the most important challenges of our time. The reasons include the looming crisis in the supply of oil…
Structure Determination and Special Techniques for Materials Characterization
A. PURPOSE The driving force for the expansion of materials science is the design and synthesis of new forms of solid-state matter. However, the synthesis of new materials is largely…
Small Molecules in Solids
A. IMPORTANCE OF SMALL-MOLECULE MATERIALS Small molecules in solids play an important role in electronics, photonics, and molecular separations. Small molecules can become assembled in the solid state in several…
Biomedical Materials
A. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR BIOMEDICAL MATERIALS Materials have been used in medical practice since prehistoric times. Today, materials science plays a crucial role in many aspects of biomedical science and…