Contemporary Materials Science

A fiindamaital goal of Materials Sdence and Tedinology is to relate the mio oscoi (molecular) structure of a material to its macroscopic (structural, imchanical, dynamic, thermodynamic) properties, and to be able to predict the diange of these macroscopic properties upon the introduction of chemical mc ific tions at the microscopic level. This is one of the key-problems of contemporary Materials Science and in its solution computer simulation has been estaUished as a powerful tool [1-4]. 

The relation between microstructure and properties at the macro-scale is only one face of materials science. The second step consists in working on the relation between functions and properties. Structure/properties/functions are like the three summits of the base triangle of material science. [14] Contemporary materials are tailored for specific purposes, they are adapted to a set of specific tasks. In contrast to conventional materials that have standard specifications and a world market, more advanced materials are developed according to the functional demands of the final product and the services expected from the manufactured product. In other words, in the language of economics, instead of supplying commodities that would be finalized by the customers, new materials are the end-products of a cooperation between customers and suppliers. 

The first source devoted to the topic, this reference vividly depicts the most recent innovations in photochemistry and chiral chemistry for applications in homogeneous, solid, and supramolec-ular systems—tracking a wide array of strategies, techniques, and advancements central to contemporary pharmaceutical, medicinal, agricultural, environmental, and materials science and technology. 

The design, synthesis, characterization and understanding of new molecular and macromolecular assemblies with large macroscopic optical nonlinearities represents a great challenge in modern chemistry, physics, and materials science. Tasks in this active field of photonic materials typify an important theme in contemporary chemistry. 

At the outset of this chapter, one point of distinction is necessary regarding the term hano in the context of atmo spheric particles. In contemporary scientific usage in many fields such as materials science, chemistry, and physics, nanoscale is understood to mean... 

The search for bi-functionality in molecular materials constitutes a contemporary challenge in materials science. Using the two-network approach described in the previous section it has been possible to construct hybrid crystalline solids formed by a partially oxidized jt-electron donor network that support electronic conductivity or even superconductivity, and transition metal complexes containing magnetic moments. Some... 

However, despite its widespread popularity in material science, PNIPAM has inherent disadvantages such as an irreversible phase transition and, for short polymers, a significant influence of end-groups on the thermal behavior. Moreover, strictly speaking, PNIPAM is not a bio-inert polymer. Indeed, the presence of multiple secondary amide functions in the molecular stracture of PNIPAM may lead to the formation of cooperative H-bonding interactions with other amide polymers, in particular with proteins. Thus, the design of new types of thermoresponsive polymers is a cracial topic in contemporary polymer chemistry. 

Molecule-based materials exhibiting cooperative physical properties constitute one of the most active areas of interest in contemporary materials chemistry and science. An attractive chemical feature of these materials is the synthetic versatility provided by molecular chemistry. From the point of view of the physical properties, molecule-based materials can exhibit the properties of interest usually associated with the inorganic network solids, " as for example, high DC metal-like electrical conductivity and superconductivity, ferromagnetism, and non-linear optical responses. ... 

This kaleidoscope of contemporary research interests reveals that another distinctive feature of supramolecular chemistry is its ability to unite areas with seemingly widely differing perceptions. In keeping with such a feature, structural chemists and crystallographers have had little difficulty in recognizing a molecular crystal as the ultimate example of a supermolecule. Consequently, supramolecular chemistry today encompasses the study of molecular crystals with all the applications and ramifications that such study implies in the fields of solid-state chemistry, crystal engineering and materials science. This then is the theme of this volume. Crystals constitute one end of the supramolecular continuum and may be viewed as hard supermolecules in contrast to the softer supramolecular aggregates which exist in solution. 

So it is interesting when two mature sciences are forced by the facts of nature and a shared subject to confront each other s ways of thinking, both of them productive and yet, and yet... seemingly incommensurate. This is what has happened, is happening, between chemistry and physics their preeminent and fertile shared ground is the contemporary solid state, with its exciting materials. This book, in its unique way, shapes a way not just to coexistence of chemistry and physics in materials science, but to a productive future. A future shaped by computational techniques (for theory definitely has a major role to play here) that are respectful of both chemistry and physics. 

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