To the eyes of a chemist, carbon is certainly one of the most fascinating elements of the periodic table. Basically, the electronic structure and atomic size of carbon enables this element to form a variety of bonds with other elements and, most importantly, with other carbon atoms as weIl. These unique features lead to the amazingly complicated molecular structures we encounter e. g. in life sciences and organic chemistry. Of course, the technical importance of carbon is enormou- but I don't want to carry too many coals to Newcastle. Prom the viewpoint of an astrophysicist or chemist, the significance of carbon lies in the fact that it is the most abundant condensable element in space. Born in the interior of stars, and from there expelled into the interstellar medium, it initiates the formation of simple and complex molecules and of nanoscopic grains. These in turn form huge clouds in space - the birthplace of new stars and planetary systems. The decisive role of carbon in interstellar chemistry is widely accepted and the search for more and more families of interstellar carbon-bearing molecules is a topic of ongoing research. The interdisciplinary aspect of carbon also concerns its various solid forms, in which C and the other closed-cage fullerenes are certainly some of the most popular 60 newcomers.

Fullerenes or "buckyballs,"a new carbon-based family of materials, have fascinated the scientific community for the past few years. These materials are likely to find applications ranging from lubricants to batteries to biological magic bullets, which will be of great importance in the science and technology of the next century. This carefully edited volume, the first to include Frans Spaepen as co-editor, summarizes our present understanding in a series of didacticarticles, which take the reader from the fundamentals to the present cutting-edge research. A general overview is followed by chapters devoted to synthesis and characterization of fullerenes and their derivatives, the novel structural properties of buckyballs, tubes, and buckyonions, a theoretical and experimental view of electrons and phonons, and finally to the fascinating superconducting properties of these materials. - Presents systematic overview of entire field - Discusses synthesis, characterization, structure, and superconducting properties - Specially edited volume of the distinguished Solid State Physics Series - Includes applications from many fields

Modern Inorganic Synthetic Chemistry, Second Edition captures, in five distinct sections, the latest advancements in inorganic synthetic chemistry, providing materials chemists, chemical engineers, and materials scientists with a valuable reference source to help them advance their research efforts and achieve breakthroughs. Section one includes six chapters centering on synthetic chemistry under specific conditions, such as high-temperature, low-temperature and cryogenic, hydrothermal and solvothermal, high-pressure, photochemical and fusion conditions. Section two focuses on the synthesis and related chemistry problems of highly distinct categories of inorganic compounds, including superheavy elements, coordination compounds and coordination polymers, cluster compounds, organometallic compounds, inorganic polymers, and nonstoichiometric compounds. Section three elaborates on the synthetic chemistry of five important classes of inorganic functional materials, namely, ordered porous materials, carbon materials, advanced ceramic materials, host-guest materials, and hierarchically structured materials. Section four consists of four chapters where the synthesis of functional inorganic aggregates is discussed, giving special attention to the growth of single crystals, assembly of nanomaterials, and preparation of amorphous materials and membranes. The new edition's biggest highlight is Section five where the frontier in inorganic synthetic chemistry is reviewed by focusing on biomimetic synthesis and rationally designed synthesis. - Focuses on the chemistry of inorganic synthesis, assembly, and organization of wide-ranging inorganic systems - Covers all major methodologies of inorganic synthesis - Provides state-of-the-art synthetic methods - Includes real examples in the organization of complex inorganic functional materials - Contains more than 4000 references that are all highly reflective of the latest advancement in inorganic synthetic chemistry - Presents a comprehensive coverage of the key issues involved in modern inorganic synthetic chemistry as written by experts in the field

Atomic Clusters with Unusual Structure, Bonding and Reactivity: Theoretical Approaches, Computational Assessment and Applications reviews the latest computational tools and approaches available for accurately assessing the properties of a cluster, while also highlighting how such clusters can be adapted and utilized for the development of novel materials and applications. Sections provide an introduction to the computational methods used to obtain global minima for clusters and effectively analyze bonds, outline experimental approaches to produce clusters, discuss specific applications, and explore cluster reactivity and usage across a number of fields.Drawing on the knowledge of its expert editors and contributors, this book provides a detailed guide to ascertaining the stability, bonding and properties of atomic clusters. Atomic clusters, which exhibit unusual properties, offer huge potential as building blocks for new materials and novel applications, but understanding their properties, stability and bonding is essential in order to accurately understand, characterize and manipulate them for further use. Searching for the most stable geometry of a given cluster is difficult and becomes even more so for clusters of medium and large sizes, where the number of possible isomers sharply increase, hence this book provides a unique and comprehensive approach to the topic and available techniques and applications. - Introduces readers to the vast structural and bonding diversity that clusters show and reflects on their potential for novel application and material development - Highlights the latest computational methods and theoretical tools available for identification of the most stable isomers and accurate analysis of bonding in the clusters - Focuses on clusters which violate the rules established in traditional chemistry and exhibit unusual structure, bonding and reactivity

This book discusses recent progress in endohedral fullerenes – their production and separation techniques, as well as their characterization and properties. Furthermore, the book delves into the all-important issue of stability by investigating electron transfer between the encapsulated metal species and the carbon cage. It also reviews spin-based phenomena caused by the shielding of endohedral spin by the fullerene, and analyzes formation of the spin states by charge transfer as studied by electron spin resonance. Tuning of charge states of endohedral species and of spin states of both the cage and the cluster are explained. Finally, the book considers the recent discovery of magnetism in some endohedral fullerenes, and the potential for quantum computing.

This volume presents the latest advancements and future developments of atomic, molecular and optical (AMO) physics and its vital role in modern sciences and technologies. The chapters are devoted to studies of a wide range of quantum systems, with an emphasis on understanding of quantum coherence and other quantum phenomena originated from light-matter interactions. The book intends to survey the current research landscape and to highlight major scientific trends in AMO physics as well as those interfacing with interdisciplinary sciences. The volume may be particularly useful for young researchers working on establishing their scientific interests and goals.

This book covers the nomenclature and modeling of carbon nanomaterials, includes examples of surfaces and thin films of fullerenes, and examines the morphology and structure of carbon nanotubes and the characterization of peapod materials with the aid of transmission electron microscopy. It also presents electro-optical properties and self-assembly