Solid state chemistry is a multidisciplinary field that deals with the synthesis, structural characterization and properties of various solids, and it has been playing a more and more important role in the design and preparation of advanced materials. This book includes the excellent research results recently obtained by a wide spectrum of solid state chemists both from China and from abroad. Among the distinguished contributors are C N R Rao, M Greenblatt and Y T Qian, to name a few. A variety of subjects representing the frontiers of solid state chemistry — which are categorized into solids with electrical, optical and magnetic properties; porous solids and catalysts; hybrid inorganic-organic solids; solid nanomaterials; and new synthetic methods and theory — are presented. This book will benefit readers who are interested in the chemistry and physics of solids, as well as materials scientists and engineers.The proceedings have been selected for coverage in:• Chemistry Citation IndexTM• Index to Scientific & Technical Proceedings (ISTP CDROM version / ISI Proceedings)

Ferroelectric materials exhibit a wide spectrum of functional properties, including switchable polarization, piezoelectricity, high non-linear optical activity, pyroelectricity, and non-linear dielectric behaviour. These properties are crucial for application in electronic devices such as sensors, microactuators, infrared detectors, microwave phase filters and, non-volatile memories. This unique combination of properties of ferroelectric materials has attracted researchers and engineers for a long time. This book reviews a wide range of diverse topics related to the phenomenon of ferroelectricity (in the bulk as well as thin film form) and provides a forum for scientists, engineers, and students working in this field. The present book containing 24 chapters is a result of contributions of experts from international scientific community working in different aspects of ferroelectricity related to experimental and theoretical work aimed at the understanding of ferroelectricity and their utilization in devices. It provides an up-to-date insightful coverage to the recent advances in the synthesis, characterization, functional properties and potential device applications in specialized areas.

Volume is indexed by Thomson Reuters CPCI-S (WoS). This book features 100 refereed papers, grouped under the following six headings: Advanced Synthesis & Characterization Techniques of Materials, Structure & Electron Structure of Solids, Chemistry of Glasses, Novel Inorganic Materials, Layered Compounds, Clathrates & Intercalates, Deposited Films & Surface Chemistry.