Rare-earth borides have attracted continuous interest for more than half a century both from the point of view of fundamental condensed matter physics and for practical applications in various fields of engineering. They demonstrate a wealth of unusual electronic and magnetic properties that have been closely investigated in recent decades using advanced spectroscopies and state-of-the-art physical characterization methods. Authored by leading experts in the field, this book features a comprehensive collection of reviews offering a cutting-edge summary of the research on rare-earth borides from various viewpoints. It includes chapters on the growth and characterization of single-crystal and thin-film samples, detailed description of their lattice structure and dynamics, electronic and magnetic properties in the bulk and at the surface, low-temperature ordering phenomena, and theoretical and experimental description of the unusual spectroscopic properties from the perspective of modern x-ray and neutron scattering, Raman spectroscopy, and electron spin resonance. The book will appeal to anyone interested in the physics and chemistry of solids and low-temperature physics, especially to researchers and postgraduate students who study magnetic and electronic properties of rare-earth compounds.

V. I. MATKOVICH During the meeting of the International Symposium on Boron held in October, 1972 in Tbilisi, U.S.S.R., the idea was proposed to assemble a review of boron and refractory borides by the specialists present. The advantages of such a work were immediately apparent. Such diverse applications of borides as in protective armor, nuclear reactors, coat ings, reinforcement, etc. can hardly all be presented in sufficient detail by a single author. On the other hand it was also recognized that with so much specialization, some areas of interest may not be covered. Within the last decade or two a number of areas have been developed in which the use of refractory borides is growing and improvements are being actively explored. Thus, a number of borides have considerable potential as reinforcing material for plastics or light metals, though only boron fibers have been firmly established up to the present. Ap plication of flakes and films for two-dimensional reinforcement appears attractive, although the high cost of materials and development repre sents a considerable barrier. A number of borides have been used to manufacture lightweight protec tive armor. In this area relatively fast changes seem to be taking place as improvements in performance and weight are made. Boron carbide has found considerable use in this application and new developments exploit the light weight of beryllium borides.

Lanthanides are of great importance for the electronic industries, this new book (from the EIBC Book Series) provides a comprehensive coverage of the basic chemistry, particularly inorganic chemistry, of the lanthanoid elements, those having a 4f shell of electrons. A chapter is describing the similarity of the Group 3 elements, Sc, Y, La, the group from which the lanthanoids originate and the group 13 elements, particularly aluminum, having similar properties. Inclusion of the group 3 and 13 elements demonstrates how the lanthanoid elements relate to other, more common, elements in the Periodic Table. Beginning chapters describe the occurrence and mineralogy of the elements, with a focus on structural features observed in compounds described in later chapters. The majority of the chapters is organized by the oxidation state of the elements, Ln(0), Ln(II), Ln(III), and Ln(IV). Within this organization the chapters are further distinguished by type of compound, inorganic (oxides and hydroxides, aqueous speciation, halides, alkoxides, amides and thiolates, and chelates) and organometallic. Concluding chapters deal with diverse and critically important applications of the lanthanoids in electronic and magnetic materials, and medical imaging.

This book presents recent scientific achievements in the investigation of magnetization dynamics in confined magnetic systems. The book will be of value for scientists and engineers working on magnetic storage elements and magnetic logic, and is also suitable as an advanced textbook for graduate students.

Refractory Materials: A Series of Monographs Volume IV is a collection of works from different scientists who have made important discoveries in fields related to chemistry. The text covers topics such as chemical vapor deposition – its general aspects, selection of reactions, and parameters; solid-gas phase diagrams and open-tube processes; and the experimental resolution of solid-vapor equilibria. Also covered are topics such as phase behavior and related properties of rare-earth borides, crystal chemistry, the use of phase diagrams in the research and development of phosphor materials, and phase equilibria in magnetic oxide materials. The book is recommended for chemists and materials scientists who would like to know more about the studies of other experts in the field and their applications.

Emphasises on contemporary applications and an intuitive problem-solving approach that helps students discover the exciting potential of chemical science. This book incorporates fresh applications from the three major areas of modern research: materials, environmental chemistry, and biological science.