This issue of ECS Transactions (ECST) comprises a selection of papers presented at the 24th national meeting of the Mexican Electrochemical Society (MES) and the second meeting of the Mexican Section of The Electrochemical Society (ECS), carried out in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, from May 31 to June 5, 2009.

energy production, environmental management, transportation, communication, computation, and education. As the twenty-first century unfolds, nanotechnology's impact on the health, wealth, and security of the world's people is expected to be at least as significant as the combined influences in this century of antibiotics, the integrated circuit, and human-made polymers. Dr. Neal Lane, Advisor to the President for Science and Technology and former National Science Foundation (NSF) director, stated at a Congressional hearing in April 1998, "If I were asked for an area of science and engineering that will most likely produce the breakthroughs of tomorrow, I would point to nanoscale science and engineering. " Recognizing this potential, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) have issued a joint memorandum to Federal agency heads that identifies nanotechnology as a research priority area for Federal investment in fiscal year 2001. This report charts "Nanotechnology Research Directions," as developed by the Interagency W orking Group on Nano Science, Engineering, and Technology (IWGN) of the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC). The report incorporates the views of leading experts from government, academia, and the private sector. It reflects the consensus reached at an IWGN-sponsored workshop held on January 27-29, 1999, and detailed in contributions submitted thereafter by members of the V. S. science and engineering community. (See Appendix A for a list of contributors.

The use of nanomaterials in energy conversion and storage represents an opportunity to improve the performance, density and ease of transportation in renewable resources. This book looks at the most recent research on the topic, with particular focus on artificial photosynthesis and lithium-ion batteries as the most promising technologies to date. Research on the broad subject of energy conversion and storage calls for expertise from a wide range of backgrounds, from the most fundamental perspectives of the key catalytic processes at the molecular level to device scale engineering and optimization. Although the nature of the processes dictates that electrochemistry is a primary characterization tool, due attention is given to advanced techniques such as synchrotron studies in operando. These studies look at the gap between the performance of current technology and what is needed for the future, for example how to improve on the lithium-ion battery and to go beyond its capabilities.Suitable for students and practitioners in the chemical, electrochemical, and environmental sciences, Nanomaterials for Energy Conversion and Storage provides the information needed to find scalable, economically viable and safe solutions for sustainable energy.

Discussions of the basic structural, nanotechnology, and system engineering principles, as well as an introductory overview of essential concepts and methods in biotechnology, will be included. Text is presented side-by-side with extensive use of high-quality illustrations prepared using cutting edge computer graphics techniques. Includes numerous examples, such applications in genetic engineering. Represents the only available introduction and overview of this interdisciplinary field, merging the physical and biological sciences. Concludes with the authors' expert assessment of the future promise of nanotechnology, from molecular "tinkertoys" to nanomedicine. David Goodsell is author of two trade books, Machinery of Life and Our Molecular Nature, and Arthur Olson is the world's leader in molecular graphics and nano-scale representation.

Nanoparticles in Catalysis Discover an essential overview of recent advances and trends in nanoparticle catalysis Catalysis in the presence of metal nanoparticles is an important and rapidly developing research field at the frontier of homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis. In Nanoparticles in Catalysis, accomplished chemists and authors Karine Philippot and Alain Roucoux deliver a comprehensive guide to the key aspects of nanoparticle catalysis, ranging from synthesis, activation methodology, characterization, and theoretical modeling, to application in important catalytic reactions, like hydrogen production and biomass conversion. The book offers readers a review of modern and efficient tools for the synthesis of nanoparticles in solution or onto supports. It emphasizes the application of metal nanoparticles in important catalytic reactions and includes chapters on activation methodology and supported nanoclusters. Written by an international team of leading voices in the field, Nanoparticles in Catalysis is an indispensable resource for researchers and professionals in academia and industry alike. Readers will also benefit from the inclusion of: A thorough introduction to New Trends in the Design of Metal Nanoparticles and Derived Nanomaterials for Catalysis An exploration of Dynamic Catalysis and the Interface Between Molecular and Heterogeneous Catalysts A practical discussion of Metal Nanoparticles in Water: A Relevant Toolbox for Green Catalysis Organometallic Metal Nanoparticles for Catalysis A concise treatment of the opportunities and challenges of CO2 Hydrogenation to Oxygenated Chemicals Over Supported Nanoparticle Catalysts Perfect for catalytic, organic, inorganic, and physical chemists, Nanoparticles in Catalysis will also earn a place in the libraries of chemists working with organometallics and materials scientists seeking a one-stop resource with expert knowledge on the synthesis and characterization of nanoparticle catalysis.

A new window to local studies of interface phenomena at solid state surfaces has been opened by the development of local probe techniques such as Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (STM) or Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and related methods during the past fifteen years. The in-situ application of local probe methods in different systems belongs to modern nanotechnology and has two aspects: an analytical aspect and a preparative aspect. The first aspect covers the application of the local probe methods to characterize thermodynamic, structural and dynamic properties of solid state surfaces and interfaces and to investigate local surface reactions. Two methods which are still in the beginning of their development represent the second aspect: tip and cantilever. They can be used to form defined nano-objects such as molecular or atomic clusters, quantum dots etc. as well as to structure or modify solid state surfaces in the nanometer range. This IUPAC monograph is a comprehensive treatment of both aspects and presents the current state of knowledge. It is written for scientists active in the area of nanotechnology.

This book reviews the current understanding of the mechanical, chemical and biological processes that are responsible for the degradation of a variety of implant materials. All 18 chapters will be written by internationally renowned experts to address both fundamental and practical aspects of research into the field. Different failure mechanisms such as corrosion, fatigue, and wear will be reviewed, together with experimental techniques for monitoring them, either in vitro or in vivo. Procedures for implant retrieval and analysis will be presented. A variety of biomaterials (stainless steels, titanium and its alloys, nitinol, magnesium alloys, polyethylene, biodegradable polymers, silicone gel, hydrogels, calcium phosphates) and medical devices (orthopedic and dental implants, stents, heart valves, breast implants) will be analyzed in detail. The book will serve as a broad reference source for graduate students and researchers studying biomedicine, corrosion, surface science, and electrochemistry.