At the Material Research Society Spring 2013 meeting, held in San Francisco April 1-5, 2013, three symposia were held that focused on thermal-to-electric energy conversion and thermal transport: Symposium H: Nanoscale Thermoelectrics-Materials and Transport Phenomena - II, Symposium I: Materials for Solid-State Refrigeration, and Symposium V: Nanoscale Heat Transport-From Fundamentals to Devices. Although each technical session was focused on a different aspect of this subject, the intellectual commensurability of these symposia warranted the publication of their proceedings in a single volume.

This volume reviews the latest trends in organic optoelectronic materials. Each comprehensive chapter allows graduate students and newcomers to the field to grasp the basics, whilst also ensuring that they have the most up-to-date overview of the latest research. Topics include: organic conductors and semiconductors; conducting polymers and conjugated polymer semiconductors, as well as their applications in organic field-effect-transistors; organic light-emitting diodes; and organic photovoltaics and transparent conducting electrodes. The molecular structures, synthesis methods, physicochemical and optoelectronic properties of the organic optoelectronic materials are also introduced and described in detail. The authors also elucidate the structures and working mechanisms of organic optoelectronic devices and outline fundamental scientific problems and future research directions. This volume is invaluable to all those interested in organic optoelectronic materials.

The primary objective of this NATO Advanced Study Institute (ASI) was to present an up-to-date overview of various current areas of interest in the field of photovoltaic and related photoactive materials. This is a wide-ranging subject area, of significant commercial and environmental interest, and involves major contributions from the disciplines of physics, chemistry, materials, electrical and instrumentation engineering, commercial realisation etc. Therefore, we sought to adopt an inter disciplinary approach, bringing together recognised experts in the various fields while retaining a level of treatment accessible to those active in specific individual areas of research and development. The lecture programme commenced with overviews of the present relevance and historical development of the subject area, plus an introduction to various underlying physical principles of importance to the materials and devices to be addressed in later lectures. Building upon this, the ASI then progressed to more detailed aspects of the subject area. We were also fortunately able to obtain a contribution from Thierry Langlois d'Estaintot of the European Commission Directorate, describing present and future EC support for activities in this field. In addition, poster sessions were held throughout the meeting, to allow participants to present and discuss their current activities. These were supported by what proved to be very effective feedback sessions (special thanks to Martin Stutzmann), prior to which groups of participants enthusiastically met (often in the bar) to identify and agree topics of common interest.

In chapters contributed by 24 university & government laboratories, Nanoengineering of Structural, Functional, and Smart Materials combines wide-ranging research aimed at the development of multifunctional materials that are strong, lightweight, and versatile. This book explores promising and diverse approaches to the design of nanoscale

This book presents the majority of the contributions to the Tenth German-Vietnamese Seminar on Physics and Engineering (GVS10) that took place in the Gustav- Stresemann-Institut (GSI) in Bonn from June 6 to June 9, 2007. In the focus of these studies are the preparation and basic properties of new material systems, related investigation methods, and practical applications. Accordingly the sections in this book are entitled electrons: transport and confinement, low-dimensional systems, magnetism, oxidic materials, organic films, new materials, and methods. The series of German-Vietnamese seminars was initiated and sponsored by the Gottlieb Daimler- and Karl Benz -Foundation since 1998 and took place alt- nately in both countries. These bilateral meetings brought together top-notch senior and junior Vietnamese scientists with German Scientists and stimulated many contacts and co-operations. Under the general title “Physics and Engine- ing” the programs covered, in the form of keynote-lectures, oral presentations and posters, experimental and theoretical cutting-edge material-physics oriented topics. The majority of the contributions was dealing with modern topics of material science, particularly nanoscience, which is a research field of high importance also in Vietnam. Modern material science allows a quick transfer of research results to technical applications, which is very useful for fast developing countries like Vietnam. On the other hand, the seminars took profit from the strong cro- fertilization of the different disciplines of physics. This book is dedicated to the tenth anniversary of the seminars and nicely shows the scientific progress in Vietnam and the competitive level reached.

Environmental and economic concerns have significantly spurred the search for novel, high-performance thermoelectric materials for energy conversion in small-scale power generation and refrigeration devices. This quest has been mainly fueled by the introduction of new designs and the synthesis of new materials. In fact, good thermoelectric material

The Sourcebook for Teaching Science is a unique, comprehensive resource designed to give middle and high school science teachers a wealth of information that will enhance any science curriculum. Filled with innovative tools, dynamic activities, and practical lesson plans that are grounded in theory, research, and national standards, the book offers both new and experienced science teachers powerful strategies and original ideas that will enhance the teaching of physics, chemistry, biology, and the earth and space sciences.