Aerogels are the lightest solids known. Up to 1000 times lighter than glass and with a density as low as only four times that of air, they show very high thermal, electrical and acoustic insulation values and hold many entries in Guinness World Records. Originally based on silica, R&D efforts have extended this class of materials to non-silicate inorganic oxides, natural and synthetic organic polymers, carbon, metal and ceramic materials, etc. Composite systems involving polymer-crosslinked aerogels and interpenetrating hybrid networks have been developed and exhibit remarkable mechanical strength and flexibility. Even more exotic aerogels based on clays, chalcogenides, phosphides, quantum dots, and biopolymers such as chitosan are opening new applications for the construction, transportation, energy, defense and healthcare industries. Applications in electronics, chemistry, mechanics, engineering, energy production and storage, sensors, medicine, nanotechnology, military and aerospace, oil and gas recovery, thermal insulation and household uses are being developed with an estimated annual market growth rate of around 70% until 2015. The Aerogels Handbook summarizes state-of-the-art developments and processing of inorganic, organic, and composite aerogels, including the most important methods of synthesis, characterization as well as their typical applications and their possible market impact. Readers will find an exhaustive overview of all aerogel materials known today, their fabrication, upscaling aspects, physical and chemical properties, and most recent advances towards applications and commercial products, some of which are commercially available today. Key Features: *Edited and written by recognized worldwide leaders in the field *Appeals to a broad audience of materials scientists, chemists, and engineers in academic research and industrial R&D *Covers inorganic, organic, and composite aerogels *Describes military, aerospace, building industry, household, environmental, energy, and biomedical applications among others

This book comprehensively details the applications of ionic liquids in rare earth green separation and utilization based on the unique interactions of ionic liquids with rare earth ions. It consists of nine chapters demonstrating the synthesis and properties of ionic liquids, coordination chemistry of ionic liquids and rare earth, ionic liquids as diluents, extractants, adsorption resins for rare earth extraction and separation, electrodeposition of rare earth metals in ionic liquids, and preparation of rare earth material with the aid of ionic liquids. It is both interesting and useful to chemists, metallurgists and graduate students working on fundamental research of ionic liquids as well as professionals in the rare earth industry. It provides considerable insights into green chemistry and sustainable processes for rare earth separation in order to meet the environmental challenge of rare earth metallurgy around the globe, especially in China. Ji Chen is a Professor of Chemistry at the Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China.

The series Structure and Bonding publishes critical reviews on topics of research concerned with chemical structure and bonding. The scope of the series spans the entire Periodic Table and addresses structure and bonding issues associated with all of the elements. It also focuses attention on new and developing areas of modern structural and theoretical chemistry such as nanostructures, molecular electronics, designed molecular solids, surfaces, metal clusters and supramolecular structures. Physical and spectroscopic techniques used to determine, examine and model structures fall within the purview of Structure and Bonding to the extent that the focus is on the scientific results obtained and not on specialist information concerning the techniques themselves. Issues associated with the development of bonding models and generalizations that illuminate the reactivity pathways and rates of chemical processes are also relevant. The individual volumes in the series are thematic. The goal of each volume is to give the reader, whether at a university or in industry, a comprehensive overview of an area where new insights are emerging that are of interest to a larger scientific audience. Thus each review within the volume critically surveys one aspect of that topic and places it within the context of the volume as a whole. The most significant developments of the last 5 to 10 years should be presented using selected examples to illustrate the principles discussed. A description of the physical basis of the experimental techniques that have been used to provide the primary data may also be appropriate, if it has not been covered in detail elsewhere. The coverage need not be exhaustive in data, but should rather be conceptual, concentrating on the new principles being developed that will allow the reader, who is not a specialist in the area covered, to understand the data presented. Discussion of possible future research directions in the area is welcomed. Review articles for the individual volumes are invited by the volume editors. Readership: research scientists at universities or in industry, graduate students Special offer for all customers who have a standing order to the print version of Structure and Bonding, we offer free access to the electronic volumes of the Series published in the current year via SpringerLink.

Wen-Dan Cheng, Chen-Sheng Lin, Wei-Long Uhang, Hao Zhang: Structural Designs and Property Characterizations for Second-Harmonic Generation Materials.- Fang Kong, Chuan-Fu Sun, Bing-Ping Yang, Jiang-Gao Mao: Second-order Non-linear Optical Materials based on Metal Iodates, Selenites and Tellurites.- Guo-Fu Wang: Structure, growth, nonlinear optics and laser properties of RX3(BO3)4 (R=Y, Gd, La; X=Al, Sc).- Chaoyang Tu, Zhaojie Zhu, Zhenyu You, Jianfu Li, Yan Wang, Alain Brenier: The Recent Development of Borate SF-conversion Laser Crystal.- Ning Ye: Structure design and crystal growth of UV nonlinear borate materials.- Yi-Zhi Huang, Li-Ming Wu, Mao-Chun Hong: Cation Effect in Doped BBO and Halogen Anion Effect in Pb2B5O9X (X- = I-, Br-, Cl-).

Xiao-Ming Jiang, Sheng-Ping Guo, Hui-Yi Zeng, Ming-Jian Zhang, Guo-Cong Guo: Large Crystal Growth and New Crystal Exploration of Mid-Infrared Second-Order Nonlinear Optical Materials.- Kechen Wu: Simulation and Design of Infrared Second-Order Nonlinear Optical Materials in Metal Cluster Compounds.- Chaoyang Tu: The Recent Development Of SRS and SRS SF- conversion Laser Crystal.- Hua-Jun Zhao, Xin-Tao Wu, Li-Ming Wu: Exploration of New Second-Order Nonlinear Optical Compounds Containing Main Group Elements.

This PhD thesis presents the latest findings on the tunable surface chemistry of graphene/graphene oxide by systematically investigating the tuning of oxygen and nitrogen containing functional groups using an innovative carbonization and ammonia treatment. In addition, novel macroscopic assemblies or hybrids of graphene were produced, laying the theoretical foundation for developing graphene-based energy storage devices. This work will be of interest to university researchers, R&D engineers and graduate students working with carbon materials, energy storage and nanotechnology.

The series Structure and Bonding publishes critical reviews on topics of research concerned with chemical structure and bonding. The scope of the series spans the entire Periodic Table and addresses structure and bonding issues associated with all of the elements. It also focuses attention on new and developing areas of modern structural and theoretical chemistry such as nanostructures, molecular electronics, designed molecular solids, surfaces, metal clusters and supramolecular structures. Physical and spectroscopic techniques used to determine, examine and model structures fall within the purview of Structure and Bonding to the extent that the focus is on the scientific results obtained and not on specialist information concerning the techniques themselves. Issues associated with the development of bonding models and generalizations that illuminate the reactivity pathways and rates of chemical processes are also relevant. The individual volumes in the series are thematic. The goal of each volume is to give the reader, whether at a university or in industry, a comprehensive overview of an area where new insights are emerging that are of interest to a larger scientific audience. Thus each review within the volume critically surveys one aspect of that topic and places it within the context of the volume as a whole. The most significant developments of the last 5 to 10 years should be presented using selected examples to illustrate the principles discussed. A description of the physical basis of the experimental techniques that have been used to provide the primary data may also be appropriate, if it has not been covered in detail elsewhere. The coverage need not be exhaustive in data, but should rather be conceptual, concentrating on the new principles being developed that will allow the reader, who is not a specialist in the area covered, to understand the data presented. Discussion of possible future research directions in the area is welcomed. Review articles for the individual volumes are invited by the volume editors. Readership: research scientists at universities or in industry, graduate students Special offer For all customers who have a standing order to the print version of Structure and Bonding, we offer free access to the electronic volumes of the Series published in the current year via SpringerLink.

The series Structure and Bonding publishes critical reviews on topics of research concerned with chemical structure and bonding. The scope of the series spans the entire Periodic Table and addresses structure and bonding issues associated with all of the elements. It also focuses attention on new and developing areas of modern structural and theoretical chemistry such as nanostructures, molecular electronics, designed molecular solids, surfaces, metal clusters and supramolecular structures. Physical and spectroscopic techniques used to determine, examine and model structures fall within the purview of Structure and Bonding to the extent that the focus is on the scientific results obtained and not on specialist information concerning the techniques themselves. Issues associated with the development of bonding models and generalizations that illuminate the reactivity pathways and rates of chemical processes are also relevant. The individual volumes in the series are thematic. The goal of each volume is to give the reader, whether at a university or in industry, a comprehensive overview of an area where new insights are emerging that are of interest to a larger scientific audience. Thus each review within the volume critically surveys one aspect of that topic and places it within the context of the volume as a whole. The most significant developments of the last 5 to 10 years should be presented using selected examples to illustrate the principles discussed. A description of the physical basis of the experimental techniques that have been used to provide the primary data may also be appropriate, if it has not been covered in detail elsewhere. The coverage need not be exhaustive in data, but should rather be conceptual, concentrating on the new principles being developed that will allow the reader, who is not a specialist in the area covered, to understand the data presented. Discussion of possible future research directions in the area is welcomed. Review articles for the individual volumes are invited by the volume editors. Readership: research scientists at universities or in industry, graduate students Special offer For all customers who have a standing order to the print version of Structure and Bonding, we offer free access to the electronic volumes of the Series published in the current year via SpringerLink.

Chemical structure and bonding. The scope of the series spans the entire Periodic Table and addresses structure and bonding issues associated with all of the elements. It also focuses attention on new and developing areas of modern structural and theoretical chemistry such as nanostructures, molecular electronics, designed molecular solids, surfaces, metal clusters and supramolecular structures. Physical and spectroscopic techniques used to determine, examine and model structures fall within the purview of Structure and Bonding to the extent that the focus is on the scientific results obtained and not on specialist information concerning the techniques themselves. Issues associated with the development of bonding models and generalizations that illuminate the reactivity pathways and rates of chemical processes are also relevant. The individual volumes in the series are thematic. The goal of each volume is to give the reader, whether at a university or in industry, a comprehensive overview of an area where new insights are emerging that are of interest to a larger scientific audience. Thus each review within the volume critically surveys one aspect of that topic and places it within the context of the volume as a whole. The most significant developments of the last 5 to 10 years should be presented using selected examples to illustrate the principles discussed. A description of the physical basis of the experimental techniques that have been used to provide the primary data may also be appropriate, if it has not been covered in detail elsewhere. The coverage need not be exhaustive in data, but should rather be conceptual, concentrating on the new principles being developed that will allow the reader, who is not a specialist in the area covered, to understand the data presented. Discussion of possible future research directions in the area is welcomed. Review articles for the individual volumes are invited by the volume editors.

This book reviews the structure and electronic, magnetic, and other properties of various MoS2 (Molybdenum disulfide) nanostructures, with coverage of synthesis, Valley polarization, spin physics, and other topics. MoS2 is an important, graphene-like layered nano-material that substantially extends the range of possible nanostructures and devices for nanofabrication. These materials have been widely researched in recent years, and have become an attractive topic for applications such as catalytic materials and devices based on field-effect transistors (FETs) and semiconductors. Chapters from leading scientists worldwide create a bridge between MoS2 nanomaterials and fundamental physics in order to stimulate readers' interest in the potential of these novel materials for device applications. Since MoS2 nanostructures are expected to be increasingly important for future developments in energy and other electronic device applications, this book can be recommended for Physics and Materials Science and Engineering departments and as reference for researchers in the field.

This series presents critical reviews of the present position and future trends in modern chemical research. The short and concise reports on chemistry are each written by world renowned experts. This series is still valid and useful after 5 or 10 years. More information as well as the electronic version of the whole content available at: springerlink.com.

Advances in Polymer Science enjoys a longstanding tradition and good reputation in its community. Each volume is dedicated to a current topic, and each review critically surveys one aspect of that topic, to place it within the context of the volume. The volumes typically summarize the significant developments of the last 5 to 10 years and discuss them critically, presenting selected examples, explaining and illustrating the important principles, and bringing together many important references of primary literature. On that basis, future research directions in the area can be discussed. Advances in Polymer Science volumes thus are important references for every polymer scientist, as well as for other scientists interested in polymer science - as an introduction to a neighboring field, or as a compilation of detailed information for the specialist.

The book presents a succinct summary of methods for the synthesis and biological activities of various different-sized bioactive heterocycles using different green chemistry synthetic methodologies, like microwave, ultrasonic, water mediated, ionic liquids, etc. The book also provides an insight of how green chemistry techniques are specific to the bioactive heterocyclic compounds.

Pulse Dipolar Electron Spin Resonance: Distance Measurements by Peter P. Borbat, Jack H. Freed.Interpretation of Dipolar EPR Data in Terms of Protein Structure, by Gunnar Jeschke.Site-Directed Nitroxide Spin Labeling of Biopolymers, by Sandip A. Shelke and Snorri Th. Sigurdsson. Metal-Based Spin Labeling for Distance Determination, by Daniella Goldfarb. Structural Information from Spin-Labelled Membrane-Bound Proteins, by Johann P. KLare, Heinz-Jürgen Steinhoff. Structural Information from Oligonucleotides, by Richard Ward and Olav Schiemann. Orientation selective DEER using rigid spin labels, cofactors, metals, and clusters, by Claudia E. Tait, Alice M. Bowen, Christiane R. Timmel, Jeffrey Harmer

The contributed volume addresses a wide range of topics including, but not limited to, biotechnology, synthetic chemistry, polymer chemistry and materials chemistry. The book will serve as a specialized review of the field of biologically inspired silicon-based structures. Researchers studying biologically inspired silicon materials chemistry will find this volume invaluable.

The book summarizes the occurrence, geochemistry, mineralogy, petrology and phase-equilibria studies in air and under high pressures related to the most intriguing group of potassium-rich mafic and ultramafic rocks, often including host of exotic mineral assemblages including feldspathoids. Mantle-derived K-rich melts had intrigued most of the founders of Geology and many of the later experts in the field of Igneous Petrology, because they are sometimes associated with carbonatites and even diamond. They tend to contain anomalous concentration of many such elements as K, Rb, Sr, U, F, P, etc., along with Ni, Co and Cr indicating a mixture of crust and mantle materials. Although these rocks occur rarely in ancient geologic time, they have been erupting mostly in modern geological history (less than last 120 Ma or so). Are the old age data real or the result of a sampling problem? Modern observations leave no doubt that sediments must be subducted on a large scale. There is now evidence that the upper mantle (and perhaps even the lower mantle) is not homogeneous but rather like a fruit cake, and that there are thermal anomalies in the mantle resulting from deep mantle plumes or subduction. Is this related to release of these unusual rocks clearing the mantle of left over subduction materials? This volume, written for those interested in the geochemistry of K-rich melts from the deep Earth, reviews the present state of knowledge of these unique igneous rocks. The author is an expert in the field of Igneous Petrology and the book will serve as a valuable reference book for researchers and academicians in the discipline.

This thesis deals with strongly luminescent lanthanide complexes having novel coordination structures. Luminescent lanthanide complexes are promising candidates as active materials for EL devices, lasers, and bio-sensing applications. The organic ligands in lanthanide complexes control geometrical and vibrational frequency structures that are closely related to the luminescent properties. In most of the previous work, however, lanthanide complexes have high-vibrational frequency C–H units close to the metal center for radiationless transition. In this thesis, the luminescent properties of lanthanide complexes with low-vibrational frequency C–F and P=O units are elucidated in terms of geometrical, vibrational, and chemical structures. The author also describes lanthanide coordination polymers with both high thermal stability (decomposition point > 300°C) and strong-luminescent properties (emission quantum yield > 80%). The author believes that novel studies on the characteristic structures and photophysical properties of lanthanide complexes may open up a frontier field in photophysical, coordination and material chemistry.

This book provides a detailed description of photofunctionalization of molecular switch based on pyrimidine ring rotational isomerization in copper complexes bearing two bidentate ligands. The most important features of this work focus on the properties associated with the rotational isomerization based on the two possible coordination geometries at the copper center derived from two nitrogen atoms on the unsymmetrically substituted pyrimidine ring. The functions of systems such as dual emission and redox potential switching based on photo-driven rotation will be of particular interest to readers. Both the functions and the procedures for proving these phenomena are beneficial for the development of more functionalized systems based on material science, molecular science, nanoscience, nanotechnology, electrochemistry, photochemistry, coordination chemistry, physical chemistry, and related disciplines. The finding elucidated here holds promise for handling the photoprocesses of metal complexes, valid for both applications and novel properties. This system is expected make it possible to extract an electrochemical potential response from molecular switches, aiming to simulate the five senses of human beings at a single molecular level.

Chiral Derivatizing Agents, Macrocycles, Metal Complexes and Liquid Crystals for Enantiomer Differentiation in NMR Spectroscopy: Thomas J. Wenzel. Chiral NMR Solvating Additives for Differentiation of Enantiomers: Gloria Uccello-Barretta and Federica Balzano. Chiral Sensor Devices for Differentiation of Enantiomers: Kyriaki Manoli, Maria Magliulo and Luisa Torsi. Enantiopure supramolecular cages: synthesis and chiral recognition properties: Thierry Brotin, Laure Guy, Alexandre Martinez, Jean-Pierre Dutasta. Interconversion of Stereochemically Labile Enantiomers (Enantiomerization) : Oliver Trapp. Anisotropy Spectra for Enantiomeric Differentiation of Biomolecular Building Blocks: A.C. Evans, C. Meinert, J.H. Bredehoeft, C. Giri, N.C. Jones, S.V. Hoffmann, U.J. Meierhenrich. Self-disproportionation of Enantiomers of Enantiomerically Enriched Compounds: Alexander E. Sorochinsky and Vadim A. Soloshonok.

This book focuses on a variety of photochemical reaction processes in the crystalline state. The crystalline state reaction is a new category of solid state reaction, in which a reaction occurs with retention of the single crystal form. The whole reaction processes were observed directly by X-ray and neutron diffractions. In this book, not only the structures of metastable intermediates, such as radicals, carbenes, and nitrenes, but also the unstable species of photochromic compounds and photo-excited structures are shown with colored figures of the molecular structures, with more than 200 figures. The book is an indispensable resource not only for organic, inorganic and physical chemists but also for graduate students, as it furnishes more than 300 references.

The series Structure and Bonding publishes critical reviews on topics of research concerned with chemical structure and bonding. The scope of the series spans the entire Periodic Table and addresses structure and bonding issues associated with all of the elements. It also focuses attention on new and developing areas of modern structural and theoretical chemistry such as nanostructures, molecular electronics, designed molecular solids, surfaces, metal clusters and supramolecular structures. Physical and spectroscopic techniques used to determine, examine and model structures fall within the purview of Structure and Bonding to the extent that the focus is on the scientific results obtained and not on specialist information concerning the techniques themselves. Issues associated with the development of bonding models and generalizations that illuminate the reactivity pathways and rates of chemical processes are also relevant. The individual volumes in the series are thematic. The goal of each volume is to give the reader, whether at a university or in industry, a comprehensive overview of an area where new insights are emerging that are of interest to a larger scientific audience. Thus each review within the volume critically surveys one aspect of that topic and places it within the context of the volume as a whole. The most significant developments of the last 5 to 10 years should be presented using selected examples to illustrate the principles discussed. A description of the physical basis of the experimental techniques that have been used to provide the primary data may also be appropriate, if it has not been covered in detail elsewhere. The coverage need not be exhaustive in data, but should rather be conceptual, concentrating on the new principles being developed that will allow the reader, who is not a specialist in the area covered, to understand the data presented. Discussion of possible future research directions in the area is welcomed. Review articles for the individual volumes are invited by the volume editors. Readership: research scientists at universities or in industry, graduate students Special offer For all customers who have a standing order to the print version of Structure and Bonding, we offer free access to the electronic volumes of the Series published in the current year via SpringerLink.com

Carola Vogel's PhD thesis focuses on the synthesis, and structural and spectroscopic characterization of the first high valent iron nitride complexes. In her interdisciplinary and collaborative research Carola also describes the reactivity studies of a unique iron (V) nitride complex with water. These studies show that quantitative yields of ammonia are given at ambient conditions. High valent iron nitride and oxo species have been proposed as key intermediates in many bio-catalytic transformations, but until now these species have proven exceedingly challenging to isolate and study. Iron complexes in high oxidation states can thus serve as models for iron-containing enzymes to help us understand biological systems or aid our development of more efficient industrial catalysts.

The series Structure and Bonding publishes critical reviews on topics of research concerned with chemical structure and bonding. The scope of the series spans the entire Periodic Table and addresses structure and bonding issues associated with all of the elements. It also focuses attention on new and developing areas of modern structural and theoretical chemistry such as nanostructures, molecular electronics, designed molecular solids, surfaces, metal clusters and supramolecular structures. Physical and spectroscopic techniques used to determine, examine and model structures fall within the purview of Structure and Bonding to the extent that the focus is on the scientific results obtained and not on specialist information concerning the techniques themselves. Issues associated with the development of bonding models and generalizations that illuminate the reactivity pathways and rates of chemical processes are also relevant. The individual volumes in the series are thematic. The goal of each volume is to give the reader, whether at a university or in industry, a comprehensive overview of an area where new insights are emerging that are of interest to a larger scientific audience. Thus each review within the volume critically surveys one aspect of that topic and places it within the context of the volume as a whole. The most significant developments of the last 5 to 10 years should be presented using selected examples to illustrate the principles discussed. A description of the physical basis of the experimental techniques that have been used to provide the primary data may also be appropriate, if it has not been covered in detail elsewhere. The coverage need not be exhaustive in data, but should rather be conceptual, concentrating on the new principles being developed that will allow the reader, who is not a specialist in the area covered, to understand the data presented. Discussion of possible future research directions in the area is welcomed. Review articles for the individual volumes are invited by the volume editors. Readership: research scientists at universities or in industry, graduate students Special offer for all customers who have a standing order to the print version of Structure and Bonding, we offer free access to the electronic volumes of the Series published in the current year via SpringerLink.

Advances in Polymer Science enjoys a longstanding tradition and good reputation in its community. Each volume is dedicated to a current topic, and each review critically surveys one aspect of that topic, to place it within the context of the volume. The volumes typically summarize the significant developments of the last 5 to 10 years and discuss them critically, presenting selected examples, explaining and illustrating the important principles, and bringing together many important references of primary literature. On that basis, future research directions in the area can be discussed. Advances in Polymer Science volumes thus are important references for every polymer scientist, as well as for other scientists interested in polymer science - as an introduction to a neighboring field, or as a compilation of detailed information for the specialist.

Yanfei Shen and Takashi Nakanishi Exotic Self-Organized Fullerene Materials Based on Uncommon Hydrophobic–Amphiphilic Approach Yuming Zhao and Guang Chen C60 Fullerene Amphiphiles as Supramolecular Building Blocks for Organized and Well-Defined Nano scale Objects Anna Troeger, Vito Sgobba and Dirk M. Guldi Multilayer Assembly for Solar Energy Conversion Delphine Felder-Flesch Self- or Induced Organization of [60]Fullerene Hexakisadducts Andrés de la Escosura, Olga Trukhina, and Tomás Torres Dual Role of Phthalocyanines in Carbon Nano structure-Based Organic Photovoltaics Riccardo Marega, Davide Giust and Davide Bonifazi Supramolecular Chemistry of Carbon Nano tubes at Interfaces: Toward Applications Stephanie Frankenberger, Johanna A. Januszewski and Rik R. Tykwinski Oligomers from sp-Hybridized Carbon: Cumulenes and Polyynes.