This volume includes papers presented at the second International Workshop on "Oxide-based Systems at the Crossroads of Chemistry," held at Villa Olmo in Como, Italy, 8-11 October.
The selected papers present the highlights of recent research in the field of oxide structure. A wide range of oxidic materials, including real oxides, zeolites and layer-structured systems, is considered and described in terms of preparation methods, structural characterization and the relation between active sites, structure and catalytic properties. The application of the most powerful simulation and physical-chemical techniques show their usefulness in discovering and explaining structural and dynamic properties of complex materials. Moreover the development of sophisticated spectroscopical and analytical techniques are shown to significantly improve the growth of surface oxide science, generating new tools for the knowledge of catalyst structure and reaction mechanisms. An interesting feature is the inclusion of papers which show the mutual roles of experiment and theoretical models.

The International Workshop "New sources, novel phases, new applications," the third of the series on "Oxide based materials," was held September 13 to 16, 2004 at Societa del Casino Sociale in Como, Italy. The workshop brought together experimental and theoretical scientists of different origins and expertise to exchange information on common scientific research fields, especially on all those materials whose features and properties depend on the interaction between surface and ionic and/or molecular species. Knowledge of familiar materials was compared and experiences shared on a varied range of different materials, often new materials, including metal oxides, zeolites and other microporous compounds, mesoporous silicates and silica, hybrid inorganic-organic compounds, soil aggregates, layered materials, and bioactive glasses.
* Brings together experimental and theoretical information
* Provides information on new oxide-based materials with applications in catalysis, pollution control and nanoengineering
* Contributions from experts in the field