In the ten years since the scientific rationale for the design, synthesis and application of inorganic and organometallic polymers (IOPs) was first conceptualised, we have witnessed the first tentative exploration of IOPs as precursors to new materials, with efforts focusing on the design and synthesis of novel ceramic precursors. Developing expertise led to precursor studies combined with the characterisation of the transformation processes that occur when IOPs are converted to ceramic materials. Now at maturity, the science presented in this volume reveals the polymer precursor approach to materials synthesis together with examples of processing ceramic shapes for a range of mechanical properties, the development of sophisticated, noninvasive analytical techniques, and IOP design rationales relying on well-defined processing-property relationships. The production of multifunctional IOPs is described, providing ion conductivity, gas sensing, bioactivity, magnetic properties, etc., combined with processability. The existence of well-defined IOPs and the exquisite control that can be exerted on sol-gel systems now provide access to such a variety of mixed organic-organometallic and/or inorganic hybrid systems that their exploitation is likely to develop into an entirely new field of materials chemistry. Future exciting avenues of research are also being opened up with the advent of buckyballs, Met-Cars, dopable preceramics, rigid-rod organometallics, and molecular tinkertoys.

Although, carbon is only one of one hundred plus elements, the polymer science lit erature consists primarily of studies on carbon based polymers. In part, this reflects the varied feedstock sources and in part, the type of bonds and bond forming reactions avail able to form organic polymers that are not available to the inorganic and organometallic chemist. However, recent intense interest in polymers with novel optical, electronic or magnetic properties or polymers that can serve as precursors to ceramic, semiconductor, metallic or superconductor materials has served as a driver for the development of novel synthetic routes and characterization techniques that have launched many new inorganic and organometallic oligomers and polymer systems. The following chapters represent an effort to provide an overview of several new and continuing areas of development in inorganic and organometallic polymer science. This book represents the second in a series of books we have edited on inorganic and organometallic polymer chemistry (1. Transformation of Organo-metallics into Common and Exotic Materials, NATO ASI Series Vol 141. 3. Inorganic and Organometallic Polymers with Special Properties, NATO ASI Series in press). In this series, we attempt to develop, for the reader, an understanding of the breadth, depth and potential of inorganic and organometallic polymer science."

In the ten years since the scientific rationale for the design, synthesis and application of inorganic and organometallic polymers (IOPs) was first conceptualised, we have witnessed the first tentative exploration of IOPs as precursors to new materials, with efforts focusing on the design and synthesis of novel ceramic precursors. Developing expertise led to precursor studies combined with the characterisation of the transformation processes that occur when IOPs are converted to ceramic materials. Now at maturity, the science presented in this volume reveals the polymer precursor approach to materials synthesis together with examples of processing ceramic shapes for a range of mechanical properties, the development of sophisticated, noninvasive analytical techniques, and IOP design rationales relying on well-defined processing-property relationships. The production of multifunctional IOPs is described, providing ion conductivity, gas sensing, bioactivity, magnetic properties, etc., combined with processability. The existence of well-defined IOPs and the exquisite control that can be exerted on sol-gel systems now provide access to such a variety of mixed organic-organometallic and/or inorganic hybrid systems that their exploitation is likely to develop into an entirely new field of materials chemistry. Future exciting avenues of research are also being opened up with the advent of buckyballs, Met-Cars, dopable preceramics, rigid-rod organometallics, and molecular tinkertoys.

Although, carbon is only one of one hundred plus elements, the polymer science lit erature consists primarily of studies on carbon based polymers. In part, this reflects the varied feedstock sources and in part, the type of bonds and bond forming reactions avail able to form organic polymers that are not available to the inorganic and organometallic chemist. However, recent intense interest in polymers with novel optical, electronic or magnetic properties or polymers that can serve as precursors to ceramic, semiconductor, metallic or superconductor materials has served as a driver for the development of novel synthetic routes and characterization techniques that have launched many new inorganic and organometallic oligomers and polymer systems. The following chapters represent an effort to provide an overview of several new and continuing areas of development in inorganic and organometallic polymer science. This book represents the second in a series of books we have edited on inorganic and organometallic polymer chemistry (1. Transformation of Organo-metallics into Common and Exotic Materials, NATO ASI Series Vol 141. 3. Inorganic and Organometallic Polymers with Special Properties, NATO ASI Series in press). In this series, we attempt to develop, for the reader, an understanding of the breadth, depth and potential of inorganic and organometallic polymer science."