Functional Materials by Design

Solid State Chemistry plays a vital role in the design of Functional Materials which fulfill the ever-growing societal needs; of particular interest are the materials that relate energy and the environment. During the last decades the importance and scope of solid state chemistry has grown in response to the continuing challenge to understand, control, and predict the structure and properties of functional solids at the atomic and molecular levels and to design new compounds with enhanced physical response, resulting in multifunctional materials that are also environmentally benign. The tremendous successes in the preparation of materials with unique electronic, optical, magnetic and catalytic properties are a clear testament to the strength and significance of solid state chemistry to materials science. Today, researchers in this field can be found in numerous significant areas including Materials Science and Engineering, Ceramics, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Mineralogy/Geology, and Condensed Matter Physics. The inherently multidisciplinary nature of solid state chemistry provides the intellectual basis for its continuing vitality.

Although the 2010 meeting will feature a broad set of oral and poster presentations on a variety of current topics, one theme that will receive emphasis is the role of solid state chemistry on the fundamental understanding of functional materials design that are vital to energy conversion, electronics, sensors, catalysis, environmental protection and other societal needs. This broadly impacts not just solid state chemistry research, but cuts across a number of disciplines such as physics, material science and engineering. This conference will continue the precedent of bringing together researchers from diverse backgrounds, studying a variety of material types, to discuss the latest advances and challenges in solid state chemistry. In the spirit of the GRC concept, the intent of this meeting is to promote the exchange of ideas and the building of strong relationships among industry, academic, and government researchers working on the frontiers of the field. Speakers and poster presenters are explicitly encouraged to emphasize advances, unpublished work, new ideas, and speculations for the future on a variety of current topics. Active contribution to discussions is expected and participation in poster sessions, which offer an excellent opportunity for presenting new and exciting research, is strongly encouraged.