Solid State Chemistry: Synthesis, Structure and Properties of Selected Oxides and Sulfides

Written from the point of view of the chemist, rather than the physicist, "Solid State Chemistry" emphasizes the importance of careful synthesis to understanding the properties of a large number of transition metal oxides and sulfides. It discusses many widely used solid state materials, including high-temperature oxide superconductors, diamond films, catalysts, semiconductors, and magnetic materials. The introductory tutorial section familiarizes the reader with basic elements of crystallography; the electronic, magnetic, and optical properties of solids; and phase diagrams. The tutorials use physics and mathematics at levels that any senior chemistry student should be able to follow with little difficulty. The chapters that follow treat the synthesis of oxides and sulfides as both polycrystalline solids and single crystals. Compounds selected for discussion are classified according to structure type, which are illustrated by clear drawings. Throughout, the focus is on how synthesis is related to properties and how sensitive properties are to small levels of contaminants. The book uses a single extended molecular orbital model to correlate properties with synthesis and structure. "Solid State Chemistry" is suitable for use as a text for a one-semester course in chemistry or materials science. Each chapter includes problems (some with answers) that test the student's ability to apply the principles discussed and encourage further reading in the literature. This book should be of interest to suitable as a text for a condensed course in chemistry or materials science.

Table of Contents:
Tutorial crystal structure - characterization of solids, electrical properties of semiconductors, magnetochemistry, phase diagrams; transition metal oxides - synthetic techniques, binary oxides, ternary and higher oxides; selected metal sulfides - binary sulfides, chalcogenides with the tetrahedral structure, ternary transition metal chalcogenides ABXX4.

Review :
The authors have chosen not to attempt to compromise and have set out to provide a text for a specific but relatively small corner of the field of solid state chemistry, one that could be taught to undergraduates over a single semester. Their objective has been to discuss the synthetic techniques and properties of some oxides and sulphides that are known to be highly reproducible in the laboratory and based on the author's personal experiences ... in addition there are problems that are meant to stimulate thinking and thereby improve the understanding of essential concepts. It is these questions - they are not exactly problems - that provide the basis of the title Tutorial for the first part of the book, and answers are provided to some of them. This is a particularly noteworthy feature and will be appreciated by those who teach solid state chemistry at the undergraduate level ... in brief, I found the book both stimulating and readable. - Times Higher Educational Supplement; The authors have chosen not to attempt to compromise and have set out to provide a text for a specific but relatively small corner of the field of solid state chemistry, one that could be taught to undergraduates over a single semester. Their objective has been to discuss the synthetic techniques and properties of some oxides and sulphides that are known to be highly reproducible in the laboratory and based on the author's personal experiences ... in addition there are problems that are meant to stimulate thinking and thereby improve the understanding of essential concepts. It is these questions - they are not exactly problems - that provide the basis of the title Tutorial for the first part of the book, and answers are provided to some of them. This is a particularly noteworthy feature and will be appreciated by those who teach solid state chemistry at the undergraduate level ... in brief, I found the book both stimulating and readable. - Times Higher Educational Supplement; The authors have chosen not to attempt to compromise and have set out to provide a text for a specific but relatively small corner of the field of solid state chemistry, one that could be taught to undergraduates over a single semester. Their objective has been to discuss the synthetic techniques and properties of some oxides and sulphides that are known to be highly reproducible in the laboratory and based on the author's personal experiences ... in addition there are problems that are meant to stimulate thinking and thereby improve the understanding of essential concepts. It is these questions - they are not exactly problems - that provide the basis of the title Tutorial for the first part of the book, and answers are provided to some of them. This is a particularly noteworthy feature and will be appreciated by those who teach solid state chemistry at the undergraduate level ... in brief, I found the book both stimulating and readable. - Times Higher Educational Supplement