- Email: [email protected]
Contributions of clusters physics to materials science and technology
335
J. Electroanal. Chem., 242 (1988) 335-336 Elsevier Sequoia S.A., Lausanne - Printed in The Netherlands
Book review
Contributions of Clusters Physics to Materials Science and Technology. J. Davenas and P.M. Rabette (Editors). NATO AS1 Series E No. 104, Nijhoff, Dordrecht, 1986, ISBN 90-247-3279-4, 646 pp., Dfl.250.00, US$lOO.OO,g69.25. The book is a report of the NATO Advanced Study Institute on the Impact of Clusters Physics in Materials Science and Technology, held at Cap d’Agde, France between 13 and 25 June 1982 and forms part of the Applied Science Series. The very large surface to volume ratio of clusteres and small particles place these species as intermediates between molecular chemistry and the chemical physics of bulk matter. The importance of surface effects has led to extensive work in areas from the structure of gas phase clusters (in particular the way they differ from the bulk material) to the importance of the particle sixes in catalytic reactions. The book covers the background material and research available on small particles and model systems, in order to extend the understanding into the properties of one of the most commonly occurring forms of matter: granular materials. The book attempts to take an interdisciplinary view of the state of cluster research covering both fundamental aspects of molecular structure and studies on molecular aggregates of interest to engineers. The three main areas about which the lectures are grouped are in order of increasing dimensions: Metal clusters in the gas phase, Small particles including heterogeneous growth processes and Granular materials including percolation and sintering. Each section starts with a general introduction to the subject followed by more detailed discussion of the state of the art research. Quantum chemistry techniques suitable for metal clusters are discussed and the implications for the electronic structure and optical properties of these systems are explored. A chapter on the importance of clusters in the photographic process shows that even in a field for which clusters have been of importance for 150 years, a complete understanding of their function is still lacking. A large section is devoted to the industrially important area of the role of supported metal particles in heterogeneous catalysis. This includes a discussion of the various spectroscopic methods needed to characterise the catalytic system and of nucleation phenomena. While free and isolated clusters can be formed in the laboratory, they are unusual in practical applications where the particles have normally to be supported or occur at high density. One of the problems addressed in the summer school was: how independent are the clusters’ properties of their environment and of interactions with each other. In this light, theoretical models and experimental details of percolation effects, electronic and. transport properties of granular systems are discussed in the latter parts of the book. 0022-0728/88/$03.50
0 1988 Elsevier Sequoia S.A.
336
The quality of the printing is good and most of the diagrams and photographs are clearly reproduced. The book is provided with a strong binding. References are at the end of each chapter and are generally very comprehensive. A detailed and informative contents and index are provided to the book as a whole. J.G. FREY
Southampton
J. Electroanal. Chem., 242 (1988) 335-336 Elsevier Sequoia S.A., Lausanne - Printed in The Netherlands
Book review
Contributions of Clusters Physics to Materials Science and Technology. J. Davenas and P.M. Rabette (Editors). NATO AS1 Series E No. 104, Nijhoff, Dordrecht, 1986, ISBN 90-247-3279-4, 646 pp., Dfl.250.00, US$lOO.OO,g69.25. The book is a report of the NATO Advanced Study Institute on the Impact of Clusters Physics in Materials Science and Technology, held at Cap d’Agde, France between 13 and 25 June 1982 and forms part of the Applied Science Series. The very large surface to volume ratio of clusteres and small particles place these species as intermediates between molecular chemistry and the chemical physics of bulk matter. The importance of surface effects has led to extensive work in areas from the structure of gas phase clusters (in particular the way they differ from the bulk material) to the importance of the particle sixes in catalytic reactions. The book covers the background material and research available on small particles and model systems, in order to extend the understanding into the properties of one of the most commonly occurring forms of matter: granular materials. The book attempts to take an interdisciplinary view of the state of cluster research covering both fundamental aspects of molecular structure and studies on molecular aggregates of interest to engineers. The three main areas about which the lectures are grouped are in order of increasing dimensions: Metal clusters in the gas phase, Small particles including heterogeneous growth processes and Granular materials including percolation and sintering. Each section starts with a general introduction to the subject followed by more detailed discussion of the state of the art research. Quantum chemistry techniques suitable for metal clusters are discussed and the implications for the electronic structure and optical properties of these systems are explored. A chapter on the importance of clusters in the photographic process shows that even in a field for which clusters have been of importance for 150 years, a complete understanding of their function is still lacking. A large section is devoted to the industrially important area of the role of supported metal particles in heterogeneous catalysis. This includes a discussion of the various spectroscopic methods needed to characterise the catalytic system and of nucleation phenomena. While free and isolated clusters can be formed in the laboratory, they are unusual in practical applications where the particles have normally to be supported or occur at high density. One of the problems addressed in the summer school was: how independent are the clusters’ properties of their environment and of interactions with each other. In this light, theoretical models and experimental details of percolation effects, electronic and. transport properties of granular systems are discussed in the latter parts of the book. 0022-0728/88/$03.50
0 1988 Elsevier Sequoia S.A.
336
The quality of the printing is good and most of the diagrams and photographs are clearly reproduced. The book is provided with a strong binding. References are at the end of each chapter and are generally very comprehensive. A detailed and informative contents and index are provided to the book as a whole. J.G. FREY
Southampton