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Pure Appl. Chem. Vol. 74, No. 9, pp. iii-iv (2002)

Pure and Applied Chemistry

Vol. 74, Issue 9

This issue includes reviews and research papers based on lectures presented at the 2nd IUPAC Workshop on Advanced Materials (WAM II), Bangalore, India, 13-16 February 2002.

Preface

The future goals and mission of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) must rest on globalization of science and technology, interdisciplinary unification of chemistry, fast expansion of the chemical sciences beyond their traditional boundaries, and mission-oriented service of chemistry. The core scientific activities of IUPAC will rest on the principles of quality, relevance, impact on broad fields, merging of science and technology, international dimensions, openness, and communication. New research fields, where the activity is truly international, are expected to contribute to high-quality, significant scientific developments and to constitute the cutting edge for new technologies. In 1999, IUPAC became involved in the identification, characterization, and recommendation of novel research directions by the organization of conferences, with the involvement of the world scientific leadership, on New Directions in Chemistry. This enterprise has been successfully inaugurated and perpetuated with a series of Workshops on Advanced Materials: Nanostructured Systems. The first Workshop was held from 14-18 July 1999 in Hong Kong, China, and the second Workshop, the IUPAC Conference on New Directions in Chemistry, Workshop on Nanostructured Materials (WAM II) was held from 13-16 February 2002 in Bangalore, India, under the leadership of Prof. C. N. R. Rao. These IUPAC Conferences on New Directions in Chemistry constitute high-quality core activities of IUPAC, while moving to the new century.

The fascinating and rich subject of nanoscience and nanotechnology pertains to the synthesis, characterization, exploration, interrogation, exploitation, and utilization of nanostructured materials, which are characterized by at least one dimension in the nanometer domain. Modern nanoscience interrogates and manipulates the unique physical and chemical properties of nanostructures and their assemblies, establishing the relations between structure, nuclear—electronic level structure, electric-optical response, and dynamics to control the function of these systems. The novel basic science paradigm provides the basis for new nanotechnologies.

WAM II addressed recent developments in the broad, interdisciplinary research field of nanostructured materials, focusing on:

(i) Quantum structures, i.e., nanoparticles and nanocrystals of metals and of semiconductors, nanostructures, nanowires, and nanobiological systems.

(ii) Assemblies of nanostructures, e.g., nanoparticles and nanowires, and the use of biological systems, e.g., DNA, as molecular nanowires, as well as templates for metallic or semiconducting nanostructures.

(iii) Theoretical and computational studies provided the conceptual framework for dynamics, response, and transport in nanostructures. Strong theory—experiment mutual interaction was manifested in this field.

WAM II convened at the J. Nehru Center for Advanced Scientific Research, Jakkur, Bangalore, India, with its remarkable scientific atmosphere, providing inspiration to this scientific endeavor. The program consisted of 20 plenary lectures and 10 invited lectures. International scientific leaders in the field delivered the plenary lectures. The geographical distribution of the plenary lectures was: USA, 8; India, 4; Israel, 3; UK, 2; France, 1; Germany, 1; Hong Kong/China, 1. The disciplinary distribution of the lectures involved chemists, materials scientists, biophysicists, and physicists. Indian scientists delivered most of the invited lectures. This provided the opportunity for young scientists to present their impressive scientific work before an international audience. In addition to the plenary and invited lecturers, about 50 additional scientists, mostly from India but also from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Slovenia, participated in WAM II.

WAM II constituted a remarkable scientific accomplishment. The high-quality lectures were characterized by frontier, up-to-date scientific technological results and information, merging between experiment and theory, together with the integration between scientific results and potential technological applications. The major accomplishments of WAM II involved high-quality scientific technological core activities, in conjunction with a most successful and significant pedagogical activity for young scientists. It was most important for the young generation of local scientists (from India in this case) to interact extensively with the leadership in the field.

The International Organizing Committee consisted of Profs. John Corish, Joshua Jortner, Mostafa El-Sayed, and C. N. R. Rao (Chairman). The Organizing Committee contributed to the shaping of an important area of emerging science and technology. Thanks and appreciation are due to the Local Organizing Committee under the chairmanship of Prof. G. U. Kulkarni for the efficiency and excellence of the local arrangements and for the gracious hospitality. We would like to express our gratitude to the scientific, technical, and administrative staff of the Nehru Center for the perfect local arrangements.

The scientific program of WAM II reflected on the current status of the novel field of nanoscience and technology, and its international participation and appeal. It is fitting that IUPAC should also seek to promote this important subject through publication of a special topic issue of Pure and Applied Chemistry devoted exclusively to a collection of review articles and research papers based upon presentations made at the Workshop. Those participants who contributed to this issue deserve our gratitude for their willingness to share their results and insights with a wider audience.

C. N. R. Rao
Bangalore, India

Joshua Jortner
Tel-Aviv, Israel

* Special Topic Issue on the Theme of Nanostructured Advanced Materials


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