Page 24 - Materials Chemistry, Second Edition

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References

– Scanning electron microscopy (SEM)
– Transmission electron microscopy (TEM)
– Energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS/EDX)
– Secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS)
– Scanning probe microscopy (SPM)
– X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS)
– Electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS)
• Bulk characterization
– X-ray diffraction (XRD)
– Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA)
– Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)
– Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS)

References and Notes

1
There is often a “grey area” concerning the best definition for small particulate matter. In particular,
most structures are automatically referred to as “nanoscale materials,” fueled by the popularity of the
nanotechnology revolution. However, the most precise use of the “nano” prefix (e.g., nanoparticles) is
only for materials with architectural dimensions (e.g., diameters, thicknesses, etc.) of less than 100 nm;
intermediate dimensions between 100 and 1,000 nm should instead be referred to as “submicron.”
2
CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 84th ed., CRC Press: New York, 2004.
3
For a thorough background on alchemy, refer to the following website: http://www.levity.com/
alchemy/index.html
4
Balata golf ball covers may be fabricated from sap extracts of balata/bully trees in South America to
produce a thin, resilient material. It is worth mentioning that balata-based materials are now produced
artificially.
5
Most sophomore organic chemistry undergraduate textbooks provide a thorough coverage of these
techniques, including the interpretation of example spectra. For more specialized books on solid-state
NMR and MALDI-MS, see (respectively): Duer, M. J. Introduction to Solid-State NMR Spectroscopy,
Blackwell: New York, 2005 and Pasch, H.; Schrepp, W. MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry of Synthetic
Polymers, Springer: New York, 2003.

Topics for Further Discussion

1. What are the differences between “Materials Chemistry” and “Solid-State Chemistry”?
2. What is meant by “top-down” or “bottom-up” synthetic approaches? Provide applications of each
(either man-made or natural materials).
3. Are complex liquids such as crude oil or detergents considered materials? Explain your reasoning.
4. After reviewing Appendix A, is there a relationship between the major materials-related discoveries
and societal foci/needs? Elaborate.
5. Current problems/needs in our world are related to drinking water availability, “green” renewable
energy sources, increasing computational speeds, and many others. What are some current areas of
research focus that are attempting to address these issues? One should search Chemical Abstracts, as
well as books and Web sites for this information.
6. Science is rapidly becoming an interdisciplinary. Describe the origin of chemistry disciplines (inor-
ganic, organic, physical), to their current status including multidisciplinary programs.
7. When a new technology is introduced, the consumer price is astronomical. What are the factors that
govern when and how much this price will be lowered? Cite specific examples.