3 Review(s)

Devoted to a diverse group of solid statescientists, the book has two objectives,both relating to structural chemistry:(i) a progressive analytic familiarizationwith the main parameters that governthe organization of crystallized matterand related crystal structures, (ii) a studyof what are the various ways to ‘read’ astructure far beyond its representation inscientific articles. Hence, the reader will,from numerous examples illustrated in color,analyze what are the main characteristicsof these structures, from their geometriccharacteristics, their coordination polyhedra,their connections with the resultingdimensionalities of these solids, includingalso the defects they exhibit, before lookingat possibilities to classify structures, withinwhich recurrence laws can emerge.Chemists are required to understand thepotentials of a new structure for becomingfuture materials scientists. The first partof the book is by no means a database forknown structures, but facilitates a progressiveunderstanding of the organization of thesolid state. With these tools in hand, thereader is invited in the later part of thebook to analyze new structures, and to alsouse new concepts for viewing structures ina more synthetic way for the future. Suchnew vision is already leading to the creationof completely new solids with outstandingcharacteristics that find applications insocietal problems concerning energy, energysavings, environment and health.