Functional Inorganic Materials: Exploratory Synthesis, Advanced Characterization and Computational Methods

Functional solid-state materials are ubiquitous in advanced technologies. Be it the batteries that power our laptops and smart phones, or the intricate computer chips that enable our daily life, or the lasers that are the basis for a variety of uses - solid-state materials are fundamental. The path from exploratory synthesis to technological applications is highly complex and inherently interdisciplinary. Essential to the development of computational tools and theoretical models are fundamental studies to understand the relationships between composition, structure, and properties. Another challenge is to determine synthetic routes that can create new materials predicted by computations to have superior properties. Common to both are advanced characterization tools that enable the understanding of the science of synthesis, as well as the functional properties of the materials. The above themes will be explored from a host of perspectives. Synthesis, advanced characterization, and computational methods will be covered in the sessions. Academic, national laboratory, and researchers from industry will provide a wide-ranging perspective that aims to strengthen the links between exploratory research and technological applications. Speakers and poster presenters are explicitly encouraged to emphasize advances and discuss unpublished results, while sharing new ideas on synthesis, characterization, computation, and theory. The organizers strongly encourage active contribution to discussions and participation in poster sessions, which offer an excellent opportunity for presenting and learning about new and exciting research.