Molecular Clusters : A Bridge to Solid State Chemistry

Clusters can be viewed as solids at the nano-scale, yet molecular cluster chemistry and solid state chemistry have traditionally been considered as separate topics. This treatment has made it conceptually difficult to appreciate commonalities of structure and bonding between the two. Using analogous models, this is the first book to form a connecting bridge. Although the focus is on clusters, sufficient attention is paid to solid-state compounds at each stage of the development to establish the interrelationship between the two topics. Comprehensive coverage of cluster types by composition, size and ligation, is provided, as is a synopsis of selected research. Written in an accessible style and highly illustrated to aid understanding, this book is suitable for researchers in inorganic chemistry, physical chemistry, materials science, and condensed matter physics.

Thomas P. Fehlner is Emeritus Grace Rupley Professor of Chemistry at the University of Notre Dame, Indiana. He received his PhD in physical chemistry from the Johns Hopkins University, Maryland, in 1963. His current research interests include the systematic chemistry of metalloboranes and an application of mixed valence metal chemistry to molecular electronics.

Jean-François Halet is a Director of Research in the chemical sciences laboratory at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique and the University of Rennes 1, France. He received his PhD in physical chemistry in 1984 from the University Pierre-et-Marie Curie, Paris. His research interests focus on understanding the chemical bond in transition metal inorganic chemistry using different quantum chemical computational tools. In particular, he attempts to analyse structural similarities between molecular and solid state compounds.

Jean-Yves Saillard is a professor of chemistry in the chemical sciences laboratory at the University of Rennes 1, Rennes, France, and in the Institut Universitaire de France. He received his PhD in chemistry in 1974 from the University of Rennes 1, Rennes. His current research interests include the rationalization of structures; and the reactivity and physical properties of inorganic compounds, particularly organometallic complexes, clusters and solid-state compounds.