Gordon Research Conference — Inorganic Reaction Mechanisms

The aim of this conference is to bring together scientists from diverse disciplines, who are working on nonstoichiometric compounds such as oxides, nitrides, hydrides, chalcogenides, and mixed-anion compounds. Traditionally, the effects of stoichiometry deviations – nonstoichiometry – have been studied by those looking to understand and control the physical properties of oxides such as transport and mechanical properties, with the aim of using such materials as solid oxide fuel cell electrodes, as sensors, as permeation membranes, and in various other electrochemical reactors. Complex oxides that exhibit nonstoichiometric effects are now also employed in all-solid-state secondary batteries, thermochemical water splitting and chemical looping systems, as well as in transparent conducting electrodes in displays and photovoltaics. These and other oxides are also being developed for all-oxide electronics, high-speed photonics, switching and memory devices, and magnetoresistive devices. Furthermore, driven by the semiconductor industry, interest has also expanded to include nitrides, chalcogenides, and complex-ion compounds such as MAPbI3.

Given the diverse fields of applications, it is clear that this ECI conference devoted specifically to compounds that display nonstoichiometry will allow scientists from these various fields to learn from the other fields and from other approaches, to assess the state of the art, and to discuss future developments. This conference will thus cover all aspects of nonstoichiometry in inorganic compounds. Topics will include theory, defect chemistry, electrical properties, thermopower, diffusion, electrochemical properties, mechanical properties and solid state reactions, all of which depend on nonstoichiometry. Materials will include single crystalline, polycrystalline and nanocrystalline ceramics with possible applications as mentioned above.

Topics: Defect chemistry Thermodynamic properties Theoretical approaches Lithium secondary batteries Sodium All-solid-state batteries conductors Thermochemical water