Emerging Fields in Sol-gel Science and Technology contains selected papers from the symposium on "Sol-Gel and Vitreous Materials and Applications" held during the International Materials Research Congress in Cancn, Mxico in August 2002. One hundred and twenty researchers representing 10 countries attended this symposium. Some of the subjects covered in this symposium include 1.) synthesis of new materials endowed with outstanding and non-conventional optical, magnetic, electrical, thermal, catalytic, and mechanical properties; 2.) study of the sorption properties of model porous materials in order to test the validity of previous and recent theories; 3.) theoretical studies related to density functional theory, fractal and scaling law approaches, 4.) synthesis of biomaterials for use in medicine and pollution control; 5.) application of sol-gel colloids in the fine-chemistry industry in products such as fragrances and pharmaceuticals; 6.) development of special vitreous materials; 7.) implementation of inorganic thin films, and 8.) synthesis of materials for energy saving.

L<'o>pez (Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana) presents recent work in advances in sol-gel catalyst materials, adsorption and porosity, sol- gel oxide materials, mixed oxide materials, and thin films, in this collection of papers from an August 2002 symposium on sol-gel and vitreous materials and applications held at the International Materials Research Congress in Mexico. Specific topics include engineering of ceramic microstructures for functionality, synthesis and characterization of metal oxide nanoparticles, thermal stability and hydrolysis catalysis effects on sol-gel zirconia in the presence of heteropolyacids, and catalytic activity of sol-gel metal catalysts. Annotation (c)2003 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)