C. N. R. Rao and the Growth of Solid State and Materials Chemistry as a Central Domain of Research

Gopalakrishnan, Jagannatha (2014) C. N. R. Rao and the Growth of Solid State and Materials Chemistry as a Central Domain of Research. In: ZEITSCHRIFT FUR ANORGANISCHE UND ALLGEMEINE CHEMIE, 640 (6, SI). pp. 1031-1041.

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Abstract

In celebrating Professor C. N. R. Rao's 80th birthday, this article recalls his singular contributions to solid state and materials chemistry for about sixty years. In so doing, the article also traces the growth of the field as a central domain of research in chemical sciences from its early origins in Europe. Although Rao's major work lies in solid state and materials chemistry - a field which he started and nurtured in India while its importance was being recognized internationally - his contributions to other areas of chemistry (and physics), viz., molecular spectroscopy, phase transitions, fullerenes, graphene, nanomaterials and multiferroics are equally significant. Illustrative examples of his work devoted to rare earth and transition metal oxides, defects and nonstoichiometry, metal-insulator transitions, investigation of crystal and electronic structures of a variety of solids by means of electron microscopies and photoelectron spectroscopy, superconducting cuprates, magnetoresistive manganites, multiferroic metal oxides of various structures and, last but not the least, development of new strategies for chemical synthesis of a wide variety of solids including nanomaterials and framework solids in different dimensionalities, are highlighted. The article also captures his exemplary role as a science teacher, science educationist and institution builder in post-Independence India.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	ZEITSCHRIFT FUR ANORGANISCHE UND ALLGEMEINE CHEMIE
Publisher:	WILEY-V C H VERLAG GMBH
Additional Information:	copyright for this article belongs to WILEY-V C H VERLAG GMBH, BOSCHSTRASSE 12, D-69469 WEINHEIM, GERMANY
Keywords:	Professor C; N; R; Rao; Contributions to solid state and materials chemistry; Contributions to teaching and chemical education
Department/Centre:	Division of Chemical Sciences > Solid State & Structural Chemistry Unit
Date Deposited:	27 Jun 2014 05:14
Last Modified:	27 Jun 2014 05:14
URI:	http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/49383

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