Bücher der Reihe Advances in Polymer Science

Provides authoritative and critical reviews of research and advances in various fields of photonic polymers as well as their promising applications. It should provide individuals working in the field of photonic polymers with scientific knowledge while giving directions for future research.

With contributions by numerous experts

With contributions by numerous experts

Dear Readers, Since the ground-breaking, Nobel-prize crowned work of Heeger, MacDiarmid, and Shirakawa on molecularly doped polymers and polymers with an alternating bonding structure at the end of the 1970s, the academic and industrial research on hydrocarbon-based semiconducting materials and devices has made encouraging progress.

The future of information technology requires ultra high speed processing and large data storage capacity. Since the electronics technology using semi conduc tors and inorganic materials is about to reach its limits, much current research is focused on utilizing much faster photons than electrons, namely photonics. To achieve any significant effect on the actual use of the science of photonics, devel opments of more efficient photonics materials, better optical property evaluations, manufacture of devices for system applications, etc. are the subjects which need to be explored. In particular, the development of photonics materials stands in the forefront of research as this constitutes the most pertinent factor with regard to the development of ultra high speed and large capacity information processing. In this respect, there has been continuous research on photo responsive materials through molecular structure design and architecture and the results so far are very promising as functions and performances are beginning to realize their high expectations. The two special volumes "Polymers for Photonics Applications" give authorita tive and critical reviews on up to date activities in various fields of photonic poly mers including their promising applications. Seven articles have been contributed by internationally recognized and they deal with, polymers for second and third order nonlinear optics, quadratic parametric interactions in polymer waveguides, electroluminescent polymers as light sources, photoreflective polymers for holo graphic information storage, and highly efficient two photon absorbing organics and polymers.

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With contributions by numerous experts

This text was ranked by ISI as having the Highest Impact Factor of all publications within Polymer Science. It is a collection of concise reports on the physics and chemistry of polymers.

"Soft" then means that these materials are in a state of matter that is neither a simple liquid nor a hard solid of the type studied in hard condensed matter, hence sometimes many types of soft matter are also named "c- plex ?uids.

Dear Readers, Since the ground-breaking, Nobel-prize crowned work of Heeger, MacDiarmid, and Shirakawa on molecularly doped polymers and polymers with an alternating bonding structure at the end of the 1970s, the academic and industrial research on hydrocarbon-based semiconducting materials and devices has made encouraging progress.

However, the tuning of polymer composition and structure as well as polymer formulations to optimize the ?nal performance properties can be challenging, - pecially since in many cases several interacting variables need to be optimized simultaneously.

-Effects of Electric Fields on Block Copolymer NanostructuresBy H. Boeker-Nanopattern Evolution in Block Copolymer Films: Experiment, Simulations and ChallengesBy L. Svensek and H. Brand-Thermal Diffusion in Polymer Blends: Criticality and Pattern FormationBy W. Zimmermann-Foaming of Microstructured and Nanostructured Polymer BlendsBy H.

-Polyelectrolyte Stars and Cylindrical BrushesBy Y. Boeker-Holographic Gratings and Data Storage in Azobenzene-Containing Block Copolymers and Molecular GlassesBy H. Schmidt-Donor-Acceptor Block Copolymers with Nanoscale Morphology for Photovoltaic ApplicationsBy M. Thelakkat-Recent Advances in the Improvement of Polymer Electret FilmsBy D.

Table of Contents-Shape-Memory Polymers and Shape-Changing PolymersBy M. Madbouly and Andreas Lendlein-Characterization Methods for Shape-Memory PolymersBy W. Lendlein-Shape-Memory Polymers for Biomedical ApplicationsBy Christopher M. Yakacki and Ken Gall-Controlled Drug Release from Biodegradable Shape-Memory PolymersBy ChristianWischke, Axel T.

-Encapsulation by Miniemulsion PolymerizationBy K. K. Weiss-Enzyme-Encapsulated Layer-by-Layer Assemblies: Current Status and Challenges Toward Ultimate NanodevicesBy K. Hill-Non-LBL Assembly and Encapsulation Uses 1 of Nanoparticle-Shelled Hollow Spheres 2By G.C. Wong-Polymersomes: A Synthetic Biological Approach to Encapsulation and DeliveryBy M.

-On the Mechanisms Leading to Exfoliated Nanocomposites Prepared by MixingBy C. Han-Phase Behavior and Phase Transitions in AB- and ABA-type Microphase-Separated Block CopolymersBy J. Han-New Class Materials of Organic-Inorganic Hybridized Nanocrystals/Nanoparticles, and Their Assembled MicroandNano-Structure Toward PhotonicsBy H.

Modern Synthetic and Application Aspects of Polysilanes: An Underestimated Class of Materials?, by A. *Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxanes with Controlled Structure: Formation and Application in New Si-Based Polymer Systems, by Yusuke Kawakami, Yuriko Kakihana, Akio Miyazato, Seiji Tateyama, and Md.

Microgels by Precipitation Polymerization: Synthesis, Characterization, and Functionalization, by A. Richtering* Hydrogels in Miniemulsions, by K. Musyanovych *Nano- and Microgels Through Addition Reactions of Functional Oligomers and Polymers, by K. Groll*Synthesis of Microgels by Radiation Methods, by F.