Pierre Delhaes is the former CNRS Research Director at the Paul Pascal Research Center (University of Bordeaux, France) and former president of the French Carbon Studies Group.

• Preface xiIntroduction xiiiChapter 1 Form and Matter: The Genesis of Materials 11.1 Role and evolution of geometric shapes in chemistry 21.1.1 Shape and matter: the origins 21.1.2 From the Renaissance to modern chemistry 41.1.3 Modern era 61.2 Contributions of complexity of forms and thermodynamics 91.2.1 Development of more complex forms 91.2.2 Introduction to generalized thermodynamics 111.2.3 Toward a classification of materials 131.3 Perspectives 14Chapter 2 Thermodynamics of Condensed Matter 152.1 Definitions in thermodynamics 162.1.1 Concept of a thermodynamic system 162.1.2 Review of thermodynamic equilibrium states 172.1.3 Energy transformations and efficiency 202.1.4 Systems without thermodynamic equilibrium 232.2 Examples of hardware systems 262.2.1 Responses close to equilibrium 272.2.2 Responses far from equilibrium 292.2.3 Role of chemical reactors 332.3 Material development and characterization 362.3.1 Situation close to equilibrium: crystallogenesis 362.3.2 Situation far from equilibrium: morphogenesis 402.3.3 Production processes 432.4 Conclusion 43Chapter 3 Classification of Materials 453.1 Role of surfaces and interfaces 463.1.1 Nature and symmetry of a phase separation 463.1.2 Classification according to the requirements 473.1.3 Composition of a system 473.1.4 Type of responses and functionality 493.2 Main types of materials and systems 503.2.1 Structural materials 503.2.2 Electronic operators and transmitters 533.2.3 Optical devices 583.2.4 Adsorbers and chemical sensors 643.2.5 Actuators and their analogues 693.3 Conclusion 69Chapter 4 Materials and Devices for Energy and Information 714.1 Conversion and storage of electrical energy 714.1.1 Direct conversion electric generators 724.1.2 Indirect production and use of electricity 804.1.3 Storage of energy 834.2 Recording and storing information 854.2.1 Main features 864.2.2 Main types of memories 874.3 Conclusion 92Chapter 5 Microscopic Models and Statistical Thermodynamics 955.1 Typical microscopic models 955.1.1 Law of distribution and definition of statistical entropy 965.1.2 Thermodynamic systems and canonical ensembles 975.1.3 Situations beyond equilibrium 985.1.4 Stochastic thermodynamics 1005.2 Quantum statistics 1015.2.1 Review of concepts 1015.2.2 Quantum distribution laws 1015.2.3 Elementary excitations and quantum particles in solids 1035.3 Information theory 1055.3.1 Shannon–Brillouin model 1055.3.2 Energy and information: the Landauer principle 1065.3.3 The role of quantum mechanics 1085.3.4 Remarks on the notion of information and the concept of entropy 1105.4 Conclusion 112Chapter 6 Nanomaterials 1136.1 The new classes of materials 1136.1.1 Conjugate conductive polymers 1146.1.2 Charge transfer salts and complexes 1156.1.3 Molecular carbonaceous phases 1166.1.4 Other nanomaterials 1186.2 Nanometric assemblies and manipulations 1186.2.1 Thin film techniques and imposed structures 1196.2.2 Supramolecular chemistry and the colloidal approach 1206.2.3 Nanowires and nanocomposites 1236.2.4 Detection and manipulation of particles 1246.2.5 Molecular recognition, nanosensors and actuators 1266.3 Conclusion 128Chapter 7 Engineering and Molecular Electronics 1297.1 Nanotechnologies 1297.1.1 Nanoelectronics 1297.1.2 Nanophotonics 1337.1.3 Nanomagnetism 1387.1.4 Nanomachines 1417.2 Memory and quantum logic 1437.2.1 Quantum phenomena 1437.2.2 Experimental devices 1447.2.3 Information, thermodynamics and quantum chaos 1477.3 State of the art: nanomaterials and quantum electronics 148Chapter 8 Living World, Biomaterials and Biosystems 1498.1 Living systems and energy balances 1508.1.1 On the definition of the living world 1508.1.2 Thermodynamic model 1528.1.3 Conversion and storage of energy 1548.1.4 Operation of a cell reactor 1588.2 Biomaterials and biosystems 1588.2.1 Morphogenesis and biomimicry 1598.2.2 Biodetectors and similar functions 1628.2.3 Bioconverters and natural energy sources 1658.2.4 Engines, receptors and bionic robots 1708.2.5 Bioinformatics 1718.2.6 Biosynthesis 1748.3 Conclusion 175Chapter 9 Extensions to Living Organisms and Ecology 1779.1 Behavior of cells and organs 1789.1.1 Biochemical oscillations and biological rhythms 1789.1.2 Spatiotemporal organizations and Turing structures 1809.1.3 Rhythms and chaos in certain organs 1829.1.4 Neural networks, information and cognitive behavior 1839.2 Physiology of a living organism 1879.2.1 Thermodynamic system and metabolism 1879.2.2 Collective behavior 1899.3 Ecosystems and natural cycles 1909.3.1 The predator–prey relationship 1919.3.2 Grand natural cycles 1939.3.3 Climate models 1949.4 Conclusion 196Chapter 10 Application of Thermodynamics to Economy 19910.1 Thermodynamic models of economy 20010.1.1 Chronology of energy models 20010.1.2 Analysis of fundamental concepts 20510.2 Dynamics of economic and financial systems 20910.2.1 Economic cycles 20910.2.2 Analysis of financial fluctuations 21010.2.3 Stock market crashes 21110.2.4 Statistical modeling of financial systems 21210.2.5 On the behavior of a financial system 21410.3 Conclusion 215Chapter 11 From Thermodynamic Systems to Complex Systems 21711.1 Thermodynamic models: from energy to entropy 21811.1.1 Modeling of a thermodynamic system 21811.1.2 Entropy and information 22111.2 Classification of materials and devices 22411.2.1 Functional advanced materials 22411.2.2 Nanomaterials and quantum mechanics 22511.2.3 Biomaterials inspired by living environments 22611.2.4 Extension to living organisms, ecological and economic systems 22711.3 Rhythms, complexity and synergy of dynamic systems 22811.3.1 From the analysis of shape to functionality 22811.3.2 Scale analysis and organizational hierarchy 22911.3.3 Constraints and flows: characteristic oscillations and cycles 23011.3.4 Dynamic and cybernetic systems 23111.3.5 Toward a definition of complex systems 23311.4 Epilogue: descriptive uniqueness and limitation of thermodynamic bases 235Glossary 237Bibliography 243Index 267