Lithium batteries have been successfully used in implantable biomedical devices for the last 30 years, and in some cases the use of lithium power sources has significantly contributed to the viability of the device. These battery systems fall into two major categories: primary, or single-use, cells containing lithium-metal anodes; and secondary, or rechargeable, systems utilizing lithium-ion chemistry. Primary lithium batteries have been used for implantable devices such as cardiac pacemakers, drug pumps, neurostimulators, and cardiac defibrillators. Rechargeable batteries have been used with left ventricular assist devices and total artificial hearts. All of these cells share the characteristics of high safety, reliability, energy density, and predictability of performance. Additionally, state-of-charge indication and low self-discharge are important features, along with charging safety and high cycle life for rechargeable cells.

The following are commentaries provided by representatives from industry. These short articles lend an additional context in which to appreciate the importance of the issues and mechanisms discussed in the technical articles. The authors of the commentaries point out that the basic principles that underlie the influence of scale on material behavior are not only interesting in their own right, but also are directly applicable to issues of great significance to designers and manufacturers of small-scale devices and structures. In addition, directions for future emphasis are suggested.

The key to market success for electric vehicles (EVs) has always been the energy-storage device, which limits driving range and vehicle acceleration. In many respects, rechargeable lithium batteries are the most attractive technology for storing energy and delivering it on demand in an automobile. Past and ongoing efforts to develop electric-based automotive propulsion systems are chronicled in this article.

Recent trends in the development of plasma display panels (PDPs) are reviewed in this article with special emphasis on materials. New developments in the panel structure, discharge gases and phosphors used, and drive methods have improved many of the display characteristics over a wide range of operating conditions. As a result, much progress has been seen in large-scale panel development; for example, 50-in. and 61-in. PDPs have been commercialized. Improvements in phosphor longevity, discharge gas efficiency, and characteristics of the protective layers can be attributed in part to materials solutions. The longevity of the blue phosphor has been improved by the development of new materials and a greater understanding of the phosphor deterioration mechanism. The luminous efficiency has been greatly increased by the use of high-density Xe gas. The protective-layer characteristics have been improved as a result of advancements in processes, materials, and analytical methods.

The following article is based on the presentation given by George M. Whitesides, recipient of the 2000 MRS Von Hippel Award, the Materials Research Society's highest honor, at the 2000 MRS Fall Meeting in Boston on November 29, 2000. Whitesides was cited for “bringing fundamental concepts of organic chemistry and biology into materials science and engineering, through his pioneering research on surface modification, self-assembly, and soft lithography.” The article focuses on the growing role of organic chemistry in materials science. Historically, that role has been to provide organic polymers for use in structures, films, fibers, coatings, and so on. Organic chemistry is now emerging as a crucial part of three new areas in materials science. First, it provides materials with complex functionality. Second, it is the bridge between materials science and biology/medicine. Building an interface between biological systems and electronic or optical systems requires close attention to the molecular level of that interface. Third, organic chemistry provides a sophisticated synthetic entry into nanomaterials. Organic molecules are, in fact, exquisitely fabricated nanostructures, assembled with precision on the level of individual atoms. Colloids are a related set of nanostructures, and organic chemistry contributes importantly to their preparation as well.

The following article is based on the presentation given by Simon C. Moss (University of Houston), recipient of the 2001 MRS Von Hippel Award, the Materials Research Society's highest honor, at the 2001 MRS Fall Meeting on November 28 in Boston. Moss was cited for “consistently timely and essential contributions to identifying and understanding the atomic-level structure of almost every new type of material discovered in the last 30 years.” The main unifying thread in his work is the use of diffuse scattering of x-rays and neutrons from disordered and defective solids to study their structure as well as the effects that defects have on phase transitions, whose intrinsic disorder makes them both “real” and challenging.

Malta is situated almost exactly in the center of the Mediterranean Sea between Europe and Africa. Its area is just 320 square km and it lies 95 km to the south of Italy and 290 km from the nearest point on the African coast.

Complex hydrides are mixed ionic–covalent compounds that can serve as reversible H2 storage media only when they are catalyzed by a transition metal such as Ti. As the prime example, the phenomenology of Ti-catalyzed sodium alanate (NaAlH4) is reviewed from a historical perspective. Dehydriding yields a theoretical 5.6 wt% H2 during two-step decomposition, NaAlH4 → Na3AlH6 → NaH + Al, although 100% recovery of that H2 is not currently possible. H2 can be discharged and recharged at practical rates at 125°C. More work is needed on the alanates, in particular, as well as the identification and optimization of the catalytic mechanism and a broad extension of the concept to other than Na-based alanates. The possibility of an even further extension of the concept to other complex hydrides (e.g., the borohydrides and transition-metal complexes) is discussed.

I am honored to be with you today. I will give context for where the puzzles developed that have led to the research that I summarized in the book The Innovator's Dilemma. Companies that at one point were very successful and widely admired, fell from their leadership position within 5 to 10 years. This was very poignant for minicomputer companies, for example, which collapsed after their peak in the world economy during the 1970s and 1980s. While the companies were thriving, the business press attributed their successes to the abilities of their management teams. However, when these companies began to quickly unravel around 1988, the business press attributed their failures to the ineptitude of the very same management teams that had been in place during the years of success. I wondered how good managers could get that bad that fast.

The martensitic transformation has so far been studied without considering its interaction with point defects. In this article, we shall show that such interaction, which stems from a universal symmetry property of point defects, can create a rich spectrum of exotic multiscale phenomena in martensitic materials. These phenomena include unique short-range diffusion at the atomic or nano level, remarkable domain-pattern memory at the mesoscopic level, and peculiar rubber-like behavior and aging-induced two-way shape memory at the macroscopic level. Exotic multiscale phenomena may also be found in a wide range of transforming materials, such as ferroelastic, ferroelectric, and ferromagnetic materials. These novel effects may provide new opportunities for these important materials.

In 1994, the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) established Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers (MRSECs). The goal was to provide support for interdisciplinary materials research and education of the highest quality while addressing fundamental problems in science and engineering that are important to society. The centers are expected to undertake materials research of a scope and complexity that would not be feasible under traditional funding for individual research projects or small groups. Centers are funded for a limited period of time—currently five years—after which they can re-compete against new proposals. In 1994, MRSECs were established at 11 universities throughout the country. Two years later, 13 new centers were established in a second round of funding. Additional competitions were completed in 1998, 2000, and 2002. As of April 2002, there were 29 MRSECs.