A comprehensive discussion of the key role of modern spectroscopic
investigations in interdisciplinary materials science and engineering,
covering emerging materials that are either absolutely novel or
well-known materials with recently discovered, exciting properties.
The types of spectroscopy discussed include optical, electronic and
magnetic, UV-visible absorption, Rayleigh scattering, photoluminescence,
vibrational, magnetic resonance, electron energy loss, EXAFS, XANES,
optical tomography, time-resolved spectroscopy, and point contact
spectroscopy. The materials studied are highly topical, with a focus on
carbon and silicon nanomaterials including nanotubes, fullerenes,
nanoclusters, metallic superconducting phases, molecular materials,
magnetic and charge-stripe oxides, and biomaterials.
Theoretical treatments are presented of molecular vibrational dynamics,
vibration-induced decay of electronic excited states, nanoscale
spin-orbit coupling in 2D Si-based structures, and the growth of
semiconductor clusters.