A hundred and eighty five chemists, physicists, and engineers met in
Schenectady, New York, for the three days May 10-12, 1976, to discuss
the subject of Superionic Conductors. This International Conference was
held at the Research and Development Center of the General Electric
Company. The subject of the Conference was fast ion transport in solids.
These materials have potential application in new types of batteries,
fuel cells, and sensors. Some like beta alumina are under active
development in nov'el new systems. Their study has also become a popular
area of scientific investigation. One objective of the Conference was to
provide a forum for interdisciplinary communication between chemists,
physicists, and engineers. The Conference was an attempt to bring these
groups together, in order to listen to each others problems and
progress. We began organizing the Conference in the spring of 1975. It
was suggested to General Electric managers Drs. Craig S. Tedmon, Jr. and
Roland W. Schmitt. They provided immediate and enthusiastic support.
They also provided the advice, staff, and backup which were necessary at
all points in the planning and duration of the Conference. We were also
pleased that they could participate in the Conference: Dr. Tedmon
welcomed the participants and officially opened the Conference, and Dr.
Schmitt gave the after banquet address. We thank them. Additional and
invaluable help, and advice, were also provided by Drs. D. Chatterji, J.
B. Bush, G. W. Ludwig, and J. B. Comly. We were joined on the program
committee by Drs.
