The role of supramolecular organization in the design and synthesis of new molecular systems is well recognized and assumes an increasingly important role in modern materials design. There is good reason to believe that the future of materials science will be closely linked to the use of soft chemical methods and processes such as self-assembly. The intelligent use of pre-organized templates onto which novel materials may be grown will result in materials with unprecedented properties and applications. Self-organization at various length scales from the molecular to the macroscale will also create important materials. The application of these materials will range from biological systems and biomineralization through shape selective catalysis, organic solid state chemistry, molecular machines and mesoscale synthesis. These developments are indeed extremely broad and cover organic, inorganic, biological and metallic systems.

This book, with chapters written by international experts, highlights some current aspects of materials synthesis where supramolecular organization plays a significant role. We expect that the principal audience for the book will be scientists in industry and academia, although the book should be useful for graduate courses in Chemistry, Physics, Chemical Engineering and Materials Chemistry as well as in interface courses between Biology and Materials/Chemistry.

The idea of this book came about while one of us (C. N. R. R.) was Linnett Visiting Professor at the Chemistry Department, University of Cambridge, and Sidney Sussex College. We are grateful to the University and the Master and Fellows of Sidney Sussex for their support.