Defects play an important role in determining the properties of solids. This book provides an introduction to chemical bond, phonons, and thermodynamics; treatment of point defect formation and reaction, equilibria, mechanisms, and kinetics; kinetics chapters on solid state processes; and electrochemical techniques and applications.

Preface. 1. Introduction. Motivation. The defect concept: Point defects as the main actors. 2. Bonding aspects: From atoms to solid state. Chemical bonding in simple molecules. Many atoms in contact: The solid state as a giant molecule. 3. Phonons. Einstein and Debye models. Complications. 4. Equilibrium thermodynamics of the perfect solid. Preliminary remarks. The formalism of equilibrium thermodynamics. Examples of equilibrium thermodynamics. 5. Equilibrium thermodynamics of the real solid. Preliminary remarks. Equilibrium thermodynamics of point defect formation. Equilibrium thermodynamics of electronic defects. Higher dimensional defects. Point defect reactions. Doping effects. Interactions between defects. Boundary layers and size effects. 6. Kinetics and irreversible thermodynamics. Transport and reaction. Electrical mobility. Phenomenological diffusion coefficients. Concentration profiles. Diffusion kinetics of stoichiometry change. Complications of matter transport. Surface reactions. Catalysis. Solid state reactions. 7. Solid state electrochemistry: Measurement techniques and applications. Preliminary remarks: Current and voltage in the light of defect chemistry. Open circuit cells. Cells under current load. Cells generating current. 8. Bibliography. Index.

The text is concerned with classical aspects of Physical Chemistry - i.e. bonding, thermodynamics, kinetics, electrochemistry - applied, however, to the Solid State.

Special emphasis is placed on (and in fact two thirds of the book are devoted to) the role of the ionic and electronic charge carriers. These are elementary deviations from the perfect state and the relevant centers with regard to chemical kinetics and electrochemistry. The presentation is based on modern material examples comprising ion conductors, electronic conductors, mixed conductors and superconductors, and discusses the fundamentals necessary for the understanding of electrochemical devices such as sensors, batteries and fuel cells.

The text is intended for chemists, physicists and materials scientists alike and is aimed at enabling the reader not only to gain a profound comprehension of physicochemical processes in or at solids but also to appropriately condition solids with regard to their electrochemical properties.