An Assessment of New Materials Synthesis and Crystal Growth in United States

The committee of 16 members was drawn from the broad community of condensed-matter physicists and materials researchers, and included experts in bulk materials synthesis and crystal growth (oxide, intermetallic, semiconductor, and organic synthesis) and both experimentalists and theorists. It prepared a report to address the following tasks: (1) Define the research area of new materials synthesis and crystal growth, framing the activities in the broader context of the condensed-matter and materials sciences; (2) Assess the health of the collective U.S. research activities in new materials synthesis and crystal growth; (3) Articulate the relationship between synthesis of bulk and thin-film materials and measurementbased research activities; identify appropriate trends; (4) Identify future opportunities for new materials synthesis and crystal growth research and discuss the potential impact on other sciences and society in general; and (5) Recommend strategies to address these opportunities, including discussion of the following issues: (a) Establishing new organizations to improve accessibility to and distribution of samples, (b) Technology transfer from basic research to commercial processes, and (c) Essential elements of national materials synthesis capabilities and considerations for nationally organized efforts