R. A. Laudise
Bel! Laboratories
Murray Hill, NJ 07974
Inorganic Chemistry from the Perspective
of an Industrial Chemist
The solid state chemistry of electronic materials is a foundation stone of the modern electronics industry—one of the
largest and most dynamic industries in the world today. Inorganic chemical preparative and purification techniques
including zone refining, crystal pulling, and vapor and liquid
phase epitaxy have provided materials ranging from high
purity-high perfection silicon through gallium arsenide and
its cogeners, magnetic and laser garnets, quartz and optical
fibers. One of the basic goals of inorganic chemistry in general
and solid state chemistry in particular: understanding the
connection between chemical bonding and structure and
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Robert A. Laudise is Director of the
Physical and Inorganic Chemistry Research Laboratories at Bell Laboratories.
He joined Bell in 1956 after receiving a
PhD tn inorganic chemistry from MIT.
He is a member of the National Academy
of Engineering, the author of more than
80 publications including one book, and
the holder of 10 patents. His broad research interests are in solid state chemistry and materials science.
762 / Journal of Chemical Education
properties is perhaps nowhere better illustrated than in solid
state chemistry. Thus the solid state and preparative chemistry of inorganic materials of electronic interest is of high
present research interest, is an important employment area
for future chemists, is vital for the future of U.S. society, and
is an area with which an informed, technically educated citizen
should have some acquaintance. It should form an important
part of a modern inorganic chemistry curriculum.
The preparation and properties of solids lends itself well
to illustrating many important concepts in inorganic chemistry as shown by at least one very successful undergraduate
course at a major university (MIT). Important subjects which
might be included in a modern inorganic course include the
law of mass action in solids and defect solids, elementary band
theory and semiconductors, preparation, properties and
doping of semiconductors, the properties and preparation of
magnetic materials as illustrated by rare earth garnets and an
introduction to the concepts of corrosion chemistry.
If we are concerned by the decline of student interest in
inorganic chemistry, it is reasonable that we consider whether
what we are teaching is interesting. Solid state chemistry is
intellectually challenging, economically useful and, in the view
of the author, fun. Let us take out whatever we need to put
some fun into the inorganic chemistry curriculum.