12^th Conference on Solid State Chemistry (SSC-2016)

The IUPAC sponsored 12^th Solid State Chemistry Conference (SSC-2016) was held on 18–23 September 2016 in Prague, Czech Republic. SSC-2016 was a part of the series of conferences on solid state and materials chemistry with the scope and topics of special significance and challenges at present time interlinking research, development, and technology. The conferences are held biannually alternatively in Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

SSC-2016 was organized in honor of Prof. Miloslav Frumar (University of Pardubice, Czech Republic) on the occasion of his 80^th birthday, to celebrate his life-long scientific contribution, particularly to the field of solid state and inorganic chemistry. One session was devoted to the presentations related to one of the research areas of Prof. Frumar – the chalcogenide glasses.

Prof. Ing. Miloslav Frumar, DrSc., has dedicated his lifetime work to research, university education of qualified specialists, cultivation of his own expertise, as well as to the establishment of a school focused on new inorganic materials, in particular on crystalline and amorphous semiconductors, and on the development of new education courses for MSc and PhD level, thus contributing to the advancement of Czech tertiary education as such at the Faculty of Chemical Technology of the University of Pardubice. As a manager he helped create the academic environment and develop specialized departments, including the Department of General and Inorganic Chemistry and the Joint Laboratory of Solid State Chemistry, established with the Czech Academy of Sciences. With a unique drive and persistence, he has passed his experience on to students, striving to arouse their interest, and identify and encourage talents in chemistry; supervising their doctoral study, he has educated a number of outstanding alumni, many of whom became authorities in their field of expertise and work at universities or research and development centers both in the Czech Republic and abroad. He has initiated and led a number of projects and conferences, including international ones (he is the founder of the Solid State Chemistry international conference series), significance of which has expanded beyond the borders of the Czech Republic. His school has a worldwide reputation, especially the study of crystalline and amorphous semi-conductors. His work and publications are rightfully respected and appreciated across the international community.

SSC-2016 encompassed different facets of solid state chemistry, physics and related fields, and therefore attracted a wide audience. In total, 101 scientists from 24 countries around the world have participated to SSC-2016. The specific topics included: T1 – Preparation and synthesis, T2 – Phase and properties characterization, T3 – Nanomaterials, nanocomposites and catalysis, T4 – Magnetic, metal and alloy materials, T5 – Optical and photovoltaic materials, and T6 – Theoretical approaches to solid-state chemistry. The scientific program of SSC-2016 consisted of five plenary lectures, 16 invited lectures, 28 lectures, and 41 posters. Young authors of seven oral presentations and 15 posters entered the sponsored Student Awards competition. In addition, Dr. Milan Drábik – chair of Slovak National Committee of Chemistry for IUPAC, gave a presentation on IUPAC activities.

To enable a broader audience to appreciate the scientific impact of SSC-2016, this Special Issue of Pure and Applied Chemistry was prepared based on the topics of the plenary and invited lectures. The personalities of the plenary speakers as well as the scientific feedback of the lecturers, quality and subjects of the invited lectures guarantee that the content of this issue of Pure and Applied Chemistry gives a representative profile not only of SSC-2016 but also of the current challenging fields of solid state and materials chemistry.

This is the fourth issue of the “Solid State Chemistry” Conference series published in the Pure and Applied Chemistry. The earlier issues include 5^th Conference on Solid State Chemistry (SSC-2002), Bratislava, Slovakia, 7–12 July 2002, 8^th Conference on Solid State Chemistry (SSC-2008), Bratislava, Slovakia, 6–11 July 2008, and 11^th Solid State Chemistry Conference (SSC-2014), Trenčianske Teplice, Slovakia, 6–11 July 2014.

We will be happy to see you at the next Solid State Chemistry Conference which will be held in Pardubice in the Czech Republic in 2018.