R. Cava et al. Progress in Solid State Chemistry 30(2002)1-101 language and research culture. However, the need for increasing interaction is seen by both sides. The participants in the workshop strongly felt that areas of mutual interest can be further established, and that the development of multidisciplinary education programs is essential. One of the areas of potential common interest is the development of biosensors-in which biological components are joined to microelectronic substrates on order sense or relay signals or to initiate mechanical or biological activity. This area is only in its infancy and is clearly of great potential The interaction of living cells with solid state materials seems to offer limitless possibilities for the future. The nature of the interface between biological and solid state materials, and the design and manipulation of that interface to enhance function or interaction, are virtually completely unexplored. Finally, biology can impact solid state chemistry by influencing the design of materials to mimic the function of com- plex biological materials 1. 4. Energy storage and comversion The development of viable, long-term solutions to meet our energy needs that also maintain the quality of our environment remains one of the most critical challenges facing the scientific community. Solutions to this challenge increasingly depend on electrochemical processes in solids. Photovoltaics, fuel cells, thermoelectrics and bat- teries are all devices in which energy storage or conversion relies on a coupling of chemical and electrical phenomena within the solid state. Accordingly, advances in energy technology require that fundamental questions of charge and mass transfer through complex solids be answered, and that novel processing techniques be developed to implement strategies for micro-structure and/or crystal structure modi- fication. These themes arise in each of the many energy systems described in this section, specifically, membrane reactors, fuel cells, thermoelectrics, batteries, capaci- tors, photovoltaics, hydrogen storage media and superconductors While each type of energy conversion or storage device faces its own unique hallenges, each is in critical need of new materials with improved properties. Thus, a broad-based effort in materials discovery, guided by computational chemistry, and complemented with a similar effort in comprehensive architectural control of known materials is essential. The solid state chemist brings to bear on this problem the unique ability to synthesize new compounds which may exhibit inherently unusual properties, not only leading to improvements to conventional devices, for example better cathodes for lithium ion batteries, but also rendering entirely new and as of-yet un-envisioned devices possible. Fundamental advances, however, require the cooperative efforts of experts in fields ranging from solid state chemistry and electro- chemistry to solid state physics and materials science to ensure that material behav- is understood at the most fundamental level while potential new devices are rapidly developed The present status of those collaborations and future possibilities were discussed6 R.J. Cava et al. / Progress in Solid State Chemistry 30 (2002) 1–101 language and research culture. However, the need for increasing interaction is seen by both sides. The participants in the workshop strongly felt that areas of mutual interest can be further established, and that the development of multidisciplinary education programs is essential. One of the areas of potential common interest is the development of biosensors—in which biological components are joined to microelectronic substrates on order sense or relay signals or to initiate mechanical or biological activity. This area is only in its infancy and is clearly of great potential. The interaction of living cells with solid state materials seems to offer limitless possibilities for the future. The nature of the interface between biological and solid state materials, and the design and manipulation of that interface to enhance function or interaction, are virtually completely unexplored. Finally, biology can impact solid state chemistry by influencing the design of materials to mimic the function of com￾plex biological materials. 1.4. Energy storage and conversion The development of viable, long-term solutions to meet our energy needs that also maintain the quality of our environment remains one of the most critical challenges facing the scientific community. Solutions to this challenge increasingly depend on electrochemical processes in solids. Photovoltaics, fuel cells, thermoelectrics and bat￾teries are all devices in which energy storage or conversion relies on a coupling of chemical and electrical phenomena within the solid state. Accordingly, advances in energy technology require that fundamental questions of charge and mass transfer through complex solids be answered, and that novel processing techniques be developed to implement strategies for micro-structure and/or crystal structure modi- fication. These themes arise in each of the many energy systems described in this section, specifically, membrane reactors, fuel cells, thermoelectrics, batteries, capaci￾tors, photovoltaics, hydrogen storage media and superconductors. While each type of energy conversion or storage device faces its own unique challenges, each is in critical need of new materials with improved properties. Thus, a broad-based effort in materials discovery, guided by computational chemistry, and complemented with a similar effort in comprehensive architectural control of known materials is essential. The solid state chemist brings to bear on this problem the unique ability to synthesize new compounds which may exhibit inherently unusual properties, not only leading to improvements to conventional devices, for example, better cathodes for lithium ion batteries, but also rendering entirely new and as￾of-yet un-envisioned devices possible. Fundamental advances, however, require the cooperative efforts of experts in fields ranging from solid state chemistry and electro￾chemistry to solid state physics and materials science to ensure that material behav￾iour is understood at the most fundamental level while potential new devices are rapidly developed. The present status of those collaborations and future possibilities were discussed