Chemical Complexity: Self-organization Processes In Molecular Systems (the Frontiers Collection)
by Alexander S. Mikhailov /
2017 / English / PDF
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This book provides an outline of theoretical concepts and their
experimental verification in studies of self-organization
phenomena in chemical systems, as they emerged in the mid-20th
century and have evolved since. Presenting essays on selected
topics, it was prepared by authors who have made profound
contributions to the field.
This book provides an outline of theoretical concepts and their
experimental verification in studies of self-organization
phenomena in chemical systems, as they emerged in the mid-20th
century and have evolved since. Presenting essays on selected
topics, it was prepared by authors who have made profound
contributions to the field.Traditionally, physical chemistry has been concerned with
interactions between atoms and molecules that produce a variety of
equilibrium structures - or the 'dead' order - in a stationary
state. But biological cells exhibit a different 'living' kind of
order, prompting E. Schrödinger to pose his famous question “What
is life?” in 1943. Through an unprecedented theoretical and
experimental development, it was later revealed that biological
self-organization phenomena are in complete agreement with the laws
of physics, once they are applied to a special class of
thermodynamically open systems and non-equilibrium states. This
knowledge has in turn led to the design and synthesis of simple
inorganic systems capable of self-organization effects. These
artificial 'living organisms' are able to operate on macroscopic to
microscopic scales, even down to single-molecule machines.
Traditionally, physical chemistry has been concerned with
interactions between atoms and molecules that produce a variety of
equilibrium structures - or the 'dead' order - in a stationary
state. But biological cells exhibit a different 'living' kind of
order, prompting E. Schrödinger to pose his famous question “What
is life?” in 1943. Through an unprecedented theoretical and
experimental development, it was later revealed that biological
self-organization phenomena are in complete agreement with the laws
of physics, once they are applied to a special class of
thermodynamically open systems and non-equilibrium states. This
knowledge has in turn led to the design and synthesis of simple
inorganic systems capable of self-organization effects. These
artificial 'living organisms' are able to operate on macroscopic to
microscopic scales, even down to single-molecule machines.
In the future, such research could provide a basis for a
technological breakthrough, comparable in its impact with the
invention of lasers and semiconductors. Its results can be used
to control natural chemical processes, and to design artificial
complex chemical processes with various functionalities. The book
offers an extensive discussion of the history of research on
complex chemical systems and its future prospects.
In the future, such research could provide a basis for a
technological breakthrough, comparable in its impact with the
invention of lasers and semiconductors. Its results can be used
to control natural chemical processes, and to design artificial
complex chemical processes with various functionalities. The book
offers an extensive discussion of the history of research on
complex chemical systems and its future prospects.
