FEATURES BOOKS

generation from solar thermal is discussed Solar Energy: An Introduction in terms of the thermodynamic cycle to Michael E. Mackay explain the heat to work transformation, Oxford University Press, 2015 the so-called Rankine cycle. 336 pages, $98.50 The book is clear and, despite its small (paperback $49.95, e-book $48.99) size, very dense in information. It stimu- ISBN 978-0-19-965210-5 lates learning by tackling the subject from many points of view. The À ow of the book is the result of the author’s lectures on solar energy to undergraduate and gradu- his book provides an introduction laws of thermodynamics and explanations ate students, and for this reason the text Tto all aspects of solar energy, from of the properties of the optimal materials used in paragraphs, exercises, examples, photovoltaic devices to active and pas- for PV and for solar thermal applications. etc. seems a verbal discussion—the lan- sive solar thermal energy conversion. Its Chapter 4 discusses semiconductor phys- guage is À uid but rigorous, reasoned, main characteristic is that it helps to gain ics that is fundamental to a deep under- and with many numerical examples. an overview on these topics and at the standing of device functionality. The ¿ fth The author’s approach is that it is not same time provides some detailed knowl- chapter covers absorption and explains as important to learn the notions as it is edge with emphasis on the quantitative how much radiation can be absorbed by to learn a method of study that enables approach. a semiconductor to generate current (in a you to deal with new dif¿ cult topics and The book deals with both photovolta- solar cell) or heat energy (in solar ther- problems. The ¿ gures and schematics are ics (PV) and solar thermal energy pro- mal devices), depending on the material very useful, but the focus is placed on the cesses. The ¿ rst chapter explains why electronic structure. The next chapter text. A list of exercises is offered at the it is important to use solar energy, the describes how a solar cell works and what end of each chapter, and many examples current energy usage on Earth, and the the electrical characteristics look like; the are reported in each paragraph. The book practical advantages of using PV tech- diode equation is derived, the important can be useful to researchers who want to nologies. Chapter 2 describes the reac- parasitic effects—such as shunt and series design or improve their devices, and to tions taking place in the core of the sun resistance—are determined, and their students, but de¿ nitely much more to pro- and producing solar light, and calculates effect on cell performance is illustrated. fessors who want to be inspired to prepare through earth-sun geometric relations the Next, the author discusses solar towers stimulating review lessons. amount of solar light reaching the earth's where heated air is channeled into a chim- atmosphere and what part of the irradia- ney to power a turbine (chapter 7), a topic Reviewer: Rosaria A. Puglisi of the tion arrives on a terrestrial device. The not easily found in other books, and on Institute for Microelectronics and third chapter provides the basic principles the solar energy collector to heat À uids Microsystems of the National Research used in the rest of the book, such as the (chapter 8). In the last chapter, the energy Council in Catania, Italy.

Moore’s Law: The Life of Gordon Moore, charity, and breathtaking humility, is the Silicon Valley’s Quiet Revolutionary subject of this comprehensive authorized Arnold Thackray, David C. Brock, biography. The enthralling narrative is and Rachel Jones the product of collaboration between an academic (Thackray), a technology histo- Basic Books, 2015 rian (Brock), and a journalist (Jones), and 530 pages, $35.00 draws its material from numerous inter- ISBN 978-0-465-05564-7 views, Moore’s meticulously maintained notes and professional records, personal papers, industry data, published volumes, ive decades ago, Gordon Moore, circuit came to be known eponymously and news accounts. Fwho would go on to co-found Intel as Moore’s Law and has held true for 50 The book has 11 chapters sandwiched Corporation, made a prescient observa- years. He also foresaw, way back in 1965, between a prelude that offers a peek at tion about the exponential advancement the development of home computers, elec- Moore’s brilliance and a coda. The nar- of semiconductor technology with a cor- tronic controls in automobiles, portable rative begins with the westward migra- responding decrease in device cost. His communications systems, and electronic tion of Moore’s great grandfather from prediction about the pace of doubling wristwatches. Moore’s fascinating life, Missouri to California in the mid-19th the number of transistors in an integrated characterized by relentless innovation, century just before the Gold Rush, the

412 MRS BULLETIN • VOLUME 41 • MAY 2016 • www.mrs.org/bulletin FEATURES BOOKS

pioneer life of Moore’s ancestors, and Windows and Intel (Wintel) monopoly the 1960s and 1970s, the oil embargo, the birth of Gordon Moore at the start of (chapters 8–10). The book ends with a and the rise of Apple and Microsoft, take the Great Depression (chapter 1). The text discussion of Moore’s gradual transition place in the background as the saga of breezes through Moore’s boyhood and to retirement and his emergence as one of Gordon Moore unfolds. early interest in chemicals and explosives the greatest philanthropists in American The authors begin the discussion of (chapter 2), the very practical courtship history (chapter 11), and an assessment Moore’s legacy by pointing to his suc- of Gordon Moore and Betty Whitaker, of his legacy (coda). cess as a family man. Much of the credit and the young couple’s life while Moore The authors do a masterful job of treat- for his stable and committed family life pursued chemistry at the University of ing the chemistry, materials science, and should go to Betty Moore, who has toiled California–Berkeley and the California engineering of device fabrication at just the in the shadows over six decades, shielded Institute of Technology (chapter 3). Later right level of detail to make the story cap- the conÀ ict-averse Moore from domestic chapters cover Moore’s recruitment by tivating. They elegantly explain the com- confrontations, and exerted considerable William Shockley and the subsequent plex processes involved in crystal growth, inÀ uence on his philanthropy. The por- departure of Moore, Robert Noyce, and wafering, dopant diffusion, etching, met- trait of Gordon and Betty Moore’s humil- six others—the Traitorous Eight—to allization, packaging, and testing using ity, frugality, and decency painted by the form Fairchild Semiconductor (chapter language that makes semiconductor tech- authors is just as absorbing as the discus- 4); the development of the planar tran- nology accessible to the general public. It sion of Moore’s technological wizardry. sistor at Fairchild (chapter 5); the publi- is clear that Moore’s inspiration and guid- Moore comes through as an unassuming cation of Moore’s prediction for silicon ance were vital to the perfection of silicon genius, like Paul Allen and Steve Wozniak, transistors (chapter 6); the departure of planar transistor technology, development who partnered with a À amboyant leader Moore and Noyce from Fairchild to co- of the silicon-gate metal oxide semicon- to co-found a major American technology found Intel (chapter 7); revolutionary ductor memory chip (Intel 1101), and the company and inÀ uence the lives of people engineering at Intel that led to widespread dawn of the modern computing era starting all across the globe. adoption of microprocessors, the commit- with the iconic Intel 4004 microproces- ment to innovation that increased com- sor in 1971. Technology, history, econom- Reviewer: Ram Devanathan is Technical plexity while driving down cost, brutal ics, and human conÀ icts come together Group Manager of Reactor Materials and competition from Japanese manufactur- seamlessly. Historical events, such as the Mechanical Design, Paci¿ c Northwest ers, and the emergence of the Microsoft launch of Sputnik, the campus unrest of National Laboratory, USA.

of metal nanoparticles are discussed in the third chapter. Properties and applica- Nanoparticles tions of gold and silver nanoparticles in Raz Jelinek different ¿ elds such as molecular sen- De Gruyter, 2015 sors, electrochemical sensors, catalytic 283 pages, $98.00 (e-book $98.00) applications, and biomedical applications ISBN 978-3-11-033002-1 are discussed extensively. Scanning elec- tron microscopy (SEM) images showing the evolution of silver/gold nanomate- rials into different morphologies are hishi bbook k iis an excellent ll starting point technology with the help of band dia- attractive. Synthesis and the physical Tfor undergraduate students who are grams. The second chapter talks about properties of metal alloy nanomateri- interested in nanoparticle science and the evolution of nanoparticle technology als are discussed in the second part of technologies. It covers the fundamentals in semiconducting materials and its appli- the third chapter. The fourth chapter and applications of nanoparticles and not cation in solar energy, biological imag- talks about metal oxide nanoparticles nanoscale materials in a broader perspec- ing, etc. Pictorial representations of band such as Fe3O4, silicon oxide, titanium tive. The remarkable progress of nanopar- models help the reader to visualize dif- oxide, zinc oxide, and rare-earth oxide ticle technology in physics, chemistry, ferent types of materials such as metals, nanoparticles. Synthesis of magnetic materials science, and medicine, and its semiconductors, and insulators. Synthesis oxide nanoparticles and their applica- ability to expand their boundaries are dis- and applications of quantum dots in solar tion in antitumor therapy is beautifully cussed. This book will encourage further panels, photonic applications, and bio- explained with appropriate SEM mor- exploration of this exciting ¿ eld. logical applications are discussed with phology images and cartoons. Rare-earth

The ¿ rst chapter gives a short intro- beautiful images and experimental set- oxides such as CeO and Gd2O3 prepa- duction about the history of nanoparticle ups. Physical properties and applications ration and applications are discussed in

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