Discovered in the 1930s, Mott insulators are a class of materials that, whilst predicted to conduct electricity under conventional band theories, behave as insulators. They remained a subject of limited academic interest until recently, despite being a significant part of the citation for the 1977 Nobel prize, which was jointly awarded to Sir Nevill Mott, Philip W Anderson and John Hasbrouck van Vleck.
Following the discovery of high temperature superconductivity in several oxide materials in late 1980s, and the subsequent discovery of colossal magnetoresistance in another class of oxide compounds, there was renewed theoretical and experimental interest in the field of highly correlated electron systems, including Mott insulators. Mott insulators are now also being explored for applications in devices for information processing and storage. Possibilities of further applications in optical and thermal switches, thermo-chromic devices, gas sensors and even solar cell applications continue to drive interest in the subject.
Recent developments in the area of physics and materials science of Mott insulators have generated a considerable amount of information and the time has come to make this accessible to a wider community. Aimed at advanced undergraduate and graduate students of physics, chemistry, materials science, and electrical and electronics engineering, this book introduces the subject and reviews present knowledge in the field, enabling students and researchers to get acquainted with this interesting and emerging area of science and technology. The book will also be useful for professional researchers in academic institutions and industries already engaged in the programmes of correlated electron materials and devices.
