Preface.Contributors. I. Materials, Transmission, Treatment And Storage Of Information.1 . Multiferroic and Magnetoelectric materials for Spintronics; W. Kleemann and P. Borisov.- Large Area Nb Nanolayers with Advanced Superconducting Properties as a Base for Superconducting Spintronics;13 V. I. Zdravkov et al.-Amorphous Chalcogenide Materials with Smart Memory; M.Popescu.-. Magnetic Refrigeration: Application to the Electron doped Manganites;E. Dhahri et al.- Towards Electrochromic Devices active in the IR Region; A. Rougier et al.- Nitride Semiconductors Investigated At Nanoscale; M. Benaissa.- Prospective Terahertz Applications Of Carbon Nanotubes; M. Portnoi et al.- II Energy Related Materials. SMART Materials And Concepts For Photovoltaics: Dye Sensitized Solar Cells; A. Di Carlo et al.- Magnetotransport Properties Of Copper Ternaries: New Solar Cells Materials; L. Essalehand S. M. Wasim.- Structural And Electrical Properties Of Nano-Crystalline Licoo2 Cathode Material Synthesized By A Simplified Combustion Method ;M. Yahia et al.- Ionic Transport Behavior in Na2SO4-Li20-Mo03-P205 Glassy System; L. Bih et al.-III Piezo- And Electro- Active Materials. Electrical Conduction And Dielectric Properties In Piezoelectric Fibre Composites; H. Hammami et al.- New Method For Preparation Of Polycrystalline Langasite For Gaz Sensors: Structural Studies;K. Ouzaouit et al.- Dielectric Anomalies And Relaxation Behavior In Hydrothermally Processed PLZT Ferroelectric Ceramics; T. Lamcharfi et al.-180° Ferroelectric Domains In Thin Films And Superlattices; A.Sené et al.-IV Other Functional Materials.Clays And Clay Minerals In Western High Atlas: Characterization, Geological Significance And Industrial Uses; L. Daoudi et al.-TEM Analysis Of Advanced Devices For Electronics Or Spintronics: From Structure To Properties; M-J Casanove et al.- Microstructural And Mechanical Properties Of Copper Processed By EqualChannel Angular Extrusion; R. Daly et al.- Index. Index of materials.

Rapid evolution of trade, cultural and human relations provides the qualitative and quantitative enhancement of international collaborations, linking the countries with different economical and technological level. Delocalization of High-Tech industry inevitably leads to development of the material science and engineering researches in emergent countries, requiring transfer of know-how, restructuration of basic research and educational networks. This book presents the contributions of participants of the Advanced Research Workshop "Smart Materials for Energy, Communications and Security" (ARW SMECS; www.smecs.ferroix.net), organized in December 2007 in Marrakech in frame of the "NATO - Science for Peace" program. The objective of this event was the attempt to overview several hot topics of material physics related with problems of modern society: transformation and storage of energy, treatment and transmission of information, environmental security issues etc., with the focus of their implementation in Mediterranean Dialogue (MD) countries: Algeria, Egypt, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia. The workshop is an important stage in developing of the research network "Mediterranean Electronic Materials" - MEM (www.reseau-MEM.org), that has an objective to encourage the inter-Maghreb and Europe-Maghreb collaborative studies in the area of electroactive materials. Participants of the Advanced Research Workshop "Smart Materials for Energy, Communications and Security" , Marrakech, Morocco, December 2007 v vi PREFACE