The discipline of science emerged by fusion of metallurgy, ceramics, solid-state physics and chemistry is the field which deals with identification, study and design of materials. To understand ancient phenomenon in mineralogy and metals , researchers combined the knowledge of physics, chemistry and engineering which led to development of new field in science namely Material Engineering or Material science. The bonding nature, shape, form, magnetic, chemical, optical, electrical, thermal, physical and several other properties of a material is discovered and studied in this field. The discipline is important both from a research perspective, as well as from an industrial one. When finding new materials, one encounters new discoveries which is yet to be discovered hence study and usage of the appropriate materials is crucial when designing systems.

Carbon has long progressed from an element to diamond, graphite, carbon nanotubes and graphene. Carbon Nanotubes are carbon allotropes with cylindrical nanostructure and unusual properties finding applications in electronics, nanotechnology and optics. Graphene is another carbon allotrope with a hexagonal lattice structure having many types like Bi-layer graphene, Penta-graphene etc. majorly used as graphene biosensors. Composites (Composite Materials) are materials formed by the combination of 2 or more materials to have better characteristics compared to individual components. Composite materials fabrication varies for different composites like Nano composites, Textile composites etc.

Manufacturing materials with desired structure and properties involves the use of several different processing steps. As a material researcher, the structure, property and processing of a material (Materials Paradigm) must be known. The material cannot be manufactured in industry and marketed if no economical and qualitative production method for it has been developed. Thus, the processing of materials is vital to the field of materials science. The materials paradigm helps in forensic engineering, failure analysis, and investigation of aviation accidents. Recently several smart materials have emerged through new production methods or modified synthesis steps.

The search for materials with better optical, magnetic and electronic properties still continues by energy, semiconductor and electronics industries. Spintronics or spin electronics varies from traditional electronics due to the exploitation of the electron spins which happens to attain better material with data storage efficiency and transfer. Quantum Dots are emerging smart materials widely employed in the research of spintronics and quantum computing which has led to concept of dilute magnetic semiconducting quantum dots (DMSQDs).Graphene produced by chemical vapour deposition has also been employed by spintronics for its electron spin behaviour. The synthesis, significance and application of smart materials for fabrication of spintronics devices are discussed under this track.

Surface Science and engineering is the field of science which deals with the study of the material surfaces and interfaces seeking to control and optimize the properties of a materials surface like corrosion, wear resistance, biocompatibility etc. Material physics, Materials chemistry and corrosion engineering comes into picture. Many technologies and fields like Si device technology, MEMS, biomaterials, nanomaterials, aerospace and automotive engineering employ surface engineering principles for better coatings on materials.

Optics, Magnetic and Electronic materials research combines the principles from several fields of science like solid state physics, chemistry, materials science, electronic and chemical engineering. Magnetic materials will be researched and employed in data storage, super magnetism and spintronics field where as electronic materials will find applications in electronic, semiconductor and energy industries as dielectrics, nanomaterials / photonic materials and piezoelectric. Various materials like glasses, ceramics, dielectrics, semiconductors, Nano composites and polymer fibers have their optical properties modified to meet demands from energy sustainability, national security and commercial sector.

Nanotechnology is rapidly developing and merging with the materials science field. Smart Materials or Nanomaterials synthesis in Nanotechnology level can have different properties finding their applications in healthcare, construction and materials industry. Nanomaterials could be nanoparticles, nanopowders, nanodevices, nanofibers, nanosensors, nano crystals, Nano robotics, nanofilms, nanozymes, nanoelectronics, nanostructured multiphase alloys, nano sensors, nano computers and nano machines, nano devices, nanosystems and nanocomposites.

Peizoelectric materials are smart materials which accumulate electric charge across the material surface upon mechanical stress and this charge can change the shape of the material. Some of these materials are quartz, ceramic, quantum dots etc. These electronic materials are used as sensors and actuators  in automotive industries.

Rapid prototyping, 3dimensional (3D) printing or Additive manufacturing (AM) of smart materials like smart nanocomposites, shape memory alloys, ceramics, shape memory polymers, actuators  for soft robotics, self-evolving structures, anti-counterfeiting system has been going on and 4D printing has also come into picture to include the structural reconfiguration of materials over time.

Biomaterials are medical materials ranging from contact lenses to implants and prosthetics intended to be used in healthcare and mostly tissue engineering as materials which can be introduced to the body as part of a medical device or organ replacement for bodily function. Tissue engineering combines cells with synthetic materials to generate artificial tissues. It focusses on materials for bone, cartilage and connective tissue repair. Currently nano-structured scaffolds, polymers, bio composites, bioactive fibres, bioactive soluble glass particles, nanoparticles and other smart materials are employed with medical or other technological applications

The search for ideal restorative material for dentistry gave hope for applications of smart materials in dental science. Smart Materials are materials whose properties can be altered in controlled fashion to support the tooth structure. Smart Biomimetic materials can mimic enamel or dentin. The use of smart  materials like smart composites, smart ceramics, resin modified glass ionomer, amorphous calcium phosphate releasing pit and fissure sealants, orthodontic shape memory alloys, smart impression material, smart suture, smart burs, etc. have revolutionized dentistry and maximized the advantage of conventional restorative techniques. Smart Materials have also found their applications in healthcare sectors as implants, biosensors etc.

Polymer science and engineering is the field of science which studies the synthesis and applications of polymeric materials (polymers). Crystallization and Polymerization of polymers, Polymer Nanotechnology, Materials Science and Electronics study and apply polymers in several applications such as lithium-ion polymer battery (LiPo), electro active polymers, polymer brush, self- assembled polymeric films, Silicon Nano spheres, collagen, enzymes, elastin, cellulose, chitin, plastics, fibres and adhesives. Smart Materials like thermoelectric materials, self-healing and shape memory polymers have also come under research in this field.

The earlier brittle materials which were hard and strong in compression and weak in tension and shearing were ceramics. To improvise their properties, smart materials were incorporated into them which led to development of smart ceramics which are ceramic materials fabricated from ultrafine particles using sol gel route. Smart Ceramics find applications in bone surgery, tissue engineering, dental applications, bio imaging, sensors, paints and pigments, optics, and electronics, drug and antigen delivery.

Smart Materials are also employed on textile industries. Smart Textiles or Textile materials are mainly designed to meet the requirements of the society like generation of power in fabrics, Moisture, temperature, Sweat and Smell control in clothing etc. Some of the modern materials in textiles are Kevlar, Polartec, Nomex, Neoprene, Polar fleece, Gore-Tex. Micro fibre, Micro encapsulation, thermochromatic, light sensitive and heat sensitive materials and methods are also employed.

Smart Materials like piezoceramic materials, laminated composites etc. are used in aerospace industries to control the vibration in an aircraft component, de-ice the aircraft surfaces and for active control of broadband excitations. The smart advanced materials are designed for several functions in aerospace and defense. The functional materials are structurally designed to tailor thermal and electromagnetic characteristics and optimize the strength, weight, thermal, electromagnetic and stealth properties of a drone aircraft for aerodynamic and aero acoustic performance improvement.

From the metallic alloys employed in domestic uses as utensils to the iron alloys employed in industries and construction, From a  brittle glass to a scratch resistant corning gorilla glass, From furfural to composites, From new semiconductor materials to smart wearable technology it has become smarter lifestyle. Clothing with in build technology devices like music players are wearable technologies which are defined as Electronic or E-textiles. Smart Materials are utilized in this technology to make comfortable clothing.

Smart Materials are also researched in construction and architecture sectors. Color changes, physical states, temperature or shape of the smart materials make them attractive towards architects for instance thermochromic urban seats that reflect people’s presence, wallpaper with organic patterns that glow in darkness, electrochromic glass and so on. An application of smart materials in architecture is progressing to meet the beautiful and a quality standard of a lifestyle which is closely followed with wearable technology.

Smart Materials give huge hope to automotive industries for their ability to incorporate intrinsic sensing and actuating capabilities into structural elements of vehicles. They have the ability to change shape, position, stiffness, fluid flow rate, damping in response to change in temperature, electric and magnetic field hence smart materials like piezoelectric ceramics, shape memory alloys, magnetostrictive materials, optical fibers, electrorheological fluids, magnetorheological fluids, conducting polymers and so on, find automotive applications as sensors, actuators and so on. Smart Materials are also researched in civil and structural engineering field to employ them in construction industries. Some such materials are carbon fibers, smart concrete, antimicrobial coatings, shape shifting metal and self-healing coatings to deliver functions like self-dimming and self-cleaning of glass, self-healing of construction materials etc.

Depletion of natural resources and worldwide increase in population has created a global demand for energy. Materials are hope for renewable energy sources, super capacitors, energy storage in batteries, thermoelectric devices, energy conversion through solar cells and fuel cells.  For the growing need of production and energy storage, systems including diverse materials, operations and properties have been employed, for example batteries such as Lithium batteries are used in various types of mobile devices, including communication equipment, computers, entertainment devices, power tools, toys, games, lighting and medical devices. Semiconductor devices have replaced vacuum tubes and from these semiconductor materials diodes, transistors, light emitting diodes (LEDs) have emerged for energy efficiency. Materials with emerging energy technologies are the supportable energy foundations to withstand the geophysical alteration. Solar energy is the superior and the development of photovoltaic cells is needed for the existing development. The piezoelectric, ferroelectric materials and thin films are the valuable materials for the conversion of energy. Smart materials employed in smart tools for wide range of energy applications, energy efficiency and sustainability have huge possibilities in the coming future.

Smart Materials and Structures market is expected to cross more than $40billion in the upcoming years and the market is segmented by products, end user industry applications and geography. The R& D investment in industries, the support of government, the research in several universities and the adoption of smart material products in several sectors like Defense & Aerospace, Automotive, Healthcare and Consumer electronics has driven the market of smart materials. Future for these emerging materials holds several promises in several fields of applications like energy, architecture, textile, ceramics, Automotive, Aerospace, Appliance, Medical and Electronics industries.