Preface
Authors: Wu Yuping , Xie Jimin 
Published: March 2014

Abstract
&lt;div&gt;Innovation is the impetus for the sustainable development of humanity and for better enjoyment of life, and thus the International Symposium on Novel Materials and their Synthesis (NMS) was initiated in 2005 [1]. This is the 4th serial symposium (NMS-IV) together with the 18th International Symposium on Fine Chemistry and Functional Polymers (FCFP-XVIII), which was organized by Jiangsu University in Zhenjiang 15-18 October 2008. The symposium is important especially given that it was held under the shadow of a serious subprime lending crisis and the emergence of a global economic crisis. The National Natural Science Foundation of China, Jiangsu Province Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Society, Zhenjiang City, and Yancheng Institute of Technology provided valuable financial support. The symposium was carried out under the auspices of IUPAC.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The main objectives of the symposium were to present state-of-the-art preparation of novel materials and to discuss their performance and application potentials. The wide scope of the symposium provided a valuable multidisciplinary academic exchange of new ideas and the latest findings for the scientific community. At the same time, the forum gave young scientists the opportunity to meet with international authorities in their specialties. The symposium also allowed participants to learn more about Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, and China.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The symposium was attended by 209 participants from 23 countries and areas. The scientific program comprised 88 lectures and 95 posters. Detailed, active, and lively discussions were covered by the following five themes:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;- innovative catalytic and other synthetic methods, including chiral and asymmetrical synthesis&lt;br /&gt;- innovative polymer materials, including supramolecular (supermolecular, dynamers), conducting, semiconducting, optoelecronic and biobased polymers, their properties and characteristics&lt;br /&gt;- innovative energy materials, including fuel cells, solar cells, lithium batteries, Ni-MH batteries, and supercapacitors&lt;br /&gt;- innovative nanomaterials and their preparation, characteristics, and applications&lt;br /&gt;- other novel materials, including drugs, perfumes, agricultural chemicals, electrical materials, photosensitive materials, displaying materials, and fine ceramics, and their preparation&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The program served to emphasize that novel materials and their preparation are dynamic research areas that are attracting growing interest from researchers, engineers, industries, and policy-makers. Furthermore, novel materials continue to find applications that serve the needs and interests of producers and consumers. A selection of 13 papers based on invited presentations to NMS-4/FCFP-18 is published in this issue to demonstrate the quality and scope of the themes of this symposium.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;During the symposium, the role and contributions of this academic platform to novel materials and their synthesis are well realized by the participants and sponsors. The regular on-going schedule of this symposium in October is strongly recommended by the advisory board and adopted by the organization committee.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;i&gt;Yuping Wu and Jimin Xie&lt;/i&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Conference Editors&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;1. Y. P. Wu. &lt;i&gt;Pure Appl. Chem.&lt;i&gt; &lt;b&gt;78&lt;/b&gt; (10), iii-iv (2006).&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;