Genetic Algorithms, a Nature-Inspired Tool: A Survey of Applications in Materials Science and Related Fields: Part II

Genetic algorithms (GAs) are a helpful tool in optimization, simulation, modelling, design, and prediction purposes in various domains of science including materials science, medicine, technology, economy, industry, environment protection, etc. Reported uses of GAs led to solving of numerous complex computational tasks. In materials science and related fields of science and technology, GAs are routinely used for materials modeling and design, for optimization of material properties, the method is also useful in organizing the material or device production at the industrial scale. Here, the most recent (years 2008–2012) applications of GAs in materials science and in related fields (solid state physics and chemistry, crystallography, production, and engineering) are reviewed. The representative examples selected from recent literature show how broad is the usefulness of this computational method.