Recent years have witnessed the flourishing of numerous novel strategies based on the magnetron sputtering technique aimed at the advanced engineering of thin films, such as HiPIMS, combined vacuum processes, the implementation of complex precursor gases or the inclusion of particle guns in the reactor, among others. At the forefront of these approaches, investigations focused on nanostructured coatings appear today as one of the priorities in many scientific and technological communities: The science behind them appears in most of the cases as a "terra incognita", fascinating both the fundamentalist, who imagines new concepts, and the experimenter, who is able to create and study new films with as of yet unprecedented performances. These scientific and technological challenges, along with the existence of numerous scientific issues that have yet to be clarified in classical magnetron sputtering depositions (e.g., process control and stability, nanostructuration mechanisms, connection between film morphology and properties or upscaling procedures from the laboratory to industrial scales) have motivated us to edit a specialized volume containing the state-of-the art that put together these innovative fundamental and applied research topics. These include, but are not limited to: • Nanostructure-related properties; • Atomistic processes during film growth; • Process control, process stability, and in situ diagnostics; • Fundamentals and applications of HiPIMS; • Thin film nanostructuration phenomena; • Tribological, anticorrosion, and mechanical properties; • Combined procedures based on the magnetron sputtering technique; • Industrial applications; • Devices.

Due to the increasing trend of international interest in education for climate change and the environment, there has been an increase of research in the area. There is a current question on what the best methods and tools are for integrating climate change education and sustainability into school programs. These educational methods can create the development of effective responses, attitudes, and behaviors to adapt to climate change. Empirical and conceptual models must be explored to help those interested in learning and teaching environmental education and climate change and adding it to modern school curriculum. The Handbook of Research on Environmental Education Strategies for Addressing Climate Change and Sustainability produces innovative approaches, methods, and ideas in education for climate change, environment strategies, and sustainability along with the development of curriculum and strategies for sustainable development goals. The chapters encompass multiple disciplines such as geology, geography, remote sensing, geographic information systems, environmental science, and environmental engineering. This book is ideal for in-service and preservice teachers, administrators, teacher educators, practitioners, stakeholders, researchers, academicians, and students interested in educational strategies and curriculum for climate change and sustainability.

Handbook of Advanced Ceramic Coatings: Fundamentals, Manufacturing and Classification introduces ceramic coating materials, methods of fabrication, characterizations, the interaction between fillers, reinforcers, and environmental impact, and the functional classification of ceramic coatings. The book is one of four volumes that together provide a comprehensive resource in the field of Advanced Ceramic Coatings, also including titles covering energy, biomedical and emerging applications. These books will be extremely useful for academic and industrial researchers and practicing engineers who need to find reliable and up-to-date information about recent progresses and new developments in the field of advanced ceramic coatings. Smart ceramic coatings containing multifunctional components are now finding application in transportation and automotive industries, in electronics, and energy sectors, in aerospace and defense, and in industrial goods and healthcare. Their wide application and stability in harsh environments are only possible due to the stability of the inorganic components used. Ceramic coatings are typically silicon nitride, chromia, hafnia, alumina, alumina-magnesia, silica, silicon carbide, titania, and zirconia-based compositions. The increased demand for these materials and their application in energy, transportation, and the automotive industry, are considered, to be the main drivers. - Comprehensively covers the production, characterization and properties of advanced ceramic coatings - Features the latest manufacturing processes - Covers basic principles of surface chemistry, along with the fundamentals of ceramic materials and engineering - Features the latest progress and recent technological developments - Discusses basic science relevant to both the materials and preparation methods

Since the great success of graphene, atomically thin-layered nanomaterials, called two dimensional (2D) materials, have attracted tremendous attention due to their extraordinary physical properties. Specifically, van der Waals heterostructured architectures based on a few 2D materials, named atomic-scale Lego, have been proposed as unprecedented platforms for the implementation of versatile devices with a completely novel function or extremely high-performance, shifting the research paradigm in materials science and engineering. Thus, diverse 2D materials beyond existing bulk materials have been widely studied for promising electronic, optoelectronic, mechanical, and thermoelectric applications. Especially, this Special Issue included the recent advances in the unique preparation methods such as exfoliation-based synthesis and vacuum-based deposition of diverse 2D materials and also their device applications based on interesting physical properties. Specifically, this Editorial consists of the following two parts: Preparation methods of 2D materials and Properties of 2D materials

Epitaxial Growth of Complex Metal Oxides, Second Edition reviews techniques and recent developments in the fabrication quality of complex metal oxides, which are facilitating advances in electronic, magnetic and optical applications. Sections review the key techniques involved in the epitaxial growth of complex metal oxides and explore the effects of strain and stoichiometry on crystal structure and related properties in thin film oxides. Finally, the book concludes by discussing selected examples of important applications of complex metal oxide thin films, including optoelectronics, batteries, spintronics and neuromorphic applications. This new edition has been fully updated, with brand new chapters on topics such as atomic layer deposition, interfaces, STEM-EELs, and the epitaxial growth of multiferroics, ferroelectrics and nanocomposites. - Examines the techniques used in epitaxial thin film growth for complex oxides, including atomic layer deposition, sputtering techniques, molecular beam epitaxy, and chemical solution deposition techniques - Reviews materials design strategies and materials property analysis methods, including the impacts of defects, strain, interfaces and stoichiometry - Describes key applications of epitaxially grown metal oxides, including optoelectronics, batteries, spintronics and neuromorphic applications

Educators are continuously seeking ways to engage their students in active learning processes and are faced with challenges that include engaging students in learning activities, promoting meaningful learning experiences, and providing effective experiences for every student. Studies that investigate instructors’ experiences are limited since more focus is given to students. Future research calls for teachers’ innovative contributions in introducing new strategies and teaching approaches to further involve students, increase student attendance in online sessions, and employ a variety of technological tools. Fostering Meaningful Learning Experiences Through Student Engagement is an essential reference source for the latest scholarly information on curriculum development, instructional design, and pedagogical methods for fostering student engagement learning initiatives. The book examines engagement and meaningful learning techniques in both face-to-face and online instruction. Covering topics that include active learning, language learning, teacher experiences, and teacher-student relationships, this book is ideally designed for teachers, instructional designers, curriculum developers, academicians, researchers, professionals, and students that believe that stronger or improved student engagement should be their instructional objectives and wish to engage students in learning activities that promote meaningful learning experiences.

Graphene is the strongest material ever studied and can be an efficient substitute for silicon. This six-volume handbook focuses on fabrication methods, nanostructure and atomic arrangement, electrical and optical properties, mechanical and chemical properties, size-dependent properties, and applications and industrialization. There is no other major reference work of this scope on the topic of graphene, which is one of the most researched materials of the twenty-first century. The set includes contributions from top researchers in the field and a foreword written by two Nobel laureates in physics.

Interdisciplinary Engineering Sciences introduces and emphasizes the importance of the interdisciplinary nature of education and research from a materials science perspective. This approach is aimed to promote understanding of the physical, chemical, biological and engineering aspects of any materials science problem. Contents are prepared to maintain the strong background of fundamental engineering disciplines while integrating them with the disciplines of natural science. It presents key concepts and includes case studies on biomedical materials and renewable energy. Aimed at senior undergraduate and graduate students in materials science and other streams of engineering, this book Explores interdisciplinary research aspects in a coherent manner for materials science researchers Presents key concepts of engineering sciences as relevant for materials science in terms of fundamentals and applications Discusses engineering mechanics, biological and physical sciences Includes relevant case studies and examples

This book highlights the properties of advanced materials suitable for realizing THz devices, circuits and systems, and processing and fabrication technologies associated with those. It also discusses some measurement techniques exclusively effective for THz regime, newly explored materials and recently developed solid-state devices for efficient generation and detection of THz waves, potentiality of metamaterials for implementing THz passive circuits and bio-sensors, and finally the future of silicon as the base material of THz devices. The book especially focuses on the recent advancements and several research issues related to THz materials and devices; it also discusses theoretical, experimental, established, and validated empirical works on these topics.

The ICAEM2014 aims to bring together researchers, educators and students from around the world in both industry and academia for sharing the state-of-art research results and applications, for exploring new areas of research and development, and for discussing emerging issues on education and management fields. We received a total of 312 submissions from various parts of the world. The Technical Program Committee worked very hard to have all papers reviewed before the review deadline. The final technical program consists of 92 papers. There are one keynote speech and 2 invited sessions. The proceedings were published by DEStech Publications, Inc. and will submitted to Ei Compendex databases for indexing. We would like to mention that, due to the limitation of the conference venue capacity, we are not able to include many fine papers in the technical program. Our apology goes to those authors.