Engineered Polymer Nanocomposites for Energy Harvesting Applications looks at materials engineering, characterization and design aspects of mechanical energy harvesting devices for superior performance. Tapping into electrical energy from various mechanical stimuli, such as stress, elongation, tension and vibration has been getting substantial research attention, however, there are many challenges associated with the development energy harvesters with efficient conversion capabilities. This title consolidates a broad spectrum of material engineering and devices design research into one resource and will be an invaluable reference for those working in this field. - Provides an interdisciplinary book focused on the engineering of high performance polymer-based nanocomposites and design strategies of high performance energy harvesting - Written by leading researchers in the field of materials science, polymer science and nanotechnology from industry, academia, government and private research institutions across the globe - Includes broad coverage of specific analytical techniques that will assist researchers to solve fundamental and applied problems in the development of materials for energy harvesting applications

Polymer-Based Nanocomposites for Energy and Environmental Applications provides a comprehensive and updated review of major innovations in the field of polymer-based nanocomposites for energy and environmental applications. It covers properties and applications, including the synthesis of polymer based nanocomposites from different sources and tactics on the efficacy and major challenges associated with successful scale-up fabrication. The chapters provide cutting-edge, up-to-date research findings on the use of polymer based nanocomposites in energy and environmental applications, while also detailing how to achieve material's characteristics and significant enhancements in physical, chemical, mechanical and thermal properties. It is an essential reference for future research in polymer based nanocomposites as topics such as sustainable, recyclable and eco-friendly methods for highly innovative and applied materials are current topics of importance. - Covers a wide range of research on polymer based nanocomposites - Provides updates on the most relevant polymer based nanocomposites and their prodigious potential in the fields of energy and the environment - Demonstrates systematic approaches and investigations from the design, synthesis, characterization and applications of polymer based nanocomposites - Presents a useful reference and technical guide for university academics and postgraduate students (Masters and Ph.D.)

This book covers smart polymer nanocomposites with perspectives for application in energy harvesting, as self-healing materials, or shape memory materials. The book is application-oriented and describes different types of polymer nanocomposites, such as elastomeric composites, thermoplastic composites, or conductive polymer composites. It outlines their potential for applications, which would meet some of the most important challenges nowadays: for harvesting energy, as materials with the capacity to self-heal, or as materials memorizing a given shape.The book brings together these different applications for the first time in one single platform. Chapters are ordered both by the type of composites and by the target applications. Readers will thus find a good overview, facilitating a comparison of the different smart materials and their applications. The book will appeal to scientists in the fields of chemistry, material science and engineering, but also to technologists and physicists, from graduate student level to researcher and professional.

This book discusses the fundamental, synthesis, properties, physico-chemical characterizations and applications of recently explored nanocomposite materials. It covers the applications of these different nanocomposite materials in the environmental and energy harvesting fields. The chapters explore the different techniques used for preparation and characterization of several types of nanocomposite materials for applications related to environmental and energy pathways. This book presents a panorama of current research in the field of nanocomposite structures for different applications. It also assesses the advantages and disadvantages of using different types of nanocomposite in the design of different material products. The comprehensive chapters explain the interactions between nanocomposite materials and mechanisms related to applications in environmental pollution and energy shortage.

This book provides a comprehensive overview of engineering nanostructures mediated by functional polymers in combination with optimal synthesis and processing techniques. The focus is on polymer-engineered nanostructures for advanced energy applications. It discusses a variety of polymers that function as precursors, templates, nano-reactors, surfactants, stabilizers, modifiers, dopants, and spacers for directing self-assembly, assisting organization, and templating growth of numerous diverse nanostructures. It also presents a wide range of polymer processing techniques that enable the efficient design and optimal fabrication of nanostructured polymers, inorganics, and organic–inorganic nanocomposites using in-situ hybridization and/or ex-situ recombination methodologies. Combining state-of-the-art knowledge from polymer-guided fabrication of advanced nanostructures and their unique properties, it especially highlights the new, cutting-edge breakthroughs, future horizons, and insights into such nanostructured materials in applications such as photovoltaics, fuel cells, thermoelectrics, piezoelectrics, ferroelectrics, batteries, supercapacitors, photocatalysis, and hydrogen generation and storage. It offers an instructive and approachable guide to polymer-engineered nanostructures for further development of advanced energy materials to meet ever-increasing global energy demands. Interdisciplinary and broad perspectives from internationally respected contributors ensure this book serves as a valuable reference source for scientists, students, and engineers working in polymer science, renewable energy materials, materials engineering, chemistry, physics, surface/interface science, and nanotechnology. It is also suitable as a textbook for universities, institutes, and industrial institutions.

Advanced Thermoelectric Materials for Energy Harvesting Applications is a research-intensive textbook covering the fundamentals of thermoelectricity and the process of converting heat energy into electrical energy. It covers the design, implementation, and performance of existing and advanced thermoelectric materials. Chapters examine such topics as organic/inorganic thermoelectric materials, performance and behaviors of thermoelectric devices, and energy harvesting applications of thermoelectric devices.

This book focuses on the numerous energy harvesting techniques and their system implementation towards the fulfilment of energy requirements in compact electronic devices. These cover a wide range of applications in portable devices, bio-medical services, agriculture needs, mechanical systems, sensor networks, automobiles, food sector, home appliances, industry needs, etc. The authors detail energy harvesting methods using the latest technologies in acoustics, bio-chemical, thermal, artificial light, fluid flow, vibrations, EM energy, RF energy, piezoelectric, electrostatic, photovoltaic, thermoelectric, hybrid harvesting, ultrasonic, infrared, light, wind, and solar. The book is intended for researchers, academics, professionals, and students in energy harvesting.

Advanced Fluoropolymer Nanocomposites: Fabrication, Processing, Characterization and Applications presents a comprehensive review on the fundamental chemistry, physics, biology and engineering of advanced fluoropolymer nanocomposites. Detailed attention is given to the synthesis, processing characterization, properties and applications of fluoropolymer nanocomposites. Morphological, thermal, electrical, mechanical, tribological and viscoelastic properties are also discussed in detail, along with the influence of synthesis methods on the formation of fluoropolymer nanocomposites, including the effect of nanofiller size and shape and the dispersion state of various nanofillers in different fluoropolymer matrices. This book will be a useful reference resource for scientists, engineers and postgraduate students working in the field of polymer science and technology, materials science and engineering, composites and nanocomposites. This resource will help them find solutions to both fundamental and applied problems associated with their research. It will also assist researchers in becoming more acquainted with the field to address key questions within a short time. - Covers the range of fluoropolymer nanocomposites and their fabrication, processing, structural, physical, thermal, electrical and mechanical properties - Discusses high-performance applications in the electronics, energy, architecture, environmental, biomedical and textile industries - Presents the latest information on disposal and recycling, safety considerations, and the environmental and health impact of fluoropolymer nanocomposites

The transformation of vibrations into electric energy through the use of piezoelectric devices is an exciting and rapidly developing area of research with a widening range of applications constantly materialising. With Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting, world-leading researchers provide a timely and comprehensive coverage of the electromechanical modelling and applications of piezoelectric energy harvesters. They present principal modelling approaches, synthesizing fundamental material related to mechanical, aerospace, civil, electrical and materials engineering disciplines for vibration-based energy harvesting using piezoelectric transduction. Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting provides the first comprehensive treatment of distributed-parameter electromechanical modelling for piezoelectric energy harvesting with extensive case studies including experimental validations, and is the first book to address modelling of various forms of excitation in piezoelectric energy harvesting, ranging from airflow excitation to moving loads, thus ensuring its relevance to engineers in fields as disparate as aerospace engineering and civil engineering. Coverage includes: Analytical and approximate analytical distributed-parameter electromechanical models with illustrative theoretical case studies as well as extensive experimental validations Several problems of piezoelectric energy harvesting ranging from simple harmonic excitation to random vibrations Details of introducing and modelling piezoelectric coupling for various problems Modelling and exploiting nonlinear dynamics for performance enhancement, supported with experimental verifications Applications ranging from moving load excitation of slender bridges to airflow excitation of aeroelastic sections A review of standard nonlinear energy harvesting circuits with modelling aspects.

The field of polymer nanocomposites has become essential for engineering and military industries over the last few decades as it applies to computing, sensors, biomedical microelectronics, hard coating, and many other domains. Due to their outstanding mechanical and thermal features, polymer nanocomposite materials have recently been developed and now have a wide range of applications. Polymer Nanocomposites for Advanced Engineering and Military Applications provides emerging research on recent advances in the fabrication methods, properties, and applications of various nano-fillers including surface-modification methods and chemical functionalization. Featuring coverage on a broad range of topics such as barrier properties, biomedical microelectronics, and matrix processing, this book is ideally designed for engineers, industrialists, chemists, government officials, military professionals, practitioners, academicians, researchers, and students.