This first of its kind text enables today’s students to understand current and future energy challenges, to acquire skills for selecting and using materials and manufacturing processes in the design of energy systems, and to develop a cross-functional approach to materials, mechanics, electronics and processes of energy production. While taking economic and regulatory aspects into account, this textbook provides a comprehensive introduction to the range of materials used for advanced energy systems, including fossil, nuclear, solar, bio, wind, geothermal, ocean and hydropower, hydrogen, and nuclear, as well as thermal energy storage and electrochemical storage in fuel cells. A separate chapter is devoted to emerging energy harvesting systems. Integrated coverage includes the application of scientific and engineering principles to materials that enable different types of energy systems. Properties, performance, modeling, fabrication, characterization and application of structural, functional and hybrid materials are described for each energy system. Readers will appreciate the complex relationships among materials selection, optimizing design, and component operating conditions in each energy system. Research and development trends of novel emerging materials for future hybrid energy systems are also considered. Each chapter is basically a self-contained unit, easily enabling instructors to adapt the book for coursework. This textbook is suitable for students in science and engineering who seek to obtain a comprehensive understanding of different energy processes, and how materials enable energy harvesting, conversion, and storage. In setting forth the latest advances and new frontiers of research, the text also serves as a comprehensive reference on energy materials for experienced materials scientists, engineers, and physicists. Includes pedagogical features such as in-depth side bars, worked-out and end-of- chapter exercises, and many references to further reading Provides comprehensive coverage of materials-based solutions for major and emerging energy systems Brings together diverse subject matter by integrating theory with engaging insights

Innovation through specific and rational design and functionalization has led to the development of a wide range of mesoporous materials with varying morphologies (hexagonal, cubic, rod-like), structures (silicates, carbons, metal oxides), and unique functionalities (doping, acid functionalization) that currently makes this field one of the most exciting in materials science and energy applications. This book focuses primarily on the rapid progress in their application in energy conversion and storage technologies, including supercapacitor, Li-ion battery, fuel cells, solar cells, and photocatalysis (water splitting) and will serve as a valuable reference for researchers in the field

Making innovative products for energy generation that decrease carbon footprints are the need of the hour. This book describes innovations in porous materials for energy generation and storage applications that can have applications in developed as well as developing countries. It provides a comprehensive account of porous materials for potential new applications, such as catalysts for gas storage and energy efficient transformations, which engineers and scientists working in the areas of solar cells, batteries, supercapacitors, fuel cells, etc. will find to be of immense interest.

The search for cleaner, cheaper, smaller and more efficient energy technologies has to a large extent been motivated by the development of new materials. The aim of this collection of articles is therefore to focus on what materials-based solutions can offer and show how the rationale design and improvement of their physical and chemical properties can lead to energy-production alternatives that have the potential to compete with existing technologies. In terms of alternative means to generate electricity that utilize renewable energy sources, the most dramatic breakthroughs for both mobile (i.e., transportation) and stationary applications are taking place in the fields of solar and fuel cells. And from an energy-storage perspective, exciting developments can be seen emerging from the fields of rechargeable batteries and hydrogen storage.

Sustainable Material Solutions for Solar Energy Technologies: Processing Techniques and Applications provides an overview of challenges that must be addressed to efficiently utilize solar energy. The book explores novel materials and device architectures that have been developed to optimize energy conversion efficiencies and minimize environmental impacts. Advances in technologies for harnessing solar energy are extensively discussed, with topics including materials processing, device fabrication, sustainability of materials and manufacturing, and current state-of-the-art. Leading international experts discuss the applications, challenges, and future prospects of research in this increasingly vital field, providing a valuable resource for students and researchers working in this field. - Explores the fundamentals of sustainable materials for solar energy applications, with in-depth discussions of the most promising material solutions for solar energy technologies: photocatalysis, photovoltaic, hydrogen production, harvesting and storage - Discusses the environmental challenges to be overcome and importance of efficient materials utilization for clean energy - Looks at design materials processing and optimization of device fabrication via metrics such as power-to-weight ratio, effectiveness at EOL compared to BOL, and life-cycle analysis

This book highlights progress towards the capture, storage, and utilization of energy through the development of advanced materials and systems based on abundant elements, materials, and commodities. Energy is critical to human sustainability and a global-scale deployment of renewable energy systems will be required. Hence, the chapters integrate the fundamental aspects that enable the technical advancements in detail, along with an emphasis on the need for highly sustainable materials to enable real impact for humankind: To determine innovation of energy capture and storage through characterizations of materials in areas of electrical generation and electrical storage systems; To demonstrate better performance, economic and environmental advantages than the current state of the art; To define new chemistries and materials for innovations in energy density design through lower operational temperatures, improve safety, expanding operational voltage, battery durability lifetimes, and reduce system costs. Advances critical technical and commercial objectives for novel high energy density materials; Evaluates operational material models for optimizing energy capture that are integrated by configurations as a system; Illustrates utilization of material life cycle assessment for high energy outputs generators for sustainable materials.

Electrochemical Energy: Advanced Materials and Technologies covers the development of advanced materials and technologies for electrochemical energy conversion and storage. The book was created by participants of the International Conference on Electrochemical Materials and Technologies for Clean Sustainable Energy (ICES-2013) held in Guangzhou, China, and incorporates select papers presented at the conference. More than 300 attendees from across the globe participated in ICES-2013 and gave presentations in six major themes: Fuel cells and hydrogen energy Lithium batteries and advanced secondary batteries Green energy for a clean environment Photo-Electrocatalysis Supercapacitors Electrochemical clean energy applications and markets Comprised of eight sections, this book includes 25 chapters featuring highlights from the conference and covering every facet of synthesis, characterization, and performance evaluation of the advanced materials for electrochemical energy. It thoroughly describes electrochemical energy conversion and storage technologies such as batteries, fuel cells, supercapacitors, hydrogen generation, and their associated materials. The book contains a number of topics that include electrochemical processes, materials, components, assembly and manufacturing, and degradation mechanisms. It also addresses challenges related to cost and performance, provides varying perspectives, and emphasizes existing and emerging solutions. The result of a conference encouraging enhanced research collaboration among members of the electrochemical energy community, Electrochemical Energy: Advanced Materials and Technologies is dedicated to the development of advanced materials and technologies for electrochemical energy conversion and storage and details the technologies, current achievements, and future directions in the field.

Sustainable Materials for Next Generation Energy Devices: Challenges and Opportunities presents the latest state-of-the-art knowledge and innovation related to environmentally-friendly functional materials that can be developed for, and employed in, producing a feasible next generation of energy storage and conversion devices. The book is broken up into three sections, covering Energy Storage, Energy Conversion and Advanced Concepts. It will be an important reference for researchers, engineers and students who want to gain extensive knowledge in green and/or sustainable functional materials and their applications. - Provides a concise resource for readers interested in sustainable and green functional materials for energy conversion and storage devices - Emphasizes sustainable and green concepts in the design of energy devices based on renewable functional materials - Presents a survey of both the challenges and opportunities available for renewable functional materials in the development of energy devices

This book, based on the research experience and outcomes of a group of international contributors, addresses a range of advanced energy efficiency technologies and their applications in solar heating, cooling and power generation, while also providing solutions for tackling recurring low efficiency problems in today's systems. It highlights the latest technologies and methods, which can significantly improve the performance of solar systems, enabling readers to design, construct and apply high-performance solar systems in or for their own projects. The contributors provide a systematic introduction to state-of-the-art energy efficiency technologies that demonstrates how to implement innovative solar systems. These technologies include: " heat pipes and loop heat pipes; " phase change materials (PCMs) and PCM slurries; " micro-channel panels; " desiccant/adsorption cycling; " ejector cooling and heat pumps; and " solar concentration and thermoelectric units. The book shows how innovative solar systems applicable to rural and urban buildings can be analysed and demonstrates the successful implementation of these advanced technologies. It delivers the design principles and associated energy performance assessment methods for a range of selected solar heating, cooling and power generation projects. This book offers a valuable source of information for final-year undergraduate students, as well as graduate students and academic lecturers, as it promotes the widespread deployment of advanced solar heating, cooling and power generation technologies applicable for buildings across the globe. The book is also a good point of reference for design engineers and energy consultants who wish to extend their knowledge of advanced technologies used to achieve energy efficiency.