Thin Film Metal-Oxides provides a representative account of the fundamental structure-property relations in oxide thin films. Functional properties of thin film oxides are discussed in the context of applications in emerging electronics and renewable energy technologies. Readers will find a detailed description of deposition and characterization of metal oxide thin films, theoretical treatment of select properties and their functional performance in solid state devices, from leading researchers. Scientists and engineers involved with oxide semiconductors, electronic materials and alternative energy will find Thin Film Metal-Oxides a useful reference.

Metal Oxide-Based Thin Film Structures: Formation, Characterization and Application of Interface-Based Phenomena bridges the gap between thin film deposition and device development by exploring the synthesis, properties and applications of thin film interfaces. Part I deals with theoretical and experimental aspects of epitaxial growth, the structure and morphology of oxide-metal interfaces deposited with different deposition techniques and new developments in growth methods. Part II concerns analysis techniques for the electrical, optical, magnetic and structural properties of thin film interfaces. In Part III, the emphasis is on ionic and electronic transport at the interfaces of Metal-oxide thin films. Part IV discusses methods for tailoring metal oxide thin film interfaces for specific applications, including microelectronics, communication, optical electronics, catalysis, and energy generation and conservation. This book is an essential resource for anyone seeking to further their knowledge of metal oxide thin films and interfaces, including scientists and engineers working on electronic devices and energy systems and those engaged in research into electronic materials. - Introduces the theoretical and experimental aspects of epitaxial growth for the benefit of readers new to the field - Explores state-of-the-art analysis techniques and their application to interface properties in order to give a fuller understanding of the relationship between macroscopic properties and atomic-scale manipulation - Discusses techniques for tailoring thin film interfaces for specific applications, including information, electronics and energy technologies, making this book essential reading for materials scientists and engineers alike

Solution Processed Metal Oxide Thin Films for Electronic Applications discusses the fundamentals of solution processing materials chemistry techniques as they are applied to metal oxide materials systems for key device applications. The book introduces basic information (materials properties, materials synthesis, barriers), discusses ink formulation and solution processing methods, including sol-gel processing, surface functionalization aspects, and presents a comprehensive accounting on the electronic applications of solution processed metal oxide films, including thin film transistors, photovoltaic cells and other electronics devices and circuits. This is an important reference for those interested in oxide electronics, printed electronics, flexible electronics and large-area electronics. - Provides in-depth information on solution processing fundamentals, techniques, considerations and barriers combined with key device applications - Reviews important device applications, including transistors, light-emitting diodes, and photovoltaic cells - Includes an overview of metal oxide materials systems (semiconductors, nanomaterials and thin films), addressing materials synthesis, properties, limitations and surface aspects

Metal Oxide–Based Heterostructures: Fabrication and Applications provides information on synthesis strategies, structural and hierarchical features, morphological characteristics of metal oxide–based heterostructures, and their diverse applications. This book begins with an introduction to the various multidimensional heterostructures, synthesis aspects, and techniques used to control the formation of heterostructures. Then, the impact of synthesis routes on the formation of mixed metal oxide heterostructures and their properties are analyzed. The effect of nonmetal doping, metal doping, and composites of metal oxide heterostructures on the properties of heterostructures is also addressed and that also includes opportunities for optimization of the material's performance for specific applications. Special attention is given to the surface characteristics of the metal oxide heterostructures and their impact on the material's performance, and the applications of metal oxide heterostructures in various fields such as environmental remediation, sensing, organic catalysis, photovoltaics, light emitting materials, and hydrogen production. - Introduces key principles for metal oxide heterostructures, their properties, key characteristics, and synthesis routes - Emphasizes the relationship between synthesis strategies and material performance, including optimization strategies such as tailoring the material's surface characteristics or structure - Discusses metal oxide heterostructures and their application in lighting and displays, energy, environment, and sensing

Metal Oxide-based Nanofibers and their Applications provides an in-depth overview on developments surrounding the synthesis, characterization properties, and applications achieved by scientific leaders in the area. Sections deal with the theoretical and experimental aspects of the synthesis and methodologies to control microstructure, composition and shape of the nanofibrous metal oxides, review the applications of metal oxide nanofibers in diverse technologies, with special focus on the relation between the structural, morphological and compositional features of the nanofibers, cover applications of metal oxide nanofibers in the fields of sensing (biosensing, gas sensing), and consider biomedical and cleaning technologies. Lastly, a final section covers their application in energy generation and storage technologies (e. g. piezoelectric, solar cells, solid oxide fuel cells, lithium-ion batteries, supercapacitors, and hydrogen storage are reviewed. - Reviews electrospinning methods for the synthesis and design of nanocomposites and hybrid metal oxide nanofibers - Discusses applications of metal oxide nanofibers in sensing, biomedical fields, cleaning technologies, and energy - Emphasizes the structural, morphological and compositional properties of nanofibers and their effect on device performance

Metal Oxide-Based Nanostructured Electrocatalysts for Fuel Cells, Electrolyzers, and Metal-Air Batteries is a comprehensive book summarizing the recent overview of these new materials developed to date. The book is motivated by research that focuses on the reduction of noble metal content in catalysts to reduce the cost associated to the entire system. Metal oxides gained significant interest in heterogeneous catalysis for basic research and industrial deployment. Metal Oxide-Based Nanostructured Electrocatalysts for Fuel Cells, Electrolyzers, and Metal-Air Batteries puts these opportunities and challenges into a broad context, discusses the recent researches and technological advances, and finally provides several pathways and guidelines that could inspire the development of ground-breaking electrochemical devices for energy production or storage. Its primary focus is how materials development is an important approach to produce electricity for key applications such as automotive and industrial. The book is appropriate for those working in academia and R&D in the disciplines of materials science, chemistry, electrochemistry, and engineering. - Includes key aspects of materials design to improve the performance of electrode materials for energy conversion and storage device applications - Reviews emerging metal oxide materials for hydrogen production, hydrogen oxidation, oxygen reduction and oxygen evolution - Discusses metal oxide electrocatalysts for water-splitting, metal-air batteries, electrolyzer, and fuel cell applications

This is the first text to cover all aspects of solution processed functional oxide thin-films. Chemical Solution Deposition (CSD) comprises all solution based thin- film deposition techniques, which involve chemical reactions of precursors during the formation of the oxide films, i. e. sol-gel type routes, metallo-organic decomposition routes, hybrid routes, etc. While the development of sol-gel type processes for optical coatings on glass by silicon dioxide and titanium dioxide dates from the mid-20th century, the first CSD derived electronic oxide thin films, such as lead zirconate titanate, were prepared in the 1980’s. Since then CSD has emerged as a highly flexible and cost-effective technique for the fabrication of a very wide variety of functional oxide thin films. Application areas include, for example, integrated dielectric capacitors, ferroelectric random access memories, pyroelectric infrared detectors, piezoelectric micro-electromechanical systems, antireflective coatings, optical filters, conducting-, transparent conducting-, and superconducting layers, luminescent coatings, gas sensors, thin film solid-oxide fuel cells, and photoelectrocatalytic solar cells. In the appendix detailed “cooking recipes” for selected material systems are offered.

Sol-Gel Science: The Physics and Chemistry of Sol-Gel Processing presents the physical and chemical principles of the sol-gel process. The book emphasizes the science behind sol-gel processing with a chapter devoted to applications. The first chapter introduces basic terminology, provides a brief historical sketch, and identifies some excellent texts for background reading. Chapters 2 and 3 discuss the mechanisms of hydrolysis and condensation for nonsilicate and silicate systems. Chapter 4 deals with stabilization and gelation of sols. Chapter 5 reviews theories of gelation and examines the predicted and observed changes in the properties of a sol in the vicinity of the gel point. Chapter 6 describes the changes in structure and properties that occur during aging of a gel in its pore liquor (or some other liquid). The discussion of drying is divided into two parts, with the theory concentrated in Chapter 7 and the phenomenology in Chapter 8. The structure of dried gels is explored in Chapter 9. Chapter 10 shows the possibility of using the gel as a substrate for chemical reactions or of modifying the bulk composition of the resulting ceramic by performing a surface reaction (such as nitridation) on the gel. Chapter 11 reviews the theory and practice of sintering, describing the mechanisms that govern densification of amorphous and crystalline materials, and showing the advantages of avoiding crystallization before sintering is complete. The properties of gel-derived and conventional ceramics are discussed in Chapter 12. The preparation of films is such an important aspect of sol-gel technology that the fundamentals of film formation are treated at length in Chapter 13. Films and other applications are briefly reviewed in Chapter 14. Materials scientists and researchers in the field of sol-gel processing will find the book invaluable.

This Special Issue on Functional Oxide-Based Thin-Film Materials touches on the latest advancements in several aspects related to material science: the synthesis of novel oxide, photoluminescence characteristics, photocatalytic ability, energy storage, light emitter studies, low-emissivity glass coatings, and investigations of both nanostructure and thin-film properties. It represents an amalgamation of specialists working with device applications and shedding light on the properties and behavior of thin-film oxides (e.g., GaOx, Ga2O3, HfO2, LiNbO3, and doped ZnO, among numerous others). The papers cover many aspects of thin-film science and technology, from thin film to nanostructure and from material properties to optoelectronic applications, thus reflecting the many interests of the community of scientists active in the field.