This volume provides expert coverage of the state-of-the-art in sol-gel materials for functional applications in energy, environment and electronics. The use of sol-gel technology has become a hotbed for cutting edge developments in many fields due to the accessibility of advanced materials through low energy processes. The book offers a broad view of this growing research area from basic science through high-level applications with the potential for commercialization and industrial use. Taking an integrated approach, expert chapters present a wide range of topics, from photocatalysts, solar cells and optics, to thin films and materials for energy storage and conversion, demonstrating the combined use of chemistry, physics, materials science and engineering in the search for solutions to some of the most challenging problems of our time.

Sol-Gel processing methods, first used historically for decorative and constructional materials, were extensively developed in the last century for applications such as glasses, ceramics, catalysts, coatings, composites and fibres. Today they are reaching their full potential, enabling the preparation of new generations of advanced materials not easily accessible by other methods yet using mild, low-energy conditions. The topic is therefore increasingly included in advanced undergraduate, MSc and PhD programmes in the areas of chemistry, physics and materials science. This concise introductory text, written at the advanced undergraduate/first-year postgraduate level, is also suitable as an introduction to the development, mechanisms, chemistry, characterisation methods and applications of the technique. It provides readers with an extensive yet concise grounding in the theory of each area of the subject and details the real and potential applications and the future prospects of sol-gel chemistry.

This book presents a broad, general introduction to the processing of Sol-Gel technologies. This updated volume serves as a general handbook for researchers and students entering the field. This new edition provides updates in fields that have undergone rapid developments, such as Ceramics, Catalysis, Chromatropgraphy, biomaterials, glass science, and optics. It provides a simple, compact resource that can also be used in graduate-level materials science courses.

This book discusses the synthesis of catalytic materials with improved and tailored functionalities via the sol-gel method. Beginning with a general outline of traditional sol-gel chemistry, the book gradually explores surrounding topics, such as the formation of porous structures, while guiding the overall discussion toward the synthesis of heterogeneous catalysts and focusing throughout on the structure-activity relationship in catalytic materials. Featuring several case studies covering major current industrial applications, the book is an ideal guide for researchers looking to tailor catalytic materials for a specific catalytic process and thus exploiting the versatility of the “traditional” sol-gel method.

Sol-gel processing is a low temperature, low cost wet chemistry route to a range of different materials, particularly glassy and ceramic oxides, including nanoparticles and powders, fibers, thin films and membranes, or monoliths and composites. Thin films and coatings represent by far the most important category of sol-gel derived products with optical, electronic and magnetic functionalities, for example photoresist and dielectric spin-on-glass layers, flat screen displays, anti-reflection, conducting and magnetic disk coatings, as well as photochromic, electrochromic and photovoltaic coatings. Sol-gel derived materials are homogeneous at the molecular level and are a good example of a bottom-up approach to materials synthesis. There is increasing need of new optical and photonic materials with improved performance, where molecular level homogeneity and easy fabrication in film form may be especially convenient, highlighting a decisive advantage of sol-gel over other more established technologies to obtain graded index optical components, solar control coatings, phosphors, glass ceramics or multilayer photonic structures. There is no book available yet which focuses in particular on optical and photonic sol-gel derived materials. This is what makes this book unique at this point for those especially or exclusively interested in optical and photonic functional materials and applications. This book represents an important tool to update scientists and engineers with recent advances in the rapidly evolving field of optical and photonic materials, components and devices. Our target audience are those working in materials science, physics, engineering and chemistry disciplines, in particular academics and researchers working in advanced optical/photonic processing technologies, research and development engineers in high technology industries and research project leaders. This book will also be an essential tool for graduate students pursuing a PhD or even a Master's degree. - Reviews wide range of sol-gel derived coatings including reflective and anti-reflective, self-cleaning, and electrochromic - Discusses latest advances in sol-gel derived photonic crystals including one dimensional, two dimensional, and three dimensional structures - Addresses key applications in solid state lighting, solar cells, sensors, fiber optics, and magneto-optical devices

Sol-gel processing is a low temperature, low cost wet chemistry route to a range of different materials, particularly glassy and ceramic oxides, including nanoparticles and powders, fibers, thin films and membranes, or monoliths and composites. Thin films and coatings represent by far the most important category of sol-gel derived products with optical, electronic and magnetic functionalities, for example photoresist and dielectric spin-on-glass layers, flat screen displays, anti-reflection, conducting and magnetic disk coatings, as well as photochromic, electrochromic and photovoltaic coatings. Sol-gel derived materials are homogeneous at the molecular level and are a good example of a bottom-up approach to materials synthesis. There is increasing need of new optical and photonic materials with improved performance, where molecular level homogeneity and easy fabrication in film form may be especially convenient, highlighting a decisive advantage of sol-gel over other more established technologies to obtain graded index optical components, solar control coatings, phosphors, glass ceramics or multilayer photonic structures. There is no book available yet which focuses in particular on optical and photonic sol-gel derived materials. This is what makes this book unique at this point for those especially or exclusively interested in optical and photonic functional materials and applications. This book represents an important tool to update scientists and engineers with recent advances in the rapidly evolving field of optical and photonic materials, components and devices. Our target audience are those working in materials science, physics, engineering and chemistry disciplines, in particular academics and researchers working in advanced optical/photonic processing technologies, research and development engineers in high technology industries and research project leaders. This book will also be an essential tool for graduate students pursuing a PhD or even a Master's degree. Reviews wide range of sol-gel derived coatings including reflective and anti-reflective, self-cleaning, and electrochromic Discusses latest advances in sol-gel derived photonic crystals including one dimensional, two dimensional, and three dimensional structures Addresses key applications in solid state lighting, solar cells, sensors, fiber optics, and magneto-optical devices

Calcium phosphate materials are used in many medical and dental applications. Advanced Synthesis and Medical Applications of Calcium Phosphates covers the structure, chemistry, synthesis, and properties of both natural and synthetic calcium-based biomaterials and details a variety of medical applications. Depicts the latest advances in using calcium phosphates in bone regeneration and tissue engineering Includes the latest generation of regenerative biomaterials with an integrated perspective combining both research and clinical issues Provides an understanding of the clinical targets and requirements for regenerative medicine Detailing fundamentals through applications, this book helps biomaterials researchers to better understand the clinical targets and requirements for use of these materials for optimal synthesis and development.

Ferrite Nanostructured Magnetic Materials: Technologies and Applications provides detailed descriptions of the physical properties of ferrite nanoparticles and thin films. Synthesis methods and their applications in numerous fields are also included. And, since characterization methods play an important role in investigating the materials' phenomena, various characterization tools applied to ferrite materials are also discussed. To meet the requirements of next-generation characterization tools in the field of ferrite research, synchrotron radiation-based spectroscopic and imaging tools are thoroughly explored.Finally, the book discusses current and emerging applications of ferrite nanostructured materials in industry, health, catalytic and environmental fields, making this comprehensive resource suitable for researchers and practitioners in the disciplines of materials science and engineering, chemistry and physics. - Reviews the fundamentals of ferrite materials, including their magnetic, electrical, dielectric and optical properties - Includes discussions on the most relevant and emerging synthesis and optimization of ferrite nanostructured materials for a diverse range of morphologies - Provides an overview of both the most relevant and emerging applications of ferrite magnetic materials in industry, health, energy and environmental remediation

Experience the eco-friendly breakthrough in corrosion mitigation through functionalized thin fi lm coatings! This book delves deep into the cutting-edge advancements in synthesizing and applying functionalized thin fi lm coatings to safeguard metals and alloys by replacing commercially available toxic inhibitors. It includes an overview, of properties, applications, and methodologies to detect and inhibit corrosion.

Surface-Functionalized Ceramics Focused coverage of making and using functional ceramic materials for a wide variety of scientific and technical applications Surface-Functionalized Ceramics provides a comprehensive overview of surface functionalization approaches for ceramic materials, including alumina, zirconia, titania, and silica, and their uses as sensors, chemical, and biological probes, chromatographic supports for (bio)molecule purification and analysis, and adsorbents for toxic substances and pollutants. Overall, the text provides a broad picture of the enormous possibilities offered by surface functionalization and addresses the current challenges regarding surface analysis, characterization, and stability. As a well-rounded resource, the text points out opportunities of surface-functionalized ceramics, their issues such as achieving surface stability and complex analysis, and how to counter them. Edited by two experts in the field of advanced materials surfaces, Surface-Functionalized Ceramics covers topics such as: Processing methods for advanced ceramics, surface modification of ceramic materials, and methods for electrokinetic surface characteristics Surface imaging and chemical surface analysis using atomic force microscopy Surface chemical analysis and ceramic-enhanced analytics Biological and living matter-surface interactions including protein adsorption mechanisms as well as bacteria behavior in terms of biofilm formation and prevention for antibacterial applications Mesoporous silica and organosilica biosensors for water quality and environmental monitoring, plus ceramic-based adsorbents in bioproduct recovery and purification For professionals, researchers, and academics in the fields of materials science, biotechnology, biotechnological industry, environmental sciences, and ceramics industry, Surface-Functionalized Ceramics is a one-stop reference on the subject that provides different approaches to obtain surfaces of ceramic materials that perform desired functions.