This book introduces the basic concepts, synthesis techniques, and applications of vertically-oriented graphene. The authors detail emerging applications of vertically-oriented graphene such as field emitters, atmospheric nanoscale corona discharges, gas sensors and biosensors, supercapacitors, lithium-ion batteries, fuel cells (catalyst supports) and electrochemical transducers. They offer a perspective on current challenges to enabling commercial applications of vertically-oriented graph...

The International Congress on Energy Efficiency and Energy Related Materials (ENEFM2013) was held on 9-12 October, 2013.This three-day congress focused on the latest developments of sustainable energy technologies, materials for sustainable energy applications and environmental & economic perspectives of energy.These proceedings include 63 peer reviewed technical papers, submitted from leading academic and research institutions from over 23 countries, representing some of t...

This book will address the application of gas phase thin film methods, including techniques such as evaporation, sputtering, CVD, and ALD to the synthesis of materials on nanostructured and high aspect-ratio high surface area materials. We have chosen to introduce these topics and the different application fields from a chronological perspective: we start with the early concepts of step coverage and later conformality in semiconductor manufacturing, and how later on the range of applicatio...

Representing the first text to cover this exciting new area of research, this book will describe synthesis techniques of CNWs, their characterization and various expected applications using CNWs. Carbon-nanowalls (CNWs) can be described as two-dimensional graphite nanostructures with edges comprised of stacks of plane graphene sheets standing almost vertically on the substrate. These sheets form a wall structure with a high aspect ratio. The thickness of CNWs ranges from a few nm to a few ...

The road vehicle of the future will embrace innovations from three major automotive technology fields: driver assistance systems, vehicle networking and alternative propulsion. Smart systems such as adaptive ICT components and MEMS devices, novel network architectures, integrated sensor systems, intelligent interfaces and functional materials form the basis of these features and permit their successful and synergetic integration. They increasingly appear to be the key enabling technologies...

This book focuses on the fundamental principles and recent progress in the field of electrical and thermal properties of polymer nanocomposites. The physical and chemical natures determining the electrical and thermal properties of polymer nanocomposites are discussed in detail. The authors describe the range of traditional and emerging polymer nanocomposites from nanoparticle and polymer composites to novel nanostructure based polymer nanocomposites. They include novel properties and pote...

This book highlights the development of novel metal-supported solid oxide fuel cells (MS-SOFCs). It describes the metal-supported solid oxide fuel cells (MS-SOFCs) that consist of a microporous stainless steel support, nanoporous electrode composites and a thin ceramic electrolyte using the “tape casting-sintering-infiltrating” method. Further, it investigates the reaction kinetics of the fuel cells’ electrodes, structure–performance relationship and degradation mechanism. By optimizing th...

Thermal processes are ubiquitous and an understanding of thermal phenomena is essential for a complete description of the physics of nanoparticles, both for the purpose of modeling the dynamics of the particles and for the correct interpretation of experimental data.This book has the twofold aim to present coherently the relevant results coming from the recent scientific literature and to guide the readers through the process of deriving results, enabling them to explore the limits ...

This book provides an overview of hydrogen production from renewable resources such as ethanol using plasma or plasma-catalytic technologies. Further, it presents a balanced and comprehensive treatment of the core principles, novel plasma reactors and diagnostics, as well as state-of-the-art plasma energy applications. It brings together technological advances and research on plasma generators and their application in hydrogen production, including plasma-assisted alcohol reforming technol...

This book provides a detailed review of millimeter-wave power amplifiers, discussing design issues and performance limitations commonly encountered in light of the latest research. Power amplifiers, which are able to provide high levels of output power and linearity while being easily integrated with surrounding circuitry, are a crucial component in wireless microwave systems. The book is divided into three parts, the first of which introduces readers to mm-wave wireless systems and power ...

This book describes the developmental history of the vacuum system of the transmission electron microscope (TEM) at the Japan Electron Optics Laboratory (JEOL) from its inception to its use in today’s high-technology microscopes. The author and his colleagues were engaged in developing vacuum technology for electron microscopes (JEM series) at JEOL for many years. This volume presents a summary and explanation of their work and the technology that makes possible a clean ultrahigh vacuum.

Waste Energy Harvesting overviews the latest progress in waste energy harvesting technologies, with specific focusing on waste thermal mechanical energies. Thermal energy harvesting technologies include thermoelectric effect, storage through phase change materials and pyroelectric effect. Waste mechanical energy harvesting technologies include piezoelectric (ferroelectric) effect with ferroelectric materials and nanogenerators. The book aims to strengthen the syllabus in energy, materials ...