This textbook covers essential electrochemistry and materials science content and provides an extensive collection of examples in order to bridge the gap between engineering students’ basic knowledge and the concrete skills they need to handle practical problems in fuel cells. The book starts with an introduction to the basic thermodynamics and electrochemistry principles and techniques in fuel cells. It subsequently discusses fuel cell operation principles, electrocatalysts, electrode mat...

This book is a comprehensive review of high-temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). PEMFCs are the preferred fuel cells for a variety of applications such as automobiles, cogeneration of heat and power units, emergency power and portable electronics. The first 5 chapters of the book describe rationalization and illustration of approaches to high temperature PEM systems. Chapters 6 - 13 are devoted to fabrication, optimization and characterization of phosphoric acid-do...

The updated and much expanded 3e of the Handbook of Radioactivity Analysis is an authoritative reference providing the principles, practical techniques, and procedures for the accurate measurement of radioactivity from the very low levels encountered in the environment to higher levels measured in radioisotope research, clinical laboratories, biological sciences, radionuclide standardization, nuclear medicine, nuclear power, and fuel cycle facilities and in the implementation of nuclear fo...

Handbook of Radioactivity Analysis describes the preparation of samples from a wide variety of matrices, assists the investigator or technician in the selection and use of appropriate radiation detector, and presents the latest state-of-the-art computerized and automated methods of analysis. The new Handbook of Radioactivity Analysis is suitable as a teaching text for university and professional training courses. Of interest to those working in a wide spectrum of disciplines, including: sc...

Hydrogels are a fascinating class of polymers which show an immense ability of swelling under the influence of temperature, pH value or concentrations of different species in aqueous solutions. The volume change can amount up to several hundred percent. This unique behaviour is already used in such applications like disposable diapers, contact lenses or drug-delivery systems.The ability to perform mechanical work has been shifted the technical interest more and more towards sensors...

Molecular- and Nano-Tubes summarizes recent advancements in the synthesis, fabrication and applications of tubular structures. An interdisciplinary overview of innovative science focused on tubular structures is provided. The reader is offered an overview of the different fields that molecular and nano tubes appear in, in order to learn the fundamental basics as well as the applications of these materials. This book also:Shows how nanotechnology creates novel materia...

This volume of Progress in Colloid and Polymer Science assembles original contributions and invited reviews from the priority research program "Intelligent Hydrogels", funded by the German Science Foundation DFG since 2006, with about 25 contributing research groups. In the center of interest of this program and the present book are responsive hydrogels, i.e. hydrophilic polymer or polyelectrolyte networks that are able to respond to environmental stimuli such as changes in temperature, pH...

This book presents the physical and technical foundation of the state of the art in applied scanning probe techniques. It constitutes a timely and comprehensive overview of SPM applications. The chapters in this volume relate to scanning probe microscopy techniques, characterization of various materials and structures and typical industrial applications, including topographic and dynamical surface studies of thin-film semiconductors, polymers, paper, ceramics, and magnetic and biological m...

Engineered Nanopores for Bioanalytical Applications is the first book to focus primarily on practical analytical applications of nanopore development. These nanoscale analytical techniques have exciting potential because they can be used in applications such as DNA sequencing, DNA fragment sizing, DNA/protein binding, and protein/protein binding.This book provides a solid professional reference on nanopores for readers in academia, industry and engineering and biomedical fields. In additio...

With the advent of nanoscience and nanotechnology, the dream of scientists to engineer new functional materials combining the best specific properties of organic and inorganic materials is closer to reality. The traditional targeted application has been the reinforcement of plastics with the addition of inorganic fillers. Accelerated research over the past two decades, as evidenced by the large bulk of literature on mechanical properties of organic–inorganic composites, focused on systems ...

This book presents a multidisciplinary approach to single-molecule electronics. It includes a complete overview of the field, from the synthesis and design of molecular candidates to the prevalent experimental techniques, complemented by a detailed theoretical description. This all-inclusive strategy provides the reader with the much-needed perspective to fully understand the far-reaching ramifications of single-molecule electronics. In addition, a number of state-of-the-art topics are dis...

This book covers the latest research on porous materials at the submicron scale and inspires readers to better understand the porosity of materials, as well as to develop innovative new materials. A comprehensive range of materials are covered, including carbon-based and organic-based porous materials, porous anodic alumina, silica, and titania-based sol-gel materials. The fabrication, characterization, and applications of these materials are all explored, with applications ranging from se...