Nanotechnology for the Energy Challenge

With the daunting energy challenges faced by Mankind in the 21st century, revolutionary new technologies will be the key to a clean, secure and sustainable energy future. Nanostructures often have surprising and very useful capabilities and are thus paving the way for new methodologies in almost every kind of industry.

This exceptional monograph provides an overview of the subject, and presents the current state of the art with regard to different aspects of sustainable production, efficient storage and low-impact use of energy.

Comprised of eighteen chapters, the book is divided in three thematic parts:

Part I Sustainable Energy Production covers the main developments of nanotechnology in clean energy production and conversion, including photovoltaics, hydrogen production, thermal-electrical energy conversion and fuel cells.

Part II Efficient Energy Storage is concerned with the potential use of nanomaterials in more efficient energy storage systems such as advanced batteries, supercapacitors and hydrogen storage.

Part III Energy Sustainability shows how nanotechnology helps to use energy more efficiently, and the mitigation of impacts to the environment, with special emphasis on energy savings through green nanofabrication, advanced catalysis, nanostructured light-emitting and eletrochromic devices and CO2 capture by nanoporous materials .

An essential addition to any bookshelf, it will be invaluable to a variety of research fields including materials science, chemical engineering, solid state, surface, industrial, and physical chemistry, as this is a subject that is very interdisciplinary.

Javier Garcia-Martinez is the Director of the Molecular Nanotechnology Lab at the University of Alicante (Spain) and co-founder of Rive Technology, Inc., an MIT spin-off commercializing advanced nanocatalysts for clean energy applications developed by Javier during his postdoctoral research. Previously, he worked at the California Institute of Technology (CalTech) and UC Berkeley. Javier has received the TR 35 Award from MIT's Technology Review magazine in 2007 and the Europa Medal, awarded annually to the outstanding European chemist under the age of 35. In 2009, the World Economic Forum recognized him as one of the Young Global Leaders. Since 2008, Javier is titular member of the Inorganic Chemistry Division of IUPAC. His research interests include a broad range of nanomaterials, mesoporous solids, zeolites, and catalysis, specifically for energy-related applications.

PART I: Sustainable Energy Production

NANOTECHNOLOGY FOR ENERGY PRODUCTION
Energy Challenge in the 21st Century and Nanotechnology
Nanotechnology in Energy Production
NANOTECHNOLOGY IN DYE-SENSITIZED PHOTOELECTROCHEMICAL DEVICES
Introduction
Semiconductors and Optical Absorption
Dye Molecular Engineering
The Stable Self-Assembling Dye Monomolecular Layer
The Nanostructured Semiconductor
THERMAL-ELECTRICAL ENERGY CONVERSION FROM THE NANOTECHNOLOGY PERSPECTIVE
Introduction
Established Bulk Thermoelectric Materials
Selection Criteria for Bulk Thermoelectric Materials
Survey of Size Effects
Thermoelectric Properties on the Nanoscale: Modeling and Metrology
Experimental Results and Discussions
NANOMATERIALS FOR FUEL CELL TECHNOLOGIES
Introduction
Low-Temperature Fuel Cells
High-Temperature Fuel Cells
THE CONTRIBUTION OF NANOTECHNOLOGY TO HYDDROGEN PRODUCTION
Introduction
Hydrogen Production by Semiconductor Nanomaterials

PART II: Efficient Energy Storage

NANOSTRUCTURED MATERIALS FOR HYDROGEN STORAGE
Introduction
Hydrogen Storage by Physisorption
Hydrogen Storage by Chemisorption
ELECTROCHEMICAL ENERGY STORAGE: THE BENEFITS OF NANOMATERIALS
Introduction
Nanomaterials for Energy Storage
Nanostructured Electrodes and Interfaces for the Electrochemical Storage of Energy
CARBON-BASED NANOMATERIALS FOR ELECTROCHEMICAL ENERGY STORAGE
Introduction
Nanotexture and Surface Functionality of sp2 Carbons
Supercapacitors
Lithium-Ion Batteries
NANOMATERIALS FOR SUPERCONDUCTORS FROM THE ENERGY PERSPECTIVE
Overcoming Limitations to Superconductors' Performance
Flux Pinning by Nanoscale Defects
The Grain Boundary Problem
Anisotropic Current Properties
Enhancing Naturally Occurring Nanoscale Defects
Artificial Introduction of Flux Pinning Nanostructures
Self-Assembled Nanostructures
Control of Epitaxy-Enabling Atomic Sulfur Superstructure

PART III: Energy Sustainability

GREEN NANOFABRICATION: UNCONVENTIONAL APPROACHES FOR THE CONSERVATIVE USE OF ENERGY
Introduction
Green Approaches to Nanofabrication
Future Directions: Toward "Zero-Cost" Fabrication
NANOCATALYSIS FOR FUEL PRODUCTION
Introduction
Petroleum Refining
Naphtha Reforming
Hydrotreating
Cracking
Hydrocracking
Conversion of Syngas
Water-Gas Shift
Methanol Synthesis
Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis (FTS)
Methanation
Nanocatalysis for Bioenergy
The Future
SURFACE-FUNCTIONALIZED NANOPOROUS CATALYSTS TOWARDS BIOFUEL APPLICATIONS
Introduction
Immobilization Strategies of Single-Site Heterogeneous Catalysts
Design of More Efficient Heterogeneous Catalysts with Enhanced Reactivity and Selectivity
Other Heterogeneous Catalyst System on Non-Silica Support
NANOTECHNOLOGY FOR CARBON DIOXIDE CAPTURE
Introduction
CO2 Capture Processes
Nanotechnology for CO2 Capture
Porous Coordination Polymers for CO2 Capture
NANOSTRUCTURED ORGANIC LIGHT-EMITTING DEVICES
Introduction
Quantum Confinement and Charge Balance for OLEDs and PLEDs
Phosphorescent Materials for OLEDs and PLEDs
Multi-Photon Emission and tandem Structure for OLEDs and PLEDs
The Enhancement of Light Out-Coupling
Outlook for the Future of Nanostructured OLEDs and PLEDs
ELECTROCHROMIC MATERIALS AND DEVICES FOR ENERGY EFFICIENT BUILDINGS
Introduction
Electrochromic Materials
Electrochromic Devices