Description
Global demand for low cost, efficient and sustainable energy production is ever increasing. Driven by recent discoveries and innovation in the science and technology of materials, applications based on functional materials are becoming increasingly important. Functional materials for sustainable energy applications provides an essential guide to the development and application of these materials in sustainable energy production.Part one reviews functional materials for solar power, including silicon-based, thin-film, and dye sensitized photovoltaic solar cells, thermophotovoltaic device modelling and photoelectrochemical cells. Part two focuses on functional materials for hydrogen production and storage. Functional materials for fuel cells are then explored in part three where developments in membranes, catalysts and membrane electrode assemblies for polymer electrolyte and direct methanol fuel cells are discussed, alongside electrolytes and ion conductors, novel cathodes, anodes, thin films and proton conductors for solid oxide fuel cells. Part four considers functional materials for demand reduction and energy storage, before the book concludes in part five with an investigation into computer simulation studies of functional materials.With its distinguished editors and international team of expert contributors, Functional materials for sustainable energy applications is an indispensable tool for anyone involved in the research, development, manufacture and application of materials for sustainable energy production, including materials engineers, scientists and academics in the rapidly developing, interdisciplinary field of sustainable energy.- An essential guide to the development and application of functional materials in sustainable energy production- Reviews functional materials for solar power- Focuses on functional materials for hydrogen production and storage, fuel cells, demand reduction and energy storage
Table of Contents
Contributor contact detailsWoodhead Publishing Series in EnergyPrefacePart I: Functional materials for solar powerChapter 1: Silicon-based photovoltaic solar cellsAbstract:1.1 Introduction1.2 Polysilicon production1.3 Crystallisation and wafering1.4 Solar cells: materials issues and cell architectures1.5 ConclusionsChapter 2: Photovoltaic (PV) thin-films for solar cellsAbstract:2.1 Introduction2.2 Amorphous silicon thin-film photovoltaic (PV)2.3 Cadmium telluride thin-film PV2.4 Copper indium diselenide thin-film PV2.5 Materials sustainability2.6 Future trends2.7 Sources of further information and adviceChapter 3: Rapid, low-temperature processing of dye-sensitized solar cellsAbstract:3.1 Introduction to dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs)3.2 Manufacturing issues3.3 Sensitization3.4 Electrodes3.5 Electrolyte3.6 Quality control (QC)/lifetime testing3.7 Conclusions and future trends3.8 AcknowledgementsChapter 4: Thermophotovoltaic (TPV) devices: introduction and modellingAbstract:4.1 Introduction to thermophotovoltaics (TPVs)4.2 Practical TPV cell performance4.3 Modelling TPV cells4.4 Tandem TPV cells4.5 ConclusionsChapter 5: Photoelectrochemical cells for hydrogen generationAbstract:5.1 Introduction5.2 Photoelectrochemical cells: principles and energetics5.3 Photoelectrochemical cell configurations and efficiency considerations5.4 Semiconductor photoanodes: material challenges5.5 Semiconductor photocathodes: material challenges5.6 Advances in photochemical cell materials and design5.7 Interfacial reaction kinetics5.8 Future trends5.9 Acknowledgements5.11 Appendix: abbreviationsPart II: Functional materials for hydrogen production and storageChapter 6: Reversible solid oxide electrolytic cells for large-scale energy storage: challenges and opportunitiesAbstract:6.1 Introduction to reversible solid oxide cells6.2 Operating principles and functional materials6.3 Degradation mechanisms in solid oxide electrolysis cells6.4 Research needs and opportunities6.5 Summary and conclusionsChapter 7: Membranes, adsorbent materials and solvent-based materials for syngas and hydrogen separationAbstract:7.1 Introduction7.2 H2-selective membrane materials7.3 CO2-selective membrane materials7.4 Adsorbent materials for H2/CO2 separation7.5 Solvent-based materials for H2/CO2 separation7.6 Future trends7.7 Sources of further information and adviceChapter 8: Functional materials for hydrogen storageAbstract:8.1 Introduction8.2 Hydrogen storage with metal hydrides: an introduction8.3 Hydrogen storage with interstitial hydrides, AlH3 and MgH28.4 Hydrogen storage with complex metal hydrides8.5 Hydrogen storage using other chemical systems8.6 Hydrogen storage with porous materials and nanoconfined materials8.7 Applications of hydrogen storage8.8 ConclusionsPart III: Functional materials for fuel cellsChapter 9: The role of the fuel in the operation, performance and degradation of fuel cellsAbstract:9.1 Introduction9.2 Thermodynamics of fuel cell operation and the effect of fuel on performance9.3 Hydrocarbon fuels and fuel processing9.4 Methanol9.5 Other fuels9.6 Deleterious effects of fuels on fuel cell performance9.7 Conclusions9.8 AcknowledgementsChapter 10: Membrane electrode assemblies for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cellsAbstract:10.1 Introduction10.2 Requirements for membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs)10.3 Porous backing layer materials10.4 Membrane materials10.5 MEA electrode catalyst layer10.6 MEA performance10.7 ConclusionsChapter 11: Developments in membranes, catalysts and membrane electrode assemblies for direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs)Abstract:11.1 Introduction11.2 Historica! development and technical challenges11.3 Methanol oxidation reaction catalysts11.4 Oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalysts11.5 Proton exchange membranes11.6 Membrane electrode assembly (MEA) fabrication and structure11.7 Conclusions and future trends11.
