Redox Polymers For Energy And Nanomedicine

Redox Polymers for Energy and Nanomedicine highlights trends in the chemistry, characterization and application of polymers with redox properties.

An Introduction to Redox Polymers for Energy-Storage Applications Presents a well-founded introduction to the field or Redox Polymers, with didactical features like summary boxes and a Q&A sections An Introduction to Redox Polymers for Energy-Storage Applications discusses fundamental aspects related to polymer-based batteries, such as types of batteries, their historic development, design and synthesis criteria of the active material, and summarizes the various types of redox polymers and their applications. Each chapter contains learning objectives, summary boxes, and questions to allow for efficient exam preparation. In An Introduction to Redox Polymers for Energy-Storage Applications, readers will find detailed information on: Fundamental aspects of redox-active polymers, along with their historical classification, taking the key applications of the materials into account Energy-storage devices, containing polymers as the electrode active materials, and specific material requirements for the desired applications Classification of redox-active polymers, e.g., according to the nature of the actual redox-active moieties, their backbone structure, or topology Electrical conductivity of conjugated polymers, covering their most prominent representatives (polyaniline, polypyrrole, polythiophene, and polyacetylene) An Introduction to Redox Polymers for Energy-Storage Applications also covers the synthesis and applications of these materials, making it an excellent book for graduates, PhD students, and professionals who are starting in this field.

This book reports on cutting-edge research within the new field of active rheology control of cementitious materials, presenting new ideas developed within the ERC Advanced Grant Project, SmartCast (hosted at Ghent University), which extend the possibilities of admixtures and additions beyond current options. The research presented here develops a new method of actively controlling the rheology of fresh concrete during casting operations by incorporating specially designed responsive components. This results in real-time changes to the rheological behaviour of the cementitious material, allowing the user to intervene actively after the cementitious material has left the mixing phase. This newly gained agility contributes to increased processing speed and placement reliability in the case of traditional casting methods and can also facilitate advanced 3D concrete printing. The different routes followed to achieve this Active Rheology Control are explained within. The book suits researchers and innovative practitioners and is the first comprehensive text to present these new findings. The Open Access version of this book, available at http://www.taylorfrancis.com, has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 license.

There is an immense variety of research on polymer functionalized graphene (PFG). Functionalization of graphene is necessary for improvement of the compatibility with polymers. Applications of these graphene polymer hybrids include in chemical and biological sensing, photovoltaic devices, supercapacitors and batteries, dielectric materials and drug/gene delivery vehicles. This book will shed light on the synthesis, properties and applications of these new materials, covering two methods (covalent and noncovalent) for producing polymer functionalized graphene. Chapters cover physical, optical, mechanical and electronic properties, applications of polymer functionalized graphene in energy harvesting and storage, and uses in biomedicine and bioengineering. Written by an expert in the field, Polymer Functionalized Graphene will be of interest to graduate students and researchers in polymer chemistry and nanoscience.

Polymer Nanocomposites for Energy Applications Explore the science of polymer nanocomposites and their practical use in energy applications In Polymer Nanocomposites for Energy Applications, a team of distinguished researchers delivers a comprehensive review of the synthesis and characterization of polymer nanocomposites, as well as their applications in the field of energy. Succinct and insightful, the book explores the storage of electrical, magnetic, and thermal energy and hydrogen. It also discusses energy generation by polymer-based solar cells. Finally, the authors present a life cycle analysis of polymer nanocomposites for energy applications and provide four real-world case studies where these materials have been successfully used. Readers will also find: Thorough introductions to the origins and synthesis of polymer materials In-depth discussions of the characterization of polymeric materials, including UV-visible spectroscopy Comprehensive explorations of a wide variety of polymer material applications, including in biotechnology and for soil remediation Fulsome presentations of polymer nanocomposites and their use in energy storage systems Perfect for materials and engineering scientists and polymer chemists, Polymer Nanocomposites for Energy Applications will also earn a place in the libraries of professionals working in the chemical industry.

The use of electronic devices in medical care is one of the main targets of precision medicine. The field of bioelectronic medicine uses electronic devices to diagnose or treat diseases and disorders in a complementary or alternative way to chemical drugs. It has been more than sixty years since the world’s first implantable battery-driven cardiac pacemaker was implanted here in Sweden. Since then, electronic therapies have been implemented for neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, sensory and motor function restoration, and many more. However, electronics can also be used for delivery of conventional drugs in a more controlled, localized, and specific fashion. Therapeutic utility and patient comfort are maximized when the devices are as minimally invasive as possible. The most important milestone in the development of the cardiac stimulator was making it wireless. The early versions of the device required bulky parts to be placed outside of the body with transcutaneous electrical leads to the target site which led to high infection risk and frequent failures. To date, batteries remain the most common way to power implantable electronics. However, their large size and the necessity for replacement surgeries makes the technology relatively invasive. Alternative approaches to wireless power transfer are thus sought after. The most promising technologies are based on electromagnetic, ultrasound, or light-coupling methods. The aim of this thesis is to utilize tissue-penetrating deep red light for powering implantable devices. The overarching concept is an organic photovoltaic based on small molecule donor-acceptor bilayer junctions, which allows for ultrathin, flexible, minimally-invasive devices. Within this thesis, the photovoltaic device was utilized in two ways. Firstly, the photovoltaics are fabricated to act as an integrated driver for other implantable electronic components: 1) an organic electronic ion pump for acetylcholine delivery; 2) a depth-probe microelectrode stimulation device for epilepsy applications. Secondly, an alternative device, the organic electrolytic photocapacitor, is formed by replacing one of the solid electrodes by an electrolytic contact, thus yielding a minimalistic device acting as a direct photoelectrical stimulator. Within the thesis, the photocapacitive stimulation mechanism is validated by studying voltage-gated ion channels in a frog oocyte model. Next, two lithography-based patterning techniques are developed for fabricating these devices with better resolution and on flexible substrates suitable for in vivo operation. Finally, a chronic implant is demonstrated for in vivo sciatic nerve stimulation in rodents. The end result of this thesis is a series of novel device concepts and methods for stimulation of the nervous system using deep red light.

As a result of their unique physical properties, biological membrane mimetics such as biopolymers are used in a broad range of scientific and technological applications. This comprehensive book covers new applications of biopolymers in the research and development of industrial scale nutraceutical and functional food grade products. All the major food biopolymers are included, from plant, animal and marine sources. Coverage also includes biopolymer-based drug delivery mechanisms intended for biological applications such as bio-detection of pathogens, fluorescent biological labels, and drug and gene delivery. This is the first interdisciplinary book to address this area specifically and is essential reading for those who produce the functional biopolymer materials as well as those who seek to incorporate them into appropriate nutraceutical, food and drug delivery products.