Sustainable Material Solutions For Solar Energy Technologies

Sustainable Material Solutions for Solar Energy Technologies: Processing Techniques and Applications provides an overview of challenges that must be addressed to efficiently utilize solar energy. The book explores novel materials and device architectures that have been developed to optimize energy conversion efficiencies and minimize environmental impacts. Advances in technologies for harnessing solar energy are extensively discussed, with topics including materials processing, device fabrication, sustainability of materials and manufacturing, and current state-of-the-art. Leading international experts discuss the applications, challenges, and future prospects of research in this increasingly vital field, providing a valuable resource for students and researchers working in this field. Explores the fundamentals of sustainable materials for solar energy applications, with in-depth discussions of the most promising material solutions for solar energy technologies: photocatalysis, photovoltaic, hydrogen production, harvesting and storage Discusses the environmental challenges to be overcome and importance of efficient materials utilization for clean energy Looks at design materials processing and optimization of device fabrication via metrics such as power-to-weight ratio, effectiveness at EOL compared to BOL, and life-cycle analysis

The search for cleaner, cheaper, smaller and more efficient energy technologies has to a large extent been motivated by the development of new materials. The aim of this collection of articles is therefore to focus on what materials-based solutions can offer and show how the rationale design and improvement of their physical and chemical properties can lead to energy-production alternatives that have the potential to compete with existing technologies. In terms of alternative means to generate electricity that utilize renewable energy sources, the most dramatic breakthroughs for both mobile (i.e., transportation) and stationary applications are taking place in the fields of solar and fuel cells. And from an energy-storage perspective, exciting developments can be seen emerging from the fields of rechargeable batteries and hydrogen storage.

Sustainable Materials and Green Processing for Energy Conversion provides a concise reference on green processing and synthesis of materials required for the next generation of devices used in renewable energy conversion and storage. The book covers the processing of bio-organic materials, environmentally-friendly organic and inorganic sources of materials, synthetic green chemistry, bioresorbable and transient properties of functional materials, and the concept of sustainable material design. The book features chapters by worldwide experts and is an important reference for students, researchers, and engineers interested in gaining extensive knowledge concerning green processing of sustainable, green functional materials for next generation energy devices. Additionally, functional materials used in energy devices must also be able to degrade and decompose with minimum energy after being disposed of at their end-of-life. Environmental pollution is one of the global crises that endangers the life cycles of living things. There are multiple root causes of this pollution, including industrialization that demands a huge supply of raw materials for the production of products related to meeting the demands of the Internet-of-Things. As a result, improvement of material and product life cycles by incorporation of green, sustainable principles is essential to address this challenging issue. Offers a resourceful reference for readers interested in green processing of environmentally-friendly and sustainable materials for energy conversion and storage devices Focuses on designing of materials through green-processing concepts Highlights challenges and opportunities in green processing of renewable materials for energy devices

How will we meet rising energy demands? What are our options? Are there viable long-term solutions for the future? Learn the fundamental physical, chemical and materials science at the heart of renewable/non-renewable energy sources, future transportation systems, energy efficiency and energy storage. Whether you are a student taking an energy course or a newcomer to the field, this textbook will help you understand critical relationships between the environment, energy and sustainability. Leading experts provide comprehensive coverage of each topic, bringing together diverse subject matter by integrating theory with engaging insights. Each chapter includes helpful features to aid understanding, including a historical overview to provide context, suggested further reading and questions for discussion. Every subject is beautifully illustrated and brought to life with full color images and color-coded sections for easy browsing, making this a complete educational package. Fundamentals of Materials for Energy and Environmental Sustainability will enable today's scientists and educate future generations.

Solar Energy Harvesting, Conversion, and Storage: Materials, Technologies, and Applications focuses on the current state of solar energy and the recent advancements in nanomaterials for different technologies, from harnessing energy to storage. The book covers different aspects of advanced nanomaterials for solar energy, rapid developments in solar thermal and hot water systems, and PV and CSP technologies. In addition, sections cover storing harnessed solar/heat energy using different available energy storage technologies, including phase change materials (PCMs), batteries, and supercapacitors. Various applications such as agriculture and aquaculture, desalination, domestic appliances, and transport are also explored. Provides an overview of solar energy harvesting technologies, energy storage technologies, and the role of advanced nanomaterials in solar energy Explores applications of technology in the fields of agriculture, aquaculture, desalination and transport Includes discussion of current policies, strategies and socioeconomic analysis and challenges

This book presents novel findings concerning the systems, materials and processes used in solar energy conversion in communities. It begins with the core resource – solar radiation – and discusses the restrictions on the wide-scale implementation of conversion systems imposed by the built environment, as well as potential solutions. The book also describes efficient solar energy conversion in detail, focusing on heat and electricity production in communities and water reuse. Lastly, it analyzes the concept of sustainable communities, presenting examples from around the globe, along with novel approaches to improving their feasibility and affordability. Though chiefly intended for professionals working in the field of sustainability at the community level, the book will also be of interest to researchers, academics and doctoral students.

Carbonaceous Materials and Future Energy: Clean and Renewable Energy Sources provides a systematic analysis of the emerging renewable energy alternatives to fossil fuel and their impact on the current socio-economic premise, with carbonaceous chemistry at their base. The present-day fossil fuel–dependent energy scenario is obsolete, rapidly decaying with resource constraints and sparking climate change risks like global warming; therefore, a technological revolution is needed in terms of global energy sustainability. This book is a humble attempt to recognise various contemporary as well as transpiring alternative state-of-the-art energy technologies, and the immense potential carbon materials have in changing the future face of energy. Carbon is the most earth-abundant material with an awe-inspiring range of allotropes that render wonderful properties such as tunable morphology, electrical conductivity, impressive surface area, etc., when explored in the nanoscale. Therefore, carbon has the ability to replace expensive and corrosive metals as electrodes in various existing energy technologies, especially in storage, conversion and harvesting. Carbon-based composite materials offer extensive mechanical strength, although they are super lightweight and can be placed in portable devices, yet perform for longer times with the added benefit of recyclability. This book features discussions on the ecological impacts of the existing fossil fuel–based energy technologies along with various global energy prediction indicators that dictate the integrated risk, the multi-scale changes as well as the need for sustainable alternatives. It also highlights various state-of-the-art renewable energy techniques, including solar photovoltaics, wind, geothermal, and biowaste-based energy. Most importantly, recognition is given to hybrid energy storage and conversion systems as today’s most important and sustainable source of power based on carbonaceous materials, especially their abundance, tunability, and recyclability. The author then focuses on the integration of available experimental information with future prospects for delivering real-world solutions to existing energy scarcity and helping to unravel sustainable routes with improved energy laws and policies. Features Detailed discussion about the current worldwide energy crisis at the societal scale and the gradual growth of alternative sustainable energy options Elucidation of the role of carbon in revolutionising nanoscience and its bright prospects in developing the future energy scenario with its abundance, eco-friendly nature as well as recyclability Extensive discussion of various state-of-the-art energy systems including hybrid technologies and their stages of technological maturity, commercialisation, and future prospects. Presentation of information in an accessible way for a broad audience; especially students, researchers, and scientists, working in the vast field of energy, looking for concise information about current and future energy solutions and exploring them with carbonaceous chemistry ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This book gives an integrative overview about how the next-generation energy technology can be built upon the current and future prospects of carbonaceous chemistry. It includes extensive literature-survey analysis as well as detailed discussion of the commercialisation from the laboratory scale to realising the dream of decentralising grid-based electric supply with sustainable energy. Therefore, the book may serve as a prospective source for multi-disciplinary energy researchers searching for viable renewable energy solutions in terms of complex global sustainability, making it an essential guide and reference.