Green Photo-active Nanomaterials


Book Description

Providing up-to-date coverage of green nanomaterials and systems, this book provides comprehensive information on nanostructured materials, including their applications in energy and environmental sciences. The book focusses on photo-active nanostructured materials, from the basic understanding of solar energy activation to their sustainable preparation and applications in environmental remediation and fuel production from biomass and carbon dioxide. It also examines the health and environmental impacts of photo-catalyst nanomaterials. This book is an important reference for researchers and industrial chemists working in the fields of energy and environmental remediation.




Photoactive Nanomaterials


Book Description

The energy transition is one of the key approaches in the effort to halt climate changes, and it has become even more essential in the light of the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Fostering the energy efficiency and the energy independence of the building sector is a focal aim to move towards a decarbonized society. In this context, building physics and building energy systems are fundamental disciplines based on applied physics applications in civil, architectural, and environmental engineering, including technical themes related to the planning of energy and the environment, diagnostic methods, and mitigating techniques. This Special Issue contains information on experimental studies in the following research topics: renewable energy sources, building energy analysis, rational use of energy, heat transmission, heating and cooling systems, thermofluid dynamics, smart energy systems, and energy service management in buildings.




Photoactive Inorganic Nanoparticles


Book Description

Nanoparticles are usually designed for specific applications and selection of the most convenient capping can be a complex task, but is crucial for successful design. In this volume, the authors discuss the selection of functional cappings to coat nanoparticles in a range of different applications. The opening chapter provides an understanding of basic aspects of surface chemistry at the nanoscale. Each following chapter covers a particular kind of capping, beginning with a basic introduction and describing characteristics such as structure, functionality, solubility, (photo)physics, and toxicity. Special emphasis is placed on how important these specific features are in the preparation of smart nanomaterials. In-depth explanations and examples are then presented, highlighting the latest results and cutting-edge research carried out with the selected capping according to the kind of nanoparticle employed (such as rare-earth doped, semiconducting, and metallic). An additional chapter focusses on computational techniques for modelling nanosurfaces. Photoactive Inorganic Nanoparticles: Surface Composition and its Role in Nanosystem Functionality will be a valuable working resource for graduate students, researchers, and industry R&D professionals working in the field of applied nanomaterials.




Application of Photoactive Nanomaterials in Degradation of Pollutants


Book Description

Photoactive nanomaterials have been receiving increasing attention due to their potential application in the light-driven degradation of water and gas-phase pollutants. However, to exploit the great potential of photoactive materials and access their properties requires fine-tuning of their size/shape-dependent chemical–physical properties, and on the ability to integrate them in photoreactors or to deposit them onto large surfaces. Therefore, the synthetic approach as well as post-synthesis manipulation could strongly affect the final photocatalytic properties of the nanomaterial. The aim of the present Special Issue is to report on the most recent progress towards the application of photoactive nanomaterials and nanomaterial-based coatings in pollutant degradation, paying particular attention to cases close to real application: scalable synthetic approaches to nanocatalysts, preparation of nanocatalyst-based coatings, degradation of real pollutants and bacterial inactivation, and application in building materials.




Green Nanomaterials for Industrial Applications


Book Description

Green Nanomaterials for Industrial Applications explores the applications of nanomaterials for a variety of industry sectors, along with their environmental impacts, lifecycle analysis, safety and sustainability. This book brings together the industrial applications of nanomaterials, covering new trends and challenges. Significant properties, safety and sustainability and environmental impacts of synthesis routes are also explored, as are major industrial applications, including agriculture, medicine, communications, construction, energy, and in the military. This book is an important information source for those in research and development who want to gain a greater understanding of how nanotechnology is being used to create cheaper, more efficient products. Green nanomaterials have significant advantages including low cost, high efficiency, neutral environmental impact, and stability. Green Nanomaterials for Industrial Applications provides comprehensive information about green nanomaterials, their types, and methods for generation, characterization as well as their properties. Furthermore, this book also provides coverage of industrial scale fabrication methods for green nanomaterials and their applications for various industrial sectors at both experimental and theoretical models scales. This book is an important reference source for materials scientists, engineers and environmental scientists who want to learn more about how sustainable nanomaterials are being used in a range of industrial applications. - Explores industrial scale fabrication of green nanomaterials - Assesses environmental, legal, health and safety aspects - Discusses how green nanomaterials can be manufactured on an industrial scale




CO2-switchable Materials


Book Description

CO2-responsive materials are a relatively recent innovation. In general, stimuli-responsive materials exhibit reversible changes in their physical or chemical properties in response to external triggers such as temperature, pH, light, or voltage. However, there are often limitations in applying these triggers including economic and environmental costs, and product contamination. The realization that CO2 can be used as an effective trigger for stimulating changes in material properties has prompted a surge in interest in this area within the past few years, with numerous new studies currently underway in several countries. CO2 is an ideal trigger for switchable or stimuli-responsive materials because it is benign, inexpensive, green, abundant, and does not accumulate in the system. Many different CO2-responsive materials including polymers, latexes, solvents, solutes, gels, surfactants, and catalysts have been prepared. Summarizing recent progress in the preparation, self-assembly, and functional applications of CO2-responsive materials, this book explores the physical chemistry of CO2-switching, including constraints on structural design and process conditions, together with applications. With emphasis on the environmental, health, and safety advantages and disadvantages compared to conventional materials, it is ideal for researchers and industrialists working in green chemistry, chemical engineering, and polymer chemistry.




Methane Conversion Routes


Book Description

Currently the majority of carbon-based feedstocks come from fossil fuels of which there is a finite supply. Methane is an abundantly available carbon-based feedstock, with large amounts now available through fracking and renewable sources available from biogas plants. However, methane is not very chemically reactive. One of the remaining “grand challenges” in chemistry is the development of clean, efficient, affordable processes that allow methane to be converted to other high value molecules. Highlighting the recent advances in methane activation and direct conversion processes this book discusses the progress and current state of the art for a wide variety of alternative methane activation and subsequent conversion processes, including homogeneous and heterogeneous catalytic, electrocatalytic and pyrolytic systems. It is a useful resource for anyone working in green chemistry, catalysis and chemical engineering.




Sustainable and Functional Redox Chemistry


Book Description

Mimicking nature's efficiency and sustainability in organic chemistry is a major goal for future chemists; redox reactions are a key element in a variety of fields ranging from synthesis and catalysis to materials chemistry and analytical applications. Sustainability is increasingly becoming a consideration in synthesis and functional chemistry and an essential element for the next generation of chemistry in academia and industry. This book represents a compilation of the latest advancements in functional redox chemistry and demonstrates its importance in achieving a more sustainable future. This book is an ideal companion for any postgraduate students or researchers interested in sustainability in academia and industry.




Agri-food Waste Valorisation


Book Description




Transportation Biofuels


Book Description

The transportation industry is still largely reliant on fossil fuels, whose use and extraction have significant environmental costs. Biofuels produced from renewable resources biomass offer a more sustainable alternative. However, it is important that production methods should be energy efficient and that feedstocks should not compete with food sources. Biofuels that meet these criteria are sometimes referred to as second-generation biofuels. The new edition of this book provides updates on the three previously discussed non-conventional pathways for second-generation biofuels, including new experimental results and pilot plant studies. It also includes a completely new chapter looking at developments in combining renewable electricity with fuel production and possible future directions for the transportation industry. It is a useful read for researchers and industrialists working in biofuel development as well as postgraduate students studying fuel alternatives.