Clearly structured, the first part covers such energy-related applications as lithium ion batteries, solar cells, catalysis, thermoelectric waste heat harvesting and water splitting, while the second part provides unique perspectives on environmental fields, including nuclear waste management and carbon dioxide capture and storage.
The result is a successful combination of fundamentals for newcomers to the field and the latest results for experienced scientists, engineers, and industry researchers.
Table of Contents
Contents to Volume 1
Preface xiii
1 Introduction to Nanocomposites 1
Xingru Yan and Zhanhu Guo
References 4
2 Advanced Nanocomposite Electrodes for Lithium-Ion Batteries 7
Jiurong Liu, Shimei Guo, Chenxi Hu, Hailong Lyu, Xingru Yan, and Zhanhu Guo
2.1 Introduction 7
2.2 Advanced Nanocomposites as Anode Materials for LIBs 8
2.2.1 Carbonaceous Nanocomposites 9
2.2.2 Carbon-Free Nanocomposites 15
2.3 Advanced Nanocomposites as Cathode Materials for LIBs 17
2.3.1 Traditional Cathode 18
2.3.1.1 Lithium Transition Metal Oxides 19
2.3.1.2 Vanadium Oxide 19
2.3.1.3 Lithium Phosphates 20
2.3.2 Advanced Nanocomposites as Cathode Materials 21
2.3.2.1 Coating 21
2.3.2.2 Composite with Carbon Nanotubes of Graphene 24
2.3.2.3 Doping 26
References 27
3 Carbon Nanocomposites in Electrochemical Capacitor Applications 33
Long Chen, LiliWu, and Jiahua Zhu
3.1 Introduction 33
3.2 Working Principle of Electrochemical Capacitor 34
3.2.1 Electric Double Layer Capacitor 34
3.2.2 Pseudocapacitor 35
3.3 Characterization Techniques for Supercapacitor 36
3.3.1 Electrode Preparation and Testing Cell Assembling 36
3.3.1.1 Two-Electrode Method 36
3.3.1.2 Three-Electrode Method 37
3.3.2 Selection of Electrolyte 37
3.3.3 Energy Storage Property Evaluation 38
3.3.3.1 Capacitance 38
3.3.3.2 Energy Density and Power Density 39
3.3.3.3 Stability 40
3.4 State-of-Art Carbon Nanocomposite Electrode 41
3.4.1 Design Principles of Advanced Electrodes 41
3.4.1.1 Electrical Conductivity 41
3.4.1.2 Surface Area 42
3.4.1.3 Suitable Pore Size 42
3.4.2 Carbon/Carbon Nanocomposites 42
3.4.2.1 Graphene/CNTs 43
3.4.2.2 Graphene/Carbon Black 46
3.4.2.3 Porous Carbon/CNTs 46
3.4.3 Carbon/Metal Oxide Nanocomposites 47
3.4.3.1 Graphene/Metal Oxide 47
3.4.3.2 CNTs/Metal Oxide 49
3.4.3.3 Porous Carbon/Metal Oxide 51
3.4.4 Carbon/Conductive Polymer Nanocomposites 52
3.4.4.1 Graphene/Conductive Polymer 52
3.4.4.2 CNTs/Conductive Polymer 54
3.4.4.3 Porous Carbon/Conductive Polymer 57
3.4.4.4 Ternary Structured Nanocomposites 57
3.5 Summary 58
References 58
4 Application of Nanostructured Electrodes in Halide Perovskite Solar Cells and Electrochromic Devices 67
Qinglong Jiang, Xiaoqiao Zeng, Le Ge, Xiangyi Luo, and Lilin He
4.1 Application of Nanostructured Electrodes for Halide Perovskite Solar Cells 67
4.1.1 Introduction 67
4.1.2 Halide Perovskite Material 67
4.1.3 Halide Perovskite Solar Cells 68
4.1.3.1 HTM Layer for Perovskite Solar Cells 69
4.1.3.2 Cathodes 69
4.1.4 Planar Structure Photoanodes for Perovskite Solar Cell 71
4.1.5 Nanostructured Electrodes for Perovskite Solar Cell 71
4.1.5.1 Mesoscopic Nanoparticles for Perovskite Solar Cells 71
4.1.5.2 3D Nanowires for Perovskite Solar Cells 71
4.1.6 Current Challenges for Halide Perovskite Solar Cell 74
4.1.6.1 Lead and Lead-Free Perovskite Solar Cell 74
4.1.6.2 Stability 75
4.1.6.3 Summary 75
4.2 Functionalized Nanocomposites for Low Energy Consuming Optoelectronic Electrochromic Device 75
4.2.1 Electrochromism and Electrochromic Materials 75
4.2.2 Electrochromic Device 76
4.2.3 Nanostructured Electrodes for EC Devices 77
4.2.3.1 Nanotube 77
4.2.3.2 Nanowires 78
4.2.3.3 Nanoparticles 78
4.2.3.4 Conductive Nanobeads 79
4.2.4 Current Challenges in Electrochromism 82
4.3 Conclusion 82
References 83
5 Perovskite Solar Cell 91
Erkin Shabdan, Blake Hanford, Baurzhan Ilyassov, Kadyrzhan Dikhanbayev, and Nurxat Nuraje
5.1 Introduction 91
5.2 Properties and Characteristics 92
5.2.1 Unit Cell 93
5.2.2 Madelung Constant and Lattice Energy 95
5.2.3 Phase Transition 95
5.2.4 Physical Properties 95
5.3 Solar Cell Application 97
5.3.1 Basic Solar Cell Operation 98
5.3.2 Fabrication of Perovskite Solar Cells 99
5.3.3 Stability of the Perovskite Material 104
5.3.4 Temperature Effects on Perovskite Material 106
5.3.5 Flexible Perovskite Materials 106
5.3.6 Perovskite Solar Cell Performance 107
5.4 Conclusion 108
References 109
6 Nanocomposite Structures Related to Electrospun Nanofibers for Highly Efficient and Cost-Effective Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells 113
Xiaojing Ma, Fan Zheng, Yong Zhao, XiaoxuWang, Zhengtao Zhu, and Hao Fong
6.1 Introduction of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells 113
6.1.1 Solar Energy Absorption 114
6.1.2 Electron Transport in Photoanode 114
6.1.3 Dye Regeneration 115
6.2 Composites of TiO2 Nanoparticles and Electrospun TiO2 Nanofibers as Highly Efficient Photoanodes 116
6.3 Electrospun TiC/C Composite Nano-felt Surface Decorated with Pt Nanoparticles as a Cost-Effective Counter Electrode 121
6.4 Concluding Remarks 129
Acknowledgments 130
References 130
7 Colloidal Synthesis of Advanced Functional Nanostructured Composites and Alloys via Laser Ablation-Based Techniques 135
Sheng Hu and Dibyendu Mukherjee
7.1 Introduction 135
7.1.1 Conventional Routes for Synthesizing NMs 135
7.1.2 Laser Ablation Synthesis in Solution (LASiS) 136
7.1.3 Laser Ablation Synthesis in Solution-Galvanic Replacement Reaction (LASiS-GRR) 138
7.1.4 Description of the LASiS/LASiS-GRR Setup 139
7.1.5 Applications of LASiS/LASiS-GRR for the Synthesis of Functional NCs and NAs 140
7.2 Synthesis of PtCo/CoOx NCs via LASiS-GRR as ORR/OER Bifunctional Electrocatalysts 141
7.2.1 Mechanistic Picture of LASiS-GRR 141
7.2.2 Structure and Composition Analysis for the PtCo/CoOx NCs 142
7.2.3 Investigation of ORR/OER Catalytic Activities 146
7.3 Synthesis of Pt-Based Binary and Ternary NAs as ORR Electrocatalysts for PEMFCs 148
7.3.1 PtCo NAs Synthesized with Different Pt Salt Concentrations 148
7.3.2 PtCo NAs Synthesized with Different pH Conditions 151
7.3.3 Synthesis of Pt-Based Ternary NAs 153
7.3.4 Investigation of ORR Electrocatalytic Activities 156
7.4 Synthesis of Hybrid CoOx/N-DopedGONCs as Bifunctional ORR Electrocatalysts/Supercapacitors 159
7.5 Conclusion and Future Directions 166
References 168
8 Thermoelectric Nanocomposite for Energy Harvesting 173
Ehsan Ghafari, Frederico Severgnini, Seyedali Ghahari, Yining Feng, Eu Jin Lee, Chaoyi Zhang, Xiaodong Jiang, and Na Lu
8.1 Introduction 173
8.2 Fundamental of Thermoelectric Effect 176
8.2.1 Seebeck Effect 176
8.2.2 Thermal Conductivity 179
8.2.3 Electrical Conductivity 181
8.2.4 Figure of Merit 181
8.3 Historical Perspective of Thermoelectric Materials Development 182
8.3.1 Early Discovery ofThermoelectricity 182
8.3.2 TE Devices in Post-90 182
8.4 Thermoelectric Nanocomposites andTheir Processing Methods 185
8.4.1 Bismuth Telluride, PbTe, SbTe, Etc. 185
8.4.2 Emerging Materials: Silicides and Nitrides 187
8.4.3 SiGe and Other RTG Materials 189
8.4.4 Oxide 190
8.4.4.1 n-Type Oxide ZnO-Based Materials 190
8.4.4.2 p-Type Oxide 191
8.5 Thermoelectric Device Design and Characterizations 192
8.5.1 Device Physics and Calculation 192
8.5.2 TE Device Fabrication and Its Applications 194
References 197
9 Graphene Composite Catalysts for Electrochemical Energy Conversion 203
GangWu and Ping Xu
9.1 Introduction 203
9.1.1 Graphene Catalysts 203
9.1.2 Applications for Energy Conversion 205
9.1.3 Challenge for Oxygen Electrocatalysis 206
9.2 Preparation of Graphene Catalysts 207
9.3 Graphene Catalysts for Energy Conversion 211
9.3.1 Reduced Graphene Oxide Catalysts 211
9.3.2 Nitrogen-Doped Graphene Composite Catalysts from Graphitization 216
9.3.3 Bifunctional Graphene Composite Catalysts 221
9.4 Summary and Perspective 223
Acknowledgments 223
References 223
10 Electrochromic Materials and Devices: Fundamentals and Nanostructuring Approaches 231
DongyunMa, JinminWang, HuigeWei, and Zhanhu Guo
10.1 Introduction 231
10.2 Notes on History and Early Applications 232
10.3 Electrochromic Materials and Devices 233
10.3.1 Overview of Electrochromic Materials 233
10.3.1.1 Transition Metal Oxides 233
10.3.1.2 Prussian Blue and Transition Metal Hexacyanometallates 237
10.3.1.3 Conducting Polymers 237
10.3.1.4 Viologens 239
10.3.1.5 Transition Metal Coordination Complexes 240
10.3.1.6 Others 240
10.3.2 Constructions of Electrochromic Devices 241
10.4 Performance Parameters of Electrochromic Materials and Device 242
10.4.1 Contrast Ratio 242
10.4.2 Response Time 242
10.4.3 Coloration Efficiency 243
10.4.4 Cycle Life 243
10.5 Application of Nanostructures in Electrochromic Materials and Devices 243
10.5.1 Nanoparticles 244
10.5.2 One-Dimensional (1D) Nanostructures 247
10.5.3 Two-Dimensional (2D) Nanostructures 251
10.5.4 Nanocomposites 255
10.6 Conclusions and Perspective 258
References 259
11 Nanocomposite Photocatalysts for Solar Fuel Production from CO2 and Water 271
Huilei Zhao and Ying Li
11.1 Introduction 271
11.2 Overview of Principles and Photocatalysts for CO2 Photoreduction 271
11.3 Experimental Apparatus and Methods for CO2 Photoreduction 273
11.3.1 Experimental System of Photocatalytic CO2 Reduction 273
11.3.2 Description of the DRIFTS System 274
11.4 Innovative TiO2 Materials Design for Promoted CO2 Photoreduction to Solar Fuels 275
11.4.1 Mixed-Phase Crystalline TiO2 for CO2 Photoreduction 275
11.4.1.1 Materials Synthesis and Characterization 276
11.4.1.2 Photocatalytic Activity of CO2 Photoreduction 277
11.4.2 TiO2 with Engineered Exposed Facets 278
11.4.2.1 Materials Synthesis and Characterization 279
11.4.2.2 Photocatalytic Activity of CO2 Photoreduction 280
11.4.2.3 Mechanism Investigation 282
11.4.3 Oxygen-Deficient TiO2 for CO2 Photoreduction 282
11.4.4 Cu/TiO2 with Different Cu Valances 286
11.4.4.1 Material Synthesis and Characterizations 286
11.4.4.2 Photocatalytic Activity of CO2 Photoreduction 286
11.4.4.3 Mechanism Investigation 287
11.4.5 TiO2 Modified with Enhanced CO2 Adsorption 289
11.4.5.1 MgO/TiO2 289
11.4.5.2 LDO/TiO2 295
11.4.5.3 Hybrid TiO2 with MgAl(LDO) 297
11.5 Conclusions 299
References 300
Contents to Volume 2
Preface xiii
12 The Applications of Nanocomposite Catalysts in Biofuel Production 309
Xiaokun Yang, Kan Tang, Akkrum Nasr, and Hongfei Lin
12.1 Introduction 309
12.2 Bio-Gasoline 311
12.2.1 Alcohols and Polyols 312
12.2.2 Carbohydrates 312
12.2.3 Lignocellulosic Biomass 316
12.2.4 Lipids and Lactones 318
12.2.5 Lactones 320
12.3 Bio-Jet Fuels 320
12.3.1 Bio-Jet Fuels from Carbohydrates 322
12.3.1.1 Sugars 322
12.3.1.2 Hemicellulose/Cellulose 322
12.3.2 Lignin 326
12.3.3 Bio-Jet Fuels from Lignocellulose-Derived Platform Chemicals 326
12.3.3.1 Noble Metal on Porous Support 326
12.3.3.2 Bimetallic Nanocatalysts 329
12.3.4 Other Renewable Biomass Feedstock 332
12.4 Renewable Diesel Fuel 333
12.4.1 Hemicellulose/Cellulose 333
12.4.2 Lignocellulose Derivative Platforms 336
12.4.3 Plant Oils/Fatty Acids 337
12.5 Conclusion 340
References 340
Contents to Volume 1 vii
13 Photocatalytic Nanomaterials for the Energy and Environmental Application 353
Zuzeng Qin, Tongming Su, and Hongbing Ji
13.1 Introduction 353
13.2 Preparation of Photocatalytic Nanomaterials 354
13.2.1 Solid-State Method 355
13.2.2 PrecipitationMethod 355
13.2.3 Hydrothermal Method 355
13.2.4 Sol–Gel Method 356
13.2.5 Solvothermal Method 356
13.2.6 Other PreparationMethods 356
13.3 Application of Photocatalytic Nanomaterials in the Energy 357
13.3.1 Photocatalytic Conversion of Carbon Dioxide to Methanol 357
13.3.1.1 Different Kinds of Catalysts 358
13.3.1.2 Reaction Mechanism 364
13.3.2 Photocatalytic Conversion of Carbon Dioxide to Formate 365
13.3.2.1 Different Kinds of Catalysts 365
13.3.2.2 Reaction Mechanism 367
13.3.3 Photocatalytic Conversion of Carbon Dioxide to Methane 368
13.3.3.1 Different Kinds of Catalysts 368
13.3.3.2 Reaction Mechanism 370
13.3.4 Photocatalytic Conversion of Carbon Dioxide to Carbon Monoxide 373
13.3.4.1 Different Kinds of Catalysts 373
13.3.4.2 Reaction Mechanism 374
13.3.5 Photocatalytic Reactor for CO2 Reduction 376
13.4 Application of Photocatalytic Nanomaterials in the Environment 381
13.4.1 Photocatalysts for Degradation of Organic Pollutant 382
13.4.2 Reaction Mechanism 386
13.4.3 Photocatalytic Reactor for Photocatalytic Degradation of Organic Pollutant 387
13.5 Conclusion and Prospect 390
Acknowledgments 391
References 391
14 Role of Interfaces at Nano-Architectured Photocatalysts for Hydrogen Production fromWater Splitting 403
Rui Peng and ZiliWu
14.1 Introduction 403
14.2 Basic Principles of Hydrogen Generation from Photocatalytic Water Splitting 405
14.2.1 Main Processes of Photocatalytic Hydrogen Generation 405
14.2.2 Approaches for Enhancement of Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution Efficiency 408
14.2.2.1 Sacrificial Reagent 408
14.2.2.2 Cocatalyst 409
14.3 Photocatalytic Hydrogen Generation System Composing Functions of Interface at Nano-Architectures 410
14.3.1 Metal–Semiconductor Interfaces 410
14.3.1.1 Schottky Barrier 410
14.3.1.2 Surface Plasmon-Enhanced Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production 414
14.3.2 Semiconductor–Semiconductor Interfaces 420
14.3.2.1 Semiconductor p–n Junction System 420
14.3.2.2 Non- p–n Heterojunction Semiconductor System 423
14.4 Summary and Prospects 427
Acknowledgments 428
References 428
15 Nanostructured Catalyst for Small Molecule Conversion 439
Zhongyuan Huang, Jinbo Zhao, Haixiang Song, Yafei Kuang, and ZheWang
15.1 Supported 0D Structure 439
15.2 Unsupported 1D Nanostructures 445
15.3 Hierarchical Supportless Nanostructures 453
References 463
16 Rational Heterostructure Design for Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting 467
Shaohua Shen,MengWang, and Xiangyan Chen
16.1 Introduction 467
16.1.1 Fundamentals 467
16.1.2 Efficiency Evaluation 469
16.1.3 Materials for PhotoelectrochemicalWater Splitting 470
16.2 TiO2- and ZnO-Based Heterostructures 471
16.2.1 Quantum Dot (QD) Sensitization 471
16.2.2 Plasmonic Modification 474
16.2.3 Cocatalyst Decoration 479
16.2.4 Conductive MaterialModification 482
16.3 ;;-Fe2O3-Based Heterostructures 483
16.3.1 Semiconductor Heterojunctions 485
16.3.2 Nanotextured Conductive Substrates 489
16.3.3 Surface Passivation 492
16.3.4 Cocatalyst Decoration 494
16.4 WO3- and BiVO4-Based Heterostructures 497
16.4.1 Coupling with Other Semiconductors 498
16.4.2 Coupling with Oxygen Evolution Catalysts 501
16.5 Cu2O- and CuO-Based Heterostructures 504
16.5.1 Cu2O and CuO Photocathodes 504
16.5.2 Heterostructure Design 504
16.6 Other Metal Oxide-Based Heterostructures 509
16.7 Summary and Perspectives 510
16.7.1 Mechanism Investigation 510
16.7.2 Construction of New Heterostructures 511
16.7.3 Tandem Cell for Overall PECWater Splitting 511
Acknowledgments 511
References 512
17 Layered Double Hydroxide-Derived NOx Storage and Reduction Catalysts for Vehicle NOx Emission Control 527
Tianshan Xue,Wanlin Gao, XueyiMei, Yuhan Cui, and QiangWang
17.1 Introduction 527
17.1.1 Harm of Vehicle Exhausts 527
17.1.2 NOx Treatment Technology for Vehicle Exhausts 527
17.1.3 Chemical Constituent and Structure of LDHs 529
17.2 Mechanism of NOx Storage on LDH-Derived Catalysts 530
17.3 The Influence of LDH Chemical Composition on NSR 531
17.4 The Influence of Other Key Parameters 533
17.4.1 The Influence of Calcination Temperature 533
17.4.2 The Influence of Base Metal Loading 534
17.4.3 The Influence of Noble Metal Loading 535
17.5 Conclusions 537
References 538
18 Applications of Nanomaterials in NuclearWaste Management 543
Yawen Yuan, HuaWang, Shifeng Hou, and Deying Xia
18.1 Introduction 543
18.2 Applications of Nanomaterials in Removal of Radionuclides from RadioactiveWastes 544
18.2.1 Graphene-Related Nanomaterials 545
18.2.2 Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) 548
18.2.3 Magnetic Nanoparticles 549
18.2.4 Silver-Related Nanomaterials for I− Removal 551
18.2.5 Ion Exchange Nanomaterials 553
18.2.6 Mesoporous Silica 554
18.2.7 Other Nanomaterials 556
18.3 Conclusion and Perspectives 557
References 560
19 Electromagnetic Interference Shielding Polymer Nanocomposites 567
Xingru Yan, Licheng Xiang, Qingliang He, Junwei Gu, Jing Dang, Jiang Guo, and Zhanhu Guo
19.1 Introduction 567
19.2 Criteria to Evaluate the Shielding Effectiveness 571
19.2.1 Conductive ShieldingMaterials with Negligible Magnetic Property 571
19.2.2 Conductive Shielding Materials with Magnetic Property 573
19.2.3 Theoretical Analysis 574
19.2.3.1 Magnetic Loss 574
19.2.3.2 Eddy Current Loss 574
19.2.3.3 Magnetic Hysteresis Loss 574
19.2.3.4 Residual Loss 574
19.3 Why EMI Shielding Polymer Nanocomposites? 575
19.3.1 Carbon-Based Nanofillers 575
19.3.2 Metal-Based Nanofillers 583
19.3.3 Conductive Polymer-Based Nanofillers 590
19.3.4 Other Nanofillers 593
19.4 Conclusion and Perspective 593
References 594
20 Mussel-Inspired Nanocomposites: Synthesis and Promising Applications in Environmental Fields 603
Lu Shao, Xiaobin Yang, ZhenxingWang, and Libo Zhang
20.1 Introduction 603
20.2 Preparation, Structure, Mechanism, and Properties of Mussel-Inspired PDA 605
20.2.1 Polymerization Conditions and Process 605
20.2.2 Possible Structures and Adhesion Mechanisms 609
20.2.3 Surface Modification Methods Based on PDA 615
20.2.4 Other Physicochemical Properties of PDA 622
20.2.4.1 Good Acid Resistance and Poor Alkaline Resistance 622
20.2.4.2 Ultraviolet Resistance 623
20.2.4.3 Carbon Precursor 624
20.3 Mussel-Inspired Materials forWastewater Treatment 626
20.3.1 Mussel-Inspired SpecialWettable Materials for Oil/Water Separation 626
20.3.1.1 PDA-Based Nanoparticles 627
20.3.1.2 PDA-Based Textiles 628
20.3.1.3 PDA-Based Foams 628
20.3.1.4 PDA-Based Membranes 631
20.3.2 Mussel-Inspired Adsorbents for Removal of Heavy Metal, Organic Pollutants, and Bacterial fromWater 633
20.3.2.1 Pure PDA Nanoparticles 633
20.3.2.2 Magnetic Core–Shell Nanoparticles 633
20.3.2.3 PDA Compound with Lamellar Structure 634
20.3.2.4 Mussel-Inspired Adsorbents Based on Other Inorganic Materials 637
20.3.2.5 PDA-Modified Porous Polymer Membrane 638
20.3.3 Mussel-Inspired Catalysts for Degradation of Organic Pollutants 640
20.4 Outlook 643
References 644
Index 651
