1st Edition

Nanoporous Materials for Energy and the Environment

Edited By Gilbert Rios, Gabriele Centi, Nick Kanellopoulos Copyright 2012
    322 Pages 37 Color & 88 B/W Illustrations
    by Jenny Stanford Publishing

    This book disseminates and discusses relevant best case examples and research practices that show how nanomaterial research and related engineering concepts may provide answers and viable solutions to a variety of socioeconomic issues and concerns. The first section is dedicated to the development of new materials and their characterization. The second section addresses modeling and scale transition (from and to nanoscale) processes, and the third section presents applications in the environmental and energy sectors.

    Nanoporous Materials for Energy and the Environment covers a wide selection of subjects ranging from modeling and material design to the preparation and use of nanoporous catalysts, adsorbents, and membranes. The topics discussed include proton exchange membranes; carbon nanotube (CNT)-based electrodes for fuel cells; advanced design of lithium batteries and supercapacitors using CNTs; multifunctional catalyst for biomass conversion; advanced characterization and modeling of nanomaterials and membranes (including gas transport and multiscale modeling); use of membranes in energy applications, gas treatment, and separations; and development of multifunctional photoactive membranes and of nanoordered 2D photoactive titania films and membranes.

    Preface
    Acknowledgments
    Self-Organized Hybrid Membranes: Toward a Supramolecular Proton Conduction Function
    Self-Organized Hybrid Membranes
    Supramolecular Proton-Conduction Function
    A Selected Application: PEMs
    Conclusions
    Design and Applications of Multifunctional Catalysts Based on Inorganic Oxides
    Heterogeneous Multifunctional Catalyst: One System for Several Transformations
    Design and Preparation of Multifunctional Catalysts
    Multifunctional Catalysts in Chemical Synthesis
    Relevant Examples
    Concluding Remarks
    Use of Chemometric Analysis in the Characterization of the Adsorption Properties of Nanoporous Solids
    Overview
    Introduction
    Experimental
    Results and Discussion
    Molecular Modeling and Polymer Behavior
    Introduction
    Force Fields
    Realization of Amorphous Packing Models
    Characterization of Polymer Structure and Behavior from Atomistic Simulations
    Summary
    Modeling of Gas Transport Properties and its use for Structural Characterization of Mesoporous Solids
    Introduction
    Dilute Nonadsorbed Gas Flow (Knudsen Regime)
    Dilute Adsorbable Gas Flow (Henry Law Adsorption Region)
    Vapor Transport in the Multilayer Adsorption Region
    Membrane Modeling and Simulation Across Scales
    Introduction to Multiscale Modeling
    Mechanisms of Transport in Membranes
    Atomistic Reconstruction of Inorganic Membrane Materials
    Simulation of Sorption
    Simulation of Diffusion: Molecular Dynamics
    Coarse Graining: "Reduced Representations"
    Mesoscopic Scale Modeling of Membrane Structure
    Simulation of Diffusion at the Mesoscopic Scale
    Lattice-Boltzmann Method
    Direct Simulation Monte Carlo Method
    Concluding Remarks
    Hybrid Modeling of Membrane Processes
    Overview
    Introduction
    Why Hybrid Modeling
    Hybrid Modeling Applied to Membrane Science and Engineering
    Selected Case Studies
    Future Trends and Challenges
    Membranes for Energy
    Clean Refineries
    Zero Emission Coal Plants
    Fuel Cells
    Electrolysis and Water Splitting
    Batteries
    Osmotic Power
    Carbon Nanotubes for Energy Applications
    CNTs for LIB Application
    CNTs for Supercapacitor Application
    CNTs in Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells
    Conclusions and Outlooks
    Ceramic Membranes for Gas Treatment and Separation
    Materials and Architectures
    Applications
    Applications Involving Multifunctional Materials or Devices
    Conclusion
    Multifunctionnal Membranes Based on Photocatalytic Nanomaterials
    Basic Principles on Photocatalysis and Membranes
    TiO2 Anatase-Based Membranes
    ZnO-Based Membranes
    Membrane Shaping and Integration
    Conclusion
    Nanostructured Titania Thin Films for Solar Use in Energy Applications
    Requirements of Titania Photoanode for PEC Solar Cells
    Preparation and Photoresponse of Titania Nanotube Ordered Arrays
    Titania Nanomembrane
    Titania Nanostructured Films for DSC Applications
    Conclusions and Outlooks
    Inorganic Membrane Reactors for Energy Applications
    Pd Membrane Reactors for Hydrogen Production
    Oxygen Selective Membrane Reactors 28713.3 Other Developments
    Recent Developments at the University of Zaragoza
    Conclusions
    Index

    Biography

    Professor Gabriele Centi, Department of Industrial Chemistry and Engineering of Materials, University of Messina, Italy

    Dr. Nick Kanellopoulos, Materials & Membranes for Environmental Applications Laboratory, National Center for Scientific Research "Demokritos", Athens, Greece

    "This book addresses an important factor for the future of both energy production and environmental protection. To address these competing issues, new materials will be needed with the appropriate properties. Given the large spectrum of applications (separations, catalysis, etc.), there will not be one solution but a range of options. Thus, a book dedicated to both these material needs as well as the various applications is very timely."
    —Prof. Richard D. Noble - University of Colorado, USA