N B Singh - Böcker

Nanocomposites are composite materials that have dimensions less than 100 nm in at least one of their phases, offering a higher surface-to-volume ratio. They are high-performance materials, exhibit unusual properties, and are considered as materials of the 21st century. In this book, experts from the field discuss the basic concepts, synthesis, characterization, properties, and applications of nanocomposites. The book is helpful for researchers, professional engineers, students, and those associated with a variety of disciplines of both academia and industry in seeking an understanding of what has been recently done in the field and the challenges related to it.

Spectroscopy can be defined as the study of the interaction of electromagnetic radiation with matter, during which absorption, emission, or scattering of radiation may take place. The structure and chemical properties of a system can easily be understood and studied with the help of atomic and molecular spectroscopic techniques because there exists a fundamental relationship between the properties of a substance and the interaction of radiation with that substance. The importance of spectroscopy in the physical and chemical processes going on in planets, stars, and comets as well as in the interstellar medium has been continuously growing as a result of the use of satellites and the development of radiotelescopes for the microwave and millimeter wave regions. This book on spectroscopy gives a wealth of information that may be derived from spectra.

Piezoelectric materials are smart materials that sense changes in the environment, respond to these changes in predetermined stimuli, and act as combined sensor/actuator ceramic materials. Nonlinear electrostrictive relaxors (PLZT and PMN) are smart piezoelectric ceramics that respond to changes in their environment by reacting and tuning one or more of their properties to optimize their behavior. Multifunctionality is a key concept of such materials, which can be exploited with all ingenuity in the miniaturization and integration of modern devices that design engineers can muster. Present market trends show that the future for piezoelectric ceramics is bright, and these devices will become smarter and smarter as technological applications demand. More and more piezoelectric ceramic materials will emerge as a result of the relentless drive to meet the trends of applications.This book encourages more materials research efforts to develop better ferroelectric and electrostrictive ceramics for future applications and discusses several methods based on their cost and applications. Each chapter in the book is unique as it is written by eminent authors from various renowned institutions who share their research experiences on electrically active smart and very smart materials. The book presents bulk, thick-film, and thin-film forms of these materials that have now proved their worth and constitute a strong portfolio for future applications in electronics.