Energy and Environment Series – serie

Combining the basic concepts of photocatalysis with the synthesis of new catalysts, reactor and reaction engineering, this book provides a comprehensive resource on the topic. The book introduces the fundamental aspects of photocatalysis including the role of surface chemistry and understanding the chemistry of photocatalytic processes before exploring the theory and experimental studies of charge carrier dynamics. Specific chapters then cover new materials for the degradation of organics; water splitting and CO2 reduction; as well as reactor and reaction engineering. Researchers new to this discipline can learn the first principles, whilst experienced researchers can gain further information about aspects in photocatalysis beyond their area of expertise. Together with Photocatalysis: Applications, these volumes provide a complete overview to photocatalysis.

One of the crucial challenges in the energy sector is the efficient capture and utilisation of CO2 generated from fossil fuels. Carbon capture and storage technologies can provide viable alternatives for energy intensive processes, although implementation of large-scale demonstrators remains challenging. Therefore, innovative technologies are needed that are capable of processing CO2 emission from a wide range of sources, ideally without additional fossil energy demand (e.g. solar driven or overcoming the limits of photosynthesis). This book covers the most recent developments in the field of electrochemical reduction of CO2, from first-principle mechanistic studies to technological perspectives. An introduction to basic concepts in electrochemistry and electrocatalysis is included to provide a background for newcomers to this field. This book provides a comprehensive overview for researchers and industrial chemists working in environmental science, electrochemistry and chemical engineering.

Covering both organic materials, where recent advances in the understanding of device physics is driving progress, and the newly emerging field of mixed halide perovskites, which are challenging the efficiencies of conventional thin film PV cells, this book provides a balanced overview of the experimental and theoretical aspects of these two classes of solar cell. The book explores both the experimental and theoretical aspects of these solar cell classes. Emphasis is placed on understanding the fundamental physics of the devices. The book also discusses modelling over many length scales, from nano to macro. The first book to cover perovskites, this is an important reference for industrialists and researchers working in energy technologies and materials.

Thermal energy harvesting is predicted to become a global, billion-pound market by 2020. This book provides a current perspective of recent developments and trends within thermoelectric materials and devices for power energy harvesting applications. The book highlights the potential of thermoelectrics in the context of a low carbon energy economy, and features in-depth coverage of a range of different fabrication methods for thermoelectric materials including electrodeposition. Topics covered include layered and pseudo-layered materials, thermoelectric oxides, nano- and micro-fabrication techniques, high-throughput thermoelectric measurement techniques and power mining. This book is ideal for researchers and industrialists in materials science.

Lignin, an aromatic biopolymer found in plant cell walls, is a key component of lignocellulosic biomass and generally utilized for heat and power. However, lignin’s chemical composition makes it an attractive source for biological and catalytic conversion to fuels and chemicals. Bringing together experts from biology, catalysis, engineering, analytical chemistry, and techno-economic/life-cycle analysis, Lignin Valorization presents a comprehensive, interdisciplinary picture of how lignocellulosic biorefineries could potentially employ lignin valorization technologies.Chapters will specifically focus on the production of fuels and chemicals from lignin and topics covered include (i) methods for isolating lignin in the context of the lignocellulosic biorefinery, (ii) thermal, chemo-catalytic, and biological methods for lignin depolymerization, (iii) chemo-catalytic and biological methods for upgrading lignin, (iv) characterization of lignin, and (v) techno-economic and life-cycle analysis of integrated processes to utilize lignin in an integrated biorefinery.The book provides the latest breakthroughs and challenges in upgrading lignin to fuels and chemicals for graduate students and researchers in academia, governmental laboratories, and industry interested in biomass conversion.

With the rapid worldwide increase of interest and excitement about the promise of artificial photosynthesis for renewable fuels, the research community is beginning to focus on the challenges of integrating the various components into complete, unassisted solar fuel generators.Integrated Solar Fuel Generators discusses the scientific and engineering efforts addressing the challenges of building complete integrated artificial photosystems that will form the basis for developing a solar fuels technology. Building on recent substantial progress towards efficient semiconductor light absorbers and robust, earth abundant heterogeneous catalysts for water oxidation and proton reduction by the community, the integration of these components into efficient durable generators suitable for scale-up moves into focus. To succeed, a broad range of materials, processing, and design issues need to be addressed to meet efficiency, stability and scalability requirements.This book describes the critical areas of research and development towards viable integrated solar fuels systems, the current state of the art of these efforts and outlines future research needs that will accelerate progress towards a deployable technology.

From environmental remediation to alternative fuels, this book explores the numerous important applications of photocatalysis. The book covers topics such as the photocatalytic processes in the treatment of water and air; the fundamentals of solar photocatalysis; the challenges involved in developing self-cleaning photocatalytic materials; photocatalytic hydrogen generation; photocatalysts in the synthesis of chemicals; and photocatalysis in food packaging and biomedical and medical applications. The book also critically discusses concepts for the future of photocatalysis, providing a fascinating insight for researchers. Together with Photocatalysis: Fundamentals and Perspectives, these volumes provide a complete overview to photocatalysis.

Combining the basic concepts of photocatalysis with the synthesis of new catalysts, reactor and reaction engineering, and exploring the numerous important applications of photocatalysis, these books provide a comprehensive resource on the topic. Photocatalysis: Fundamentals and Perspectives introduces the fundamental aspects of photocatalysis before exploring the theory and experimental studies of charge carrier dynamics. Photocatalysis: Applications discusses photocatalytic processes applied to a wide range of areas, from the treatment of water and air; to photocatalysis in food packaging and biomedical and medical applications. Together these books provide a complete overview to photocatalysis. Researchers new to this field can learn the first principles, whilst experienced researchers can gain further information about applications of photocatalysis beyond their area of expertise.

Tremendous research is taking place to make photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting technology a reality. Development of high performance PEC systems requires an understanding of the theory to design novel materials with attractive band gaps and stability. Focusing on theory and systems analysis, Advances in Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting provides an up-to-date review of this exciting research landscape.The book starts by addressing the challenges of water splitting followed by chapters on the theoretical design of PEC materials and their computational screening. The book then explores advances in identifying reaction intermediates in PEC materials as well as developments in solution processed photoelectrodes, photocatalyst sheets, and bipolar membranes. The final part of the book focuses on systems analysis, which lays out a roadmap of where researchers hope the fundamental research will lead us.Edited by world experts in the field of solar fuels, the book provides a comprehensive overview of photoelectrochemical water splitting, from theoretical aspects to systems analysis, for the energy research community.

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) and "negative emissions" technologies will play an essential role in mitigating the impact of global warming and meeting the temperature targets set by the IPCC and by COP21. Identifying the role and value of CCS relative to other mitigation technologies is of vital importance. This book provides a comprehensive, up-to-date overview of the major sources of carbon dioxide emission, capture and storage, as well as negative emissions technologies, and provides insight into the role and value of CCS in the industrial and power sectors. The issues associated with commercial deployment of CCS are discussed, providing potential approaches to overcome these hurdles through a combination of political, economic and R&D strategies. Carbon Capture and Storage provides the latest global perspective on the role and value of CCS in delivering temperature targets and reducing the impact of global warming. With contributions from internationally recognised leaders, this book will appeal to graduate students and researchers in academia and industry, working in chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, and energy policy.

The hydrogen economy is receiving increased attention due to concerns around the consequences of fossil fuel use, and hydrogen has great potential as a way to reduce reliance on traditional energy sources. Increased hydrogen supplies using cleaner methods are seen as essential for potential hydrogen based power systems for transportation and renewable energy conversion into fuel. Electrochemical Methods for Hydrogen Production provides a comprehensive picture of the various routes to use electricity to produce hydrogen using electrochemical science and technology. The book provides an overview of the fundamentals of electrochemical cells and performance characterisation, as well as a comparison of current applications. It also includes the various types of electrolysers currently used commercially and the range of new electrolysis processes, including photo-electrochemical, biological and thermal energy techniques. Edited by an expert in the field, this title will be of interest to graduate students and researchers in academia and industry working in energy, electrochemistry, physical chemistry and chemical engineering.

The quest for efficient and durable battery technologies is one of the key challenges for enabling the transition to renewable energy economies. Magnesium batteries, and in particular rechargeable non-aqueous systems, are an area of extensive opportunity and intense research. Rechargeable magnesium batteries hold numerous advantages over current lithium-ion batteries, namely the relative abundance of magnesium to lithium and the potential for magnesium batteries to greatly outperform their Li-ion counterparts. Magnesium Batteries comprehensively outlines the scientific and technical challenges in the field, covering anodes, cathodes, electrolytes and particularly promising systems such as the Mg–S cell. Edited by a leading figure in the field of electrochemical energy storage, with contributions from global experts, this book is a vital resource for students and researchers at all levels. Whether entering into the subject for the first time or extending their knowledge of battery materials across chemistry, physics, energy, engineering and materials science this book provides an ideal reference for anyone interested in the state-of-the-art and future of magnesium batteries.

Thermoelectric materials have received a great deal of attention in energy-harvesting and cooling applications, primarily due to their intrinsic low cost, energy efficient and eco-friendly nature. The past decade has witnessed heretofore-unseen advances in organic-based thermoelectric materials and devices. This title summarises the significant progress that has been made in the molecular design, physical characterization, and performance optimization of organic thermoelectric materials, focusing on effective routes to minimize thermal conductivity and maximize power factor. Featuring a series of state-of-the-art strategies for enhancing the thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT) of organic thermoelectricity, and highlighting cutting-edge concepts to promote the performance of organic thermoelectricity, chapters will strengthen the exploration of new high-ZT thermoelectric materials and their potential applications. With contributions from leading worldwide authors, Organic Thermoelectric Materials will appeal to graduate students as well as academic and industrial researchers across chemistry, materials science, physics and engineering interested in the materials and their applications.

Conversion of light and electricity to chemicals is an important component of a sustainable energy system. The exponential growth in renewable energy generation implies that there will be strong market pull for chemical energy storage technology in the near future, and here carbon dioxide utilization must play a central role. The electrochemical conversion of carbon dioxide is key in achieving these goals. Carbon Dioxide Electrochemistry showcases different advances in the field, and bridges the two worlds of homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis that are often perceived as in competition in research. Chapters cover homogeneous and heterogeneous electrochemical reduction of CO2, nanostructures for CO2 reduction, hybrid systems for CO2 conversion, electrochemical reactors, theoretical approaches to catalytic reduction of CO2, and photoelectrodes for electrochemical conversion. With internationally well-known editors and authors, this book will appeal to graduate students and researchers in energy, catalysis, chemical engineering and chemistry who work on carbon dioxide.

Thermal energy storage refers to a collection of technologies that store energy in the forms of heat, cold or their combination, which currently accounts for more than half of global non-pumped hydro installations. The potential market for thermal energy storage on future low-carbon energy systems and associated social and economic impacts are enormous, with significant progress having been made in recent years. Following an introduction to thermal energy and thermal energy storage, the book is organised into four parts comprising the fundamentals, materials, devices, energy storage systems and applications of thermal energy storage. Chapters cover topics including materials properties, formulation and manufacture, as well as modelling at the material and device scale. Edited by a leader in the field, and with contributions from internationally renowned authors, this title will appeal to graduate students and researchers in energy, energy storage, materials engineering, chemical and process engineering, mechanical engineering and manufacture technologies.

Heterogeneous catalysis plays a central role in the global energy paradigm, with practically all energy-related process relying on a catalyst at a certain point. The application of heterogeneous catalysts will be of paramount importance to achieve the transition towards low carbon and sustainable societies. This book provides an overview of the design, limitations and challenges of heterogeneous catalysts for energy applications. In an attempt to cover a broad spectrum of scenarios, the book considers traditional processes linked to fossil fuels such as reforming and hydrocracking, as well as catalysis for sustainable energy applications such as hydrogen production, photocatalysis, biomass upgrading and conversion of CO2 to clean fuels. Novel approaches in catalysts design are covered, including microchannel reactors and structured catalysts, catalytic membranes and ionic liquids. With contributions from leaders in the field, Heterogeneous Catalysis for Energy Applications will be an essential toolkit for chemists, physicists, chemical engineers and industrials working on energy.

Greenhouse gas removal (GGR) technologies can remove greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Most of the current GGR technologies focus on carbon dioxide removal, these include afforestation and reforestation, bioenergy with carbon capture and storage, direct air capture, enhanced weathering, soil carbon sequestration and biochar, ocean fertilisation and coastal blue carbon. GGR technologies will be essential in limiting global warning to temperatures below 1.5°C (targets by the IPCC and COP21) and will be required to achieve deep reductions in atmospheric CO2 concentration. In the context of recent legally binding legislation requiring the transition to a net zero emissions economy by 2050, GGR technologies are broadly recognised as being indispensable.This book provides the most up-to-date information on GGR technologies that provide removal of atmosphere CO2, giving insight into their role and value in achieving climate change mitigation targets. Chapters discuss the issues associated with commercial development and deployment of GGRs, providing potential approaches to overcome these hurdles through a combination of political, economic and R&D strategies.With contributions from leaders in the field, this title is an indispensable resource for graduate students and researchers in academia and industry, working in chemical engineering, mechanical engineering and energy policy.

The ongoing energy transition will require a number of emerging technological concepts (e.g. Power-to-X and Hydrogen Economy, etc.) which will ultimately combine renewable energy, novel chemical production/conversion processes and innovative, integrated devices/systems to produce sustainable platform molecules, fuels and materials.In this book, readers are introduced to selected concepts, challenges, steps forward and necessities relating to the technologies required to deepen the integration between the energy and chemical sectors.Selected key technologies to support this integration will be discussed, with particular emphasis on the catalytic systems and devices required to enable the transition including electrochemical cells, CO2 hydrogenation and plasma-assisted processes. Several chapters will discuss evolving and emerging technologies and tools (e.g. LCA) that will be required to enable a green and successful energy transition.The book will be of interest to graduate students and researchers in renewable energy, catalysis, chemical engineering and chemistry, wishing to have an introduction to the topic and associated technologies.

The exploration of new-family desalination techniques has become increasingly important in recent decades. Capacitive deionization (CDI) has attracted multidisciplinary interest as a promising alternative to the conventional desalination techniques of reverse osmosis and electro-osmosis, due to several attractive features such as low energy consumption, environmental friendliness, and high water utilization efficiency. CDI desalts saline water through storing ions in electrical double layers of porous carbons or by redox reactions with faradic materials.This is the first book to specialise in CDI and aims to showcase the fundamentals and progressive achievements of the research. Chapters cover the timeline of CDI technologies, the expansion of new-family electrode materials, exploitation of new-concept CDI devices, and applications of CDI in other new areas. In addition, the book provides new insights into future directions for the development of CDI and other emerging nanotechnologies for addressing the energy-water nexus.Edited by a founder of the field, the book will be of interest to those researching water desalination and purification across chemistry, materials science and environmental science.

The development of renewable and sustainable lignocellulosic biofuels is currently receiving worldwide attention and investment. Despite decades of research, there remain significant challenges to be overcome before these biofuels can be produced in large volumes at competitive prices. One obstacle is the lack of efficient and affordable catalytic systems to dissolve and hydrolyze polysaccharides into sugars. These sugars are then fed to microrganisms and fermented into biofuels. The price of these catalysts, be they biological, thermochemical, or chemical in nature, represent one of the largest costs in the conversion process. There are a number of catalytic schemes, each with their own advantages and disadvantages, available. This book presents a general yet substantial review of the most promising processes and the spectrum of biomass pretreatment, enzymes, chemical catalysts, and hybrid approaches of hydrolyzing biomass into fermentable sugars. It is the only currently available book that compares the biochemical, chemical, and thermochemical conversion processes to biofuel production.

The last few years have seen the concept of bioenergy and biofuels come of age. Rising oil prices have lead to more food crops being grown for energy as well as food. This has created controversy by adding to the upward pressure on crop commodity prices that was already being created by the increasing demand for food from an expanding population. More attention has, therefore, focussed on meeting the rising demand for bioenergy and biofuels in more sustainable ways. A wider range of crops is being explored, including non-food crops, as well as the use of crop residues rather than grain or seed. Energy Crops is a comprehensive reference source which looks at this topic from the plant and agricultural science perspective. It covers energy crops that are already in use and those that are being developed or researched. Species that have been cultivated by humankind for millennia, and some that have never been considered as crops before, fall within its coverage. The introductory chapter defines energy crops before reviewing the development and current state of the technology. It also gives an historical perspective and introduces the ethical issues. Each of the subsequent chapters is dedicated to a single crop and describes the current usage of that crop for energy, its potential for future development, the economics of its use for energy production, and the research that is being undertaken to tailor it for use as an energy crop. Where appropriate, the implications for food and feed security are balanced against the benefits in terms of fuel security, the impending oil supply 'peak', the need to reduce CO2 emissions, and the implications for climate change mitigation. Each chapter is written by a specialist author or authors of international standing. The chapters by representatives of the plant breeding and biofuel industries give an industrial perspective on why energy crops have 'come of age'. They also describe how the sector is expected to develop with a wish list of crop improvements that industry would like to see realized. These include higher levels of fermentable starch, cellulose, fibres and oil quality through to the production of pure hydrocarbons. The book is suitable for undergraduates, postgraduates, academics, and those working in industry.

This book reviews the state-of-the-art in fuel cells (low and high temperature) across all the types applied in the field today and assesses current trends in development. The main technology problems are discussed and current gaps to market success identified. The innovations covered in the book deliver new answers to pertinent problems and/or offer new opportunities, be it in operating conditions, application area, extension of lifetime, new fuels, exciting new diagnosis and analysis methods. The volume gives an insight not only to the key developments within the next few years, but also shows perspectives in the mid-term. Readers receive an overview of cutting edge, challenging research and development that can be used in future developments, both of personal careers, as well as in company technology planning.

World demand for energy is rapidly increasing and finding sufficient supplies of clean energy for the future is one of the major scientific challenges of today. This book presents the latest knowledge and chemical prospects in developing hydrogen as a solar fuel. Using oxygenic photosynthesis and hydrogenase enzymes for bio-inspiration, it explores strategies for developing photocatalysts to produce a molecular solar fuel. The book begins with perspective of solar energy utilization and the role that synthetic photocatalysts can play in producing solar fuels. It then summarizes current knowledge with respect to light capture, photochemical conversion, and energy storage in chemical bonds. Following chapters on the natural systems, the book then summarizes the latest developments in synthetic chemistry of photo- and reductive catalysts. Finally, important future research goals for the practical utilization of solar energy are discussed. The book is written by experts from various fields working on the biological and synthetic chemical side of molecular solar fuels to facilitate advancement in this area of research.

There is increasing recognition that low-cost, high capacity processes for the conversion of biomass into fuels and chemicals are essential for expanding the utilization of carbon neutral processes, reducing dependency on fossil fuel resources, and increasing rural income. While much attention has focused on the use of biomass to produce ethanol via fermentation, high capacity processes are also required for the production of hydrocarbon fuels and chemicals from lignocellulosic biomass. In this context, this book provides an up-to-date overview of the thermochemical methods available for biomass conversion to liquid fuels and chemicals. In addition to traditional conversion technologies such as fast pyrolysis, new developments are considered, including catalytic routes for the production of liquid fuels from carbohydrates and the use of ionic liquids for lignocellulose utilization. The individual chapters, written by experts in the field, provide an introduction to each topic, as well as describing recent research developments.

The ultra-bright femtosecond X-ray pulses provided by X-ray free electron lasers (XFELs) open up opportunities to study the structure and dynamics of a wide variety of systems beyond what is possible with synchrotron sources. This book introduces the principles and properties of currently operating and future XFELs, before outlining applications in materials science, chemistry and biology. Edited by pioneers in this exciting field, and featuring contributions from leading researchers, this book is ideal for researchers working with XFELs, synchrotron radiation, ultrafast and femtosecond crystallography and femtosecond spectroscopy.

This authoritative reference covers the various aspects of materials science that will impact on the next generation of photovoltaic (PV) module technology. The emphasis on materials brings a fresh perspective to the literature and highlights crucial issues. Special attention is given to thin film PV materials, an area that is growing more rapidly than crystalline silicon and could dominate in the long term. The book addresses the fundamental aspects of PV solar cell materials and gives a comprehensive description of each major thin film material, either in research or production. Particular weight is given to the key materials drivers of solar conversion efficiency, long term stability, materials costs, and materials sustainability.

This book is divided into two parts. The first covers biomass modification to facilitate the industrial degradation processing and other characteristics of feedstocks. These include reduction in the general recalcitrance of the plant cell wall and downstream processing costs. The second focuses on cutting edge technologies for the conversion of lignocelluloses into biofuels and other products. It describes the most up-to-date advances in natural biomass utilization systems, such as wood-feeding termites and animals that efficiently degrade lignocellulosic substrates. Consolidated bioprocessing (CBP) integrates cellulase production and cellulose hydrolysis, with pentose and hexose fermentation in a single step. This replicates what happens in the digestive systems of animals, such as termites and cows, that effectively degrade lignocellulosic substrates. CBP has the potential to reduce production costs and lower capital investment whilst increasing conversion efficiency. Currently, there are no CBP-enabling micro-organisms suitable for industrial applications. Consequently, this book presents technologies which integrate the lignocellulolytic systems of insects and other animals to advance CBP strategy for cellulosic biofuels. It covers the progress made, and challenges faced, with the utilisation of gene, catalyst, and other unique mechanisms from cellulose-eating animals, as well as cutting-edge technologies developed to reduce the general recalcitrance of feedstocks for processing. This volume makes essential reading for academics and industrial groups concerned with overcoming the challenges inherent in the biological conversion of biomass into fuels and chemicals.

Photovoltaic systems enable the sun’s energy to be converted directly into electricity using semiconductor solar cells. The ultimate goal of photovoltaic research and development is to reduce the cost of solar power to reach or even become lower than the cost of electricity generated from fossil and nuclear fuels. The power conversion efficiency and the cost per unit area of the phototvoltaic system are critical factors that determine the cost of photovoltaic electricity. Until recently, the power conversion efficiency of single-junction photovoltaic cells has been limited to approximately 33% - the socalled Shockley-Queisser limit. This book presents the latest developments in photovoltaics which seek to either reach or surpass the Shockley-Queisser limit, and to lower the cell cost per unit area. Progress toward this ultimate goal is presented for the three generations of photovoltaic cells: the 1st generation based on crystalline silicon semiconductors; the 2nd generation based on thin film silicon, compound semiconductors, amorphous silicon, and various mesoscopic structures; and the 3rd generation based on the unique properties of nanoscale materials, new inorganic and organic photoconversion materials, highly efficient multi-junction cells with low cost solar concentration, and novel photovoltaic processes.The extent to which photovoltaic materials and processes can meet the expectations of efficient and cost effective solar energy conversion to electricity is discussed. Written by an international team of expert contributors, and with researchers in academia, national research laboratories, and industry in mind, this book is a comprehensive guide to recent progress in photovoltaics and essential for any library or laboratory in the field.

There has been a resurgence of interest in light-induced water splitting as the search for storable carbon neutral energy becomes more urgent. Although the history of the basic idea dates back more than four decades, efficient, economical and stable integrated devices have yet to be realized. In the continuing quest for such devices, the field of photoelectrochemistry is entering a new phase where the extraordinary interdisciplinary of the research and development efforts are opening new avenues. This aspect of current research effort is reflected in the chapters of this book, which encompass present thinking in the various disciplines such as materials science, photo-electrochemistry and interfaces that can contribute to realization of viable solar fuel generators. This book presents a blend of the background science and recent advances in the field of photoelectrochemical water splitting, and includes aspects that point towards medium to long term future realization. The content of the book goes beyond the more traditional approaches to the subject by including topics such as novel excitation energy processes that have only been realized so far in advanced photonics. The comprehensive overview of current activities and development horizons provided by the impressive collection of internationally renowned authors therefore represents a unique reflection of current thinking regarding water splitting by light.