Download or read book Study of Highly Conductive Flexible Polymer Electrolyte Membranes and Their Novel Flexoelectric Effect written by Camilo Rendon Piedrahita and published by . This book was released on 2018 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Present dissertation outlines a study of the basic important physicochemical properties of photo-cured polymer electrolyte membranes (PEM) that can be enhanced and optimized in order to be implemented as electrolyte in solid-state Li-ion batteries. The studied properties include mechanical integrity, ionic conductivity, thermal and electrochemical stability, etc. This dissertation also introduces and characterizes a novel application of PEMs as energy harvesting materials, due to their capability to transform mechanical stimuli into an electrical signal and vice versa. Chapter I provides a brief overview of the general content of the dissertation. Chapter II presents the material that was taken as the basis for the study. It contains essential information related to the battery principles, operation, development and applications. In addition, it encompasses the description of electroactive polymers, which are in principle, equivalent to the discovered flexoelectric PEMs that are as well introduced in this work. Chapter III illustrates the materials, methods and calculations utilized to perform and analyze the data collected for the purpose of the study. Chapter IV describes an incorporation of mercaptopropyl methyl siloxane homopolymer (thiosiloxane) as a co-component to the matrix of the PEM, which in result enables enhancement of the polymer segmental motion and hence, the ionic conductivity. UV irradiation was applied to various thiosiloxane and poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) mixtures to get the `thio-ene' reaction between the thiol functionality and the double bonds of the PEGDA precursor, which formed a complete amorphous self-standing PEM. The thiosiloxane modified PEM film exhibits higher extension-at-break in comparison to the PEM containing only PEGDA such as PEGDA700/SCN/LiTFSI 20/40/40, FTIR and Raman spectroscopy techniques were employed to detect the thiol (SH) groups consumed after performing the so-called thiol-ene reaction. It was found that there is a direct relationship between the level of the thiosiloxane content and the resulting ionic conductivity of the PEM. Discovered PEMs were also analyzed via thermal and electrochemical techniques in order to determine their implementation as electrolyte in solid-state Li-ion batteries. Chapter V presents the implementation of different PEG-based macromolecules with different chemical architectures. Different chemical architectures increase the mechanical strength of the PEMs without affecting drastically the ionic conductivity. PEMs are fabricated by exposing the mixtures of PEGnA/SCN/LiTFSI 20/40/40 to UV irradiation. Following the photo-curing process, FITR spectroscopy was utilized to detect the consumption of acrylate groups. It is believed that succinonitrile (SCN) increases the diffusion of the solutions and therefore improves the probability of acrylate groups to react. PEG4A, PEG3A and PEG2A PEMs were analyzed with the stress-strain curve test in order to determine the influence of different architectures on the mechanical properties and their relationship with the glass transition temperature (Tg) Other important properties, such as thermal stability and optimal electrochemical window were also studied. Chapter VI introduces an innovative way to create electrical potential as a consequence of ionic polarization. Generated electrical potential can be used to design sensors and energy harvesting devices. This section presents the application of passive and active ion transports found in neuron cells to the solid-state PEM (PEGnA/SC/LiTFSI 20/40/40) system. The application of passive ion transport was studied by fabricating a bilayer PEM system where ion diffusion was induced along the concentration gradient. The study didn't provide proper results for further investigation. For the application of active ion transport, an external stimulus was utilized, such as pressure and temperature gradient, to a single layer PEM system. This application revealed mechanoelectric and pyroelectric properties in PEM. In other words, when pressure gradient (bending deformation) is applied to a PEM, ionic polarization takes place within the PEM, resulting in an electrical output in a form of voltage or current. These properties indicate that PEMs are "smart" materials that can sense and harvest energy via mechano and pyroelectricity. Chapter VII presents the flexoelectric effect on ion conductive PEMs composed of poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) - thiosiloxane (TS) copolymer and Ionic liquid (IL). These flexoelectric PEMs operate based on the principle of ion polarization of dissociated ions to transform input deformation into electrical output. Electrical outputs are collected by monitoring voltage (Voc) and current (Isc) signals while the sample is deformed (square wave mode) by utilizing a Solartron Galvanostat/Potentiostat. The voltage is directly related to the modulus of the PEM, whereas the current is directly correlated with the ionic conductivity of the PEM. Flexoelectric coefficients were calculated for all the composition in correlation to the above-mentioned properties. The magnitude of the calculated flexoelectric coefficients outperforms those reported in the literature for other materials such as some ceramics, PVDF and bent-core liquid crystals. Similarly, Chapter VIII complements the previous work of flexoelectric PEMs. In this case, the deformation of the sample was performed via sinusoidal wave at different amplitudes. The efficiency of the samples has been studied by calculating flexoelectric coefficients. These were found to be of much lower magnitude compared with those from square wave input. The reason lies in the lack of charge relaxation when the sample is being deformed. The effect of frequency on the amplitude of the current, voltage and magnitude of flexoelectric coefficients is also analyzed. Due to the rubber-like nature of these types of PEMs, they can be potentially applied in rubber based materials as sensors or energy harvesting devices from dynamic deformations.

Download or read book Novel Polymer Electrolyte Nano Composite Membranes for Fuel Cell Applications written by Hadis Zarrin and published by . This book was released on 2014 with total page 192 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Fuel cells are electrochemical devices which have been established to lead in the transition to clean energy technology and will become the energy efficient power source of the future. Among all the fuel cell systems, anion exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFCs) and solid polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are qualified of achieving high power densities (>l W cm-2) that is required for many applications. Mainly, operation of AEMFCs and PEMFCs at higher temperatures (100-130 °C) would considerably enhance their kinetic performance over the current lower temperature operation technologies. However, due to the type of materials used in each fuel cell there is an associated set of challenges including cost and lifetime which require innovative engineering solutions. One of the important challenges is the fabrication of a cost effective solid electrolyte with high efficiency and durability for both PEMFCs and AEMFCs. Concerning PEMFCs, the state of the art perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) membrane (Dupont Nafion®) has high ionic conductivity and good mechanical and chemical stability. However, its high performance and durability is limited to the operational conditions (e.g., temperature, humidity, and pH). In the case of AEMFCs, the dilemma between high ionic conductivity and physicochemical stability for membranes is an important issue, i.e., maximizing one will minimize the other. Thus, for both PEMFCs and AEMFCs, there is a desire to develop a solid electrolyte material capable of maintaining both ion-conductivity and durability at the same time for various operational conditions, especially elevated temperature conditions. The main goal of this research project has been the design and fabrication of novel nano-composite electrolyte membranes that fulfills all the aforementioned requirements for a cost effective solid electrolyte membrane in both PEMFCs and AEMFCs. To accomplish this, different approaches have been effectively integrated and improved by understanding and combination of organic chemistry, electrochemistry, chemical engineering and nano-materials science. Hygroscopic nano-fillers made of titanium oxide nanotubes (TiO2-NT) or graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets were first functionalized with highly ion-conductive groups, and then composed with the commercial membrane or another type of polymeric backbone. The latter was morphologically modified to favor higher electrolyte and water absorption capacity. Combining the benefits of a nano-filler with a morphologically modified polymer electrolyte effectively led to the development of a highly ion-conductive, water-retentive, and durable electrolyte membrane. Electrochemical, thermal, physical and chemical properties of proposed membranes were tested, analyzed and reported by various characterization methods. For PEMFC applications, the developed nano-composite PFSA membranes demonstrated significant ion conductivity and single fuel cell performance improvement (~4 times) over commercial PEM at the humidity of 30 % and temperature of 120 °C. For AEMFCs, the selected nano-filler (e.g., GO) composed with morphologically modified polymer (e.g., porous polybenzimidazole) notably increased both performance and durability of AEMs in harsh alkaline conditions. This work offered promising solid electrolyte replacements synthesized by simple and cost effective techniques, able to meet the fuel cell market demands.

Download or read book Nanoparticle Containing Hybrid Polymer Electrolyte Membranes Using Holographic Polymerization written by Brittany L. Gallagher and published by . This book was released on 2015 with total page 318 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The demand for efficient energy storage will continue to grow as limited energy resources are depleted and the use of mobile technologies increases. Lithium-ion batteries have emerged as an important energy storage alternative, but the use of volatile and flammable liquid electrolytes in commercial applications hinders the safety of these batteries. Liquid electrolytes do not prevent the growth of lithium dendrites, which are the main cause of battery failure in current devices. Solid polymer electrolytes with high mechanical properties have been researched to prevent lithium dendrite growth, but increasing mechanical integrity has a direct tradeoff of reducing ion transport and conductivity. The outstanding challenge in the field of polymer electrolytes is to simultaneously maximize both ionic conductivity and mechanical strength without sacrificing either property. This research is focused on developing an improved solid polymer electrolyte for lithium batteries which offers a combination of high conductivity and mechanical properties. Holographic polymerization was used to pattern silica nanoparticles into polymer electrolyte membranes with segregated acrylate and electrolyte domains. Nanoparticles were incorporated to improve the mechanical strength of the acrylate domain and to enhance the conductivity of the electrolyte. Holographic polymerization was utilized for long-range, defect-free, nanosize morphological control. Two optical setups were used to fabricate gratings with the layers aligned both perpendicular and parallel to the film. The distribution of the nanoparticles in the layers was investigated, in addition to their impact on conductivity, mechanical properties, and morphology. It was found that the composite electrolytes exhibited an increase in both ionic conductivity and Young0́9s modulus. The use of holographic polymerization offers an exciting alternative to produce composite polymer electrolytes with independently tunable properties for use in lithium-ion batteries.

Download or read book Ion Conductive Polymer Electrolyte Membranes and Fractal Growth written by Shahizat Amir and published by . This book was released on 2012 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Ion Conductive Polymer Electrolyte Membranes and Fractal Growth.

Download or read book Investigation on the Structure property Relationships in Highly Ion conductive Polymer Electrolyte Membranes for All solid state Lithium Ion Batteries written by Guopeng Fu and published by . This book was released on 2017 with total page 179 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The present dissertation is focused on development of the highly ion-conductive polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) for all-solid-state lithium ion batteries. The organic molecule urea was found to be good additives to enhance the ionic conductive PEM. However, it phase-separated from the electrolyte during the charging/discharging process and harm the performance of the batteries. In order to improve the ionic conductivity as well as stabilize the electrolyte, polyethylene glycol bis-carbamate (PEGBC) was synthesized via a condensation reaction between polyethylene glycol diamine and ethylene carbonate. The PEGBC and lithium bis(trifluoromethane sulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI) salt binary mixture exhibits an enhanced ionic conductivity by virtue of the complexation of the carbamate group and lithium ion.Subsequently, dimethacrylate groups were chemically attached to both ends of PEGBC to afford polyethylene glycol-bis-carbamate dimethacrylate (PEGBCDMA) precursor having crosslinking capability. The melt-mixed ternary mixtures consisting of PEGBCDMA, succinonitrile (SCN) plasticizer, and LiTFSI were completely miscible in a wide compositional range. Upon photo-crosslinking, the neat PEGBCDMA network was completely amorphous exhibiting higher tensile strength, modulus, and extensibility relative to polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) counterpart. The succinonitrile-plasticized PEM network containing PEGBCDMA remained completely amorphous and transparent upon photo-crosslinking, showing superionic conductivity, improved thermal stability, and superior tensile properties with improved capacity retention during charge/discharge cycling as compared to the PEGDA-based PEM.By mixing PEGBCDMA, LiTFSI and ethylene carbonate, a flammable retardant and PEM can be fabricated. This transparent PEM is bendable and twistable, which makes it an ideal candidate for a flexible battery application. Moreover, the PEM also exhibits high ionic conductivity and large electrochemical stability windows. The PEM shows impressive performance in the coin-cell battery test. Over 80% of the initial capacity can be retained after 250 cycles in LiFePO4/PEM/graphite full cells. A proof-of-concept flexible all solid-state lithium ion battery has been built based on this PEM.The relationship between the ionic conductivity, glass transition temperature (T [subscript g]) and crosslink density has been studied in the branched copolymer system. PEGDA and monofunctional PEGMEA were copolymerized to afford PEGDA network attached with PEGMEA side chains. Attaching PEGMEA side branches to the PEGDA network backbone is to provide greater free volume afforded by lowering the T [subscript g]. The network flexibility is further manipulated by varying relative amounts of PEGMEA and PEGDA. Concurrently, the ionic conductivity of copolymer electrolyte membrane (co-PEM) consisting of LiTFSI salt and SCN plasticizer in the PEGMEA-co-PEGDA copolymer network is enhanced with increasing PEGMEA side branching. The relationship between the network T [subscript g] and ionic conductivity of the branched co-PEM has been analyzed in the context of Vogel-Tammann-Fulcher (VTF) equation. The plasticized branched co-PEM network exhibits room temperature ionic conductivity at a superionic conductor level of 10−3 S/cm as well as excellent capacity retention in charge/discharge cycling of Li4Ti5O12/co-PEM/Li and LiFePO4/co-PEM/Li half-cells.

Download or read book Development of Polymer Electrolyte Membranes for Fuel Cells to be Operated at High Temperature and Low Humidity written by Zhen Zhou and published by . This book was released on 2007 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) have been looked as potential alternative energy conversion devices to conventional energy conversion systems such as combustion engines. Proton conducting membranes (PEMs) are one critical component of PEMFCs. The development of novel electrolyte membranes with dense structure, good mechanical flexibility, and high proton conductivity, but with little or no dependence on humidity at temperatures above 100¡ãC remains an important challenge to the realization of practical PEM fuel cells. In this thesis, to solve the technical difficulties existing in current high temperature PEM systems based on phosphoric acid and imidazole, a new type of proton conducting species 1H-1,2,3-triazole has been explored, and proved to have high proton conductivity and also enough electrochemical stability for fuel cell applications. In further experiments, effective methods have been developed to synthesize triazole derivatives and polymers. The properties of the synthesized polymers have studied and reported in this thesis. Preliminary computational simulations have also been performed to study the proton conducting mechanism to provide intrinsic information of the proton conducting process in 1H-1,2,3-triazole. In the final part, research works on other proton conducting species including H3PO4 and other heterocycles have been reported.

Download or read book Bioelectricity Inspired Polymer Electrolyte Membranes for Sensing and Energy Harvesting Applications written by Jinwei Cao and published by . This book was released on 2018 with total page 179 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Some living cells are known to generate bioelectricity by manipulating the ion concentration gradient across the cell membrane via passive and active ion transports, which are controlled by ion gates and pumps. This process involves polarization and depolarization of the cell membrane, resulting in electrical potential often called membrane potential. Neuron cells utilize such ionic polarization process to send electrical signals for communication and control of body parts. On the other hand, electroplaques in electric eels can store sizable electrical energy and release it on demand for defending and hunting. A similar ionic polarization potential can be generated via bending deformation (as a means of exerting a pressure (stress) gradient) of polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM), which was originally developed as ion conducting solid medium for solid-state Li-ion batteries. This is the motivation of the present dissertation to explore the novel flexoelectric effect in the aforementioned solid-state PEM by subjecting it to mechanical deformation. A plausible mechanism has been proposed to explain the mechano-electrical transduction in the above solid PEMs, wherein ionic polarization occurred as a result of ion diffusion under pressure (stress) gradient. The flexoelectric coefficient has been measured to be as high as ~300 [micron]C/m, which is several orders of magnitude higher relative to those of other flexoelectric materials hitherto reported in literature. These new and fascinating features found in the present solid PEM system open up a new avenue of polymeric energy materials for diverse applications such as flexible sensor and energy harvesting devices.

Download or read book A Study of Polymer Electrolyte Membranes and Associated Interfacial Systems Via Molecular Dynamics Simulations written by Junwu Liu and published by . This book was released on 2009 with total page 222 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The development of novel polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) materials which operate at high temperature (i.e.> 100°C) and low humidity conditions and efficiently transport protons has been a major focus for PEM fuel cell technology. The motivation behind a high temperature PEM fuel cell is based on the fact that, at high temperature, the catalysts used in the fuel cell are more active and less susceptible to poisoning due to impurities in the feed stream. The challenge lies in the fact that as the temperature is increased, the membrane loses water and its ability to transport protons. The successful design and synthesis of high-performance PEMs would benefit from a fundamental, molecular-scale understanding of how polymer chemistry, hydration levels, and morphology affect proton mobility within the membrane. Additionally, substantially less work has concentrated on the molecular-level details of proton transport at the multi-phase interfaces among the PEM, vapor, water, electrodes, and catalyst surface. The electrochemical processes occurred at such interfaces dictate the performance of the PEM fuel cells. Understanding the structural and dynamic properties at these interfaces is, therefore, crucial for the optimization of current energy devices. All such information cannot come from experimental investigations alone, but requires knowledge of multiscale simulations which are successful in bridging distinct time and length scales, providing insights into the morphology and structure through analysis of the molecular processes. The first objective of this work is to use molecular dynamic (MD) simulations to investigate the nanophase-segregated structure in the PEM as a function of polymer chemistry and hydration levels. The variables probed to define polymer chemistry include (1) side chain length, (2) equivalent weight, and (3) molecular weight. We examine the structure in attempts to establish a relationship between the polymer chemical composition and the hydrated morphology and transport properties. The second objective is to use MD simulations to generate the structure of the interfaces involving the PEM within the Membrane-Electrode Assemblies (MEAs). These interfaces include (1) the PEM/vapor interface, (2) the PEM/vapor/catalyst interface, and (3) the PEM/vapor/carbon electrode interface. We examine these interfaces in order to establish an understanding of the structure of these interfaces as a function of water content.

Download or read book Novel Polymer Electrolyte Membranes for Nickel zinc Battery written by Cheng Qu (Polymer engineer) and published by . This book was released on 2013 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Ni-Zn rechargeable battery has attracted increasing interest due to its high energy density, low cost and safety. However, the short battery life due to battery short-circuit which results from Zn dendrite growth highly limits its utility. In this dissertation, fiber reinforced polymer electrolyte membranes with dendrite inhibiting fillers are produced by embedding nanofibers into polyacrylic acid (PAA)/clay membranes, and the membranes are used in Ni-Zn battery to solve the Zn dendrite growth problem.The nanofibers are produced by electrospinning. Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and nylon MXD6 electrospun fiber mats with different morphologies (fused, bonded and separated) are obtained by adjusting electrospinning conditions (target distance, applied voltage, nozzle pressure, solution concentration, etc.). Morphology observation of the electrospun fiber mat during uniaxial stretching reveals that interfiber bonds transfer tensile loads and induce deformation resulting in higher mechanical properties.The fiber content and mechanical properties of the fiber reinforced electrolyte membrane depend on interfiber bonding. In the membrane, interfiber bonds hold fibers together against gel swelling, leading to the formation of inter-bonded fiber network and high fiber content enhancing overall mechanical properties of the membrane. Though, with the inter-bonded fiber network in the membrane, high tensile strength and high strain at break are achieved, the ionic conductivity is found to decrease due to the increased membrane tortuosity.By incorporating the electrospun fiber mat with optimum structure for balanced mechanical strength and ionic conductivity, novel polymer electrolyte membranes, including PVDF and MXD6 nanofiber reinforced PAA membranes, PAA/nanofiber/clay hybrid membrane and multilayer membrane are prepared, and battery testing is conducted. The results show that the electrospun fiber mat in the membrane effectively suppresses Zn dendrite growth, and thinner fibers have better dendrite inhibition capability. Exfoliated clay platelets in the nanofiber reinforced membranes could further block the growth of nano-sized Zn dendrites and significantly extend the battery life as they act as "shields" normal to the direction of Zn dendrite growths. The PAA/9vol% MXD6-fiber/3.8vol% clay hybrid membrane with the thickness of 200[micron]m is proved to be the best polymer electrolyte membrane for Ni-Zn battery in this dissertation exceeding the 450 charge/discharge cycle requirements of a typical commercial battery application.

Download or read book Development of Ion Conductive Polymer Gel Electrolytes and Their Electrochemical and Electromechanical Behavior Studies written by Jiao Guo and published by . This book was released on 2010 with total page 230 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The focus of this research is to develop novel polymer gel electrolytes that overcome the drawbacks of conventional polymer electrolytes involving aqueous solvents or small organic molecules. In order to reach this aim, a series of novel polymer gel electrolytes were developed using crosslinked polymer matrix as a physical container acting to form cage around electrolytes. This structure leads to high ion conductivity under the applied electric field while maintaining mechanical integrity. The following gel electrolytes were prepared by varying the polymer hosts and type of electrolytes. The ion gels based on free radical polymerization of methylacrylate (MMA) in ionic liquid (IL), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate (BMIMPF6) were transparent, self-standing and flexible with high ambient ionic conductivity in the range of 10−4~ 10−3 S/cm. The coupling effects between PMMA matrix and IL decrease with increasing the concentration of IL. The temperature dependence of ion conductivity followed Arrhenius Law, indicating a thermally activated ionic motion. Therefore, the high conductivity is considered to be due to the movement from both cations and anions to electrodes and weak polymer-ion interaction. Based on its high ion conductivity, the three layer poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT/PSS) coated electroactive actuators were also developed, which exhibited a bending behavior under electrical field. The lithium polymer gels based on PMMA and modified siloxane (PEMPS) with LiTFSI exhibited transparency, flexibility and mechanical integrity, and remained miscible under all use conditions. This gel showed an ion conductivity 10−4 S/cm at 70 °C. The conductivity showed a maximum when the salt concentration increased for the composition of MMA/PEMPS = 30/70 and 40/60. At low concentration regime of solvent/salt (PEMPS/LiTFSI), the conductivity showed an increase with salt (LiTFSI) concentration. Beyond a critical salt concentration, the viscosity of the medium became high and this led to decrease of diffusion of ions in the medium and the decrease of conductivity. The conductivity was also increased with the decrease of PMMA/electrolyte ratio. The swelling ratio of PMMA network was also found to exhibit a maximum as the salt concentration increased. The swelling ratio increased as the PMMA/electrolyte ratio was decreased. The FTIR study indicates lithium salt was mostly dissociated by PEMPS, and had little interaction with PMMA polymer hosts. At last, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/KOH and polyacrylic acid (PAA)/KOH based aqueous gels were studied for the application in Ni-Zn batteries. The crystallization and chain entanglements formed physical crosslink for the PVA/KOH gel, while the copolymerization between acrylic acid and crosslinking agent formed the chemical crosslink for the PAA/KOH based gel. Both gels showed high ambient ion conductivity around 10−2 S/cm, satisfying the mechanical and ion conductivity requirements of the membrane for successful construction of Ni-Zn batteries.

Download or read book Soft Actuators written by Kinji Asaka and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2019-08-28 with total page 740 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book is the second edition of Soft Actuators, originally published in 2014, with 12 chapters added to the first edition. The subject of this new edition is current comprehensive research and development of soft actuators, covering interdisciplinary study of materials science, mechanics, electronics, robotics, and bioscience. The book includes contemporary research of actuators based on biomaterials for their potential in future artificial muscle technology. Readers will find detailed and useful information about materials, methods of synthesis, fabrication, and measurements to study soft actuators. Additionally, the topics of materials, modeling, and applications not only promote the further research and development of soft actuators, but bring benefits for utilization and industrialization. This volume makes generous use of color figures, diagrams, and photographs that provide easy-to-understand descriptions of the mechanisms, apparatus, and motions of soft actuators. Also, in this second edition the chapters on modeling, materials design, and device design have been given a wider scope and made easier to comprehend, which will be helpful in practical applications of soft actuators. Readers of this work can acquire the newest technology and information about basic science and practical applications of flexible, lightweight, and noiseless soft actuators, which differ from conventional mechanical engines and electric motors. This new edition of Soft Actuators will inspire readers with fresh ideas and encourage their research and development, thus opening up a new field of applications for the utilization and industrialization of soft actuators.

Download or read book Intermediate Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells written by Gurbinder Kaur and published by Elsevier. This book was released on 2019-11-21 with total page 516 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Intermediate Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells: Electrolytes, Electrodes and Interconnects introduces the fundamental principles of intermediate solid oxide fuel cells technology. It provides the reader with a broad understanding and practical knowledge of the electrodes, pyrochlore/perovskite/oxide electrolytes and interconnects which form the backbone of the Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) unit. Opening with an introduction to the thermodynamics, physiochemical and electrochemical behavior of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC), the book also discusses specific materials, including low temperature brownmillerites and aurivillius electrolytes, as well as pyrochlore interconnects. This book analyzes the basic concepts, providing cutting-edge information for both researchers and students. It is a complete reference for Intermediate Solid Oxide Fuel Cells technology that will be a vital resource for those working in materials science, fuel cells and solid state chemistry. Provides a single source of information on glass, electrolytes, interconnects, vanadates, pyrochlores and perovskite SOFC Includes illustrations that provide a clear visual explanation of concepts being discussed Progresses from a discussion of basic concepts that will enable readers to easily comprehend the subject matter

Download or read book Relaxation Phenomena written by Wolfgang Haase and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2013-03-09 with total page 732 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The authors describe the electric, magnetic and other relaxational processes in a wide spectrum of materials: liquid crystals, molecular magnets, polymers, high-Tc superconductors and glasses. The book summarizes the phenomenological fundamentals and the experimental methods used. A detailed description of molecular and collective dynamics in the broad range of liquid crystals is presented. Magnetic systems, high-Tc superconductors, polymers and glasses are an important subject of matter. It is shown that the researchers working on relaxation processes in different fields of materials sciences are dealing with the same physical fundamentals, but are sometimes using slightly different terms. The book is addressed to scientists, engineers, graduate and undergraduate students, experimentalists and theorists in physics, chemistry, materials sciences and electronic engineering. Many internationally well known experts contribute to it.

Download or read book Oxide Electronics written by Asim K. Ray and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2021-04-12 with total page 628 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Oxide Electronics Multiple disciplines converge in this insightful exploration of complex metal oxides and their functions and properties Oxide Electronics delivers a broad and comprehensive exploration of complex metal oxides designed to meet the multidisciplinary needs of electrical and electronic engineers, physicists, and material scientists. The distinguished author eschews complex mathematics whenever possible and focuses on the physical and functional properties of metal oxides in each chapter. Each of the sixteen chapters featured within the book begins with an abstract and an introduction to the topic, clear explanations are presented with graphical illustrations and relevant equations throughout the book. Numerous supporting references are included, and each chapter is self-contained, making them perfect for use both as a reference and as study material. Readers will learn how and why the field of oxide electronics is a key area of research and exploitation in materials science, electrical engineering, and semiconductor physics. The book encompasses every application area where the functional and electronic properties of various genres of oxides are exploited. Readers will also learn from topics like: Thorough discussions of High-k gate oxide for silicon heterostructure MOSFET devices and semiconductor-dielectric interfaces An exploration of printable high-mobility transparent amorphous oxide semiconductors Treatments of graphene oxide electronics, magnetic oxides, ferroelectric oxides, and materials for spin electronics Examinations of the calcium aluminate binary compound, perovoksites for photovoltaics, and oxide 2Degs Analyses of various applications for oxide electronics, including data storage, microprocessors, biomedical devices, LCDs, photovoltaic cells, TFTs, and sensors Suitable for researchers in semiconductor technology or working in materials science, electrical engineering, and physics, Oxide Electronics will also earn a place in the libraries of private industry researchers like device engineers working on electronic applications of oxide electronics. Engineers working on photovoltaics, sensors, or consumer electronics will also benefit from this book.

Download or read book Ion Containing Polymers written by A. Eisenberg and published by Elsevier. This book was released on 2012-12-02 with total page 304 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Ion-Containing Polymers: Physical Properties and Structure is Volume 2 of the series Polymer Physics. This book aims to fill in the gap in literature regarding the physical aspects of ion-containing polymers. A total of five chapters comprise this book. The Introduction (Chapter 1) generally deals with the application of ion-containing polymers, general classification, and the available works regarding the subject. Chapter 2 establishes the concepts of supermolecular structure and glass transitions in terms of the effects of ionic forces in polymers. These chapters provide the context in the discussion of viscoelastic properties of homopolymers and copolymers in Chapters 3 and 4. Finally, Chapter 5 tackles the configuration-dependent properties of ion-containing polymers. This volume will be of particular help to students in the field of physics and chemistry.

Download or read book Electroactive Polymers for Robotic Applications written by Kwang J. Kim and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2007-01-17 with total page 288 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book covers the fundamental properties, modeling, and demonstration of Electroactive polymers in robotic applications. It particularly details artificial muscles and sensors. In addition, the book discusses the properties and uses in robotics applications of ionic polymer–metal composite actuators and dielectric elastomers.

Download or read book Lipid Bilayers written by J. Katsaras and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2013-06-29 with total page 304 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Provides the reader with an up to date insight of the current state of the art in the field of lipid bilayer research and the important insights derived for the understanding of the complex and varied behaviour of biological membranes and its function.