Functional Materials from Carbon, Inorganic and Organic Sources: Methods and Advances describes the basic principles, mechanisms and theoretical background of functional materials. Sections cover Carbon-based functional materials, Inorganic functional materials for renewable and sustainable energy applications, and Organic and biological based functional materials. Applications such as energy storage and conversion, electronic and photonics devices, and in medicine are also explored. Sections dive into photovoltaic devices, light emitting devices, energy storage materials and quantum dot devices, solar cell fundamentals and devices, perovskite materials and ceramic thin films. Final sections emphasize green approaches to synthesis in semiconductor nanoparticles, quinolone complexes, biomaterials and biopolymers.

Cognitive Computing for Human-Robot Interaction: Principles and Practices explores the efforts that should ultimately enable society to take advantage of the often-heralded potential of robots to provide economical and sustainable computing applications. This book discusses each of these applications, presents working implementations, and combines coherent and original deliberative architecture for human-robot interactions (HRI). Supported by experimental results, it shows how explicit knowledge management promises to be instrumental in building richer and more natural HRI, by pushing for pervasive, human-level semantics within the robot's deliberative system for sustainable computing applications. This book will be of special interest to academics, postgraduate students, and researchers working in the area of artificial intelligence and machine learning. Key features: Introduces several new contributions to the representation and management of humans in autonomous robotic systems; Explores the potential of cognitive computing, robots, and HRI to generate a deeper understanding and to provide a better contribution from robots to society; Engages with the potential repercussions of cognitive computing and HRI in the real world.

Metal Oxide-Based Heterostructures: Fabrication and Applications provides information on synthesis strategies, structural and hierarchical features, morphological characteristics of metal oxide-based heterostructures, and their diverse applications. This book begins with an introduction to the various multidimensional heterostructures, synthesis aspects, and techniques used to control the formation of heterostructures. Then, the impact of synthesis routes on the formation of mixed metal oxide heterostructures and their properties are analyzed. The effect of nonmetal doping, metal doping, and composites of metal oxide heterostructures on the properties of heterostructures is also addressed and that also includes opportunities for optimization of the material's performance for specific applications. Special attention is given to the surface characteristics of the metal oxide heterostructures and their impact on the material's performance, and the applications of metal oxide heterostructures in various fields such as environmental remediation, sensing, organic catalysis, photovoltaics, light emitting materials, and hydrogen production.

Presents a key overview of the latest advances in the synthesis, engineering and fabrication of carbon quantum dots for sustainable technologies

A complete and authoritative discussion of systems engineering and neural networks In Systems Engineering Neural Networks, a team of distinguished researchers deliver a thorough exploration of the fundamental concepts underpinning the creation and improvement of neural networks with a systems engineering mindset. In the book, you'll find a general theoretical discussion of both systems engineering and neural networks accompanied by coverage of relevant and specific topics, from deep learning fundamentals to sport business applications. Readers will discover in-depth examples derived from many years of engineering experience, a comprehensive glossary with links to further reading, and supplementary online content. The authors have also included a variety of applications programmed in both Python 3 and Microsoft Excel. The book provides: A thorough introduction to neural networks, introduced as key element of complex systems Practical discussions of systems engineering and forecasting, complexity theory and optimization and how these techniques can be used to support applications outside of the traditional AI domains Comprehensive explorations of input and output, hidden layers, and bias in neural networks, as well as activation functions, cost functions, and back-propagation Guidelines for software development incorporating neural networks with a systems engineering methodology Perfect for students and professionals eager to incorporate machine learning techniques into their products and processes, Systems Engineering Neural Networks will also earn a place in the libraries of managers and researchers working in areas involving neural networks.

Thermally Conductive Polymer Composites provides an important introduction to the key principles, methods, and research directions of this emerging thermal management material category. This book introduces thermal conduction, measurement methods, thermal conduction mechanisms, and related theories. It also reviews classification and processing techniques which impact thermal conductivity performance. Thermally conductive composites discussed include intrinsically thermally conductive polymers, thermally conductive fillers, and thermally conductive polymer composites. Furthermore, the interfacial thermal resistance is thoroughly explained including basic concepts, theoretical research, and characterization. Finally, the practical applications of thermally conductive polymer composites are illustrated such as thermally conductive plastics, thermally conductive rubbers, and thermally conductive adhesives.

Lanthanide Doped Aluminate Phosphors: Synthesis, Properties, and Applications overviews advances in research on aluminate-based long persistent phosphors and their applications in lighting, display, radiation dosimetry and imaging. The book reviews the most important categories of rare earth aluminate-based phosphors, including aluminosilicates and aluminoborates. This category of material is attractive for a wide range of applications because of their high quantum efficiency, long afterglow life, chemical stability and optical properties, which is discussed throughout. Optical properties, in particular, are emphasized in the book along with the relationship of the chemical composition and doping of these materials and their optical performance. This book is suitable for researchers and practitioners working in academia and research and development in industry in the disciplines of materials science and engineering, chemistry and physics.

The Electrocaloric Effect: Materials and Applications reviews the fundamentals of the electrocaloric effect, the most relevant electrocaloric materials, and electrocaloric measurements and device applications. The book introduces the electrocaloric effect, along with modeling and simulations of this effect. Then, it addresses the latest advances in synthesis, characterization and optimization of the most relevant electrocaloric materials, including ferroelectric materials, liquid materials, lead-free materials, polymers and composites. Finally, there is a review of the latest techniques in measurement and applications in refrigeration and cooling and a discussion of the advantages, challenges and perspectives of the future of electrocaloric refrigeration.

Metal Chalcogenide Biosensors: Fundamentals and Applications provides an overview of advances in materials development of chalcogenides for use in biosensing and sensing applications. The metal chalcogenides discussed include highly reactive metals, noble metals and transition metals. Particular attention is given to the morphology, porosity, structure and fabrication of materials for biosensing applications. The connection between the chalcogenides' physical and chemical properties and device performance is explored. Key parameters for biosensor devices are investigated such as thermodynamics, kinetics, selectivity, sensitivity, efficiency and durability to aid in materials selection. Finally, a range of biosensor devices are addressed including gas biosensors, chemical biosensors, environment biosensors and biological molecule sensors. This book is suitable for those in the fields of materials science and engineering, chemistry and physics.

Fundamentals of Sensor Technology: Principles and Novel Designs presents an important reference on the materials, platforms, characterization and fabrication methods used in the development of chemical sensor technologies. Sections provide the historical context of sensor technology development, review principles for the design of sensing devices and circuits, delve into the most common chemical and biological sensor types, cover unique properties and performance requirements, discuss fabrication techniques, including defining critical parameters, modeling and simulation strategies, and present important materials categories used in sensing applications, such as nanomaterials, quantum dots, magnetic materials, and more. This book is appropriate for the interdisciplinary community of researchers and practitioners interested in the development of sensor technologies, including materials scientists and engineers, analytical chemists and other related disciplines.

Artificial Intelligence for Future Generation Robotics offers a vision for potential future robotics applications for AI technologies. Each chapter includes theory and mathematics to stimulate novel research directions based on the state-of-the-art in AI and smart robotics. Organized by application into ten chapters, this book offers a practical tool for researchers and engineers looking for new avenues and use-cases that combine AI with smart robotics. As we witness exponential growth in automation and the rapid advancement of underpinning technologies, such as ubiquitous computing, sensing, intelligent data processing, mobile computing and context aware applications, this book is an ideal resource for future innovation.

PV has traditionally been used for electric power in space. Solar panels on spacecraft are usually the sole source of power to run the sensors, active heating and cooling, and communications. Photovoltaics for Space: Key Issues, Missions and Alternative Technologies provides an overview of the challenges to efficiently produce solar power in near-Earth space and beyond: the materials and device architectures that have been developed to surmount these environmental and mission-specific barriers. The book is organized in four sections consisting of detailed introductory and background content as well as a collection of in-depth space environment, materials processing, technology, and mission overviews by international experts. This book will detail how to design and optimize a space power system's performance for power-to-weight ratio, effectiveness at end of operational life (EOL) compared to beginning of operational life (BOL), and specific mission objectives and goals. This book outlines the knowledge required for practitioners and advanced students interested in learning about the background, materials, devices, environmental challenges, missions, and future for photovoltaics for space exploration.

Phosphor Handbook: Process, Properties and Applications provides a comprehensive overview of the latest advances in research on the synthesis, characterization and applications of organic and inorganic phosphors. There is detailed information presented on the characterization of the relevant phosphor groups, such as up-conversion and down-conversion phosphors, inorganic LED phosphors, organic LED phosphors and thermoluminescence and dosimetric phosphors using various physical and chemical advances. Finally, the advances in phosphor technologies are discussed, including current barriers to their use in commercial applications and emerging opportunities. This book is suitable for researchers and practitioners in academia and those working in R&D in industry in the disciplines of materials science and engineering, materials chemistry, materials physics, photonics science and technology, nanotechnology and physical chemistry.

Advances in Electronic Materials for Clean Energy Conversion and Storage Applications reviews green synthesis and fabrication techniques of various electronic materials and their derivatives for applications in photovoltaics. The book investigates recent advances, progress and issues of photovoltaic-based research, including organic, hybrid, dye-sensitized, polymer, and quantum dot-based solar cells. There is a focus on applications for clean energy and storage in the book. Clean energy is defined as energy derived from renewable resources or zero-emission sources and natural processes that are regenerative and sustainable resources such as biomass, geothermal energy, hydropower, solar and wind energy. Materials discussed include nanomaterials, nanocomposites, polymers, and polymer-composites. Advances in clean energy conversion and energy storage devices are also reviewed thoroughly based on recent research and developments such as supercapacitors, batteries etc. Reliable methods to characterize and analyze these materials systems and devices are emphasized throughout the book. Important information on synthesis and analytical chemistry of these important systems are reviewed, but also material science methods to investigate optical properties of carbon-nanomaterials, metal oxide nanomaterials and their nanocomposites.

Mem-elements for Neuromorphic Circuits with Artificial Intelligence Applications illustrates recent advances in the field of mem-elements (memristor, memcapacitor, meminductor) and their applications in nonlinear dynamical systems, computer science, analog and digital systems, and in neuromorphic circuits and artificial intelligence. The book is mainly devoted to recent results, critical aspects and perspectives of ongoing research on relevant topics, all involving networks of mem-elements devices in diverse applications. Sections contribute to the discussion of memristive materials and transport mechanisms, presenting various types of physical structures that can be fabricated to realize mem-elements in integrated circuits and device modeling. As the last decade has seen an increasing interest in recent advances in mem-elements and their applications in neuromorphic circuits and artificial intelligence, this book will attract researchers in various fields.

Quantum dots: Emerging materials for versatile applications is an introduction to the fundamentals and important advances of research of this important category of semiconductor nanostructured materials. After a brief review of relevant nanotechnology concepts and the unique properties of nanomaterials, the book describes the fundamentals of quantum dots with definitions of the primary classifications of quantum dots. There is an emphasis on practical considerations of the commercial translation of quantum dots such as their toxicity, stability, and disposal. Moreover, the book focuses on a review of the advances in research in emerging quantum dot materials along with the latest innovations in materials design and fabrication methods. Quantum Dots is suitable for materials scientists and engineers in academia or industry R&D who are looking for an introduction to this research topic or a key reference on the latest advances and applications.

Since the advent of the internet, online communities have emerged as a way for users to share their common interests and connect with others with ease. As the possibilities of the online world grew and the COVID-19 pandemic raged across the world, many organizations recognized the utility in not only providing further services online, but also in transitioning operations typically fulfilled in-person to an online space. As society approaches a reality in which most community practices have moved to online spaces, it is essential that community leaders remain knowledgeable on the best practices in cultivating engagement. Community Engagement in the Online Space evaluates key issues and practices pertaining to community engagement in remote settings. It analyzes various community engagement efforts within remote education, online groups, and remote work. This book further reviews the best practices for community engagement and considerations for the optimization of these practices for effective virtual delivery to support emergency environmental challenges, such as pandemic conditions. Covering topics such as community belonging, global health virtual practicum, and social media engagement, this premier reference source is an excellent resource for program directors, faculty and administrators of both K-12 and higher education, students of higher education, business leaders and executives, IT professionals, online community moderators, librarians, researchers, and academicians.

Nano-scale materials have unique electronic, optical, and chemical properties that make them attractive for a new generation of devices. In the second edition of Modeling, Characterization, and Production of Nanomaterials: Electronics, Photonics, and Energy Applications, leading experts review the latest advances in research in the understanding, prediction, and methods of production of current and emerging nanomaterials for key applications. The chapters in the first half of the book cover applications of different modeling techniques, such as Green's function-based multiscale modeling and density functional theory, to simulate nanomaterials and their structures, properties, and devices. The chapters in the second half describe the characterization of nanomaterials using advanced material characterization techniques, such as high-resolution electron microscopy, near-field scanning microwave microscopy, confocal micro-Raman spectroscopy, thermal analysis of nanoparticles, and applications of nanomaterials in areas such as electronics, solar energy, catalysis, and sensing. The second edition includes emerging relevant nanomaterials, applications, and updated modeling and characterization techniques and new understanding of nanomaterials.

Metal Oxide Defects: Fundamentals, Design, Development and Applications provides a broad perspective on the development of advanced experimental techniques to study defects and their chemical activity and catalytic reactivity in various metal oxides. This book highlights advances in characterization and analytical techniques to achieve better understanding of a wide range of defects, most importantly, state-of-the-art methodologies for controlling defects. The book provides readers with pathways to apply basic principles and interpret the behavior of metal oxides. After reviewing characterization and analytical techniques, the book focuses on the relationship of defects to the properties and performance of metal oxides. Finally, there is a review of the methods to control defects and the applications of defect engineering for the design of metal oxides for applications in optoelectronics, energy, sensing, and more. This book is a key reference for materials scientists and engineers, chemists, and physicists.

Coulomb Interactions in Particle Beams, Volume 223 in the Advances in Imaging and Electron Physics series, merges two long-running serials, Advances in Electronics and Electron Physics and Advances in Optical and Electron Microscopy. The series features articles on the physics of electron devices (especially semiconductor devices), particle optics at high and low energies, microlithography, image science, digital image processing, electromagnetic wave propagation, electron microscopy, and computing methods used in all these domains, with this release exploring Coulomb Interactions in Particle Beams.

Advanced Sensor Technology: Biomedical, Environmental, and Construction Applications introduces readers to the past, present and future of sensor technology and its emerging applications in a wide variety of different fields. Organized in five parts, the book covers historical context and future outlook of sensor technology development and emerging applications, the use of sensors throughout many applications in healthcare, health and life science research, public health and safety, discusses chemical sensors used in environmental monitoring and remediation of contaminants, highlights the use of sensors in food, agriculture, fire prevention, automotive and robotics, and more. Final sections look forward at the challenges that must be overcome in the development and use of sensing technology as well as their commercial use, making this book appropriate for the interdisciplinary community of researchers and practitioners interested in the development of sensor technologies.

Nanotechnology-Based E-Noses: Fundamentals and Emerging Applications reviews advances in nanomaterials and their modification for use in e-sensors. Theoretical understanding of nanomaterials and technologies for improving sensors with better detection limits are covered, as are the most relevant nanomaterials, their synthesis strategies and the relationship between properties and device performance. Current state-of-the-art progress in nanotechnology device fabrication, along with directions for future applications and challenges are also discussed. This book will be an ideal resource for materials scientists, engineers, chemists, researchers in academia and R&D in industry. Recently, "e-noses" or "electronic sensors" are emerging as advanced technologies for the fast detection of chemicals, gases and explosives. The concept behind the "e-nose" is similar to the capability of humans and dogs in detecting materials based on odors. Nanomaterials can be used for e-nose technologies but their properties must be modified to make them effective sensors. The sensing capability and performance these materials depend on several factors such as morphology, dopants, micro-additives, design of sensors, phase and structure of the nanomaterials.

Metallic Glasses and Their Oxidation provides a comprehensive review of the structures, properties, preparations, processing and applications of metallic glasses. Special attention is paid to the oxidation behaviors and related mechanisms of metallic glasses that occur during their preparation, processing and application. The book's authors introduce basic knowledge of metallic glasses, including their structures, properties, processing techniques and applications. Then, the theories and techniques commonly used in oxidation investigation are highlighted, including thermal oxidation, native oxidation, stressed oxidation, powder oxidation and oxidation simulation. The book closes with the influence of oxidation on the structures and performances of metallic glasses, proposes measures to control oxidation, and discusses how to take advantage of oxidation to reinforce materials or create new materials.

This book is dedicated to the study of the theory of electromagnetism. It is not intended to cover all aspects of the topic, but instead will give a certain perspective, that of its relationship with special relativity. Indeed, special relativity is intrinsic to electromagnetism; thus, this paradigm eliminates some false paradoxes. Electromagnetism also discusses the limit of classical mechanics, and covers problems that arise when phenomena related to the propagation of electromagnetic waves are encountered. These are problems that even the greatest scientists of the last two hundred years have not been able to entirely overcome. This book is directed towards the undergraduate level, and will also support the readers as they move on to advanced technical training, such as an engineering or master's degree.

Semiconductors and Semimetals, Volume 111 highlights new advances in the field, with this new volume presenting interesting chapters on Precision Medicine. Each chapter is written by an international board of authors.