Computational studies on fuel cell-related issues are increasingly common. These studies range from engineering level models of fuel cell systems and stacks to molecular level, electronic structure calculations on the behavior of membranes and catalysts, and everything in between. This volume explores this range. It is appropriate to ask what, if anything, does this work tell us that we cannot deduce intuitively? Does the emperor have any clothes? In answering this question resolutely in the affirmative, I will also take the liberty to comment a bit on what makes the effort worthwhile to both the perpetrator(s) of the computational study (hereafter I will use the blanket terms modeler and model for both engineering and chemical physics contexts) and to the rest of the world. The requirements of utility are different in the two spheres. As with any activity, there is a range of quality of work within the modeling community. So what constitutes a useful model? What are the best practices, serving both the needs of the promulgator and consumer? Some of the key com- nents are covered below. First, let me provide a word on my 'credentials' for such commentary. I have participated in, and sometimes initiated, a c- tinuous series of such efforts devoted to studies of PEMFC components and cells over the past 17 years. All that participation was from the experim- tal, qualitative side of the effort.

Iron Phosphate Materials as Cathodes for Lithium Batteries describes the synthesis and the chemical-physical characteristics of iron phosphates, and presents methods of making LiFePO4 a suitable cathode material for lithium-ion batteries. The author studies carbon's ability to increase conductivity and to decrease material grain size, as well as investigating the electrochemical behaviour of the materials obtained. Iron Phosphate Materials as Cathodes for Lithium Batteries also proposes a model to explain lithium insertion/extraction in LiFePO4 and to predict voltage profiles at various discharge rates. Iron Phosphate Materials as Cathodes for Lithium Batteries is written for postgraduate students and researchers in electrochemistry, R&D professionals and experts in electrochemical storage.

Microfluidic fuel cells and batteries represent a special type of electrochemical power generators that can be miniaturized and integrated in a microfluidic chip. Summarizing the initial ten years of research and development in this emerging field, this SpringerBrief is the first book dedicated to microfluidic fuel cell and battery technology for electrochemical energy conversion and storage. Written at a critical juncture, where strategically applied research is urgently required to seize impending technology opportunities for commercial, analytical, and educational utility, the intention is for this book to be a 'one-stop shop' for current and prospective researchers in the general area of membraneless, microfluidic electrochemical energy conversion. As the overall goal of the book is to provide a comprehensive resource for both research and technology development, it features extensive descriptions of the underlying fundamental theory, fabrication methods, and cell design principles, as well as a thorough review of previous contributions in this field and a future outlook with recommendations for further work. It is hoped that the content will entice and enable new research groups and engineers to rapidly gain traction in their own laboratories towards the development of next generation microfluidic electrochemical cells.

This SpringerBrief summarizes a full-scale, reduced commodity fire testing comparison of cartoned Lithium ion batteries and FM Global standard commodities in a rack storage configuration, as reported by FM Global. Tests evaluate the flammability characteristics of the materials and the effectiveness of ceiling level only sprinkler protection. The testing methods, discussed in depth, are scaled down from standard commodity classification testing due to the inordinate costs of Li-ion batteries. Small format Li-ion battery commodities represent both commercially available battery formats and Li-ion battery containing devices. The selected Li-ion battery types are individual 18650 format cylindrical cells, power tool packs comprised of 18650 format cells and polymer cells. The selected comparison commodities are the FM Global standard Class 2 and Cartoned Unexpanded Plastic (CUP). The results offer insight into the combined effects of different storage heights, ceiling height, protection system design, battery density, state of charge and battery type. Flammability of Cartoned Lithium Ion Batteries is intended for practitioners as a tool for analyzing commodity testing methods and providing data about potential hazards. Researchers working in a related field will also find the book valuable.

Batteries that can store electricity from solar and wind generation farms are a key component of a sustainable energy strategy. Featuring 15 peer-reviewed entries from the Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology, this book presents a wide range of battery types and components, from nanocarbons for supercapacitors to lead acid battery systems and technology. Worldwide experts provides a snapshot-in-time of the state-of-the art in battery-related R&D, with a particular focus on rechargeable batteries. Such batteries can store electrical energy generated by renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydropower installations with high efficiency and release it on demand. They are efficient, non-polluting, self-contained devices, and their components can be recovered and used to recreate battery systems. Coverage also highlights the significant efforts currently underway to adapt battery technology to power cars, trucks and buses in order to eliminate pollution from petroleum combustion. Written for an audience of undergraduate and graduate students, researchers, and industry experts, Batteries for Sustainability is an invaluable one-stop reference to this essential area of energy technology.

As each area of technology with a potential for significantly impacting any major segment of the electronics industry evolves, it often is accompanied by the development of a succession of new circuits. Each new circuit indeed appears different, employing different components in differing configurations, and claims an assortment of distinct features of "improved performance. " Without a considerable investment of laboratory time to construct, evaluate, and compare each candidate circuit, it usually is difficult to realistically appraise the relative merits of one approach over another. It often is even more difficult to identify the underlying principles which point up basic similarities and differences. Such is the situation in the new and rapidly expanding area known as electronic power processing or switching mode power supplies. The area of switching power supplies has been spurred by the need for power sources of higher performance, smaller volume, and lighter weight in order to achieve compatibility with the shrinking size of all forms of communication and data handling systems, and particularly with the portable battery-operated equipment in everything from horne appliances and handtools to mobile com munication equipment. Static dc-to-dc converters and dc-to-ac inverters provide a natural interface with the new direct energy sources such as solar cells, fuel cells, thermoelectric generators, and the like, and form the central ingredient in most uninterruptable power sources."

The increased efficiency and quality constraints imposed on electrical energy systems have inspired a renewed research interest in the study of formal approaches to the analysis and control of power electronics converters. Switched systems represent a useful framework for modeling these converters and the peculiarities of their operating conditions and control goals justify the specific classification of switched electronic systems . Indeed, idealized switched models of power converters introduce problems not commonly encountered when analyzing generic switched models or non-switched electrical networks. In that sense the analysis of switched electronic systems represents a source for new ideas and benchmarks for switched and hybrid systems generally. Dynamics and Control of Switched Electronic Systems draws on the expertise of an international group of expert contributors to give an overview of recent advances in the modeling, simulation and control of switched electronic systems. The reader is provided with a well-organized source of references and a mathematically-based report of the state of the art in analysis and design techniques for switched power converters. Intuitive language, realistic illustrative examples and numerical simulations help the reader to come to grips with the rigorous presentation of many promising directions of research such as: converter topologies and modulation techniques; continuous-time, discrete-time and hybrid models; modern control strategies for power converters; and challenges in numerical simulation. The guidance and information imparted in this text will be appreciated by engineers, and applied mathematicians working on system and circuit theory, control systems development, and electronic and energy conversion systems design."

The use of electrochemical energy storage systems in automotive applications also involves new requirements for modeling these systems, especially in terms of model depth and model quality. Currently, mainly simple application-oriented models are used to describe the physical behavior of batteries. This book provides a step beyond of state-of-the-art modeling showing various different approaches covering following aspects: system safety, misuse behavior (crash, thermal runaway), battery state estimation and electrochemical modeling with the needed analysis (pre/post mortem). All this different approaches are developed to support the overall integration process from a multidisciplinary point-of-view and depict their further enhancements to this process.

This book gives a comprehensive overview of graphene oxides (GO) from atomic structures and fundamental properties to technological applications. Atomic structural models, electronic properties, mechanical properties, optical properties, and functionalizing and compositing of GO are illustrated. Moreover, the excellent physical and chemical properties offer GO promising applications in electronic nanodevices, chemical sensors and catalyst, energy storage, and biotechnology, which are also presented in this book. Therefore, this book is of interest to researchers in physics, chemistry, materials science, and nanoscience.

Introduction Energy is necessary for a number of reasons, the most basic and obvious involve the preparation of food and the provision of heat to make life comfortable, or at least, bearable. Subsequently, a wide range of technological uses of energy have emerged and been developed, so that the availability of energy has become a central issue in society. The easiest way to acquire useful energy is to simply ?nd it as wood or a hydrocarbon fossil fuel in nature. But it has often been found to be advantageous to convert what is simply available in nature into more useful forms, and the processing and conversion of raw materials, especially petrochemicals have become a very large industry. Wood Wood has been used to provide heat for a great many years. In some cases, it can be acquired as needed by foraging, or cutting, followed by simple collection. When it is abundant there is relatively little need for it to be stored. However, many societies have found it desirable to collect more wood than is immediately needed during warm periods during the year, and to store it up for use in the winter, when the needs are greater, or its collection is not so convenient. One can still see this in some locations, such as the more remote communities in the Alps, for example. One might think of this as the oldest and simplest example of energy storage.

Rechargeable Lithium Batteries: From Fundamentals to Application provides an overview of rechargeable lithium batteries, from fundamental materials, though characterization and modeling, to applications. The market share of lithium ion batteries is fast increasing due to their high energy density and low maintenance requirements. Lithium air batteries have the potential for even higher energy densities, a requirement for the development of electric vehicles, and other types of rechargeable lithium battery are also in development. After an introductory chapter providing an overview of the main scientific and technological challenges posed by rechargeable Li batteries, Part One of this book reviews materials and characterization of rechargeable lithium batteries. Part Two covers performance and applications, discussing essential aspects such as battery management, battery safety and emerging rechargeable lithium battery technologies as well as medical and aerospace applications.

Increased production of energy from renewable sources leads to a need for both new and enhanced capacities for energy transmission and intermediate storage. The book first compares different available storage options and then introduces the power-to-gas concept in a comprehensive overview of the technology. The state of the art, advancements, and future requirements for both water electrolysis and methanation are described. The integration of renewable hydrogen and methane into the gas grid is discussed in terms of the necessary technological measures to be taken. Because the power-to-gas system is very flexible, providing numerous specific applications for different targets within the energy sector, possible business models are presented on the basis of various process chains taking into account different plant scales and operating scenarios. The influence of the scale and the type of the integration of the technology into the existing energy network is highlighted with an emphasis on economic consequences. Finally, legal aspects of the operation and integration of the power-to-gas system are discussed.

CMOS DC-DC Converters aims to provide a comprehensive dissertation on the matter of monolithic inductive Direct-Current to Direct-Current (DC-DC) converters. For this purpose seven chapters are defined which will allow the designer to gain specific knowledge on the design and implementation of monolithic inductive DC-DC converters, starting from the very basics.

Electricity from renewable sources of energy is plagued by fluctuations (due to variations in wind strength or the intensity of insolation) resulting in a lack of stability if the energy supplied from such sources is used in 'real time'. An important solution to this problem is to store the energy electrochemically (in a secondary battery or in hydrogen and its derivatives) and to make use of it in a controlled fashion at some time after it has been initially gathered and stored. Electrochemical battery storage systems are the major technologies for decentralized storage systems and hydrogen is the only solution for long-term storage systems to provide energy during extended periods of low wind speeds or solar insolation. Future electricity grid design has to include storage systems as a major component for grid stability and for security of supply. The technology of systems designed to achieve this regulation of the supply of renewable energy, and a survey of the markets that they will serve, is the subject of this book. It includes economic aspects to guide the development of technology in the right direction.

One cubic mile of oil (CMO) corresponds very closely to the world's current total annual consumption of crude oil. The world's total annual energy consumption - from all energy sources- is currently 3.0 CMO. By the middle of this century the world will need between 6 and 9 CMO of energy per year to provide for its citizens. Adequate energy is needed remove the scourge of poverty and provide food, clothing, and shelter for the people around the world, and more will be needed for measures to mitigate the potential effects of climate change such as building dikes and desalinating water.
A Cubic Mile of Oil describes the various energy sources and how we use them, projects their future contributions, and delineates what it would take to develop them to annually produce a CMO from each of them. The requirement for additional energy in the future is so daunting that we will need to use all resources. We also examine how improved efficiency and conservation measures can reduce future demand substantially, and help distinguish approaches that make a significant impact as opposed to merely making us feel good.
Use of CMO eliminates a multitude of units like tons of coal, gallons of oil, and cubic feet of gas; obviates the need for mind-numbing multipliers such as billions, trillions, and quadrillions; and replaces them with an easy-to-understand volumetric unit. It evokes a visceral response and allows experts, policy makers and the general public alike to form a mental picture of the magnitude of the challenge we face. In the absence of an appreciation of the scale of the problem, we risk squandering efforts and resources in pursuing options that will not meet tomorrow's global energy needs. We must make critical choices, and a common understandable language is essential for a sustained meaningful dialog.

The problem of storing hydrogen safely and effectively is one of the major technological barriers currently preventing the widespread adoption of hydrogen as an energy carrier and the subsequent transition to a so-called hydrogen economy. Practical issues with the storage of hydrogen in both gas and liquid form appear to make reversible solid state hydrogen storage the most promising potential solution. Hydrogen Storage Materials addresses the characterisation of the hydrogen storage properties of the materials that are currently being considered for this purpose. The background to the topic is introduced, along with the various types of materials that are currently under investigation, including nanostructured interstitial and complex hydrides, and porous materials, such as metal-organic frameworks and microporous organic polymers. The main features of Hydrogen Storage Materials include: an overview of the different types of hydrogen storage materials and the properties that are of interest for their practical use; descriptions of the gas sorption measurement methods used to determine these properties, and the complementary techniques that can be used to help corroborate hydrogen uptake data; and extensive coverage of the practical considerations for accurate hydrogen sorption measurement that drive both instrument design and the development of experimental methodology. Hydrogen Storage Materials provides an up-to-date overview of the topic for experienced researchers, while including enough introductory material to serve as a useful, practical introduction for newcomers to the field.

This book covers the most recent advances in the science and technology of nanostructured materials for lithium-ion application. With contributions from renowned scientists and technologists, the chapters discuss state-of-the-art research on nanostructured anode and cathode materials, some already used in commercial batteries and others still in development. They include nanostructured anode materials based on Si, Ge, Sn, and other metals and metal oxides together with cathode materials of olivine, the hexagonal and spinel crystal structures.

In the past 12-15 years an essentially new trend in electrochemistry has sprung up around the problem of solar energy conversion. Strictly speaking, this is not a purely electrochemical but an interdisciplinary field involving the fields of cataly sis, corrosion, chemistry of disperse systems, and others. Nevertheless, electro chemistry, to be more exact, photoelectrochemistry of semiconductors, provides a theoretical basis for new methods of converting light energy into electrical or chemical energy, which, we hope, shall find practical application in the not so dis tant future. In the past years, this field has been discussed amply and at length in special monographs (e. g. , in Ref. [l]). Therefore, in this book the photoelectro chemistry of semiconductors is presented in a concise form (exceptions are only specific problems which have been elucidated incorrectly or have not been covered completely in the literature). In this compact monograph we have aban doned the principle of "self-seclusion": for a more deep insight into the funda mentals of electrochemistry, photoelectrochemistry, and physics of semiconduc tors the reader shall have to refer to the below-cited manuals, while information on the physicochemical properties of particular semiconductor electrodes can be taken, e. g. , from Refs. [2, 3].

"Lithium-Ion Batteries Hazard and Use Assessment "examines the usage of lithium-ion batteries and cells within consumer, industrial and transportation products, and analyzes the potential hazards associated with their prolonged use. This book also surveys the applicable codes and standards for lithium-ion technology.

"Lithium-Ion Batteries Hazard and Use Assessment "is designed for practitioners as a reference guide for lithium-ion batteries and cells. Researchers working in a related field will also find the book valuable.

'Anyone wanting to learn quickly about the latest developments in energy storage should read this book. It provides enough technical depth for the reader to understand the advantages and limitations of the various storage methods, and sufficient references to enable the reader to dig more deeply into the technical details.'IEEE Journals & MagazinesThe subject of energy storage is extremely important for the increased utilization of renewable energies such as solar and wind energy in times when their sources (e.g. the sun and wind) are unavailable. The ability to store energy can also level out the demand curve for electricity and thus lead to a decrease in the peak requirements of energy production. A storage system for ground transportation is also important as a potential replacement for fossil fuel powered transportation.Energy Storage offers a comprehensive look at the possible approaches to energy storage, which are relevant to various situations; from smoothing demand in electrical energy production, applications of energy storage, to transportation. The book covers a variety of approaches to the storage of energy. Beginning with a discussion of the critical importance of energy storage, the book discusses various possible storage options including hydro storage, compressed air energy storage, and electrical and chemical storage in batteries, capacitors and fuel cells. There is also a chapter on the mechanical storage of energy with flywheels using advanced materials. The various applications to power production and transportation are also included. The expertise and active involvement of the authors of the various chapters ensures that the information is reliable, current, and forward looking.

We characterize an isolated molecule by its compos t on, i.e. the number and types of atoms forming the molecule, its structure, i.e. the geometrical arrangement of the composite atoms with respect to each other, and its possible, i.e. quantum mechanically allowed, stationary energy states. Conceptually we separate the latter, being aware that this is an approximation, into electronic, vibrational and rotational states, including fine and hyperfine structure splittings. To be sure, there is an intimate relation between molecular structure and molecular energy states, in fact it is this relation we use, when we obtain structural information through spectroscopy, where we determine transitions between various stationary states of the molecule. The concepts above have proven extremely useful in chemistry and spectroscopy, however, the awareness of the limitations of these concepts has grown in recent years with the increasing recognition of (i) fluctional molecules, (ii) multiphoton absorption processes and (iii) influences due to the surroundings on "isolated" molecules.

Energy conversion techniques are key in power electronics and even more so in renewable energy source systems, which require a large number of converters. Renewable Energy Systems: Advanced Conversion Technologies and Applications describes advanced conversion technologies and provides design examples of converters and inverters for renewable energy systems-including wind turbine and solar panel energy systems. Learn Cutting-Edge Techniques for Converters and Inverters Setting the scene, the book begins with a review of the basics of astronomy and Earth physics. It then systematically introduces more than 200 topologies of advanced converters originally developed by the authors, including 150 updated circuits on modern conversion technologies. It also discusses recently published topologies and thoroughly analyzes new converter circuits. Novel approaches include split-capacitor and split-inductor techniques that can be applied in super-lift and other converters. Resolve Historic Problems in Conversion Technologies Along with offering many cutting-edge techniques, the authors resolve some historic problems, such as the accurate determination of the conduction angle of single-phase rectifiers and power factor correction. They also describe a new series-laddered multilevel inverters-that uses few devices to produce more levels, overcoming the drawbacks of the pulse-width-modulation (PWM) inverter and providing great scope for industrial applications. Tap the Knowledge of Pioneers in the Field This book is written by pioneers in advanced conversion technology who have created a large number of converters, including the world-renowned DC/DC Luo-converters and super-lift Luo-converters. Featuring numerous examples and diagrams, it guides readers in designing advanced converters for use in renewable energy systems.

An in-depth analysis of thermoelectric theory, an overview of present day thermoelectric materials and devices, and updated information on the most studied thermoelectric materials development. The main emphasis is on a basic understanding of the concepts as well as experimental techniques needed to propel researchers towards new and novel classes of thermoelectric materials with enhanced properties.