More than four decades have passed since surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) was discovered. In today's world SERS has been established as a plasmon-based spectroscopy with ultra-high sensitivity and versatility at the forefront of the developments in plasmonics. SERS has been developing with the advances in nanoscience and nanotechnology. The "SERS world" has grown up markedly for the last 20 years or so, and recently the wider concept of, plasmon-enhanced spectroscopy was born. Plasmon-enhanced spectroscopy contains not only SERS but also tip-enhanced Raman scattering (TERS), surface-enhanced infrared absorption (SEIRA), surface-enhanced fluorescence (SEF), and more. Through these novel spectroscopies various amazing properties of plasmons have become known, providing new exciting research fields. One of the main purposes of the book is to convey the enthusiastic discussion on plasmon-enhanced spectroscopy at the symposium to the scientific community. This book reports leading-edge advances in the theory of plasmonic enhancement and application of plasmon-enhanced spectroscopy to biology, chemistry, physics, materials science, and medicine. Many books have been published about SERS, but this may be the first time that a book on a wide area of plasmon-enhanced spectroscopy has ever been published. The book consists of two volumes; the second volume discusses TERS, SEIRA, and other topics related to plasmon-enhanced spectroscopy.

Size Effects in Engineering Mechanics and Manufacturing provides a detailed evaluation of size effects in mechanics, manufacturing and material sciences and their effects on related physical behaviors and phenomena. Sections address the physical aspects of size effects, including tension, compression, and bending deformation in mechanics, fatigue and damage behaviors, the mechanisms behind these effects, modeling techniques for determining the behavior and phenomena of size effects, practical applications of size effects in material sciences and micro-manufacturing, how size effects influence the process performance, process outcome, properties and quality of fabricated parts and components, and future size effects. This book provides not only a reference volume on size effects but also valuable applications for engineers, scientists, academics and research students involved in materials processing, manufacturing, materials science and engineering, engineering mechanics, mechanical engineering and the management of enterprises using materials processing technologies in the mass-production of related products.

Biocomposites for Industrial Applications: Construction, Biomedical, Transportation and Food Packaging reviews the properties and performance of these materials, with a focus on their intended applications. Sections cover their properties and performance, including processing conditions, structure and property relations. For biomedical applications, researchers need a broad understanding of conceptual design, physico-chemical properties, and cytotoxicity (orthopedic implants). As the usage of biocomposites has increased significantly over recent years, mainly due to the advantages these materials have when compared to synthetic composites, such as (i) renewability (ii) eco-friendly components, (iii) biodegradable aspects, and (iv) non-toxicity, this book provides a great update on the technology. These advantages will help to attract wider use in more lightweight-based applications such as (i) construction and building (ii) biomedical (iii) transportation (automotive, marine, and aerospace), and (iv) in food packaging.

Metal Halide Perovskites for Generation, Manipulation and Detection of Light covers the current state and future prospects of lead halide perovskite photonics and photon sources, both from an academic and industrial point-of-view. Advances in metal halide perovskite photon sources (lasers) based on thin films, microcrystals and nanocrystals are comprehensively reviewed, with leading experts contributing current advances in theory, fundamental concepts, fabrication techniques, experiments and other important research innovations. This book is suitable for graduate students, researchers, scientists and engineers in academia and R&D in industry working in the disciplines of materials science and engineering.

Polymer Blend Nanocomposites for Energy Storage Applications presents the latest developments in polymer blend-based nanocomposites for applications in energy storage, covering theoretical concepts, preparation methods, characterization techniques, properties and performance. The book begins by introducing polymer blend-based nanocomposites, preparation methods, mechanisms, requirements, theory, modeling, and simulation, with subsequent sections covering the use of specific base materials, including elastomers, thermoplastics, thermoset polymers, and biodegradable polymers. Final sections covers polymer blend nanocomposites with different fillers, both for conducting polymers and non-conducting polymers. Devices discussed include capacitors, supercapacitors, batteries, fuel cells, and solar cells. Finally, other key aspects are considered, including the conversion from laboratory to industry and recycling and lifecycle assessment of polymer blend nanocomposites used in energy devices.

Solution Methods for Metal Oxide Nanostructures reviews solution processes that are used for synthesizing 1D, 2D and 3D metal oxide nanostructures in either thin film or in powder form for various applications. Wet-chemical synthesis methods deal with chemical reactions in the solution phase using precursors at proper experimental conditions. Wet-chemical synthesis routes offer a high degree of controllability and reproducibility for 2D nanomaterial fabrication. Solvothermal synthesis, template synthesis, self-assembly, oriented attachment, hot-injection, and interface-mediated synthesis are the main wet-chemical synthesis routes for 2D nanomaterials. Solution Methods for Metal Oxide Nanostructures also addresses the thin film deposition metal oxides nanostructures, which plays a very important role in many areas of chemistry, physics and materials science. Each chapter includes information on a key solution method and their application in the design of metal oxide nanostructured materials with optimized properties for important applications. The pros and cons of the solution method and their significance and future scope is also discussed in each chapter. Readers are provided with the fundamental understanding of the key concepts of solution synthesis methods for fabricating materials and the information needed to help them select the appropriate method for the desired application.

Antiviral and Antimicrobial Coatings Based on Functionalized Nanomaterials: Design, Applications, and Devices is the first book on functionalized nanoparticles-based coatings that encompasses the majority of aspects of antimicrobial and antiviral coatings. The use of functionalized nanoparticles has revolutionized all fields of science and engineering, and this book provides the reader with a fundamental, interdisciplinary look at this emerging field. It focuses on the most advanced coating systems being utilized by various industries including a discussion of the current challenges to be considered during manufacturing. This book provides both academics and those working in industry with a broad-based introduction to the area of modern antimicrobial coatings practices.

Liquid Metal Corrosion: Fundamental Theory and Applications is designed to help scientists, engineers and students working on liquid metal (sodium, lead, lead-bismuth) to fundamentally understand liquid metal corrosion. Coverage includes a discussion of corrosion mechanisms, fundamental corrosion processes, and corrosion products' behaviors as well as methods on how to calculate corrosion rates. The book concludes with models designed to predict the corrosion/precipitation distribution in a primary corrosion loop. This book will be a useful resource for researchers in their efforts to determine appropriate materials selection and reactor design.

Introduction to Heterostructured Materials provides updates on the historical perspective of the development of these materials, which is followed by a review of the basic background on mechanical behaviors and properties of metals and alloys. Next, both the definition and the fundamental principles and deformation behavior of heterostructured materials are covered, as well as their processing and properties and various design principles. The book supports graduate students and researchers entering this field, senior scientists who are already working in this field, engineers in the manufacturing industry, and professors who are teaching advanced materials and technologies. Heterostructured materials not only possess superior mechanical and/or physical properties that are not accessible to their conventional homogeneous counterparts, but they are also conducive to large-scale industrial production at low cost.

Perovskite Metal Oxides: Synthesis, Properties and Applications provides an overview on the topic, including the synthesis of various types of perovskites, their properties, characterization and application. The book reviews the applications of this category of materials for photovoltaics, electronics, biomedical, fuel cell, photocatalyst, sensor, energy storage and catalysis, along with processing techniques of perovskite metal oxides with a focus on low-cost and high-efficiency methods, including various properties and probable applications in academia and industry. Other sections discuss strategies to improve the functionality of perovskite metal oxide materials, including chemical methods and controlling the size, shape and structure of the materials. Finally, applications of perovskite metal oxides in energy conversion and storage, sensing and electronics are covered.

Polysaccharide-Based Hydrogels: Synthesis, Characterization and Applications looks at the synthesis, characterization and application of polysaccharide-based materials in a broad array of fields. The book discusses the role of polysaccharides in the preparation of hydrogels, the use of hydrogel-based green materials, and their applications in biomedical applications, drug delivery, water purification techniques, food industries, agricultural fields, and pharmaceuticals applications. Written by leading experts in this field, this book will be a valuable reference for scientists, academicians, researchers, technologists, consultants and policymakers.

Graphene Extraction from Waste: A Sustainable Synthesis Approach for Graphene and its Derivatives introduces readers to strategies of graphene extraction from waste, an important advance in graphene material development to support the low-cost and large-scale production of this valuable material. The book compares the various green synthesis routes for graphene materials and its derivatives, with a view on environmental consequences, cost-effectiveness, scalability, possible health hazards and toxicity. Other sections discuss different categories of waste, such as plastic waste, agricultural waste and household waste and the specific considerations of deriving graphene from these sources. Throughout the book, attention is paid to the potential applications of graphene-derived from waste, including challenges and emerging strategies. The book is suitable for researchers and practitioners in research and development in industry who work in the disciplines of materials science and engineering, green chemistry and sustainability.

Rapid Cure Composites: Materials, Processing and Manufacturing presents up-to-date information on the design criteria to formulate matrix systems for rapid curing. Emphasis is placed on the role different materials [resin compound and fiber reinforcement] play in developing fast curing composites, assessment of current and novel manufacturing techniques for adapting fast curing processes, the comparison between conventional curing and rapid curing, and different applications in various industrial sectors [e.g., aerospace, automotive, renewables and marine]. The book will be an essential reference resource for academic and industrial researchers working in the field of composite materials, processing and manufacturing organizations, materials scientists, and more. Polymer composites are widely used in several industries, including aerospace, automobile, spray and coatings, and electronics due to their lightweight and superior mechanical properties. However, one of the dominant hurdles towards their growth in commercial industries is the long curing cycle and slow production.

Mining and Processing Residues: Future’s Source of Critical Raw Materials provides a comprehensive review of principal aspects of CRM-containing residues re-processing, including available sampling and analytical techniques, the latest available processing technologies, authorization and legal matters, and analysis of environmental, social, and economic impacts. Suitable for academic researchers, practicing engineers and students, the book is aimed at giving a complete and multilateral view of CRM recovery from the residues.

Bioengineered Nanomaterials for Wound Healing and Infection Control is a key reference for those working in the fields of materials science, pharmacy, nanotechnology, biomedical engineering and microbiology. Bioengineered nanomaterials have unique physicochemical properties which promote accelerated wound healing and treatment of infections. The biosynthesis of these nanomaterials also offers a clean, safe and renewable alternative to traditional nanomaterials, helping reduce environmental impact alongside antibacterial resistance.

Nanomaterial-Based Metal Organic Frameworks for Single Atom Catalysis covers nanoparticles and their properties, including tunable pore size, efficient reacting capability, large surface area, and morphology, which make them effective catalytic agents. In addition, the book covers catalytic systems, in which nanomaterial-based metal organic frameworks can be applied efficiently as single atom catalysis to enable enhanced functionalities and activities of the reactions in various applications. This book is an important reference source that will be of use to materials scientists, engineers, chemists and chemical engineers who want to learn more about nanomaterials are being used for catalytic applications. Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) are hybrid organic-inorganic, porous, crystalline nanomaterials, and have aroused great attention in the field of catalysis because of their crystalized nano- (lt;2 nm) or meso- (2-50 nm) porous structure, extremely high surface area, and significant chemical diversity. This nanomaterial-based metal organic framework, as a single atom catalysis, enhances the catalytic ability of dispersed single atoms.

Fundamental Physicochemical Properties of Germanene-related Materials: A Theoretical Perspective provides a comprehensive review of germanene-related materials to help users understand the essential properties of these compounds. The book covers various germanium complex states such as germanium oxides, germanium on Ag, germanium/silicon composites and germanium compounds. Diverse phenomena are clearly illustrated using the most outstanding candidates of the germanium/germanene-related material. Delicate simulations and analyses are thoroughly demonstrated under the first-principles method, being fully assisted by phenomenological models. Macroscopic phenomena in chemical systems, including their principles, practices and concepts of physics such as energy, structure, thermodynamics and quantum chemistry are fully covered. Germanium-based materials play critical roles in the basic and applied sciences, as clearly revealed in other group-IV and group-V condensed-matter systems. Their atomic configurations are suitable for creating the active chemical bonding among the identical and/or different nearest-neighboring atoms leading to diverse physical/chemical/material environments.

Autonomous Mobile Robots: Planning, Navigation, and Simulation presents detailed coverage of the domain of robotics in motion planning and associated topics in navigation. This book covers numerous base planning methods from diverse schools of learning, including deliberative planning methods, reactive planning methods, task planning methods, fusion of different methods, and cognitive architectures. It is a good resource for doing initial project work in robotics, providing an overview, methods and simulation software in one resource. For more advanced readers, it presents a variety of planning algorithms to choose from, presenting the tradeoffs between the algorithms to ascertain a good choice. Finally, the book presents fusion mechanisms to design hybrid algorithms.

More than four decades have passed since surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) was discovered. In today's world SERS has been established as a plasmon-based spectroscopy with ultra-high sensitivity and versatility at the forefront of the developments in plasmonics. SERS has been developing with the advances in nanoscience and nanotechnology. The "SERS world" has grown up markedly for the last 20 years or so, and recently the wider concept of, plasmon-enhanced spectroscopy was born. Plasmon-enhanced spectroscopy contains not only SERS but also tip-enhanced Raman scattering (TERS), surface-enhanced infrared absorption (SEIRA), surface-enhanced fluorescence (SEF), and more. Through these novel spectroscopies various amazing properties of plasmons have become known, providing new exciting research fields. One of the main purposes of the book is to convey the enthusiastic discussion on plasmon-enhanced spectroscopy at the symposium to the scientific community. This book reports leading-edge advances in the theory of plasmonic enhancement and application of plasmon-enhanced spectroscopy to biology, chemistry, physics, materials science, and medicine. Many books have been published about SERS, but this may be the first time that a book on a wide area of plasmon-enhanced spectroscopy has ever been published. The book consists of two volumes; the first volume contains the introductory review by George Schatz followed by eight chapters, which are mainly concerned with SERS.

Polyurea: Synthesis, Properties, Composites, Production, and Applications is a comprehensive and practical guide to polyurea, a material used for its exceptional properties and performance in a range of high value industrial applications. Sections cover polyurea formulations and properties, comparing aromatic polyurea with aliphatic polyurea and computation modeling of properties for polyurea and polyurea composites. This is followed by in-depth coverage of synthesis, structure and production methods of polyurea, with the connections between production, performance and properties examined thoroughly. Other sections explain the preparation, characterization, modeling and applications of polyurea and polyurea composites with the required properties for specific advanced applications. Finally, environmental issues, recycling and future potential of polyurea are considered. This is a valuable resource for researchers and advanced students in polymer science, chemistry, composite science, civil engineering, materials science and mechanical engineering, as well as R&D professionals, engineers and industrial scientists with an interest in polyurea-based materials for advanced applications.

Ceramic Matrix Composites: Lifetime and Strength Prediction Under Static and Stochastic Loading focuses on the strain response and lifetime prediction of fiber-reinforced ceramic-matrix composites under stress-rupture loading at intermediate temperatures. Typical damage mechanisms of matrix cracking, interface debonding and oxidation, and fiber's oxidation and fracture are considered in the micromechanical analysis. Effects of composite's constituent properties, peak stress, and testing temperature on the composite's strain response and lifetime are analyzed in detail. Comparison of constant and different stochastic stress spectrum on composite's damage evolution and fracture are also discussed. The book will be a practical guide for the material researcher and component designer needing to better understand the composite's damage and fracture behavior under stress-rupture loading at intermediate temperatures.

Vegetation Dynamics and Crop Stress: An Earth-Observation Perspective focuses on vegetation dynamics and crop stress at both the regional and country levels by using earth observation (EO) data sets. The book uniquely provides a better understanding of natural vegetation and crop failure through geo-spatial technologies. This book covers biophysical control of vegetation, deforestation, desertification, drought, and crop-water efficiency, as well as the application of satellite-derived measures from optical, thermal, and microwave domains for monitoring and modeling crop condition, agricultural drought, and crop health in contrasting monsoon/weather episodes.

Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery is a comprehensive guide to PLGA nanoparticles for targeting various diseases, covering principles, formation, characterization, applications, regulations and the latest advances. Sections introduce the fundamental aspects of PLGA nanoparticles for drug delivery, including properties, preparation methods, characterization, drug loading methods, and drug release mechanisms, along with a focus on applications. Application of PLGA nanoparticles for the treatment of cancer, inflammatory, cerebral, cardiovascular, and infectious diseases, as well as in regenerative medicine, photodynamic and photothermal therapy, and gene therapy, are all explained in detail. The final chapters explore recent advances and regulatory aspects. This book is a valuable resource for researchers and advanced students across nanomedicine, polymer science, bio-based materials, chemistry, biomedicine, biotechnology, and materials engineering, as well as for industrial scientists and R&D professionals with an interest in nanoparticles for drug delivery, pharmaceutical formulations and regulations, and development of innovative biodegradable materials.