Polymer/Fullerene Nanocomposites: Design and Applications synopsizes state-of-the-art essentials and versatile inventions in polymers and fullerenes derived nanocomposites. As the design, fabrication and exploration of polymeric materials with fullerenes in advanced nanomaterials is progressing quickly because of their unique combination of properties, including optical, electronic, electrical, mechanical, thermal, photovoltaic, sensing, shape memory, capacitive, antimicrobial, and other applications, this book fills a void in literature compilation and assessment for a field still in its infancy. The introductory chapter of this manuscript provides a comprehensive update on the fundamentals and applications of fullerenes, with following chapters revealing the properties and essential aspects of polymeric nanocomposites. Reconnoiters state-of-the-art of fullerenes Focuses on fullerene nano-additives, developing covalent interactions, and physical dispersion with conjugated polymers and other polymeric matrices Emphasizes fullerene nanowhisker and nanoball nanofillers in nanocomposites Unfolds advanced applications of polymer/fullerene nanomaterials in stimuli-responsive systems, optoelectronic devices (photovoltaics, light emitting diodes and optical sensors), fuel cells, supercapacitors and biomedical fields

Spectroscopy of Polymer Nanocomposites covers all aspects of the spectroscopic characterization of polymer nanocomposites. More than 25 spectroscopy characterization techniques – almost all used in materials science – are treated in the book, with discussion of their potentialities and limitations. By comparing the techniques with each other and presenting the techniques together with their specific application areas, the book provides scientists and engineers the information needed for solving specific problems and choosing the right technique for analyzing the material structure. From this, the dispersion structure of fillers, property relations and filler-polymer interactions can be determined, and, ultimately, the right materials can be chosen for the right applications. Besides the techniques and structure-property relations, aspects covered include: phase segregation of filler particles, filler agglomeration and deagglomeration, filler dispersion, filler-polymer interactions, surfaces and interfaces. The book also examines recent developments, as well as unresolved issues and new challenges, in the characterization of surfaces and interfaces in polymer nanocomposites. This handpicked selection of topics, and the combined expertise of contributors from industry, academia, government and private research organizations across the globe, make this survey an outstanding reference source for anyone involved in the field of polymer nanocomposites in academia or industry. Provides comprehensive coverage of spectroscopy techniques for analyzing polymer nanocomposites Enables researchers and engineers to choose the right technique and make better materials decisions in research and a range of industries Presents the fundamentals, information on structure-property relations, and all other aspects relevant for understanding spectroscopic analyses of nanoreinforced polymers and their applications

Although synthetic fullerenes have only been around for a few years, there are thousands of scientific articles dealing with them. This is the first monograph in the field and thus represents a vital source of information summarizing the most important and fundamental aspects of the organic and organometallic chemistry of the fullerenes. The book is logically arranged so that information is easy to retrieve, and the style lends itself to effortless reading and to learning more about the chemical properties of a family of molecules that constitute new building blocks for novel architectures in the ever-expanding universe of synthetic chemistry. Belongs on the shelves of university libraries as well as those of chemists interested in the art and science of structure and property manipulation by synthesis.

This in-depth experimental and theoretical account explores polymers and composites whose unusual properties (such as photophysical phenomena, electrical transport, phase transitions, and magnetic properties) stem from the incorporation of C60 in the material. Introductory chapters on the fundamental properties of fullerenes (C60, C70) and photophysical phenomena in fullerenes and polymers are also included.

The production of polymer nanocomposites from solution consists of the mixing of the polymer and nanoparticle in solution and subsequent evaporation of the solvent. Here, we examine the formation of polyacrylonitrile and C60 fullerene nanocomposites, with a focus on monitoring these two steps. This study indicates that the nanoparticles are individually dispersed with the polymer chains in solution prior to deposition and in the final film. As the solution becomes more concentrated, the nanoparticles are sequestered to the outer edges of the polymer crystals, altering the detected crystal structure. The self-assembled structure of the crystalline polymer is directed by the addition of C60 and manifests itself as a peak in small-angle X-ray scattering on a length scale of ~150 . Moreover, our results suggest that the non-covalent molecular interactions between C60 and polyacrylonitrile matrix are sufficiently strong to alter the self-assembled morphology of the polymer and the meso- and nanoscale structures in the nanocomposite.

Conjugated polymeric materials and their nanocomposites are widely used for the creation of alternative sources of renewable energy, cell phone screens, mobile gadgets, video players and OLED-TV, as well as organic diodes, transistors, sensors, etc. with field-dependent and spin-assisted electronic properties. Multifrequency EPR Spectroscopy methods can help researchers optimize their structural, magnetic and electronic properties for the creation of more efficient molecular devices. This book will acquaint the reader with the basic properties of conjugated polymers, the fundamentals of EPR Spectroscopy, and the information that can be obtained at different wavebands of EPR spectroscopy.