Environmental problems derived from the massive use of conventional energy resources are one of the main issues that our society has been facing in recent decades. Renewable energies (and particularly solar energy) have become a highly competitive means to meet the world’s increasing energy demands in a sustainable and clean manner. One of the key research challenges for the commercial deployment of several solar energy technologies is focused on the development of feasible and durable coatings that withstand appropriate optical and thermal performance over the lifetime of the solar facilities. This book addresses a number of relevant aspects related to coatings for renewable energies, including a deep survey of coatings used in photovoltaic solar energy, the development of a superhydrophobic and thermal stable silica coating that is potentially suitable for various industrial applications related to renewable technologies, the development of coatings to improve the resistance of structural materials used in concentrating solar thermal technologies with molten salts, and several research works related to solar reflectors for concentrating solar thermal technologies (such us the advanced analysis of the corrosion, the suitability of anti-soiling coatings, and the development of top protective coatings for high-temperature secondary concentrators).

Environmental problems derived from the massive use of conventional energy resources are one of the main issues that our society has been facing in recent decades. Renewable energies (and particularly solar energy) have become a highly competitive means to meet the world's increasing energy demands in a sustainable and clean manner. One of the key research challenges for the commercial deployment of several solar energy technologies is focused on the development of feasible and durable coatings that withstand appropriate optical and thermal performance over the lifetime of the solar facilities. This book addresses a number of relevant aspects related to coatings for renewable energies, including a deep survey of coatings used in photovoltaic solar energy, the development of a superhydrophobic and thermal stable silica coating that is potentially suitable for various industrial applications related to renewable technologies, the development of coatings to improve the resistance of structural materials used in concentrating solar thermal technologies with molten salts, and several research works related to solar reflectors for concentrating solar thermal technologies (such us the advanced analysis of the corrosion, the suitability of anti-soiling coatings, and the development of top protective coatings for high-temperature secondary concentrators).

Currently, the reliance on fossil fuels raises concerns on the increasing global energy demand, the rapid anthropogenic climate changes and growing environmental problems. The grand challenge is to search for viable carbon-neutral sources of renewable energy. Nanomaterials are arguably the base that integrates nanotechnology, information technology, and biotechnology; the major drivers of technological development today. Over the past decades, the understanding of form-function relations surrounding nanomaterials has significantly brightened the prospects of the transition from fossil fuels to solar fuels. This book introduces the latest developments in nanomaterials aimed at the applications in clean energy areas. It overviews the close link between nanomaterials development and energy applications from the experience and perspective of the authors. It discusses the bottom-up synthesis and interface engineering of new materials of different dimensions and describes their applications in future energy devices such as secondary batteries, novel solar cells, luminescent devices, and water splitting electrolyzers. .

This handbook brings together, under a single cover, all aspects of the chemistry, physics, and engineering of surfaces and interfaces of materials currently studied in academic and industrial research. It covers different experimental and theoretical aspects of surfaces and interfaces, their physical properties, and spectroscopic techniques that have been applied to a wide class of inorganic, organic, polymer, and biological materials. The diversified technological areas of surface science reflect the explosion of scientific information on surfaces and interfaces of materials and their spectroscopic characterization. The large volume of experimental data on chemistry, physics, and engineering aspects of materials surfaces and interfaces remains scattered in so many different periodicals, therefore this handbook compilation is needed.The information presented in this multivolume reference draws on two decades of pioneering research on the surfaces and interfaces of materials to offer a complete perspective on the topic. These five volumes-Surface and Interface Phenomena; Surface Characterization and Properties; Nanostructures, Micelles, and Colloids; Thin Films and Layers; Biointerfaces and Applications-provide multidisciplinary review chapters and summarize the current status of the field covering important scientific and technological developments made over past decades in surfaces and interfaces of materials and spectroscopic techniques with contributions from internationally recognized experts from all over the world. Fully cross-referenced, this book has clear, precise, and wide appeal as an essential reference source long due for the scientific community. The complete reference on the topic of surfaces and interfaces of materialsThe information presented in this multivolume reference draws on two decades of pioneering researchProvides multidisciplinary review chapters and summarizes the current status of the fieldCovers important scientific and technological developments made over past decades in surfaces and interfaces of materials and spectroscopic techniquesContributions from internationally recognized experts from all over the world

Surfaces and Interfaces of Solid Materials emphasises both experimental and theoretical aspects of surface and interface physics. Beside the techniques of preparing well-defined solid surfaces and interfaces basic models for the description of structural, vibronic and electronic properties of interfaces are described, as well as fundamental aspects of adsorption and layer growth. Because of its importance for modern microelectronics special emphasis is placed on the electronic properties of semiconductor interfaces and heterostructures. Experimental topics covering the basics of ultrahigh-vacuum technology, electron optics, surface spectroscopies and electrical interface characterization techniques are presented in the form of separate panels.