Nanoenergy: Nanotechnology Applied for Energy Production (Green Energy and Technology)

Low dimensional systems have revolutionized the science and technology in several areas. However, their understanding is still a great challenge for the scientific community. Solar energy conversion devices based on nanostructured materials have shown exceptional gains in efficiency and stability. In this context, nanostructures allow an improvement of surface properties, transport and charge transfer, as well as direct application as sensors and storage devices and energy conversion. This book discuss the recent advances and future trends of the nanoscience in solar energy conversion and storage. It explores and discusses recent developments both in theory as well as in experimental studies and is of interest to materials scientists, chemists, physicists and engineers.;Preface -- Incorporation of inorganic nanoparticles in bulk heterojunction organic solar cells -- Nanomaterials for solar energy conversion: Dye-sensitized solar cells based on ruthenium(II) tris-heteroleptic compounds or natural dyes -- Facile routes to produce hematite film for hydrogen generation from photoelectrochemical water splitting -- Biofuel Cells: Bioelectrochemistry Applied to the Generation of Green Electricity -- Recent Advances on Nanostructured Eletrocatalysts for Oxygen Eletro-reduction and Ethanol Eletro-oxidation -- Nanocomposites from V2O5 and Lithium Ion Batteries -- Magnesium alloys as anode materials for Ni-MH batteries: Challenges and opportunities for nanotechnology. Nanoenergy 2 Preface 4 Contents 6 1 Incorporation of Inorganic Nanoparticles into Bulk Heterojunction Organic Solar Cells 7 Abstract 7 1...Introduction 7 2...Organic Solar Cells 11 3...Semiconductor Nanoparticles in Organic Solar Cells 16 4...Metal Nanoparticles in Organic Solar Cells 28 5...Conclusions and Perspectives 41 Acknowledgments 42 References 42 2 Nanomaterials for Solar Energy Conversion: Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Based on Ruthenium (II) Tris-Heteroleptic Compounds or Natural Dyes 54 Abstract 54 1...Aims and Scope 54 2...Introduction 55 2.1 Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells: Principles and Operation 56 2.2 Performance Experiments 57 2.2.1 Current--voltage (IxV) Curves 57 2.2.2 Photocurrent Action Spectra 58 2.3 Molecular Engineering 59 3...Ruthenium Tris-Heteroleptic Complexes 60 3.1 2,2vprime-Bipyridine Derivative Ligands 61 3.1.1 Amphiphilic Compounds 61 3.1.2 Donor-Antenna Compounds 62 3.1.3 Thiophene Compounds 71 3.2 1,10-Phenanthroline Derivative Ligands 71 4...Natural Dyes 80 5...Conclusion 81 Acknowledgments 81 References 81 3 Facile Routes to Produce Hematite Film for Hydrogen Generation from Photoelectro-Chemical Water Splitting 86 Abstract 86 1...Introduction 86 2...Photoanode Processed by Sol--Gel Process 88 3...Colloidal Deposition 91 4...Hydrothermal Synthesis 94 Acknowledgments 100 References 100 4 Biofuel Cells: Bioelectrochemistry Applied to the Generation of Green Electricity 105 Abstract 105 1...Introduction 105 2...BFCs for Power Energy Production 107 3...Power Energy and Thermodynamics in BFCs 109 4...Nanostructured Materials Applied to Modified Electrodes and BFCs 111 5...Enzyme-Based Modified Electrodes Applied to BFCs 113 6...Microbial-Based Modified Electrodes Applied to BFCs 117 7...Development of Biomimetic Electrodes Applied to BFCs 119 8...Perspectives on Green Energy Generation and Future Applications 120 References 121 5 Recent Advances on Nanostructured Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Electro-Reduction and Ethanol Electro-Oxidation 128 Abstract 128 1...Introduction 129 1.1 Initial Considerations 129 2...Oxygen Reduction Electrocatalysis 129 2.1 Singlecrystals and bulk alloys 131 2.2 Nanoparticle 137 3...Ethanol Electro-Oxidation 142 3.1 Acid Media 142 3.2 Alkaline Electrolyte 148 4...Conclusions 150 4.1 Oxygen Reduction 150 4.2 Ethanol Oxidation 151 Acknowledgments 151 References 151 6 Nanocomposites from V2O5 and Lithium Ion Batteries 155 Abstract 155 1...Introduction 156 2...Vanadium Pentoxide 158 3...Nanomaterials 163 4...Conclusions 175 Acknowledgments 176 References 176 7 Magnesium Alloys as Anode Materials for Ni-MH Batteries: Challenges and Opportunities for Nanotechnology 180 Abstract 180 1...Introduction 180 2...Principles of Nickel-Metal Hydride Batteries 182 2.1 Conventional Alloy Electrodes 185 2.2 Mg Alloy Electrodes 188 3...Concluding Remarks 198 References 199 Front Matter....Pages i-vii Incorporation of Inorganic Nanoparticles into Bulk Heterojunction Organic Solar Cells....Pages 1-47 Nanomaterials for Solar Energy Conversion: Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Based on Ruthenium (II) Tris -Heteroleptic Compounds or Natural Dyes....Pages 49-80 Facile Routes to Produce Hematite Film for Hydrogen Generation from Photoelectro-Chemical Water Splitting....Pages 81-99 Biofuel Cells: Bioelectrochemistry Applied to the Generation of Green Electricity....Pages 101-123 Recent Advances on Nanostructured Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Electro-Reduction and Ethanol Electro-Oxidation....Pages 125-151 Nanocomposites from V 2 O 5 and Lithium Ion Batteries....Pages 153-177 Magnesium Alloys as Anode Materials for Ni-MH Batteries: Challenges and Opportunities for Nanotechnology....Pages 179-200