Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
15
Ceramic nanocomposites for energy storage
and power generation
B . KUMAR , University of Dayton Research Institute, USA
Abstract: This chapter covers the electrical conductivity of polymer-
ceramic and ceramic-ceramic nanocomposites with a major emphasis on
the ionic conductivity. These nanocomposites are potentially important
materials as electrolytes for power generation and energy storage devices.
The nanocomposites offer major enhancements in ionic conductivity
because of an underlying basic physical mechanism emanating from their
structure. The basic physical mechanism for conductivity enhancement is
the space charge effect. The chapter explains applicability and
quantification of the effect for lithium ion conducting nanocomposites.
The applicability of the effect can be extended to other lithium ion and
oxygen ion conductors. Uses of nanocomposites in energy storage and
power generation devices are also covered.
Key words: electrical conductivity, nanocomposites, polymer-ceramic,
ceramic-ceramic, energy storage.
15.1
Introduction
The evolutionary processes of nature have created three states of matter -
solid, liquid, and gas. Each of these states may be composed of a single
element or a combination of elements, such as in naturally occurring
minerals, which are the most commonly found solid state matter in the
earth's crust. The three states of matter can also be synthesized by man-
made processes. Nanocomposites are man-made solids tailored with
distinctive chemical, mechanical, and electrical properties that are generally
designed for a specific application. Nanocomposites can be synthesized
using basic principles of materials engineering and developed for a given
commercial application. The focus of this chapter is on the electrical
