Hydrogels: Fundamentals to Advanced Energy Applications (Series in Materials Science and Engineering)

The demand for advanced energy devices such as high-performance batteries, supercapacitors, fuel cells, electrolyzers, and flexible/wearable devices is increasing rapidly. To meet such demand, high-performance and stable materials that could be used as active materials in these devices are much needed. This book focuses on the use of hydrogels in such emerging applications.

The main objective of this book is to provide current, state-of-the-art development in hydrogel-based materials, their applications in energy, and their future challenges. This book covers the entire spectrum of hydrogels for their applications in a range of energy devices in terms of materials, various synthetic approaches, architectural aspects, design and technology of energy devices, and challenges. This book covers the fundamentals of hydrogels, various composites of hydrogels, design concepts, different technologies, and applications in the diverse energy area. All chapters are written by experts in these areas around the world, making this a suitable textbook for students and providing new guidelines to researchers and industries working in these areas.

This book includes topics such as various approaches to synthesizing hydrogels, their characterizations, and emerging applications in the energy area. Fundamentals of energy devices, working principles, and their challenges are also covered. This book will provide new directions to scientists, researchers, and students to better understand hydrogel-based materials and their emerging applications in energy.

Dr. Ram K. Gupta is an Associate Professor at Pittsburg State University. Dr. Gupta’s research focuses on nanomagnetism, nanomaterials, green energy production and storage using conducting polymers and composites, sensors, electrocatalysts for fuel cells, optoelectronics and photovoltaics devices, organic-inorganic hetero-junctions for sensors, bio-based polymers, biocompatible nanofibers for tissue regeneration, scaffold and antibacterial applications, and biodegradable metallic implants. Dr. Gupta has published over 250 peer-reviewed articles, made over 350 national/international/ regional presentations, chaired many sessions at national/international meetings, and edited/wrote several books/chapters for the American Chemical Society, the Royal Society of Chemistry, CRC Press, Elsevier, Springer, and Wiley. He has received several million dollars for research and educational activities from external agencies. He is a serving associate editor, guest editor, and editorial board member for various journals.

Dr. Anuj Kumar is an Assistant Professor at GLA University, Mathura, India. His research focuses on molecular as well M-N-C electrocatalysts for H2, O2, and CO2 involving electrocatalysis, nanomaterials, nanocomposites, fuel cells, water electrolyzers, nano-sensors, bio-inorganic chemistry, and macrocyclic chemistry. He has published more than 45 articles in reputed peerreviewed international journals. He has also contributed more than 12 book chapters to Elsevier, Springer, CRC Press, and the Bentham Science book series. For outstanding contribution to his research field, he was awarded the “Best Young Scientist Award 2021” from the Tamil Nadu Association of Intellectuals and Faculty (TAIF) and GRBS Educational Charitable Trust, India, and the “Young Researcher Award 2020” by Central Education Growth and Research (CEGR), India. He is a serving section editor, guest editor, and editorial board member for various journals.