Page 554 - Polymer-based Nanocomposites for Energy and Environmental Applications

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Hybrid materials based on 19

polymer nanocomposites for

environmental applications

T.-P. Nguyen*, S.-H. Yang †
†
*University of Nantes-CNRS, Nantes, France, National Chiao Tung University,
Tainan, Taiwan

19.1 Introduction

Polymer-based composites can be defined as materials obtained by incorporation of a
small quantity of an inorganic component into an organic or a polymer matrix in order
to form a new component having expectedly the best properties of each material. The
use of organic material or polymer offers several advantages coming directly from
their properties such as light weight, large surface, low production cost, and ease
to put in shape and to use. In addition, the adequate choice of a polymer as a matrix
can also improve the optical and electric processes and properties of composites as
compared with those of the separate components. In general, the use of inorganic
materials provides specific physical properties to the composites and at the same time,
by their nature, compensates the structural instability of polymers when exposed to
humidity and light. Therefore, the association of polymeric and inorganic components
can give rise to new materials with remarkable properties that can be exploited in var-
ious fields and particularly in energy and environmental applications. These two fields
have been and are closely linked. Developments and progress in energy are necessary
for human life, improving their quality and making it more comfortable. At the same
time, they affect and modify the environment in which people live. As there are many
available energy sources, the way they are exploited and used can differently influence
the living medium, some more than others. In the past, the fossil fuels (coal, oil, and
gas) were the only energy sources that were worldwide available and affordable. Then
there has been onset of new energy sources (nuclear, hydro, and renewable) that pro-
gressively grew among the primary energy supply. The footprint on the environment
of energy technologies does not depend on the production techniques, although they
can accentuate the consequence, but it depends mainly on the used materials and their
wastes. For example, nuclear energy production involves radioactive and dangerous
wastes for living species, which are difficult to be eliminated, even at long term. As
well, the use of fossil fuels produces carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) that contributes to global
warming, raising the temperature of the atmosphere and changing the living condi-
tions of people, animals, and vegetables.

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