Chapters authored
New Materials to Solve Energy Issues through Photochemical and Photophysical Processes: The Kinetics Involved
Kinetic rates of energy production are extremely controlled by the competing processes that occur in systems capable of energy transfer. Besides organic and inorganic compounds already known as electronically actives, supramolecular systems can be thought to form energy transfer complexes to efficiently convert, for instance, light into electricity and the mechanisms for that can be of any kind. Photophysical and photochemical processes can simultaneously occur in such systems to provide energy conversion, by competing mechanisms or collaborative ones. Thus, to investigate the kinetic rates of each process and to understand the dynamics of the electronic excited states population and depopulation in strategically structured materials, can offer important tools to efficiently make use of this not always so evident power of supramolecular materials. In this chapter, we present the state-of-the-art of the use of photophysical processes and photochemical changes, presented by new materials and devices to provide a control of energy transfer processes and enable distinct applications, since energy conversion to sensing and imaging techniques to material characterization.
Part of the book: Advanced Chemical Kinetics
Production of Hydrogen and their Use in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells
This work will show an overview of the hydrogen production from ethanol by steam reforming method, using distinct catalysts, resulting in low carbon monoxide content in H2 produced; a thermodynamic analysis of reforming employing entropy maximization, the ideal condition for ethanol, and other steam reforming reactions, the state of the art of steam reforming catalysts for H2 production with low CO content. Moreover, in the second part, there will be an overview of the use of hydrogen in a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), the fuel cell operational conditions, a thermodynamic analysis of PEMFC, the catalysts used in the electrodes of the fuel cell, consequences of the CO presence in the hydrogen fuel feed in PEMFC, and the operation conditions for maximum output power density.
Part of the book: Advances In Hydrogen Generation Technologies
The Role of Intellectual Property in Assuring Cultural and Gender Diversity in Labor Force in an Internationalized World
When we think of a globalized world, whose development is based on internationalized actions, the ease of communication, access to information, cultural and commercial exchanges, and the technological development that they ignite immediately come to mind. Clearly, much is earned from internationalization; however, what is lost is rarely considered. A rigorous assessment of the changes that internationalization represents for a nation is needed in order to understand its effective costs and handle it properly. It is common sense that the main impact of internationalization is on the culture of a people. Internationalization, as a mechanism to facilitate sharing of information, products, and knowledge, certainly has an impact on cultural diversity; however, it is not always clear if it is positive or negative. Regarding intellectual property, it often influences authorship recognition and, therefore, ownership of innovative creations. Often, cultural issues affect the way in which authorship recognition occurs, especially when it comes to different ethnicities and genders. In this chapter, we will explore the aspects of intellectual property related to traditional knowledge that influence cultural and gender diversity, worldwide, evidencing their pros and cons, aiming to collaborate with public policies to bridge the gender gap and truly protect diversity.
Part of the book: Intellectual Property