3 - Metal oxide nanofillers introduced polymer-based composites with advanced optical, optoelectronic, and electrical energy storage functionalities

Abstract

Metal oxides represent an important class of ceramic materials that has attracted considerable research interest, owing to the fact that metals form a large diversity of oxide materials that can adopt varied structural geometries with unique electronic band structures. Also, metal oxides at the nanometric scale offer unique material properties arising from quantum confinement effects that induce changes in their optical, electrical, and optoelectronic behaviors. Also, a thoughtful introduction of such functional metal oxide nanomaterials into particle stabilizing polymers may enable advanced polymer nanocomposite hybrids with versatile material properties. However, the real-time outdoor application of such nanocomposites mandates a fundamental understanding of their inherent material functionalities. Thus, this chapter is aimed at presenting the technological importance of nanotechnology and polymer nanocomposites with a special focus on metal oxide nanofiller introduced polymer composites for advanced optical, optoelectronic, and energy storage applications.