Coatings for Energy Applications

Abstract

This chapter aims at providing an understanding about the potential applications of various types of coatings in energy sector. As the energy demands are growing day by day, there is need of enhancing the efficiency of energy systems, which can be enhanced using the advanced coatings. This chapter summarizes about the application of thin films and thick coatings of conventional/nanomaterials in both renewable and non-renewable energy sectors. A comparison between the efficiencies of systems with and without coatings has also been addressed. The importance and challenges associated with adding nanomaterials like carbon nanotubes (CNT), graphene, and various nanostructures with conventional coating material have also been discussed. This chapter can lead to better fundamental understanding about the coatings, which ensures new designs, high efficiency, and large application of coatings in energy sector. IntroductionEnergy has been the part of our life, especially electricity plays a vital role in our modern society. With an ever-increasing population, energy demand also growing faster for the past few decades. To meet the increased demand, every country has started to explore different energy systems to produce and store electricity in an efficient and most importantly in the eco-friendly way [1]. Hence, by increasing energy production, emission of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), methane (CH 4 ), and nitrous oxide (N 2 O) also rises to its peak. In order to decrease the emission of greenhouse gases, a worldwide initiation has also been in progress. Energy conservation steps have been introduced, either by reducing CO 2 emission from non-renewable sources like coal, natural gas, petroleum, and nuclear sources; or by avoiding such emissions using renewable energy sources as wind, water, sunlight, or biomass.