Energy materials: synthesis and characterization techniques

Currently, energy production, its conversion, and application are the most important topics of this century, because of the vast consumption of fossil-fuel and natural resources. Hence, the use of renewable and clean energy sources that can be substituted for fossil fuels is in high demand. This not only satisfies our energy needs but also helps to enable the sustainable development of our economy and society. It also shows the worldwide concern and increase in research interest toward energy storage materials and their production. In past few years, many researchers have developed numerous techniques based on materials science and provided materials and methods to society that can store natural and artificial energy. These materials and methods are termed energy materials and energy devices, respectively. In this chapter we focus on the methods of synthesis of these materials, and their characterization techniques to analyze their structural, chemical, physical, and atomic properties. Moreover, in this chapter we make an attempt to explain the causes of failure of materials during the technology transfer stage and methods for the analysis of failure.