Handbook of Nanofibers

This Handbook covers all aspects related to Nanofibers, from the experimental set-up for their fabrication to their potential industrial applications. It describes several kinds of nanostructured fibers such as metal oxides, natural polymers, synthetic polymers and hybrids inorganic-polymers or carbon-based materials. The first part of the Handbook covers the fundamental aspects, experimental setup, synthesis, properties and physico-chemical characterization of nanofibers. Specifically, this part details the history of nanofibers, different techniques to design nanofibers, self-assembly in nanofibers, critical parameters of synthesis, fiber alignment, modeling and simulation, types and classifications of nanofibers, and signature physical and chemical properties (i.e. mechanical, electrical, optical and magnetic), toxicity and regulations, bulk and surface functionalization and other treatments to allow them to a practical use. Characterization methods are also deeply discussed here. The second part of the Handbook deals with global markets and technologies and emerging applications of nanofibers, such as in energy production and storage, aerospace, automotive, sensors, smart textile design, energy conversion, tissue engineering, medical implants, pharmacy and cosmetics. Attention is given to the future of research in these areas in order to improve and spread the applications of nanofibers and their commercialization.

Dr. Ahmed Barhoum is a postdoc researcher at VUB University (Belgium). He obtained his Ph.D. degree in Chemical Engineering “Nanoparticles and Nanostructured materials: from synthesis to application” from Faculty of Engineering, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) in Belgium. Ahmed Barhoum joined top research groups in Europe and USA including European Institute of Membranes (CNRS, France), Grenoble Institute of Technology (CNRS, France), Leibniz Universitaet Hannover (Germany). His current research interest focuses on fabrication of nanostructured materials for applications in multifunctional coating, sensing, Li-ion batteries, supercapacitors, photocatalytic applications and hydrogen fuel production. Ahmed Barhoum has been appointed as apotential reviewer for many peer-reviewed journals including ACS publication, Elsevier, Springer, Wiley, Bentham Science, etc. Ahmed Barhoum is the recipient of the FWO-Research Foundation Flanders grant (2016), FWO-Research Foundation Flandersgrant (2015), Medastar Erasmus Mundus Program Scholarship (2012), Campus France Scholarship (2012), and Welcome Erasmus Mundus Program Scholarship (2012). Currently, Barhoum is on the editorial board of peer-reviewed journals (Research & Reviews: Journal of Chemistry and Chemistry of Advanced Materials) and Editor-in-chief of Handbook of nanoparticles and architectural nanostructured materials (1000 pages) at Elsevier.

Dr. Mikhael Bechelany (born in March 1979) obtained his PhD in Materials Chemistry from the University of Lyon (France) in 2006. His PhD work was devoted to the synthesis and characterization of silicon and boron based 1D nanostructures (nanotubes, nanowires and nanocables). Then, he worked as a post-doc at EMPA (Switzerland). His research included the fabrication of nanomaterials (nanoparticles and nanowires), their organization and their nanomanipulation for applications in different field such as photovoltaic, robotic, chemical and bio-sensing. In 2010, he became a Scientist at CNRS. His current research interest in the European Institute of Membranes (UMR CNRS 5635) in Montpellier (France) focuses on novel synthesis methods for metals and ceramics nanomaterials like Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD), Electrospinning and/or on the nanostructuring using natural lithography (nanospheres and/or membranes). His research efforts include the design of nanostructured membranes for energy (gas separation, photovoltaic, biofuel cells and osmotic energy harvesting), environmental (water treatment, (bio)sensors and packaging) and health (DNA sequencing, tissue engineering, drug delivery). He is the author and co-author of more than 100 publications, 3 book chapters, 4 patents, 21 conference papers and 22 invited talks, and he is the co-organizer of 7 conferences and the co-founder of 2 start-up.

Prof. Abdel Salam Hamdy Makhlouf has accrued 26 years’ experience working in R&D with a strong blend of industrial and academic leadership as a Professor of Materials Science, Professor of Advanced “nano-bio” Manufacturing Engineering, and Materials & Metallurgical Engineering Consultant. Responsible for providing education leadership in STEM area, maintaining a high standard of quality in graduate and undergraduate teaching, connecting R&D to industrial applications, and providing consultancy for several leading international companies, funding agencies, universities, and publishers of high profile. He is a world-renowned academician who won numerous national and international prestigious prizes and awards such as Humboldt Research Award for Experienced Scientists at Max Planck Institute, Germany; Fulbright, NSF, and Dept. of Energy Fellowships, USA; Shoman Award in Engineering Science; State Prize of Egypt in Advanced Science and Technology; and many more. He has well-established national and international reputation in five critical research areas that serve the top priority research topics (Energy, Health, Environment, Advanced manufacturing, Advanced materials) with established evidence of academic excellence. The publication list (+220) includes 17 books and handbooks for Springer and Elsevier, covers a broad and cross‐disciplinary research competence in advanced multifunctional materials, nanotechnology, smart coatings, corrosion, biomaterials, waste/water treatment, and materials for energy applications.  He has a proven leading role in high-impact interdisciplinary collaborations with a broad range of academic, industrial or governmental partners. He has strong track record of winning research income from diverse sources through competitive grants, industry grants or consultancies. He developed articulation agreements for academic and research collaboration with many international institutions and coordinated several Int'l projects with USA, France, Germany. PI, Co-PI, consultant or team leader on several international grants - and NSF, DOE-funded grants. Makhlouf has proven effective management at department/college/university levels and strong leadership at the national and international levels as organizer, head speaker and chair at numerous highly prestigious conferences. Senior Editor and board member of many international journals. Advisory Editor for Elsevier Publications, USA. Reviewer for several international funding agencies in USA, Germany, UK, Qatar, Belgium, EU, Kazakhstan. Consultant/Reviewer for several international universities. He is an accessible teacher who seeks to inspire and encourage his students to succeed. Created several courses for mechanical and manufacturing engineering master students and received a very high teaching evaluation. Effectively supervised and graduated 10 PhD and master’s students, and 3 postdoctoral scientists.