Preface

Two of the hottest research topics today are hybrid nanomaterials and flexible electronics. Both depend on advances in materials engineering that researchers make at theoretical, modeled, and experimental levels. This book covers some of the advances made in the last decade regarding engineering materials and their applications, particularly in the area of electronics.

This book presents different research works dedicated to the study of hybrid nanomaterials and materials for flexible electronics developed by researchers around the world.

The book is divided into two parts, with Chapters 1 to 4 belonging to the first part on "Hybrid Nanomaterials," and Chapters 5 to 8 belonging to the second part on 'Flexible Electronics."

In Chapter 1, "Introductory Chapter: Hybrid Nanomaterials" by Rafael Vargas-Bernal, the author presents an updated introduction to hybrid nanomaterials and their recent advances from this decade. Although many publications have been developed by researchers around the world, the extraordinary physical and chemical properties of these types of materials, as well as the products derived from them, will continue to amaze us in this century.

In Chapter 2 "Electronic Transport in Few-Layer Black Phosphorus" by Gen Long, Xiaolong Chen, Shuigang Xu, and Ning Wang, the authors analyze the electron transport properties of phosphorene with few layers through the Landau level model, two-dimensional limit, magnetoresistance, and Hall quantum effects such as Shubnikov-de Hass (SdH) oscillations. This study exemplifies its application for the design of a phosphorene-based field effect transistor (FET).

In Chapter 3 "Synthesis of Three-Dimensional Nanocarbon Hybrids by Chemical Vapor Deposition" by Hua-Fei Li, Shuguang Deng, and Gui-Ping Dai, the authors highlight the synthesis, unique properties, and applications of three-dimensional nanocarbon hybrids synthesized using deposition of chemical vapor in the field of electronics. These materials have advantages over other types of carbon-based nanomaterials.

In Chapter 4 "Hybrid Ion Exchangers" by Amita Somya, the author discusses the advantages of metal phosphate-based hybrid ion exchangers using surfactants or surface-active agents. These allow an increase in ion exchange capacity for industrial and environmental applications such as water pollution control. Furthermore, the author also examines the physical and chemical properties of these materials.

In Chapter 5 "Pressure-Sensitive Adhesives for Flexible Display Applications" by Tae-Hyung Lee, Ji-Soo Kim, Jung-Hun Lee, and Hyun-Joong Kim, the authors discuss the development and performance of electronic systems that require the use of pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSA) and optically clear adhesives (OCA). These adhesives, in addition to providing mechanical fastening, must have multiple

**II**

**Chapter 8 121**

Plastic Inorganic Semiconductors for Flexible Electronics *by Tian-Ran Wei, Heyang Chen, Xun Shi and Lidong Chen*

physical functionalities to be used on flexible displays in order to protect vulnerable electronic devices.

In Chapter 6 "Numerical Simulation and Compact Modeling of Thin Film Transistors for Future Flexible Electronics" by Arun Dev Dhar Dwivedi, the author introduces the importance of numerical simulation and compact modeling in SPICE, a general-purpose, open-source analog electronic circuit simulator, in the design of organic thin film transistors (OTFTs) for flexible electronics.

In Chapter 7 "Smart Manufacturing Technologies for Printed Electronics" by Saleem Khan, Shawkat Ali, and Amine Bermak, the authors review the different techniques used in printed electronics based on technology of assembly by rollto-roll systems to implement electronic devices and circuits. Furthermore, they highlight possible alternatives and potential research directions related to this area.

In Chapter 8 "Plastic Inorganic Semiconductors for Flexible Electronics" by Tian-Ran Wei, Heyang Chen, Xun Shi, and Lidong Chen, the authors highlight the relevance of applying Ag2S as a ductile inorganic semiconductor by correlating its chemical and physical properties for applications in flexible electronics and in particular to develop thermoelectric devices by alloying sulfide with either selenium and/or tellurium.

Considering the currently high level of interest in hybrid nanomaterials and flexible electronics, this book is a valuable source of information for materials scientists and engineers working in the field as well as for graduate students in materials engineering working in the area of electronics.

We wish to thank the contributing authors as well as the staff at IntechOpen, especially Ms. Rebekah Pribetic, for their invaluable assistance during the book production process. Finally, I wish to thank my wife and son for their help and support through this endeavor. My best wishes to all the authors and readers of this book.

> **Dr. Rafael Vargas-Bernal (Corresponding editor)** Full Professor, Department of Materials Engineering, Instituto Tecnológico Superior de Irapuato (ITESI), Irapuato, Guanajuato, México

**Dr. Peng He and Dr. Shuye Zhang (Co-editors)** Harbin Institute of Technology, China

**1**

Section 1

Hybrid Nanomaterials

Section 1
