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Volume 3 of a 4-volume series is a concise, authoritative and an eminently readable and enjoyable experience related to lithium ion battery design, characterization and usage for portable and stationary power. Although the major focus is on lithium metal oxides or transition metal oxide as alloys, the discussion of fossil fuels is also presented where appropriate. This monograph is written by recognized experts in the field, and is both timely and appropriate as this decade will see application of lithium as an energy carrier, for example in the transportation sector.This Volume focuses on the fundamentals related to batteries using the latest research in the field of battery physics, chemistry, and electrochemistry. The research summarised in this book by leading experts is laid out in an easy-to-understand format to enable the layperson to grasp the essence of the technology, its pitfalls and current challenges in high-power Lithium battery research. After introductory remarks on policy and battery safety, a series of monographs are offered related to fundamentals of lithium batteries, including, theoretical modeling, simulation and experimental techniques used to characterize electrode materials, both at the material composition, and also at the device level. The different properties specific to each component of the batteries are discussed in order to offer tradeoffs between power and energy density, energy cycling, safety and where appropriate end-of-life disposal. Parameters affecting battery performance and cost, longevity using newer metal oxides, different electrolytes are also reviewed in the context of safety concerns and in relation to the solid-electrolyte interface. Separators, membranes, solid-state electrolytes, and electrolyte additives are also reviewed in light of safety, recycling, and high energy endurance issues. The book is intended for a wide audience, such as scientists who are new to the field, practitioners, as well as students in the STEM and STEP fields, as well as students working on batteries. The sections on safety and policy would be of great interest to engineers and technologists who want to obtain a solid grounding in the fundamentals of battery science arising from the interaction of electrochemistry, solid-state materials science, surfaces, and interfaces.

This book compiles nine comprehensive contributions from the principle of Li-ion batteries, cathode and anode electrode materials to future energy storage systems such as solid electrolyte for all-solid-state batteries and high capacity redox flow battery.

Energy resources, the basic input in every area of the economy, have a fundamental function for society's welfare. Traditional energy resources are, however, rapidly decreasing. Energy supply has been falling behind in meeting global demand, and is causing increased focus on efficiency and economy concepts in recent energy policies. Since the existing energy resources are not spread evenly among the countries, but instead are concentrated in certain regions and countries, a monopolistic situation arises. Equally, supply assurance is an issue, since the energy supply is held by certain regions and countries who have monopolistic pricing power. Both the EU and many other countries are studying how to marketize energy. This book focuses on the importance of energy and the problems posed by it. It will be useful for the academic community, related sectors and decision makers.

This book examines the concept of regional power in international relations. Using the emerging powers of India and South Africa as the case studies, it explores how regional powers simultaneously differ and share common features.The book develops a method to classify and evaluate different types of regional powers and applies this typology to contemporary case studies of India and South Africa. Regional power is often expected to have a positive influence on region-specific problems of conflict, economic deprivation and political instability. In reality, an ‘achievement-expectations gap'can be seen in many regional powers, which can be analysed and understood through observable variation in regional power. The author discovers that in addition to the management of the internal regional order, regional powers have to establish individuality whilst fitting into the global international environment, altering both regional dynamics and creating variance in the level of control within the region. Elucidating concepts and definitions, this book is an accessible and in-depth study that both introduces key concepts and provides a framework for the future study of regional power in international relations.Redefining Regional Power in International Relations will be of interest to students and scholars of regionalism and international relations.

The contributors expertly provide a comparative perspective on regional integration in different regions of the world while at the same time analyzing the various facets of integration, relating to trade, FDI, finance and monetary policies. They provide a comprehensive treatment of the subject and offer new perspectives on the potential developmental effects of regional integration and the implications of regional integration for global economic governance. While highlighting and illustrating the potential benefits deriving from regional economic integration, the book also stresses the problems and challenges regional integration processes are usually confronted with. This informative book will be of interest to academic researchers, students, policy makers and professional economists working on matters of regional economic cooperation and integration, international economics and development economics. While applying state of the art economic tools, it is written in a clear and accessible style, intended for a wide readership among professionals and general readers interested in these fields.Contributors: R. Baumann, R.U. Das, P. Draper, T. Hartzenberg, Y. Huang, J. Kubny, R. Kumar, D. Malungisa, J. McKay, F. Molders, L. Muhlich, V. Nitsch, P. Nunnenkamp, J.A. Ocampo, E. Ogawa, M. Pomerleano, M. Qobo, J.J. Reade, J.J. Schott, U. Volz, R. Wolfinger, Y. Zhang

Political stability has been a central theme of policy for all governments and political systems in the history of modern Afghanistan. Since its inception in the mid-nineteenth century, the country experimented with a diverse succession of political systems and state ideologies matched by few other countries'political histories. In the span of less than nine decades since independence in 1919, the Afghan state was substantially restructured at least a dozen times. This volume looks at Afghanistan's historic relations with Central and South Asia, ethno-nationalism and development, Soviet occupation and transformation of relations with Pakistan, stability of the Islamic State and regional cooperation. It examines how Afghanistan's different political systems reformed and readjusted policies to make them more conducive to political stability. Yet political stability, at best, has remained a dream unrealized in Afghanistan.

A collection of articles by the scholars across the South Asian region, attempts to suggest ways and means to overcome the problems of varied colours-major bottlenecks in achieving a particular identity in affirmation-to reconstruct South Asia region. The need of a South Asian Union and a single currency in the region and other issues like peace, security, economic, cultural and political issues are well discussed from the people centric perspective.