ABSTRACT
The use of energy devices is to transform energy from raw sources to usable energy, to store that usable energy, and also, in some cases, to produce desired processes with substantial energy resource savings. The development of new energy devices can deeply transform the ways in which energy is obtained and produced, with broad implications for the environment and for the human needs. The operation of energy devices is rooted in fundamental physical principles. One key concept that should be kept in mind is the unidirectional flow of all systems toward the final state of equilibrium. Nanostructured materials, based on combinations of inorganic and organic materials, emerged to efficiently convert solar energy into electricity or fuels. Large-area devices can be obtained by low-temperature solution-processed techniques. An archetypical energy device is a nanostructured electrode in which a porous layer with the required properties is deposited on a conducting substrate that allows electrical manipulation of the internal structure.
