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A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Materials Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2024 | Viewed by 15835

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Dr. Yuanyuan Zhu

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Guest Editor

Key Laboratory of Spin Electron and Nanomaterials of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Suzhou University, Suzhou 234000, China
Interests: 2D materials; nanomaterials; electrolytes; energy storage devices; supercapacitors; batteries

Prof. Dr. Yanmin Jia

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Guest Editor

School of Science, Xi’an University of Posts and Telecommunications, Xi’an 710121, China
Interests: piezocatalysis; mechanocatalysis; pyrocatalysis; photocatalysis; energy harvesting
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Energy storage and conversion have always been areas of concern for scientists and engineers. In recent years, with the increasing demand for efficient, sustainable, and clean energy, as well as growing environmental issues, the application of new modern materials in energy storage and conversion has become particularly important.

The application of modern materials in energy storage and conversion mainly includes batteries, supercapacitors, solar cells, fuel cells, photocatalysis, electrocatalysis, etc. These materials include various types of organic, inorganic, hybrid, and nanomaterials, which possess excellent electrochemical properties, structural characteristics, and surface reactivity. The application of these materials can not only improve the efficiency and performance of energy storage and conversion but also reduce costs, enhance reliability, and prolong service life.

However, the application of modern materials in energy storage and conversion still faces many challenges, such as material synthesis, performance optimization, stability, and sustainability. Therefore, continuous research and innovation are required to further promote the development such an area. This Special Issue aims to present relevant papers on the application of modern materials in the field of energy storage and conversion.

Dr. Yuanyuan Zhu
Prof. Dr. Yanmin Jia
Guest Editors

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Keywords

modern materials
batteries
supercapacitors
solar cells
catalysis

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Published Papers (11 papers)

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12 pages, 1752 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Electrochemical Upgrading of Waste Polylactic Acid Plastic for the Coproduction of C₂ Chemicals and Green Hydrogen

by Daili Xiang, Kexin Zhou, Jiahui Huang, Qing Kang, Hao Li, Yuhui Duan, Jialei Du and Hong Liu

Molecules 2024, 29(22), 5323; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29225323 - 12 Nov 2024

Viewed by 420

Abstract

Tandem alkali-catalyzed hydrolysis and alkaline electrolysis have gradually become appealing avenues for the reformation of polyester plastics into high-value-added chemicals and green hydrogen with remarkable environmental and economic benefits. In this study, an electrochemical upcycling strategy was developed for the electrocatalytic oxidation of polylactic acid (PLA) hydrolysate into valued C₂ chemicals (i.e., acetate) and hydrogen fuel using N, P-doped CuO_x nanowires (NW) supported on nickel foam (NF) as the electrocatalyst. This 3D well-integrated catalyst was easily prepared from a Cu(OH)₂ NW/NF precursor with Saccharomycetes as a green and safe P and N source. The electrocatalyst can efficiently catalyze the lactate monomer derived from the hydrolysis of PLA waste to acetate with high selectivity and exhibits a lower onset potential for the lactate oxidation reaction (LOR) than for water oxidation, saving 224 mV to deliver a current density of 30 mA/cm². The experimental results reveal that the plausible pathway of the LOR on these CuO_x NW involves oxidation and subsequent decarboxylation. Divalent copper species have been verified to be active sites for LOR via in situ Raman spectroscopy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modern Materials in Energy Storage and Conversion)

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11 pages, 2705 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Enhanced Thermoelectric Performance of SnTe via Introducing Resonant Levels

by Manman Yang, Jin Jia, Haijun Yu, Yimin Li, Lu Han, Hairui Sun, Haowen Jia and Yuanyuan Zhu

Molecules 2024, 29(20), 4974; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29204974 - 21 Oct 2024

Viewed by 630

Abstract

SnTe has emerged as a non-toxic and environmentally friendly alternative to the high-performance thermoelectric material PbTe, attracting significant interest in sustainable energy applications. In our previous work, we successfully synthesized high-quality SnTe with reduced thermal conductivity under high-pressure conditions. Building on this, in this work, we introduced indium (In) doping to further decrease thermal conductivity under high pressure. By incorporating resonance doping into the SnTe matrix, we aimed to enhance the electrical transport properties while maintaining low thermal conductivity. This approach enhances the Seebeck coefficient to an impressive 153 μVK⁻¹ at 735 K, marking a notable enhancement compared to undoped SnTe. Furthermore, we noted a substantial decrease in total thermal conductivity, dropping from 6.91 to 3.88 Wm⁻¹K⁻¹ at 325 K, primarily due to the reduction in electrical conductivity. The synergistic impact of decreased thermal conductivity and heightened Seebeck coefficient resulted in a notable improvement in the thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT) and average ZT, achieving approximately 0.5 and 0.22 in the doped samples, respectively. These advancements establish Sn_1−xIn_xTe as a promising candidate to replace PbTe in thermoelectric applications, providing a safer and more environmentally sustainable option. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modern Materials in Energy Storage and Conversion)

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16 pages, 4304 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Preparation and Photocatalytic Properties of Al₂O₃–SiO₂–TiO₂ Porous Composite Semiconductor Ceramics

by Kaihui Hua, Zhijing Wu, Weijie Chen, Xiuan Xi, Xiaobing Chen, Shuyan Yang, Pinhai Gao and Yu Zheng

Molecules 2024, 29(18), 4391; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29184391 - 15 Sep 2024

Viewed by 897

Abstract

Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) is widely employed in the catalytic degradation of wastewater, owing to its robust stability, superior photocatalytic efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. Nonetheless, isolating the fine particulate photocatalysts from the solution post-reaction poses a significant challenge in practical photocatalytic processes. Furthermore, these particles have a tendency to agglomerate into larger clusters, which diminishes their stability. To address this issue, the present study has developed Al₂O₃–SiO₂–TiO₂ composite semiconductor porous ceramics and has systematically explored the influence of Al₂O₃ and SiO₂ on the structure and properties of TiO₂ porous ceramics. The findings reveal that the incorporation of Al₂O₃ augments the open porosity of the ceramics and inhibits the aggregation of TiO₂, thereby increasing the catalytic site and improving the light absorption capacity. On the other hand, the addition of SiO₂ enhances the bending strength of the ceramics and inhibits the conversion of anatase to rutile, thereby further enhancing its photocatalytic activity. Consequently, at an optimal composition of 55 wt.% Al₂O₃, 40 wt.% TiO₂, and 5 wt.% SiO₂, the resulting porous ceramics exhibit a methylene blue removal rate of 91.50%, and even after undergoing five cycles of testing, their catalytic efficiency remains approximately 83.82%. These outcomes underscore the exceptional photocatalytic degradation efficiency, recyclability, and reusability of the Al₂O₃–SiO₂–TiO₂ porous ceramics, suggesting their substantial potential for application in the treatment of dye wastewater, especially for the removal of methylene blue. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modern Materials in Energy Storage and Conversion)

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16 pages, 6116 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Preparation and Properties of High Sound-Absorbing Porous Ceramics Reinforced by In Situ Mullite Whisker from Construction Waste

by Kaihui Hua, Xiaobing Chen, Anze Shui, Xiuan Xi, Pinhai Gao, Yu Zheng and Chuncan He

Molecules 2024, 29(14), 3419; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29143419 - 21 Jul 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1109

Abstract

Porous sound absorption ceramic is one of the most promising materials for effectively eliminating noise pollution. However, its high production cost and low mechanical strength limit its practical applications. In this work, low-cost and in situ mullite whisker-reinforced porous sound-absorbing ceramics were prepared using recyclable construction waste and Al₂O₃ powder as the main raw materials, and AlF₃ and CeO₂ as the additives, respectively. The effects of CeO₂ content, AlF₃ content, and sintering temperature on the microstructure and properties of the porous ceramics were systematically investigated. The results showed that a small amount of CeO₂ significantly promoted the growth of elongated mullite crystals in the resultant porous ceramics, decreased the growth temperature of the mullite whiskers, and significantly increased the biaxial flexural strength. When 2 wt.% CeO₂ and 12 wt.% AlF₃ were added to the system, mullite whiskers were successfully obtained at a sintering temperature of 1300 °C for 1 h, which exhibited excellent properties, including an open porosity of 56.4 ± 0.6%, an average pore size of 1.32–2.54 μm, a biaxial flexural strength of 23.7 ± 0.9 MPa, and a sound absorption coefficient of >0.8 at 800–4000 Hz. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modern Materials in Energy Storage and Conversion)

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21 pages, 10887 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Design of Na₃MnZr(PO₄)₃/Carbon Nanofiber Free-Standing Cathodes for Sodium-Ion Batteries with Enhanced Electrochemical Performances through Different Electrospinning Approaches

by Debora Maria Conti, Claudia Urru, Giovanna Bruni, Pietro Galinetto, Benedetta Albini, Chiara Milanese, Silvia Pisani, Vittorio Berbenni and Doretta Capsoni

Molecules 2024, 29(8), 1885; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29081885 - 20 Apr 2024

Viewed by 1516

Abstract

The NASICON-structured Na₃MnZr(PO₄)₃ compound is a promising high-voltage cathode material for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). In this study, an easy and scalable electrospinning approach was used to synthesize self-standing cathodes based on Na₃MnZr(PO₄)₃ loaded into carbon nanofibers (CNFs). Different strategies were applied to load the active material. All the employed characterization techniques (X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), and Raman spectroscopy) confirmed the successful loading. Compared to an appositely prepared tape-cast electrode, Na₃MnZr(PO₄)₃/CNF self-standing cathodes demonstrated an enhanced specific capacity, especially at high C-rates, thanks to the porous conducive carbon nanofiber matrix. Among the strategies applied to load Na₃MnZr(PO₄)₃ into the CNFs, the electrospinning (vertical setting) of the polymeric solution containing pre-synthesized Na₃MnZr(PO₄)₃ powders resulted effective in obtaining the quantitative loading of the active material and a homogeneous distribution through the sheet thickness. Notably, Na₃MnZr(PO₄)₃ aggregates connected to the CNFs, covered their surface, and were also embedded, as demonstrated by TEM and EDS. Compared to the self-standing cathodes prepared with the horizontal setting or dip–drop coating methods, the vertical binder-free electrode exhibited the highest capacity values of 78.2, 55.7, 38.8, 22.2, 16.2, 12.8, 10.3, 9.0, and 8.5 mAh/g at C-rates of 0.05C, 0.1C, 0.2C, 0.5C, 1C, 2C, 5C, 10C, and 20C, respectively, with complete capacity retention at the end of the measurements. It also exhibited a good cycling life, compared to its tape-cast counterpart: it displayed higher capacity retention at 0.2C and 1C, and, after cycling 1000 cycles at 1C, it could be further cycled at 5C, 10C, and 20C. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modern Materials in Energy Storage and Conversion)

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13 pages, 3188 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Facilely Fabricating F-Doped Fe₃N Nanoellipsoids Grown on 3D N-Doped Porous Carbon Framework as a Preeminent Negative Material

by Dan Zhang, Chunyan Zhang, Huishi Xu, Zhe Huo, Xinyu Shi, Xiaodi Liu, Guangyin Liu and Chuang Yu

Molecules 2024, 29(5), 959; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29050959 - 22 Feb 2024

Viewed by 921

Abstract

Transition metal nitride negative electrode materials with a high capacity and electronic conduction are still troubled by the large volume change in the discharging procedure and the low lithium ion diffusion rate. Synthesizing the composite material of F-doped Fe₃N and an N-doped porous carbon framework will overcome the foregoing troubles and effectuate a preeminent electrochemical performance. In this study, we created a simple route to obtain the composite of F-doped Fe₃N nanoellipsoids and a 3D N-doped porous carbon framework under non-ammonia atmosphere conditions. Integrating the F-doped Fe₃N nanoellipsoids with an N-doped porous carbon framework can immensely repress the problem of volume expansion but also substantially elevate the lithium ion diffusion rate. When utilized as a negative electrode for lithium-ion batteries, this composite bespeaks a stellar operational life and rate capability, releasing a tempting capacity of 574 mAh g^–1 after 550 cycles at 1.0 A g^–1. The results of this study will profoundly promote the evolution and application of transition metal nitrides in batteries. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modern Materials in Energy Storage and Conversion)

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13 pages, 6713 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mild and Efficient One-Step Synthesis of Nitrogen-Doped Multistage Porous Carbon for High-Performance Supercapacitors

by Tianliang Zhang and Jun Li

Molecules 2023, 28(24), 8136; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28248136 - 17 Dec 2023

Viewed by 1491

Abstract

Biomass-derived carbon materials have broad application prospects in energy storage, but still face problems such as complex synthesis paths and the massive use of corrosive activators. In this study, we proposed a mild and efficient pathway to prepare nitrogen-doped porous carbon material (N-YAC) using one-step pyrolysis with solid K₂CO₃, tobacco straw, and melamine. The optimized material (N-YAC_0.5) was not only enriched with nitrogen, but also exhibited a high specific surface area (2367 m²/g) and a reasonable pore size distribution (46.49% mesopores). When utilized in electrodes, N-YAC_0.5 exhibited an excellent capacitance performance (338 F/g at 1 A/g) in the three-electrode system, and benefitted from a high mesopore distribution that maintained a capacitance of 85.2% (288 F/g) at high current densities (20 A/g). Furthermore, the composed symmetric capacitor achieved an energy density of 14.78 Wh/kg at a power density of 400 W/kg. In summary, our work provides a novel and eco-friendly approach for converting biomass into high-performance energy-storage materials. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modern Materials in Energy Storage and Conversion)

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12 pages, 6605 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Optimizing Thermoelectric Performance of Tellurium via Doping with Antimony and Selenium

by Manman Yang, Mengxiang Yang, Yimin Li, Yuqi Chen, Yuling Song, Jin Jia and Taichao Su

Molecules 2023, 28(21), 7287; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28217287 - 26 Oct 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1480

Abstract

Forming solid solutions is one of the most effective strategies to suppress the thermal conductivity of thermoelectric materials. However, the accompanying increase in impurity ion scattering usually results in an undesirable loss in hall mobility, negatively impacting the electrical transport properties. In this work, a tellurium–selenium (Te-Se) solid solution with trace antimony (Sb) doping was synthesized via the high pressure and high temperature method. It was found that slight Se doping into the Te sites not only had no impact on the hall mobility and carrier concentration, but also enhanced the density-of-state effective mass of Sb_0.003Te_0.997, leading to an enhanced power factor near room temperature. Additionally, the presence of Se doping caused a significant reduction in the phonon thermal conductivity of Te due to fluctuations in the mass and strain field. The lowest phonon thermal conductivity was as low as ~0.42 Wm⁻¹K⁻¹ at 600 K for Sb_0.003Se_0.025Te_0.972, which approached the theoretical minimum value of Te (~0.28 Wm⁻¹K⁻¹). The effects of Se doping suppressed thermal conductivity, while Sb doping enhanced the power factor, resulting in a larger ZT of ~0.94 at 600 K. Moreover, these findings demonstrate that Sb and Se doping can effectively modulate the electrical and thermal transport properties of Te in a synergistic manner, leading to a significant increase in the average ZT across a wide temperature range. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modern Materials in Energy Storage and Conversion)

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14 pages, 6451 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Hierarchical Porous Activated Carbon Derived from Coconut Shell for Ultrahigh-Performance Supercapacitors

by Yawei Wang, Yuhui Duan, Xia Liang, Liang Tang, Lei Sun, Ruirui Wang, Shunhang Wei, Huanan Huang, Pinghua Yang and Huanan Hu

Molecules 2023, 28(20), 7187; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28207187 - 20 Oct 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2784

Abstract

In this research, we successfully produced hierarchical porous activated carbon from biowaste employing one-step KOH activation and applied as ultrahigh-performance supercapacitor electrode materials. The coconut shell-derived activated carbon (CSAC) features a hierarchical porous structure in a honeycomb-like morphology, leading to a high specific surface area (2228 m² g⁻¹) as well as a significant pore volume (1.07 cm³ g⁻¹). The initial test with the CSAC electrode, conducted in a 6 M KOH loaded symmetric supercapacitor, demonstrated an ultrahigh capacitance of 367 F g⁻¹ at a current density of 0.2 A g⁻¹ together with 92.09% retention after 10,000 cycles at 10 A g⁻¹. More impressively, the zinc–ion hybrid supercapacitor using CSAC as a cathode achieves a high-rate capability (153 mAh g⁻¹ at 0.2 A g⁻¹ and 75 mAh g⁻¹ at 10 A g⁻¹), high energy density (134.9 Wh kg⁻¹ at 175 W kg⁻¹), as well as exceptional cycling stability (93.81% capacity retention after 10,000 cycles at 10 A g⁻¹). Such work thus illuminates a new pathway for converting biowaste-derived carbons into materials for ultrahigh-performance energy storge applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modern Materials in Energy Storage and Conversion)

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12 pages, 5695 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Heterointerface Engineered Core-Shell Fe₂O₃@TiO₂ for High-Performance Lithium-Ion Storage

by Zeqing Miao, Kesheng Gao, Dazhi Li, Ziwei Gao, Wenxin Zhao, Zeyang Li, Wei Sun, Xiaoguang Wang, Haihang Zhang, Xinyu Wang, Changlong Sun, Yuanyuan Zhu and Zhenjiang Li

Molecules 2023, 28(19), 6903; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28196903 - 1 Oct 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1592

Abstract

The rational design of the heterogeneous interfaces enables precise adjustment of the electronic structure and optimization of the kinetics for electron/ion migration in energy storage materials. In this work, the built-in electric field is introduced to the iron-based anode material (Fe₂O₃@TiO₂) through the well-designed heterostructure. This model serves as an ideal platform for comprehending the atomic-level optimization of electron transfer in advanced lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). As a result, the core-shell Fe₂O₃@TiO₂ delivers a remarkable discharge capacity of 1342 mAh g⁻¹ and an extraordinary capacity retention of 82.7% at 0.1 A g⁻¹ after 300 cycles. Fe₂O₃@TiO₂ shows an excellent rate performance from 0.1 A g⁻¹ to 4.0 A g⁻¹. Further, the discharge capacity of Fe₂O₃@TiO₂ reached 736 mAh g⁻¹ at 1.0 A g⁻¹ after 2000 cycles, and the corresponding capacity retention is 83.62%. The heterostructure forms a conventional p-n junction, successfully constructing the built-in electric field and lithium-ion reservoir. The kinetic analysis demonstrates that Fe₂O₃@TiO₂ displays high pseudocapacitance behavior (77.8%) and fast lithium-ion reaction kinetics. The capability of heterointerface engineering to optimize electrochemical reaction kinetics offers novel insights for constructing high-performance iron-based anodes for LIBs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modern Materials in Energy Storage and Conversion)

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16 pages, 6290 KiB

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Conductive Polymer-Based Interlayers in Restraining the Polysulfide Shuttle of Lithium–Sulfur Batteries

by Xincheng Hu, Xiaoshuang Zhu, Zhongshuai Ran, Shenghao Liu, Yongya Zhang, Hua Wang and Wei Wei

Molecules 2024, 29(5), 1164; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29051164 - 5 Mar 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1323

Abstract

Lithium–sulfur batteries (LSBs) are considered a promising candidate for next-generation energy storage devices due to the advantages of high theoretical specific capacity, abundant resources and being environmentally friendly. However, the severe shuttle effect of polysulfides causes the low utilization of active substances and rapid capacity fading, thus seriously limiting their practical application. The introduction of conductive polymer-based interlayers between cathodes and separators is considered to be an effective method to solve this problem because they can largely confine, anchor and convert the soluble polysulfides. In this review, the recent progress of conductive polymer-based interlayers used in LSBs is summarized, including free-standing conductive polymer-based interlayers, conductive polymer-based interlayer modified separators and conductive polymer-based interlayer modified sulfur electrodes. Furthermore, some suggestions on rational design and preparation of conductive polymer-based interlayers are put forward to highlight the future development of LSBs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modern Materials in Energy Storage and Conversion)

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