Recent Advances in Processed Materials for Energy Applications

A special issue of Processes (ISSN 2227-9717). This special issue belongs to the section "Materials Processes".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2022) | Viewed by 23714

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Mechanical Engineering Science Department, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg 2006, South Africa
Interests: atomic layer deposition; cold gas dynamics spraying deposition; hydrogen generation/filtration/storage; solar cell; fuel cell; nano fabrication; nano structure and materials; renewable energies; bio-fuel
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Guest Editor
Mechanical Engineering Science Department, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg 2006, South Africa
Interests: polymer composites; nanoparticle synthesis; material characterization; thin films; atomic layer deposition (ALD); solar cells; renewable energy

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Materials are categorized according to their physical and chemical properties, or their geological or biological source or function. Materials include metals, plastics, wood, glass, ceramics, composites and synthetic fibres. Currently, fundamental materials research is ongoing into the synthesis, characterisation and theoretical understanding of processed materials to be used in energy applications throughout the entire energy landscape. This focuses on research into new and innovative energy-related materials, including alternate vectors for electricity, thermoelectric materials, semiconductors, photovoltaics, semiconductors, fuel cells and materials for energy storage.

Energy storage, an intermediate phase towards the flexible, clean and efficient use of resources, is a global concern and a growing area of research interest. Materials for possible future energy applications include, among others, polymeric, complex oxide, nanoionic, caloric and porous materials. Material fabrication and synthesis for energy applications requires the use of different technologies and methods. These are often methods which produce the appropriate materials which are then processed using advanced processing technologies to obtain specific characteristics suitable for energy applications.

This Special Issue on "Recent Advances in Processed Materials for Energy Applications" aims to inventory the latest achievements in the development and manufacture of contemporary materials used in energy applications. This Special Issue welcomes papers concerning the fabrication, synthesis and design of materials and related technologies, including atomic layer deposition (ALD), composite nanostructured carbon-based materials, semiconductors, photovoltaics, conductive polymers and research on their structural properties, including the testing and characterization of novel materials or the introduction of different types of hybrid materials for future energy technologies.

Prof. Dr. Tien Chien Jen
Dr. Patrick Ehi Imoisili
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Materials
  • Technology
  • Energy
  • Characterization
  • Structure
  • Properties
  • Hybrid

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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22 pages, 13843 KiB  
Article
Graphene Nanoplatelets Suspended in Different Basefluids Based Solar Collector: An Experimental and Analytical Study
by Omer A. Alawi, Haslinda Mohamed Kamar, Abdul Rahman Mallah, Hussein A. Mohammed, Mohd Aizad Sazrul Sabrudin, Omar A. Hussein, Salim Newaz Kazi and Gholamhassan Najafi
Processes 2021, 9(2), 302; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr9020302 - 5 Feb 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2221
Abstract
A flat plate solar collector (FPSC) was analytically studied, with functionalized graphene nanoplatelets (f-GNPs) as its working fluid. Four samples (wt % nanofluids) were prepared in different base fluids such as ethylene glycol (EG), distilled water (DW):EG (70:30), and DW:EG (50:50). Experimental results [...] Read more.
A flat plate solar collector (FPSC) was analytically studied, with functionalized graphene nanoplatelets (f-GNPs) as its working fluid. Four samples (wt % nanofluids) were prepared in different base fluids such as ethylene glycol (EG), distilled water (DW):EG (70:30), and DW:EG (50:50). Experimental results (via DW) were used to verify the effectiveness of the analytical model. Some of the operating conditions were taken into account in this research, including temperatures, power, and mass flow rates. Experimental techniques were used to elucidate the modified nanofluids’ physicochemical properties, such as its particle sizes, stability, and morphology, involving electron microscopes (EMs), UV–VIS, and X-ray techniques. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were applied to test the thermal analysis. The findings confirmed that the use of f-GNPs nanofluids enhanced the performance of the FPSC relative to the use of base fluids for all testing conditions. The maximum enhancement of the collector’s effectiveness at a mass flow rate of 1.5 kg min−1 and a weight concentration of 0.1 wt %, increased to 12.69%, 12.60%, and 12.62% in the case of EG, DW:EG (70:30), and DW:EG (50:50), respectively. The results also confirmed an improvement in both the heat gain (FR(τα)) and heat loss (FRUL) coefficients for the f-GNPs nanofluid. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Processed Materials for Energy Applications)
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Review

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40 pages, 55979 KiB  
Review
A Mini Review on Thin Film Superconductors
by David Sibanda, Sunday Temitope Oyinbo, Tien-Chien Jen and Ayotunde Idris Ibitoye
Processes 2022, 10(6), 1184; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr10061184 - 14 Jun 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 10025
Abstract
Thin superconducting films have been a significant part of superconductivity research for more than six decades. They have had a significant impact on the existing consensus on the microscopic and macroscopic nature of the superconducting state. Thin-film superconductors have properties that are very [...] Read more.
Thin superconducting films have been a significant part of superconductivity research for more than six decades. They have had a significant impact on the existing consensus on the microscopic and macroscopic nature of the superconducting state. Thin-film superconductors have properties that are very different and superior to bulk material. Amongst the various classification criteria, thin-film superconductors can be classified into Fe based thin-film superconductors, layered titanium compound thin-film superconductors, intercalation compounds of layered and cage-like structures, and other thin-film superconductors that do not fall into these groups. There are various techniques of manufacturing thin films, which include atomic layer deposition (ALD), chemical vapour deposition (CVD), physical vapour deposition (PVD), molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), sputtering, electron beam evaporation, laser ablation, cathodic arc, and pulsed laser deposition (PLD). Thin film technology offers a lucrative scheme of creating engineered surfaces and opens a wide exploration of prospects to modify material properties for specific applications, such as those that depend on surfaces. This review paper reports on the different types and groups of superconductors, fabrication of thin-film superconductors by MBE, PLD, and ALD, their applications, and various challenges faced by superconductor technologies. Amongst all the thin film manufacturing techniques, more focus is put on the fabrication of thin film superconductors by atomic layer deposition because of the growing popularity the process has gained in the past decade. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Processed Materials for Energy Applications)
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28 pages, 14290 KiB  
Review
State-of-Art Review of NO Reduction Technologies by CO, CH4 and H2
by Jialin Song, Ziliang Wang, Xingxing Cheng and Xiuping Wang
Processes 2021, 9(3), 563; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr9030563 - 23 Mar 2021
Cited by 21 | Viewed by 3702
Abstract
Removal of nitrogen oxides during coal combustion is a subject of great concerns. The present study reviews the state-of-art catalysts for NO reduction by CO, CH4, and H2. In terms of NO reduction by CO and CH4, [...] Read more.
Removal of nitrogen oxides during coal combustion is a subject of great concerns. The present study reviews the state-of-art catalysts for NO reduction by CO, CH4, and H2. In terms of NO reduction by CO and CH4, it focuses on the preparation methodologies and catalytic properties of noble metal catalysts and non-noble metal catalysts. In the technology of NO removal by H2, the NO removal performance of the noble metal catalyst is mainly discussed from the traditional carrier and the new carrier, such as Al2O3, ZSM-5, OMS-2, MOFs, perovskite oxide, etc. By adopting new preparation methodologies and introducing the secondary metal component, the catalysts supported by a traditional carrier could achieve a much higher activity. New carrier for catalyst design seems a promising aspect for improving the catalyst performance, i.e., catalytic activity and stability, in future. Moreover, mechanisms of catalytic NO reduction by these three agents are discussed in-depth. Through the critical review, it is found that the adsorption of NOx and the decomposition of NO are key steps in NO removal by CO, and the activation of the C-H bond in CH4 and H-H bonds in H2 serves as a rate determining step of the reaction of NO removal by CH4 and H2, respectively. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Processed Materials for Energy Applications)
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33 pages, 1965 KiB  
Review
Tribological Properties of Additive Manufactured Materials for Energy Applications: A Review
by Alessandro M. Ralls, Pankaj Kumar and Pradeep L. Menezes
Processes 2021, 9(1), 31; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr9010031 - 25 Dec 2020
Cited by 35 | Viewed by 4482
Abstract
Recently, additive manufacturing (AM) has gained much traction due to its processing advantages over traditional manufacturing methods. However, there are limited studies which focus on process optimization for surface quality of AM materials, which can dictate mechanical, thermal, and tribological performance. For example, [...] Read more.
Recently, additive manufacturing (AM) has gained much traction due to its processing advantages over traditional manufacturing methods. However, there are limited studies which focus on process optimization for surface quality of AM materials, which can dictate mechanical, thermal, and tribological performance. For example, in heat-transfer applications, increased surface quality is advantageous for reducing wear rates of vibrating tubes as well as increasing the heat-transfer rates of contacting systems. Although many post-processing and in situ manufacturing techniques are used in conjunction with AM techniques to improve surface quality, these processes are costly and time-consuming compared to optimized processing techniques. With improved as-built surface quality, particles tend to be better fused, which allows for greater wear resistance from contacting tube surfaces. Additionally, improved surface quality can reduce the entropy and exergy generated from flowing fluids, in turn increasing the thermodynamic efficiency of heat-transferring devices. This review aims to summarize the process-optimizing methods used in AM for metal-based heat exchangers and the importance of as-built surface quality to its performance and long-term energy conservation. The future directions and current challenges of this field will also be covered, with suggestions on how research in this topic can be improved. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Processed Materials for Energy Applications)
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20 pages, 565 KiB  
Review
Behavior of Cd during Coal Combustion: An Overview
by Lucie Bartoňová, Helena Raclavská, Bohumír Čech and Marek Kucbel
Processes 2020, 8(10), 1237; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr8101237 - 2 Oct 2020
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2422
Abstract
Due to the unfavorable combination of its toxicity and high volatility, Cd is contained in most lists of potentially hazardous air pollutants with the greatest environmental and human-health concerns. The review paper evaluates the behavior of Cd during combustion (incineration) processes and its [...] Read more.
Due to the unfavorable combination of its toxicity and high volatility, Cd is contained in most lists of potentially hazardous air pollutants with the greatest environmental and human-health concerns. The review paper evaluates the behavior of Cd during combustion (incineration) processes and its redistribution among condensed fractions (bottom ash/slag, fly ash) and volatilized fractions (that passes through most particulate control devices). The paper addresses all important effects of Cd interactions, such as presence of organic or inorganic chlorides, moisture levels, S, P and Na concentrations, flue gas composition etc. Possibilities of using various adsorbents (either within in-furnace regime or applied in post-combustion zone) are evaluated as well. Special attention is paid to mitigating its emissions factors; decreasing Cd volatility and facilitating Cd retention are discussed with the view of various combustion (incineration) conditions and the feed fuel composition. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Processed Materials for Energy Applications)
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