Energy Storage and Conversion

Tailored copper doped indium sulfide nanostructures as electrode material for supercapacitor and nano photocatalyst for dye degradation

K.Lilly Mary, D. Geetha, P.S. Ramesh — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The unique copper-doped indium sulfide nanocrystals are synthesized by a gentle hydrothermal process. XRD, FTIR, XPS, FESEM/EDX, UV-DRS, and PL were used to characterize the final samples. Copper-doped indium sulfide nanostructures can be exploited as an active catalyst in photodegradation and as an electroactive material in supercapacitors due to their distinctive architecture. The copper-doped indium sulfide catalyst exhibits 85 percent photodegradation using methylene blue dye under natural sunlight irradiation, and the electrochemical test showed a capacitance of 668 Fg⁻¹ at 1 Ag⁻¹ in a 2 M KOH electrolyte solution. For future generations, photocatalyst and electrode can function as more desirable materials.

Effect of graphite powder on thermal behavior of phase change material

Makoto Shibahara, Yuuhi Hatta, Qiusheng Liu, Sutopo Purwono Fitri — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 02:12:09 +0000

The effect of graphite powder on the thermal behavior of phase change material (PCM) was investigated experimentally. It is well known that the graphite is contributed to enhance the thermal response. However, the effect of graphite on the supercooling of the PCM is not clear when a highly heat conductive material is added. In this study, the specific heat of the PCM based on sugar alcohol such as D-mannitol and inositol was measured with an adiabatic scanning calorimeter. The enthalpy and entropy during the phase-change process were obtained by the measured specific heat of the PCM. Additionally, the exergy analysis was conducted to evaluate the thermal energy storage of PCM. As the experimental results, the specific heat of D-mannitol during the phase change process was higher than that of inositol. Moreover, it was found that the addition of graphite powder at the mass fraction of 9% improves the thermal behavior of D-mannitol with lower supercooling while maintaining latent heat. The suppression of supercooling by the addition of 9% graphite powder was 37.5%.

Constructing polyolefin-based lithium-ion battery separators membrane for energy storage and conversion

Wed, 13 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Owing to the escalating demand for environmentally friendly commodities, lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are gaining extensive recognition as a viable means of energy storage and conversion. LIBs comprise cathode and anode electrodes, electrolytes, and separators. Notably, the separator, a crucial and indispensable element in LIBs that mainly comprises a porous membrane material, necessitates substantial research focus. Scholars have consequently strived to devise novel systems that augment separator efficiency, bolster safety measures, and surmount existing constraints. This review endeavors to equip researchers with comprehensive information on polyolefin-based separator membranes, encompassing performance prerequisites, functional attributes, scientific advancements, and so on. Specifically, it scrutinizes the latest innovations in porous membrane configuration, fabrication, and enhancement that utilize the most prevalent polyolefin materials today. Consequently, robust and enduring membranes fabricated have demonstrated superior effectiveness across diverse applications, facilitating a circular economy that curbs waste materials, reduces operational expenses, and mitigates environmental impact.

MXene: A new revolution in the world of 2-D materials

Ruby Garg, Mohit Agarwal — Mon, 18 Nov 2024 07:00:22 +0000

MXenes have imposed a profound effect on materials science and nanotechnology fields after their discovery in 2011. Theoretical models have predicted more than 100 potential compositions of MXene whereas laboratory-scale synthesis reflects their success of over 40 distinct structures till date. The distinctive properties of MXenes have led to their use for a diverse range of applications, such as energy storage, environmental remediation, electronics, communications, gas and liquid separation and adsorption, biomedical fields, and optoelectronics. The increased interest of researchers in MXenes has led to a wide rise in research publications, showing their growing importance in different scientific domains. In 2024, MXenes had shown wide potential in various areas, including energy storage devices, electromagnetic interference shielding, nanocomposites, and hybrid materials. However, the variations in the choice of precursors, reactor design, cost, synthesis parameters pose several challenges in ensuring the production of high-quality MXenes. The applicability of MXenes continues to broaden as its compositions are continuously accelerating. This review aims is to provide a comprehensive overview of MXene history, its properties, challenges, latest trends, and different applications to highlight its potential and gather new audiences towards this family of two-dimensional materials.