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Advanced Energy Storage Materials: Preparation, Characterization and Applications

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A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Energy Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 March 2023) | Viewed by 26253

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Junwei Wu

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Guest Editor

School of Materials Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen, China
Interests: energy materials and devices; corrosion and protection; surface treatment
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Yanan Chen

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Guest Editor

School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300354, China
Interests: nanomaterials, devices, and systems for advanced energy storage and conversion

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

As the worldwide demand for energy is expected to continue to increase at a rapid rate, it is critical that improved technologies for sustainably producing, converting, and storing energy are developed. Electrochemical energy storage (EES) systems with high efficiency, low cost, application flexibility, safety, and accessibility are the focus of intensive research and development efforts. Materials play a key role in the efficient, clean, and versatile use of energy, and are crucial for the exploitation of renewable energy. Among various EES technologies, lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have attracted plenty of interest in the past decades due to their high energy density, long cycle life, low self-discharge, and no memory effect when as power sources. Meanwhile, sodium ion batteries, supercapacitors, and metal–air batteries have also received intensive attention from in research and development and toward industrialization. The development of high-performance EES never ceases. Materials with high performance, stability, and low cost are critical for building up a synergetic effect for realizing a sustainable future.

The aim of this Special Issue entitled “Advanced Energy Storage Materials: Preparation, Characterization, and Applications” is to present recent advancements in various aspects related to materials and processes contributing to the creation of sustainable energy storage systems and environmental solutions, particularly applicable to clean energy developments. These include, but are not limited to:

Development of advanced materials for high-performance energy storage devices, including lithium-ion batteries, sodium-ion batteries, lithium–sulfur batteries, and aqueous rechargeable batteries;
Design of next-generation energy conversion and storage devices (flexible/transparent/micro batteries, etc.);
Development of innovative high energy density batteries for grid connection of renewable sources and green transport;
Mathematical modeling, including computational fluid dynamics of batteries and related topics.

We are pleased to invite you to submit full research papers, communications, and review papers to this Special Issue.

Prof. Dr. Junwei Wu
Prof. Dr. Yanan Chen
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Materials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 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

lithium-ion batteries
sodium/potassium-ion batteries
lithium–sulfur batteries
metal–air batteries
supercapacitors

Published Papers (13 papers)

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Research

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11 pages, 6387 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Novel Mesoporous and Multilayered Yb/N-Co-Doped CeO₂ with Enhanced Oxygen Storage Capacity

by Yaohui Xu, Liangjuan Gao, Pingkeng Wu and Zhao Ding

Materials 2023, 16(15), 5478; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma16155478 - 04 Aug 2023

Viewed by 669

Abstract

A cubic fluorite-type CeO₂ with mesoporous multilayered morphology was synthesized by the solvothermal method followed by calcination in air, and its oxygen storage capacity (OSC) was quantified by the amount of O₂ consumption per gram of CeO₂ based on hydrogen temperature programmed reduction (H₂–TPR) measurements. Doping CeO₂ with ytterbium (Yb) and nitrogen (N) ions proved to be an effective route to improving its OSC in this work. The OSC of undoped CeO₂ was 0.115 mmol O₂/g and reached as high as 0.222 mmol O₂/g upon the addition of 5 mol.% Yb(NO₃)₃∙5H₂O, further enhanced to 0.274 mmol O₂/g with the introduction of 20 mol.% triethanolamine. Both the introductions of Yb cations and N anions into the CeO₂ lattice were conducive to the formation of more non-stoichiometric oxygen vacancy (V_O) defects and reducible–reoxidizable Ceⁿ⁺ ions. To determine the structure performance relationships, the partial least squares method was employed to construct two linear functions for the doping level vs. lattice parameter and [V_O] vs. OSC/S_BET. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Energy Storage Materials: Preparation, Characterization and Applications)

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13 pages, 2925 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Design of Pt-Sn-Zn Nanomaterials for Successful Methanol Electrooxidation Reaction

by Dragana Milošević, Sanja Stevanović, Dušan Tripković, Ivana Vukašinović, Vesna Maksimović, Vladan Ćosović and Nebojša D. Nikolić

Materials 2023, 16(13), 4617; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma16134617 - 27 Jun 2023

Viewed by 1127

Abstract

This work highlights the potential for the synthesis of new PtSnZn catalysts with enhanced efficiency and durability for methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) in low-temperature fuel cells. In this research, PtZn and PtSnZn nanoparticles deposited on high surface area Vulcan XC-72R Carbon support were created by a microwave-assisted polyol method. The electrochemical performances of synthesized catalysts were analyzed by cyclic voltammetry and by the electrooxidation of adsorbed CO and the chronoamperometric method. The physicochemical properties of obtained catalysts were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetric (TGA) analysis, energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The obtained findings showed the successful synthesis of platinum-based catalysts. It was established that PtSnZn/C and PtZn/C catalysts have high electrocatalytic performance in methanol oxidation reactions. Catalysts stability tests were obtained by chronoamperometry. Stability tests also confirmed decreased poisoning and indicated improved stability and better tolerance to CO-like intermediate species. According to activity and stability measurements, the PtSnZn/C catalyst possesses the best electrochemical properties for the methanol oxidation reaction. The observed great electrocatalytic activity in the methanol oxidation reaction of synthesized catalysts can be attributed to the beneficial effects of microwave synthesis and the well-balanced addition of alloying metals in PtSnZn/C catalysts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Energy Storage Materials: Preparation, Characterization and Applications)

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10 pages, 1740 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Rational Design of a CoS₂-CoSe₂ Heterostructure for the Catalytic Conversion of Polysulfides in Lithium-Sulfur Batteries

by Bin Zhang, Jiping Ma, Manman Cui, Yang Zhao and Shizhong Wei

Materials 2023, 16(11), 3992; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma16113992 - 26 May 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1143

Abstract

Lithium-sulfur batteries are anticipated to be the next generation of energy storage devices because of their high theoretical specific capacity. However, the polysulfide shuttle effect of lithium-sulfur batteries restricts their commercial application. The fundamental reason for this is the sluggish reaction kinetics between polysulfide and lithium sulfide, which causes soluble polysulfide to dissolve into the electrolyte, leading to a shuttle effect and a difficult conversion reaction. Catalytic conversion is considered to be a promising strategy to alleviate the shuttle effect. In this paper, a CoS₂-CoSe₂ heterostructure with high conductivity and catalytic performance was prepared by in situ sulfurization of CoSe₂ nanoribbon. By optimizing the coordination environment and electronic structure of Co, a highly efficient CoS₂-CoSe₂ catalyst was obtained, to promote the conversion of lithium polysulfides to lithium sulfide. By using the modified separator with CoS₂-CoSe₂ and graphene, the battery exhibited excellent rate and cycle performance. The capacity remained at 721 mAh g⁻¹ after 350 cycles, at a current density of 0.5 C. This work provides an effective strategy to enhance the catalytic performance of two-dimensional transition-metal selenides by heterostructure engineering. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Energy Storage Materials: Preparation, Characterization and Applications)

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11 pages, 2457 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Nanocomposite Electrode of Titanium Dioxide Nanoribbons and Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes for Energy Storage

by Mohammad BinSabt, Mohamed Shaban and Ahmed Gamal

Materials 2023, 16(2), 595; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma16020595 - 07 Jan 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1559

Abstract

TiO₂ is one of the most investigated materials due to its abundance, lack of toxicity, high faradaic capacitance, and high chemical and physical stability; however, its potential use in energy storage devices is constrained by its high internal resistance and weak van der Waals interaction between the particles. Carbon nanotubes are especially well suited for solving these issues due to their strong mechanical strength, superior electrical conductivity, high electron mobilities, excellent chemical and thermal stability, and enormous specific nanoporous surface. The hydrothermal approach was followed by chemical vapor deposition to produce a network composite of titanium dioxide nanoribbons (TNRs) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The nanocomposite was characterized using a variety of methods. One phase of TiO₂-B nanoribbons has porous pits on its surface, and MWCNTs are grown in these pits to produce a network-like structure in the nanocomposite. With a two-electrode supercapacitor configuration, the TNR/CNT gave a gravimetric capacitance of 33.33 F g⁻¹, which was enhanced to 68.18 F g⁻¹ in a redox-active electrolyte containing hydroquinone (HQ). Additionally, the areal capacitance per footprint was increased from 80 mF cm⁻² in H₂SO₄ to 163.63 mF cm⁻² in H₂SO₄/HQ. The TNR/CNT supercapacitor has superior cyclic stability than the previously reported TiO₂-based electrodes, with 97.5% capacitance retention after 5000 cycles. Based on these results, it looks like the TNR/CNT supercapacitor could provide portable electronic power supplies with new ways to work in the future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Energy Storage Materials: Preparation, Characterization and Applications)

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11 pages, 2690 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Enhanced Short-Term Memory Plasticity of WOx-Based Memristors by Inserting AlO_x Thin Layer

by Juyeong Pyo, Hoesung Ha and Sungjun Kim

Materials 2022, 15(24), 9081; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma15249081 - 19 Dec 2022

Viewed by 1414

Abstract

ITO/WO_x/TaN and ITO/WO_x/AlO_x/TaN memory cells were fabricated as a neuromorphic device that is compatible with CMOS. They are suitable for the information age, which requires a large amount of data as next-generation memory. The device with a thin AlO_x layer deposited by atomic layer deposition (ALD) has different electrical characteristics from the device without an AlO_x layer. The low current is achieved by inserting an ultra-thin AlO_x layer between the switching layer and the bottom electrode due to the tunneling barrier effect. Moreover, the short-term memory characteristics in bilayer devices are enhanced. The WO_x/AlO_x device returns to the HRS without a separate reset process or energy consumption. The amount of gradual current reduction could be controlled by interval time. In addition, it is possible to maintain LRS for a longer time by forming it to implement long-term memory. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Energy Storage Materials: Preparation, Characterization and Applications)

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12 pages, 2754 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Synthesis and Oxygen Storage Capacities of Yttrium-Doped CeO₂ with a Cubic Fluorite Structure

by Yaohui Xu, Liangjuan Gao and Zhao Ding

Materials 2022, 15(24), 8971; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma15248971 - 15 Dec 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1293

Abstract

Doping CeO₂ with Y cations was achieved in this study using three strategies: doping only during the hydrothermal process (H-Y-doped CeO₂), doping only during the impregnation process (I-Y-doped CeO₂), and doping during both the hydrothermal and impregnation processes (H/I-Y-doped CeO₂). During the three synthesis strategies of Y-doped CeO₂, these Y ions could be incorporated into the CeO₂ lattice in the +3 state while holding the cubic fluorite structure, and no impurity phases were detected. Pure CeO₂ crystal itself contained a certain number of intrinsic V_O defects, and Y-doping was beneficial for the creation of extrinsic V_O defects. The relative concentrations of V_O defects were quantified by the values of A₅₉₂/A₄₆₄ obtained from Raman spectra, which were 1.47, 0.93, and 1.16 for the H-Y-, I-Y-, and H/I-Y-doped CeO₂, respectively, and were higher than that of the undoped one (0.67). Moreover, the OSCs of the three Y-doped CeO₂ were enhanced, and the sequence of OSCs was: H-Y-doped CeO₂ (0.372 mmol/g) > H/I-Y-doped CeO₂ (0.353 mmol/g) > I-Y-doped CeO₂ (0.248 mmol/g) > Undoped CeO₂ (0.153 mmol/g); this result was in good agreement with the Raman spectroscopy results. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Energy Storage Materials: Preparation, Characterization and Applications)

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17 pages, 4311 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Design of Refining Slag Based on Structural Modifications Associated with the Boron Removal for SoG-Si

by Guoyu Qian, Yiwei Sun, Dong Wang, Zhiliang Wu, Zhi Wang and Wenhui Ma

Materials 2022, 15(9), 3107; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma15093107 - 25 Apr 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1277

Abstract

Solar grade silicon (SoG-Si) is the core material of solar cells. The removal of boron (B) has always been a challenge in the preparation of high purity Si. Slag refining has always been considered as one of the effective methods to remove B, but the design of refined slag has been limited by the cognition of the relationship between slag structure and impurity removal, and can only rely on the apparent basicity and oxygen potential adjustment of slag based on a large number of conditional experiments. In order to clarify the B removal mechanism of slag refining from Si, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and Raman vibrational spectroscopy were used to investigate in detail the behavior and state of B and aluminum (Al) in the SiO₂–CaO–Al₂O₃–B₂O₃ slag. The role of the degree of B–Si cross linking on the B activity in slag was highlighted by comparing the partition ratio (L_B) between slag and Si. Q² structural unit of slag is an important site for capturing B. BO₄ (1B, 3Si) species is the main form of connection between B and silicate networks, which determines the activity of B in the slag. The addition of Al₂O₃ into SiO₂–CaO slag can change the relative fraction of Q² and BO₄ (1B, 3Si). Increasing Al₂O₃ content from 0 to about 20 wt% can lead to the overall increase of Q² population, and a tendency to decrease first and then increase of BO₄ (1B, 3Si) fraction under both basicity conditions (0.6 and 1.1). When Al₂O₃ content is less than 10 ± 1 wt%, the decrease of BO₄ (1B, 3Si) population plays a major role in deteriorating the connectivity between B and aluminosilicate network, which leads to a higher activity of B. When the Al₂O₃ content is greater than 10 ± 1 wt%, B is incorporated into the silicate network more easily due to the formation of more Q² and BO₄ (1B, 3Si), which contributes to a rapid decline in activity of B in slag. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Energy Storage Materials: Preparation, Characterization and Applications)

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10 pages, 3103 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Nitrogen-Doped Nanoporous Anodic Stainless Steel Foils towards Flexible Supercapacitors

by Wenlei Zhang, Jianle Xu, Gang Li and Kaiying Wang

Materials 2022, 15(4), 1615; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma15041615 - 21 Feb 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1586

Abstract

In this work, we report the fabrication and enhanced supercapacitive performance of nitrogen-doped nanoporous stainless steel foils, which have been prepared by electrochemical anodization and subsequent thermal annealing in ammonia atmosphere. The nanoporous oxide layers are grown on type-304 stainless steel foil with optimal thickness ~11.9 μm. The N-doped sample exhibits high average areal capacitance of 321.3 mF·cm⁻² at a current density of 1.0 mA·cm⁻², 3.6 times of increment compared with untreated one. Structural and electrochemical characterizations indicate that the significant enhancement is correlated to the high charge transfer efficiency from nitriding nanosheet products Fe₃N. Our report here may provide new insight on the development of high-performance, low-cost and binder-free supercapacitor electrodes for flexible and portable electronic device applications with multiple anions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Energy Storage Materials: Preparation, Characterization and Applications)

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16 pages, 5472 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Characterization and Reliability of Caprylic Acid-Stearyl Alcohol Binary Mixture as Phase Change Material for a Cold Energy Storage System

by Hamza Ayaz, Veerakumar Chinnasamy and Honghyun Cho

Materials 2021, 14(23), 7418; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma14237418 - 03 Dec 2021

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2289

Abstract

This study reports the in-depth investigation of the thermophysical properties and thermal reliability of caprylic acid-stearyl alcohol (CA-SA) eutectic phase change material (PCM) for cooling applications. The phase diagram of CA-SA showed a eutectic point at a 90:10 molar ratio. The onset melting/freezing temperature and latent heat of fusion of caprylic acid-stearyl alcohol from the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were 11.4 °C/11.8 °C and 154.4/150.5 J/g, respectively. The thermal conductivity for the prepared eutectic PCM in the solid phase was 0.267 W/m.K (0 °C), whereas, in the liquid phase, it was 0.165 W/m.K (20 °C). In addition, the maximum relative percentage difference (RPD) marked at the end of 200 thermal cycles was 5.2% for onset melting temperature and 18.9% for phase change enthalpy. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) result shows that the eutectic PCM holds good chemical stability. Corrosion tests showed that caprylic acid-stearyl alcohol could be a potential candidate for cold thermal energy storage applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Energy Storage Materials: Preparation, Characterization and Applications)

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16 pages, 4370 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Role of Sintering Temperature and Dual Metal Substitutions (Al³⁺, Ti⁴⁺) in the Development of NASICON-Structured Electrolyte

by Hashlina Rusdi, Roshidah Rusdi, Shujahadeen B. Aziz, Abdullah Saad Alsubaie, Khaled H. Mahmoud and Mohd F. Z. Kadir

Materials 2021, 14(23), 7342; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma14237342 - 30 Nov 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1693

Abstract

The aim of this study is to synthesize Li_1+xAl_xTi_xSn_2−2x(PO₄) sodium super ion conductor (NASICON) -based ceramic solid electrolyte and to study the effect of dual metal substitution on the electrical and structural properties of the electrolyte. The performance of the electrolyte is analyzed based on the sintering temperature (550 to 950 °C) as well as the composition. The trend of XRD results reveals the presence of impurities in the sample, and from Rietveld Refinement, the purest sample is achieved at a sintering temperature of 950 °C and when x = 0.6. The electrolytes obey Vegard′s Law as the addition of Al³⁺ and Ti⁴⁺ provide linear relation with cell volume, which signifies a random distribution. The different composition has a different optimum sintering temperature at which the highest conductivity is achieved when the sample is sintered at 650 °C and x = 0.4. Field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) analysis showed that higher sintering temperature promotes the increment of grain boundaries and size. Based on energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analysis, x = 0.4 produced the closest atomic percentage ratio to the theoretical value. Electrode polarization is found to be at maximum when x = 0.4, which is determined from dielectric analysis. The electrolytes follow non-Debye behavior as it shows a variety of relaxation times. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Energy Storage Materials: Preparation, Characterization and Applications)

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8 pages, 4272 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Optimal Synthesis and Application of a Si–Ti–Al Ternary Alloy as an Anode Material for Lithium-Ion Batteries

by Jaehan Lee, Young-Min Kim, Ju-Han Kim, Jee-Woon Jeong, Donghyun Lee, Jae Wook Sung, Young Ju Ahn, Jae-Hyun Shim and Sanghun Lee

Materials 2021, 14(22), 6912; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma14226912 - 16 Nov 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2003

Abstract

The development of novel anode materials for high energy density is required. Alloying Si with other metals is a promising approach to utilize the high capacity of Si. In this work, we optimized the composition of a Si–Ti–Al ternary alloy to achieve excellent electrochemical performance in terms of capacity, cyclability, and rate capability. The detailed internal structures of the alloys were characterized through their atomic compositions and diffraction patterns. The lithiation process of the alloy was monitored using real-time scanning electron microscopy, revealing that the mechanical stability of the optimized alloy was strongly enhanced compared to that of the pure silicon material. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Energy Storage Materials: Preparation, Characterization and Applications)

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15 pages, 1707 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Microwave-Assisted Coal-Derived Few-Layer Graphene as an Anode Material for Lithium-Ion Batteries

by Faridul Islam, Jialong Wang, Arash Tahmasebi, Rou Wang, Behdad Moghtaderi and Jianglong Yu

Materials 2021, 14(21), 6468; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma14216468 - 28 Oct 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1929

Abstract

A few-layer graphene (FLG) composite material was synthesized using a rich reservoir and low-cost coal under the microwave-assisted catalytic graphitization process. X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to evaluate the properties of the FLG sample. A well-developed microstructure and higher graphitization degree were achieved under microwave heating at 1300 °C using the S5% dual (Fe-Ni) catalyst for 20 min. In addition, the synthesized FLG sample encompassed the Raman spectrum 2D band at 2700 cm⁻¹, which showed the existence of a few-layer graphene structure. The high-resolution TEM (transmission electron microscopy) image investigation of the S5% Fe-Ni sample confirmed that the fabricated FLG material consisted of two to seven graphitic layers, promoting the fast lithium-ion diffusion into the inner surface. The S5% Fe-Ni composite material delivered a high reversible capacity of 287.91 mAhg⁻¹ at 0.1 C with a higher Coulombic efficiency of 99.9%. In contrast, the single catalyst of S10% Fe contained a reversible capacity of 260.13 mAhg⁻¹ at 0.1 C with 97.96% Coulombic efficiency. Furthermore, the dual catalyst-loaded FLG sample demonstrated a high capacity—up to 95% of the initial reversible capacity retention—after 100 cycles. This study revealed the potential feasibility of producing FLG materials from bituminous coal used in a broad range as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Energy Storage Materials: Preparation, Characterization and Applications)

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Review

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19 pages, 4616 KiB

Open AccessReview

Inverse Design of Materials by Machine Learning

by Jia Wang, Yingxue Wang and Yanan Chen

Materials 2022, 15(5), 1811; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma15051811 - 28 Feb 2022

Cited by 29 | Viewed by 6596

Abstract

It is safe to say that every invention that has changed the world has depended on materials. At present, the demand for the development of materials and the invention or design of new materials is becoming more and more urgent since peoples’ current production and lifestyle needs must be changed to help mitigate the climate. Structure-property relationships are a vital paradigm in materials science. However, these relationships are often nonlinear, and the pattern is likely to change with length scales and time scales, posing a huge challenge. With the development of physics, statistics, computer science, etc., machine learning offers the opportunity to systematically find new materials. Especially by inverse design based on machine learning, one can make use of the existing knowledge without attempting mathematical inversion of the relevant integrated differential equation of the electronic structure but by using backpropagation to overcome local minimax traps and perform a fast calculation of the gradient information for a target function concerning the design variable to find the optimizations. The methodologies have been applied to various materials including polymers, photonics, inorganic materials, porous materials, 2-D materials, etc. Different types of design problems require different approaches, for which many algorithms and optimization approaches have been demonstrated in different scenarios. In this mini-review, we will not specifically sum up machine learning methodologies, but will provide a more material perspective and summarize some cut-edging studies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Energy Storage Materials: Preparation, Characterization and Applications)

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