Nanomaterials for Catalysis and Energy Storage

A special issue of Nanomaterials (ISSN 2079-4991). This special issue belongs to the section "Energy and Catalysis".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2022) | Viewed by 24459

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Physics, College of Science, King Faisal University, P.O. Box 400, Hofuf, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia
Interests: nanomaterials; electrochemistry; energy conversion and storage; catalysis
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Guest Editor
Department of Applied Chemistry, Konkuk University, Chungju 27478, Republic of Korea
Interests: nanomaterials; energy conversion and storage; electrochemistry; biosensors; electrocatalysis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Faisal University, P.O. Box 380, Hofuf, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia
Interests: nanomaterials; electrochemistry; electrochemical supercapacitors; catalysis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The ever-increasing demands for energy are directly influencing global warming, and the scarcity of natural energy resources is steering research attention toward alternative energy resources. In this context, energy-storage devices, which can store energy from various resources for further application, are important research subjects. Among the various types of energy-storage devices available, batteries and supercapacitors are considered highly efficient.

The design and development of catalysts/photocatalysts, which are active and cover the maximum part of the solar energy spectrum, have attracted considerable research attention in recent years. Therefore, many studies have been conducted on semiconductor photocatalysts for visible-light photocatalytic applications. However, metal oxides have a wide band gap, meaning that they cannot utilize the majority of the solar spectrum, and a high photoinduced electron-hole (e–/h+) recombination rate. Therefore, recent research has focused on developing highly active catalysts/photocatalysts, which are an alternative to conventional catalysts.

This Special Issue, Nanomaterials for Catalysis and Energy Storage, broadly focuses on electric double-layer capacitors, hybrid capacitors, Li and sulfur batteries, and fuel cells. We invite authors to contribute original research articles, review articles, and short communications for peer-reviewed publication covering the most recent progress and development in the area of  nanomaterials for catalysis and energy storage.

Dr. Sajid Ali Ansari
Dr. Md. Mahbubur Rahman
Dr. Nazish Parveen
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. Nanomaterials 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 2900 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

  • nanomaterials for energy storage and conversion
  • supercapacitor
  • battery
  • fuel cell
  • nanomaterials for catalysis and photocatalysis

Published Papers (11 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review

2 pages, 170 KiB  
Editorial
Nanomaterials for Catalysis and Energy Storage
by Sajid Ali Ansari, Nazish Parveen and Md. Mahbubur Rahman
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(2), 360; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nano13020360 - 16 Jan 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1264
Abstract
The development of nanomaterials with different shapes and sizes and which are utilized as effective materials for energy and environmental applications constitutes a challenge for researchers [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomaterials for Catalysis and Energy Storage)

Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review

12 pages, 2533 KiB  
Article
The Controllable Ratio of the Polyaniline-Needle-Shaped Manganese Dioxide for the High-Performance Supercapacitor Application
by Shrouq H. Aleithan, Sajid Ali Ansari, Muhamad Yudatama Perdana, Khan Alam, Zakia Alhashem and Kawther Al-Amer
Nanomaterials 2023, 13(1), 101; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nano13010101 - 25 Dec 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1591
Abstract
The nanohybrid development of metal oxide/conducting polymer as an energy storage material is an active research area, because of the device stability, conductive behavior, and easy fabrication. Herein, needle-like MnO2 was coupled with polyaniline fabricated through chemical polymerization followed by the hydrothermal [...] Read more.
The nanohybrid development of metal oxide/conducting polymer as an energy storage material is an active research area, because of the device stability, conductive behavior, and easy fabrication. Herein, needle-like MnO2 was coupled with polyaniline fabricated through chemical polymerization followed by the hydrothermal process. The characterization results show that MnO2/polyaniline exhibited a needle-like morphology. Different characterization techniques such as X-ray diffraction patterns and scanning electron microscopy confirmed the formation of the MnO2/polyaniline nanohybrids. The electrochemical performance, including cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge–discharge (GCD), specific capacitance (Csp), and cyclic stability, was examined using a three-electrode assembly cell. The optimized electrode displayed a Csp of 522.20 F g−1 at a current load of 1.0 A g−1 compared with the other electrodes. The developed synergism during MnO2/polyaniline fabrication provided enhanced conductive channels and stability during the charge–discharge process. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomaterials for Catalysis and Energy Storage)
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21 pages, 4176 KiB  
Article
Pseudocapacitive Effects of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes-Functionalised Spinel Copper Manganese Oxide
by Christopher Nolly, Chinwe O. Ikpo, Miranda M. Ndipingwi, Precious Ekwere and Emmanuel I. Iwuoha
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(19), 3514; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nano12193514 - 08 Oct 2022
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 1540
Abstract
Spinel copper manganese oxide nanoparticles combined with acid-treated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CuMn2O4/MWCNTs) were used in the development of electrodes for pseudocapacitor applications. The CuMn2O4/MWCNTs preparation involved initial synthesis of Mn3O4 and CuMn [...] Read more.
Spinel copper manganese oxide nanoparticles combined with acid-treated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CuMn2O4/MWCNTs) were used in the development of electrodes for pseudocapacitor applications. The CuMn2O4/MWCNTs preparation involved initial synthesis of Mn3O4 and CuMn2O4 precursors followed by an energy efficient reflux growth method for the CuMn2O4/MWCNTs. The CuMn2O4/MWCNTs in a three-electrode cell assembly and in 3 M LiOH aqueous electrolyte exhibited a specific capacitance of 1652.91 F g−1 at 0.5 A g−1 current load. Similar investigation in 3 M KOH aqueous electrolyte delivered a specific capacitance of 653.41 F g−1 at 0.5 A g−1 current load. Stability studies showed that after 6000 cycles, the CuMn2O4/MWCNTs electrode exhibited a higher capacitance retention (88%) in LiOH than in KOH (64%). The higher capacitance retention and cycling stability with a Coulombic efficiency of 99.6% observed in the LiOH is an indication of a better charge storage behaviour in this electrolyte than in the KOH electrolyte with a Coulombic efficiency of 97.3%. This superior performance in the LiOH electrolyte than in the KOH electrolyte is attributed to an intercalation/de-intercalation mechanism which occurs more easily in the LiOH electrolyte than in the KOH electrolyte. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomaterials for Catalysis and Energy Storage)
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11 pages, 2400 KiB  
Article
Easy Diameter Tuning of Silicon Nanowires with Low-Cost SnO2-Catalyzed Growth for Lithium-Ion Batteries
by Caroline Keller, Yassine Djezzar, Jingxian Wang, Saravanan Karuppiah, Gérard Lapertot, Cédric Haon and Pascale Chenevier
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(15), 2601; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nano12152601 - 28 Jul 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1431
Abstract
Silicon nanowires are appealing structures to enhance the capacity of anodes in lithium-ion batteries. However, to attain industrial relevance, their synthesis requires a reduced cost. An important part of the cost is devoted to the silicon growth catalyst, usually gold. Here, we replace [...] Read more.
Silicon nanowires are appealing structures to enhance the capacity of anodes in lithium-ion batteries. However, to attain industrial relevance, their synthesis requires a reduced cost. An important part of the cost is devoted to the silicon growth catalyst, usually gold. Here, we replace gold with tin, introduced as low-cost tin oxide nanoparticles, to produce a graphite–silicon nanowire composite as a long-standing anode active material. It is equally important to control the silicon size, as this determines the rate of decay of the anode performance. In this work, we demonstrate how to control the silicon nanowire diameter from 10 to 40 nm by optimizing growth parameters such as the tin loading and the atmosphere in the growth reactor. The best composites, with a rich content of Si close to 30% wt., show a remarkably high initial Coulombic efficiency of 82% for SiNWs 37 nm in diameter. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomaterials for Catalysis and Energy Storage)
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9 pages, 2895 KiB  
Article
Rapid Synthesis of Hexagonal-Shaped Zn(Al)O-MMO Nanorods for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell Using Zn/Al-LDH as Precursor
by Ethar Yahya Salih, Asmiet Ramizy, Osamah Aldaghri, Mohd Faizul Mohd Sabri, Nawal Madkhali, Tarfah Alinad, Khalid Hassan Ibnaouf and Mohamed Hassan Eisa
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(9), 1477; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nano12091477 - 27 Apr 2022
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 1728
Abstract
This study reports a simple new technique for the preparation of novel hexagonal-shaped mixed metal oxides (MMO) nanorods using Zn/Al-layered double hydroxide (LDH) as a precursor for dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) application. The effect of the Zn to Al molar ratio demonstrated a [...] Read more.
This study reports a simple new technique for the preparation of novel hexagonal-shaped mixed metal oxides (MMO) nanorods using Zn/Al-layered double hydroxide (LDH) as a precursor for dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) application. The effect of the Zn to Al molar ratio demonstrated a sound correlation between the obtained nanorods’ diameter and the fabricated DSSCs efficiency. Additionally, the optical behavior of the fabricated MMO film as well as the absorption enhancement due to the utilized dye are also demonstrated; a cut-off phenomenon at around 376 nm corresponds to the attained hexagonal nanorods. The open-circuit voltage augmented noticeably from 0.6 to 0.64 V alongside an increase in the diameter of nanorods from 64 to 80 nm. The results indicated that an increment in the diameter of the nanorods is desirable due to the enhanced surface area through which a higher amount of dye N719 was loaded (0.35 mM/cm2). This, in turn, expedited the transport of electrons within the MMO matrix resulting in an advanced short-circuit current. Of the devices fabricated, ZA-8 exhibited the highest fill factor and efficiency of 0.37% and 0.69%, respectively, because of its boosted short-circuit current and open-circuit voltage. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomaterials for Catalysis and Energy Storage)
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21 pages, 7240 KiB  
Article
Date-Leaf Carbon Particles for Green Enhanced Oil Recovery
by Bashirul Haq, Md. Abdul Aziz, Dhafer Al Shehri, Nasiru Salahu Muhammed, Shaik Inayath Basha, Abbas Saeed Hakeem, Mohammed Ameen Ahmed Qasem, Mohammed Lardhi and Stefan Iglauer
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(8), 1245; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nano12081245 - 07 Apr 2022
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 2262
Abstract
Green enhanced oil recovery (GEOR) is an environmentally friendly enhanced oil recovery (EOR) process involving the injection of green fluids to improve macroscopic and microscopic sweep efficiencies while boosting tertiary oil production. Carbon nanomaterials such as graphene, carbon nanotube (CNT), and carbon dots [...] Read more.
Green enhanced oil recovery (GEOR) is an environmentally friendly enhanced oil recovery (EOR) process involving the injection of green fluids to improve macroscopic and microscopic sweep efficiencies while boosting tertiary oil production. Carbon nanomaterials such as graphene, carbon nanotube (CNT), and carbon dots have gained interest for their superior ability to increase oil recovery. These particles have been successfully tested in EOR, although they are expensive and do not extend to GEOR. In addition, the application of carbon particles in the GEOR method is not well understood yet, requiring thorough documentation. The goals of this work are to develop carbon nanoparticles from biomass and explore their role in GEOR. The carbon nanoparticles were prepared from date leaves, which are inexpensive biomass, through pyrolysis and ball-milling methods. The synthesized carbon nanomaterials were characterized using the standard process. Three formulations of functionalized and non-functionalized date-leaf carbon nanoparticle (DLCNP) solutions were chosen for core floods based on phase behavior and interfacial tension (IFT) properties to examine their potential for smart water and green chemical flooding. The carboxylated DLCNP was mixed with distilled water in the first formulation to be tested for smart water flood in the sandstone core. After water flooding, this formulation recovered 9% incremental oil of the oil initially in place. In contrast, non-functionalized DLCNP formulated with (the biodegradable) surfactant alkyl polyglycoside and NaCl produced 18% more tertiary oil than the CNT. This work thus provides new green chemical agents and formulations for EOR applications so that oil can be produced more economically and sustainably. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomaterials for Catalysis and Energy Storage)
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16 pages, 3811 KiB  
Article
Influence of Surface Properties of Nanostructured Ceria-Based Catalysts on Their Stability Performance
by Boyu Li, Eric Croiset and John Z. Wen
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(3), 392; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nano12030392 - 25 Jan 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1996
Abstract
As the poor cycling stability of CeO2 catalysts has become the major obstacle for applications of diesel particulate filters (DPF), it is necessary to investigate how to reduce their structural and compositional changes during soot oxidation. In this study, different ratios of [...] Read more.
As the poor cycling stability of CeO2 catalysts has become the major obstacle for applications of diesel particulate filters (DPF), it is necessary to investigate how to reduce their structural and compositional changes during soot oxidation. In this study, different ratios of Samarium (Sm) were doped into the lattice of CeO2 nanoparticles to improve the catalytic performance as well as surface properties. The stability was investigated by recycling the catalyst, mixing it with soot again, and repeating the thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) tests seven times. Consistent observations were expected for more cycles. It was found that doping 5%, 10%, and 20% samarium into the CeO2 lattice can improve the catalyst stability but at the cost of losing some activity. While the catalyst became more stable with the increasing Sm doping, the 10% Sm-doped catalyst showed the best compromise between stability and activity. Ce3+ and Oα were found to play important roles in controlling catalytic soot oxidation activity. These two species were directly related to oxygen vacancies and oxygen storage capacity of the catalyst. Sm-doped catalysts showed a minimized decrease in the Ce3+ and Oα content when the fresh and spent catalysts were compared. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomaterials for Catalysis and Energy Storage)
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24 pages, 8565 KiB  
Article
Preparation of a Sustainable Shape-Stabilized Phase Change Material for Thermal Energy Storage Based on Mg2+-Doped CaCO3/PEG Composites
by Md. Hasan Zahir, Mohammad Mominur Rahman, Salem K. S. Basamad, Khaled Own Mohaisen, Kashif Irshad, Mohammad Mizanur Rahman, Md. Abdul Aziz, Amjad Ali and Mohammad M. Hossain
Nanomaterials 2021, 11(7), 1639; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nano11071639 - 22 Jun 2021
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2636
Abstract
The properties of polyethylene glycol-6000 (PEG)/MgCaCO3, a low-cost shape-selective phase change material (ss-PCM), make it highly suitable for solar thermal applications. Nanosized porous MgO-doped CaCO3 with Mg molar concentrations of 5%, 10%, and 15% were synthesized using a hydrothermal technique. [...] Read more.
The properties of polyethylene glycol-6000 (PEG)/MgCaCO3, a low-cost shape-selective phase change material (ss-PCM), make it highly suitable for solar thermal applications. Nanosized porous MgO-doped CaCO3 with Mg molar concentrations of 5%, 10%, and 15% were synthesized using a hydrothermal technique. The prepared MgO-CaCO3 matrices were then impregnated with PEG to obtain PEG/MgCaCO3 as an ss-PCM. Samples identified as PEG-5MgCaCO3 (P-5-MCC), PEG-10MgCaCO3 (P-10-MCC), and PEG-15MgCaCO3 (P-15-MCC) were prepared and studied. Interestingly, P-10-MCC has the smallest particle size together with a good porous structure compared to the other two materials. The results of thermogravimetric analyses and differential scanning calorimetry indicate that the small particle size and porous structure facilitate the impregnation of approximately 69% of the PEG into the 10-MCC matrix. The latent heat and energy storage efficiency of PEG in the P-10-MCC sample are 152.5 J/g and 96.48%, respectively, which are significantly higher than those of comparable materials. Furthermore, in addition to the improvement of the thermal conductivity of the P-10-MCC, its supercooling is also reduced to some extent. The combined mesoporous and macro-porous structure of P-10-MCC is critical to retaining a large amount of PEG within the matrix, resulting in a high latent heat in the operating temperature range of 35–57 °C. The P-10MCC sample also demonstrates a high energy storage capacity (98.59%), high thermal energy storage/release rates, and exceptional shape-stabilized PCM properties. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomaterials for Catalysis and Energy Storage)
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12 pages, 6294 KiB  
Article
Effect of Washing on the Electrochemical Performance of a Three-Dimensional Current Collector for Energy Storage Applications
by Sajid Ali Ansari, Nazish Parveen, Mohd Al Saleh Al-Othoum and Mohammad Omaish Ansari
Nanomaterials 2021, 11(6), 1596; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nano11061596 - 17 Jun 2021
Cited by 25 | Viewed by 2694
Abstract
The development of efficient materials for energy storage applications has attracted considerable attention, especially for supercapacitors and batteries that are the most promising and important power sources in everyday life. For this purpose, a suitable and efficient current collector must be determined and [...] Read more.
The development of efficient materials for energy storage applications has attracted considerable attention, especially for supercapacitors and batteries that are the most promising and important power sources in everyday life. For this purpose, a suitable and efficient current collector must be determined and its behavior with respect to various solvents when it is used as an electrode material for energy storage applications should be understood. In this work, we studied the effect of washing three-dimensional nickel foam using different concentrations of hydrochloric acid and ethanol on the surface characteristics, electrochemical behavior, and storage performance of the foam. Additionally, we observed the different types of acidic treatments that improved the electrochemical and storage performances of the three-dimensional nickel foam. The surface characterization results show that acidic conditions with a concentration of 3M changes the surface morphology from a flat/hill-like structure to a nanosheet/nanoflake-like structure without any further treatment. This structure provides a nano-channel and a large number of surface charges during the electrochemical reaction. The results of this study show that pretreatment of 3D-NF is highly important and recommended. The present work also contributes to the knowledgebase on pretreatment of 3D-NF and its optimization. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomaterials for Catalysis and Energy Storage)
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Review

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36 pages, 14443 KiB  
Review
Graphene Quantum Dots: Novel Properties and Their Applications for Energy Storage Devices
by Sajid Ali Ansari
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(21), 3814; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nano12213814 - 28 Oct 2022
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 2614
Abstract
Batteries and supercapacitors are the next-generation alternative energy resources that can fulfil the requirement of energy demand worldwide. In regard to the development of efficient energy storage devices, various materials have been tested as electrode materials. Graphene quantum dots (GQDs), a new class [...] Read more.
Batteries and supercapacitors are the next-generation alternative energy resources that can fulfil the requirement of energy demand worldwide. In regard to the development of efficient energy storage devices, various materials have been tested as electrode materials. Graphene quantum dots (GQDs), a new class of carbon-based nanomaterial, have driven a great research interest due to their unique fundamental properties. High conductivity, abundant specific surface area, and sufficient solubility, in combination with quantum confinement and edge effect, have made them appropriate for a broad range of applications such as optical, catalysis, energy storage and conversion. This review article will present the latest research on the utilization of GQDs and their composites to modify the electrodes used in energy storage devices. Several major challenges have been discussed and, finally, future perspectives have been provided for the better implementation of GQDs in the energy storage research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomaterials for Catalysis and Energy Storage)
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28 pages, 8456 KiB  
Review
Perspectives on Iron Oxide-Based Materials with Carbon as Anodes for Li- and K-Ion Batteries
by Mario Valvo, Christina Floraki, Elie Paillard, Kristina Edström and Dimitra Vernardou
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(9), 1436; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nano12091436 - 22 Apr 2022
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 3089
Abstract
The necessity for large scale and sustainable energy storage systems is increasing. Lithium-ion batteries have been extensively utilized over the past decades for a range of applications including electronic devices and electric vehicles due to their distinguishing characteristics. Nevertheless, their massive deployment can [...] Read more.
The necessity for large scale and sustainable energy storage systems is increasing. Lithium-ion batteries have been extensively utilized over the past decades for a range of applications including electronic devices and electric vehicles due to their distinguishing characteristics. Nevertheless, their massive deployment can be questionable due to use of critical materials as well as limited lithium resources and growing costs of extraction. One of the emerging alternative candidates is potassium-ion battery technology due to potassium’s extensive reserves along with its physical and chemical properties similar to lithium. The challenge to develop anode materials with good rate capability, stability and high safety yet remains. Iron oxides are potentially promising anodes for both battery systems due to their high theoretical capacity, low cost and abundant reserves, which aligns with the targets of large-scale application and limited environmental footprint. However, they present relevant limitations such as low electronic conductivity, significant volume changes and inadequate energy efficiency. In this review, we discuss some recent design strategies of iron oxide-based materials for both electrochemical systems and highlight the relationships of their structure performance in nanostructured anodes. Finally, we outline challenges and opportunities for these materials for possible development of KIBs as a complementary technology to LIBs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomaterials for Catalysis and Energy Storage)
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