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Advanced Nanomaterials for Photocatalytic Energy Conversion and Storage

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A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "D: Energy Storage and Application".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (6 September 2023) | Viewed by 5339

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Leong Kah Hon

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Guest Editor

Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Green Technology, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Kampar 31900, Perak, Malaysia
Interests: photocatalysts; energy conversion; wastewater treatment; nanotechnology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Sim Lan Ching

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Department of Chemical Engineering, Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science, Tunku Abdul Rahman University, Kampar 31900, Perak, Malaysia
Interests: carbon quantum dots; nanomaterials; photocatalysis

Dr. Azrina Abd Aziz

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Guest Editor

Faculty of Civil Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Gambang, Kuantan 26300, Pahang, Malaysia
Interests: energy conversion; nanomaterial; nanotechnology; applied sciences

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The issue of climate change and energy storage are increasing in importance globally, leading to the sourcing of alternative energy. For sustainable development in the future, remarkable research is now focusing on renewable energy, and its conversion and storage, in order to address the high energy demand. Therefore, fabricating advanced nanomaterials with tailored properties is at the forefront of technological exploration. This has drastically contributed to the advances in nanomaterials design methodology, characterization, modelling tools, etc. Hence, this advancement will give rise to the vast improvement in the performance of nanomaterials towards energy conversion and storage.

Advanced nanomaterial will be the key materials to both the high-efficacy conversion of clean and renewable energy together with its storage application. This Special Issue aims to present and disseminate the more recent advanced nanomaterials related to energy conversion and storage.

Topics of interest for publication include, but are not limited to:

Advanced nanomaterial for hydrogen production;
Advanced nanomaterial for CO2 conversion and utilization;
Advanced nanomaterial for advanced lithium-ion batteries;
Advanced nanomaterial for fuel cells and electrolyser cells;
Advanced nanomaterial for thin film solar cells and optoelectronic devices;
Organic and inorganic hybrid nanomaterials for solar photovoltaics and energy storage.

Dr. Leong Kah Hon
Dr. Sim Lan Ching
Dr. Azrina Abd Aziz
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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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. Energies 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

energy conversion
nanomaterial
photocatalyst
energy storage
solar photovoltaics

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 10278 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Synthesis of Hexagonal Nanophases in the La₂O₃–MO₃ (M = Mo, W) Systems

by Egor Baldin, Nikolay Lyskov, Galina Vorobieva, Igor Kolbanev, Olga Karyagina, Dmitry Stolbov, Valentina Voronkova and Anna Shlyakhtina

Energies 2023, 16(15), 5637; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16155637 - 26 Jul 2023

Viewed by 826

Abstract

We report a study of nanophases in the La₂O₃–MO₃ (M = Mo, W) systems, which are known to contain a variety of good oxygen-ion and proton conductors. Mechanically activated La₂O₃ + MO₃ (M = Mo, W) mixtures and the final ceramics have been characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) with Rietveld refinement. The microstructure of the materials has been examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and their conductivity in dry and wet air has been determined using impedance spectroscopy. In both systems, the formation of hexagonal La₁₅M_8.5O₄₈ (phase II, 5H polytype) (M = Mo, W) nanophases is observed for the composition 1:1, with exothermic peaks in the DSC curve in the range ~480–520 °C for La₁₅Mo_8.5O₄₈ and ~685–760 °C for La₁₅W_8.5O₄₈, respectively. The crystallite size of the nanocrystalline tungstates is ~40 nm, and that of the nanocrystalline molybdates is ~50 nm. At higher temperatures (~630–690 and ~1000 °C), we observe irreversible reconstructive phase transitions of hexagonal La₁₅Mo_8.5O₄₈ to tetragonal γ-La₂MoO₆ and of hexagonal La₁₅W_8.5O₄₈ to orthorhombic β-La₂WO₆. We compare the temperature dependences of conductivity for nanoparticulate and microcrystalline hexagonal phases and high-temperature phases differing in density. Above 600 °C, oxygen ion conduction prevails in the coarse-grained La₁₈W₁₀O₅₇ (phase I, 6H polytype) ceramic. Low-density La₁₅W_8.5O₄₈ and La₁₅Mo_8.5O₄₈ (phase II, 5H polytype) nanoceramics exhibit predominantly electron conduction with an activation energy of 1.36 and 1.35 eV, respectively, in dry air. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Nanomaterials for Photocatalytic Energy Conversion and Storage)

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20 pages, 5432 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Enhanced Photocatalytic CO₂ Reduction to CH₄ Using Novel Ternary Photocatalyst RGO/Au-TNTAs

by Md. Arif Hossen, Fatema Khatun, Riyadh Ramadhan Ikreedeegh, Aamina Din Muhammad, Azrina Abd Aziz, Kah Hon Leong, Lan Ching Sim, Wu Lihua and Minhaj Uddin Monir

Energies 2023, 16(14), 5404; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16145404 - 16 Jul 2023

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1653

Abstract

Photocatalytic CO₂ reduction into hydrocarbon fuels is one of the most efficient processes since it serves as a renewable energy source while also lowering atmospheric CO₂ levels. The development of appropriate materials and technology to attain greater yield in CO₂ photoreduction is one of the key issues facing the 21st century. This study successfully fabricated novel ternary reduced graphene oxide (RGO)/Au-TiO₂ nanotube arrays (TNTAs) photocatalysts to promote CO₂ photoreduction to CH₄. Visible light-responsive RGO/Au-TNTAs composite was synthesized by facile electrochemical deposition of Au nanoparticles (NPs) and immersion of RGO nanosheets onto TNTAs. The synthesized composite has been thoroughly investigated by FESEM, HR-TEM, XRD, XPS, FT-IR, UV-Vis DRS, and PL analyzer to explain structural and functional performance. Under the source of visible light, the maximum yield of CH₄ was attained at 35.13 ppm/cm² for the RGO/Au-TNTAs composite photocatalyst after 4 h, which was considerably higher by a wide margin than that of pure TNTAs, Au-TNTAs and RGO-TNTAs. The CO₂ photoreduction of the RGO/Au-TNTAs composite has been improved due to the combined effects of Au NPs and RGO. Due to its surface plasmonic resonance (SPR) mechanism, Au NPs play a crucial role in the absorption of visible light. Additionally, the middle RGO layers serve as effective electron transporters, facilitating better separation of electron-hole pairs. The newly constructed composite would be a promising photocatalyst for future photocatalytic applications in other fields. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Nanomaterials for Photocatalytic Energy Conversion and Storage)

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Review

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23 pages, 4303 KiB

Open AccessReview

A Comprehensive Review on Advances in TiO₂ Nanotube (TNT)-Based Photocatalytic CO₂ Reduction to Value-Added Products

by Md. Arif Hossen, H. M. Solayman, Kah Hon Leong, Lan Ching Sim, Nurashikin Yaacof, Azrina Abd Aziz, Wu Lihua and Minhaj Uddin Monir

Energies 2022, 15(22), 8751; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15228751 - 21 Nov 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2263

Abstract

The photocatalytic reduction of CO₂ into solar fuels by using semiconductor photocatalysts is one of the most promising approaches in terms of pollution control as well as renewable energy sources. One of the crucial challenges for the 21st century is the development of potential photocatalysts and techniques to improve CO₂ photoreduction efficiency. TiO₂ nanotubes (TNTs) have recently attracted a great deal of research attention for their potential to convert CO₂ into useful compounds. Researchers are concentrating more on CO₂ reduction due to the rising trend in CO₂ emissions and are striving to improve the rate of CO₂ photoreduction by modifying TNTs with the appropriate configuration. In order to portray the potential applications of TNTs, it is imperative to critically evaluate recent developments in synthesis and modification methodologies and their capability to transform CO₂ into value-added chemicals. The current review provides an insightful understanding of TNT production methods, surface modification strategies used to enhance CO₂ photoreduction, and major findings from previous research, thereby revealing research gaps and upcoming challenges. Stability, reusability, and the improved performance of TNT photocatalysts under visible light as well as the selection of optimized modification methods are the identified barriers for CO₂ photoreduction into valuable products. Higher rates of efficacy and product yield can be attained by synthesizing suitable photocatalysts with addressing the limitations of TNTs and designing an optimized photoreactor in terms of the proper utilization of photocatalysts, incident lights, and the partial pressure of reactants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Nanomaterials for Photocatalytic Energy Conversion and Storage)

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