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Organic/Inorganic Hybrid Materials for Fuel Cells and Advanced Batteries

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A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "A5: Hydrogen Energy".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 June 2021) | Viewed by 19191

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Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Verónica de Zea Bermudez

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Guest Editor

Department of Chemistry and CQ-VR, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal
Interests: sol–gel process; organic/inorganic hybrids; electroytes; electrochromic devices; “smart windows”
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear colleagues,

On-going energy research is driven by a challenging and pressing goal that represents a major pillar for global development: ensuring universal access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy to everyone and thus providing more well-being, more security, less climate change, and more economic progress. This goal, one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, implies increased energy efficient technologies and increased use of renewable energy for a sustainable energy future.

Despite the outburst of interest in the use of renewable energy sources observed in recent years, fossil fuels account for the overwhelming majority of the world’s current energy. Fossil fuels are, however, the main potential driver of global climate change and their resources are progressively dwindling.

Although it is not possible to find a general solution for energy generation/storage, fuel cells and batteries are key enabling technologies that hold great promise for achieving an overall energy solution. In this context, the organic/inorganic hybrid concept is particularly attractive. This synthesis strategy will allow for the production of useful innovative high-tech (multi)functional hybrid material systems for a new-generation of fuel cells and batteries with judicious design, enhanced features, and improved performance.

This Special Issue addresses radical new concepts, new synthesis pathways, and new research opportunities for the development of “organic/inorganic hybrid materials for fuel cells and advanced batteries” of tomorrow.

Prof. Dr. Verónica de Zea Bermudez
Guest Editor

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Keywords

organic/inorganic hybrid materials
fuel cells
batteries
hybrid electrolytes
hybrid electrodes

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 3114 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sol-Gel Derived Di-Ureasil Based Ormolytes for Electrochromic Devices

by Paulo Joaquim Nunes, Rui Francisco Pinto Pereira, Sónia Pereira, Maria Manuela Silva, Elvira Fortunato, Verónica de Zea Bermudez and Mariana Fernandes

Energies 2023, 16(1), 426; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16010426 - 30 Dec 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1451

Abstract

Two di-ureasils incorporating oxyethylene segments with average molecular weights Y = 600 and 900 g mol⁻¹, prepared by the sol-gel method, and doped with the ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([Bmim]Cl) and lithium tetrafluoroborate (LiBF₄) salt were prepared. The as-obtained films are translucent, flexible, and hydrophobic, and have a low level of nanoscale surface roughness. The ionic conductivity values exhibited by an optimized sample are 8.10 × 10⁻⁵ and 2.8 × 10⁻⁴ S cm⁻¹ at room temperature and 55 °C, respectively. The main goal of the work was to employ the electrolytes in prototype electrochromic devices (ECDs) with the [glass/a-IZO/a-WO₃/d-U(Y)LiBF₄-[Bmim]Cl/c-NiO/a-IZO/glass], noted as ECD1 for Y = 600 and ECD2 for Y = 900, where a-WO₃ and c-NiO stand for amorphous tungsten oxide and crystalline nickel oxide, respectively. At 555 nm the ECD1 device exhibited the highest coloration efficiency for coloring (CE_in = −420.621 cm²·C⁻¹), the highest optical density value (∆(OD) = 0.13) and good cycling stability. In this article, the results of a preliminary evaluation of hybrid electrolytes, produced by a sol-gel process, as multi-functional components in prototype electrochromic devices are reported. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Organic/Inorganic Hybrid Materials for Fuel Cells and Advanced Batteries)

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11 pages, 2512 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Organic-Inorganic Novel Green Cation Exchange Membranes for Direct Methanol Fuel Cells

by Marwa H. Gouda, Tamer M. Tamer, Abdelaziz H. Konsowa, Hassan A. Farag and Mohamed S. Mohy Eldin

Energies 2021, 14(15), 4686; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14154686 - 02 Aug 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2146

Abstract

Commercializing direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC) demands cost-effective cation exchange membranes. Herein, a polymeric blend is prepared from low-cost and eco-friendly polymers (i.e., iota carrageenan (IC) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)). Zirconium phosphate (ZrPO₄) was prepared from the impregnation–calcination method and characterized by energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX map), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), then incorporated as a bonding and doping agent into the polymer blend with different concentrations. The new fabricated membranes were characterized by SEM, FTIR, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and XRD. The results revealed that the membranes’ physicochemical properties (oxidative stability, tensile strength) are enhanced with increasing doping addition, and they realized higher results than Nafion 117 because of increasing numbers of hydrogen bonds fabricated between the polymers and zirconium phosphate. Additionally, the methanol permeability was decreased in the membranes with increasing zirconium phosphate content. The optimum membrane with IC/SPVA/ZrPO₄-7.5 provided higher selectivity than Nafion 117. Therefore, it can be an effective cation exchange membrane for DMFCs applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Organic/Inorganic Hybrid Materials for Fuel Cells and Advanced Batteries)

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13 pages, 2273 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Detailing the Self-Discharge of a Cathode Based on a Prussian Blue Analogue

by Elisa Musella, Angelo Mullaliu, Thomas Ruf, Paula Huth, Domenica Tonelli, Giuliana Aquilanti, Reinhard Denecke and Marco Giorgetti

Energies 2020, 13(15), 4027; https://doi.org/10.3390/en13154027 - 04 Aug 2020

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4008

Abstract

Prussian Blue analogues (PBAs) are a promising class of electrode active materials for batteries. Among them, copper nitroprusside, Cu[Fe(CN)₅NO], has recently been investigated for its peculiar redox system, which also involves the nitrosyl ligand as a non-innocent ligand, in addition to the electroactivity of the metal sites, Cu and Fe. This paper studies the dynamics of the electrode, employing surface sensitive X-ray Photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and bulk sensitive X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) techniques. XPS provided chemical information on the layers formed on electrode surfaces following the self-discharge process of the cathode material in the presence of the electrolyte. These layers consist mainly of electrolyte degradation products, such as LiF, Li_xPO_yFz and Li_xPF_y. Moreover, as evidenced by XAS and XPS, reduction at both metal sites takes place in the bulk and in the surface of the material, clearly evidencing that a self-discharge process is occurring. We observed faster processes and higher amounts of reduced species and decomposition products in the case of samples with a higher amount of coordination water. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Organic/Inorganic Hybrid Materials for Fuel Cells and Advanced Batteries)

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15 pages, 2797 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Green Hybrid Nanocomposites for Application as Proton Exchange Membranes in Direct Borohydride Fuel Cells

by Marwa H. Gouda, Noha A. Elessawy and Diogo M.F. Santos

Energies 2020, 13(5), 1180; https://doi.org/10.3390/en13051180 - 04 Mar 2020

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 2908

Abstract

Organic–inorganic nanocomposite membranes for potential application in direct borohydride fuel cells (DBFCs) are formulated from sulfonated poly(vinyl alcohol) (SPVA) with the incorporation of (PO₄-TiO₂) and (SO₄-TiO₂) nanotubes as doping agents. The functionalization of PVA to SPVA was done by using a 4-sulfophthalic acid as an ionic crosslinker and sulfonating agent. Morphological and structural characterization by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed the successful synthesis of the doping agents and their incorporation into the polymer. The influence of PO₄-TiO₂ and SO₄-TiO₂ doping and their content on the physicochemical properties of the nanocomposite membranes was evaluated. Swelling degree and water uptake gradually reduced to 7% and 13%, respectively, with increasing doping agent concentration. Ion exchange capacity and ionic conductivity of the membrane with 3 wt.% doping agents were raised 5 and 7 times, respectively, compared to the undoped one. The thermal and oxidative stability and tensile strength also increased with the doping content. Furthermore, lower borohydride permeability (0.32 × 10⁻⁶ cm² s⁻¹) was measured for the membranes with higher amount of inorganic doping agents when compared to the undoped membrane (0.71 × 10⁻⁵ cm² s⁻¹) and Nafion^®117 (0.40 × 10⁻⁶ cm² s⁻¹). These results pave the way for a green, simple and low-cost approach for the development of composite membranes for practical DBFCs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Organic/Inorganic Hybrid Materials for Fuel Cells and Advanced Batteries)

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16 pages, 4912 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Nanofluid Based on Carbon Dots Functionalized with Ionic Liquids for Energy Applications

by Helena M. R. Gonçalves, Susana A. F. Neves, Abel Duarte and Verónica de Zea Bermudez

Energies 2020, 13(3), 649; https://doi.org/10.3390/en13030649 - 03 Feb 2020

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2211

Abstract

The development of materials that can help overcome the current limitations in energy storage and consumption is a pressing need. Recently, we developed non-Newtonian nanofluids based on non-toxic, carbon nanoparticles (NPs), carbon dots (Cdots) functionalized with ionic liquids. Here, we wanted to prove that these new nanofluids are, not only interesting as possible electrolytes, but also as new organic/inorganic hybrid separators. As such, we developed an entrapment method using poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA). Indeed, the highly conductive Cdots were successfully retained inside the membrane even upon the application of several wetting/drying cycles. Moreover, the morphological characteristics did not change upon wetting/drying cycles and remained constant for more than four months. These nanofluids could be an interesting approach to tackle some of the current problems in the fields of solid-state batteries, and energy storage, among others. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Organic/Inorganic Hybrid Materials for Fuel Cells and Advanced Batteries)

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Review

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28 pages, 4766 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Graphene and Lithium-Based Battery Electrodes: A Review of Recent Literature

by Luca Lavagna, Giuseppina Meligrana, Claudio Gerbaldi, Alberto Tagliaferro and Mattia Bartoli

Energies 2020, 13(18), 4867; https://doi.org/10.3390/en13184867 - 17 Sep 2020

Cited by 35 | Viewed by 5580

Abstract

Graphene is a new generation material, which finds potential and practical applications in a vast range of research areas. It has unrivalled characteristics, chiefly in terms of electronic conductivity, mechanical robustness and large surface area, which allow the attainment of outstanding performances in the material science field. Some unneglectable issues, such as the high cost of production at high quality and corresponding scarce availability in large amounts necessary for mass scale distribution, slow down graphene widespread utilization; however, in the last decade both basic academic and applied industrial materials research have achieved remarkable breakthroughs thanks to the implementation of graphene and related 1D derivatives. In this work, after briefly recalling the main characteristics of graphene, we present an extensive overview of the most recent advances in the development of the Li-ion battery anodes granted by the use of neat and engineered graphene and related 1D materials. Being far from totally exhaustive, due to the immense scientific production in the field yearly, we chiefly focus here on the role of graphene in materials modification for performance enhancement in both half and full lithium-based cells and give some insights on related promising perspectives. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Organic/Inorganic Hybrid Materials for Fuel Cells and Advanced Batteries)

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