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Electrochemical Materials and Devices for Energy Conversion and Storage

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 January 2025 | Viewed by 17051

Special Issue Editors

College of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
Interests: electrocatalysts; electrocatalytic reaction mechanism; operando/in situ spectroscopy technology; fuel cells

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Guest Editor
College of Chemical Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, China
Interests: MOF/COF; energy materials; electrocatalytic; fuel cells; flow batteries

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

With the rapid development of society, the overuse of coal, oil, diesel, and other non-renewable energy resources results in the extreme shortage of traditional fossil fuel. To address this issue, the conversion and storage technologies of electrochemical energy, such as electrochemical capacitors/batteries and fuel cells, have received extensive attention based on their distinguishing properties, e.g., energy/power densities, cyclability, and efficiencies. However, these technologies suffer from several technological issues such as cost, sustainability, safety, performance, and durability. In an attempt to overcome these drawbacks, various improved electrochemical nanomaterials with innovative structural and functional properties have been emerging, creating a new generation of energy conversion and storage systems. Additionally, the fundamental understanding of the formation/evolution of electrochemical interfaces is mandatory for the rational design of high-performance nanomaterial for electrochemical devices.

This Special Issue aims at covering recent progress and new developments in electrochemical materials and devices for energy conversion and storage, including, but not limited to, the following topics:

(1) the precise synthesis and design methods of electrochemical materials;

(2) advanced characterization techniques, especially operando/in situ spectroscopy technology;

(3) theoretical calculations for electrocatalysts and electrode materials;

(4) advanced electrolytes and membranes for electrochemical energy conversion and storage devices;

(5) low-/non-platinum electrocatalyst for low-temperature fuel cells;

(6) Advanced materials for supercapacitors;

(7) Review articles that describe the current state of the art.

Dr. Bang-An Lu
Dr. Yuanhui Cheng
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • fuel cells
  • metal–ion batteries
  • flow batteries
  • metal–sulfur (selenium) batteries
  • metal–air batteries
  • supercapacitors
  • electrode materials
  • electrocatalysts
  • membrane
  • electrolyte

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 5154 KiB  
Article
Detection of Hydrogen Peroxide Vapors Using Acidified Titanium(IV)-Based Test Strips
by Rayhan Hossain and Nicholas F. Materer
Materials 2024, 17(23), 5887; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17235887 - 1 Dec 2024
Viewed by 395
Abstract
One method for the colorimetric detection of hydrogen peroxide vapor is based on a titanium–hydrogen peroxide complex. A color changing material based on a titania hydroxypropyl cellulose thin film was initially developed. However, as this material dries, the sensitivity of the material is [...] Read more.
One method for the colorimetric detection of hydrogen peroxide vapor is based on a titanium–hydrogen peroxide complex. A color changing material based on a titania hydroxypropyl cellulose thin film was initially developed. However, as this material dries, the sensitivity of the material is significantly reduced. Thus, an alternative sensing material, based on titanium(IV) oxysulfate, an ionic liquid, and in some cases, triflouromethanesulfonic acid adsorbed onto low-cost silicon thin-layer chromatography (TLC) plates, was developed. TiO2 was heated with concentrated sulfuric acid in a controlled environment, usually at temperatures ranging from 100 °C to 250 °C. These sensors are disposable and single-use and are simple and inexpensive. When the resulting thin-film sensors are exposed to ppm levels of hydrogen peroxide vapor, they turn from a white reflective material to an intense yellow or orange. Ti(IV) oxysulfate combined with an acid catalyst and an ionic-liquid-based material provides an opportunity to enhance the sensor activity towards the peroxide vapor and decreases the detection limit. Kinetic measurements were made by the quantification of the intensity of the reflected light as a function of the exposure time from the sensor in a special cell using a low-cost web camera and a tungsten lamp. The measured rate of the color change indicates high sensitivity and first-order kinetics over a hydrogen peroxide concentration range of approximately 2 to 31 ppm. These new materials are a starting point for the preparation of more active sensor materials for hydrogen peroxide and organic peroxide vapor detection. Full article
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10 pages, 3245 KiB  
Article
Ultrathin Titanium Dioxide Coating Enables High-Rate and Long-Life Lithium Cobalt Oxide
by Liu Gao, Xin Jin, Zijin Li, Fujie Li, Binghui Xu and Chao Wang
Materials 2024, 17(12), 3036; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17123036 - 20 Jun 2024
Viewed by 1010
Abstract
Lithium cobalt oxide (LCO) has been widely used as a leading cathode material for lithium-ion batteries in consumer electronics. However, unstable cathode electrolyte interphase (CEI) and undesired phase transitions during fast Li+ diffusivity always incur an inferior stability of the high-voltage LCO [...] Read more.
Lithium cobalt oxide (LCO) has been widely used as a leading cathode material for lithium-ion batteries in consumer electronics. However, unstable cathode electrolyte interphase (CEI) and undesired phase transitions during fast Li+ diffusivity always incur an inferior stability of the high-voltage LCO (HV-LCO). Here, an ultra-thin amorphous titanium dioxide (TiO2) coating layer engineered on LCO by an atomic layer deposition (ALD) strategy is demonstrated to improve the high-rate and long-cycling properties of the HV-LCO cathode. Benefitting from the uniform TiO2 protective layer, the Li+ storage properties of the modified LCO obtained after 50 ALD cycles (LCO-ALD50) are significantly improved. The results show that the average Li+ diffusion coefficient is nearly tripled with a high-rate capability of 125 mAh g−1 at 5C. An improved cycling stability with a high-capacity retention (86.7%) after 300 cycles at 1C is also achieved, far outperforming the bare LCO (37.9%). The in situ XRD and ex situ XPS results demonstrate that the dense and stable CEI induced by the surface TiO2 coating layer buffers heterogenous lithium flux insertion during cycling and prevents electrolyte, which contributes to the excellent cycling stability of LCO-ALD50. This work reveals the mechanism of surface protection by transition metal oxides coating and facilitates the development of long-life HV-LCO electrodes. Full article
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Review

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32 pages, 33872 KiB  
Review
Recent Advances in the Preparation and Application of Two-Dimensional Nanomaterials
by Ying-Tong Guo and Sha-Sha Yi
Materials 2023, 16(17), 5798; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16175798 - 24 Aug 2023
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 4205
Abstract
Two-dimensional nanomaterials (2D NMs), consisting of atoms or a near-atomic thickness with infinite transverse dimensions, possess unique structures, excellent physical properties, and tunable surface chemistry. They exhibit significant potential for development in the fields of sensing, renewable energy, and catalysis. This paper presents [...] Read more.
Two-dimensional nanomaterials (2D NMs), consisting of atoms or a near-atomic thickness with infinite transverse dimensions, possess unique structures, excellent physical properties, and tunable surface chemistry. They exhibit significant potential for development in the fields of sensing, renewable energy, and catalysis. This paper presents a comprehensive overview of the latest research findings on the preparation and application of 2D NMs. First, the article introduces the common synthesis methods of 2D NMs from both “top-down” and “bottom-up” perspectives, including mechanical exfoliation, ultrasonic-assisted liquid-phase exfoliation, ion intercalation, chemical vapor deposition, and hydrothermal techniques. In terms of the applications of 2D NMs, this study focuses on their potential in gas sensing, lithium-ion batteries, photodetection, electromagnetic wave absorption, photocatalysis, and electrocatalysis. Additionally, based on existing research, the article looks forward to the future development trends and possible challenges of 2D NMs. The significance of this work lies in its systematic summary of the recent advancements in the preparation methods and applications of 2D NMs. Full article
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23 pages, 4413 KiB  
Review
Copper-Based Electrocatalysts for Nitrate Reduction to Ammonia
by Jia-Yi Fang, Jin-Long Fan, Sheng-Bo Liu, Sheng-Peng Sun and Yao-Yin Lou
Materials 2023, 16(11), 4000; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16114000 - 26 May 2023
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 4722
Abstract
Ammonia (NH3) is a highly important industrial chemical used as fuel and fertilizer. The industrial synthesis of NH3 relies heavily on the Haber–Bosch route, which accounts for roughly 1.2% of global annual CO2 emissions. As an alternative route, the [...] Read more.
Ammonia (NH3) is a highly important industrial chemical used as fuel and fertilizer. The industrial synthesis of NH3 relies heavily on the Haber–Bosch route, which accounts for roughly 1.2% of global annual CO2 emissions. As an alternative route, the electrosynthesis of NH3 from nitrate anion (NO3) reduction (NO3RR) has drawn increasing attention, since NO3RR from wastewater to produce NH3 can not only recycle waste into treasure but also alleviate the adverse effects of excessive NO3 contamination in the environment. This review presents contemporary views on the state of the art in electrocatalytic NO3 reduction over Cu-based nanostructured materials, discusses the merits of electrocatalytic performance, and summarizes current advances in the exploration of this technology using different strategies for nanostructured-material modification. The electrocatalytic mechanism of nitrate reduction is also reviewed here, especially with regard to copper-based catalysts. Full article
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30 pages, 4924 KiB  
Review
Insights into the Modification of Carbonous Felt as an Electrode for Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries
by Cong Ding, Zhefei Shen, Ying Zhu and Yuanhui Cheng
Materials 2023, 16(10), 3811; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16103811 - 18 May 2023
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3299
Abstract
The vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) has been regarded as one of the best potential stationary electrochemical storage systems for its design flexibility, long cycle life, high efficiency, and high safety; it is usually utilized to resolve the fluctuations and intermittent nature of [...] Read more.
The vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) has been regarded as one of the best potential stationary electrochemical storage systems for its design flexibility, long cycle life, high efficiency, and high safety; it is usually utilized to resolve the fluctuations and intermittent nature of renewable energy sources. As one of the critical components of VRFBs to provide the reaction sites for redox couples, an ideal electrode should possess excellent chemical and electrochemical stability, conductivity, and a low price, as well as good reaction kinetics, hydrophilicity, and electrochemical activity, in order to satisfy the requirements for high-performance VRFBs. However, the most commonly used electrode material, a carbonous felt electrode, such as graphite felt (GF) or carbon felt (CF), suffers from relatively inferior kinetic reversibility and poor catalytic activity toward the V2+/V3+ and VO2+/VO2+ redox couples, limiting the operation of VRFBs at low current density. Therefore, modified carbon substrates have been extensively investigated to improve vanadium redox reactions. Here, we give a brief review of recent progress in the modification methods of carbonous felt electrodes, such as surface treatment, the deposition of low-cost metal oxides, the doping of nonmetal elements, and complexation with nanostructured carbon materials. Thus, we give new insights into the relationships between the structure and the electrochemical performance, and provide some perspectives for the future development of VRFBs. Through a comprehensive analysis, it is found that the increase in the surface area and active sites are two decisive factors that enhance the performance of carbonous felt electrodes. Based on the varied structural and electrochemical characterizations, the relationship between the surface nature and electrochemical activity, as well as the mechanism of the modified carbon felt electrodes, is also discussed. Full article
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20 pages, 2891 KiB  
Review
Highly Stable Pt-Based Oxygen Reduction Electrocatalysts toward Practical Fuel Cells: Progress and Perspectives
by Miao-Ying Chen, Yuan Li, Hao-Ran Wu, Bang-An Lu and Jia-Nan Zhang
Materials 2023, 16(7), 2590; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16072590 - 24 Mar 2023
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2805
Abstract
The high cost and poor reliability of cathodic electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), which requires significant amounts of expensive and scarce platinum, obstructs the broad applications of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). The principles of ORR and the reasons for [...] Read more.
The high cost and poor reliability of cathodic electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), which requires significant amounts of expensive and scarce platinum, obstructs the broad applications of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). The principles of ORR and the reasons for the poor stability of Pt-based catalysts are reviewed. Moreover, this paper discusses and categorizes the strategies for enhancing the stability of Pt-based catalysts in fuel cells. More importantly, it highlights the recent progress of Pt-based stability toward ORR, including surface-doping, intermetallic structures, 1D/2D structures, rational design of support, etc. Finally, for atomic-level in-depth information on ORR catalysts in fuel cells, potential perspectives are suggested, such as large-scale preparation, advanced interpretation techniques, and advanced simulation. This review aims to provide valuable insights into the fundamental science and technical engineering for practical Pt-based ORR electrocatalysts in fuel cells. Full article
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