molecules-logo

Journal Browser

Journal Browser

Carbon-Based Electrochemical Materials for Energy Storage

A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Electrochemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2025 | Viewed by 10256

Special Issue Editor


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
Interests: 2D materials; energy storage; electrochemical reactions; catalytic effect

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In recent years, the need for high-performance power sources has informed global research on energy storage materials and devices. Advances in nanoscience and nanotechnology have created promising prospects for producing new energy storage materials for the next generation of batteries, supercapacitors, and fuel cells. Carbon-based materials have been extensively researched as electrode materials for batteries, supercapacitors, and fuel cells due to their abundance, low cost, nontoxicity, and electrochemical diversity. This Special Issue, “Carbon-Based Electrochemical Materials for Energy Storage”, aims to cover recent advancements and trends in carbon-based electrode materials. We invite submissions of research articles, short communications, and reviews that focus on the design, development, preparation, characterization, and applications of carbon-based materials for batteries, supercapacitors, and fuel cells.

Dr. Huicong Xia
Guest Editor

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. Molecules 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 2700 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

  • carbon-based nanomaterials
  • energy storage
  • batteries
  • supercapacitors
  • fuel cells
  • electrochemical reactions

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (8 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

15 pages, 2863 KiB  
Article
Tailoring Electrocatalytic Properties of sp2-Bonded Carbon Nanoforms Through Doping
by Paweł Szroeder, Agnieszka Banaszak-Piechowska and Ihor Sahalianov
Molecules 2025, 30(6), 1265; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30061265 - 12 Mar 2025
Viewed by 479
Abstract
The symmetry of the valence and conduction bands in graphene and carbon nanotubes allows for easy modification of the electronic structure, which is correlated with their electrocatalytic activity. Modifying the electronic structure of the sp2-bonded nanocarbons by substituting carbon atoms with [...] Read more.
The symmetry of the valence and conduction bands in graphene and carbon nanotubes allows for easy modification of the electronic structure, which is correlated with their electrocatalytic activity. Modifying the electronic structure of the sp2-bonded nanocarbons by substituting carbon atoms with electron donors/acceptors and through covalent functionalization can facilitate heterogeneous electron transfer (HET), which is beneficial for designing carbon-based, high-performance electrocatalysts. Based on the Gerischer–Marcus model, we discuss how we can match the density of π-electron states (DOS) of a nanocarbon electrode to the redox potential of redox species using electron and hole doping. Along with the results, this article provides guidance on how to match the properties of nanocarbons to specific electroactive analytes, oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), and oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon-Based Electrochemical Materials for Energy Storage)
Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 10826 KiB  
Article
Lignin-Derived Activated Carbon as Electrode Material for High-Performance Supercapacitor
by Chenghao Pan, Yongfeng Ji, Suxia Ren, Tingzhou Lei and Lili Dong
Molecules 2025, 30(1), 89; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30010089 - 29 Dec 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 850 | Correction
Abstract
Utilizing lignin-derived activated carbon in supercapacitors has emerged as a promising approach to alleviating environmental pollution and promoting the high-value utilization of byproducts in the papermaking industry. In this study, activated carbons (LACs) were prepared using a simple one-step KOH activation approach and [...] Read more.
Utilizing lignin-derived activated carbon in supercapacitors has emerged as a promising approach to alleviating environmental pollution and promoting the high-value utilization of byproducts in the papermaking industry. In this study, activated carbons (LACs) were prepared using a simple one-step KOH activation approach and by employing enzymatic hydrolysis lignin (EHL). The impact of the KOH activation parameters on the microstructure and capacitive performance of the LACs was investigated by varying the KOH/EHL ratio and activation temperature. The optimized sample LAC800-4 showed an interconnected porous structure with a high surface area of 2285 m2/g, abundant micropores, and a small number of mesopores, which makes it a suitable electrode material for supercapacitors. The sample LAC800-4 demonstrated a high specific capacitance of 291.3 F/g in a three-electrode system. Under a symmetrical supercapacitor electrode system, the specific capacitance of the LAC800-4 electrode reached 186.8 F/g at 0.5 A/g. After 10,000 cycles at 20 A/g, the capacitance retention rate remained at 96.1%. The symmetrical supercapacitor also demonstrated a superior energy density of 6.5 Wh/kg. This work provides valuable insights into the transformation of low-value natural biomass derivatives into environmentally friendly, high-performing supercapacitor electrode materials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon-Based Electrochemical Materials for Energy Storage)
Show Figures

Figure 1

10 pages, 2377 KiB  
Article
Roughing Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Nanosheets for Loading of Monatomic Fe and Electroreduction of CO2 to CO
by Yuxuan Liu, Yufan Tan, Keyi Zhang, Tianqi Guo, Yao Zhu, Ting Cao, Haiyang Lv, Junpeng Zhu, Ze Gao, Su Zhang, Zheng Liu and Juzhe Liu
Molecules 2024, 29(23), 5561; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29235561 - 25 Nov 2024
Viewed by 851
Abstract
The catalyst is the pivotal component in CO2 electroreduction systems for converting CO2 into valuable products. Carbon-based single-atom materials (CSAMs) have emerged as promising catalyst candidates due to their low cost and high atomic utilization efficiency. The rational design of the [...] Read more.
The catalyst is the pivotal component in CO2 electroreduction systems for converting CO2 into valuable products. Carbon-based single-atom materials (CSAMs) have emerged as promising catalyst candidates due to their low cost and high atomic utilization efficiency. The rational design of the morphology and microstructure of such materials is desirable but poses a challenge. Here, we employed different Mg(OH)2 templates to guide the fabrication of two kinds of amorphous nitrogen-doped carbon nanosheet-supported Fe single atoms (FeSNC) with rough and flat surface structures. In comparison to flat FeSNC with saturated FeN4 sites, the rough FeSNC (R-FeSNC) exhibited unsaturated FeN4−x sites and contracted Fe-N bond length. The featured structure endowed R-FeSNC with superior capacity of catalyzing CO2 reduction reaction, achieving an exceptional CO selectivity with Faradaic efficiency of 93% at a potential of −0.66 V vs. RHE. This study offers valuable insights into the design of CSAMs and provides a perspective for gaining a deeper understanding of their activity origins. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon-Based Electrochemical Materials for Energy Storage)
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

13 pages, 3472 KiB  
Article
Fabrication of Pb-Containing PtAu Nanoflowers via Galvanic Replacement Method for Electrocatalytical Oxidation of Methanol
by Zhao Huang, Zhirou Zhang, Long Chao and Xueen Jia
Molecules 2024, 29(23), 5492; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29235492 - 21 Nov 2024
Viewed by 708
Abstract
A Pb-containing PtAu nanoflower electrocatalyst was deposited on the cathode via galvanic replacement reaction in a double-cabin galvanic cell (DCGC) with a Cu plate as the anode, a multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) as the cathode, 0.1 M HClO [...] Read more.
A Pb-containing PtAu nanoflower electrocatalyst was deposited on the cathode via galvanic replacement reaction in a double-cabin galvanic cell (DCGC) with a Cu plate as the anode, a multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) as the cathode, 0.1 M HClO4 aqueous solution as the anolyte, and Pb2+-containing Pt4+ salt and Au3+ salt mixed aqueous solution as the catholyte, respectively, and the electrocatalytic performance of the modified electrode toward methanol oxidation in the alkaline medium was investigated. Electrochemical studies reveal that the stripping of bulk Cu can induce underpotential deposition (UPD) of Pb on Pt during the galvanic replacement reaction, which affects the morphology and composition of Pb-containing PtAu nanoparticles. Under the optimal experimental conditions, a Pb-Pt3Au1/MWCNTs/GCE shows the highest activity and the best stability toward electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol in the alkaline medium, and the Pt active area-normalized specific electrocatalytic activity of Pb-Pt3Au1/MWCNTs/GCE is as high as 59.8 mA cmPt−2. We believe that the method presented here of depositing highly active noble metal nanostructures by galvanic replacement reaction in a DCGC device is expected to be widely applied in the preparation of nanomaterials for their study in fuel cells and electrocatalysis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon-Based Electrochemical Materials for Energy Storage)
Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 7285 KiB  
Article
A Strategy for Anode Recovery and Upgrading by In Situ Growth of Iron-Based Oxides on Microwave-Puffed Graphite
by Wenxin Chen, Jing Sun, Pingshan Jia, Wenlong Wang, Zhanlong Song, Ziliang Wang, Xiqiang Zhao and Yanpeng Mao
Molecules 2024, 29(13), 3219; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29133219 - 7 Jul 2024
Viewed by 1295
Abstract
Faced with the increasing volume of retired lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), recycling and reusing the spent graphite (SG) is of great significance for resource sustainability. Here, a facile method for transforming the SG into a carbon framework as well as loading Fe2O [...] Read more.
Faced with the increasing volume of retired lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), recycling and reusing the spent graphite (SG) is of great significance for resource sustainability. Here, a facile method for transforming the SG into a carbon framework as well as loading Fe2O3 to form a composite anode with a sandwich structure is proposed. Taking advantage of the fact that the layer spacing of the spent graphite naturally expands, impurities and intercalants are eliminated through microwave thermal shock to produce microwave-puffed graphite (MPG) with a distinct three-dimensional structure. Based on the mechanism of microwave-induced gasification intercalation, a Fe2O3-MPG intercalation compound (Fe2O3-MPGIC) anode material was constructed by introducing iron precursors between the framework layers and subsequently converting them into Fe2O3 through annealing. The Fe2O3-MPGIC anode exhibits a high reversible capacity of 1000.6 mAh g−1 at 200 mA g−1 after 100 cycles and a good cycling stability of 504.4 mAh g−1 at 2000 mA g−1 after 500 cycles. This work can provide a reference for the feasible recycling of SG and development of high-performance anode materials for LIBs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon-Based Electrochemical Materials for Energy Storage)
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

14 pages, 8743 KiB  
Article
An Electrochemical Immunosensor Based on Chitosan–Graphene Nanosheets for Aflatoxin B1 Detection in Corn
by Shuai Zhang, Caizhang Wu, Zhike Zhao and Kun Xu
Molecules 2024, 29(7), 1461; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29071461 - 25 Mar 2024
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1540
Abstract
We reported a highly efficient electrochemical immunosensor utilizing chitosan–graphene nanosheets (CS-GNs) nanocomposites for the detection of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in corn samples. The CS-GNs nanocomposites, serving as a modifying layer, provide a significant specific surface area and biocompatibility, thereby enhancing [...] Read more.
We reported a highly efficient electrochemical immunosensor utilizing chitosan–graphene nanosheets (CS-GNs) nanocomposites for the detection of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in corn samples. The CS-GNs nanocomposites, serving as a modifying layer, provide a significant specific surface area and biocompatibility, thereby enhancing both the electron transfer rate and the efficiency of antibody immobilization. The electrochemical characterization was conducted utilizing both differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Moreover, the antibody concentration, pH, antibody immobilization time, and immunoreaction time, were optimized. The results showed that the current change (ΔI) before and after the immunoreaction demonstrated a strong linear relationship (R2=0.990) with the AFB1 concentration, as well as good specificity and stability. The linear range extended from 0.05 to 25 ng/mL, with a detection limit of 0.021 ng/mL (S/N=3). The immunosensor exhibited a recovery rate ranging from 97.3% to 101.4% in corn samples, showing a promising performance using an efficient method, and indicating a remarkable prospect for the detection of fungal toxins in grains. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon-Based Electrochemical Materials for Energy Storage)
Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 5584 KiB  
Article
Interfacial Interaction in NiFe LDH/NiS2/VS2 for Enhanced Electrocatalytic Water Splitting
by Tingxia Wang, Xu Zhang, Xiaojiao Yu, Junpeng Li, Kai Wang and Jinfen Niu
Molecules 2024, 29(5), 951; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29050951 - 21 Feb 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1948
Abstract
A bifunctional electrocatalyst with high efficiency and low costs for overall water splitting is critical to achieving a green hydrogen economy and coping with the energy crisis. However, developing robust electrocatalysts still faces huge challenges, owing to unsatisfactory electron transfer and inherent activity. [...] Read more.
A bifunctional electrocatalyst with high efficiency and low costs for overall water splitting is critical to achieving a green hydrogen economy and coping with the energy crisis. However, developing robust electrocatalysts still faces huge challenges, owing to unsatisfactory electron transfer and inherent activity. Herein, NiFe LDH/NiS2/VS2 heterojunctions have been designed as freestanding bifunctional electrocatalysts to split water, exhibiting enhanced electron transfer and abundant catalytic sites. The optimum NiFe LDH/NiS2/VS2 electrocatalyst exhibits a small overpotential of 380 mV at 10 mA cm−2 for overall water splitting and superior electrocatalytic performance in both hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions (HER/OER). Specifically, the electrocatalyst requires overpotentials of 76 and 286 mV at 10 mA cm−2 for HER and OER, respectively, in alkaline electrolytes, which originate from the synergistic interaction among the facilitated electron transfer and increasingly exposed active sites due to the modulation of interfaces and construction of heterojunctions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon-Based Electrochemical Materials for Energy Storage)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

27 pages, 7392 KiB  
Review
Pore Engineering in Biomass-Derived Carbon Materials for Enhanced Energy, Catalysis, and Environmental Applications
by Qi Wang, Bolong Luo, Zhaoyu Wang, Yao Hu and Mingliang Du
Molecules 2024, 29(21), 5172; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29215172 - 31 Oct 2024
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1555
Abstract
Biomass-derived carbon materials (BDCs) are highly regarded for their renewability, environmental friendliness, and broad potential for application. A significant advantage of these materials lies in the high degree of customization of their physical and chemical properties, especially in terms of pore structure. Pore [...] Read more.
Biomass-derived carbon materials (BDCs) are highly regarded for their renewability, environmental friendliness, and broad potential for application. A significant advantage of these materials lies in the high degree of customization of their physical and chemical properties, especially in terms of pore structure. Pore engineering is a key strategy to enhance the performance of BDCs in critical areas, such as energy storage, catalysis, and environmental remediation. This review focuses on pore engineering, exploring the definition, classification, and adjustment techniques of pore structures, as well as how these factors affect the application performance of BDCs in energy, catalysis, and environmental remediation. Our aim is to provide a solid theoretical foundation and practical guidance for the pore engineering of BDCs to facilitate the rapid transition of these materials from the laboratory to industrial applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon-Based Electrochemical Materials for Energy Storage)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop