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Nanomaterials
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Application of Nanomaterials in Efficient Energy Conversion and Storage
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Application of Nanomaterials in Efficient Energy Conversion and Storage

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 19 September 2025 | Viewed by 5555

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Gege He

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Chemical Engineering, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830046, China
Interests: solar energy; clean energy; porous materials
Dr. Shun Lu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing 400714, China
Interests: functional materials; electrocatalysis; fluorescent; sensor; enegy storage and conversion
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The application of nanomaterials in efficient energy conversion and storage (EECS) has gained significant attention due to the growing demand for sustainable energy solutions. Reliable and scalable storage systems to support the integration of renewable energy sources into the grid are urgently needed. The development of advanced battery technologies, such as solid-state and lithium-ion batteries, and the exploration of novel nanomaterials and fuel cell designs, water-based photo/electrolysis, flexible wearable devices, and (super)capacitors are current topics in EECS. To address the challenges in this field, it is crucial to focus on improving the energy density, cycle life, and safety of electrochemical devices, as well as reducing their costs and environmental impact. This can be achieved through continued research into novel nanomaterials, manufacturing processes, and system integration, as well as the optimization of control and management strategies for energy storage systems. By addressing these aspects, more efficient and sustainable energy conversion and storage solutions can be developed in this Special Issue. The Special Issue includes but is not limited to the following:

  • Full cells;
  • Photo/electrolysis;
  • Supercapacitors;
  • Flexible wearable devices;
  • Lithium-ion battery.

Dr. Gege He
Dr. Shun Lu
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 2400 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 and storage
  • battery technologies
  • nanomaterials
  • manufacturing processes
  • system integration

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 3253 KiB  
Article
N3C-Defect-Tuned g-C3N4 Photocatalysts: Structural Optimization and Enhanced Tetracycline Degradation Performance
by Yu Lu, Chengbao Liu, Leizhi Zheng, Feng Chen, Junchao Qian, Xianrong Meng, Zhigang Chen, Sheng Zhong and Bin He
Nanomaterials 2025, 15(6), 466; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15060466 - 19 Mar 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 335
Abstract
The introduction of nitrogen defects in graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) has the important effect of improving its photocatalytic performance. This study employs a simple and environmentally friendly one-step pyrolysis method, successfully preparing g-C3N4 materials with adjustable [...] Read more.
The introduction of nitrogen defects in graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) has the important effect of improving its photocatalytic performance. This study employs a simple and environmentally friendly one-step pyrolysis method, successfully preparing g-C3N4 materials with adjustable N3C defect concentrations through the calcination of a urea and ammonium acetate mixture. By introducing N3C defects and adjusting the band structure, the conduction band of the g-C3N4 was shifted downward by 0.12 V, overcoming the traditional application limitations of N3C defects and enabling an innovative transition from enhanced oxidation to enhanced reduction capabilities. This transition significantly enhanced the adsorption and activation of O2. Characterization results showed that the introduction of N3C defects increased the specific surface area from 44.07 m2/g to 87.08 m2/g, enriching reactive sites, while narrowing the bandgap to 2.41 eV enhanced visible light absorption capacity. The g-C3N4 with N3C defects showed significantly enhanced photocatalytic activity, achieving peak performance of 54.8% for tetracycline (TC), approximately 1.5 times that of the original g-C3N4, with only a 5.4% (49.4%) decrease in photocatalytic efficiency after four cycles of testing. This study demonstrates that the introduction of N3C defects significantly enhances the photocatalytic performance of g-C3N4, expanding its potential applications in environmental remediation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Nanomaterials in Efficient Energy Conversion and Storage)
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16 pages, 4060 KiB  
Article
The Effect of Deep Cryogenic Treatment on the Electrocatalytic Performance of a Pd@CFs Catalyst for Methanol Oxidation
by Chenxing Wang, Jiahui Mo, Haoting Wang, Jia Liu, Gege He, Xinhai He and Yanyan Song
Nanomaterials 2025, 15(5), 338; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15050338 - 22 Feb 2025
Viewed by 605
Abstract
To enhance the electrocatalytic performance of a flexible Pd@CFs catalyst for methanol oxidation, deep cryogenic treatment in liquid nitrogen was introduced. The effects of the frequency and time of the deep cryogenic treatment on the surface crystal orientation, microstructure morphology, mechanical performance, and [...] Read more.
To enhance the electrocatalytic performance of a flexible Pd@CFs catalyst for methanol oxidation, deep cryogenic treatment in liquid nitrogen was introduced. The effects of the frequency and time of the deep cryogenic treatment on the surface crystal orientation, microstructure morphology, mechanical performance, and electrocatalytic performance for methanol oxidation were studied. The results showed that when the frequency of the deep cryogenic treatment was 2 times and the deep cryogenic time was 24 h, the electrocatalytic performance of the catalyst was the best. Compared with the catalyst without deep cryogenic treatment, the activity and stability of the catalyst increased by about 33% and 41%, respectively. The activity and stability of the catalyst were about 43.4 times and 6.3 times that of the commercial Pd/C catalyst, respectively. After 500 cycles of CV testing, the performance of the catalyst decay rate was only 3.9%. Compared to the CFs, the tensile strength and the elongation rates of the catalyst increased by 24.6% and 57%, respectively. This is due to deep cryogenic treatment causing Pd grains to rotate from a disordered arrangement to an ordered arrangement, making the metal particles more dispersed and exposing more active sites, ultimately improving the electrocatalytic oxidation ability of methanol. The excellent electrocatalytic efficiency of Pd@CFs-24-2 coupled with its simple and easy preparation method has great potential for promoting the development of DMFCs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Nanomaterials in Efficient Energy Conversion and Storage)
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12 pages, 2747 KiB  
Article
Improving Electrochemical Performance of Ultrahigh-Loading Cathodes via the Addition of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes
by Chan Ju Choi, Tae Heon Kim, Hyun Woo Kim, Do Man Jeon and Jinhyup Han
Nanomaterials 2025, 15(3), 156; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15030156 - 21 Jan 2025
Viewed by 869
Abstract
Achieving high energy densities in lithium-ion batteries requires advancements in electrode materials and design. This study investigated the incorporation of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) with high commercial viability as conductive additives into two types of high-nickel cathode materials, LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn [...] Read more.
Achieving high energy densities in lithium-ion batteries requires advancements in electrode materials and design. This study investigated the incorporation of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) with high commercial viability as conductive additives into two types of high-nickel cathode materials, LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 and LiNi0.92Co0.07Mn0.01O2. To ensure a uniform distribution within the electrodes, MWCNTs were uniformly dispersed in the solvent using ultrasonication, the most effective and straightforward dispersion method. This enhancement improved both electronic and ionic conductivity, facilitating the formation of an efficient electron transfer network. Unlike the cells using only carbon black, the electrodes with MWCNTs exhibited lower internal resistances, facilitating higher lithium-ion diffusion. The cells with MWCNTs exhibited a capacity retention of 89.5% over their cycle life, and the cells with 2 wt% MWCNTs exhibited a superior rate capability at a high current density of 1 C. This study highlights that incorporating well-dispersed MWCNTs effectively enhances the electrochemical performance of ultrahigh-loading cathodes in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), providing valuable insights into electrode design. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Nanomaterials in Efficient Energy Conversion and Storage)
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16 pages, 9326 KiB  
Article
Spray-Flame Synthesis (SFS) and Characterization of Li1.3Al0.3−xYxTi1.7(PO4)3 [LA(Y)TP] Solid Electrolytes
by Md Yusuf Ali, Hans Orthner and Hartmut Wiggers
Nanomaterials 2025, 15(1), 42; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15010042 - 29 Dec 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1077
Abstract
Solid-state electrolytes for lithium-ion batteries, which enable a significant increase in storage capacity, are at the forefront of alternative energy storage systems due to their attractive properties such as wide electrochemical stability window, relatively superior contact stability against Li metal, inherently dendrite inhibition, [...] Read more.
Solid-state electrolytes for lithium-ion batteries, which enable a significant increase in storage capacity, are at the forefront of alternative energy storage systems due to their attractive properties such as wide electrochemical stability window, relatively superior contact stability against Li metal, inherently dendrite inhibition, and a wide range of temperature functionality. NASICON-type solid electrolytes are an exciting candidate within ceramic electrolytes due to their high ionic conductivity and low moisture sensitivity, making them a prime candidate for pure oxidic and hybrid ceramic-in-polymer composite electrolytes. Here, we report on producing pure and Y-doped Lithium Aluminum Titanium Phosphate (LATP) nanoparticles by spray-flame synthesis. The as-synthesized samples consist of an amorphous component and anatase-TiO2 crystalline particles. Brief annealing at 750–1000 °C for one hour was sufficient to achieve the desired phase while maintaining the material’s sub-micrometer scale. Rietveld analysis of X-Ray diffraction data demonstrated that the crystal volume increases with Y doping. At the same time, with high Y incorporation, a segregation of the YPO4 phase was observed in addition to the desired LATP phase. Another impurity phase, LiTiOPO4, was observed besides YPO4 and, with higher calcination temperature (1000 °C), the phase fraction for both impurities also increased. The ionic conductivity increased with Y incorporation from 0.1 mS/cm at room temperature in the undoped sample to 0.84 mS/cm in the case of LAY0.1TP, which makes these materials—especially considering the comparatively low sintering temperature—highly interesting for applications in the field of solid-state batteries. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Nanomaterials in Efficient Energy Conversion and Storage)
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19 pages, 26125 KiB  
Article
Patterning Planar, Flexible Li-S Battery Full Cells on Laser-Induced Graphene Traces
by Irene Lau, Adam I. O. Campbell, Debasis Ghosh and Michael A. Pope
Nanomaterials 2025, 15(1), 35; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15010035 - 29 Dec 2024
Viewed by 1134
Abstract
Laser conversion of commercial polymers to laser-induced graphene (LIG) using inexpensive and accessible CO2 lasers has enabled the rapid prototyping of promising electronic and electrochemical devices. Frequently used to pattern interdigitated supercapacitors, few approaches have been developed to pattern batteries—in particular, full [...] Read more.
Laser conversion of commercial polymers to laser-induced graphene (LIG) using inexpensive and accessible CO2 lasers has enabled the rapid prototyping of promising electronic and electrochemical devices. Frequently used to pattern interdigitated supercapacitors, few approaches have been developed to pattern batteries—in particular, full cells. Herein, we report an LIG-based approach to a planar, interdigitated Li-S battery. We show that sulfur can be deposited by selective nucleation and growth on the LIG cathode fingers in a supersaturated sulfur solution. Melt imbibition then leads to loadings as high as 3.9 mg/cm2 and 75 wt% sulfur. Lithium metal anodes are electrodeposited onto the LIG anode fingers by a silver-seeded, pulse-reverse-pulse method that enables loadings up to 10.5 mAh/cm2 to be deposited without short-circuiting the interdigitated structure. The resulting binder/separator-free flexible battery achieves a capacity of over 1 mAh/cm2 and an energy density of 200 mWh/cm3. Unfortunately, due to the use of near stoichiometric lithium, the cycle-life is sensitive to lithium degradation. While future work will be necessary to make this a practical, flexible battery, the interdigitated structure is well-suited to future operando and ex situ studies of Li-S and related battery chemistries. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Nanomaterials in Efficient Energy Conversion and Storage)
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Review

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17 pages, 4074 KiB  
Review
Nanomaterials for Zinc Batteries—Aerogels
by Hulong Ruan, Zeyuan Li, Qixing Jia, Junjun Wang and Lina Chen
Nanomaterials 2025, 15(3), 194; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15030194 - 26 Jan 2025
Viewed by 793
Abstract
Aqueous zinc batteries, mainly including Zn-ion batteries (ZIBs) and Zn–air batteries (ZABs), are promising energy storage systems, but challenges exist at their current stage. For instance, the zinc anode in aqueous electrolyte is impacted by anodic dendrites, hydrogen and oxygen precipitation, and some [...] Read more.
Aqueous zinc batteries, mainly including Zn-ion batteries (ZIBs) and Zn–air batteries (ZABs), are promising energy storage systems, but challenges exist at their current stage. For instance, the zinc anode in aqueous electrolyte is impacted by anodic dendrites, hydrogen and oxygen precipitation, and some other harmful side reactions, which severely affect the battery’s lifespan. As for traditional cathode materials in ZIBs, low electrical conductivity, slow Zn2+ ion migration, and easy collapse of the crystal structure during ion embedding and migration bring challenges. Also, the slower critical oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), for example, in ZABs shows unsatisfactory results. All these issues greatly hindered the development of zinc batteries. Aerogel materials, characterized by their high specific surface area, unique open-pore structure formed by nanoporous structures, and excellent physicochemical properties, have a positive role in cathode modification, electrode protection, and catalytic reactions in zinc batteries. This manuscript provides a systematic review of aerogel materials, highlighting advancements in their preparation and application for zinc batteries, aiming to promote the future progress and development of aerogel nanomaterials and zinc batteries. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Nanomaterials in Efficient Energy Conversion and Storage)
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