Energy Storage and Conversion: From Materials to Technologies

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

The development of materials and technologies for energy conversion and storage has become one of the most active research areas resulting from the urgent societal need for reliable energy supply. The conversion of raw materials into usable energy (electricity or heat) and storage of the energy produced are very important aspects of everyday life.

Despite the recent progress in various types of energy storage and conversion technologies, such as chemical, electrochemical, electrical, or thermal, there are still numerous challenges that must be solved for wide sustainable application. Therefore, discovering novel materials to develop low-cost and more efficient energy storage and conversion technologies is urgently necessary. 

The papers in this Topic on “Energy Storage and Conversion: From Materials to Technologies” will report on the current state and future trends of these emerging research topics. We cordially invite researchers to submit original research papers, review articles, and perspectives. Potential topics include but are not limited to solar cells, photocatalysis, fuel generation and electrosynthesis, supercapacitors, and battery technologies.

Prof. Dr. Zbigniew Łodziana
Dr. Bahareh Khezri
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Energies energies	3.0	6.2	2008	16.8 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Materials materials	3.1	5.8	2008	13.9 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Nanomaterials nanomaterials	4.4	8.5	2010	14.1 Days	CHF 2400	Submit
Resources resources	3.6	7.2	2012	26.1 Days	CHF 1600	Submit
Sustainability sustainability	3.3	6.8	2009	19.7 Days	CHF 2400	Submit

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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All Energies Materials Nanomaterials Resources Sustainability

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15 pages, 4536 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Steam Reforming of High-Concentration Toluene as a Model Biomass Tar Using a Nickel Catalyst Supported on Carbon Black

by Soohyun Kim, Sangjun Yoon, Zulqarnain, Jiho Yoo, Hyuk Im, Sangdo Kim, Donghyuk Chun, Hokyung Choi and Jeonghwan Lim

Energies 2025, 18(2), 327; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18020327 - 13 Jan 2025

Viewed by 762

Abstract

Biomass tar, an inevitable byproduct of biomass pyrolysis and gasification, poses a significant challenge due to its tendency to condense in pipelines, causing clogging and operational issues. Catalytic steam reforming can convert tar into syngas, addressing the tar issue while simultaneously producing hydrogen. [...] Read more.

Biomass tar, an inevitable byproduct of biomass pyrolysis and gasification, poses a significant challenge due to its tendency to condense in pipelines, causing clogging and operational issues. Catalytic steam reforming can convert tar into syngas, addressing the tar issue while simultaneously producing hydrogen. However, the reforming catalyst is highly susceptible to deactivation by coking, especially when dealing with highly concentrated polymeric hydrocarbons such as tar. This study focused on enhancing the durability of tar-reforming catalysts. Nickel-based catalysts were prepared using carbon supports known for their high coking resistance, such as carbon black (CB), activated carbon (AC), and low-rank coal (LRC). Their performance was then tested for the steam reforming of high-concentration toluene, a representative tar. All three carbon supports (CB, AC, LRC) showed high catalytic performance with NiMg catalysts at 500 °C. Among them, the mesoporous CB support exhibited the highest stability when exposed to steam, with NiMg on CB (NiMg/CB) remaining stable for long-term continuous operation without any deactivation due to coking or thermal degradation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Energy Storage and Conversion: From Materials to Technologies)

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41 pages, 13475 KiB  

Open AccessFeature PaperReview

New Advances in Materials, Applications, and Design Optimization of Thermocline Heat Storage: Comprehensive Review

by Yunshen Zhang, Yun Guo, Jiaao Zhu, Weijian Yuan and Feng Zhao

Energies 2024, 17(10), 2403; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17102403 - 16 May 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2949

Abstract

To achieve sustainable development goals and meet the demand for clean and efficient energy utilization, it is imperative to advance the penetration of renewable energy in various sectors. Energy storage systems can mitigate the intermittent issues of renewable energy and enhance the efficiency [...] Read more.

To achieve sustainable development goals and meet the demand for clean and efficient energy utilization, it is imperative to advance the penetration of renewable energy in various sectors. Energy storage systems can mitigate the intermittent issues of renewable energy and enhance the efficiency and economic viability of existing energy facilities. Among various energy storage technologies, thermocline heat storage (THS) has garnered widespread attention from researchers due to its stability and economic advantages. Currently, there are only a few review articles focusing on THS, and there is a gap in the literature regarding the optimization design of THS systems. Therefore, this paper provides a comprehensive review of the recent research progress in THS, elucidating its principles, thermal storage materials, applications, and optimization designs. The novelty of this work lies in the detailed classification and analysis of various optimization designs for THS, including tank shape, aspect ratio, inlet/outlet configuration, thermal energy storage materials arrangement, operating strategies, and numerical model optimization approaches. The limitations of existing research are also identified, and future perspectives are proposed, aiming to provide recommendations for THS research and contribute to the development and promotion of THS technology. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Energy Storage and Conversion: From Materials to Technologies)

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16 pages, 7252 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Characterization of the Ratcheting Effect on the Filler Material of a Steel Slag-Based Thermal Energy Storage

by Erika Garitaonandia, Peru Arribalzaga, Ibon Miguel and Daniel Bielsa

Energies 2024, 17(7), 1515; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17071515 - 22 Mar 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1470

Abstract

Thermocline thermal energy storage systems play a crucial role in enhancing energy efficiency in energy-intensive industries. Among available technologies, air-based packed bed systems are promising due to their ability to utilize cost-effective materials. Recently, one of the most intriguing filler materials under study [...] Read more.

Thermocline thermal energy storage systems play a crucial role in enhancing energy efficiency in energy-intensive industries. Among available technologies, air-based packed bed systems are promising due to their ability to utilize cost-effective materials. Recently, one of the most intriguing filler materials under study is steel slag, a byproduct of the steel industry. Steel slag offers affordability, ample availability without conflicting usage, stability at temperatures up to 1000 °C, compatibility with heat transfer fluids, and non-toxicity. Previous research demonstrated favorable thermophysical and mechanical properties. Nonetheless, a frequently overlooked aspect is the endurance of the slag particles, when exposed to both mechanical and thermal stresses across numerous charging and discharging cycles. Throughout the thermal cyclic process, the slag within the tank experiences substantial loads at elevated temperatures, undergoing thermal expansion and contraction. This phenomenon can result in the deterioration of individual particles and potential damage to the tank structure. However, assessing the extended performance of these systems is challenging due to the considerable time required for thermal cycles at a relevant scale. To address this issue, this paper introduces a specially designed fast testing apparatus, providing the corresponding testing results of a real-scale system over 15 years of operation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Energy Storage and Conversion: From Materials to Technologies)

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24 pages, 2295 KiB  

Open AccessReview

Recent Advances in the Catalytic Conversion of Methane to Methanol: From the Challenges of Traditional Catalysts to the Use of Nanomaterials and Metal-Organic Frameworks

by Seyed Alireza Vali, Ahmad Abo Markeb, Javier Moral-Vico, Xavier Font and Antoni Sánchez

Nanomaterials 2023, 13(20), 2754; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13202754 - 13 Oct 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 4217

Abstract

Methane and carbon dioxide are the main contributors to global warming, with the methane effect being 25 times more powerful than carbon dioxide. Although the sources of methane are diverse, it is a very volatile and explosive gas. One way to store the [...] Read more.

Methane and carbon dioxide are the main contributors to global warming, with the methane effect being 25 times more powerful than carbon dioxide. Although the sources of methane are diverse, it is a very volatile and explosive gas. One way to store the energy content of methane is through its conversion to methanol. Methanol is a liquid under ambient conditions, easy to transport, and, apart from its use as an energy source, it is a chemical platform that can serve as a starting material for the production of various higher-value products. Accordingly, the transformation of methane to methanol has been extensively studied in the literature, using traditional catalysts as different types of zeolites. However, in the last few years, a new generation of catalysts has emerged to carry out this transformation with higher conversion and selectivity, and more importantly, under mild temperature and pressure conditions. These new catalysts typically involve the use of a highly porous supporting material such as zeolite, or more recently, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and graphene, and metallic nanoparticles or a combination of different types of nanoparticles that are the core of the catalytic process. In this review, recent advances in the porous supports for nanoparticles used for methane oxidation to methanol under mild conditions are discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Energy Storage and Conversion: From Materials to Technologies)

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15 pages, 3212 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

New Anodic Discoloration Materials Applying Energy-Storage Electrochromic Device

by Po-Wen Chen and Chen-Te Chang

Materials 2023, 16(15), 5412; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16155412 - 2 Aug 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1729

Abstract

We have assessed new anodic coloring materials that can be used as ion storage layers in complementary energy storage electrochromic devices (ESECDs) to enhance their electrochromic storage performance. In our study, we fabricated counter electrodes (ion storage layers) using an IrO₂-doping [...] Read more.

We have assessed new anodic coloring materials that can be used as ion storage layers in complementary energy storage electrochromic devices (ESECDs) to enhance their electrochromic storage performance. In our study, we fabricated counter electrodes (ion storage layers) using an IrO₂-doping NiO (Ir:NiO) film through cathodic arc plasma (CAP) with varying surface charge capacities. We have also investigated the influence of a MoO₃-doped WO₃ (Mo:WO₃) film using various Ar/O₂ gas flow ratios (1/4, 1/5, and 1/6, respectively). The ESECDs used in the demonstration were 10 × 10 cm² in size and achieved an optical transmittance modulation of the Ir:NiO ESECDs (glass/ITO/ Mo:WO₃/gel polymer electrolytes/ Ir:NiO/ITO/glass), with ΔT = 53.3% (from T_bleaching (66.6%) to T_coloration (13.1%)). The ESECDs had a quick coloration time of 3.58 s, a rapid bleaching time of 1.24 s, and a high cycling durability. Furthermore, it remained at a 45% transmittance modulation level even after 3000 cycles. New anodic materials can thereby provide an alternative to traditional active materials for bi-functional electrochromic batteries. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Energy Storage and Conversion: From Materials to Technologies)

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