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Energy-Relevant Advanced Materials
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Energy-Relevant Advanced Materials

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2023) | Viewed by 31613

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Zhengpei Miao

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
Interests: electrocatalysis; PEM fuel cells; nanomaterials synthesis; energy storage; material characterization
Prof. Dr. Zhenye Kang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, Hainan Provincial Key Lab of Fine Chemistry, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
Interests: electrolysis; hydrogen production; electrode; porous transport layers; electrochemistry
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Xinlong Tian

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Marine Science and Engineering, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
Interests: electrochemistry; electrocatalysis; sustainable energy; fuel cells
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The current rapid economic and social development faces challenges such as global energy shortage, diversification in energy, and ecological environmental protection, which all urgently call for the development of renewable energy, while large-scale applications are still restricted by multiple factors. Today, more than 85% of energy and chemical processes are currently related to catalysis—that is, highly effective energy-relevant advanced materials. Energy-relevant catalysis reactions are at the core of energy conversion and chemical processes, aiming to achieve the high conversion of reaction feedstocks and high selectivity of target products under mild conditions, while achieving zero emissions of pollutants. On one hand, the rational design of catalysts with well-defined structures, compositions and functions can greatly improve their activity, selectivity and stability. In addition, understanding the atomic structure and electronic changes of active sites based on advanced technologies promotes new insight into the catalytic processes, which provides a feasible strategy to establish the structure–performance relationship and reveal the catalytic mechanisms, and further guide the materials design.

Therefore, this Special Issue aims to provide a platform for researchers and engineers to present their latest research findings and engineering experiences in the development and application of novel materials to improve and address the current challenges.

Prof. Dr. Zhengpei Miao
Prof. Dr. Zhenye Kang
Prof. Dr. Xinlong Tian
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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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

  • catalysis
  • fuel cells
  • water splitting
  • methane conversion
  • carbon dioxide reduction
  • new energy materials

Published Papers (18 papers)

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13 pages, 3656 KiB  
Article
Efficient Regulation of Polysulfides by Anatase/Bronze TiO2 Heterostructure/Polypyrrole Composites for High-Performance Lithium-Sulfur Batteries
by Jing Liu, Yong Liu, Tengfei Li, Longlong Liang, Sifan Wen, Yue Zhang, Guilong Liu, Fengzhang Ren and Guangxin Wang
Molecules 2023, 28(11), 4286; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28114286 - 23 May 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1431
Abstract
Despite having ultra-high theoretical specific capacity and theoretical energy density, lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries suffer from their low Coulombic efficiency and poor lifespan, and the commercial application of Li-S batteries is seriously hampered by the severe “shuttle effect” of lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) and the [...] Read more.
Despite having ultra-high theoretical specific capacity and theoretical energy density, lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries suffer from their low Coulombic efficiency and poor lifespan, and the commercial application of Li-S batteries is seriously hampered by the severe “shuttle effect” of lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) and the large volume expansion ratio of the sulfur electrode during cycling. Designing functional hosts for sulfur cathodes is one of the most effective ways to immobilize the LiPSs and improve the electrochemical performance of a Li-S battery. In this work, a polypyrrole (PPy)-coated anatase/bronze TiO2 (TAB) heterostructure was successfully prepared and used as a sulfur host. Results showed that the porous TAB could physically adsorb and chemically interact with LiPSs during charging and discharging processes, inhibiting the LiPSs’ shuttle effect, and the TAB’s heterostructure and PPy conductive layer are conducive to the rapid transport of Li+ and improve the conductivity of the electrode. By benefitting from these merits, Li-S batteries with TAB@S/PPy electrodes could deliver a high initial capacity of 1250.4 mAh g−1 at 0.1 C and show an excellent cycling stability (the average capacity decay rate was 0.042% per cycle after 1000 cycles at 1 C). This work brings a new idea for the design of functional sulfur cathodes for high-performance Li-S battery. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy-Relevant Advanced Materials)
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16 pages, 3676 KiB  
Article
Photosensitive Dye as an Ideal Peroxymonosulfate Activator for Efficient Self-Degradation: A Novel Idea of Using Waste to Treat Waste
by Zhiyao Zhang, Zhaolin Li, Xue Bai, Juan Shi, Min Hu, Jin Chai, Keqian Li and Pengkang Jin
Molecules 2023, 28(10), 4237; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28104237 - 22 May 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1143
Abstract
Commonly used peroxydisulfate (PS) or peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation methods have been limited in their practical application due to certain drawbacks, such as high cost, high energy consumption and secondary pollution. In this study, a catalyst-free alizarin green (AG) self-activating PMS catalytic system was [...] Read more.
Commonly used peroxydisulfate (PS) or peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation methods have been limited in their practical application due to certain drawbacks, such as high cost, high energy consumption and secondary pollution. In this study, a catalyst-free alizarin green (AG) self-activating PMS catalytic system was constructed based on photosensitization properties of dye, which ultimately achieved efficient degradation of the dye activator, also the target pollutant. Here, 52.5% of the 100 mL mixture of 10 mg/L AG decomposed within 60 min with 1 mM PMS under visible-light irradiation, thereby showing a strong pH adaptation. Mechanism of AG self-activating PMS was revealed that the photo-excited AG can effectively transfer photo-induced electrons to PMS for its activation, which generates reactive oxidizing species dominated by singlet oxygen (1O2), and supplemented by hydroxyl radical (•OH), superoxide radical (O2•−) and sulfate radical (SO4•−) to realize the efficient self-degradation of the dye pollutants. Moreover, such self-catalytic system operated well under natural sunlight irradiation, indicating the great application potential in the actual wastewater treatment. Herein, photosensitive dye acted as an ideal PMS activator realizing its efficient self-degradation, which provides a novel idea of “using waste to treat waste” for developing wastewater treatment process in a high-efficiency and low-consumption way. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy-Relevant Advanced Materials)
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11 pages, 2196 KiB  
Article
Performance Enhancement of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell through Carbon Nanofibers Grown In Situ on Carbon Paper
by Chang Liu and Shang Li
Molecules 2023, 28(6), 2810; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28062810 - 20 Mar 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1677
Abstract
We developed an integrated gas diffusion layer (GDL) for proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells by growing carbon nanofibers (CNFs) in situ on carbon paper via the electro-polymerization of polyaniline (PANI) on carbon paper followed by a subsequent carbonization treatment process. The CNF/carbon [...] Read more.
We developed an integrated gas diffusion layer (GDL) for proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells by growing carbon nanofibers (CNFs) in situ on carbon paper via the electro-polymerization of polyaniline (PANI) on carbon paper followed by a subsequent carbonization treatment process. The CNF/carbon paper showed a microporous structure and a significantly increased pore volume compared to commercial carbon paper. By utilizing this CNF/carbon paper in a PEM fuel cell, it was found that the cell with CNF/carbon paper had superior performance compared to the commercial GDL at both high and low humidity conditions, and its power density was as high as 1.21 W cm−2 at 100% relative humidity, which is 26% higher than that of a conventional gas diffusion layer (0.9 W cm−2). The significant performance enhancement was attributed to a higher pore volume and porosity of the CNF/carbon paper, which improved gas diffusion in the GDL. In addition, the superior performance of the cell with CNF/carbon paper at low relative humidity demonstrated that it had better water retention than the commercial GDL. This study provides a novel and facile method for the surface modification of GDLs to improve the performance of PEM fuel cells. The CNF/carbon paper with a microporous structure has suitable hydrophobicity and lower through-plane resistance, which makes it promising as an advanced substrate for GDLs in fuel cell applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy-Relevant Advanced Materials)
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13 pages, 3542 KiB  
Article
One-Step Synthesis of a Non-Precious-Metal Tris (Fe/N/F)-Doped Carbon Catalyst for Oxygen Reduction Reactions
by Huitian Yang, Hao Wu, Lei Yao, Siyan Liu, Lu Yang, Jieling Lu, Hongliang Peng, Xiangcheng Lin, Ping Cai, Huanzhi Zhang, Fen Xu, Kexiang Zhang and Lixian Sun
Molecules 2023, 28(5), 2392; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28052392 - 5 Mar 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1499
Abstract
Advancements in inexpensive, efficient, and durable oxygen reduction catalysts is important for maintaining the sustainable development of fuel cells. Although doping carbon materials with transition metals or heteroatomic doping is inexpensive and enhances the electrocatalytic performance of the catalyst, because the charge distribution [...] Read more.
Advancements in inexpensive, efficient, and durable oxygen reduction catalysts is important for maintaining the sustainable development of fuel cells. Although doping carbon materials with transition metals or heteroatomic doping is inexpensive and enhances the electrocatalytic performance of the catalyst, because the charge distribution on its surface is adjusted, the development of a simple method for the synthesis of doped carbon materials remains challenging. Here, a non-precious-metal tris (Fe/N/F)-doped particulate porous carbon material (21P2-Fe1-850) was synthesized by employing a one-step process, using 2-methylimidazole, polytetrafluoroethylene, and FeCl3 as raw materials. The synthesized catalyst exhibited a good oxygen reduction reaction performance with a half-wave potential of 0.85 V in an alkaline medium (compared with 0.84 V of commercial Pt/C). Moreover, it had better stability and methanol resistance than Pt/C. This was mainly attributed to the effect of the tris (Fe/N/F)-doped carbon material on the morphology and chemical composition of the catalyst, thereby enhancing the catalyst’s oxygen reduction reaction properties. This work provides a versatile method for the gentle and rapid synthesis of highly electronegative heteroatoms and transition metal co-doped carbon materials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy-Relevant Advanced Materials)
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13 pages, 5810 KiB  
Article
Transformation of CO2 with Glycerol to Glycerol Carbonate over ETS-10 Zeolite-Based Catalyst
by Zhangxi Gao, Mei Xiang, Mingyang He, Weiyou Zhou, Jiayao Chen, Jiamin Lu, Zeying Wu and Yaqiong Su
Molecules 2023, 28(5), 2272; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28052272 - 28 Feb 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1815
Abstract
Catalytic conversion of CO2 with the surplus glycerol (GL) produced from biodiesel manufacturing has attracted much academic and industrial attention, which proves the urgent requirement for developing high-performance catalysts to afford significant environmental benefits. Herein, titanosilicate ETS-10 zeolite-based catalysts with active metal [...] Read more.
Catalytic conversion of CO2 with the surplus glycerol (GL) produced from biodiesel manufacturing has attracted much academic and industrial attention, which proves the urgent requirement for developing high-performance catalysts to afford significant environmental benefits. Herein, titanosilicate ETS-10 zeolite-based catalysts with active metal species introduced by impregnation were employed for coupling CO2 with GL to efficiently synthesize glycerol carbonate (GC). The catalytic GL conversion at 170 °C miraculously reached 35.0% and a 12.7% yield of GC was obtained on Co/ETS-10 with CH3CN as a dehydrating agent. For comparison, Zn/ETS- Cu/ETS-10, Ni/ETS-10, Zr/ETS-10, Ce/ETS-10, and Fe/ETS-10 were also prepared, which showed inferior coordination between GL conversion and GC selectivity. Comprehensive analysis revealed that the presence of moderate basic sites for CO2 adsorption-activation played a crucial role in regulating catalytic activity. Moreover, the appropriate interaction between cobalt species and ETS-10 zeolite was also of great significance for improving the glycerol activation capacity. A plausible mechanism was proposed for the synthesis of GC from GL and CO2 in the presence of CH3CN solvent over Co/ETS-10 catalyst. Moreover, the recyclability of Co/ETS-10 was also measured and it proved to be recycled at least eight times with less than 3% decline in GL conversion and GC yield after a simple regeneration process through calcination at 450 °C for 5 h in air. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy-Relevant Advanced Materials)
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12 pages, 1983 KiB  
Article
Mesoporous Surface-Sulfurized Fe–Co3O4 Nanosheets Integrated with N/S Co-Doped Graphene as a Robust Bifunctional Electrocatalyst for Oxygen Evolution and Reduction Reactions
by Lingxue Meng, Yige Wang, Wenwei Liu, Chunlei Fan, Haoxiong Nan, Jiang Wang and Jia Yu
Molecules 2023, 28(5), 2221; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28052221 - 27 Feb 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1425
Abstract
Playing a significant role in electrochemical energy conversion and storage systems, heteroatom-doped transition metal oxides are key materials for oxygen-involving reactions. Herein, mesoporous surface-sulfurized Fe–Co3O4 nanosheets integrated with N/S co-doped graphene (Fe–Co3O4–S/NSG) were designed as composite [...] Read more.
Playing a significant role in electrochemical energy conversion and storage systems, heteroatom-doped transition metal oxides are key materials for oxygen-involving reactions. Herein, mesoporous surface-sulfurized Fe–Co3O4 nanosheets integrated with N/S co-doped graphene (Fe–Co3O4–S/NSG) were designed as composite bifunctional electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Compared with the Co3O4–S/NSG catalyst, it exhibited superior activity in the alkaline electrolytes by delivering an OER overpotential of 289 mV at 10 mA cm−2 and an ORR half-wave potential of 0.77 V vs. RHE. Additionally, Fe–Co3O4–S/NSG kept stable at 4.2 mA cm−2 for 12 h without significant attenuation to render robust durability. This work not only demonstrates the satisfactory effect of the transition-metal cationic modification represented by iron doping on the electrocatalytic performance of Co3O4, but it also provides a new insight on the design of OER/ORR bifunctional electrocatalysts for efficient energy conversion. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy-Relevant Advanced Materials)
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8 pages, 10761 KiB  
Communication
Hierarchical Pt-In Nanowires for Efficient Methanol Oxidation Electrocatalysis
by Zhao Lu, Lu Zou and Wulin Song
Molecules 2023, 28(3), 1502; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28031502 - 3 Feb 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1409
Abstract
Direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC) have attracted increasing research interest recently; however, their output performance is severely hindered by the sluggish kinetics of the methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) at the anode. Herein, unique hierarchical Pt-In NWs with uneven surface and abundant high-index facets [...] Read more.
Direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC) have attracted increasing research interest recently; however, their output performance is severely hindered by the sluggish kinetics of the methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) at the anode. Herein, unique hierarchical Pt-In NWs with uneven surface and abundant high-index facets are developed as efficient MOR electrocatalysts in acidic electrolytes. The developed hierarchical Pt89In11 NWs exhibit high MOR mass activity and specific activity of 1.42 A mgPt−1 and 6.2 mA cm−2, which are 5.2 and 14.4 times those of Pt/C, respectively, outperforming most of the reported MORs. In chronoamperometry tests, the hierarchical Pt89In11 NWs demonstrate a longer half-life time than Pt/C, suggesting the better CO tolerance of Pt89In11 NWs. After stability, the MOR activity can be recovered by cycling. XPS, CV measurement and CO stripping voltammetry measurements demonstrate that the outstanding catalytic activity may be attributed to the facile removal of CO due to the presence of In site-adsorbing hydroxyl species. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy-Relevant Advanced Materials)
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11 pages, 3512 KiB  
Article
Investigation on Long-Term Stability of Vermiculite Seals for Reversible Solid Oxide Cell
by Ruizhu Li, Yue Lu, Yutian Yu, Xianzhi Ren, Feng Ding, Chengzhi Guan and Jianqiang Wang
Molecules 2023, 28(3), 1462; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28031462 - 2 Feb 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1668
Abstract
A reversible solid oxide cell (RSOC) integrating solid oxide fuel (SOFC) and a solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) usually utilizes compressive seals. In this work, the vermiculite seals of various thickness and compressive load during thermal cycles and long-term operation were investigated. The [...] Read more.
A reversible solid oxide cell (RSOC) integrating solid oxide fuel (SOFC) and a solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) usually utilizes compressive seals. In this work, the vermiculite seals of various thickness and compressive load during thermal cycles and long-term operation were investigated. The leakage rates of seals were gradually increased with increasing thickness and input gas pressure. The thinner seals had good sealing performance. The compressive load was carried out at thinner seals, the possible holes were squeezed, and finally the leakage rates were lower. With a fixed input gas pressure of 1 psi, 2 psi, and 3 psi, the leakage rates of 0.50 mm vermiculite remained at around 0.009 sccm/cm, 0.017 sccm/cm and 0.028 sccm/cm during twenty thermal cycles, while the leakage rates remained at around 0.011 sccm/cm for about 240 h. Simultaneously, elemental diffusions between seals and components were limited, implying good compatibility. Furthermore, the open circuit voltage (OCV) remained at around 1.04 V during 17 thermal cycles, which is close to Nernst potentials. The stack performance confirmed that the vermiculite seals can meet the structural support and sealing requirements. Therefore, the vermiculite shows good promise for application in stacks during thermal cycles and long-term operation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy-Relevant Advanced Materials)
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8 pages, 3749 KiB  
Communication
Coronavirus-like Core–Shell-Structured Co@C for Hydrogen Evolution via Hydrolysis of Sodium Borohydride
by Shuyi Su, Kailei Chen, Xu Yang and Dai Dang
Molecules 2023, 28(3), 1440; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28031440 - 2 Feb 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1407
Abstract
Constructing a reliable and robust cobalt-based catalyst for hydrogen evolution via hydrolysis of sodium borohydride is appealing but challenging due to the deactivation caused by the metal leaching and re-oxidization of metallic cobalt. A unique core–shell-structured coronavirus-like Co@C microsphere was prepared via pyrolysis [...] Read more.
Constructing a reliable and robust cobalt-based catalyst for hydrogen evolution via hydrolysis of sodium borohydride is appealing but challenging due to the deactivation caused by the metal leaching and re-oxidization of metallic cobalt. A unique core–shell-structured coronavirus-like Co@C microsphere was prepared via pyrolysis of Co-MOF. This special Co@C had a microporous carbon coating to retain the reduced state of cobalt and resist the metal leaching. Furthermore, several nano-bumps grown discretely on the surface afforded enriched active centers. Applied in the pyrolysis of NaBH4, the Co@C-650, carbonized at 650 °C, exhibited the best activity and reliable recyclability. This comparable performance is ascribed to the increased metallic active sites and robust stability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy-Relevant Advanced Materials)
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12 pages, 5680 KiB  
Article
Mnx+ Substitution to Improve Na3V2(PO4)2F3-Based Electrodes for Sodium-Ion Battery Cathode
by Renyuan Su, Weikai Zhu, Kang Liang, Peng Wei, Jianbin Li, Wenjun Liu and Yurong Ren
Molecules 2023, 28(3), 1409; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28031409 - 1 Feb 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2443
Abstract
Na3V2(PO4)2F3 (NVPF) is an extremely promising sodium storage cathode material for sodium-ion batteries because of its stable structure, wide electrochemical window, and excellent electrochemical properties. Nevertheless, the low ionic and electronic conductivity resulting from [...] Read more.
Na3V2(PO4)2F3 (NVPF) is an extremely promising sodium storage cathode material for sodium-ion batteries because of its stable structure, wide electrochemical window, and excellent electrochemical properties. Nevertheless, the low ionic and electronic conductivity resulting from the insulated PO43− structure limits its further development. In this work, the different valence states of Mnx+ ions (x = 2, 3, 4) doped NVPF were synthesized by the hydrothermal method. A series of tests and characterizations reveals that the doping of Mn ions (Mn2+, Mn3+, Mn4+) changes the crystal structure and also affects the residual carbon content, which further influences the electrochemical properties of NVPF-based materials. The sodiation/desodiation mechanism was also investigated. Among them, the as-prepared NVPF doped with Mn2+ delivers a high reversible discharge capacity (116.2 mAh g−1 at 0.2 C), and the capacity retention of 67.7% after 400 cycles at 1 C was obtained. Such excellent performance and facile modified methods will provide new design ideas for the development of secondary batteries. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy-Relevant Advanced Materials)
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12 pages, 2390 KiB  
Article
Selectivity of Oxygen Evolution Reaction on Carbon Cloth-Supported δ-MnO2 Nanosheets in Electrolysis of Real Seawater
by Haofeng Yan, Xuyun Wang, Vladimir Linkov, Shan Ji and Rongfang Wang
Molecules 2023, 28(2), 854; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28020854 - 14 Jan 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2187
Abstract
Electrolysis of seawater using solar and wind energy is a promising technology for hydrogen production which is not affected by the shortage of freshwater resources. However, the competition of chlorine evolution reactions and oxygen evolution reactions on the anode is a major obstacle [...] Read more.
Electrolysis of seawater using solar and wind energy is a promising technology for hydrogen production which is not affected by the shortage of freshwater resources. However, the competition of chlorine evolution reactions and oxygen evolution reactions on the anode is a major obstacle in the upscaling of seawater electrolyzers for hydrogen production and energy storage, which require chlorine-inhibited oxygen evolution electrodes to become commercially viable. In this study, such an electrode was prepared by growing δ-MnO2 nanosheet arrays on the carbon cloth surface. The selectivity of the newly prepared anode towards the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) was 66.3% after 30 min of electrolyzer operation. The insertion of Fe, Co and Ni ions into MnO2 nanosheets resulted in an increased number of trivalent Mn atoms, which had a negative effect on the OER selectivity. Good tolerance of MnO2/CC electrodes to chlorine evolution in seawater electrolysis indicates its suitability for upscaling this important energy conversion and storage technology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy-Relevant Advanced Materials)
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9 pages, 1704 KiB  
Article
Tailoring the Hollow Structure within CoSn(OH)6 Nanocubes for Advanced Supercapacitors
by Zhiyong Yang, Chunxia Li, Fangfang Liu, Xiaowei Lv, Lei Zhang, Yanli Fang and Hui Wang
Molecules 2022, 27(22), 7960; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27227960 - 17 Nov 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1303
Abstract
The enhanced application performance of hollow-structured materials is attributed to their large surface area with more active sites. In this work, the hollow CoSn(OH)6 nanocubes with increased surface area and mesopores were derived from dense CoSn(OH)6 nanocube precursors by alkaline etching. [...] Read more.
The enhanced application performance of hollow-structured materials is attributed to their large surface area with more active sites. In this work, the hollow CoSn(OH)6 nanocubes with increased surface area and mesopores were derived from dense CoSn(OH)6 nanocube precursors by alkaline etching. As a result, the hollow CoSn(OH)6 nanocubes-based cathode electrode exhibited a higher area-specific capacitance of 85.56 µF cm−2 at 0.5 mA cm−2 and a mass-specific capacitance of 5.35 mF g−1 at 0.5 mA cm−2, which was more extensive than that of the dense precursor. Meanwhile, the current density was increased 4-fold with good rate capability for hollow CoSn(OH)6 nanocubes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy-Relevant Advanced Materials)
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9 pages, 2022 KiB  
Article
Unravelling the 2e− ORR Activity Induced by Distance Effect on Main-Group Metal InN4 Surface Based on First Principles
by Peng Li, Jiawen Xu and Yaqiong Su
Molecules 2022, 27(22), 7720; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27227720 - 9 Nov 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1516
Abstract
The p-electron-dominated main-group metals (Sb, Se, In, etc.) have recently been reported to possess excellent oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity by means of heteroatom doping into graphene. However, on these main group metal surfaces, other approaches especially the distance effect to modulate catalytic [...] Read more.
The p-electron-dominated main-group metals (Sb, Se, In, etc.) have recently been reported to possess excellent oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity by means of heteroatom doping into graphene. However, on these main group metal surfaces, other approaches especially the distance effect to modulate catalytic activity are rarely involved. In this work, the origin of excellent 2e− ORR catalytic activity of graphene-supported InN4 moiety by tuning the distance between metallic In atoms is thoroughly investigated by employing the first-principles calculations. Our DFT calculations show that the 2e− ORR catalytic activity strongly depends on the crystal orbital Hamilton population (COHP) between In and O atoms. This work is useful for the rational design of main group metal single atom electrocatalysts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy-Relevant Advanced Materials)
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13 pages, 4460 KiB  
Article
Optimization of Sintering Conditions to Enhance the Dielectric Performance of Gd3+ and Ho3+ Codoped BaTiO3 Ceramics
by Jianghui Bai, Qiaoli Liu, Xia Li, Xin Wei and Liping Li
Molecules 2022, 27(21), 7464; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27217464 - 2 Nov 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1372
Abstract
BaTiO3 dielectric capacitors, one of the important energy storage devices, play critical roles in storing electricity from renewable energies of water, wind, solar, etc. The synthesis of BaTiO3 ceramics with weak temperature dependence and a high dielectric constant at room temperature [...] Read more.
BaTiO3 dielectric capacitors, one of the important energy storage devices, play critical roles in storing electricity from renewable energies of water, wind, solar, etc. The synthesis of BaTiO3 ceramics with weak temperature dependence and a high dielectric constant at room temperature (εRT′) is an urgent problem to meet the miniaturization and large capacity of dielectric capacitors. Doping rare earth elements into BaTiO3 can solve this problem, but it is still challenging. In this work, we adopt a synergistic strategy of increasing εRT′ and improving the temperature stability by codoping Gd3+ and Ho3+, respectively, to address this challenge. By carefully adjusting the synthesis conditions in the solid-state reaction, codoping 7% Gd3+ and 7% Ho3+ in BaTiO3 (BGTH7) ceramics were synthesized. The temperature-dependent dielectric constant reveals that the obtained optimal BGTH7 ceramic satisfies the X7U specification and displays a stable ε′ in the temperature range of −55~125 °C. The optimal BGTH7 ceramic after sintering at 1400 °C for 6 h exhibits a high dielectric constant of 5475 and low dielectric loss (tan δ) of 0.0176, hitherto exhibiting the best performance in X7U ceramics. The findings in this work are conducive to the miniaturization and stabilization of dielectric energy storage devices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy-Relevant Advanced Materials)
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9 pages, 1898 KiB  
Article
Tailoring Electrochemical Performance of Co3O4 Electrode Materials by Mn Doping
by Xingyu Liu, Mengdi Wang and Xiang Wu
Molecules 2022, 27(21), 7344; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27217344 - 28 Oct 2022
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 1346
Abstract
Reasonable design of electrode materials is the key to solving the low energy density of the supercapacitors. Transition metal oxide Co3O4 material is commonly used in the field of supercapacitors, but the poor cycle stability limits its practical application. Herein, [...] Read more.
Reasonable design of electrode materials is the key to solving the low energy density of the supercapacitors. Transition metal oxide Co3O4 material is commonly used in the field of supercapacitors, but the poor cycle stability limits its practical application. Herein, we report 0.3Mn-Co3O4 nanostructures grown on nickel foam by a facile one-step hydrothermal approach. The morphology of the samples can be regulated by the introduction of different amounts of Mn ions. The specific capacitance reaches 525.5 C/g at 1 A/g. The performance of 0.3Mn-Co3O4 material is significantly improved due to its excellent stability and conductivity, which makes it a suitable electrode material for supercapacitors. A flexible asymmetric device is also fabricated using the sample as the cathode. The assembled capacitor still possesses a desirable cycle stability after charging and discharging of 10,000 times, and its capacitance retention rate can reach 83.71%. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy-Relevant Advanced Materials)
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12 pages, 5347 KiB  
Article
Enhanced Visible-Light-Driven Photocatalytic Activity by Fe(Ш)-Doped Graphitic C3N4
by Zhao Lu, Wulin Song and Minghao Liu
Molecules 2022, 27(20), 6986; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27206986 - 17 Oct 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1623
Abstract
Fe(Ш)-doped graphitic carbon nitride (Fe(Ш)-CN) photocatalysts with various Fe(Ш) ions content were prepared via ultrasonic method. Detailed physical characterization indicated that Fe(Ш) ions had been successfully doped into the frame of g-C3N4. The photocatalytic activities were investigated, and methyl [...] Read more.
Fe(Ш)-doped graphitic carbon nitride (Fe(Ш)-CN) photocatalysts with various Fe(Ш) ions content were prepared via ultrasonic method. Detailed physical characterization indicated that Fe(Ш) ions had been successfully doped into the frame of g-C3N4. The photocatalytic activities were investigated, and methyl orange (MO) and tetracycline hydrochloride (TC) were used as the targeted pollutants. The as-prepared Fe(Ш)-CN materials exhibited higher photocatalytic activities than those of the pure g-C3N4. Specifically, the degradation rate of 2Fe(Ш)-CN under visible light was 2.06 times higher for MO and 2.65 times higher for TC than that of g-C3N4. The increased photocatalytic activities of Fe(Ш)-CN were mainly attributed to the enhanced light absorption ability and the rapid separation of photogenerated carriers. Moreover, the importance of active species during the reaction process was also explored, and the results indicated that •O2− is the main active species. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy-Relevant Advanced Materials)
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20 pages, 10453 KiB  
Review
Electroactive Microorganisms in Advanced Energy Technologies
by Xingchen Zhou, Xianzheng Zhang, Yujie Peng, Abdoulkader Ibro Douka, Feng You, Junlong Yao, Xueliang Jiang, Ruofei Hu and Huan Yang
Molecules 2023, 28(11), 4372; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28114372 - 26 May 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1521
Abstract
Large-scale production of green and pollution-free materials is crucial for deploying sustainable clean energy. Currently, the fabrication of traditional energy materials involves complex technological conditions and high costs, which significantly limits their broad application in the industry. Microorganisms involved in energy production have [...] Read more.
Large-scale production of green and pollution-free materials is crucial for deploying sustainable clean energy. Currently, the fabrication of traditional energy materials involves complex technological conditions and high costs, which significantly limits their broad application in the industry. Microorganisms involved in energy production have the advantages of inexpensive production and safe process and can minimize the problem of chemical reagents in environmental pollution. This paper reviews the mechanisms of electron transport, redox, metabolism, structure, and composition of electroactive microorganisms in synthesizing energy materials. It then discusses and summarizes the applications of microbial energy materials in electrocatalytic systems, sensors, and power generation devices. Lastly, the research progress and existing challenges for electroactive microorganisms in the energy and environment sectors described herein provide a theoretical basis for exploring the future application of electroactive microorganisms in energy materials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy-Relevant Advanced Materials)
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21 pages, 4694 KiB  
Review
Application of Biomass Materials in Zinc-Ion Batteries
by Yu Zhang, Mengdie Xu, Xin Jia, Fangjun Liu, Junlong Yao, Ruofei Hu, Xueliang Jiang, Peng Yu and Huan Yang
Molecules 2023, 28(6), 2436; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28062436 - 7 Mar 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2962
Abstract
Currently, aqueous zinc-ion batteries, with large reserves of zinc metal and maturity of production, are a promising alternative to sustainable energy storage. Nevertheless, aqueous solution has poor frost resistance and is prone to side reactions. In addition, zinc dendrites also limit the performance [...] Read more.
Currently, aqueous zinc-ion batteries, with large reserves of zinc metal and maturity of production, are a promising alternative to sustainable energy storage. Nevertheless, aqueous solution has poor frost resistance and is prone to side reactions. In addition, zinc dendrites also limit the performance of zinc-ion batteries. Biomass, with complex molecular structure and abundant functional groups, makes it have great application prospects. In this review, the research progress of biomass and its derived materials used in zinc-ion batteries are reviewed. The different regulation strategies and characteristics of biomass used in zinc-ion battery electrodes, electrolyte separators and binders are demonstrated. The regulation mechanism is analyzed. At the end, the development prospect and challenges of biomass in energy materials application are proposed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy-Relevant Advanced Materials)
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