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Polymer Materials for Energy Storage and Fuel Cells Applications

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A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymer Applications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 March 2024) | Viewed by 21817

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Cheng-Zhang Lu

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Guest Editor

Material and Chemical Research Laboratories, Industrial Technology Research Institute, No. 195, Chung Hsing Road, Chutung, Hsinchu 31040, Taiwan
Interests: lithium batteries; electrochemistry; inorganic materials; energy storage and conversion; fuel cells; supercapacitors; flow batteries

Dr. Shih-Chieh Hsu

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Guest Editor

Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Tamkang University, New Taipei City, Taiwan
Interests: lithium-ion battery; biosensors; light-emitting diodes; optoelectronic packaging; thermoelectric materials

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are a major power source for portable electronic devices, especially for automotive applications. They were first proposed for use with LiCoO₂ and graphite electrodes in 1991. The high-voltage and large-capacity electrodes used in LIBs are a research hotspot. For example, in the United States, only about 2% of the total energy use comes from personal electronics, while about 67% of the total energy comes from transportation and the grid. This promotes the development of higher battery performance. The performance characteristics required for such applications include long cycle life and high power/energy density, with widely studied LIBs electrode materials that lead to these performance characteristics including positive/negative materials, binder, conductive additive, separator, and organic electrolytes. We welcome all articles related to the application of polymer materials in the field of energy storage and fuel cells.

Dr. Cheng-Zhang Lu
Dr. Shih-Chieh Hsu
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. Polymers 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

energy storage mat
lithium batteries
electrode
polymer electrolyte
binder
fuel cell

Published Papers (11 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 1439 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Nafion-212 Membrane Solvated by Ethylene and Propylene Carbonates as Electrolyte for Lithium Metal Batteries

by Daria Voropaeva, Svetlana Novikova, Irina Stenina and Andrey Yaroslavtsev

Polymers 2023, 15(22), 4340; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15224340 - 7 Nov 2023

Viewed by 993

Abstract

The use of cation-exchange membranes as electrolytes for lithium metal batteries can prevent the formation of lithium dendrites during extended cycling and guarantee safe battery operation. In our study, the Nafion-212 membrane in lithium form solvated by a mixture of ethylene carbonate and propylene carbonate (EC-PC) was used as an electrolyte in a lithium metal battery with the LiFePO₄ cathode. The Nafion-212-EC-PC electrolyte is electrochemically stable up to 6 V, indicating its suitability for high-energy density batteries. It has an ionic conductivity of 1.9 × 10⁻⁴ S/cm at 25 °C and a high lithium transference number. The symmetric Li|Nafion-212-EC-PC|Li cell shows a very low overvoltage of ~0.3 V at a current density of ±0.1 mA/cm². At 25 °C, the LiFePO₄|Nafion-212-EC-PC|Li battery exhibits a capacity of 141, 136, 125, and 100 mAh/g at 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, and 1C rates, respectively. It maintains a capacity of 120 mAh/g at 0 °C and 0.1C with stable performance for 50 charge/discharge cycles. The mechanism of conductivity and capacity retention at low temperatures is discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Materials for Energy Storage and Fuel Cells Applications)

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12 pages, 3226 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Surface Modification of Li₃VO₄ with PEDOT:PSS Conductive Polymer as an Anode Material for Li-Ion Capacitors

by Shih-Chieh Hsu, Kuan-Syun Wang, Yan-Ting Lin, Jen-Hsien Huang, Nian-Jheng Wu, Jia-Lin Kang, Huei-Chu Weng and Ting-Yu Liu

Polymers 2023, 15(11), 2502; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15112502 - 29 May 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1372

Abstract

Li₃VO₄ (LVO) is a highly promising anode material for lithium-ion batteries, owing to its high capacity and stable discharge plateau. However, LVO faces a significant challenge due to its poor rate capability, which is mainly attributed to its low electronic conductivity. To enhance the kinetics of lithium ion insertion and extraction in LVO anode materials, a conductive polymer called poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) is applied to coat the surface of LVO. This uniform coating of PEDOT:PSS improves the electronic conductivity of LVO, thereby enhancing the corresponding electrochemical properties of the resulting PEDOT:PSS-decorated LVO (P-LVO) half-cell. The charge/discharge curves between 0.2 and 3.0 V (vs. Li⁺/Li) indicate that the P-LVO electrode displays a capacity of 191.9 mAh/g at 8 C, while the LVO only delivers a capacity of 111.3 mAh/g at the same current density. To evaluate the practical application of P-LVO, lithium-ion capacitors (LICs) are constructed with P-LVO composite as the negative electrode and active carbon (AC) as the positive electrode. The P-LVO//AC LIC demonstrates an energy density of 107.0 Wh/kg at a power density of 125 W/kg, along with superior cycling stability and 97.4% retention after 2000 cycles. These results highlight the great potential of P-LVO for energy storage applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Materials for Energy Storage and Fuel Cells Applications)

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15 pages, 5534 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mechanical Aging Test and Sealing Performance of Thermoplastic Vulcanizate as Sealing Gasket in Automotive Fuel Cell Applications

by Hyungu Im and Sunkyoung Jeoung

Polymers 2023, 15(8), 1872; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15081872 - 13 Apr 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1779

Abstract

Ethylene–propylene–diene monomer (EPDM) rubber is one of the rapidly developing synthetic rubbers for use as a gasket material in proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell applications. Despite its excellent elastic and sealing properties, EPDM faces challenges such as molding processability and recycling ability. To overcome these challenges, thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV), which comprises vulcanized EPDM in polypropylene matrix, was investigated as a gasket material for PEM fuel cell applications. TPV showed better long-term stability in terms of tension and compression set behaviors under accelerated aging conditions than EPDM. Additionally, TPV exhibited significantly higher crosslinking density and surface hardness than EPDM, regardless of the test temperature and aging time. TPV and EPDM showed similar leakage rates for the entire range of test inlet pressure values, regardless of the applied temperature. Therefore, we can conclude that TPV exhibits a similar sealing capability with more stable mechanical properties compared with commercialized EPDM gaskets in terms of He leakage performance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Materials for Energy Storage and Fuel Cells Applications)

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12 pages, 6536 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Co/ZnO/Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Composite Anode Derived from Metal Organic Frameworks for Lithium Ion Batteries

by Ya-Chun Chang, Chia-Hung Huang and Wei-Ren Liu

Polymers 2022, 14(15), 3085; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14153085 - 29 Jul 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1606

Abstract

Through high-temperature sintering and carbonization, two Co/ZnO nitrogen-doped porous carbon (NC) composites derived from ZIF-8 and ZIF-67 were manufactured for use as anodes for Li ion batteries: composite-type Co/ZnO-NC and core-shell-type Co@ZnO-NC. X-ray diffraction analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) method were performed to identify the pore distribution and surface morphology of these composites. The findings of the BET method indicated that the specific surface area of Co/ZnO-NC was 350 m²/g, which was twice that of Co@ZnO-NC. Electrochemical measurements revealed that Co@ZnO-NC and Co/ZnO-NC had specific capacities of over 400 mAh g⁻¹ at a current density 0.2 A g⁻¹ after 50 cycles. After 100 cycles, Co/ZnO-NC exhibited a reversible capacity of 411 mAh g⁻¹ at a current density of 0.2 A g⁻¹ and Co@ZnO-NC had a reversible capacity of 246 mAh g⁻¹ at a current density of 0.2 A g⁻¹. The results indicated that Co/ZnO-NC exhibited superior electrochemical performance to Co@ZnO-NC as a potential anode for use in Li ion batteries. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Materials for Energy Storage and Fuel Cells Applications)

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11 pages, 7285 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Micropatterned Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) Thin Films with Improved Color-Switching Rates and Coloration Efficiency

by Cheng-Lan Lin, Tzung-Lin Cheng and Nian-Jheng Wu

Polymers 2022, 14(14), 2951; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14142951 - 21 Jul 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1254

Abstract

Electrochromic materials carry out redox reactions and change their colors upon external bias. These materials are the primary component in constructing smart windows for energy saving in buildings or vehicles. Enhancing the electrochromic performances of the materials is crucial for their practical applications. Micropatterned poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (mPEDOT) thin films are electrodeposited on indium tin oxide conducting glass in this study. Their electrochromic properties, including transmittance modulation ability, color-switching rates, and coloration efficiency, are investigated and compared with nonpatterned PEDOT thin films. The mPEDOT thin films exhibited faster coloring and bleaching speeds and higher coloration efficiency than the PEDOT thin films while keeping similar transmittance modulation ability. The results suggest that micropatterning an electrochromic material thin film might enhance its electrochromic performances. This research demonstrates the possibility of promoting the color-switching rate of a PEDOT thin film by micropatterning it. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Materials for Energy Storage and Fuel Cells Applications)

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14 pages, 5623 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Bio-Phenolic Resin Derived Porous Carbon Materials for High-Performance Lithium-Ion Capacitor

by Er-Chieh Cho, Cai-Wan Chang-Jian, Cheng-Zhang Lu, Jen-Hsien Huang, Tzu-Hsien Hsieh, Nian-Jheng Wu, Kuen-Chan Lee, Shih-Chieh Hsu and Huei Chu Weng

Polymers 2022, 14(3), 575; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14030575 - 31 Jan 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2643

Abstract

In this article, hierarchical porous carbon (HPC) with high surface area of 1604.9 m²/g is prepared by the pyrolysis of rubberwood sawdust using CaCO₃ as a hard template. The bio-oil pyrolyzed from the rubber sawdust, followed by the polymerization reaction to form resole phenolic resin, can be used as a carbon source to prepare HPC. The biomass-derived HPC shows a three-dimensionally interconnected morphology which can offer a continuous pathway for ionic transport. The symmetrical supercapacitors based on the as-prepared HPC were tested in 1.0 M tetraethylammonium tetrafluoroborate/propylene carbonate electrolyte. The results of electrochemical analysis show that the HPC-based supercapacitor exhibits a high specific capacitance of 113.3 F/g at 0.5 A/g with superior rate capability and cycling stability up to 5000 cycles. Hybrid lithium-ion capacitors (LICs) based on the HPC and Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ (LTO) were also fabricated. The LICs have a maximum energy density of 113.3 Wh/kg at a power density of 281 W/kg. Moreover, the LIC also displays a remarkable cycling performance with a retention of 92.8% after 3000 cycles at a large current density of 0.75 A/g, suggesting great potential application in the energy storage of the LIC. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Materials for Energy Storage and Fuel Cells Applications)

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12 pages, 5225 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Construction of KB@ZIF-8/PP Composite Separator for Lithium–Sulfur Batteries with Enhanced Electrochemical Performance

by Bingyi Ma, Xin Zhang, Xiaoqian Deng, Sheng Huang, Min Xiao, Shuanjin Wang, Dongmei Han and Yuezhong Meng

Polymers 2021, 13(23), 4210; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13234210 - 1 Dec 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2586

Abstract

Lithium–sulfur batteries (LSBs) have attracted wide attention, but the shuttle effect of polysulfide hinders their further practical application. Herein, we develop a new strategy to construct a Ketjen black@zeolite imidazole framework-8/polypropylene composite separator. Such a separator consists of Ketjen black (KB), zeolite imidazole framework-8 (ZIF-8) and polypropylene (PP) with a low coating load of 0.06 mg cm⁻² and is denoted as KB@ZIF-8/PP. KB@ZIF-8/PP can absorb polysulfides because of the Lewis acid-base interaction between ZIF-8 and polysulfides. This interaction can reduce the dissolution of polysulfides and suppress the shuttle effect, thereby enhancing the electrochemical performance of the battery. When tested at a current density of 0.1 C, an LSB with a KB@ZIF-8/PP separator exhibits low polarization and achieves a high initial capacity of 1235.6 mAh/g and a high capacity retention rate of 59.27% after 100 cycles. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Materials for Energy Storage and Fuel Cells Applications)

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13 pages, 6416 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Design of Promising Green Cation-Exchange-Membranes-Based Sulfonated PVA and Doped with Nano Sulfated Zirconia for Direct Borohydride Fuel Cells

by Marwa H. Gouda, Noha A. Elessawy, Sami A. Al-Hussain and Arafat Toghan

Polymers 2021, 13(23), 4205; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13234205 - 30 Nov 2021

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 1712

Abstract

The direct borohydride fuel cell (DBFC) is a low-temperature fuel cell that requires the development of affordable price and efficient proton exchange membranes for commercial purposes. In this context, super-acidic sulfated zirconia (SO₄ZrO₂) was embedded into a cheap and environmentally friendly binary polymer blend, developed from poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and iota carrageenan (IC). The percentage of SO₄ZrO₂ ranged between 1 and 7.5 wt.% in the polymeric matrix. The study findings revealed that the composite membranes’ physicochemical features improved by adding increasing amounts of SO₄ZrO₂. In addition, there was a decrease in the permeability and swelling ratio of the borohydride membranes as the SO₄ZrO₂ weight% increased. Interestingly, the power density increased to 76 mW cm⁻² at 150 mA cm⁻², with 7.5 wt.% SO₄ZrO_2, which is very close to that of Nafion117 (91 mW cm⁻²). This apparent selectivity, combined with the low cost of the eco-friendly fabricated membranes, points out that DBFC has promising future applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Materials for Energy Storage and Fuel Cells Applications)

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Review

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24 pages, 1103 KiB

Open AccessReview

Carbon Material-Reinforced Polymer Composites for Bipolar Plates in Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells

by Alejandro Gomez-Sanchez, Víctor A. Franco-Luján, Hilda M. Alfaro-López, Laura Hernández-Sánchez, Heriberto Cruz-Martínez and Dora I. Medina

Polymers 2024, 16(5), 671; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16050671 - 1 Mar 2024

Viewed by 1103

Abstract

Bipolar plates (BPs) are one of the most important components of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) because of their important role in gas and water management, electrical performance, and mechanical stability. Therefore, promising materials for use as BPs should meet several technical targets established by the United States Department of Energy (DOE). Thus far, in the literature, many materials have been reported for possible applications in BPs. Of these, polymer composites reinforced with carbon allotropes are one of the most prominent. Therefore, in this review article, we present the progress and critical analysis on the use of carbon material-reinforced polymer composites as BPs materials in PEMFCs. Based on this review, it is observed that numerous polymer composites reinforced with carbon allotropes have been produced in the literature, and most of the composites synthesized and characterized for their possible application in BPs meet the DOE requirements. However, these composites can still be improved before their use for BPs in PEMFCs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Materials for Energy Storage and Fuel Cells Applications)

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33 pages, 8122 KiB

Open AccessReview

Recent Developments on Bioinspired Cellulose Containing Polymer Nanocomposite Cation and Anion Exchange Membranes for Fuel Cells (PEMFC and AFC)

by Sadhasivam Thangarasu and Tae-Hwan Oh

Polymers 2022, 14(23), 5248; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14235248 - 1 Dec 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2504

Abstract

Hydrogen fuel cell (FC) technologies are being worked on as a possible replacement for fossil fuels because they produce a lot of energy and do not pollute the air. In FC, ion-exchange membranes (IEMs) are the vital components for ion transport between two porous electrodes. However, the high production cost of commercialized membranes limits their benefits. Various research has focused on cellulose-based membranes such as IEM with high proton conductivity, and mechanical, chemical, and thermal stabilities to replace the high cost of synthetic polymer materials. In this review, we focus on and explain the recent progress (from 2018 to 2022) of cellulose-containing hybrid membranes as cation exchange membranes (CEM) and anion exchange membranes (AEM) for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) and alkaline fuel cells (AFC). In this account, we focused primarily on the effect of cellulose materials in various membranes on the functional properties of various polymer membranes. The development of hybrid membranes with cellulose for PEMFC and AFC has been classified based on the combination of other polymers and materials. For PEMFC, the sections are associated with cellulose with Nafion, polyaryletherketone, various polymeric materials, ionic liquid, inorganic fillers, and natural materials. Moreover, the cellulose-containing AEM for AFC has been summarized in detail. Furthermore, this review explains the significance of cellulose and cellulose derivative-modified membranes during fuel cell performance. Notably, this review shows the vital information needed to improve the ion exchange membrane in PEMFC and AFC technologies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Materials for Energy Storage and Fuel Cells Applications)

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22 pages, 4277 KiB

Open AccessReview

Lignin-Derived Quinone Redox Moieties for Bio-Based Supercapacitors

by Jincy Parayangattil Jyothibasu, Ruei-Hong Wang, You-Ching Tien, Chi-Ching Kuo and Rong-Ho Lee

Polymers 2022, 14(15), 3106; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14153106 - 30 Jul 2022

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2734

Abstract

Because of their rapid charging and discharging, high power densities, and excellent cycling life stabilities, supercapacitors have great potential for use in electric vehicles, portable electronics, and for grid frequency modulation. The growing need for supercapacitors that are both efficient and ecologically friendly has generated curiosity in developing sustainable biomass-based electrode materials and electrolytes. Lignin, an aromatic polymer with remarkable electroactive redox characteristics and a large number of active functional groups, is one such candidate for use in renewable supercapacitors. Because its chemical structure features an abundance of quinone groups, lignin undergoes various surface redox processes, storing and releasing both electrons and protons. Accordingly, lignin and its derivatives have been tested as electroactive materials in supercapacitors. This review discusses recent examples of supercapacitors incorporating electrode materials and electrolytes derived from lignin, focusing on the pseudocapacitance provided by the quinone moieties, with the goal of encouraging the use of lignin as a raw material for high-value applications. Employing lignin and its derivatives as active materials in supercapacitor electrodes and as a redox additive in electrolytes has the potential to minimize environmental pollution and energy scarcity while also providing economic benefits. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Materials for Energy Storage and Fuel Cells Applications)

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