The transition from fossil fuels to sustainable energy sources needs more efficient materials and improved technologies. Traditional materials (either alone or in combined compositions) are restricted by their low efficiency, low performance, short durability, environmental issues, high costs, and narrow spectrum of applications. Over the past decades, there has been intensive research to design and develop porous and nanoscaled architectures of carbon- and inorganic-based nanomaterials for various energy applications, making them better for accommodating electrolytes with higher surface areas, and thus the charge to obtain higher specific energy values. Meanwhile, various unconventional systems, including carbon nanotubes, graphene, 1D and 2D nanostructures, conducting polymers, perovskites, composites, and hybrid structures, have emerged.
The sustainable energy cycle includes the harvesting process from renewable sources (solar energy conversion either to electricity or to fuels, such as H2 or methanol), transport (e.g. electric power and low-voltage electrical signal transmission) and storage of electrical energy in batteries/supercapacitors or of fuels in advanced nanomaterials. Moreover, the conversion of energy into other forms (chemical, mechanical and thermal) requires more specific materials, e.g. piezoelectric, thermoelectric, and fuel cell materials.
This Research Topic showcases some of the latest achievements and future perspectives in the field of the carbon-based and inorganic materials that are being designed to meet some of our energy challenges. Suggested themes include, but are not limited to:
• Batteries and efficient electrode materials for batteries, fuel cells, and supercapacitors
• Thermal energy storage materials
• Piezoelectrics, thermoelectrics, and other energy harvesting materials
• Solar energy harvesting
• Hydrogen production and storage
• Smart materials
• Energy saving and material efficiency
We particularly welcome papers on rigorous novel approaches to the application of nanostructured and low-dimensional materials.
The transition from fossil fuels to sustainable energy sources needs more efficient materials and improved technologies. Traditional materials (either alone or in combined compositions) are restricted by their low efficiency, low performance, short durability, environmental issues, high costs, and narrow spectrum of applications. Over the past decades, there has been intensive research to design and develop porous and nanoscaled architectures of carbon- and inorganic-based nanomaterials for various energy applications, making them better for accommodating electrolytes with higher surface areas, and thus the charge to obtain higher specific energy values. Meanwhile, various unconventional systems, including carbon nanotubes, graphene, 1D and 2D nanostructures, conducting polymers, perovskites, composites, and hybrid structures, have emerged.
The sustainable energy cycle includes the harvesting process from renewable sources (solar energy conversion either to electricity or to fuels, such as H2 or methanol), transport (e.g. electric power and low-voltage electrical signal transmission) and storage of electrical energy in batteries/supercapacitors or of fuels in advanced nanomaterials. Moreover, the conversion of energy into other forms (chemical, mechanical and thermal) requires more specific materials, e.g. piezoelectric, thermoelectric, and fuel cell materials.
This Research Topic showcases some of the latest achievements and future perspectives in the field of the carbon-based and inorganic materials that are being designed to meet some of our energy challenges. Suggested themes include, but are not limited to:
• Batteries and efficient electrode materials for batteries, fuel cells, and supercapacitors
• Thermal energy storage materials
• Piezoelectrics, thermoelectrics, and other energy harvesting materials
• Solar energy harvesting
• Hydrogen production and storage
• Smart materials
• Energy saving and material efficiency
We particularly welcome papers on rigorous novel approaches to the application of nanostructured and low-dimensional materials.