Graphene-Based Materials for Energy Conversion

A special issue of Catalysts (ISSN 2073-4344).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2017) | Viewed by 33693

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Instituto de Carboquímica, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Miguel Luesma Castán, 4. E-50018 Zaragoza, Spain
Interests: pd-ni catalysts; carbon nanofibers; alkaline medium; CO oxidation; methanol oxidation; direct methanol fuel cells
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
Institute of Catalisis and Petrochemistry, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
Interests: electrocatalysts; energy; hydrogen; fuel cells; electrolyzers
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

On the basis of its unique structure and excellent properties, graphene is considered to have the potential to be able to contribute to the construction of a sustainable energy generation system, in which renewable energies can be used. Energy can be effectively converted to applicable forms (electricity or fuel) from infinite sources, especially from solar power and water. Aiming at this goal, a variety of graphene-based materials has emerged as one of the fascinating alternative electrode materials for application in fuel cells, regenerative fuel cells and solar cells. Nonetheless, the research towards advanced graphene materials for energy conversion applications is still at an early stage. A number of challenges remain to be explored.

This Special Issue aims to address current and future advancements in all aspects of the graphene-based catalysts and materials for fuel cells and solar cells applications, including novel synthetical strategies and device fabrication processes, and the study of their structure, electronic and physical properties.

Dr. Maria Jesús Lázaro
Dr. Maria Victoria Martínez-Huerta
Guest Editors

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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1937 KiB  
Article
S- and N-Doped Graphene Nanomaterials for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction
by Luis Miguel Rivera, Sergio Fajardo, María Del Carmen Arévalo, Gonzalo García and Elena Pastor
Catalysts 2017, 7(9), 278; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal7090278 - 18 Sep 2017
Cited by 45 | Viewed by 7788
Abstract
In the current work, heteroatom-doped graphene materials containing different atomic ratios of nitrogen and sulphur were employed as electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in acidic and alkaline media. To this end, the hydrothermal route and different chemical reducing agents were employed [...] Read more.
In the current work, heteroatom-doped graphene materials containing different atomic ratios of nitrogen and sulphur were employed as electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in acidic and alkaline media. To this end, the hydrothermal route and different chemical reducing agents were employed to synthesize the catalytic materials. The physicochemical characterization of the catalysts was performed by several techniques, such as X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and elemental analysis; meanwhile, the electrochemical performance of the materials toward the ORR was analyzed by linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), rotating disk electrode (RDE) and rotating ring-disk electrode (RRDE) techniques. The main results indicate that the ORR using heteroatom-doped graphene is a direct four-electron pathway, for which the catalytic activity is higher in alkaline than in acidic media. Indeed, a change of the reaction mechanism was observed with the insertion of N into the graphenic network, by the rate determining step changes from the first electrochemical step (formation of adsorbed OOH) on glassy carbon to the removal of adsorbed O (Oad) from the N-graphene surface. Moreover, the addition of sulphur atoms into the N-graphene structure increases the catalytic activity toward the ORR, as the desorption of Oad is accelerated. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Graphene-Based Materials for Energy Conversion)
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17705 KiB  
Article
Facile Synthesis of MnPO4·H2O Nanowire/Graphene Oxide Composite Material and Its Application as Electrode Material for High Performance Supercapacitors
by Bo Yan, Duan Bin, Fangfang Ren, Zhiping Xiong, Ke Zhang, Caiqin Wang and Yukou Du
Catalysts 2016, 6(12), 198; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal6120198 - 09 Dec 2016
Cited by 24 | Viewed by 8114
Abstract
In this work, we reported a facile one-pot hydrothermal method to synthesize MnPO4·H2O nanowire/graphene oxide composite material with coated graphene oxide. Transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscope were employed to study its morphology information, and X-ray diffraction was [...] Read more.
In this work, we reported a facile one-pot hydrothermal method to synthesize MnPO4·H2O nanowire/graphene oxide composite material with coated graphene oxide. Transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscope were employed to study its morphology information, and X-ray diffraction was used to study the phase and structure of the material. Additionally, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was used to study the elements information. To measure electrochemical performances of electrode materials and the symmetry cell, cyclic voltammetry, chronopotentiometry and electrochemical impedance spectrometry were conducted on electrochemical workstation using 3 M KOH electrolytes. Importantly, electrochemical results showed that the as-prepared MnPO4·H2O nanowire/graphene oxide composite material exhibited high specific capacitance (287.9 F·g−1 at 0.625 A·g−1) and specific power (1.5 × 105 W·kg−1 at 2.271 Wh·kg−1), which is expected to have promising applications as supercapacitor electrode material. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Graphene-Based Materials for Energy Conversion)
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Review

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2829 KiB  
Review
Recent Progress on the Synthesis of Graphene-Based Nanostructures as Counter Electrodes in DSSCs Based on Iodine/Iodide Electrolytes
by Dimitrios Tasis
Catalysts 2017, 7(8), 234; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal7080234 - 14 Aug 2017
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 6376
Abstract
Graphene-based nanomaterials functionalized by different doping strategies have attracted great attention for energy conversion themes, due to their large specific surface area, high conductivity, and appreciable electrocatalytic properties. This mini-review presents an overview of the recent progress in the synthesis of graphene-based nanomaterials [...] Read more.
Graphene-based nanomaterials functionalized by different doping strategies have attracted great attention for energy conversion themes, due to their large specific surface area, high conductivity, and appreciable electrocatalytic properties. This mini-review presents an overview of the recent progress in the synthesis of graphene-based nanomaterials as counter electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells based on iodine/iodide electrolytes, along with challenges and perspectives in this exciting field. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Graphene-Based Materials for Energy Conversion)
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7729 KiB  
Review
The New Graphene Family Materials: Synthesis and Applications in Oxygen Reduction Reaction
by Xin Tong, Qiliang Wei, Xinxing Zhan, Gaixia Zhang and Shuhui Sun
Catalysts 2017, 7(1), 1; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal7010001 - 23 Dec 2016
Cited by 33 | Viewed by 10613
Abstract
Graphene family materials, including graphene quantum dots (GQDs), graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) and 3D graphene (3D-G), have attracted much research interest for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in fuel cells and metal-air batteries, due to their unique structural characteristics, such as abundant activate sites, [...] Read more.
Graphene family materials, including graphene quantum dots (GQDs), graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) and 3D graphene (3D-G), have attracted much research interest for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in fuel cells and metal-air batteries, due to their unique structural characteristics, such as abundant activate sites, edge effects and the interconnected network. In this review, we summarize recent developments in fabricating various new graphene family materials and their applications for use as ORR electrocatalysts. These new graphene family materials play an important role in improving the ORR performance, thus promoting the practical use in metal-air batteries and fuel cells. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Graphene-Based Materials for Energy Conversion)
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