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Advanced Functional Nanostructured Films and Coatings for Energy Applications
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Advanced Functional Nanostructured Films and Coatings for Energy Applications

A special issue of Coatings (ISSN 2079-6412). This special issue belongs to the section "Thin Films".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2024) | Viewed by 18641

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Gianfranco Carotenuto

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute for Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials—National Research Council (IPCB-CNR), SS Napoli/Portici, Piazzale E. Fermi, 1-80055 Portici, NA, Italy
Interests: functional materials; graphene; nanocomposites; polymer-embedded nanostructures
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Advanced functional nanomaterials could have a fundamental role in the building of a novel sustainable world. Devices for energy production, conversion and storage (solar cells, batteries, supercapacitors, thermoelectric materials, phase-change materials, advanced thermal insulators, etc.) combine a number of highly specialized components (i.e., solid or liquid phases having highly specific characteristics) and each of these elements can be conveniently made of hybrid/composite nanostructured materials in order to allow the device to reach optimal performance in service. To reduce raw material use and manufacturing costs, complex natural nanostructured substances and/or their chemically modified forms could be very relevant for such challenging innovation targets. However, it is essential to be able to develop adequate artificial substances with properties coming from the mesoscopic world. Chemical synthesis and material engineering act together in this novel exciting research field of nanomaterial science, which will play a decisive role for the comfort of our future lives. This Special Issue aims to collect state-of-the-art papers on any topics related to nanomaterials for energy applications in the form of films or coatings, such as nanostructured materials that allow transition from combustion engines to electrified vehicles, the development of emission-free energy sources for home and industry, nanostructured materials highly capable of storing heat and solar energy, highly efficient thermal insulators, etc. In particular, among the different available classes of nanostructured films and coatings for energy applications, special attention will be addressed to very uncommon and niche solutions.

Dr. Gianfranco Carotenuto
Guest Editor

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. Coatings is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 2600 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

  • nanostructured films and coatings
  • functional nanomaterials
  • nanomaterials for energy applications
  • mesoscopic properties
  • nanoparticles
  • nanocomposites
  • natural nanostructures

Related Special Issue

Published Papers (12 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review

5 pages, 180 KiB  
Editorial
Composite Films for Time Measurement—A Case Study
by Gianfranco Carotenuto
Coatings 2022, 12(8), 1118; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings12081118 - 04 Aug 2022
Viewed by 976
Abstract
Each event starts in the past and proceeds towards the future, going through the present [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Functional Nanostructured Films and Coatings for Energy Applications)
3 pages, 150 KiB  
Editorial
Looking for New Materials: The Molecular Clocks
by Gianfranco Carotenuto
Coatings 2022, 12(7), 933; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings12070933 - 01 Jul 2022
Viewed by 1012
Abstract
Frequently, new materials have been discovered by looking at the interface among some of the already existing material classes [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Functional Nanostructured Films and Coatings for Energy Applications)

Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review

13 pages, 2622 KiB  
Article
Carbon Dot-Titanium Dioxide (CD/TiO2) Nanocomposites: Reusable Photocatalyst for Sustainable H2 Production via Photoreforming of Green Organic Compounds
by Pinelopi P. Falara, Maria Antoniadou, Adamantia Zourou, Elias Sakellis and Konstantinos V. Kordatos
Coatings 2024, 14(1), 131; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings14010131 - 19 Jan 2024
Viewed by 1045
Abstract
The present work focuses on TiO2 modification with carbon dots (CDs) using a hydrothermal process, which results in the synthesis of CD/TiO2 nanocomposite photocatalysts characterized by exceptional optoelectronic properties. The structural and physicochemical properties of the obtained nanocomposites, which contained varying [...] Read more.
The present work focuses on TiO2 modification with carbon dots (CDs) using a hydrothermal process, which results in the synthesis of CD/TiO2 nanocomposite photocatalysts characterized by exceptional optoelectronic properties. The structural and physicochemical properties of the obtained nanocomposites, which contained varying amounts of CDs, were precisely assessed. HR-TEM analysis showed that the prepared nanocomposites consisted of rod-shaped TiO2 nanoparticles and CDs well-dispersed on their surface. The optical properties of the nanocomposites were studied using UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. All CD/TiO2 samples presented decreased energy gap values compared with bare TiO2 samples; the band gap was further decreased as the CD concentration rose. Electrochemical measurements revealed that the presence of CDs improved the photocurrent response of the TiO2, presumably due to enhanced charge separation and decreased recombination. The synthesized nanomaterials were used as photocatalysts to produce hydrogen via the photoreforming of ethanol and glycerol green organic compounds, under 1-sun illumination. The photocatalytic experiments confirmed that the optimum loading of CDs corresponded to a percentage of 3% (w/w). Ethanol photoreforming led to a H2 production rate of 1.7 μmol∙min−1, while in the case of the glycerol sacrificial agent, the corresponding rate was determined to be 1.1 μmol∙min−1. The recyclability study revealed that the photocatalyst exhibited consistent stability during its reuse for hydrogen production in the presence of both ethanol and glycerol. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Functional Nanostructured Films and Coatings for Energy Applications)
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11 pages, 2246 KiB  
Article
Monitoring Aging Effects in Graphite Bisulfates by Means of Raman Spectroscopy
by Carlo Camerlingo, Marcella Salvatore and Gianfranco Carotenuto
Coatings 2024, 14(1), 101; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings14010101 - 12 Jan 2024
Viewed by 618
Abstract
Graphite bisulfate (GBS) compounds consist of graphite layers intercalated by HSO4− ions and H2SO4 molecules. Owing to electrostatic interactions with the graphene plane, HSO4− ions cause point defects in the graphite’s crystalline structure, while H2 [...] Read more.
Graphite bisulfate (GBS) compounds consist of graphite layers intercalated by HSO4− ions and H2SO4 molecules. Owing to electrostatic interactions with the graphene plane, HSO4− ions cause point defects in the graphite’s crystalline structure, while H2SO4 molecules are free to move via diffusion in the spaces between the adjacent graphite sheets and segregate to form linear defects. In the present work, we report the results of our investigation using Raman spectroscopy on the temporal evolution of such defects on selected GBS samples over 84 months. Two characteristic lengths correlated with the average distance between defects have been estimated and their evolution with aging was investigated. The results show a decrease in the density of point-like defects after aging, regardless of the pristine structural configuration of the GBS samples, revealing a structural instability. This study can provide significant information for the technological development of industrial processes aimed to produce expanded graphite based on GBS precursors, where the aging of GBS is known to influence the efficiency and quality. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Functional Nanostructured Films and Coatings for Energy Applications)
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14 pages, 4556 KiB  
Article
CoNi2O4 Coated on Activated Carbon Wheat Husk (ACWH) as a Novel Nano-Electrocatalyst for Methanol and Ethanol Electro-Oxidation
by Fatemeh Jamali, Majid Seifi and Mohammad Bagher Askari
Coatings 2023, 13(6), 1124; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings13061124 - 19 Jun 2023
Viewed by 1164
Abstract
In this paper, for the first time, a CoNi2O4 nanocatalyst coated on the surface of activated carbon wheat husk (ACWH) was synthesized in the form of CoNi2O4/ACWH through a hydrothermal process. The electrocatalytic activity of this [...] Read more.
In this paper, for the first time, a CoNi2O4 nanocatalyst coated on the surface of activated carbon wheat husk (ACWH) was synthesized in the form of CoNi2O4/ACWH through a hydrothermal process. The electrocatalytic activity of this catalyst was evaluated using methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) and ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR) processes for use in anodes of alcohol fuel cells. Adding ACWH, as a cheap carbon biomass with an excellent active surface area, improves the performance of the catalyst in the oxidation of alcohols. The current density of CoNi2O4/ACWH in the MOR process is 160 mA/cm2 at an optimal methanol concentration of 2 M; this oxidation current density in the EOR process and at a concentration of 1.5 M ethanol is 150 mA/cm2. The stability of CoNi2O4/ACWH in MOR and EOR processes, after 1000 consecutive CV cycles, is 98.6% and 94.6%, respectively. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Functional Nanostructured Films and Coatings for Energy Applications)
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16 pages, 9674 KiB  
Article
A Simple and Efficient Strategy for Preparation of Flexible Strain Sensors Based on Marangoni Effect
by Xuqiu Bai, Zhichun Xu, Xianyi Li, Tiantian Zhao, Xiang Ge and Caideng Yuan
Coatings 2023, 13(6), 1101; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings13061101 - 15 Jun 2023
Viewed by 1069
Abstract
The Marangoni effect is a phenomenon of mass transfer between two fluids with different surface tensions, which has been used in many fields. In this paper, we prepared ultrathin conductive films with graphene (GN) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) based on the Marangoni effect. [...] Read more.
The Marangoni effect is a phenomenon of mass transfer between two fluids with different surface tensions, which has been used in many fields. In this paper, we prepared ultrathin conductive films with graphene (GN) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) based on the Marangoni effect. The Marangoni self-assembled film exhibited excellent properties, showing a conductivity of 8.3 kΩ·sq−1, a transparency of 74% at 550 nm and a thickness of 28 nm when the mass ratio of CNTs and GN was 1:1. The conductive films were transferred to flexible substrates twice and fabricated face to face as strain sensors. The 3M4910-based strain sensors, which were prepared with a simple process and high material utilization rate, exhibited good sensitivity (GF = 5.7), a wide working range (193%) and satisfactory cyclic stability. The PDMS-based GN sensor showed high sensitivity (GF = 34), a wide working range (78%) and excellent stability (ε = 10%, > 8000 cycles). It has been proved that the sensors can be used to detect different joint movements of the human body and subtle movements, showing good application prospects in physiological signal detection. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Functional Nanostructured Films and Coatings for Energy Applications)
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16 pages, 7371 KiB  
Article
Sol–Gel Silica Coatings for Corrosion Protection of Aluminum Parts Manufactured by Selective Laser Melting (SLM) Technology
by Luciano Macera, Daniele Pullini, Alberto Boschetto, Luana Bottini, Claudio Mingazzini and Gian Luca Falleti
Coatings 2023, 13(6), 1081; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings13061081 - 11 Jun 2023
Viewed by 2678
Abstract
Metal additive manufacturing is a rapidly growing field based on the fabrication of complex parts with improved performance. The advantages of using this technology include the production of shapes that cannot be produced by traditional machining technologies, the possibility of using trabecular reinforcing [...] Read more.
Metal additive manufacturing is a rapidly growing field based on the fabrication of complex parts with improved performance. The advantages of using this technology include the production of shapes that cannot be produced by traditional machining technologies, the possibility of using trabecular reinforcing structures, and the ability to make parts with topological optimization that allow for increased performance and decreased mass of the parts produced. Metal parts produced by selective laser melting technology exhibit high surface roughness, which limits their direct implementation. Corrosion protection of these surfaces is difficult, especially for galvanic processes. This paper analyzes the possibility of using sol–gel silica (silicon oxide) coatings to effectively protect various surfaces of aluminum alloys produced by selective laser melting technology. Silicon oxide sol–gel protective coatings have demonstrated excellent chemical stability and corrosion resistance, being able to be applied in very thin layers. These properties make them excellent candidates for protecting additive-manufactured metal parts, especially as-built surfaces with a high surface roughness. Nanostructured silica sol–gel protective coatings have demonstrated excellent corrosion resistance and have the potential to replace the highly toxic chromium-based galvanic treatments. Using nanostructured silica sol–gel coatings, aluminum parts can be seamlessly integrated into circular-economy cycles. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Functional Nanostructured Films and Coatings for Energy Applications)
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13 pages, 4375 KiB  
Article
Electrical Method for the On-Line Monitoring of Zeolite-Based Thermochemical Storage
by Gianfranco Carotenuto
Coatings 2023, 13(2), 392; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings13020392 - 08 Feb 2023
Viewed by 851
Abstract
Zeolites are used to store sunlight energy in the form of latent heat of adsorption. The energy is stored by dehydration of the substance and released by its rehydration. The availability of an online monitoring technique for this hydration/dehydration process is an extremely [...] Read more.
Zeolites are used to store sunlight energy in the form of latent heat of adsorption. The energy is stored by dehydration of the substance and released by its rehydration. The availability of an online monitoring technique for this hydration/dehydration process is an extremely useful potentiality for an optimal exploitation of such technology, since it allows establishment of the degree of activation and saturation of the material. Here, an electrical method has been developed and used for monitoring the hydration/dehydration process of a sample of natural clinoptilolite. Clinoptilolite has been selected as a model zeolitic material for testing this monitoring technique since it is a widely spread, very inexpensive, and highly mechanically stable zeolite type, that could be used for such a purpose. The study has been performed in the presence of pure water vapor and wet air (75RH) after having dehydrated the sample by exposition to sunlight for 12 h. The developed monitoring method has also allowed us to have information on the kinetics of the process (Lagergren pseudo-first order), to establish the specific rate of hydration (3.3 × 10−3 min−1), and to have an idea of the involved adsorption mechanism. The sample of natural clinoptilolite was also chemically and structurally characterized by EDS, XRD, DSC, and TGA. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Functional Nanostructured Films and Coatings for Energy Applications)
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10 pages, 4599 KiB  
Article
Fabrication and Characterization of Ag–Ta Thin Films by Co-Magnetron Sputtering as Alternative Layer for High Reflection of NIR Radiation
by Wuttichai Phae-Ngam, Tanattha Rattana, Surachart Kamoldilok, Kanokporn Kohmun, Hideki Nakajima, Narit Triamnak, Chanunthorn Chananonnawathorn, Wantanee Hincheeranan and Mati Horprathum
Coatings 2023, 13(1), 43; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings13010043 - 26 Dec 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1631
Abstract
Silver–tantalum (Ag–Ta) thin films were fabricated by magnetron co-sputtering on silicon (Si) wafer (100) and glass slide substrates at room temperature. The Ag–Ta thin films were prepared at various deposition times of 5, 10, 20 and 30 s and the physical, structural and [...] Read more.
Silver–tantalum (Ag–Ta) thin films were fabricated by magnetron co-sputtering on silicon (Si) wafer (100) and glass slide substrates at room temperature. The Ag–Ta thin films were prepared at various deposition times of 5, 10, 20 and 30 s and the physical, structural and optical properties of the Ag–Ta thin films were investigated. It was determined that the thicknesses of the films were 7, 9, 17 and 33 nm, respectively. The results revealed that an increase in the film thickness leads to a monotonic increase in FCC and BCC phase of Ag and Ta, respectively. The work function and stoichiometric of the Ag–Ta thin films were investigated by ultraviolet and X-ray photoemission spectroscopies (UPS and XPS), respectively. The potential of Ag–Ta thin films to be used as low-emission coating was investigated using a spectrophotometer. A UV–VIS–NIR spectrophotometer was used to measure the spectral reflectance in the wavelength range from 300 to 2000 nm. The results showed that the Ag–Ta thin film deposited for 30 s exhibited higher reflectance in NIR region than those of 5, 10, 20 and 30 s. It demonstrated an average reflectance of about 80% and slightly decreased to 75% after being kept in the air atmosphere for 28 days. It can be likewise proposed as an alternative thin film with high reflectance of NIR radiation single layer to develop industrial low-emission coating for cost-effective, clean, and easy adaptation to a large area coating. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Functional Nanostructured Films and Coatings for Energy Applications)
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11 pages, 6341 KiB  
Article
Effects of Graphene Morphology on Properties of Carbon Nanotube/Polyurethane Film Strain Sensors
by Chen Liu, Xiang Ge, Jiaqi Geng, Yuanli Men and Caideng Yuan
Coatings 2022, 12(12), 1889; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings12121889 - 05 Dec 2022
Viewed by 1178
Abstract
The film flexible sensors can convert tiny changes in size or force into electrical signals. They are key components of intelligent devices and wearable devices, and are widely used in human-computer interaction, electronic skin, health monitoring, implantable diagnosis, and other fields. This kind [...] Read more.
The film flexible sensors can convert tiny changes in size or force into electrical signals. They are key components of intelligent devices and wearable devices, and are widely used in human-computer interaction, electronic skin, health monitoring, implantable diagnosis, and other fields. This kind of sensor is generally composed of polymer matrix and conductive components, while carbon nanotubes (CNT) and graphene (GN), as typical one-dimensional and two-dimensional conductive carbon nano-materials, respectively, have been used to build film flexible sensors. In order to explore the relationship between the GN size and thickness, and the performance of film sensors, the GN-CNT/PU composite film sensors were prepared by in situ polymerization of polyurethane (PU) in the presence of GN and CNT. A highly sensitive GN-CNT/PU flexible film sensor was prepared with a high gauge factor (GF) up to 13.15 in a strain range of 0–20%; an exceptionally low percolation threshold of GN is about 0.04 vol% when the CNT content is fixed at 0.2 vol%, which is below the percolation threshold of CNT/PU nanocomposites. The size of the GN layer affects the GFs of the flexible film sensors; a GN with a smaller size can achieve a greater GF. This study paves the way for the better application of different qualities of GN in flexible sensors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Functional Nanostructured Films and Coatings for Energy Applications)
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Graphical abstract

9 pages, 3332 KiB  
Article
Photoresist Microlens Arrays Fabricated by Nanoimprint Technique to Improve the Photoelectric Conversion Efficiency of Solar Cells
by Xuehua Zhang, Liangwei Lv, Xinwen Zhang and Fangren Hu
Coatings 2022, 12(12), 1812; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings12121812 - 24 Nov 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1358
Abstract
Silicon solar cells have the advantages of non-toxicity, reliability, low price, and stability. Microlens arrays (MLAs) are widely used in solar cells to improve photoelectrical conversion efficiency (PCE). In this research, different MLAs mold was designed by a method of thermal reflow. Then [...] Read more.
Silicon solar cells have the advantages of non-toxicity, reliability, low price, and stability. Microlens arrays (MLAs) are widely used in solar cells to improve photoelectrical conversion efficiency (PCE). In this research, different MLAs mold was designed by a method of thermal reflow. Then the photoresist film MLAs structure was replicated on the surface of silicon solar cells through UV nanoimprint technology. The optical transmission and surface morphology of these photoresist films were respectively measured by using a UV spectrometer and an atomic force microscope. The surface morphology and imaging capabilities of photoresist film MLAs were respectively measured by using a scanning electron microscope and optical microscope. Finally, the photovoltaic performance of the silicon solar cell with the photoresist film MLAs was investigated, and the PCE value of the silicon solar cell improved from 11.53% for the sample without MLAs to 13.19% for the sample with the square MLAs and the PCE improvement is about 14.40%. All these results above show that the photoresist film MLAs can significantly improve the efficiency of silicon solar cells and have great application potential in the field of solar cells. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Functional Nanostructured Films and Coatings for Energy Applications)
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Review

Jump to: Editorial, Research

20 pages, 3716 KiB  
Review
Development of Hetero-Junction Silicon Solar Cells with Intrinsic Thin Layer: A Review
by Nikolay Chuchvaga, Kairat Zholdybayev, Kazybek Aimaganbetov, Sultan Zhantuarov and Abay Serikkanov
Coatings 2023, 13(4), 796; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings13040796 - 19 Apr 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3754
Abstract
This paper presents the history of the development of heterojunction silicon solar cells from the first studies of the amorphous silicon/crystalline silicon junction to the creation of HJT solar cells with novel structure and contact grid designs. In addition to explanation of the [...] Read more.
This paper presents the history of the development of heterojunction silicon solar cells from the first studies of the amorphous silicon/crystalline silicon junction to the creation of HJT solar cells with novel structure and contact grid designs. In addition to explanation of the current advances in the field of research of this type of solar cells, the purpose of this paper is to show possible ways to improve the structure of the amorphous silicon/crystalline silicon-based solar cells for further improvement of the optical and electrical parameters of the devices by using of numerical simulation method and current hypotheses. This paper briefly describes the history, beginning from the first studies of and research of HJT-structure solar cells. It raises questions about the advantages and existing problems of optimization of HJT solar cells. The authors of this paper are proposing further ways of design development of HJT solar cells. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Functional Nanostructured Films and Coatings for Energy Applications)
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