Functional Materials for Sustainable Energy Technologies: Four Case Studies

Abstract

The critical topic of energy and the environment has rarely had such a high profile, nor have the associated materials challenges been more exciting. The subject of functional materials for sustainable energy technologies is demanding and recognized as a top priority in providing many of the key underpinning technological solutions for a sustainable energy future. Energy generation, consumption, storage, and supply security will continue to be major drivers for this subject. There exists, in particular, an urgent need for new functional materials for next‐generation energy conversion and storage systems. Many limitations on the performances and costs of these systems are mainly due to the materials′ intrinsic performance. We highlight four areas of activity where functional materials are already a significant element of world‐wide research efforts. These four areas are transparent conducting oxides, solar energy materials for converting solar radiation into electricity and chemical fuels, materials for thermoelectric energy conversion, and hydrogen storage materials. We outline recent advances in the development of these classes of energy materials, major factors limiting their intrinsic functional performance, and potential ways to overcome these limitations.

Hydrogen Economy

“…Here, light is absorbed in two cells, valence band ''holes'' oxidize water to oxygen, and conduction band electrons reduce hydronium ions to hydrogen ( Figure 5). 36 The process of photocatalytic splitting water is summarized as follows:…”

Формирование Методом Активированного Полем Спекания Эффективных Материалов Для Устройств Альтернативной Энергетики

“…Неравномерное распреде-ление температуры по высоте ветви приводит к изменению добротно-сти. Для повышения среднего уровня добротности ветви можно изме-нять электро-и теплофизические свойства материала по длине ветви термоэлемента или использовать составные ветви [2][3][4]. Применение таких ветвей способствует росту эффективности термоэлектрических устройств [5,6].…”

Active Site Elucidation in Heterogeneous Catalysis via In Situ X-Ray Spectroscopies

“…[6] This challenge can only be met through novel nanotechnologies, which permit the construction of tailored materials whose structure (and function) can be precisely tuned. [7] Photocatalysis requires appropriately selected coupled redox reactions, and the ability to efficiently harness light capable of driving the requisite electron-transfer chemistry. [8] Heterogeneous (solid) catalysts will likely act as a critical component in future artificial photosynthetic systems, [9] due to their high physical and chemical tolerance towards e.g.…”