Mesoporous Materials for Electrochemical Energy Storage and Conversion

Abstract

electric grids, as well as biocompatible technologies, has attracted tremendous attention and is still a big challenge in the energy field. [1-4] The electrochemical energy storage and conversion devices, such as rechargeable batteries, supercapacitors, fuel cells, and electrolyzers, have been extensively explored. It is well known that electrode materials, e.g., anodes, cathodes, and catalysts, are the heart components of these devices, which play a decisive role in determining performance. Mesoporous materials, which have pore sizes ranging from 2 to 50 nm defined by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry, possess exceptional features, including high specific surface areas, large pore volumes, tunable pore sizes, and controllable geometries (Figure 1a-c). These features enable mesoporous materials as ideal candidates for energy conversion and storage because of the increased active reaction sites and enhanced transport efficiency of reactants. [3,5-7] Therefore, many precise manipulations and structural engineering strategies have been applied to construct advanced mesoporous electrodes with excellent electrochemical performance. Besides, the achieved electrodes with well-controlled mesoporous architectures could be used as platforms to study the fundamental research about the mass transport kinetics, charge transfer, and storage mechanism, as well as the interface electrochemical reactions behavior under the mesoporous nanoconfined space (Figure 1d-g). These fundamental studies are of great importance for further guiding the design of high-performance mesoporous electrodes for electrochemical energy storage and conversion. [6,8,9] In this Essay, we introduce the methods for synthesizing different types of mesoporous materials. Also, the key developments of applications of mesoporous materials in electrochemical energy conversion and storage devices are highlighted. The synthesis-structure-property of mesoporous materials and their applications in rechargeable batteries, supercapacitors, fuel cells, and electrolyzers have been detailed, providing creative insight and enlightening comments on the construction of high-performance mesoporous electrodes. Following these, we propose the research challenges and perspectives on mesoporous materials for the future development of energy conversion and storage devices. Developing high-performance electrode materials is an urgent requirement for next-generation energy conversion and storage systems. Due to the exceptional features, mesoporous materials have shown great potential to achieve high-performance electrodes with high energy/power density, long lifetime, increased interfacial reaction activity, and enhanced kinetics. In this Essay, applications of mesoporous materials are reviewed in electrochemical energy conversion and storage devices. The synthesis, structure, and properties of mesoporous materials and their performance in rechargeable batteries, supercapacitors, fuel cells, and electrolyzers are discussed, providing practical details and enligh...

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