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A review on the use of carbon nanostructured materials in electrochemical capacitors
Author(s) -
Mombeshora Edwin T.,
Nyamori Vincent O.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
international journal of energy research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.808
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1099-114X
pISSN - 0363-907X
DOI - 10.1002/er.3423
Subject(s) - nanotechnology , supercapacitor , materials science , energy storage , nanomaterials , electrochemical energy storage , graphene , carbon nanotube , carbon fibers , heteroatom , nanostructure , electrolyte , electrochemistry , electrode , chemistry , composite number , composite material , ring (chemistry) , power (physics) , physics , organic chemistry , quantum mechanics
Summary Sustainable and renewable energy resources, as well as energy storage systems (ESSs), are amongst the current and critical global requirements. A comparative discussion on batteries, fuel cells and electrochemical capacitors (ECs) is presented. The mechanisms involved in various classes of ECs are also elaborated. Additionally, a historical background highlighting some of the major steps associated with EC development over the years is discussed in this review. In particular, carbon nanostructured materials have high potential in the development of ESSs, and hence this review presents an insight on the current ESSs with a strong bias towards these materials as ECs. The current status of carbon nanomaterials, such as carbon nanotubes, nanofibers, nano‐onions, nanorods, fullerenes and graphene nanosheets, in ECs is reviewed. The associated effects of nanostructural parameters, such as pore sizes and specific electro‐active areas, amongst others, in terms of energy storage capabilities are also discussed. Typical physicochemical characterisation techniques, which enrich understanding of their characteristics, are also reviewed. The discussion views set platforms for a variety of unique carbon nanomaterial designs with high prospective specific capacitance. Key porosity tailoring protocols, such as chemical activation, introduction of heteroatoms in carbon nanostructures and template synthesis methods, are also reviewed. The effects of other device components, such as electrolyte ion size and solvent system, electrode design and use of binders, to the overall capability of EC, are also discussed. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.