Graphene-Based Nanocomposites for Energy Storage

Since the first report of using micromechanical cleavage method to produce graphene sheets in 2004, graphene/graphene-based nanocomposites have attracted wide attention both for fundamental aspects as well as applications in advanced energy storage and conversion systems. In comparison to other materials, graphene-based nanostructured materials have unique 2D structure, high electronic mobility, exceptional electronic and thermal conductivities, excellent optical transmittance, good mechanical strength, and ultrahigh surface area. Therefore, they are considered as attractive materials for hydrogen (H2) storage and high-performance electrochemical energy storage devices, such as supercapacitors, rechargeable lithium (Li)-ion batteries, Li–sulfur batteries, Li–air batteries, sodium (Na)-ion batteries, Na–air batteries, zinc (Zn)–air batteries, and vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFB), etc., as they can improve the efficiency, capacity, gravimetric energy/power densities, and cycle life of these energy storage devices. In this article, recent progress reported on the synthesis and fabrication of graphene nanocomposite materials for applications in these aforementioned various energy storage systems is reviewed. Importantly, the prospects and future challenges in both scalable manufacturing and more energy storage-related applications are discussed

Metal-dispersed porous graphene for hydrogen storage

First-principles calculations are carried out to study the role of various metal atoms on porous graphene for molecular hydrogen (H-2) adsorption. The binding sites of each metal atom on porous graphene are investigated and the binding energies are determined. It is shown that H-2 exhibits different adsorption characteristics onto alkaline, alkaline-earth, or transition metals in porous graphene. In particular, Ca-decorated porous graphene is investigated and found to be feasible for high-capacity hydrogen storage. Our results provide a general picture on the interactions of H-2 with porous graphene decorated with various metals. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3560468]open116368sciescopu