Graphene Applications in Energy
Introduction
As we know, energy runs the world, from the largest factories to people’s homes. With the rising population comes the increasing consumption and demand for energy. However, even the world’s wealthiest and most developed nations cannot keep up with the energy demand. As a result, blackouts are starting to plague many countries responsible for much of the world’s trade, including China and the United States. Graphene contains the necessary properties to assist and potentially revolutionize the energy sector, particularly regarding its storage.
Energy Applications of Graphene
So why is graphene important for energy? Graphene is the focal point for energy storage; it can increase current energy storage devices' performance, functionality, and durability. To list a few, graphene and graphene-related materials (GRMs) can make critical differences in solar cells, batteries, supercapacitors, hydrogen storage, and fuel cells.
Graphene is progressing toward becoming the conductive medium/printable circuitry that many electronics require. Though this may require some time, graphene is already popular in commercial small-scale energy storage systems such as batteries and capacitors.
Graphene-Based Batteries
Graphene may not be the sole material in graphene-based batteries, but they are responsible for the electrodes and the coating on such electrodes depending on the battery. Although the traditional lithium-ion battery is the most popular battery that incorporates graphene, graphene can be used in many types of batteries to enhance the batteries' efficiencies, stability, and cycle/discharge cycle rates.?
According to Azonano , graphene-based batteries are the most widely developed energy storage device that uses graphene. In fact, one of the largest electronics companies, Samsung, is commercially producing graphene-based batteries alongside lesser-known battery manufacturers.
What are the benefits of graphene in batteries? Processing graphene into a rechargeable battery’s electrodes improves its energy capacity and charge rate. Graphene’s superior electrical conductivity, mechanical flexibility, chemical stability, and high surface area allow such advantages.?
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Supercapacitors
If you are unfamiliar with this term, a capacitor is an electrical component that draws energy from a battery and stores the energy. On the other hand, a supercapacitor has a very high capacitance (the ability of a system to store an electric charge) and a low voltage rating compared to a standard capacitor. They are essentially a kind of cross between a battery and a capacitor.
Supercapacitors are already used today, but usually along with traditional batteries so they can give a quick burst of energy in applications such as electric cranes that may need extra power during strenuous tasks. Compared to the typical lithium-ion battery used in electric cars today, a supercapacitor could conceivably charge up much more quickly but can only store a small amount of energy.
Appropriately, supercapacitors are rapidly becoming another area where graphene can put its abilities to use. Similar to the situation with batteries, graphene’s high surface area, stability, and conductivity provide an upper hand to supercapacitors when graphene is used as a carbon coating. As a result, graphene supercapacitors could give massive amounts of power while using much less energy than conventional devices. Even though they are not as widely used as regular batteries, supercapacitors can experience significant growth in usage as they would become the preferred choice to power electric cars. And because they are light, graphene supercapacitors could also reduce the weight of vehicles.
Summary
Though we only discussed significant energy-related areas where graphene will impact (solar cells, supercapacitors, graphene batteries), many other innovations can and already have tooled graphene. As mentioned by Graphene Flagship, some of these innovations include Deep Freeze for Cryo-Electronics, Advanced Heating Solutions, Cooling High-Power Electronics, and Smart Heat for Smart Textiles.
Graphene can play a significant role in the advancement of energy. However, two significant problems need to be solved before graphene-based nanomaterials and devices find widespread commercial use. As reported by Nanowerk , one problem is the preparation of graphene-based nanomaterials with well-defined structures, and the other is the controllable fabrication of these materials into functional devices. Thus, researching further into graphene and its potential use cases in the energy sector can bring about faster change. Problems considered usual in today’s world, such as blackouts, lack of access to electricity, and power outages due to extreme weather will eventually become obsolete if energy storage and production devices implement graphene in their builds.?
Sources: Nanowerk, AZoNano, The Graphene Council
Author: Anish P.
Contact: [email protected]
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