Energy and environmental applications of carbon nanotubes
Energy and environmental applications of carbon nanotubes
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DOI：
10.1007/s10311-012-0356-4
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发表时间：
2012-02
影响因子：
15.7
通讯作者：
Chin Wei Tan;Kok H Tan;Y. Ong;A. Mohamed;S. Zein;S. Tan
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Chin Wei Tan;Kok H Tan;Y. Ong;A. Mohamed;S. Zein;S. Tan
能源和环境是全球性的重大问题，也是环境污染问题的根源。传统化石燃料发电已被确定为环境质量退化和环境污染的罪魁祸首。为了解决这些问题，纳米技术在革新能量转换和存储、环境监测以及环境友好材料的绿色工程的设备应用中起着至关重要的作用。碳纳米管及其杂化纳米复合材料由于其独特的结构、电学和力学性能，在各个领域具有潜在的应用前景，受到了广泛的研究关注。本文综述了碳纳米管在能源转换和储存方面的应用，如太阳能电池、燃料电池、储氢、锂离子电池和电化学超级电容器;在环境监测和废水处理方面的应用，如气体污染物、病原体、染料、重金属和农药的检测和去除;在绿色纳米复合材料设计方面的应用。碳纳米管在太阳能和燃料电池中的集成提高了这些能量转换应用的能量转换效率，这些能量转换应用将成为未来的可持续能源。掺杂有金属氧化物的碳纳米管显示出约6wt%的高储氢容量作为潜在的储氢介质。碳纳米管纳米复合材料在锂离子电池中表现出高的能量容量，在电化学超级电容器中表现出高的比电容，以及优异的循环稳定性。碳纳米管传感器对环境污染物的检测具有很高的灵敏度和选择性，同时碳纳米管具有很高的吸附容量和良好的再生能力，有望作为吸附剂去除环境污染物。碳纳米管被用作绿色纳米复合材料中的增强材料，这有利于提供除生物降解性之外的所需性质。本文综述了碳纳米管在电化学能源器件、绿色纳米复合材料、纳米传感器和环境保护吸附剂等方面的优势。
Energy and environment are major global issues inducing environmental pollution problems. Energy generation from conventional fossil fuels has been identified as the main culprit of environmental quality degradation and environmental pollution. In order to address these issues, nanotechnology plays an essential role in revolutionizing the device applications for energy conversion and storage, environmental monitoring, as well as green engineering of environmental friendly materials. Carbon nanotubes and their hybrid nanocomposites have received immense research attention for their potential applications in various fields due to their unique structural, electronic and mechanical properties. Here, we review the applications of carbon nanotubes (1) in energy conversion and storage such as in solar cells, fuel cells, hydrogen storage, lithium ion batteries and electrochemical supercapacitors, (2) in environmental monitoring and wastewater treatment for the detection and removal of gas pollutants, pathogens, dyes, heavy metals and pesticides and (3) in green nanocomposite design. Integration of carbon nanotubes in solar and fuel cells has increased the energy conversion efficiency of these energy conversion applications, which serve as the future sustainable energy sources. Carbon nanotubes doped with metal hydrides show high hydrogen storage capacity of around 6 wt% as a potential hydrogen storage medium. Carbon nanotubes nanocomposites have exhibited high energy capacity in lithium ion batteries and high specific capacitance in electrochemical supercapacitors, in addition to excellent cycle stability. High sensitivity and selectivity towards the detection of environmental pollutants are demonstrated by carbon nanotubes based sensors, as well as the anticipated potentials of carbon nanotubes as adsorbent to remove environmental pollutants, which show high adsorption capacity and good regeneration capability. Carbon nanotubes are employed as reinforcement material in green nanocomposites, which is advantageous in supplying the desired properties, in addition to the biodegradability. This article presents an overview of the advantages imparted by carbon nanotubes in electrochemical devices of energy applications and green nanocomposites, as well as nanosensor and adsorbent for environmental protection.