Increased demands on high specific and reliable energy sources for both large format and portable devices have drawn dramatic attentions on design of new materials and nano-architecture for energy storage. Although there are a number of commercially available cathode materials, specific capacity of all of those cathode materials is limited below 150~200 mAh g−1. If specific capacity of cathode materials can be increase, it will lead large increase in specific energy density. One of ways is to employ Li-rich layered cathode but there still exist a number of issues [Citation1]. To resolve those issues such as low rate, clustered nanoparticulate were produced to minimise diffusion distance. On the other hand, high-performance anode materials were are also investigated. Anode derived from metal organic frameworks (MOFs) is one of the examples, where 3D channels enable easy infiltration of liquid electrolyte resulting in fast lithium-ion (Li-ion) transportation [Citation2]. Because of free spaces in MOFs’ structure, the anode made from MOFs can accommodate large strain change during change and discharge. With increase in use of lithium, it is urgent to search alternative ions for rechargeable batteries, one of which is sodium-ion (Na-ion) battery. In recent years, there are breakthroughs for cathode materials for Na-ion batteries, whereas progress in searching anode materials for Na-ion is slow. Anode made of CuO has been studied for Li-ion batteries. A question that is waiting for answer is if this type of material through conversion mechanism is suitable for Na-ion. Coupled with use of carboxymethyl cellulose binder, CuO demonstrates excellent Na-ion storage capacity. On the other hand, if CuO is used with poly (vinylidene) fluoride as a binder, capacity of CuO shows quickly fade [Citation3]. Carbon is always a primary consideration as anode in many batteries due to high capacity and cost effective. However, carbon in graphite form is not suitable for Na-ion intercalation. Therefore, hardcopy becomes a consideration for large scale fabrication of Na-ion batteries. Guo et al. [Citation4] carburises mineral-rich egg-yolks with introduction of nitrogen dopant, and at the same time to create pores in the carbon is successively chemical-etched. As anode for Na-ion batteries, the as-prepared carbon reveals an initial reversible capacity of 208 mAh g−1 and a high capacity retention of 86% after 200 cycles with good rate capability. Supercapacitor that can be divided into two categories, namely electrostatic double layer capacitor, and pseudocapacitors, is another kind of energy storage. Cheng et al. [Citation5] use aerogel type of carbon with carbon nanotubes and graphene to increase surface area as well as electric conductivity. By introducing redox reaction, CuBi2O4 hierarchical architectures demonstrates extraordinarily high capacitance but on the cost of rate capability [Citation6]. For large scale processing, cost is one of main concerns. Therefore, cost-effective processing becomes one of prerequisite for industrialisation of materials. Through microwave-assisted combustion technique, NiO/Yttria stabilised zirconia (YSZ) composites that will be used for fuel cell were successfully synthesised. This example opens up a new horizon for the synthesis of novel ceramic electrode materials for solid oxide fuel cell application using microwaves [Citation7].
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References
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- Gou L, Chen G-Q, Liu P-G, et al. Isostructural metal organic frameworks based on 1,4-naphthalene dicarboxylate as anodes for lithium ion battery.
- Fan M, Yu H, ChenY. High capacity sodium ion battery anodes based on CuO nanosheets and carboxymethyl cellulose binder.
- Guo L, An Y, Fei H, et al. Self-templated biomass derived nitrogen-doped porous carbons as high performance anodes for sodium-ion batteries.
- Cheng H, Medina L, Duong HM. Free-standing PEDOT: PSS/CNT aerogels and their electrochemical performance.
- Wang F, Yang H, Zhang Y, et al. Morphology-tailored synthesis and electrochemical performances of CuBi2O4 hierarchical architectures with the aid of KCl.
- Satheeshkumar E, Anbarasi P, Ilango K, et al. Studies on electrical properties of microwave assisted synthesis of NiO/ YSZ composites for high performance anode in solid oxide fuel cell.