Renewable Energy Innovations

2Nanotechnologies in the Renewable Energy Sector

Yogesh Kumar Sharma^1*, Yogesh Kumar², Sweta Sharma² and Meenal Gupta²

¹ Department of Chemistry, Swami Shradhanand College (University of Delhi), Alipur, New Delhi 110036, India

² Department of Physics, Atma Ram Sanatan Dharam College (University of Delhi), Dhaula Kuan, New Delhi 110021, India

Abstract

Nanomaterials are different from bulk materials, and in the recent past have been shown to have exclusive chemical and physical properties. Nanomaterials like one-dimensional (1D) nanostructures, i.e., nanorods, nanowires, nanobelts, nanofibers, nanoribbons, nanotubes, and nanoscrolls, etc., have attracted attention due to their specific and multidimensional functional characteristics. To enable the nanomaterials for renewable energy resource applications, the nanostructured electrodes facilitate various benefits. Nanostructural materials have high surface area, provide increased electrolyte-electrode interactions and reduce the charge-discharge time. The main functions of battery and fuel cells are to store charge that depends upon the power density and energy density. The different types of rechargeable batteries are aluminium-ion battery, calcium battery, lead acid battery, lithium-ion battery, magnesium ion battery, glass battery, etc. The attractive features of nanomaterials include short cation diffusion lengths, fast charging, surface vacancy, stabilized surface structures, and morphological design. In a fuel cell, catalyst ...