Functional Nanomaterials For Energy And Sustainability

Centre for Materials Science, School of Forensic and Investigative Sciences, University of Central Lancashire, Preston PR12HE, UK

Adv. Mater. Lett., 2014, 5 (5), pp 236-241

DOI: 10.5185/amlett.2014.amwc1026

Publication Date (Web): Mar 09, 2014

Copyright © IAAM-VBRI Press

E-mail: akelarakis@uclan.ac.uk

Abstract

In view of the continuous decline in fossil fuel reserves, at a time when energy demands are steadily increasing, a diverse range of emerging nanotechnologies promise to secure modern solutions to the prehistoric energy problem. Each one of those distinct approaches capitalizes on different principles, concepts and methodologies to address different application requirements, but their common objective is to open a window to a sustainable energy future. Consequently, they all deserve substantial (though not necessarily equal) consideration from the scientific and engineering community. In this review we present bottom-up strategies that show great promise for the development of a new generation of advanced materials for energy applications without compromising the public safety or the environment.

Keywords

Nanomaterials, energy, sustainability, batteries, fuel cells