Application of Graphene Family Materials for High-Performance Batteries and Fuel Cells

Abstract

After the co-discoverers of graphene were awarded the Nobel physics prize in 2010, graphene research became very popular globally. Due to its special micro-structure, pristine graphene is treated as one of the representative 2D materials. Ideally, it only consists of one layer of carbon atoms, which leads to its outstanding theoretical physical properties. High electrical conductivity and low electrical resistant rate are two of graphene’s well-known physical properties. Due to this fact, graphene is expected to be applied to batteries to improve their capacity, charging velocity, and output voltage. From 2010 to 2020, more and more graphene-based electrochemical power suppliers started to show up in the laboratories, expecting to become the breakthrough of the ‘next-generation battery’. In this chapter, the basic information including properties, fabrication, and analysis of graphene and graphene-based materials will be introduced first. The application, classification as well as improvement of performance attributed to graphene and graphene-based materials in electrochemical power suppliers, especially lithium-ion batteries and fuel cells, will be introduced in detail next. The prospects for graphene batteries will be discussed lastly. We hope this chapter will assist readers to acquire information about graphene and help readers to have a clear understanding of the current development status of graphene-based electrochemical power suppliers.