Utility of Metal-Organic Frameworks in an Electrochemical Charge Storage

Abstract

Continuous depletion of petroleum reserves and ever rising level of pollution with consequent global climate change is a major area of concern for mankind. This draws our attention towards the use of cleaner and efficient renewable energy sources and storage technologies. Thus, we need to devise a system to provide cleaner energy for sustainable development. Batteries, especially the rechargeable ones, supercapacitors and pseudo-capacitors strike our mind as ideal energy storage techniques. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), because of their distinctive characteristics, such as tailor-made morphology, highly crystalline nature, splendid porosity, magnificent surface area, tunable pore dimensions, conducive fabrication, post-synthetic modifications, etc., can be exploited for their use in energy storage devices. However, problems like poor electrical potential and frail strength of MOFs need to be addressed before these materials could be utilized successfully for electrochemical charge storage applications. Electrochemical capacitors are preferred candidates over batteries by virtue of their higher power density. To increase energy density and reduce the cost of supercapacitors is still a challenging task for use of these materials in electrical charge storage and harvesting execution. The problem ought to be resolved by the use of composite MOFs impregnated with highly conducting materials like carbon nanotubes, reduced graphene oxide or activated carbon fibers in the construction of electrodes for charge storage gadgets to improve energy storage capacity, high power output, swift charge and discharge phenomenon and enhanced life period.