Energy-related Fields Research Articles

In-situ XRD study on phase transition kinetics of vanadium dioxide thin film

Vanadium dioxide (VO2) has great potentials to be used in energy-related fields due to its unique reversible thermochromic metal-insulating properties. In this paper, we used in-situ XRD technique to study the phase transition kinetics of VO2 thin films, which can change phase from monoclinic VO2 (M) to tetragonal rutile VO2 (R). The VO2 thin films were prepared by a simple solution-based sol-gel method followed by spin coating to achieve the nanoscale thickness on a quartz substrate. During heating, the critical phase transition of VO2 (M) occurred at 70 °C, which dropped to 45 °C during cooling. A martensite-like crystal phase transformation kinetic model was established based on the Koistinen and Marburger (KM) technique. The relative content of the two phases was quantitatively analyzed using the Rietveld method, and the transformation rate coefficient α was obtained as 0.20345 and 0.12585, for the heating process from VO2 (M) to VO2 (R) and the cooling process from VO2 (R) to VO2 (M), respectively. This research offers an effective tool for understanding the structural characteristics of thin film VO2, paving the way for its future design and applications towards energy-related fields such as in smart windows.

Enhanced SWIR Absorption in PMMA‐Coated TiN‐Based Metamaterial

AbstractAchieving highly efficient absorption in the short wavelength infrared (SWIR) spectral region is crucial for advancing numerous technologies. SWIR absorption enhances energy harvesting in solar cells, improves the sensitivity of infrared sensors, and enables precise control of thermal radiative properties in thermal emission devices. These advancements are essential for applications such as thermal imaging, night vision, and thermophotovoltaic systems. The study presents a simple, cost‐effective design of a polymer‐coated multilayer perfect absorber (MPA) metamaterial optimized for the SWIR spectral region. The proposed MPA structure is composed of four distinct layers: a top layer made of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) polymer, a second layer featuring arrays of circular titanium nitride (TiN) disks, a dielectric middle layer consisting of a pure zinc oxide (ZnO) film, and a bottom metallic layer formed by a thin film of TiN. The results demonstrate that the MPA achieves near‐perfect absorption, with a remarkable 99% efficiency centered at a wavelength of 1.3 µm. The absorption properties are further investigated with respect to various structural parameters to ensure better performance of the absorber. These absorbers hold great promise for applications in energy absorption, infrared sensing, thermal emission, and related fields.

In-plane structural and electronic anisotropy of nanoporous Pt films formed by oblique angle deposition

Nanoporous Pt films fabricated by oblique angle deposition hold potential as electrocatalysts in various energy-related fields owing to their high surface area, structural stability, and adequate conductivity. In this study, we investigated the morphology, porosity, and electrical conductivity of nanoporous Pt thin films and systematically studied their interrelationships. Specifically, we revealed an in-plane anisotropy in the electrical conductivity that correlates with the surface morphology of the film. This anisotropy was evident in the resistance measurements along the in-plane lateral and vertical directions, which aligned well with our simple model. The results emphasize the significance of film morphology in determining the film’s electrical properties. This study contributes to the understanding of the physical properties of Pt films fabricated via oblique angle deposition and offers valuable insights for designing nanoporous films for various applications.

The Impact of Economic Growth, Energy and Electricity Consumption Usage on CO2 Emissions: A Case Study of Morocco

Given the uncontrolled increase in environmental pollution and degradation of environmental quality worldwide, the environmental impact of economic growth has become a major focus in recent decades the most important question is: How does economic growth affect environmental quality? This study addressed this issue, examining the nature of the long-run relationship between economic growth per capita and pollutant emissions in Morocco. For this reason, the ARDL (Autoregressive Distributed Lag) modeling approach was used from 1990 to 2020. This approach mainly includes time series analysis and cointegration. The relationship tested introduces four variables: carbon dioxide (CO2), energy consumption per capita, electricity consumption per capita and GDP per capita. The main results indicate a long-term relationship between economic growth, energy consumption and CO2 emissions, indicating that a 1% increase in electricity consumption increases CO2 emissions by 0.36%. On the other hand, a 1% increase in GDP per capita increases CO2 emissions by 0.76%, and a 1% increase in energy consumption increases emissions by 2.06%. Thus, all variables show a significant effect. In conclusion, the strategy that Morocco needs to follow to solve our problems is to prioritize investment in research, development and artificial intelligence, while providing adequate training in energy-related fields.

Nitrogen-Doped CoP-Co2P-Supported Ru with Interconnected Channels through a Microwave Quasi-Solid Approach for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction over a Wide pH Range.

Transition-metal phosphides (TMPs) have attracted extensive attention in energy-related fields, especially for electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). However, it is imperative to develop a facile and time-consuming approach to prepare metal phosphides with satisfactory catalytic performance. Herein, nitrogen-doped CoP-Co2P decorated with Ru (Ru/N-CoP-Co2P) is synthesized (Ru/N-CoP-Co2P) through a hydrothermal route and following an ultrafast and simple microwave avenue within 20 s. The achieved Ru/N-CoP-Co2P possesses an interconnected porous morphology to expose abundant active sites and accelerate the mass transport. Moreover, N doping and Ru-supported decorated Ru/N-CoP-Co2P also play a key role in promoting the electrocatalytic activity. Therefore, the as-designed Ru/N-CoP-Co2P presents good catalytic performance for the HER in a wide pH range. Ru/N-CoP-Co2P merely needs overpotentials of 63, 100, and 65 mV to obtain 10 mA cm-2 in acidic, alkaline, and seawater electrolytes. This research provides a novel and efficient strategy for the synthesis of TMPs with highly efficient catalytic activity.

Exfoliated 2D Nanosheet-Based Conjugated Polymer Composites with P-N Heterojunction Interfaces for Highly Efficient Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution.

We have achieved a significant breakthrough in the preparation and development of two-dimensional nanocomposites with P-N heterojunction interfaces as efficient cathode catalysts for electrochemical hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and iodide oxidation reaction (IOR). P-type acid-doped polyaniline (PANI) and N-type exfoliated molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) nanosheets can form structurally stable composites due to formation of P-N heterojunction structures at their interfaces. These P-N heterojunctions facilitate charge transfer from PANI to MoS2 structures and thus significantly enhance the catalytic efficiency of MoS2 in the HER and IOR. Herein, by combining efficient sodium-functionalized chitosan-assisted MoS2 exfoliation, electropolymerization of PANI on nickel foam (NF) substrate, and electrochemical activation, controllable and scalable Na-Chitosan/MoS2/PANI/NF electrodes are successfully constructed as non-noble metal-based electrochemical catalysts. Compared to a commercial platinum/carbon (Pt/C) catalyst, the Na-Chitosan/MoS2/PANI/NF electrode exhibits significantly lower resistance and overpotential, a similar Tafel slope, and excellent catalytic stability at high current densities, demonstrating excellent catalytic performance in the HER under acidic conditions. More importantly, results obtained from proton exchange membrane fuel cell devices confirm the Na-Chitosan/MoS2/PANI/NF electrode exhibits a low turn-on voltage, high current density, and stable operation at 2 V. Thus, this system holds potential as a replacement for Pt/C with feasibility for applications in energy-related fields.

Tuning the band gap, optical, mechanical, and electrical features of a bio-blend by Cr2O3/V2O5 nanofillers for optoelectronics and energy applications

This work presents a facile approach for controlling the optical and electrical parameters of a biopolymeric matrix for optoelectronics. Vanadium oxide (V2O5) and chromium oxide (Cr2O3) nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared and incorporated into the carboxymethylcellulose/polyethylene glycol (CMC/PEG) blend by simple chemical techniques. Transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) data showed that V2O5 and Cr2O3 exhibited spherical shapes with sizes in the range of 40–50 nm and 10–20 nm, respectively. In addition, the blend's degree of crystallinity was sensitive to the V2O5 and Cr2O3 doping ratios. The scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and the elemental chemical analysis (EDAX) used to study the filler distribution inside the blend, and confirmed the existence of both V and Cr in the matrix. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy showed that the dopants significantly affected the blend reactive (C–O–C, OH, and C=O) groups. The stress–strain curves illustrated the reinforcing effect of the dopants up to 1.0 wt\\%\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\ ext{wt\\%}$$\\end{document} Cr2O3/V. The transmittance and absorption index spectra in the visible-IR wavelengths decreased with increasing filler content. Utilizing Tauc's relation and (optical) dielectric loss, the direct (indirect) band gap narrowed from 5.6 (4.5) eV to 4.7 (3.05) eV at 1.0 wt\\%\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\ ext{wt\\%}$$\\end{document} Cr2O3/V. All films have an index of refraction in the range of 1.93–2.17. AC conductivity was improved with increasing filler content and temperature. The energy density at 50 °C is in the range of 1–3 J/m3. The influence of V2O5 and Cr2O3 content on the optical conductivity, dielectric constant, loss, and dielectric modulus of CMC/PEG was reported. These enhancements in electrical and optical properties, along with the potential for band gap engineering, offer promising prospects for advanced applications in optoelectronics and energy-related fields.

Tungsten oxide embedded graphene oxide doped with SPEEK composite membrane for zinc–bromine redox flow batteries

Zinc-bromine redox flow batteries (Zn/Br2 RFBs) are fingerprint candidates for large-scale energy storage applications owing to their low cost, flexibility, high energy density, and astonishing round-trip efficiency. However, during the charging and discharging process, the diffusion of bromine through the porous membrane creates significant capacity decay and reduces the membrane efficiency of Zn/Br2 RFBs. In this respect, we developed various amounts of tungsten trioxide (WO3) nanoparticle-decorated graphene oxide (WO3@GO)-loaded sulfonated poly (ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) membranes and investigated their Zn/Br2 redox flow battery performance. The optimum amount of WO3@GO-loaded WO3@GO/SPEEK-3 membrane exhibits higher mechanical stability and ionic conductivity, significantly restricting the bromine crossover through the membrane. Due to their higher hydrophilic ability and uniform dispersion, WO3-loaded GO nanosheets provide strong interaction between the sulfonic acid group of the SPEEK membrane, which acts as an effective barrier for bromine crossover and significantly alters the Zn/Br2 battery performance. As a result, at a current density of 40 mA cm−2, the Zn/Br2 single cell of the WO3@GO/SPEEK-3 demonstrated higher coulombic efficiency (96.6 %), voltage efficiency (89.6 %), and energy efficiency (86.6 %), better than the WO3@GO/SPEEK-5 and pristine SPEEK membranes. These performances indicate that the proposed low-cost WO3@GO/SPEEK membrane can be highly applicable to other energy-related fields, including fuel cells and water treatment.

Geant4: A game changer in high energy physics and related applicative fields

Geant4 is an object-oriented toolkit for the simulation of the passage of particles through matter. Its development was initially motivated by the requirements of physics experiments at high energy hadron colliders under construction in the last decade of the 20th century. Since its release in 1998, it has been exploited in many different applicative fields, including space science, nuclear physics, medical physics and archaeology. Its valuable support to scientific discovery is demonstrated by more than 16000 citations received in the past 25 years, including notable citations for main discoveries in different fields. This accomplishment shows that well designed software plays a key role in enabling scientific advancement. In this paper we discuss the key principles and the innovative decisions at the basis of Geant4, which made it a game changer in high energy physics and related fields, and outline some considerations regarding future directions.

Visualizing Electrochemical CO2 Conversion via the Emerging Scanning Electrochemical Microscope: Fundamentals, Applications and Perspectives.

With the rapid development and maturity of electrochemical CO2 conversion involving cathodic CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) and anodic oxygen evolution reaction (OER), conventional ex situ characterizations gradually fall behind in detecting real-time products distribution, tracking intermediates, and monitoring structural evolution, etc. Nevertheless, advanced in situ techniques, with intriguing merits like good reproducibility, facile operability, high sensitivity, and short response time, can realize in situ detection and recording of dynamic data, and observe materials structural evolution in real time. As an emerging visual technique, scanning electrochemical microscope (SECM) presents local electrochemical signals on various materials surface through capturing micro-current caused by reactants oxidation and reduction. Importantly, SECM holds particular potentials in visualizing reactive intermediates at active sites and obtaining instantaneous morphology evolution images to reveal the intrinsic reactivity of active sites. Therefore, this review focuses on SECM fundamentals and its specific applications toward CO2RR and OER, mainly including electrochemical behavior observation on local regions of various materials, target products and onset potentials identification in real-time, reaction pathways clarification, reaction kinetics exploration under steady-state conditions, electroactive materials screening and multi-techniques coupling for a joint utilization. This review undoubtedly provides a leading guidance to extend various SECM applications to other energy-related fields.

Molecular Engineering for Modulating Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution of Fully Conjugated 3D Covalent Organic Frameworks.

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have recently shown great potential for photocatalytic hydrogen production. Currently almost all reports are focused on two-dimensional (2D) COFs, while the 3D counterparts are rarely explored due to their non-conjugated frameworks derived from the sp3 carbon based tetrahedral building blocks. Here, we rationally designed and synthesized a series of fully conjugated 3D COFs by using the saddle-shaped cyclooctatetrathiophene derivative as the building block. Through molecular engineering strategies, we thoroughly discussed the influences of key factors including the donor-acceptor structure, hydrophilicity, specific surface areas, as well as the conjugated/non-conjugated structures on their photocatalytic hydrogen evolution properties. The as-synthesized fully conjugated 3D COFs could generate the hydrogen up to 40.36 mmol h-1 g-1. This is the first report on intrinsic metal-free 3D COFs in photocatalytic hydrogen evolution application. Our work provides insight on the structure design of 3D COFs for highly-efficient photocatalysis, and also reveals that the semiconducting fully conjugated 3D COFs could be a useful platform in clear energy-related fields.

Phase reconfiguration of heterogeneous CoFeS/CoNiS nanoparticles for superior battery-type supercapacitors

Developing advanced battery-type materials with abundant active sites, high conductivity, versatile morphologies, and hierarchically porous structures is crucial for realizing high-quality hybrid supercapacitors. Herein, heterogeneous FeS@NiS is synthesized by cationic Co doping via surface-structure engineering. The density functional theory (DFT) theoretical calculations are firstly performed to predict the advantages of Co dopant by improving the OH− adsorption properties and adjusting electronic structure, benefiting ions/electron transfer. The dynamic surface evolution is further explored which demonstrates that CoFeS@CoNiS could be quickly reconstructed to Ni(Co)Fe2O4 during the charging process, while the unstable structure of the amorphous Ni(Co)Fe2O4 results in partial conversion to Ni/Co/FeOOH at high potentials, which contributes to the more reactive active site and good structural stability. Thus, the free-standing electrode reveals excellent electrochemical performance with a superior capacity (335.6 mA h g−1, 2684 F g−1) at 3 A g−1. Furthermore, the as-fabricated device shows a quality energy density of 78.1 W h kg−1 at a power density of 750 W kg−1 and excellent cycle life of 92.1% capacitance retention after 5000 cycles. This work offers a facile strategy to construct versatile morphological structures using electrochemical activation and holds promising applications in energy-related fields.

Tailoring the Optoelectronic Properties of Soybean-Derived Nitrogen Self-Doped Carbon Dots through Composite Formation with KCl and Zeolite, Synthesized Using Autogenic Atmosphere Pyrolysis

This article investigates the environmentally friendly synthesis and characterization of carbon dots (CDs) derived from soybean biomass, in conjunction with their composites containing potassium chloride (KCl) or zeolite. By using an environmentally sustainable synthetic approach, this study sought to unlock the potential of these materials for various applications. The physicochemical properties of the CDs and composites were comprehensively analyzed using various techniques including scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction analysis. In addition, various optical properties such as UV–Vis absorption, band gap, and excitation–emission behavior were investigated. A key finding to arise from this study was that the inclusion of a doping agent such as KCl or zeolite significantly reduced the size of the resulting CDs. In this light, whereas the undoped species are associated with average sizes of 8.86 ± 0.10 nm, those doped with either zeolite or KCl were associated with average sizes of 3.09 ± 0.05 and 2.07 ± 0.05 nm, respectively. In addition, it was shown that doping with either zeolite or KCl resulted in an alteration of the elemental composition of the CDs and influenced their optical properties, especially their excitation-dependent emission. These promising results point to potential applications in environmental sensing and energy-related fields.

An ultra-broadband high-performance solar energy perfect absorber from deep ultraviolet to mid-infrared

Metamaterial absorbers possess potential applications in a large number of fields, including solar energy harvesting, photovoltaics, stealth technology and sensors, owing to their capability to achieve perfect absorption of electromagnetic waves. In this study, a solar metamaterial absorber comprising a TiN substrate, a SiO2 spacer layer and an array of patterned-layer TiN-SiO2 double circular employing the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method is proposed to achieve perfect absorption in ultra-broadband. Optimization results indicate that the broadband absorption spectrum of the absorber extends from deep ultraviolet to mid-infrared wavelengths with an average absorption of 98.1%. The distribution of electric and magnetic fields suggests that the absorber achieves high absorption due to the interaction between surface plasmon resonance (SPR), cavity resonance (CR) and magnetic resonance (MR). Furthermore, the proposed absorber is insensitive to large-angle incidence and polarization-independent. Moreover, the absorber can be produced at a low cost due to its tolerance of the geometrical errors. The newly proposed metamaterial absorber is expected to be applied in solar energy related fields.

Metal oxide-mixed polymer-based hybrid electrochromic supercapacitor: improved efficiency and dual band switching

The inclusion of charge storage properties in electrochromic devices (ECDs) has gained much interest and has evolved into a promising emerging energy-related field due to multifunctional smart device applications. Here, an organic–inorganic solid-state asymmetric electrochromic supercapacitor device (ESCD) containing nano-CoTiO3-mixed poly-3-hexylthiophene and WO3 as two electrodes has been designed to study electrochromic and supercapacitor properties. The electrochemical properties of CoTiO3 show a pseudocapacitive-type charge storage capability, which has been utilized to enhance the electrochromic performance of the ESCD with additional charge storage ability. The device shows charge storage properties with fast charging and slow discharging, giving very high coulombic efficiency with a specific capacitance of 6.4 mF cm−2 at 0.2 mA cm−2 current density. The device shows excellent electrochromic supercapacitive properties with a color contrast of ∼50% and a short switching time of ∼1 s at a 515 nm wavelength with excellent cyclic stability. The device exhibits the capability to cut near infrared wavelength (700 nm and 850 nm) and has a potential application as a heat filtering device. Thus, the addition of pseudocapacitive-type materials in ECDs enhances the capacitive performance along with electrochromic properties, which makes ECDs more suitable for real life applications.

Three-Dimensional Vanadium and Nitrogen Dual-Doped Ti3C2 Film with Ultra-High Specific Capacitance and High Volumetric Energy Density for Zinc-Ion Hybrid Capacitors.

Zinc-ion hybrid capacitors (ZICs) can achieve high energy and power density, ultralong cycle life, and a wide operating voltage window, and they are widely used in wearable devices, portable electronics devices, and other energy storage fields. The design of advanced ZICs with high specific capacity and energy density remains a challenge. In this work, a novel kind of V, N dual-doped Ti3C2 film with a three-dimensional (3D) porous structure (3D V-, N-Ti3C2) based on Zn-ion pre-intercalation can be fabricated via a simple synthetic process. The stable 3D structure and heteroatom doping provide abundant ion transport channels and numerous surface active sites. The prepared 3D V-, N-Ti3C2 film can deliver unexpectedly high specific capacitance of 855 F g-1 (309 mAh g-1) and demonstrates 95.26% capacitance retention after 5000 charge/discharge cycles. In addition, the energy storage mechanism of 3D V-, N-Ti3C2 electrodes is the chemical adsorption of H+/Zn2+, which is confirmed by ex situ XRD and ex situ XPS. ZIC full cells with a competitive energy density (103 Wh kg-1) consist of a 3D V-, N-Ti3C2 cathode and a zinc foil anode. The impressive results provide a feasible strategy for developing high-performance MXene-based energy storage devices in various energy-related fields.

Facile production of highly porous graphitic nanosheets for enhanced hydrogen storage

Graphitic nanosheets as a two-dimensional material are renowned an ideal candidate for efficient adsorbents due to their rapid adsorption kinetics and superior capacity. This study presents a facile method to develop highly porous graphitic nanosheets (PGNs) from converted carbon blacks (CBs) for hydrogen (H2) storage. The CBs, containing interconnected amorphous and graphitic domains, allows the introduction of numerous H2-friendly adsorption sites during PGNs production. The resulting PGNs show large sheets of 3–5 μm and thicknesses of ∼ 2.5 nm, boasting a remarkable specific surface area of 2,644 m2/g with significant total H2 storage capacities of 11.5 wt% (3.8 kWh kg−1 @ 77 K) and 2.6 wt% (0.87 kWh kg−1, @ 298 K) at 60 bar. This research introduces a promising strategy to enhance PGNs's H2 storage capabilities, paving the way for diverse energy-related fields.

Ultrafast micro/nano-manufacturing of metastable materials for energy.

The structural engineering of metastable nanomaterials with abundant defects has attracted much attention in energy-related fields. The high-temperature shock (HTS) technique, as a rapidly developing and advanced synthesis strategy, offers significant potential for the rational design and fabrication of high-quality nanocatalysts in an ultrafast, scalable, controllable and eco-friendly way. In this review, we provide an overview of various metastable micro- and nanomaterials synthesized via HTS, including single metallic and bimetallic nanostructures, high entropy alloys, metal compounds (e.g. metal oxides) and carbon nanomaterials. Note that HTS provides a new research dimension for nanostructures, i.e. kinetic modulation. Furthermore, we summarize the application of HTS-as supporting films for transmission electron microscopy grids-in the structural engineering of 2D materials, which is vital for the direct imaging of metastable materials. Finally, we discuss the potential future applications of high-throughput and liquid-phase HTS strategies for non-equilibrium micro/nano-manufacturing beyond energy-related fields. It is believed that this emerging research field will bring new opportunities to the development of nanoscience and nanotechnology in both fundamental and practical aspects.

Engineered MXene quantum dots for micro-supercapacitors with excellent capacitive behaviors

Micro-supercapacitors (MSCs) have drawn tremendous attention as promising candidates to power miniaturized portable/wearable electronics, but they still suffer from unsatisfactory electrochemical performance (e.g., insufficient energy density, mediocre rate capability), thus impeding their widespread applications. Here, a synergistic surface and structure engineering strategy achieved by downsizing to quantum dot scale, doping of heteroatoms, and introducing defects and functional groups is proposed to regulate the physicochemical properties of Ti3C2Tx MXene. Encouragingly, the resulting MSCs based on defect-rich nitrogen-doped Ti3C2Tx quantum dots (QDs) possess excellent electrochemical performance as demonstrated by large operating voltage (3.0 V in ionic liquid and 1.0 V in aqueous electrolyte), perfect rectangular CV shape even at 1000 V·s−1, high volumetric capacitance of 33.1 F·cm−3, and superior cycling stability after 10000 cycles. By employing experimental characterizations and density functional theory calculations, the remarkable performance of the MSCs is mainly due to the special chemical states as well as the unique surface and structural features of Ti3C2Tx QDs, which offer abundant active sites, shorten ion diffusion pathways, promote ion/electron transports, and provide enhanced capacitance. This work provides a new strategy for the design of high-performance MSCs and a reference for the applications of MXene QDs in other energy-related fields.

Chemical vapor deposition growth of graphene and other nanomaterials with 3D architectures towards electrocatalysis and secondary battery-related applications.

Recently, two-dimensional (2D) layered materials, such as graphene and transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs), have garnered a lot of attention in energy storage/conversion-related fields due to their novel physical and chemical properties. Constructing flat graphene and TMDCs nanosheets into 3D architectures can significantly increase their exposed surface area and prevent the restacking of adjacent 2D layers, thus dramatically promoting their applications in various energy-related fields. Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) is a low-cost, facile, and scalable method, which has been widely employed to produce high-quality graphene and TMDCs nanosheets with 3D architectures. During the CVD process, the morphologies and properties of the 3D architectures of such 2D materials can be designed by selecting substrates with different compositions, stacking geometries, and micro-structures. In this review, we focus on the recent advances in the CVD synthesis of graphene, TMDCs, and their hybrids with 3D architectures on different 3D-structured substrates, as well as their applications in the electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and various secondary batteries. In addition, the challenges and future prospects for the CVD synthesis and energy-related applications of these unique layered materials will also be discussed.