High Energy Storage Density Research Articles

Effect of annealing temperature on the energy storage performance of PbZr0.52Ti0.48O3/PbZrO3 composite films

PbZrO3 (PZ) antiferroelectric films and PbZr0·52Ti0·48O3 (PZT) ferroelectric films are widely researched due to their significance as representative film materials. The article investigates the structure-performance relationship of PZT/PZ composite films with different PZ and PZT phase structures. PZT/PZ films with different PZ and PZT phase structures were fabricated on SiO2/Si substrates using the sol-gel method. The electrical properties of prepared films annealed at different temperatures were characterized and were compared at different annealing temperatures (550 °C, 600 °C, 620 °C, 650 °C). At the annealing temperature of 600 °C, it was observed that the presence of pyrochlore and perovskite phases in PZ makes the composite films high breakdown field strength (BDS) and moderate polarization (Pm), enhancing the energy storage properties. However, when the annealing temperature exceeds 600 °C, it would have the opposite effect on the BDS and Pm due to the increased pyrochlore and perovskite phase. The above analysis indicates that regulating the phase structure of PZ and PZT films is the effective approach to obtain high energy storage density capacitors.

Fluidized bed reactor sizing using manganese aluminium spinel for thermochemical storage

In the field of high-temperature thermal energy storage, the use of reacting systems that reversibly decompose and regenerate, absorbing and releasing heat on demand, is becoming more and more attractive. It is essential in the perspective of achieving high thermal energy density storage, appearing potentially suitable for long-term applications too.Thermochemical Systems (TCS) can contribute to increasing the dispatchability of thermal storage, potentially even on a seasonal timescale. So far, most of this field's scientific works have focused on the conventional concept of fixed-bed reactors. To improve the heat transport phenomena involved in TCS storage, a fluidized bed solution was considered in this article. At this aim, a manganese aluminium spinel, which is a low toxic, low pollutant and very cost-effective is proposed for this application. It was synthesized in the form of properly sized (150–200 μm of diameter) particles to be effectively adopted for fluidizing beds.The present work deals with the sizing of the reactor and its coupling with a Concentrating Solar Thermal (CST) system using the Solar Central Receiver (SCR) technology with air as Heat Transfer Fluid (HTF). Imposing realistic boundaries, an optimal configuration was established, with an operating HTF pressure of 4 bar and a thermal discharging power of about 16 MWth. A volumetric energy density of 170 kWhth/m3 was achieved and, despite a relatively low TES reaction enthalpy, the resulting specific cost of 33 €/kWh demonstrates the suitability of this configuration even for the current thermal storage commercial solution, and shows the high potentiality of this type of storage systems.

Production and utilization of green ammonia for decarbonizing the energy sector with a discrete focus on Sustainable Development Goals and environmental impact and technical hurdles

Green ammonia produced from renewable sources with little to no carbon emissions is considered as a carbon-free energy. Specifically, ammonia is an attractive energy carrier because of its high energy density, comparatively low-cost, and ease of liquefaction and storage. Ammonia generated worldwide is being used majorly as fertilizer however, in recent days, it has drawn more interest as a potential energy source and direct fuel in three key sectors namely electricity, transport, and heating. However, using green ammonia in diverse sectors has numerous challenges and limitations. Thus, this review aims to address the significance and application of green ammonia in the hydrogen energy sector and techno hurdles and environmental impact assessment of green ammonia utilization. At the outset, the importance of green ammonia and its utilization as a hydrogen energy carrier, the Power-to-ammonia-to-power (P2A2P) system, and the role of green ammonia in the Sustainable Development Goals were critically discussed. In the succeeding chapter, green ammonia's technological obstacles and its environmental impact were extensively articulated with state-of-the-art articles to lay a roadmap for decarbonizing the environment/energy sector by successfully utilizing ammonia as a hydrogen energy carrier/carbon-free green energy.

Effect of different micelles on charging and discharging behavior of phase change material

Phase change material (PCM) offers high-density thermal energy storage, making it attractive for thermal management applications of electronic circuitry and thermal energy storage. However, PCM, like paraffin wax, ideal for such low-temperature applications, has very low thermal conductivity. The present study focused on the improvement of the thermal conductivity of paraffin wax using surfactants. The surfactants used as thermal conductivity enhancers (TCE) are cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB), Dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate (known as AOT) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). The surfactant self-aggregation called a micelle, acts as conducting medium inside the paraffin wax, providing better thermal conductivity. The highest heat transfer rate with a peak temperature of 71 °C was observed in the case of AOT micelle paraffin wax. Adding SDS, CTAB, and AOT surfactants increased the highest temperatures by 4%, 8.4%, and 18.33% compared to pure PCM.

Effect of inner channel geometry on solidification performance of phase change material (PCM) in double-pipe thermal energy storage

Advantages such as high energy storage density and low heat losses have made phase change materials (PCMs) preferable in energy storage. However, the very low thermal conductivity of PCMs is the most important obstacle to improving melting and solidification performance of PCMs. To improve the thermal conductivity of PCM, the combination of PCM with nanoparticles, fins, and metal foam is among the methods widely researched in the literature. The innovation of this study was to examine the effect of inner and outer channel configurations on the solidification rate in double-pipe energy storage with PCM. Thus, it was aimed to benefit from the same amount of stored energy more and at a lower cost. In this regard, solidification analyses were carried out for three different basic inner channel geometries. With the triangle-in-circle configuration, the solidification rate was increased by 5.5% to 13.2% compared to other configurations. It is anticipated that the data obtained in this study will be a guide for novel inner channel geometry designs that will increase solidification performance and heat transfer in double-pipe energy storage with PCM.

Preparation of Ba0.65Bi0.07Sr0.245TiO3 relaxor ferroelectric ceramics with high energy storage capability by coating powders with ZnO

A chemical coating method to form a core-shell structure was applied to produce ZnO@Ba0.65Bi0.07Sr0.245TiO3(ZnO@BBST) relaxing ferroelectric ceramics with high energy storage density. The ZnO@BBST ceramic grain was refined and the structure is dense. Simultaneously, the relaxor behavior of ZnO@BBST was improved due to the synergistic effect of ZnO shell and internal BBST. Ultimately, under the electric field of 320 kV/cm, a energy storage density of 1.91 J/cm3 and an energy storage efficiency of 82 % are obtained in 2 wt% ZnO@BBST, together with fast discharge characteristics(τ0.9<1.25 μs) and excellent cycle stability (up to 1 × 105 times). ZnO@BBST ceramics have its unique advantages in the field of ceramic capacitors.

Dehydration performance of a novel solid solution library of mixed Tutton salts as thermochemical heat storage materials

To improve energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, energy storage technologies are of paramount importance. Thermochemical energy storage (TCES) materials offer high energy storage densities, and systems based on the dehydration of common salt hydrates like MgSO4·7H2O have been extensively investigated, though frequent problems such as agglomeration and unfavorable kinetics highlight the need for further material development. We consulted our VIENNA TCES-database and became aware of the Tutton salts, A2M(XO4)2·6H2O, (X = S or Se) which have also been previously investigated as TCES materials, although the effects of cation substitution on reactivity had remained poorly characterized. Herein, we report the synthesis and characterization of 41 mixed Tutton salts with the composition K2Zn1-xMx (SO4)2·6H2O (M = Mg, Co, Ni, Cu). Two trends were readily apparent: increasing the amount of nickel leads to a predictable increase in the dehydration onset temperature while preserving the simple form of the single dehydration step observed, while the use of copper leads to a predictable decrease in dehydration onset.

Achieving high energy storage density and excellent stability in BiScO3 modified BaTiO3-based ceramics

High-performance dielectric energy storage ceramics has been brought to the fore by data as a result of the rapid rise in new energy development. The dielectric energy storage materials that can withstand harsh environments while having excellent energy storage performance, large breakdown strength, and maximum polarization is highly demanding. Herein, we fabricated the BiScO3 (BS) modified 0.88(Ba0.6Ca0.4)TiO3-0.12Bi[Mg2/3(Nb0.85Ta0.15)1/3O3] (BCT-BMNT) ceramics with excellent energy storage performance. The experimental results revealed that the breakdown strength of BCT-BMNT-xBS ceramics can be substantially increased by careful engineering of the grain uniformity induced by the incorporation of the BS. The BCT-BMNT-0.2BS ceramic exhibited a considerably optimal recoverable energy storage density of 5.75 J/cm3 along with a high energy efficiency of 89.63 % at 650 kV/cm. Moreover, this sample showed good stability in the temperature range of 20–160 °C and frequency range of 1–500 Hz and excellent fatigue resistance up to 105 cycles. Regarding the pulsed performance, as-prepared sample exhibited excellent power density of 145.30 MW/cm3 and current density of 937.43 A/cm2. Meanwhile, it showed a fast discharge time (t0.9) of 50.20 ns under the electric field of 460 kV/cm. This study demonstrates the crucial role that BS doping plays in improving the energy storage capabilities of BT-based lead-free ceramics, which pave the way for the use of BT-based ceramics in the field of energy storage.

Energy storage and ferroelectric properties of flexible 1-x(Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3)-xBaTiO3 thin films on Pt/mica substrates

We investigated the energy storage and ferroelectric properties of flexible 1-x(Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3)-xBaTiO3 (NBT) thin films with BaTiO3 (BT) concentrations ranging from 0 to 6 mol% on Pt/mica substrates depending on the BT concentration. The NBT thin films exhibiting preferentially a-oriented crystallinity on the (111) Pt/mica substrates showed improved leakage current characteristics by increasing the BT concentration. In particular, the NBT thin films with zero BT concentration showed a high remanent polarization of about 28.4 μC/cm2. On the other hand, the NBT thin films with a BT concentration of 6 mol% significantly reduced the remanent polarization to about 4.7 μC/cm2 due to the characteristics of the relaxor. As a result, the NBT thin films with a BT concentration of 6 mol% showed a high energy storage efficiency of 89.5 % with a high recoverable energy storage density of 54.3 J/cm3 and a low loss energy density of 6.3 J/cm3.

Dynamic characteristics of a novel liquid air energy storage system coupled with solar heat and waste heat recovery

Liquid air energy storage (LAES) is a promising energy storage technology for its high energy storage density, free from geographical conditions and small impacts on the environment. In this paper, a novel LAES system coupled with solar heat and absorption chillers (LAES-S-A) is proposed and dynamically modeled. A power-speed control system is established for this system. Two operating control strategies are developed for the solar heat collection process. The transient characteristics of the novel system during the start-up, load-up process and encountering different disturbances are investigated. Besides, the dynamic responses when the waste heat is used for producing heating energy are also studied. The results indicate that the power-speed control system can guarantee a very short equilibrium time and a very small overshoot. The energy efficiency of the LAES-S-A system is 65.84 %, while that is 75.32 % when the waste heat is used for producing heating supply. When a disturbance occurs, the equilibrium times of the absorption chiller, air turbines and heating device are 1500 s, 40 s and 38 s, respectively. Compared with the absorption chiller, the heating device can better cooperate with the air turbines. The results can provide a reference for future studies.

Energy storage performance of PVDF composites enhanced by two-dimensional Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3 with high polarization

With the increasing consumption of non-renewable energy sources such as fossil fuels, human beings are facing the crisis of energy shortage. Therefore, researchers in most regions and countries in the world are actively committed to designing and developing new dielectric energy storage components with high energy storage density and high energy storage efficiency. In this work, 2-dimensional flaky Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3 (NBT) inorganic powders were prepared by the two-step molten salt method and compounded with polymer polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF). NBT/PVDF monolayer and 'sandwich' structure composites were prepared by the tape casting method, and the flaky NBT powders were arranged in parallel in the PVDF matrix. The phase and microstructure of the prepared NBT powders were analyzed by X-ray diffractometer and scanning electron microscope. The dielectric, conductivity, ferroelectric, and energy storage properties of the prepared composites were tested. The results show that the critical breakdown field strength of the prepared single-layer NBT/PVDF and 'sandwich' structure composites with a volume fraction of 0.75 vol.% NBT inorganic powder is 380 kV/mm and 540 kV/mm, respectively. The energy storage density reaches 13.78 J/cm3 and 21.57 J/cm3, which is about 1.87 and 3.01 times the volume fraction of 0 vol.%.

Simultaneously achieving large energy storage density and high efficiency in the optimized Sr2NaNb5O15 system with excellent temperature stability at a low electric field

Lead-free capacitors operating at low electric fields with high-energy density and high efficiency are critical for advanced electronic systems and innovative pulsed power applications. In this work, single tetragonal phase dielectric ceramics with high-energy storage density and high efficiency are prepared using the solid-state method. The co-substitution of Ba2+, Sm3+, and Mn4+ on the Sr2NaNb5O15 substrate enhances low-temperature relaxation behavior and polarization modulation due to order/disorder distribution and polar nanoregions (PNRs) in the structural distortion system. Ferroelectric tests revealed that the optimized Sr1.83Ba0.16Sm0.01NaMn0.01Nb4.99O15 tungsten bronze system has large energy storage density (Wrec = 4.432 J cm−3) and high efficiency (η = 84.3 %) at a low electric field (250 kV cm−1). In addition, the temperature-dependent permittivity results for the Sr1.82Ba0.165Sm0.015NaMn0.015Nb4.985O15 and Sr1.81Ba0.17Sm0.02NaMn0.02Nb4.98O15 ceramic samples demonstrated that they are X9R capacitor-compatible. Finally, Sr1.83Ba0.16Sm0.01NaMn0.01Nb4.99O15 has a current density (CD) of ∼797.77 A cm−2 and power density (PD) of ∼87.75 MW cm−3 with a very fast discharge time (t0.9 < 60 ns). It is worthy to note that all the components display excellent temperature stability (ΔWdis < 10 %) in the over-damping test. Thus, this work provides an avenue to obtain dielectric ceramic materials with potential application value in innovative pulse power components.

Trends in research on latent heat storage using PCM, a bibliometric analysis

Latent heat thermal energy storage (LHTES) is a particularly noteworthy thermal energy storage (TES) technology due to its high energy storage density. LHTES involves the use of phase change materials to store thermal energy, which can subsequently be used for heating and cooling applications as well as power generation. This paper outlines the techniques and tools employed to analyse the existing literature on TES and LHTES systems research. Bibliometric, a statistical approach to analysing written publications in specific fields of research, is used to identify significant findings and determine the course of scientific output. A strategic analysis of knowledge development is crucial for detecting opportunities and advancements within the field. This research offers valuable insights into the publication trends within the fields of TES and LHTES over the last three decades. Additionally, the study conducts a thorough examination of the geometric configurations of LHTES systems and their potential impacts on ongoing and future research. By tracking publication rates over 30 years, this study provides a comprehensive overview of how research in TES and LHTES has evolved. Understanding these trends helps researchers and policy makers gauge the growth and relevance of these fields in the context of energy storage and thermal management.

Superior energy storage performance of BNT-based ferroelectric ceramics based on maintaining high polarization and breakdown strength

Bi[Formula: see text]Na[Formula: see text]TiO3 (BNT)-based lead-free ceramics with superior ferroelectric properties are considered to be extremely advantageous in energy storage capacitors for future green technologies. Here, we demonstrate an approach to achieve both ultrahigh energy density [Formula: see text] and efficiency [Formula: see text] by regulating the multiscale electropolar structures and microstructure. A satisfactory energy storage performance of a high [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text], and a decent [Formula: see text] of 80% under [Formula: see text] are attained in the 0.5(BNT-CS)-0.5SB[Formula: see text]T ceramic (abbreviated as BNT-0.2SBT). Moreover, BNT-0.2SBT exhibits superior power density ([Formula: see text]), ultrafast discharge time ([Formula: see text][Formula: see text]ns) at [Formula: see text], and good temperature stability. The findings in this work not only demonstrate that a valid candidate, but also provide a new idea of how to achieve both high-energy storage density and efficiency in lead-free ferroelectric materials.

Lithium zinc/lithium iodide composite modified layer toward highly stable lithium metal anodes

Lithium metal batteries (LMBs) are considered by most researchers as among the most prospective next-generation high energy density storage devices because of high theoretical capacity (3860 mAh g − 1) and low reduction potential (–3.040 V compared to standard hydrogen electrode) of Li metal anode. Nevertheless, the uncontrollable dendrite growth of the Li metal anode during cycling hinders the commercial application of LMBs. Herein, we put forward a hybrid protective layer containing LiZn alloy and LiI at the surface of the Li metal anode. Thanks to the "lithiophilic" feature of LiZn alloy and LiI having a low surface Li+ diffusion energy barrier, the constructed homogeneous hybrid protective layer can reduce the nucleation barrier and facilitate Li+ rapid diffusion. As a consequence, Li metal anode exhibits a smooth plating/stripping morphology and can suppress the dendrite formation. Notably, the constructed ZI@Li || ZI@Li symmetrical cell realizes stable cycling for 470 h at 2 mA cm−2 and 2 mAh cm−2, and LMBs matched with commercial LiFePO4 cathode deliver greatly enhanced electrochemical properties. This hybrid protective layer provides a feasible strategy to realize even plating/stripping of Li metal, which would promote the high energy density LMBs for practical applications.

High energy storage density under low electric fields in BiFeO3-based ceramics with max configurational entropy

High energy storage density under low electric fields in BiFeO3-based ceramics with max configurational entropy

High-quality Development Path of Hydrogen Energy Enterprises under the Goal of Carbon Neutrality

Under the current strategic goal of "double carbon" in China, hydrogen energy, as one of the energies in the next era, has become a "hot" energy carrier with its high energy storage density, clean efficiency, net zero carbon emissions and sustainability, and has also become the key direction of the development of the new energy industry. Despite the strong support of policies, it is still in the development process. There are problems such as insufficient technological innovation and incomplete business models. Taking the development of the hydrogen energy industry(HEI) in JiaXing as an example, this paper makes an in-depth analysis of the current situation, characteristics, and economy of the HEI, puts forward improvement measures according to its shortcomings, and predicts the future development trend to help achieve "carbon neutrality" and "carbon peak".

Continuous desalination and high-density energy storage: Na metal hybrid redox flow desalination battery

Redox flow desalination batteries (RFDBs) provide sustainable and energy-efficient solutions for simultaneously resolving energy storage and desalination challenges. However, harnessing these bifunctional batteries is plagued by two major issues: 1. Liquid redox electrodes cause low energy density (<329 Ah/L), increasing system volume. 2. Intermittent desalination during charge or discharge phases hampers overall productivity. Our study introduces a novel configuration, replacing the liquid electrode with sodium metal, substantially increasing the energy density (1128 Ah/L). We also implement continuous desalination by interlaying alternating cation and anion exchange membranes between electrodes. Benefiting from the high energy density battery capable of continuous desalination, it demonstrates 95 % ion removal by treating natural seawater throughout the cyclic operation while consuming 1.40 min Wh/molNaCl (competitive with the conventional seawater reverse osmosis technology (4.06 Wh/molNaCl)). Our work is a critical step towards the practical adoption of desalination batteries, enhancing energy and environmental sustainability.

Phase change materials integrated buildings: A short review

Buildings account for one-third of global energy consumption and 38% of greenhouse gas emissions. Improving a building’s energy efficiency is vital in minimizing climate change. As an alternative to active cooling systems, passive cooling methods are promising. Thermal energy storage employing latent heat is an effective passive cooling strategy for increasing a building’s thermal inertia and, in turn, reducing temperature fluctuations and improving thermal comfort for building occupants. To do this, high-density phase change materials (PCMs) for thermal energy storage (TES) can be put to good use. Recent developments in TES techniques using PCMs have gained much research focus, primarily to improve energy efficiency and promote clean energy sources. PCMs are regarded as the most promising materials due to their high energy storage density for developing high-performance and energy-efficient buildings. The primary disadvantage of PCM is its low thermal conductivity, limiting its practical usage, which could be resolved by loading nano or micro-sized conductive fillers. The investigated system’s initial findings show that they effectively lower indoor temperature changes and energy demand during winter seasons and can cause load reduction or shifting.

High energy storage density in NaNbO3 antiferroelectrics with double hysteresis loop

Antiferroelectrics (AFEs) possess great potential for high performance dielectric capacitors, due to their distinct double hysteresis loop with high maximum polarization and low remnant polarization. However, the well-known NaNbO3 lead-free antiferroelectric (AFE) ceramic usually exhibits square-like P–E loop related to the irreversible AFE P phase to ferroelectric (FE) Q phase transition, yielding low recoverable energy storage density (Wrec). Herein, significantly improved Wrec up to 3.3 J/cm3 with good energy storage efficiency (η) of 42.4% was achieved in Na0.7Ag0.3Nb0.7Ta0.3O3 (30Ag30Ta) ceramic with well-defined double P–E loop, by tailoring the A-site electronegativity with Ag+ and B-site polarizability with Ta5+. The Transmission Electron Microscope, Piezoresponse Force Microscope and in-situ Raman spectra results verified a good reversibility between AFE P phase and high-field-induced FE Q phase. The improved stability of AFE P phase, being responsible for the double P–E loop and improved Wrec, was attributed to the decreased octahedral tilting angles and cation displacements. This mechanism was revealed by synchrotron X-ray diffraction and Scanning Transmission Electron microscope. This work provides a good paradigm for achieving double P–E loop and high energy storage density in NaNbO3-based ceramics.