Energy

In recent years, there has been a boom in the use of electrospun nanofibers in energy applications, particularly for energy supply and storage.

development of membranes and coatings for energy-related products and applications: batteries, supercapacitors, and other energy storage devices; promoting chemical catalysis in devices for the production of green hydrogen or other substances; solar cells that implement a layer of nanofibers to promote electronic conduction, etc. This includes a particular focus on electrospinning for energy supply and storage, due to its particular relevance.

In all these possible applications, the fact that nanofiber membranes offer high porosity and high specific surface area makes them ideal structures for highly efficient ion transfer. Furthermore, depending on the materials used and the structure generated by electrospinning, acceptable thermal stability over time, adequate mechanical properties depending on the application, and a reduction in degradation rates during charging and discharging processes (in the case of separators) can be achieved. These properties of electrospun membranes are part of the reason why nanofibers in energy applications, particularly for solar cell electrospinning, are increasingly being used by researchers and also by some manufacturers.

Otro detalle importante en la era actual es que tanto el grafeno como óxidos de grafeno pueden ser procesados mediante electrospinning. Graphene is a material with great potential for generating more efficient products in the field of energy storage and transmission, including electrospinning applications for solar cells.

All of this means that electrospinning technology in particular, but also electrospraying technology, are increasingly present in new developments aimed at improving performance and/or reducing costs in various energy-related applications.

Electrospinning in energy applications can offer interesting advantages, such as a high surface-to-volume ratio and high porosity, which improves the performance of energy storage devices. Electrospinning energy storage applications include advanced batteries, supercapacitors, fuel cells, and catalytic membranes, where nanofibers act as effective electrodes. The flexibility of electrospinning allows for the manufacture of a wide range of materials, which is expanding its use.

In addition, energy storage applications using electrospinning benefit from the cost-effectiveness and scalability of the technique. Therefore, the use of electrospinning in energy storage continues to grow, thanks to its inherent advantages.