Metal Oxide Nanostructures for Energy Conversion and Storage

Authors

Xing Sun, University of Texas-Pan American

Date of Award

5-2014

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Chemistry

First Advisor

Dr. Yuanbing Mao

Second Advisor

Dr. Jason Parsons

Third Advisor

Dr. Jose Guitierrez

Abstract

With the depletion of non-renewable resources and the related problems such as environmental pollutions and global warming effect, the society urgently needs more efficient and controllable energy conversion and storage systems. Three-dimensional ZnO nanoforests were prepared and morphology-tunable, which benefits both of energy conversion and storage systems. Willow-like ZnO nanoforests led the highest conversion efficiency of photoelectrochemical water splitting in reported pure ZnO nanostructures. Compared with nanowire arrays, ZnO@MnO2 nanoforests delivered 5 times higher specific capacitances within the same footprint area. V2O5@PPy exhibited higher specific capacitance and better rate stability than pure V2O5 nanofibers. This work lays the foundation for outperformed hybrid electrode materials applied in energy conversion and storage.

Comments

Copyright 2014 Xing Sun. All Rights Reserved.

https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/metal-oxide-nanostructures-energy-conversion/docview/1560677919/se-2

Granting Institution

University of Texas-Pan American