ABSTRACT
Depletion of the world’s natural resources has been continuously destabilising and threatening the present fossil fuel-based energy economy. In addition, a continuous increase in greenhouse gases is a serious global threat. Therefore, the urgency for energy research requires the development of clean energy sources at a much higher level than that presently in force. Consequently, the exploitation of renewable energy resources is increasing worldwide, particularly in the area of wind and solar power energy plants (PEPs). Efcient use of these resources requires high-efciency energy storage systems. Electrochemical systems, such as batteries and supercapacitors, which can efciently store and deliver energy on demand in hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) and portable consumer electronic equipments, are playing a crucial role in this eld. The effectiveness of batteries in PEPs is directly related to their content in energy efciency and lifetime. In recent decades, secondary Li ion batteries (LIBs) have evolved as a
CONTENTS
4.1 Introduction ................................................................................................ 163 4.2 Structural Features of Hollow Mesoporous Carbon (HMC) ............... 166 4.3 Electrode Material in Li Ion Battery (LIB) .............................................. 168 4.4 Electrode Material in Electrical Double Layer Capacitor (EDLC) ...... 176 4.5 Catalyst Support in Fuel Cell ................................................................... 180 4.6 Conclusions ................................................................................................. 183 Acknowledgements ............................................................................................ 185 References ............................................................................................................. 185
foremost energy source for all kinds of consumer electronic products as well as electric/hybrid vehicles due to their high electromotive force and high energy density [1,2]. However, at present, many potential electrode materials are experiencing slow Li ion diffusion and high resistance at the interface of electrode/electrolyte at high charge-discharge rates [3,4], and their rate capability, dominated mainly by the diffusion rate of Li ion and the electron transfer in electrode materials, must be improved considerably [5].
