ABSTRACT
The global energy crisis, low abundance and the environmental impact of fossil fuels have led to the development of alternative energy conversion and storage methods for a sustainable future. Clean energy devices such as fuel cells, dye-sensitized solar cells, batteries and supercapacitors can play an important role in addressing the energy crisis. The performances of these electrochemical devices greatly rely on the advanced materials particularly nanostructured materials used to make their components. Aerogels are 3-D nanostructures derived from the gel network through a special drying technique and they provide a large surface area, hierarchical open porous structure and ultra-low density. The fascinating properties of aerogel nanostructures have a considerable impact on enhancing the performance of energy conversion and storage devices. In this chapter, the development and applications of aerogel-based nanostructured materials for energy generation, conversion and storage are discussed.
