Energy

The worlds growing demand for clean energy will require the development of new technologies and new materials. Nano fibers are highly beneficial for energy devices, where inorganic materials especially metal oxides can be synthesized and electrospun, improving conducting and ceramic properties. Excitonic solar cells fabricated with aligned nanofiberous metal oxide-electrodes provide higher solar�electric energy conversion efficiency, whereas fuel-cells made with nanofiberous electrodes enable uniform dispersion of catalysts, and thus increase electrocatalytic activity to obtain higher chemical�electric energy conversion efficiency. The high surface area to mass ratio of nanofibers, in addition to semiconductive behavior for certain types of oxide nanofibers, encourages the use of these materials in the fabrication of energy devices.

Potential Application

• Li-ion batteries
• Photovoltaic cells
• Membrane fuel cells
• Solar cells