Electrospun materials for energy harvesting, conversion, and storage: A review

Laudenslager, Michael J.; Scheffler, Raymond H.; Sigmund, Wolfgang M.

doi:10.1351/PAC-CON-09-11-49

Pure Appl. Chem., 2010, Vol. 82, No. 11, pp. 2137-2156

http://dx.doi.org/10.1351/PAC-CON-09-11-49

Published online 2010-08-06

Electrospun materials for energy harvesting, conversion, and storage: A review

Michael J. Laudenslager¹, Raymond H. Scheffler¹ and Wolfgang M. Sigmund^1,2*

¹ Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-6400, USA
² Energy Engineering Department, Hanyang University, Seoul 133-791, Korea

Abstract: Long-length nanofibers are able to form porous networks with high surface-area-to-volume ratios, and decrease diffusion lengths. While there are numerous techniques to create nanostructures, electrospinning is the only technique that allows fabrication of nanofibers at long-length scales. These uniquely shaped fibers are applied to several energy-related devices. This review is an in-depth summary of the uses of electrospun fibers in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), batteries, capacitors, fuel cells, and hydrogen storage devices. Developments in electrospinning technologies to create novel fiber morphologies are also discussed.