Design and Development of Electrodes for High Performance Supercapacitors and Efficient Oxygen Evolution Reaction

Abstract

Energy is a fundamental aspect of modern civilization, powering economic development, technological advancements, and the daily functioning of societies. This energy can be derived from renewable and non-renewable sources, each with unique implications for availability, environmental impact, and sustainability. Non-renewable sources, such as fossil fuels and nuclear energy, have historically driven human progress but are finite and environmentally taxing. In contrast, renewable energy sources, including solar, wind, and hydroelectric power, offer sustainable and cleaner alternatives. However, integrating these renewable sources into the energy grid presents challenges due to their intermittent nature and uneven geographical distribution. Addressing these issues necessitates advancements in energy storage technologies and hydrogen production through electrochemical water splitting, which emerge as pivotal strategies for ensuring a stable and sustainable energy future. newlineHigh-performance electrodes are critical to enhancing energy storage systems and the efficiency of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in water splitting. Key parameters for designing such electrodes include a large ion-accessible surface area, high electrical conductivity, rapid charge transport, and excellent electrochemical stability. Transition metal oxides and hydroxides, particularly those based on nickel, manganese, and their alloys, have shown significant promise due to their high specific capacitance, abundance of active sites, and cost-effectiveness. This work explores advanced methodologies such as stationary friction processing and sub-homologous temperature nano-molding to address the limitations of existing electrode designs. These innovative approaches leverage severe plastic deformation and microstructure engineering to enhance material properties and performance.Composition optimization efforts focused on transitioning from initial Brass and Cu-Mn systems to Ni-Mn-based alloys, which displayed superior electrochemical properties.