Defect induced surface engineering of carbon derivatives and its effect on energy storage devices

Abstract

An intense surge in the demands of the increasing population has resulted in a newlinesignificant energy crisis and poor waste management. This has led to the degradation of the environment, ultimately affecting sustainable development. Fossil fuels, being one of the biggest contributors to energy consumption have also impacted global warming newlineand drastic changes in the climate. At the same time, the rapid depletion of these fossil fuels has initiated the dire need to shift our path toward regenerative energy sources like solar, hydro and wind energy. Nevertheless, these renewable energy sources are purely dependent on environmental conditions and this is when an alternative system to store energy is required to meet the ongoing energy crisis. In particular, Supercapacitors, which connect the gap between conventional batteries and capacitors, offer promising solutions as efficient energy storage systems for their ability to store energy electrostatically by providing high power density due to their rapid charge-discharge cycles and longer operational cyclic stability. Their exceptional features are highly suitable for numerous applications from consumer electronics to electric vehicles. To a large extent, the nature of electrode materials influences the collective efficacy of supercapacitors. They should have versatile properties which include high surface area, active electrochemical sites, high conductivity, are chemically stable, and newlineshould be porous. Carbon-based materials, satisfy these conditions and are the most newlinesuitable candidates as efficient electrode materials. Despite these abilities, their inherent defects seriously deteriorate their properties and limit their charge storage capabilities. These disorders can be tuned effectively in such a way that the ion adsorption sites can be enhanced and maintain suitable structural stability for longer periods. One of the strategies to tune the defects of these materials is to introduce surface functionalization and additional dopants into the system.