Graphene and Two-Dimensional Transition Metal Dichalcogenide Materials for Energy-Related Applications

Abstract

The energy problem is one of the most challenging issues in the twenty-first century. Many energy applications for portable electronics, electric vehicles, spacecraft, and renewable energy are under extensive investigation worldwide. New alternative energy with renewable energy devices are competitive with fossil fuels. To develop the advanced energy storage and harvesting/conversion system, renewable energy nanomaterials are in high demand. Two-dimensional nanomaterials composed of graphene and two-dimensional transition-metal chalcogenides (2D-TMDs) have attracted a great deal of interest due to their unique properties. From the prospect of energy applications, graphene and 2D-TMD nanosheets have many interesting properties, such as large surface area, atomically thin sheet with high flexibility, and a wide range of electrical conductivity. Graphene has proved to be a good material for nanoscale devices used in energy harvesting/conversion and storage applications. Recently, 2D-TMDs are also attracting significant attention in many energy-related applications. In this chapter, we focus on the recent advances in graphene (including graphene oxide, GO) and 2D-TMD nanosheets research for energy devices: electrodes in solar cell, electrocatalysts or photocatalysts for fuel cell, electrodes in Li-ion battery, and electrodes for supercapacitors.