Annual Energy Outlook

Solid-state batteries have been attracting wide attention for next generation energy storage devices due to the probability to realize higher energy density and superior safety performance compared with the state-of-the-art lithium ion batteries. However, there are still intimidating challenges for developing low cost and industrially scalable solid-state batteries with high energy density and stable cycling life for large-scale energy storage and electric vehicle applications. This review presents an overview on the scientific challenges, fundamental mechanisms, and design strategies for solid-state batteries, specifically focusing on the stability issues of solid-state electrolytes and the associated interfaces with both cathode and anode electrodes. First, we give a brief overview on the history of solid-state battery technologies, followed by introduction and discussion on different types of solid-state electrolytes. Then, the associated stability issues, from phenomena to fundamental understandings, are intensively discussed, including chemical, electrochemical, mechanical, and thermal stability issues; effective optimization strategies are also summarized. State-of-the-art characterization techniques and in situ and operando measurement methods deployed and developed to study the aforementioned issues are summarized as well. Following the obtained insights, perspectives are given in the end on how to design practically accessible solid-state batteries in the future.

Approaching Practically Accessible Solid-State Batteries: Stability Issues Related to Solid Electrolytes and Interfaces

A strain sensor has been fabricated from a polymer nanocomposite with multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWNT) fillers. The piezoresistivity
of this nanocomposite strain sensor has been investigated based on an improved three-dimensional (3D) statistical resistor network
model incorporating the tunneling effect between the neighboring carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and a fiber reorientation model. The
numerical results agree very well with the experimental measurements. As compared with traditional strain gauges, much higher sensitivity
can be obtained in the nanocomposite sensors when the volume fraction of CNT is close to the percolation threshold. For a small
CNT volume fraction, weak nonlinear piezoresistivity is observed both experimentally and from numerical simulation. The tunneling
effect is considered to be the principal mechanism of the sensor under small strains.

Tunneling effect in a polymer/carbon nanotube nanocompositestrain sensor

Fast depleting fossil fuels and the growing awareness for environmental protection have led us to the energy crisis. Hence, efforts are being made by researchers to investigate new ways to extract energy from renewable sources. ‘Microgrids’ with Distributed Generators (DG) are being implemented with renewable energy systems. Optimization methods justify the cost of investment of a microgrid by enabling economic and reliable utilization of the resources. This paper strives to bring to light the concept of Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems (HRES) and state of art application of optimization tools and techniques to microgrids, integrating renewable energies. With an extensive literature survey on HRES, a framework of diverse objectives has been outlined for which optimization approaches were applied to empower the microgrid. A review of modelling and applications of renewable energy generation and storage sources is also presented.

Optimization in microgrids with hybrid energy systems – A review

Recent advances in carbon-based polymer nanocomposites for electromagnetic interference shielding

This paper deals with system integration and controller design for power management of a stand-alone renewable energy (RE) hybrid system, which is at the construction stage in Lambton College (Sarnia, ON, Canada). The system consists of five main components: photovoltaic arrays, wind turbine, electrolyzer, hydrogen storage tanks, and fuel cell. The model for each process component is developed, and all the components are integrated in a Matlab/Simulink environment. A two-level control system is implemented, comprising a supervisory controller, which ensures the power balance between intermittent RE generation, energy storage, and dynamic load demand, as well as local controllers for the photovoltaic, wind, electrolyzer, and fuel cell unit. Simulations are performed to document the efficacy of the proposed power management strategy.

Modeling and Control of a Renewable Hybrid Energy System With Hydrogen Storage

Cocontinuous polymer blends have wide applications. They can form conductive plastics with improved mechanical properties. When one phase is extracted, they yield porous polymer sheets, which can be used as filters or membrane supports. However, the cocontinuous morphology is intrinsically unstable due to coarsening during static annealing. In this study, silica nanoparticles, ∼100 nm diameter, with different wetting properties were melt compounded in polyethylene/poly(ethylene oxide) blends. Calculated wetting coefficients of these particles match well with their phase contact angles and their locations in the blends. We demonstrated that a monolayer of particles jamming at interfaces can effectively suppress coarsening and stabilize the cocontinuous morphology. We also correlated the wettability of individual particles at interface to their coarsening suppression ability and found that the most hydrophobic silica nanoparticle is the most effective to arrest coarsening. Moreover, during annealing, we use...

Controlling the Morphology of Immiscible Cocontinuous Polymer Blends via Silica Nanoparticles Jammed at the Interface

Organomodified clays are known to be effective in polymer blend compatibilization if located preferentially at the domain interfaces, but little is known regarding the origin of their localization. In this study, we investigate the effect of organomodifier, clay loading, and shear environment on the compatibilization extent in nonreactive polyethylene (LDPE)/poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and reactive maleic anhydride functional polyethylene (PE-g-MA)/PEO polymer blends. We pose important questions: If clay is to compatibilize blends by interfacial localization, how does organomodifier affect its localization? How does an increase in clay loading affect the shape and elasticity of the interface? What is the shear intensity needed to overcome the equilibrium distribution of clays and delaminate it from the interface? We utilize laser scanning confocal microscopy and 3D image analysis to calculate characteristic phase size and gain unique insights into the connection between the clay loading and the interfacial...

Stabilization of PE/PEO Cocontinuous Blends by Interfacial Nanoclays

We report a method for achieving controlled dispersion of graphene oxide (GO) in poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) via the precipitation polymerization process in a water/methanol mixture. GO acts as a surfactant and adsorbs on the interface between polymerized PMMA particles and solvent mixture. Scanning electron and transmission electron microscopy confirmed that the precipitate consists of polymer particles (<1 μm) surrounded by the GO sheets. Compression molding of the precipitate yields a polymer nanocomposite with the GO organized into a regularly spaced 3D network which percolates at 0.2 wt % GO. Simple thermal reduction of the GO sheets dispersed in PMMA at relatively low temperature (210 °C) achieved electrical conductivity higher than 10–2 S/m at 0.4 wt % of GO. Parallel dielectric and rheological characterization demonstrated that the thermal reduction is a quite fast process without significant degradation of the polymer. The study should open up new opportunities in the design of GO-based poly...

Poly(methyl methacrylate)/Graphene Oxide Nanocomposites by a Precipitation Polymerization Process and Their Dielectric and Rheological Characterization

Milana Trifkovic

Papers

Modeling and Control of a Renewable Hybrid Energy System With Hydrogen Storage

Controlling the Morphology of Immiscible Cocontinuous Polymer Blends via Silica Nanoparticles Jammed at the Interface

Stabilization of PE/PEO Cocontinuous Blends by Interfacial Nanoclays

Poly(methyl methacrylate)/Graphene Oxide Nanocomposites by a Precipitation Polymerization Process and Their Dielectric and Rheological Characterization

Significance of interfacial interaction and agglomerates on electrical properties of polymer-carbon nanotube nanocomposites