Electrochemical supercapacitors (ECs), characteristic of high power and reasonably high energy densities, have become a versatile solution to various emerging energy applications. This critical review describes some materials science aspects on manganese oxide-based materials for these applications, primarily including the strategic design and fabrication of these electrode materials. Nanostructurization, chemical modification and incorporation with high surface area, conductive nanoarchitectures are the three major strategies in the development of high-performance manganese oxide-based electrodes for EC applications. Numerous works reviewed herein have shown enhanced electrochemical performance in the manganese oxide-based electrode materials. However, many fundamental questions remain unanswered, particularly with respect to characterization and understanding of electron transfer and atomic transport of the electrochemical interface processes within the manganese oxide-based electrodes. In order to fully exploit the potential of manganese oxide-based electrode materials, an unambiguous appreciation of these basic questions and optimization of synthesis parameters and material properties are critical for the further development of EC devices (233 references).

Manganese oxide-based materials as electrochemical supercapacitor electrodes

In this review, the progress made in the last ten years concerning the synthesis of porous carbon materials is summarized. Porous carbon materials with various pore sizes and pore structures have been synthesized using several different routes. Microporous activated carbons have been synthesized through the activation process. Ordered microporous carbon materials have been synthesized using zeolites as templates. Mesoporous carbons with a disordered pore structure have been synthesized using various methods, including catalytic activation using metal species, carbonization of polymer/polymer blends, carbonization of organic aerogels, and template synthesis using silica nanoparticles. Ordered mesoporous carbons with various pore structures have been synthesized using mesoporous silica materials such as MCM-48, HMS, SBA-15, MCF, and MSU-X as templates. Ordered mesoporous carbons with graphitic pore walls have been synthesized using soft-carbon sources that can be converted to highly ordered graphite at high temperature. Hierarchically ordered mesoporous carbon materials have been synthesized using various designed silica templates. Some of these mesoporous carbon materials have successfully been used as adsorbents for bulky pollutants, as electrodes for supercapacitors and fuel cells, and as hosts for enzyme immobilization. Ordered macroporous carbon materials have been synthesized using colloidal crystals as templates. One-dimensional carbon nanostructured materials have been fabricated using anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) as a template.

Recent Progress in the Synthesis of Porous Carbon Materials

Advanced functional polymer membranes

Surface modification of inorganic nanoparticles for development of organic–inorganic nanocomposites—A review

A review of anode catalysis in the direct methanol fuel cell

Modification of proton conducting membrane for reducing methanol crossover in a direct-methanol fuel cell

/pdf/platinum-nanoclusters-studded-in-the-microporous-nanowalls-dnwbwdi3ts.pdf

Platinum nanoclusters studded in the microporous nanowalls of ordered mesoporous carbon

Quaternary Pt-based electrocatalyst for methanol oxidation by combinatorial electrochemistry

https://koasas.kaist.ac.kr/bitstream/10203/250836/1/000222290900021.pdf

Proton conductivity and methanol permeation in Nafion™/ORMOSIL prepared with various organic silanes

A number of important chemicals are made from light olefins such as propylene and ethylene, and it is expected that market demand for these light olefins will continue to grow at 4–5% annually, and the average overall growth of propylene will be about 1% higher than that of ethylene. From the viewpoint of supply of feedstock and demand of light olefins, it is anticipated that the thermal cracking process of naphtha will be gradually transformed to a catalytic process such as ACOTM that can efficiently produce both ethylene and propylene in high yield. Also, together with primary light olefin production technologies utilizing heavy feedstocks such as DCCTM, and HPFCC, supplementary propylene production technologies utilizing C4–C4 such as SUPERFLEXTM, MOITM, and PROPYLURTM will be applied gradually in commercial production.

Won Choon Choi

Papers

Modification of proton conducting membrane for reducing methanol crossover in a direct-methanol fuel cell

Platinum nanoclusters studded in the microporous nanowalls of ordered mesoporous carbon

Quaternary Pt-based electrocatalyst for methanol oxidation by combinatorial electrochemistry

Proton conductivity and methanol permeation in Nafion™/ORMOSIL prepared with various organic silanes

Catalytic Cracking of Lower-Valued Hydrocarbons for Producing Light Olefins