Giulia Massaglia

By Giulia Massaglia and Marzia Quaglio

Nowadays, semiconducting thin films, thanks to their unique and excellent properties, play a crucial role for the design of devices for energy conversion and storage, such as solar cells, perovskite solar cells, lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), and fuel cells. Since the nanostructured arrangements can improve the behavior of the materials in several application fields, in this chapter we propose the electrospinning process as electro-hydrodynamic deposition to obtain semiconducting materials, in the form of nanofiber mats. The nanostructured mats are able to provide high surface-area-to-volume ratio and a microporous structure, which are crucial aspects for energetic application. In this chapter, we deeply describe the electrospinning process and how nanofibers obtained can be used in energy devices, satisfying all the requirements to improve overall final performances.

Part of the book: Semiconductors

By Giulia Massaglia and Marzia Quaglio

During the last decade, carbon-based nanofibers emerged as an important class of materials for the fabrication of electrodes for electrochemical energy conversion. Indeed carbon-based nanofibers combine high electrochemical stability and high porosity to high mechanical flexibility and low weight, resulting in a unique and versatile material for the design and fabrication of energy-related devices. This chapter aims to show and analyze new nanostructured materials, obtained by electrospinning technique, in order to design 3D arrangement of the electrodes and to improve the energy efficiency of energy production devices. Indeed, the design of new 3D nanostructured electrodes enhances the energy efficiency of these devices, optimizing the energy production, obtained by new renewable energy technologies. The chapter is focused on those devices able to generate power output through the electrochemical conversion of different fuels, like wastes, and environmental compounds, such as CO2.

Part of the book: Electrospinning Method Used to Create Functional Nanocomposites Films

By Giulia Massaglia and Marzia Quaglio

This chapter book aims to present some key aspects, which play a crucial role to optimize the energy conversion process occurring in microbial fuel cells (MFCs): fluid dynamics and the materials selected as anodic electrodes. MFCs are (bio)-electrochemical devices that directly convert chemical energy into electrical energy, thanks to the metabolic activity of some bacteria. In the anodic compartment, these bacteria, named exoelectrogens, are able to oxidize the organic matter, directly releasing the electrons to the anode surface. The conversion process can be deeply influenced by how the electrolyte solution, containing the carbon-energy source, moves inside the device. For this reason, fluid dynamic modeling is an important tool to explain the correlation between the fluid flow and power output production, optimizing also the overall MFC performance. Moreover, the morphology of anode electrodes results to be essential to guarantee and enhance the bacteria proliferation on them, improving the energy conversion.

Part of the book: Energy Conversion