article · Carbon Trends
Carbon nanotubes possess exceptional mechanical, electrical, thermal, and electrochemical properties, positioning them as viable materials for clean energy conversion and storage systems. They can be synthesised through techniques such as chemical vapour deposition, laser ablation, and carbon arc discharge. In energy storage, their high specific capacitance, improved rate capability, and extended cycle life support use in batteries, supercapacitors, and hybrid supercapattery devices. In energy conversion, they can be deployed in solar cells, fuel cells, and microbial fuel cells. Device performance can be further enhanced through surface functionalisation, structural modification, heteroatom doping, defect introduction, and the promotion of hydrodynamic transport processes. Realising their full technological potential requires addressing key degradation issues, including catalyst poisoning and precipitation, while pursuing future research to optimise nanotube structures and functionalisation.
Rapid global population growth and industrialisation demand effective alternatives to fossil fuels. By enhancing the efficiency, lifespan, and storage capacity of batteries, supercapacitors, and solar cells, carbon nanotubes offer a multi-functional material foundation for building more reliable, renewable energy storage and generation technologies.
Potential applications span commercial energy storage and conversion devices, including next-generation batteries, supercapacitors, and fuel cells for clean-technology manufacturers. The technology remains at an early to intermediate research stage, as widespread commercial adoption depends on solving practical degradation problems like catalyst poisoning and precipitation, alongside developing reliable methods for material optimisation and functionalisation.
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Worldwide energy demand is increasing at an unprecedented rate due to rapid population growth and industrialization. Hence, renewable and environmentally friendly energy production platforms are more needed than ever as alternatives to fossil fuels, which is a critical societal dilemma. The superior mechanical, electrical, thermal, and electrochemical properties of Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) make them a promising next-generation material for energy conversion and storage applications. CNTs can be synthesized using various methods, such as chemical vapor deposition, laser ablation, and carbon arc discharge. Each of their properties makes them an ideal candidate for various energy conversion and storage devices. Moreover, the performance of CNTs in these energy devices can be improved by surface functionalization, heteroatom doping, structural modification, introductions of defects, promoting transport hydrodynamic processes, and resolving existing degradation issues, such as catalyst poisoning and precipitation. Owing to their highest specific capacitance, enhanced rate capability, and extended cycle life, CNTs have been used in electrochemical energy storage systems, such as supercapacitors, batteries, and supercapattery, as well in energy conversion platforms, such as fuel cells, microbial fuel cells, and solar cells. Since CNTs are emerging as a technologically promising multi-functional nanomaterial due to their unique nanostructure and physical and chemical properties, this review also covers the challenges in realizing the full potential of CNTs for our energy storage and conversion technologies, together with future research directions needed to optimise their structure, properties and functionalisation.
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DOI: 10.1016/j.cartre.2025.100470
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