Carbon Aerogel Technologies for Energy Storage Applications
Summary
Carbon aerogels are ultralight, porous carbonaceous materials presenting continuous low-density frameworks with interconnected nanoscale pores and high surface areas. They are typically prepared via sol–gel polymerisation of organic precursors, followed by supercritical or ambient drying to preserve the three-dimensional network, and controlled heat treatment to induce carbonisation and tailor pore architecture. In energy storage, carbon aerogels have emerged as promising electrode materials for supercapacitors and metal-ion batteries thanks to their high electrical conductivity, tunable porosity and structural robustness. Recent strategies focus on sustainable biomass precursors, heteroatom doping to introduce pseudocapacitive functionalities, and incorporation of mineral or templating agents to engineer hierarchical porosity. These innovations have delivered aerogels with enhanced ion transport pathways, high energy and power densities, and excellent cycling stability, paving the way for scalable, eco-friendly energy storage solutions.
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Carbon Aerogel Technologies for Energy Storage Applications publication trend
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Technical terms
Carbon aerogel: A lightweight, porous carbon material formed via sol–gel polymerisation and subsequent carbonisation, characterised by high surface area and electrical conductivity.
Hierarchical porosity: A multi-scale pore architecture combining micro-, meso- and macro-pores to optimise ion transport and electrolyte infiltration.
Specific surface area: The surface area available per unit mass of material, critical for enhancing capacitive charge storage.
Heteroatom doping: The incorporation of non-carbon atoms (e.g. nitrogen, oxygen) into the carbon matrix to improve conductivity, wettability and pseudocapacitive behaviour.
References
- Carbon Aerogels Derived from Anion‐Modified Nanocellulose for Adaptive Supercapacitor Performance. Advanced Functional Materials (2024).
- In Situ Mineralization of Biomass‐Derived Hydrogels Boosts Capacitive Electrochemical Energy Storage in Free‐Standing 3D Carbon Aerogels. Energy & Environmental Materials (2023).
- Sustainable biomass-derived carbon aerogels for energy storage applications. Chemical Engineering Journal (2024).
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