Electrospun Nanofiber Materials for Energy Storage Applications
Summary
Electrospun nanofibre materials combine one-dimensional geometry with high surface area, tunable chemistry and mechanical robustness to tackle key challenges in electrochemical energy storage. By drawing charged polymer solutions into ultrathin fibres, electrospinning produces non-woven mats whose interconnected networks facilitate rapid ion and electron transport, while the inherent porosity accommodates volume changes during charge/discharge cycles. Such architectures have found wide use in lithium-ion and sodium-ion battery electrodes, supercapacitors and battery separators. Carbon nanofibres, often derived from polyacrylonitrile or biomass precursors, yield electronically conductive frameworks with hierarchical pore structures that enhance specific capacity and cycle stability. Metal-oxide and metal-sulphide-decorated nanofibres further introduce pseudocapacitive and faradaic reactions to boost energy density. Recent innovations in core–shell and multi-component nanofibres address interfacial deformations, enable flame-resistant membranes and exploit waste materials for sustainable fabrication. The global drive towards electric mobility, grid-scale storage and wearable electronics underscores the strategic importance of electrospun nanofibre scaffolds for next-generation devices.
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Electrospun Nanofiber Materials for Energy Storage Applications publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in electrospun nanofiber materials for energy storage applications across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Electrospinning: A technique using high voltage to draw polymer solutions into continuous, ultrathin fibres forming non-woven mats. Nanofibre: A fibre with diameter typically in the range of tens to hundreds of nanometres, offering high surface-to-volume ratio. Specific capacity: The charge storage per unit mass of active material, usually expressed in milliampere-hours per gram (mAh/g). Porosity: The fraction of void volume within a material that influences ion transport and electrolyte access. Rate capability: The ability of an electrode to maintain capacity at increasing charge/discharge rates.
References
- Electrospun advanced nanomaterials for in situ transmission electron microscopy: Progress and perspectives. InfoMat (2023).
- One-Dimensional (1D) Nanostructured Materials for Energy Applications. Materials (2021).
- Electrospun Nanomaterials for Energy Applications: Recent Advances. Applied Sciences (2019).
- A Review of Recent Advancements in Electrospun Anode Materials to Improve Rechargeable Lithium Battery Performance. Polymers (2020).
- Biomass-Derived Porous Carbon Materials for Li-Ion Battery. Nanomaterials (2022).
- Advances in Electrospun Materials and Methods for Li-Ion Batteries. Polymers (2023).
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