Graphene Nanoscrolls for Energy Storage Applications

Graphene nanoscrolls are spiral-wound graphene sheets that combine the exceptional conductivity of graphene with an open, tubular architecture. Unlike stacked graphene layers, nanoscrolls resist restacking, offering greatly enhanced accessible surface area and ion transport pathways. This unique morphology is achieved through techniques such as solution-phase rolling, ultrasonic treatment, shock cooling and template-directed self-assembly. As electrode materials, nanoscrolls deliver rapid charge and discharge dynamics in supercapacitors, high energy and long cycle life in batteries, and hybrid performance when combined with pseudocapacitive or battery-type materials. Their mechanical flexibility and structural resilience also facilitate scalable fabrication and integration into flexible and wearable devices. Growing global demand for clean energy and efficient storage systems has focused attention on nanoscrolls as a versatile platform for next-generation energy technologies.

Research from Nature Portfolio

A bio-templating strategy has harnessed cellulose nanocrystals to guide scrolling of graphene sheets into uniform nanoscrolls. By varying template density and interlayer spacing, investigators produced scrolls with controlled diameters below or above one micrometre, while embedding low-loading palladium or platinum nanoparticles within the interlayers. These hybrid architectures achieved hydrogen storage capacities around 0.2 wt% (at 20 bar, 273 K) and supercapacitance values of 223–357 F/g with >93% retention after 10 000 cycles. Molecular simulations and experimental studies elucidated van der Waals-driven self-scrolling and demonstrated that tuning scrolling density and nanoparticle content offers a versatile route to multifunctional nanoscrolls for both gas storage and electrochemical energy storage.

Graphene Nanoscrolls for Energy Storage Applications publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in graphene nanoscrolls for energy storage applications across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Graphene nanoscroll: A one-dimensional tubular structure formed by rolling a graphene sheet into a spiral, offering high surface area and accessible interlayer gaps.

Electric double-layer supercapacitor: An energy storage device that stores charge electrostatically at the electrode–electrolyte interface, enabling rapid charge/discharge cycles.

Specific capacitance: The capacitance per unit mass of electrode material, typically expressed in farads per gram (F/g), indicating the material’s ability to store electrical charge.

Energy density: The amount of energy stored per unit mass or volume of a device, expressed in watt-hours per kilogram (Wh/kg), reflecting total storage capacity.

Power density: The rate at which energy can be delivered by a device per unit mass or volume, expressed in watts per kilogram (W/kg), reflecting the device’s ability to deliver rapid energy bursts.

References

1. An Ultra-High-Energy Density Supercapacitor; Fabrication Based on Thiol-functionalized Graphene Oxide Scrolls. Nanomaterials (2019).
2. Ultra-High Energy Density Hybrid Supercapacitors Using MnO2/Reduced Graphene Oxide Hybrid Nanoscrolls. Nanomaterials (2020).
3. Cellulose Nanocrystal Templated Graphene Nanoscrolls for High Performance Supercapacitors and Hydrogen Storage: An Experimental and Molecular Simulation Study. Scientific Reports (2018).
4. Controllable synthesis of graphene scrolls and their performance for supercapacitors. RSC Advances (2018).