Materials for chemical and electrochemical energy storage are key for a diverse range of applications, including batteries, hydrogen storage, sunlight conversion into fuels, and thermal energy storage.
An overview and critical review is provided of available energy storage technologies, including electrochemical, battery, thermal, thermochemical, flywheel, compressed air, pumped, magnetic, chemical and hydrogen energy storage. Storage categorizations, comparisons, applications, recent developments and research directions are discussed.
Improvement in the energy storage materials leading to high capacity, longer cycling life, improved safety issues and being reliable will accelerate the commercialization of some of these energy storage medium and their usage in other portable and automotive applications.
1. Active materials for energy storage that require a certain structural and chemical flexibility, for instance, as intercalation compounds for hydrogen storage or as cathode materials. 2. Novel catalysts that combine high (electro-) chemical stability and selectivity. 3. Solid-state ionic conductors for batteries and fuel cells.
Energy storage is an enabling technology for various applications such as power peak shaving, renewable energy utilization, enhanced building energy systems, and advanced transportation. Energy storage systems can be categorized according to application.
Energy storage solutions for electricity generation include pumped-hydro storage, batteries, flywheels, compressed-air energy storage, hydrogen storage and thermal energy storage components. The ability to store energy can facilitate the integration of clean energy and renewable energy into power grids and real-world, everyday use.