Iron-Based Metal Organic Framework Shows Stability for Energy Storage听听
Explore breakthroughs in supercapacitor technology with Fe-Tp MOFs鈥攍isten now!
Smartphones and electric cars both need energy sources that charge quickly and last long鈥攖he kind of power supercapacitors deliver, unlike traditional batteries. But the use of acids in such devices can hinder the advancement of energy storage materials development, a limitation that researchers at Khalifa University have addressed by developing a new iron-based conjugated metal鈥搊rganic framework (Fe-Tp MOF). The research findings have been protected by a US patent application.听
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The research was published in a titled 鈥業ron salicylaldehydate conjugated metal鈥搊rganic framework for quasi solid-state supercapacitor鈥� in the Chemical Engineering Journal, a top 1% journal.听听
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The research effort was led by Dr. Dinesh Shetty, Associate Professor of Chemistry and a Theme leader in the Center for Catalysis and Separations (CeCaS), Khalifa University, and the team includes Safa Abdullah Gaber, a PhD student; Dr. Abdul Khayum Mohammed, a Postdoctoral Fellow, and Gigi Xavier. Other authors are Yao He, New York University 鈥� Abu Dhabi, Ajmal Pandikassala, and Maria Kurian, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Pune, India, Pilar Pena S麓anchez, and Dr. Felipe Gandara, Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid-CSIC, Madrid, Spain, and Dr. Stefano Canossa, Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research, Stuttgart, Germany.听听
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A material like Fe-Tp is more compatible with several highly acidic electrolytes that conduct electricity between the electrodes in traditional supercapacitors, leading to better performance and longer life for the supercapacitor. Beyond acid resistance, Fe-Tp can also withstand high humidity levels and air pollutants. This material is durable and can be charged and discharged 36,000 times without losing much of its ability to store energy, retaining 80% of its initial capacity. It can also tolerate extreme temperatures 鈥� keeping 93% of its mass up to 280掳C 鈥� while being stable in a variety of solvents, including boiling water.听听
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“Our research team developed a stable material for supercapacitors, offering long-lasting performance and opening the door to more durable and efficient energy storage solutions.”
鈥� Dr. Dinesh Shetty, Associate Professor of Chemistry and a Theme leader in CeCas, KU.
Fe-Tp also exhibits a strong capacity for capturing CO2, making it useful for carbon storage and separation. In addition, with its ability to absorb visible light and a calculated band gap, Fe-Tp could find its way into electronic devices. Additionally, the researchers employed a simple, solvent-free mechano-mixing reaction to synthesize Fe-Tp to eliminate the need for large volumes of solvents, making the production process potentially more cost-effective and environmentally friendly, which is a paradigm shift in the conjugated MOFs research field. The efforts on scalability which can be difficult to achieve for conjugated MOFs are currently underway in Dr. Shetty鈥檚 research group.听听
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Dr. Dinesh Shetty said: 鈥淭he primary aim of this research was to develop a conjugated metal-organic framework (MOF) that addresses the persistent challenge of chemical instability in existing supercapacitor materials. Our findings highlight the potential of Fe-Tp as a reliable electrode material, ensuring long-term performance in supercapacitors, opening doors to more durable energy storage systems. The strong coordination bond between two oxygen atoms from the Tp and strong Lewis acid Fe3+ contributes to the material’s remarkable stability, further enhancing its practicality for large-scale production.鈥澨�
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Dr. Shetty has six patents to his name and is the author of 53 peer-reviewed journal papers and more than 30 conference papers.听
Alisha Roy
Science Writer
24 Sept 2024
