Prospective applications of transition metal-based nanomaterials

Transition metal-based nanomaterials (TMNs), including metal oxides, metal nitride, metal carbide, metal hydroxide, and metal sulfide, have recently arisen as robust and highly efficient materials for energy storage and conversion. Owning to extraordinary advantages over the semiconducting/insulating ones (in terms of fast reaction kinetics, rapid electrical transport, and intrinsically high activity) combined with the high natural abundance, this class of materials is progressively developed toward commercial applications. This article gives an overview of recent research works on transition metal-based nanomaterials in terms of fundamental applications in energy conversion and energy storage. Additionally, the current structure and properties of transition metal-based nanomaterials have been summarized for the application of energy storage systems which can alleviate the challenges that currently exist in energy conversion. Overall, this review aims to provide a new vision for alleviating the current energy crisis, and environmental problems in the future period, and find the direction and breakthrough for the next energy transformation.