Supercritical carbon dioxide assisted formation of crystalline materials for various energetic applications

In this highlight article, supercritical carbon dioxide-based strategies for "green" preparation of uniform fine particles (crystals) of advanced functional materials for energy production and storage are briefly overviewed. In particular, the CO2-facilitated processes for obtaining high-performance cathode or anode materials for rechargeable lithium, sodium, or potassium ion batteries, advanced electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells, and prospective energetic materials which accumulate energy in the form of high-energy chemical bonds are summarized with a focus on original reports published over the past decade. Some of the processes are attractive for industrial applications due to the superior performance of produced products and significant reduction of toxic wastes.