Global energy consumption, along wi

Global energy consumption, along with CO2 emission, has been accelerating at an alarming rate due to rapid global economic expansion, an increase in the world population, and an ever-increasing human reliance on energy-consuming appliances. It has been estimated that the world will need to double its energy supply by 2050 (see the World Energy Council Website at www.worldenergy.org). The rapid increase in global energy consumption and the environmental impact of traditional energy resources pose serious challenges to human health, energy security, and the environment; and reveal a growing need to develop new types of clean and sustainable energy conversion and storage systems, such as batteries and supercapacitors for electric vehicles with low exhaust emissions.