Materials in Energy: Master the Science Behind Renewable Energy and Storage

Question 1

Which material is not typically employed as a cathode in lithium-ion batteries?

Accepted Answer

Graphite

Answer

Lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO2)

Answer

Lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4)

Answer

Lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (LiNiMnCoO2)

Question 2

Which of the following is not a type of fuel cell?

Accepted Answer

Lithium-ion battery

Answer

Proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell

Answer

Solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC)

Answer

Direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC)

Question 3

The performance efficiency of a battery depends on which of the following factors?

Accepted Answer

Voltage, capacity, energy density, and charge-discharge rate

Answer

Voltage and capacity

Answer

Energy density and charge-discharge rate

Answer

Charge-discharge rate and voltage

Question 4

Which of the following applications does not represent a potential use case for fuel cells?

Accepted Answer

Aircraft propulsion

Answer

Portable power sources

Answer

Electric vehicles

Answer

Stationary power generation

Question 5

Which of the following factors does not limit the efficiency of a fuel cell?

Accepted Answer

The Faraday constant

Answer

The Carnot efficiency limit

Answer

The Nernst potential

Answer

The Gibbs free energy change

Question 6

Which of the following characteristics is NOT desirable in a solar cell material?

Accepted Answer

High electrical resistivity

Answer

High light absorption coefficient

Answer

Long minority carrier diffusion length

Answer

Low optical bandgap

Question 7

The electrolyte in a battery primarily serves to:

Accepted Answer

Enhance ion transport within the cell

Answer

Allow electron flow between electrodes

Answer

Physically separate the anode and cathode

Answer

Store electrical energy

Question 8

In a fuel cell, the catalyst is primarily responsible for:

Accepted Answer

Accelerating the rate of electrochemical reactions

Answer

Providing electrical conductivity to the cell

Answer

Separating the reactant gases

Answer

Storing hydrogen fuel

Question 9

The fundamental operating principle of a battery is based on:

Accepted Answer

Redox reactions

Answer

Electromagnetic induction

Answer

Capacitance

Answer

Photovoltaic effect

Question 10

The primary distinction between a solar cell and a fuel cell lies in their:

Accepted Answer

Energy source

Answer

Output type

Answer

Efficiency

Answer

Lifespan

Question 11

In lithium-ion batteries, the cathode material commonly employed is:

Accepted Answer

Lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO2)

Answer

Silicon

Answer

Lead dioxide (PbO2)

Answer

Nickel hydroxide (Ni(OH)2)

Question 12

What is the main function of the electrolyte in a lithium-ion battery?

Accepted Answer

To facilitate the movement of lithium ions

Answer

To serve as an electronic conductor

Answer

To mechanically separate the anode and cathode

Answer

To act as the energy storage medium

Question 13

Which of the following materials is commonly employed as the catalyst in proton exchange membrane fuel cells?

Accepted Answer

Platinum

Answer

Gold

Answer

Carbon

Answer

Nickel

Question 14

The primary advantage of using thin-film solar cells lies in their:

Accepted Answer

Reduced manufacturing costs

Answer

Enhanced efficiency

Answer

Improved durability

Answer

Broader spectral response

Question 15

Which of the following techniques is primarily used to characterize the surface morphology of materials?

Accepted Answer

Atomic force microscopy (AFM)

Answer

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM)

Answer

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM)

Answer

X-ray diffraction (XRD)

Question 16

In organic solar cells, the primary mechanism of charge transport is:

Accepted Answer

Hopping

Answer

Band-to-band transport

Answer

Diffusion

Answer

Drift

Question 17

The primary purpose of a separator in a fuel cell is to:

Accepted Answer

Prevent the mixing of reactants and products

Answer

Provide electrical insulation

Answer

Enhance mass transport

Answer

Catalyze the electrochemical reactions

Question 18

A major challenge in scaling up perovskite solar cells is their:

Accepted Answer

Susceptibility to moisture and heat

Answer

High production cost

Answer

Low charge carrier mobility

Answer

Narrow spectral absorption

Question 19

The primary function of a solid electrolyte in a solid-state battery is to:

Accepted Answer

Conduct ions

Answer

Separate the electrodes

Answer

Provide mechanical support

Answer

Store electrical energy

Question 20

In a solar cell, the primary mechanism by which charge carriers are generated is through:

Accepted Answer

Photon absorption

Answer

Thermal excitation

Answer

Mechanical stress

Answer

Chemical reactions

Question 21

In a lithium-ion battery, the anode material is typically composed of:

Accepted Answer

Graphite

Answer

Lithium metal

Answer

Cobalt oxide

Answer

Silicon

Question 22

The material commonly employed as the cathode in high-energy-density batteries is:

Accepted Answer

Lithium cobalt oxide

Answer

Lithium iron phosphate

Answer

Zinc-air

Answer

Sodium-ion

Question 23

In a fuel cell, the primary role of the electrolyte is to:

Accepted Answer

Facilitate ion transport

Answer

Provide mechanical stability

Answer

Generate hydrogen fuel

Answer

Store electrical energy

Question 24

The bandgap of a material has a direct influence on its:

Accepted Answer

Optical absorption characteristics

Answer

Thermal stability

Answer

Electrical conductivity

Answer

Mechanical strength