Nanocrystalline Cellulose Supported MnO Composite Materials for High-Performance Lithium-Ion Batteries.

The rate capability and poor cycling stability of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are predominantly caused by the large volume expansion upon cycling and poor electrical conductivity of manganese dioxide (MnO), which also exhibits the highest theoretical capacity among manganese oxides. In this study, a nanocomposite of nanosized MnO and pyrolyzed nanocrystalline cellulose (CNC) was prepared with high electrical conductivity to enhance the electrochemical performance of LIBs. The nanocomposite electrode showed an initial discharge capacity of 1302 mAh g at 100 mA g and exhibited a high discharge capacity of 305 mAh g after 1000 cycles.

Ni-Co-B nanoparticle decorated carbon felt by electroless plating as a bi-functional catalyst for urea electrolysis.

A free-standing catalyst electrode for urea electrolysis was synthesized by electroless plating of NiCoB alloy onto a flexible carbon felt. The synthesized NiCoB@C catalyst exhibited porous and partially amorphous metallic structure depending on its composition, as analysed by XRD, XPS, and TEM; thus, NiCoB@C catalyst showed a high catalytic activity for urea oxidation reaction as well as hydrogen evolution reaction. The required cell voltage in the electrolysis cell with NiCoB@C as anode and cathode was as low as 1.

Polypyrrole/Graphene Quantum Dot Composites as a Sensor Media for Epinephrine.

In this paper, we discuss a new biosensor for simple and rapid detection of epinephrine (EP) based on polypyrrole/graphene quantum dot (PPy/GQD) composites. Presence of amine groups on the PPy backbone leads to surface passivation of GQDs. As a result, the composites exhibit strong fluorescence emission, which can be up to three times that of pristine GQDs.