Interfacial Interaction in MeO/MWNTs (Me-Cu, Ni) Nanostructures as Efficient Electrode Materials for High-Performance Supercapacitors.

Due to their unique physical and chemical properties, complex nanostructures based on carbon nanotubes and transition metal oxides are considered promising electrode materials for the fabrication of high-performance supercapacitors with a fast charge rate, high power density, and long cycle life. The crucial role in determining their efficiency is played by the properties of the interface in such nanostructures, among them, the type of chemical bonds between their components. The complementary theoretical and experimental methods, including dispersion-corrected density functional theory (DFT-D3) within GGA-PBE approximation, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman, X-ray photoelectron, and X-ray absorption spectroscopies, were applied in the present work for the comprehensive investigation of surface morphology, structure, and electronic properties in CuOx/MWCNTs and NiO/MWCNTs.

Fabrication of Ni-Polyaniline/Graphene Oxide Composite Electrode with High Capacitance and Water Splitting Activity.

The Ni-PANI@GO composite electrode was fabricated via cost effective electrodeposition technique. According to the XRD, FTIR, Raman, SEM, and XPS analyses revealed that the nickel doped PANI@GO composite has been fabricated on the surface of the nickel foam. Addition of nickel significantly enhanced interaction between graphene with PANI leading to higher degree of polyaniline doping though imine groups.

XANES Measurements for Studies of Adsorbed Protein Layers at Liquid Interfaces.

X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectra for protein layers adsorbed at liquid interfaces in a Langmuir trough have been recorded for the first time. We studied the parkin protein (so-called E3 ubiquitin ligase), which plays an important role in pathogenesis of Parkinson disease. Parkin contains eight Zn binding sites, consisting of cysteine and histidine residues in a tetracoordinated geometry.

X-ray spectroscopic and diffraction study of the structure of the active species in the Ni(II)-catalyzed polymerization of isocyanides.

The structure of the active complex in the Ni-catalyzed polymerization of isocyanides to give polyisocyanides is investigated. It is shown by X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), including EXAFS (extended X-ray absorption fine structure) and XANES (X-ray absorption near edge structure), and single-crystal X-ray diffraction, to contain a carbene-like ligand. This is the first structural characterization of a crucial intermediate in the so-called merry-go-round mechanism for Ni-catalyzed isocyanide polymerization.