Ammonium-driven modulation of 1T-MoS structure and composite with graphene: A pathway to high-performance lithium-ion battery anodes.

The lack of stable anode materials with high capacity and fast redox kinetics has hindered the application of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) for energy storage. Metal-phase molybdenum disulfide (1T-MoS) is recognized as a promising energy storage material because of its combination of excellent physical and electrochemical properties. In this paper, we report the insertion of ammonium ions (NH) into the MoS interlayer and effective complexation with graphene oxide (GO).

Scalable Production of 2D Non-Layered Metal Oxides through Metal-Organic Gel Rapid Redox Transformation.

Two-dimensional (2D) nonlayered metal compounds with porous structure show broad application prospects in electrochemistry-related fields due to their abundant active sites, open ions/electrons diffusion channels, and faradaic reactions. However, scalable and universal synthesis of 2D porous compounds still remains challenging. Here, inspired by blowing gum, a metal-organic gel (MOG) rapid redox transformation (MRRT) strategy is proposed for the mass production of a wide variety of 2D porous metal oxides.

SnO/Sn with core-shell structure Schottky heterojunctions loaded in graphene to promote electrochemical reaction kinetics and enable efficient lithium-ion storage.

The stannic oxide (SnO) anode expands in volume during cycling causing a decrease in reversible capacity. In this work, we generated a spherical SnO/Sn heterojunction with core-shell structure composites encapsulated by graphene (SnO/Sn/G) using a simple one-step hydrothermal and subsequent annealing process. SnO/Sn heterojunction nanospheres dispersed in a porous graphene framework accelerate the diffusion kinetics of electrons and ions.

Carbon-coated silicon/graphite oxide composites as anode materials for highly stable lithium-ion batteries.

Silicon (Si) has been widely investigated as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) due to its high theoretical capacity. However, the huge volume expansion and low electrical conductivity limit its practical application to some extent. Here, we prepared silicon/reduced graphene oxide/amorphous carbon (Si/G/C) anode materials for lithium-ion batteries using a facile synergistic cladding layer.

Using Sandwiched Silicon/Reduced Graphene Oxide Composites with Dual Hybridization for Their Stable Lithium Storage Properties.

Using silicon/reduced graphene oxide (Si/rGO) composites as lithium-ion battery (LIB) anodes can effectively buffer the volumetric expansion and shrinkage of Si. Herein, we designed and prepared Si/rGO-b with a sandwiched structure, formed by a duple combination of ammonia-modified silicon (m-Si) nanoparticles (NP) with graphene oxide (GO). In the first composite process of m-Si and GO, a core-shell structure of primal Si/rGO-b (p-Si/rGO-b) was formed.

Rational synthesis of 3D coral-like ZnCoO nanoclusters with abundant oxygen vacancies for high-performance supercapacitors.

Transition metal oxides with high theoretical capacitance are regarded as desired electrode materials for supercapacitors, however, the poor conductivity and sluggish charge transfer kinetics constrain their electrochemical performance. The three-dimensional (3D) coral-like ZnCoO nanomaterials with abundant oxygen vacancies were synthesized through a facile hydrothermal method and chemical reduction approach. The introduced oxygen vacancies can provide more active sites and lower the energy barrier, thereby facilitating the kinetics of surface reactions.

Designing Compatible Ceramic/Polymer Composite Solid-State Electrolyte for Stable Silicon Nanosheet Anodes.

The commercialization of silicon anode for lithium-ion batteries has been hindered by severe structure fracture and continuous interfacial reaction against liquid electrolytes, which can be mitigated by solid-state electrolytes. However, rigid ceramic electrolyte suffers from large electrolyte/electrode interfacial resistance, and polymer electrolyte undergoes poor ionic conductivity, both of which are worsened by volume expansion of silicon. Herein, by dispersing LiAlTi(PO) (LATP) into poly(vinylidene fluoride)-hexafluoropropylene (PVDF-HFP) and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) matrix, the PVDF-HFP/PEO/LATP (PHP-L) solid-state electrolyte with high ionic conductivity (1.

Synthesis of heterointerfaces in NiO/SnO coated nitrogen-doped graphene for efficient lithium storage.

Currently, it remains a challenge to make comprehensive improvements to overcome the disadvantages of volume expansion, LiO irreversibility and low conductivity of SnO. Heterostructure construction has been investigated as an effective strategy to promote electron transfer and surface reaction kinetics, leading to high electrochemical performance. Herein, NiO/SnO heterojunction modified nitrogen doped graphene (NiO/SnO@NG) anode materials were prepared using hydrothermal and carbonization techniques.

Facile synthesis of morphology-controlled hybrid structure of ZnCoO nanosheets and nanowires for high-performance asymmetric supercapacitors.

Controllable synthesis of electrode materials with desirable morphology and size is of significant importance and challenging for high-performance supercapacitors. Herein, we propose an efficient hydrothermal approach to controllable synthesis of hierarchical porous three-dimensional (3D) ZnCoO composite films directly on Ni foam substrates. The composite films consisted of two-dimensional (2D) nanosheets array anchored with one-dimensional (1D) nanowires.

Pomegranate plasma heterostructure regulated 1D biomass derived microtube networks for lightweight broadband microwave absorber.

The excessive aggregation of magnetic metal particles and the resulting skin effect tend to cause a serious imbalance in impedance matching, which hinders its application in aerospace and military wave absorption fields. Obviously, effective dispersion configuration and network construction are two practical measures to develop broadband lightweight absorbers. Based on the recycling theme, pomegranate plasma heterostructure regulated one-dimensional (1D) biomass derived microtube networks are achieved through the conversion and utilization of waste Platanus ball fibers.

Construction of chitosan-derived porous nest-like C/SnO materials for microwave absorption.

Electromagnetic waves have an irreplaceable role as information carriers in civil and radar stealth fields, but they also lead to electromagnetic pollution and electromagnetic leakage. Therefore, electromagnetic wave absorbing materials that can reduce electromagnetic radiation have come into being. Especially, SnO has made a wave among many wave-absorbing materials as an easily tunable dielectric material, but it hardly has both broadband and powerful absorption properties.

Amorphous hollow manganese silicate nanosphere oxidase mimic for ultrasensitive and high-reliable colorimetric detection of biothiols.

Metal-based nanozymes with exceptional physicochemical property and intrinsic enzymatic properties have been widely used in industrial, medical, and diagnostic fields. However, low substrate affinity results in unsatisfying catalytic kinetic and instability in complicated conditions, which significantly decreases their sensitivity and reliability. Herein, an amorphous hollow manganese silicate nanosphere (defined as AHMS) has been successfully synthesized via a facile one-step hydrothermal method and utilized in the archetype for colorimetric detection of biothiols with high sensitivity and high reliability.

Niobium-Based Oxide for Anode Materials for Lithium-Ion Batteries.

Recently, it has become imperative to develop high energy density as well as high safety lithium-ion batteries (LIBS) to meet the growing energy demand. Among the anode materials used in LIBs, the currently used commercial graphite has low capacity and is a safety hazard due to the formation of lithium dendrites during the reaction. Among the transition metal oxide (TMO) anode materials, TMO based on the intercalation reaction mechanism has a more stable structure and is less prone to volume expansion than TMO based on the conversion reaction mechanism, especially the niobium-based oxide in it has attracted much attention.

Mass Loading-Independent Lithium Storage of Transitional Metal Compounds Achieved by Multi-Dimensional Synergistic Nanoarchitecture.

Nanostructured transitional metal compounds (TMCs) have demonstrated extraordinary promise for high-efficient and rapid lithium storage. However, good performance is usually limited to electrodes with low mass loading (≤1.0 mg cm ) and is difficult to realize at higher mass loading due to increased electrons/ions transport limitations in the thicker electrode.

Quantum dot heterostructures on N-doped graphene with accelerated diffusion kinetics for stable lithium-ion storage.

The high energy density and low self-discharge rate of lithium-ion batteries make them promising for large-scale energy storage. However, the practical development of such electrochemical energy storage systems relies heavily on the development of anode materials with high multiplier capacity and stable cycle life. Here, a simple and efficient one-step hydrothermal method is used to obtain stannide heterostructures, which are loaded on N-doped graphene (SnS/SnO@NG) that promotes Li diffusion for fast charge transfer.

A New Structure with Localized sp Bonding for Fivefold Twinning in Diamond.

Changes in atomic bonding configuration in carbon from sp to sp are known to exist in certain structural defects in diamond, such as twin boundaries, grain boundaries, and dislocations, which have a significant impact on many properties of diamond. In this work, the atomic structure of fivefold twinning in detonation synthesized ultra-dispersed diamonds is investigated using a combination of techniques, including spherical aberration-corrected high-resolution electron microscopy (HREM), HREM image simulations, and molecular mechanics (MM) calculations. The experimental HREM images reveal clearly that the fivefold twinning in diamond has two distinct structures.

In Situ Structure Transformation of a Sprayed Gel for pH-Ultrasensitive Nano-Catalytic Antibacterial Therapy.

Nano-catalytic bacterial killing provides new opportunities to address ever-increasing antibiotic resistance. However, the intrinsic catalytic activity usually depends on a much lower pH conditions (pH = 2-5) than that in the weakly acidic bacterial microenvironments (pH = 6-7) for reactive oxygen species production by Fenton reactions. Herein, a MnSiO -based pH-ultrasensitive "in situ structure transformation" is first reported to significantly promote the adhesion between material and bacteria, and shorten the diffusion distance (<20 nm) to compensate ultra-short life (<200 ns) of ·OH generated by Mn -mediated Fenton-like reaction, finally enhancing its nano-catalytic antibacterial performance in weakly acidic conditions.

Quadrangular cone carbon-constructed effective 3D network for a lightweight and broadband microwave absorbent.

Three-dimensional carbon-based materials have attracted much attention for electromagnetic wave absorption because low-dimensional materials have failed to meet the needs of constructing effective networks with ultra-light properties due to their easy agglomeration and in-plane stacking. The 3D element of quadrangular cone carbon was innovatively applied in this work to construct interconnected networks (MFC). This material successfully overcomes the disadvantages of easy agglomeration and in-plane stacking in low-dimensional elements, allowing for more efficient construction of absorbing networks.

Checkerboard-like nickel nanoislands/defect graphene aerogel with enhanced surface plasmon resonance for superior microwave absorption.

To solve the problem of dispersion of magnetic nanoparticles in ultralight electromagnetic absorption field, checkerboard-like nickel nanoislands/defect graphene aerogel (NIDG) with enhanced surface plasmon resonance was designed and prepared through electrostatic self-assembly method. This special structure successfully overcame the aggregation phenomenon of magnetic metals and built high-density gap regions to enhance surface plasmon resonance. And the NIDG has achieved excellent electromagnetic wave absorption performance in C band.

A unique two-phase heterostructure with cubic NiSe and orthorhombic NiSe for enhanced lithium ion storage and electrocatalysis.

Two-phase heterostructures have received tremendous attention in energy-related fields as high-performance electrode materials. However, heterogeneous interfaces are usually constructed by introducing foreign elements, which disturbs the investigation of the intrinsic effect of the two-phase heterostructure. Herein, unique heterostructures constructed with orthorhombic NiSe and cubic NiSe phases are developed, which are embedded in formed porous carbon from metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) (O/C-NiSe@C).

Phase interface engineering of metal selenides heterostructure for enhanced lithium-ion storage and electrocatalysis.

Biphasic or multiphase heterostructures hold attractive prospects in engineering advanced electrode materials for energy-related applications owing to the appealing synergistic effect; however, they still suffer from unsatisfied electrochemical activity and reaction kinetics. Herein, guided by density functional theory calculation, a well-engineered selenides heterostructure with high-density NiSe-NiSe biphasic interfaces that fastened in N, O-codoped carbon matrix, was developed for high-performance lithium storage and electrocatalysis. By controlled selenylation of metal-organic framework (MOF), a series of NiSe@C hybrids (NiSe@C, NiSe/NiSe@C-1, NiSe/NiSe@C-2, and NiSe@C) with tunable biphasic components and grain sizes were prepared.

High aspect-ratio sycamore biomass microtube constructed permittivity adjustable ultralight microwave absorbent.

Excessive conductivity of carbon-based materials led to poor impedance matching, hindering their electromagnetic absorbing application in aerospace and military fields. While, one-dimensional carbon materials are more favorable to build networks, satisfying impedance matching. One-dimensional carbon materials, such as carbon fibers, carbon nanotubes, carbon microtubes, etc.