A Gradient Doping Strategy toward Superior Electrochemical Performance for Li-Rich Mn-Based Cathode Materials.

Lithium-rich layered oxides (LLOs) are concerned as promising cathode materials for next-generation lithium-ion batteries due to their high reversible capacities (larger than 250 mA h g ). However, LLOs suffer from critical drawbacks, such as irreversible oxygen release, structural degradation, and poor reaction kinetics, which hinder their commercialization. Herein, the local electronic structure is tuned to improve the capacity energy density retention and rate performance of LLOs via gradient Ta doping.

A Flexible Li-Air Battery Workable under Harsh Conditions Based on an Integrated Structure: A Composite Lithium Anode Encased in a Gel Electrolyte.

Flexible lithium-air batteries (FLABs) with ultrahigh theoretical energy density are considered as the most promising energy storage devices for next-generation flexible and wearable electronics. However, their practical application is seriously hindered by various obstacles, including bulky and rigid electrodes, instability/low conductivity of electrolytes, and especially, the inherent semi-open structure. When operated in ambient air, moisture penetrated from an air cathode inevitably corrodes a Li metal anode, and most of the reported FLABs can only work under a pure oxygen or specific air (relative humidity: <40%) atmosphere, which cannot be regarded as a real "lithium-air battery".

ZnO quantum dot-modified rGO with enhanced electrochemical performance for lithium-sulfur batteries.

Lithium-sulfur batteries are considered the most promising next-generation energy storage devices. However, problems like sluggish reaction kinetics and severe shuttle effect need to be solved before the commercialization of Li-S batteries. Here, we successfully prepared ZnO quantum dot-modified reduced graphene oxide (rGO@ZnO QDs), and first introduced it into Li-S cathodes (rGO@ZnO QDs/S).

Oxocarbon-functionalized graphene as a lithium-ion battery cathode: a first-principles investigation.

In recent years, organic-based, especially carbonyl-based, Li-ion battery electrode materials have attracted great attention due to their low-cost, environmentally friendly nature and strong Li-ion bonding abilities. However, new research is required to further increase the electron mobility and cycling performance of organic materials. The performance of a high-carbonyl CO molecule-functionalized graphene electrode for Li-ion batteries is investigated using the density functional theory.

MnO nanoparticles interdispersed in 3D porous carbon framework for high performance lithium-ion batteries.

Interdispersed MnO nanoparticles that are anchored and encapsulated in a three-dimensional (3D) porous carbon framework (MnO@CF) have been constructed, which display nanosphere architecture with rich porosity, well-defined carbon framework configuration, and excellent structure stability. When evaluated as an anode material, the MnO@CF exhibits relatively high specific capacity of 939 mA h g(-1) at current rate of 0.2 A g(-1) over 200 cycles and excellent rate capability of 560.

Variation of the coordination environment and its effect on the white light emission properties in a Mn-doped ZnO-ZnS complex structure.

Mn-doped ZnO-ZnS complex nanocrystals were fabricated through coating of dodecanethiol on Mn-doped ZnO nanocrystals. The relationship between the component of white light emission and the coordination environments of Mn-dopants were experimentally investigated. It was shown that Mn ions mainly formed Mn(3+)O6 octahedra in as prepared Mn-doped ZnO, while the Mn(3+) ions on the surface of ZnO transferred into Mn(2+) ions at the interface between ZnO and ZnS after dodecanethiol coating.

Improving the solubility of Mn and suppressing the oxygen vacancy density in Zn(0.98)Mn(0.02)O nanocrystals via octylamine treatment.

Zn(0.98)Mn(0.02)O nanocrystals were synthesized by the wet chemical route and were treated with different content of octylamine.

Fabrication and photoluminescence of Er(3+)-doped Al2O3 thin films with sol-gel method.

Erbium doped Al2O3 thin films were fabricated on quartz substrates in dip-coating process by sol-gel method, using the aluminum isopropoxide [Al(OC3H7)3]-derived AlOOH sols with the addition of erbium nitrate [Er(NO3)3 x 5H2O]. The as-deposited films, which erbium concentration was between 20 and 43 mol%, were annealed in air from 600 to 1200 degrees C. The phase structure was detected by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and the PL spectra in the wavelength range of 1400-1700 nm were investigated by spectrophotometer, which was exited by a 760 nm semiconductor LD.

Al doped ZnO nanogranular film fabricated by layer-by-layer self-assembly method and its application for gas sensors.

ZnO is one of the most promising materials for gas sensor. Nanogranular films with ultrahigh surface-to-volume ratio have great potential in gas sensor application. In this paper, Al doped ZnO nanogranular films were fabricated by layer-by-layer (LBL) self-assembly method and the gas sensitivity of ZnO films were investigated.