Activating multisite high-entropy alloy nanocrystals via enriching M-pyridinic N-C bonds for superior electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution.

The activation of multisite high-entropy alloy (HEA) electrocatalysts is helpful for improving the atomic utilization of each metal in water electrolysis catalysis. Herein, well-dispersed HEA nanocrystals on N-rich graphene with abundant M-pyridinic N-C bonds were synthesized through an ultrasonic-assisted confinement synthesis method. Operando Raman analysis and density functional theory calculations revealed that the electrocatalysts presented the optimal electronic rearrangement with fast rate-determined HO dissociation kinetics and favorable H* adsorption behavior that greatly enhanced hydrogen generation in alkaline electrolyte.

Defect engineered SnO nanoparticles enable strong CO chemisorption toward efficient electroconversion to formate.

Oxygen vacancy (O) engineering of SnO electrocatalysts plays a crucial role in realizing efficient CO electroreduction (CORR) into formate. Herein, we demonstrate the rational synthesis of highly dispersed SnO nanoparticle electrocatalysts with an ultrahigh O content of up to 25.1% by a thermally induced strategy.

Surface enrichment and diffusion enabling gradient-doping and coating of Ni-rich cathode toward Li-ion batteries.

Critical barriers to layered Ni-rich cathode commercialisation include their rapid capacity fading and thermal runaway from crystal disintegration and their interfacial instability. Structure combines surface modification is the ultimate choice to overcome these. Here, a synchronous gradient Al-doped and LiAlO-coated LiNiCoO cathode is designed and prepared by using an oxalate-assisted deposition and subsequent thermally driven diffusion method.

Selenium vacancy triggered atomic disordering of CoSe nanoparticles towards a highly-active electrocatalyst for water oxidation.

Selenium vacancy engineering has been realized in Co0.85Se nanoparticles via an anoxic melting strategy, where the vacancy content can be continuously controlled to modulate atomic disordering. The resulting Co0.

Boosting reaction kinetics and reversibility in Mott-Schottky VS/MoS heterojunctions for enhanced lithium storage.

Heterostructures have lately been recognized as a viable implement to achieve high-energy Li-ion batteries (LIBs) because the as-formed built-in electric field can greatly accelerate the charge transfer kinetics. Herein, we have constructed the Mott-Schottky heterostructured VS/MoS hybrids with tailorable 1T/2H phase based on their matchable formation energy, which are made of metallic and few-layered VS vertically grown on MoS surface. The density functional theory (DFT) calculations unveil that such heterojunctions drive the rearrangement of energy band with a facilitated reaction kinetics and enhance the Li adsorption energy more than twice compared to the MoS surface.

Reciprocal hybridization of MoO2 nanoparticles and few-layer MoS2 for stable lithium-ion batteries.

The reciprocal hybridization of MoO2 nanoparticles and few-layer MoS2 has been realized via a facile hydrothermal reaction. The resulting MoO2/MoS2 hybrids exhibit a high reversible specific capacity of 1103 mA h g(-1) at 0.2 A g(-1) with a high rate performance (273 mA h g(-1) at 6.

Directly grown Si nanowire arrays on Cu foam with a coral-like surface for lithium-ion batteries.

In order to mitigate the drastic volumetric expansion (>300%) of silicon (Si) during the lithiation process, we demonstrate the synthesis of novel Si nanowire arrays (n-SNWAs) with a coral-like surface on Cu foam via a one-step CVD method, in which the Cu foam can simultaneously act as a catalyst and current collector. The unique coral-like surface endows n-SNWAs with a high structural integrity, which is beneficial for enhancing their electrochemical performance. In addition, the as-prepared n-SNWAs on Cu foam can be directly applied as the anode for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), exhibiting a very high reversible discharge capacity (2745 mA h g(-1) at 200 mA g(-1)) and a fast charge and discharge capability (884 mA h g(-1) at 3200 mA g(-1)), which is much higher than the conventional SNWAs (c-SNWAs, only 127 mA h g(-1) at 3200 mA g(-1)).

Mesoporous single-crystalline V2O5 nanorods assembled into hollow microspheres as cathode materials for high-rate and long-life lithium-ion batteries.

Mesoporous single-crystalline V2O5 nanorods assembled into novel hollow microspheres have been synthesized as cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries by a simple solvothermal treatment of NH4VO3 and ethylene glycol with subsequent annealing in air at 400 °C, which delivered a very high reversible capacity of 145.8 mA h g(-1) at 2.5-4.

Mesoporous single crystals Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ grown on rGO as high-rate anode materials for lithium-ion batteries.

Mesoporous single crystals Li4Ti5O12 grown on reduced graphene oxide (MSCs-LTO-rGO) nanohybrids have been synthesized by a simple hydrothermal reaction of TiO2/rGO and LiOH with subsequent annealing in Ar at 600 °C, which exhibited high specific capacity (171 mA h g(-1)) with much improved rate capability (132 mA h g(-1) at 40 C) and intriguing cycling stability (85% capacity retention after 2000 cycles).