Dual-function additive enables a self-regulatory mechanism to balance cathode-anode interface demands in Zn‖MnO batteries.

The poor reversibility of the zinc (Zn) anodes and the irreversible deposition/dissolution of Mn/MnO significantly impede the commercialization of Zn-Mn aqueous batteries (ZMABs). In reducing the difference between the desired interfacial reaction environments of the cathode and anode, we found that they face the same problem of interference-the generation of irreversible corrosion products. Herein, we have introduced a novel self-regulatory mechanism.

Series of Halogen Engineered Ni(OH) Nanosheet for Pseudocapacitive Energy Storage with High Energy Density.

Ni(OH) nanosheet, acting as a potential active material for supercapacitors, commonly suffers from sluggish reaction kinetics and low intrinsic conductivity, which results in suboptimal energy density and long cycle life. Herein, a convenient electrochemical halogen functionalization strategy is applied for the preparation of mono/bihalogen engineered Ni(OH) electrode materials. The theoretical calculations and experimental results found that thanks to the extraordinarily high electronegativity, optimal reversibility, electronic conductivity, and reaction kinetics could be achieved through F functionalization .

Controlling the electrochemical activity of dahlia-like β-NiS@rGO by interface polarization.

Transition metal sulfides have become more and more important in the field of energy storage due to their superior chemical and physical properties. Herein, dahlia β-NiS with a rough surface and β-NiS@reduced graphene oxide (rGO) have been green synthesized by a one-step hydrothermal method. The interface characteristics of β-NiS@ rGO composites have been systematically studied by XPS, Raman, and first-principles calculations.

Doping-driven electronic structure and conductivity modification of nickel sulfide.

The lack of electrical conductivity limits the electrochemical kinetic rate of the electrode material, resulting in the inability to reach its theoretical capacity. A facile method is adopted to improve the intrinsic conductivity of binary NiS/NiS hybrid nickel sulfide, with the doping of transition metal atoms Co, Mn and Ag. Through the introduction of heteroatoms, the electronic structure of the electrode material is modified and the electrical conductivity is significantly improved, thus enhancing its electrochemical performance.

Coordination agent-dominated phase control of nickel sulfide for high-performance hybrid supercapacitor.

The property of an active material is not only influenced by its morphology and size, but also by its crystal phase. The present phase regulation of nickel sulfide is mainly achieved by controlling the participation of sulfur source in reaction. Thus, new perspectives direct at phase control need to be explored and supplemented.

Template-free synthesis of β-NiS ball-in-ball microspheres for a high-performance asymmetrical supercapacitor.

While significant advances have been made in the synthesis of core-/multi-shell materials, the synthetic process usually involves a soft/hard template and complicated procedures. In particular, it is extremely difficult to fabricate single-component core-shell structures for nickel sulfides (NSs) with a controlled phase. In this work, we demonstrate a novel facile method to synthesize a single-component β-NiS ball-in-ball microsphere.

Selenium Defect Boosted Electrochemical Performance of Binder-Free VSe Nanosheets for Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries.

As a typical transition-metal dichalcogenides, vanadium diselenide (VSe) is a promising electrode material for aqueous zinc-ion batteries due to its metallic characteristics and excellent electronic conductivity. In this work, we propose a strategy of hydrothermal reduction synthesis of stainless-steel (SS)-supported VSe nanosheets with defect (VSe-SS), thereby further improving the conductivity and activity of VSe-SS. Density functional theory calculations confirmed that Se defect can adjust the adsorption energy of Zn ions.

Hyperbranched molecules having multiple functional groups as effective corrosion inhibitors for Al alloys in aqueous NaCl.

Hyperbranched molecules are a kind of promising materials due to their unique structures. In this work, two hyperbranched molecules (GON and GOH) are used as effective inhibitors for Al alloys in NaCl solution. Their inhibitive performances are evaluated by electrochemical measurements and surface characterization.

Facile fabrication of core-shell structured Ni(OH)/Ni(PO) composite via one-step electrodeposition for high performance asymmetric supercapacitor.

Metal metaphosphates, particularly those with core-shell structure, have showed extraordinary potential in energy storage field due to their superior chemical and physical properties. However, the core-shell metal metaphosphates with high energy density in supercapacitor application is rarely reported. Here, the core-shell structured Ni(OH)/Ni(PO) (NNP) hybrid electrode were prepared by one-step electrodeposition, which exhibits a superior specific capacitance of 1477 F g at a current density of 1 A g.

Controlled synthesis of a high-performance α-NiS/NiS hybrid by a binary synergy of sulfur sources for supercapacitor.

Nickel sulfide possesses ultra-high theoretical energy storage capacity. Though it is easily obtained, it is very difficult to exert its intrinsic strong capacity. In this work, a new strategy based on a binary synergy of sulfur sources is introduced.

Ultrathin nickel manganese nanosheets with rich oxygen-vacancy as a durability electrode for aqueous Ni//Zn batteries.

Advanced aqueous batteries with abundant global reserves, large discharge capacity and long life span are crucial research objectives. Herein, a kind of aqueous Zn-ion battery was fabricated with ultra-thin Ni-Mn nanosheet electrode and zinc foil. A simple H-annealing process was employed to handle the NiMnO nanosheets to form oxygen vacancy.

An intermittent microwave-exfoliated non-expansive graphite oxide process for highly-efficient production of high-quality graphene.

Redox methods represented by Hummers' method are the most frequently-used pathways to prepare graphene, but to date still very low-efficient, because of its time-consuming washing and hard reduction process. Here we report an intermittent microwave-exfoliated non-expansive graphite oxide (GtO) process to prepare a wrinkled graphene with a high reduction degree (C/O: 19.0), a high defect degree, and a high specific surface area (1333.