Methylboronic acid MIDA ester (ADM) as an effective additive in electrolyte to improve cathode electrolyte interlayer performance of LiNiCoAlO electrode.

We investigated the effectiveness of using methylboronic acid MIDA ester (ADM) as an additive in an electrolyte to enhance the overall electrochemical and material properties of an LNCAO (LiNiCoAlO) cathode. The cyclic stability of the cathode material measured at 40 °C (@ 0.2 C) showed an enhanced capacity of 144.

Synergistic effects of Ga doping and Mg alloying over the enhancement of the stress sensitivity of a Ga-doped MgZnO pressure sensor.

We demonstrate the synergistic effects of Ga doping and Mg alloying into ZnO on the large enhancement of the piezopotential and stress sensing performance of piezotronic pressure sensors made of Ga-doped MgZnO films. Piezopotential-induced pressure sensitivity was enhanced through the modulation of the Schottky barrier height. Doping with Ga (0.

MoS-Carbon Inter-overlapped Structures as Effective Electrocatalysts for the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction.

The ability to generate hydrogen in an economic and sustainable manner is critical to the realization of a future hydrogen economy. Electrocatalytic water splitting into molecular hydrogen using the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) provides a viable option for hydrogen generation. Consequently, advanced non-precious metal based electrocatalysts that promote HER and reduce the overpotential are being widely researched.

Cyclability evaluation on Si based Negative Electrode in Lithium ion Battery by Graphite Phase Evolution: an operando X-ray diffraction study.

Artificial graphite (FSN) additive is employed as internal structural label for projecting cyclability of Si material native electrode in a mass ratio of Si/FSN = 1.0 in Li ion battery (LIB). Results of operando X-ray diffraction analysis on Si-FSN negative electrode in LIB demonstrate that one can evaluate the lithiation and delithiation affinity of active material by referring phase transition delay of graphite as affected by experimental splits in a formation process of LIB.

Mechanochemical synthesis of Si/CuSi-based composite as negative electrode materials for lithium ion battery.

Mechanochemical synthesis of Si/CuSi-based composite as negative electrode materials for lithium ion battery is investigated. Results indicate that CuO is decomposed and alloyed with Si forming amorphous Cu-Si solid solution due to high energy impacting during high energy mechanical milling (HEMM). Upon carbonization at 800 °C, heating energy induces CuSi to crystallize in nanocrystalline/amorphous Si-rich matrix enhancing composite rigidity and conductivity.

Effect of Annealing Temperature and Oxygen Flow in the Properties of Ion Beam Sputtered SnO₂ Thin Films.

Tin oxide (SnO) thin films were prepared under various flow ratios of O₂/(O₂ + Ar) on unheated glass substrate using the ion beam sputtering (IBS) deposition technique. This work studied the effects of the flow ratio of O₂/(O₂ + Ar), chamber pressures and post-annealing treatment on the physical properties of SnO₂ thin films. It was found that annealing affects the crystal quality of the films as seen from both X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis.

Spinodal decomposition of mono- to few-layer graphene on Ni substrates at low temperature.

Mono to few-layer graphene were prepared on pre-annealed polycrystalline nickel substrates by chemical vapor deposition at a relatively low temperature of 800 degrees C using fast cooling rate. It was observed that the reduced solubility of Carbon in Ni at low temperature and an optimum gas mixing ratio (CH4:H2 = 60/80 (sccm)) can be used to synthesize mano-layer graphene that covers about 100 microm2 area. The number of graphene layers strongly depends upon the hydrogen and methane flow rates.

Enhanced density control of Al:ZnO nanowires via one-by-one coupling of nanowires and pyramids.

Al doped ZnO nanowire arrays with controlled growth densities were fabricated on silicon without using catalysts via sputtering followed by thermal chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Scanning electron microscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy results show that the Al:ZnO single-crystalline nanowires synthesized by CVD prefer growing epitaxially on the tips of the ZnO pyramids pre-synthesized by sputtering with the c-axis perpendicular to the substrate. Consequently, the densities of the as-grown Al:ZnO nanowires were controllable by changing the particle densities of the pre-grown ZnO seed layers.

The synthesis and electrical characterization of Cu2O/Al:ZnO radial p-n junction nanowire arrays.

Vertically aligned large-area p-Cu(2)O/n-AZO (Al-doped ZnO) radial heterojunction nanowire arrays were synthesized on silicon without using catalysts in thermal chemical vapor deposition followed by e-beam evaporation. Scanning electron microscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy results show that poly-crystalline Cu(2)O nano-shells with thicknesses around 10 nm conformably formed on the entire periphery of pre-grown Al:ZnO single-crystalline nanowires. The Al doping concentration in the Al:ZnO nanowires with diameters around 50 nm were determined to be around 1.

ZnO nanorods with two spatially distinct light emissions.

Single-crystalline ZnO nanorods emitting two characteristic optical emissions from opposite halves of the nanorods were synthesized by thermal chemical vapor deposition using Zn/Al mixed powders. Energy dispersive x-ray spectra with transmission electron microscopy show a gradually decreasing Zn:O atomic ratio from the root to the top of a nanorod, and the averaged ratios at the two ends are ≈57.2:42.

Composition fluctuation induced growth of Al:ZnO rectangular nanorod arrays.

Arrays of single-crystalline Al doped ZnO rectangular nanorods were synthesized and nucleated from single-crystalline ZnO nanosheets by thermal chemical vapor deposition. The rectangular nanorods were grown from the periodic thicker regions of the nanosheets, associated with Al concentration fluctuation and evidenced from electron energy loss spectroscopy. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy also shows variations in the lattice constant and dislocations at the interface due to lattice strain.