Defect-induced BC electrodes for high energy density supercapacitor devices.

Boron carbide powders were synthesized by mechanically activated annealing process using anhydrous boron oxide (BO) and varying carbon (C) sources such as graphite and activated carbon: The precursors were mechanically activated for different times in a high energy ball mill and reacted in an induction furnace. According to the Raman analyses of the carbon sources, the I(D)/I(G) ratio increased from ~ 0.25 to ~ 0.

LiMgCoBO as a positive electrode material for Li-ion batteries.

LiCoBO could be a promising cathode material given the electronic and ionic conductivity problems are addressed. Here, Mg substitution in LiCoBO is employed to stabilise the structure and improve the electrochemical performance. LiMgCoBO is synthesised for the first time sol-gel method and Mg substitution in the structure is verified by X-ray powder diffraction and energy dispersive X-ray analyses.

Improvement in the transport critical current density and microstructure of isotopic MgB monofilament wires by optimizing the sintering temperature.

Superconducting wires are widely used in fabricating magnetic coils in fusion reactors. In consideration of the stability of B against neutron irradiation and lower induced radio-activation properties, MgB superconductor with B serving as boron source is an alternative candidate to be used in fusion reactor with severe irradiation environment. In present work, a batch of monofilament isotopic MgB wires with amorphous B powder as precursor were fabricated using powder-in-tube (PIT) process at different sintering temperature, and the evolution of their microstructure and corresponding superconducting properties was systemically investigated.

Defect structure in aliovalently-doped and isovalently-substituted PbTiO3 nano-powders.

The defect structure of Fe(3+)-, Cu(2+)-, Mn(4+)- and Gd(3+)-doped PbTiO(3) nano-powders has been studied by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. Analogous to the situation for 'bulk' ferroelectrics, Fe(3+) and Cu(2+) act as acceptor-type functional centers that form defect complexes with charge-compensating oxygen vacancies. The corresponding defect dipoles are aligned along the direction of spontaneous polarization, P(S), and possess an additional defect polarization, P(D).

The Cluster Anion Si.

Solely on the basis of Raman spectra and quantum chemical calculations, the previously unknown cluster anion Si (structure shown) was characterized and its structure determined. The anion is formed as a component of solid phases by the thermal decomposition of alkali metal monosilicides.