Influence of Binders and Solvents on Stability of Ru/RuO Nanoparticles on ITO Nanocrystals as Li-O Battery Cathodes.

Fundamental research on Li-O batteries remains critical, and the nature of the reactions and stability are paramount for realising the promise of the Li-O system. We report that indium tin oxide (ITO) nanocrystals with supported 1-2 nm oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalyst Ru/RuO nanoparticles (NPs) demonstrate efficient OER processes, reduce the recharge overpotential of the cell significantly and maintain catalytic activity to promote a consistent cycling discharge potential in Li-O cells even when the ITO support nanocrystals deteriorate from the very first cycle. The Ru/RuO nanoparticles lower the charge overpotential compared with those for ITO and carbon-only cathodes and have the greatest effect in DMSO electrolytes with a solution-processable F-free carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) binder (<3.

Metallopolymer capacitor in "one pot" by self-directed UV-assisted process.

Silver metalized methacrylate films are prepared by single-step UV curing process with good conductivity on both sides. The major component of the composite is Bisphenol A ethoxylate dimethacrylate, which can be photopolymerized by a photoreactive initiator under UV light. Under the same conditions of UV irradiation, silver ions are deposited as metal nanoparticles while the pyrrole is oxidized to polypyrrole.

New sol-gel synthetic route to phospho-olivines as environmentally friendly cathodes for Li-ion cells.

A new sol-gel synthetic route was developed to prepare single-phase phospho-olivines LiMPO4 (M = Fe or Mn), potential cathode materials for the next generation of Li-ion secondary batteries. Triethyl phosphite was used as phosphate organic precursor, with absolute ethanol as solvent. The sol-gel synthesis ensures homogeneity of the precursors at the nanometric scale and improved reactivity, allowing to obtain very small agglomerates and crystal grain size.