Silicon oxycarbide glass-graphene composite paper electrode for long-cycle lithium-ion batteries.

Silicon and graphene are promising anode materials for lithium-ion batteries because of their high theoretical capacity; however, low volumetric energy density, poor efficiency and instability in high loading electrodes limit their practical application. Here we report a large area (approximately 15 cm × 2.5 cm) self-standing anode material consisting of molecular precursor-derived silicon oxycarbide glass particles embedded in a chemically-modified reduced graphene oxide matrix.

Polymer-Derived Ceramic Functionalized MoS2 Composite Paper as a Stable Lithium-Ion Battery Electrode.

A facile process is demonstrated for the synthesis of layered SiCN-MoS2 structure via pyrolysis of polysilazane functionalized MoS2 flakes. The layered morphology and polymer to ceramic transformation on MoS2 surfaces was confirmed by use of electron microscopy and spectroscopic techniques. Tested as thick film electrode in a Li-ion battery half-cell, SiCN-MoS2 showed the classical three-stage reaction with improved cycling stability and capacity retention than neat MoS2.

MoS2/graphene composite paper for sodium-ion battery electrodes.

We study the synthesis and electrochemical and mechanical performance of layered free-standing papers composed of acid-exfoliated few-layer molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) flakes for use as a self-standing flexible electrode in sodium-ion batteries. Synthesis was achieved through vacuum filtration of homogeneous dispersions consisting of varying weight percent of acid-treated MoS2 flakes in GO in DI water, followed by thermal reduction at elevated temperatures. The electrochemical performance of the crumpled composite paper (at 4 mg cm(-2)) was evaluated as counter electrode against pure Na foil in a half-cell configuration.

Very high laser-damage threshold of polymer-derived Si(B)CN-carbon nanotube composite coatings.

We study the laser irradiance behavior and resulting structural evolution of polymer-derived silicon-boron-carbonitride (Si(B)CN) functionalized multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) composite spray coatings on copper substrate. We report a damage threshold value of 15 kWcm(-2) and an optical absorbance of 0.97 after irradiation.

Synthesis of graphene films by rapid heating and quenching at ambient pressures and their electrochemical characterization.

We study the process of graphene growth on Cu and Ni substrates subjected to rapid heating (approximately 8 °C/s) and cooling cycles (approximately 10 °C/s) in a modified atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition furnace. Electron microscopy followed by Raman spectroscopy demonstrated successful synthesis of large-area few-layer graphene (FLG) films on both Cu and Ni substrates. The overall synthesis time was less than 30 min.