A KMnO-Generated Colloidal Electrolyte for Redox Mediation and Anode Protection in a Li-Air Battery.

The rechargeable lithium-oxygen (Li-O) battery has the highest theoretical specific energy density of any rechargeable batteries and could transform energy storage systems if a practical device could be attained. However, among numerous challenges, which are all interconnected, are polarization due to sluggish kinetics, low cycle life, small capacity, and slow rates. In this study, we report on use of KMnO to generate a colloidal electrolyte made up of MnO nanoparticles.

2D Copper Tetrahydroxyquinone Conductive Metal-Organic Framework for Selective CO Electrocatalysis at Low Overpotentials.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are promising materials for electrocatalysis; however, lack of electrical conductivity in the majority of existing MOFs limits their effective utilization in the field. Herein, an excellent catalytic activity of a 2D copper (Cu)-based conductive MOF, copper tetrahydroxyquinone (CuTHQ), is reported for aqueous CO reduction reaction (CO RR) at low overpotentials. It is revealed that CuTHQ nanoflakes (NFs) with an average lateral size of 140 nm exhibit a negligible overpotential of 16 mV for the activation of this reaction, a high current density of ≈173 mA cm at -0.

High-Rate Long Cycle-Life Li-Air Battery Aided by Bifunctional InX (X = I and Br) Redox Mediators.

Redox mediators (RMs) are solution-based additives that have been extensively used to reduce the charge potential and increase the energy efficiency of Li-oxygen (Li-O) batteries. However, in the presence of RMs, achieving a long cycle-life operation of Li-O batteries at a high current rate is still a major challenge. In this study, we discover a novel synergy among InX (X = I and Br) bifunctional RMs, molybdenum disulfide (MoS) nanoflakes as the air electrode, dimethyl sulfoxide/ionic liquid hybrid electrolyte, and LiTFSI as a salt to achieve long cycle-life operations of Li-O batteries in a dry air environment at high charge-discharge rates.

Influence of nanoclays on water uptake and flexural strength of glass-polyester composites.

Fiber-reinforced polyester composites have received significant attention in a variety of applications due to their considerable potential due to such characteristics as high strength, stiffness, and modulus. However, one of the most important concerns about polymeric composites is their sensitivity to moisture attack. This work has been conducted to investigate the effects of nanoclay addition on reinforcing glass/polyester composites against water absorption and the resultant deterioration of flexural strength.

Quasi-Binary Transition Metal Dichalcogenide Alloys: Thermodynamic Stability Prediction, Scalable Synthesis, and Application.

Transition metal dichalcogenide (TMDCs) alloys could have a wide range of physical and chemical properties, ranging from charge density waves to superconductivity and electrochemical activities. While many exciting behaviors of unary TMDCs have been demonstrated, the vast compositional space of TMDC alloys has remained largely unexplored due to the lack of understanding regarding their stability when accommodating different cations or chalcogens in a single-phase. Here, a theory-guided synthesis approach is reported to achieve unexplored quasi-binary TMDC alloys through computationally predicted stability maps.

A Long-Cycle-Life Lithium-CO Battery with Carbon Neutrality.

Lithium-CO batteries are attractive energy-storage systems for fulfilling the demand of future large-scale applications such as electric vehicles due to their high specific energy density. However, a major challenge with Li-CO batteries is to attain reversible formation and decomposition of the Li CO and carbon discharge products. A fully reversible Li-CO battery is developed with overall carbon neutrality using MoS nanoflakes as a cathode catalyst combined with an ionic liquid/dimethyl sulfoxide electrolyte.