Van der Waals phase transition investigation toward high-voltage layered cathodes.

High-voltage phase transition constitutes the major barrier to accessing high energy density in layered cathodes. However, questions remain regarding the origin of phase transition, because the interlayer weak bonding features cannot get an accurate description by experiments. Here, we determined van der Waals (vdW) interaction (vdWi) in LiCoO via visualizing its electron density, elucidating the origin of O3─O1 phase transition.

Multi-d Electron Synergy in LaNi Co Ru Intermetallics Boosts Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution.

Despite the fact that d-band center theory links the d electron structure of transition metals to their catalytic activity, it is yet unknown how the synergistic effect of multi-d electrons impacts catalytic performance. Herein, novel LaNi Co Ru intermetallics containing 5d, 4d, and 3d electrons were prepared. In these compounds, the 5d orbital of La transfers electrons to the 4d orbital of Ru, which provides adsorption sites for H*.

An Anomalous Electron Configuration Among 3d Transition Metal Atoms.

Physical properties of materials are mainly determined by valence electron configurations, where different valence shells would induce divergent phenomena. In compounds containing Sc , 3d electron occupancy is expected, the same as other transition metal atoms like Ti . But this situation still awaits experimental verification in inorganic materials.

Dynamics of Anisotropic Oxygen-Ion Migration in Strained Cobaltites.

Orientation control of the oxygen vacancy channel (OVC) is highly desirable for tailoring oxygen diffusion as it serves as a fast transport channel in ion conductors, which is widely exploited in solid-state fuel cells, catalysts, and ion-batteries. Direct observation of oxygen-ion hopping toward preferential vacant sites is a key to clarifying migration pathways. Here we report anisotropic oxygen-ion migration mediated by strain in ultrathin cobaltites via thermal activation in atomic-resolved transmission electron microscopy.

Novel mesoporous organosilica nanoparticles with ferrocene group for efficient removal of contaminants from wastewater.

Traditional method to functionalize mesoporous silica nanoparticles with organic groups for removal of contaminants from wastewater was surface modification. However, this surface modification could not cover the entire surface, leading to incomplete utilization of the high surface area of MSNs. In this work, we designed and prepared a novel inorganic-organic hybrid nanomaterial: ferrocene incorporated mesoporous organosilica nanoparticles (MONs).

Analytical ABF-STEM imaging of Li ions in rechargeable batteries.

Rechargeable batteries are being intensively investigated in an attempt to solve the energy issues while meeting the environmental demands. Even though Li-ion batteries (LIB) with high energy and light weight have been commercialized within the last 20 years, these devices currently require higher energy density, output power and sustainability characteristics. The atomic behavior of Li ion that determines LIB's performance is hardly characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) owing to its weak electron-scattering power.