Progress and Challenges of Vanadium Oxide Cathodes for Rechargeable Magnesium Batteries.

Among the challenges related to rechargeable magnesium batteries (RMBs) still not resolved are positive electrode materials with sufficient charge storage and rate capability as well as stability and raw material resources. Out of the materials proposed and studied so far, vanadium oxides stand out for these requirements, but significant further improvements are expected and required. They will be based on new materials and an improved understanding of their mode of operation.

Vanadium Oxide-Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) Nanocomposite as High-Performance Cathode for Aqueous Zn-Ion Batteries: The Structural and Electrochemical Characterization.

In this work the nanocomposite of vanadium oxide with conducting polymer poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (VO@PEDOT) was obtained by microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis. The detailed study of its structural and electrochemical properties as cathode of aqueous zinc-ion battery was performed by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, X-ray diffraction analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge-discharge, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The initial VO@PEDOT composite has layered nanosheets structure with thickness of about 30-80 nm, which are assembled into wavy agglomerated thicker layers of up to 0.

Interactions in Electrodeposited Poly-3,4-Ethylenedioxythiophene-Tungsten Oxide Composite Films Studied with Spectroelectrochemistry.

Cyclic voltammograms and optical absorption spectra of PEDOT/WO composite films were recorded in order to identify possible interactions and modes of improved performance of the composite as compared to the single materials. Changes in the shape of redox peaks related to the W(VI)/W(V) couple in the CVs of WO and the composite PEDOT/WO films indicate electrostatic interactions between the negatively charged tungsten oxide species and the positively charged conducting polymer. Smaller peak separation suggests a more reversible redox process due to the presence of the conducting polymer matrix, accelerating electron transfer between tungsten ions.

Inner Coordination Sphere Control of Metal-Metal Superexchange in Ruthenium Dimers.

The dinuclear Ru(III) complexes trans-[{(NH(3))(4)Ru(py)}(2)(&mgr;-L)][PF(6)](4), where py represents pyridine and L represents 1,4-dicyanamidobenzene dianion (dicyd(2)(-)) derivatives dicyd(2)(-) (1), Me(2)dicyd(2)(-) (2), Cl(2)dicyd(2)(-) (3), and Cl(4)dicyd(2)(-) (4), have been prepared and characterized by electronic absorption spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. A crystal structure of the complex trans-[{(NH(3))(4)Ru(py)}(2)(&mgr;-dicyd)][PF(6)](4).(1)/(2)H(2)O showed the dicyd(2)(-) ligand to be approximately planar with the cyanamido groups in a syn configuration.