Metal-organic framework derived yolk-shell NiS/carbon spheres for lithium-sulfur batteries with enhanced polysulfide redox kinetics.

Yolk-shell NiS/carbon spheres (yolk-shell NiS/C) have been synthesized by one-step annealing of yolk-shell Ni-metal-organic framework spheres. In particular, both the inner yolk sphere and the outer shell of yolk-shell NiS/C can provide catalytically active sites for the redox of polysulfide confined in the yolk-shell structure, providing enhanced redox kinetics. A yolk-shell NiS/C-sulfur cathode exhibits a high rate capacity of 569 mA h g at 2C and shows excellent cycling stability, demonstrating the superiority of the yolk-shell structure.

3D Interconnected MoS with Enlarged Interlayer Spacing Grown on Carbon Nanofibers as a Flexible Anode Toward Superior Sodium-Ion Batteries.

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS) has attracted extensive research interest as a fascinating anode for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) because of its high specific capacity of 670 mA h g. However, unsatisfied cycling durability and poor rate performance are two barriers that hinder MoS for practical application in SIBs. Herein, 3D interconnected MoS with enlarged interlayer spacing epitaxially grown on 1D electrospinning carbon nanofibers (denoted as MoS@CNFs) was prepared as a flexible anode for SIBs via l-cysteine-assisted hydrothermal method.

Multifunctional optical sensing probes based on organic-inorganic hybrid composites.

Several hybrid sensing materials, which are prepared by the covalent grafting of organic fluorescent molecules onto inorganic supports, have emerged as a novel and promising class of hybrid sensing probes and have attracted tremendous interest. In comparison to the organic fluorescent sensors, the hybrid sensing probes incorporate the beneficial chemical/physical properties of the organic molecules and inorganic materials, which accelerate the development of hybrid materials for ion recognition and removal. Hence, the novel hybrid sensing materials can selectively monitor and efficiently remove specific analytes, which can provide a novel opportunity to synthesize multifunctional hybrid materials.