Self-supporting network-structured MoS/heteroatom-doped graphene as superior anode materials for sodium storage.

Layered graphene and molybdenum disulfide have outstanding sodium ion storage properties that make them suitable for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). However, the easy and large-scale preparation of graphene and molybdenum disulfide composites with structural stability and excellent performance face enormous challenges. In this study, a self-supporting network-structured MoS/heteroatom-doped graphene (MoS/NSGs-G) composite is prepared by a simple and exercisable electrochemical exfoliation followed by a hydrothermal route.

Thermal Migration Promotes the Formation of Manganese and Nitrogen Doped Polyhedral Surface for Boosted Oxygen Reduction Electrocatalysis.

Increasing the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalytic activity of carbon-based electrocatalysts with robust stability is of great significance for their application. Herein, a feasible thermal migration strategy was proposed to construct manganese- and nitrogen-doped carbonaceous polyhedron frameworks coupled with manganese monoxide microrods (MnO-NC). Mn species were migrated to the surface of polyhedron frameworks, the shape of which was maintained at the high-temperature treatment.

Robust Oxygen Reduction Electrocatalysis Enabled by Platinum Rooted on Molybdenum Nitride Microrods.

Robust oxygen reduction electrocatalysis is central to renewable fuel cells and metal-air batteries. Herein, Pt nanoparticles (NPs) rooted on porous molybdenum nitride microrods (Pt/MoN MRs) are rationally constructed toward the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Owing to the desired composition with strong electronic metal-support interactions (EMSIs) and a porous one-dimensional structure supporting ultrafine NPs, the developed Pt/MoN MRs possess much higher ORR mass and specific activities than commercial Pt/C.

Control of the interface graphitized/amorphous carbon of biomass-derived carbon microspheres for symmetric supercapacitors.

Rational interface control of porous carbon electrode materials is of significance for achieving efficient supercapacitors. Herein, biomass-derived carbon microspheres with a highly graphitized porous surface and amorphous subsurface were well constructed a flexible coupled catalysis-activation process. The unique structure not only endows the carbon microspheres with rapid electron transfer but also an ultra-high specific surface area.

Diatomite waste derived N-doped porous carbon for applications in the oxygen reduction reaction and supercapacitors.

Biomass waste recycling and utilization is of great significance for improving ecological environments and relieving the current energy crisis. Waste diatomite with an adsorbed mass of yeast protein resulting from beer filtration is feasibly converted into N-doped porous carbon (NPC) high temperature thermal treatment. The resulting NPC inherits the three-dimensional hierarchical structure of the diatomite, with a unique rich-pore feature composed of micro/meso/macropores, which is beneficial for high exposure of the electrocatalytic sites and ion transfer and diffusion.

Short-range amorphous carbon nanosheets for oxygen reduction electrocatalysis.

Selectively creating active sites that can work well in different media as much as possible remains an open challenge for the widespread application of sustainable metal air batteries and fuel cells. Herein, short-range amorphous nitrogen-doped carbon nanosheets (NCS) coupled with partially graphitized porous carbon architecture were reported, and were prepared flexible salt-assisted calcination strategy and followed by a simple cleaning process. The short-range amorphous structure not only significantly promotes the exposure of electrochemically active sites of carbon defects with less protonation in acidic medium, but also maintains the structural stability and electron conduction of the NCS.

Scalable Preparation of the Chemically Ordered Pt-Fe-Au Nanocatalysts with High Catalytic Reactivity and Stability for Oxygen Reduction Reactions.

Carbon-supported Au-Pt Fe nanoparticles were synthesized via microwave heating polyol process, followed by annealing for the formation of the ordered structure. The structure characterizations indicate that Au is alloyed with intermetallic Pt-Fe nanoparticles and therefore the surface electronic properties are tuned. The electrochemical tests show that the microwave heating polyol process is more effective than oil bath heating polyol process for synthesizing the highly active catalysts.