Novel Hoberman Sphere Design for Interlaced MnO@CNT Architecture with Atomic Layer Deposition-Coated TiO Overlayer as Advanced Anodes in Li-Ion Battery.

The Hoberman sphere is a stable and stretchable spatial structure with a unique design concept, which can be taken as the ideal prototype of the internal mechanical/conductive skeleton for the anode with large volume change. Herein, MnO nanoparticles are interlaced with a Hoberman sphere-like interconnected carbon nanotube (CNT) network via a facile self-assembly strategy in which MnO can "locally expand" in the CNT network, limit the volume expansion to the interior space, and maintain a stable outer surface of the hybrid particle. Furthermore, an ultrathin uniform ALD-coated TiO shell is adopted to stabilize the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI), provide high electron conductivity and lithium ion (Li) diffusivity with lithiated LiTiO, and enhance the reaction kinetics of the MnO by an "electron-density enhancement effect".

Development of a Synergistic Activation Strategy for the Pilot-Scale Construction of Hierarchical Porous Graphitic Carbon for Energy Storage Applications.

Pursuing scalable production of porous carbon with facile and environmentally friendly synthesis methodology is a global goal. Herein, a unique hierarchical porous graphitic carbon (HPGC) with outstanding textural characteristics is achieved by a special synergistic activation mechanism, in which the low-temperature molten state of polymorphisms can induce a high-rate liquid phase porous activation. HPGC with high specific surface area (SSA, ∼2571 m g) and large pore volume (PV, ∼2.

Investigation of the Nanocrystal CoS Embedded in 3D Honeycomb-like Graphitic Carbon with a Synergistic Effect for High-Performance Lithium Sulfur Batteries.

Lithium sulfur (Li-S) batteries can offer great opportunities for the next-generation energy storage systems with tremendous energy density. However, challenges still exist in practical Li-S batteries including low sulfur utilization, and poor cycling stability and rate capability. Herein, we propose a novel hybrid catalyst structure by in situ implanting nanocrystal CoS in three-dimensional honeycomb-like hierarchical porous graphitic carbon (HPGC) for high-performance Li-S batteries.