Highly Efficient, Cost Effective, and Safe Sodiation Agent for High-Performance Sodium-Ion Batteries.

The development of sodium-ion batteries has been hindered so far by the large irreversible capacity of hard carbon anodes and other anode materials in the initial few cycles, as sodium ions coming from cathode materials is consumed in the formation of the solid-electrolyte interface (SEI) and irreversibly trapped in anodes. Herein, the successful synthesis of an environmentally benign and cost-effective sodium salt (Na2 C4 O4 ) is reported that could be applied as additive in cathodes to solve the irreversible-capacity issues of anodes in sodium-ion batteries. When added to Na3 (VO)2 (PO4 )2 F cathode, the cathode delivered a highly stable capacity of 135 mAh g-1 and stable cycling performance. The water-stable Na3 (VO)2 (PO4 )2 F cathode in combination with a water-soluble sacrificial salt eliminates the need for using any toxic solvents for laminate preparation, thus paving way for greener electrode fabrication techniques. A 100 % increase in capacity of sodium cells (full-cell configuration) has been observed when using the new sodium salt at a C-rate of 2C. Regardless of the electrode fabrication technique, this new salt finds use in both aqueous and non-aqueous cathode-fabrication techniques for sodium-ion batteries.

Modified Tetrathiafulvalene as an Organic Conductor for Improving Performances of Li-O2 Batteries.

Large over-potentials owing to the sluggish kinetics of battery reactions have always been the drawbacks of Li-O2 batteries, which lead to short cycle life. Although redox mediators have been intensively investigated to overcome this issue, side-reactions are generally induced by the solvated nature of redox mediators. Herein, we report an alternative method to achieve more efficient utilization of tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) in Li-O2 batteries. By coordinating TTF+ with LiCl during charging, an organic conductor TTF+ Clx- precipitate covers Li2 O2 to provide an additional electron-transfer pathway on the surface, which can significantly reduce the charge over-potential, improve the energy efficiency of Li-O2 batteries, and eliminate side-reactions between the lithium metal anode and TTF+ . When a porous graphene electrode is used, the Li-O2 battery combined with TTF and LiCl shows an outstanding performance and prolonged cycle life.

Two-dimensional layered compound based anode materials for lithium-ion batteries and sodium-ion batteries.

Rechargeable batteries, such as lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries, have been considered as promising energy conversion and storage devices with applications ranging from small portable electronics, medium-sized power sources for electromobility, to large-scale grid energy storage systems. Wide implementations of these rechargeable batteries require the development of electrode materials that can provide higher storage capacities than current commercial battery systems. Within this greater context, this review will present recent progresses in the development of the 2D material as anode materials for battery applications represented by studies conducted on graphene, molybdenum disulfide, and MXenes. This review will also discuss remaining challenges and future perspectives of 2D materials in regards to a full utilization of their unique properties and interactions with other battery components.

Hierarchical Porous Carbon Spheres for High-Performance Na-O2 Batteries.

As a new family member of room-temperature aprotic metal-O2 batteries, Na-O2 batteries, are attracting growing attention because of their relatively high theoretical specific energy and particularly their uncompromised round-trip efficiency. Here, a hierarchical porous carbon sphere (PCS) electrode that has outstanding properties to realize Na-O2 batteries with excellent electrochemical performances is reported. The controlled porosity of the PCS electrode, with macropores formed between PCSs and nanopores inside each PCS, enables effective formation/decomposition of NaO2 by facilitating the electrolyte impregnation and oxygen diffusion to the inner part of the oxygen electrode. In addition, the discharge product of NaO2 is deposited on the surface of individual PCSs with an unusual conformal film-like morphology, which can be more easily decomposed than the commonly observed microsized NaO2 cubes in Na-O2 batteries. A combination of coulometry, X-ray diffraction, and in situ differential electrochemical mass spectrometry provides compelling evidence that the operation of the PCS-based Na-O2 battery is underpinned by the formation and decomposition of NaO2 . This work demonstrates that employing nanostructured carbon materials to control the porosity, pore-size distribution of the oxygen electrodes, and the morphology of the discharged NaO2 is a promising strategy to develop high-performance Na-O2 batteries.

Nitrogen-Doped Porous Carbon Nanosheets from Eco-Friendly Eucalyptus Leaves as High Performance Electrode Materials for Supercapacitors and Lithium Ion Batteries.

Nitrogen-doped porous carbon nanosheets were prepared from eucalyptus tree leaves by simply mixing the leaf powders with KHCO3 and subsequent carbonisation. Porous carbon nanosheets with a high specific surface area of 2133 m2 g-1 were obtained and applied as electrode materials for supercapacitors and lithium ion batteries. For supercapacitor applications, the porous carbon nanosheet electrode exhibited a supercapacitance of 372 F g-1 at a current density of 500 mA g-1 in 1 m H2 SO4 aqueous electrolyte and excellent cycling stability over 15 000 cycles. In organic electrolyte, the nanosheet electrode showed a specific capacitance of 71 F g-1 at a current density of 2 Ag-1 and stable cycling performance. When applied as the anode material for lithium ion batteries, the as-prepared porous carbon nanosheets also demonstrated a high specific capacity of 819 mA h g-1 at a current density of 100 mA g-1 , good rate capability, and stable cycling performance. The outstanding electrochemical performances for both supercapacitors and lithium ion batteries are derived from the large specific surface area, porous nanosheet structure and nitrogen doping effects. The strategy developed in this paper provides a novel route to utilise biomass-derived materials for low-cost energy storage systems.

3D Interconnected Carbon Fiber Network-Enabled Ultralong Life Na3 V2 (PO4 )3 @Carbon Paper Cathode for Sodium-Ion Batteries.

Sodium-ion batteries (NIBs) are an emerging technology, which can meet increasing demands for large-scale energy storage. One of the most promising cathode material candidates for sodium-ion batteries is Na3 V2 (PO4 )3 due to its high capacity, thermal stability, and sodium (Na) Superionic Conductor 3D (NASICON)-type framework. In this work, the authors have significantly improved electrochemical performance and cycling stability of Na3 V2 (PO4 )3 by introducing a 3D interconnected conductive network in the form of carbon fiber derived from ordinary paper towel. The free-standing Na3 V2 (PO4 )3 -carbon paper (Na3 V2 (PO4 )3 @CP) hybrid electrodes do not require a metallic current collector, polymeric binder, or conducting additives to function as a cathode material in an NIB system. The Na3 V2 (PO4 )3 @CP cathode demonstrates extraordinary long term cycling stability for 30 000 deep charge-discharge cycles at a current density of 2.5 mA cm-2 . Such outstanding cycling stability can meet the stringent requirements for renewable energy storage.

Hydrothermal Synthesis of Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube-Zinc Manganate Nanoparticles as Anode Materials for Lithium Ion Batteries.

Multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)-ZnMn2 O4 nanoparticles were fabricated by a hydrothermal method without further thermal treatment. The morphology and microstructure were investigated by X-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller method. Owing to the synergistic effect and strongly coupled interaction between the MWCNTs and ZnMn2 O4 nanoparticles, the MWCNT-ZnMn2 O4 composite material exhibited a higher specific capacity of 809 mA h g-1 , good rate capability and stable cycling performance compared to both pristine ZnMn2 O4 nanoparticles and MWCNTs, indicating it to be a promising anode material for lithium ion battery applications.

Advances in graphene-based semiconductor photocatalysts for solar energy conversion: fundamentals and materials engineering.

Graphene-based semiconductor photocatalysis has been regarded as a promising technology for solar energy storage and conversion. In this review, we summarized recent developments of graphene-based photocatalysts, including preparation of graphene-based photocatalysts, typical key advances in the understanding of graphene functions for photocatalytic activity enhancement and methodologies to regulate the electron transfer efficiency in graphene-based composite photocatalysts, by which we hope to offer enriched information to harvest the utmost fascinating properties of graphene as a platform to construct efficient graphene-based composite photocatalysts for solar-to-energy conversion.

A microwave synthesis of mesoporous NiCo2O4 nanosheets as electrode materials for lithium-ion batteries and supercapacitors.

A facile microwave method was employed to synthesize NiCo2 O4 nanosheets as electrode materials for lithium-ion batteries and supercapacitors. The structure and morphology of the materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller methods. Owing to the porous nanosheet structure, the NiCo2 O4 electrodes exhibited a high reversible capacity of 891 mA h g(-1) at a current density of 100 mA g(-1) , good rate capability and stable cycling performance. When used as electrode materials for supercapacitors, NiCo2 O4 nanosheets demonstrated a specific capacitance of 400 F g(-1) at a current density of 20 A g(-1) and superior cycling stability over 5000 cycles. The excellent electrochemical performance could be ascribed to the thin porous structure of the nanosheets, which provides a high specific surface area to increase the electrode-electrolyte contact area and facilitate rapid ion transport.

Novel multi-responsive P2VP-block-PNIPAAm block copolymers via nitroxide-mediated radical polymerization.

Linear soluble multi-responsive block copolymers are able to form so called schizophrenic micelles in aqueous solution. Here, such polymers are prepared via nitroxide-mediated radical polymerization (NMRP). In a first step nitroxide-terminated poly(2-vinylpyridine) (P2VP) was prepared with different molecular weights and narrow molecular weight distributions. The best reaction conditions, optimized by kinetic studies, were bulk polymerization at 110 °C. Using P2VP as a macroinitiator, the synthesis of new soluble linear block copolymers of P2VP and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) (P2VP-block-PNIPAAm) was possible. The nitroxide terminated polymers were characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Thermal properties were investigated by the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Block copolymers showed pH- and temperature-responsive solubility in aqueous media. By increasing the P2VP content, the phase transition temperature shifted to lower temperatures (e.g. 26 °C for P2VP114-block-PNIPAAm180). Depending on the resulting block length, temperature and pH value of aqueous solution, the block copolymers form so called schizophrenic micelles. The hydrodynamic radius R(h) of these micelles associated with pH values and temperature was analyzed by dynamic light scattering (DLS). Such kind of block copolymers has potential for many applications, such as controlled drug delivery systems.

Electron beam irradiation of poly(vinyl methyl ether) films. 2. Temperature-dependent swelling behavior.

Temperature-sensitive hydrogel films were synthesized by electron beam irradiation of poly(vinyl methyl ether) (PVME) on silicon (Si/SiO(2)) substrates and gold (Au) coated glass slides. The temperature-dependent swelling behavior of the films in aqueous solution was characterized by in situ spectroscopic ellipsometry and a combination of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and optical waveguide spectroscopy (OWS). The results of both techniques are compared. The suitability of both techniques for the characterization of the swelling behavior of thin hydrogel films is demonstrated. The volume swelling degree in the swollen state decreases with increasing radiation dose D. This is explained by the fact that the number of formed polymeric radicals, and hence cross-linking density, increases with D. Above the phase-transition temperature, the swelling degrees were independent of D, slightly above 1. The swelling/deswelling process was fully reversible and is mainly directed perpendicular to the substrate surface. The phase-transition temperature was determined to be T(cr) approximately 33 degrees C. However, T(cr) slightly decreases with increasing D and increasing film thickness d.