Facile One-Step Hydrothermal Synthesis of the rGO@Ni3V2O8 Interconnected Hollow Microspheres Composite for Lithium-Ion Batteries.

Low-cost, vanadium-based mixed metal oxides mostly have a layered crystal structure with excellent kinetics for lithium-ion batteries, providing high energy density. The existence of multiple oxidation states and the coordination chemistry of vanadium require cost-effective, robust techniques to synthesize the scaling up of their morphology and surface properties. Hydrothermal synthesis is one of the most suitable techniques to achieve pure phase and multiple morphologies under various conditions of temperature and pressure. We attained a simple one-step hydrothermal approach to synthesize the reduced graphene oxide coated Nickel Vanadate (rGO@Ni3V2O8) composite with interconnected hollow microspheres. The self-assembly route produced microspheres, which were interconnected under hydrothermal treatment. Cyclic performance determined the initial discharge/charge capacities of 1209.76/839.85 mAh g-1 at the current density of 200 mA g-1 with a columbic efficiency of 69.42%, which improved to 99.64% after 100 cycles. High electrochemical performance was observed due to high surface area, the porous nature of the interconnected hollow microspheres, and rGO induction. These properties increased the contact area between electrode and electrolyte, the active surface of the electrodes, and enhanced electrolyte penetration, which improved Li-ion diffusivity and electronic conductivity.

Purification of PEDOT:PSS by Ultrafiltration for Highly Conductive Transparent Electrode of All-Printed Organic Devices.

A highly conductive, air stable and scalable poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT): poly(4-styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) are prepared by using mass production ultrafiltration. By effectively removing excess PSS and various reaction impurities using repeated 100 nm pore membrane filtration, purified PEDOT:PSS exhibit conductivity as high as 2000 S cm-1 .

Highly Dispersed Pt Nanoparticles for the Production of Aromatic Hydrocarbons by the Catalytic Degrading of Alkali Lignin.

Aromatic hydrocarbons were produced from lignin, a complex natural amorphous polymer commonly regarded as by-product of the pulping process and from biofuel production. The catalytic decomposition of lignin using supported Pt catalysts was performed to produce small molecule hydrocarbons. Aromatic small-molecule hydrocarbon products were identified and quantified using GC/MS and GC-FID, which demonstrated that 27.6% of aromatic hydrocarbons were obtained from the activated carbon-supported Pt (Pt/AC) catalyst which had the highest Pt surface area.

Catalytic Depolymerization of Alkali Lignin Using Supported Pt Nanoparticle Catalysts.

Alkali lignin, a byproduct of the pulping process, was depolymerized using Pt nanoparticle catalysts. A depolymerized lignin with a lower molecular weight was obtained and characterized with GPC and NMR. 31P-NMR using OH-sensitive probing molecules showed the formation of guaiacyl OHs during the reaction, indicating the cleavage of guaiacyl ether bonds.