Tin nanoparticles as an effective conductive additive in silicon anodes.

We have found that the addition of tin nanoparticles to a silicon-based anode provides dramatic improvements in performance in terms of both charge capacity and cycling stability. Using a simple procedure and off-the-shelf additives and precursors, we developed a structure in which the tin nanoparticles are segregated at the interface between the silicon-containing active layer and the solid electrolyte interface. Even a minor addition of tin, as small as ∼2% by weight, results in a significant decrease in the anode resistance, as confirmed by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. This leads to a decrease in charge transfer resistance, which prevents the formation of electrically inactive "dead spots" in the anode structure and enables the effective participation of silicon in the lithiation reaction.

Spray pyrolysis of CZTS nanoplatelets.

We demonstrate that copper-zinc-tin-sulphide nanoplatelets can be directly grown onto a molybdenum-coated substrate using spray pyrolysis starting from a mixture of metal thiocarbamates precursors. The structure and phase purity of the nanoplatelets is discussed in detail.

High-yield plasma synthesis of luminescent silicon nanocrystals.

Light emission from silicon based on quantum confinement in nanoscale structures has sparked intense research into this field ever since its discovery about 15 years ago. A barrier to the widespread utilization of luminescent silicon nanocrystals in such diverse application areas as optoelectronics, solid-state lighting for general illumination, or fluorescent agents for biological applications has been the lack of a simple, high-yield synthesis approach. Here we report a scaleable single-step synthesis process for luminescent silicon nanocrystals based on a low-pressure nonthermal plasma.