Self-assembly of nanorod/nanoparticle mixtures in polymer brushes

Double-Layered Modified Separators as Shuttle Suppressing Interlayers for Lithium-Sulfur Batteries

The shuttling phenomena in lithium-sulfur batteries lead to drastic attenuation of the capacity. This can be suppressed effectively by modifying the separator. Herein, a double-layered separator composed of a macroporous polypropylene (PP) matrix layer and an arrayed poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) microsphere retarding layer is designed as the separator for lithium-sulfur batteries. A sulfur positive electrode with the PP/PMMA separator exhibits a high initial capacity of 1100.10 mAh g^-1 at a current density of 0.1 mA cm^-2 along with a high Coulombic efficiency, which is higher than the corresponding first discharge capacity results obtained using the standard PP separator (948.60 mAh g^-1). In the double-layered separator, the arrayed PMMA microspheres can inhibit the diffusion of polysulfides through physical and chemical adsorption, thereby improving the electrochemical performance of lithium-sulfur batteries. In addition, the PMMA microspheres enhance the affinity of the separator to the electrolyte, which will increase the adsorption of the electrolyte to the separator and accelerate the diffusion rate of lithium ions.

A facile approach to control metal superstructure architecture with organic thin films

Three-dimensional and morphology-tunable superstructures were produced by engineering the interactions among functional groups in organic thin films, adsorbed precursors and the formed metal nanoparticles.

Nanocomposites of polymer brush and inorganic nanoparticles: preparation, characterization and application

We tackle in this review the use of a subset of polymer brushes (e.g., polyelectrolytes and polyampholytes) for the embedment of inorganic NPs to make composite surfaces/NPs with specific functions.

Simultaneous synthesis and assembly of silver nanoparticles to three-demensional superstructures for sensitive surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy detection

Construction of superstructures with controllable morphologies from NPs is of great scientific and technological importance. A one-step method for simultaneous synthesis and assembly of Ag NPs to three-dimensional (3D) nanoporous superstructures is demonstrated. By varying the adsorption time of Ag precursors, an array of well-defined Ag superstructures with different morphologies are harvested. A "hot spot"-rich substrate for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy is established, which exhibits high sensitivity in trace detection of molecules. It is believed that the presented 3D nanoporous Ag superstructures hold great potential for various uses, such as novel multifunctional sensing and monitoring chips or devices.