Antimony doped SnO2nanowire@C core-shell structure as a high-performance anode material for lithium-ion battery

SnO₂is considered as one of the high specific capacity anode materials for Lithium-ion batteries. However, the low electrical conductivity of SnO₂limits its applications. This manuscript reports a simple and efficient approach for the synthesis of Sb-doped SnO₂nanowires (NWs) core and carbon shell structure which effectively enhances the electrical conductivity and electrochemical performance of SnO₂nanostructures. Sb doping was performed during the vapor-liquid-solid synthesis of SnO₂NWs in a horizontal furnace. Subsequently, carbon nanolayer was coated on the NWs using the DC Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition approach. The carbon-coated shell improves the Solid-Electrolyte Interphase stability and alleviates the volume expansion of the anode electrode during charging and discharging. The Sb-doped SnO₂core carbon shell anode showed the superior specific capacity of 585 mAhg^-1after 100 cycles at the current density of 100 mA g^-1, compared to the pure SnO₂NWs electrode. The cycle stability evaluation revealed that the discharge capacity of pure SnO₂NWs and Sb doped SnO₂NWs electrodes were dropped to 52 and 152 mAh g^-1after100th cycles. The process of Sb doping and carbon nano shielding of SnO₂nanostructures is proposed for noticeable improvement of the anode performance for SnO₂based materials.

Co/rGO synthesized via the alcohol-thermal method as a heterogeneous catalyst for the highly efficient oxidation of ethylbenzene with oxygen

Co₃O₄ nanoparticles uniformly dispersed on reduced graphene oxide (Co/rGO) were synthesized by the alcohol-thermal method as a highly efficient catalyst with initiator NHPI for the selective oxidation of ethylbenzene to acetophenone using O₂ as a green oxidant.

Sodium Doping to Enhance Electrochemical Performance of Overlithiated Oxide Cathode Materials for Li-Ion Batteries via Li/Na Ion-Exchange Method

Overlithiated oxide cathode materials show high capacity but poor cycle stability and voltage attenuation. In this work, a concentration difference driven molten salt ion exchange strategy is used to replace a small quantity of lithium ions by sodium ions. With the entry of sodium ions, the interplanar spacing is increased and the structure is stabilized. The electrochemical properties of materials have been improved obviously. The powder X-ray diffraction, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy are used to detect the entry of sodium ions and structural changes. The modified materials display high discharge specific capacity, excellent cycling performance, and reduced voltage attenuation.

Double-shelled CeO2@C hollow nanospheres as enhanced anode materials for lithium-ion batteries

Double-shelled CeO₂@C hollow nanospheres exhibit high reversible capability, a stable cycling life, and good rate capacity as anodes for lithium-ion batteries.

A Convenient Synthesis Route for Co3O4 Hollow Microspheres and Their Application as a High Performing Anode in Li-Ion Batteries

A new, rapid, and cost-effective method for synthesizing hollow microspheres (HMSs) of cobalt oxide (Co₃O₄) using the phloroglucinol-formaldehyde gel route is reported here. Further, the synthesized hollow Co₃O₄ microspheres were investigated as an anode material for Li-ion batteries. The Co₃O₄ hollow spheres exhibited excellent electrochemical performance and cycling stability, for example, a capacity of 915 mA h g^-1 was obtained at 1 C rate over 350 cycles. The material also exhibited good performance at high rates, viz., capacities of 500, 350, and 250 mA h g^-1 at 10 C, 25 C, and 50 C, respectively, with good capacity retention over 500 cycles. The excellent electrochemical performance of Co₃O₄ can be ascribed to the porous nanoarchitecture that provides a short diffusion length for Li⁺ ions and high electrolyte percolation in the porous structure. Additionally, the thin porous wall of the nanocages provides an effective way to overcome the issues associated with the volume change occurring during Li charge/discharge. The conversion of Co₃O₄ into Co upon discharge was also probed by measuring the magnetic properties.

Synthetic advancements and catalytic applications of nickel nitride

This minireview discusses controlled chemical synthetic advancements of nickel nitride and its composites, their fundamental properties, and energy-related applications.

Methods to form atomically thin carbon coatings on SnS and SnO2 nanostructures

We report a citric acid-assisted solvothermal method to construct C@SnS@C sandwich nanosheets, which assemble into 3D porous microspheres.

Template-free synthesis of hollow-structured Co3O4 nanoparticles as high-performance anodes for lithium-ion batteries

We have developed a template-free procedure to synthesize Co3O4 hollow-structured nanoparticles on a Vulcan XC-72 carbon support. The material was synthesized via an impregnation-reduction method followed by air oxidation. In contrast to spherical particles, the hollow-structured Co3O4 nanoparticles exhibited excellent lithium storage capacity, rate capability, and cycling stability when used as the anode material in lithium-ion batteries. Electrochemical testing showed that the hollow-structured Co3O4 particles delivered a stable reversible capacity of about 880 mAh/g (near the theoretical capacity of 890 mAh/g) at a current density of 50 mA/g after 50 cycles. The superior electrochemical performance is attributed to its unique hollow structure, which combines nano- and microscale properties that facilitate electron transfer and enhance structural robustness.

Co3O4 nanocages with highly exposed {110} facets for high-performance lithium storage

Functional materials with both exposed highly reactive planes and hollow structures have attracted considerable attentions with respect to improved catalytic activity and enhanced electrochemical energy storage. Herein, we report the synthesis of unusual single-crystal Co3O4 nanocages with highly exposed {110} reactive facets via a one-step solution method. When tested as anode materials in lithium-ion batteries, these Co3O4 nanocages deliver a high reversible lithium storage capacity of 864 mAh g(-1) at 0.2C over 50 cycles and exhibit an excellent rate capability. The dominantly exposed {110} planes, a high density of atomic steps in nanocages, and the large void interiors lead to the regarded superior electrochemical performance.

Controlled synthesis of porous Co3O4–C hybrid nanosheet arrays and their application in lithium ion batteries

Two-dimensional Co₃O₄ nanostructures with porous architectures are experiencing rapid development in functional material fields for their unique structures and properties.

Preparation of 3D nanoporous copper-supported cuprous oxide for high-performance lithium ion battery anodes

Three-dimensional (3D) nanoporous architectures can provide efficient and rapid pathways for Li-ion and electron transport as well as short solid-state diffusion lengths in lithium ion batteries (LIBs). In this work, 3D nanoporous copper-supported cuprous oxide was successfully fabricated by low-cost selective etching of an electron-beam melted Cu(50)Al(50) alloy and subsequent in situ thermal oxidation. The architecture was used as an anode in lithium ion batteries. In the first cycle, the sample delivered an extremely high lithium storage capacity of about 2.35 mA h cm(-2). A high reversible capacity of 1.45 mA h cm(-2) was achieved after 120 cycles. This work develops a promising approach to building reliable 3D nanostructured electrodes for high-performance lithium ion batteries.

Controlled synthesis of mesoporous MnO/C networks by microwave irradiation and their enhanced lithium-storage properties

A rapid and controllable route is developed for the synthesis of MnO nanoparticles that are encapsulated uniformly in three-dimensional (3D) mesoporous interconnected carbon networks (MnO-MICN) through an efficient microwave-polyol process, combined with a subsequent thermal treatment. The dependence of sodium citrate on the morphology of the Mn-based precursors was investigated systematically. Results show that the unique mesoporous interconnected carbon network (MICN) can not only buffer the large volume expansion of MnO during the electrochemical cycling, but also improve the electrode/electrolyte contact area, favoring the fast Li-ion transport and high specific capacity, superior cyclability, and excellent rate capability. When evaluated as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries, the as-formed 3D MnO-MICN nanocomposite exhibits a highly reversible capacity of 1224 mA h g(-1), with a Coulombic efficiency of ~99% at a current density of 200 mA g(-1) over 200 cycles.