Formation of Mn–Cr mixed oxide nanosheets with enhanced lithium storage properties

A single step wet chemical approach to bifunctional ultrathin (ZnO)62(Fe2O3)38 dendritic nanosheets

At the ultrathin scale, nanomaterials exhibit interesting chemical and physical properties, like flexibility, and polymer-like rheology. However, to limit the dimensions of composite nanomaterials at the ultrathin level is still a challenging task. Herein, by adopting a new low temperature single step and single pot wet chemical approach, we have successfully fabricated two dimensional (2D) mixed oxide ZnO-Fe₂O₃ dendritic nanosheets (FZDNSs). Various control experimental outcomes demonstrate that precursor salts of both the metals are crucial for the formation of stable 2D FZDNSs. The obtained FZDNSs not only exhibit the best photoreduction performance but also much enhanced electrocatalytic performance. This work will provide a promising avenue for the synthesis of cost effective transition metal mixed oxide based 2D nanosheets having wide ranging applications.

MOFs-Derived Flower-Like Hierarchically Porous Zn-Mn-Se/C Composite for Extraordinary Rate Performance and Durable Anode of Sodium-Ion and Potassium-Ion Batteries

The slow kinetics and poor structural stability prevent transition metal selenides from being widely used in sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) and potassium-ion batteries (PIBs). Herein, the "flower-like" porous carbon anchored by Zn-Mn binary selenides (ZMS@FC) composites are fabricated by selenizing the modified hierarchically metal-organic frameworks. The 2D conductive hierarchically flakes' abundant pore structure and multiple active sites shorten the ion diffusion length and promote conductivity, while the synergistic effect of the binary metals and intrinsic large pseudocapacitive contribution effectively improve capacity and rate performance. ZMS@FC composites exhibit impressive rate capability of 294.4 mA h g^-1 at 10 A g^-1 and excellent cyclic stability with 369.6 mA h g^-1 specific capacity retention at 2 A g^-1 after 1000 cycling in SIBs. It is noted that 156.9 mA h g^-1 can be retained at 5 A g^-1 and 227.0 mA h g^-1 is remained after 500 cycles at 2 A g^-1 in PIBs. The ex situ X-ray diffraction patterns and transmission electron microscopy pictures are used to confirm the conversion reaction processes of the Zn-Mn-Se. Designing high-performance energy storage materials may benefit greatly from the universal synthesis technology of bimetallic sulfide anodes for enhanced SIBs and PIBs.