P-induced bottom-up growth of Fe-doped Ni12P5 nanorod arrays for urea oxidation reaction

Synthesis of regular morphology catalysts with self-growing substrates is one of the effective methods to solve the problem of easy shedding of heterogeneous catalysts. In this study, Fe-doped Ni₁₂P₅ nanorods were prepared by depositing 1,1' -bis (diphenylphosphine) ferrocene (DPPF) on N-doped C/NF. The bottom-up growth of the nanorod is ascribed to the preferential adsorption of DPPF with a P site to NF that is surface-doped with the solid-solving C, and the length of nanorods can reach tens of microns and has good robustness. The N-doped carbon-constrained rod-shaped Fe-doped Ni₁₂P₅ catalyst (Fe-Ni₁₂P₅/N_dC/NF-800) that grows on NF has excellent catalytic performance for the urea oxidation reaction. In addition, the current density can be maintained as high as 100 mA cm^-2 and the current attenuation is weak for 12 h, and the rod shape remains good. This work provides a new idea for synthesizing self-growing catalysts with regular morphology to improve the performance of heterogeneous catalysts.

1D Colloidal chains: recent progress from formation to emergent properties and applications

Integrating nanoscale building blocks of low dimensionality (0D; i.e., spheres) into higher dimensional structures endows them and their corresponding materials with emergent properties non-existent or only weakly existent in the individual building blocks. Constructing 1D chains, 2D arrays and 3D superlattices using nanoparticles and colloids therefore continues to be one of the grand goals in colloid and nanomaterial science. Amongst these higher order structures, 1D colloidal chains are of particular interest, as they possess unique anisotropic properties. In recent years, the most relevant advances in 1D colloidal chain research have been made in novel synthetic methodologies and applications. In this review, we first address a comprehensive description of the research progress concerning various synthetic strategies developed to construct 1D colloidal chains. Following this, we highlight the amplified and emergent properties of the resulting materials, originating from the assembly of the individual building blocks and their collective behavior, and discuss relevant applications in advanced materials. In the discussion of synthetic strategies, properties, and applications, particular attention will be paid to overarching concepts, fresh trends, and potential areas of future research. We believe that this comprehensive review will be a driver to guide the interdisciplinary field of 1D colloidal chains, where nanomaterial synthesis, self-assembly, physical property studies, and material applications meet, to a higher level, and open up new research opportunities at the interface of classical disciplines.

Monodispersed Copper Phosphide Nanocrystals in situ Grown into Nitrogen-doped Reduced Graphene Oxide Matrix and their Superior Performance as the Anode for Lithium-ion Batteries

A nanocomposite anode material consisting fully of monodispersed copper phosphide (Cu3P) nanocrystals in situ grown into three dimensional (3D) nitrogen-doped reduced graphene oxide (N-RGO) matrixes has been manufactured in the...

Dual Porous 3D Zinc Anodes toward Dendrite-Free and Long Cycle Life Zinc-Ion Batteries

Rechargeable aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) have been proven to be an alternative energy storage system because of their high safety, low cost, and eco-friendliness. However, the poor stability of metallic Zn anodes suffering from uncontrolled dendrite formation and electrochemical corrosion has brought troublesome hindrances for their practical application. In this work, we report a dual porous Zn-3D@600 anode prepared by coating a Zn@C protective layer on a 3D zinc skeleton. The Zn-3D@600 anode exhibits a highly stable and low polarization voltage during the Zn plating/stripping process and possesses a smooth and dendrite-free interface after long-term cycling. Moreover, the assembled Zn-3D@600 cell shows excellent cycle stability and superlative rate performance, delivering a discharge capacity of 198.8 mAh g^-1 after 1000 cycles at 1 A g^-1. Such excellent electrochemical performance can be credited to the Zn@C protective layer regulating uniform Zn nucleation and the 3D zinc skeleton accommodating Zn deposition at a high current density.

Regulation of nitrogen configurations and content in 3D porous carbons for improved lithium storage

The incorporation of active nitrogen species in carbon materials has been widely demonstrated as a viable means to produce superior lithium storage materials, while the precise regulation of nitrogen configurations as well as their content still remains a formidable challenge. Herein, nitrogen-free porous carbon frameworks were synthesized by a self-templating strategy from disodium citrate, and post-annealing yielded 10.4 at% N that was primarily pyrrolic-N and pyridinic-N with an atomic ratio of about 3 : 1, with negligible inactive graphitic-N. A gravimetric capacity of 570 mA h g^-1 at a current density of 4 A g^-1 was measured for a Li half-cell based on the as-prepared N-doped 3D carbon materials. Lithium-ion capacitors with this N-doped carbon as the anode and commercial AC as the cathode yielded energy densities of 58.9 and 142.6 W h kg^-1 with the corresponding power densities of 7400 and 185 W kg^-1, respectively. We suggest that the carbon materials with high content of pyrrolic-N and pyridinic-N especially pyrrolic-N have improved lithium storage.

The encapsulation of MnFe2O4 nanoparticles into the carbon framework with superior rate capability for lithium-ion batteries

Binary transition metal oxides (BTMOs) have been regarded as one of the most hopeful anode materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) owing to their high theoretical capacity, excellent electrochemical activity and abundant electrochemical reactions. However, BTMOs still suffer from two main problems, which are poor conductivity and large volume expansion during the charge/discharge processes. In order to address the above-mentioned problems, mesoporous MnFe2O4@C nanorods have been successfully synthesized in this work. The synergistic effect of the cross-linked carbon framework and mesoporous structure greatly improves the electrochemical performances. As expected, the mesoporous MnFe2O4@C electrode manifests discharge capacities of 987.5 and 816.6 mA h g-1 at the current densities of 100 and 2000 mA g-1, respectively, with the capacity retention ratio of 82.7%, exerting distinguished rate capabilities for LIBs.

3D hierarchical rose-like Ni2P@rGO assembled from interconnected nanoflakes as anode for lithium ion batteries

In recent years, anode materials of transition metal phosphates (TMPs) for lithium ion batteries have drawn a vast amount of attention, due to their high theoretical capacity and comparatively low intercalation potentials vs. Li/Li⁺.