We demonstrate that peat moss, a wild plant covers 3% of the earth's surface, serves as an ideal precursor to create sodium ion battery (NIB) anodes with some most attractive electrochemical properties ever reported for carbonaceous materials. By inheriting unique cellular structure moss leaves, resultant materials are composed three-dimensional macroporous interconnected networks carbon nanosheets (as thin 60 nm). The tissue is highly cross-linked, being rich in lignin and hemicellulose,...

Here we provide the first report on several compositions of ternary Sn–Ge–Sb thin film alloys for application as sodium ion battery (aka NIB, NaB or SIB) anodes, employing Sn50Ge50, Sb50Ge50, and pure Sn, Ge, Sb baselines. Sn33Ge33Sb33, Sn50Ge25Sb25, Sn60Ge20Sb20, Sn50Ge50 all demonstrate promising electrochemical behavior, with Sn50Ge25Sb25 being best overall. This alloy has an initial reversible specific capacity 833 mAhg–1 (at 85 mAg–1) 662 after 50 charge–discharge cycles. also shows...

It is a challenge to meld the energy of secondary batteries with power supercapacitors. Herein, we created electrodes finely tuned for this purpose, consisting monolayer MnO nanocrystallites mechanically anchored by pore-surface terminations 3D arrays graphene-like carbon nanosheets ("3D-MnO/CNS"). The biomass-derived should offer synthesis cost advantage over comparably performing designer nanocarbons, such as graphene or nanotubes. High Li storage capacity achieved bulk conversion and...

Abstract Surface wettability, a property that governs the interaction between solid and liquid phases, is central in various biological systems technological applications. A typical approach to assess wetting based on sessile droplet contact angle. Despite its experimental simplicity, caution required measurement interpretation of angle as wettability metric. In this work, major challenges related use for characterizing surface behavior are reviewed. The complexity interpreting using value...

A hydrothermal process was employed to create a variety of Co3O4 nanostructures. We demonstrate that nominally minor differences in the synthesis temperature (50, 70°, or 90 °C) yield profound variations oxide microstructure, with lath-like, necklace-like and net-like morphologies different scales resulting. This turn resulted significant supercapacitive performance ranged from mediocre superb. Specifically, mesoporous nanostructures were synthesized at 50 °C exhibited very favorable...

The recent global energy context has been recognized as evidence for the need to reduce our consumption, prolong fossil fuel supplies and minimize shortage, decelerate greenhouse gas transpiration. Over past few years, using an insulator decreasing its thermal conductivity have most effective way consumption. Aerogels superinsulating materials permit reduction of heat exchange between two environments while producing facile sol–gel diverse drying routes. intrigued scientists engineers due...

Thin-film solid electrolytes with wide electrochemical stability windows are required to develop solid-state lithium (Li) metal batteries high energy densities. In this work, free-standing Li3InCl6 (30 μm)|Li6PS5Cl μm) bilayer thin films prepared by slurry casting, drying, and lamination. This combination of is stable at both the cathode interface (high voltages) anode (low voltages). The exhibit >10× lower area-specific resistance than thick (∼1 mm) pellets fabricated traditional powder...

Nanocomposite materials consisting of platinum deposited on carbon nanotubes are emerging electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction in PEM fuel cells. However, these albeit showing promising electrocatalytic activities suffer from unacceptable rates corrosion during service. This study demonstrates an effective strategy creating highly corrosion-resistant utilizing metal oxide coated as a support Pt. The electrode geometry consisted three-dimensional array multi-walled grown...

We investigated the effect of aluminum coating layers and support growth substrates on electrochemical performance silicon nanowires (SiNWs) used as negative electrodes in lithium ion battery half-cells. Extensive TEM SEM analysis was utilized to detail cycling induced morphology changes both Al-SiNW nanocomposites baseline SiNWs. observed an improved Si that were coated with 3 8 wt.% aluminum. After 50 cycles, bare Al retained 2600 mAh/g capacity. However beyond showed higher capacity well...

Abstract Thermal management in Li‐ion batteries is critical for their safety, reliability, and performance. Understanding the thermal conductivity of battery materials crucial controlling temperature distribution batteries. This work provides systemic quantitative measurements three important classes solid electrolytes (SEs) over range 150 < T 350 K. Studies include oxides Li 1.5 Al 0.5 Ge (PO 4 ) 3 6.4 La Zr 1.4 Ta 0.6 O 12 , sulfides 2 S–P S 5 6 PS Cl, Na halides InCl YCl ....

We synthesized composites consisting of silicon nanowires (SiNWs) coated with magnesium (Mg) and silicide (Mg2Si) for lithium-ion battery anodes studied their electrochemical cycling stability degradation mechanisms. Compared to bare SiNWs, both Mg- Mg2Si-coated materials show significant improvement in coulombic efficiency during cycling, pure Mg coating being slightly superior by ∼1% each cycle. XPS measurements on cycled nanowire forests gave quantitative information the composition SEI...

We created a bimetallic chromium vanadium hydrogen sorption catalyst for magnesium hydride (MgH2). The allows significant room-temperature uptake, over 10 cycles, at absorption pressures as low 2 bar. This is something that has never been previously achieved. also allowed ultrarapid and kinetically stable hydrogenation cycling (over 225 cycles) 200 300 °C. Transmission electron microscopy analysis of the postcycled samples revealed nanoscale dispersion Cr-V nanocrystallites within Mg or MgH2...

We examine hydrogen sorption cycling of 1.5 μm thick magnesium thin films containing a bimetallic chromium titanium catalyst. At 200 °C these nanocomposites absorb 5 wt % in several seconds, and desorb 10–20 minutes. In compositions, there is negligible hydrogenation kinetics or capacity degradation even at over 100 cycles. Equally importantly, the ternary require minimal activation, achieving rapid hydride formation decomposition from cycle one. Pressure-composition isotherms display...

Fast and reversible active control over the surface wettability of electrodeposited copper is achieved through electrochemical manipulation oxidation state. The switchable described in this work allows for facile precise wettability, ranging from superhydrophobic (contact angle about 157°) to superhydrophilic less than 10°) with a short response time. rate wetting transition desired contact can be precisely controlled by modulating magnitude duration applied potential. alteration completely...

This study focused on hydrogen sorption properties of 1.5 μm thick Mg–10 at. % Fe–10 Ti, Mg–15 Fe–15 and Mg–20 Fe–20 Ti films. We show that the alloys display remarkable behavior: At 200 °C films are capable absorbing nearly 5 wt in seconds desorbing minutes. Furthermore this behavior is stable over cycling. In alloy there no kinetic or capacity degradation even after 100 absorption/desorption cycles. Pressure–composition isotherm data for indicates enhancement due to improved kinetics...

Scientific literature shows a substantial study-to-study variation in the electrochemical lithiation performance of “1-D” nanomaterials such as Si and Ge nanowires or nanotubes.

Determining composition of Li-ion battery (LIB) cathodes at the nanoscale is important to understanding cathode performance. However, in widely adopted layered transition metal oxide materials, high crystallographic...