Search

• Modifying with binary IMCs effectively improves the electrochemical performance of CuO. • A structural construction mechanism exists in the formation of ZnSn/CuO with various morphologies. • The hollow wool-ball-like ZnSn/CuO-3 constructed with nanosheets delivers a capacity of 846.9 mA h g−1 after 200 cycles. • This unique structure buffers volume expansion and provides more contacting area, promoting the rate performance even at high current density. CuO anode modified with intermetallic compounds is conducive to improve its electrochemical performance by enhancing conductivity and structure stability. Herein, CuO modified with Cu 5 Zn 8 and Cu 10 Sn 3 intermetallic compounds, denoted as ZnSn/CuO, was synthesized by etching bronze powder with ammonia solution, and its morphology can be easily controlled by adjusting the content of ammonia solution. The obtained hollow wool-ball-like ZnSn/CuO constructed with nanosheets has a high reversible capacity of 846.9 mA h g−1 after 200 cycles at a current density of 500 mA g−1. ZnSn/CuO achieves excellent rate performance and cycling stability due to the improved conductivity and buffered volume expansion, benefiting from the existence of intermetallic compounds and unique nano-structure mechanism. Therefore, the outstanding electrochemical property and this novel synthesis route make ZnSn/CuO become a potential anode material for lithium-ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] We have reported a novel codoping anatase TiO2, which has been reported scarcely. [•] The electronic structure and optical properties have been also investigated. [•] N and Cr codoping is quite helpful for the photocatalytic activity increase of TiO2. [•] The results could guide research and further development of TiO2 photocatalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] A new Heusler alloy V2CuAl with Hg2CuTi-type structure has been developed. [•] The conducting character is shown by the majority and minority spin band structures calculations. [•] The magnetic moments of V(1) atom and V(2) atom indicated that the alloy is a ferromagnet. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

LiVO 3 has been recognized as a promising anode material for lithium storage because of its superior ion transfer capability and high theoretical capacity (1265 mAh g−1). However, its low electrical conductivity and hysteresis of the reaction kinetics limit the improvement of its electrochemical performance. In this work, carbon-doped LiVO 3 nanofibers (C-doped LiVO 3 NFs) are firstly designed and prepared via a simple and scalable electrospinning technique. The as-obtained C-doped LiVO 3 NFs deliver high discharge capacity (913.7 mAh g−1 after 500 cycles at 0.2 A g−1) with obvious rise in capacity upon cycling, owing to its self-adaptive reaction kinetics. Moreover, the C-doped LiVO 3 NFs electrode retains a high average discharge capacity of 676.2 mAh g−1 at 6.0 A g−1 and resumes the reversible capacity of 1137.5 mAh g−1 when the current returns to 0.2 A g−1 after 7 periodic rate performance tests. Surprisingly, the C-doped LiVO 3 NFs anode exhibits an unprecedented long cycling performance with the capacity remaining at 560.3 mAh g−1 after 4200 cycles at the discharge current density of 4.0 A g−1. The above outstanding comprehensive electrochemical performance is attributed to rapid ion and electron transport triggered by carbon doping and the adaptive reaction kinetics of the C-doped LiVO 3 NFs electrode, which is manifested in the gradually decreasing charge transfer impedance and the gradually increasing pseudocapacitance contribution upon cycling. • Concise strategy for the design of the carbon-doped LiVO 3 nanofibers. • Exhibiting high reaction activity and self-adaptively enhanced reaction kinetics. • Achieving unprecedented lifespan among all the LiVO 3 -based electrode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] NaYF4:Yb3+,Er3+@SiO2 submicrocubes were synthesized using a modified Stöber procedure. [•] Silica shells protect NaYF4:Yb3+,Er3+ cores from aggregating and growing up during annealing. [•] Intense green light was observed in annealed submicrocubes excited with a 980nm laser source. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Tuning the reaction kinetics of Li 3 VO 4 -based electrode via a facile strategy. • Design Li 3 VO 4 /N doped C fibers via a biomass derived approach. • Achieving ultra-high capacity and superior rate performance in the Li 3 VO 4 /NC Fs. [Display omitted] Li 3 VO 4 /nitrogen doped carbon fibers (LVO/NCFs) were prepared via a low cost and scalable biomass-derived approach. High and gradually increasing capacitive lithium storage for the LVO/NCFs during cycling is induced by self-adaptive reaction kinetics, leading to outstanding cycle stability and superb rate performance. The LVO/NCFs exhibit discharge specific capacity of 774 mAh g−1 at the current of 0.2 A g−1 after 500 cycles, and 419 mAh g−1 at 2.0 A g−1 after 1000 cycles. Even after period rate testing from 0.2 to 3.0 A g−1 over 250 cycles, the LVO/NCFs still revert to high capacity of 616 mAh g−1 when the current is decreasing to 0.2 A g−1. The low cost and scalable biomass-derived synthesis and the outstanding comprehensive lithium storage performance of the LVO/NCFs endow it with great promising for practical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The design of a new promising Li 3 VO 4 -based anode material with high energy density. • Distinctly improving the capacity of Li 3 VO 4 -based anode without scarifying the cyclability. • Continuously high pseudocapacitive charge storage induced excellent performance. Nitrogen doped carbon bridged Li 3 VO 4 -Ga 2 O 3 hybrid (Li 3 VO 4 -Ga 2 O 3 /NC) is first synthesized through an intermediate solution method with subsequent annealing. The Li 3 VO 4 -Ga 2 O 3 /NC hybrid exhibits robust pseudocapacitive charge storage owing to the synergetic effect between each component, resulting in ultra-high capacity and ultra-stable cyclability as anode for Li-ion batteries. At a specific current of 0.1 A g−1, the Li 3 VO 4 -Ga 2 O 3 /NC electrode delivers high reversible capacity of 652.6 mA h g−1 after 400 cycles, without obvious capacity attenuation over cycling. After three periodic rate performance testing from 0.1 to 2.0 A g−1 over 260 cycles, the Li 3 VO 4 -Ga 2 O 3 /NC electrode delivers high discharge capacity of 750.3 mA h g−1 when reverting current to 0.1 A g−1. The Li 3 VO 4 -Ga 2 O 3 /NC electrode also shows excellent long cycle stability at 1.0 A g−1, delivering high discharge capacity of 450.4 mA h g−1 after 1600 cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We report the fabrication of low-level crystalline TiO 2 NWs as SERS substrate by a modified hydrothermal reaction. • Excess acid treatment destroyed the surface structure of the TiO2 NWs. • The prepared 3D Ag-TiO 2 NWs exhibits high SERS sensitivity to rhodamine 6 G. • The value of enhancement factor (EF) reaches 5.2 × 109. • The TiO 2 NWs can be reused after UV-cleaning and maintained excellent SERS sensitivity. A three dimensional surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate has been obtained by assembling Ag nanoparticles onto multilayered TiO 2 nanowires (NWs) synthesized via modified hydrothermal method. The as-prepared Ag-TiO 2 NW substrate exhibits high SERS sensitivity, achieving a detection limit of 10−19 M for R6G solution. The rough surfaces and 3D porous network structure of Ag-TiO 2 NWs cause strong adsorption of probe molecules. The small curvature radii, rough surfaces of the TiO2 NWs, and their intercrossed 3D network contribute to formation of abundant nanogaps. The substrate exhibits recyclability due to photocatalytic activity of TiO 2. The Outstanding performance of the substrate facilitates the industrial application in the ultrasensitive chemical and biological molecule detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphene and amorphous carbon decorated β-Ga 2 O 3 nanoparticles (β-Ga 2 O 3 @G/C) were fabricated via facile freezing-dry approach and subsequent sintering treatment. In the β-Ga 2 O 3 @G/C, β-Ga 2 O 3 nanoparticles facilitate the lithium ion diffusion, and dual carbon decoration promotes the electron transfer, triggering high pseudocapacitive contribution for charge storage. The pseudocapacitive charge storage for the fresh electrode is 61.7%, reaching 62.5% after 50 cycles, and 66.7% after 100 cycles. Stable pseudocapacitive charge storage also leads to improved cyclability. The β-Ga 2 O 3 @G/C electrode exhibits high charge/discharge capacity of 517.9 and 521.8 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles at 0.2 A g−1, and 376.7/379.9 mAh g−1 after 150 cycles at 0.5 A g−1, respectively. • Specific architecture of β-Ga 2 O 3 with dual carbon decoration. • Enhanced Li-ion storage in β-Ga 2 O 3 @G/C via improved reaction kinetics. • Feasible approach to design high-performance β-Ga 2 O 3 anode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]