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Exploration of pH-universal and durable catalysts with specific structure and high performance is desirable but challenging for electrochemical water splitting. Aiming at this goal, hierarchical CoMoS3 nanotubes constructed of ultrathin nanosheet subunits are prepared via a self-sacrifice template method. The conversion from CoMoO4 nanorods to hierarchical MoCoS3 nanotubes is successfully realized through a facile solvothermal process. The obtained sample simultaneously possesses advanced structural superiority and synergism of ternary Co–Mo–S. Endowed with these advantages, MoCoS3 can serve as a pH-universal and high-performance electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution, delivering low onset overpotential, small overpotential required to generate current density of 10 mA cm−2, and good stability. Moreover, it exhibits excellent catalytic performance in the electrochemical oxygen evolution reaction, making it a promising dual-functional catalyst for water electrolysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In developing flexible lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), fabrication of a high-performance electrode with good flexibility and stability is desirable, yet remains challenging. Herein, a flexible integrated electrode is introduced based on layer-by-layer packed graphene sheets entrapped SnO2–Co3O4 nanocubes. The rationally selected composition, polyhedral nanostructures, and proper construction of the specific architecture successfully trigger a synergistic lithium storage effect, assuring the partial reversible conversion of SnO2 and interfacial lithium storage of graphene, which are responsible for the remarkably high reversible capacity of 1665 mA h g−1 after 100 cycles at 100 mA g−1. Large and stable cyclic performance as well as long cyclic life is also obtained at a high current density of 1 A g−1 (1208 mA h g−1 after 1000 cycles). More importantly, the free-standing electrode can well retain its flexible feature even after 300 repeated electrochemical cycles, making it a promising candidate for a high-performance and stable electrode for flexible LIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MoS2 has been nano-engineered with graphene quantum dots (GQDs) via a solvothermal treatment process to boost its electrochemical lithium storage properties. The doping with GQDs simultaneously endows MoS2 with structural and compositional advantages for high-performance lithium storage, including expanded interlayer distances between layers, fast electrochemical kinetics, and additional stability to buffer the volume variation. When evaluated as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries, GQDs/MoS2 delivers high capacity, improved cyclic performance and excellent rate capability. The composition dependent lithium storage performance has also been revealed for GQDs/MoS2. More importantly, the present nanoengineering could be used to boost the properties of other two-dimensional nanostructures for applications in energy storage and transit, catalysis, sensors and others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Construction of nanostructured building blocks with specific composition, morphology, and internal architectures is an effective and promising strategy to improve the lithium storage of metal oxides. Herein, sandwiched graphene paper@Fe3O4 nanorod array@graphene (GPFG) composites are firstly designed and fabricated as integrated electrodes for high-performance lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). The Fe3O4 nanorod array, directly grown on the conductive graphene paper, assures fast reaction kinetics and high reversibility. The packing graphene not only accelerates the electron transfer but also buffers the volume strain. Therefore, the electrode delivers reasonably large and stable lithium storage, good rate capability, and an amazingly long cycling life of over 1450 cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coordination polymer (CP) templated synthesis of metal oxides has been researched intensively for applications in enhanced electrochemical energy storage and improved catalytic activity. In this manuscript, we demonstrate, for the first time, a topochemical transformation route to synthesize novel layered Co3O4 nanoplates using lamellar structured cobalt-based CPs as a template for optimized lithium-ion battery applications. Endowed with the synergistic advantages of 2D layered textural features and highly exposed reactive (111) crystal planes, the Co3O4 nanoplates exhibit remarkably enhanced lithium storage performance, including fast and high level lithium storage (852 mA h g−1 at 500 mA g−1 after 100 cycles), good rate capability (597 mA h g−1 at 1000 mA g−1 after 100 cycles) and stable cyclability (up to 200 cycles). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mesoporous core–shell nanocomposites with porous α-Fe2O3 nanorods as the core and porous TiO2 as the shell are synthesized by calcination treatment of FeOOH@TiO2 core–shell nanorods. Due to the high capacity of Fe2O3 core and durable outer shell of TiO2, as well as the specific mesoporous nanostructures, the products deliver an excellent electrochemical performance towards lithium storage, including stable reversible capacity as high as ∼860 mA h g−1 at high current density of 1 A g−1, excellent cyclic stability with ultralong cycling life over 1000 cycles, and outstanding rate capability. The disclosure of the relationship between the components/structure and the lithium storage properties will greatly benefit the rational design and synthesis of high-performance nanocomposites for lithium-ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]