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Flexible and binder-free multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT)-modified sponge-based nickel (Ni) is employed as the electrode material for methanol (CHOH) electrooxidation. The nano-spherical Ni is electrodeposited on the surface of the MWNTs which are assembled on the skeleton of a commercial sponge. The as-prepared MWNT-modified sponge-based Ni electrode (MSNi) is characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscope, and X-ray diffractometer. The catalytic activity of the MSNi electrode for CHOH electrooxidation is investigated by means of cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, and electrochemical impedance spectra. The preparation process of the flexible MSNi electrode does not use any binder and it exhibits a unique three-dimensional (3D) network-porous structure. The MSNi exhibits a high electrocatalytic performance of 23 mA (cm mg) in 0.5 mol dm CHOH at 0.5 V. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

FeOOH nanowires were prepared and characterized with X-ray diffraction spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. A composite electrode consisting of FeOOH and Ni foam (FeOOH/Ni-foam) was fabricated, and its catalytic performance for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) was evaluated and compared with nanowire NiCoO/Ni-foam electrode. The mass current density of OER on FeOOH/Ni-foam is around three times of that on NiCoO/Ni-foam. Ni foam played a key role for the high activity of the FeOOH/Ni-foam. A synergistic mechanism of FeOOH and Ni was proposed to account for the superior catalytic performance of the FeOOH/Ni-foam electrode. Considering the low cost, abundant resource and environment-benign property of FeOOH, the FeOOH/Ni-foam electrode would be a promising anode for OER. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fe-N-C catalysts were prepared through metal-assisted polymerization method. Effects of carbon treatment, Fe loading, nitrogen source, and calcination temperature on the catalytic performance of the Fe-N-C for HO electroreduction were measured by voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The Fe-N-C catalyst shows optimal performance when prepared with pretreated active carbon, 0.2 wt.% Fe, paranitroaniline (4-NA) and one-time calcination. The Fe-N-C catalyst displayed good performance and stability for electroreduction of HO in alkaline solution. An Al-HO semi-fuel cell was set up with Fe-N-C catalyst as cathode and Al as anode. The cell exhibits an open-circuit voltage of 1.3 V and its power density reached 51.4 mW cm at 65 mA cm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Composites of CoO/graphene nanosheets are prepared and characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Their electrochemical behavior as anode materials of lithium-ion rechargeable batteries is investigated by galvanostatic discharge/charge measurements and cyclic voltammetry. The composite is composed of CoO nanorods (around 20-40 nm in diameter) and nanoparticles (around 10 nm in diameter) distributed within the graphene matrix. The specific capacity of the composite is higher than both CoO and graphene nanosheets. The cycling stability of CoO is obviously enhanced by compositing with graphene. After 100 cycles, the discharge and charge capacity of the composite is 1,005 and 975 mAh g, respectively, and the irreversible capacity loss is less than 3%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]