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Nitrogen-doped core/shell carbon nanospheres (NHCS are prepared and their capability as an anode material in lithium-ion batteries is investigated. The synthesis methodology is based on a fast template route. The resulting molecular nanostructures are characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, thermal analysis, and nitrogen adsorption/desorption measurement as well as by cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic cycling. The core/shell structure provides a rapid lithium transport pathway and boasts a highly reversible capacity. For undoped HCS the BET specific surface area is 623m 2 /g which increases up to 1000m 2 /g upon N-doping. While there is no significant effect of N-doping on the electrochemical performance at small scan rates, the doped NHCS shows better specific capacities than the pristine HCS at elevated rates. For instance, the discharge capacities in the 40th cycle, obtained at 1000mA/g, amount to 170mAh/g and 138mAh/g for NHCS and HCS, respectively., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

In the present study, graphene oxide (GO) was used for the adsorption of anionic azo-dyes such as Acid Orange 8 (AO8) and Direct Red 23 (DR23) from aqueous solutions. GO was characterized by Fourier Transform-Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM) and zeta potential measurements. The influence of dye initial concentration, temperature and pH on AO8 and DR23 adsorption onto GO was investigated. Equilibrium data were analyzed by model equations such as Langmuir Freundlich, Temkin, Dubinin-Radushkevich and Redlich-Peterson isotherms and were best represented by Langmuir and Redlich-Peterson isotherm model. Kinetic adsorption data were analyzed using the pseudo-first-order kinetic model, the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the intraparticle diffusion model. The adsorption kinetics well fitted using a pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Thermodynamics parameters, ΔG°, ΔH° and ΔS°, were calculated, indicating that the adsorption of AO8 and DR23 onto GO was spontaneous process. The adsorption process of AO8 onto GO was exothermic, while the adsorption of DR23 onto GO was endothermic in nature., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)