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Within the realm of lithium‐ion batteries, there is a growing emphasis on achieving high energy density and environmentally friendly production at a low cost. To address these demands, the battery slurries in this study incorporate the high‐energy anode material silicon. They are systematically produced through continuous extrusion, aiming to realize cost reductions by significantly reducing the overall process time. In this study, it is demonstrated that the choice of screw configuration and solids content during kneading influences the specific energy input and the stress intensity during processing significantly. The stress intensity, represented here by the specific torque, has a great influence on the slurry properties as well as the electrochemical performance of the battery. An increased stress intensity leads to an increase in adhesive strength and ionic resistance. In the results, it is indicated that carbon black decomposition increases significantly, but when a critical specific stress intensity in form of the specific torque is reached, delamination and fracture of the graphite particles occur, leading to a loss of lithium‐ion storage capacity, favoring lithium plating and severely degrading both capacity by up to 40% at 1C and long‐term performance by up to 10% after 50 cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The binary composite, ZnSnO3 microcubes (ZSO MC) homogeneously parceled in an N-doped carbon nanofiber membrane (ZSO@CNFM), was synthesized via a mild hydrothermal, electrospinning and carbonization process as a flexible lithium-ion battery (LIB) anode material. The unique carbon-coating layer architecture of ZSO@CNFM not only plays a crucial role in alleviating the volume change of ZSO MC during lithium ion insertion/extraction processes, but also constructs a three-dimensional (3D) transport network with the help of interconnected carbon nanofibers (CNFs) to ensure the structural integrity of the material and promote the electrochemical reaction kinetics. Due to its good flexibility characteristics, the as-prepared ZSO@CNFM can be directly adopted as an anode material for LIBs without the use of copper foil, conductive carbon black and any binder. Electrochemical surveying results manifest that the optimal ZSO@CNFM electrode displays excellent cycling stability (582.6 mA h g−1 after 100 lithiation/delithiation cycles at 100 mA g−1), high coulombic efficiency (CE, 99.6% at 100th cycles), and superior rate performance (349.5 mA h g−1 at 2 A g−1). The good electrochemical properties can be ascribed to the synergistic effect of the high theoretical specific capacity of ZSO MC, favourable stability of the carbon substrate, the open structure of ZSO@CNFM and the 3D continuous highly conductive framework for rapid electron/ion transfer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silicon-based materials have become one of the most likely materials to replace graphite anodes of Li-ion batteries due to their ultra-high theoretical specific capacity, safe lithium intercalation potential, and abundant reserves. However, the large volume effect of silicon-based materials during cycling has become a serious obstacle to their commercial application. Silicon-metal composite is one of the potential solutions to alleviate the volume effect of silicon-based anode. Traditional electrodes are prepared by slurry coating method, and the electrodes crack and fall off after many cycles, resulting in capacity loss. In this paper, a cold spraying method combined with ball milling was proposed to prepare silicon-copper composite electrodes to improve the bonding between electrode materials and the cycling stability of the electrodes. Composite powders with different component ratios were first prepared. Then, the micromorphology, bond strength, thermal conductivity, and electrochemical performance of the electrodes prepared by the slurry coating method and the cold spray method were analyzed, respectively. The results show that the Cu100-xSix cold sprayed electrodes have higher bond strength and porosity, while the higher porosity of the cold-sprayed electrodes does not promote heat transfer. After the addition of conductive carbon black, the electrodes exhibit better structural stability, cycling performance, capacity retention, and reaction kinetics, with the Cu80Si20 + SP cold prayed electrode exhibiting 600 mAh g−1 after 200 cycles. This work not only successfully prepared a silicon-copper composite anode with excellent performance but also provided a reference for the preparation of other composite electrodes by cold spray combined with ball milling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the ongoing demand for lithium‐ion batteries in the automotive industry, the longevity of the cells is more important than ever. Previous studies on high intensive dry mixing of cathode materials have shown significant changes in product properties across the process chain. Despite a decrease in electrical conductivity, due to the fixation of carbon black particles on the active materials' surface, electrochemical results have shown more stable long‐term cycling performance of the lithium‐ion battery cells. Despite that, no research studies investigating this process for anode materials have been published yet. Therefore, the effect of an intensive dry mixing process, using a ring shear device and state‐of‐the‐art anode materials, on the slurry, electrode, and cell properties is investigated. The tangential velocity and, therefore, the mechanical stress have been varied, as well as the amount of carbon black in the dry mixing process. The results reveal new insights into material interactions between the binder, carbon black, and the active material that can be purposefully modified. Based on the results, an optimum parameter set is suggested, which not only improves the product characteristics across the process chain, but also increases the long‐term cycling performance of the battery cells significantly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Na-titanate is a class of potentially 'safe' anode material for Na-ion batteries, with the combination of Na 2 Ti 3 O 7 and Na 2 Ti 6 O 13 , as 'Bi-phase NTO', often performing better than the single-phase counterparts. Nevertheless, good coverage and intimate contact of the Na-titanate particles with conducting reinforcements is needed for achieving superior electrochemical performance by suppressing deleterious reactions with electrolyte and providing connectivity across particles. Against this backdrop, the present manuscript reports on the effects of dimensionality, functional groups and conductivity of carbon-based reinforcements [ viz. , pristine and functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), reduced graphene oxide, carbon black] towards the performances of 'Bi-phase NTO'/carbon-based electrodes. High aspect ratio, along with the presence of functional groups, of functionalized MWCNTs results in complete coverage/'wrapping' of Na-titanate surface; thus, leading to the best improvements of Na-storage capacity and cyclic stability of 'Bi-phase NTO', along with negligible increment in impedance over electrochemical sodiation/desodiation cycles. Nevertheless, higher overall electronic conductivity bestowed by the less defected and less functional group containing pristine MWCNT leads to the best rate-capability. However, carbon black, lacking in terms of both aspect ratio and presence of functional groups, and leading to a very poor coverage of the Na-titanate surface, does not improve the electrochemical performances of 'Bi-phase NTO'. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The decline of fossil fuel availability is calling for alternative energy such as electricity produced by degradation of waste in microbial fuel cells. The performance of microbial fuel cells is controlled by the anode because microorganisms grow and attach on the anode. Here, we prepared carbon felt electrodes modified with manganese ore based on the hypothesis that manganese and silicon oxides would improve the cell performance to treat simulated black water. We compared properties of the manganese ore-modified electrodes with properties of classical carbon felt electrodes modified with magnetic ferroferric oxide. We also studied the removal of the chemical oxygen demand and the enrichment in ammonia nitrogen. Results show that the maximum voltage of the manganese ore-modified carbon felt electrode is 1.7 times higher than that of the magnetic ferroferric oxide-modified carbon felt electrode. The start-up time to reach the maximum voltage is reduced by 68%. The removal of chemical oxygen demand reached 91.2%. Up to 68.0% of ammonia nitrogen can be enriched at the cathode, implying that ammonia nitrogen can be highly reduced in the effluent. Overall, the manganese ore-modified carbon felt electrode showed excellent redox performance, excellent corrosion resistance and low electron transfer resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nonlinear rheology of a concentrated lithium-ion battery anode slurry was examined under large amplitude oscillatory shear and interpreted with a sequence of physical process (SPP) analysis. A complex interplay of three anode slurry components—graphite (Gr) as an active material, carbon black (CB) as a conductive additive, and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) as a binder—leads to a two-step yielding behavior, represented as the secondary plateau in dynamic strain and stress sweep tests. We demonstrate that a two-step yielding behavior is manifested as double deltoids in SPP analysis through the study of intra-cycle rheological transition under oscillatory shear flow. Slurries of Gr-CMC exhibit the two-step yielding behavior; slurries of CB-CMC do not, suggesting that Gr and CMC are the primary causes of two-step yielding in an anode slurry. A sedimentation test on a dilute Gr-CMC solution yielded phase separation between graphite particles, with CMC adsorbed on their surface and graphite particles aggregated via hydrophobic attraction. This indicates two possible types of interactions in a concentrated slurry: a hydrophobic interaction between graphite particles and a physicochemical interaction caused by CMC adsorbed on graphite particles. The first yielding step relates to the hydrophobic attraction between graphite particles, resulting in a network structure that is expected to be brittle and rupture at a small strain. The second yielding step is attributed to the interaction between concentrated CMC, which is corroborated by the overlap of the secondary deltoid of the anode slurry and the single deltoid of the concentrated CMC solution in SPP analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silicon is a promising anode material that can increase the theoretical capacity of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, the volume expansion of silicon remains a challenge. In this study, we employed a novel combination of conductive additives to effectively suppress the volume expansion of Si during charging/discharging cycles. Rather than carbon black (CB), which is commonly used in SiO anodes, we introduced single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) as a conductive additive. Owing to their high aspect ratio, CNTs enable effective connection of SiO particles, leading to stable electrochemical operation to prevent volume expansion. In addition, we explored a combination of CB and SWCNTs, with results showing a synergetic effect compared to a single-component of SWCNTs, as small-sized CB particles can enhance the interface contact between the conductive additive and SiO particles, whereas SWCNTs have limited contact points. With this hybrid conductive additive, we achieved a stable operation of full-cell LIBs for more than 200 cycles, with a retention rate of 91.1%, whereas conventional CB showed a 74.0% specific capacity retention rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • HCs with high mesoporous ratio of 58 % were synthesized from papermaking wastes. • HCs can be obtained from BL solid direct pyrolysis without the need for separation. • Chlorides derived from DS were used as pore-enlarging agents to make mesopores. • DSCl x improves electrochemical performance of the synthesized HC anodes efficiently. • This study presents an economical and eco-friendly method for recycling BL and DS. Porous hard carbon anodes, with large interlayer space and high adsorption ability, can offer much better cycle stability and higher discharge capacity for potassium-ion batteries compared to commercial graphite anodes. However, most commercial hard carbons are synthesized from relatively expensive high-molecular polymers. In this study, pulping and papermaking wastes were utilized as precursors for producing hard carbons and pore-enlarging agent, respectively. Specifically, after thorough mixing through ball milling, black liquor solids and deinking sludge were utilized to produce porous hard carbon anodes via co-pyrolysis. The results show that direct pyrolysis of black liquor can produce hard carbons efficiently, eliminating the need to extract lignin from black liquor. Moreover, it is shown that the pore-enlarging agent derived from deinking sludge can enlarge much portion of pores on hard carbons, resulting in abundant mesopores. Electrochemical tests demonstrate that the synthesized porous hard carbon anodes can achieve highest specific capacity of 303.5 mAh g−1 at 100 mA g−1 using a 1.0 M potassium hexafluorophosphate electrolyte in a mixture of diethyl carbonate and ethylene carbonate. Additionally, the synthesized porous hard carbon anodes exhibit low average capacity decay per cycle of 0.06 % at 100 mA g−1 when tested with a 1.0 M potassium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide electrolyte in the same solvent mixture after 500 cycles. Therefore, recycling black liquor and deinking sludge to produce porous hard carbon anodes for potassium-ion batteries is a promising approach for environmental and energy sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Mesoporous materials with different pore sizes of 16.9 nm and 23.1 nm were prepared respectively. • The smaller pore size increases the pseudo-capacitance and decreases the R ct. • Pore size optimization facilitates material charge/discharge capacity and rate performance. The mesopore structure is critical to the performance of anode for LIBs, while the effect of pore size on the electrochemical properties of the materials remains unclear. In this study, mesoporous MnO 2 /acetylene black composites with different pore sizes exhibit similar reaction mechanisms but significantly differ in rate performance. This difference may be primarily attributed to the local electrochemical environment of the electrode. This study provides a new perspective for enhancing the rate capability of manganese-based oxides from the microstructure tuning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrolyte filling process of battery cells is one of the time-critical bottlenecks in cell production. Wetting is of particular importance here, since only completely wetted electrode sections are working. In order to accelerate and facilitate this process, the authors of this study developed a method to significantly increase the wettability of graphite-based anodes by a laser surface modification using low energy nanosecond laser pulses. The anode surface microstructure was evaluated by means of white-light interferometry and scanning electron microscopy. The assessment of wettability was done by drop test and capillary rise test of the liquid electrolyte. The results show that there is a predominantly selective ablation process for laser energy inputs below 2 J/m by which the graphite active material remains unaffected and the binder material is decomposed. The observed increase in surface roughness correlates with the increasing wettability. Investigations using Raman spectroscopy showed that laser treatment leads to a damage on the crystalline structure of the graphite particle surface. However, treating an entire anode including 6 wt% binder and conductive carbon black has shown that the overall amorphous content of the anodes surface can be reduced by 32% through treating the surface with a laser energy of 1.29 J/m. Up to that point, which is the resulting parameter range for the selective process, it is possible to ablate the amorphous binder and carbon black phase coevally exposing graphite particles while keeping their crystalline structure. Exceeding that range, ablation of the whole anode composite dominates and amorphization of the graphite surface occurs. The electrode's capacity was tested on half-cells in coin cell format. For the whole laser parameter range investigated, the anodes capacity matches the mass loss caused by laser ablation. No additional capacity loss was observed due to amorphization of the exterior graphite particle's surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, ZnIn 2 S 4 (B-ZIS) and ZnIn 2 S 4 /C (S-ZIS) composites anode are synthesized using hydrothermal method and followed by ball-milling process. The initial discharge/charge capacities for bare ZnIn 2 S 4 (B-ZIS) are 524 and 378 mAh g−1 under a current density of 1 A g−1, which suffers from gradually capacity fading. To improve its cycle stability, high-energy ball-milling process (HEBM) with carbon black is applied to fabricate S-ZIS spherical particles. The as-obtained composite anode exhibits enhanced electrochemical performances not only on cycle stability, but also reversible capacity. The discharge and charge capacity of S-ZIS approach to 823 and 679 mAh g−1 at the first cycle and retain 468 and 459 mAh g−1 after 500 cycles at the high current density of 1 A g−1. Furthermore, ex situ X-ray diffraction (XRD) and ex situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) techniques are used to monitor the evaluation of crystal structure of B-ZIS during charge and discharge processes. The results indicate that the metallic Zn and In were observed at low potential voltage during sodiation process and successfully converted back to spinel phase at above 0.5 V. The presence of high reversibility nature of B-ZIS may leads to the superior cycling and excellent rate capability of S-ZIS which makes ZnIn 2 S 4 a potential anode material of sodium ion batteries. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, within the defined orthogonal array of Taguchi design, the hydrothermal process parameters have been optimized for fabricating the smallest particle sized iron oxide (Fe2O3) particles. The finest particle size (210 nm) has been achieved when 0.02 M FeCl3 solution at pH 10 is hydrothermally treated for 90 min with an autoclave filling ratio of 100% (D3). Afterwards, to improve the physical properties of iron oxide particles, carbon black powder is added into the precursor solution as the seeding agent before the hydrothermal treatment. Structural and morphological analyses show that upon the existence of carbon in the precursor solution, C-supported Fe2O3 (D5) is fabricated. In the latter, carbon is present in graphitic form and no carbide formation is detected. Electrochemical test results verify that unlike to Fe2O3 (D3), C-supported Fe2O3 (D5) electrode performs lower charge transfer resistance and polarization leading to higher first coulombic efficiency, capacity retention, and improved rate performance, eventually. Thanks to the favorable characteristics of the latter, after 150 cycles, D5 performs 550, 390, and 333 mAh g−1 discharge capacities under loads of 50 mA g−1, 500 mA g−1, and 1.5 A g−1, respectively. Finally, to understand the contribution of capacitive and diffusion-controlled reactions to the total stored charge, an adopted sweep rate method has been used. The calculated voltammograms reveal that fabricating C-supported Fe2O3 particles led to improved rate performance because faradaic reactions that occur at the surface of the material prevail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A novel flow-anode, CeO x /CB, was introduced in electro-oxidation. • Ce(IV)/Ce(III) redox cycle accelerated the electron transfer directionally. • The loading of CeO x actuated efficient •OH generation. • Acetaminophen degradation rate was 2.3–2.9 times higher than the control. • CeO x /CB achieved high current efficiency and low energy consumption. Electrochemically active materials can effectively alleviate mass transfer restriction by adding them as flow-anodes into the electrochemical reactor. However, conventional flow-anode materials display a low •OH yield. Here, a novel flow-anode, CeO x /carbon black (CB), demonstrates superior electrocatalytic degradation efficiency of organic pollutants. The acetaminophen degradation kinetic constant of CeO x /CB was calculated to be 2.3–2.9 times higher than that of CB. CeO x /CB achieved a higher current efficiency of 66.4 % and relatively lower energy consumption of 157.8 kWh/kg COD compared with other GAC or γ-Al 2 O 3 -based flow-anodes. The mechanistic analyses demonstrated that rapid electron transfer, strong water adsorption, and low reaction energy barrier of CeO x /CB actuated efficient •OH generation. Moreover, Ce(IV)/Ce(III) redox cycle crucially acted as an "electron porter" to accelerate the electron transfer from adsorbed H 2 O molecules to CB substrate directionally in the electro-oxidation process. This work provides a feasible manner for the development of flow-anodes utilizing the advantage of the Ce(IV)/Ce(III) redox cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Fe-loaded carbon materials can alleviate O 2 negative effects on NO electrocatalytic reduction over cathode. • Excess oxygen in cathode can be sufficiently utilized through Boudouard reactions. • A moderate NO removal efficiency of 60% and PPD of 0.035 W cm−2 can be simultaneously achieved for Fe-AC at 1% O 2. • CO produced can decrease concentration polarization loss and activation polarization loss at both electrodes. The effects of solid carbon on NO electrocatalytic reduction in the presence of O 2 content, as low as can be found in a gasoline engine, were investigated. Tubular solid-state fuel cells filled with Fe-loaded carbon materials (Fe-loaded activated carbon, Fe-AC, and Fe-loaded carbon black, Fe-BC) were fabricated for electrochemical reduction in the configuration of LSM as the cathode, NiO-YSZ mixed powder as the anode, and YSZ as the electrolyte. A moderate NO removal efficiency of 60% and maximum peak power density of 0.035 W cm−2 were achieved for Fe-AC in the presence of 1% O 2 , whereas no such performances were detected in the case of AC. Following TGA-MS and in-situ analyses of exit gases from the anodes, it can be concluded that Fe-loaded carbon materials promote CO formation in Boudouard reactions by utilizing excess oxygen transported from the cathode, which is capable of alleviating the impact of oxygen on NO removal while also enhancing electrical performance. The formation of CO contributes to the reduction of both concentration polarization loss and activation polarization loss at both electrodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes a new, high‐performance, Pb‐based nanocomposite anode material for lithium‐ion batteries. A unique nanocomposite structure of Pb@PbO core‐shell nanoparticles in a carbon matrix is obtained by using a simple high‐energy ball milling method using the low‐cost starting materials PbO and carbon black. Electrochemical performance tests show its excellent reversible capacity (≈600 mAh g−1) and cycle stability (92% retention at 100th cycle), which are one of the best values reported for Pb‐based anodes in the literature. Synchrotron X‐ray diffraction and absorption techniques revealed the detailed lithium storage mechanism that can be highlighted with the unexpectedly wide reversible Pb redox range (between Pb2+ and Pb4−) and the evolution of Zintl‐type LiyPb structures during the electrochemical lithium reaction. The results provide new insights into the lithium storage mechanism of these Pb‐based materials and their potential as low‐cost, high‐performance anodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The Zn foil is coated by carbon black to enlarge the electroactive surface area. • Nanofibrillated cellulose is used as an effective binder to adhere carbon black. • The modified anode can eliminate the dendritic growth and side reactions. • Excellent interface stability between the anode and electrolyte is achieved. • The Zn-MnO 2 battery with modified anode shows significantly improved cyclability. Aqueous zinc-ion batteries have received significant attention due to their low cost and high safety. However, the unsatisfactory cycling performances caused by the dendritic growth on the Zn anode limit their practical applications. Herein, we propose to modify the conventional Zn foil anode by using carbon black coating and nanofibrillated cellulose binder. The carbon black can form an electrically conductive network, thus greatly enlarging the electroactive surface area, while the nanofibrillated cellulose can act as an electrolyte reservoir to facilitate charge transports. Thanks to that, the modified anode can significantly eliminate the dendritic growth and side reactions, therefore ensuring excellent interface stability with the electrolyte even at a commercial-level areal capacity of 5 mAh g−1. With the modified anode, the Zn-MnO 2 battery gives a high capacity retention of 87.4% after 1000 cycles, much higher than that with the unmodified Zn foil (42.6%). This study discloses a facile, scalable, and cost-effective strategy to achieve dendrite-free metal electrodes towards great cyclability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, a salt-assisted hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) strategy is applied to fabricate low-surface-area carbon microspheres (as low as 5.5 m2 g−1) for sodium ion batteries (SIBs) by using water containing eutectic salt melt (e.g. NaCl) and sugar (e.g. glucose) as reaction media. The small amount of salt increases the carbon conversion efficiency from 15.0 to 58.3%, and microsphere size from the nanoscale to the microscale. Meanwhile, the specific surface area of carbon microsphere is minimized and the microstructure is optimized. Ex-situ X-ray diffraction (XRD) and kinetic analysis revealed that the narrower lateral width of pseudographitic domains and lower micropore volume are the key factors to promote sodium storage ability and Na ion diffusion. The carbon microsphere anode delivers a capacity of 350 mAh g−1 with 73.0% from the low potential (0–0.2 V) at 100 mA g−1, a high initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE) of 86.1% (excluding conductive carbon black), and an excellent rate capability with capacity of 261 mAh g−1 even at 500 mA g−1. This research highlights a salt-assisted HTC method to synthesize low-surface-area carbon microspheres with superior ICE and energy/power density. Image 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iron‐containing sludges (DW/Fe) were prepared by the electroflocculation of industrial printing and dyeing wastewater (DW). To investigate the formation process and the properties of the DW/Fe sludges and their application in anode materials in Li‐ion batteries, the DW/Fe sludges were compared to three other sludges (MB/Fe, RB/Fe, Ta/Fe) prepared from model solutions that contained either methyl blue (MB), rhodamine B (RB), or tartrazine (Ta). The DW/Fe sludges were calcined at 500 °C under N2 to form iron oxide/carbon composite C‐DW/Fe. The composition and structure of the sludges and the C‐DW/Fe composite were analyzed by using FTIR spectroscopy, XRD, thermogravimetric analysis, SEM, TEM, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and their performances as anodes of Li‐ion batteries were studied by adding different proportions of conductive agent (super P® conductive carbon black). Our results show that the sludges are a complex mixture of Fe3O4 and organic matter. The specific capacity and stability can be improved during the charge–discharge test by increasing the amount of carbon black. Importantly, this improvement is more pronounced on DW/Fe that does not require high‐temperature carbonization, which means that the sludges cannot only protect the environment and avoid the waste of resources but also can be used directly and widely in decentralized energy storage devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple and green approach for creating a highly capacitive molybdenum disulphide (MoS2) anode material for lithium-ion batteries is proposed. The electrode composition consists of MoS2 and conductive water-based binder PEDOT:PSS/CMC (poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/poly(styrenesulphonate)/carboxymethyl cellulose). The electrochemical performance of modified electrodes is markedly superior to those with conventional PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride) and carbon black composition. The electrode provides initial capacity of 1090 mA h g−1 at 0.1 mA g−1, maintains 410 mA h g−1 at 2 mA g−1 and retains 78% of initial capacity after 100 charge-discharge cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Carbon nanofiber film (CNF) as anode material for lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) draws attention for its excellent cyclic stability, but its practical application is limited due to low specific capacity. Considering the advantages of pure CNF and MoS2, a flexible film which CNF covered by MoS2 (MoS2/CNF) is successfully produced and evaluated as a binder‐free electrode for LIBs without mixing with carbon black and polymer binder. MoS2 nanoflakes (8.91 wt% of the composite sample) covering on CNF (MoS2/CNF‐B sample) plays the key role in activating the electrochemical properties of CNF, but dense MoS2 nanoflakes (39.4 wt%) on CNF (MoS2/CNF‐A) seriously limit the electrochemical properties of CNF. At 0.1 and 1.0 A g−1, MoS2/CNF‐B sample delivers 967.1 and 605.7 mA h g−1, the capacities are almost twice as much as those of pure CNF. The initial columbic efficiency of MoS2/CNF‐B sample of 76.4% is much higher than that of pure CNF sample of 62.1%. Moreover, MoS2/CNF‐B sample presents no capacity decay till 100 cycles, and the cycled electrode at the 100th cycle still maintains a stable composite structure of MoS2 nanoflakes covering on CNF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Black phosphorus (BP) has received wide attention due to its high theoretical capacity (2596 mAh g−1) and good electron mobility, but its cyclic stability is poor. Meanwhile, it can be complementary to carbon material, which has low theoretical capacity but good cycle stability. In this work, we use solvothermal reaction to modify hard carbon materials with black phosphorous (BP). When used as anode material for lithium‐ion batteries, the composite will show a higher specific capacity, cyclic stability and rate performance. It shows a high reversible capacity of 350 mAh g−1 after 1000 cycles at 1000 mA g−1 current density. But for pure carbon, it only shows a general reversible capacity of 180 mAh g−1. Here, the lower content of black phosphorous and the use of hard carbon materials make the material more economically advantageous. And it can be used as an ideal material for cycling at high currents in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A direct carbon fuel cell is an electricity generation device using solid carbon as a fuel directly with no reforming process. In this study, three-carbon fuels, graphitic carbon (GC), carbon black (CB), and biomass carbon (BC) are tested as the fuel to investigate the influence of carbon fuel properties on the cell performance in HDCFC with a traditional nickel oxide as the anode. Either an electrolyte-supported cell with a thin nickel oxide anode or an anode-supported cell with a thick nickel oxide anode is used to evaluate the electrochemical reactivity of carbon samples. These three-carbon fuels are characterised on the crystal structure, particle size, composition, and surface property. It is found that GC shows excellent cell performance on thin nickel oxide anode. However, it displays relatively slow electrochemical reactivity on the thick anode due to its great extent of carbon oxidation. BC shows good initial cell performance but fast degradation of the cell performance, as much more hydrogen is released at the beginning of the cell test. The anode reactions of HDCFCs are explored by the in-situ gas analysis in open circuits and under current load conditions. It is observed that GC produces the highest amount of CO among these three fuels, suggesting that carbon oxidation is the dominant electrochemical process in HDCFCs after a certain time when most of the hydrogen is released from the pyrolysis process. Graphite carbon (GC) shows excellent durability performance at 0.7 V load in an electrolyte-supported HDCFC with CO as the primary gas in the outlet. Image 1 • Graphite oxidation is investigated in a NiO-based HDCFC. • Graphite shows the best cell performance on the electrolyte-supported HDCFC. • Cell performance is dependent on both of the fuel property and the cell configuration. • In-situ gas analysis is an effective way of identifying possible electrochemical reactions. • CO is the main gas for graphite oxidation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, nitrogen-rich biocarbon derived from carbonized Chlorella pyrenoidosa (CCP) was proposed to enhance the current generation from the anode of microbial fuel cells (MFCs). The results revealed that the carbon cloth decorated by CCP (CCP-CC) achieved the highest bioelectrocatalytic current density of 13.44 ± 0.34 A m−2 after the successful startup, which was 12% and 22% higher than those with carbon black (CB-CC) and the bare carbon cloth (CC), respectively. The results can be attributed to the advantages of CCP-CC over CB-CC and CC in terms of a higher active biomass content, a much smaller charge transfer resistance resulting from the facilitated direct electron transfer due to the presence of N-containing functional groups in CCP and the enhanced mediated electron transfer caused by the larger surface area of the CCP-CC anode for the flavin mediator adsorption. • Carbonized Chlorella pyrenoidosa (CCP) was used for carbon cloth (CC) modification. • CCP modified CC (CCP-CC) exhibited a lower charge transfer resistance than CC. • CCP-CC had a higher active biomass content than CC. • N-containing groups bonding on CCP-CC were detected. • The anode of CCP-CC delivered a higher current density than that of CC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-performance anode materials for Fe-air batteries were synthesized using α-Fe2O3 microparticles with a high porosity and a large actual surface area via a hydrothermal method. Fe2O3/AB composite electrodes were fabricated by mixing the synthesized α-Fe2O3 microparticles with acetylene black (AB) carbon and subjected to electrochemical measurements. The α-Fe2O3/AB electrode cycleability of the synthesized α-Fe2O3 microparticles with two structures, namely porous sphere-like (urchin) and porous plate-like, was better than that of commercially available Fe2O3. The morphological characteristics and porosity of Fe2O3 influenced the electrochemical properties of the Fe2O3/AB composite electrodes, viz. the capacity provided by urchin-shaped structures was larger than that given by porous plates. The high porosity of α-Fe2O3 particles caused a large internal resistance and resulted in a decreased capacity of electrodes. Thus, urchin-shaped α-Fe2O3 microparticles could be used as an active electrode material for Fe-air battery anodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work demonstrates the feasibility of a novel solvent‐free anode production for lithium‐ion batteries. It combines a modified dry‐mixing procedure with an innovative electrostatic coating process. The mixing is divided into two steps. At first, carbon black and binder are deagglomerated and recombined to a matrix structure by intensive mixing. In a second less intensive step, this matrix is blended with graphite. The powder mixture is fluidized and then transferred to the current collector by inducing a high voltage. After a subsequent hot pressing step, the powder coating is permanently fixed on the current collector. This procedure is presented with three different fluorinated binders. Furthermore, effects of different mixing intensities on the powder and electrode properties are examined. The electrodes are investigated in the three‐electrode T‐cell setup versus lithium metal to examine their C‐rates and cycle stabilities. The produced anodes offer comparable electrochemical performance to conventional wet‐coated ones on electrode and cell levels. Overall, this new process is a suitable alternative to the conventional electrode production techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Coating of flake-like titania-mica particles with cobalt oxide. • Formulation in two different binder/solvent systems for electrode fabrication. • Study of the influence of binder/solvent system on electrode morphology. • Alginate binder leads to a more homogeneous electrode. • Electrochemical measurements confirm binder strongly influences electrode performance. We describe the fabrication and morphological and electrochemical characterisation of lithium ion battery anodes whereby the active material is supported on flake-like microparticles. Using various physical analytical techniques we verify that nanostructured cobalt (II, III) oxide can be directly grown onto commercial titanium dioxide-coated mica flakes by a liquid phase oxidation route. We then investigate the formulation and deposition of this material along with carbon black in order to form electrodes. Here we consider two binder/solvent systems, one widely used based on polyvinylidene fluoride in N-methy-2-pyrrolidone, and one more recently identified based on sodium alginate in water. We show that the latter system is preferable for the formation of anodes using the cobalt oxide coated flake-like particles as it leads to a more homogeneous distribution of active and conductive material in the electrode. Using cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy we show that this feature improves the access to active material and facilitates efficient charge transfer in the electrode while maintaining electrode integrity. Moreover, an electrode based on the alginate binder exhibited a high reversible specific capacity of 650 mAh/g along with 84.8% capacity retention after 70 cycles. Overall our study indicates the promise of including shape anisotropic particles such as microflakes in battery electrodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optimization of Pt-based electrode structure is a key to enhance power generation performance of fuel cells and to reduce the Pt loading. This paper presents a new methodology for anode fabrication for solid acid fuel cells (SAFCs) operating at ca. 200 °C. Our membrane electrode assembly for SAFCs consisted of a CsH 2 PO 4 /SiP 2 O 7 composite electrolyte and Pt-based electrodes. To obtain the anode, a commercial Pt/C catalyst and carbon substance, such as carbon black and carbon nanofiber, were mixed. The composite anode with Pt loading = 0.5 mg cm−2 demonstrated superior current-voltage characteristics to a benchmark Pt/C anode with Pt loading = 1 mg cm−2. We consider that the mixing of Pt/C catalyst and carbon substrate facilitated H 2 mass transfer and increased the number of active sites. • Pt/C catalysts and C substances were mixed to obtain solid acid fuel cells' anodes. • The mixing improved the power generation performance. • This is due to the increase in the number of specific active sites. • Simultaneously, the mixing facilitated H 2 mass transfer in the anode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon black is produced with H 2 gas from a benzene solution using the liquid-phase precipitation (LPP) mathod. Subsequently, the carbon black is heat-treated and applied as a conductive material for a supercapacitor to evaluate its performance. Carbon black produced as primary particles by the LPP reaction aggregates and grows into a secondary structure, and then crystallizes through heat treatment to form multi-polygonal nanoshells. The electrical conductivity of carbon black increased by heat treatment, but when the temperature exceeded 1500 °C, the electrical conductivity rather decreased. Following heat treatment at 1500 °C, the electrode used as the conductive material exhibits the largest specific capacitance value and the smallest IR drop. As the carbon black produced via the LPP method exhibits better conductive properties than those of Super-P, the potential to use the present method as a new hydrogen production method is confirmed. [Display omitted] • Production of hydrogen and carbon black from benzene by LPP method. • Formation of graphitized multiple nanoshells by heat treatment. • The electrical conductivity of carbon black heat-treated at 1500 °C was the highest. • Heat treatment at 1500 °C gave the largest capacitance and the smallest IR drop. • The economic feasibility of producing hydrogen with LPP was secured. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, ultrasound (US) was coupled with an electrochemical process (ECP) consisting of a novel cathode of carbon cloth (CC)-carbon black (CB) as the nano-composite air-dispersion cathode (NADC) for the degradation of paracetamol (APAP) in an aquatic medium. The NADC favored in situ production of H 2 O 2 by the cathodic reduction. The implementation of iron sacrificial anode instead of dimensionally stable anodes resulted in the generation of Fe2+Fe3+ 2 O 4 nanostructures in the solution. The Fe2+Fe3+ 2 O 4 nanostructures were activated by means of both US and H 2 O 2 to produce more OH in the aqueous solution. In addition, the utilization of US caused the conversion of H 2 O 2 to OH irrespective of free oxidizing radicals generated through cavitation phenomenon. The hybrid method based on coupling US and NADC-ECP in the presence of Fe2+Fe3+ 2 O 4 nanostructures proved synergism (39.8%) allowing to effective decomposition of APAP. The pulse mode of US enhanced the degradation efficiency of APAP as compared to the sweep and normal modes. The intermediates of the degradation route were identified using GC–MS analysis as well as mineralization efficiency. The toxicity assay was also performed based on the inhibition test using activated sludge of a biological wastewater treatment plant. Unlabelled Image • Coupling carbon cloth (CC)-carbon black (CB) cathode with as-generated Fe2+Fe3+ 2 O 4 • Verification of electro-generation of nanostructured Fe2+Fe3+ 2 O 4 via iron sacrifice anode • Synergistic degradation of APAP owing to coupling ultrasound with CC-CB/Fe2+Fe3+ 2 O 4 • Insignificant toxicity of effluent based on activated sludge inhibition test [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Nano-conductive additives in composite electrodes play a significant role in influencing the electrochemical performance of the carbon anode in Li-ion batteries. These additives with a high electronic conductivity lead to the formation of a uniform solid-electrolyte interfacial layer, improved cycle life, and rate capability. In this work, the parameters that lead to such a performance improvement, namely the kinetic and transport properties, are carefully studied with carbon black (CB), carbon nanotubes (CNT) and a mixture of the two as conductive additives in mesocarbon microbeads (MCMB) anode. Experimental measurements indicate that the electrochemical reaction rate is controlled by interfacial kinetics up to moderately high C-rate (<6C). Though nano-additives do not affect the solid phase diffusivity, the diffusion of Li-ion is considerably influenced by stages and their coexistence that is revealed through X-ray diffraction of cells at different depths of discharge. Using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy of half-cells cycled at different temperatures, the activation energy for charge transfer reaction and activation energy for SEI layer diffusion are estimated. The results exhibit an improvement in electron transfer and an ionically conducting SEI layer with the use of a mixture of CB and CNT as conductive additives. It is expected that the estimated kinetic and transport parameters and their temperature dependence for the additives under consideration will be of tremendous utility in the thermal, electrochemical, or aging modeling of batteries employing MCMB as anode material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Composites of antimony metal, iron oxide, and carbon black are attractive for use as lithium ion battery anodes when high rate charging is required. The large capacity of such a composite, together with a voltage that is intermediate between lithium titanate and graphite, makes it possible to address the typical trade-off between high energy density and safe operation in high power conditions. In this work, a variety of mechanical homogenization processes are investigated. A minimum threshold of energy input per unit mass during milling is required to produce a sufficiently homogeneous microstructure, which is required for stable electrochemical performance. The surface area of the processed material is found to be a useful method for quantifying the degree of homogeneity in the composite and is well correlated to the electrochemical performance. This understanding enables simplified scaling on larger volume manufacturing assets. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • An anode is made from a composite of antimony, iron oxide, and carbon. • Increased homogeneity creates longer cycle lifetimes in an electrochemical cell. • A minimum threshold of energy per unit mass during milling is required. • The BET surface area is inversely related to the cycling stability for this composite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • MFCs with a composite anode that combined coke and carbon black were developed. • The composite anode in an optimal combination ratio yielded higher power output. • The MFC effectively removed 70 mg/L of toluene from groundwater. • The high cost of the anode of an MFC was reduced by using a compact composite anode. Abstract This work develops microbial fuel cells (MFCs) with composite anodes that combine conductive coke (CC) and conductive carbon black (CCB) to improve the performance of those MFCs in treating toluene-contaminated groundwater. The effect of the combination ratio (CR CCB:CC) of the composite anode with various ratios of CCB to CC on MFC performance was evaluated. The results demonstrate that the time required (t r) for the MFC with CR 1:3 to remove all toluene was half of that required by other MFCs except for that with CR 1:9. Additionally, CR 1:3 is associated with the highest power density (PD max) of 72 mW/m2, which is 1.24–2.78 times higher than those obtained using other CRs or a single-material anode (CC) except for CCB, owing to the high conductivity of the latter. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) yields oxidized-reduced current peaks of CR 1:3 that are 1.44–2.89-fold as high as those obtained using other CRs, suggesting that the composite anode with CCB or CC at an optimal ratio accelerates the oxidation-reduction reactions, favoring the removal of organic waste. This work establishes the feasibility of using a composite anode to improve the removal of toluene and the generation of electricity by MFCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) are among the most advanced energy technologies with low operating temperatures, high energy densities, ease of transportation and storage. However, the deficiencies such as low activity and high cost of the electrocatalysts at anodes greatly hinder their commercialization. The commonly used carbon black supports lack the capacity of regulation over the supported noble metals towards efficient electro‐catalytic oxidation of fuels. In this Mini‐Review, the prerequisite factors in advanced supports are outlined, ranging from self‐supported precious metal alloys as well as non‐noble metal materials, while simultaneously revealing the superiorities of some advanced supports beyond carbon black in terms of electronic conductivity, synergy with surface precious metals, chemical and electrochemical stability, and other possible interactions. The effects arisen from microscopic morphology, nano‐structure, and composition on the electrocatalytic activity/stability are also discussed. Finally, several of the most promising supports are highlighted, and the research trends of synergistic supports in future PEFCs are predicted. Support synergy: Interfacial synergy between advanced supports and noble metals for electrocatalysis in the anodes of fuel cells has been reviewed. Exploitation on efficient supports with controlled synergy is highly valuable for design of novel electro‐catalysts various practical applications beyond fuel cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel MoS/acetylene black (AB) composite was developed using a single-step hydrothermal method. A systematic characterization revealed a few-layered, ultrathin MoS grown on the surface of AB. The inclusion of AB was found to increase the capacity of the composite and achieve discharging capacity of 1813 mAhg. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conductive carbon additives play very important roles on the performance of Li-ion batteries (LIBs) although they only occupy a very small mass percentage in both cathode and anode. Building up a multidimensional carbonaceous conductive network on cathode with the optimized mass ratio of carbon black, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene has been verified to be able to enhance the Li-ion storage performance. Herein, we further demonstrate that applying ternary conductive additives is also very effective in improving the rate and cycle performances of graphite anode although the active material already possess high electronic conductivity. A conductive additive assembly of 2 wt% Super P, 1 wt% CNTs and 1 wt% graphene can weave up an efficient conducting pathway on the mesocarbon microbeads (MCMB) anode and enhance the cycle stability (344 mAh g−1 at 1 C after 200 cycles) and rate performance (226 mAh g−1 at 3 C). The coin-type full cell assembled with the optimized MCMB anode and NCM811 cathode also displays much improved rate capability and cycle stability. As is revealed, the multidimensional conducting network might has led to a more uniform and ion conductive SEI film on MCMB anode, which lowers the polarization and energy barrier for Li+ transportation. [Display omitted] • A multidimensional conducting network is constructed on MCMB anode by modifying the dispersion solvent. • A specific capacity of 344 mAh g−1 is preserved after 200 cycles at 1 C. • The multidimensional conducting network promotes the Li+ transfer in MCMB anode. • Using ternary conductive additives in graphite anode is a practical way to improve the performance of LIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We systematically investigate the role of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and show how it affects the slurry dispersion according to the slurry preparation process. We find that CMC plays various roles as a dispersant, thickener, and gelling agent in the anode slurry depending on its content. CMC acts as a dispersant at lower content than the optimum graft density at which the two particles (carbon black, graphite) are adsorbed and saturated. When the CMC content increases above the optimum graft density, the adsorbed CMC still acts as a dispersant, but the extra free CMC acts as a thickener or a gelling agent depending on the content. In the meanwhile, CMC shows similar adsorption and dispersion mechanism for the two particles. Therefore, at a CMC content lower than the optimum graft density, the adsorption selectivity of CMC for both particles is significantly affected by the mixing sequence of CMC and two particles, resulting in a significant difference in slurry dispersion. On the other hand, at higher CMC content, the slurry dispersion is rarely affected by the CMC mixing sequence as both particles are eventually adsorbed and saturated in the final mixing stage. This study reports for the first time that the adsorption selectivity of the binder for the two particles can be controlled through the slurry preparation process, and that the slurry dispersion can be differently affected by the preparation process depending on the binder content. [Display omitted] • Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) binder plays a variety of roles depending on the content. • Adsorbed CMC and free CMC differently affects the inter-particle interactions. • Mixing sequence of CMC significantly affects the slurry dispersibility at CMC content lower than the optimum graft density. • This is attributed to the adsorption selectivity of CMC on the particles. • Role of binder should be considered in designing and understanding the slurry preparation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanism of non-stoichiometric MnCo 2 O 4+δ to stoichiometric MnCo 2 O 4 structural transformation in the calcination temperature range of 350–650 °C and its morphology evolution from nanoplates with {112} facets to quasi nanoplates with {110} facets in the preferential orientation of [220] direction is investigated in detail and confirmed using XPS, HRTEM, TGA, and XRD analysis. By having a profound understanding of this mechanism, MnCo 2 O 4 with a well-controlled structure and morphology was synthesized via co-precipitation as the anode for Li-ion batteries to overcome the capacity fading issue. Moreover, the anode microstructure was optimized based on the correlation between Li+ storage, electrode durability, and interfacial resistance through the electrochemical response of electrode components, including MnCo 2 O 4 , carbon black, and binder. The optimum electrode exhibited a high initial discharge capacity of 2063 mAh g−1 at 400 mA g−1, excellent rate capability (807 mAh g−1 at 1000 mA g−1), and outstanding cycling performance (709 mAh g−1 at 400 mA g−1 after 150 cycles). These are attributed to the balance between the high surface area and robust architecture of MnCo 2 O 4 , and the stability, conductivity, and porosity of the electrode. [Display omitted] • Phase studies show that increasing the temperature to 650 °C resulted in the evacuation of excess oxygen in MnCo 2 O 4+δ. • By increasing the temperature, {112} facets alter to {110} facets in the preferential orientation of [220] direction. • The optimized electrode exhibited a stable reversible capacity of 709.5 mAh g−1 over 150 cycles at 400 mA g−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents a comprehensive analysis of the impact of carbon nanotubes (CNT) and carbon nanofibers (CNF) composition on the performance of nano-Si anodes in lithium-ion batteries. The nano-Si anode suffers from chemo-mechanical issues caused by its large volumetric change (e.g., 280%) during cycling. One of the promising solutions in electrode level is to establish a robust electronic conduction pathway in Si anodes by incorporating CNT and CNF with high aspect ratios. The objective of this work is to quantitatively measure the performance improvement achieved by CNT and CNF based on their compositions and analyze the improvement mechanism through electrochemical methods. The results indicate that substituting a portion of carbon black with CNT and CNF in a range of 1 – 10 wt% can enhance the capacity retention (from 44% to around 60%) and the fast-charging and fast-discharging capabilities. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and distribution of relaxation times (DRT) analyses revealed that 5% – 10% CNT and CNF conductors effectively suppressed contact impedances growths in Si anodes. In summary, our findings highlight the importance of precise control over the composition of CNT and CNF to achieve good electrode morphology and electrochemical properties for nano-Si anodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In an effort to find the best anode material for Fe/air batteries, a FeO/AB (Acetylene Black) composite was prepared by dry-type ball milling using FeO nanoparticles and AB as the active and additive materials, respectively. The effects of various binders and FeO content on the electrochemical properties of FeO/AB electrodes in alkaline solution were investigated. It was found that the content of FeO strongly affected the electrochemical behavior of FeO/AB electrodes; with FeO nanopowder content reaching 70 wt.% for the electrode and showing improvement of the cyclability. When the electrode binder polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) was used, clear redox peaks were observed via cyclic voltammetry (CV), while polyvinylidene fluoride-containing electrodes provided CV curves with unobservable redox peaks. Increasing either binder content in the electrode showed a negative effect in terms of the cyclability of the FeO/AB electrode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diffusion layer is an important structure in the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) of direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) that provide a support layer for catalysts, electronic channels, and gas–liquid mass transport channels. In this study, three types of carbon-based materials were used to fabricate anode diffusion layers – carbon black Vulcan ® (CBV), M-15 grade graphene nanosheets (GM-15) and C-500 grade graphene nanosheets (GC-500). The microporous layers of cathodes were constructed with CBV. A carbon-based microporous layer with a 2 mg cm −2 loading was coated onto a PTFE-pretreated carbon cloth, while a Nafion-117 membrane was applied as the electrolyte to the DMFCs. Pt–Ru black and Pt black were used as anode and cathode electrode catalysts, each with loadings of 8 mg cm −2 and 4 mg cm −2 , respectively. All tests were conducted using MEAs with active areas of 4 cm 2 and air was supplied to single cells by passive modes. Surface morphology was studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), which produced pictures of complex network formations within the structures. CBV consists of nanosized carbon particles, while both GM-15 and GC-500 are made of stacks of graphene sheets with flaky structures that increase catalyst utilization. Performance tests of the DMFCs were conducted using a potentiostat that generated polarization curves. The highest peak power density of 13.7 mW cm −2 was obtained by the GC-500 anode diffusion layer using 3 M methanol as fuel. The energy efficiency of the passive DMFCs was approximately 10% with a specific energy of approximately 610 Wh kg −1 , which is higher than that of conventional lithium-ion batteries, portraying the bright future of alternative energy sources for use in power applications for portable devices. The high power densities obtained by both graphene-based materials, GM-15 and GC-500, demonstrate that graphene is a material other than state of the art carbon black that has the potential to be used as a DMFC anode support material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A flexible and free-collector-current of silicon-based anode is facilely prepared just by coating carbon black (CB) and silicon powders layer-by-layer. The resultant electrodes with a “sandwich” structure (CB/Si/CB) are assembled into half-cell and its electrochemical properties are tested. This type of anode exhibits excellent cycling and outstanding rate capability. The superior electrochemical performances are ascribed to both flexible CB-layers to offset the volume expansion of Si-particle. And, the CB-layer with high electric conductivity can provide efficient electron conductive pathways when Si particles react with lithium. More importantly, the CB/Si/CB electrodes without the collerctor (copper-foil) are exhibited high energy density, due to the weight proportion of copper foil is exceeded 60%. The CB/Si/CB electrode is used to assemble full-cell with the same structure as free-collector LCO/CB cathode material. It imposes the energy density of 200 Wh kg −1 , and can keep stable charging-discharging capability at various deformations of shapes. And the flexible-cell of high performance is obtained to meet diverse applications in energy storage devices. Until now, many flexible batteries are put forward by researchers, but these product is faced with the complex production-process, high-cost material, low energy-density. This CB/Si/CB structure is produced with the matching current manufacturing industry and the common raw material, and to get a full-cell of the high energy density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Composite anode materials prepared using high energy mechanical milling have exhibited stable cycling in several previous works. One such material, a composite of antimony metal, carbon black, and iron oxide, shows particular promise as a higher voltage alternative to graphite and silicon. This material can enable safe operation in applications requiring high charging rates while providing a lower voltage and higher capacity alternative to lithium titanate. However, the stringent requirements for commercializing new materials for lithium ion batteries can be a serious impediment for new materials reaching into this existing market. The key requirements investigated here are the capacity, 1 st cycle coulombic efficiency, hysteresis, and cycle lifetime. It is found that the combination of these materials with high energy milling can enhance the cycle lifetime of the individual constituent components, while the other properties behave as a simple superposition of the constituent components. This behavior is due to the intimate composite structure formed by the high energy milling. The failure of the electrochemical cell is primarily caused by the impedance growth of the material, which seems to be caused by instability of the SEI layer that forms on this volume changing material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A novel composite gel polymer electrolyte is facilely prepared by a casting method. • Strong polysulfide adsorption, confinements and enhanced redox kinetics are achieved. • The shuttle effect is effectively suppressed. • Uniform Li+ electroplating/stripping and effective anode protection are enabled. • The assembled Li-S cell demonstrates excellent electrochemical performances. The lithium-sulfur battery is an attractive energy-storage device with low cost and high energy density. However, its development is still restricted by "shuttle effect", lithium dendrite growth and safety problem. Herein, a novel PEO-PAN-LLZO composite gel polymer electrolyte (CGPE) was designed to overcome these issues. A porous composite membrane with excellent mechanical and interfacial properties was formed after casting dispersion of PAN, PEO, LLZO sheets, which can effectively absorb electrolyte, inhibit "shuttle effect" and protect lithium anode. A conductive acetylene black layer was coated on the membrane to further hinder the migration and enhance the redox kinetics of polysulfides. The CGPE based lithium-sulfur battery displays remarkably high specific capacities (1459 and 942 mAh/g at 0.1 and 1C respectively) and outstanding cycling performance (555 mAh/g at 1C after 500 cycles, average decay/cycle of 0.082%). The unique CGPE is promising for the practical application of high-performance lithium-sulfur battery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Na–CO 2 battery is one of the most promising energy storage devices for the exploration of Mar. To fix the evaporation problem of liquid electrolytes in an open system, solid-state electrolyte Na 3 Zr 2 Si 2 PO 12 (NZSP) is used to fabricate a solid-state Na–CO 2 battery. In the battery, the interface between the Na-metal anode and NZSP plays a vital role in improving electrochemical performance. The interfacial parasitic reaction between NZSP and Na-metal results in a Na-rich kinetically stable interphase. (200) and (−111) planes are the preferentially etched crystal planes of NZSP, as SiO 4 and PO 4 tetrahedrons on the planes are easily broken by extra Na-ion injection. Aside from the interfacial reaction, the poor contact between Na-metal and NZSP is a more serious problem, which leads to large interfacial resistance and poor cycling stability. To fix this problem, carbon black is mixed with melted Na-metal to prepare a composite anode (Na@C). The Na@C composite anode easily wets NZSP, thus decreasing the interfacial resistance from 918 to 98 Ω cm2. Symmetrical cells stably cycled 1100 h at 0.1 mA cm−2, when using Na@C as the electrode. Furthermore, Na–CO 2 battery with Na@C composite anode also shows a prolonged cycling life. [Display omitted] ● (200) and (−111) planes are found as preferentially etched crystal planes of NZSP. ● Kinetically stable interphase between Na and NZSP has been found. ● Poor interfacial contact between Na and NZSP results in poor cycling stability. ● Na@C composite anode makes intimate contact with NZSP. ● The solid-state Na–CO 2 battery shows better performance by using Na@C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Manganese-based ternary composite materials are proposed and synthesized by a facile method. • The obtained anode material exhibits an excellent rate capability of 533.2 mAh/g at 16 A/g and a good long-term cycling stability of 1700 mAh/g after 450 cycles under 1 A/g. • The enhanced electrochemical performance is attributed to the synergistic effect and abundant interfaces. The rate performance of anode materials is desirable for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) in energy storage and electric vehicle applications. The composite of different transition metal oxides may improve the rate performance of anode materials for LIBs. Ternary metal oxide/acetylene black (Mn/Ni/Fe/AB) materials were prepared by co-precipitation with subsequent annealing treatment and mechanical ball milling. Compared with the binary metal oxides, the ternary metal oxide displays remarkably improved electrochemical performance with an excellent rate performance of 533.2 mAh/g at 16 A/g and a superior reversible capacity of 1700 mAh/g after 450 cycles under 1 A/g. The enhanced electrochemical performance is attributed to the multiphase interface and the synergistic effect in the ternary oxide materials. Considering the multi-component design, the manganese-based ternary oxides will be a promising anode material for superior performance in LIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The surface modification of the stainless steel mesh (SSM) was conducted by acid etching, binder-free carbon black (CB) coating and the low-temperature heat treatment below 400 °C to improve the microbial bioelectrocatalytic activity for use as high-performance anode in microbial fuel cells. The modified SSM, such as SSM/CB-400, could generate a high current density of up to 1.91 mA cm −2 , which was nearly three orders of magnitude higher than the untreated SSM electrode (0.0025 mA cm −2 ). Moreover, it was stable and recovered the equal current density after removal of the formed biofilms. Surface characterization results demonstrate that the performance improvement was attributed to the CB/Fe 3 O 4 composite layer formed onto the surface of the SSM, which protected the biofilms from being poisoned by the Cr component in the SSM and ensured a rapid electron transfer from biofilms to the SSM surface. The CB/Fe 3 O 4 composite layer showed excellent corrosion-resistant under the oxidizing potential of + 0.2 V (vs. Ag/AgCl). Rising the heating temperature to 500 °C, the SSM-500 and SSM/CB-500 electrodes suffered from corrosion due to the formation of α-Fe 2 O 3 crystals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]