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In spite of having several advantages such as low cost, high chemical stability, and environmentally safe and benign synthetic as well as operational procedures, the full potential of carbon dots (CDs) is yet to be explored as photosensitizers due to the challenges associated with the fabrication of well-arrayed CDs with many other photocatalytic heterostructures. In the present study, a unique combination of metal-organic framework (MOF)-decorated zinc oxide (ZnO) 1D nanostructures as host and CDs as guest species are explored on account of their potential application in photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting performance. The synthetic strategy to incorporate well-defined nitrogen-doped carbon dots (N-CDs) arrays onto a zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) anchored on ZnO 1D nanostructures allows a facile unification of different components which subsequently plays a decisive role in improving the material's PEC water splitting performance. Simple extension of such strategies is expected to offer significant advantages for the preparation of CD-based heterostructures for photo(electro)catalytics and other related applications.

Sn-doped LiTi2(PO4)3/C composite nanofibers are synthesized by a facile electrospinning process. The unique one dimensional nanostructure combined with a uniform electrically conductive carbon matrix allows high-rate transportation of lithium ions and electrons. Besides, Sn-doping could further decrease the electrochemical resistance. Sn-doped LiTi2(PO4)3/C composite nanofibers exhibit excellent electrochemical performance, especially ultra-fast charging/discharge capability. At a charging rate of about 600 C (64 A g−1, 6 s), 66.2% capacity (68.9 mA h g−1) could be obtained when matched with a Li metal counter electrode. They also exhibit excellent electrochemical properties as an anode material for aqueous rechargeable lithium batteries. Sn-doped LiTi2(PO4)3/C composite nanofibers are promising electrode materials for both nonaqueous and aqueous lithium ion batteries.

Porous LiMnPO4/C composite nanofibers between 150 and 250 nm have been synthesized as a cathode material for lithium ion batteries via electrospinning. The porous LiMnPO4/C composite nanofibers show excellent electrochemical performance including a high reversible capacity of 112.7 mA h g−1 at 0.2C, a stable cycle retention of 95% after 100 cycles at 1C, and excellent rate capability (73.1 mA h g−1 at 5C) in constant current mode between 2.0 and 4.5 V. These improved electrochemical properties are attributed to the one-dimensional geometry and porous structure, which significantly enhanced kinetics associated with electrons and Li ions.

The inherently low electrical conductivity of TiO2-based electrodes as well as the high electrical resistance between an electrode and a current collector represents a major obstacle to their use as an anode for lithium ion batteries. In this study, we report on high-density TiO2 nanotubes (NTs) branched onto a carbon nanofiber (CNF) “tree” that provide a low resistance current path between the current collector and the TiO2 NTs. Compared to a TiO2 NT array grown directly on the current collector, the branched TiO2 NTs tree, coupled with the CNF electrode, exhibited ∼10 times higher areal energy density and excellent rate capability (discharge capacity of ∼150 mA·h·g−1 at a current density of 1,000 mA·g−1). Based on the detailed experimental results and associated theoretical analysis, we demonstrate that the introduction of CNFs with direct electric contact with the current collector enables a significant increase in areal capacity (mA·h·cm−2) as well as excellent rate capability.

Spinel lithium titanate (Li4Ti5O12) has attracted great interest as an anode material for lithium ion batteries due to its safe operation, low cost, and zero-strain effect during Li insertion/extraction. However, the poor rate capability caused by low electronic conductivity limits its practical use. We synthesized surface functionalized one-dimensional (1D) Li4Ti5O12 nanofibers using simple electro-spinning and subsequent nitridation process. Uniformly coated conducting TiN/TiOxNy layer on the surface of Li4Ti5O12 nanofiber enables fast electron transport along its one dimensional geometry, which leads to significant improvement in rate capability. Nitridated Li4Ti5O12 nanofibers electrode delivers about 1.35 times larger discharge capacity than that of pristine nanofibers electrode at a current density of 10 C.

Hybrid nanofibers of polyaniline/polyoxometalate are synthesized via a facile interfacial polymerization method for the first time, and evaluated as a cathode material for lithium ion batteries. The hybrid nanofibers with 100 nm diameter consisted of phosphomolybdic acid polyanion, [PMo12O40]3–, and polyaniline matrix. Their 1D geometry improves the utilization of electrode materials and accommodates the volume change during cycling, which enables the significant improvement in lithium storage capacity and capacity retentions. The phosphomolybdic acid polyanions not only exhibit a large theoretical capacity of about 270 mAh g–1, but also reduce the charge transfer resistance of electrode leading to the enhanced reversible capacity and rate capability. The polyaniline/polyoxometalate nanofibers delivered a remarkably improved electrochemical performance in terms of lithium storage capacity (183.4 mAh g–1 at 0.1C rate), cycling stability (80.7% capacity retention after 50 cycles), and rate capability (94.2 ...

Tin oxide (SnO2) is a promising candidate as an anode for lithium ion batteries because of its high theoretical capacity. However, poor capacity retention caused by large volume changes during cycling, large initial irreversible capacity, and low rate capability frustrate its practical application. We have developed a ternary nanocomposite based on tin indium oxide (SnO2–In2O3) and graphene nanosheet (GNS) synthesized via a facile solvothermal method. The incorporation of In2O3 into SnO2 can improve the electrochemical property of SnO2 and reduce the charge transfer resistance of electrode leading to the enhanced reversible capacity and rate capability. The graphene nanosheet in the composite electrode can accommodate high volume expansion/contraction during cycling resulting in excellent capacity retention. As an anode for lithium ion batteries, the SnO2–In2O3/GNS nanocomposite exhibits a remarkably improved electrochemical performance in terms of lithium storage capacity (962 mAh g−1 at 60 mA g−1 rate), initial coulombic efficiency (57.2%), cycling stability (60.8% capacity retention after 50 cycles), and rate capability (393.25 mAh g−1 at 600 mA g−1 rate after 25 cycles) compared to SnO2/GNS and pure SnO2–In2O3 electrode.

Problems related to tremendous volume changes associated with cycling and the low electron conductivity and ion diffusivity of Si represent major obstacles to its use in high-capacity anodes for lithium ion batteries. We have developed a group IVA based nanotube heterostructure array, consisting of a high-capacity Si inner layer and a highly conductive Ge outer layer, to yield both favorable mechanics and kinetics in battery applications. This type of Si/Ge double-layered nanotube array electrode exhibits improved electrochemical performances over the analogous homogeneous Si system, including stable capacity retention (85% after 50 cycles) and doubled capacity at a 3C rate. These results stem from reduced maximum hoop strain in the nanotubes, supported by theoretical mechanics modeling, and lowered activation energy barrier for Li diffusion. This electrode technology creates opportunities in the development of group IVA nanotube heterostructures for next generation lithium ion batteries.

Titanium dioxide (TiO(2)) is one of the most promising anode materials for lithium ion batteries due to low cost and structural stability during Li insertion/extraction. However, its poor rate capability limits its practical use. Although various approaches have been explored to overcome this problem, previous reports have mainly focused on the enhancement of both the electronic conductivity and the kinetic associated with lithium in the composite film of active material/conducting agent/binder. Here, we systematically explore the effect of the contact resistance between a current collector and a composite film of active material/conducting agent/binder on the rate capability of a TiO(2)-based electrode. The vertically aligned TiO(2) nanotubes arrays, directly grown on the current collector, with sealed cap and unsealed cap, and conventional randomly oriented TiO(2) nanotubes electrodes were prepared for this study. The vertically aligned TiO(2) nanotubes array electrode with unsealed cap showed superior performance with six times higher capacity at 10 C rate compared to conventional randomly oriented TiO(2) nanotubes electrode with 10 wt % conducting agent. On the basis of the detailed experimental results and associated theoretical analysis, we demonstrate that the reduction of the contact resistance between electrode and current collector plays an important role in improving the electronic conductivity of the overall electrode system.

Nanoparticulate SnO2 was encapsulated into TiO2 hollow nanofibers to achieve high energy density and robust electrochemical performance as an anode material for lithium ion batteries. The SnO2 encapsulated TiO2 hollow nanofibers exhibit improved electrochemical performances over the TiO2 hollow nanofibers, including a high discharge capacity of ~517 mAh g−1 and doubled capacity at a 10 C rate. These improvements on electrochemical performances are attributed to favorable mechanics and kinetics associated with lithium. Keywords: Lithium ion batteries, Anode, SnO2, TiO2

Germanium holds great potential as an anode material for lithium ion batteries due to its large theoretical energy density and excellent intrinsic properties related to its kinetics associated with lithium and electrons. However, the problem related to the tremendous volume change of Ge during cycling is the dominant obstacle for its practical use. The previous research has focused on the improvement in mechanics associated with lithium without consideration of the kinetics. In this study, we demonstrate that the configuration engineering of the Ge electrode enables the improvement in kinetics as well as favorable mechanics. Two types of Ge inverse opal structures with porous walls and dense walls were prepared using a confined convective assembly method and by adjusting Ge deposition parameters in a chemical vapor deposition system. The Ge inverse opal electrode with porous walls shows much improved electrochemical performances, especially cycle performance and rate capability, than the electrode with dense walls. These improvements are attributed to a large free surface, which offers a facile strain relaxation pathway and a large lithium flux from the electrolyte to the active material.

TiO2 nanofibers, TiO2 hollow nanofibers, and nitridated TiO2 hollow nanofibers were synthesized using a simple electrospinning method and subsequent nitridation treatment. The nitridated TiO2 hollow nanofibers showed twice higher rate capability compared to that of pristine TiO2 nanofibers at 5 C. This improvement is mainly attributed to shorter lithium ion diffusion length and high electronic conductivity along the surface of nitridated hollow nanofibers.

Si nanowires (SiNWs)–carbon nanofibers (CNFs) branched structures with variation in carbon densities were synthesized. SiNWs with critical density of CNFs show the best electrochemical performance, which is attributed to increase in free volume around the SiNWs as well as a buffering role of the branched CNFs against large volumetric change during cycling.