Search

Given the growing demand for high‐performance, stable, eco‐friendly, and cheap lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs), the development of affordable and environmentally friendly high‐performance anode materials for LIBs has garnered considerable attention. Herein, to address this need, NiS (known for its high theoretical capacity) was grown on a porous biocarbon (BC) matrix to afford a highly conductive LIB anode material capable of accommodating the charge/discharge‐induced volume changes and thus ensuring cycle stability. The cycling performance of this material (NiS–BC) was further enhanced by doping with Fe. The best‐performing (Ni0.8Fe0.2S–BC) anode demonstrated an initial discharge capacity of 1,374.4 mAh g−1 at 0.5 A g−1, which further increased to 1,796.4 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles, and the origins of this high performance were probed by instrumental analysis. The results contribute to the development of next‐generation LIBs for applications requiring high capacity, high output, and long‐term cycle stability, such as electronic devices, electric vehicles, and energy storage systems. Moreover, the use of BC aligns with a prominent trend in modern battery research, namely, the development of secondary batteries simultaneously exhibiting high performance and sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of sustainable techniques for electrocatalysis significantly depends on the creation of more efficient, cost-effective and reliable electrocatalysts that can overcome the sluggish kinetics of the process and thereby accelerate the overall energy conversion. External stimuli such as magnetic field have been known to have an impact on material properties, presenting a promising route to enhance electrocatalytic processes, including the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), oxygen evolution reaction (OER), oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO2RR). Recent studies have strongly supported the beneficial effects of magnetic field on the fabrication of electrocatalysts and electrocatalytic reactions. However, there is still noticeable lack of interest and enthusiasm among the research community in this interdisciplinary field. Thus, this review aims to emphasize the importance of the combined effect of magnetic field and energy production. Initially, we present a thorough explanation of the fundamental mechanisms of the aforementioned electrocatalytic processes and then vividly elaborate the potential mechanisms underlying magnetic field-enhanced electrocatalysis. Finally, we highlight the recent advancements in this field, followed by the associated comprehensive current challenges and future perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

2D transition metal dichalcogenide alloys are considered as the promising duo for energy storage and catalyst for light‐driven energy conversion applications due to their novel physicochemical properties. However, heterostructuring with other 2D materials is an effective strategy to enhance the charge storage kinetics as well as comprehensive spectral light response and efficient charge separation. Herein, Molybdenum sulfo selenide (MoSSe)/black phosphorous (BP) heterostructure is synthesized by a one‐pot solvothermal technique, and energy storage and conversion efficiency are characterized. Interestingly, the fabricated symmetric supercapacitor based on the MoSSe/BP hybrid shows an exceptional capacitance of 230 mF cm−2 with an excellent energy density of 31.9 µWh cm−2 and a power density of 805.7 µW cm−2. To validate the experimental findings, Density Functional Theory (DFT) computational simulations are carried out concurrently. The lower diffusion energy barrier for electrolytic ions, in the case of hybrid MoSSe/BP compared to pristine MoSSe, supports the higher charge storage performance. Finally, MoSSe/BP nanocomposites' photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) performance is evaluated under 400 W of UV–vis light, with eosin Y dye acting as a sensitizer and triethanolamine acting as a sacrificial agent. The MoSSe/BP nanocomposite exhibits the maximum photocatalytic HER activity of 5718 µmol h−1 g−1, greater than the bare MoSSe nanostructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, vanadium ditelluride (VTe2) a member of the transition metal ditellurdies family has emerged as a functional material for energy storage applications owing to its exotic intrinsic properties. Similar to most of the nanostructured materials, a hybrid structure of VTe2 is expected to provide enhanced energy storage capability. Herein, two hybrid structures of VTe2 are engineered using well‐explored nanocarbons such as RGO and carbon nanotube (CNT) to create a compelling supercapacitor electrode material. Both the hybrid structures show improved electrochemical activity, but VTe2/CNT fared better in the charge storage efficiency. The enhanced active sites, short ionic/electronic pathways provided by the CNT network, and the large electric double‐layer contribution have synergized for the inflated capacitance of VTe2/CNT. Further, a high‐performance asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC) of VTe2/CNT//MoSSe/CNT is constructed in a typical Swagelok cell, and the ASC delivered an energy density output of 36.28 Wh kg−1 at a power density of 463.16 W kg−1 with a remarkable 80.26% capacitance retention. The results of this work suggest that VTe2/CNT is a promising contender in the pantheon of functional materials for energy storage applications in the near future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]