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Improving the charge capacity, electrochemical reversibility and stability of anode materials are main challenges for the development of Ni-based rechargeable batteries and devices. The combination of cobalt, as additive, and electrode material nanostructuration revealed a very promising approach for this purpose. The new α-NiCo mixed hydroxide based electrodes exhibited high specific charge/discharge capacity (355–714 C g −1 ) and outstanding structural stability, withstanding up to 700 redox cycles without any significant phase transformation, as confirmed by cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance and X-ray diffractometry. In short, the nanostructured α-NiCo mixed hydroxide materials possess superior electrochemical properties and stability, being strong candidates for application in high performance batteries and devices.

International audience; Sulindac, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory of the indene acetic acid class, was immobilized inside layered double hydroxide Mg2Al and Zn2Al (LDH) nanovessels through a one pot reaction. LDH–drug materials were characterized by chemical elemental analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD) (one dimensional electron distribution along the c-stacking axis, pair distribution function analysis), scanning and transmission electron microscopies, mass coupled thermal analyses, vibrational infrared and Raman spectroscopies, and solid state 13C NMR. Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations were performed for sulindac (protonated and deprotonated forms) with the aim to assign the LDH–drug spectroscopic results. All converge towards a spatial organization of interleaved sulindac molecules close to that reported for the pristine polymorph II crystal structure. Of relevance for human treatment because of its biocompatibility and non-immunogenic effect, in vitro sulindac release experiments were performed in a phosphate buffer mimicking biological fluids and release profiles were refined using kinetic models.

Nickel hydroxide can provide an outstanding cathode material in alkaline secondary batteries, however the progressive decrease of the charge capacity as a function of the number of oxidation/reduction cycles is a challenging problem to be solved. New improvements on the electrochemical properties of electrode materials can be achieved by exploiting the much better performance of alpha-nickel hydroxide. Such materials were obtained in a stable form by sol-gel method and characterized by thermogravimetric analyses, UV-Vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometry, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance techniques. The results revealed not only the formation of the alpha-Ni(OH)2 phase, but also a much better electrochemical reversibility and stability as compared with similar materials obtained by electrochemical precipitation method.

Stabilized α-Ni(OH)2 nanoparticle modified fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) electrodes were shown to be excellent glucose amperometric FIA sensors exhibiting high specific sensitivity (446 µA mM−1 cm−2), low limit of detection (3 µM) and high analytical frequency (128 analyses/hour). The electrodes were constituted by ∼20 nm nanoparticles and the limit of detection was only slightly improved in hydrodynamic as compared to diffusional conditions reflecting the enhanced surface area and the moderate heterogeneous electron transfer rates at the nanostructured α-Ni(OH)2/solution interface.

Hidróxido de níquel é um material amplamente estudado principalmente devido às suas aplicações como cátodo de baterias secundárias de níquel, entretanto tal sistema ainda apresenta problemas devido à progressiva diminuição da capacidade de carga em função do número de ciclos de oxidação/redução. No presente trabalho são descritas a preparação, caracterização e propriedades de nanomateriais de hidróxido de níquel, obtidos pelo processo sol-gel; e também dos nanocompósitos obtidos por meio da interação do sol de Ni(OH)2 com argilas catiônica (hectorita) e aniônica (HDL similar a hidrotalcita). Os materiais foram caracterizados por análise térmogravimétrica, espectroscopia UV-Vis e infravermelho, difração de raios-X, microscopia eletrônica de varredura, voltametria cíclica e microbalança eletroquímica a cristal de quartzo. Os resultados obtidos são claramente consistentes com a forma α-Ni(OH)2, e apresentam uma maior reversibilidade eletroquímica que os nanomateriais análogos preparados por outros métodos. Além disso, essa característica foi melhorada por meio de tratamento térmico a 240 °C, ou por meio da incorporação nas matrizes lamelares hospedeiras, gerando nanomateriais com grande potencialidade para o desenvolvimento de dispositivos eletroquímicos, em particular baterias, dispositivos eletrocrômicos, catalisadores e sensores amperométricos. Nickel hydroxide has been extensively studied because of its use as active material in the cathode of alkaline secondary batteries, but the main problem related to the progressive decrease of charge capacity as a function of the number of oxidation/reduction cycles still remains unsolved. In this work, the preparation, characterization and electrochemical properties of nickel hydroxide nanomaterials obtained by sol-gel method, and of nanocomposites materials prepared by the combination of nickel hydroxide sol and a cationic clay (hectorita) and an anionic clay (LDH like hydrotalcite) are described. The materials were characterized by thermogravimetric analyses, UV-Vis and IR spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy, cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical quartz microbalance. The results were consistent with the α-Ni(OH)2 phase, but showing better electrochemical reversibility than that of similar materials obtained by others methods. Furthermore, this property was enhanced by thermal treatment at 240 °C or by Ni(OH)2 incorporation into the layered hosts. In conclusion nickel hydroxide nanomaterials with possible applications for the development of electrochemical devices such as batteries, electrochromic devices, catalysts and amperometric sensors were prepared and their exceptional electrochemical reversibility demonstrated