A Cation and Anion Dual Doping Strategy for the Elevation of Titanium Redox Potential for High-Power Sodium-Ion Batteries

Titanium-based polyanions have been intensively investigated for sodium-ion batteries owing to their superior structural stability and thermal safety. However, their low working potential hindered further applications. Now, a cation and anion dual doping strategy is used to boost the redox potential of Ti-based cathodes of Na₃Ti_0.5V_0.5(PO₃)₃N as a new cathode material for sodium ion batteries. Both the Ti³⁺/Ti⁴⁺ and V³⁺/V⁴⁺ redox couples are reversibly accessed, leading to two distinctive voltage platforms at ca. 3.3 V and ca. 3.8 V, respectively. The remarkably improved cycling stability (86.3 %, 3000 cycles) can be ascribed to the near-zero volume strain in this unusual cubic symmetry, which has been demonstrated by in situ synchrotron-based X-ray diffraction. First-principles calculations reveal its well-interconnected 3D Na diffusion pathways with low energy barriers, and the two-sodium-extracted intermediate NaTi_0.5V_0.5(PO₃)₃N is also a stable phase according to formation energy calculations.     

Synchronous Dual Electrolyte Additive Sustains Zn Metal Anode with 5600 h Lifespan

Despite conspicuous merits of Zn metal anodes, the commercialization is still handicapped by rampant dendrite formation and notorious side reaction. Manipulating the nucleation mode and deposition orientation of Zn is a key to rendering stabilized Zn anodes. Here, a dual electrolyte additive strategy is put forward via the direct cooperation of xylitol (XY) and graphene oxide (GO) species into typical zinc sulfate electrolyte. As verified by molecular dynamics simulations, the incorporated XY molecules could regulate the solvation structure of Zn²⁺, thus inhibiting hydrogen evolution and side reactions. The self-assembled GO layer is in favor of facilitating the desolvation process to accelerate reaction kinetics. Progressive nucleation and orientational deposition can be realized under the synergistic modulation, enabling a dense and uniform Zn deposition. Consequently, symmetric cell based on dual additives harvests a highly reversible cycling of 5600 h at 1.0 mA cm⁻²/1.0 mAh cm⁻².     

Lattice Distortion and H-passivation in Pure Carbon Electrocatalysts for Efficient and Stable Two-electron Oxygen Reduction to H2O2

The exploration of inexpensive and efficient catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is crucial for chemical and energy industries. Carbon materials have been proved promising with different catalysts enabling 2 and 4e⁻ ORR. Nevertheless, their ORR activity and selectivity is still complex and under debate in many cases. Many structures of these active carbon materials are also chemically unstable for practical implementations. Unlike the well-discussed structures, this work presents a strategy to promote efficient and stable 2e⁻ ORR of carbon materials through the synergistic effect of lattice distortion and H-passivation (on the distorted structure). We show how these structures can be formed on carbon cloth, and how the reproducible chemical adsorption can be realized on these structures for efficient and stable H₂O₂ production. The work here gives not only new understandings on the 2e⁻ ORR catalysis, but also the robust catalyst which can be directly used in industry.     

磁性壳聚糖复合微球的制备及其Cu~(2+)吸附性能

以球磨后的粉煤灰磁珠(MS)颗粒为磁核,通过溶胶凝胶法和反相微乳液法依次包覆SiO_2和壳聚糖(CS),制备了MS@SiO_2@CS磁性微球。利用扫描电镜及能量色散谱仪、热重分析仪、红外光谱仪、X射线衍射仪、振动样品磁强计对所得样品的结构和磁性进行了系统表征。结果表明,磁珠颗粒表面实现了逐层包覆,较均匀的分散于壳聚糖基体中,MS@SiO_2@CS微球的比饱和磁化强度可达7.04 emu·g~(-1)。Cu~(2+)离子吸附实验表明,所得磁性壳聚糖微球对Cu~(2+)具有良好的吸附能力,最大吸附量可达11.08 mg·g~(-1);而且可通过磁选法高效固液分离。吸附动力学研究表明,MS@SiO_2@CS微球对Cu~(2+)离子的吸附符合准二级动力学模型,以化学吸附为主。     

Fabrication of Nb2O5/C nanocomposites as a high performance anode for lithium ion battery

Nb₂O₅/C nanosheets are successfully prepared through a mixing process and followed by heating treatment.Such Nb₂O₅/C based electrode exhibits high rate performance and remarkable cycling ability, showing a high and stable specific capacity of ~380 mAh g^-1 at the current density of 50 mA g^-1(much higher than the theoretical capacity of Nb₂O₅).Further more,at a current density of 500 mA g^-1,the nanocomposites electrode still exhibits a specific capacity of above 150 mAh g^-1 after 100 cycles.These results suggest the Nb₂O₅/C nanocomposite is a high performance anode material for lithium-ion batteries.     

Efficient visible-light photocatalysts by constructing dispersive energy band with anisotropic p and s-p hybridization states

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金属性二维过渡金属硫化物的溶剂热合成及电催化析氢性能

采用溶剂热法制备了多种二维过渡金属硫化物(TMDCs), 在合成过程中通过调控反应前驱体的滴加速率来控制所得TMDCs的形貌和结构. 然后采用高温热处理来提高TMDCs的结晶性, 从而提升了其电催化活性. 在酸性电解液中进行电催化析氢性能测试. 结果表明, “花状”结构的金属性二维二硫化铌(NbS₂)具有最佳的催化活性和稳定性, 在电流密度为10 mA/cm²时, 其过电位仅为146 mV, 持续工作24 h后电流密度几乎不衰减. 研究发现, 可充分暴露面内活性位点的“花状”结构以及高温处理后材料导电性的提高是二维NbS₂具有优异电催化性能的主要因素.     

Nanocomposite of manganese ferrocyanide and graphene: A promising cathode material for rechargeable lithium ion batteries

A nanocomposite of potassium manganese ferrocyanide and graphene (12% C, 88% K_1.8Mn_1.1Fe(CN)₆∙ 0.27H₂O) was prepared by ball milling of graphene oxide powder and nanoparticles of manganese–iron Prussian Blue. It exhibits enhanced electrochemical performance compared to pure Prussian Blue with a specific capacity of 150 mAhg^− 1 at average 3.8 V vs. Li⁺/Li and a good cyclability. The nanocomposite can be considered as competitive to standard cathode materials of present rechargeable lithium ion batteries like cobalt oxide, iron phosphate or NMC.     

Phase Stability and Elastic Properties of Chromium Borides with Various Stoichiometries

Phase stability is important to the application of materials. By first‐principles calculations, we establish the phase stability of chromium borides with various stoichiometries. Moreover, the phases of CrB₃ and CrB₄ have been predicted by using a newly developed particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm. Formation enthalpy–pressure diagrams reveal that the MoB‐type structure is more energetically favorable than the TiI‐type structure for CrB. For CrB₂, the WB₂‐type structure is preferred at zero pressure. The predicted new phase of CrB₃ belongs to the hexagonal P‐6m2 space group and it transforms into an orthorhombic phase as the pressure exceeds 93 GPa. The predicted CrB₄ (space group: Pnnm) phase is more energetically favorable than the previously proposed Immm structure. The mechanical and thermodynamic stabilities of predicted CrB₃ and CrB₄ are verified by the calculated elastic constants and formation enthalpies. The full phonon dispersion calculations confirm the dynamic stability of WB₂‐type CrB₂ and predicted CrB₃. The large shear moduli, large Young’s moduli, low Poisson ratios, and low bulk and shear modulus ratios of CrB₄? PS_C and CrB₄? PS_D indicate that they are potential hard materials. Analyses of Debye temperature, electronic localization function, and electronic structure provide further understanding of the chemical and physical properties of these borides.