Preparation of MnO2 and MnO2/carbon nanotubes nanocomposites with improved electrochemical performance for lithium ion batteries

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - Manganese dioxide (MnO2) nanomaterials and manganese dioxide/carbon nanotubes (MnO2/CNTs) nanocomposites were prepared by chemical precipitation and...     

Comparative studies on electrochemical activity of graphene nanosheets and carbon nanotubes

This study compares the electrochemical activity of four kinds of carbon materials, i.e. single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), pristine graphene oxide nanosheets (GONs), chemically reduced GONs, and electrochemically reduced GONs, with potassium ferricyanide (K₃Fe(CN)₆), β-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) and ascorbic acid (AA) as the redox probes. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) results demonstrate that the electron transfer kinetics of the redox probes employed here at the carbon materials essentially depend on the kind of the materials, of which the redox processes of the probes at SWNTs and electrochemically reduced GONs are faster than those at the pristine and chemically reduced GONs. The different electron transfer kinetics for the redox probes at the carbon materials studied here could be possibly ascribed to the synergetic effects of the surface chemistry (e.g., C/O ratio, presence of quinone-like groups, surface charge, and surface cleanness) and conductivity of the materials. This study could be potentially useful for understanding the structure/property relationship of the carbon materials and, based on this, for screening and synthesizing advanced carbon materials for electrochemical applications.     

Preparation and electrocatalytic properties of gold nanoparticles loaded carbon nanotubes

Here, we report a new method of preparation of gold nanoparticles loaded carbon nanotubes (Au/CNTs) and the eleltrocatalystic properties of the obtained Au/CNTs as composite catalyst. This method shows advantages as it is easy to wash sodium citrate and the particle size of Au nanoparticles could by controlled by pH.     

MnO2 multilayer nanosheet clusters evolved from monolayer nanosheets and their predominant electrochemical properties

MnO₂ multilayer nanosheet clusters were prepared via electrochemical deposition route, which shows simpleness and high efficiency. The growth process of MnO₂ multilayer nanosheet clusters was investigated in this paper. The deposited MnO₂ films were characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, and XPS. In addition, it was also electrochemically characterized by cyclic voltammetry in 1.0 M Na₂SO₄ electrolyte. The MnO₂ multilayer nanosheet clusters show a big specific capacitance, and it can be achieved about 521.5 F g^?1 at 5 mV s^?1. These materials also have a high electrochemical stability.     

Influence of supporting electrolyte on the pseudocapacitive properties of MnO2/carbon nanotubes

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - The aim of this study was to prepare MnO2 from a MnCl2 solution by electrode polarisation at a constant potential. MnO2 was deposited at platinum and...     

Preparation and electrochemical property of Fe2O3 nanoparticles-filled carbon nanotubes

Fe(2)O(3) nanoparticles with a mean diameter of ~9 nm were homogeneously filled into the hollow core of high aspect ratio CNTs synthesized by the AAO template method with tunable filling ratios. These Fe(2)O(3)-filled CNTs were employed as the anode material of lithium-ion battery, and desirable electrochemical properties of high reversible lithium storage capacity and good rate capability were demonstrated.     

纳米金、碳纳米管和纳米线及其在电化学生物传感器研究中的应用

综述了1995～2007年间,纳米金、碳纳米管和纳米线材料及其在电化学生物传感器研究中的新进展,引用文献60篇.     

Preparation of a polyacetylene composite with single-walled carbon nanotubes and study of its electrochemical properties

A composite consisting of single-walled carbon nanotubes (2.4 wt %) covered by polyacetylene has been prepared. Polyacetylene synthesized directly on single-walled carbon nanotubes is a defectless long-chain polymer composed of trans and cis units with a sufficient length (60% trans and 40% cis isomers). An appreciable acceleration of the lithium ion intercalation-deintercalation corresponds to an increase in the conductivity of the composite material near the percolation threshold. The polyacetylene layer on single-walled carbon nanotubes plays the role of an electrochemically active ion-conductive membrane suitable for the transport of Li⁺ cations to the surface of nanotubes.     

A dandelion-like carbon microsphere/MnO2 nanosheets composite for supercapacitors

This article reported the electrochemical performance of a novel cabon microsphere/MnO₂ nanosheets (CMS/MnO₂) composite prepared by a in situ self-limiting deposition method under hydrothermal condition. The results of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed that MnO₂ nanosheets homogeneously grew onto the surface of CMS to form a loose-packed and dandelion-like core/shell microstructure. The unique microstructure plays a basic role in electrochemical accessibility of electrolyte to MnO₂ active material and a fast diffusion rate within the redox phase. The results of cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge/discharge and electrochemical impedance spectrometry indicated that the prepared CMS/MnO₂ composite presented high capacitance of 181 F·g⁻¹ and long cycle life of 61% capacity retention after 2000 charge/discharge cycles in 1 mol/L Na₂SO₄ solution, which show strong promise for high-rate electrochemical capacitive energy storage applications.     

基于多壁碳纳米管和纳米金修饰电极测定特殊序列DNA的电化学生物传感器的制备

基于多壁碳纳米管和纳米金复合膜修饰电极制备了特殊序列的靶DNA的电化学生物传感器.该传感器以六氨基合钌为杂交指示剂,用差示脉冲伏安法进行检测DNA杂化,其响应信号与靶DNA浓度在1.0×10<'-12>～1.0×10<'-7>mol/L范围内呈线性关系,检测限达3.5×10<'-13>mol/L.该传感器能区分单碱基错配的靶DNA.     

Synthesis and electrochemical properties of composites based on carbon nanotubes and polyaniline

composites made of polyaniline and multiwalled carbon nanotubes have been electrochemically synthesized. The modification of multiwalled carbon nanotubes by a salt of phenyldiazonium significantly increases the redox currents of the polyaniline matrix in the composite. As a result of modification, the conformational state of polyaniline macrochains changes, leading to changes in the morphology, structure, and chemical composition of the composite.     

Preparation and nonlinear optical properties of Au nanoparticles doped TiO2 thin films

Nano-sized noble metal nanoparticles doped dielectric composite films with large third-order nonlinear susceptibility due to the confinement and the enhancement of local field were considered to be applied for optical information processing devices, such as optical switch or all optical logical gates. In this paper, sol–gel titania thin films doped with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs, ~10 nm in average size) were prepared. AuNPs were firstly synthesized from HAuCl₄ in aqueous solution at ~60 °C, using trisodium citrate as the reducing agent, polyvinylpyrrolidone as the stable agent; then the particle size and optical absorption spectra of the AuNPs in aqueous solutions were characterized by transmitting electron microscopy and UV–Vis–NIR spectrometry. Sol–gel 2AuNPs–100TiO₂ (in %mol) thin films (5 layers, ~1 μm in thickness) were deposited on silica glass slides by multilayer dip-coating. After heat-treated at 300–1,000 °C in air, the AuNPs–TiO₂ thin films were investigated by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. The nonlinear optical properties of the AuNPs–TiO₂ thin films were measured with the Z-scan technique, using a femtosecond laser (200 fs) at the wavelength of 800 nm. The third-order nonlinear refractive index and nonlinear absorption coefficient of 2AuNPs–100TiO₂ films were at the order of 10^?12 cm²/W, and the order of 10^?6 cm/W, respectively, and the third-order optical nonlinear susceptibility χ⁽³⁾ was ~6.88 × 10^?10 esu.     

The composites of polyaniline with multiwall carbon nanotubes: Preparation,electrochemical properties,and conductivity

Composite materials based on the multiwall nanotubes (content in the material from 1 to 65 wt %) and polyaniline are prepared and characterized. The composite materials are prepared by four methods: chemical synthesis, electrochemical synthesis, mixing of dry components, and mixing of solutions with subsequent removal of solvent. The results of calculations of the specific capacity of the composite materials, as well as their conductivity, stability, and behavior under the conditions of charging-discharging point out to their applicability in devices for the energy storage. The range of critical changes in the values of specific capacity and conductivity falls into the interval of the multiwall nanotubes content in the composite from 5 to 25 wt %. The composite materials preparation methods used in this work enable one to choose an appropriate composite preparation method reasoning from the final purpose of its application (obtaining of high capacity or conductivity). The carbon nanotubes, the body of the composite, with their stable electronic conduction, can sustain the composite’s electrical conductivity at reasonable level irrespective of the properties of the second component (polyaniline) in the case in question.     

Formation of anatase TiO2 nanoparticles on carbon nanotubes

Anatase TiO2 nanoparticles with a size range of 2 to 10 nm have been formed on carbon nanotubes by the controlled hydrolysis and condensation of titanium bis-ammonium lactato dihydroxide in water and electrosterically dispersed carbon nanotubes.     

High dispersion and electrocatalytic properties of palladium nanoparticles on single-walled carbon nanotubes

Palladium (Pd) nanoparticles were electrochemically dispersed on single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) by electroreduction of octahedral Pd(IV) complex formed on the SWNT surface. The structure and nature of the resulting Pd-SWNT composites were characterized by transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The electrocatalytic properties of the Pd/SWNT electrode for hydrazine oxidation have been investigated by cyclic voltammetry; high electrocatalytic activity of the Pd/SWNT electrode can be observed. This may be attributed to the high dispersion of palladium catalysts and the particular properties of SWNT supports. The results imply that the Pd-SWNT composite has good potential applications in fuel cells.     

Spin transport properties of single metallocene molecules attached to single-walled carbon nanotubes via nickel adatoms

The spin-dependent transport properties of single ferrocene, cobaltocene, and nickelocene molecules attached to the sidewall of a (4,4) armchair single-walled carbon nanotube via a Ni adatom are investigated by using a self-consistent ab initio approach that combines the non-equilibrium Green's function formalism with the spin density functional theory. Our calculations show that the Ni adatom not only binds strongly to the sidewall of the nanotube, but also maintains the spin degeneracy and affects little the transmission around the Fermi level. When the Ni adatom further binds to a metallocene molecule, its density of states is modulated by that of the molecule and electron scattering takes place in the nanotube. In particular, we find that for both cobaltocene and nickelocene the transport across the nanotube becomes spin-polarized. This demonstrates that metallocene molecules and carbon nanotubes can become a promising materials platform for applications in molecular spintronics.     

One-step hydrothermal synthesis of flower-like SnO2/carbon nanotubes composite and its electrochemical properties

In this work, flower-like SnO₂/carbon nanotubes (CNTs) composite was synthesized by one-step hydrothermal method for high-capacity lithium storage. The microstructures of products were characterized by XRD, FESEM and TEM. The electrochemical performance of the flower-like SnO₂/CNTs composite was measured by cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge/discharge cycling. The results show that the flower-like SnO₂/CNTs composite displays superior Li-battery performance with large reversible capacity and high rate capability. The first discharge and charge capacities are 1,230 and 842 mAh g^?1, respectively. After 40 cycles, the reversible discharge capacity is still maintained at 577 mAh g^?1 at the current densities of 50, 100 and 500 mA g^?1, indicating that it’s a promising anode material for high performance lithium-ion batteries.     

Synthesis and electrochemical characterization of carbon nanotubes decorated with nickel nanoparticles for use as an electrochemical capacitor

Attachment of nickel nanoparticles on multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) was conducted to explore the influence of Ni loading on the electrochemical capacitance of MWCNT electrodes. A chemical impregnation leaded to homogeneously disperse Ni particles onto the surface of MWCNTs, and the Ni particles were found to be an average size of 30–50 nm. The capacitive behavior of the MWCNT electrodes was investigated in 6 M KOH, by using cyclic voltammetry (CV), charge–discharge cycling, and ac electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. CV measurements showed that the Faradaic current was found to increase with the Ni coverage, indicating that the presence of Ni would enhance the pseudocapacitance through the redox process. Equivalent circuit analysis indicated that both of electrical connection and charge transfer resistances accounted for the major proportion of the overall resistance and were found to decrease with the amount of nickel. A linearity relationship between the total capacitance and the Ni population reflected that each Ni particle exhibits an identical electrochemical activity in enhancing the electrochemical capacitance. The overall electrochemical capacitance (including double layer capacitance and pseudocapacitance) of Ni-MWCNT electrode can reach a maximum of 210 F/g over 500 cycles.     

Facile synthesis of N-doped carbon nanotubes grafted on N-doped carbon nanosheets co-encapsulating cobalt and molybdenum carbide nanoparticles for efficient methanol oxidation

Developing efficient electrocatalysts based on inexpensive and environment protection materials for methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) is crucial to new generation renewable energy storage and conversion processes, but it remains a major challenge. In our current research, N-doped carbon nanotubes grafted on N-doped carbon nanosheets co-encapsulating cobalt and Mo₂C nanoparticles (Co-Mo₂C/NCNT@NCN) are designed and synthesized by simple mixing and one-step annealing approach. After depositing Pt nanoparticles, Pt/Co-Mo₂C/NCNT@NCN exhibits superior catalytic activity and stability for MOR in acid medium; more precisely, it has a commendable mass activity of 842 mA/mg_Pt, which is 2.1 times of Pt/C-JM. And it is worth mentioning that its anti-CO poisoning ability and stability have also a visible improvement; the enhanced catalytic performance mainly benefits from the rich N doping, excellent structural features, and the synergistic effect of Co and Mo₂C. Therefore, this study opens up a new direction for designing and developing a favorable active multicomponent catalyst for MOR.