Nanocrystalline Li<Subscript>2</Subscript>TiO<Subscript>3</Subscript> electrodes for supercapattery application

Nanocrystalline Li₂TiO₃ was successfully synthesized using solid-state reaction method. The microstructural and electrochemical properties of the prepared material are systematically characterized. The X-ray diffraction pattern of the prepared material exhibits predominant (002) orientation related to the monoclinic structure with C2/c space group. HRTEM images and SAED analysis reveal the well-developed nanostructured particles with average size of ～40 nm. The electrochemical properties of the prepared sample are carried out using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronopotentiometry (CP) using Pt//Li₂TiO₃ cell in 1 mol L^?1 Li₂SO₄ aqueous electrolyte. The Li₂TiO₃ electrode exhibits a specific discharge capacity of 122 mAh g^?1; it can be used as anode in Li battery within the potential window 0.0–1.0 V, while investigated as a supercapacitor electrode, it delivers a specific capacitance of 317 F g^?1 at a current density of 1 mA g^?1 within the potential range ?0.4 to +0.4 V. The demonstration of both anodic and supercapacitor behavior concludes that the nanocrystalline Li₂TiO₃ is a suitable electrode material for supercapattery application.     

4‐(4‐Fluoro‐3‐phenoxy­phen­yl)‐6‐(4‐fluoro­phen­yl)‐2‐oxo‐1,2‐dihydro­pyridine‐3‐carbonitrile and the 6‐(4‐methyl­phen­yl)‐ analogue

The crystal structures of the title compounds, viz. C₂₄H₁₄F₂N₂O₂, (I), and C₂₅H₁₇FN₂O₂, (II), respectively, have been determined in order to unravel the role of an ordered F atom in generating stable supra­molecular assemblies. On changing the substitution from fluorine to a methyl group, C—H⋯F inter­actions are replaced by C—H⋯π inter­actions, revealing the importance of such weak inter­actions when present alongside N—H⋯O and C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds. The dihedral angle between the planes of the 4‐fluoro­phenyl ring and the pyridine ring is 26.8 (1)° in (I), while that between the planes of the 4‐methyl­phenyl and pyridine rings is 29.5 (1)° in (II).     

Preparation and characterization of some unusually transparent poly(dimethylsiloxane) nanocomposites

A technique was developed for preparing poly(dimethylsiloxane) nanocomposites having unusually high transparencies as quantitatively judged by ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy. The method was the in situ generation of silica particles by a two‐step sol–gel procedure in which the required water of hydrolysis was simply absorbed from the air, and the catalyst was generated in situ from a tin salt. Electron microscopy showed that the phase‐separated silica domains were very small (30–50 nm in diameter) and well dispersed, as expected from the transparency of the composites. Stress‐strain measurements in tension indicated that the particles provide very good reinforcement. Ultra‐small‐angle X‐ray scattering data showed that the domain morphology depends strongly on catalyst, but weakly on loading level. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 1897–1901, 2003