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Morphology of transition metal oxide largely affects its electrochemical energy storage properties. This also applies to its composites. In this paper, NiFe 2 O 4 /Graphene nanosheets composites (NFO/GNSs) are successfully prepared by a facile hydrothermal method. NiFe 2 O 4 (NFO) in the sample exhibits a unique nanosheet morphology, vertically arranging on the graphene nanosheets (GNSs). Microscopically, NFO nanosheets interpenetrate on the surface of graphene to form a continuous network structure. The sample exhibits excellent specific capacitance and rate performance. It is worth mentioning that the specific capacitance increases to 140% after 5000 cycles, showing superior cycle stability. This may be due to the conductive network formed by NFO nanosheets and GNSs. Excellent electrochemical performance indicates excellent application prospects of materials in supercapacitor electrodes. Image 1 • Unique NiFe 2 O 4 nanosheets structure with graphene nanosheets was successfully prepared by a hydrothermal method. • NiFe 2 O 4 nanosheets/graphene performed a better specific capacitance, arriving at 464.15 F/g at current density of 1 A/g. • The network structure formed between NiFe 2 O 4 nanosheets and graphene nanosheets provides excellent cycle performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transitional metal nitrides (TMNs) are regarded as comparatively promising electrode materials for supercapacitor due to the high electronic conductivity, good corrosion resistance and special electron structure. Herein, in this work a heterostructure Co 2 N-Ni 3 N nanosheets-nanowires arrays grown on Ni foam (NF) are designed and synthesized by a simple hydrothermal reaction and nitriding treatment. The prepared Co 2 N-Ni 3 N/NF nanoarrays has a high electrical conductivity, abundant surface active sites, charge transfer channels and the synergy effect between each component, which makes it exhibit outstanding electrochemical performance. Electrochemical test results revealed that the areal capacitance of Co 2 N-Ni 3 N/NF was 2.17 F cm−2 at 1 mA cm−2 using a three-electrode system in 1 M KOH. Meanwhile, when the current density increases to 20 mA cm−2, it can still retain 62.21% of the original capacitance, suggesting a good rate capability. In addition, in two-electrode test with Co 2 N-Ni 3 N/NF as the positive electrode and activated carbon as the negative electrode, a maximum energy density of 145.65 μWh cm−2 is shown when the power density is 0.75 mW cm−2. And it has 85.90% capacitance retention after 5000 cycles. [Display omitted] • Unique Co 2 N-Ni 3 N nanoarray heterostructure was successfully synthesized. • Co 2 N-Ni 3 N/NF achieves an areal capacitance 2.17 F cm-2 at current density of 1 mA cm-2. • The Co 2 N-Ni 3 N/NF // AC exhibits good electrochemical performance in two-electrode tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MAX phase materials, the precursors of MXenes (2D transition metal carbides, carbon nitrides, and nitrides), have become increasingly popular in electrochemical applications. In this study, we have successfully prepared Ti 2 SnC with high lithium capacity via the in-situ formation of SnO 2. Results show that there are TiC nanowhiskers and SnO 2 inside the Ti 2 SnC MAX calcined at 800 ℃, and the initial specific capacity could reach 377 and 371 mAh·g−1 at high current densities of 400 mA·g−1 and 1.0 A·g−1, respectively. These values are higher than those of most MAX phase materials reported in previous studies, such as Ti 3 SiC 2 and Nb 2 SnC, but the stability and rate performance are inferior, which is a direction for the future. This paper provides a new pathway for the application of MAX phases in electrochemistry, which has more in-depth application prospects. ● Ti 2 SnC with in-situ formation of SnO 2 was successfully prepared by a calcination method. ● The Ti 2 SnC layered structure slows down the volume expansion of in-situ prepared SnO 2. ● This anode material performed a better specific capacitance, arriving at 377 mAh/g at the current density of 1.0 A/g. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An innovative and convenient method has been performed to stabilize the surface of O3-type NaNi 0.45 Mn 0.3 Ti 0.2 Zr 0.05 O 2 composited electrode by ultrathin MgO film. There are few reports on the modification on the fabricated electrode instead of the active material powder, especially by radio frequency magnetron sputtering. Besides, the surface stability and capacity retention of MgO coated cathode are superior compared to the bare one under the high rate. The protective effect could physically enhance electrochemical performance because the MgO coating has been identified strictly. Three main reasons are discovered by investigating the mechanisms. Firstly, the MgO layer suppresses the dissolution of the active material into electrolyte; this might be the origin for more stable electrode structure. Secondly, the MgO layer boosts sodium-ion and electron transport owing to its location of the deposition. Finally, the appropriate thickness of MgO can minimize transmission resistance and SEI formation. Particularly, the half-cell constructed with NaNi 0.45 Mn 0.3 Ti 0.2 Zr 0.05 O 2 –MgO cathode delivers a good rate performance (80.3 and 70.3 mA h g−1 at 1200 and 1920 mA g−1) and a long cycle life (71.6 mA h g−1 at 240 mA g−1 for 300 cycles) when sputtering time is 10 s; meanwhile, the reversible discharge capacity (140.7 mA h g−1 at 12 mA g−1) with a cut-off voltage of 2–4 V is also a considerable achievement. The work provides a broad idea to apply MgO as a protective coating. • MgO film is performed via magnetron sputtering on NaNi 0.45 Mn 0.3 Ti 0.2 Zr 0.05 O 2 electrode. • The surface stability and capacity retention of MgO coated cathode are superior at high rate. • MgO layer boosts sodium-ion and electron transport owing to its location of deposition. • The appropriate thickness of MgO can minimize transmission resistance and SEI formation. • The NaNi 0.45 Mn 0.3 Ti 0.2 Zr 0.05 O 2 –MgO cell delivers 80.3 and 70.3 mA h g−1 at 1200 and 1920 mA g−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the low cost and abundance of sodium, sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) show great potential as energy storage devices. As far as the current research is concerned, cathode materials are still the bottleneck for boosting the performance of SIBs. O3-type layered NaNi 0.5 Mn 0.5 O 2 is considered as an important cathode material of SIBs, but its irreversible phase transition, poor stability in air, and sluggish kinetics usually lead to reduced capacity, poor rate performance and high cost for material storage, which largely limit the large-scale application. Herein, a remarkable O3-type layered material NaNi 0.5-x Mn 0.3 Ti 0.2 Zr x O 2 (NaNMTZ, x = 0.02, 0.05), with stable phase structure has been synthesized by the solid-phase method. The partial substitution of electrochemical inactive Ti/Zr brings about higher electronic delocalization and entropy of mixing leading to enhanced structural stability. In addition, the enlarged interlayer spacing and good conductivity contribute to better rate capability. The micro-nano structure leads to faster Na+ diffusion rates and shorter diffusion paths for both ions and electrons. Therefore, NaNi 0.45 Mn 0.3 Ti 0.2 Zr 0.05 O 2 exhibits an initial reversible capacity of 141.4 mAh g−1 with a coulombic efficiency of 98.8% and remarkable capacity retention of 70% after 200 cycles at 0.05C, presenting better electrochemistry performance than the conventional NaNi 0.5 Mn 0.5 O 2. This study provides a new angle to design high capacity cathode materials with high rate capability and cycling stability through crystal lattice modulation. Image 1 • A remarkable O3-type layered NaNi 0.45 Mn 0.3 Ti 0.2 Zr 0.05 O 2 is designed as cathode material for sodium ion batteries. • The structural stability and rate performance of NaNi 0.45 Mn 0.3 Ti 0.2 Zr 0.05 O 2 are superior. • The higher electronic delocalization and better conductivity of NaNi 0.45 Mn 0.3 Ti 0.2 Zr 0.05 O 2 are provided. • The difference value about entropy of mixing between NaNi 0.5 Mn 0.5 and NaNi 0.45 Mn 0.3 Ti 0.2 Zr 0.05 O 2 is calculated. • The enlarged interlayer spacing and micro-nano structure contribute to the high rate capability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]