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Highlights • The NiCo 2 O 4 and NiCo 2 O 4 @MnO 2 composites synthesized by a hydrothermal method. • NiCo 2 O 4 @MnO 2 maintained reversible capacities of 1000 mA h g−1 after 100 cycles. • NiCo 2 O 4 @MnO 2 electrodes demonstrated an enhanced rate performance. Abstract 3D flower-like NiCo 2 O 4 and NiCo 2 O 4 @MnO 2 were successfully synthesized via a hydrothermal method. Scanning electron microscopy results illustrated that NiCo 2 O 4 is formed by stacking nanosheets, and after reaction in KMnO 4 solution, MnO 2 were evenly coated on the surface of NiCo 2 O 4 formed flower-like structure. The as-synthesized materials were evaluated as an anode materials for lithium-ion batteries, NiCo 2 O 4 and NiCo 2 O 4 @MnO 2 exhibited high specific capacities of 841.9 and 1 000 mA h g−1 after 100 cycles respectively. Moreover, NiCo 2 O 4 @MnO 2 composites demonstrate good rate performance. These enhanced electrochemical properties could be attributed to the distinctive 3D flower-like structure, which increases the contact area between the electrolyte and electrode material to provide more active sites, and reduced volume effects during repeated insertion/extraction of lithium ions. The results suggest that the NiCo 2 O 4 @MnO 2 composites could be promising LIBs anode materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A free-standing Si@Co 9 S 8 CF electrode with excellent rate capability and cycling performance was obtained by electrospinning, vulcanization, and carbonization processes as high-performance anode for Li-ion batteries. [Display omitted] • Si@Co 9 S 8 CF films are explored by electrospinning, vulcanization and carbonization. • The yolk-shelled Si@Co 9 S 8 can remarkably alleviate the volume expansion. • The introduction of CFs can improve the electrical conductivity of the electrodes. • The free-standing anode avoids the conventional process of electrode preparation. Silicon-based (Si-based) materials have aroused extensive attention owing to their ultra-high theoretical specific capacity, while the huge volume expansion and inferior electronic conductivity have impeded their practical application in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Rational structural design has been regarded as a fascinating strategy, especially for yolk-shell structures. Herein, Si nanoparticles (Si NPs) were encapsulated in ZIF-67 metal–organic frameworks to obtain Si@ZIF-67 particles, which were wrapped in one-dimensional carbon fibers (CFs) by simple processes of electrospinning, vulcanization and carbonization to obtain a free-standing Si@Co 9 S 8 CF electrode. The yolk-shelled Si@Co 9 S 8 particles could remarkably ameliorate the volume variation of Si materials during the lithiation/de-lithiation cycling and the introduction of CFs endowed an efficient one-dimensional electronic pathway accurately to improve the conductivity of composite materials. In addition, it was not negligible that the as-obtained Si@Co 9 S 8 CF films could be as a self-supporting electrode, which avoided the traditional cumbersome procedure of the electrode preparation. The resulting composite electrodes possess an excellent rate performance and an ultra-stable cycling lifespan. We hope this work can provide some novel insights for the development of the self-supporting Si-based electrode materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electromagnetic wave absorption properties of the quaternary composites consisting of reduced graphene oxide (rGO), polyaniline (PANI), FeNi 3 @SiO 2 (FeNi 3 nanocrystals encapsulated in SiO 2 ) nanoparticles had never been reported. In this case, we prepared FeNi 3 @SiO 2 @rGO–PANI quaternary composites and TEM results shows spherical nanoparticles are well distributed on the surface of rGO–PANI nanosheets. The investigation of the electromagnetic wave absorbability reveals that the quaternary composites exhibit wide absorption bandwidth and enhanced electromagnetic wave absorption properties. The absorption bandwidth with reflection loss less than −10 dB (90% attenuation) is up to 6.64 GHz (10.08–10.80 GHz, 12.08–18.0 GHz), and the maximum reflection loss reaches about −40.18 dB at 14.0 GHz with the thickness of 2.4 mm. It is believed that the FeNi 3 @SiO 2 @rGO–PANI composites can serve as excellent electromagnetic wave absorbent and can be widely used in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Composite Li2SnO3/C with good cycle performance for lithium-ion batteries was synthesized by a hydrothermal route. The structure, morphology and electrochemical properties of the as-prepared materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and electrochemical measurements. Results show that the length of the Li2SnO3 nanorods are in the range of 40–60nm while the average diameter is approximately 30nm. Amorphous carbons are distributed among the Li2SnO3 nanoparticles. The first discharge–charge capacities of Li2SnO3/C are 2045.8mAhg−1 and 1756.6mAhg−1. After the 50th cycles, the capacity retained is 598.3mAhg−1 at a constant current density of 60mAg−1 in the voltage range of 0.05–2.0V. The composite Li2SnO3/C exhibits a better electrochemical property than Li2SnO3. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Strontium ferrite particles were firstly prepared by sol–gel method and self-propagating synthesis, and then the polyaniline/strontium ferrite/multiwalled carbon nanotubes composites were synthesized through in situ polymerization approach. Structure, morphology and properties of the composite were characterized by various instruments. XRD analysis shows that the output of PANI increases with the increase of the content of MWCNTs, due to the large surface area of MWCNTs. Because of the coating of PANI, the outer diameter of MWCNTs increases from 10nm to 20–40nm. The electrical conductivity of the composites increases with the amount increase of MWCNTs and reaches 7.2196S/cm in the presence of 2g MWCNTs. The coercive force of the composites prepared with 2g MWCNTs is 7457.17Oe, which is much bigger than that of SrFe12O19 particles 6145.6Oe, however, both the saturation magnetization and the remanent magnetization of the composite become much smaller than those of SrFe12O19 particles. The electromagnetic properties of the composite are excellent in the frequency range of 2–18GHz, which mainly depend on the dielectric loss in the range of 2–9GHz, and mainly on the magnetic loss in the range of 9–18GHz. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]