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Nanopillar arrays have attracted considerable attention lately based on confinement effects and large surface to volume ratios. In this study, we demonstrated an efficient low-cost method for fabrication of large-area high aspect ratio nanopillars based on thiol-ene. Anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) template with ordered deep hole array was employed as the master mold. The low-viscosity and highly rigid UV-curable thiol-ene polymer was used as the structure material. The deep holes were filled with the liquid thiol-ene by overcoming the surface tension. Upon curing under UV irradiation, the thiol-ene formed a rigid cross-linked polymer network. The thiol-ene nanopillars were achieved after releasing the AAO mold in the corrosive solution, due to the corrosive-resistance of the cross-linked polymer. Based on the novel method, we fabricated thiol-ene nanopillar array with the diameter of 296 nm and aspect ratio of higher than 100:1. The experimental results demonstrated that the properties of thiol-ene polymer were excellent and the fabrication method was feasible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal sulfides are considered as promising anodes for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) because of their high capacity. Among all of these metal sulfides, Tin(II) sulfide (SnS), possessing a unique 2D structure and with high lithium storage capacity, attract more attention as a promising anode for LIBs. However, serious volume change, sluggish kinetics, and low electric conductivity during the charging/discharging process, lead to poor rate capability and fast capacity fading. Herein, a ZnS/SnS@C yolk-shell microspheres (ZSS@NC) is synthesized through a facile hydrothermal process coupled with a PPy coating and sulfidation-in-microsphere strategy. The built-in electric field generated from ZnS/SnS heterostructure benefits the rapid transport of Li-ion and enhances the electric conductivity. Meanwhile, the N-doped carbon further improves the electronic conductivity and provides a robust support architecture, which can mitigate the volume variation of ZnS/SnS during the lithiation/delithiation process. Therefore, the ZnS/SnS@NC delivers high capacity (775.5 mA h g−1 at 200 mA g−1 after 200 cycles), outstanding rate performance (395.8 mA h g−1 at 5 A g−1), and superior long-term cycling performance (571.2 mA h g−1 at 1 A g−1 after 1000 cycles). • ZnS/SnS@C microspheres are synthesized through a facile hydrothermal process coupled with a PPy coating. • The built-in electric field generated from ZnS/SnS heterostructure benefits the rapid transport of Li-ion. • The N-doped carbon can improve the electronic conductivity and mitigate the volume variation. • The ZnS/SnS@NC composite presents long-life cycle performance and superior rate capability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Bi 2 S 3 @NC nanospheres were fabricated via a simple in-situ polymerization coating and sulfidation-in-nanosphere strategy. • The strong Bi-C covalent bond can enhance the electrochemical kinetics, and maintain the structural stability during cycling process. • The Bi 2 S 3 @NC nanospheres demonstrated long-life cycle performance and superior rate capability. Bi 2 S 3 is investigated as promising anode materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) due to its high theoretical capacity. However, the poor rate performance and fast capacity decay induced by the huge volume change during the lithiation/delithiation process, which seriously hinder the practical application in LIBs. Herein, Bi 2 S 3 @N-doped carbon (Bi 2 S 3 @NC) nanospheres with strong Bi-C covalent bond are constructed and application in LIBs, which exhibit outstanding rate performance and excellent long-term cycling stability. The high conductivity of N -doped carbon layer and strong Bi-C covalent bond can significantly enhance the electrochemical kinetics, as well as maintain the structural stability during cycling process. Benefiting from these advantages, the Bi 2 S 3 @NC nanospheres provide excellent rate performance (412 mA h g−1 at 5.0 A g−1), and outstanding long-term cycling stability (a high reversible capacity of 510 mA h g−1 is achieved after 1000 cycles at 1.0 A g−1). Furthermore, the assembled Bi 2 S 3 @NC//LiFePO 4 @C full cell delivers high capacity of 341 mA h g−1 at 0.2 A g−1, and outstanding cycle performance (206 mA h g−1 after 200 cycles), demonstrating great potential for practical application in high performance LIBs. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Continuous carbon fibers (CF) were tested as anodes in microbial fuel cells (MFCs) to increase the utilization of anode by using a little of carbon fibers. The long fibers had smaller internal resistance and higher efficiency of electron transfer than short fiber that overlapped each other. By adjusting the electrode spacing, the maximum output voltages and the maximum power density increased to 0.52 V and 5.81 mW g−1. Compared with the carbon fiber felt (CFF) and the carbon fiber brush (CFB), the CF had finer utilization; this meant that microorganisms could be observed both insider and outsider. After comparison, the excellent CF was selected for modification with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to increase the anode surface area and roughness. Additionally, the maximum output voltage of the cell was 0.54 V and the maximum power density was 8.3 mW g−1 after the operation. The SEM images had shown the agglomerated microorganisms on CNTs. Unlabelled Image • A new anode configuration with continuous carbon fibers • Compared with carbon fiber felt and carbon fiber brush, continuous carbon fibers have a higher electron transfer efficiency. • The continuous carbon fibers anode has less mass and lower cost. • The power density of microbial fuel cell with carbon nanotubes is 8.3 mW g−1, and the output voltage is 0.52 V. • The SEM image shows the advantage of the carbon fibers anode in the utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • ZnS-SnS@C/EG composite is synthesized by a facile and scalable method. • Heterostructured SnS-ZnS@C nanoparticles are embedded in EG nanosheets. • ZnS-SnS@C/EG composite delivers high specific capacity. • ZnS-SnS@C/EG composite shows outstanding cycling stability and rate capability. In this study, ZnS-SnS@C/expanded graphite (ZnS-SnS@C/EG) composite was synthesized by a simple one-step method. In this constructed architecture, the ZnS-SnS heterostructures can not only enhance the charge transfer driving force, but also avoid the agglomeration of ZnS-SnS nanoparticles during the repeated lithiation/delithiation process. Furthermore, the expanded graphite can further enhance the conductivity of electrode and buffer the seriously volume expansion of ZnS-SnS as well as maintained the integrity of the electrode during cycling process. Thus, the ZnS-SnS@C/EG exhibits excellent long-term cycling stability and outstanding rate performance when evaluated as anode materials for LIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we demonstrate graphitized mesophase pitch-based carbon foam as anode for microbial fuel cells for the first time. Graphitized mesophase pitch-based carbon foam (GMCF), mesophase pitch-based carbon brush (MCB), pitch-based carbon felt (CF) with the different structures are investigated. Among them, GMCF-MFC exhibits excellent power generation property of 1800 mW/m2, which is 1.33 and 2.65 times that of MCB-MFC and CF-MFC. GMCF is a graphitized material with a high electrical conductivity that accelerates extracellular electron transport (EET) between microorganisms and the surface of the material, thereby improving the electrochemical performance of MFCs. Besides, GMCF has well-developed macroporous (almost 300 μm in diameter) and through-pore structures, which could facilitate the enrichment of microorganisms and the diffusion of ions. And the staggered through-pores fix exoelectrogens in the pores, preventing them from "swimming out" and promoting the formation of microbial communities in these pores. More importantly, GMCF is a low-cost rigid carbon foam that can be easily fabricated into large-sized electrodes, which is beneficial for application to MFC amplification tests. The SEM image and schematic diagram of graphitized mesophase pitch-based carbon foam (GMCF) inoculated with microorganisms. And the GMCF-MFC exhibits excellent power generation. Image 1 • A graphitized mesophase pitch-based carbon foam (GMCF) is for the anode of MFC. • The developed macropores of GMCF provide sufficient habitat for microorganisms. • The interlaced through-hole of GMCF limits the exoelectrogens within the pores. • The GMCF-MFC exhibits excellent electrical performance and cost-effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Enhancing microbial electrocatalysis through novel anode design is essential to the efficient and stable operation of microbial fuel cells. Carbon fibers modified by the vertical carbon nanotubes/polypyrrole composites can give full play to their advantages, exhibiting excellent conductivity of the vertical carbon nanotubes and good biocompatibility of the polypyrrole. The carbon nanotubes are vertically grown on the carbon fibers by the chemical vapor deposition method, increasing the transfer efficiency of extracellular electron transfer. And then pyrrole is in-situ polymerized on the exterior and interior of the vertical carbon nanotubes, which can not only avoid direct contact between the vertical carbon nanotubes and electricigens to reduce the damage of the vertical carbon nanotubes to electricigens, but also enhance the positive electricity of anode. The modification of the vertical carbon nanotubes/polypyrrole for mesophase pitch carbon fibers anode improves the electricity generation performances of the microbial fuel cells. In this study, the obtained maximum power density is 1876.62 mW m−2, which is approximately 2.63-fold higher than unmodified carbon fiber brush anode. The results show that the vertical carbon nanotubes/polypyrrole composite anode has demonstrated the high potential for the use of microbial fuel cells. Highlights • The modification of vertical carbon nanotubes/polypyrrole enhances the bioelectricity generation performance of MFCs. • The vertical carbon nanotubes improve the transfer efficiency of extracellular electron transfer. • Polypyrrole significantly increases the anode biocompatibility and shortens MFCs start-up time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exploration of promising anode materials with high capacity represent great challenge for LIBs and SIBs. Zinc sulfide (ZnS), has attracted more attention owing to its high capacity and abundant resource. However, the poor cycle performance have seriously hinder the practical application, which induced by the seriously volume expansion during the lithiation process. In this work, in-situ growth of the ZnS nanoparticles (NPs) on 3D N-doped carbon architecture (ZnS/NC) have been prepared by a simple method. In such a architecture, the N-doped carbon can not only avoid the volume change of ZnS, but also much improve the conductivity of hybrids, as well as facilitate a fast ions/electrons transport. As a result, the ZnS/NC composite exhibits outstanding cycle performance (377.1 mAh g−1 after 400 cycles at 1.0 A g−1) and outstanding rate performance (404 mA h g−1 at 3 A g−1) for LIBs. As for SIBs, a high reversible capacity of 244.1 mAh g−1 is obtained after 900 cycles at 1.0 A g−1, and high even at 3.0 A g−1, high reversible capacity of 241 mAh g−1 is also achieved, demonstrating excellent cycling performance and rate performance. • ZnS nanoparticles decorated on 3D N-doped carbon architecture was synthesized. • The N-doped carbon architecture can maintain structural stability during cycling process. • ZnS/NC composite exhibit high reversible capacity and outstanding cycling performance for LIBs. • ZnS/NC composite demonstrate long-term cycling stability and excellent rate capability for SIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Bimetallic MOFs derivatives were obtained by a simple electrospinning method for anode materials. • The Co@ZnO/CNFs can be directly used as self-supporting anode materials. • Unique morphology and bimetallic synergism exhibit high specific reversible capacity and enhanced cycle stability. The special demand of wearable electronic devices has resulted in a growing interest in developing key electrode materials for high-performance flexible lithium-ion batteries. In this article, a flexible bimetallic zeolite imidazolium salt polyacrylonitrile framework was prepared by a simple electrospinning method, and directly used as self-supported anode material for high-performance lithium-ion batteries after subsequent heat treatment. Benefiting from their unique morphology and bimetallic synergism, as-prepared Co@ZnO/carbon nanofibers (CNFs) combination of MOFs derivatives and carbon nanofibers, exhibit excellent electrochemical performance for flexible lithium-ion batteries. The sample Co@ZnO/CNFs-2 delivers a specific capacity of 1104.9 mAh·g−1 after 150 cycles at a current density of 100 mA·g−1, and even 935.6 and 718.1 mAh·g−1 at high current density of 0.5 and 1 A·g−1, respectively. Remarkably, no noticeable capacity fading is observed even after 260 charge/discharge cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• For the first time, phenolic carbon felts have been used as anodes for MFCs. • The intrinsic properties of PCF synergistically affect power generation of MFCs. • The power generation performance of PCF-900 is as high as 2600 mW/m2. Phenolic carbon felt (PCF) is a three-dimensional material with a simple manufacturing process and low cost. To investigate the application of PCF as an anode material for use in microbial fuel cells (MFCs), we employed PCF as the anode material for the first time in MFCs that were carbonized at different temperatures. The relationship between the intrinsic characteristics and the electrochemical performance of different PCFs was also analyzed. Here, we obtained the best power generation with a power density of up to 2600 mW/m2 when PCF was heated to 900 °C (PCF-900); this power generation was much higher than that of the commercial carbon felts. From SEM images, we found that the biofilm growth of PCF-900 was quite uniform. This may result from the higher surface electropositivity of PCF-900 and increased electrostatic attraction between the microorganisms and PCF. We also analyzed the conductivity, specific surface area, functional groups, and surface charge of the PCF anode. Under the synergistic effect of these intrinsic properties, PCF-900 showed good biocompatibility for the adhesion of microorganisms and high electron transfer efficiency. In addition, PCF was easily prepared in different sizes. Thus, it could be a promising material for the application of scale-up MFCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]