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It is of great practical importance to design low-cost materials as catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and as an anode for sodium–ion batteries (SIBs). In this paper, we report a class of nitrogen-doped carbon materials with a three-dimensional nanofibrous network derived from inexpensive biomass bacterial cellulose (BC) for both ORR and SIB applications. The samples were prepared by treating the BC aerogels with various amounts of pyrrole to ensure a uniform coating on the surface of the BC nanofibers, followed by a carbonization process under different temperatures. The products were essentially carbon nanofibers coated by a nitrogen-doped carbon layer and retained the initial structure of BC. The optimum amount of pyrrole was 0.05 mL and the optimum carbonization temperature was 900 °C. Our best catalyst exhibited good electrocatalytic performance and durability in ORR, without the presence of noble metals. An electrode made from the same material has also demonstrated a stable cycling performance and superior rate capability in SIB application. Our work has demonstrated a rational design of electroactive carbon materials from a low-cost precursor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tin-based metal oxides usually suffer from severe capacity fading resulting from aggregation and considerable volume variation during the charge/discharge process in lithium ion batteries. In this work, a novel nanocomposite (MTO/N-RGO) of hollow amorphous MnSnO 3 (MTO) nanoparticles and nitrogen-doped reduced graphene oxide (N-RGO) has been designed and synthesized by a two-step method. Firstly, the nitrogen-doped graphene nanocomposite (MTO/N-RGO-P) with MnSn(OH) 6 crystal nanoparticles was synthesized by a facile solvothermal method. Subsequently, the MTO/N-RGO nanocomposite was obtained through the post heat treatment of MTO/N-RGO-P. The designed heterostructure and well-combination of the hollow amorphous MTO and N-RGO matrix can accelerate the ionic and electronic transport, and simultaneously accommodate the aggregation and volume variation of MTO nanoparticles during the lithiation–delithiation cycles. The as-prepared hybrid of MTO and N-RGO (MTO/N-RGO) exhibits a high reversible capacity of 707 mAh g −1 after 110 cycles at 200 mA g −1 , superior rate capability, and long-term cyclic life with high capacity of 610 mAh g −1 over 1000 cycles at 400 mA g −1 . Superior capacity retention of 97.3% over 1000 cycles was obtained. This work opens new opportunities to fabricate the high-performance electrode materials with heterostructure for lithium storage systems, especially for novel multi-metal oxide based nanocomposites with high cycling stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have successfully prepared poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT)/N-doped reduced graphene oxide (N-rGO) by electrodeposition, post-reduction, and doping N atoms with a microorganism (as a green reagent) to modify PEDOT and resolve the exfoliation and fragmentation problems of pristine PEDOT. This modification greatly improves the electrochemical properties of PEDOT, showing great potential for a bio-electrode coating material, which should have excellent electrochemical properties, stability and biocompatibility. The as-prepared PEDOT/N-rGO shows lower impedance, and higher capacitive performance and cyclical stability than pristine PEDOT due to the doping of N-rGO. An MTT assay demonstrates this modified PEDOT has good adhesion, cell viability and proliferation, similar to pristine PEDOT. This indicates that the modification process does not restrain the good biocompatibility of pristine PEDOT, which results from the doping of highly biocompatible N-rGO by this green method. The wrinkled structure, residual oxygen containing functional groups and dopant N atoms of N-rGO lead to the formation of a fluctuating surface and an increase in the hydrophilicity of PEDOT, which increase the specific surface area and cell adhesion in cell culture, respectively. Consequently, this modified PEDOT improves the electrochemical properties, and resolves the exfoliation and fragmentation problems of pristine PEDOT, while still retaining the high biocompatibility of pristine PEDOT, which is promising for a bio-electrode coating material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The physicochemical property of chemically prepared graphene can be significantly changed due to the incorporating of heteroatoms into graphene. In this article, boron-doped graphene sheets are used as carbon substrates instead of graphene for loading polyaniline by in situ polymerization. Compared with the individual component and polyaniline/non-doped graphene, the sandwich-like polyaniline/boron-doped graphene exhibits remarkably enhanced electrochemical specific capacitance in both acid and alkaline electrolytes. In a three-electrode configuration, the hybrid has a specific capacitance about 406 F g −1 in 1 M H 2 SO 4 and 318 F g −1 in 6 M KOH at 1 mV s −1 . In the two-electrode system of a symmetric supercapacitor, this hybrid achieves a specific capacitance about 241 and 189 F g −1 at 0.5 A g −1 with a specific energy density around 19.9 and 30.1 Wh kg −1 , in the acid and alkaline electrolytes, respectively. The as-obtained polyaniline/boron-doped graphene hybrid shows good rate performance. Notably, the obtained electrode materials exhibit long cycle stability in both acid and alkaline electrolytes (∼100% and 83% after 5000 cycles, respectively). The improved electrochemical performance of the hybrid is mainly attributed to the introduction of additional p -type carriers in carbon systems by boron-doping and the well combination of pseudocapacitive conducting polyaniline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: To improve the electrochemical properties of chemically synthesized graphene hybrids, nitrogen-doped (N-doped) graphene decorated with M(OH) x (M=FeO, Ni, Co) nanoparticles were fabricated by a one-pot method at a mild temperature (95°C). Urea plays an important role in the synthesis process; it not only acts as the reducing agent and doping agent for N-doped graphene, but also as a hydroxyl donor for the fabrication of metal hydroxides and oxide-hydroxide. With the help of N-doped graphene and urea, FeOOH nanorods, Co(OH)2 nanowires and flower-like Ni(OH)2 nanoparticles were grown on the graphene sheets. The N-doped graphene hybrids exhibited the significantly improved electrochemical performances compared to the undoped equivalents or the separate components. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights • A novel NC-Ti 3 C 2 T x hybrid has been synthesized. • NC-Ti 3 C 2 T x hybrid exhibits quick charge/discharge rate up to 3.0 V s−1. • NC-Ti 3 C 2 T x hybrid exhibits higher specific capacitance of 82.8 F g−1 at 1.0 A g−1. • The hybrid exhibits excellent cycling stability (100% retention after 5000 cycles). Abstract The MXenes with excellent chemical and physical properties are novel and promising electrode materials for supercapacitors. However, aggregation and restacking of MXene sheets limit material's electrochemical performance. Here, we report a method to prevent MXene sheets from restacking and significantly improved electrochemical capability of Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene by intercalating with N-doped carbon (NC) introduced from ZIF-8. Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene sheets were prepared by etching Ti 3 AlC 2 powder in HF, then ZIF-8/Ti 3 C 2 T x composite was prepared, followed by annealing in H 2 /Ar atmosphere. Benefited from higher specific surface area and electron conductivity, the obtained NC-Ti 3 C 2 T x hybrid shows the quick charge/discharge rate up to 3.0 V s−1, little IR drop at 50.0 A g−1, higher specific capacitance of 82.8 F g−1 at 1.0 A g−1 (about 210% of the origin), and 100% retention in capacitance after 5000 cycles. This new and effective approach efficiently enhanced the electrochemical performance of Ti 3 C 2 T x MXenes and improved them as one of auspicious electrode materials in future energy storage devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A newly fabricated nitrogen-doped graphene (NGE) supported hemin composite was prepared with facile one-pot method deriving from graphene oxide. Hemin was directly anchored on the surface of NGE during the N-doping process with doping-reducing agent of 2-aminopyridine. XPS results revealed the nitrogen doping of graphene and the integration of Hemin with NGE, and the hemin-N C (H-NGE) composite was characterized with TEM and SEM. The peroxidase-like activity of hemin maintained, displaying fast redox property. The H-NGE also exhibited remarkable electrocatalysis towards O 2 and H 2 O 2 reduction due to the high-speed charge-transfer between hemin and the modified electrode. The good electroactivity of NGE and the excellent synergic effect enables an enhanced electrochemical performance. Based on the well-designed H-NGE, the electrocatalytic H 2 O 2 determinations was monitored amperometrically with a low detection limit (0.092 μM). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

N-doped graphene has been widely researched as metal-free electrocatalyst and electrode material of energy storage devices but the effect of heteroatom species and topographic defects on these applications was rarely reported. We successfully prepared dual (N, S) or ternary heteroatoms (N, S, P)-doped graphene by simple hydrothermal and then carbonization treatment. Compared to singly N doping, multiple heteroatom species dopant is beneficial to positively move onset potential, approach four electron catalytic pathway in oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) due to the synergistic effect. The emerging topographic defects induced by removing heteroatoms and oxygen at high temperature also act as efficient active sites for positively shifting onset potential. Meanwhile, the porous ternary heteroatoms-doped graphene possesses a good capacitive performance such as high gravimetric capacitance (196.4 Fg −1 at 1 Ag -1 ), high retained rate (92.7%), 98% retention over 2000 recycling. The excellent capacitive properties derive from large specific surface area (943.5 m 2 g -1 ), mesoporous structure, particularly the important role of abundant dopants of multiple heteroatom species. Therefore, we demonstrated the effect of heteroatom species and topographic defects on electrocatalyzing ORR and capacitive performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultrasensitive explosive sensors are significant in anti-terrorism and related environment issues. Herein, we proposed a novel boron-doped graphene (B-GE) modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) applied as a simple, sensitive electrochemical high melting explosive (HMX) sensor. The morphology and structure features of B-GE were characterized. The electrochemical behaviors of HMX on the B-GE modified GCE were investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV). Under the optimized conditions, CV was used for the quantitative detection of HMX, and the reduction peak current exhibited good linear dependence with the concentration of HMX in the ranges of 2 ∼ 20 μM and 20 ∼ 100 μM. The low detection limit (LOD) was calculated as 0.83 μM (245.81 ppb). Furthermore, the B-GE/GCE showed satisfactory repeatability, high selectivity and stability. The reduction reaction mechanism of HMX on B-GE modified electrode was explored by computational theoretical analysis. Additionally, the differences of the reduction mechanisms from nitroaromatic explosives were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly(3-methylthiophene)/nitrogen doped graphene modified glassy carbon electrode (P3MT/NGE/GCE) was prepared through simple drop-casting of NGE, followed by the electrodeposition of P3MT film for sensitive electrochemical determination of trace amounts of pesticide phoxim. The morphology and structure of P3MT/NGE/GCE were characterized by scanning electron microscopy; the electrochemical behavior of P3MT/NGE/GCE was investigated by cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and chronocoulometry. The preparation conditions of modified electrode, the dropping amount of NGE and polymerization laps of P3MT, were optimized. Under the optimized conditions, the reduction peak current of cyclic voltammetric curve varied linearly with the concentration of phoxim over the two linear ranges of 0.02–0.2 μM and 0.2–2.0 μM, and the low detection limit was 6.4 nM according to lower linear range (S/N = 3). The sensor also exhibited excellent selectivity to phoxim over a wide range of possible interferents including ions, biomolecules, common environment pollutants and widely-used organophosphate pesticides. Moreover, the satisfactory practical feasibility of the sensor was evaluated by the environmental phoxim measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polycarbazole (PCZ)/nitrogen-doped graphene (N-GE) composite was prepared by electropolymerization of carbazole on the N-GE modified glass carbon electrode (N-GE/GCE) for fabricating a novel electrochemical sensor for 4-nitrophenol (4-NP). The PCZ/N-GE shows high conductivity and well-distributed nanostructure. The redox behavior of 4-NP at a PCZ/N-GE/GCE was investigated in acetate buffer solution by cyclic voltammetry (CV), compared with the bare GCE, reduced graphene oxide (RGO), N-GE and PCZ modified GCEs. The results indicate that all modified electrodes show the enhanced reduction peak currents. However, the PCZ/N-GE/GCE exhibits the highest peak current and most positive reduction potential of 4-NP, which reflects the PCZ/N-GE composite has the best electrocatalytic activity towards 4-NP. The enhanced electrochemical performance of PCZ/N-GE and the electrocatalytic activity to 4-NP are contributed to the synergic effect of PCZ and N-GE with highly conductivity and large surface area, which can greatly facilitate the electron-transfer processes between the electrolyte and electrode. An electrochemical sensor for 4-NP was developed based on the PCZ/N-GE modified electrode under the optimized conditions. The reduction peak current was linear with the concentration of 4-NP in the range of 8 × 10 -7 ∼2 × 10 -5 M. The low detection limit of the sensor was estimated to be 0.062 μM (S/N = 3). The sensor based on PCZ/N-GE/GCE was also applied to the detection of 4-NP in real water samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] A PEDOT/GO modified electrode was obtained via potentiostatic method using GO as a dopant. [•] The electrochemical behavior of acetaminophen (AP) showed highly reversibility. [•] An electrochemical sensor based on PEDOT/GO was developed for the detection of AP. [•] The sensor shows high sensitivity and selectivity to AP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]