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We developed H2Ti5O11·xH2O on carbon cloth (HTO·xH2O/CC) as a binder-free Zn metal-free anode. This 'rocking chair' battery incorporated a ZnMn2O4/CC cathode, HTO·xH2O/CC anode, and a polyacrylamide-based electrolyte, and exhibited satisfactory flexibility and self-healing. It displayed recoverable capacities after four repetitions of cutting and healing, indicating a potential using as a foldable and wearable battery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Semiconductor-based composites are potential anodes for Li-ion batteries, owing to their high theoretical capacity and low cost. However, low stability induced by large volumetric change in cycling restricts the applications of such composites. Here, a hierarchical SnO2@Ni6MnO8 composite comprising Ni6MnO8 nanoflakes growing on the surface of a three-dimensional (3D) SnO2 is developed by a hydrothermal synthesis method, achieving good electrochemical performance as a Li-ion battery anode. The composite provides spaces to buffer volume expansion, its hierarchical profile benefits the fast transport of Li+ ions and electrons, and the Ni6MnO8 coating on SnO2 improves conductivity. Compared to SnO2, the Ni6MnO8 coating significantly enhances the discharge capacity and stability. The SnO2@Ni6MnO8 anode displays 1030 mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g−1 and exhibits 800 mAh g−1 under 0.5 A g−1, along with high Coulombic efficiency of 95%. Furthermore, stable rate performance can be achieved, indicating promising applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel hierarchical composite consisting of an ordered NiCo2O4 nanowire array growing on the lateral side of a Fe2O3 microdisc is presented, which was confirmed by X-ray holography technology on a synchrotron radiation station. The composite-based Li-ion battery anode exhibits a high capacity of 1528 mA h g−1 after 200 cycles at 0.2C, a recoverable rate-performance after repeated tests, and robust mechanical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel battery hybrid composite anode consisting of tin nanoparticles encapsulated by double nets of carbon matrixes is presented. The improved electron transfer and volume change accommodation are confirmed via density functional theory modeling and in situ transmission electron microscopy observations, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A sandwich-structured NiMn 2 O 4 @reduced graphene oxide (NiMn 2 O 4 @rGO) nanocomposite consisting of ultrathin NiMn 2 O 4 sheets uniformly anchored on both sides of a three-dimensional (3D) porous rGO is presented. The NiMn 2 O 4 @rGO nanocomposites prepared through a dipping process combining with a hydrothermal method show a good electrochemical performance including a high reversible capability of 1384 mAh g −1 at 1000 mA g −1 over 1620 cycles, and an superior rate performance. Thus, a full cell consisting of a commercial LiCoO 2 cathode and the NiMn 2 O 4 @rGO anode delivers a stable capacity of about 1046 mAh g −1 (anode basis) after cycling at 50 mA g −1 for 60 times. It is demonstrated that the 3D porous composite structure accommodates the volume change during the Li + insertion/extraction process and facilitates the rapid transport of ions and electrons. The high performance would enable the presented NiMn 2 O 4 @rGO nanocomposite a promising anode candidate for practical applications in Li-ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Engineering highly-stable and high-capacity energy-storage materials are significant for secondary batteries. Here, a multi-layered yolk-shell in yolk-shell microcapsule composing of yolk-shell Si@void@SnO 2 nanospheres packaged inside a microcapsule is developed through a microfluidic co-flow focusing approach. The multi-layered microcapsules-based Li-ion battery anode displays 1005 mAh g−1 after 200 cycles and a 99.9% Coulombic efficiency; and the capacity remains 752 mAh g−1 after charging-discharging 900 times at −10 °C. In addition, a stable rate-performance is achieved, and the cycling performance keeps well at different charging/discharging speeds. It is considered that the voids inside the microcapsules could accommodate the volumetric change of Si nanoparticles during cycling; and the porous morphology improves the transport of ions, which has been verified by a series of galvanostatic intermittent titration technique investigations. The high electrochemical performance indicates a good potential for practical applications at real environments, and the engineering of microcapsule would be applicable for developing other energy-storage composites. • A porous yolk-shell in yolk-shell microcapsule is developed for energy-storage. • Microcapsule is prepared through a microfluidic co-flow focusing approach. • The Li-ion battery exhibits long cycling life at low temperature. • Rapid ion diffusion is achievable in a porous microcapsule system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many binary metal oxides possess poor conductivity and ion diffusion efficiency, even though they have a high theoretical capacity as secondary battery anodes. Herein, we present a double binary metal sulfide composing of ZnCo 2 S 4 /NiCo 2 S 4 growing on carbon cloth, which was derived from a Zn–Co–Ni metal organic foam. Compared to the ZnCo 2 O 4 /NiCo 2 O 4 , the ZnCo 2 S 4 /NiCo 2 S 4 anodes exhibit an obviously improved electrochemical performance including a high areal capacity of 2.4 mAh cm−2 after cycling for 100 times at 0.36 mA cm−2, and a Coulombic efficiency of 99.9%. A well-recoverable rate-performance is also presented. In addition, the enhancement mechanism is investigated by using density functional theory simulations, which show the density of states and Li ion diffusion energies of the ZnCo 2 S 4 /NiCo 2 S 4 are improved compared to ZnCo 2 O 4 /NiCo 2 O 4. It is expected that the high-performance hybrid and the theoretical enhancement mechanism would enable them to find important applications for developing emerging energy-storage materials. A fast electron-transfer and ion-diffusion binary metal sulfide hybrid anode consisting of ZnCo 2 S 4 /NiCo 2 S 4 derived from MOFs was presented. Image 1 • A novel binary metal sulfide hybrid is reported. • Binary metal sulfides derived from MOFs are achieved. • Sulfide hybrid anodes exhibit a high lithium-storage performance. • DFT simulations confirm improvement of electron and ion transportation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A Ga-Sn liquid alloy-encapsulated microcapsule is developed as self-healing Li-ion battery anode. • The liquid alloy microcapsules are prepared by using an oil-in-water emulsion. • Liquid alloy-encapsulated microcapsules exhibit high capacity and rate-performance. • Promising applications of Ga-Sn liquid alloy-encapsulated microcapsules is achievable. Engineering emerging anodes for lithium-ion batteries is of great significance. Here, we develop a self-healing anode composing of Ga-Sn liquid alloy infilling in a microcapsule. The microcapsules are prepared by using an oil-in-water emulsion. Liquid state of the Ga-Sn alloy in microcapsules is able to reduce structural failure on the basis of a self-healing mechanism during long-term cycling; the voids of microcapsules alleviate volumetric change of Ga-Sn alloy upon charge–discharge; and carbon shell improves the conductivity. The liquid alloy-encapsulated microcapsule anode exhibits a capacity of 711.6 mA h g−1 after 500 cycles and an ultrahigh Coulombic efficiency of 99.9 %. Moreover, the microcapsules present a recoverable rate-performance. Those properties enable the self-healing Ga-Sn liquid alloy-encapsulated microcapsules developed here to have a good potential for practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bio-inspired materials have received broad attention for energy-storage systems owing to their special properties and low cost. Here, a cost-effective and general strategy is developed for preparing nanocluster arrays on leaves as three-dimensional free-standing Li-ion battery anodes. As a demonstrating case study, an FeCo 2 O 4 nanocluster array is constructed on lotus leaf, which displays a high areal capacity of 2.4 mAh cm−2 after cycling 100 times, and a stable Coulombic efficiency of 99.9%. After long-term 900 cycles at 10 ºC, capacity remains 1.15 mAh cm−2. At a high temperature of 45 ºC, capacity keeps 1.95 mAh cm−2 after cycling 150 times. A recoverable rate-performance after three-rounds measurements is also achieved, enabling the anode to be potentially used at different conditions. In addition, the preparation approach is successfully used for making many other composites including ZnCo 2 O 4 , NiCo 2 O 4 , CuCo 2 O 4 nanocluster arrays on lotus leaves, and ZnCo 2 O 4 , NiCo 2 O 4 , CuCo 2 O 4 , FeCo 2 O 4 nanocluster arrays on bamboo leaves, displaying a good applicability. [Display omitted] • A cost-effective and general bio-inspired approach for preparing nanocluster array on lotus leaf is presented. • 3D nanocluster array as free-standing anode shows a high areal capacity. • High performance during long-term 900 cycles at 10 ºC is achieved. • Several nanocluster arrays on leaves are prepared successfully. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]