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Abstract Graphene paper is a promising electrode material for use in flexible supercapacitors due to its good electronic conductivity and excellent mechanical characteristics. However, layers of graphene paper have a strong tendency to restack, resulting in a seriously reduced specific surface area and limited electrochemical performance. In this paper, restacked layers of graphene paper are reopened by a vacuum-assisted method, and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are directly deposited on the enlarged space between the opened graphene layers. Consequently, an ordered carbon composite structure with alternately arranged graphene sheets and CNTs is constructed and exhibits increased specific surface area and a 3D conductive network. The structure and morphology of the samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman spectroscopy and N 2 adsorption/desorption measurements. The electrochemical performance was tested by galvanostatic charge-discharge test (GDC), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and cyclic voltammograms (CV). The obtained graphene/CNT paper exhibits a remarkably improved capacity of 170.8 F g−1, which is nearly two times higher than that obtained for a regular graphene paper. Highlights • A unique carbonaceous structure with CNTs depositing between the opened layers of graphene is established. • The reopening of the graphene layers can enlarge the layer distance and increase the SSA. • The deposited CNTs can further inhibit the restacking of graphene layers and form a 3D conductive framework. • The prepared MGCP exhibits significantly enhanced electrochemical performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphene aerogel is one of the most promising candidates for supercapacitors electrode material because of its high specific surface area and good electronic conductivity. However, the extremely low gravimetric density seriously limits its further practical applications. In this paper, a compression strategy was utilized to increase the gravimetric density by forming a unique highly-curved carbon nanotubes supported graphene porous 3D layer structure. The structure and morphology were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman spectrum and N 2 adsorption/desorption measurement. Results demonstrate that the highly-curved carbon nanotubes between the graphene layers can prevent the restacking of the graphene layers. The newly formed structure retains the merits of graphene aerogel such as high specific surface area, good electronic conductivity, and porous structure. The electrochemical performance was investigated by a galvanostatic charge-discharge test (GDC) and a specific capacitance of 246.3 F g −1 was achieved, endowing it with great application potential as an supercapacitors electrode material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Polar and conductive titanium carbide is introduced for redox regulation. • Lithium sulfide plays as sulfur source in this study. • Sulfur redox and lithium sulfide precipitation are remarkably promoted. • The electrochemical characteristics of as-prepared batteries are boosted. The lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs) have attracted more and more attention in recent years owing to its high theoretical energy density, abundant sulfur source and relatively low cost. However, the serious polysulfides shuttle and sluggish sulfur redox kinetics hinder the development and commercial application of high-performance lithium-sulfur batteries. In this paper, the titanium carbide (TiC)-decorated carbon matrix is considered as the mediator, anchor and electrocatalyst for polysulfides redox reaction. It has been proved that the conductive and polar titanium carbide can not only chemisorbs lithium polysulfides via titanium-sulfur (Ti-S) coordination, but also optimize the lithium sulfide (Li 2 S) nucleation/precipitation mechanism for better redox reaction. Especially, the graphene oxide and carbon nanotube matrix (GO-CNT) in this case can act as both host for Li 2 S loading and TiC precipitation. Accordingly, the as-fabricated lithium sulfide-graphene oxide–carbon nanotube-titanium carbide (LS-GO-CNT-TiC) cathode delivers the high initial discharge capacity of 956 mAh g−1 at 0.1C and good rate capability of 508 mAh g−1 at 2C. These results consequently manifest that the conductive and polar matrix of LS-GO-CNT-TiC can perform as a promising cathode of the high performance LSBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Activated carbon nanotubes (ACNTs) possess plentiful active sites. • ACNTs as conductive support to deposit NiS and alleviate particles agglomeration. • The nanostructured NiS/ACNTs composite possesses outstanding performances. • The effects of electrolyte concentration on the NiS/ACNTs electrode are studied. • The NiS/ACNTs//AC ASCs delivers high energy density and power density. [Display omitted] Hexagonal nickel sulfide is extensively studied and used for supercapacitors due to its high theoretical specific capacitance (1060 F g−1), simple synthesis craft and low cost. However, the poor electrical conductivity and easy agglomeration severely restrict its practical application. Herein, we design the composite materials of the nickel sulfide nanoparticles and activated carbon nanotubes (NiS/ACNTs) with plentiful active group by hydrothermal method and subsequent annealing treatment, thus effectively inhibiting the agglomeration of NiS nanoparticles and producing good supercapacitor behaviors. Benefiting from the superiority of composite structure, the NiS/ACNTs hybrid electrode delivers a high specific capacitance of 1266 F g−1 at a current density of 1.0 A g−1 and sustains a capacitance value of 1028 F g−1 at 10 A g−1 (81% of initial specific capacitance). Moreover, the asymmetric supercapacitors (ASCs) with NiS/ACNTs cathode and activated carbon (AC) anode exhibit a high energy density of 36.0 Wh kg−1 at a power density of 806 W kg−1 and a good capacitance retention of 83% after 2000 cycles at 2.0 A g−1. Therefore, the combination of the battery-type materials and carbon materials will a significant exploration to solve particle agglomeration and develop the high electrochemical performance ASCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Polypyrrole coating is utilized for polysulfides immobilization. • Lithium sulfide is wrapped inside cathode from exposure. • Activation barrier and polysulfides shuttle are greatly suppressed. • Electrochemical performances of as-prepared cells are promoted. The significantly-high theoretical energy density and eco-sustainability of lithium sulfur batteries (LSBs) arouses a rapid surge of interest in recent years. However, some key issues of cathode, for instance, the polysulfides confinement, low ion/electrons transfer and etc., hinder the practical utilization of LSBs. Herein, such issues could be carefully handled by using the conductive polypyrrole as polysulfides wrapper. The polypyrrole with pyrrole rings can efficiently confine polysulfides inside cathode for redox. Meanwhile, the conductive polypyrrole with delocalized π-electron cloud can facilitate electrons transfer. Besides, the addition of carbon nanotube (CNT) and oxidized graphene (GO) can enhance the conductivity of cathode material. As a result, the Li 2 S/CNT/GO/PPy cathode delivers a cycling capacity of 525 mAh g−1 with a low-capacity decay rate of 0.065 % cycle−1 after 400 cycles. Therefore, the lithium-sulfur battery with Li 2 S-based and PPy-wrapped cathode could reasonably be counted as a potential alternative of long-cycling Li-ion cells. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]