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The structural stability and reaction kinetics of anodes are essential factors for high-performance battery systems. Herein, the molybdenum sulfide selenide (MoSSe) nanosheets anchored on carbon tubes (MoSSe@CTs) are synthesized by a facile hydrothermal method combining with further selenization/calcination treatment. The unique tubular carbon skeletons expose abundant active sites for the well-dispersed growth of MoS

Aqueous zinc energy storage devices, holding various merits such as high specific capacity and low costs, have attracted extensive attention in recent years. Nevertheless, Zn metal anodes still suffer from a short lifespan and low Coulombic efficiency due to corrosion and side reactions in aqueous electrolytes. In this paper, we construct an artificial Sn inorganic layer on Zn metal anode through a facile strategy of atoms exchange. The Sn layer suppresses Zn dendrite growth by facilitating homogeneous Zn plating and stripping during charge and discharge processes. Meanwhile, the Sn protective layer also serves as a physical barrier to decrease Zn corrosion and hydrogen generation. As a result, The Sn-coated anode (Sn|Zn) exhibits a low polarization voltage (∼34 mV at 0.5 mAh/cm2) after 800 testing hours and displays a smooth and an even surface without corrosion. Moreover, the zinc ion capacitor (Sn|Zn|| activated carbon) is assembled with an enhanced capacity of 42 mAh/g and a capacity retention of 95% after 10000 cycles at 5 A/g. This work demonstrates a feasible approach for the commercialization of aqueous Zn-based energy storage devices.

It is important to develop novel energy to solve energy shortage and environmental problems. Hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is envisaged as a viable technology that can be used to develop sustainable clean energy. Herein, we report a catalyst with CoSe2-MoSe2 heterostructure grown on reduced graphene oxide with an optimum Co/Mo proportion of 1:1 (CoSe2-MoSe2(1–1)/rGO). It exhibits good HER activities in both acidic and alkaline conditions. The CoSe2-MoSe2(1–1)/rGO shows an overpotential of 107 mV at 10 mA cm−2 with a Tafel slope of 56 mV dec−1 under acidic condition. Meanwhile, CoSe2-MoSe2(1–1)/rGO also presents an overpotential of 182 mV at 10 mA cm−2 and with a Tafel slope of 89 mV dec−1 under alkaline condition. These impressive performances of the catalyst are mainly due to the excellent electronic transmission capability of rGO and the abundant active sites of CoSe2-MoSe2 heterostructure as well as the optimized hydrogen adsorption energy of CoSe2-MoSe2 interface. The design of CoSe2-MoSe2(1–1)/rGO provides a meaningful guide for manufacturing electrode in energy storage and conversion.

Electrochemical water splitting is one of the promising way to enhance energy with less outflow. In this regard different electrocatalysts have been reported for Oxygen evolution reaction (OER) to get alternative of noble metal based electrocatalysts. In this work, we have introduced Cadmium-oxide/Cobalt-oxide (CdO/Co3O4) nanocomposite by co-precipitation chemical strategy with impressive OER performance in alkaline medium. Almost 310 mV overpotential value is required to achieve 10 mA/cm2 current density with Tafel slope value of 62 mV/Dec. The as synthesized nanocomposite has stability of 6h as its longer electrochemical performance

Aqueous lithium/magnesium ion battery was assembled with Li0.21MnO2·H2O (LMO) as the cathode and VO2 as the anode.

The non-uniform plating-stripping behaviours of Li metal anodes hinder the application of Li metal batteries. Here, a stable 3D matrix is designed by coating a carbon skeleton with MXene, and the significant influence of the crystallographic texture of Li metal on electrochemical behaviour is investigated. The results demonstrate that the 3D MXene/carbon skeleton can effectively induce the evolution of advantageous Li(110) facets with a dendrite-free anode interface. Consequently, the modified Li metal anodes deliver stable plating-stripping behaviours.

The novel 3D “Fistular onion flower” CNCP-350 benefits from the abundance of dual-category activity sites, demonstrating an excellent efficient catalytic performance in UOR and HER.

Developing electrode materials to apply in anodes and cathodes with superior kinetics and high specific capacity still remains a serious challenge for potassium-ion hybrid capacitors (PIHCs). Herei...

MoS2 is regarded as an attractive anode material for lithium-ion batteries due to its layered structure and high theoretical specific capacity. Its unsatisfied conductivity and the considerable volume change during the charge and discharge process, however, limits its rate performance and cycling stability. Herein, 3D tremella-like nitrogen-doped carbon encapsulated few-layer MoS2 (MoS2@NC) hybrid is obtained via a unique strategy with simultaneously poly-dopamine carbonization, and molybdenum oxide specifies sulfurization. The three-dimensional porous nitrogen-doped carbon served both as a mechanical supporting structure for stabilization of few-layers MoS2 and a good electron conductor. The MoS2@NC exhibits enhanced high rate performance with a specific capacity of 208.7 mAh g−1 at a current density of 10 A g−1 and stable cycling performance with a capacity retention rate of 85.7% after 1000 cycles at 2 A g−1.

Exploring nanostructured transition-metal sulfide anode materials with excellent electrical conductivity is the key point for high-performance alkali metal ion storage devices. Herein, we propose a powerful bottom-up strategy for the construction of a series of sandwich-structured materials by a rapid interfacial self-assembly approach. Oleylamine could act as a functional reagent to guarantee that the nanomaterials self-assemble with MXene. Benefiting from the small size of Co-NiS nanorods, excellent conductivity of MXene, and sandwiched structure of the composite, the Co-NiS/MXene composite could deliver a high discharge capacity of 911 mAh g-1 at 0.1 A g-1 for lithium-ion storage. After 200 cycles at 0.1 A g-1, a high specific capacity of 1120 mAh g-1 could be still remaining, indicating excellent cycling stability. For sodium-ion storage, the composite exhibits high specific capacity of 541 mAh g-1 at 0.1 A g-1 and excellent rate capability (263 mAh g-1 at 5 A g-1). This work offers a straightforward strategy to design and construct MXene-based anode nanomaterials with sandwiched structure for high-performance alkali metal ion storage and even in other fields.

Exploring capable and universal electrode materials could promote the development of alkalis (Li, Na, K) ion batteries. 2D MXene material is an ideal host for the alkalis (Li, Na, K) ion storage, but its electrochemical performance is limited by serious re-stacking and aggregation problems. Herein, we cleverly combined electrostatic self-assembly with gas-phase vulcanization method to successfully combine Ti

Integrating transition metal complexes with carbon-based materials, especially graphene, is a useful strategy for synthesizing effective hydrogen evolution catalysts. Herein, we report a design of hollow hexagonal NiSe–Ni3Se2 nanosheets grown on reduced graphene oxide (NiSe–Ni3Se2/rGO) by a simple hydrothermal method as an effective catalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in the full pH range. In 0.5 M H2SO4, the NiSe–Ni3Se2/rGO possesses 112 mV to achieve 10 mA cm−2 and a small Tafel slope (61 mV dec−1). In 1.0 M PBS and 1.0 M KOH, the overpotentials are 261 and 188 mV at 10 mA cm−2, and Tafel slopes are 103 and 92 mV dec−1, respectively. Meanwhile, it owns good cycle stability and durability over 20 h in the whole pH range (0-14). In all solutions, the HER performance of NiSe–Ni3Se2/rGO is better than that of NiSe–Ni3Se2. This is because the rGO substrate accelerates the electron transfer and improves the electrical conductivity, increasing HER activity of catalyst.

Potassium ion batteries or capacitors are a promising technology for large-scale energy storage due to the abundant resource and low cost of potassium. However, the development of stable electrode materials with high capacity, capable rate ability, and excellent cycling stability remains a challenge. Herein, carbon dots modified reduced graphene oxides (LAP-rGO-CDs) are designed and synthesized via a rapid and green microwave-assisted method with l -Ascorbic acid 6-palmitate (LAP) as the reducing agent. LAP-rGO-CDs present enlarged interlayer spacing and faster ion transfer rate owing to the introducing of carbon dots. Serving as a potassium ion battery electrode, LAP-rGO-CDs showed a high specific capacity of 299 mAh g−1 at 1 A g−1 and excellent cycling stability. Moreover, a LAP-rGO-CDs//AC full carbon-based potassium ion capacitor is assembled and displays a maximum energy density of 119 Wh kg−1 and a power density of 5352 W kg−1. This work demonstrates the potential application of LAP-rGO-CDs for high-performance potassium ion storage.

Potassium(K) ion batteries present their promising application for large-scale energy storage systems with cost-effective characteristic. Unfortunately, the large K ion radius results in sluggish K ion diffusion kinetics and volume expansion of the electrode during the K ion insertion/extraction process. It is a challenge to explore capable anode materials with remarkable K ion storage ability. Herein, we design and prepare SnS2 ultrathin nanosheets via a facile hydrothermal process. When severing as anode materials for K ion batteries with optimized electrolyte, SnS2 presents an improved capacity and rate ability. The capable electrochemical performance is ascribed to the reduced ion diffusion pathway and capacitor-dominated K-ion storage process. In addition, the K ion storage mechanism of SnS2 is investigated by the ex-situ X-ray diffraction technique.

Binary metal niobium oxides can offer a higher specific capacity compared to niobium pentoxide (Nb2O5) and thus are ideal anode candidates for lithium ion capacitors (LICs). However, their lower electronic conductivity limits their ability to achieve high energy and power densities. In this paper, one-dimensional (1D) copper niobate (CuNb2O6) nanowires are successfully prepared by electrospinning technology and then immobilized on two-dimensional (2D) reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nanosheets to form a unique 1D nanowire/2D nanosheet CuNb2O6/rGO structure. The 1D/2D CuNb2O6/rGO electrode exhibits a high specific capacity of 312.2 mAh g−1 at 100 mA g−1 as the anode of LICs. The proposed Li+ storage mechanism of the CuNb2O6 anode involves CuNb2O6 decomposition into lithium niobate (Li3NbO4) and copper (Cu) during the initial lithium insertion process. The intercalation-type Li3NbO4 will further serve as the host to Li+ and the inactive Cu phase will act as a conductive network for electron transportation. Furthermore, the energy density of the assembled CuNb2O6/rGO//activated carbon (CuNb2O6/rGO//AC) device could achieve a value as high as 92.1 Wh kg−1 and could thus be considered as a possible alternative electrode material for high energy and power LICs.

Because of its low thermodynamic voltage (0.37 V), the urea oxidation reaction (UOR) is an ideal method to replace the OER, accelerate the anodic oxidation reaction and reduce the energy consumption of overall water splitting. In this work, bimetallic selenide with a hollow nanocube structure exhibits remarkable catalyst activity towards the UOR. A hierarchical MOF-based Prussian blue analogue (PBA) is constructed by growing Ni–Co PBA on an MOF–Ni template. By controlling the reaction time and temperature, the Ni–Co Prussian blue analogue (denoted as PBA@MOF–Ni) has the morphology of nanocubes evenly growing on flower-like MOF–Ni. After the selenide reaction by a solvothermal method, PBA@MOF–Ni is converted to Co–Ni/Se (denoted as PBA@MOF–Ni/Se), which has a structure with hollow nanocubes and maintains the shape of a flower. This hierarchical MOF-based PBA selenide exhibits good catalytic activity due to the addition of MOFs and the synergistic effect of bimetals. PBA@MOF–Ni/Se can be used as both a cathode and an anode in urea electrolysis. In particular for the UOR, the performance of PBA@MOF–Ni/Se is much better than that for the OER. In the performance comparison between urea electrolysis and water splitting, PBA@MOF–Ni/Se∥PBA@MOF–Ni/Se only needs 1.49 V to reach 10 mA cm−2, which is much lower than the voltage required for water splitting.