Chromate Nanorods/Nanobelts: General Synthesis, Characterization, and Properties

A general synthesis route to a family of single-crystal chromate nanorods/nanobelts has been established. The effects of pH and surfactant on phase and morphology of these microcrystalline materials have been investigated. The physical properties of the as-synthesized chromate nanocrystals such as dielectric, electrochemical, UV−vis absorbance, and photoluminescent properties have also been studied. The present general synthesis of various low-dimensional chromate nanomaterials provides useful information on the possible synthesis of other microcrystalline transition metal oxysalts

Self-Reconstructed Formation of a One-Dimensional Hierarchical Porous Nanostructure Assembled by Ultrathin TiO₂ Nanobelts for Fast and Stable Lithium Storage

Owing to their unique structural advantages, TiO₂ hierarchical nanostructures assembled by low-dimensional (LD) building blocks have been extensively used in the energy-storage/-conversion field. However, it is still a big challenge to produce such advanced structures by current synthetic techniques because of the harsh conditions needed to generate primary LD subunits. Herein, a novel one-dimensional (1D) TiO₂ hierarchical porous fibrous nanostructure constructed by TiO₂ nanobelts is synthesized by combining a room-temperature aqueous solution growth mechanism with the electrospinning technology. The nanobelt-constructed 1D hierarchical nanoarchitecture is evolves directly from the amorphous TiO₂/SiO₂ composite fibers in alkaline solutions at ambient conditions without any catalyst and other reactant. Benefiting from the unique structural features such as 1D nanoscale building blocks, large surface area, and numerous interconnected pores, as well as mixed phase anatase-TiO₂(B), the optimum 1D TiO₂ hierarchical porous nanostructure shows a remarkable high-rate performance when tested as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries (107 mA h g^–1 at ∼10 A g^–1) and can be used in a hybrid lithium-ion supercapacitor with very stable lithium-storage performance (a capacity retention of ∼80% after 3000 cycles at 2 A g^–1). The current work presents a scalable and cost-effective method for the synthesis of advanced TiO₂ hierarchical materials for high-power and stable energy-storage/-conversion devices

Good Low-Temperature Properties of Nitrogen-Enriched Porous Carbon as Sulfur Hosts for High-Performance Li–S Batteries

Despite the increased attention devoted to exploring cathode construction based on various nitrogen-enriched carbon scaffolds at room temperature, the low-temperature behaviors of Li–S cathodes have yet to be studied. Herein, we demonstrate the good low-temperature electrochemical performances of nitrogen-enriched carbon/sulfur composite cathodes. Electrochemical evaluation indicates that a reversible capacity of 368 mAh g^–1 (0.5 C) over 100 cycles is achieved at −20 °C. After returning to 25 °C, a capacity of 620 mAh g^–1 (0.5 C) is achieved over 350 cycles with a low-capacity attenuation rate (0.071% per cycle) and an initial capacity of 1151 mAh g^–1 (0.1C). This positive electrochemical property was speculated to result from the good surface chemistry of the various amine groups in the nitrogen-enriched carbon materials with enhanced polysulfide immobilization

Five-Fold Twinned Pd₂NiAg Nanocrystals with Increased Surface Ni Site Availability to Improve Oxygen Reduction Activity

The synthesis of highly active oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalysts with good durability and low cost is highly desirable but still remains a significant challenge. In this work, we present the synthesis of five-fold twinned Pd₂NiAg nanocrystals (NCs) with a Ni-terminal surface which exhibit excellent electrocatalytic performance for ORR in alkaline media, even better than the performance of the commercial Pt/C catalyst. Using high-angle annular-dark-field imaging together with density functional theory calculations, it is found that the surfaces of the five-fold twinned Pd₂NiAg NCs exhibit an unusual valence electron density. The maximum catalytic activity originates from the increased availability of surface Ni sites in five-fold twinned Pd₂NiAg NCs and the features of twinned structural defects. This study provides an explanation of the enhanced ORR from the special structure of this novel material, which opens up new avenues for the design of novel classes of electrocatalysts for fuel cells and metal–air batteries

Mechanisms of Skyrmion and Skyrmion Crystal Formation from the Conical Phase

Real-space topological magnetic structures such as skyrmions and merons are promising candidates for information storage and transport. However, the microscopic mechanisms that control their formation and evolution are still unclear. Here, using in situ Lorentz transmission electron microscopy, we demonstrate that skyrmion crystals (SkXs) can nucleate, grow, and evolve from the conical phase in the same ways that real nanocrystals form from vapors or solutions. More intriguingly, individual skyrmions can also “reproduce” by division in a mitosis-like process that allows them to annihilate SkX lattice imperfections, which is not available to crystals made of mass-conserving particles. Combined string method and micromagnetic calculations show that competition between repulsive and attractive interactions between skyrmions governs particle-like SkX growth, but nonconservative SkX growth appears to be defect mediated. Our results provide insights toward manipulating magnetic topological states by applying established crystal growth theory, adapted to account for the new process of skyrmion mitosis

Mechanisms of Skyrmion and Skyrmion Crystal Formation from the Conical Phase

Real-space topological magnetic structures such as skyrmions and merons are promising candidates for information storage and transport. However, the microscopic mechanisms that control their formation and evolution are still unclear. Here, using in situ Lorentz transmission electron microscopy, we demonstrate that skyrmion crystals (SkXs) can nucleate, grow, and evolve from the conical phase in the same ways that real nanocrystals form from vapors or solutions. More intriguingly, individual skyrmions can also “reproduce” by division in a mitosis-like process that allows them to annihilate SkX lattice imperfections, which is not available to crystals made of mass-conserving particles. Combined string method and micromagnetic calculations show that competition between repulsive and attractive interactions between skyrmions governs particle-like SkX growth, but nonconservative SkX growth appears to be defect mediated. Our results provide insights toward manipulating magnetic topological states by applying established crystal growth theory, adapted to account for the new process of skyrmion mitosis

Mechanisms of Skyrmion and Skyrmion Crystal Formation from the Conical Phase

Real-space topological magnetic structures such as skyrmions and merons are promising candidates for information storage and transport. However, the microscopic mechanisms that control their formation and evolution are still unclear. Here, using in situ Lorentz transmission electron microscopy, we demonstrate that skyrmion crystals (SkXs) can nucleate, grow, and evolve from the conical phase in the same ways that real nanocrystals form from vapors or solutions. More intriguingly, individual skyrmions can also “reproduce” by division in a mitosis-like process that allows them to annihilate SkX lattice imperfections, which is not available to crystals made of mass-conserving particles. Combined string method and micromagnetic calculations show that competition between repulsive and attractive interactions between skyrmions governs particle-like SkX growth, but nonconservative SkX growth appears to be defect mediated. Our results provide insights toward manipulating magnetic topological states by applying established crystal growth theory, adapted to account for the new process of skyrmion mitosis

Mechanisms of Skyrmion and Skyrmion Crystal Formation from the Conical Phase

Real-space topological magnetic structures such as skyrmions and merons are promising candidates for information storage and transport. However, the microscopic mechanisms that control their formation and evolution are still unclear. Here, using in situ Lorentz transmission electron microscopy, we demonstrate that skyrmion crystals (SkXs) can nucleate, grow, and evolve from the conical phase in the same ways that real nanocrystals form from vapors or solutions. More intriguingly, individual skyrmions can also “reproduce” by division in a mitosis-like process that allows them to annihilate SkX lattice imperfections, which is not available to crystals made of mass-conserving particles. Combined string method and micromagnetic calculations show that competition between repulsive and attractive interactions between skyrmions governs particle-like SkX growth, but nonconservative SkX growth appears to be defect mediated. Our results provide insights toward manipulating magnetic topological states by applying established crystal growth theory, adapted to account for the new process of skyrmion mitosis

Mechanisms of Skyrmion and Skyrmion Crystal Formation from the Conical Phase

Real-space topological magnetic structures such as skyrmions and merons are promising candidates for information storage and transport. However, the microscopic mechanisms that control their formation and evolution are still unclear. Here, using in situ Lorentz transmission electron microscopy, we demonstrate that skyrmion crystals (SkXs) can nucleate, grow, and evolve from the conical phase in the same ways that real nanocrystals form from vapors or solutions. More intriguingly, individual skyrmions can also “reproduce” by division in a mitosis-like process that allows them to annihilate SkX lattice imperfections, which is not available to crystals made of mass-conserving particles. Combined string method and micromagnetic calculations show that competition between repulsive and attractive interactions between skyrmions governs particle-like SkX growth, but nonconservative SkX growth appears to be defect mediated. Our results provide insights toward manipulating magnetic topological states by applying established crystal growth theory, adapted to account for the new process of skyrmion mitosis

Mechanisms of Skyrmion and Skyrmion Crystal Formation from the Conical Phase

Real-space topological magnetic structures such as skyrmions and merons are promising candidates for information storage and transport. However, the microscopic mechanisms that control their formation and evolution are still unclear. Here, using in situ Lorentz transmission electron microscopy, we demonstrate that skyrmion crystals (SkXs) can nucleate, grow, and evolve from the conical phase in the same ways that real nanocrystals form from vapors or solutions. More intriguingly, individual skyrmions can also “reproduce” by division in a mitosis-like process that allows them to annihilate SkX lattice imperfections, which is not available to crystals made of mass-conserving particles. Combined string method and micromagnetic calculations show that competition between repulsive and attractive interactions between skyrmions governs particle-like SkX growth, but nonconservative SkX growth appears to be defect mediated. Our results provide insights toward manipulating magnetic topological states by applying established crystal growth theory, adapted to account for the new process of skyrmion mitosis