Enhanced Electrochemical Performance of Sn–Co Nanoarchitectured Electrode for Lithium Ion Batteries

Nanoarchitectured Sn–Co alloy electrode was prepared via a facile two-step electrodeposition. With uniform Ni nanocone-array as the substrate, Sn–Co alloy was deposited for 5 min, and densely packed cylinders were formed with semiglobular top. In this configuration, these Ni cones functioned as structure support, electron transport paths, and the inactive confining buffer. Meanwhile, the space between adjacent Sn–Co cylinders as well as the inactive Co matrix accommodated the volume change and cushioned the concomitant internal stress. The nanoarchitectured Sn–Co electrode showed a high discharge capacity of ∼650 mAh g–1, which maintained well with capacity retention of 97.3% after 70 cycles and 83.4% after 90 cycles. It also exhibited attractively high rate capability, delivering high-level capacities at various rates with little capacity decay. These remarkable performances of nanoarchitectured Sn–Co electrode indicated the potential of its application as anode materials for high-performance lithium ion battery

Vertically Cobalt Nanoplate Arrays Based on One-Step Electrochemical Growth and Their Magnetic Properties

A cobalt nanoplate array (Co NPA) directly grown on a copper substrate by the one-step electrodeposition method is synthesized without any template. Most of the nanoplates with a height of ∼350 nm and length of up to several micrometers stand vertically on the copper substrate. The as-prepared cobalt nanoplates have the {100} crystal facets as the basal plane. By adjusting the electroplating conditions, the morphology and size of the cobalt nanocrystal can be modulated. Owing to the interesting anisotropic nanostructures, remarkable magnetic anisotropy is obtained on the Co NPA. In addition, the cobalt nanoplates are demonstrated to show enhanced magnetic properties compared with other cobalt nanostructures

Differences in the Interfacial Mechanical Properties of Thiophosphate and Argyrodite Solid Electrolytes and Their Composites

Interfacial mechanics are a significant contributor to the performance and degradation of solid-state batteries. Spatially resolved measurements of interfacial properties are extremely important to effectively model and understand the electrochemical behavior. Herein, we report the interfacial properties of thiophosphate (Li3PS4)- and argyrodite (Li6PS5Cl)-type solid electrolytes. Using atomic force microscopy, we showcase the differences in the surface morphology as well as adhesion of these materials. We also investigate solvent-less processing of hybrid electrolytes using UV-assisted curing. Physical, chemical, and structural characterizations of the materials highlight the differences in the surface morphology, chemical makeup, and distribution of the inorganic phases between the argyrodite and thiophosphate solid electrolytes