5 research outputs found
One-Step Production of Anisotropically Etched Graphene Using Supercritical Water
We
developed a one-step method for production of anisotropically
etched graphene using supercritical fluid (SCF). Anisotropic etching
of a graphite substrate and dispersed graphite powder with Ag nanoparticles
was conducted in supercritical water (SCW). Because of the exfoliation
effect of SCF, graphene was isolated from the graphite simultaneously
with the anisotropic etching. High-resolution transmission electron
microscopy (HRTEM) and Raman spectroscopy revealed the production
of multilayer graphene exfoliated from the anisotropically etched
graphite surface
Ultrathin SnS<sub>2</sub> Nanoparticles on Graphene Nanosheets: Synthesis, Characterization, and Li-Ion Storage Applications
Ultrathin SnS<sub>2</sub> nanoparticle decorated graphene
nanosheet
(GNS) electrode materials with delaminated structure were prepared
using stepwise chemical modification of graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets
at very dilute conditions, followed by a hydrothermal treatment. The
chemical modification of the graphene nanosheet surface with Sn ions
enables the precipitation of ultrathin nanoparticles. The TEM analysis
reveals the SnS<sub>2</sub> nanoparticles are homogeneously distributed
on the loosely packed graphene surface in such a way that the GNS
restacking was hindered. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic analysis
reveals the bonding characteristics of the SnS<sub>2</sub> on the
GNS. The obtained nanocomposite exhibits a reversible capacity of
1002 mAh/g, which is significantly higher than its calculated theoretical
capacity (584 mAh/g). Furthermore, its cycling performance is enhanced
and after 50 cycles, and the charge capacity still remained 577 mAh/g,
which is very close to its theoretical capacity. Due to the synergic
effect, the Li-ion storage capacity observed for nanocomposites is
much higher than its theoretical capacity. The ultrathin size (2 nm)
and dimensional confinement of tin sulfide nanoparticles by the surrounding
GNS limit the volume expansion upon lithium insertion, and the nanoporous
structures serve as buffered spaces during charge/discharge and result
in superior cyclic performances by facilitating the electrolyte to
contact the entire nanocomposite materials and reduce lithium diffusion
length in the nanocomposite
Analysis of Degradation Mechanisms in Quinone-Based Electrodes for Aqueous Electrolyte System via <i>In Situ</i> XRD Measurements
Organic
materials are promising electroactive components of energy
storage devices such as lithium-ion batteries and electrochemical
capacitors. Among them, low-molecular-weight organics have attracted
attention as higher-energy-density, environmentally friendly, and
inexpensive electrode materials, but their poor cycle performance
is the main drawback. Using <i>in situ</i> XRD measurement
in aqueous electrolyte system, here we investigated the capacity fading
mechanism of an organic electrode based on low-molecular-weight quinones.
Although the capacity fading of such organic electrodes is generally
attributed to their elution into the electrolyte, our structural analysis
reveals that the capacity fading is also associated with the expansion
of an electrochemically inactive region, which persists in the electrode
but does not take part in the reversible redox reactions. Moreover,
the detailed analysis of the XRD patterns suggests that the capacity
fading of the electrode is accompanied by the crystal growth of organic
component, which occurs through dissolution–reprecipitation
processes taking place during charge–discharge cycling. The
association between capacity fading and the increased size of these
crystalline domains suggests that the elongated electrical/ionic conduction
paths in the growing organic crystals (leading to the expansion of
the electrochemically inactive region of the electrode) can be a possible
capacity fading mechanism in organic electrodes
Relocation of Cobalt Ions in Electrochemically Delithiated LiCoPO<sub>4</sub> Cathode Materials
Relocation of Cobalt
Ions in Electrochemically Delithiated
LiCoPO<sub>4</sub> Cathode Material
Exfoliated MoS<sub>2</sub> and MoSe<sub>2</sub> Nanosheets by a Supercritical Fluid Process for a Hybrid Mg–Li-Ion Battery
The ultrathin two-dimensional nanosheets
of layered transition-metal
dichalcogenides (TMDs) have attracted great interest as an important
class of materials for fundamental research and technological applications.
Solution-phase processes are highly desirable to produce a large amount
of TMD nanosheets for applications in energy conversion and energy
storage such as catalysis, electronics, rechargeable batteries, and
capacitors. Here, we report a rapid exfoliation by supercritical fluid
processing for the production of MoS<sub>2</sub> and MoSe<sub>2</sub> nanosheets. Atomic-resolution high-angle annular dark-field imaging
reveals high-quality exfoliated MoS<sub>2</sub> and MoSe<sub>2</sub> nanosheets with hexagonal structures, which retain their 2H stacking
sequence. The obtained nanosheets were tested
for their electrochemical performance in a hybrid Mg–Li-ion
battery as a proof of functionality. The MoS<sub>2</sub> and MoSe<sub>2</sub> nanosheets exhibited the specific capacities of 81 and 55
mA h g<sup>–1</sup>, respectively, at a current rate of 20
mA g<sup>–1</sup>