G. L. Pan

Highly Pt-like electrocatalytic activity of transition metal nitrides for dye-sensitized solar cells

Pt-like electrocatalytic activity of MoN, WN, and Fe2N for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) is demonstrated in this work. Among the transition metal nitrides, MoN has superior electrocatalytic activity and a higher photovoltaic performance. This work presents a new approach for developing low-cost and highly-efficient counter electrodes for DSSCs.

Aluminum storage behavior of anatase TiO2 nanotube arrays in aqueous solution for aluminum ion batteries

The electrochemical aluminum storage of anatase TiO2 nanotube arrays in AlCl3 aqueous solution is investigated. It is firstly demonstrated that aluminum ions can be reversibly inserted/extracted into/from anatase TiO2 nanotube arrays in AlCl3 aqueous solution due to the small radius steric effect of aluminum ions, indicating a potential application in aluminum ion batteries.

Copper hexacyanoferrate nanoparticles as cathode material for aqueous Al-ion batteries

Copper hexacyanoferrate (CuHCF) nanoparticles with Prussian blue structure are prepared via a simple co-precipitation method, which present the ability to insert Al ions reversibly in aqueous solution. CuHCF is verified to be a promising cathode material for aqueous Al-ion batteries.

Preparation of Li4Ti5O12 Nanorods as Anode Materials for Lithium-Ion Batteries

Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 nanorods are fabricated after calcination of the hydrated lithium titanate precursor, which is prepared from hydrothermal treatment of titanate nanorods in aqueous LiOH based on titanate nanorod reactivity. The morphology, composition, and phase transformation of the calcined samples at different temperatures were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. Titanate nanorods as starting materials exhibit higher chemical reactivity, regarded as a structure template for retaining the one-dimensional structure of final products after calcination. The formation of Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 nanorods is related to ion-exchange reaction and Ostwald ripening process due to high chemical reactivity of titanate nanorods. The galvanostatic charge/discharge tests were conducted to measure the electrochemical performance of the Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 nanorods. It is demonstrated that the Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 nanorods calcined at 800°C have excellent high rate discharge capability and good cycle stability during insertion and extraction processes, owing to the good crystallinity, unique structure, and the short diffusion distances originated from one-dimensional morphology.

A 3D hierarchical porous α-Ni(OH)2/graphite nanosheet composite as an electrode material for supercapacitors

Supercapacitors are the most promising energy storage devices by virtue of high power density, long cycle life, short charging time and environmental benignity. In order to enhance the energy density, rate capability and cycle stability for supercapacitors, a α-Ni(OH)2/graphite nanosheet composite is prepared via a homogeneous precipitation method. The morphology and microstructure of the as-prepared composite are characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), respectively. It is demonstrated that after introducing the graphene oxide nanosheets into α-Ni(OH)2, a 3D hierarchical porous structure of fine α-Ni(OH)2 nanocrystals as building blocks is formed directly on the matrix of graphite nanosheets in the presence of urea as a mild reducing agent. The electrochemical performance of the as-prepared α-Ni(OH)2 and α-Ni(OH)2/graphite nanosheet composites as electro-active materials for supercapacitors is investigated by a galvanostatic charge–discharge method. As expected, the as-prepared α-Ni(OH)2/graphite nanosheet composite exhibits large specific capacitance, good rate capability and long cycle stability as compared to the pure α-Ni(OH)2. Apparently, the unique structure of fine α-Ni(OH)2 nanocrystals fabricated on the matrix of graphite nanosheets is responsible for the improvement of the reaction kinetics and subsequent electrochemical performance of the composite.