Yanliang Liang

Rechargeable Mg Batteries with Graphene‐like MoS2 Cathode and Ultrasmall Mg Nanoparticle Anode

The combination of a highly exfoliated, graphene-like MoS₂ cathode and ultrasmall Mg nanoparticle anode is proposed, for the first time, for rechargeable Mg batteries. Such a configuration exhibits an operating voltage of 1.8 V and a well reversible discharge capacity of ca. 170 mA h g−1, emphasizing the necessity of rational morphological control of electrode materials and opening up new opportunities for rechargeable Mg batteries.

Triphenylamine-based dyes bearing functionalized 3,4-propylenedioxythiophene linkers with enhanced performance for dye-sensitized solar cells.

Introduction of modified 3,4-propylenedioxythiophene units into triphenylamine-based dyes is found to enhance light capturing, suppress dye aggregation, and remarkably retard charge recombination in dye-sensitized solar cells. Open circuit voltages of the as-synthesized dyes (approximately 800 mV) are much higher than that with a thiophene congener (720 mV) under similar conditions as a result of self-passivation benefiting from their three-dimensional branched structures.

Facile polymer-assisted synthesis of LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 with a hierarchical micro–nano structure and high rate capability

We report the facile preparation of spinel type LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 with hierarchical micro–nano structures (LNMO-HMs) and their application as cathode materials for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. The LNMO-HMs, which were synthesized through a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-assisted co-precipitation route, have a particle size of 5–10 μm, which are composed of nano-particles with a size of about 200 nm. The effect of PEG on the phase purity and morphology of the LNMO products was studied. It was found that as the molecular weight of PEG increased, the lithium nickel oxide impurity decreased at first and then increased slightly. The average size of the nano-particles also showed a similar trend of first a decrease and then an increase, while the secondary micro-particles were enlarged with longer PEG chains. Raman mapping technology proved that the P4332 phase and the Fd3m phase LNMO coexist in the as-prepared samples, but the latter is the mainstay. When applied as cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries, PEG4000-assisted LNMO-HMs showed a remarkably high rate capability and cycling stability. The deliverable discharge capacity exceeded 120 mAh g−1 at 40 C current rate and the capacity retention approached 89% after 150 cycles at 5 C current rate, showing the potential in the application of high rate discharge.

Quasi-Solid-State Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells with Polymer Gel Electrolyte and Triphenylamine-Based Organic Dyes

We report on the application of a poly(methyl acrylate)/poly(ethylene glycol)-based polymer gel electrolyte and triphenylamine-based metal-free organic dyes in quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells. The poly(methyl acrylate)/poly(ethylene glycol) hybrid is beneficial to the entrapment of a large volume of liquid electrolyte. At 25 degrees C, the ionic conductivity and the triiodide ionic diffusion constant of the as-prepared polymer gel electrolyte are 2.1 mS cm(-1) and 2.3 x 10(-6) cm(2) s(-1), respectively. The quasi-solid-state solar cell sensitized by triphenylamine-based dyes attains an overall energy conversion efficiency of 5.76% at a light intensity of 30 mW cm(-2). The presence of poly(ethylene glycol) in the electrolyte obviously increases the conductivity and energy conversion efficiency compared to that without poly(ethylene glycol).

Size-controlled chalcopyrite CuInS 2 nanocrystals: One-pot synthesis and optical characterization

Chalcopyrite ternary CuInS2 semiconductor nanocrystals have been synthesized via a facile one-pot chemical approach by using oleylamine and oleic acid as solvents. The as-prepared CuInS2 nanocrystals have been characterized by instrumental analyses such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM)/high-resolution TEM (HRTEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), UV-vis absorption spectroscopy (UV-vis) and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. The particle sizes of the CuInS2 nanocrystals could be tuned from 2 to 10 nm by simply varying reaction conditions. Oleylamine, which acted as both a reductant and an effective capping agent, plays an important role in the size-controlled synthesis of CuInS2 nanocrystals. Based on a series of comparative experiments under different reaction conditions, the probable formation mechanism of CuInS2 nanocrystals has been proposed. Furthermore, the UV-vis absorption and PL emission spectra of the chalcopyrite CuInS2 nanocrystals have been found to be adjustable in the range of 527–815 nm and 625–800 nm, respectively, indicating their potential application in photovoltaic devices.