以分散于十二烷基苯磺酸钠(SDBS)水溶液中的碳纳米管(CNTs)为基体,四氯化锡(SnCl_4)为锡源,硼氢化钠(Na BH4)为还原剂,采用逐层吸附原位沉积工艺制备SnO_2/CNTs复合材料。微观结构显示粒径为2~3 nm的金红石型SnO_2纳米晶均匀包裹在CNTs表面,说明通过在CNTs表面分别吸附BH4-和Sn4+离子,能够有效抑制SnO_2的均相成核-长生,有利于形成同轴结构的SnO_2/CNTs复合材料。该复合材料首次放电容量高达1425.7 m Ah/g,在电流密度为50 m Ah/g时,可逆容量保持在500 m Ah/g,其容量和循环稳定性均优于纯SnO_2。
The rapid development of portable and wearable electronics has called for novel flexible electrodes with superior performance.The development of flexible electrode materials with excellent mechanical and electrochemical properties has become one of the key factors for this goal.Here,a Ni_(x)Co_(y)-silicate@CNTs film is developed as a flexible anode for lithium ion batteries(LIBs).On this film,Ni_(x)Co_(y)-silicate nanosheets are firmly and intimately anchored on the surface of CNTs,which have a 3D network structure and link the adjacent nanosheets together.Benefitted from this,the composite film is not only sufficient to withstand various deformations due to its excellent flexibility but also has excellent electrochemical properties,in terms of high reversible capacity of 1047 mAh g^(-1) at 0.1 A g^(-1) as well as a high rate and cycling performance(capacity retention up to 78.13% after 140 cycles).The pouch-type full flexible LIB using this material can stably operate under various bending conditions,showing the great potential of this 3 D Ni_(x)Co_(y)-silicate@CNTs film for flexible energy storage devices with high durability.
Lithium metal anode possesses a high theoretical capacity and the lowest redox potential,while the severe growth of Li dendrite prevents its practical application.Herein,we prepared a structure of Li_(3)P nanosheets and Ni nanoparticles decorated on Ni foam(NF)as a three-dimensional(3 D)scaffold for dendrite-free Li metal anodes(Li-Li_(3)P/Ni@Ni foam anodes,shortened as L-LPNNF)using a facile melting method.The LiP nanosheets exhibit excellent Li-ion conductivity as well as superior lithiophilicity,and the 3 D nickel scaffold provides sufficient electron conductivity and ensures structure stability.Therefore,symmetric cells assembled by L-LPNNF possess lowered voltage hysteresis and improved long cycle stability(a voltage hysteresis of 104.2 mV after 500 cycles at a high current density of 20 mA cm^(-2) with a high capacity of 10 mA h cm^(-2)),compared with the cells assembled with Li foil or Li-NF anodes.Furthermore,the full cells with paired L-LPNNF anodes and commercial LiFePOcathodes suggest a specific capacity of 124.6 mA h gand capacity retention of 90.8%after 180 cycles with the Coulombic efficiency(CE)of~100%at a current rate of 1 C.This work provides a potentially scalable option for preparing a mixed electronic-ionic conductive and lithiophilic scaffold for dendrite-free Li anodes at high current densities.
Tao ZhangZhiyuan SangLichang YinYonghuan HanWenping SiYuxin YinFeng Hou
As a clean and renewable energy source,solar energy is a competitive alternative to replace conventional fossil fuels.Nevertheless,its serious fluctuating nature usually leads to a poor alignment with the actual energy demand.To solve this problem,the direct solar-to-electrochemical energy conversion and storage have been regarded as a feasible strategy.In this context,the development of high-performance integrated devices based on solar energy conversion parts(i.e.,solar cells or photoelectrodes)and electrochemical energy storage units(i.e.,rechargeable batteries or supercapacitors[SCs])has become increasingly necessary and urgent,in which carbon and carbon-based functional materials play a fundamental role in determining their energy conversion/storage performances.Herein,we summarize the latest progress on these integrated devices for solar electricity energy conversion and storage,with special emphasis on the critical role of carbon-based functional materials.First,principles of integrated devices are introduced,especially roles of carbon-based materials in these hybrid energy devices.Then,two major types of important integrated devices,including photovoltaic and photoelectrochemicalrechargeable batteries or SCs,are discussed in detail.Finally,key challenges and opportunities in the future development are also discussed.By this review,we hope to pave an avenue toward the development of stable and efficient devices for solar energy conversion and storage.
Aqueous zinc-ion batteries(ZIBs)are receiving a continuously increasing attention for mobile devices,especially for the flexible and wearable electronics,due to their non-toxicity,non-flammability,and low-cost features.Despite the significant progress in achieving higher capacities for electrode materials of ZIBs,to endow them with high flexibility and economic feasibility is,however,still a significant challenge remaining unsolved.Herein,we present a highly flexible composite film composed of carbon nanotube film and V_(2)O_(5)(CNTF@V_(2)O_(5))with high strength and high conductivity,which is prepared by simply impregnating a porous CNT film with an aqueous V_(2)O_(5)sol under vacuum.For this material,intimate incorporation between V_(2)O_(5)and CNTs has been achieved,successfully integrating the high zinc ion storage capability with high mechanical flexibility.As a result,this CNTF@V_(2)O_(5)film delivers a high capacity of 356.6 m Ah g^(-1)at 0.4 A g^(-1)and excellent cycling stability with 80.1%capacity retention after 500 cycles at 2.0 A g^(-1).The novel strategy and the outstanding battery performance presented in this work should shed light on the development of high-performance and flexible ZIBs.
Due to the sufficient ion diffusion channels provided by the large interlayer spacing, layered silicates are widely considered as potential anode materials for lithium ion and sodium ion batteries. However, due to the poor electronic conductivity, the application of layered silicates for electrochemical energy storage has been greatly limited. Carbon nanotube(CNT) film has excellent electrical conductivity and a unique interconnected network, making it an ideal matrix for composite electrochemical material. We herein report a CNT@nickel silicate composite film(CNT@NiSiO) fabricated by a SiO2-mediated hydrothermal conversion process, for sodium storage with excellent electrochemical properties. The obtained composite possesses a cladding structure with homogeneous nanosheets as the outermost and CNT film as the inner network matrix, providing abundant ion diffusion channels, high electronic conductivity, and good mechanical flexibility. Due to these merits, this material possesses an excellent electrochemical performance for sodium storage, including a high specific capacity up to 390 mAh g-1 at 50 mA g-1, good rate performance up to 205 mAh g-1 at 500 mA g-1, and excellent cycling stability. On this basis, this work would bring a promising material for various energy storage devices and other emerging applications.
