In this article, we present a large-area synthesis of carbon microtubes (CMTs) with internal diameters of ∼1.5 μm and wall thicknesses on the order of 50 nm and their lithium ion intercalation and deintercalation properties for the first time. The results show that CMTs exhibit a good capacity retention of 443 mAh g-1 after 20 cycles, higher than the theoretical capacity of graphite and ∼1.5 ti...

The increasing demand of emerging technologies for high energy density electrochemical storage has led many researchers to look for alternative anode materials to graphite. The most promising conversion and alloying materials do not yet possess acceptable cycle life or rate capability. In this work, we use tin oxide, SnO2, as a representative anode material to explore the influence of graphene ...

Silicon has a high specific capacity of 4200 mAh/g as lithium-ion battery anodes, but its rapid capacity fading due to >300% volume expansion and pulverization presents a significant challenge for practical applications. Here we report a core-shell TiC/C/Si inactive/active nanocomposite for Si anodes demonstrating high specific capacity and excellent electrochemical cycling. The amorphous silic...

Layered LiNi0⋅8Co0⋅2O2 crystallizing in R –3m space group is synthesized by decomposing the constituent metal–nitrate precursors. Oxidizing nature of metal nitrates stabilizes nickel in +3 oxidation state, enabling a high degree of cation ordering in the layered LiNi0⋅8Co0⋅2O2. The powder sample characterized by XRD Rietveld refinement reveals < 2% Li–Ni site exchange in the layers. Scanning el...

With Fe2O3 as a proof-of-concept, free-standing nanomembrane structure is demonstrated to be highly advantageous to improve the performance of Li-ion batteries. The Fe2O3 nanomembrane electrodes exhibit ultra-long cycling life at high current rates with satisfactory capacity (808 mAh g(-1) after 1000 cycles at 2 C and 530 mAh g(-1) after 3000 cycles at 6 C) as well as repeatable high rate capab...

Y- and Si-based oxide nanopowders were synthesized by a hydrothermal reaction of Y or Si powders with NaOH or LiOH aqueous solution. Nanoparticles with different morphology such as elongated nanospheres, flower-like nanoparticles and nanowires were produced by a control of processing parameters, in particular, the starting composition of solution. The preliminary result of electrochemical exami...

Germanium nanocrystals ~12 nm mean diam! and amorphous thin films ~60-250 nm thick! were prepared as anodes for lithium secondary cells. Amorphous thin film electrodes prepared on planar nickel substrates showed stable capacities of 1700 mAh/g over 60 cycles. Germanium nanocrystals showed reversible gravimetric capacities of up to 1400 mAh/g with 60% capacity retention after 50 cycles. Both ele...

Aqueous electrochemical energy storage devices using potassium-ions as charge carriers are attractive due to their superior safety, lower cost and excellent transport properties compared to other alkali ions. However, the accommodation of potassium-ions with satisfactory capacity and cyclability is difficult because the large ionic radius of potassium-ions causes structural distortion and insta...

WO3 doping and accompanying spontaneous formation of a surface phase can substantially improve the discharge capacity, rate capability, and cycling stability of Co-free Li-rich layered oxide Li1.13Ni0.3Mn0.57O2 cathode material. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, in conjunction with ion sputtering, shows that W segregates to the particle surfaces, decreases the surface Ni/Mn ratio, and changes t...