Utilizing first-principles theory, we demonstrate that half-metallicity can be realized in a junction composed of non-magnetic armchair graphene nanoribbon (AGNR) and ferromagnetic Ni electrodes. The half-metallic property originates from the AGNR energy gap of the up spin located at the Fermi energy, while large electronic states are generated for the down spin. By altering the interlayer dist...

Freestanding Si-Ti-Ni alloy particles/reduced graphene oxide/single wall carbon nanotube composites have been prepared as an anode for lithium ion batteries via a simple filtration method. This composite electrode showed a 9% increase in reversible capacity, a two-fold higher cycle retention at 50 cycles and a two-fold higher rate capability at 2 C compared to pristine Si-Ti-Ni (STN) alloy elec...

We present measurements of magnetic tunnel junctions made using a self-assembled-monolayer molecular barrier. Ni-octanethiol-Ni samples were fabricated in a nanopore geometry. The devices exhibit significant changes in resistance as the angle between the magnetic moments in the two electrodes is varied, demonstrating that low-energy electrons can traverse the molecular barrier while remaining s...

ZnCo2O4 nanoflakes, as electrodes for supercapacitors, are grown on a cellular nickel foam using a cost-effective hydrothermal procedure. The mesoporous ZnCo2O4 nanoflakes have large electroactive surface areas with strong adhesion to the Ni foam, allowing fast ion and electron transport. The nanoarchitecture electrodes deliver an excellent specific capacitance of 1220 F g(-1) at a current dens...

Ni- and Co-oxide materials have promising electrocatalytic properties towards the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) reduction (ORR), attract with low cost, availability, environmental friendliness. The stability of these in alkaline media has made them most studied candidates for practical applications such as a gas diffusion electrode (GDE) rechargeable metal-air batteries. In this work, we prop...

A unique functional electrode made of hierarchal Ni-Mo-S nanosheets with abundant exposed edges anchored on conductive and flexible carbon fiber cloth, referred to as Ni-Mo-S/C, has been developed through a facile biomolecule-assisted hydrothermal method. The incorporation of Ni atoms in Mo-S plays a crucial role in tuning its intrinsic catalytic property by creating substantial defect sites as...

A solution processed method for fabricating transition metal sulfides on fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) as efficient counter electrodes in iodine/iodide based solar cells has been demonstrated. Conversion efficiencies of 7.01% and 6.50% were obtained for nickel and cobalt sulfides, respectively, comparable to the conventional thermally platinised FTO electrodes (7.32%). A comparable charge tran...

In this seminar, I will present our recent work on the growth and electrochemical properties of single crystalline vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) nanorod and Ni-V2O5·nH2O nanocable arrays. These nanostructures were prepared by solution synthesis and template-based electrodeposition. Processing, morphology, structure and electrochemical properties of these nanostructures will be discussed. These nano...

A cost-effective and reliable Ni-Au contact on nanostructured Bi2Te3-based alloys for a solar thermoelectric generator (STEG) is reported. The use of MPS SAMs creates a strong covalent binding and more nucleation sites with even distribution for electroplating contact electrodes on nanostructured thermoelectric materials. A reliable high-performance flat-panel STEG can be obtained by using this...