Anode surface engineering of zinc-ion batteries using tellurium nanobelt as a protective layer for enhancing energy storage performance

Over the years,zinc-ion batteries(ZIBs)have attracted attention as a promising next-generation energy storage technology because of their excellent safety,long cycling performance,eco-friendliness,and high-power density.However,issues,such as the corrosion and dissolution of the Zn anode,limited wet-tability,and lack of sufficient nucleation sites for Zn plating,have limited their practical application.The introduction of a protective layer comprising of tellurium(Te)nanobelts onto the surface of Zn anode has emerged as a promising approach to overcome these limitations and improve the electrochemical behav-ior by enhancing the safety and wettability of ZIBs,as well as providing numerous nucleation sites for Zn plating.In the presence of a Te-based protective layer,the energy power density of the surface-engineered Zn anode improved significantly(ranging from 310 to 144 W h kg^(-1),over a power density range of 270 to 1,800 W kg^(-1)),and the lifespan capability was extended.These results demonstrate that the proposed strategy of employing Te nanobelts as a protective layer holds great promise for enhancing the energy storage performance of zIBs,making them even more attractive as a viable energy storage solution forthefuture.

Synthesis of tin nanoparticles through modified polyol process and effects of centrifuging and drying on nanoparticles

Sn nanoparticles with average diameter of 13.1 nm were synthesized by modified polyol process,and their melting point was observed to be about 40 °C less than that of bulk Sn.Even though Sn nanoparticles are solid and covered with thin PVP capping and oxide layer,Sn nanoparticles in solution agglomerate upon centrifugation,resulting in a melting point increase.Owing to stickiness of the PVP capping layer,extensive aggregation between Sn nanoparticles was observed after drying.However,the aggregation behavior did not further influence the melting point,because actual agglomeration did not occur in the aggregates.

Solution-processed highly adhesive graphene coatings for corrosion inhibition of metals

The corrosion of metals can be induced by different environmental and operational conditions,and protecting metals from corrosion is a serious concern in many applicatiions.The developme nt of new materials and/or tech no logies to improve the efficie ncy of anti-corrosi on coati ngs has attracted ren ewed in terest.In this study,we develop a protective coati ng composed of a bilayer structure of reduced graphe ne oxide(RGO)/graphene oxide(GO)applied to Cu plates by spray-coating and subsequent annealing.The annealing of the GO/Cu plates at 120℃produces a bilayer structure of RGO/GO by the partial reducti on of the spray-coated GO layer.This in duces superior corrosion resista nee and adhesi on strength compared to those of GO/Cu and RGO/Cu plates because of the hydrophobic n ature of the RGO surface exposed to the surroundings and the formation of Cu-O bonds with the O-based functional groups of GO.This approach provides a viable and scalable route for using graphene coatings to protect metal surfaces from corrosion.

Charge transfer in graphene/polymer interfaces for CO2 detection

Understanding charge transfer processes between graphene and functional materials is crucial from the perspectives of fundamental sciences and potential applications, including electronic devices, photonic devices, and sensors. In this study, we present the charge transfer behavior of graphene and amine-rich polyethyleneimine （PEI） upon CO2 exposure, which was significantly improved after introduction of hygroscopic polyethylene glycol （PEG） in humid air. By blending PEI and PEG, the number of protonated amine groups in PEI was remarkably increased in the presence of water molecules, leading to a strong electron doping effect on graphene. The presence of CO2 gas resulted in a large change in the resistance of PEI/PEG-co-functionalized graphene because of the dramatic reduction of said doping effect, reaching a maximum sensitivity of 32% at 5,000 ppm CO2 and an applied bias of 0.1 V in air with 60% relative humidity at room temperature. This charge transfer correlation will facilitate the development of portable graphene-based sensors for real-time gas detection and the extension of the applications of graphene-based electronic and photonic devices.