Anti-aggregation growth and hierarchical porous carbon encapsulation enables the C@VO_(2) cathode with superior storage capability for aqueous zinc-ion batteries

Self-aggregation and sluggish transport kinetics of cathode materials would usually lead to the poor electrochemical performance for aqueous zinc-ion batteries(AZIBs).In this work,we report the construction of C@VO_(2) composite via anti-aggregation growth and hierarchical porous carbon encapsulation.Both of the morphology of composite and pore structure of carbon layer can be regulated by tuning the adding amount of glucose.When acting as cathode applied for AZIBs,the C@VO_(2)-3:3 composite can deliver a high capacity of 281 m Ah g^(-1) at 0.2 A g^(-1).Moreover,such cathode also exhibits a remarkably rate capability and cyclic stability,which can release a specific capacity of 195 m Ah g^(-1) at 5 A g^(-1) with the capacity retention of 95.4%after 1000 cycles.Besides that,the evolution including the crystal structure,valence state and transport kinetics upon cycling were also deeply investigated.In conclusion,benefited from the synergistic effect of anti-aggregation morphology and hierarchical porous carbon encapsulation,the building of such C@VO_(2) composite can be highly expected to enhance the ion accessible site,boost the transport kinetics and thus performing a superior storage performance.Such design concept can be applied for other kinds of electrode materials and accelerating the development of highperformance AZIBs.

Decoration of carbon encapsulated nitrogen-rich MoxN with few-layered MoSe2 nanosheets for high-performance sodium-ion storage

Transition metal nitrides have become the focus of research in sodium ion batteries(SIBs)due to their unique metal properties and high theoretical capacity.However,the low actual capacity is still the main bottleneck for their application.Herein,using Mo-aniline frameworks as precursors,the carbon encapsulated nitrogen-rich Mo_(x)N is decorated by few-layered MoSe_(2) nanosheets(MoSe_(2)@Mo_(x)N/C-I)after the facile calcinating,selenizing,and nitriding.The carbon encapsulation can effectively strengthen the structural stability of Mo_(x)N.The nitrogen-rich Mo_(x)N and decoration of few-layered MoSe_(2) can create rich heterointerfaces and extra active sites for rapid sodium-ion storage,thus promoting reaction kinetics and improving actual capacity.The MoSe_(2)@Mo_(x)N/C-I as an anode achieves a large reversible capacity of 522.8 mAh g^(-1)at 0.1 A g^(-1),and 254.3 mAh g^(-1)capacity is obtained after 6000 cycles at 5.0 A g^(-1),showing signally improved sodium-ion storage properties.The storage mechanisms and kinetic behaviors are described systematically via the advanced testing techniques and density functional theory(DFT)calculations.It is found that the nitrogen-rich Mo_(x)N as the substrate is the basis of long cycling stability,and the few-layered MoSe_(2) are the key to improving actual capacity.This work indicates that the decoration of few-layered selenides has a broad application prospect in high-performance metal-ion batteries.

A Novel Method for Synthesis of Homogeneous Carbon Encapsulated Fe Nanoparticles Based on Natural Biopolymer

A novel and efficient route for preparing carbon encapsulated metal nanomaterials using staple biopolymer-starch as the carbon precursor was presented. Fe particles can be effectively encapsulated inside carbon shells by carbonizing composite of starch and iron oxide under hydrogen in a controllable way. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were employed to characterize carbon encapsulated nanomaterials. The α-Fe and γ-Fe phases were clearly identified in those carbon encapsulated nanoparticles. The growth mechanism of carbon encapsulated metal nanoparticles was briefly discussed.

Carbon encapsulated magnetic nanoparticles produced by hydrothermal reaction

Carbon encapsulated magnetic nanoparticles （CEMNs） were synthesized by heating an aqueous glucose solution containing Fe-Au （Au coated Fe nanoparticles） nanoparticles at 160-180 ℃ for 2 h. This novel hydrothermal approach is not only simple but also provides the surface of CEMNs with functional groups like--OH. The formation of carbon encapsulated magnetic nanoparticles was not favored when using pure Fe nanoparticles as cores because of the oxidation of Fe nanoparticles by 1-120 during the reaction and, therefore, the surfaces of the naked Fe nanoparticles had to be coated by Au shell in advance. TEM, XRD, XPS and VSM measurments characterized that they were uniform carbon spheres containing some embedded Fe-Au nanoparticles, with a saturation of 14.6 emu/g and the size of the typical product is -350 nm.

Chemoselective Catalytic Hydrogenation of Nitroarenes Using MOF-Derived Graphitic Carbon Layers Encapsulated Ni Catalysts

Replacement of precious noble metal catalysts with cost-effective,non-noble heterogeneous catalysts for chemoselective hydrogenation of nitroarenes holds tremendous promise for the clean synthesis of nitrogen-containing chemicals.Graphitic carbon layers encapsulated Ni catalysts(Ni@CN)are generated by a facile,scalable and straightforward strategy via the pyrolysis of 2,5-pyridinedicarboxylic acid coordinated Ni-MOF acting as the precursor.Physicochemical properties of the Ni@CN catalysts have been investigated by X-ray diffraction,scanning electron microscopy,transmission electron microscopy,elemental analysis and N2 adsorption-desorption analysis.The Ni@CN catalysts were found to be highly efficient in the chemoselective hydrogenation of various nitroarenes with other functional groups towards corresponding anilines under mild reaction conditions(85℃,1.0 MPa of H2 pressure).Based on the results of controlled tests,the catalytic activity can be attributed to the Ni NPs,while the presence of graphitic carbon layers favors the preferential adsorption of the nitro groups.The recyclability and anti-sulfur poisoning capability of Ni@CN were also investigated.

Molecular and crystal assembly inside the carbon nanotube:encapsulation and manufacturing approaches

Encapsulation of different guestspecies such as molecules and ions inside carbon nanotubes （CNTs） has been reported in the literatures during the last 15 years and repre sents an exciting development of nanoengineering of novel materials and composites. The reported nanocomposite mate rials show the semiconducting properties with potential applications in nanosensors, nanounits and nanocircuits as well as advanced energy transfer and storage properties, and encompass manufacturing for novel nanowires, nanoelectronic devices with properties designed with optoelectronic, spin tronic and nanomagnetic qualities. This review reports on a wide range of encapsulation references with particular focus on single molecules, atomic chains, metal halides and polymers encapsulated inside CNTs. The encapsulation methods and the chemical and physical qualities of these novel materials are crucial for the future manufacturing of novel innovations in nanotechnology, and represent therefore the current stateof theart of encapsulation methods in advanced manufacturing.

Efficient hydrothermal deoxygenation of methyl palmitate to diesel-like hydrocarbons on carbon encapsulated Ni–Sn intermetallic compounds with methanol as hydrogen donor

Porous carbon-encapsulated Ni and Ni-Sn intermetallic compound catalysts were prepared by the one-pot extended Stöber method followed by carbonization and tested for in-situ hydrothermal deoxygenation of methyl palmitate with methanol as the hydrogen donor.During the catalyst preparation,Sn doping reduces the size of carbon spheres,and the formation of Ni-Sn intermetallic compounds restrain the graphitization,contributing to larger pore volume and pore diameter.Consequently,a more facile mass transfer occurs in carbon-encapsulated Ni-Sn intermetallic compound catalysts than in carbonencapsulated Ni catalysts.During the in-situ hydrothermal deoxygenation,the synergism between Ni and Sn favors palmitic acid hydrogenation to a highly reactive hexadecanal that easily either decarbonylate to n-pentadecane or is hydrogenated to hexadecanol.At high reaction temperature,hexadecanol undergoes dehydrogenation-decarbonylation,generating n-pentadecane.Also,the C-C bond hydrolysis and methanation are suppressed on Ni-Sn intermetallic compounds,favorable for increasing the carbon yield and reducing the H_(2) consumption.The npentadecane and n-hexadecane yields reached 88.1%and 92.8%on carbon-encapsulated Ni_(3) Sn_(2) intermetallic compound at 330℃.After washing and H_(2) reduction,the carbon-encapsulated Ni_(3) Sn_(2) intermetallic compound remains stable during three recycling cycles.This is ascribed to the carbon confinement that effectively suppresses the sintering and loss of metal particles under harsh hydrothermal conditions.

Highly active N-doped carbon encapsulated Pd-Fe intermetallic nanoparticles for the oxygen reduction reaction

Developing highly efficient non-R catalysts for fuel cells and metal-air batteries is highly desirable but still challenging due to the sluggish oxygen reduction reaction(ORR).Herein,a facile and efficient strategy is demonstrated to prepare N-doped carbon encapsulated ordered Pd-Fe intermetallic(O-Pd-Fe@NC/C)nanoparticles via a one-step thermal annealing method.The obtained O-Pd-Fe@NC/C nanoparticles show enhanced ORR activity,durability and anti-poisoning capacity in both acid and alkaline medium.When O-Pd-Fe@NC/C serving as cathode catalyst for Zn-air battery,it exhibits higher voltage platform and superior cycling performance with respect to the Zn-air battery based on the mixture of Pt/C and Ir/C catalysts.The enhanced electrocatalytic performance can be ascribed to the formation of face-centered tetragonal(fct)Pd-Fe nanoparticles,the protective action of the N-doped carbon layer and the interface confinement effect between them.The in situ formed N-doped carbon shell not only restrains the Pd-Fe ordered intermetallics from aggregating effectively during the thermal annealing process,but also provides a strong anchoring effect to avoid the detachment of Pd-Fe nanoparticles from the carbon support during the potential cycling.This facile carbon encapsulation strategy may also be extended to the preparation of a wide variety of N-doped carbon encapsulated intermetallic compounds for fuel cell application.