Photocatalysis applications of some hybrid polymeric composites incorporating TiO₂ nanoparticles and their combinations with SiO₂/Fe₂O₃

• Andreea Laura Chibac,
• Tinca Buruiana,
• Violeta Melinte and
• Emil C. Buruiana

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2017, 8, 272–286, doi:10.3762/bjnano.8.30

• , Li-ion batteries, sensors, photodynamic cancer therapy or in biomaterials [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]. Since 1972, when Fujishima and Honda published their seminal work [8], much work has been focused on investigating the photocatalytic properties of TiO2 [9]. Titanium dioxide catalysts proved to be better

Effect of nanostructured carbon coatings on the electrochemical performance of Li_1.4Ni_0.5Mn_0.5O_2+x-based cathode materials

• Konstantin A. Kurilenko,
• Oleg A. Shlyakhtin,
• Oleg A. Brylev,
• Dmitry I. Petukhov and
• Alexey V. Garshev

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2016, 7, 1960–1970, doi:10.3762/bjnano.7.187

• materials; Li-ion batteries; nanocomposites; nanostructures; Introduction LiNi0.5Mn0.5O2-based electrode materials [1] were proposed as a less expensive alternative to LiCoO2 for high energy density Li-ion batteries containing less toxic elements than cobalt. The reasonable combination of their

Microwave synthesis of high-quality and uniform 4 nm ZnFe₂O₄ nanocrystals for application in energy storage and nanomagnetics

• Christian Suchomski,
• Ben Breitung,
• Ralf Witte,
• Michael Knapp,
• Sondes Bauer,
• Tilo Baumbach,
• Christian Reitz and
• Torsten Brezesinski

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2016, 7, 1350–1360, doi:10.3762/bjnano.7.126

• galvanostatic charge–discharge tests and ex situ X-ray absorption near edge structure spectroscopy, the as-prepared zinc ferrite nanocrystals can be used as a high-capacity anode material for Li-ion batteries, showing little capacity fade – after activation – over hundreds of cycles. Overall, in addition to the

• further corroborated by density functional theory calculations [51][52]. As mentioned above, spinel ferrites can, in principle, be used as negative electrode materials in rechargeable Li-ion batteries. However, they have been shown to undergo conversion at low potential and these electrochemical reactions

Fabrication and characterization of branched carbon nanostructures

• Sharali Malik,
• Yoshihiro Nemoto,
• Hongxuan Guo,
• Katsuhiko Ariga and
• Jonathan P. Hill

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2016, 7, 1260–1266, doi:10.3762/bjnano.7.116

• be also potential usage for energy conversion, e.g., in supercapacitors, solar cells and Li-ion batteries. However, the limited availability of b-MWCNTs has, to date, restricted their use in such technological applications. Herein, we report an inexpensive and simple method to fabricate large amounts

• design, development and production of supercapacitors, solar cells and Li-ion batteries. The first experimental observation of branched carbon nanotubes appears to have been in 1995, when after using an arc-discharge method L-, Y- and T-shaped MWCNTs were produced [18]. Subsequently, branched CNTs have

Metal hydrides: an innovative and challenging conversion reaction anode for lithium-ion batteries

• Luc Aymard,
• Yassine Oumellal and
• Jean-Pierre Bonnet

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2015, 6, 1821–1839, doi:10.3762/bjnano.6.186

• electricity on demand. With regard to this, lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries can present an attractive solution, provided that they exhibit sufficient potential and gravimetric/volumetric capacities. Graphite, which is usually used as negative electrode with an intercalation reaction of lithium, is not suitable

• . Previously, metal oxides, nitrides, sulfides, phosphides and fluorides were successively investigated as conversion-reaction materials for the negative electrodes of Li-ion batteries [1][2][3][4]. In 2008, metal hydrides were proposed for this purpose [5]. Compared to other conversion compounds MgH2 exhibits

• the range of 0.3–1.0 V vs Li+/Li0, which is suitable for a negative electrode in Li-ion batteries. The equilibrium potential of the cell can be adjusted for different ABx intermetallic families by varying the site substitutions of A and B [8]. In fact, the plateau pressure of hydride correlates with

Materials for sustainable energy production, storage, and conversion

• Maximilian Fichtner

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2015, 6, 1601–1602, doi:10.3762/bjnano.6.163

• elevated temperatures (HT-PEMFC) below 200 °C are discussed by Roswitha Zeis [3]. The field of electrochemical energy storage is particularly challenging. Current Li-ion batteries are not only expensive and have a relatively short lifetime, they are also considered to not have enough energy content to meet

From lithium to sodium: cell chemistry of room temperature sodium–air and sodium–sulfur batteries

• Philipp Adelhelm,
• Pascal Hartmann,
• Conrad L. Bender,
• Martin Busche,
• Christine Eufinger and
• Juergen Janek

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2015, 6, 1016–1055, doi:10.3762/bjnano.6.105

• energy density. The cell reaction of Li-ion batteries is not fixed and different electrode materials and mixtures are used depending on the type of application. Graphite/carbon and to a lesser degree Li4/3Ti5/3O4 (LTO) serve as the negative electrodes. Recently, silicon has been added in small amounts to

• these cell systems and Li-ion batteries are (1) that the redox centers (oxygen and sulfur) are lighter and spatially more concentrated, allowing for higher energy densities and (2) that the redox-active (molecular) species are mobile in liquid electrolytes and new phases form and decompose during

• . The major difference compared to Li-ion batteries is that the battery is designed as an open system that enables uptake and release of atmospheric oxygen at the cathode during cycling (hence the name “lithium–air battery”, which is misleading as mostly pure oxygen gas is used). During discharge

Multiscale modeling of lithium ion batteries: thermal aspects

• Arnulf Latz and
• Jochen Zausch

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2015, 6, 987–1007, doi:10.3762/bjnano.6.102

• lattice. Different derivations are necessary for ionic liquids (mixture of positive and negative charges only) and solid electrolytes (ionic conductors). In a liquid electrolyte these are positive cations, negative anions and a neutral solvent. In conventional Li ion batteries under normal operating

Magnesium batteries: Current state of the art, issues and future perspectives

• Rana Mohtadi and
• Fuminori Mizuno

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2014, 5, 1291–1311, doi:10.3762/bjnano.5.143

• fascinating advancements in Li-ion batteries have resulted in a state of the art battery which uses graphitized carbon as the anode, a transition metal oxide as the cathode, coupled such that 240 Wh kg−1, 640 Wh L−1 are provided for thousands of cycles [1]. The wide spread use of Li-ion battery, has been and

• to as the “ultimate lithium metal anode”. If we wish to move forward towards achieving an ultimate energy density goal, technologies beyond Li-ion batteries would be needed. Fortunately, in recent years, such desire has led to an increased interest in other chemistries that employ metals poised to

• . Also, it is essential that the morphologies of the deposited magnesium, function of the electrolyte, current density and prolonged cycling continue to be examined especially as new electrolytes are emerging. Since the great success of Li-ion batteries resulted from replacing lithium metal with the

Thermal stability and reduction of iron oxide nanowires at moderate temperatures

• Annalisa Paolone,
• Marco Angelucci,
• Stefania Panero,
• Maria Grazia Betti and
• Carlo Mariani

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2014, 5, 323–328, doi:10.3762/bjnano.5.36

• ][20][21][22][23][24]. Within this context, iron oxide systems are convenient materials because of their low cost and environmental sustainability. One of the important issues in Li-ion batteries is the chemical and thermal stability of the components. Fe2O3 presents a definite chemical phase (Fe3

Synthesis and electrochemical performance of Li₂Co_1−xM_xPO₄F (M = Fe, Mn) cathode materials

• Nellie R. Khasanova,
• Oleg A. Drozhzhin,
• Stanislav S. Fedotov,
• Darya A. Storozhilova,
• Rodion V. Panin and
• Evgeny V. Antipov

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2013, 4, 860–867, doi:10.3762/bjnano.4.97

• voltammetry supported a single-phase de/intercalation mechanism in the Li2Co0.9Mn0.1PO4F material. Keywords: energy related; fluorophosphates; high-energy cathode materials; high-voltage electrolyte; Li-ion batteries; nanomaterials; reversible capacity; Introduction In recent years the range of application

• of Li-ion batteries has been expanded from small-sized portable electronics to large-scale electric vehicles and stationary energy storage systems. Large-scale energy applications require batteries that are economically efficient, highly safe and that provide a high energy and power density. Today

• most of the cells in use have almost reached their intrinsic limits, and no significant improvements are expected. Therefore, current research in this field is directed towards the development of new high-performance materials. The specific energy of Li-ion batteries can be enhanced by applying cathode

Electrochemical and electron microscopic characterization of Super-P based cathodes for Li–O₂ batteries

• Mario Marinaro,
• Santhana K. Eswara Moorthy,
• Jörg Bernhard,
• Ludwig Jörissen,
• Margret Wohlfahrt-Mehrens and
• Ute Kaiser

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2013, 4, 665–670, doi:10.3762/bjnano.4.74

• Ulm, Germany 10.3762/bjnano.4.74 Abstract Aprotic rechargeable Li–O2 batteries are currently receiving considerable interest because they can possibly offer significantly higher energy densities than conventional Li-ion batteries. The electrochemical behavior of Li–O2 batteries containing bis

• electric vehicles. Indeed one of the major concerns for the practical use of fully electric vehicles is the limited mileage of such vehicles. Aprotic rechargeable Li–O2 batteries may overcome this limitation since they can provide a much higher energy density than common Li-ion batteries. However, research

• a stepwise fashion leading to the formation of LiO2 and Li2O2 as shown in the chemical reactions below. Conversely, upon charging, the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) gives O2 and Li+ back via a 2-electrons reaction. The unsuitability of commonly used electrolytes for Li-ion batteries (e.g

Functionalization of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes

• Eloise Van Hooijdonk,
• Carla Bittencourt,
• Rony Snyders and
• Jean-François Colomer

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2013, 4, 129–152, doi:10.3762/bjnano.4.14

• sample. The consequences were an improvement of the electrolyte penetration as well as the wettability, the capacitance, and the charge-storage properties. Rechargeable lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries are based on the motion of lithium ions from the negative electrode to the positive electrode when being

A facile approach to nanoarchitectured three-dimensional graphene-based Li–Mn–O composite as high-power cathodes for Li-ion batteries

• Wenyu Zhang,
• Yi Zeng,
• Chen Xu,
• Ni Xiao,
• Yiben Gao,
• Lain-Jong Li,
• Xiaodong Chen,
• Huey Hoon Hng and
• Qingyu Yan

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2012, 3, 513–523, doi:10.3762/bjnano.3.59

• .3.59 Abstract We report a facile method to prepare a nanoarchitectured lithium manganate/graphene (LMO/G) hybrid as a positive electrode for Li-ion batteries. The Mn2O3/graphene hybrid is synthesized by exfoliation of graphene sheets and deposition of Mn2O3 in a one-step electrochemical process, which

• is followed by lithiation in a molten salt reaction. There are several advantages of using the LMO/G as cathodes in Li-ion batteries: (1) the LMO/G electrode shows high specific capacities at high gravimetric current densities with excellent cycling stability, e.g., 84 mAh·g−1 during the 500th cycle

• Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are considered the primary candidate as the power source for plug-in and hybrid electric vehicles [1]. Although LiCoO2 is widely used as a commercial cathode for Li-ion batteries, there are several drawbacks, including high cost and toxicity. Spinel Lithium Manganate (LMO) is