ABSTRACT
CuCo2O4 nanoparticles have been synthesized by a simple and low-cost urea combustion method and characterized as bifunctional catalysts for non-aqueous Li-air batteries. The resulting CuCo2O4 catalyst has been demonstrated to effectively reduce the charge-discharge polarization of Li-air batteries in a simulated air environment (80% Ar : 20% O2).
ABSTRACT
Nanophase materials are promising alternative implant materials in tissue engineering. Here we report for the first time the large-scale direct growth of nanostructured bioactive titanates on three-dimensional (3D) microporous Ti-based metal (NiTi and Ti) scaffolds via a facile low temperature hydrothermal treatment. The nanostructured titanates show characteristics of 1D nanobelts/nanowires on a nanoskeleton layer. Besides resembling cancelous bone structure on the micro/macroscale, the 1D nanostructured titanate on the exposed surface is similar to the lowest level of hierarchical organization of collagen and hydroxyapatite. The resulting surface displays superhydrophilicity and favors deposition of hydroxyapatite and accelerates cell attachment and proliferation. The remarkable simplicity of this process makes it widely accessible as an enabling technique for applications from engineering materials treatment including energy-absorption materials and pollution-treatment materials to biotechnology.