Interpenetrated Networks between Graphitic Carbon Infilling and Ultrafine TiO2 Nanocrystals with Patterned Macroporous Structure for High-Performance Lithium Ion Batteries.

Interpenetrated networks between graphitic carbon infilling and ultrafine TiO2 nanocrystals with patterned macropores (100-200 nm) were successfully synthesized. Polypyrrole layer was conformably coated on the primary TiO2 nanoparticles (∼8 nm) by a photosensitive reaction and was then transformed into carbon infilling in the interparticle mesopores of the TiO2 nanoparticles. Compared to the carbon/graphene supported TiO2 nanoparticles or carbon coated TiO2 nanostructures, the carbon infilling would provide a conductive medium and buffer layer for volume expansion of the encapsulated TiO2 nanoparticles, thus enhancing conductivity and cycle stability of the C-TiO2 anode materials for lithium ion batteries (LIBs). In addition, the macropores with diameters of 100-200 nm in the C-TiO2 anode and the mesopores in carbon infilling could improve electrolyte transportation in the electrodes and shorten the lithium ion diffusion length. The C-TiO2 electrode can provide a large capacity of 192.8 mA h g-1 after 100 cycles at 200 mA g-1, which is higher than those of the pure macroporous TiO2 electrode (144.8 mA h g-1), C-TiO2 composite electrode without macroporous structure (128 mA h g-1), and most of the TiO2 based electrodes in the literature. Importantly, the C-TiO2 electrode exhibits a high rate performance and still delivers a high capacity of ∼140 mA h g-1 after 1000 cycles at 1000 mA g-1 (∼5.88 C), suggesting good lithium storage properties of the macroporous C-TiO2 composites with high capacity, cycle stability, and rate capability. This work would be instructive for designing hierarchical porous TiO2 based anodes for high-performance LIBs.

Multishelled Nickel-Cobalt Oxide Hollow Microspheres with Optimized Compositions and Shell Porosity for High-Performance Pseudocapacitors.

Nickel-cobalt oxides/hydroxides have been considered as promising electrode materials for a high-performance supercapacitor. However, their energy density and cycle stability are still very poor at high current density. Moreover, there are few reports on the fabrication of mixed transition-metal oxides with multishelled hollow structures. Here, we demonstrate a new and flexible strategy for the preparation of hollow Ni-Co-O microspheres with optimized Ni/Co ratios, controlled shell porosity, shell numbers, and shell thickness. Owing to its high effective electrode area and electron transfer number (n(3/2) A), mesoporous shells, and fast electron/ion transfer, the triple-shelled Ni-Co1.5-O electrode exhibits an ultrahigh capacitance (1884 F/g at 3A/g) and rate capability (77.7%, 3-30A/g). Moreover, the assembled sandwiched Ni-Co1.5-O//RGO@Fe3O4 asymmetric supercapacitor (ACS) retains 79.4% of its initial capacitance after 10 000 cycles and shows a high energy density of 41.5 W h kg(-1) at 505 W kg(-1). Importantly, the ACS device delivers a high energy density of 22.8 W h kg(-1) even at 7600 W kg(-1), which is superior to most of the reported asymmetric capacitors. This study has provided a facile and general approach to fabricate Ni/Co mixed transition-metal oxides for energy storage.