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Ordered bilayer ruthenium–platinum core-shell nanoparticles as carbon monoxide-tolerant fuel cell catalysts
Ruthenium can alleviate poisoning effects of carbon monoxide on platinum catalysts, but is prone to dissolution in fuel cells. Hsieh et al.synthesize ordered ruthenium–platinum nanoparticles with well-defined platinum bilayer shells, leading to high carbon monoxide tolerance and superior durability.
- Yu-Chi Hsieh
- , Yu Zhang
- & Jia X Wang
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Unidirectional suppression of hydrogen oxidation on oxidized platinum clusters
Platinum is a widely studied catalyst for the reduction of protons to hydrogen in water splitting, but it also catalyses the competing hydrogen oxidation back-reaction, thus limiting efficiency. Here, the authors show that the back-reaction can be limited by tuning the platinum oxidation state.
- Yu Hang Li
- , Jun Xing
- & Hua Gui Yang
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Double perovskites as a family of highly active catalysts for oxygen evolution in alkaline solution
New catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction in basic solution are important for energy storage applications. Here, the authors report the high activity and stability of double perovskites in this role, and their performance is attributed to the proximity of the oxygenp-band to the Fermi level.
- Alexis Grimaud
- , Kevin J. May
- & Yang Shao-Horn
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Two-dimensional vanadyl phosphate ultrathin nanosheets for high energy density and flexible pseudocapacitors
Graphene-like materials with pseudocapacitive characteristics are desirable for flexible solid-state pseudocapacitors. Here Wu et al. report such a graphene analogue, vanadyl phosphate ultrathin nanosheets, which exhibits excellent pseudocapacitive properties, leading to a high energy density.
- Changzheng Wu
- , Xiuli Lu
- & Yi Xie
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Diameter-dependent ion transport through the interior of isolated single-walled carbon nanotubes
Calculations suggest that ion transport through nanochannels is significantly modified as the diameter approaches molecular dimensions. Choi et al.introduce a single-nanotube platform to demonstrate this effect and find a maximum ion transport rate at a diameter of approximately 1.6 nm.
- Wonjoon Choi
- , Zachary W. Ulissi
- & Michael S. Strano
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A nanostructured cathode architecture for low charge overpotential in lithium-oxygen batteries
Lithium-oxygen batteries can deliver high-energy densities, but their performance suffers from large charge-discharge overpotential. Lu et al.design a cathode by integrating electrode coating and electrocatalyst in a nanostructured architecture, whereby the overpotential is reduced to 0.2 V.
- Jun Lu
- , Yu Lei
- & Khalil Amine
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Nitrogen-doped carbon nanomaterials as non-metal electrocatalysts for water oxidation
Efficient and economical water splitting is desirable for energy conversion, but it is limited by high overpotential and the need for noble metals. Zhao et al. report that nitrogen-doped graphite materials function as a promising electrocatalyst, with efficiency comparable to that of benchmark metal oxides.
- Yong Zhao
- , Ryuhei Nakamura
- & Kazuhito Hashimoto
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A zero-strain layered metal oxide as the negative electrode for long-life sodium-ion batteries
Anode materials in sodium-ion batteries can undergo significant volume change upon sodium insertion and extraction, leading to deteriorated cycling performance. Wang et al. report a layered metal oxide anode with zero-strain characteristics, which may lead to extended battery cycle life.
- Yuesheng Wang
- , Xiqian Yu
- & Xuejie Huang
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Membrane-less hydrogen bromine flow battery
Membrane-less electrochemical systems eliminate the need for costly ion-exchange membranes, but typically suffer from low-power densities. Braff et al.propose a hydrogen bromine laminar flow battery, which rivals the performance of the best membrane-based systems.
- William A. Braff
- , Martin Z. Bazant
- & Cullen R. Buie
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Reversibility of anodic lithium in rechargeable lithium–oxygen batteries
Lithium–oxygen batteries are expected to have high-energy density, assuming that anodic lithium is fully reversible upon cycling. Shui et al. disprove this assumption by monitoring the changes of anode composition and morphology, and reveal the loss mechanism and transport paths of lithium ions.
- Jiang-Lan Shui
- , John S. Okasinski
- & Di-Jia Liu
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Fast low-voltage electroactive actuators using nanostructured polymer electrolytes
Ionic polymer actuators are becoming popular for biomimetic applications because of their mechanical robustness and easy fabrication at low cost. Kim et al.push them one step closer to practice by achieving a subsecond actuation response at an operation voltage less than 1 V.
- Onnuri Kim
- , Tae Joo Shin
- & Moon Jeong Park
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Efficient solar water splitting by enhanced charge separation in a bismuth vanadate-silicon tandem photoelectrode
The photoactivity of metal oxide electrodes for water splitting is often limited by poor charge separation. Abdi et al.improve the solar-to-hydrogen efficiency in a hybrid device that comprises a gradient-doped bismuth vanadate photoanode and a double-junction amorphous silicon tandem solar cell.
- Fatwa F. Abdi
- , Lihao Han
- & Roel van de Krol
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A green lead hydrometallurgical process based on a hydrogen-lead oxide fuel cell
Lead-acid batteries are used worldwide, but their recycling remains challenging because of lead pollution and high energy consumption. Pan et al. solve these problems in a high-yield, hydrometallurgical process based on hydrogen-lead oxide fuel cell reactions, which produce water as the by-product.
- Junqing Pan
- , Yanzhi Sun
- & Arumugam Manthiram
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Nanoporous gold supported cobalt oxide microelectrodes as high-performance electrochemical biosensors
Metal oxides are proposed as replacements for expensive enzymes in electrochemical biosensors, but their wide use is currently limited by poor electronic conductivity. Lang et al. engineer the nanoarchitecture of electrodes to reduce contact resistances, which leads to an ultrahigh sensitivity to glucose.
- Xing-You Lang
- , Hong-Ying Fu
- & Qing Jiang
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Promotion of oxygen reduction by a bio-inspired tethered iron phthalocyanine carbon nanotube-based catalyst
The rational design of inexpensive and durable oxygen reduction catalysts may lead to enhanced fuel cell performance. Here, the authors report a bio-inspired catalyst in which hybridization of iron 3delectrons with a carbon nanotube alters its electronic structure and improves catalytic performance.
- Ruiguo Cao
- , Ranjit Thapa
- & Jaephil Cho
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Giant cationic polyelectrolytes generated via electrochemical oxidation of single-walled carbon nanotubes
Reduced carbon nanotube anions can be effectively processed and functionalized. Here, the authors prepare discrete nanotube cations by electrochemical oxidation, and the confirmation of their reactivity towards nucleophiles suggests a new library of covalent nanotube modifications.
- Stephen A. Hodge
- , Mustafa K. Bayazit
- & Milo S. P. Shaffer
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| Open AccessA solid with a hierarchical tetramodal micro-meso-macro pore size distribution
Porous solids have potential applications in energy storage, gas separation and catalysis technologies. Here, the authors report a hierarchical solid with porosity spanning the micro, meso and macro ranges, which is synthesized using templating silica, and potassium ions as both templates and reactive species.
- Yu Ren
- , Zhen Ma
- & Peter G. Bruce
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Stable Li-ion battery anodes by in-situ polymerization of conducting hydrogel to conformally coat silicon nanoparticles
Nanostructured silicon is a promising anode material for lithium ion batteries but needs to tolerate large volume increase upon lithiation. Wu et al. solve this problem by binding silicon nanoparticles to a conducting polymer hydrogel via in-situpolymerization, which also improves cycling stability.
- Hui Wu
- , Guihua Yu
- & Yi Cui
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| Open AccessAmorphous nickel hydroxide nanospheres with ultrahigh capacitance and energy density as electrochemical pseudocapacitor materials
Nickel hydroxide is a promising material for capacitor electrodes and most research has focussed on the crystalline form. Here, the authors report that amorphous nickel hydroxide nanospheres, which may be synthesized relatively easily, also exhibit excellent integrated electrochemical performance.
- H. B. Li
- , M. H. Yu
- & G. W. Yang
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High-performance rechargeable lithium-iodine batteries using triiodide/iodide redox couples in an aqueous cathode
Aqueous lithium batteries can store more energy because of their high ionic conductivity compared with the all-solid-state or non-aqueous electrolyte based counterparts. Zhao et al. report a large energy storage density by using safe and low-cost triiodide/iodide redox reaction in an aqueous cathode.
- Yu Zhao
- , Lina Wang
- & Hye Ryung Byon
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Direct atomic-scale confirmation of three-phase storage mechanism in Li4Ti5O12 anodes for room-temperature sodium-ion batteries
The development of suitable anode materials for room-temperature sodium-ion batteries remains a challenging issue. Sun et al. show that the well-known zero-strain Li4Ti5O12anode for lithium storage is capable of reversibly hosting sodium ions via a three-phase storage mechanism.
- Yang Sun
- , Liang Zhao
- & Xuejie Huang
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Advanced zinc-air batteries based on high-performance hybrid electrocatalysts
Metal-air batteries are promising for energy storage because of their high theoretical energy density, but their realization is hampered by the lack of efficient and robust air catalysts. Li et al. construct stable zinc-air batteries using novel catalysts for oxygen reduction and evolution reactions.
- Yanguang Li
- , Ming Gong
- & Hongjie Dai
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A reversible long-life lithium–air battery in ambient air
Lithium air batteries have among the highest energy storage capacities, but their effective lifetime is short when using liquid electrolytes. Zhang et al. realize a lithium air battery with much improved cycling stability in ambient air by combining a solid electrolyte and a gel cathode.
- Tao Zhang
- & Haoshen Zhou
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| Open AccessNanobatteries in redox-based resistive switches require extension of memristor theory
The original definition of a memristor envisions a two-terminal memory device with a pinched, zero-crossing hysteresis loop. As the authors show here, an electromotive force leads to non-zero-crossing characteristics in nanoionic-type memristors, implying that the memristor definition must be amended.
- I. Valov
- , E. Linn
- & R. Waser
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High-power lithium ion microbatteries from interdigitated three-dimensional bicontinuous nanoporous electrodes
Microbatteries offer new opportunities for microelectronics, but performance and integration remain a challenge. Pikul et al. develop a lithium ion microbattery with fully integrated nanoporous electrodes, which exceeds the power densities of most supercapacitors while retaining high-energy density.
- James H. Pikul
- , Hui Gang Zhang
- & William P. King
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Codoping titanium dioxide nanowires with tungsten and carbon for enhanced photoelectrochemical performance
Titanium dioxide nanowires are used as photoanodes in photoelectrochemical water splitting. Here Zheng et al. demonstrate that doping these nanowires with tungsten and carbon atom pairs considerably enhances their performance.
- In Sun Cho
- , Chi Hwan Lee
- & Xiaolin Zheng
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Graphene-modified LiFePO4 cathode for lithium ion battery beyond theoretical capacity
The specific capacity of an important commercial cathode material, lithium iron phosphate, is much lower than its theoretical value. Hu et al. report that incorporation of electrochemically exfoliated graphene layers in a carbon coating improves capacity beyond that predicted by theory.
- By Lung-Hao Hu
- , Feng-Yu Wu
- & Lain-Jong Li
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| Open AccessReactivity mapping with electrochemical gradients for monitoring reactivity at surfaces in space and time
Liquid chemical reactions on surfaces are important, but conventional characterization techniques for solutions cannot be directly applied. This study shows a high-throughput method to control and monitor chemical reactivity on surfaces via an electrochemically produced pH gradient in solutions.
- Sven O. Krabbenborg
- , Carlo Nicosia
- & Jurriaan Huskens
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Rational screening low-cost counter electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells
The main constraint on the large-scale use of platinum catalyst in energy-conversion devices is its cost. Hou et al.propose a screening strategy to search for non-platinum-based alternatives, which suggests that inexpensive and abundant ferric oxides exhibit comparable electrocatalytic activity to platinum.
- Yu Hou
- , Dong Wang
- & Hua Gui Yang
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New class of nonaqueous electrolytes for long-life and safe lithium-ion batteries
Safe lithium-ion batteries require stable electrolytes with high chemical resistance and high thermal tolerance. Chen et al. find a solid lithium-salt electrolyte that is able to give rise to a prolonged battery life and a delayed decomposition of battery cathodes.
- Zonghai Chen
- , Yang Ren
- & Khalil Amine
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A new class of Solvent-in-Salt electrolyte for high-energy rechargeable metallic lithium batteries
Commercial lithium-ion batteries normally use a liquid electrolyte. Suo et al. show that a glassy-like electrolyte containing a high concentration of lithium salt leads to a substantially enhanced battery performance because of suppressed formation of lithium dendrites on the lithium metal anodes.
- Liumin Suo
- , Yong-Sheng Hu
- & Liquan Chen
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Aromatic porous-honeycomb electrodes for a sodium-organic energy storage device
A huge demand for lithium batteries necessitates more affordable alternatives. Sakaushi et al. describe rechargeable sodium batteries containing organic electrodes with a porous-honeycomb structure that are comparable to lithium batteries and capable of over 7,000 cycles.
- Ken Sakaushi
- , Eiji Hosono
- & Jürgen Eckert
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Hopping transport and the Hall effect near the insulator–metal transition in electrochemically gated poly(3-hexylthiophene) transistors
Understanding charge transport and the fundamental limits on conductivity in polymer semiconductors is important for improving device performance. Wanget al. report a transport regime close to band-like conduction and the observation of the Hall effect in an electrochemically-doped polymer semiconductor.
- Shun Wang
- , Mingjing Ha
- & C Leighton
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Tracking lithium transport and electrochemical reactions in nanoparticles
Developing next generation batteries requires better understanding of the dynamics of electrochemical reactions in working electrodes. Using a transmission electron microscope, Wanget al. develop a means to track the real time flow of lithium atoms in electrodes during the discharge of a functioning electrochemical cell.
- Feng Wang
- , Hui-Chia Yu
- & Jason Graetz
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Lithium–sulphur batteries with a microporous carbon paper as a bifunctional interlayer
The practical performance of lithium sulphide batteries is much less than their predicted performance because redox products dissolve over time. Su and Manthiram show that microporous carbon membranes inserted between cathode and separator localize soluble polysulphide species and improve battery cycling characteristics.
- Yu-Sheng Su
- & Arumugam Manthiram
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A high-rate and long cycle life aqueous electrolyte battery for grid-scale energy storage
The integration of volatile renewable energy sources into the electrical power grid will require a significant increase in electrical storage capacity. Here a new type of safe, fast, inexpensive and long-life aqueous electrolyte battery is reported, which may aid the development of increased grid capacity.
- Mauro Pasta
- , Colin D. Wessells
- & Yi Cui
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Highly stable Pt monolayer on PdAu nanoparticle electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction
Platinum is used as a cathode in fuel cells but undergoes dissolution during potential changes, hindering commercial application in electric vehicles. Sasakiet al.report a new class of stable electrocatalysts that consist of platinum monolayers on palladium–gold alloy nanoparticles.
- Kotaro Sasaki
- , Hideo Naohara
- & Radoslav R. Adzic
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An ultrafast nickel–iron battery from strongly coupled inorganic nanoparticle/nanocarbon hybrid materials
Fast rechargeable batteries made from low-cost and abundant electrode materials are attractive for energy storage. Wanget al. develop an ultrafast Ni–Fe battery with carbon/inorganic hybrid electrodes in which the charge and discharge rates are nearly 1,000-fold higher than traditional Ni–Fe batteries.
- Hailiang Wang
- , Yongye Liang
- & Hongjie Dai
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| Open AccessSuperionic glass-ceramic electrolytes for room-temperature rechargeable sodium batteries
Rechargeable solid-state batteries are promising sources of energy for a range of applications. Hayashiet al. examine the electrochemistry of solid-state sodium batteries, and present an electrolyte that operates at room temperature.
- Akitoshi Hayashi
- , Kousuke Noi
- & Masahiro Tatsumisago
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| Open AccessUltrathin and lightweight organic solar cells with high flexibility
Organic solar cells are promising for technological applications, as they are lightweight and mechanically robust. This study presents flexible organic solar cells that are less than 2 μm thick, have very low specific weight and maintain their photovoltaic performance under repeated mechanical deformation.
- Martin Kaltenbrunner
- , Matthew S. White
- & Siegfried Bauer
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Copper hexacyanoferrate battery electrodes with long cycle life and high power
Batteries that operate at high power and cycling efficiencies could facilitate the development of large-scale energy storage systems. Wessellset al.report a metal–organic framework electrode that operates in an inexpensive aqueous electrolyte with excellent capacity retention over a very large number of cycles.
- Colin D. Wessells
- , Robert A. Huggins
- & Yi Cui
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A high-rate long-life Li4Ti5O12/Li[Ni0.45Co0.1Mn1.45]O4 lithium-ion battery
Advanced rechargeable lithium-ion batteries have potential applications in the renewable energy and sustainable road transport fields. Junget al. have developed a lithium battery that uses pre-existing concepts but has highly competitive energy densities, life span and cycling properties.
- Hun-Gi Jung
- , Min Woo Jang
- & Bruno Scrosati
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| Open AccessStructure and compatibility of a magnesium electrolyte with a sulphur cathode
Magnesium is an ideal rechargeable battery anode material, but coupling it with a low-cost sulphur cathode, requires a non-nucleophilic electrolyte. Kimet al. prepare a non-nucleophilic electrolyte from hexamethyldisilazide magnesium chloride and aluminium trichloride, and show its compatibility with a sulphur cathode.
- Hee Soo Kim
- , Timothy S. Arthur
- & John Muldoon
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Iron-based cathode catalyst with enhanced power density in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells
Replacing platinum in polymer-electrolyte-membrane fuel cells with iron-based catalysts could provide low-cost power generators, but often leads to low power densities. Here, a new iron-based cathode catalyst is developed with enhanced power density, volumetric activity and mass-transport properties.
- Eric Proietti
- , Frédéric Jaouen
- & Jean-Pol Dodelet
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| Open AccessPromotion of water-mediated carbon removal by nanostructured barium oxide/nickel interfaces in solid oxide fuel cells
Anodes composed of nickel/yttria-stabilized zirconia in solid oxide fuel cells are known to suffer from coking, which reduces their performance. Here, Yang and colleagues report a new barium oxide/nickel anode, which efficiently oxidizes fuel with minimum carbon buildup.
- Lei Yang
- , YongMan Choi
- & Meilin Liu
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Stabilizing lithium–sulphur cathodes using polysulphide reservoirs
Lithium–sulphur batteries may achieve higher energy densities than conventional lithium-ion cells, but the dissolution of sulphur intermediates is a continuing challenge. Here this problem is overcome using a cathode with a mesoporous structure that is able to accommodate intermediate polysulphide anions.
- Xiulei Ji
- , Scott Evers
- & Linda F. Nazar
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Imaging oxygen defects and their motion at a manganite surface
Oxygen diffusion processes are critical for the catalytic action of manganites but a full understanding of these processes is elusive. The authors perform atomic resolution scanning tunnelling microscopy imaging of layered manganites and show oxygen and defect dynamics on these surfaces.
- B. Bryant
- , Ch. Renner
- & G. Aeppli
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| Open AccessField-induced water electrolysis switches an oxide semiconductor from an insulator to a metal
Water is composed of the electrochemically active species, H+ and OH−, but has not been used as an active electronic material. In this study, a field-effect transistor is developed that uses water-infiltrated nanoporous glass as the gate insulator; this new application of water may be useful in electronics and energy storage.
- Hiromichi Ohta
- , Yukio Sato
- & Hideo Hosono
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Enhanced proton transport in nanostructured polymer electrolyte/ionic liquid membranes under water-free conditions
One challenge in the development of proton exchange fuel cells is the requirement for durable, high-conductivity electrolytes. The authors show that incorporating ionic liquids into synthetic block co-polymer electrolytes results in nanostructured membranes with much higher conductivities than currently available.
- Sung Yeon Kim
- , Suhan Kim
- & Moon Jeong Park