Side chain engineering control of mixed conduction in oligoethylene glycol-substituted polythiophenes

This work reveals the structure and sequence effects on ion and electron conductivity. Increased oxygen content leads to increased ionic and reduced electronic conductivity, and increased backbone distance increases both conductivities.

A triple-layered PPy@NiCo LDH/FeCo2O4 hybrid crystalline structure with high electron conductivity and abundant interfaces for supercapacitors and oxygen evolution

A PPy@NiCo LDH/FeCo2O4 triple-layer hybrid with bi-continuous conductive networks is fabricated via a novel one-step hydrothermal reaction and in situ polymerization.

Highly sensitive cobalt encapsulated in bamboo-like N-doped carbon nanotube for electroanalysis of Pb(II): Enhancement based on adsorption and catalysis

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is recognized as desirable candidate to fabricate the electrochemical sensing interface due to its high surface area and excellent electron conductivity. However, the poor catalytic property of...

Electrochemical deposition of highly hydrophobic perfluorinated polyaniline film for biosensor applications

Simultaneous possession of the water-repelling property and electron conductivity for superhydrophobic perfluorinated polyaniline leads to a unique polymer that is suitable for in situ monitoring of pH changes during early stages of inflammation and septic shock.

Enhanced Electrochemical Performance of LiFePO4 Originating from the Synergistic Effect of ZnO and C Co-Modification

Olivine-structure LiFePO4 is considered as promising cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries. However, the material always sustains poor electron conductivity, severely hindering its further commercial application. In this work, zinc oxide and carbon co-modified LiFePO4 nanomaterials (LFP/C-ZnO) were prepared by an inorganic-based hydrothermal route, which vastly boosts its performance. The sample of LFP/C-xZnO (x = 3 wt%) exhibited well-dispersed spherical particles and remarkable cycling stability (initial discharge capacities of 138.7 mAh/g at 0.1 C, maintained 94.8% of the initial capacity after 50 cycles at 0.1 C). In addition, the cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) disclose the reduced charge transfer resistance from 296 to 102 Ω. These suggest that zinc oxide and carbon modification could effectively minimize charge transfer resistance, improve contact area, and buffer the diffusion barrier, including electron conductivity and the electrochemical property. Our study provides a simple and efficient strategy to design and optimize promising olivine-structural cathodes for lithium-ion batteries.

Achieving delafossite analog by in situ electrochemical self-reconstruction as an oxygen-evolving catalyst

Development of novel and robust oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts with well-modulated atomic and electronic structure remains a challenge. Compared to the well-known metal hydroxides or (oxyhydr)oxides with lamellar structure, delafossites (ABO2) are characterized by alternating layers of A cations and edge-sharing BO2octahedra, but are rarely used in OER due to their poor electron conductivity and intrinsic activity. Here, we propose a delafossite analog by mutation of metal oxyhydroxide and delafossite based on first-principles calculations. Modulation on the electronic structure due to distortion of the original crystal field of the BO2layers is calculated to enhance electron conductivity and catalytic activity. Inspired by the theoretical design, we have experimentally realized the delafossite analog by electrochemical self-reconstruction (ECSR).OperandoX-ray absorption spectroscopy and other experimental techniques reveal the formation of delafossite analog with Ag intercalated into bimetallic cobalt–iron (oxyhydr)oxide layers from a metastable precursor through amorphization. Benefitting from the featured local electronic and geometric structures, the delafossite analog shows superior OER activity, affording a current density of 10 mA⋅cm−2at an overpotential of 187 mV and an excellent stability (300 h) in alkaline conditions.