High Conductivity Research Articles

Engineering the Coordination Environment in the Silver(I)- and Ruthenium(II)-N-Heterocyclic Carbene Complexes in Instigating the Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution Reaction.

The quest for cost-efficient and high-performance electrocatalysts towards electrocatalytic water splitting is a key and an interdisciplinary area of study. Considerable progress is being driven by developments in the field of energy research. In a fundamental study, we have synthesized NHC precursors (6 and 7) and corresponding metal-NHC complexes of silver(I)- (8 and 9) and ruthenium(II)- (10 and 11) of a N-heterocyclic carbene-based ligand type incorporating coumarins. These NHC precursors and metal-NHC complexes were characterized through various analytical and spectral techniques. The silver(I)-NHC complexes 8 and 9 displayed a linear coordination geometry with a center of inversion, which is evidenced by the single-crystal X-ray diffraction technique. Both the series of complexes were assessed for their efficacies in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The results demonstrated that attributed to its peculiar coordination geometry, high electrical conductivity the silver(I)- and ruthenium(II)-NHC complexes exhibited exemplary electrocatalytic activity. Activities of the hydrogen evolution reaction on two differently modified electrode substrates with metal-NHC complexes have been studied. To attain the benchmark HER current density of 10 mA cm-2, in 1.0 M KOH, an overpotential of -375 to -527 mV vs RHE was required for the metal-NHC complexes. Based on the analysis of the Tafel slope values, the rate-determining step was the adsorption of hydrogen as investigated in the potential window. The molecular electrocatalyst 10 presented a superior stability and maintained the electrocatalytic activity for a duration of 18 h with complex 8 and 24 h with respect to complex 10 in 1.0 M KOH. Apace with these studies, hydrogen oxidation studies were examined in 0.5 M H2SO4 by a substantial current density at the platinum ring electrode. This research offers feasible guidance for developing organometallic-based molecular electrocatalysts with good electrocatalytic performance.

Multifunctional Nacre-Like Nanocomposite Papers for Electromagnetic Interference Shielding via Heterocyclic Aramid/MXene Template-Assisted In-Situ Polypyrrole Assembly

HighlightsThe large-scale, high-strength, super-tough, and multifunctional nacre-like heterocyclic aramid (HA)/MXene@polypyrrole (PPy) (HMP) nanocomposite papers were fabricated using the in-situ assembly of PPy onto the HA/MXene hydrogel template.The "brick-and-mortar" layered structure and abundant hydrogen-bonding interactions among MXene, PPy, and HA respond cooperatively to external stress and effectively increase the mechanical properties of HMP nanocomposite papers.The templating effect from HA/MXene was utilized to guide the assembly of conducting polymers, leading to high electrical conductivity and outstanding electromagnetic interference shielding performance.

Machine Learning Modeling of the Mechanical Properties of Al2024-B4C Composites

Aluminum-based composites are in high demand in industrial fields due to their light weight, high electrical conductivity, and corrosion resistance. Due to its unique advantages for composite fabrication, powder metallurgy is a crucial player in meeting this demand. However, the size and weight fraction of the reinforcement significantly influence the components' quality and performance. Understanding the correlation of these variables is crucial for building high-quality components. This study, therefore, investigated the correlations among various parameters—namely, milling time, reinforcement ratio, and size—that affect the composite’s physical and mechanical properties. An artificial neural network model was developed and showed the ability to correlate the processing parameters with the density, hardness, and tensile strength of Al2024-B4C composites. The predicted index of relative importance suggests that the milling time has the most substantial effect on fabricated components. This practical insight can be directly applied in the fabrication of high-quality Al2024-B4C composites.

Solid‐State Electrolytes for Lithium Metal Batteries: State‐of‐the‐Art and Perspectives

AbstractThe use of all‐solid‐state lithium metal batteries (ASSLMBs) has garnered significant attention as a promising solution for advanced energy storage systems. By employing non‐flammable solid electrolytes in ASSLMBs, their safety profile is enhanced, and the use of lithium metal as the anode allows for higher energy density compared to traditional lithium‐ion batteries. To fully realize the potential of ASSLMBs, solid‐state electrolytes (SSEs) must meet several requirements. These include high ionic conductivity and Li+ transference number, smooth interfacial contact between SSEs and electrodes, low manufacturing cost, excellent electrochemical stability, and effective suppression of dendrite formation. This paper delves into the essential requirements of SSEs to enable the successful implementation of ASSLMBs. Additionally, the representative state‐of‐the‐art examples of SSEs developed in the past 5 years, showcasing the latest advancements in SSE materials and highlighting their unique properties are discussed. Finally, the paper provides an outlook on achieving balanced and improved SSEs for ASSLMBs, addressing failure mechanisms and solutions, highlighting critical challenges such as the reversibility of Li plating/stripping and thermal runaway, advanced characterization techniques, composite SSEs, computational studies, and potential and challenges of ASS lithium–sulfur and lithium–oxygen batteries. With this consideration, balanced and improved SSEs for ASSLMBs can be realized.

Solution-processing induced H-aggregate of Perylene-Diimide Zwitterion Exhibiting Compact Molecular Stacking toward Efficient Cathode Modification in Organic Solar Cells.

High-performance organic cathode interlayers (CILs) play a crucial role in the advance of organic solar cells (OSCs). However, organic CILs have exhibited inferior performances to their inorganic counterparts over a long time, due to the inherent shortcoming of poor charge transporting capability. Here, we designed and synthesized a perylene-diimide (PDI) zwitterion PDI-B as high-performance organic CIL for OSCs. We revealed that an obvious H-aggregate of PDI-B was formed during the solution processing, thereby significantly enhancing the charge transporting capability of the CIL. Compared to the classic PDINN, the π-π stacking distance of PDI-B was reduced from 4.2 Å to 3.9 Å, which further facilitated the charge transport. Consequently, PDI-B showed a high conductivity of 1.81×10-3S/m; this is comparable to that of inorganic CILs. The binary OSC showed an elevated PCE of 19.23 %, which is among the highest PCE values for binary OSCs. Benefitting from improved solvent resistance and good compatibility with large-area processing method of PDI-B, the photovoltaic performances of inverted and 1-cm2 OSC were significantly improved. The results from this work provide a new approach of optimizing the condensed structure of PDI film to boost the charge conductivity, opening an avenue to develop high-performance PDI-based CILs.

High-Strength and High-Temperature-Resistant Structural Battery Integrated Composites via Polymeric Bi-Continuous Electrolyte Engineering.

Structural battery integrated composites (SBICs) combining outstanding strength and heat resistance are highly desirable candidates for next generation high speed aircraft. Here, a novel high-temperature-resistant bi-continuous electrolyte based on phthalonitrile resin is presented, allowing the construction of SBICs capable of stable operation across a wide temperature range. Excellent mechanical strength and high ionic conductivity can coexist in a bi-continuous structure electrolyte (PL50) where the phthalonitrile resin serves as the matrix phase and the ionic liquid electrolyte serves as the conductive phase. Benefiting from the thermal stability of the phthalonitrile resin, SBICs assembled with a PL50 bi-continuous electrolyte deliver excellent mechanical performance even at temperatures exceeding 200°C, with a flexural strength of 299MPa and a flexural modulus of 31.8GPa. Additionally, with an increase in operating temperature, PL50@SBICs demonstrated enhanced rate performance while maintaining good cycling stability. The demonstration of resisting mechanical abuse at high temperatures and flame retardance further suggests the promise of SBICs with PL50 bi-continuous electrolytes operating under extreme conditions.

Enhancing Li4Ti5O12 Anodes for High‐Performance Batteries: Ti3+ Induction via Plasma‐Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition and Dual Carbon/LLZO Coatings

AbstractLithium titanium oxide (LTO) is a promising anode material due to its ability to store lithium through intercalation reactions. However, its electrochemical performance is limited by poor electron conductivity and side reactions with the electrolyte. In this study, plasma‐enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) is employed to introduce oxygen vacancies and self‐doped Ti3+ into LTO to improve the internal conductivity. Subsequent carbon coating and aluminum‐doped lithium lanthanum zirconate garnet (LLZO) layers resulted in a multi‐layered composite denoted as LTO−L‐x. Morphological analyses using SEM and TEM demonstrated the successful growth of Al‐doped LLZO on carbon‐coated LTO. Aluminum ions in LLZO cubic structure are crucial for stabilizing the high ionic conductive phase during cooling, as confirmed by X‐ray diffraction. The dual coating layers have a significant impact on the rate capability, reducing polarization gaps and enabling higher capacities at various current rates. Long‐term cycling tests reveal the robustness of the composite, with LTO−L‐1.0 retaining 90.8 % capacity after 4000 cycles at 1.0 A g−1. This underscores the sustained high electronic and ionic conductivity facilitated by the dual coating layers. The study contributes to the design of advanced anode materials for lithium‐ion batteries, emphasizing the importance of tailored coating strategies to address conductivity and stability challenges.

Na3Zr2Si2PO12-Polymer Composite Electrolyte for Solid State Sodium Batteries.

The integration of the flexibility of organic polymer electrolyte and high ionic conductivity of the ceramic electrolyte is attempted in search of efficient and safer battery. Composite solid polymer electrolyte (CSPE) provides high ionic conductivity with a sustainable thin film of electrolyte having the synergistic effect of ionic liquid and active inorganic filler. The CSPE is synthesized by the solution cast technique using Na3Zr2Si2PO12 (NZSP) as ceramic and poly(vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene) with Salt-Ionic liquid as polymer electrolyte. X-ray diffraction (XRD) of CSPE includes amorphous nature due to the polymer part as well as crystalline peaks of ceramic NZSP, simultaneously. The prepared CSPE sample shows homogeneous and interconnected surface morphology is observed by Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) image. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) shows electrolyte is thermally stable up to 200 °C and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) reveals decrease in degree of crystallinity due to NZSP addition in the CSPE. By complex impedance spectroscopy (CIS), room temperature ionic conductivity of the prepared CSPE is found ~1.03 mS/cm. The dielectric behaviour of the prepared electrolyte is also studied to investigate the ion dynamics within the sample. The cationic transference number is 0.53 and the electrochemical stability window (ESW) of the CSPE is 4.9 V which is suitable for sodium solid-state batteries applications.

La1-xSrxF3-x: A Solid-State Electrolyte for Fluoride Ion Battery with High Ionic Conductivity and Wide Electrochemical Potential Window

Abstract Fluoride ion conductors are developed for use as solid-state electrolytes in fluoride ion batteries which are one of promising candidates for next-generation storage batteries. Ba-doped LaF3 (La0.9Ba0.1F2.9: LBF) is mainly used as a solid-state electrolyte in fluoride ion batteries. However, room temperature conductivity of LBF is considerably low, on the order of 10-6 S cm-1 and it is still unclear the optimal elements to be doped to LaF3. In this study, we have explored La0.9SrxBa0.1-xF2.9 system (x = 0, 0.01, 0.025, 0.05, 0.1), in which Ba in LBF is substituted for Sr and investigated the composition dependence of ionic conductivity. We elucidate that the higher concentration of Sr without Ba can significantly improve the ionic conductivity, and the maximum ionic conductivity of La0.9Sr0.1F2.9 is 1.5 × 10-5 S cm-1 at room temperature, which is one order of magnitude larger than that of LBF. The higher ionic conductivity of LSF is due to the larger grain size and higher sintering density of LSF compared to LBF, which results in lower grain boundary resistance. The LSF total ionic conductivity of 10-4 S cm-1 can be achieved at 350 K, which significantly lowers operating temperature of fluoride ion batteries down to 350 K.

Modifying 3D composite textiles as functional panels

Honeycomb fabric-reinforced composites have been widely used recently, due to their prominent properties, when compared to other materials. This is because they are lighter in weight and stronger than other materials. Thus, they can absorb different types of energies, such as mechanical and thermal energies. A multi-layer fabric is developed by creating a unique fabric structure, to enable the presence of air voids within the panels produced, which diminishes the heat transfer rate through the material. The structure applied in samples used in this manuscript is novel, as it consists of a 3D fabric produced using a traditional loom with a special technique, by dividing the warp yarns into four layers. A skin of textile, produced from textile wastes, is applied, along with the technique of hardening the 3D fabrics to keep the open areas in the structure with the aid of pre-designed pins and a resin. The composite panel was produced with the pins used to open the fabric’s structure, and the resin was applied as a matrix holding the structure and keeping its dimensions. Panels of the 3D fabric-reinforced composite obtained from cotton and polyester yarns were produced, to achieve thermal insulation and good mechanical properties, which enable the use of the fabric in various applications. The fabric has two panels of each material, one with skin and the other without skin. This skin consists of low-quality fabric, mainly made from textile wastes. The physical and mechanical characteristics of the developed panels were measured. Functional performance, such as thermal and sound properties, were also measured. Testing thermal conductivity, it was found that panels made of cotton had higher conductivity than panels made of polyester. In addition, the presence of the skin improved the thermal insulation and mechanical strength of the panels compared to those without skin. In mechanical testing, polyester-based panels showed better mechanical properties than panels based on cotton. In sound absorption testing, all samples reached the limits for sound absorption. The number of layers affected the sound absorption coefficient (SAC) and the noise reduction coefficient (NRC). Also, the presence of the skin improved NRC. Finally, all samples had an aesthetic appearance, due to the presence of surface waves, but the sample containing the polyester material, with double layers, and the laminated skin made of waste fabric had the highest functional panel performance, in terms of radar chart areas. This means that it can be used in the field of architecture as a façade panel or as an indoor wall used for isolation, which do not require paint.

Embroidered Transmission Lines with Conductive Yarns: Challenges, Modeling, Fabrication, and Experimental Performance Assessment

This paper presents an enhanced measurement technique for evaluating embroidered transmission lines (TLs), based on a TL characterization method. The evaluation metric is the “pure” losses of the embroidered TL excluding mismatch losses. Enhanced mechanical stability and removability of embroidered samples under a test is supported by a specially designed measurement setup. Losses are used to find the effective conductivity of each embroidery pattern. Various embroidered samples are fabricated, measured, and evaluated. The repeatability of measurements and fabrication are analyzed and assessed, resulting in average deviations of 0.5 dB and 0.7 dB, respectively. A comparative evaluation of two different yarns of low and high conductivity is presented. Single and double stitching patterns for each yarn are manufactured with stitch densities of 1–7 lines/mm. For interconnection with SMA connectors, a conductive fabric contact (CFC) was selected as the finish of the TL, as a more practical interface instead of direct yarn contact (YC). The analysis of the measurements proved useful findings, such as an increase in the stitch density or the amount of yarn used does not always improve the performance; the use of double stitching greatly improves low-performance stitch densities; the effective conductivity of embroidery patterns changes with frequency; the YC interface yields more losses for medium stitch densities, but for higher stich densities, it presents an improved performance compared with the CFC interconnection.

Influence of Atmospheric Gas Species on an Argyrodite-Type Sulfide Solid Electrolyte During Moisture Exposure.

Sulfide solid electrolytes have potential in practical all-solid-state batteries owing to their high formability and ionic conductivity. However, sulfide solid electrolytes are limited by the generation of toxic hydrogen sulfide and conductivity deterioration upon moisture exposure. Although numerous studies have investigated the hydrolysis degradation induced by "moisture," the influence of "atmospheric gases" during moisture exposure has not been extensively investigated despite the importance for practical fabrication. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the impact of atmospheric gases during moisture exposure on an argyrodite-type Li6PS5Cl via electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The electrolyte powder was exposed to various atmospheric gases, namely Ar, Ar + 500 ppm CO2, O2, and O2 + 500 ppm CO2, with moisture at a dew point of -20 °C, and H2S gas generation was monitored. As a result, the amount of H2S gas did not depend on the atmospheric gases. However, the atmospheric gases had a significant effect on the decrease in conductivity. Spectroscopic analyses revealed that CO2 facilitates the formation of carbonates and that O2 promotes the formation of phosphates and sulfonates. The formation of these compounds leads to surface degradation, which further decreases the conductivity.

Electrokinetics-Driven Anodic Oxide Pore Formation: Linear and Weakly Nonlinear Analysis

Abstract Anodization of aluminium in an acidic medium facilitates the formation of well-ordered nanoporous anodic oxide films. The mechanism of pore formation is investigated as a morphological instability using a simplified model. The model accounts for the high field conduction law and field-assisted reactions (oxide formation/dissolution) only at the oxide-solution interface. The role of Butler–Volmer electrokinetics, electrolyte pH, anodic efficiency, and interface curvature on reaction kinetics are taken into account. Linear stability analysis suggests that the oxide film is unstable to well-defined wavelengths in specific ranges of parameters such as anodizing efficiency, applied voltage and electrolyte pH. Subsequently, a weakly nonlinear analysis is carried out to determine the nature of bifurcation beyond the stability threshold. Our findings indicate that the instability exhibits a subcritical nature, well in agreement with experimental observations.

Effects of Cold Gas Tungsten Arc Welding on Dissimilar DHP-CW024A Copper/304 SS Thin Lap Joint

Copper and stainless steel possess distinct properties that make them suitable for different applications (i.e. e-mobility, nuclear power plants, etc.). However, the high thermal conductivity of copper presents a significant challenge in welding. In fact, researchers have explored various fusion welding processes for joining copper to steel and concluded that fusion welding is generally difficult or even unsuitable for obtaining sound and defects free joints. The present study investigated the feasibility of dissimilar lap joint between copper and stainless-steel thin plates using Cold Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (CGTAW) without a filler material and with no significant geometrical distortion of welded plates. The weld was created by consecutive partially overlapped spots, whose welding time varied between 100 and 150 ms, in upgraded conventional TIG machine equipped with cold TIG welding function. Samples made with 150 ms welding time showed a near-uniform distribution of equiaxed copper grain microstructure, while those obtained with 100 ms exhibited significant differences in grain size with the presence of steel inclusions in globule and vortex shapes. The joints demonstrated exceptional flexibility, allowing it to be bent up to a 180º angle without any visible damage. The maximum tensile strength of sample obtained with a welding time of 150 ms was 220 MPa with a fracture located in the heat-affected zone. The sample welded with a welding time of 100 ms exhibited 171 MPa of tensile strength with the fracture along the melting spot area due to pronounce mixing of welded materials. All the samples showed ductile behavior in the fracture zone. Eventually, the application of CGTAW resulted in promising at obtaining joint with good mechanical properties.

Structural and Optical Properties of SrTiO3-Based Ceramics for Energy and Electronics Applications

A series of Sr1−xDyxTi1−yNbyO3−δ (0.05 ≤ x, y ≤ 0.10) samples were fabricated using cold compaction, followed by sintering in a (95% N2 + 5% H2) reducing atmosphere. We studied the crystal structure and optical properties of Sr1−xDyxTi1−yNbyO3−δ using X-ray diffraction (XRD) with Rietveld refinement, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and ultraviolet−visible−near-infrared (UV−VIS−NIR) spectroscopy. The sintered Sr1−xDyxTi1−yNbyO3−δ had a tetragonal structure (I4/mcm space group). In the sintered samples, Ti ions existed as a mixture of Ti3+ and Ti4+, and Nb ions existed as a mixture of Nb4+ and Nb5+. The band-gap energies decreased with increasing Dy/Nb concentrations. The incorporation of Ti and Nb ions, the formation of both Ti3+ and Nb4+ ions, and the reduction in band-gap energies are likely highly effective for increasing the electron concentration and the corresponding electrical conductivity. Sr1−xDyxTi1−yNbyO3−δ with high electrical conductivity is suitable for energy and electronics applications.

An n-Doping Cross-Linkable Quinoidal Compound as an Electron Transport Material for Fully Stretchable Inverted Organic Solar Cells.

The photocatalytic activity and inherent brittleness of ZnO, which is commonly used as an electron transport layer (ETL) in inverted organic solar cells (OSCs), have impeded advancements in device stability and the development of fully stretchable OSCs. In this study, an intrinsically stretchable ETL for inverted OSCs through a side-chain cross-linking strategy has been developed. Specifically, cross-linking between bromine atoms on the side chains of a quinoidal compound and the amino groups in polyethylenimine resulted in a film, designated QBr-PEI-50, with high electrical conductivity (0.049 S/m) and excellent stretchability (crack-onset strain>45 %). When used as the ETL in inverted OSCs, QBr-PEI-50 was markedly superior to ZnO in terms of device performance and stability, yielding a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 18.27 % and a T80 lifetime exceeding 10000 h. Moreover, incorporation of QBr-PEI-50 in fully stretchable inverted OSCs yielded a PCE of 14.01 %, and 80 % of the initial PCE was maintained after 21 % strain, showcasing its potential for wearable electronics.

Development of Flexible Hydrophobic Polypropylene/SPCB/GNP Hybrid Nanocomposite Films With Excellent EMI Shielding and Mechanical Properties

ABSTRACTThe demand for effective electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials has driven the development of novel and facile approach for fabrication of conductive polymer nanocomposites. In this study, a polypropylene (PP)‐based hybrid nanocomposite was prepared by incorporating Super P conductive carbon black (SPCB) and graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) via latex technology. A simplistic method of fabrication was adopted where the nanofillers were stirred into the PP latex at room temperature, ensuring the proper dispersion of fillers within the matrix. Hybridizing the nanocomposite by the usage of two different fillers has resulted in a substantial improvement in EMI shielding performance of the material along with its mechanical and thermal properties. The samples were fabricated and tested in three different thicknesses to ensure that EMI shielding effectiveness (EMI SE) is a thickness dependent property and also the studies were carried out over a broad range of microwave frequency. A high electrical conductivity of 7.6 S m−1 was obtained and exceptional EMI SE of 65 dB (X band), 69.76 dB (Ku band), and 72.38 dB (K band) was showcased by 2 mm thickness composites. The optical images of PP latex incorporated with the fillers gave a clear understanding about the formation of conducting networks within the polymer matrix at percolation threshold. The addition of SPCB and GNP also showed a significant increase in hardness and tensile strength of the composite and helped in protecting the polymer matrix against photo radiation. The fillers also aided in the enhancement of the hydrophobicity of the films. The thermal stability, crystallization temperature (TC) and melting temperature (TM) of the composites were also improved when compared to that of neat The works aims at fabricating a hydrophobic and low‐density polymer nanocomposite showing excellent absorption dominant EMI SE.

An n‐Doping Cross‐Linkable Quinoidal Compound as an Electron Transport Material for Fully Stretchable Inverted Organic Solar Cells

AbstractThe photocatalytic activity and inherent brittleness of ZnO, which is commonly used as an electron transport layer (ETL) in inverted organic solar cells (OSCs), have impeded advancements in device stability and the development of fully stretchable OSCs. In this study, an intrinsically stretchable ETL for inverted OSCs through a side‐chain cross‐linking strategy has been developed. Specifically, cross‐linking between bromine atoms on the side chains of a quinoidal compound and the amino groups in polyethylenimine resulted in a film, designated QBr‐PEI‐50, with high electrical conductivity (0.049 S/m) and excellent stretchability (crack‐onset strain>45 %). When used as the ETL in inverted OSCs, QBr‐PEI‐50 was markedly superior to ZnO in terms of device performance and stability, yielding a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 18.27 % and a T80 lifetime exceeding 10000 h. Moreover, incorporation of QBr‐PEI‐50 in fully stretchable inverted OSCs yielded a PCE of 14.01 %, and 80 % of the initial PCE was maintained after 21 % strain, showcasing its potential for wearable electronics.

Recent Research Advancements in Carbon Fiber‐Based Anode Materials for Lithium‐Ion Batteries

Energy consumption is a critical element in human evolution, and rapid advances in science and technology necessitate adequate energy. As human society evades, the advancement of energy storage components has become critical in addressing societal challenges. Lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) are promising candidates for future extensive use as optimal energy storage devices. However, the current limitations of LIBs pose a challenge to their continued dominance. Researchers are constantly exploring new materials to enhance the performance of LIBs, and carbon fiber (CF) is a dominant contender in this pursuit. The high electrical conductivity of carbon‐based materials benefits the battery system by facilitating efficient electron transfer and improving overall performance. CF‐based materials provide enhanced energy storage capacity and cycling stability in LIBs. Progress in carbon‐based materials has resulted in electrodes with increased surface areas, enabling greater rates of charging and discharging. In addition, the exceptional corrosion resistance of CF ensures the durability and robustness of LIBs. A comprehensive review is carried out on the correlation between the material's structure and its electrochemical performance, with a special emphasis on the uses of pure carbon fibers, transition metal oxides, sulfides, and MXene carbon‐based transition metal compounds in LIBs.

Key Sputtering Parameters for Precursor In2O3 Films to Achieve High Carrier Mobility.

Owing to their extremely high carrier mobility (μ) of >100 cm2/(V s) and suitable low carrier concentrations, transparent conducting films of solid-phase crystallized H-doped In2O3 (spc-IO:H) exhibit high conductivity with high optical transparency over a broad frequency range. These properties can be attributed to solid-phase crystallization of the amorphous precursor film. Therefore, the development of high-quality spc-IO:H films requires the deposition conditions of the precursor films to be optimized. This study systematically investigates the effects of three key sputtering parameters, namely, water vapor partial pressure (PH2O), radio frequency magnetron sputtering power (PRF), and flow ratio of O2 to total sputter gas (fO2) on the crystallographic texture evolution of spc-IO:H films during solid-phase crystallization. In addition, the carrier transport in the resulting films is examined. PH2O, PRF, and fO2 are found to be indispensable for producing high-mobility (>100 cm2/(V s)) spc-IO:H films. Furthermore, it is found that introducing a small amount of PH2O during deposition, a lower PRF, and a suitable fO2 facilitates the formation of precursor films having a lower crystallite density. Moreover, after annealing at a temperature of 200 °C, the IO:H precursor films with a lower crystallite density are found to have larger crystal grains. However, the μ values of the postannealed IO:H films are mainly correlated with the stoichiometric deviation.