Three-dimensional Conductive Network Research Articles

In situ anchoring of FeNi nanoparticles into three-dimensional nitrogen-doped carbon framework as a self-supporting electrode for high-performance lithium storage

Constructing free-standing electrodes with superior lithium storage capacity and good mechanical performance are fascinating for next-generation lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Nevertheless, their practical application is hindered by complicated synthesis procedures and high cost. Herein, a highly stable, self-supporting and flexible electrode material for LIBs was constructed by encapsulating spherical FeNi nanoparticles into one-dimensional N-doped carbon fiber film (FeNi/N- CFM) using the electrospinning technique and subsequent heat treatment. The FeNi/N-CFM can be directly used as anode materials for LIBs without conductive additive, current collector and binder. The synergistic effect of uniformly dispersed small FeNi nanoparticles and three-dimensional (3D) conductive network constructed by CF framework effectively improves the utilization rate of active materials, enhances the transport of both electrons and lithium ions, facilitates the electrolyte penetration, and promotes the lithium-ion storage kinetics and stability, thus leading to a greatly enhanced electrochemical performance. Benefiting from the unique architectural feature and flexibility, the FeNi/N-CFM composites employed as binder-free electrodes for LIBs exhibit good lithium storage performance (an initial discharge capacity of 1031.5 mA h g−1 and a reversible capacity of 481.3 mA h g−1 at 100 mA g−1 after 100 cycles), rate capacity (305.1 mA h g−1 at 1000 mA g−1) and outstanding reversibility (coulombic efficiency of around 100 % after 100 cycles). Furthermore, this work also provides a facile and effective pathway to design and fabricate free-standing electrodes.

Covalently anchoring phosphorus nitride imide on carbon nanotubes for efficient electrochemical extraction of uranium

The electrochemical extraction technique is an emerging approach for the recovery of uranium. However, the ultra-high salinity and the coexistence of many competitive ions seriously reduce the electrochemical extraction performance of uranium. Phosphorus nitride imide (PN) demonstrates high efficiency and selectivity as a uranium adsorbent. However, its low conductivity adversely affects its electrochemical performance. In this work, the covalent grafting strategy has been employed to anchor PN onto carbon nanotubes (PN@CNT) toward efficient electrochemical extraction of uranium (EEU). CNTs not only serve as an optimal carrier for the dispersion of PN, but also establish a three-dimensional conductive network for PN, thereby facilitating the fixation and reduction of uranium ions. This ingenious structural design enables outstanding EEU performance: PN@CNT demonstrates an extremely high uranium adsorption capacity (1006.9 mg/g), excellent anti-interference and satisfactory cycle stability. PN@CNT reduced uranium-spiked groundwater from 5 mg/L to 15 μg L−1 within 12 h which meets the drinking water standard (30 μg L−1). This study offers a potential material for the EEU, while also serving as a reference for the development of electrodes in the electrochemical recovery of other heavy metals.

Regulating the phase composition and microstructure of Fe3Si/SiC nanofiber composites to enhance electromagnetic wave absorption

The rational introduction of multi-components to fabricate electromagnetic wave absorbing (EMA) materials with synergistic conductive/dielectric/magnetic losses promises lightweighting and excellent EMA performance, but it remains a challenge. In this work, multicomponent Fe3Si/SiC nanofibre composites with network structure were constructed by electrostatic spinning method and in-situ carbothermal reduction strategy. Design of microstructures and multicomponent modulation by controlling the carbothermal reduction temperature. As a result, the presence of a large number of non-homogeneous interfaces, three-dimensional (3D) conductive network structures and defect structures in Fe3Si/SiC nanofibre composites induces a combination of multiple loss mechanisms that significantly improve the EMA performance. When the filling amount of Fe3Si/SiC in the paraffin transmission matrix is 20 wt%, the maximum effective absorption bandwidth (EABmax) of the fabricated material reaches 5.84 GHz with a thin thickness of 2.02 mm. Moreover, the minimum reflection loss (RLmin) value at 10.96 GHz is as low as −67.57 dB. Meanwhile, the radar cross-section (RCS) simulation verifies that the F-4 peak RCS is reduced to −30.37 dB in the range of −60°<θ < 60°. It indicates that the Fe3Si/SiC nanofiber composites have a good radar-wave dissipation capability in practical applications. In summary, the comprehensive performance of lightweight multicomponent Fe3Si/SiC nanofiber composites can meet the new application requirements and is expected to become an emerging multifunctional wave-absorbing material suitable for harsh environments.

Ultrafast reaction kinetic of polyaniline in flexible hydrogel electrodes facilitated by graphene ribbons

Abstract By loading energy storage active materials on hydrogel which is inherently flexible, the flexibility of electrode materials can be simply realized, thereby achieving the flexibility of energy storage devices. However, the polymer network that constructs the three-dimensional skeleton of the hydrogel is not conductive, which inhibits the redox ability of the active material. If a high speed conductive structure can be added to the colloidal phase, the performance of the flexible electrode material can be greatly improved. Here, we introduce redox graphene ribbons into the polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel loaded with polyaniline. The in situ three-dimensional conductive graphene network greatly enhanced the conductivity of the hydrogel electrode, thus increasing the specific capacitance to as high as 1117 F g−1 at 2 mg cm−2 mass loading, with a retention ratio of 66.96% from 0.5 A g−1 to 20 A g−1. These highlighted properties enable the PRP hydrogel as an electrode for flexible supercapacitors, which provides a promising possibility for the practical application of wearable electronics.

Synergistic enhancement of Ni2P anode for high lithium/sodium storage by N, P, S triply-doping and soft template-assisted strategy

Transition metal phosphides have demonstrated excellent performance in the field of energy conversion and storage, where nickel phosphide is one of the most prominent type of phosphides. However, achieving long cycle life with higher specific capacity in the case of Ni2P is still a great challenge. In this study, the composition and structure of Ni2P composites are rationally and precisely adjusted by heteroatoms doping and micelle-assisted methods to attain high capacity for longer cycles at high rate. Among all studied combinations, nickel phosphide particles anchored to triple heteroatom (N, P, S) doped carbon network skeleton (Ni2P@NPS) exhibited specific capacities of 727.3, 586.6, and 321.5 mA h g−1 after 1000 cycles at 1, 2 and 6 A g−1 for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and 230.1 mA h g−1 at 1 A g−1 for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) after 560 cycles. The introduction of heteroatoms optimized the electronic structure of the electrode materials and promoted mass and charge transfer, while triple-heteroatom doped carbon substrates and uniformly dispersed spherical structures formed an active three-dimensional conductive network structure that provided a stronger driving force and richer channels for Li+/Na+ transport. Theoretical calculations showed that the high content of pyrrole nitrogen as well as the additional sulfur ensured improved electrical conductivity and enhanced ion adsorption performance. This study encourages further research into the synergistic effect of N, P, S co-doping materials for improving Li+/Na+ storage and the exploration of other heteroatom co-doping systems.

Modulation of electron transfer behavior on Fe2P-Co2P/NPC oxygen electrocatalyst by lattice cation substitution engineering and charge transport network design for rechargeable Zn-air batteries

Crystal structure modulation engineering on the lattice scale and charge transport network design on the micro/nano scale work together to endow oxygen electrocatalysts with high reactivity to fully release the capacity of Zn-air batteries (ZABs) as the next-generation green energy storage devices. Metal phosphide-based oxygen reduction reaction (ORR)/oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalysts with tunable electronic structures, variable valence states, and moderate overpotentials are recognized as the most promising and ideal candidates for air cathodes. The cation substitution strategy overcomes the drawback that single metal phosphides with fewer active sites and high adsorption barriers are not sufficient to achieve satisfactory electrocatalytic performance. In this paper, the Fe2P-Co2P/NPC oxygen electrocatalyst employing lattice cation site substitution engineering and three-dimensional (3D) conductive network encapsulation strategies are constructed to successfully ensure fast electron transfer behavior and safe charge/discharge energy storage. Noteworthy, the presence of Schottky barriers at the interface of the two materials hinders the electron reflux, which promotes a unidirectional flow of electrons, and increases the electron condensation in the OER and ORR processes. Relying on these features, the Fe2P-Co2P/NPC-assembled liquid ZABs achieved power densities, specific capacities, and energy densities of 175.18 mW cm-2, 805.75 mAh gZn-1, and 958.84 Wh kg-1, respectively, and importantly good rate performances and stability were exhibited even under high-current-density operation. The corresponding flexible solid-state ZABs also possesses superior electrochemical activity and mechanical flexibility. This work paves the way for the construction of bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts with high-speed electron transfer channels, thus advancing the development of wearable electronic devices.

Electrospun three dimensional TiO2@N/P co-doped carbon nanofibers framework as high-performance anode materials for lithium-ion batteries

Electrospinning combined with heating treatment is employed to fabricate N/P co-doped carbon nanofibers encapsulating homogenous ultrafine TiO2 nanoparticles (TiO2@N/P-CNFs). Characterization results reveal that one-dimensional electrospun composite nanofibers with high electronic conductivity and structural integrity are interconnected with each other to construct a three-dimensional conductive nanofiber network as efficient ion/electron transport channels. Specifically, the Li//TiO2@N/P-CNFs coin cell delivers an initial discharge specific capacity of 754.9 mAh/g at 100 mA/g and maintains the reversible specific capacity of 486.1 mAh/g after 100 cycles. Moreover, the cell expresses the exceptional rate capability with discharge specific capacity of 272.2 mAh/g at 2000 mA/g, whose capacity can be restored to 474.3 mAh/g as soon as the current density is returned to 100 mAh/g. Furthermore, Li//TiO2@N/P-CNFs cell demonstrates a significant pseudocapacitive contribution of 78% at 1.0 mV/s. The excellent electrochemical performance can be explained by the fact that the N/P co-doping strategy is promising strategy for facilitating Li+ ions storage and transfer by broadening interlayer distance and increasing the distribution of defects and active sites. Besides, ultrafine TiO2 nanoparticles with diameter of about 7 nm harness excellent mechanical strength to maintain structural stability upon cycling. Therefore, easily fabricated TiO2@N/P-CNFs composite nanofibers with excellent electrochemical properties may be served as a promising option for advanced anode materials for lithium-ion batteries.

Modification of LiMn2O4 Cathodes to Boost Kinetics Match via rGO for High-Performance Rocking-Chair Lithium-Ion Capacitors.

The rocking-chair lithium-ion capacitors (RLICs), composed of a battery-type cathode and capacitive-type anode, alleviates the issue of increased internal resistance caused by electrolyte consumption during the cycling process of the lithium-ion capacitors (LICs). However, the poor conductivity of cathode materials and the mismatch between the cathode and anode are the key issues that hinder its commercial application. In this work, a modification simplification strategy is proposed to tailor the conductivity of the cathode and matching characteristic with the anode. The in situ grown lithium manganate (LMO) is featured with a three-dimensional conductive network constructed by reduced graphene oxide (rGO). The optimized LMO/rGO composite cathode demonstrates an excellent rate performance, lithium-ion diffusion rate, and cycling performance. After assembling an RLICs with activated carbon (AC), the RLICs exhibits an energy density of as high as 239.11 Wh/kg at a power density of 400 W/kg. Even at a power density of 200 kW/kg, its energy density can maintain at 39.9 Wh/kg. These excellent electrochemical performances are mainly attributed to the compounding of LMO with rGO, which not only improves the conductivity of the cathode but also realizes a better matching with the capacitive-type anode. This modification strategy provides a reference for the further development of energy storage devices suitable for actual production conditions and application scenarios.

Interfacial modulation strategy using poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)–poly(4-styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) and ultrathin two-dimensional metal–organic framework nanosheets for wearable supercapacitors: Solution engineering

Two-dimensional metal–organic frameworks (2D MOFs) hold great promise as electrochemically active materials. However, their application in MOF nanocomposite electrodes in solution engineering is limited by structural self-stacking and imperfect conductive pathways. In this study, we used meso-tetra(4-carboxyphenyl) porphine (TCPP) with off-domain π-bonds to reconstitute Zn-TCPP (ZMOF) and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) through an interfacial modulation strategy involving electrostatic coupling and hydrogen bonding, creating a conductive composite with a nanosheet structure. The negatively charged PSS and ZMOF formed a three-dimensional interconnected conductive network with excellent interfaces. The positively charged PEDOT, fine tuned with the lamellar structure, established strong π-π stacking interactions between the porphyrin and thiophene rings. ZMOF also induced changes in the PEDOT chain structure, weakening PSS entanglement and enhancing charge-transport properties. The specific capacitance of the prepared supercapacitor was as high as 967.8 F g−1. Flexible supercapacitors produced on a large scale using dispensing printing technology exhibited an energy density of 1.85 μWh cm−2 and a power density of 7.08 μW cm−2. This interfacial modulation strategy also exhibited excellent wearable properties, with 96 % capacitance retention at a 180° bending angle and stable cycling performance. This study presented a significant advancement in the functionalization of 2D materials, highlighting their potential for device-grade capacitive architectures.

Multifunctional heterostructured composite foam with 3D hierarchical network for efficient electromagnetic interference shielding

The development of multifunctional electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials represents an important research direction. However, the challenge remains to develop multifunctional and high-performance electromagnetic waves (EMW) shielding materials through the effective integration of multiple functions into the materials through appropriate multicomponent strategies and ingenious microstructural design. In this study, magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles with polypyrrole (PPy) encapsulation were successfully assembled on melamine foam (MF) with a hierarchical structure combined with a highly conductive silver layer by in situ polymerization and cyclic immersion processes to achieve absorption-dominated electromagnetic shielding and multifunctionality. The composite benefits from good impedance matching, dielectric/magnetic losses, interfacial/dipole polarization, and internal multiple reflections and scattering due to the three-dimensional conductive network. Moreover, the high concentration of modified Fe3O4@PPy particles assembled on the MF skeleton ensures that the multifunctional heterostructured composite foams remain stable and superhydrophobic even when the surface is repeatedly abraded. At the same time, MHCF exhibits excellent thermal insulation and infrared stealth properties. This work offers new insights into the design and development of lightweight and multifunctional high-performance EMW shielding materials, while simultaneously opening up new prospects for their practical applications.

Immobilization and Catalytic Conversion of Polysulfide by In-Situ Generated Nickel in Hollow Carbon Fibers for High-Rate Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries are considered promising energy-storage systems because of their high theoretical energy density, low cost, and eco-friendliness. However, problems such as the shuttle effect can result in the loss of active materials, poor cyclability, and rapid capacity degradation. The utilization of a structural configuration that enhances electrochemical performance via dual adsorption-catalysis strategies can overcome the limitations of Li-S batteries. In this study, an integrated interlayer structure, in which hollow carbon fibers (HCFs) were modified with in-situ-generated Ni nanoparticles, was prepared by scalable one-step carbonization. Highly hierarchically porous HCFs act as the carbon skeleton and provide a continuous three-dimensional conductive network that enhances ion/electron diffusion. Ni nanoparticles with superior anchoring and catalytic abilities can prevent the shuttle effect and increase the conversion rate, thereby promoting the electrochemical performance. This synergistic effect resulted in a high capacity retention of 582 mAh g-1 at 1 C after 100 cycles, providing an excellent rate capability of up to 3 C. The novel structure, wherein Ni nanoparticles are embedded in cotton-tissue-derived HCFs, provides a new avenue for enhancing electrochemical performance at high C rates. This results in a low-cost, sustainable, and high-performance hybrid material for the development of practical Li-S batteries.

High-performance Na3V2(PO4)3 cathode material embedded in three-dimensional porous carbon derived from tea leaves

Among various known positive electrode materials for sodium-ion batteries, polyanion-type cathode materials are the preferred system for high stability and high safety of sodium-ion batteries. Especially, Na3V2(PO4)3 has enormous development potential. This work uses tea leaves as a novel biomass carbon source to uniformly grow Na3V2(PO4)3 crystals into a three-dimensional porous carbon framework through a facile sol–gel method. The prepared Na3V2(PO4)3/C material presents a three-dimensional porous carbon conductive network structure, and its electrochemical performance is significantly improved compared to the pristine material. The Na3V2(PO4)3/C material exhibits a high initial discharge specific capacity of up to 110.6 mAh g−1 at 0.1 C within 2.0–4.0 V.

Multifunctional, efficient, and durable composites of conductive PMIA/Ag membrane

Developing high-efficiency electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding composite membranes along with additional functionalities to extend the application scenarios is highly desirable for the next generation electronic devices. Here, we report an ultrathin and flexible EMI shielding materials with sensitive Joule heating and outstanding infrared stealth performance was fabricated from poly-m-phenylene isophthalamide (PMIA) and Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) through an innovation and simplicity method of electrospinning and electroless plating. Profiting from a continuous three-dimensional (3D) conductive network, the final membrane achieves an outstanding EMI shielding effectiveness (SE) of 100.51 dB (in X-band), a remarkable Joule heating properties with a fast thermal response and low driving voltage (<0.5 V), and an outstanding infrared stealth with a low infrared emissivity (0.28). Meanwhile, the prepared composite membrane demonstrates stable EMI SE even after water washing, continuous bending, and heating treatment. This work integrates high-performance fiber PMIA, characterized by high heat resistance, flame retardancy, self-extinguishing properties, and chemical resistance, with functions such as EMI shielding, infrared stealth, and autonomous thermal management. It has great development potential if utilized in specialized combat uniforms under harsh conditions.

Vanadium sulfide decorated at carbon matrix as anode materials for “fast-charging” lithium-ion batteries

Vanadium sulfide is considered a promising electrode material for achieving rapid lithium storage ascribing to its high specific capacity, unique crystal structure, and abundant valence states. Unfortunately, the structural collapse induced by volume expansion during charging and discharging is the key factor affecting rapid lithium storage. This article prepares composite materials with different morphologies through a strategy of decorating vanadium sulfide at carbon matrix. Among them, graphene oxide modified vanadium tetrasulfide composite materials with three-dimensional conductive networks exhibit excellent electrochemical performance. When the current density is 50 mA g−1, the discharging specific capacity reaches 1, 560 mAh g−1. After 2, 500 cycles at a high current density of 10, 000 mA g−1, the specific capacity is about 188 mAh g−1 with charging time of approximately 70 s. GITT testing indicates that the order of magnitude of the logarithm of the initial diffusion coefficient is 10−11 cm2 s−1 owing to the three-dimensional porous conductive network, which not only shortens ion diffusion path but also provides more active sites for lithium-ion storage, rendering it a promising anode material for “fast-charging” lithium-ion batteries.

Electrospinning fabrication of hollow C@TiO2/Fe3C nanofibers composites for excellent wave absorption at a low filling content

In order to face the challenge of achieving high-efficiency and lightweight wave absorption materials, we prepared the poly-m-phenylene isophthalamide (PMIA)/TiO2/Fe3C (PTF) composites with hollow structure by coaxial electrospinning and carbonization process. PMIA as the carbon source provided a three-dimensional (3D) conductive network, using TiO2 and Fe3C to improve the impedance matching, reinforce the hollow structure, and increase the absorption mechanism of composites. Significantly, the minimum reflection loss (RLmin) value of optimal material is −58.1 dB at 14.88 GHz and the effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) of 6 GHz with the matching thickness of 2.3 mm, and the filling content is only 13 wt%. The excellent absorption property is maintained even after heating, immersing, and long-term use. This work provides the reference of hollow carbon nanofiber absorbers with excellent comprehensive properties and has more powerful practicability in a variety of environmental conditions.

Construction of multi-interface magnetic FeMnC modified carbon/graphene aerogels for broadband microwave absorption

Magnetic carbon-based aerogels with low-density and strong attenuation, have attracted significant attention as microwave absorbing materials, but still face huge challenges. Herein, magnetic FeMnC modified carbon/Graphene aerogels (NCMF) were synthesized utilizing freeze casting following a carbothermal reduction process. The conductivity, defects density, material component and electromagnetic properties can be regulated by the temperature. The NCMF aerogels exhibit remarkable microwave absorption properties, with an effective absorption bandwidth of 5.76 GHz at a thickness of 2.1 mm and a minimum reflection loss as low as −50.8 dB at 7.52 GHz with a fill ratio of only 5 wt%. The exceptional microwave absorption capabilities of NCMF aerogels are attributed to the synergistic effects of dielectric loss, magnetic loss, three-dimensional (3D) carbon conductive network, and the optimal impedance matching. Consequently, this research paves a way for the development of microwave absorbing materials with lightweight, broadband and strong microwave absorption at low loading.

A multifunctional solution to enhance capacity and stability in lithium-sulfur batteries: Incorporating hollow CeO2 nanorods into carbonized non-woven fabric as an interlayer

Lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs) hold promise as the next-generation lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) due to their ultra-high theoretical capacity and remarkable cost-efficiency. However, these batteries suffer from the serious shuttle effect, challenging their practical application. To address this challenge, we have developed a unique interlayer (HCON@CNWF) composed of hollow cerium oxide nanorods (CeO2) anchored to carbonized non-woven viscose fabric (CNWF), utilizing a straightforward template method. The prepared interlayer features a three-dimensional (3D) conductive network that serves as a protective barrier and enhances electron/ion transport. Additionally, the CeO2 component effectively chemisorbs and catalytically transforms lithium polysulfides (LiPSs), offering robust chemisorption and activation sites. Moreover, the unique porous structure of the HCON@CNWF not only physically adsorbs LiPSs but also provides ample space for sulfur’s volume expansion, thus mitigating the shuttle effect and safeguarding the electrode against damage. These advantages collectively contribute to the battery’s outstanding electrochemical performance, notably in retaining a reversible capacity of 80.82 % (792 ± 5.60 mAh g−1) of the initial value after 200 charge/discharge cycles at 0.5C. In addition, the battery with HCON@CNWF interlayer has excellent electrochemical performance at high sulfur loading (4 mg cm−2) and low liquid/sulfur ratio (7.5 µL mg−1). This study, thus, offers a novel approach to designing advanced interlayers that can enhance the performance of LSBs.

A unique three-dimensional network double-core–shell structure S@MnO2@MXene suppresses the shuttle effect in high-sulfur-content high-performance lithium-sulfur batteries

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries represent the most promising next-generation energy storage systems because of their high theoretical specific capacity and energy density. However, the severe shuttle effect and volume expansion of sulfur cathodes have impeded their commercial viability. Hence, accelerating the conversion of lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) is crucial for achieving efficient Li-S batteries. In this study, we employ a straightforward electrostatic self-assembly method to coat ultra-thin MXene nanosheets onto a S@MnO2 core–shell structure, resulting in a highly conductive three-dimensional network. This unique structure not only suppresses the diffusion of LiPSs but also accelerates electron and ion transfer, ensuring a rapid and efficient conversion of LiPSs. The CV curves of symmetrical cells and the Li2S deposition curves demonstrate a significant improvement in the catalytic performance of batteries with S@MnO2@MXene. The capacity of Li-S batteries achieved an impressive 842 mAh/g at the current density of 1C, with a minimal capacity decay of only 0.84 mAh/g per cycle within 500 cycles. Additionally, increasing the sulfur loading mass to 5.88 mg cm−2 resulted in an areal capacity of 6.33 mAh cm−2, demonstrating practical application potential.

Graphene Sterically-Wrapped textile piezoresistive Sensors: A spray coating path for synergistically advancing sensitivity and response range

Trade-off between a high sensitivity and a broad sensing range remains a persistent challenge for flexible pressure sensors. Not to suffer from this dilemma, a flexible textile piezoresistive sensor sterically-wrapped with graphene by spray coating is reported, which constructs enriched three-dimensional conductive networks from leather fabric’s inherent fibers and pore structures, synergistically advancing the sensitivity and response range. Such a sensor renders bulky spatial deformation and augmented pressure-induced conducting paths, and hence affords an ultra-high sensitivity of 259.6 kPa−1(0–100 kPa) and an exceptional response range of up to 1 MPa. Besides, the graphene/textile sensor demonstrates outstanding durability (>12000 cycles). With these advantages, real-time monitoring of human physiological activities such as wrist pulses and throat swallowing is successfully achieved. Benefitting from the scalability of the spraying methodology, a large-size 45 × 45 cm2 sensing array with a 32 × 32 matrix is facilely fabricated to map the spatial pressure of human interactive behaviors for ergonomics. And smart insoles incorporating graphene/textile sensors can capture plantar pressure distribution and provide effective analysis for diverse static/dynamic movements of feet. Such spray-coated textile sensors could not only find potential applications in wearable electronics and intelligent robotics, but also open the possibility of monitoring complex heavy machinery and large-scale infrastructures.

In situ synthesis of vertical graphene on porous Si microparticle composite for high-performance anode material

Silicon is capable of delivering a high theoretical specific capacity (4200 mAh g-1) in lithium-ion batteries. However, silicon has poor electrical conductivity, huge volume expansion (∼300%), and unstable solid electrolyte interface (SEI) film, especially for micron-sized silicon particles. We proposed and prepared a novel vertical carbon (VG) coating on a porous silicon (p-Si) microparticle structure, which effectively alleviated the volume expansion and inhibited the interface reaction. The synthesized porous silicon p-Si@VG composite exhibited significant enhanced cycling stability and an excellent reversible capacity of 1563 mAh g-1 (capacity retention of 48.6%) after 200 cycles. The vertical carbon nanosheet structure constructed a three-dimensional conductive network. Therefore, the p-Si@VG composite showed better rate capability and higher lithium-ion diffusion rates. This work is expected to promote the application of micron Si-based composites in lithium-ion batteries.