P-CoMoO ₄ with boosted interface reaction activity and kinetics is first employed as a cathode material for high-performance aqueous zinc-ion batteries.

Herein, a simple and an environmentally friendly approach is developed to fabricate the novel MnO@C hierarchical structure, derived from Mn-based metal organic frameworks, which is explored as an anode material for lithium ion batteries. Remarkably, the MnO@C microsphere electrode delivers an outstanding, long cycling capacity of 596.3 mA h g⁻¹ at 5C (1C = 765 mA g⁻¹) after 1000 cycles, and an excellent rate performance of 380.1 mA h g⁻¹ at 10C. The overall outstanding properties of the hierarchical MnO@C composite can be attributed to the success of a new strategy for dual structure design, which provides two pathways for effectively alleviating volume changes and enhancing conductivity based on in situ TEM electrochemical experiments and electrochemical impedance spectra. Both the poor conductivity and great volume changes of the MnO electrode material can be effectively improved in two ways: the porous carbon matrix confining the MnO nanoparticles, and the hierarchical nanorod-assembled architecture. The structures herein suggest new design concepts for metal oxide nanoarchitectures for high performance electrode materials in lithium ion batteries.

The PVP coated Fe ₃ S ₄ tetragonal nanosheets could be employed to realize magnetic resonance imaging guided photothermal/chemodynamic therapy and body-clearance without appreciable toxic side effects.

SnS, is a promising anode material for lithium ion batteries (LIBs) and sodium ion batteries (SIBs), however, undergoes poor cyclic lifespan due to its huge volume changes and bad electroconductivity. Here, a modified CVD method is used to directly grow graphene‐like carbon film on the surface of SnS nanosheet arrays which are supported by Co‐, N‐modified porous carbon fibers (CCF@SnS@G). In the strategy, the SnS nanosheet arrays confined into the integrated carbon matrix containing porous carbon fibers and graphene‐like carbon film, perform a greatly improved electrochemical performance. In situ TEM experiments reveal that the vertical graphene‐like carbon film can not only protect the SnS nanosheet from destruction well and enhance the conductivity, but also transforms SnS nanosheet into ultrafine nanoparticles to promote the electrochemical kinetics. Systematic electrochemical investigations exhibit that the CCF@SnS@G electrode delivers a stable reversible capacity of 529 mAh g⁻¹ at a high current density of 5 A g⁻¹ for LIBs and 541.4 mAh g⁻¹ at 2 A g⁻¹ for SIBs, suggesting its good potential for anode electrodes.

Cobalt nickel nitrides coated by a thin carbon layer anchoring on nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes, named NiCo₂N@C–NCNT nanocomposites, were obtained by a facile fabrication method. The work reveals that the NiCo₂N structures possess extensive Li⁺ channels and high electrical conductivity for the rapid electron/ion transfer in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). These materials were applied as anodes for the first time, and a nanobattery was constructed and examined using a transmission electron microscope (TEM) to directly verify the in situ structural evolution during lithiation/delithiation processes. The results show a small dimensional expansion of the NiCo₂N@C–NCNT nanocomposites during the lithiation process; this is due to the disciform expansion of the lithiated NiCo₂N nanoparticles which cover the surface of the NCNTs. It was found that some of the lithiated NiCo₂N nanoparticles moved along the surface of the NCNTs and entered the NCNTs – thus acting to ‘protect’ themselves. Moreover, electrodes composed of interconnected NCNTs alleviate the volumetric expansion of NiCo₂N@C–NCNT nanocomposites. The NiCo₂N@C–NCNT nanocomposite electrode exhibits excellent lithium storage properties in electrochemical tests in coin cell configurations. This material synthesis route and ‘self-protection’ mechanism provide the basis of a design strategy for developing effective electrode materials in LIBs and a broader sphere of metal-ion batteries.