In this work, we prepared spinel-type NiCo2O4 (NCO) nanopowders as a low-cost and sensitive electrochemical sensor for nonenzymatic glucose detection. A facile and simple chemical bath method to synthesize the NCO nanopowders is demonstrated. The effect of pH and annealing temperature on the formation mechanism of NCO nanoparticles was systematically investigated. Our studies show that different pHs of the precursor solution during synthesis result in different intermediate phases and relating chemical reactions for the formation of NCO nanoparticles. Different morphologies of the NCO depending on pHs are also discussed based on the mechanism of growth. Electrochemical performance of the prepared NCO was characterized towards glucose, which reveals that sensitivity and selectivity of the NCO are significantly related with the final microstructure combined with constituent species with multiple oxidation states in the spinel structure.

Exploring bifunctional electrocatalysts to lower the activation energy barriers for sluggish electrochemical reactions for both the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) are of great importance in achieving lower energy consumption and higher conversion efficiency for future energy conversion and storage system. Despite the excellent performance of precious metal-based electrocatalysts for OER and ORR, their high cost and scarcity hamper their large-scale industrial application. As alternatives to precious metal-based electrocatalysts, the development of earth-abundant and efficient catalysts with excellent electrocatalytic performance in both the OER and the ORR is urgently required. Herein, we report a core–shell CoFeS₂@CoS₂ heterostructure entangled with carbon nanotubes as an efficient bifunctional electrocatalyst for both the OER and the ORR. The CoFeS₂@CoS₂ nanocubes entangled with carbon nanotubes show superior electrochemical performance for both the OER and the ORR: a potential of 1.5 V (vs. RHE) at a current density of 10 mA cm⁻² for the OER in alkaline medium and an onset potential of 0.976 V for the ORR. This work suggests a processing methodology for the development of the core–shell heterostructures with enhanced bifunctional performance for both the OER and the ORR.

High-performance oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalysts are needed to produce hydrogen for energy generation through a carbon-free route. In this work, the solution combustion synthesis (SCS) method was employed to synthesize mixed phases of Co- and Mn-based oxides, and the relationships between the crystalline structure and the catalytic properties in the mixed phases were established. The mixed phases of Co- and Mn-based oxides shows promising OER properties, such as acceptable overpotential (450 mV for 10 mA∙cm−2) and Tafel slope (35.8 mV∙dec−1), highlighting the use of the mixed phases of Co- and Mn-based oxides as a new efficient catalysts for water splitting. Electronic structure of the mixed phases of Co- and Mn based oxides is studied in detail to give insight for the origin of high catalytic activities. In addition, excellent long-term stability for OER in alkaline media is achieved for the mixed phase of Co- and Mn based oxides.

As the markets for electric vehicles (EVs) and energy storage systems (ESS) continue to grow, the importance of effective battery thermal management has become increasingly critical. Therefore, there is a growing demand for thermal interface materials (TIMs) with highly thermal conductivity. Magnesia (MgO) is an attractive lightweight thermal management filler, yet its rapid hydration and poor compatibility with hydrophobic polymers limit practical use in various applications including battery pack system. Here, we investigated two different silane-based surface-engineering strategies, direct fluorinated alkylsilane grafting (denoted as F-MgO) and a tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS)-assisted hybrid coating followed by FAS treatment (TF-MgO), to identify the key design parameters governing hydrophobic stability and composite-level dispersion. Experimental results reveal that F-MgO highly exposed fluorocarbon layer with CF₃ and CF₂-CF₂ groups, whereas TF-MgO contains a silica-rich interphase that partially embeds or reorients fluorinated chains. As a result, F-MgO exhibits the highest water contact angle (128.27 °) and markedly suppressed moisture uptake under 85 °C/85% RH aging. 2D X-ray Micro CT imaging and Raman mapping of PDMS composites further demonstrate that F-MgO achieves void-free and homogeneous filler dispersion, while pristine MgO and TF-MgO particles show aggregation-induced microstructural defects. This study establishes that maximizing surface exposure and packing density of fluorocarbon functionalities is essential for producing hydrophobic, moisture-resistant, and uniformly dispersed MgO fillers, offering a practical pathway to high-reliability thermal management materials for next-generation battery applications.