MultiElement-Doped Ni-Based Disulfide Enhances the Specific Capacity of Thermal Batteries by High Thermal Stability

With the exploding interest in transition metal chalcogenides, sulfide minerals containing the dianion S2(2-), such as pyrite (FeS2), cattierite (CoS2), and vaesite (NiS2), have recently attracted much attention for potential applications in energy conversion and storage devices. However, the synthesis of the patronite structure (VS4, V(4+)(S2(2-))2) and its applications have not yet been clearly demonstrated because of experimental difficulties and the existence of nonstoichiometric phases. Herein, we report the synthesis of VS4 using a simple, facile hydrothermal method with a graphene oxide (GO) template and the characterization of the resulting material. Tests of various templates such as CNT, pyrene, perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic dianhydride (PTCDA), and graphite led us to the conclusion that the graphitic layer plays a role in the nucleation during growth of VS4. Furthermore, the VS4/rGO hybrid was proved to be a promising functional material in energy storage devices.

This review highlights breakthroughs in the past decade in the synthesis and the modification of both the chemistry and morphology of Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 . Lithium-ion batteries are considered as one of the most promising power sources for energy storage system for a wide variety of applications such as electric vehicles (EVs) or hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs). The anode material often plays an important role in the determination of the safety and cycling life of lithium-ion batteries. Among all anode materials, spinel Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 has been considered as one the most promising anode candidates for the next-generation large-scale power lithium-ion batteries used for HEVs or EVs because it has a high potential of around 1.55 V ( vs. Li/Li + ) during charge and discharge, excellent cycle life due to the negligible volume change, and high thermal stability and safety. In this review, we present an overview of the breakthroughs in the past decade in the synthesis and modification of both the chemistry and morphology of Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 . An insight into the future research and further development of Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 composites is also discussed.