Interface chemistry engineering of protein-directed SnO₂ nanocrystal-based anode for lithium-ion batteries with improved performance

Versatile Protein and Its Subunit Biomolecules for Advanced Rechargeable Batteries

Rechargeable batteries are of great significance for alleviating the growing energy crisis by providing efficient and sustainable energy storage solutions. However, the multiple issues associated with the diverse components in a battery system as well as the interphase problems greatly hinder their applications. Proteins and their subunits, peptides, and amino acids, are versatile biomolecules. Functional groups in different amino acids endow these biomolecules with unique properties including self-assembly, ion-conducting, antioxidation, great affinity to exterior species, etc. Besides, protein and its subunit materials can not only work in solid forms but also in liquid forms when dissolved in solutions, making them more versatile to realize materials engineering via diverse approaches. In this review, it is aimed to offer a comprehensive understanding of the properties of proteins and their subunits, and research progress of using these versatile biomolecules to address the engineering issues of various rechargeable batteries, including alkali-ion batteries, lithium-sulfur batteries, metal-air batteries, and flow batteries. The state-of-the-art advances in electrode, electrolyte, separator, binder, catalyst, interphase modification, as well as recycling of rechargeable batteries are involved, and the impacts of biomolecules on electrochemical properties are particularly emphasized. Finally, perspectives on this interesting field are also provided.

SnO–Sn3O4 heterostructural gas sensor with high response and selectivity to parts-per-billion-level NO2 at low operating temperature

Considering the harmfulness of nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), it is important to develop NO₂ sensors with high responses and low limits of detection. In this study, we synthesize a novel SnO–Sn₃O₄ heterostructure through a one-step solvothermal method, which is used for the first time as an NO₂ sensor. The material exhibits three-dimensional flower-like microparticles assembled by two-dimensional nanosheets, in situ-formed SnO–Sn₃O₄ heterostructures, and large specific surface area. Gas sensing measurements show that the responses of the SnO–Sn₃O₄ heterostructure to 500 ppb NO₂ are as high as 657.4 and 63.4 while its limits of detection are as low as 2.5 and 10 parts per billion at 75 °C and ambient temperature, respectively. In addition, the SnO–Sn₃O₄ heterostructure has an excellent selectivity to NO₂, even if exposed to mixture gases containing interferential part with high concentration. The superior sensing properties can be attributed to the in situ formation of SnO–Sn₃O₄ p–n heterojunctions and large specific surface area. Therefore, the SnO–Sn₃O₄ heterostructure having excellent NO₂ sensing performances is very promising for applications as an NO₂ sensor or alarm operated at a low operating temperature.

A novel SnO–Sn₃O₄ heterostructural gas sensor with high response and selectivity to ppb-level NO₂ at 75 °C and room temperature.

Unveiling the structural evolution of 1T SnS2 anode upon lithiation/delithiation by TEM

Pure 1T SnS₂ was synthesized by the hydrothermal method and its atomic image was obtained. The Li-storage performance and its structure evolution were revealed by ex situ TEM.

Liquefied walnut shell-derived carbon nanofibrous mats as highly efficient anode materials for lithium ion batteries

Mechanically flexible walnut shell-derived carbon nanofibers (CNFs) of 175 nm diameter were fabricated from a liquefied walnut shell—polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hybrid solutionviaconventional electrospinning followed by one-step carbonization.

Polydopamine Wrapping Silicon Cross-linked with Polyacrylic Acid as High-Performance Anode for Lithium-Ion Batteries

A robust silicon electrode for lithium-ion battery has been developed via prepolymerizing dopamine on silicon particle surface and then chemical binding with poly(acrylic acid) (PAA). In this favorable electrode, silicon nanoparticles are covered by a thin layer of polydopamine (PD) through firm hydrogen bonds between phenolic hydroxyl and hydroxyl, while the elastic polymer layer reacts with PAA binder to form three-dimensional cross-linked binding system. The Si@PD/PAA electrode exhibits more stable cycle performance than conventional electrodes. In the case of thick electrode, a capacity of 3.69 mA h cm(-2) and fairly good rechargeability for 80 cycles can be achieved.

Improved electrochemical properties of tavorite LiFeSO4F by surface coating with hydrophilic poly-dopamine via a self-polymerization process

PDA coated Li_1−xFeSO₄F shows improved electrochemical properties due to the highly hydrophilic and elastic properties of poly-dopamine.

Copper nanoclusters trigger muscle cell apoptosis and atrophy in vitro and in vivo

Copper nanoclusters (CuNCs) are increasingly being used in nanomedicine owing to their utility in cellular imaging and as catalysts. Additionally, nanotoxicology research of CuNCs is gaining attention. We report here the synthesis and characterization of CuNCs and their cytotoxic impact on muscle cells. A simple protein-directed synthesis of stable CuNCs was prepared, using bovine serum albumin as the stabling agent. Physicochemical characterization of the synthesized CuNCs was performed using transmission electron microscopy. To evaluate the in vitro cytotoxicity, C2C12 cells were exposed to increasing doses (from 0.1 to 50 µg ml(-1)) of CuNCs. CuNCs affected the viability of C2C12 cells in a dose-dependent manner, as detected by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide and a lactate dehydrogenase release assay. Further studies indicated that CuNCs induced the formation of reactive oxygen species and decreased the activities of catalase and glutathione. CuNC treatment decreased the mitochondrial membrane potential and induced apoptosis, accompanied by an increase in the protein expression ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 and caspase-3/9 activity in C2C12 cells. CuNCs treatment resulted in atrophy of the C2C12 myotubes, which was characterized by the increased expression of atrophy-related genes, such as atrogin-1 and MuRF1. Finally, CuNCs induce morphological atrophy of primary muscle cells and mouse gastrocnemius muscle. Taken together, these results suggest that exposure to CuNCs may be a risk factor for the skeletal muscle system.

Bio-green synthesis of Ni-doped tin oxide nanoparticles and its influence on gas sensing properties

Using a novel, cost-effective and environmentally friendly biosynthesis method, Ni-doped SnO₂ nanoparticles have been synthesized. Gas sensing results suggest that the Ni-dopant is a promising additive to fabricate low cost SnO₂ based sensors.

Enhanced sodium-ion battery performance by structural phase transition from two-dimensional hexagonal-SnS2 to orthorhombic-SnS

Structural phase transitions can be used to alter the properties of a material without adding any additional elements and are therefore of significant technological value. It was found that the hexagonal-SnS2 phase can be transformed into the orthorhombic-SnS phase after an annealing step in an argon atmosphere, and the thus transformed SnS shows enhanced sodium-ion storage performance over that of the SnS2, which is attributed to its structural advantages. Here, we provide the first report on a SnS@graphene architecture for application as a sodium-ion battery anode, which is built from two-dimensional SnS and graphene nanosheets as complementary building blocks. The as-prepared SnS@graphene hybrid nanostructured composite delivers an excellent specific capacity of 940 mAh g(-1)and impressive rate capability of 492 and 308 mAh g(-1) after 250 cycles at the current densities of 810 and 7290 mA g(-1), respectively. The performance was found to be much better than those of most reported anode materials for Na-ion batteries. On the basis of combined ex situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and ex situ X-ray diffraction, the formation mechanism of SnS@graphene and the synergistic Na-storage reactions of SnS in the anode are discussed in detail. The SnS experienced a two-structural-phase transformation mechanism (orthorhombic-SnS to cubic-Sn to orthorhombic-Na3.75Sn), while the SnS2 experienced a three-structural-phase transformation mechanism (hexagonal-SnS2 to tetragonal-Sn to orthorhombic-Na3.75Sn) during the sodiation process. The lesser structural changes of SnS during the conversion are expected to lead to good structural stability and excellent cycling stability in its sodium-ion battery performance. These results demonstrate that the SnS@graphene architecture offers unique characteristics suitable for high-performance energy storage application.

The dopamine–MoVI complexation-assisted large-scale aqueous synthesis of a single-layer MoS2/carbon sandwich structure for ultrafast, long-life lithium-ion batteries

Single-layer MoS₂–carbon nanocomposites with a sandwiched structure are facilely prepared via a dopamine–Mo^VI complexation-assisted aqueous route for the first time.