Nanomaterials and Composites for Energy Conversion and Storage

The paper, "Controlling Morphologies and Tuning the Properties of Co3O4 with Enhanced Lithium Storage Properties", led by Jiaming Liu, reports that pyrolysis of Co3O4 with sodium citrate used as a structural modifier leads to multi-shelled hollow Co3O4 microspheres, which, when used as lithium ion battery anode materials, lead to high specific capacity and good cycling stability of the batteries. [...]the paper, "Fabrication of a Novel Highly Thermal Conductive Shape-Stabilized Phase-Change Material using Cheap and Easily Available Cabbage Mustard Biochar as the Matrix", led by Yan Chen, reports that cabbage mustard biochar used as the supporter of tetradecanoic acid for the fabrication of shape-stabilized phase-change materials can significantly increase the thermal conductivity while decreasing cost. [...]the paper, "Boost Thermoelectric-Mechanical Properties of BiSb-Based Material by SiC Nanocomposite", led by Mohamed Saad El Asfoury, shows that the addition of SiC nanoparticles in a BiSb-based thermoelectric material increased the Seebeck coefficient, suppressed the thermal conductivity, and improved the mechanical properties of the composite material.