Honeycomb‐Inspired Heterogeneous Bimetallic Co–Mo Oxide Nanoarchitectures for High‐Rate Electrochemical Lithium Storage

Abstract

Nanostructure engineering has been proved to be an efficient approach for improving electrochemical properties for energy storage by accommodating volume changes, facilitating rapid mass transport paths, and enlarging ion storage sites and interfaces. The well‐designed fine nanostructures, unfortunately, are usually destroyed during long‐term cycles and ultimately lose their structural advantages. Herein, stimulated by the extraordinary structural stability, robust mechanical properties, and salient ventilation capacity of natural honeycomb species, bioinspired heterogeneous bimetallic Co–Mo oxide (CoMoOx) nanoarchitectures assembled from 2D nanounits are successfully fabricated via a molybdenum‐mediated self‐assembly strategy for improving the rate capability of electrochemical lithium storage devices. Owing to the robust structural stability and the ultrathin 2D wall structure, CoMoOx nanostructures present well‐maintained honeycomb‐like structure, rapid capacitive insertion–desertion behaviors, and thus significantly enhanced lithium ion storage performance at high rates (5.0 A g−1). It is also revealed that the reversible transition of cobalt and molybdenum phases closely associated with the ultrathin 2D wall structures greatly contribute to the outstanding electrochemical lithium storage performances. This attractive integration of structural and functional advantages achieved by learning from nature offers new insights into the design of cost‐effective electrode materials for high‐performance energy devices.

Hierarchical Tubular Architecture Constructed by Vertically Aligned CoS2‐MoS2 Nanosheets for Hydrogen Evolution Electrocatalysis

“…The high‐resolution spectrum of Co 2p are shown in Figure e. The two main peaks located at 779.2 and 794.1 eV could be assigned to Co 2p 3/2 and Co 2p 1/2 , respectively, corresponding to the Co−S bond in CoS 2 . For the Mo 3d, shown in Figure f, the peaks at 229.5 and 232.8 eV correspond to the Mo 3d 5/2 and Mo 3d 3/2 of Mo 4+ in crystalline MoS 2 , whereas another doublet of peaks located at lower binding energies (228.7/231.9 eV) are ascribed to the Mo 3d 5/2 and Mo 3d 3/2 of Mo 3+ in Mo‐based carbides, respectively . The remaining two peaks located at 235.6 and 228.8 eV correspond to the Mo 3d from the residual Mo 6+ ‐O and S 2s from the CoS 2 ‐MoS 2 , respectively.…”

Bioinspired 2D Nanomaterials for Sustainable Applications

“…( In clockwise sequence, the same hereinafter ) b) Schematic images of Asian Arowana fish, fly compound eyes, and fish gill . c) Schematic images of plant leaf, Electrophorus electricus , and honeycomb . d) Photonic applications of incidence angle, incidence wavelength, and iridescence by magnetic actuation .…”

“…Copyright 2017, Nature Publishing Group. Honeycomb: Reproduced with permission . Copyright 2019, Wiley‐VCH.…”

Toward Promising Cathode Catalysts for Nonlithium Metal–Oxygen Batteries

“…The rapid development of lithium ion batteries (LIBs) offers an unprecedented opportunity to meet the increasing requirements for the various electric/electronic devices. The limited energy density of LIBs (≈400 Wh kg −1 ) and their unsatisfying safety, unfortunately, are the major challenges for further expanding their practical application in the various potential fields, such as electric vehicles (EVs) with a long driving range . Even though the energy density can be considerably enhanced by replacing the current Li‐ion configuration into a Li–O 2 configuration that directly utilizes lithium metal and oxygen gas as the anode and cathode active species, there is still no doubt that the safety and cost issues can hardly be overcome due to the unavoidable involvement of scarce metallic lithium in these Li‐based battery chemistries .…”

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energy density of LIBs (≈400 Wh kg −1 ) and their unsatisfying safety, unfortunately, are the major challenges for further expanding their practical application in the various potential fields, such as electric vehicles (EVs) with a long driving range. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] Even though the energy density can be considerably enhanced by replacing the current Li-ion configuration into a Li-O 2 configuration that directly utilizes lithium metal and oxygen gas as the anode and cathode active species, there is still no doubt that the safety and cost issues can hardly be overcome due to the unavoidable involvement of scarce metallic lithium in these Li-based battery chemistries. [10] Therefore, alternative nonlithium metal-air batteries (e.g., Zn-O 2 and Al-O 2 batteries) with cheaper metal anodes (e.g., Na, K, Zn, Mg, and Al) have been believed to possess a better potential for powering long service portable devices and high-mileage EVs, regarding their more satisfying price-quality ratios and much improved safety.

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