Combining optical microscopy, synchrotron X-ray diffraction and ellipsometry, we studied the internal structure of linear defect domains (oily streaks) in films of a smectic liquid crystal 8CB with thicknesses in the range of 100-300 nm. These films are confined between air and a rubbed PVA polymer substrate which imposes hybrid anchoring conditions (normal and unidirectional planar, respectively). We show how the presence or absence of dislocations controls the structure of highly deformed thin smectic films. Each domain contains smectic layers curved in the shape of flattened hemicylinders to satisfy both anchoring conditions, together with grain boundaries whose size and shape are controlled by the presence of dislocation lines. A flat grain boundary normal to the interface connects neighboring hemicylinders, while a rotating grain boundary (RGB) is located near the axis of curvature of the cylinders. The RGB shape appears such that dislocation lines are concentrated at its summit close to the air interface. The smectic layers reach the polymer substrate via a transition region where the smectic layer orientation satisfies the planar anchoring conditions over the entire polymer substrate and whose thickness does not depend on that of the film. The strength of planar anchoring appears to be high, larger than 10(-2) mJ m(-2), compensating for the high energy cost of creating an additional 2D defect between a horizontal smectic layer and perpendicular ones of the transition region. This 2D defect may be melted, in order to avoid the creation of a transition region structure composed of a large number of dislocations. As a result, linear defect domains can be considered as arrays of oriented defects, straight dislocations of various Burger vectors, whose location is now known, and 2D nematic defects. The possibility of easy variation between the present structure with a moderate amount of dislocations and a structure with a large number of dislocations is also demonstrated.

Carbon fibres (CFs), originally made for use in structural composites, have also been demonstrated as high capacity Li-ion battery negative electrodes. Consequently, CFs can be used as structural electrodes; simultaneously carrying mechanical load and storing electrical energy in multifunctional structural batteries. To date, all CF microstructural designs have been generated to realise a targeted mechanical property, e.g. high strength or stiffness, based on a profound understanding of the relationship between the graphitic microstructure and the mechanical performance. Here we further advance this understanding by linking CF microstructure to the lithium insertion mechanism and the resulting electrochemical capacity. Different PAN-based CFs ranging from intermediate-to high-modulus types with distinct differences in microstructure are characterised in detail by SEM and HR-TEM and electrochemical methods. Furthermore, the mechanism of Li-ion intercalation during charge/discharge is studied by in situ confocal Raman spectroscopy on individual CFs. RamanG band analysis reveals a Li-ion intercalation mechanism in the high-modulus fibre reminiscent of that in crystalline graphite. Also, the combination of a relatively low capacity of the highmodulus CFs (ca. 150 mAh/g) is shown to be due to that the formation of a staged structure is frustrated by an obstructive turbostratic disorder. In contrast, intermediate-modulus CFs, which have significantly higher capacities (ca. 300 mAh/g), have Raman spectra indicating a Li-ion insertion mechanism closer to that of partly disordered carbons. Based on these findings, CFs with improved multifunctional performance can be realized by tailoring the graphitic order and crystallite sizes.

The relatively high cost of metallic germanium (Ge) as a lithiumion battery negative electrode material is more than counterbalanced by its high capacity, high lithium diffusivity, and electronic conductivity. Using a unique and highly complementary set of operando characterization techniques, we propose a complete mechanism for the reversible lithiation of Ge. The electrochemical mechanism is found to be determined by the process of discharge/charge: (i) independent of the charge/discharge rate amorphous a-LiGe is proposed as the first intermediate during the lithiation of c-Ge, followed by Li 7 Ge 3 , and (ii) at low potential Li 15 Ge 4 is observed, but only for moderate rates and never at low rates, where indeed an "overlithiated" phase is preferred. The complementarity of the data obtained from XAS, Raman spectroscopies, and XRD, all in operando mode, was crucial in order to understand the complex mechanism based on reversible formation of the various crystalline and amorphous phases.

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GexSi1−x alloys have demonstrated synergetic effects as lithium-ion battery (LIB) anodes because silicon brings its high lithium storage capacity and germanium its better electronic and Li ion conductivity.

Conversion-type electrode materials show extremely interesting performance in terms of capacity, which is however usually associated with bad Coulombic efficiency. The latter is mainly the consequence of the relentless evolution of solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) formed and/or dissolved during conversion/back-conversion reactions on the continuously reshaping active material surface. The thorough comprehension of the dynamic processes occurring during cycling in a working electrochemical cell, such as solvation/desolvation of ionic species and formation/dissolution of the SEI at the electrode/ electrolyte interface, is thus of utmost relevance in the study of electrochemical mechanism and performance of conversion-type electrode materials. Operando Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, one of the methods of choice for the study of such phenomena, was applied to study the dynamic interfacial properties of NiSb 2 , a representative intermetallic conversion-type electrode material for Li batteries, during cycling in the presence of a commercial electrolyte based on LiPF 6 dissolved in a mixture of ethylene carbonate (EC) and dimethyl carbonate (DMC). Using a specifically developed in situ ATR-IR electrochemical cell, it was possible to correlate the electrochemical processes to the ratio between solvent molecules associated with Li + ions and free solvent molecules and thus to follow the dynamic evolution of the concentration of lithium in the electrolyte during cycling.

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Solid‐state electrolytes (SSEs) can leapfrog the development of all‐solid‐state batteries (ASSBs), enabling them to power electric vehicles and to store renewable energy from intermittent sources. Here, a new hybrid Li+ and Na+ conducting SSE based on the MIL‐121 metal‐organic framework (MOF) structure is reported. Following synthesis and activation of the MOF, the free carboxylic units along the 1D pores are functionalized with Li+ or Na+ ions by ion exchange. Ion dynamics are investigated by broadband impedance spectroscopy and by 7Li and 23Na NMR spin‐lattice relaxation. A crossover at 50 °C (Li+) and at 10 °C (Na+) from correlated to almost uncorrelated motion at higher temperature is observed, which is in line with Ngai's coupling model. Alternatively, in accordance to the jump relaxation model of Funke, at low temperature only a fraction of the jump processes are successful as lattice rearrangement in the direct vicinity of Li+ (Na+) is slow. 1H NMR unambiguously shows that Li+ is the main charge carrier. Conductivities reach 0.1 mS cm−1 (298 K, Na+) while the activation energies are 0.28 eV (Li+) and 0.36 eV (Na+). The findings pave the way towards development of easily tunable and rationally adjustable high‐performance MOF‐based hybrid SSEs for ASSBs.