Lithium–sulfur batteries have attracted considerable attention due to its high theoretical specific capacity, low cost, environmental friendliness, etc. However, the dissolution of polysulfide intermediate in the electrolyte leads to rapid capacity decay in the charge–discharge process. A sulfur‐based cathode with the specific discharge capacity of 630 mAh g−1 and ultrahigh capacity retention ratio of 0.11% per cycle after 400 cycles at 0.5 C that simply blend the sublimed sulfur and acetylene black in the mortar with the polyamide‐6 (PA6) as binder is reported. The intense complexation between the lithium polysulfide and amide groups (CONH) in PA6 can effectively inhibit the “shuttling effect” and reduce the loss of active materials during the charge–discharge process. The discovery provides a handy and practicable strategy for developing the excellent cycling stability lithium–sulfur batteries.
The superior properties of graphene in applications ranging from electronic devices to composites have been extensively reported. So far, no mass production of defect-free few-layer graphene has been attained. The authors of this study have demonstrated a high-yield method to produce defect-free few-layer graphene by exfoliation of graphite in a degradable water-soluble polymer (I) with cholamine modification, and the obtained intercalated (D-I) chemical structure was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The electron donor forms π–π stacking interactions with the graphene sheets during sonication, which prevents the exfoliated graphene from restacking. The method is environment-friendly compared with other liquid exfoliation methods, and the aqueous and ethanolic solutions of graphene are stable for long durations. The authors also confirmed the presence of gossamer graphene sheets, which have typical wrinkled and folded structures, by using high resolution transmission electron microscopy. Atomic force microscopy images revealed that graphene sheets with a thickness of approximately 1 nm were uniformly distributed.
Self‐Suspended PANI doped with 4‐nonylphenol polyoxyethylene ether acetic acid (GAE) exhibits liquid‐like rheological behavior in the absence of any solvent. The PANI‐GAE also appears smectic C lyotropic liquid crystal under solvent‐free condition. This self‐suspended PANI containing liquid crystalline offers tremendous potential for antistatic coatings, anticorrosion coatings, liquid crystal display and spatial light modulator.
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