Radial mesoporous silica (RMS) sphere was tailor-made for further applications in producing shape-stabilized composite phase change materials (ss-CPCMs) through a facile self-assembly process using CTAB as the main template and TEOS as SiO2 precursor. Novel ss-CPCMs composed of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and RMS were prepared through vacuum impregnating method. Various techniques were employed to characterize the structural and thermal properties of the ss-CPCMs. The DSC results indicated that the PEG/RMS ss-CPCM was a promising candidate for building thermal energy storage applications due to its large latent heat, suitable phase change temperature, good thermal reliability, as well as the excellent chemical compatibility and thermal stability. Importantly, the possible formation mechanisms of both RMS sphere and PEG/RMS composite have also been proposed. The results also indicated that the properties of the PEG/RMS ss-CPCMs are influenced by the adsorption limitation of the PEG molecule from RMS sphere with mesoporous structure and the effect of RMS, as the impurities, on the perfect crystallization of PEG.

Chainlike SiC/SiOx heterojunctions were prepared on a silicon wafer by a simplified catalyst-free thermal chemical vapour deposition method.

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The advancements in wearable electronic devices make it urgent to develop highperformance flexible lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) with excellent mechanical and electrochemical properties. Herein, we design a new 3D hierarchical hybrid sandwich flexible structure by anchoring SnO 2 nanosheets (SnO 2-NSs) on flexible carbon cloth and coating with thin amorphous carbon (AC) layer (CF@SnO 2-NS@AC). The carbon cloth substrate works as the backbone and the current collector, while the thin AC layer provides extra support during the electrode expansion. The new architecture can be utilised as a binder-free electrode and presents extraordinary mechanical flexibility and outstanding electrical stability under external stresses. The new electrode can deliver a specific capacity as high as 968.6 mAh g-1 after 100 cycles at 85 mA g-1 , which also shows remarkable rate capability and an excellent high current cycling stability. The outstanding electrochemical performance combined with the high mechanical flexibility and invariable electrical conductivity during/after different bending cycles make the new structure a promising oxide anode for flexible batteries. With the possibility of using a similar approach to design flexible cathode, the present work opens the door to empower the next-generation wearable devices and smart clothes with a robust and reliable battery.