Put Operando in our Arsenal
Nowadays, scientific advances heavily rely on novel analytical methods that can provide unprecedented signals or known signals in a never-reaching resolution, limit or scenario. Such a strong correlation has been well reflected by the rise of nanomaterials triggered by the appearance of different Electron Microscopies (e.g. SEM and TEM) and Scanning Probe Microscopies (e.g. STM and AFM). This trend is now going further to operando observations that provide live information on systems in real work conditions.
In EFM, our first attempt on operando observations is to specify influence of manganese oxide shells on lithium storage capability of iron oxides. In-situ Transmission Electron Microscope and in-situ X-ray Diffraction observations on the electrochemically driven lithiation/delithiation of the Fe2O3-MnO2 indicate that the assembled amorphous MnO2 is in-situ transformed into Fe-Mn-O protection layer for better electrical conductivity, uncompromised Li+ penetration and enhanced structural integration. The Fe2O3-MnO2 electrode therefore has reversible capacity of 555 mAh g-1 after 100-time galvanostatic charge/discharge cycling at 1000 mA g-1, comparable with the Fe3O4@C derived from the classic carbon coating route.
The related results are now accepted for publication in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces. Many congratulations to Chen Zeng.
Author:Professor Xiao