Adv. Energy Mater. 2017 , 7 , 1700513 The above article, published online on May 11, 2017, in Wiley Online Library, has been retracted by agreement between the corresponding author, the journal Editor in Chief Till von Graberg, and Wiley‐VCH GmbH. The retraction has been agreed on following concerns raised by a third party and a subsequent investigation at Wake Forest University. Data integrity issues were found in figures 6e and 7d. As a result, the editors consider the conclusions of this article invalid.

In this paper, silicon containing thick anode electrodes were investigated to provide a higher energy density and capacity for EV/HEV applications. In our study, a facile technique of adding a mechanical buffer between thick active material and current collector is proposed and tested by an in-situ measurement using white light interferometry. The electrodes with a modified structure deliver a significant improvement to mechanical stability as well as battery performance compared to conventional electrodes with the original structural design. Therefore, the methodology demonstrated here can probably be used to mitigate the deteriorating effect of mechanical failure in silicon-based electrodes, in which volume variation is usually considered as a severe issue, of lithium ion batteries.

Developing efficient, durable, and earth-abundant electrocatalysts for both hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions is important for realizing large-scale water splitting. The authors report that FeB2 nanoparticles, prepared by a facile chemical reduction of Fe2+ using LiBH4 in an organic solvent, are a superb bifunctional electrocatalyst for overall water splitting. The FeB2 electrode delivers a current density of 10 mA cm−2 at overpotentials of 61 mV for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and 296 mV for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in alkaline electrolyte with Tafel slopes of 87.5 and 52.4 mV dec−1, respectively. The electrode can sustain the HER at an overpotential of 100 mV for 24 h and OER for 1000 cyclic voltammetry cycles with negligible degradation. Density function theory calculations demonstrate that the boron-rich surface possesses appropriate binding energy for chemisorption and desorption of hydrogen-containing intermediates, thus favoring the HER process. The excellent OER activity of FeB2 is ascribed to the formation of a FeOOH/FeB2 heterojunction during water oxidation. An alkaline electrolyzer is constructed using two identical FeB2-NF electrodes as both anode and cathode, which can achieve a current density of 10 mA cm−2 at 1.57 V for overall water splitting with a faradaic efficiency of nearly 100%, rivalling the integrated state-of-the-art Pt/C and RuO2/C.

Moisture curing type self-healing microcapsules become more attractive, while instability of active core material crippled the efficiency of self-healing behaviour. Polyurea (PU)/melamine formaldehyde (MF) double-layered self-healing microcapsules containing isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) core with high and stable core fraction were prepared. The structure, morphology, particle size and distribution were studied with Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy, optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and Mastersizer 3000. The influences of process conditions were investigated to uncover the principle of core fraction and morphology of microcapsules. The core fraction of microcapsules was reduced with the increase of ageing time, and microcapsules prepared with ice-bath, polyetheramine (PEA) and prepolymer of melamine formaldehyde (P-MF) had higher core fraction and better morphology. PEA D230 and 1500rpm agitation rate were chosen according to optimised trade-offs in the core fraction and morphology of the microcapsules.

A highly efficient bifunctional electrocatalyst of nickel–iron phosphates for hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions (HER and OER) was designed and preparedviaa simple electrodeposition method.

Ternary nanocomposite photoelectrodes composed of CdS nanocrystallites, reduced graphene oxide (RGO) and TiO2 nanotube arrays (TNTs) are prepared by a coupling technique of electrophoretic deposition (EPD) and successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR). Compare to pure TNTs, RGO/TNTs, and CdS/TNTs, the ternary CdS/RGO/TNTs hybrids show much higher visible-light-driven photoelectrochemical (PEC) and photocatalytic (PC) activity due to that the outer layer of CdS acts as sensitizer for trapping substantial photons from the visible light, the middle layer of RGO not only serves as electrons mediator and transporter for suppressing the recombination of photogenerated carriers, but also plays as a green sensitizer for enhancing visible light absorption, and the inner TNTs with narrowed band gap collect the hot electrons form the CdS and RGO to participate subsequent redox reaction for hydrogen production and organic pollutants degradation. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Coaxial heterogeneous graphene quantum dot-sensitized TiO2 nanotube arrays (GQDs/TNTs) are prepared by a coupling technique of linker molecule binding and electrophoretic deposition (EPD). The silane linker molecules act as a superb medium for integrating GQDs and TNTs by covalent amide linkage, thus preventing GQDs from clogging the tube entrances and forming a uniform GQD layer tightly attached to the inside tube walls during the following EPD process. By adjusting the time of EPD, appropriate thickness of the deposited GQDs in the internal tube walls of TNTs can be controlled. Compared to the pristine TNTs and GQDs/TNTs prepared by the conventional impregnation–precipitation method, the hybrids fabricated by EPD exhibit significantly enhanced photoelectrochemical water-splitting activity and photocatalytic organic dye decomposition performance for their broad photo-absorption range, fast separation of photogenerated charge, and stability.

Bulk abundant Ti3+ self-doped TiO2 nanotube arrays are prepared by a microwave-assisted chemical reduction method with NaBH4.

The present work demonstrates a facile, one-step electrodeposition approach for the preparation of ultrathin Ni–Co double hydroxide (DH) nanosheets on Ni foam as supercapacitor electrodes.

The present work introduces a new HBF4-based electrolyte for the preparation of anodic TiO2 nanotubes (NTs). It is shown that, by optimizing the preparation parameters, highly ordered and extremely smooth TiO2 NTs can be successfully fabricated in the HBF4-containing electrolyte via a two-step anodization approach (so-called the BF4-TiO2 NTs). The obtained BF4-TiO2 NTs have unique hierarchical upper-nanopore/lower-nanotube structure and show both enhanced photo-electrochemical and photocatalytic performances than the referenced TiO2 NTs formed in the F--containing electrolyte (i.e., the F-TiO2 NTs). We consider that the decomposition of BF4- into F- under high electric field is the key for the formation of anodic BF4-TiO2 NTs, and this allows the growth of BF4-TiO2 NTs going through a quite different way as compared to that of the F-TiO2 NTs. These findings may pave an alternative way for the preparation of TiO2 NTs with enhanced geometrical features and application properties.

A core-shell acrylate polymer emulsion containing acetoacetate group was synthesized via semi-continuous seeded emulsion polymerization, and the resulted polymer was crosslinked with 1,6-hexamethylenediamine at ambient temperature. The effects of polymerization condition and acetoacetoxyethyl methacrylate (AAEM) contents on the property of the emulsion and the latex films were discussed. The results indicate that the monomer conversion rate is high and the gel content is low when the content of the emulsifier (dodecyl diphenyl ether disulfonic acid sodium, DSB) and the initiator (potassium persulfate, KPS) was 1.5%(wt) and 0.5%(wt), respectively. TEM analysis indicates that the latex particle has an obvious core-shell structure and the particle size is about 130 nm. DSC, TGA and mechanical property tests indicate that crosslinking enhances the glass-transition temperature, thermostability and mechanical properties of the latex films. These properties of the latex films are improved by increasing AAEM. When 7%(wt) of AAEM was used, the emulsion had good storage stability even 1,6-hexamethylenediamine was added into the emulsion. Therefore, the crosslinking process improves the performance of the obtained latex films.

ABSTRACTPolyester‐based waterborne polyurethane (WPU) dispersions having poly(ethylene glycol) adipate diol, isophorone diisocyanate, and hexamethylene diisocyanate as the main raw materials were synthesized by an acetone process. In each step of the synthesis process, the intermediate products were collected, and the crystallization morphologies and relative crystallinity (X) of the soft segments (SSs) in their films were investigated by means of polarizing optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and X‐ray diffraction. The fracture surfaces and thermostability of the intermediate films were also investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and TGA, respectively. The results show that the crystalline dimensions of the SSs decreased substantially during the synthesis process of WPU. X of the SSs decreased after the prepolymerization reaction and increased after the hydrophilic chain‐extending reaction, then decreased after emulsification, and finally increased after the secondary chain‐extending reaction. Moreover, The SEM photos indicate that with decreasing crystalline dimensions, the fracture mechanisms of the intermediate films varied gradually from brittle failure to ductile fracture. The thermostability of the intermediates obtained in each step of the synthesis process was in accordance with the variation tendency of the X of the SSs. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40270.

The present work demonstrates how the growth and photoelectrochemical (PEC) properties of anodic TiO2 nanotubes (NTs) are influenced by Ti substrates in the new HBF4 containing electrolyte. Three different Ti substrates, the rough abraded Ti foil, the smooth electropolished Ti and the two-step Ti plate (i.e. the Ti substrate with ordered dimples left by removing the TiO2 NTs formed in the first-step anodization), are employed for the preparation of TiO2 NTs. It is revealed that the Ti substrate morphology can largely influence the formation of TiO2 NTs, particularly in the initial tube generation stage. The two-step Ti substrate has ordered hexagonally distributed dimples which play the role of template for the formation of new TiO2 NTs. As a result, the TiO2 NTs grown via a two-step anodization approach have highly ordered structure and extremely smooth sidewalls, hence possess the best PEC performance among the three kinds of substrates.

Highly ordered anodic single-walled TiO2 nanotubes (SW-TiO2 NTs) and double-walled TiO2 nanotubes (DW-TiO2 NTs) are prepared in the unique NH4BF4 based electrolyte. The formation of SW-TiO2 NTs and DW-TiO2 NTs can be simply tuned by thevoltages. The DW- TiO2 NTs show higher photoelectrochemical performance than the SW-TiO2 NTs.

Highly ordered TiO2 nanotube arrays (BF-TNTs) are prepared by anodization method in the unique NH4BF4 based electrolyte. The results show that the tube walls of the BF-TNTs, by first using NH4BF4 based electrolyte, are much smoother than that of TiO2 nanotube arrays (F-TNTs) fabricated with a conventional fluoride containing electrolyte. In the NH4BF4 electrolyte, boron and fluorine elements are simultaneously doped into the obtained BF-TNTs during the anodization process. The BF-TNTs exhibit better photoelectrochemical (PEC) properties and photocatalytic (PC) performance than those of F-TNTs. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Based on the aqueous polyurethane which can provides a pleasant soft-touch feeling for its coating film,the effects of the type and amount of some additives,such as antifoaming agent,silane coupling agent,the elastic powder,wax dispersion,thickener and the aziridine crosslinking agent,on the properties of film adhesion,water resistance,scratch resistance were investigated.Finally,a kind of waterborne coatings for ABS plastics with silky,soft and shiny,good scratch resistant and excellent adhesion of the film,was prepared.

The influence of anodizing time on formation and crystallization of potentiostatically formed titanium oxide films is studied both at "low" (10 V) and "high" (30 V) applied potentials. It is revealed that prolonging the anodizing time is beneficial for the growth and crystallization of titania anodic films, especially at low applied voltages. The titanium anodization process follows two distinct stages. In the film formation stage, the film thickness and crystallinity increase fast. While in the film aging stage, the thickness and crystallinity of titanium oxide films only slightly change with anodizing time due to the enhancement of film dissolution rate. (c) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Anodic oxide films on titanium formed by electrochemical methods have been widely applied in various areas,such as corrosion protections,photocatalytic engineering,solar cells,sensors and biomedical engineering due to their high corrosion resistance,good biomedical compatibility and photocatalytic activity.The performance of TiO2 films strongly depend on the structure,and crystalline TiO2 had better applicable properties than the amorphous form.In this paper,the effect of anodic oxidation parameters,such as potential,electrolyte(type,concentration and temperature), Ti substrate,film growth mode and film growth rate on the crystallization behavior of TiO2 films were discussed.It was revealed that raising oxidation potential,increasing solution temperature,prolonging anodizing time and increasing concentration of electrolyte were beneficial to the formation of crystalline titanium oxides on the anode,while crystallization was suppressed by incorporation of impurity ions(electrolyte anions or alloying elements) or increasing film growth rate.

Growth and crystallization of titanium anodized films were studied by performing the anodization of the sputter-deposited titanium samples under cyclic voltammetry (CV) mode at very low potentials. The surface features, crystalline behaviors and chemical compositions of the formed anodic oxide layers were detected by AFM, SE and XPS. It was found that the structure of the titanium anodized films is crystalline, even though the maximum oxidation potential (ϕmax) is very low (as low as 1000 mV). Both enlarging the applied voltage and reducing the potential scanning rate are beneficial for the growth and crystallization of titanium oxide films. It was thought that the internal compressive stress, other than the local joule heating accepted for many researchers, is the main force of stimulating the crystallization of anodic titanium oxide films at very low potentials.