Rational Design of Hierarchically Core–Shell Structured Ni3S2@NiMoO4 Nanowires for Electrochemical Energy Storage

Rational design and controllable synthesis of nanostructured materials with unique microstructure and excellent electrochemical performance for energy storage are crucially desired. In this paper, a facile method is reported for general synthesis of hierarchically core–shell structured Ni₃S₂@NiMoO₄ nanowires (NWs) as a binder‐free electrode for asymmetric supercapacitors. Due to the intimate contact between Ni₃S₂ and NiMoO₄, the hierarchical structured electrodes provide a promising unique structure for asymmetric supercapacitors. The as‐prepared binder‐free Ni₃S₂@NiMoO₄ electrode can significantly improve the electrical conductivity between Ni₃S₂ and NiMoO₄, and effectively avoid the aggregation of NiMoO₄ nanosheets, which provide more active space for storing charge. The Ni₃S₂@NiMoO₄ electrode presents a high areal capacity of 1327.3 µAh cm⁻² and 67.8% retention of its initial capacity when current density increases from 2 to 40 mA cm⁻². In a two‐electrode Ni₃S₂@NiMoO₄ // active carbon cell, the active materials deliver a high energy density of 121.5 Wh kg⁻¹ at a power density of 2.285 kW kg⁻¹ with excellent cycling stability.     

High‐Gain 200 ns Photodetectors from Self‐Aligned CdS–CdSe Core–Shell Nanowalls

1D core–shell heterojunction nanostructures have great potential for high‐performance, compact optoelectronic devices owing to their high interface area to volume ratio, yet their bottom‐up assembly toward scalable fabrication remains a challenge. Here the site‐controlled growth of aligned CdS–CdSe core–shell nanowalls is reported by a combination of surface‐guided vapor–liquid–solid horizontal growth and selective‐area vapor–solid epitaxial growth, and their integration into photodetectors at wafer‐scale without postgrowth transfer, alignment, or selective shell‐etching steps. The photocurrent response of these nanowalls is reduced to 200 ns with a gain of up to 3.8 × 10³ and a photoresponsivity of 1.2 × 10³ A W^?1, the fastest response at such a high gain ever reported for photodetectors based on compound semiconductor nanostructures. The simultaneous achievement of sub‐microsecond response and high‐gain photocurrent is attributed to the virtues of both the epitaxial CdS–CdSe heterojunction and the enhanced charge‐separation efficiency of the core–shell nanowall geometry. Surface‐guided nanostructures are promising templates for wafer‐scale fabrication of self‐aligned core–shell nanostructures toward scalable fabrication of high‐performance compact photodetectors from the bottom‐up.     

Large‐Scale Fabrication of Core–Shell Structured C/SnO2 Hollow Spheres as Anode Materials with Improved Lithium Storage Performance

Due to the high theoretical capacity as high as 1494 mAh g^?1, SnO₂ is considered as a potential anode material for high‐capacity lithium–ion batteries (LIBs). Therefore, the simple but effective method focused on fabrication of SnO₂ is imperative. To meet this, a facile and efficient strategy to fabricate core–shell structured C/SnO₂ hollow spheres by a solvothermal method is reported. Herein, the solid and hollow structure as well as the carbon content can be controlled. Very importantly, high‐yield C/SnO₂ spheres can be produced by this method, which suggest potential business applications in LIBs field. Owing to the dual buffer effect of the carbon layer and hollow structures, the core–shell structured C/SnO₂ hollow spheres deliver a high reversible discharge capacity of 1007 mAh g^?1 at a current density of 100 mA g^?1 after 300 cycles and a superior discharge capacity of 915 mAh g^?1 at 500 mA g^?1 after 500 cycles. Even at a high current density of 1 and 2 A g^?1, the core–shell structured C/SnO₂ hollow spheres electrode still exhibits excellent discharge capacity in the long life cycles. Consideration of the superior performance and high yield, the core–shell structured C/SnO₂ hollow spheres are of great interest for the next‐generation LIBs.     

A Nanosized CoNi Hydroxide@Hydroxysulfide Core–Shell Heterostructure for Enhanced Oxygen Evolution

A cost‐effective and highly efficient oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalyst will be significant for the future energy scenario. The emergence of the core–shell heterostructure has invoked new feasibilities to inspire the full potential of non‐precious‐metal candidates. The shells always have a large thickness, affording robust mechanical properties under harsh reaction conditions, which limits the full exposure of active sites with highly intrinsic reactivity and extrinsic physicochemical characters for optimal performance. Herein, a nanosized CoNi hydroxide@hydroxysulfide core–shell heterostructure is fabricated via an ethanol‐modified surface sulfurization method. Such a synthetic strategy is demonstrated to be effective in controllably fabricating a core–shell heterostructure with an ultrathin shell (4 nm) and favorable exposure of active sites, resulting in a moderately regulated electronic structure, remarkably facilitated charge transfer, fully exposed active sites, and a strongly coupled heterointerface for energy electrocatalysis. Consequently, the as‐obtained hydroxide@hydroxysulfide core–shell is revealed as a superior OER catalyst, with a small overpotential of 274.0 mV required for 10.0 mA cm^?2, a low Tafel slope of 45.0 mV dec^?1, and a favorable long‐term stability in 0.10 M KOH. This work affords fresh concepts and strategies for the design and fabrication of advanced core–shell heterostructures, and thus opens up new avenues for the targeted development of high‐performance energy materials.     

Excitonic Aharonov–Bohm Oscillations in Core–Shell Nanowires

Phase coherence in nanostructures is at the heart of a wide range of quantum effects such as Josephson oscillations between exciton–polariton condensates in microcavities, conductance quantization in 1D ballistic transport, or the optical (excitonic) Aharonov–Bohm effect in semiconductor quantum rings. These effects only occur in structures of the highest perfection. The 2D semiconductor heterostructures required for the observation of Aharonov–Bohm oscillations have proved to be particularly demanding, since interface roughness or alloy fluctuations cause a loss of the spatial phase coherence of excitons, and ultimately induce exciton localization. Experimental work in this field has so far relied on either self‐assembled ring structures with very limited control of shape and dimension or on lithographically defined nanorings that suffer from the detrimental effects of free surfaces. Here, it is demonstrated that nanowires are an ideal platform for studies of the Aharonov–Bohm effect of neutral and charged excitons, as they facilitate the controlled fabrication of nearly ideal quantum rings by combining all‐binary radial heterostructures with axial crystal‐phase quantum structures. Thanks to the atomically flat interfaces and the absence of alloy disorder, excitonic phase coherence is preserved even in rings with circumferences as large as 200 nm.     

Design and Synthesis of Spherical Multicomponent Aggregates Composed of Core–Shell,Yolk–Shell,and Hollow Nanospheres and Their Lithium‐Ion Storage Performances

Micrometer‐sized spherical aggregates of Sn and Co components containing core–shell, yolk–shell, hollow nanospheres are synthesized by applying nanoscale Kirkendall diffusion in the large‐scale spray drying process. The Sn₂Co₃–Co₃SnC_0.7–C composite microspheres uniformly dispersed with Sn₂Co₃–Co₃SnC_0.7 mixed nanocrystals are formed by the first‐step reduction of spray‐dried precursor powders at 900 °C. The second‐step oxidation process transforms the Sn₂Co₃–Co₃SnC_0.7–C composite into the porous microsphere composed of Sn–Sn₂Co₃@CoSnO₃–Co₃O₄ core–shell, Sn–Sn₂Co₃@CoSnO₃–Co₃O₄ yolk–shell, and CoSnO₃–Co₃O₄ hollow nanospheres at 300, 400, and 500 °C, respectively. The discharge capacity of the microspheres with Sn–Sn₂Co₃@CoSnO₃–Co₃O₄ core–shell, Sn‐Sn₂Co₃@CoSnO₃–Co₃O₄ yolk–shell, and CoSnO₃–Co₃O₄ hollow nanospheres for the 200^th cycle at a current density of 1 A g^?1 is 1265, 987, and 569 mA h g^?1, respectively. The ultrafine primary nanoparticles with a core–shell structure improve the structural stability of the porous‐structured microspheres during repeated lithium insertion and desertion processes. The porous Sn–Sn₂Co₃@CoSnO₃–Co₃O₄ microspheres with core–shell primary nanoparticles show excellent cycling and rate performances as anode materials for lithium‐ion batteries.     

Tungsten Oxide@Polypyrrole Core–Shell Nanowire Arrays as Novel Negative Electrodes for Asymmetric Supercapacitors

Among active pseudocapacitive materials, polypyrrole (PPy) is a promising electrode material in electrochemical capacitors. PPy‐based materials research has thus far focused on its electrochemical performance as a positive electrode rather than as a negative electrode for asymmetric supercapacitors (ASCs). Here high‐performance electrochemical supercapacitors are designed with tungsten oxide@PPy (WO₃@PPy) core–shell nanowire arrays and Co(OH)₂ nanowires grown on carbon fibers. The WO₃@PPy core–shell nanowire electrode exhibits a high capacitance (253 mF/cm²) in negative potentials (–1.0–0.0 V). The ASCs packaged with CF‐Co(OH)₂ as a positive electrode and CF‐WO₃@PPy as a negative electrode display a high volumetric capacitance up to 2.865 F/cm³ based on volume of the device, an energy density of 1.02 mWh/cm³, and very good stability performance. These findings promote the application of PPy‐based nanostructures as advanced negative electrodes for ASCs.     

CdS@SiO2 Core–Shell Electroluminescent Nanorod Arrays Based on a Metal–Insulator–Semiconductor Structure

Enormous advancement has been achieved in the field of one‐dimensional (1D) semiconductor light‐emitting devices (LEDs), however, LEDs based on 1D CdS nanostructures have been rarely reported. The fabrication of CdS@SiO₂ core–shell nanorod array LEDs based on a Au–SiO₂–CdS metal–insulator–semiconductor (MIS) structure is presented. The MIS LEDs exhibit strong yellow emission with a low threshold voltage of 2.7 V. Electroluminescence with a broad emission ranging from 450 nm to 800 nm and a shoulder peak at 700 nm is observed, which is related to the defects and surface states of the CdS nanorods. The influence of the SiO₂ shell thickness on the electroluminescence intensity is systematically investigated. The devices have a high light‐emitting spatial resolution of 1.5 μm and maintain an excellent emission property even after shelving at room temperature for at least three months. Moreover, the fabrication process is simple and cost effective and the MIS device could be fabricated on a flexible substrate, which holds great potential for application as a flexible light source. This prototype is expected to open up a new route towards the development of large‐scale light‐emitting devices with excellent attributes, such as high resolution, low cost, and good stability.     

Observation of Self‐Assembled Core–Shell Structures in Epitaxially Embedded TbErAs Nanoparticles

Self‐assembled core–shell structured rare‐earth nanoparticles (TbErAs) are observed in a III–V semiconductor host matrix (In_0.53Ga_0.47As) nominally lattice‐matched to InP, grown via molecular beam epitaxy. Atom probe tomography demonstrates that the TbErAs nanoparticles have a core–shell structure, as seen both in the tomographic atom‐by‐atom reconstruction and concentration profiles. A simple thermodynamic model is created to determine when it is energetically favorable to have core–shell structures; the results strongly agree with the observations.     

A Chemical Precipitation Method Preparing Hollow–Core–Shell Heterostructures Based on the Prussian Blue Analogs as Cathode for Sodium‐Ion Batteries

Prussian blue and its analogs are regarded as the promising cathodes for sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs). Recently, various special structures are constructed to improve the electrochemical properties of these materials. In this study, a novel architecture of Prussian blue analogs with large cavity and multilayer shells is investigated as cathode material for SIBs. Because the hollow structure can relieve volume expansion and core–shell heterostructure can optimize interfacial properties, the complex structure materials exhibited a highly initial capacity of 123 mA h g^?1 and a long cycle life. After 600 cycles, the reversible capacity of the electrode still maintains at 102 mA h g^?1 without significant voltage decay, indicating a superior structure stability and sodium storage kinetics. Even at high current density of 3200 mA g^?1, the electrode still delivers a considerable capacity above 52 mA h g^?1. According to the electrochemical analysis and ex‐situ measurements, it can be inferred that the enhanced apparent diffusion coefficient and improved insertion/extraction performance of electrode have been obtained by building this new morphology.     

Chiral Shell Core–Satellite Nanostructures for Ultrasensitive Detection of Mycotoxin

Herein, the design of a DNA‐based chiral biosensor is described utilizing the self‐assembly of shell core–gold (Au) satellite nanostructures for the detection of mycotoxin, ochratoxin A (OTA). The assembly of core–satellite nanostructures based on OTA‐aptamer binding exhibits a strong chiral signal with an intense circular dichroism (CD) peak. The integrity of the assembly of core–satellite nanostructures is limited to some extent in the presence of different levels of OTA. Correspondingly, the chiral intensity of assembly is weakened with increasing OTA concentrations, allowing quantitative determination of the target. The developed chiral sensor shows an excellent linear relationship between the CD signal and concentrations of OTA in the range of 0.1–5 pg mL^?1 with a limit of detection as low as 0.037 pg mL^?1. The effectiveness of the biosensor in a sample of red wine is verified and a good recovery rate is obtained. These results suggest that the strategy has great potential for practical application.