We presented, for the first time, a general explanation of the occurrence of inherent hysteretic behaviour in storage systems containing multiple particles. We demonstrated the generality of our concept not only by performing careful electrochemical experiments on a typical electrode such as LiFePO4 but also by referring to other multiparticle storage system, such as supercapacitors, hydrogen storage materials, and even a most simple mechanical storage device - ordinary rubber balloons. The discovery was published in Nature Materials. This discovery was afterwards extended in several papers: DREYER, GABERŠČEK, GUHLKE, HUTH, JAMNIK, Janko. European journal of applied mathematics, ISSN 0956-7925, 2011, vol. 22, iss. 3, str. 267-289, doi: 10.1017/S0956792511000052. MOŠKON, JAMNIK, GABERŠČEK, Solid state ionics, ISSN 0167-2738. [Print ed.], 2013, vol. 238, str. 24-29
COBISS.SI-ID: 4476186
The problem of inherent solubility of organic molecules in lithium batteries was solved by grafting active organic molecules onto the surface of insoluble inorganic nanoparticles. This way, the organic molecule is not only stabilized; using appropriate substrate it is also possible to tune certain electrochemical properties such as the redox potential etc. The discovery was published in Angewandte Chemie International Edition (impact factor 12.7). This discovery was related to or afterwards extended in several papers: GENORIO et al. Nature materials, ISSN 1476-1122, 2010, vol. 9, no. 12, str. 998-1003. PIRNAT et al., Journal of power sources, 2012, vol. 199, str. 308-314 PIRNAT et al. Journal of power sources, 2013, vol. 235, str. 214-219
COBISS.SI-ID: 34436869
Li-S rechargeable batteries are attractive for electric transportation because of their low cost, environmentally friendliness, and superior energy density. However, the Li-S system has yet to conquer the marketplace, owing to its drawbacks, namely, soluble polysulfide formation. To tackle this issue, we present here a strategy based on the use of a mesoporous chromium trimesate metal-organic framework (MOF) named MIL-100(Cr) as host material for sulfur impregnation. Electrodes containing sulfur impregnated within the pores of the MOF were found to show a marked increase in the capacity retention of Li-S cathodes. Complementary transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements demonstrated the reversible capture and release of the polysulfides by the pores of MOF during cycling and evidenced a weak binding between the polysulphides and the oxygenated framework. Such an approach was generalized to other mesoporous oxide structures, such as mesoporous silica, for instance SBA-15, having the same positive effect as the MOF on the capacity retention of Li-S cells. Besides pore sizes, the surface activity of the mesoporous additives, as observed for the MOF, appears to also have a pronounced effect on enhancing the cycle performance. Increased knowledge about the interface between polysulfide species and oxide surfaces could lead to novel approaches in the design and fabrication of long cycle life S electrodes.
COBISS.SI-ID: 4816666
Electrochemical experiments undoubtedly showed that BTAH and ATA are much more effective inhibitors of corrosion for Cu in Cl- media than BTAOH, despite the fact that BTAH and BTAOH display very similar molecular electronic structure properties usually associated with the ability of molecule to inhibit the corrosion. We introduce an original approach to treat the adsorption at an electrified surface and carefully analized the results of extensive DFT simulation, what allowed us to pinpoint the superior inhibiting action of BTAH and ATA.
COBISS.SI-ID: 24105255
The formation of fractal silica networks from a colloidal initial state was followed in situ by ion conductivity measurements. The underlying effect is a high interfacial lithium ion conductivity arising when silica particles are brought into contact with Li salt-containing liquid electrolytes. The experimental results were modeled using Monte Carlo simulations and tested using confocal fluorescence laser microscopy and [xi]-potential measurements.
COBISS.SI-ID: 4783386