A simply effective double-coating cathode with MnO2 nanosheets/graphene as functionalized interlayer for high performance lithium-sulfur batteries

Herein, we report a facile and effective adsorption strategy to improve the performance of Lithium-Sulfur (Li-S) batteries. MnO₂ nanosheets grown on the surface of highly conductive graphene resulted in a coupled composite bilayer electrode when coated onto a sulfur cathode. In this way, a high initial specific capacity of 1395 mA h g^-1 at a rate of 0.5C, a coulombic efficiency approaching 100% and steady cyclic efficiency with a fade rate of 0.3% per cycle from 10 to 100 cycles has been achieved. This hybrid electrode not only shows enhanced electrochemical performance but can also be easily controlled and scaled thereby aiding future commercialization of high-performance Li-S batteries.

Corrosion resistance of self-growing TiC coating on SIMP steel in LBE at 600 °C

SIMP steel was newly developed as a candidate structural material for the accelerator driven subcritical system. The serious decarburization of SIMP steel because of the high Si content was used to successfully form a self-growing TiC coating on the surface, after the Ti deposition as a first step. This TiC layer can effectively protect the surface from the static liquid lead-bismuth eutectic (LBE) corrosion at 600 °C up to 2000 h in the low oxygen LBE. However, in the oxygen saturated LBE, the TiC coating is oxidized into porous TiO2 after only 500 h and fails to protect. Therefore, the self-growing TiC coating is desired only when the oxygen content of LBE is strictly controlled on a low level.