Functional Materials Letters 

About: Functional Materials Letters is an academic journal published by World Scientific. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Catalysis & Thin film. It has an ISSN identifier of 1793-7213. Over the lifetime, 1369 publications have been published receiving 9775 citations.

What can be expected from lead-free piezoelectric materials?

Abstract: The reasons for the lower piezoelectric properties in the most studied lead-free piezoelectrics, modified (K,Na)NbO3 and (Bi05Na05)TiO3, are discussed Contributions from domain wall motion and properties at the morphotropic phase boundary are considered and are compared to those in PZT Lead-free, non-piezoelectric solutions to electromechanical coupling are discussed

Morphology evolution at nano- to micro-scale

Abstract: Morphology evolution of inorganic/organic crystals during crystallization is a universal growth phenomenon. In this work, we have developed a capping agent-assisted strategy to clearly identify the whole process of morphology evolution in solution growth system. One kind of morphology evolution trend with three types of morphologies of cuprous oxide (Cu2O) was kinetically observed at varying the molar ratio of EDTA/Cu(II) under three different pH values. Two kinds of morphology evolution trends of zinc oxide (ZnO) were also kinetically observed in the presence of H2O2 and CH3COOH (HAc), respectively. Simulation results show that the morphology evolution of nano- to micro-scale crystals is strongly dependent on the bonding characteristics of a growth system. The present strategy positively explores the interesting principles of morphology evolution of functional materials, and can be widely extended to nano- to micro-scale devices research.

Recent advances in sodium intercalation positive electrode materials for sodium ion batteries

Abstract: Significant progress has been achieved in the research on sodium intercalation compounds as positive electrode materials for Na-ion batteries. This paper presents an overview of the breakthroughs in the past decade for developing high energy and high power cathode materials. Two major classes, layered oxides and polyanion compounds, are covered. Their electrochemical performance and the related crystal structure, solid state physics and chemistry are summarized and compared.

Recent progress in boron- and nitrogen-based chemical hydrogen storage

Abstract: Boron- and nitrogen-based chemical hydrogen storage materials, such as metal borohydrides, ammonia borane, hydrazine borane, metal-nitrogen-hydrogen systems, ammonia, and hydrazine, have been extensively investigated in the past years. A variety of methods have been developed to decrease the reaction temperature and enhance the reaction kinetics of these systems. This feature article is to serve as an up to date account of the recent progress in chemical hydrogen storage with the boron- and nitrogen-based materials.

ELECTRICAL DOUBLE LAYER CAPACITOR WITH PROTON CONDUCTING κ-CARRAGEENAN–CHITOSAN ELECTROLYTES

Abstract: Charge–discharge characteristics of electrical double layer capacitors (EDLCs) using κ-carrageenan–chitosan based electrolyte is the focus of the present work. Chitosan and κ-carrageenan were blended to obtain films with high mechanical strength. The room temperature conductivity of 0.5 g chitosan + 0.5 g κ-carrageenan (CCPA) film and 0.5 g chitosan + 0.5 g κ-carrageenan + 0.1765 g ammonium nitrate (CCPAAN) film are (1.38 ± 0.36) × 10-6S cm-1 and (2.39 ± 0.83) × 10-4S cm-1, respectively. The conducting species is H+ and conduction occurs via a Grotthuss mechanism. The resistance of the phenol resin based activated carbon electrode film is between 15 to 20 Ω. The capacitance of the EDLCs is stable over 20 cycles. The average discharge capacitance of the EDLC employing CCPAAN electrolyte and activated carbon electrodes is between 13 to 18.5 F g-1.