| dc.description.abstract | Hierarchical-structured functional nanocomposites are a significant family of advanced materials. Multilayered or porous structures in micro- and nano-scales with zero-dimensional, one-dimensional, two-dimensional, and three-dimensional morphologies are the most promising features of hierarchical nanocomposites. They possess numerous favorable advantages such as ultrahigh surface area, great volumetric porosity, reduced weight, and enhanced physical and chemical activities. Various applications such as energy storage, catalysis, sensing, surface modifications, among others can be promoted by using the novel design of hierarchical nanomaterials. The optimal design of the synthesis routes to manipulate the morphology and property of hierarchical nanocomposites is a critical research topic with challenges. To date, different experimental approaches with bottom-up and top-down methods have been utilized to synthesize the hierarchical nano- and micro-structures.
Here in this research, the design, fabrication, and assembly of novel hierarchical metal–metallic-oxide nanocomposites are systematically investigated. Experimental approaches of hydrothermal treatment, wet-chemical synthesis, electrochemical etching, and electrochemical deposition are applied to synthesize hierarchical nanomaterials. They include the aluminum porous structure, nickel micro-channeled substrate, Vv2Ov5 nanosheets, and TiOv2 nanospheres. Experimental characterizations on wetting ability, heat transfer efficiency, and electrochemical performance are conducted for those hierarchical nanomaterials. The fancy properties of superhydrophilicity, improved heat
dissipation, and electrochemical energy storage performance are characterized for aluminum porous structure, Ni/Porous-Ni/V2Ov5 nanocomposites, and Cu/Ni/TiOv2 nanomaterials, respectively. The related mechanisms are systematically investigated.
Furthermore, theoretical research referring to the correlation between maximum capacity performance and morphological characteristics of a specific type of hierarchical electrode materials is accomplished. A quantitative model to calculate the value of maximum capacity for a specific electrode under a specific charge-discharge condition is proposed and validated.
In conclusion, this doctoral research systematically and comprehensively investigated several novel types of hierarchical nanomaterial from synthesis to application. Various types of novel hierarchical nanocomposites are fabricated and evaluated for various practical applications in different fields in this study. Moreover, the quantitative correlation between the maximum capacity and the morphological features of a specific lithium-ion battery electrode is also theoretically studied and validated. | en |
