Author Archives: Daniele Pontiroli

Effect of Ni-nanoparticles decoration on graphene to enable high capacity sodium-ion battery negative electrodes

Modification of graphene has been undertaken in many research contexts in order to improve its properties. In this study, we examine Ni-nanoparticles decoration on graphene and its effect on sodiumion battery performance. A definite trend is observed on the relationship … Continue reading

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Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Reactor for Redox Transformation of Mercury Dichloride

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) possessing a confined inner space protected by chemically resistant shells are promising for delivery, storage, and desorption of various compounds, as well as carrying out specific reactions. Here, we show that SWCNTs interact with molten mercury … Continue reading

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Mott Transition in the A15 Phase of Cs3C60: Absence of a Pseudogap and Charge Order

We present a detailed NMR study of the insulator-to-metal transition induced by an applied pressure p in the A15 phase of Cs3C60. We evidence that the insulating antiferromagnetic (AFM) and superconducting (SC) phases coexist only in a narrow p range. … Continue reading

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Extending the hydrogen storage limit in fullerene

Li6C60 has been chosen as the most representative system to study the hydrogenation mechanism in alkali-cluster intercalated fullerides. We present a muon spin relaxation (μSR) experiment that hints the chance to achieve a higher storage capacity on fullerene with respect … Continue reading

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Molecular and Ionic Dynamics in NaxLi6−xC60

We report on the C60, Na, and Li dynamics in NaxLi6−xC60 fullerides (x = 0, 1, 5, and 6) in the temperature range  80−550 K by using 13C, 23Na, and 7Li solid state NMR. The results show that the C60 … Continue reading

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Neutrons reveal ‘quantum tunnelling’ on graphene enables the birth of stars

Credit: Institut Laue Langevin See: https://phys.org/news/2017-02-neutrons-reveal-quantum-tunnelling-graphene.html and: http://www.cemag.us/news/2017/02/quantum-tunneling-graphene-holds-secret-birth-stars  

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Mechanisms of Sodium Insertion/Extraction on the Surface of Defective Graphenes

Two chemically synthesized defective graphene materials with distinctly contrasting extended structures and surface chemistry are used to prepare sodium-ion battery electrodes. The difference in electrode performance between the chemically prepared graphene materials is qualified based on correlations with intrinsic structural … Continue reading

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Hydrogen motions in defective graphene: the role of surface defects

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Understanding the mobility of H at the surface of carbon nanostructures is one of the essential ingredients for a deep comprehension of the catalytic formation of H2 in interstellar clouds. We combined neutron vibrational spectroscopy with DFT molecular dynamics simulations to … Continue reading

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Possible light-induced superconductivity in K3C60

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The non-equilibrium control of emergent phenomena in solids is an important research frontier, encompassing effects such as the optical enhancement of superconductivity. Nonlinear excitation of certain phonons in bilayer copper oxides was recently shown to induce superconducting-like optical properties at temperatures … Continue reading

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Tailoring ionic-electronic transport in PEO-Li4C60: Towards a new class of all solid-state mixed conductors

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Mixed ionic-electronic conductors (MIEC) are of growing interest for fuel cells, batteries and sensors. By exploiting the unique properties of Li4C60 2D fulleride and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), we demonstrated the feasibility of a MIEC where the nature of transport can … Continue reading

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