Enhanced Photothermal-Assisted Hydrogen Production via a Porous Carbon@MoS/ZnInS Type II-S-Scheme Tandem Heterostructure.

MoS/ZnInS flower-like heterostructures into porous carbon (PC@MoS/ZIS) are embedded. This ternary heterostructure demonstrates enhanced light absorption across a broad spectral range from 200 to 2500 nm. It features both Type-II and S-scheme dual heterojunction interfaces, which facilitate the generation, separation, and transfer of photoinduced carriers.

Electricity Harvesting from Water Evaporation on Hierarchical Pore Gradient Silica Aerogel-Based Generators.

In this study, the electric energy harvesting capability of the hierarchical pore gradient silica aerogel (HPSA) is demonstrated due to its unique porous structure and inherent hydroxyl groups on the surface. Taking advantage of the positively charged surface of unwashed HPSA credited by the preparation strategy, poly(4-styrene sulfonic acid) (PSS) can be spontaneously adsorbed onto unwashed HPSA and shows gradient distribution due to the pore-gradient structure of HPSA. By virtue of the gradient distribution and the stronger ionization of PSS, PSS-modified HPSA (PSS-HPSA) shows enhanced electricity generation performance from natural water evaporation with an average output voltage of 0.

Polyelectrolyte Hydrogel-Functionalized Photothermal Sponge Enables Simultaneously Continuous Solar Desalination and Electricity Generation Without Salt Accumulation.

Technologies that can simultaneously generate electricity and desalinate seawater are highly attractive and required to meet the increasing global demand for power and clean water. Here, a bifunctional solar evaporator that features continuous electric generation in seawater without salt accumulation is developed by rational design of polyelectrolyte hydrogel-functionalized photothermal sponge. This evaporator not only exhibits an unprecedentedly high water evaporation rate of 3.

Water State-Driven Catalytic Hydrolysis of Ammonia Borane on CuP-Carbon Dot-Cu Composite.

Hydrogen production from ammonia borane (AB) is usually governed by water activation, which is not only energy-intensive but also requires expensive and complicated catalysts. We here propose an integrated photocatalytic-photothermal system that dramatically improves water activation and lowers the transport resistance of H by means of intermediate state water evaporation. This system is constructed by covering nanocomposites (CuP-carbon dots-Cu) upon vertically aligned acetate fibers (VAAFs).

Carbon dots-embedded amorphous nickel oxide for highly enhanced photocatalytic redox performance.

Amorphous materials reveal promising prospects in photocatalysis for the abundant active sites and tunable electronic configuration due to the lattice flexibility. However, the intrinsic lattice distortion could also cause the self-trapping effect and results in the recombination of photogenerated carriers. This disadvantage could be modified by the small size of amorphous domains for reducing charge migration distance.

Chemical treatment of biomasswastes as carbon dot carriers for solar-driven water purification.

A purely chemical method is demonstrated to treat a variety of biomass wastes for extracting cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) with a consistent property. By hydrothermal reaction, carbon dots (CDs) can be easily grafted on the surface of CNFs to act as photo-thermal agents and enable fast water evaporation rate at 2.5 kg mh with about 96.

Molybdenum Selenide/Porous Carbon Nanomaterial Heterostructures with Remarkably Enhanced Light-Boosting Peroxidase-like Activities.

Nanozymes have emerged as a fascinating nanomaterial with enzyme-like characteristics for addressing the limitations of natural enzymes. Nevertheless, how to improve the relatively low catalytic activity still remains challenging. Herein, a facile recrystallizing salt template-assisted chemical vapor deposition method was utilized to synthesize MoSe/PCN heterostructures.

Hydroxypropylmethyl Cellulose Modified with Carbon Dots Exhibits Light-Responsive and Reversible Optical Switching.

A light-responsive optical switching material is reported, which was obtained by incorporating carbon dots (CDs) into thermochromic hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose (HPMC). The ultrasmall size of CDs guarantees the considerable transparency of CDs/HPMC. Under illumination, CDs/HPMC shows rapid and reversible optical switching between transparent and opaque states due to the remarkable photothermal effect of CDs.

Boosting adsorption of heavy metal ions in wastewater through solar-driven interfacial evaporation of chemically-treated carbonized wood.

Once the adsorbent is selected, almost introducing larger specific surface area and more surface functional groups becomes the only way to improve its adsorption performance. However, this approach is generally limited in practical application for intricate and costly engineering steps. Herein, we provided a novel avenue for boosting adsorption activities towards specific metal ions in wastewater.

Facile Synthesis of Carbon Dots@2D MoS Heterostructure with Enhanced Photocatalytic Properties.

To better utilize carbon dots (CDs) as efficient photocatalysts, an excellent strategy of constructing CDs@MoS heterostructure is presented. Here a facile sonication-hydrothermal method is utilized to synthesize CDs@MoS. Such heterostructure regulates the energy level configuration, and visible light absorption and the separation and transfer of photogenerated charges are enhanced remarkably, which is propitious for the production of more photoinduced charges and improvement of the heterogeneous photocatalytic activity.

Nitrogen-doped carbon dots encapsulated in the mesoporous channels of SBA-15 with solid-state fluorescence and excellent stability.

A simple and low-cost approach is developed, by which nitrogen-doped carbon dots (NCDs) with a negative potential are assembled inside the mesoporous channels of SBA-15 via capillary force. The unique confined microenvironment leads to a strong interaction between confined NCDs and the inner surface of SBA-15, thus effectively avoiding the aggregation of NCDs. The resultant composite (NCDs-in-SBA-15) exhibits blue fluorescence similar to the NCD aqueous solution, and shows excellent structural, thermal and photostability.

Loading sulfur and nitrogen co-doped carbon dots onto g-CN nanosheets for an efficient photocatalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol.

A favorable interface for hybrid photocatalysts makes an important contribution in enhancing photocatalytic reactions. Herein we located sulfur and nitrogen co-doped carbon dots (SN-CDs) onto g-C3N4 nanosheets and achieved a novel SN-CD/g-C3N4 composite with a high visible-light photocatalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP). Compared to g-C3N4 nanosheets, the SN-CD/g-C3N4 composite possessed a wider light absorption.

A solid reaction towards in situ hybridization of carbon dots and conjugated polymers for enhanced light absorption and conversion.

We for the first time developed a green and very simple method towards carbon-dot-incorporated poly(diphenylbutadiyne) nanohybrids (PDPB) through a solid reaction without the need of a template, a solvent and a surfactant. The incorporation of carbon dots into the PDPB nanostructures not only significantly improved visible light absorption but also enhanced photocatalytic performances.

Full-colour carbon dots: from energy-efficient synthesis to concentration-dependent photoluminescence properties.

We present a facile approach, without the need for external heating and any additional energy input, to produce fluorescent carbon dots (CDs) inexpensively and on a large scale. Fluorescence emission wavelengths from the obtained CDs shift gradually from 630 to 400 nm with reduction in their concentration in solution. This work offers a novel avenue for tuning band gaps in CDs and endowing them with potential for various applications.

CuS-Passivated carbon dots for enhancing photocatalytic activity.

To allow low cost and green carbon dots (CDs) to play a central role in photocatalysis, here we present a strategy in which their photocatalytic activities can be significantly improved by combining them with a small amount of CuS. Not only can CuS-passivated CDs more efficiently reduce benzoquinone species to phenols than CDs alone, but can also enhance the formation rate of ˙OH radicals under visible irradiation.

Cladding layer on well-defined double-wall TiO2 nanotubes.

Highly ordered double-wall TiO2 nanotube arrays were obtained by a two-step anodization method in a fluoride-containing glycerol based electrolyte. The low water and fluoride content and high viscosity of the electrolyte support a partly undissolved fluoride-rich layer, and its hydrolyzed products remain on the tube walls. The double-wall structure and a cladding layer originating from the fluoride-rich layer were clearly observed after annealing.

Double-wall TiO2 nanotube arrays: enhanced photocatalytic activity and in situ TEM observations at high temperature.

By decreasing the water content in an NH4F and glycerol-water electrolyte, the transition from single-wall to double-wall TiO2 nanotube arrays was successfully achieved using an anodization method. The double-wall TiO2 nanotube structures exhibited better photocatalytic activity than the typical single-wall structures. After modification with platinum nanoparticles, the photocatalytic activity of both the single- and double-wall TiO2 nanotubes was improved further.