Photocatalytic Hydrogen and Oxygen Evolution Performed by a Long-Afterglow Material.

A micron-sized long-afterglow material, SrMgSiO:Eu,Ce, was utilized to conduct the hydrogen evolution reaction and oxygen evolution reaction, two half-reactions of water splitting, in the presence of sacrificial agents under both light and dark conditions for the first time. The as-synthesized SrMgSiO:Eu,Ce exhibited higher photocatalytic activity compared to that of the referenced SrMgSiO:Eu and SrMgSiO:Ce samples. Herein, in addition to benefiting from the long photogenerated carrier lifetime of long-afterglow materials, the higher photocatalytic activity was attributed to the conjugated electronic structure between Eu and Ce ions.

Visible Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution by g-CN/SrZrO Heterostructure Material.

A heterostructure material g-CN/SrZrO was simply prepared by grinding and heating the mixture of SrZrO and g-CN. The morphology and structure of the synthesized photocatalysts were determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and infrared spectra. It showed visible light absorption ability and much higher photocatalytic activity than that of pristine g-CN or SrZrO.

Enriched Surface Oxygen Vacancies of Fe(MoO) Catalysts for a PDS-Activated photoFenton System.

The environmentally benign Fe(MoO) plays a crucial role in the transformation of organic contaminants, either through catalytically decomposing oxidants or through directly oxidizing the target pollutants. Because of their dual roles and the complex surface chemical reactions, the mechanism involved in Fe(MoO)-catalyzed PDS activation processes remains obscure. In this study, Fe(MoO) was prepared via the hydrothermal and calcine method, and photoFenton degradation of methyl orange (MO) was used to evaluate the catalytic performance of Fe(MoO).

Cobalt, iron co-incorporated Ni(OH) multiphase for superior multifunctional electrocatalytic oxidation.

The cobalt, iron co-incorporated Ni(OH) multiphase displays superior catalytic activity and stability for multifunctional electrocatalytic oxidation, ascribed to the multiphase synergy, enhanced charge transfer and well-exposed active sites.

Green preparation of porous hierarchical TiO(B)/anatase phase junction for effective photocatalytic degradation of antibiotics.

In this study, porous hierarchical bronze/anatase phase junction TiO assembled by ultrathin two-dimensional nanosheets was prepared by a novel, green and simple deep eutectic solvent-regulated strategy. Due to its structural features, the TiO sample exhibited enhanced photocatalytic activities for multiple kinds of antibiotics, including ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin and chloramphenicol.

NiFe Layered-Double-Hydroxide Nanosheet Arrays on Graphite Felt: A 3D Electrocatalyst for Highly Efficient Water Oxidation in Alkaline Media.

It is of great importance to rationally design and develop earth-abundant nanocatalysts for high-efficiency water electrolysis. Herein, NiFe layered double hydroxide was in situ grown hydrothermally on a 3D graphite felt (NiFe LDH/GF) as a high-efficiency catalyst in facilitating the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). In 1.

An amorphous WC thin film enabled high-efficiency N reduction electrocatalysis under ambient conditions.

Ambient electrochemical N2 reduction offers a promising alternative to the energy-intensive Haber-Bosch process towards renewable NH3 synthesis in aqueous media but needs efficient electrocatalysts to enable the N2 reduction reaction (NRR). Herein, we propose that an amorphous WC thin film magnetron sputtered onto a graphite foil behaves as a superb NRR electrocatalyst for ambient NH3 production with excellent selectivity. In 0.

N-doped carbon nanotubes supported CoSe nanoparticles: A highly efficient and stable catalyst for HO electrosynthesis in acidic media.

Unlabelled: Electrocatalytic oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) provides an attractive alternative to anthraquinone process for HO synthesis. Rational design of earth-abundant electrocatalysts for HO synthesis via a two-electron ORR process in acids is attractive but still very challenging. In this work, we report that nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes as a multi-functional support for CoSe nanoparticles not only keep CoSe nanoparticles well dispersed but alter the crystal structure, which in turn improves the overall catalytic behaviors and thereby renders high O-to-HO conversion efficiency.

Lanthanum-incorporated β-Ni(OH) nanoarrays for robust urea electro-oxidation.

Lanthanum-incorporated β-Ni(OH) nanosheets display superior catalytic behavior and stability for urea electro-oxidation, which originates from the optimized electronic structure, the downshift of the d-band center and the increased number of exposed active sites.

Photocatalytic Overall Water Splitting by SrTiO with Surface Oxygen Vacancies.

Strontium Titanate has a typical perovskite structure with advantages of low cost and photochemical stability. However, the wide bandgap and rapid recombination of electrons and holes limited its application in photocatalysis. In this work, a SrTiO material with surface oxygen vacancies was synthesized via carbon reduction under a high temperature.

Controllable fabrication of TiO anatase/rutile phase junctions by a designer solvent for promoted photocatalytic performance.

Herein, novel coin tree-like TiO moieties with lots of anatase-rutile phase junctions were constructed by a general, simple, and environmentally friendly strategy. The anatase/rutile ratios can be easily tuned by changing the ratios of the two H-bond donors. Owing to this featured shape, the TiO sample displays robust photocatalytic activity and better stability.

CuO@CoFe Layered Double Hydroxide Core-Shell Heterostructure as an Efficient Water Oxidation Electrocatalyst under Mild Alkaline Conditions.

Designing hierarchical electrocatalysts with superior water oxidation performance is highly desirable for the production of renewable chemical fuels. Here, we report the development of a CuO@CoFe layered double hydroxide core-shell heterostructure supported on Cu foil (CuO@CoFe-LDH/CF) as a highly active catalyst electrode for water oxidation under mild alkaline conditions. In a 0.

Grey Rutile TiO with Long-Term Photocatalytic Activity Synthesized Via Two-Step Calcination.

Colored titanium oxides are usually unstable in the atmosphere. Herein, a gray rutile titanium dioxide is synthesized by two-step calcination successively in a high-temperature reduction atmosphere and in a lower-temperature air atmosphere. The as-synthesized gray rutile TiO exhibits higher photocatalytic activity than that of white rutile TiO and shows high chemical stability.

Unusual electrochemical N reduction activity in an earth-abundant iron catalyst via phosphorous modulation.

Fe-enabled high-performance ambient electrochemical N2 reduction still remains a big challenge. Here, we report the unusual role of phosphorous in modulating the electrochemical N2 reduction activity of an Fe catalyst. An FeP2 nanoparticle-reduced graphene oxide hybrid (FeP2-rGO) attains a large NH3 yield of 35.

MoS Nanosheets Assembled on Three-Way Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Tubes for Photocatalytic Water Splitting.

In this work, a micron-sized three-way nitrogen-doped carbon tube covered with MoS nanosheets (TNCT@MoS) was synthesized and applied in photocatalytic water splitting without any sacrificial agents for the first time. The micron-sized three-way nitrogen-doped carbon tube (TNCT) was facilely synthesized by the calcination of commercial sponge. The MoS nanosheets were assembled on the carbon tubes by a hydrothermal method.

High-Performance N-to-NH Conversion Electrocatalyzed by MoC Nanorod.

The synthesis of NH is mainly dominated by the traditional energy-consuming Haber-Bosch process with a mass of CO emission. Electrochemical conversion of N to NH emerges as a carbon-free process for the sustainable artificial N reduction reaction (NRR), but requires an efficient and stable electrocatalyst. Here, we report that the MoC nanorod serves as an excellent NRR electrocatalyst for artificial N fixation to NH with strong durability and acceptable selectivity under ambient conditions.

Promoted water splitting by efficient electron transfer between Au nanoparticles and hematite nanoplates: a theoretical and experimental study.

An ideal interface model combining a hematite nanoplate-based photoanode with Au nanoparticles (NPs) is proposed for elucidating the specific role of Au NPs in photoelectrochemical performances. The theoretical and experimental results reveal that Au/FeO nanoplates can lead to an enhanced localized electric field at the metal-semiconductor interface upon the formation of surface plasmon resonance and hot electrons, which can be injected into the conduction band of the semiconductor, thus improving the efficiency of the generation and separation of electron-hole pairs. As expected, the Au/FeO nanoplate-based photoelectrode possessed a higher carrier density and a photocurrent of 1.

Synthesis, Photophysical Properties and Two-Photon Absorption Study of Tetraazachrysene-based N-Heteroacenes.

Three novel N-heteroacene molecules (SDNU-1, SDNU-2 and SDNU-3) based on tetraazachrysene units as cores have been designed, synthesized and fully characterized. Their photophysical, electrochemical and fluorescence properties were investigated, and they exhibited blue to green emission in the solid state. Interestingly, SDNU-2 exhibited high solid photoluminescence quantum efficiencies (75.

Round-the-Clock Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production with High Efficiency by a Long-Afterglow Material.

Long afterglow materials can store and release light energy after illumination. A brick-like, micrometer-sized Sr MgSi O :Eu ,Dy long-afterglow material is used for hydrogen production by the photocatalytic reforming of methanol under round-the-clock conditions for the first time, achieving a solar-to-hydrogen (STH) conversion efficiency of 5.18 %.

Enabling the electrocatalytic fixation of N to NH by C-doped TiO nanoparticles under ambient conditions.

The conventional Haber-Bosch process for industrial NH production from N and H is highly energy-intensive with a large amount of CO emissions and finding a more suitable method for NH synthesis under mild conditions is a very attractive topic. The electrocatalytic N reduction reaction (NRR) offers us an environmentally benign and sustainable route. In this communication, we report that C-doped TiO nanoparticles act as an efficient electrocatalyst for the NRR with excellent selectivity.

Nanowire of WP as a High-Performance Anode Material for Sodium-Ion Batteries.

The design and development of electrode materials with high specific capacity and long cycling life for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) is still a critical challenge. In this communication, we report the development of tungsten phosphide (WP) nanowire on carbon cloth (WP/CC) as an anode for SIBs. The WP/CC exhibits superior sodium storage capability with 502 mA h g at 0.

A hierarchical CoTe-MnTe hybrid nanowire array enables high activity for oxygen evolution reactions.

In this communication, we demonstrate the development of hierarchical CoTe2-MnTe2 hybrid nanowires grown on Ti mesh (CoTe2-MnTe2/TM) as an electrocatalyst for the oxygen evolution reaction. The catalyst exhibits excellent conductivity and exposes sufficient active sites derived from its favorable composition and structure, which only needs an overpotential of 310 mV to drive a current density of 50 mA cm-2 in 1.0 M KOH.

High-performance artificial nitrogen fixation at ambient conditions using a metal-free electrocatalyst.

Conversion of naturally abundant nitrogen to ammonia is a key (bio)chemical process to sustain life and represents a major challenge in chemistry and biology. Electrochemical reduction is emerging as a sustainable strategy for artificial nitrogen fixation at ambient conditions by tackling the hydrogen- and energy-intensive operations of the Haber-Bosch process. However, it is severely challenged by nitrogen activation and requires efficient catalysts for the nitrogen reduction reaction.

FeP nanorod arrays on carbon cloth: a high-performance anode for sodium-ion batteries.

It is highly attractive to design FeP-based high-performance anode materials for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). In this work, we report the development of FeP nanorod arrays on carbon cloth (FeP NAs/CC) as a flexible anode for SIBs. Such FeP NAs/CC delivers a high capacity of 829 mA h g-1 at 0.