Role of Structural and Compositional Changes of CuO Nanocubes in Nitrate Electroreduction to Ammonia.

Nitrate electroreduction reaction (NORR) to ammonia (NH) still faces fundamental and technological challenges. While Cu-based catalysts have been widely explored, their activity and stability relationship are still not fully understood. Here, we systematically monitored the dynamic alterations in the chemical and morphological characteristics of CuO nanocubes (NCs) during NORR in an alkaline electrolyte.

Background optimization of powder electron diffraction for implementation of the e-PDF technique and study of the local structure of iron oxide nanocrystals.

The local structural characterization of iron oxide nanoparticles is explored using a total scattering analysis method known as pair distribution function (PDF) (also known as reduced density function) analysis. The PDF profiles are derived from background-corrected powder electron diffraction patterns (the e-PDF technique). Due to the strong Coulombic interaction between the electron beam and the sample, electron diffraction generally leads to multiple scattering, causing redistribution of intensities towards higher scattering angles and an increased background in the diffraction profile.

Advances in Engineered Metal Oxide Thin Films by Low-Cost, Solution-Based Techniques for Green Hydrogen Production.

Functional oxide materials have become crucial in the continuous development of various fields, including those for energy applications. In this aspect, the synthesis of nanomaterials for low-cost green hydrogen production represents a huge challenge that needs to be overcome to move toward the next generation of efficient systems and devices. This perspective presents a critical assessment of hydrothermal and polymeric precursor methods as potential approaches to designing photoelectrodes for future industrial implementation.

The Influence of Magnetic Field and Nanoparticle Concentration on the Thin Film Colloidal Deposition Process of Magnetic Nanoparticles: The Search for High-Efficiency Hematite Photoanodes.

Hematite is considered a promising photoanode material for photoelectrochemical water splitting, and the literature has shown that the photoanode production process has an impact on the final efficiency of hydrogen generation. Among the methods used to process hematite photoanode, we can highlight the thin films from the colloidal deposition process of magnetic nanoparticles. This technique leads to the production of high-performance hematite photoanode.

Pair Distribution Function from Electron Diffraction in Cryogenic Electron Microscopy: Revealing Glassy Water Structure.

In recent years, cryogenic electron microscopy (Cryo-EM) has revolutionized the structure determination of wet samples and especially that of biological macromolecules. The glassy-water medium in which the molecules are embedded is considered an almost environment for biological samples. The local structure of amorphous ice is known from neutron- and X-ray-diffraction studies, techniques appropriate for much larger volumes than those used in cryo-EM.