Construction of trace nitric oxide sensors at low temperature based on bulk embedded BiVO in SnO nanofibers with nano-heterointerfaces.

Constructing heterostructures is an effective way to improve the carrier mobility for metal oxide sensing material, since heterojunctions are usually built only on the surface of the material, the carrier transport efficiency inside the material still needs to be improved. In this paper, BiVO nanocrystals (BVO NCs) with an average size of 1 nm generated by pulsed laser irradiation were embedded in situ at the particle boundaries (PBs) of SnO nanofibers to form an effective n-n heterojunctions inside the material. After embedding the BVO NCs in the SnO samples, the response value for 10 ppm NO was improved to 48.

Metal exsolution from perovskite-based anodes in solid oxide fuel cells.

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are highly efficient and environmentally friendly devices for converting fuel into electrical energy. In this regard, metal nanoparticles (NPs) loaded onto the anode oxide play a crucial role due to their exceptional catalytic activity. NPs synthesized through exsolution exhibit excellent dispersion and stability, garnering significant attention for comprehending the exsolution process mechanism and consequently improving synthesis effectiveness.

Enhanced Oxygen Evolution Rate and Anti-interfacial Delamination Property of the SrCoTaO@LaSrCoFeO Oxygen-Electrode for Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cells.

Interfacial delamination between the oxygen-electrode and electrolyte is a significant factor impacting the reliability of solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs) when operating at high voltages. The most effective method to mitigate this delamination is to decrease the interfacial oxygen partial pressure, which can be accomplished by amplifying the oxygen exsolution rate and the O transport rate of the oxygen-electrode. In this study, a SrCoTaO (SCT) film with an outstanding oxygen surface exchange coefficient and an outstanding O conductivity was introduced onto the LaSrCoFeO (LSCF) surface by infiltration.

Atomic cerium modulated palladium nanoclusters exsolved ferrite catalysts for lean methane conversion.

The active and stable palladium (Pd) based catalysts for CH conversion are of great environmental and industrial significance. Herein, we employed N as an optimal activation agent to develop a Pd nanocluster exsolved Ce-incorporated perovskite ferrite catalyst toward lean methane oxidation. Replacing the traditional initiator of H, the N was found as an effective driving force to selectively touch off the surface exsolution of Pd nanocluster from perovskite framework without deteriorating the overall material robustness.

Failure Mechanism and Optimization of Metal-Supported Solid Oxide Fuel Cells.

A solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) is a clean, efficient energy conversion device with wide fuel applicability. Metal-supported solid oxide fuel cells (MS-SOFCs) exhibit better thermal shock resistance, better machinability, and faster startup than traditional SOFCs, making them more suitable for commercial applications, especially in mobile transportation. However, many challenges remain that hinder the development and application of MS-SOFCs.

Construction of ZnIn S /CdS/PdS S-Scheme Heterostructure for Efficient Photocatalytic H Production.

It is facing a tremendous challenge to develop the desirable hybrids for photocatalytic H generation by integrating the advantages of a single semiconductor. Herein, an all-sulfide ZnIn S /CdS/PdS heterojunction is constructed for the first time, where CdS and PdS nanoparticles anchor in the spaces of ZnIn S micro-flowers due to the confinement effects. The morphology engineering can guarantee rapid charge transfer owing to the short carrier migration distances and the luxuriant reactive sites provided by ZnIn S .

Ni-Doped BiVO photoanode for efficient photoelectrochemical water splitting.

BiVO (BVO) based photoanode is one of the most mega-potential materials for solar water splitting while suffers from poor charge transfer and separation efficiency limit its practical application. Herein, FeOOH/Ni-BiVO photoanode synthesized by the facile wet chemical method were investigated for improved charge transport and separation efficiency. The photoelectrochemical (PEC) measurements demonstrate that the water oxidation photocurrent density can reach as high as 3.

Boosting photoelectrochemical water splitting of bismuth vanadate photoanode via novel co-catalysts of amorphous manganese oxide with variable valence states.

Bismuth vanadate (BVO) is a promising photoanode while suffers from sluggish oxygen evolution kinetics. Herein, an ultra-thin manganese oxide (MnO) is selected as co-catalyst to modify the surface of BVO photoanode by a facile spray pyrolysis method. The photoelectrochemical measurements demonstrate that surface charge transport efficiency (η) of MnO modified BVO photoanode (BVO/MnO) is strikingly increased from 6.

Defected tungsten disulfide decorated CdS nanorods with covalent heterointerfaces for boosted photocatalytic H generation.

Owing to their intrinsic and pronounced charge carrier transport when facing the formidable challenge of inhibiting severe surface charge recombination, one-dimensional (1D) CdS nanostructures are promising for advancing high-yield hydrogen production. We herein demonstrate an efficient strategy of boosting interfacial carrier separation by heterostructuring 1D CdS with defective WS. This process yields solid covalent interfaces for high flux carrier transfer that differ distinctively from those reported structures with physical contacts.

Activating a Semiconductor-Liquid Junction via Laser-Derived Dual Interfacial Layers for Boosted Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting.

The semiconductor-liquid junction (SCLJ), the dominant place in photoelectrochemical (PEC) catalysis, determines the interfacial activity and stability of photoelectrodes, whcih directly affects the viability of PEC hydrogen generation. Though efforts dedicated in past decades, a challenge remains regarding creating a synchronously active and stable SCLJ, owing to the technical hurdles of simultaneously overlaying the two advantages. The present work demonstrates that creating an SCLJ with a unique configuration of the dual interfacial layers can yield BiVO photoanodes with synchronously boosted photoelectrochemical activity and operational stability, with values located at the top in the records of such photoelectrodes.

Electrospun Bi-doped SnO porous nanosheets for highly sensitive nitric oxide detection.

The real-time monitoring of NO in the low-concentration range from the ppb- to ppm-level is of great importance in the field of healthcare; however, accomplishing this is still challenging owing to the technical issues regarding highly efficient and selective sensing materials. In this study, we demonstrate the highly sensitive and selective detection of NO by Bi-doped SnO two-dimensional ultrathin nanosheets with porous structures, fabricated using a facile one-step electrospinning method. It was found that the SnO with 0.

Surface defect passivation of TaN photoanode via pyridine grafting for enhanced photoelectrochemical performance.

Tantalum nitride (TaN) is a promising photoanode material for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting, while the TaN/Ta photoanode synthesized via general thermal oxidation and nitridation on a Ta foil method usually has serious carrier recombination at the surface, which usually reduces the PEC activities. Herein, we demonstrate an efficient strategy of decorating pyridine, a small organic molecule at the surface of the TaN/Ta photoanode, to alleviate the surface recombination. Such decoration yields a stable photocurrent density of 4.

LaCrO-Coated LaSrCoFeO Core-Shell Structured Cathode with Enhanced Cr Tolerance for Intermediate-Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells.

LaSrCoFeO (LSCF) is a common cathode material for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells because of its excellent oxygen reduction reaction catalytic activity. However, the Cr-poisoning effect is a severe issue, causing electrochemical performance degradation. For the development of a LSCF-based cathode with excellent Cr tolerance, a LaCrO-coated LSCF core-shell structured (LCr@LSCF) cathode was prepared via the solution infiltration method.

Laser-generated BiVO colloidal particles with tailoring size and native oxygen defect for highly efficient gas sensing.

To alleviate the poor sensing performance of BiVO, developing new strategies for the fabrication of unique device with improved sensing properties is very necessary and has great practical significance. In this work, size-tailored and uniform black BiVO colloids with abundant oxygen vacancy were synthesized by a unique method of pulsed laser irradiation of colloidal nanoparticles (PLICN). The corresponding laser irradiation effects on the sensing properties are comparatively investigated.

Redox-Reversible Electrode Material for Direct Hydrocarbon Solid Oxide Fuel Cells.

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) can directly operate on hydrocarbon fuels such as natural gas; however, the widely used nickel-based anodes face grand challenges such as coking, sulfur poisoning, and redox instability. We report a novel double perovskite oxide SrCoFeMoO (SCFM) that possesses excellent redox reversibility and can be used as both the cathode and the anode. When heat-treated at 900 °C in a reducing environment, double perovskite phase SCFM transforms into a composite of the Ruddlesden-Popper structured oxide SrCoFeMoO (RP-SCFM) with the Co-Fe alloy nanoparticles homogeneously distributed on the surface of RP-SCFM.

In Situ Exsolved Ni-Decorated Ba(CeY)NiO Perovskite as Carbon-Resistant Composite Anode for Hydrocarbon-Fueled Solid Oxide Fuel Cells.

In this study, in situ exsolved Ni-Ba(CeY)NiO+GdCeO (Ni-BCYN+GDC) perovskite anode is studied for application in hydrocarbon-fueled solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC). The electrocatalytic activities of the oxidation reaction of anode in hydrogen and methane atmospheres are studied. The results show that the surface-exsolved Ni nanoparticles can significantly improve the electrochemical properties of the anode.

Pristine-Graphene-Supported Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Self-Assembled from Glucaminium-Based Ionic Liquids as Metal-Free Catalyst for Oxygen Evolution.

For the first time, graphene-supported N-doped carbon (G@NC) with a high degree of N doping was synthesized by in situ self-assembly of a glucaminium-based ionic liquid on pristine graphene under hydrothermal conditions. This 2D, metal-free nanohybrid exhibited much higher catalytic activity than most reported metal-free catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and even state-of-the-art Ir- and Ru-based catalysts because the high content of graphitic N greatly increased the number of OER-active sites, the pristine graphene significantly promoted the OER activity of the C sites adjacent to the graphitic N atoms, and N-doped graphitic carbon remarkably enhanced the charge-transfer rate. This work not only creates a facile and economical approach to controllably fabricate pristine-graphene-supported carbon with a high N-doping level for the development of highly efficient metal-free OER catalysts but also provides insight into the mechanisms for both the in situ self-assembly and the high OER catalytic activity of G@NC.

Embedding laser generated nanocrystals in BiVO photoanode for efficient photoelectrochemical water splitting.

Addressing the intrinsic charge transport limitation of metal oxides has been of significance for pursuing viable PEC water splitting photoelectrodes. Growing a photoelectrode with conductive nanoobjects embedded in the matrix is promising for enhanced charge transport but remains a challenge technically. We herein show a strategy of embedding laser generated nanocrystals in BiVO photoanode matrix, which achieves photocurrent densities of up to 5.

City-level climate change mitigation in China.

As national efforts to reduce CO emissions intensify, policy-makers need increasingly specific, subnational information about the sources of CO and the potential reductions and economic implications of different possible policies. This is particularly true in China, a large and economically diverse country that has rapidly industrialized and urbanized and that has pledged under the Paris Agreement that its emissions will peak by 2030. We present new, city-level estimates of CO emissions for 182 Chinese cities, decomposed into 17 different fossil fuels, 46 socioeconomic sectors, and 7 industrial processes.

Enhanced methane steam reforming activity and electrochemical performance of NiFe-supported solid oxide fuel cells with infiltrated Ni-TiO particles.

NiFe alloy-supported solid oxide fuel cells with NiTiO (NTO) infiltrated into the cell support from 0 to 4 wt.% are prepared and investigated for CH steam reforming activity and electrochemical performance. The infiltrated NiTiO is reduced to TiO-supported Ni particles in H at 650 °C.

Highly ordered nanoporous carbon films with tunable pore diameters and their excellent sensing properties.

Ordered porous carbon films with tunable pore diameters, immobilized with glucose oxidase (GOD) have been fabricated and employed for the construction of a biosensor for glucose molecules. The as-prepared porous films have large specific surface areas and highly ordered porous structure with uniform pore sizes, which are critical for the immobilization of large amounts of GOD and support the promotion of heterogeneous electron transfer. The developed biosensors give enough room for the encapsulation of a high amount of GOD molecules and show excellent biosensing performance with a linear response to glucose concentration ranging from 0.

Significant promotion effect of carbon nanotubes on the electrocatalytic activity of supported Pd NPs for ethanol oxidation reaction of fuel cells: the role of inner tubes.

The inner tubes of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have a significant promotion effect on the electrocatalytic activity of Pd nanoparticles (NPs) for the ethanol oxidation of direct alcohol fuel cells (DAFCs) and Pd NPs supported on CNTs with 3-7 walls show a much higher activity as compared to that supported on typical single-walled and multi-walled CNTs.

Highly ordered macro-mesoporous carbon nitride film for selective detection of acidic/basic molecules.

Well-ordered meso-macroporous carbon nitride film fabricated via a simple and flexible template replication method by using the P123 block copolymer and polystyrene spheres as dual templates shows selective sensing performance for acetic acid but after treating the surface of the film with UV light and oxygen, the selectivity of sensing can be tuned for basic molecules.

Crack-free periodic porous thin films assisted by plasma irradiation at low temperature and their enhanced gas-sensing performance.

Homogenous thin films are preferable for high-performance gas sensors because of their remarkable reproducibility and long-term stability. In this work, a low-temperature fabrication route is presented to prepare crack-free and homogenous metal oxide periodic porous thin films by oxygen plasma irradiation instead of high temperature annealing by using a sacrificial colloidal template. Rutile SnO2 is taken as an example to demonstrate the validity of this route.