We developed a novel method to fabricate copper nanorods in a poly(ether sulfone) (15 wt %) casting solution by a sonochemical reduction of Cu ions with NaBH. The main twist is the addition of ethanol to remove excess NaBH through Cu(0) catalyzed ethanolysis. This enabled the direct use of the resulting copper-containing casting dispersions for membrane preparation by liquid nonsolvent-induced phase separation and led to full utilization of the copper source, generating zero metal waste.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOxometalates of vanadium(V), chromium(VI), and manganese(VII) have negative impacts on water resources due to their toxicity. To remove them, the kinetics of 0.04 mM oxometalates in natural and synthetic water were studied using graphene nanoplatelets (GNP).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSimultaneous electroreduction of CO and HO to syngas can provide a sustainable feed for established processes used to synthesize carbon-based chemicals. The synthesis of MO/M-N-Cs (M = Ni, Fe) electrocatalysts reported via one-step pyrolysis that shows increased performance during syngas electrosynthesis at high current densities with adaptable H/CO ratios, e.g.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe role of β-CoOOH crystallographic orientations in catalytic activity for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) remains elusive. We combine correlative electron backscatter diffraction/scanning electrochemical cell microscopy with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and atom probe tomography to establish the structure-activity relationships of various faceted β-CoOOH formed on a Co microelectrode under OER conditions. We reveal that ≈6 nm β-CoOOH(01 0), grown on [ 0]-oriented Co, exhibits higher OER activity than ≈3 nm β-CoOOH(10 3) or ≈6 nm β-CoOOH(0006) formed on [02 - and [0001]-oriented Co, respectively.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBoth oxygen vacancies and surface hydroxyls play a crucial role in catalysis. Yet, their relationship is not often explored. Herein, we prepare two series of TiO (rutile and P25) with increasing oxygen deficiency and Ti concentration by pulsed laser defect engineering in liquid (PUDEL), and selectively quantify the acidic and basic surface OH by fluoride substitution.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF