Weakening the Mn-O-Si Interaction via Carbon Intercalation for the Enhanced Catalytic Ozonation of Refractory Pollutants in Environmental Matrices.

The strong metal-support interaction (MSI) has been widely attributed to enhanced catalytic activity. However, this attribution might be wrong in catalytic ozonation, since MSI that is too strong might impede the activation of electron-poor ozone molecules. Herein, we reported a strategy to subtly modulate the Mn-O-Si interaction by intercalating the carbon film between the silica support and active manganese oxide.

Nanoconfinement-Enabled Resistance to Water Matrix Components for Selective Degradation of Micropollutants.

Despite recent substantial advances in water treatment, the ability to selectively degrade trace micropollutants in real waters with complex matrix components remains a grand challenge. Here we report rational crafting of graphene oxide (GO)-wrapped defective TiO composite catalysts that creates nanoscopic confinement over the TiO surface within GO, thereby enabling the selective degradation of micropollutants through effectively excluding natural organic matter (NOM) and anions from the nanoconfined catalytic sites. In contrast to unconfined counterparts, the nanoconfined composite catalysts retain high degradation efficiency when exposed to various concentrations of NOM and anions, even in real water samples.

Engineering of Graphitic Carbon Nitride (g-CN) Based Photocatalysts for Atmospheric Protection: Modification Strategies, Recent Progress, and Application Challenges.

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-CN) is a prominent photocatalyst that has attracted substantial interest in the field of photocatalytic environmental remediation due to the low cost of fabrication, robust chemical structure, adaptable and tunable energy bandgaps, superior photoelectrochemical properties, cost-effective feedstocks, and distinctive framework. Nonetheless, the practical application of bulk g-CN in the photocatalysis field is limited by the fast recombination of photogenerated e-h pairs, insufficient surface-active sites, and restricted redox capacity. Consequently, a great deal of research has been devoted to solving these scientific challenges for large-scale applications.

MnO-based capacitive system enhances ozone inactivation of bacteria by disrupting cell membrane.

The application of ozone (O) disinfection has been hindered by its low solubility in water and the formation of disinfection by-products (DBPs). In this study, capacitive disinfection is applied as a pre-treatment for O oxidation, in which manganese dioxide with a rambutan-like hollow spherical structure is used as the electrode to increase the charge density on the electrode surface. When a voltage is applied, the negative-charged microbes are attracted to the electrodes and killed by electrical interactions.

Precisely constructing orbital coupling-modulated iron dinuclear site for enhanced catalytic ozonation performance.

The advancement of atomically precise dinuclear heterogeneous catalysts holds great potential in achieving efficient catalytic ozonation performance and contributes to the understanding of synergy mechanisms during reaction conditions. Herein, we demonstrate a "ship-in-a-bottle and pyrolysis" strategy that utilizes Fe(CO) dinuclear-cluster to precisely construct Fe site, consisting of two Fe-N units connected by Fe-Fe bonds and firmly bonded to N-doped carbon. Systematic characterizations and theoretical modeling reveal that the Fe-Fe coordination motif markedly reduced the devotion of the antibonding state in the Fe-O bond because of the strong orbital coupling interaction of dual Fe - orbitals.

Advancements in Electrocatalytic Nitrogen Reduction: A Comprehensive Review of Single-Atom Catalysts for Sustainable Ammonia Synthesis.

Electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction technology seamlessly aligns with the principles of environmentally friendly chemical production. In this paper, a comprehensive review of recent advancements in electrocatalytic NH synthesis utilizing single-atom catalysts (SACs) is offered. Into the research and applications of three categories of SACs: noble metals (Ru, Au, Rh, Ag), transition metals (Fe, Mo, Cr, Co, Sn, Y, Nb), and nonmetallic catalysts (B) in the context of electrocatalytic ammonia synthesis is delved.

Optimization of Carbon-Defect Engineering to Boost Catalytic Ozonation Efficiency of Single Fe─N Coordination Motif.

Carbon-defect engineering in single-atom metal-nitrogen-carbon (M─N─C) catalysts by straightforward and robust strategy, enhancing their catalytic activity for volatile organic compounds, and uncovering the carbon vacancy-catalytic activity relationship are meaningful but challenging. In this study, an iron-nitrogen-carbon (Fe─N─C) catalyst is intentionally designed through a carbon-thermal-diffusion strategy, exposing extensively the carbon-defective Fe─N sites within a micro-mesoporous carbon matrix. The optimization of Fe─N sites results in exceptional catalytic ozonation efficiency, surpassing that of intact Fe─N sites and commercial MnO by 10 and 312 times, respectively.

Piezocatalysis for Chemical-Mechanical Polishing of SiC: Dual Roles of t-BaTiO as a Piezocatalyst and an Abrasive.

Chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) offers a promising pathway to smooth third-generation semiconductors. However, it is still a challenge to reduce the use of additional oxidants or/and energy in current CMP processes. Here, a new and green atomically smoothing method: Piezocatalytic-CMP (Piezo-CMP) is reported.

Surface Engineering over Metal-Organic Framework Nanoarray to Realize Boosted and Sustained Urea Oxidation.

Facilitating C─N bond cleavage and promoting *COO desorption are essential yet challenging in urea oxidation reactions (UORs). Herein a novel interfacial coordination assembly protocol is established to modify the Co-phytate coordination complex on the Ni-based metal-organic framework (MOF) nanosheet array (CC/Ni-BDC@Co-PA) toward boosted and sustained UOR electrocatalysis. Comprehensive experimental and theoretical investigations unveil that surface Co-PA modification over Ni-BDC can manipulate the electronic state of Ni sites, and in situ evolved charge-redistributed surface can promote urea adsorption and the subsequent C─N bond cleavage.

Enhanced catalytic ozonation performance by CuO nanoclusters/TiO nanotube and an insight into the catalytic mechanism.

Highly reactive nanoclusters of metal oxides are extremely difficult to be synthesized due to their thermodynamic instability. For the first time, CuO nanoclusters supported on anatase TiO nanotubes (NT) with many defects as anchoring sites were successfully prepared. Although the copper loading reached as high as 2.

Accelerated Catalytic Ozonation in a Mesoporous Carbon-Supported Atomic Fe-N Sites Nanoreactor: Confinement Effect and Resistance to Poisoning.

The design of a micro-/nanoreactor is of great significance for catalytic ozonation, which can achieve effective mass transfer and expose powerful reaction species. Herein, the mesoporous carbon with atomic Fe-N sites embedded in the ordered carbon nanochannels (Fe-N/CMK-3) was synthesized by the hard-template method. Fe-N/CMK-3 can be employed as nanoreactors with preferred electronic and geometric catalytic microenvironments for the internal catalytic ozonation of CHSH.

3D Hierarchical-Architectured Nanoarray Electrode for Boosted and Sustained Urea Electro-Oxidation.

Exploring active and durable Ni-based materials with optimized electronic and architectural engineering to promote the urea oxidation reaction (UOR) is pivotal for the urea-related technologies. Herein a 3D self-supported hierarchical-architectured nanoarray electrode (CC/MnNi@NC) is proposed in which 1D N-doped carbon nanotubes (N-CNTs) with 0D MnNi nanoparticles (NPs) encapsulation are intertwined into 2D nanosheet aligned on the carbon cloth for prominently boosted and sustained UOR electrocatalysis. From combined experimental and theoretical investigations, Mn-alloying can regulate Ni electronic state with downshift of the d-band center, facilitating active Ni species generation and prompting the rate-determining step (*COO intermediate desorption).

Unconventional Phase Synergies with Doping Engineering Over Ni Electrocatalyst Featuring Regulated Electronic State for Accelerated Urea Oxidation.

Exploring high-performing Ni-based electrocatalysts for the urea oxidation reaction (UOR) is crucial for developing urea-related energy technologies yet remains a daunting challenge. In this study, a synergistic anomalous hcp phase and heteroatom doping engineering over metallic Ni are found to enhance the UOR. A metal-organic framework-mediated approach is proposed to construct Ni nanoparticles (NPs) with designated crystal phase embedded in N-doped carbon (fcc-Ni/NC and hcp-Ni/NC).

Highly porous α-MnO nanorods with enhanced defect accessibility for efficient catalytic ozonation of refractory pollutants.

Herein we reported the first example of preparing α-MnO by selective acid etching from Mn-containing spinel. The defects, facet, and surface area of α-MnO were cooperatively engineered by an all-in-one acid etching method to enhance the defect accessibility to the reactants. The obtained highly porous α-MnO nanorods have rich defects of Mn (24.

Self-Accelerating Interfacial Catalytic Elimination of Gaseous Sulfur-Containing Volatile Organic Compounds as Microbubbles in a Facet-Engineered Three-Dimensional BiOCl Sponge Fenton-Like Process.

The elimination of gaseous sulfur-containing volatile organic compounds (S-VOCs) by a microbubble-assisted Fenton-like process is an innovative strategy. Herein, we established a microbubble-assisted Fenton-like process to eliminate malodorous microbubble CHSH as representative gaseous S-VOCs, in which BiOCl nanosheets loaded on a three-dimensional sponge were exposed to (001) or (010) facets and induced Fenton-like interface reactions. Intriguingly, the microbubble-assisted Fenton-like process significantly removed 99.

Enhanced Fenton-like catalysis for pollutants removal via MOF-derived CoFeO membrane: Oxygen vacancy-mediated mechanism.

Traditional batch configuration is not sustainable due to catalyst leaching and ineffective recovery. Herein, a novel membrane-based catalyst with oxygen vacancies is developed, which assembled metal-organic-framework cobalt ferrite nanocrystals (MOF-d CoFeO) on polyvinylidene fluoride membrane to activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS) for catalytic degradation of emerging pollutants. MOF-d CoFeO are synthesized by one-step pyrolysis using Co/Fe bimetallic organic frameworks (CoFe bi-MOF) with tunable cobalt content as a template (x/3-x represented the molar ratio of Co and Fe in MOF).

Encapsulated RuP-RuS nanoheterostructure with regulated interfacial charge redistribution for synergistically boosting hydrogen evolution electrocatalysis.

Exploring cost-effective electrocatalysts with suitable hydrogen binding strength and rational micro/nano-architecture towards the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is crucial for energy technologies, yet remains a tough challenge. Herein we present the first instance of a nanoscale RuP-RuS heterostructure encapsulated in N, P, and S co-doped porous carbon nanosheets (RuP-RuS/NPS-C) for boosting the HER. The synthesis involves the construction of a 2D core-shell structured precursor in which Ru-functionalized g-CN is wrapped by poly(cyclotriphosphazene--4,4'-sulfonyldiphenol) followed by pyrolysis.

Improvement of sewage sludge dewatering by piezoelectric effect driven directly with pressure from pressure filtration: Towards understanding piezo-dewatering mechanism.

Piezoelectric effect was firstly employed to improve dewatering efficiency of sludge. It was found that the piezoelectric effect could be driven directly by the pressure of pressure filtration process, without any additional energy. This piezo-dewatering process coupled piezoelectric effect with pressure filtration could efficiently remove moisture of sludge.

Transcriptomic analyses reveal variegation-induced metabolic changes leading to high L-theanine levels in albino sectors of variegated tea (Camellia sinensis).

Camellia sinensis cv. 'Yanling Huayecha' (YHC) is an albino-green chimaeric tea mutant with stable genetic traits. Here, we analysed the cell ultrastructure, photosynthetic pigments, amino acids, and transcriptomes of the albino, mosaic, and green zones of YHC.

A resource-utilization way of the waste printed circuit boards to prepare silicon carbide nanoparticles and their photocatalytic application.

A resource-utilization strategy of the waste PCBs was developed: preparation of high value-added silicon carbide (SiC) nanoparticles using the waste PCBs as both silica and carbon precursors. The preparation process contained three optimized steps: acid wash pretreatment with 3 mol L nitric acid at 60 °C for 96 h, low-temperature pyrolysis at 500 °C to allow the epoxy resin to decompose into carbon, and high-temperature pyrolysis at 1600 °C (in situ carbothermal reduction) to gain pure SiC nanoparticles. The pseudo first-order reaction rate constant (k) of the p-n heterojunction of SiC/TiO towards the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue was 0.

Three-dimensional hierarchical porous sludge-derived carbon supported on silicon carbide foams as effective and stable Fenton-like catalyst for odorous methyl mercaptan elimination.

The poor reusability of catalysts and secondary pollution are critical issues for sulfur-containing volatile organic compounds (S-VOCs) removal. In this paper, a three-dimensional (3D) hierarchical porous sludge-derived carbon supported on silicon carbide foams (SiC) has been fabricated for deep decomposition of S-VOCs under ambient conditions. The sludge-derived Fenton-like catalyst has been confirmed to be hierarchical 3D porous structure based on detailed characterization by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Nitrogen adsorption-desorption measurements and Raman spectroscopy.

Tuning role and mechanism of paint sludge for characteristics of sewage sludge carbon: Paint sludge as a new macro-pores forming agent.

For the first time, paint sludge waste (PS) was used as a pore forming agent in the preparation of sewage sludge derived carbon (SC). The tuning role and mechanism of PS for characteristics of SC were explored. It was found that a sludge carbon (SC) with rich macro-, meso- and micro- porous could be produced by one-step pyrolytic process of sludge in the presence of PS and ZnCl Its surface area could reach as high as 680.

Activation of peroxymonosulfate by nitrogen-functionalized sludge carbon for efficient degradation of organic pollutants in water.

Nitrogen-functionalized sludge carbon (NSC) was prepared by urea-mediated pyrolysis of sewage sludge (SS) and was introduced, for the first time, as a potential metal-free catalyst to activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS) for oxidative removal of organic pollutants in water. The nitrogen functionalization of NSC catalysts significantly affected the chemical micro-environments as well as microstructures (morphology and porosity), improving the PMS activation activity towards removing various pollutants, e.g.

Performance and Mechanism of Piezo-Catalytic Degradation of 4-Chlorophenol: Finding of Effective Piezo-Dechlorination.

Piezo-catalysis was first used to degrade a nondye pollutant, 4-chlorophenol (4-CP). In this process, hydrothermally synthesized tetragonal BaTiO nano/micrometer-sized particles were used as the piezo-catalyst, and the ultrasonic irradiation with low frequency was selected as the vibration energy to cause the deformation of tetragonal BaTiO. It was found that the piezoelectric potential from the deformation could not only successfully degrade 4-chlorophenol but also effectively dechlorinate it at the same time, and five kinds of dechlorinated intermediates, hydroquinone, benzoquinone, phenol, cyclohexanone, and cyclohexanol, were determined.

Study on the electrochemical behavior of nanostructure S-doping manganese oxide as a novel supercapacitor material.

A nanostructure S-doping manganese oxide (MnO(x)S(y)) amorphous powder was prepared by a homogeneous coprecipitation method for supercapacitor application. The structure and surface morphology of the as-prepared MnO(x)S(y) powder were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), elemental analysis and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The as-prepared nanostructure S-doping manganese oxide powder was confirmed with a chemical composition of MnO1.