Self-Supported α-MoB/β-MoB Ceramic Electrodes for Efficient High-Current-Density Hydrogen Evolution in Acidic, Neutral, and Alkaline pH-Values.

This paper describes the production and high-current-density hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) performance in the whole pH range (from acidic to basic pH values) of self-supported α-MoB/β-MoB ceramic electrodes, aiming for use in industrial electrocatalytic water splitting. Tape-casting and phase-inversion process, followed by sintering, were employed to synthesize self-supported β-MoB ceramic electrodes, which exhibited well arranged large finger-like pores, providing numerous active sites and channels for electrolyte entry and hydrogen release. The reaction between β-MoB and the sintering aid of MoO produces α-MoB/β-MoB heterojunctions, which significantly improve the electrocatalytic performance.

Construction of an Electron Capture and Transfer Center for Highly Efficient and Selective Solar-Light-Driven CO Conversion.

Exploring high-efficiency photocatalysts for selective CO reduction is still challenging because of the limited charge separation and surface reactions. In this study, a noble-metal-free metallic VSe nanosheet was incorporated on g-CN to serve as an electron capture and transfer center, activating surface active sites for highly efficient and selective CO photoreduction. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy (sXAS), and femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy (fs-TAS) unveiled that VSe could capture electrons, which are further transferred to the surface for activating active sites.