Physicochemical Modulations in MXenes for Carbon Dioxide Mitigation and Hydrogen Generation: Tandem Dialogue between Theoretical Anticipations and Experimental Evidences.

The dawn of MXenes has fascinated researchers under their intriguing physicochemical attributes that govern their energy and environmental applications. Modifications in the physicochemical properties of MXenes pave the way for efficient energy-driven operations such as carbon capture and hydrogen generation. The physicochemical modulations such as interface engineering through van der Waals coupling with homo/hetero-junctions render the tunability of optoelectronic variables driving the photochemical and electrochemical processes.

Ultrafast Hole Trapping in Te-MoTe-MoSe/ZnO S-Scheme Heterojunctions for Photochemical and Photo-/Electrochemical Hydrogen Production.

Te-MoTe-MoSe/ZnO S-scheme heterojunctions are engineered to ascertain the advanced redox ability in sustainable HER operations. Photo-physical studies have established the steady state transfer of photo-induced charge carriers whereas an improved transfer dynamics realized by state-of-art ultrafast transient absorption and irradiated-XPS analysis of optimized 5wt% Te-MoTe-MoSe/ZnO heterostructure. 2.

Ceria nanocatalyst-supported oxidative organic transformations of aromatic alcohols and-nitrotoluene.

Hydrothermally derived nanocubes of CeO(10 nm) were explored as an efficient heterogeneous catalyst in the partial oxidation of aromatic alcohols to the corresponding aldehydes and aerobic oxidation of-nitrotoluene to-nitrobenzoic acid. The CeOnanocatalyst was characterized by x-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy. TEM/high-resolution TEM micrographs reveal a morphology of mostly cubic nanostructures with exposed highly active {100} and {110} facets.

MBenes for Energy Conversion: Advances, Bottlenecks, and Prospects.

The advent of two-dimensional layered materials has bolstered the development of catalytic endeavors for energy conversion and storage. MXenes (transition metal carbides/nitrides) have already consolidated their candidature in the past decade due to their enhanced compositional and structural tunabilities through surface modifications. Perseverant research in engineering MXene based materials has led to the inception of MBenes (transition metal borides) as promising catalytic systems for energy-driven operations.

Superlative Porous Organic Polymers for Photochemical and Electrochemical CO Reduction Applications: From Synthesis to Functionality.

To mimic the carbon cycle at a kinetically rapid pace, the sustainable conversion of omnipresent CO to value-added chemical feedstock and hydrocarbon fuels implies a remarkable prototype for utilizing released CO. Porous organic polymers (POPs) have been recognized as remarkable catalytic systems for achieving large-scale applicability in energy-driven processes. POPs offer mesoporous characteristics, higher surface area, and superior optoelectronic properties that lead to their relatively advanced activity and selectivity for CO conversion.

Enhanced Photo/Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution by Hydrothermally Derived Cu-Doped TiO Solid Solution Nanostructures.

Highly efficient nanocatalysts with a high specific surface area were successfully synthesized by a cost-effective and environmentally friendly hydrothermal method. Structural and elemental purity, size, morphology, specific surface area, and band gap of pristine and 1 to 5% Cu-doped TiO nanoparticles were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX), inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), BET surface area, Raman spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL) and UV-visible diffused reflectance spectroscopy (UV-DRS) studies. The XPS and EPR findings indicated the successful integration of Cu ions into the TiO lattice.

Decorating Thermodynamically Stable (101) Facets of TiO with MoO for Multifunctional Sustainable Hydrogen Energy and Ammonia Gas Sensing Applications.

The simultaneous realization of sustainable energy and gas sensors dealing with the emission of pollutants is indispensable as the former thrives on the minimization of the latter. However, there is a dearth of multifunctional nanocatalysts in the literature. This ascertains the importance of multifunctional semiconductors which can be utilized in H generation via overall water splitting and in the gas sensing of global pollutants such as NH.

Photo/electro catalytic green hydrogen production promoted by Ga modified CoCuFeO nano catalysts.

The current work concentrates on the fabrication of Ga doped CoCuFeO nanocatalysts via sol-gel auto-combustion (SGA) for the production of green and sustainable source of energy i.e., hydrogen through photocatalytic and electrocatalytic routes.

Photo/electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution using Type-II CuO/g-CN Heterostructure: Density functional theory addresses the improved charge transport efficiency.

One of the most efficient ways for the photogenerated charge carriers is by the development of heterojunction between p-type and n-type semiconductors, which creates an interfacial charge transfer between two semiconductors. By enhancing the bifunctional characteristics for hydrogen generation via photocatalytic and electrocatalytic water splitting reaction, we report the type-II CuO/g-CN heterostructure in this article. Due to significantly increased catalytically active sites for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) reaction during electrocatalysis and decreased charge transfer resistance, the as-prepared heterostructure exhibits a lower overpotential of 47 and 72 mVdec for the HER and oxygen evolution reactions (OER), respectively, when compared to alone g-CN.

Ag-Doped WO Nanoplates as Heterogenous Multifunctional Catalyst for Glycerol Acetylation, Electrocatalytic and Enhanced Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production.

Herein, we report a hydrothermal method to synthesize pristine and Ag-doped WO nanoplates and study their multifunctional competence in the accomplishment of enhanced catalytic organic conversion and highly efficient photocatalytic and electrocatalytic H evolution reactions. The as-synthesized nanoplates were characterized by using various techniques including X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy-energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, transmission electron microscopy, UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and BET surface area studies. The significant catalytic performance was shown by 1% Ag-doped WO nanoplates with 100% glycerol conversion and 90% triacetin selectivity.

Regulated electrochemical performance of manganese oxide cathode for potassium-ion batteries: A combined experimental and first-principles density functional theory (DFT) investigation.

Potassium-ion batteries (KIBs) are promising energy storage devices owing to their low cost, environmental-friendly, and excellent K diffusion properties as a consequence of the small Stoke's radius. The evaluation of cathode materials for KIBs, which are perhaps the most favorable substitutes to lithium-ion batteries, is of exceptional importance. Manganese dioxide (α-MnO) is distinguished by its tunnel structures and plenty of electroactive sites, which can host cations without causing fundamental structural breakdown.

Tin Oxide Based Hybrid Nanostructures for Efficient Gas Sensing.

Tin oxide as a semiconductor metal oxide has revealed great potential in the field of gas sensing due to its porous structure and reduced size. Especially for tin oxide and its composites, inherent properties such as high surface areas and their unique semiconducting properties with tunable band gaps make them compelling for sensing applications. In combination with the general benefits of metal oxide nanomaterials, the incorporation of metal oxides into metal oxide nanoparticles is a new approach that has dramatically improved the sensing performance of these materials due to the synergistic effects.

Type-II CuFeO/Graphitic Carbon Nitride Heterojunctions for High-Efficiency Photocatalytic and Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Generation.

Solar water splitting has emerged as an urgent imperative as hydrogen emerges as an increasingly important form of energy storage. g-CN is an ideal candidate for photocatalytic water splitting as a result of the excellent alignment of its band edges with water redox potentials. To mitigate electron-hole recombination that has limited the performance of g-CN, we have developed a semiconductor heterostructure of g-CN with CuFeO nanoparticles (NPs) as a highly efficient photocatalyst.

Recent advances in anticancer and antimicrobial activity of silver nanoparticles synthesized using phytochemicals and organic polymers.

Development of eco-friendly synthetic methods has resulted in the production of biocompatible Ag NPs for applications in medical sector. To overcome the prevailing antibiotic resistance in bacteria, Ag NPs are being extensively researched over the past few years due to their broad spectrum and robust antimicrobial properties. Silver nanoparticles are also being studied widely in advanced anticancer therapy as an alternative anticancer agent to combat cancer in an effective manner.

Gold Nanoparticles as Efficient Catalysts in Organic Transformations.

This review summarizes the utilization of gold nanoparticles as efficient catalysts for a variety of chemical transformations like oxidation, hydrogenation, and coupling reactions as compared to conventional catalytic materials. This review explores the gold nanoparticles-based catalysts for the liquid phase chemo-selective organic transformations which are proving to be evergreen reactions and have importance for industrial applications. Apart from organic transformation reactions, gold nanoparticles have been found to be applicable in removing the atmospheric contaminants and improving the efficiency of the fuel cells by removing the impurities of carbon monoxide.

Multifunctional Efficacy of Environmentally Benign Silver Nanospheres for Organic Transformation, Photocatalysis, and Water Remediation.

Highly crystalline and monophasic silver nanospheres with a high specific surface area of 57 m/g have been synthesized by an environmentally benign rapid chemical reduction using l-alanine for catalytic transformation, photocatalytic degradation, and bacterial disinfection, which can provide an ample strategy for water remediation. Electron microscopic analysis confirms the spherical morphology of as-prepared silver nanoparticles with an average grain size of 20 nm. Silver nanospheres showed excellent catalytic activity for the catalytic hydrogenation and conversion (95.

Development of Cuboidal KNbO@α-FeO Hybrid Nanostructures for Improved Photocatalytic and Photoelectrocatalytic Applications.

Monophasic and hybrid nanostructures of KNbO and α-FeO have been prepared using a hydrothermal process for photoelectrocatalytic and photocatalytic applications. Powder X-ray diffraction studies showed the formation of KNbO, α-FeO, and KNbO/α-FeO with average grain sizes of 18.3, 11.