The Alkynyl π Bond of sp-C Enhanced Rapid, Reversible Li-C Coupling to Accelerate Reaction Kinetics of Lithium Ions.

Graphdiyne (GDY) is a promising anode for rechargeable batteries with high capacity, outstanding cyclic stability, and low diffusion energy. The unique structure of GDY endows distinctive mechanisms for metal-ion storage, and it is of great significance to further visualize the complex reaction kinetics of the redox process. Here, we systematically tracked the reaction kinetics and provided mechanistic insights into the lithium ions in the GDY to reveal the feature of the cation-π effect.

Direct solar energy conversion on zinc-air battery.

A concept of solar energy convertible zinc-air battery (SZAB) is demonstrated through rational design of an electrode coupled with multifunction. The multifunctional electrode is fabricated using nitrogen-substituted graphdiyne (N-GDY) with large π-conjugated carbonous network, which can work as photoresponsive bifunctional electrocatalyst, enabling a sunlight-promoted process through efficient injection of photoelectrons into the conduction band of N-GDY. SZAB enables direct conversion and storage of solar energy during the charging process.

Co(III)-Catalyzed C6-Selective C-H Activation/Pyridine Migration of 2-Pyridones with Propiolates.

A versatile Co(III)-catalyzed C6-selective C-H activation/pyridine migration of 2-pyridones with available propiolates as coupling partners was demonstrated. This method features high atom economy, excellent regioselectivity, and good functional group tolerance by employing an inexpensive Co(III) catalyst under mild reaction conditions. Moreover, gram-scale synthesis and late-stage modifications of pharmaceuticals were performed to prove the effectiveness of these synthetic approaches.

Advanced Multilayered Electrode with Planar Building Blocks Structure for High-Performance Lithium-Ion Storage.

To achieve the high-performance of lithium-ion battery, the optimization of electrode materials has generally been considered as the one of the important methods. But most of those works pay attention to the new materials preparation or interface modification rather than the structural innovation. Here, an advanced electrode (GDY/BP/GDY-E) with multilevel layered architecture constructed by planar building blocks stacking structure has been designed and fabricated to explore the structure design of the electrode.

Boosting Fe Cationic Vacancies with Graphdiyne to Enhance Exceptional Pseudocapacitive Lithium Intercalation.

Modulating the electronic structure of electrode materials at atomic level is the key to controlling electrodes with outstanding rate capability. On the basis of modulating the iron cationic vacancies (IV) and electronic structure of materials, we proposed the method of preparing graphdiyne/ferroferric oxide heterostructure (IV-GDY-FO) as anode materials. The goal is to motivate lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) toward ultra-high capacity, superior cyclic stability, and excellent rate performance.

Directly Growing Graphdiyne Nanoarray Cathode to Integrate an Intelligent Solid Mg-Moisture Battery.

A continuous humidity and solar-light dual responsive intelligent solid Mg-moisture battery (SMB) with a graphdiyne nanosheets array was fabricated. The integrated battery works based on a new concept of chemical bond conversion on the surface of the graphdiyne nanosheets array that is grown in situ on a 3D melamine sponge (GDY/MS). The unique structure, excellent catalytic, and semiconductor performance of GDY endows the GDY/MS with some outstanding characteristics on trapping and transferring water molecules, catalyzing HER, and utilizing solar energy, making the GDY/MS a new generation cathode for a high-performance intelligent SMB.

HPO enhanced catalytic activity of N, S, B, and O-codoped carbon nanosphere-armored CoS nanoparticles for organic pollutants degradation peroxymonosulfate activation: critical roles of superoxide radical, singlet oxygen and electron transfer.

In this study, we report a facile synthesis of a novel N, S, B, and O-codoped carbon nanosphere-armored Co9S8 nanoparticle composite (Co9S8@NSBOC) and its superior activation performance toward peroxymonosulfate (PMS) for methylene blue (MB) and ofloxacin degradation. The effects of various experimental parameters and the general applicability of the catalyst were investigated. Particularly, Co9S8@NSBOC exhibited high catalytic activity in a wide pH range of 3-12 and HPO42- exhibited a synergic catalytic effect with Co9S8@NSBOC in the degradation system.

Co nanoparticle-embedded N,O-codoped porous carbon nanospheres as an efficient peroxymonosulfate activator: singlet oxygen dominated catalytic degradation of organic pollutants.

In this study, Co nanoparticle-embedded N,O-codoped porous carbon nanospheres (C@Co) with abundant N and O doping, high graphitization, large specific surface area (319 m g) and a well-developed mesoporous structure were synthesized and characterized thoroughly, and were applied to activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS) for the degradation of methylene blue (MB). Various influential factors affecting the catalytic performance including C@Co dosage, PMS dosage, MB concentration, initial pH, temperature, and co-existing common anions and humic acid (HA) on the MB degradation were systematically investigated. The increase of the C@Co dosage (15-60 mg), PMS dosage (25-100 mg) and reaction temperature (278-308 K) promoted the MB degradation in the C@Co/PMS system.

Humidity and Pressure Dual-Responsive Metal-Water Batteries Enabled by Three-In-One All-Polymer Cathodes for Smart Self-Powered Systems.

A conceptually new class of humidity and pressure dual-responsive smart metal-water batteries (SMWBs) is presented, which displays self-tunable energy release and intriguing perceptibility of human respiration and environmental pressure. This battery is enabled by the direct contact of a metal ( Mg or Zn) anode and a well-designed all-polymer dual-sensitive moisture electrode (DSME) made from semiconductive polymer ( polypyrrole)-wrapped 3D macroporous polyurethane sponge, without additional electrolytes and separator. A DSME is cost-effective, easily scalable, compressible, and able to act as a moisture carrier, a hydrogen evolution catalyst, and a pressure and humidity dual-sensitive unit simultaneously.

Tactile UV- and Solar-Light Multi-Sensing Rechargeable Batteries with Smart Self-Conditioned Charge and Discharge.

A tactile, UV- and solar-light multi-sensing smart rechargeable Zn-air battery (SRZAB) with excellent cell performance, self-conditioned charge/discharge, and reliable environmental responsivity is made by using multi-scale conjugated block-copolymer-carbon nanotube-polyurethane foam assemblies as both a self-standing air electrode and a sensing unit. Multiscale engineering fully exploits the multi-synergy among components to endow the newly designed metal-free multi-sensing air electrode (MSAE) with bifunctional oxygen reduction and evolution activities, pressure sensitivity, and photothermal and photoelectric conversion functions in a single electrode, enabling effective regulation of interface properties, electronic/ionic transport, or redox reactions in SRZAB upon various stimulations and establishing multiple working principles. MSAE-driven SRZAB can be used as compressible power sources, self-powered pressure and optical sensors and light-to-electrochemical energy systems.