Controlled synthesis of silver/silicon hybrid nanostructures enables enhanced photocatalytic CO reduction.

Localized surface plasmon resonances in plasmonic nanoparticles enable effective photon harvesting and generate energetic electrons and holes. However, fast charge recombination and surface contamination due to reactant-involved synthesis can significantly hinder the activity. Herein, we report a facile, solution-processed synthesis of hybrid uncoated silver nanoparticles combined with silicon nanocrystals to address these issues.

Enabling Acidic Oxygen Reduction Reaction in a Zinc-Air Battery with Bipolar Membrane.

Zinc-air batteries are a promising alternative to lithium ion batteries due to their large energy density, safety, and low production cost. However, the stability of the zinc-air battery is often low due to the formation of dendrite which causes short circuiting and the CO adsorption from the air which causes carbonate formation on the air electrode. In this work, we demonstrate a zinc-air battery design with acidic oxygen reduction reaction for the first time via the incorporation of a bipolar membrane.