Introducing Oxygen Vacancies into a WO Photoanode through NaHPO Treatment for Efficient Water Splitting.

WO, with a high light absorption capacity and a suitable band structure, is considered a promising photoanode material for photoelectrochemical water splitting. However, the poor photoinduced electron-hole separation efficiency limits its application. Herein, we report an effective strategy to suppress electron-hole recombination by introducing oxygen vacancies (O) on the surface of a WO photoanode through NaHPO treatment.

Interfacial Modification for High-Efficient Reversible Protonic Ceramic Cell with a Spin-Coated BaZrCeYO Electrolyte Thin Film.

Slurry spin coating is an effective approach for the fabrication of protonic ceramic electrolyte thin films. However, weak adhesion between the electrode and spin-coated electrolyte layers in electrochemical cells due to the low sinterability of the proton-conducting perovskite materials usually lead to a high interfacial resistance and thus a low performance. Herein, we report a method to improve the interfacial connection and boost the performance of protonic ceramic cells based on a BaZrCeYO (BZCY) electrolyte.

A facile coprecipitation approach for synthesizing LaNiCoO as the cathode for a molten-salt lithium-oxygen battery.

The cathode of a lithium-oxygen battery (LOB) should be well designed to deliver high catalytic activity and long stability, and to provide sufficient space for accommodating the discharge product. Herein, a facile coprecipitation approach is employed to synthesize LaNiCoO (LNCO) perovskite oxide with a low annealing temperature. The assembled LOB exhibits superior electrochemical performance with a low charge overpotential of 0.

Photoelectrocatalytic treatment of municipal wastewater with emerging concern pollutants using modified multi-layer catalytic anode.

Municipal wastewater contains emergent chemical and biological pollutants that are resistant to conventional wastewater treatments. Therefore, the focus of the current study was to address the challenge of removing emergent chemical and biological pollutants present in municipal wastewater. To achieve this, a photo electro-catalytic (PEC) treatment approach was employed, focusing on the removal of both micro and biological pollutants that are of emergent concern, as well as the reduction of Chemical Oxidation Demand (COD) and Total Organic Carbon (TOC).

A metal-free carbon catalyst for oxidative dehydrogenation of aryl cyclohexenes to produce biaryl compounds.

A metal-free route based on a carbon catalyst to synthesize biphenyls through oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) of phenyl cyclohexene has been investigated. Among the samples examined, an air-oxidized active carbon exhibits the best activity with a 9.1 × 10 h rate constant, yielding 74% biphenyl in 28 h at 140 °C under five bar O in anisole.

Engineering the NASICON electrolyte/Na anode interface with amorphous bismuth oxide for sodium batteries.

Amorphous BiO, prepared on the surface of NASICON electrolyte by the photochemical metal-organic deposition method, can substantially improve the interfacial properties at the anode side. The Na symmetric cell delivers a critical current density of 1.2 mA cm and cycles stably at 0.

Recent Progress in the Integration of CO Capture and Utilization.

CO emission is deemed to be mainly responsible for global warming. To reduce CO emissions into the atmosphere and to use it as a carbon source, CO capture and its conversion into valuable chemicals is greatly desirable. To reduce the transportation cost, the integration of the capture and utilization processes is a feasible option.

Fast and Durable Lithium Storage Enabled by Tuning Entropy in Wadsley-Roth Phase Titanium Niobium Oxides.

Wadsley-Roth phase titanium niobium oxides have received considerable interest as anodes for lithium ion batteries. However, the volume expansion and sluggish ion/electron transport kinetics retard its application in grid scale. Here, fast and durable lithium storage in entropy-stabilized Fe Ti Nb O (FTNO) is enabled by tuning entropy via Fe substitution.

Solid oxide fuel cell with a spin-coated yttria stabilized zirconia/gadolinia doped ceria bi-layer electrolyte.

A thin yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ)/gadolinia doped ceria (GDC) bi-layer membrane is fabricated through the slurry spin coating technique and used as an electrolyte of a solid oxide fuel cell with LaSrCoFeO as the cathode. The viscosity of the YSZ slurry is controlled by adding ethanol in the terpineol solvent, which shows a negligible effect on the thickness but a remarkable influence on the porosity of the YSZ film. The thickness of the YSZ layer increases with the YSZ content in the slurry.

Coupling Tetraalkylammonium and Ethylene Glycol Ether Side Chain To Enable Highly Soluble Anthraquinone-Based Ionic Species for Nonaqueous Redox Flow Battery.

Nonaqueous redox flow batteries (NARFBs) have promise for large-scale energy storage with high energy density. Developing advanced active materials is of paramount importance to achieve high stability and energy density. Herein, we adopt the molecular engineering strategy by coupling tetraalkylammonium and an ethylene glycol ether side chain to design anthraquinone-based ionic active species.

Liquid Nitrobenzene-Based Anolyte Materials for High-Current and -Energy-Density Nonaqueous Redox Flow Batteries.

Nonaqueous redox flow batteries (NARFBs) are a potential candidate for high-energy-density storage systems because of their wider electrochemical windows than that of the aqueous systems. However, their further development is hindered by the low solubility of organic redox-active materials and poor high-current operations. Herein, we report a liquid anolyte material, 3-nitrotoluene (3-NT), which demonstrates high chemical stability and mass- and charge-transfer kinetics.

Catalytic conversion of enzymatic hydrolysis lignin into cycloalkanes over a gamma-alumina supported nickel molybdenum alloy catalyst.

The efficient depolymerization and hydrodeoxygenation of enzymatic hydrolysis lignin are achieved in cyclohexane solvents over a gamma-alumina supported nickel molybdenum alloy catalyst in a single step. Under initial 3 MPa hydrogen at 320 °C, the highest overall cycloalkane yield of 104.4 mg/g enzymatic hydrolysis lignin with 44.

An all organic redox flow battery with high cell voltage.

An all organic redox flow battery with 4,4'-dimethylbenzophenone (44DMBP) anolyte and 2,5-di--butyl-1,4-dimethoxybenzene (DBB) catholyte shows a high open circuit voltage of 2.97 V, and average coulombic efficiency of 72% over 95 cycles at a current density of 1 mA cm.

A-Site Ordered Double Perovskite with in Situ Exsolved Core-Shell Nanoparticles as Anode for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells.

A highly active anode material for solid oxide fuel cells resistant to carbon deposition is developed. Co-Fe co-doped LaBaMnO with a cubic-hexagonal heterogeneous stucture is synthesized through the Pechini method. An A-site ordered double perovskite with CoFe alloy-oxide core-shell nanoparticles on its surface is formed after reduction.

Highly selective conversion of guaiacol to -butylphenols in supercritical ethanol over a HWO catalyst.

The conversion of guaiacol is examined at 300 °C in supercritical ethanol over a HWO catalyst. Guaiacol is consumed completely, meanwhile, 16.7% aromatic ethers and 80.

Facile Preparation of Haggite by Reducing VO in Guaiacol/Methanol Solution.

Haggite-structured VO(OH) is prepared via a one-step reduction of VO in a mixture of guaiacol and methanol. Guaiacol delays the overreduction of Haggite to VO. The time window for the stable existence of the Haggite phase is enlarged at low temperature.

A systematic study of the co-solvent effect for an all-organic redox flow battery.

Benzophenone and 1,4-di--butyl-2,5-dimethoxybenzene are used as the anode and cathode active species respectively in an all-organic redox-flow battery. A number of organics as the co-solvents are applied in the electrolyte to improve the electrochemical performance of it. For all kinds of the mixed solvents, a lower content of acetonitrile leads to a higher solubility to 1,4-di--butyl-2,5-dimethoxybenzene and a lower conductivity.

Near- and supercritical ethanol treatment of biocrude from hydrothermal liquefaction of microalgae.

Biocrude produced from algae by hydrothermal liquefaction was treated with near- and supercritical ethanol and ethanol-water mixtures at 210-290°C for 0.5-4h. Longer reaction times and higher temperatures better promoted esterification reactions.

Catalytic conversion of Chlorella pyrenoidosa to biofuels in supercritical alcohols over zeolites.

Microalgae have been considered as the feedstock for the third generation biofuels production, given its high lipid content and fast productivity. Herein, a catalytic approach for microalgae liquefaction to biocrude is examined in a temperature range of 250-300°C in methanol and ethanol over zeolites. Higher biocrude yield was achieved in ethanol and at lower temperatures, while better quality biocrude with higher light biocrude ratio and lower average molecular weight (Mw) was favored in methanol and at higher temperatures.

Facet-selective charge carrier transport, deactivation mechanism and stabilization of a Cu2O photo-electro-catalyst.

A facet-dependent photo-deactivation mechanism of Cu2O was verified and reported, which is caused by the facet-dependent charge carrier transport. During irradiation, the {100} and {110} crystal facets are selectively corroded by the photo-generated holes, while the {111} facets are comparatively stable.

Templating Sol-Gel Hematite Films with Sacrificial Copper Oxide: Enhancing Photoanode Performance with Nanostructure and Oxygen Vacancies.

Nanostructuring hematite films is a critical step for enhancing photoelectrochemical performance by circumventing the intrinsic limitations on minority carrier transport. Herein, we present a novel sol-gel approach that affords nanostructured hematite films by including CuO as sacrificial templating agent. First, by annealing in air at 450 °C a film comprising an intimate mixture of CuO and Fe2O3 nanoparticles is obtained.

Selective catalytic conversion of guaiacol to phenols over a molybdenum carbide catalyst.

An activated carbon supported α-molybdenum carbide catalyst (α-MoC1-x/AC) showed remarkable activity in the selective deoxygenation of guaiacol to substituted mono-phenols in low carbon number alcohol solvents. Combined selectivities of up to 85% for phenol and alkylphenols were obtained at 340 °C for α-MoC1-x/AC at 87% conversion in supercritical ethanol. The reaction occurs via consecutive demethylation followed by a dehydroxylation route instead of a direct demethoxygenation pathway.

Alumina supported molybdenum catalyst for lignin valorization: Effect of reduction temperature.

Alumina supported molybdenum catalysts were prepared with an impregnation method. The activity of the catalyst in the ethanolysis of Kraft lignin to C6-C11 molecules, i.e.