Tackling activity-stability paradox of reconstructed NiIrO electrocatalysts by bridged W-O moiety.

One challenge remaining in the development of Ir-based electrocatalyst is the activity-stability paradox during acidic oxygen evolution reaction (OER), especially for the surface reconstructed IrO catalyst with high efficiency. To address this, a phase selective Ir-based electrocatalyst is constructed by forming bridged W-O moiety in NiIrO electrocatalyst. Through an electrochemical dealloying process, an nano-porous structure with surface-hydroxylated rutile NiWIrO electrocatalyst is engineered via Ni as a sacrificial element.

Enhancing Oxygen Reduction Reaction of Single-Atom Catalysts by Structure Tuning.

Deciphering the fine structure has always been a crucial approach to unlocking the distinct advantages of high activity, selectivity, and stability in single-atom catalysts (SACs). However, the complex system and unclear catalytic mechanism have obscured the significance of exploring the fine structure. Therefore, we endeavored to develop a three-component strategy to enhance oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), delving deep into the profound implications of the fine structure, focusing on central atoms, coordinating atoms, and environmental atoms.

Surface Defect Engineering on Perovskite Oxides as Efficient Bifunctional Electrocatalysts for Water Splitting.

The design of high-performance and cost-effective electrocatalysts for water splitting is of prime importance for efficient and sustainable hydrogen production. In this work, a surface defect engineering method is developed for optimizing the electrocatalytic activity of perovskite oxides for water electrolysis. A typical ferrite-based perovskite oxide material LaSrCoFeO (LSCF) is used and regulated by selective acid etching.

Ag-Embedded Silica Core-Shell Nanospheres for Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy of High-Temperature Processes.

The construction of thermally robust, highly active, and universal substrate architectures is a major challenge for high-temperature studies using surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). Herein, a novel hybrid nanostructure of embedded Ag nanoparticles confined by a core-shell silica nanosphere through facile chemical synthesis is reported. Benefiting from the coupling effect of embedded Ag nanojunctions and the nanoconfinement of the silica core-shell, the hybrid nanospheres exhibit strong SERS-enhancement effects and thermal stability without restrictions on the substrate generality.

Electrochemically Scavenging the Silica Impurities at the Ni-YSZ Triple Phase Boundary of Solid Oxide Cells.

Silica impurity originated from the sealing or raw materials of the solid oxide cells (SOCs) accumulating at the Ni-YSZ triple phase boundaries (TPBs) is known as one major reason for electrode passivation. Here we report nanosilica precipitates inside Ni grains instead of blocking the TPBs when operating the SOCs at |i| ≥ 1.5 A cm(-2) for electrolysis of H2O/CO2.