Cr dopant mediates hydroxyl spillover on RuO for high-efficiency proton exchange membrane electrolysis.

Simultaneously improving the activity and stability of catalysts for anodic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in proton exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE) remains a notable challenge. Here, we report a chromium-doped ruthenium dioxide with oxygen vacancies, termed CrRuO, that drives OER with an overpotential of 170 mV at 10 mA cm and operates stably over 2000 h in acidic media. Experimental and theoretical studies show that the synergy of Cr dopant and oxygen vacancy induces an unconventional dopant-mediated hydroxyl spillover mechanism.

Bio-inspired TiCT MXene composite coating for enhancing corrosion resistance of aluminum alloy in acidic environments.

Aluminum alloy (Al alloy) suffers from severe corrosion in acidic solution. Two-dimensional (2D) MXene-based composite coatings show great prospects for corrosion protection on metals used in special conditions. The composite coatings still face challenges in complex functionalization and orientation control.

LiBi/LiO layer with uniform built-in electric field distribution for dendrite free lithium metal batteries.

Lithium metal batteries have garnered significant attention as a promising energy storage technology, offering high energy density and potential applications across various industries. However, the formation of lithium dendrites during battery cycling poses a considerable challenge, leading to performance degradation and safety hazards. This study aims to address this issue by investigating the effectiveness of a protective layer on the lithium metal surface in inhibiting dendrite growth.

Nano-semiconductor material stabilized Zn metal anode for long-life aqueous Zn-ion batteries.

The advantages of aqueous Zn-ion batteries lie in the affordability and environmental friendliness. Nonetheless, the use of aqueous Zn-ion batteries is severely hindered by key issues such dendrite formation and side reactions in Zn metal anodes. It is able to works well so as to create a stable interface layer, which controls the development of dendrites and adverse reactions.

Long-Life and High-Rate-Charging Lithium Metal Batteries Enabled by a Flexible Active Solid Electrolyte Interphase Layer.

Commercially, lithium metal batteries are still limited by the growth of lithium dendrites and excessive consumption of the electrolyte. A stable multifunctional solid electrolyte interface is the development strategy of lithium metal batteries in the future. However, most of the artificial solid electrolyte interphases (SEIs) cannot meet the original intention of multifunctional design and cannot form an SEI film with a high conductivity and low nucleation potential.

In Situ Construction of Aramid Nanofiber Membrane on Li Anode as Artificial SEI Layer Achieving Ultra-High Stability.

Achieving uniform Li deposition is vital for the construction of a safe but also efficient Li-metal anode for Li-metal batteries (LMBs). Herein, a facile coating strategy is used for forming an ultra-thin aramid nanofiber (ANF) membrane, with a network structure, on a Li anode (ANF-Li) as an artificial layer inhibiting Li dendrite's growth. The results show that under an ultra-high current density of 50 mA cm , the ANF-Li|ANF-Li symmetric cells can be kept stably cycled for a period exceeding 300 h.

WN Coupled with Bi Nanoparticles to Enhance the Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance Effect for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution.

Conversion of light energy and chemical energy in a wide spectrum region, especially in the near-infrared (NIR) light region, is still a challenge in the field of photocatalysis. In this work, a layered Bi-WN photocatalyst with a heterojunction was prepared by reducing flake-shaped WN and flower-shaped BiO in an ammonia atmosphere. Under the process of NIR light (λ > 700 nm)-driven water splitting, the optimal hydrogen (H) generation rates based on the Bi-WN photocatalyst can reach to 7.

Defect-Rich FeN/MoC Heterostructure as a Highly Efficient Bifunctional Catalyst for Overall Water-Splitting.

The innovation in highly efficient, stable, and economical bifunctional overall water-splitting electrocatalysts is critical in developing sustainable energy, but it remains challenging. In this research, we have developed an unsophisticated method to synthesize hybrid nanoparticles (FeN/MoC/C) uniformly dispersed in nitrogen-doped carbon nanosheets. The two active components FeN and MoC are coupled to form an FeN/MoC/C heterostructure being a highly efficient electrocatalyst, which gives low overpotentials of 227/76 mV for OER/HER at 10 mA cm current density.

Electrospun Polymer Nanofibers with TiO@NiCo-LDH as Efficient Polysulfide Barriers for Wide-Temperature-Range Li-S Batteries.

Herein, we introduce polymer nanofibers of TiO@NiCo-LDH as interlayers into Li-S batteries. From 0 to 60 °C, the interlayers can deliver high sulfur utilization, an outstanding rate capability, and excellent cycling life. High-temperature excitation makes it easier for the valence band electrons of TiO to transition to the conduction band.

Improving Electrochemical Performance and Safety of Lithium-Sulfur Batteries by a "Bulletproof Vest".

In the field of high-density energy storage, lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries have attracted more and more attention because of their high specific capacity and affordable cost. However, their actual implementation is hindered by the dissolution of polysulfides and severe safety concerns caused by flammable electrolytes. Herein, we report the preparation of an interlayer that can effectively suppress polysulfide shuttling and increase the working temperature range.

Bimetal composites for photocatalytic reduction of CO to CO in the near-infrared region by the SPR effect.

A major challenge in the field of photocatalytic carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction is to design catalyst systems featuring high selectivity for CO production, long-term stability and a composition of Earth-abundant elements. Here, we present a metal-organic framework (MOF) based catalyst to mitigate the technical problems associated with the above-mentioned features. We report a carbon-coated CuNi alloy nanocatalyst obtained by high temperature vacuum treatment of a MOF material (CuNiBTC).

A MOF-derived method to construct well-arranged porous nanosheets for lithium ion batteries.

In this work, we report a facile route to fabricate a ZnCo2O4 nanosheet derived from metal-organic frameworks. The as-prepared ZnCo2O4 nanosheet material for lithium-ion batteries shows an excellent electrochemical performance. The obtained ZnCo2O4 nanosheet delivers a high reversible capacity of 1640.

Stabilizing and Improving Solar H2 Generation from Zn(0.5)Cd(0.5)S Nanorods@MoS2/RGO Hybrids via Dual Charge Transfer Pathway.

The incorporated Zn(0.5)Cd(0.5)S (ZCS) nanorods with MoS2/RGO cocatalysts by a simultaneous reduction reaction was reported.

UV light assisted synthesis of ternary reduced graphene oxide hybrid materials and their photocatalytic performance.

Freely-assembled ternary hybrids consisting of Pt, reduced graphene oxide (RGO) and P25 were synthesized by a direct solution process with the assistance of UV light. The Pt-RGO/P25 hybrids were characterized by Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), ultraviolet visible (UV-vis) diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) and photoluminescence spectra (PL). Importantly, when Pt-RGO/P25 hybrids were used as photocatalysts, they could show a superior photocatalytic performance when compared to commercial P25 and RGO/P25 hybrids under UV, solar light and λ > 600 nm visible light irradiation, which could be explained on the basis of the plasmonic response and the formation of Pt Schottky barrier at the interface between TiO2 and graphene.

General synthesis and phase control of metal molybdate hydrates MMoO4.nH2O (M = Co, Ni, Mn, n = 0, 3/4, 1) nano/microcrystals by a hydrothermal approach: magnetic, photocatalytic, and electrochemical properties.

Different phases and morphologies of molybdate hydrates MMoO 4. nH 2O (M = Co, Ni, Mn, n = 0, 3/4, 1) nano/microcrystals, which include NiMoO 4.H 2O microflowers, MnMoO 4.

Synthesis of silica/carbon-encapsulated core-shell spheres: templates for other unique core-shell structures and applications in in situ loading of noble-metal nanoparticles.

Silica@carbon core-shell spheres have been synthesized via a hydrothermal carbonization procedure with glucose as the carbon precursor and silica spheres as the cores. Such SiO(2)@C core-shell spheres can be further used as templates to produce SiO(2)@C@SiO(2), and SiO(2)@SiO(2) spheres with a vacant region in two SiO(2) shells, noble-metal nanoparticle loaded SiO(2)@C core-shell spheres, and hollow carbon capsules through different follow-up processes. The obtained core-shell materials possess remarkable chemical reactivity in reducing noble-metal ions to nanoparticles, e.