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[Display omitted] • PVA/GO@PMPC nanofibrous membranes were prepared and used for removal of ciprofloxacin hydrochloride. • The maximum adsorption capacity was reached at pH = 7.0. • Adsorption mechanism involved hydrogen bonding interactions, π-π interactions and electrostatic interactions. • The developed nanofibrous membranes displayed excellent reusability. In this study, zwitterionic polyelectrolyte brushes poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine) (PMPC) were grafted on poly (vinyl alcohol)/graphene oxide (PVA/GO) nanofibrous membranes by surface-initiated activators generated by electron transfer for atom transfer radical polymerization (AGET ATRP). The obtained PVA/GO@PMPC nanofibrous membranes were used as adsorbents for removal of ciprofloxacin hydrochloride. The membrane prepared with the most amount of GO in the electrospinning solution and the highest MPC concentration during grafting polymerization displayed the largest adsorption amount of ciprofloxacin hydrochloride (245.6 mg/g). Within 15 h, the adsorption achieved equilibrium, and the removal process agreed well with pseudo-second-order kinetic model. At pH = 7.0, the maximum adsorption capacity was attained, and the adsorption capacity increased gradually with temperature. Study on adsorption mechanism revealed that π-π interactions, hydrogen bonding interactions and electrostatic interactions might be involved for removal of ciprofloxacin hydrochloride. After being repeatedly used for six times, binding affinity of the membrane did not change significantly. This study provided a general method for creating nanofibrous membranes with superior adsorption performance for removal of organic pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The exothermic effect in the pre-lithium process of SiOx can be regulated by simple carbon coating. • The size of silicon particles and the types of silicates after prelithium were controlled. • The obtained SOC-P sample exhibits a superior ICE of 88.1 %. Silicon-based anode materials are attracting considerable attention due to their high specific capacity for further improving the energy density of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Among them, silicon monoxide (SiO) has a good balance between high specific capacity and cycling lifespan, which is increasingly valuable in the market of lithium-ion batteries. However, its poor initial coulombic efficiency (ICE) severely impedes the commercialization of SiO. Although prelithiation and surface carbon coating are considered effective methods to reduce irreversible consumption during the initial lithiation process, the synergistic relationship between prelithiation and carbon coating has not yet been confirmed. Herein, we used LiH as solid-phase prelithiation reagent and acetylene as carbon source for carbon coating to improve the ICE as well as cyclic stability of SiO anode. Results show that the process sequence of pre-lithiation and carbon coating has a significant impact on regulating the internal lithium silicate components and the microcrystalline size of silicon and lithium silicates. A prioritizing carbon layer coating subsequent to prelithiation can achieve physical barrier effect, effectively regulating the prelithiation reaction process to refine the internal silicon and lithium silicate crystal material, and avoiding the formation of lithium-poor Li 2 Si 2 O 5 phase. The obtained SOC-P sample exhibits a superior ICE of 88.1 % and a stable irreversible capacity of 842.9 mAh/g after 200 cycles. This work provides practical reference idea for solving the low initial efficiency issue of SiO anode material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A unique band-to-band tunneling (BTBT) phenomenon has been discovered in heavily boron-doped diamond (BDD)/SnO 2 p+-n heterojunctions. • Diode properties of the BDD/SnO 2 heterojunctions varied with SnO 2 film thickness in the dark. • The carrier transport modes in BDD/SnO 2 heterojunction photodetectors depends on the thickness of the SnO 2 layer under high reverse bias. • Binary photoresponse can be produced by modulating the conversion of tunneling, drift, and thermionic emission currents. A unique band-to-band tunneling (BTBT) phenomenon has been discovered in heavily boron-doped diamond (BDD)/SnO 2 p+-n heterojunctions. This phenomenon can be modulated by varying the bias voltage, changing the thickness of the SnO 2 film, and adjusting the power density of incident UV light. The near-broken-gap band alignment of the BDD/SnO 2 heterojunction and the existence of electrons in degenerate states in the valence band of BDD are the key to achieving BTBT. Moreover, BDD/SnO 2 p+-n heterojunction UV photodetectors (PDs) prepared by radio-frequency magnetron sputtering exhibit a binary photoresponse, large open-circuit voltage (V oc-l), and high photo/dark current ratio (I p /I d). Those behaviors can be produced through periodic on/off UV light irradiation and by changing tunneling, drift, and thermionic emission currents. Our work, which is the first to achieve a binary photoresponse by modulating BTBT in BDD/SnO 2 heterojunctions, demonstrates the feasibility of extending BTBT theory to logical optoelectronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Rosmarinic acid-zinc complex has osteogenic and antioxidant properties. • A bioactive coating loaded with RA-Zn was constructed on the titanium surface. • The coating balanced the mitochondrial dynamics and restored mitochondrial function. • The coating promoted osteoblast adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation. The osseointegration of titanium implants in a diabetic microenvironment is greatly limited by mitochondrial dysfunction, increased reactive oxygen species, and reduced osteoblastic activity. Rosmarinic acid (RA), a polyphenolic molecule with powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, can chelate Zn ions to form the RA-Zn complex. This study aimed to develop a local drug delivery system on the titanium surface using this complex. Carboxymethyl-β-cyclodextrin and chitosan were used to encapsulate the complex, and the coupling agent silane triethoxysilylpropyl succinic anhydride was used to covalently immobilize the chitosan molecules after binding to the alkali-heat treated titanium surface. A coating with good hydrophilic properties, adhesive strength, and frictional resistance, which allowed for the controlled and sustained release of RA-Zn, was successfully constructed. The coating had good biocompatibility and promoted the adhesion and proliferation of mouse preosteoblasts (MC3T3-E1) under high-glucose conditions. It upregulated the expression levels of osteogenic genes, increased the secretion of osteogenic-related proteins, and promoted cell mineralization. Furthermore, it improved the mitochondrial dynamics and restored mitochondrial dysfunction under high-glucose conditions. This study proposes a new titanium implant surface modification strategy to deliver biological components with antioxidant and osteogenic activities to target sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, prismatic NiO(OH)/CeO@Ce(OH) 3 and nanoporous NiCe–O composites are constructed on the surfaces of the Ce-containing alloy ribbons by dealloying. These freestanding dealloyed samples exhibit excellent performance toward ethanol electrooxidation. Especially, the dealloyed Ti 50 Ce 10 Ni 40 ribbon shows a high current density of 229.4 mA cm−2 (1.6 V vs. RHE). Meanwhile, it also shows outstanding durability with the faradaic current decreasing to ca. 88% within the first 40 s, while remains ca. 84% even after 10 h-long measurement. The enhanced catalytic activity can be attributed to the quadrangular prism (NiO(OH)) array and polygon prisms (CeO@Ce(OH) 3) on the dealloyed Ti 50 Ce 10 Ni 40 ribbon surface with abundant active sites and defects facilitating the adsorption of reactive species, electron transport, and reaction kinetics. This work provides a new perspective for the design of high-active binder-free non-noble electrocatalysts based on multicomponent alloys. [Display omitted] • Nickel Oxyhydroxide/Oxide-based composites were fabricated by dealloying Ce-containing alloy ribbons. • Novelty prismatic NiO(OH)/CeO@Ce(OH) 3 composite were prepared by hydrothermal dealloying. • NiO(OH)/CeO@Ce(OH) 3 composite with rich active sites and defects show high activity and long service life toward ethanol electrooxidation. Developing inexpensive and highly active ethanol electrooxidation catalysts with long service lives for direct ethanol fuel cells is an urgent task. Herein, prismatic NiO(OH)/CeO@Ce(OH) 3 and nanoporous NiCe–O composites are fabricated on the surfaces of Ce-containing alloy ribbons via one-step dealloying, demonstrating excellent catalytic performance for the ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR). Particularly, the Ti 50 Ce 10 Ni 40 ribbon dealloyed for 2 h at a hydrothermal temperature of 140 °C exhibits a high current density of 229.4 mA cm−2 (1.6 V vs. the reversible hydrogen electrode) and maintains outstanding performance for 10 h without apparent deterioration, outperforming most state-of-the-art non-noble catalysts. This phenomenon is associated with the formation of a prismatic NiO(OH)/CeO@Ce(OH) 3 array structure on the alloy ribbon surface with abundant active sites and defects, enhancing the catalyst activity and stability. This study may provide new opportunities for designing and fabricating inexpensive and robust catalysts with excellent performance and a wide range of practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective specific recognition of bovine serum albumin (BSA) was accomplished by the thermo-sensitive imprinted microspheres composed of N -isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM), methacrylic acid (MAA) and N , N -methylenebisacrylamide (MBA). These imprinted microspheres were prepared in the presence of hollow Fe 3 O 4 microspheres as substrates via surface molecular imprinting technique (MIT) and grafting copolymerization method. In the imprinting system, hollow Fe 3 O 4 microspheres possessed the distinctive properties of excellent water dispersibility, light weight and high specific surface area. These potential benefits not only reduced the agglomeration of imprinted microspheres, but also increased the effective imprinting area for BSA. And owing to the existence of poly -(N -isopropylacrylamide) (p NIPAM), the fabricated molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) were highly sensitive to ambient temperature and played a significant role in efficient recognition for BSA. When treated at 32 °C, the optimal adsorption capacity (Q) and imprinting factor (IF) for BSA were obtained, 430.67 mg/g and 2.01, respectively. Combining hollow Fe 3 O 4 microspheres with thermo-sensitive polymers, the surface-imprinted materials for specific capture of target protein would show great promise for bioseparation and biosensors. • An effective specific recognition mechanism for BSA-imprinted materials was proposed. • The mechanism relied on temperature-triggered volume changes of poly-(N -isopropylacrylamide). • Light-weight hollow Fe 3 O 4 microspheres could enhance the selective recognition for BSA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bi 2 MoO 6 quantum dot (QDs-BM)/Bi 2 MoO 6 nanosheet (N-BM) homojunction materials were fabricated by a simple method. Under visible light irradiation, the material exhibits significantly enhanced performance in the synergistic removal of heavy metal Cr(VI) and organic dye (RBY). This can be attributed to the fact that the formation of a homojunction because of energy level difference between QDs-BM and N-BM. It boosts the transferring and separation efficiency of electrons and holes, thereby improving the photocatalytic performance of the material. In addition, compared to the removal of a single heavy metal Cr(VI) contaminant, the mixing of an appropriate amount of organic dye (RBY) greatly increases the reduction efficiency of Cr(VI), and the organic dye is also completely degraded. The results of XPS proved that Cr(VI) is completely reduced to Cr(III). The results also show that the synergistic effect of the oxidation of organic pollutants and the reduction of heavy metals effectively increases the photocatalytic performance of the entire system. This is of great significance for the treatment of industrial wastewater containing heavy metals and organic pollutants. A novel composite photocatalyst with Bi 2 MoO 6 0D quantum dots/2D nanosheets homojunctions was rationally constructed. The obtained sample exhibited significantly enhanced photocatalytic activity for the simultaneous removal of Cr(VI) and dye RBY under visible light irradiation. Unlabelled Image • Bi 2 MoO 6 quantum dots/nanosheets homojunction composites were synthesized. • The composites exhibited greatly enhanced photocatalytic activity for the removal of Cr(VI) and dye. • A synergistic effect on the simultaneous removal of Cr(VI) and RBY. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Efficient adsorption of Pb2+ by LiCoO 2 is fulfilled by incorporating tourmaline. • The LiCoO 2 -tourmaline interaction is revealed by characterization and experiments. • Pb2+ elimination mechanisms are studied. • The reported composites shows potentiality in treating Pb2+-containing wastewater. Tourmaline-LiCoO 2 composites were synthesized for Pb2+ elimination. The adsorption capacity of Pb2+ was firstly evaluated with varied tourmaline additions and sintering temperatures, and the appropriate values of these two parameters were 0.375 g and 800 °C (TM0.375LCO800), in which the mass ratio of tourmaline/LiCoO 2 was about 1:10. The effects of solution pH and foreign cations on the adsorption behavior of TM0.375LCO800 were further investigated, which demonstrate that solution pH and Mn2+ and Ni2+ had little effect, while Cu2+ and Zn2+ had larger effect. Pseudo-first-order kinetic model and Langmuir adsorption isotherm fitted well with the Pb2+ adsorption characteristics on TM0.375LCO800, indicating the chemical adsorption process with an adsorption capacity of 64.01 mg/g. Physicochemical properties of tourmaline, LiCoO 2 and tourmaline-LiCoO 2 composites were comparatively analyzed by XRD, ATR, SEM, TEM, UV–vis DRS and XPS. It is found that it is the high-temperature transformation of the separate tourmaline and LiCoO 2 into interacting states via tourmaline embedment into the LiCoO 2 framework that promoted Pb2+ removal. Finally, the Pb2+ adsorption routes are elaborated. This study suggests the potential and eco-friendliness of tourmaline-LiCoO 2 composite for removing heavy metal ions from water phase, and also provides scientific implications for the development of tourmaline-LiCoO 2 composite for other environmental applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Carbon fabric (CF) with different morphologies of NiCo fillers were fabricated via hydrothermal and annealing processes. • NiCo layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanowire arrays (NWAs) enhanced the microwave attenuation of CF. • NiCo 2 O 4 NWAs improved the electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness of CF via multiple reflections. • NiCo 2 particles could simultaneously improve the microwave reflection and absorption of CF. NiCo layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanowire arrays (NWAs) were grown on carbon fabric (CF) via hydrothermal processes, then annealed into NiCo 2 O 4 NWAs at 350 °C and finally melted into NiCo 2 particles at 800 °C. The influence of such NiCo compounds on the electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding performance of CF was investigated, and the results suggested that the LDH NWAs enhanced the microwave attenuation of CF, except for its shielding effectiveness (SE). In contrast, the NiCo 2 O 4 NWAs with superior conductivity improved the SE of CF mainly via multiple reflections, while its shielding mechanism was essentially unchanged. Only the NiCo 2 particles could basically improve the surface reflection of CF and enhance its internal absorption simultaneously. Consequently, the CF-NiCo 2 composite showed a total SE of 52 dB, reflectivity of ∼0.92 and absorptivity of ∼0.08, better than 44 dB, ∼0.94 and ∼0.06 of CF, paving a new way for the fabrication of high-performance EMI shielding fabrics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The photoreduction of uranium over TiO 2 provides an important pathway to uranium resource utilization and pollution abatement. However, the impact of the TiO 2 crystalline type on photocatalytic reduction of U(VI) is still unclear. In this study, the influence of crystal type of TiO 2 on U(VI) photoreduction was studied. The results showed that rutile was more reactive for the photocatalytic reduction of U(VI) than anatase. Interestingly, an obvious synergistic effect was observed for mechanically mixed rutile-anatase and the photoconverted UO 2 particles preferred to precipitate on rutile surface. The optimum efficiency was achieved for the mixture containing 30 wt% anatase and 70 wt% rutile. The anatase {101} planes tended to match up with rutile {110} facets after the two minerals were mixed. The formation of rutile-anatase aggregates led to the transfer of photogenerated electrons from anatase to rutile. This process could prolong the lifetime of carriers, facilitating U(VI) reduction. Unlabelled Image • Photocatalytic U(VI) reduction was more efficient over rutile than anatase. • Alignment was formed between mechanically mixed anatase and rutile, promoting photocatalytic U(VI) reduction. • Heterostructure was formed after anatase and rutile aggregated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Uniform MoS 2 nanosheets were tightly installed on the smooth surface of Bi 2 Fe 4 O 9 microplatelets (MPLs) via a facile two-step hydrothermal process. MoS 2 , as a typical two-dimensional transition metal sulfide, combining with multiferroic material Bi 2 Fe 4 O 9 , was shown to exhibit high dielectric activity for electromagnetic wave absorption while exhibiting hierarchical structure to achieve an effective multiple reflection. In accordance with transmit-line theory, a maximum reflection loss value of MoS 2 @Bi 2 Fe 4 O 9 microspheres (MPs) was calculated as −52.3 dB at 12.4 GHz with a sample thickness of 2.8 mm as well as an effective absorption bandwidth (reflection loss below −10 dB) reached 5.0 GHz (10.4–15.4). In the light of electromagnetic parameters, it can be found that flower-like MoS 2 @Bi 2 Fe 4 O 9 MPs can utilize the merits of both multi-interfaces constructed by multi-polarization and reflection, as well as synergistic effect between MoS 2 nanosheets and Bi 2 Fe 4 O 9 MPLs. Construction of such hierarchical structure composed of flower-like dielectric shell and multiferroic core paves an advisable way for gaining a new candidate for lightweight electromagnetic wave absorbers. Highlights • MoS 2 @Bi 2 Fe 4 O 9 composite was fabricated via two-step hydrothermal process. • The hierarchical structure successively benefits to attenuation of EM wave. • An optimal RL as low as −52.3 dB is observed with the thickness of 2.8 mm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract A series of Cu-doped ZnO (Cu-ZnO) photocatalysts have been synthesized by a simple hydrothermal method. X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV–vis DRS), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) confirmed that Cu ions have been effectively incorporated into the ZnO lattice, and as the doped Cu amounts increased to 1.5%, the Cu 2 O will be formed. Under the effect of Cu ions and the Cu 2 O/ZnO heterojunction, the prepared 1.5% Cu-ZnO nanocomposites exhibited superior catalytic activity in photodegradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) dye under UV light irradiation. RhB could be degraded 99.9% after the irradiation time of 21 min. The photodegradation rate constant achieved 0.2429 min−1, which was 2 times than that of pure ZnO. The results of photoluminescence (PL) and photoacoustics (PA) spectroscopy studies indicated that the recombination efficiency of photogenerated electrons and holes was decreased for 1.5% Cu-ZnO nanocomposites as compared to that of samples. The surface photovoltage (SPV) and the transient photovoltage (TPV) measurements directly demonstrated that separation efficiency was improved, and the recombination time of electrons and holes in 1.5% Cu-ZnO nanocomposites was prolonged due to the synergistic effect of the impurity level and p-n heterojunction. Finally, the possible mechanism is proposed to illuminate the photogenerated charge behavior under UV light irradiation，and the roles of doped Cu and precipitated Cu 2 O in the photodegradation process were discussed. This work opens a novel avenue to preparing the metal doping photocatalysts with efficiently charge separation and charge transfer. Highlights • The RhB could be completely degraded after irradiation time of 21 min. • The mechanism was fully investigated from the kinetic of photogenerated charges. • The different mechanisms for enhanced photodegradation activity under UV/visible light irradiation were investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Multi-functionalized magnetic graphene was prepared by surface-initiated initiators for continuous activator regeneration atom transfer radical polymerization (ICAR ATRP) mediated by polydopamine chemistry. The obtained multi-functionalized magnetic graphene was used as an adsorbent for application in adsorption and speciation of arsenic. Adsorption kinetics and isotherms of arsenic were investigated by batch adsorption experiments. The adsorbent displayed simultaneous or selective removal ability for As(III) and As(V) within different pH ranges. The adsorption of both As(III) and As(V) agreed well with the Freundlich isotherm model, and they were effectively adsorbed through chelation and electrostatic interaction, respectively. Moreover, the functionalized magnetic graphene was examined as a column packing material for speciation analysis of arsenic using solid phase extraction technique. As(III) and As(V) could be effectively separated through a sequential elution strategy. An alkaline solution was firstly employed to selectively elute As(V), and then an acidic solution was utilized to elute As(III). The developed adsorbent in the present study was successfully applied to the determination of As(III) and As(V) in natural and environmental water samples with satisfactory results. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • Multi-functionalized magnetic graphene was prepared and used as an adsorbent. • As(III) and As(V) could be simultaneously or selectively removed by the adsorbent. • As(III) and As(V) could be separated through a sequential elution strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • LiFe 5 O 8 @PPy nanocomposite were synthesized through a etching/regrowing method. • The 3D-porous architecture provides a pathway for electrolyte diffusion. • LiFe 5 O 8 @PPy nanocomposite show much enhanced electrochemical performances. Abstract In this work, a core-shell hierarchical LiFe 5 O 8 @PPy nanocomposite has been successfully fabricated through a simple etching/regrowing method. The core buffer of highly conductive PPy nanotubes is introduced to enhance the electrochemical performance of LiFe 5 O 8. Owing to improved electron transfer capability, charge transfer resistances of the core-shell nanostructured composites are decreased and the electrochemical properties are enhanced. The representative LiFe 5 O 8 @PPy nanocomposite exhibits a high specific capacitance of 292 F g−1 at a scan rate of 5 mV s−1, and an excellent cycling stability (82.99% after 10,000 cycles) because of the synergistic effect of LiFe 5 O 8 nanosheets and PPy nanotubes. This study confirms that the as-prepared LiFe 5 O 8 @PPy nanocomposites are promising candidates for supercapacitor electrode materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • Deep gap states of TiO 2 nanorod array were identified by cyclic voltammetries. • Spatial location, energy position, and chemical entity of gap states were revealed. • High sub-band gap response was observed in photoelectrochemical water oxidation. Abstract Developing new methods to use visible light is important for TiO 2 photocatalysis. This research reported that the TiO 2 rutile nanorod (NR) array shows high sub-band gap visible light response. By means of electrochemical cyclic voltammetries, the intrinsic occupied gap states of TiO 2 NR array were identified. It was seen that the gap states can be switched from filled states to empty states by visible light illumination, which play the role of relay in promoting electrons from the valence band to the conduction band of TiO 2 NRs after absorbing two visible photons. In a consequence, the TiO 2 NR array shows the obvious anodic photocurrents for water photoelectrochemical oxidation and the photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange under visible light illumination. This study revealed the significance of the deep occupied gap states of TiO 2 NR arrays, which are usually considered as recombination centers. Different from conventional photocatalysis arising from inter-band electron transition, the present research shows a different pathway to use visible light in TiO 2 photocatalysis effectively, which should be highly meaningful for designing visibly-active TiO 2 photocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A stable core-shell B 12 @Ca 20 C 12 with I h symmetry has been proposed using first principles method. • The bonding characters, especially the multi-center two-electron σ bonds, of B 12 @Ca 20 C 12 is also analysed. • About 77 H 2 can be absorbed by B 12 @Ca 20 C 12 , leading to a high hydrogen capacity of 12.6 wt%. Since the discovery of C 60 fullerene, scientists devoted themselves to searching novel clusters. Among them, the high-symmetry clusters, especially clusters with I h symmetry, has drawn increasing attention due to their special properties and stabilities. Here, a stable core-shell B 12 @Ca 20 C 12 with I h symmetry, which is featured as an icosahedral I h -B 12 centered on the dodecahedron Ca 20 C 12 , has been identified using first principles calculations. Its stability has been further confirmed by vibrational frequency analysis with the highest frequency of 834.9 cm−1 and the lowest frequency of 93.7 cm−1. Besides, molecular dynamics simulations indicate that its core-shell structure cannot be destroyed at 325 K under NVT ensembles with Nosé-Hoover chain thermostat. As for the electronic structure, 64 multi-center two-electron bonds were observed throughout the entire core-shell B 12 @Ca 20 C 12 to keep the cluster maintain its core-shell configuration. More importantly, the core-shell B 12 @Ca 20 C 12 can storage about 77 H 2 molecules by closed-shell interactions with an average adsorption energy of −0.16 eV/H 2 , resulting in the gravimetric hydrogen density of 12.6 wt%. Based on these results we infer that core-shell B 12 @Ca 20 C 12 is a potential high-capacity hydrogen storage material and might promote positive experimental efforts in designing excellent hydrogen storage materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Porous 3D honeycomb-like carbon (3DIHBC) with large specific surface area is prepared. • The 3DIHBC/MnO 2 composites are prepared by a facile hydrothermal method. • At a voltage window of 2.0 V, the electrode displays a power density of 10,500 W kg−1. Bacterial cellulose (BC) has been considered to be an ideal substrate for electrode materials due to its characteristics of natural abundance and wide range of sources. Controlling the microscopic morphology of electrode materials can enhance the capacity of BC materials effectively. However, most of the remaining BC derived carbon exhibit morphology of fibers, and the effective method for porous morphology need further studies, let alone the electrochemical properties of the materials used as electrode active material. Here, we prepared 3D interconnected mesoporous honeycomb-like carbon by pyrolysis of purified bacterial cellulose (3DIHBC). Then MnO 2 with flower-like morphology was then grown on the 3D carbon with a simple hydrothermal method. The prepared 3DIHBC/MnO 2 electrode delivers a reversible specific capacitance of 170F g−1 at 1 A g−1, and also retains 76% impressive long-term cycling stability after 5000 cycles at 10 A g−1 in an aqueous electrolyte. This is a highly cost-effective method for the preparation of 3DIHBC/MnO 2 composites, and the rational use of cheap biomass carbon can improve the drawback of poor cyclic stability of metal oxides, which is important for environmental protection and mass-producible energy storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ag@Ga-doped ZnO core-shell nanoparticles show excellent SERS sensitivity, stability and repeatability, which is attributed to its rich surface defects, plasmon- and photo-induced charge-transfer effect by its unique core-shell structure. [Display omitted] • Ag@Ga-doped ZnO core-shell nanoparticles were successfully prepared by simple solvothermal method and defect engineering. • Such SERS substrates exhibits high sensitivity, stability and repeatability. • The detection limit of the substrate for pesticide thiram can reach 10−9 M, which is far lower than the national standard. • The Ag@2.6%Ga-ZnO CSNPs can complete catalytic degradation of organic dye molecule R6G within 40 min. • SERS enhanced mechanism was discussed in detail. There has been increasing interest in evolution of semiconductor-based SERS-active substrates to achieve ultrasensitive detection of trace analyte molecules. This work presents a simple solvothermal method and further defect engineering technology to obtain Ag@Ga-doped ZnO core-shell nanoparticles (Ag@n%Ga-ZnO CSNPs), which have both local electromagnetic enhancement from Ag-core and efficient charge transfer enhancement due to the plasmon and photo-induced electrons and numerous deficiency sites after Ga-doping, for achieving ultrahigh detection sensitivity, stability and repeatability. Specifically, the unique Ag@2.6%Ga-ZnO CSNPs exhibited good linearity in the range from 10−6 to 10−12 M for the typical dye analyte rhodamine 6G (R6G), and the limit of detection could be down to 10−12 M. The Raman signal intensity of the Ga-doped core-shell structure was stable after 60 days of storage at room temperature. Moreover, the as-prepared Ag@2.6%Ga-ZnO CSNPs shows excellent signal repeatability as SERS substrate, and the relative standard deviation (RSD) is calculated to be about 9.71%. To illustrate the usefulness for detection of hazardous substance, we showed that such substrate can detect a pesticide, thiram, at a concentration as low as 10−9 M, which is far lower than the national standard. In addition, due to the construction of the core-shell structure and the introduction of Ga-doping, the photoelectric properties of the material have also been greatly improved. Under the irradiation of xenon lamp, the Ag@2.6%Ga-ZnO CSNPs can complete catalytic degradation of organic dye molecule R6G and pesticide molecule thiram within 40 to 50 min. This study demonstrated that the Ag@Ga-doped ZnO core-shell nanoparticles could serve as an effective and versatile SERS platform for reproducible, fast and in-field detection of organic analytes at trace levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphene aerogels have been extensively studied in water treatment and oil remediation. We report a mild and green method to prepare a 3D-columnar graphene aerogel. The aerogel was synthesized by using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and stearic acid (SA) as crosslinking agents to construct a framework of reduced graphene oxide (RGO). The interaction between PVA, SA, and stacked RGO sheets created a mechanically very robust aerogel. The aerogel possesses ultra-light performance with the destiny ranging from 4.9 to 10 mg cm −3 . The aerogel also demonstrated ultrafast oil absorption, good fire-resistance, and excellent mechanical properties. The adsorptive capacities are in the range of 105–250 times of its original weight for various organic liquids after the absorption. The aerogel also exhibited a strong durability and reusability, and after ten cycles of absorbing-squeezing, the adsorptive capacity is nearly unchanged, indicating potential application in practical oil remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the ever-increasing oil spillages, oil-water separation has attracted widespread concern in recent years. In this work, a nature-inspired polyphenol method has been developed to fabricate the durable superhydrophobic surfaces for the oil-water separation. Inspiring from the adhesion of polyphenol and reducing capacity of free catechol/pyrogallol groups in polyphenol, firstly, the simple immersion of commercial materials (melamine sponge, PET, and nonwoven cotton fabrics) in tannic acid (TA) solution allows to form a multifunctional coating on the surface of sponge or fabrics, which was used as reducing reagent to generate Ag nanoparticles (NPs). Then, decoration of 1 H , 1 H , 2 H , 2 H -perfluorodecanethiol (PFDT) molecules produced superhydrophobic surfaces. The surface topological structure, chemical composition, and superhydrophobic property of the as-prepared surface are characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and water contact angle (WCA) measurements. The WCAs of as-prepared sponge and fabrics were higher than 150°. The stability, absorption capacity, and recyclability of as-prepared sponge and fabrics were investigated. The as-prepared sponge demonstrates high oil/water selectivity and high absorption capacity (66–150 g/g) for a broad variety of oils and organic solvents, and was chemically resistant, robust against abrasion, and long-term durability in harsh environments. Most important of all, it can continuously separate various kinds of oils or organic pollutants from the surface of water. This study presents a facile strategy to fabricate superhydrophobic materials for continuous oil-water separation, displaying great potential in large-scale practical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of novel blend ultrafiltration (UF) membranes have been successfully prepared from commercial poly (ether sulfone), lab-synthesized sulfonated poly (aryl ether sulfone) (SPAES, 1 wt%) and copper nanoparticles (0 ∼ 0.4 wt%) via immersion precipitation phase conversion. The micro-structure and separation performance of the membranes were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and cross-flow filtration experiments, respectively. Sodium alginate, bovine serum albumin and humic acid were chosen as model organic foulants to investigate the antifouling properties, while E. coil was used to evaluate the antibacterial property of the fabricated membranes. By the incorporation with SPAES and copper nanoparticles, the hydrophilicity, antifouling and antibacterial properties of the modified UF membranes have been profoundly improved. At a copper nanoparticles content of 0.4 wt%, the PES/SPAES/nCu(0.4) membrane exhibited a high pure water flux of 193.0 kg/m 2 h, reaching the smallest contact angle of 52°, highest flux recovery ratio of 79% and largest antibacterial rate of 78.9%. Furthermore, the stability of copper nanoparticles inside the membrane matrix was also considerably enhanced, the copper nanoparticles were less than 0.08 mg/L in the effluent during the whole operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of epoxy resin (EP) composite coatings reinforced with functionalized cubic boron nitride (FC-BN) and functionalized hexagonal boron nitride (FH-BN) were fabricated successfully on 316L stainless steel by hand lay-up technique. The structure properties were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The morphologies were characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Moreover, UMT-3 tribometer and surface profiler were used to investigate tribological behaviors of as-prepared composite coatings under dry friction and seawater conditions respectively. The results demonstrated that the presence of FC-BN or FH-BN fillers could greatly decrease the friction coefficient (COF) and wear rate of epoxy, in addition, composite coatings possess better tribological properties under seawater condition which was attributed to the lubricating effect of seawater. Moreover, FC-BN endows the composite coatings the highest wear resistance, and FH-BN /EP composite coatings exhibited the best friction reduction performance which is attributed to the self-lubricating performance of lamella structure for FH-BN sheet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A fast and facile protocol is reported aiming at improving the antifouling property and hemocompatibility of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) membranes by tethering PEG hydrogel and zwitterion immobilization. The coated PEG hydrogel was first prepared by interfacial polymerization and tethered on an alkali treated PVDF membrane (PVDFA) surface via a simultaneous thio-ene and thiol-epoxy reaction. Then, the thiol groups of cysteine reacted with the epoxy groups in PEG hydrogel to fabricate the PVDFA-g-Cys membrane. The membrane fabrication was complete within less than 20 min and was conducted in mild conditions. The successful preparation of PVDFA-g-Cys membrane was confirmed by ATR-FTIR and XPS. Raman spectroscopy showed that the hydrogels covalently bonded to the PVDF membrane surface. The membrane retained its mechanical strength after modification. The SEM measurements suggested that the membrane became denser after hydrogel coating, meanwhile, the EDX test verified that the functional species uniformly distributed in the membrane matrix. Water contact angle (WCA), protein adsorption and protein filtration tests showed significant improvements in hydrophilicity and antifouling properties for the modified membrane. The negativity of the membrane surface measured by the streaming potential method provides a basis for protein resistance and hemocompatibility. Moreover, the suppressed platelet adhesion and prolonged plasma coagulant time show that the PVDFA-g-Cys membrane has ultralow thrombotic potential and better hemocompatibility. The reported surface modification method combing thio-ene and thio-epoxy chemistry not only facilitates fabrication of hemocompatible PVDF membrane but also provide an universal chemical platform for multifunctionalization of porous membranes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we prepared a new wide band gap semiconductor, p -block metal oxyhydroxide InOOH, which exhibits efficient activity for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) degradation under mild conditions and UV light irradiation. The apparent rate constant for PFOA degradation by InOOH is 27.6 times higher than that for P25 titania. Results show that ionized PFOA (C 7 F 15 COO − ) can be adsorbed much more efficiently on the surface of InOOH than P25. Then, the adsorbed C 7 F 15 COO − can be decomposed directly by photo-generated holes to form C 7 F 15 COO radicals. This process is the key step for the photocalytic degradation of PFOA. Major degradation intermediates, fluoride ions and perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCAs) with shorter chain lengths were detected during PFOA degradation. A possible pathway for photocatalytic degradation of PFOA is proposed based on the experimental results. Therefore, this studies indicates a potential new material and method for the efficient treatment of PFCA pollutants under mild conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Robust electrocatalyst is a prerequisite to realize high-efficiency hydrogen evolution by water splitting. Expensive platinum (Pt) is a preferred electrode catalyst for state-of-the-art hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). We present here a category of alloyed PtNi x electrocatalysts by a facile green chemical reduction method, which are used to catalyze HER during seawater splitting. The catalytic performances are optimized by tuning stoichiometric Pt/Ni ratio, yielding a maximized catalytic behavior for PtNi 5 electrode. The minimized onset potential is as low as −0.38 V and the corresponding Tafel slope is 119 mV dec −1 . Moreover, the launched alloy electrodes have remarkable stability at −1.2 V over 12 h. The high efficiency as well as good durability demonstrates the PtNi x electrocatalysts to be promising in practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen and oxygen evolutions by seawater splitting are persistent objectives for green energy production. We present here the experimental realization of Ti foil supported PtM (M = Fe, Co, Ni, Pd) alloy electrodes by a cycle voltammetry method for seawater splitting. The preliminary results demonstrate that the resultant Ti supported PtM alloy electrodes are robust in realizing high-efficiency hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER), arising from enhanced current density, reduced potential, and good durability. By tuning M species, the Ti supported PtPd alloy electrode displays a maximal efficiency, yielding an onset potential of −52 mV and 690 mV ( vs RHE) in HER and OER, respectively. The current densities of Ti supported PtPd electrode are as high as 270 mA cm −2 at 1.32 V ( vs RHE) and 590 mA cm −2 at 3.99 V ( vs RHE). Moreover, the long-term stability has also been increased by alloying Pt with M. Although the work presented here is far from optimized, the concept of alloying transition metals with Pt can guide us to design highly efficient alloy electrodes for hydrogen and oxygen evolutions from seawater splitting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A novel photocatalytic material ZIF-8/Ag 2 CO 3 /CF was successfully prepared. • Ag 2 CO 3 enhance separation effect of photogenerated carriers. • Photocatalytic activity and stability of ZIF-8/Ag 2 CO 3 /CF composites are greatly improved. • Anchoring the Z-scheme ZIF-8/Ag 2 CO 3 photocatalyst on cotton fabric facilitates reusing. This paper presents a novel strategy for fabricating efficient, tailorable, and reusable photocatalytic cotton fabrics (CF) using the successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) method with Ag 2 CO 3 -doped zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) to degrade residual dyes from the textile industry. The Z-scheme photocatalytic degradation mechanism of ZIF-8/Ag 2 CO 3 /CF is also proposed. The results reveal that ZIF-8/Ag 2 CO 3 /CF prepared via 10 SILAR cycles photocatalytically degraded 91 % rhodamine B in 30 min. ZIF-8/Ag 2 CO 3 /CF had 15-fold higher photocatalytic activity than ZIF-8/CF. This enhancement was due to various effects, including, 1) the scattering of ZIF-8/Ag 2 CO 3 nanoparticles on the fiber surface rather than inducing agglomeration using the SILAR method, 2) the prevention of Ag 2 CO 3 photocorrosion by ZIF-8, and 3) the suppression of the recombination of photogenerated electrons and holes. Moreover, ZIF-8/Ag 2 CO 3 /CF maintained 85 % photocatalytic degradation efficiency after five cycles, indicating its high reusability potential. Overall, this research offers a facile process for fabricating efficient, stable, and reusable photocatalytic fabrics to tackle the wastewater treatment issue in the textile industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Heterojunction of FeNi LDH/FeNi 2 S 4 was firstly constructed via one-step process. • Electrochemical bifunctional applications of the heterojunctions are investigated. • The heterojunctions exhibited excellent electrochemical catalytic ability for OER. • An improved specific capacitance was obtained with heterojunctions electrode. Construction of heterogeneous phases offers a promising strategy to tailor the physiochemical properties of electrode materials to improve their electrochemical performance toward energy conversion and capacitive storage. Herein, the hetero-phase combination of hexagonal FeNi layered double-hydroxide (FeNi-LDH) and spinel phase FeNi 2 S 4 microsphere assembled with nanosheets is synthesized via one-step solvothermal process. Owing to improved components, unique micro-structures and the construction of heterogeneous engineering between FeNi LDH and FeNi 2 S 4 with abundant active interface, FeNi LDH/FeNi 2 S 4 heterojunctions exhibit an excellent electrochemical performance for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hybrid capacitive storage. The heterojunctions show low overpotential of 259 mV at 10 mA cm−2, small Tafel slope of 75 mV dec−1, excellent cyclic stability in OER, as well as an improved specific capacity of 472.5C g−1 at 1 A g−1 in hybrid capacitors. The preparation and dual-function applications of FeNi LDH/FeNi 2 S 4 heterojunctions provide a new idea as the advanced electrode materials for electrocatalytic OER and hybrid capacitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO) has attained intensive attention as being a very good transparent conducting oxide for photovoltaic applications. In this work, AZO films have been deposited on glass substrate by radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering. The influences of substrate temperatures on morphological, structural, optical and electrical properties of AZO films were systematically investigated. The results indicate that all AZO films have the hexagonal structure with c -axis preferred orientation. Morphological and electrical measurements have revealed that the substrate temperatures have strong influence on the microstructure, optical and electrical properties of AZO films. The AZO film is highly transparent from ultraviolet up to near infrared range with highest average transparency exceeding 83%. The minimum resistivity is as low as 6.1 × 10 −4 Ω cm. The carrier concentration and mobility are as high as 3.357 × 10 20 cm −3 and 30.48 cm 2 /Vs, respectively. Finally, the performances of the AZO film are evaluated by its practical application in Cu(In 1-x Ga x )Se 2 (CIGS) photovoltaic device as a transparent electrode. Benefited from its highly transparent and conductive feature, the most efficient device reveals an efficiency of 7.8% with a short-circuit current density of 28.99 mA/cm 2 , an open-circuit voltage of 430 mV, and a fill factor of 62.44 under standard conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Li 1.24 Ni 0.12 Co 0.12 Mn 0.56 O 2 (LNCM) with high specific capacity is a potential cathode for commercial lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). To improve the high-rate capacity and cyclic stability, LNCM sample is successfully coated by minor AlF 3 . The crystal structure and electrochemical properties of the bare and coated samples are investigated by X-ray diffractometry (XRD), scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM, TEM), cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic intermittent titration technique (GITT), and charge/discharge measurements. The coating layer AlF 3 efficiently plays a positive role in enhancing rate performance and cyclic stability of LNCM. At 0.5 A g −1 , the specific discharge capacity of LNCM@2%AlF 3 is 149 mAh g −1 much higher than 35 mAh g −1 in bare LNCM. At 20 mA g −1 , the specific discharge capacity of LNCM@2%AlF 3 is 223 mAh g −1 at the 60th cycle in comparison with 203 mAh g −1 in bare LNCM. Moreover, a proper AlF 3 coating layer efficiently ensures the stability of LNCM cathode operated at higher temperature. LNCM@2%AlF 3 operated at 55 °C remains 219 mAh g −1 at the 50th cycle, much higher than bare LNCM only remains 99 mAh g −1 at the 40th cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Molecularly imprinted PANI was immobilized on Fe 3 O 4 /ZnO by surface imprinting technique. • The Fe 3 O 4 /ZnO@MI-PANI displayed selective photodegradation activity towards amoxycillin. • Fe 3 O 4 /ZnO@MI-PANI displayed better photocatalytic efficiency than Fe 3 O 4 /ZnO@NI-PANI. • The presence of Fe 3 O 4 enhanced visible light harvesting ability. In the present study, molecularly imprinted polyaniline was immobilized on Fe 3 O 4 /ZnO composite by surface imprinting technique. The obtained molecularly imprinted photocatalyst was used for selective degradation of amoxycillin under visible light irradiation. The presence of Fe 3 O 4 not only endowed the photocatalyst with magnetic separation feature but also enhanced visible light harvesting ability. Compared with Fe 3 O 4 /ZnO composite, photocatalytic performance of the molecularly imprinted photocatalyst was significantly improved because polyaniline could form a heterojunction with ZnO to enhance photocatalytic performance. The molecularly imprinted photocatalyst displayed better photocatalytic efficiency and selective photodegradation activity towards amoxycillin than the non-imprinted photocatalyst, because the photodegradation reaction could take place not only on surface of the photocatalyst but also in imprinted cavities for the molecularly imprinted photocatalyst, while the photodegradation only occurred on surface of the non-imprinted photocatalyst. Active species capture experiments showed that.O 2- and h+ played a crucial role in the degradation of amoxycillin. The current research provided new insight for fabrication of molecularly imprinted photocatalyst with selective degradation ability for organic pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crosslinked hydrogel brushes were grafted from stainless steel (SS) surfaces for marine antifouling. The brushes were prepared by surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP) of 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) and poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PEGMA) respectively with different fractions of crosslinker in the feed. The grafted layers prepared with different thickness were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), ellipsometry and water contact angle measurements. With the increase in the fraction of crosslinker in the feed, the thickness of the grafted layer increased and the surface became smooth. All the brush-coated SS surfaces could effectively reduce the adhesion of bacteria and microalgae and settlement of barnacle cyprids, as compared to the pristine SS surface. The antifouling efficacy of the PEGMA polymer (PPEGMA)-grafted surface was higher than that of the MPC polymer (PMPC)-grafted surfaces. Furthermore, the crosslinked hydrogel brush-grafted surfaces exhibited better fouling resistance than the non-crosslinked polymer brush-grafted surfaces, and the antifouling efficacy increased with the crosslinking density. These hydrogel coatings of low toxicity and excellent anti-adhesive characteristics suggested their useful applications as environmentally friendly antifouling coatings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The size of MTN were simply controlled. • Monodispersed Ag/bMTN were prepared by a novel in situ method. • PDA/Ag/bMTN exhibited narrowed bandgap and enhanced visible light absorption. • Photocatalytic and antibacterial mechanisms of PDA/Ag/bMTN were suggested. Driven by clean solar energy, photocatalytic technology can effectively degrade organic pollutants and kills pathogenic bacteria. Researchers are always devoted to developing more economical and efficient photocatalysts. In this work, mesoporous TiO 2 nanoparticles (MTN) with controlled diameters (100–200 nm) and large specific surface areas (∼112 m2/g) were prepared via a simple sol–gel method. Then, 10 wt% Ag nanocrystals (∼5 nm) were in situ generated in the MTN via solvothermal process, Ti3+ and oxygen vacancies also been introduced on their surface, thereby leading to a narrowed bandgap (∼2.9 eV) and strong absorption in the visible region. Finally, polydopamine (PDA) was decorated on the surface of Ag/bMTN to further improve their dispersity and photocatalytic activity. The degradation rate of tetracycline and the bactericide rate of E. coli could surpass 90 % and 99 %, which were mainly attributed to the generated O 2 − and the released Ag ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A Zn ions battery with outstanding cyclic performance based on protected electrodes was developed. • The protected anodedelivered stable plating/stripping cycling life of 1000 h in a symmetric battery. • The protected cathodedelivered superb capacity retention of 95.5% after 1000 cycles. Owing to the virtues of intrinsic safety, high theoretical capacity, rechargeable aqueous Zn ions batteries based on cobalt hexacyanoferrate (Co-HCF) cathode and Zn anode have sparked a lot of enthusiasm in the energy storage field recently. However, the issues of Zn anode (such as dendrites formation and sustained hydrogen evolution) and pulverization of Co-HCF cathode seriously restrict the practical application of Zn ions batteries. In this work, a protective layer coated on Zn anode to improve the stability of Zn anode and ensure uniform Zn deposition as well as a polymer layer coated on Co-HCF cathode to sustain the structural stability of Co-HCF. Benefiting from the merits of the protective layer both on the cathode and anode, the obtained Zn ions batteries provide a specific capacity (76.9 mAhg−1 at 0.1 Ag−1), outstanding rate capability (50.1 mAhg−1at 1 Ag−1), and outstanding cyclic stability (∼91.9 % after 1000 cycles at 1 Ag−1) compared to that of the traditional Zn//Co-HCF (∼62.5 %). Thus, this present work supplies a new way to construct high-performance Zn ions batteries with long cyclic life for practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hydrogenation of furfural to furfuryl alcohol was performed over Cu/CeO 2 -R catalyst exposed (1 1 0) crystal plane with amount oxygen vacancies. The synergistic catalysis between the surface Cu0 and the oxygen vacancies in Cu-CeO 2 interface significantly improved the catalytic performance. [Display omitted] • Cu/CeO 2 -R (1 1 0) catalyst with more oxygen vacancies exhibited a superior activity compared with Cu/CeO 2 -P (1 1 1) and Cu/CeO 2 -C (1 0 0). • A high yield of 98 % for furfuryl alcohol was achieved over Cu/CeO 2 -R (1 1 0) at 100 °C, 2 MPa H 2 within 4 h. • DFT calculations corroborated that the oxygen vacancies on the catalyst surface promote the adsorption and activation of furfural. • The high efficiency of Cu/CeO 2 -R (1 1 0) catalyst was attributed to the synergistic catalysis between the surface Cu0 and the oxygen vacancies. The hydrogenation of furfural to furfuryl alcohol in liquid was performed over Cu/CeO 2 catalyst with different morphology that was nanorod (CeO 2 -R), nanocube (CeO 2 -C) and nanopolyhedron (CeO 2 -P), respectively. It was observed that the Cu/CeO 2 -R catalyst exposed (1 1 0) crystal plane owns more oxygen vacancies and metal sites of Cu0 in comparison with the catalyst of Cu/CeO 2 -P and Cu/CeO 2 -C. Meanwhile, it exhibited superior catalytic performance for furfural hydrogenation to furfuryl alcohol with a high yield of 98 % at 100 °C, 2 MPa H 2 within 4 h. The structure–activity relationship demonstrated that the catalyst intrinsic activity (TOF) is positively related to the concentration of oxygen vacancies and the metal sites of Cu0 on its surface. DFT calculations and in-situ FTIR confirmed that Cu/CeO 2 -R (1 1 0) catalyst with more oxygen vacancy is in favor of the adsorption and activation of furfural (C O) on the catalyst surface compared with Cu/CeO 2 -P (1 1 1) and Cu/CeO 2 -C (1 0 0). Accordingly, the remarkable efficiency of Cu/CeO 2 -R catalyst can be assigned to the synergistic catalysis between the surface Cu0 and the oxygen vacancies. Cu0 was used to adsorb and activate H 2 , whereas the oxygen vacancies facilitate the adsorption of C O by O on the surface of the catalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Sustainable diphenolic acid (DPA) imparts antibacterial and antiviral functions to cotton fabric. • The surface modification can be realized through a scalable pad-dry-cure process. • The modification using DPA would not cause toxicity to the human body. In the present work, diphenolic acid (DPA), a sustainable green platform chemical, was employed as a finishing reagent to impart antibacterial and antiviral functions to cotton fabric. After a simple pad-dry-cure process, DPA molecules were covalently linked onto cotton fiber surfaces via the esterification reaction between their carboxyl groups and the hydroxyl groups of cellulose on the fiber surfaces. The DPA phenolic groups induced onto the cotton fibers enable to destroy pathogens by protein affinity interaction. Experimental results show that the DPA modified fabrics realize not only high bacteriostatic reduction rates (BR) against both Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus , but also show excellent antivirus effect that allow a rapid virus inactivation shorter than 20 min. It was also demonstrated that the modification process generated insignificant damage on the cotton fiber structure, and the resultant cotton fabrics are safe for human skin. Therefore, this work may open a new way to endow cotton textiles with antibacterial and antiviral functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Hierarchical rough CuO/Ag composite SERS substrates with controllable morphology were successfully prepared. • Such SERS substrates exhibits high sensitivity, uniformity and reusability. • SERS enhanced mechanism and photocatalytic self-cleaning mechanism were discussed in detail. Oxide semiconductor combined with noble metal nanocomposites have attracted extensive attention because of its excellent surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) effect and photocatalytic degradation ability which can be applied repeatedly to the detection of pollutants. In this work, hierarchically rough copper oxide (CuO) was first prepared on the surface of copper foil by anodic oxidation, and then loaded silver nanoparticles layer by magnetron sputtering method to obtain CuO/Ag composite film. Such CuO/Ag composite substrate exhibits good SERS performance and recyclability due to its efficient photocatalytic degradation ability. Using Rhodamine 6G (R6G) molecules as probe molecules, the influence of the surface hierarchically rough micro/nanostructures, and the amounts of Ag nanoparticles covered on the CuO film surface were both studied in detail. Using optimized CuO/Ag composite film as SERS active substrate, the detection limit of R6G molecules and crystal violet (CV) molecules were as low as 10−11 M and 10−10 M, respectively. The evolution diagram of Raman spectra shows that such substrate can use its own photocatalytic performance to degrade surface adsorbed molecules under light irradiation, so as to achieve self-cleaning and reusable. After repeated use, the SERS performance was only slightly degraded, showing excellent reusability. For the detection of thiram, we found a limit concentration of 10−8 M. In addition, on the basis of material surface morphology and charge transfer, the SERS enhanced mechanism and photocatalytic mechanism were proposed and discussed. The as-prepared hierarchically rough CuO/Ag composite film is expected to be applied to efficient SERS sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • K, P, O and S were innovatively simultaneously doped into g-C 3 N 4. • K, P, O, S-g-C 3 N 4 has 12.85 times higher yield of H 2 O 2 than g-C 3 N 4. • The degradation rate of TC by K, P, O, S-g-C 3 N 4 was 1.5 times higher than the pure. • Four elements doping can promote the charge transfer in g-C 3 N 4. • Negatively charged S introduced into the g-C 3 N 4 can facilitate the ·O 2 − production. Elemental doping can modulate the electronic and molecular structure of g-C 3 N 4 to improve its photocatalytic properties. In this study, potassium (K), phosphorus (P), oxygen (O), and sulfur (S) were doped into the g-C 3 N 4 photocatalyst (K, P, O, S/g-C 3 N 4), and the four-element doped photocatalyst was successfully prepared. UV–vis diffuse reflection spectroscopy, photoluminescence, and transient photocurrent revealed that the co-doping of g-C 3 N 4 with K, P, O and S broadens the visible response and accelerates the transfer of photogenerated charges. Under visible light irradiation, the H 2 O 2 concentration produced with K, P, O, S/g-C 3 N 4 was 12.85 times higher than that with g-C 3 N 4. Moreover, tetracycline (TC) can be effectively degraded by the photocatalyst in surface water. The degradation pathway of TC and the molecular structures of 12 intermediates were analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The superoxide radical (·O 2 −) trapping-electron spin resonance (ESR) technique confirmed that ·O 2 − is the main active species in the system. Therefore, the four-element doping strategy adopted in this research proved the feasibility of increasing the amount of H 2 O 2 produced and degrading the antibiotics in natural water under visible light. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphene oxide is modified by diethylenetriamine through a one-step route to prepare GO-NH(CH 2 ) 2 NH(CH 2 ) 2 NH 2 (GO-DETA), which has primary and secondary amino groups and carboxyl groups. GO-DETA is characterized by Fourier transform-infrared spectrum (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD), thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The catalytic performance of obtained GO-DETA is investigated in Knoevenagel condensation and Michael addition in water; the results show it can be used as an efficient and stable catalyst. In addition, it has other features, such as simple preparation, good recyclability and environmental friendliness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work, several Pt-CuO/RuO 2 composites with various morphology were constructed on the surfaces of Cu-Al-Ce-based MGs containing a small amount of Pt and Ru by dealloying. Noteworthy, the binder-free islands–nanosheets/glassy hybrid electrocatalyst obtained from Cu 60 Al 10 Ce 26 Pt 3 Ru 1 MG ribbon precursor shows a high current density of ∼215 mA/cm−2 and outstanding stability, outperforming commercial Pt/C and other dealloyed products. The enhanced catalytic activity can be attributed to the enlarged surface area, the abundant Pt-rich active sites, and the synergistic effects of Pt, RuO x (Ru/RuO 2), and CuO in the removal of poisoning intermediates. This work provides a new perspective for the design of high-active binder-free composite catalysts based on multicomponent metallic glass with low noble metal usage. [Display omitted] • Pt-CuO/RuO 2 composites with various morphology were constructed on the surfaces of Cu-Al-Ce-based MGs by dealloying. • These composite/glassy hybrid electrocatalysts were successfully used for ethanol electrooxidation in alkaline medium. • The structure and morphology of Pt-CuO/RuO 2 composites could be adjusted in a controllable way. • The electrocatalyst with islands–nanosheets morphology shows superior catalytic performance. • This work provides a new perspective for the design of high-active catalysts based on multicomponent metallic glass. Synthesis of the noble metal-based catalyst with a multi-composite system, unique structure, and special morphology is very important for boosting the catalytic performance while reducing the noble metal use. Here, attractive island/nanosheet structural Pt-CuO/RuO 2 composites were constructed on the surface of Cu-Al-Ce-based metallic glass ribbons containing a small amount of Pt and Ru by dealloying. The surface morphology of these binder-free, self-supported flexible hybrid electrocatalysts can be facilely regulated in a controllable way. Electrochemical measurements revealed the islands-nanosheets/glassy hybrid electrocatalysts obtained from Cu 60 Al 10 Ce 26 Pt 3 Ru 1 MG ribbon exhibit superior electrocatalytic performance toward ethanol oxidation with a high current density of ∼215 mA⋅cm−2 and better stability, outperforming commercial Pt/C and other dealloyed products. This can be attributed to the enlarged surface area, the abundant Pt-rich active sites, and the synergistic effects of Pt, Ru/RuO 2 , and CuO in the removal of poisoning intermediates. This work provides a new perspective for the design of high-active binder-free composite catalysts based on multicomponent metallic glass with low noble metal usage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nafion ® 115 membrane, patterned by thermal imprint lithography on the anode side, is used for passive direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). The membrane roughness factor, defined as the ratio between the actual and projected membrane surface area, was investigated for its effects on the performance of the DMFCs. When the anode Pt-Ru (1:1) catalyst loading is 1.0 mg cm −2 , the maximum power density of the DMFC with a surface-patterned membrane (roughness factor: 5.4) using 3.0 M methanol as the fuel at 25 ± 1 °C reaches 27.2 ± 0.3 mW cm −2 , an increase of ∼57.2% in comparison to DMFC using the pristine membrane (roughness factor: ∼1.0). Further, electrochemical characterization indicates that increased roughness factor of the membrane results in increased electrochemically active surface area and reduced charge transfer resistance in the cell. These performance improvements are ascribed to the increased surface roughness which enlarges the membrane/catalyst interface, possibly facilitating mass transport of the fuel and improving anode catalyst utilization. Thus, patterned membranes have great potential in improving the performance of fuel cells and reducing catalyst loading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • •The MoS 2 /C 3 N and C 3 N/MoS 2 /C 3 N serving as anodes of LIBs are characterized. • • MoS 2 /C 3 N exhibits excellent electronic conductivity and mechanical stiffness. • • Stronger binding energy and low energy barrier are beneficial as anode materials. • • Higher theoretical capacity and low average voltage of MoS 2 /C 3 N are predicted. • • Studies provide a theoretical guidance for MoS 2 -based heterostructures as anodes materials of LIBs. With the emerging of diverse two-dimensional materials, more and more heterostructures composed of different two-dimensional materials are expected as potential candidates for anode materials of Lithium-ion Batteries. Notice that the bilayer MoS 2 /C 3 N and trilayer C 3 N/MoS 2 /C 3 N heterostructures exhibit excellent electrochemical performances, and have been systematically investigated as anode material for Li ion batteries via first principles calculations. The excellent structural stability and electrical conductivity of MoS 2 /C 3 N heterostructure provide a theoretical foundation as electrode materials. The diffusion barrier of Li ion is only 0.28 eV in the interlayer of MoS 2 /C 3 N heterostructure. Moreover, the theoretical storage capacity of Li ion is 742.86 mAh/g in bilayer MoS 2 /C 3 N heterostructure with the average open-circuit voltage of 0.17 V, and that of the trilayer C 3 N/MoS 2 /C 3 N heterostructure is 813.60 mAh/g. Therefore, our results indicate that the bilayer MoS 2 /C 3 N and trilayer C 3 N/MoS 2 /C 3 N heterostructures should be promising anode materials for Lithium-ion Batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The V-shaped RuO 2 103-TGB with roof structure produce the double dangling-O atoms. • The double dangling-O can regulate the adsorption energies of key intermediates. • The double dangling-O can provides excellent electrocatalytic activity sites. During the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), surface oxygen adsorption plays a crucial role in electrocatalysis. The stability of surface adsorption is closely related to the surface morphology of the catalyst. As one of the V-shaped nanotwins, 103 nano-twin grain boundary (103-TGB) has a special roof structure, which results in the presence of double dangling-O atoms at the junction of 103-TGB with (1 1 0) surface. In contrast to the ideal RuO 2 , the d -band center of Ru atoms located on the surface of 103-TGB is shifted to the Fermi level by 1.66 eV. Moreover, the key intermediates, namely *OH, *O, and *OOH, have suitable adsorption energies, providing a lower overpotential of OER (η OER), via adsorbate evolving mechanism (AEM), of just 0.45 eV. Therefore, the OER via AEM is strongly focused on site 02 with double dangling-O atoms, revealing a synergistic effect due to the presence of both the 103-TGB defect and (1 1 0) surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A fast reduction of U6+ to U4+ occurs on semiconductors during XPS measurement. • Slower breakage of uranyl occurs on non-semiconductors under X-ray irradiation. • XPS measurement could change the elements state even if far from the center of beam. • Measures are proposed to reduce the beam induced effects in XPS measurement. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) is an efficient technique for recognizing the state of elements. However, the effects of X-ray irradiation on change in the chemical state are sometimes ignored, which may impair the understanding of the environmental behavior of these elements. This study determined the change in the U 4f spectra induced by X-ray irradiation during XPS detection. For U(VI) on non-semiconductors, X-ray irradiation led to a negative shift of U 4f 7/2 to ∼ 380.8 eV due to the break of the uranyl molecules, but not resulting in U(IV) species. However, owing to the photocatalytic reduction of U(VI), the irradiation of U(VI) loaded semiconductors rapidly induced the negative shift of U 4f 7/2 peak to ∼ 379.8 eV, which is the characteristic of U(IV). Moreover, apparent photo-reduction occurred even if the samples were far from the center of the X-ray beam (>3971 μm). Based on these findings, methods for reducing potential error due to X-ray irradiation are suggested, including using the minimum scan time, measuring uranium-containing samples first or independent of other samples, and using X-ray of lower intensity. The results indicated that X-ray induced alteration to the chemical states must be considered when using X-ray techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A new understanding in the active site of CuMnOx catalysts. • CuMnOx catalysts are composed by uniform CuO-Mn 2 O 3 oxide pairs. • Highly isolated CuO nano-particles are essential for CuO-Mn 2 O 3 oxide pairs. • Cu-O-Mn sites are found to be the active sites of CuO-Mn 2 O 3 oxide pairs. The current work provide a new understanding on the active site of CuMnOx catalysts and thus offer a new perspective in the development of highly effective and low cost CuMnOx catalysts for heterogeneous catalytic oxidation reactions. A series of dual-component copper-manganese multi-oxide catalysts (CuMnOx) have been successfully synthesized using a surfactant assisted hydrolysis-hydrothermal method and studied by XRD, N 2 adsorption–desorption test, ICP-AES, SEM, Aberration-corrected HADDF-STEM, HRTEM, FT-IR, Raman, XPS, H 2 -TPR. These CuMnOx catalysts were found to be composed with uniform CuO-Mn 2 O 3 oxide pair structure, in which highly isolated/dispersed CuO species are anchored in the framework of Mn 2 O 3. It was found that the speciation in these CuMnOx catalysts presents a shift from highly isolated or even single Cu2+ oxide species (Cu2+Ox) to CuO nanoclusters and CuO microcrystalline with increasing Cu content. In CO oxidation reaction, which was employed to probe the structure of the CuO-Mn 2 O 3 oxide pairs in these CuMnOx catalysts, the Cu-O-Mn sites in those CuMnOx catalysts with highly isolated or highly dispersed CuO species were found to be highly active. For CuO-Mn 2 O 3 oxide pair catalysts, the highly isolated/dispersed CuO species in Mn 2 O 3 framework is essential to achieve high activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Cu(II)-IIH was prepared by free radical/cationic hybrid polymerization. [•] The maximum adsorption capacity was 0.64mmol/g. [•] Cu(II) ion adsorption was a spontaneous and exothermic process. [•] Copper adsorption was mainly through interactions with the amide and ether groups. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] An amorphous Al–Mn coating on NdFeB was obtained in MnCl2–AlCl3–EMIC ionic liquid. [•] The coating showed excellent adhesion strength on substrate. [•] The hardness was up to 5.4Gpa. [•] The coating showed an anodic sacrificial protection with a low corrosion rate. [•] The coating did not deteriorate the magnetic property of NdFeB. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] Utilizing terminal reactive groups in polyurethane, nanometer silvers were reduced in situ. And the PU/nanosilver complex fibers were produced by dry spinning. [•] The influence of nanosilver on the properties of PU was studied. [•] It is inferred that 0.030% Ag should be a proper concentration for the PU/nanosilver complex fibers with favorable mechanical properties and highly effective antibacterial activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Commercially available nonionic surfactant P123 was introduced to synthesis Ti-containing mesoporous silica submicrometer-sphere(Ti-MSS) at room temperature. [•] Ti-MSSs particle size was controlled ranging from 400 to 80nm by adjusting the P123/Si molar ratio. [•] Nano-sized Ti-MSSs with better styrene conversion of 44.7%, selectivity of 83.2% for benzaldehyde were obtained. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] PPy can be as a dye adsorbent owing to its reversible doping–dedoping properties. [•] Its adsorption capacity can be enhanced by introducing substrates to form composites. [•] The selected substrates impact the adsorption capacities of the composites intensively. [•] Adsorption capacity of PPy/TiO2 is about 3.6 or 5.5 times higher than that of PPy/P25 or pure PPy, respectively. [•] PPy/TiO2 still shows excellent adsorption ability after regeneration for seven times. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]