Search

[Display omitted] • The ZnO:N-BaSO 4 composites exhibited highly enhanced TC mineralization. • The possible influence of contaminated solution on semiconductor's energy band. • The Zn-O covalent interaction created a channel for interfacial charge transfer. • The energy bands matching mechanism between semiconductor and insulator was revealed. Research in contaminants photo-degradation has witnessed significant progress, recently insulator-based catalysts gaining prominence. In this study, N-containing p-type ZnO decorated BaSO 4 (ZnO:N-BaSO 4) were synthesized and presented a pseudo-first-order kinetic constant of 1.30 × 10−2 min−1 for TC degradation, surpassing that of ZnO:N and their physical mixture by four and seven-fold, respectively. Impressively, the electron transfer in ZnO:N/TC solution interface led to band bending on ZnO:N surface and realized the band matching between ZnO:N and BaSO 4. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations unveiled that the strong Zn-O covalent interaction involving 4s states of Zn atoms and 2p states of O atoms, established a distinctive pathway for electron transfer from semiconductor to insulator. Moreover, the catalysts demonstrated robust activity and sustained long-term stability in real wastewater and surface water. This research illuminates the role of wastewater redox potential in semiconductor band adjustment and highlights abundant, eco-friendly insulators as co-catalysts for selective photo-degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The PtCo alloy nanofoam catalyst with optimized surface composition prepared by morphology engineering possesses enhanced multifunctional electrocatalytic performance. [Display omitted] • Morphology engineering of PtCo alloy nanofoams efficiently improved the utilization of Pt. • Self-assembled porous bimetallic PtCo ANs possess multifunctional electrocatalytic properties. • The Pt 2 Co 1 -ANs sample with optimizing surface composition exhibits enhanced catalytic activity. The exploration of high properties of electrocatalysts is imperative for the commercialization application of fuel cells. Enhancing the catalytic activity and stability of Pt-based catalysts can be achieved by rationally designing their morphology and composition. Here, we synthesized self-assembled PtCo alloy nanofoams (ANs) catalysts with controllable surface composition and porous network. The experimental results show that prepared Pt x Co 1 -ANs catalysts display excellent electrochemical performance in oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) and ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR). Interestingly, the mass activities of Pt 2 Co 1 -ANs with optimized surface composition for ORR, MOR, and EOR are 6.41, 6.64, and 7.71-fold higher than commercial Pt/C catalysts, respectively. Meantime, it also maintains high electrocatalytic durability in ORR, MOR, and EOR. Such results ascribe to the modified surface composition, optimized electronic structure, and porous interconnected nanofoam structure. These findings provide valuable insights into the design of highly active and durable multifunctional electrocatalysts with controllable shapes and composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A novel nitrogen-doped graphene-decorated FeSe x -Sb 2 Se 3 /C nanofiber composite is prepared by electrospinning. • Graphene nanosheets grown on the fiber surface significantly improve the electrochemical performance of FeSbSe-NGCNFs. • FeSbSe-NGCNFs show excellent potassium-storage performance. Low operating voltage, high theoretical capacity conversion alloyed anodes ideal for potassium ion anodes. However, how to address the structural deformation and volume expansion of the changed alloyed materials throughout the reaction process is a crucial topic. A novel nitrogen-doped graphene-decorated FeSe x -Sb 2 Se 3 /C nanofibers (FeSbSe-NGCNFs) composite is synthesized by adding dicyandiamide (DCDA) during electrospinning. Benefiting from porous one-dimensional nanostructure, graphene-decoration and rich nitrogen doping, the best electrochemical performance is shown by FeSbSe-NGCNFs when used as an anode in PIBs. FeSbSe-NGCNFs provide a reversible discharge specific capacity of 279.9 mAh/g at 100 mA g−1 after 100 cycles with a capacity retention of 87.6 %, in addition to a high capacity of 169.9 mAh/g at a high current of 3000 mA g−1. After 1000 cycles, the composite retained 115.8 mAh/g of capacity at 1000 mA g−1. The main causes of these exceptional cycling multiplicity properties are the porous structure that produces more carbon defects and active sites, increasing the amount of storage capacity for K+ and speeding up K+ transport and electron transfer, as well as the graphene nanosheet structure that enhances electrical conductivity and increases its specific surface area. Therefore, PIBs might benefit from the developed FeSbSe-NGCNFs as anode material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Heterostructure Ni 2 P/Ni 12 P 5 is rationally fabricated via a facile solution combustion route. • Heterostructure and defective substrate benefit the optimized electric field and electron transfer. • The optimal catalyst exhibits a low potential of 1.32 V@100 mA cm−2 and a Tafel slope of 31.4 mV dec−1 in UOR. • The heterostructure enhances the adsorption of the reaction intermediate by redistributing the interfacial charge. Developing efficient electrocatalysts and investigating catalytic mechanisms are crucial in urea oxidation reaction (UOR) as a promising strategy to boost the energy efficiency of hybrid water electrolysis for H 2 production. The present work rationally designed and fabricated Ni 2 P-Ni 12 P 5 heterostructure with varying relative ratios embedded on the defective carbon–nitrogen-phosphorus substrate (Ni 2 P-Ni 12 P 5 /CNP) for high-performance UOR in alkaline conditions through a facile solution-combustion route without extra phosphorus sources. The developed synthesis method avoids the high cost, complicated routes, and extremely toxic emissions. Experimental and theoretical studies demonstrated that the Ni 2 P-Ni 12 P 5 heterostructure regulated the interfacial electric field and promoted electron transfer. The abundantly defective CNP substrate improved the electrical conductivity and prevented Ni 2 P-Ni 12 P 5 heterostructure from corrosion and detachment. The optimal electrocatalyst, with an approximately equal content of Ni 2 P and Ni 12 P 5 , exhibits a low potential of 1.32 V to deliver 100 mA cm−2, a small Tafel slope of 31.4 mV dec−1, robust stability of 80 h in UOR, and a low voltage of 1.85 V to reach 100 mA cm−2 in HER||UOR. This work provides a facile route to design electrocatalysts for efficient electrochemical hydrogen production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The Sb 2 Se 3 @PPy cathode are designed for aluminum batteries. • The Sb 2 Se 3 @PPy cathode exhibits superior electrochemical performance. • The in-depth analysis on the electrochemical reaction mechanism. Aluminum batteries (ABs) are a promising alternative to lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) in the future. The development of aluminum batteries (ABs) is closely related to their cathode material. In this paper, we successfully designed and prepared a nanorod structure Sb 2 Se 3 @PPy as cathode material for ABs. It exhibits a high reversible capacity of 302 mAh/g at 0.2 A/g, and the capacity is maintained at about 210 mAh/g after 50 cycles. In addition, the electrochemical reaction mechanism and kinetic process of Sb 2 Se 3 @PPy were studied. The results showed that the PPy coating layer reduced the volume change of Sb 2 Se 3 , prevented irreversible deformation, enhanced the structural stability and electronic conductivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Li 3 PO 4 coating reduces the air sensitivity of single crystal Ni-rich cathode materials. • Li 3 PO 4 coating and Mg2+ doping inhibited the formation of oxygen vacancies.. • Magnesium ions modulated the structural parameters of the materials and changed the bond lengths. • A simple strategy to enhance the surface stability of single crystal Ni-rich materials is provided. In lithium-ion batteries, Ni-rich single crystal cathode material (Ni > 90 %) is a promising cathode material, but it has not yet been put into commercial application due to defects such as structural degradation, air sensitivity and thermal instability. In this paper, the residual lithium compounds on the surface of high-nickel materials are not useless. Li 3 PO 4 coated and Mg2+ doped single crystal cathode materials (SC-NCM-MP) were successfully prepared by precisely controlling the amount of MgHPO 4 by titration and reacting with lithium compounds left on the surface of LiNi 0.925 Co 0.03 Mn 0.045 O 2 (SC-NCM) cathode materials. The SC-NCM-MP samples exhibit better lattice oxygen stability, Li-ion mobility, storage performance and electrochemical performance, with a retention of 89.36 % after 100 cycles, which is much higher than 79.78 % of SC-NCM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • CuFe 2 O 4 catalyst with (111) dominant facet was prepared by KNO 3 as capping agent. • (111) facet has lower hydrolytic ionization barrier and suitable *H binding strength. • Performance of the electrode was further improved by making into 3D printed electrode. • The 3D printed electrode has more exposed active sites and fewer phase interfaces. • 3D (111) CuFe 2 O 4 electrode is only 160 mV at 100 mA cm−2, Tafel slope is 33 mV dec-1. The utilization of hydrogen energy is an important way to low carbon economy, and the development of active electrodes is the most critical step for efficient hydrogen evolution reaction. With the addition of KNO 3 as a capping agent, the exposed crystal facet of CuFe 2 O 4 is regulated, and the crystal facet (111) becomes dominant. Compared to CuFe 2 O 4 (3 1 1), CuFe 2 O 4 (111) exhibits low barrier of water dissociation and suitable *H binding strength, resulting in high intrinsic activity. Furthermore, the 3D printed electrodes show more excellent performance. At 3D printed CuFe 2 O 4 (111) electrode, the overpotential is only 152 mV (vs. reversible hydrogen electrode) at 100 mA cm−2, and Tafel slope is as low as 33 mV dec-1. In addition, 3D printed CuFe 2 O 4 (111) electrodes shows high stability. The superior performance of 3D printed CuFe 2 O 4 (111) electrodes originates from high intrinsic activity and more exposed active sites. This study provides a new path for the development of efficient, stable and inexpensive monolithic catalyst electrodes for alkaline hydrogen evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Monocrystal SiC films can be heterogeneous integrated by Crystal-Ion-Slicing technique. • H+ implantation induced defects evolution: detachment, aggregation, growth, and concatenation. • Different cleavage behaviors appeared under different thermal excitation. • Cleavage behaviors influenced the surface morphology of exfoliated SiC films. The Silicon Carbide (SiC) composite substrate fabricated by crystal-ion-slicing (CIS) technology can be an excellent material platform to realize a variety of microelectronic device functions. The difference in the surface morphology of the exfoliated films under different thermal excitation conditions was found in research. In order to explore the different cleavage behaviors resulting the differences, the basic models of defect evolution during the fabrication of SiC film by CIS technique is established based on AFM, Raman, XRD and TEM material characterizations, which can be divided into detachment, aggregation, growth, and concatenation stages. Combining the molecular dynamics simulation results and defect evolution models, the difference of the cleavage behavior leading to different surface topography under different anneal thermal excitations can be attributed to the different H 2 bubble nucleation rate. The work in this paper investigates the fundamental physicochemical phenomena of defect evolution and crystal cleavage in CIS technology, and guides the improvement of heat treatment process, which is beneficial to achieve neat cleavage for the transfer of SiC single crystal film and to realize available heterogeneous integration of SiC single crystal film. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The C-doped supramolecular preassembly strategy introduces N defects. • The s-B 0.3 CN shows effective performance in generating H 2 O 2 and degrading 4-CP. • The dual-channel photocatalytic H 2 O 2 evolution was demonstrated. The synthesis of hydrogen peroxide from photocatalytic reaction of pure water and oxygen has sparked extensive research, however, most photocatalysts have weak light absorption and fast carrier recombination rates. Herein, a C-doped graphitic carbon nitride g-C 3 N 4 with defects (N vacancies and -C≡N groups) was prepared using a supramolecular preassembly method. The as-prepared photocatalyst (s-B 0.3 CN) exhibited good H 2 O 2 generation performance (108.4 μM under λ ≥ 420 nm in pure water, 2 h) and efficient degradation of 4-CP in a photocatalysis-self-Fenton process. The structure formed by the C-doped and defects significantly facilitated light absorption and carrier separation, increased the specific surface area of the material and enhanced the adsorption of oxygen. Furthermore, this research contributes the understanding of the mechanisms about photocatalytic H 2 O 2 evolution and photocatalysis-self-Fenton. Simultaneously, dual-channel photocatalytic H 2 O 2 evolution mechanisms (O 2 + 2e- + 2H+→ H 2 O 2 ，2H 2 O + 2 h+ →H 2 O 2 + 2H+) of s-B 0.3 CN under irradiation were demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Oxygen vacancy and S–O bond in CuInS2/CuFeO2 played a synergistic catalytic role. • Oxygen vacancy enhanced UV–vis light absorption capacity and enhanced coverage of *CO. • S–O bond improved oxygen vacancy stability. • S–O bond increased the carrier lifetime and reduced the energy barrier. • Methanol yield at 12CIS/CFO-Vo-SO was twice of that at CIS/CFO in 1 h, with FE of 90 % The low reaction rate and poor selectivity to target products have largely limited the application of photo-electrochemical CO 2 reduction. Herein we introduce oxygen vacancy (Vo) and S–O bond into CuInS 2 /CuFeO 2 (CIS/CFO) composite thin-film catalysts by tuning the composition of precursor solution during the electrodeposition process. Vo causes the formation of unique S–O bond at CIS/CFO interface. Vo improves the visible-light absorption performance and enhances *CO adsorption on catalyst surface. S–O bond improves Vo stability, increases the carrier lifetime, and reduces the energy barrier. When polyvinyl alcohol concentration in the precursor solution is 12 mg mL−1, the resulted 12CIS/CFO-Vo-SO thin-film photocathode provides methanol yield of 0.31 mM at −0.700 V (vs saturated calomel electrode) within 1 h, which is twice of that at CIS/CFO thin-film photocathode, and Faradaic efficiency as high as 90 %. This synergistic catalysis strategy provides an innovative route for improving the photo-electrochemical performance of catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The effects of geometry on the microstructure and microwave absorption performance were systematically studied. • The strong reflection loss of −55.07 dB under ultrathin thickness of 1.23 mm and a broad effective absorption bandwidth (<-10 dB) of 4.0 GHz at thickness of 1.3 mm were obtained. • The microwave attenuation mechanism of composites is clarified according to the contribution of interference cancellation and assisted by dielectric loss. Micron-carbon particles with polymorphous concave polyhedron have been easily prepared via high-efficiency spray drying-carbonization process, which is aimed at boosting dielectric polarization toward the feature of high the real part of the complex permittivity accompanied with low level dielectric loss for achieving ultrathin absorber. In addition, the effect of geometry on the microstructure and microwave absorption (MA) performances was systematically studied for the first time. A minimum reflection loss (RL min) of −55.07 dB under ultrathin thickness of 1.23 mm and a broad effective absorption bandwidth (<-10 dB) of 4.0 GHz at 1.3 mm were obtained for composites filled with polymorphous concave polyhedral carbon particles, meanwhile the loading contents have been reduced from 30 wt% spherical filler to 22.5 wt% polymorphous concave polyhedral filler. Optimized MA performance with strong loss and ultrathin thickness has been identified as attenuation mechanism dominated by interference cancellation and assisted by dielectric loss for the first time. This work not only provides an insight to realize engineering applications of carbonaceous absorbents but also reveals the intrinsic attenuation mechanism of microwave absorbing materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Nano-sized BiPO 4 /rGO was prepared. • The embedding of rGO effectively limits the volume expansion of the BiPO 4. • BiPO 4 /rGO nanomaterials showed excellent performance. BiPO 4 /reduced graphene oxide (BiPO 4 /rGO) composites were prepared by solvothermal method and annealing process. In terms of cycle and rate performance, BiPO 4 /rGO composites surpasses BiPO 4 when utilized as anode materials in potassium ion batteries (PIBs). The discharge capacity of BiPO 4 /rGO composite maintained 204 mAh/g after 500 cycles at 100 mA g−1. The capacity might reach 194 mAh/g at a high current density of 1000 mA g−1. Additionally, the electrochemical reaction mechanism of BiPO 4 /rGO composites in potassium ion batteries is studied using an ex-situ XRD test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we present a combined method to produce a superhydrophobic ceramic coating on carbon steel. A hot-dip aluminizing approach is proposed for fabricating an aluminum coating on the carbon steel surface. This aluminum coating is anodized to produce a ceramic oxide layer. The ceramic coating is identified as a mixture of α-AlOOH, γ-AlOOH and γ-Al 2 O 3. The XRD analysis indicates that the ceramic coating is poorly crystalline. The ceramic coating exhibits a patterned surface with nano-pores and nano-wires. Due to this structured surface, the ceramic coating shows superhydrophobicity after reducing surface energy by using a chemical treatment. Display Omitted • A method for fabricating a ceramic coating on steel. • The ceramic coating exhibits a patterned surface with nano-pores and nano-wires. • The patterned surface shows superhydrophobicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The doped Yb3+ and induced polarization can expand the light responsive range and inhibit the recombination of photogenerated carriers. • The introduction of Yb3+ in g-C 3 N 4 can accelerate the adsorption and activation of O 2 to generate 1O 2 , O 2 − and OH. • The doped Yb3+ and N vacancies enhanced performance for photocatalytic decomposition of TC. • The photocatalytic degradation pathway was revealed by HPLC-MS and theoretical calculations. The recombination of photogenerated charges is always a hinder for the improvement of photocatalytic efficiency. Herein, as a case of study, graphitic carbon nitride (g-C 3 N 4) modified with N vacancies and Yb doping (YbCN) was synthesized by the thermal polymerization of ytterbium nitrate and melamine. The optimized sample showed a photocatalytic efficiency of 99.9% within 30 min for degrading tetracycline (TC) under visible light irradiation (λ > 420 nm), which was 24 times than pure g-C 3 N 4. The experimental results and density functional theory (DFT) calculations support that the enhanced performance for photocatalytic decomposition of TC was attributed to the doped Yb3+ and the formation of N vacancies. The doped Yb3+ and induced polarization can expand the light responsive range and inhibit the recombination of photogenerated carriers. Moreover, the introduction of Yb3+ in g-C 3 N 4 can accelerate the adsorption and activation of O 2 to generate 1O 2 , O 2 − and OH. Furthermore, the photocatalytic degradation pathway of TC was revealed by HPLC-MS and DFT calculations. Finally, the optimized sample catalyst was also employed for photocatalytic decomposition of TC in practical conditions including tap, river, and lake water. It was found that inorganic ions in real water can influence the photocatalytic degradation of TC. This work disclosed a strategy for the rational design of efficient g-C 3 N 4 -based materials for practical environmental remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Replicated black silicon surface microstructure for enhanced light absorption. • The output power of the CNT/n-hydrogel TE device is 1.42 W•m−2 under 1 sun. • Cell phone charging under two suns by connecting four devices in series. • High water evaporation efficiency and photothermal sterilization efficiency. Solar energy is a promising renewable energy source with the potential to contribute to sustainable development. Efficient photothermal conversion is critical for solar energy acquisition and conversion. Here, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were gelatinized to obtain the nanostructured CNT/hydrogel, and then highly light-absorbing CNT/n-hydrogels with surface texture were obtained by replicating the micrometer structure from the black silicon (b-Si) surface onto CNT/hydrogels by using a PDMS mold. Through the synergistic effect of both surface texture and nanostructures, it demonstrates high efficiency of solar electricity production and solar sterilization. A small thermoelectric (TE) module with an area of 4 × 4 cm2 is integrated with CNT/n-hydrogel absorber for the investigation of photo-thermoelectric conversion. The output power of the CNT/n-hydrogel TE device is 1.42 W•m−2 under 1 sun. And by connecting four devices in series, it has successfully demonstrated for charging mobile phones under two different solar illuminations. This work provides a cost-effective and easy fabrication method for opening up the hydrogel as a photothermal absorber, which is low-cost, reproducible, high-efficiency solar water sterilization and high photothermal conversion efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of Li+ doping on the structure and properties of the material and the reaction mechanism are fully explained by practical experiments combined with theoretical calculations. When the doping amount of Li+ is 0.2, Na 2.8 Li 0.2 V 2 (PO 4) 3 /C can provide a reversible capacity of 116.9 mAh/g, almost reaching the theoretical capacity (117 mAh/g). After 500 cycles, it shows an amazing capacity retention rate (99.82%). [Display omitted] • Based on the carbon coating, we discuss the Li+ substituted of Na 3−x Li x V 2 (PO 4) 3 /C (x = 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4) series materials to achieve SIBs cathode materials comparable to the theoretical capacity. • The optimum doping amount is 0.2, Na 2.8 Li 0.2 V 2 (PO 4) 3 /C can provide a reversible capacity of 116.9 mAh/g, almost reaching the theoretical capacity (117 mAh/g). After 500 cycles, it shows an amazing capacity retention rate (99.82 %). • The effect of Li+ doping on the structure and properties of the material and the reaction mechanism are fully explained by practical experiments combined with theoretical calculations. Na 3 V 2 (PO 4) 3 (NVP) has become a hot material in the research field of sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) as a result of its unique structural advantages. Unfortunately, the poor electronic conductivity and ion diffusion ability fundamentally limit the practical development of NVP. Considering the above defects, a series of Li+ doped Na 3−x Li x V 2 (PO 4) 3 /C cathode materials for SIBs are synthesized through hydrothermal assisted sol–gel method. The cell volume steadily decline with the raise of Li+ doping amount, which is consistent with the usual doping effect. Moreover, with the increase of lithium doping amount, Li+ preferentially occupies Na (2) site and then occupies Na (1) site. Through the first principles calculation, it is clear that the introduction of Li+ can significantly reinforce the conductivity of the material system and diminish the electron localization phenomenon. The analysis of (1 1 6) crystal plane by TEM shows that Li doping will reduce the interplanar spacing. The change of V valence during the charge–discharge process of Na 2.8 Li 0.2 V 2 (PO 4) 3 /C is consistent with that of NVP by V element XANES characterization. There is no conventional phase transition phenomenon in the ex-situ XRD high-voltage charging state. The above facts indicate that lithium doping obtains a stable solid solution NVP. The electrochemical test results show that Na 2.8 Li 0.2 V 2 (PO 4) 3 /C can provide an amazing reversible capacity of 116.9 mAh/g (theoretical capacity of 117 mAh/g) and capacity retention rate of 99.82 % after 500 cycles. GITT results show that Li+ can significantly increase the Na+ diffusion coefficient of the material. Such excellent electrochemical performance is attributed to the fact that the doping of Li+ activates the activity of Na+ in Na (2) site and improves the reaction efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A MoS 2 -based nanoarchitecture (CeZrO x -MoS 2 @PDA) capable of inducing a strong labyrinth effect within EP matrix was designed. • The nanoarchitectures were homogeneously dispersed in EP matrix, showing good conditions for the formation of strong labyrinth barrier effect. • The PHRR, THR and SF of EP/CeZrO x -MoS 2 @PDA were reduced by 35.5%, 29.1% and 54.5%, respectively. • The ternary nanoarchitecture also resulted in a 56.8% increase in the storage modulus of EP composites. • The excellent performances were associated with the strong labyrinth effect, char-forming effect and free radical quenching effect of nanoarchitectures. To overcome the shortcomings of epoxy resins (EP) such as high flammability and emission of toxic gases, a MoS 2 -based nanoarchitecture (CeZrO x -MoS 2 @PDA) was designed and prepared through surface engineering and functionalization method. At 2 wt% incorporation, the nanoarchitectures were homogeneously dispersed in EP matrix, showing good conditions for the formation of strong labyrinth barrier effect. Concurrently, EP/CeZrO x -MoS 2 @PDA offered enhanced thermal stability with higher char residues and lower maximum weight loss rate (MLR) value. Furthermore, the peak heat release rate (PHRR), total heat release (THR) and smoke factor (SF) of EP/CeZrO x -MoS 2 @PDA were reduced by 35.5%, 29.1% and 54.5%, respectively, while the CO release rate and CO 2 release rate were dropped significantly, which was associated with the strong labyrinth effect, good char-forming effect and beneficial free radical quenching effect of CeZrO x -MoS 2 @PDA nanoarchitecture. Moreover, the ternary nanoarchitecture also resulted in a 56.8% increase in the storage modulus of EP composites. Therefore, the CeZrO x -MoS 2 @PDA developed in this work contributed to the generation of high performance EP with excellent fire resistance and mechanical properties, providing a promising strategy for the design of superior EP composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Morphotropic phase boundary of HZO film with high- κ is achieved by tuning H 2 O dose. • Leakage current is reduced by inserting an Al 2 O 3 interfacial layer. • Good endurance against write/read cycles and high temperatures is realized. For the miniaturization of dynamic random-access memory (DRAM), it is necessary to obtain low equivalent oxide thickness (EOT) and low leakage capacitor materials with complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) process compatibility. Herein, we explore the influence of the dose of H 2 O reactants on the phase structure and electrical characteristics of Hf 0.3 Zr 0.7 O 2 (HZO) thin films during the atomic layer deposition (ALD). By controlling the H 2 O dose as well as other conditions including inserting alumina, adjusting annealing temperature and electric field cycling, a high dielectric constant of ∼45 (EOT ∼ 0.54 nm) and low leakage current density (<7.7 × 10−8 A/cm2 at ±0.5 V) are achieved in the TiN/Al 2 O 3 (∼0.3 nm)/Hf 0.3 Zr 0.7 O 2 (∼6 nm)/TiN capacitor near the morphotropic phase boundary (MPB). Furthermore, the dielectric constant remains above 40 with endurance >1012 cycles (even extrapolated to 1015 cycles under voltage pulse of 0.5 V @10 MHz) at both room temperature and 85 °C. These results are helpful for achieving a high dielectric constant and low leakage for future generation DRAM capacitor materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A high-performance Ru-Ni 3 S 2 /Ni x P y catalyst was fabricated. • Synergy of dopant and interface induced an ultrastrong electronic coupling. • Ultrastrong coupling effectively regulated the surface electronic structure. It is challenging to fabricate high-efficiency and low-cost bifunctional electrocatalysts for water splitting. Herein, a high-performance nickel-based catalyst, Ru-Ni 3 S 2 /Ni x P y , was constructed via heteroatom doping and interface engineering. The synergy of Ru-doping and sulfide-phosphide heterointerfaces induced the ultrastrong electronic coupling on the catalyst surface, which effectively regulated electronic densities of the catalyst, improved intrinsic catalytic activities, and resulted in the excellent HER and OER bifunctional performances. In alkaline medium, it only required the OER overpotential of 244 mV for the as-prepared Ru-Ni 3 S 2 /Ni x P y catalyst to achieve 100 mA∙cm−2 and the HER overpotential of 51 mV to reach 10 mA∙cm−2. And only a voltage of 1.46 V was required to generate 10 mA∙cm−2 in the Ru-Ni 3 S 2 /Ni x P y (+,-) cell. Furthermore, the as-prepared Ru-Ni 3 S 2 /Ni x P y catalyst exhibited a long-term durability for water splitting. The DFT calculations indicated that the ultrastrong electronic coupling was primarily attributed to the aggregation of electrons around heterointerfaces and the excellent catalytic performance was due to effectively adjusting the adsorption of intermediates on active sites. This work is helpful for developing an effective strategy to fabricate high-performance catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fe-Se dual single-atom sites as novel electrocatalyst were synthesized and anchored on nitrogen-doped carbon (NC) for boosting electrochemical nonenzymatic H 2 O 2 , which is the first example of metal-nonmetal dual-atomic-sites for constructing electrochemical sensor. [Display omitted] • Fe-Se dual single-atom on N-doped ultrathin carbon were synthesized for boosting electrochemical nonenzymatic H 2 O 2 sensing. • The synergistic effect of Fe-Se could accelerate electron transfer rate and increase electrochemical active area. • A novel strategy was proposed to enhance electrochemical sensing based on the metal-nonmetal dual-atom sites. The study of single atoms in the field of electrochemical sensing is at the early stage. How to boost the catalytic performance of single atoms is still a big challenge. Herein, we prepare Fe-Se dual single-atom sites on N-doped ultrathin carbon carrier (Fe 1 Se 1 /NC) for realizing highly sensitive nonenzymatic detection of H 2 O 2. Fe 1 Se 1 /NC was synthesized through the pyrolysis strategy, and then was characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) mapping, high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectrometer (XPS), and electrochemical techniques, respectively. The results displayed that Fe and Se both existed in an atomically dispersed status. Compared to the single-atom Se or Fe catalyst (Se 1 /NC or Fe 1 /NC), the Fe 1 Se 1 /NC significantly boosted the electrocatalytic activity for H 2 O 2 reduction. The Fe 1 Se 1 /NC modified electrode could be used to detect H 2 O 2 in a wide linear range of 0.02 mM to 13 mM with a high sensitivity of 1508.6 µA·mM−1·cm−2 and a low detection limit of 11.5 µM. Moreover, the sensor was successfully employed for detecting H 2 O 2 in disinfectant and urine samples. This work provides a novel design of dual-atom catalysts for excellent electrochemical sensing applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building Chemical bonds is an effective strategy to obtain excellent performance of electrode materials. Herein, we report SnSe nanoparticles growth on carbon nanotubes (SnSe-CNTs) composite with strong Sn C bonding for high performance LIBs anode. The composite electrode exhibits high reversible capacity of 772 mAh g−1 after 200 cycles at a current density of 200 mA g−1. Even under higher current density of 1 A g−1, the capacity of composite electrode still maintains 323 mAh g−1 after 1000 cycles, the capacity retention rate is as high as 69.5%. It is found that strong electronic coupling between SnSe nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes conducive to the rapid transmission of electron/ion, facilitating the reversible conversion reaction between Sn and Li 2 Se to form SnSe. Meanwhile, Sn C bonding significantly improved structural stability of SnSe nanoparticles growth on carbon nanotubes composites electrode. These encouraging results of chemical bonding provide new opportunities for designing advanced electrode materials. Sn C bonding facilitates the electrochemical kinetics of SnSe-CNTs electrode for high performance LIBs. Unlabelled Image • Sn C bonding was successfully constructed at the interface of SnSe-CNTs composite by a simple solvothermal method. • Sn C bonding provides fast electron/ions transfer path. • The transfer path greatly enhances the reversible conversion reaction of SnSe-CNTs electrode. • Sn C bonding significantly improves structural stability of the electrode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structure controlled ZnWO 4 nanomaterials were fabricated by a facile hydrothermal reaction. The nanorod-like ZnWO 4 with exposed (111) facets exhibits significant promoting effect for Cr6+ reduction than that of noncrystalline ZnWO 4 nanoparticles. Specifically, the photocatalytic performance of ZnWO 4 -T14 for Cr6+ reduction is 9.8 times higher than that of ZnWO 4 -T0. The effect of Zn2+ on the concentration-absorbance (C-A) curve of K 2 Cr 2 O 7 solution was evaluated and investigated systemically, and adding Zn2+ can improve the UV–vis spectrum detection sensitivity of K 2 Cr 2 O 7 solution. Methylene blue (MB) as a photosensitizer to enhance the photocatalytic activity of ZnWO 4 for Cr6+ reduction is reported for the first time. In particular, the photocatalytic activity of ZnWO 4 -T14 for Cr6+ reduction is 96.7% in 10 mg/L MB solution, which is 65.1% higher than that in aqueous solution. Moreover, the ZnWO 4 -T14/MB possesses excellent stability, and the reduction rate of Cr6+ remains above 90% after four cycles. We believe that the photosensitized strategy is a promising methodology in the treatment of heavy metal ion due to its superior photocatalytic activity and stability. Herein, methylene blue as a photosensitizer to enhance the photocatalytic activity of ZnWO 4 for Cr6+ reduction is reported for the first time. Unlabelled Image • ZnWO 4 photocatalysts with controllable construction are successfully synthesized via a mild hydrothermal process. • MB as a photosensitizer to enhance the photocatalytic activity of ZnWO 4 for Cr6+ reduction is reported for the first time. • ZnWO 4 /MB demonstrates excellent photocatalytic activity and reusability for Cr6+ reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Catalytic dehydrofluorination of 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane to 1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene was performed on a series of fluorinated NiO/Cr 2 O 3 catalysts. The NiO/Cr 2 O 3 catalysts were more active than the Cr 2 O 3 because the new acid sites provided by NiF 2 had higher turnover frequencies (9.43 × 10 −3 − 12.08 × 10 −3 s −1 ) than those on the Cr 2 O 3 (4.55 × 10 −3 s −1 ). Also, the NiO/Cr 2 O 3 was more stable than the Cr 2 O 3 due to its lower density of surface acid sites, which alleviated the coke deposition on the catalyst as evidenced by the Raman spectroscopic results. The kinetic results revealed that the15NiO/Cr 2 O 3 had much lower activation energy (63.6 ± 4.5 kJ mol −1 ) than the Cr 2 O 3 (127.6 ± 3.8 kJ mol −1 ). Accordingly, different reaction pathways on the two catalysts were proposed, which involved the cleavage of the C F and C H bonds on the surface acid and base sites, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A simple yet effective way to weld AgNWs and deposit GZO composite films in a single-step process. • Deposited transparent AgNW/GZO front electrodes under ambient conditions. • The perovskite solar cells exhibit an 21% increase in power conversion efficiency. • New functionality that conventional techniques such as sputtering cannot achieve. Transparent conductive oxide (TCO) must have high electrical conductivity and optical transmittance. Using higher doping concentrations improves the conductivity but often at the expense of transmittance in the near-infrared regime. Using thicker film to improve the conductivity is not preferable as it significantly reduces the transmittance. Silver nanowire (AgNW)/ TCO composite film has been proposed as a viable method to address this dilemma. However, AgNWs often require additional thermal treatment to weld the nanowires to reduce the contact resistance. Also, thermal treatment apparatus, such as lasers, cannot be easily integrated into the TCO deposition setup, adding extra cost for handling samples. Here we use an atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ) to fabricate AgNW/ TCO composite films—APPJ successfully welds the AgNWs and covers them with a thin gallium-doped ZnO or GZO protective layer simultaneously. The AgNW weight significantly affects the optoelectronic and morphological properties and can be tailored to fit the requirements of particular photovoltaic applications. Our perovskite solar cells with the AgNW/GZO front electrodes exhibit a ∼21% increase in power conversion efficiency. Furthermore, unlike conventional methods, our approach is vacuum-free and does not require additional processes, such as lasers, to treat the AgNW network, which may greatly reduce operational complexity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A novel strategy was demonstrated to prepare ultrathin porous Fe 2 O 3 @C nanosheets. • This strategy showed significantly simplicity compared with other conventional methods. • The as-prepared Fe 2 O 3 @C exhibited excellent lithium storage performance as LIB anodes. • This work offered a new insight into preparation of other metal oxide/carbon composite anodes. Low conductivity and large volume change are the two major factors that limit the performance of Fe 2 O 3 for lithium-ion battery (LIB) anodes. Two-dimensional (2D) porous Fe 2 O 3 /C nanocomposites hold great potential for solving the above problems, because their characteristic nanostructures can provide ideal frameworks for rapid, durable and high lithium storage. In spite of high performance, the preparation of the 2D porous Fe 2 O 3 /C composites is usually complex, remaining challenging. Herein, a novel strategy is demonstrated to prepare conformal carbon coated ultrathin porous Fe 2 O 3 nanosheets (Fe 2 O 3 @C) and hence the above problems are addressed efficaciously. With the advantages of conformal carbon coating, well-defined ultrathin nanosheet and porous structure, the Fe 2 O 3 @C shows enhanced conductivity, fast kinetics, superior durability and high capacity as LIB anodes, therefore exhibiting outstanding electrochemical performance with 991.5 and 594.5 mA h g−1 after 200 and 550 cycles at 200 and 1000 mA g−1, respectively. The performance of the Fe 2 O 3 @C anode in a full battery is also evaluated, and hence a beneficial attempt to pave the way for its practicality is performed. The novel preparation strategy and outstanding electrochemical performance of the Fe 2 O 3 @C may provide a new insight into design and fabrication of other metal oxides/carbon composites anodes with advanced performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The stability of Zn–S, Zn–N, and Zn–O bonds was in the order of Zn–S > Zn–N > Zn–O. • The coordination order of HS, NH 3 , and OH (H 2 O) to Zn site was HS > NH 3 > OH (H 2 O). • The hydration film on smithsonite surface was easily broken through, repelled, and dissolved by ammonium salt. • Ammonium salt modification does not affect the final sulfidation product on smithsonite surface. • Ammonium salt only accelerates the sulfidation rate of smithsonite by repelling the hydration film. Here, a systematic investigation from coordination chemistry was performed to investigate the principles met by the ammonium salt to enable it to impact the sulfidization of smithsonite. We found that during the smithsonite sulfidization with ammonium salt modification, the HS, NH 3 , and OH (H 2 O) can only be bonded to Zn on smithsonite surface by σ-bonding instead of π back-bonding, thus they were in a competitive coordination relationship on smithsonite surface. Furthermore, we found that due to the different electron-donating abilities, the stability of Zn–S, Zn–N, and Zn–O bonds was in the order of Zn–S > Zn–N > Zn–O, and the coordination ability of HS, NH 3 , and OH (H 2 O) to surface Zn was in the order of HS > NH 3 > OH (H 2 O). Moreover, we found that with ammonium salt modification, the hydration film on smithsonite surface was easily broken through, repelled, and dissolved by ammonium salt, and thus the sulfidization pathway made a change, which greatly reduced the adsorption energy. However, the final sulfidization product remained unchanged. Therefore, ammonium salt only accelerated the sulfidization rate of smithsonite as a catalyst role to strengthen sulfidization. XPS and ICP tests further supplemented experimental support. This work is instructive for the modifier strengthening sulfidization of oxide ore. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Diaminoguanidine hydrochloride was used as monomer for interfacial polymerization. • An aqueous-phase polymerization mechanism was proposed. • A TFC membrane with a positively charged interfacial layer was prepared. • The TFC membrane achieved a MgCl 2 rejection of 95.05% at 7 bar. • The TFC membrane achieved a separation factor of 23.32 at Mg2+/Li+ mass ratio of 10. This study aims to prepare and investigate thin film composite (TFC) membranes with a highly positively charged rejection layer for effective separation of Mg2+/Li+. The aqueous phase monomer employed in fabricating the TFC membranes was a highly ionic and hydrophilic guanidinium, namely 1,3-diaminoguanidine hydrochloride (DAGH), using an interfacial polymerization method. Two methods were used to prepare the TFC membranes: conventional interfacial polymerization and support-free interfacial polymerization. The surface properties and morphologies of the TFC membranes were characterized by FESEM, AFM, surface zeta-potential, and water contact angle. The XPS was used to analyze the crosslinking structure of the interfacial layer. The study results revealed that the SF-TFC membrane had a higher crosslinking density and zeta-potential compared to the C-TFC membrane. Notably, SF-TFC exhibited a MgCl 2 rejection of 95.09% at 7 bar, and for Mg2+/Li+ separation, the SF-TFC membrane had a Li+/Mg2+ separation factor of 23.32 at the Mg2+/Li+ mass ratio of 10. Additionally, the strong ionic and hydrophilic properties of DAGH led to the proposal of an aqueous-phase polymerization mechanism, substantiated by AFM and ESI-MS analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

α -MnO 2 -based catalysts are promising materials for VOC oxidation, and understanding how oxygen participates in the reaction is crucial for further improving its catalytic performance. Despite providing many insightful results, oxygen vacancy characterization cannot fully explain the oxygen cycling process, giving sometimes contradictory interpretations. In this paper, NAP-XPS was utilized to investigate the work function and element valence of catalyst surface under reaction conditions. Along with DFT calculation, EELS, and specially designed O 2 -TPD characterization, we further demonstrated that generating oxygen vacancies will lead to a decrease in the average valence state of Mn elements from Mn 4 + to less active Mn 3 +. Activity data of various VOCs suggest that generating a large number of oxygen vacancies could not enhance the activity of all types of VOC; as for toluene oxidation, replenishing gas-phase oxygen into the bulk phase is also important. This work provides a novel way to explore the metal oxides' material exchange properties between its surface and gaseous oxygen and paves the way for the rational development of novel and versatile VOC oxidation catalysts. [Display omitted] • The activity of different VOCs on the α -MnO 2 nanowire main exposed 110 or 310 facet. • In situ NAP-XPS characterize the change of surfaces work function during reaction. • The trend of Mn chemical valence change varies for different VOCs oxidation processes. • Stages of the oxygen cycle play a distinct role in the oxidation of different VOCs. • DFT calculation investigate the effects of structure that cannot be determined experimentally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Connected CNTs bridge the nano-crack and elongate the crack propagation path in bitumen. • π–π stacking enhances the interfacial bonding strength between bitumen and CNTs. • Pulling-out effects of CNTs increase the energy absorption and fracture tolerance. • Interfacial sliding and debonding were observed during the cracking process. Bitumen reinforced with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) exhibits excellent mechanical performance in pavement engineering. However, its nanoscale enhancement mechanisms have not yet been studied. This study utilizes molecular dynamics (MD) simulation to investigate the effects of CNTs on the load-induced cracking process in bitumen and elucidate fundamental insights into the interaction mechanism between the bitumen-CNT interface. The simulation results demonstrate that the aromatic rings in bitumen molecules can interact with the sp 2 carbon system of CNTs through π–π stacking, which enhances the load transfer efficiency and mechanical performance of bitumen. During the cracking process, the connected CNTs can bridge the nano-cracks, elongate the propagation path, and increase the overall fracture resistance. Moreover, the analysis of the energy contribution reveals that the pulling-out effect of CNTs can significantly increase their capacity to absorb external energy and save it as the non-bonded energy of the bitumen system, which results in a greater tolerance under external loading. However, debonding and sliding of the bitumen-CNT interface are observed during the cracking process, which weakens the interfacial bonding and reduces the strengthening effect. Future studies will be focused on improving the load-transfer efficiency at the interface to fully exploit the superior mechanical properties of CNTs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of nitrogen doped porous carbons with enhanced adsorption performance for p-arsanilic acid (pASA) and roxarsone (ROX) were successfully prepared via urea assisted hydrothermal method and sodium oxalate activation process. Especially, the boosted BET surface area and nitrogen containing groups endow NC-750 activated at 750 °C with superior adsorption capacities for pASA (287.3 mg/g) and ROX (462.6 mg/g), thus resulting in appealing potential for phenylarsonic acids adsorption from effluent. [Display omitted] • N -doped carbon was prepared by urea-assisted hydrothermal method from peanut shell. • N -doped carbon possessed high surface area (1331.11 m2/g) with defective structure. • N -doped carbon had high adsorption capacities for p-arsanilic acid and roxarsone. • Both of the physical structure and N -doping contribute to the enhanced performance. Phenylarsonic acids are deemed as emerging contaminants, and their removal by carbonaceous materials has aroused wide attentions. However, the adsorption behaviors and mechanisms on nitrogen doped carbon still remain unclear. Herein, nitrogen doped porous carbons (NC-x) for adsorbing p -arsanilic acid and roxarsone were fabricated by hydrothermal and following activation treatment of peanut shell. The results revealed that NC-750 which was activated at 750 °C exhibited high BET surface area of 1331.11 m2/g, total pore volume of 0.97 cm3/g and average pore size of 2.91 nm, and its maximum equilibrium capacities based on Sips model for p -arsanilic acid and roxarsone were 287.3 mg/g and 462.6 mg/g, respectively. The sufficient adsorption space, rich defect structure and high affinity of nitrogen-containing groups endow NC-750 with high adsorption capacities, and the adsorption mechanisms involve with pore-filling, hydrogen bonding and π-π interactions. Density functional theory (DFT) calculation demonstrated that p -arsanilic acid was electron donor while roxarsone was electron acceptor, and graphitic nitrogen was conducive to the π-π interactions while pyrrolic nitrogen and pyridinic nitrogen were preferential for hydrogen bonding interactions. This work can provide reference for understanding the adsorption behaviors and interfacial mechanisms between phenylarsonic acid and nitrogen doped carbonaceous materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The catalyst is composed of Janus nanoparticles and high entropy nanoalloy. • The catalyst is designed and synthesized based on the enthalpy of formation. • Excellent catalytic performance for both OER and HER with outstanding stability. • Ultra-low voltage of 1.75 V to reach 100 mA cm−2 for water splitting activity. Encouraged by the excellent multifunctional catalytic performance of Janus nanoparticles and superior long-term durability of high-entropy alloy nanoparticles, a bifunctional catalyst with high-entropy alloy nanoparticles (HEA-NPs) and Janus multi-principal alloy nanoparticles (JMPA-NPs) is prepared. Beneficial from the accelerated electron/optimized adsorption of intermediate of JMPA-NPs and the nature of high entropy effect of HEA-NPs, the catalyst (HEA/JMPA) exhibits superior OER and HER catalytic performance with excellent stability in 1 M KOH solution. For OER, the overpotential required to reach 20 mA cm−2 (η 20) is only 314 mV, which is much better than that of commercial RuO 2 catalyst. During the long-term operation at 10 mA cm -2, the potential presents almost no attenuation after 21 h. For HER, the η 10 is only 85 mV with superior stability of 108 h. The water electrolyzer which is conducted with HEA/JMPA as both cathode and anode in 1 M KOH (HEA/JMPA (+, -)) exhibits excellent overall water splitting activity. The voltage of HEA/JMPA (+, -) to reach 100 mA cm−2 is only 1.75 V and the current density is as high as 305 mA cm−2 at 1.9 V. The theoretical calculation results also revealed the internal mechanism of the new catalyst on both OER and HER. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We demonstrate a simple and inexpensive method of surface polarity control of ZnO grown by pulsed laser deposition (PLD). The polarity control is achieved in a straightforward way by changing the thickness of MgO buffer layer. The Zn- and O-polar ZnO films possess very distinct growth rate, electron concentration and mobility as well as different defect structures. These different structural and electronic properties result in significant differences in surface reactivity and device performance. For example, Pd Schottky diodes fabricated onto the O-polar ZnO film exhibit lower barrier height and ideality factor compared with the equivalent Zn-polar devices, while methylammonium lead iodide perovskite films are readily formed on O-terminated and rapidly decompose on Zn-terminated surfaces. This can be attributed to higher photocatalytic activity of Zn-terminated surface, as well as higher surface coverage of adsorbed hydroxyl groups. Consequently, our results indicate that polarity engineering to obtain favorable O-terminated surface can result in improved performance of ZnO-containing optoelectronic devices, while Zn-terminated surfaces could be of interest for photocatalytic and sensing applications. • ZnO polarity control achieved in PLD growth. • Surface absorption, electrical and optical properties of are highly polarity dependent. • Photocatalytic activity is enhanced and MAPI perovskite film decompose on Zn-polar surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of different scanning paths and overlapping rates on the residual stresses distribution in a 316L stainless steel blade subjected to massive laser shock peening treatment with square spots were investigated. Special attention was paid to the surface and in-depth residual stress distributions at 30%, 50% and 70% overlapping rates. Results showed that there were similar residual stress profiles for two scanning paths at 30% overlapping rate. At 50% overlapping rate, the induced surface compressive residual stresses along the width direction (Path 1) was larger than those along the length direction (Path 2), but the latter was more uniform than that of the former. When the overlapping rate increased to 70%, the former was more uniform and larger than the latter. Simulated residual stress profiles were in an agreement with the measured data in all cases. The calculated residual stresses by finite element model analysis were smaller compared with the measured residual stresses. • Both two scanning paths have similar RS profiles at 30% overlapping rate. • At 50% overlapping rate, surface RS by Path 1 was larger than those by Path 2. • At 50% overlapping rate, Path 2 was more uniform than Path 1. • Overlapping rate is an important factor to the uniformity of compressive RS field. • 30% overlapping rate is a better choice considering work efficiency and cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the effect of a probe tip on the contact angle measurements and the formation process of nanobubbles based on line tension and pinning theory was investigated. In this investigation, the images of nanobubbles and micropancakes on mica(001) and molybdenite(0001) surfaces were obtained during an alcohol-water exchange by means of atomic force microscopy (AFM) in tapping mode (TMAFM). Based on the image characteristics and the theory of line tension and pinning, a new point of view is presented: the contact angle of a nanobubble is not always a large obtuse angle but is an uncertain value; its true value is affected by the curvature radius of the AFM probe tip, and the value is close to the macroscopic contact angle. Meanwhile, the formation of nanobubbles is affected by the surface tension, line tension and pinning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In this paper, the adsorption and degradation mechanism of metronidazole on TiO 2 (101) and (001) surfaces was elucidated at DFT level. The adsorption stability of metronidazole on the surface of anatase was studied under the condition of vacuum and neutral aqueous solvent respectively, and the most stable adsorption configuration was optimized theoretically. It was found that metronidazole could be adsorbed on the surface of TiO 2 under both conditions. The hydrogen bond generated by the adsorption process can enhance the stability of the adsorption structure. The surface adsorption made the C N bond length of metronidazole longer, which could facilitate the reaction of open-loop degradation. The mechanism of ring-opening degradation of metronidazole on two surfaces of TiO 2 was also studied. It was found that the activation energy of the degradation reaction of metronidazole on the crystal plane of TiO 2 was decreased under the condition of water solvent, which indicated that the solvent condition could promote the degradation of metronidazole. The utilization efficiency of different crystal planes of TiO 2 in the visible light and predicted the photocatalysis were achieved. The study found that TiO 2 (101) crystal plane catalytic degradation of metronidazole has high visible light utilization rate, explaining the experimental results. Graphical abstract Schematic diagram of catalytic ring-opening reaction of metronidazole on TiO 2 surface: when the reactant is attacked by OH radical on the surface of the catalyst, the N(1) C(2) bond breaks and the hydroxyl H atom on C(2) is transferred to N(3). Unlabelled Image Highlights • The most stable adsorption configuration of metronidazole on the surface of TiO 2 was optimized. • The degradation of metronidazole on the TiO 2 (101) surface is easy to occur. • The ring-opening reaction contains two steps: N-C bond breaking and proton transfer on the imidazole ring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract An efficient and stable Z-scheme β-FeOOH/g-C 3 N 4 photocatalyst has been facilely prepared to produce sustainable hydrogen energy. Highlights • Z-scheme heterojunction photocatalyst was prepared successfully. • β-FeOOH was used as building blocks for photocatalytic H 2 production the first time. • β-FeOOH/g-C 3 N 4 shows significantly enhanced photocatalytic H 2 production. • Strengthened spatial charge separation contributes to the improved performance. Abstract Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C 3 N 4) is a very promising earth abundant and visible light response photocatalyst for H 2 production. Fabricating novel nanostructure or combining with other semiconductors have been attempted to further enhance its activity. α-FeOOH, due to its structures greatly facilitating electrolyte transport, has been widely used as an excellent OER cocatalyst assisting the PEC water splitting process. However, to the best of our knowledge, it has not been attempted in photocatalytic H 2 generation. Herein, g-C 3 N 4 modified with β-FeOOH was designed for the first time for photocatalytic H 2 production. It showed H 2 production rate as 2.02 mmol·h−1·g−1, which was almost 6 times of pure g-C 3 N 4. The significantly promoted catalytic activity was ascribed to the greatly enhanced charge separation efficiency by forming spatial separated reservoirs of photo activated electrons and holes in the Z-scheme heterojunction, corresponding to the conduction band of g-C 3 N 4 and the valence band of β-FeOOH, respectively. Our work should be valuable for fabricating visible-light response heterojunction based photocatalysts with better photocatalytic performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • In 1−x Zn x O y heterogeneous NFs with mixed phases of c- and rh-In 2 O 3 are fabricated. • Rh-In 2 O 3 phase improves electrical conductivity and optimizes interface interplay. • Phase compositions of rh-In 2 O 3 and c-In 2 O 3 can be controllably tuned. • Excellent performance is attributed to the phase composition and interfaces. Abstract Poor cyclability and rate performance are two key problems hindering the practical application of In 2 O 3 in high power lithium-ion batteries. Herein, we report a phase transition strategy to fabricate novel In 1−x Zn x O y heterogeneous nanofibers with mixed phases of cubic bixbyite-type In 2 O 3 and rhombohedral corundunm-type In 2 O 3 to enhance the lithium ion storage ability. The one-dimensional structure shortens the path for lithium ion diffusion and electron transfer, and accommodates the large volume changes upon cycling. The introduction of rhombohedral corundunm-type In 2 O 3 can favorably improve the electrical conductivity, provide more pathways for lithium ion diffusion, and optimize the interface interplay. The optimal In 0.5 Zn 0.5 O 1.25 heterogeneous nanofibers exhibit superior cyclic stability and outstanding high-rate performance, which can be ascribed to the synergistic effects of excellent electrical conductivity, more pathways for lithium ion diffusion, and the coupling effect of heterogeneous interface. This new phase-transition induced formation of heterostructure nanofibers is enlightening in design high performance electrode materials for lithium ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • The CA changes from 159° to 102° after the FAS modified surface (SHS) is lubricated by silicon oil. • SLIPS has good dropwise condensation property and reasonable water collection rate at 60 mg/cm2h. • The SLIPS has small SAs less than 18° at wide range of drop volumes from 7.9 μL to 19 μL. • SLIPS has much better anti-icing performance which deicing force is 2–3 smaller than ordinary surface. Abstract Zinc and its alloys are valuable crucial materials applied in the fields of automobile, ship manufacturing and construction industries. However, their application is limited due to poor performance on water-resistance, condensation and anti-icing property. Slippery liquid-infused porous surface (SLIPS) has been widely used owing to excellent water-repellent, condensation and anti-icing properties. In this work, a SLIPS was fabricated based on zinc substrate by using electrochemical etching, low surface energy modification and lubricant infusion, successively. According to the SEM morphologies and EDS images, it could be confirmed that the rough porous surface structure, low surface energy modification and infused lubricants are key factors accounting for the excellent anti-wetting property of fabricated slippery Zn surface. The experimental results showed that the SLIPS on zinc substrate exhibited outstanding water-repellent performance at a wide range of temperature and drop impact velocity. Moreover, its anti-wetting ability can be sustained even under the impacts of droplets or the continuous water jet. Owing to its dropwise condensation strategy, the SLIPS shows reasonable water collection efficiency, which exceeds 60 mg/(cm2·h) at relative humidity of 90%. The excellent anti-icing property is demonstrated by the simulated ice rain test and deicing force test. And the results showed that only tiny residue ice left on the SLIPS and the deicing force was 2–3 times smaller than ordinary surface. The prepared SLIPS is expected to be an adaptable and efficient method for enhancing the water-repellent, condensation and anti-icing properties of zinc substrate, and may expand the application in energy-efficient fluid handing & transportation, medicine and anti-fouling operating in low temperature environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract An ultra-green chemistry route is applied in metal oxide/rGO photosensor assembly. The signal-noise interference is reduced efficiently through polyfluorocarbons modification. Highlights • A flexible ZnO/rGO film was synthesized by reagent-free electrophoretic. • ZnO/rGO film display different photocurrents excited by different wavelength lights. • ZnO/rGO film signal noise reduced and sensitivity increased after PFPE deposited. Abstract Flexible devices with optoelectronic functionalities have attracted significant attention for their wide applicability in wearable devices. For high-performance photodetection, both wide-range photoresponse and high sensitivity should be implemented simultaneously in one device, which sets challenges for material and device design. Herein, ZnO/rGO films, as photodetectors working in broad-spectrum region, are assembled through a novel reagent-free electrophoresis method. Based on the as-assembled photodetector, by introducing a polyfluorocarbons/rGO interface, we further reduce its signal-noise interference based on a novel charge accumulation effect. As a result, the hybrid ZnO/rGO film-based photodetector displays remarkable noise-reduction effect, enhanced sensitivity, and low detection limit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • Flower-like BOC was successfully prepared employing CNFs as regulator. • The CBOC-5 exhibited superior photocatalytic activity and excellent stability. • CNFs played crucial roles to tune morphology, size and hydrophilic surface of BiOCl. • This study provided a novel and green method to use visible light for BiOCl. Abstract Control the photocatalytic activity by texturing morphology and surface property is the fundamental and efficient process for the advanced applications of semiconductors. In this work, high-performance flower-like BiOCl (BOC) nanomaterials were fabricated employing sustainable cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) as regulator through a facile one-pot hydrothermal method. The CNFs doped BiOCl (CBOC) formed flower-like morphology and the size was decreased. Ascribing to the enhanced photosensitization and photocatalysis, RhB could be totally degraded by CBOC-5 (5% of CNFs) within 16 min under visible light irradiation, exhibiting outstanding degradation efficiency. The roles of adsorption, photosensitization and photocatalysis of CBOC-5 to RhB and tetracycline (TC) were comprehensively studied. The O 2 − and holes were determined to be the active species during the RhB degradation in the presence of CBOC-5 under visible light irradiation and CBOC-5 showed excellent stability after 5 times repeated use. The crucial role of CNFs for the improved photocatalytic activity was mainly attributed to forming flower-like morphology, reducing the size of BOC and enhancing the hydrophilic surface, as a result, the absorption of visible light, migration of electron and the interaction of CBOC-5 with RhB were promoted remarkably, which enhanced both photosensitization and photocatalytic activity significantly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • Preparing the disodium vanillin l -aspartic acid modified LiAl-LDH (VLDH) coating. • The VLDH coating is prepared by one step in-situ synthesis at low temperature. • The surface of the VLDH coating exhibits smoother and more compact. • The VLDH coating shows the better corrosion resistance in the NaCl solution. • Proposing the anticorrosion mechanism of the VLDH coating. Abstract Disodium vanillin l -aspartic acid modified LiAl-layered double hydroxide (LDH) coating was fabricated on A6N01-T5 Al alloy by the one step in-situ synthesis at relatively low temperature. The characteristics of the modified LiAl-LDH (VLDH) coating were characterized by X-ray diffractometer (XRD), Flourier transformation infrared spectrometer (FT-IR), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Atomic force microscopy (AFM). The results showed that vanillin l -aspartic acid anions were successfully intercalated into the interlayer of LiAl-LDH to form the smoother and more compact surface of the VLDH coating. The corrosion resistance of the VLDH coating was investigated by Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS), Elemental analyzer (EA), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and potentiodynamic polarization measurements. These results indicated that the VLDH coating possessed the excellent ion-exchange property and the better corrosion resistance than the unmodified LiAl-LDH (NLDH) coating in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution. The corrosion resistance mechanism of the VLDH coating was proposed in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • Hierarchical micro- and mesoporous carbon material is fabricated for supercapacitor. • Hydrothermal treatment process strongly affects the pore size distribution of the prepared carbon material. • Specific capacitances of 389 F g−1 at 0.2 A g−1 and 202 F g−1 at 10 A g−1 were achieved. • 91.6% of the initial capacitance was retained after 10,000 cycles at 10–50 A g−1. Abstract Biomass-derived carbons with hierarchical porous structures are widely considered as one of the most promising electrodes for supercapacitor. In this work, we present a facile approach to synthesize hierarchical porous carbon materials from waste lentinus edodes. It exhibits that the duration of the hydrothermal treatment process strongly affects the pore size distribution of the prepared carbon materials. Many narrow pores are formed during the hydrothermal process; these preformed pores are vital for the formation of micropores and development of larger mesopores in the following molten salt activation process. The as-obtained HM-24, synthesized by hydrothermally treated for 24 h and subsequently activated in molten Na 2 CO 3 -K 2 CO 3 for 1 h, possesses high specific surface area of 1144 m2 g−1 and developed hierarchical micro- and mesoporous structures. Moreover, oxygen- and nitrogen-containing functional groups are detected at the carbon surface. When evaluated as an electrode in a three-electrode system with 1 M H 2 SO 4 electrolyte, the as-prepared HM-24 exhibits a high specific capacitance of 389 F g−1 at 0.2 A g−1 and a good rate capacity with capacitance remaining 174 F g−1 at 20 A g−1. Furthermore, the assembled symmetric supercapacitor delivers a high specific capacitance of 329 F g−1 at 0.2 A g−1, excellent energy density of 45.69 Wh kg−1 and good cycling stability which retains 90.3% of the initial capacitance at 5 A g−1 after 10,000 cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Large specific surface area porous carbon. • Biomass-derived nitrogen/oxygen co-doped biomass carbon. • Excellent rate capability and cycle stability performance in sodium ion battery. Abstract Biomass derived porous carbons are economic and attractive materials for anode electrodes in sodium-ion batteries. In this work, a novel porous carbon has been prepared through activation of longan shell, which demonstrates an interconnected hierarchical porosity comprised of macro-, meso- and micro-pores as well with a high specific surface area of 2990 m2 g−1. Benefiting from the unique pore structure and oxygen and nitrogen dual doping, a well-developed ionic and electronic conductivity is achieved. Remarkably, it exhibits an excellent cycling stability with a capacity up to 345.9 mAh g−1 at a current density of 0.1 A g−1, and maintains a capacity of 304.2 mAh g−1 even at a high current density of 5 A g−1 after 1000 cycles as anodes for sodium-ion batteries. These results indicate that the fabricated porous carbon could be a promising electrode material for sodium-ion batteries. The mechanism of such high sodium-ion storage was also discussed with the scan-rate-dependent CV curves to quantify the pseudo-capacitive contribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Curvature effect enhances Li/Na adsorption on the inner surface of the Ca 2 N-nanotubes. • Li storage in Ca 2 N-nanotubes becomes possible due to the curvature effect. • The theoretical capacity of 2D anode materials can be tailored through curvature effect. • Curvature do not change the good rate performance of the Ca 2 N materials. Abstract Recently, Hu et al. reported that Ca 2 N monolayer is a good anode material for Na storage, but Li storage is not allowed since Li adsorption on Ca 2 N monolayer is energetically unfavorable. In this paper, from first-principles calculations, we predict that Li storage becomes possible when the Ca 2 N monolayer is rolling up into nanotubes. The curvature effect of the Ca 2 N nanotube decreases the Li adsorption energy to a level below 0 eV, corresponding to positive charge/discharge potential. As a result, Li storage in Ca 2 N nanotubes becomes feasible and a theoretical capacity of about 426.9 mAh/g is predicted for the Ca 2 N-(14, 0) nanotube. The metallic electronic structure and very fast Li/Na diffusion in the Ca 2 N nanotubes ensure that the rate performance of the Ca 2 N nanotubes can be good. This study offers an example of designing electrode materials for Li/Na ion batteries through curvature effect, and the strategy is applicable to other 2D materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we studied the properties of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) based and Li 2 Mg 3 SnO 6 (LMS) filled composites. The LMS powders were synthesized by one synthetic process and modified by C 14 H 19 F 13 O 3 Si (F8261). The content of modified LMS changed from 26 to 66 wt%. XRD and TEM were employed to investigate the crystal phase of obtained LMS. The analysis of XPS and Contact Angle were conducted to study the surface characteristics of F8261 modified LMS. The morphology, microstructure, dielectric properties of PTFE based composites filled with untreated LMS and modified LMS were investigated in detail. Further, various theoretical models were put forward to discuss the dielectric constant of the composites. At last, the modified LMS filled PTFE composites exhibited reliable dielectric constant ( ε r = 3.61), acceptable dielectric loss (tan δ = 0.002), stable frequency dependence of dielectric constant and low temperature coefficient of dielectric constant ( τ ε = 9.42 ppm/°C) at filler loading of 46 wt% LMS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel and characteristic method is confirmed for enhancing the fibers/resin interfacial strength by growing MnO 2 nanosheets on the woven carbon fiber (WCF) using the hydrothermal method for 1 h from 100 to 175 °C. An interesting finding is that both the density and length of MnO 2 nanosheets are functions of the growth temperature. The optimal growth temperature is 125 °C, and the homogeneous and porous MnO 2 has greatly improved the wettability between the WCF and the matrix and further results in an improvement of 16.3% and 30.2% in the flexural strength and tensile strength of the composite. And then tribological properties are further improved which can be verified by an obvious increment in dynamic fricition coefficient and a 38.7% reduction in wear rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Earth-abundant transition metal sulfide eletrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) with compelling catalytic performance hold a key to clean and renewable energy conversion. Herein, we report a one-step solvothermal method to synthesize iron-doped cobalt sulfide (CoFeS) nanoplates. A highly efficient OER catalytic performance with a low overpotential of 290 mV, small Tafel slope of 52.6 mV dec −1 and long-term operational stability is achieved from the CoFeS nanostructures with an optimized Fe/Co ratio. The enhanced catalytic activity is attributed to the high electric conductivity of CoFeS that accelerating charge transfer during the reaction, and Fe doping that changing the local Co–S environments toward a moderate absorption energy to the reaction intermediates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Bias-induced oxidation does not significantly modify the surface chemical composition resulting from surface passivation. • Bias-induced oxidation on passivated silicon surfaces mainly results in the consumption of water (H 2 O) and the creation of Si–O–Si bonds and hydronium ions (H 3 O+). • The increased electric field strength and humidity can accelerate bias-induced oxidation. The study investigated the bias-induced oxidation through ReaxFF molecular dynamics simulations in order to bridge the knowledge gaps in the understanding of physical–chemical reaction at the atomic scale. Such an understanding is critical to realise accurate process control of bias-induced local anodic oxidation nanolithography. In this work, we simulated bias-induced oxidation by applying electric fields to passivated silicon surfaces and performed a detailed analysis of the simulation results to identify the primary chemical components involved in the reaction and their respective roles. In contrast to surface passivation, bias-induced oxidation led mainly to the creation of Si–O–Si bonds in the oxide film, along with the consumption of H 2 O and the generation of H 3 O+ in the water layer, whereas the chemical composition on the oxidised surface remained essentially unchanged with a mixture of Si–O–H, Si–H, Si–H 2 , H 2 O–Si and Si–O–Si bonds. Furthermore, parametric studies indicated that increased electric field strength and humidity did not significantly alter the surface chemical composition but notably enhanced the bias-induced oxidation, as indicated by the increased number of Si–O–Si bonds and oxide thickness in simulation results. A good agreement is achieved between the simulation and experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A novel electrochemical sensing material was prepared to achieve an effective composite of cobalt tetra-aminophthalocyanine and MXene. • A rapid diagnostic method for Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection based on electrochemical technology, which is highly stable and sensitive. • The constructed electrochemical sensing platform can reach the detection limit of 39 nM for Pseudomonas aeruginosa pigments. • The synthesis of novel composite materials reduces the cost for the Pseudomonas aeruginosa sensing platform. Pyocyanin (Pyo) is a virulence and quorum-sensing signaling molecule secreted specifically by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa). Monitoring Pyo secretion is essential for understanding P. aeruginosa physiology. However, the existing field of electrochemical detection of Pyo has the limitations of high preparation cost and low detection performance. In this study, we successfully synthesized a novel electrochemical sensing nanomaterial used for the detection of Pyo. For the first time, cobalt tetra-aminophthalocyanine (CoTAPc) and MXene was successfully synthesized by electrostatic self-assembly. As a synthetic hybrid, CoTAPc-MXene combines the advantages of CoTAPc and MXene to improve electrical conductivity and electrocatalytic activity and facilitate the electrochemical induction process. The increase in the specific surface area and catalytic sites of the material can be identified by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and electron microscope. The fabricated Pyo electrochemical sensor shows good linearity (R2 = 0.9981) with Pyo concentrations in the range of 0.1 μM to 200 μM, with a sensitivity of 0.4793 μA∙μM−1 and a detection limit of 39 nM (S/N = 3). The sensor has excellent stability and selectivity and can be used to detect Pyo in real samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]