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Catalysts with multifunctional catalytic properties hold great promise in energy conversion and environmental remediation. Herein, a series of 1D hollow NiO/Bi 2 Mo x W 1−x O 6 (x = 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1) nanofibers are fabricated via pyrolysis of electrospinning precursor. Integrating the hollow structural merits of large specific surface area, abundant active sites, and built-in electric field, this novel NiO/Bi 2 Mo x W 1−x O 6 nanofibers act as a bifunctional platform boosting photocatalytic tetracycline conversion and electrocatalytic oxygen reduction. NiO/Bi 2 Mo 0.75 W 0.25 O 6 solid solution nanofiber delivers a 99.5 % photocatalytic degradation in 120 min for tetracycline (TC) solution with attractive stability, outperforming its NiO/Bi 2 MoO 6 or NiO/Bi 2 WO 6 counterparts. Radical trapping experiments show that ∙ O 2 ⁻ is the key oxidative radical in the photocatalytic reaction. Moreover, the NiO/Bi 2 Mo 0.75 W 0.25 O 6 solid solution nanofiber exhibits an improved ORR activity in alkaline media with a half-wave potential of 0.63 V, and Tafel slope of 76 mV dec−1, along with high stability. We expect this work to inspire the design of multi-functional catalysts for photocatalytic water treatment and electrocatalytic energy conversion. • 1D NiO/Bi 2 Mo x W 1−x O 6 (x = 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1) nanofibers are fabricated via a pyrolysis of electrospinning precursor. • This NiO/Bi 2 Mo x W 1−x O 6 nanofibers act as a bifunctional platform boosting photocatalytic and electrocatalytic reduction. • NiO/Bi 2 Mo 0.75 W 0.25 O 6 solid solution nanofiber delivers a 99.5 % photocatalytic degradation in 120 min for TC solution. • NiO/Bi 2 Mo 0.75 W 0.25 O 6 solid solution nanofiber exhibits an improved ORR activity and high stability in alkaline media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanoporous tungsten (np-W) synthesized by a facile dealloying strategy was utilized as the host to accommodate tellurium (Te) for Li-Te batteries. The np-W supported Te (np-W-Te) cathode exhibits an excellent specific volumetric capacity of 1168 mA h cm−3 after 30 cycles, a good cycling performance of 200 cycles with a coulombic efficiency over 98.9%, and fast rate capabilities of 1612 mA h cm−3 at a current density of 50 mA g−1 and 774 mA h cm−3 at 800 mA g−1. The excellent performance of the np-W-Te cathode is attributed to the highly dispersed Te impregnated in the np-W host with rich porosity, high conductivity and superior stability. The mechanism investigation by in situ Raman and ex situ XRD techniques demonstrates the reversible transformation between Li and Li 2 Te during the charge/discharge processes. This study highlights the nanoporous metal as a promising host to confine Te for Li-Te batteries. Nanoporous tungsten synthesized by dealloying acted as the host to accommodate Te for Li-Te batteries. ga1 • The as-dealloyed nanoporous W hosted Te as the cathode for Li-Te batteries. • The cathode exhibited high specific capacity, good cycling and rate performances. • The reversible conversion between Te and Li 2 Te is the mechanism for the battery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given its superior structure, the abundance of surface functional groups, and low cost, cotton fiber filtration paper can be used as the support for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction catalysts (OER) instead of copper foam (CF), nickel foam (NF), or carbon cloth (CC). Herein, the chemical plating method was used to create thin self-supporting electrodes based on cotton fiber filtration paper (FP). The Co-Ni-P amorphous nanospheres can be uniformly dispersed on the self-supporting FP due to its porous structure and oxygen functional groups. The Co-Ni-P/FP electrode has an overpotential as low as 125 mV for HER and 320 mV for OER at the current density of 10 mA cm−2. Additionally, according to density functional theory (DFT) calculations, the Co atom added to the Ni-P nanosphere can lead to considerably more charge accumulation around the Co and Ni active sites, which greatly encourages the HER and OER processes. The novel porous support, FP, provides a fresh way the preparation of self-supporting electrodes. [Display omitted] • Filter paper is used to prepare the self-supporting electrode as the substrate. • The preparation method is simple and the properties are stable. • Rich oxygen-containing functional groups of FP promote deposition and dispersion. • Explore the excellent electrochemical performance of amorphous Co-Ni-P/FP by DFT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Semiconductor-based photocatalyst serves as an attractive candidate for harnessing solar energy to generate renewable hydrogen via water splitting. Here, a novel Au/SrTiO 3 /TiO 2 (T3) photocatalyst of 3D SrTiO 3 /TiO 2 hollow nanosphere decorated by plasmonic Au nanoparticle (NP) is precisely constructed via an in-situ growth of cubic SrTiO 3 on anatase TiO 2 hollow nanospheres. By carefully regulating the SrTiO 3 /TiO 2 interface structure, the optimized Au/SrTiO 3 /TiO 2 (T3) photocatalyst achieves a remarkable photocatalytic H 2 evolution rate of 327.8 μmol g−1 h−1 without Pt as cocatalyst. Specifically, spectroscopic analyses and characterization results comprehensively prove that the favorable plasma electric field (Au) and the internal electric field (SrTiO 3 /TiO 2 heterojunction) coupled with the 3D electron transfer channel in 3D Au-SrTiO 3 /TiO 2 hollow nanospheres synergistically promote the interfacial charge separation and accelerate the interfacial transfer of charge carriers for efficient solar-driven photocatalytic H 2 evolution. This work presents a new strategy for the rational design of plasmonic metal functionalized 3D heterojunction photocatalysts for highly efficient solar-to-chemical energy conversion. [Display omitted] • Au-SrTiO 3 /TiO 2 hollow nanospheres are prepared for photocatalytic water splitting. • 3D hollow sphere unit structure provides electron transfer channels. • The plasma effect and internal electric field promote charge separation and transfer. • Au/SrTiO 3 /TiO 2 photocatalyst achieved a remarkable photocatalytic H 2 evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]