Search

ZrN and TiNiN nanolayers are alternately deposited on silicon substrate by magnetron sputtering. A series of ZrN/TiNiN nano-multilayer films with different Ni contents are prepared by varying the Ni:Ti volume ratio of the targets. The effects of Ni content on the microstructures and mechanical properties of ZrN/TiNiN nano-multilayer films are studied by X-ray diffractometer (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and nanoindentation instrument. The results show that with the increase of Ni content, the crystallization degree of ZrN phase first increases and then decreases. Besides, the hardness, elastic modulus and toughness of the films also increase first and then decrease with Ni content increasing. When Ni:Ti= 1:24, the ZrN/TiNiN nano-multilayer films obtain the highest hardness, elastic modulus and fracture toughness, which are 23.2 GPa, 317.8 GPa and 2.29 MPa·m1/2, respectively. This is mainly attributed to the best columnar crystal growth of the ZrN/TiNiN nano-multilayer film. The TiNiN layer changes into face centered cubic structure under the template of ZrN layer, and grows in coherent epitaxy with ZrN layer. ● A series of ZrN/TiNiN nano-multilayer films with different Ni contents are prepared by magnetron sputtering. ● When Ni:Ti= 1:24, the ZrN/TiNiN nano-multilayer films simultaneously obtain the highest hardness and fracture toughness. ● The high hardness and toughness are due to that the TiNiN layer grows in coherent epitaxy under the ZrN layer template. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Niobium carbide (NbC) membranes have been shown to be an effective catalytic membrane for hydrogen dissociation and desorption. Here, magnetron sputtering method was applied to dope Ni in NbC films to improve the catalytic properties. It is found that the Ni doping largely affects the surface microstructure and electronic structure of the NbC films, which in turn affects the hydrogen permeation performance of the NbC/V composite membranes. By density functional theory (DFT) calculations, it is known that the doping of Ni can modulate the internal electronic structure of NbC, such as d-band center and bader charge, thus improving the catalytic properties of the NbC films. Typically, under the optimal preparation conditions, the hydrogen permeability of the Ni-doped NbC/V composite membranes was 2.59 × 10−8 mol H 2 m−1 s−1 Pa−0.5，at 500 °C, which is higher than that of pure Pd under the same conditions. These findings open up a new way towards the improvement of the catalytic properties for the hydrogen separation membrane materials. • The Ni doping affects the structure and properties of the NbC films. • The Ni doping reduces the dissociation barrier of H 2 of NbC. • H 2 flux first increases and then decreases with increasing Ni doping. • The H 2 permeability of Ni-doped NbC/V membranes is higher than that of Pd. • Ni-doped membranes exhibit high hydrogen permeation stability at 500–650 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Piezocatalysis, which is capable of directly converting mechanical energy into chemical energy, has been identified as a promising strategy for environmental wastewater remediation and clean energy production. Regrettably, the present piezocatalysis is still in the early stage and the piezocatalytic activity is still far from ideal. Thus, exploring and discovering more efficient catalyst design strategies remains a challenge. In this work, a novel and simple method was employed to synthesize a piezocatalytic BiFeO 3 (BFO) using metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) as precursors, and the MOFs derived BFO (MOF-BFO) has excellent piezocatalytic activity. The maximum reaction rate constant (k) for rhodamine B (RhB) can reach 1.70 × 10−2 min−1, which is about 4.7 times that of the sample annealed at 700 °C (BFO-700, 0.36 × 10−2 min−1) and about 10.3 times that of the sample annealed at 450 °C (BFO-450, 0.17 × 10−2 min−1) using conventional one pot co-precipitation method. The MOF-BFO catalyst is also suitable for degradation of other typical dyes, including methylene blue (MB) and methyl orange (MO), dramatically increasing its utility against complex wastewater components. What's more, the analysis indicates that the concentration of oxygen vacancy (O V) may be the primary factor influencing the piezocatalytic performance. Thus, the effect of O V concentration on piezocatalytic activity is further studied, which acts like a double-edged sword, manifesting that creating moderate O V is crucial for regulating piezocatalytic performance. This study not only demonstrates the potential of MOF-BFO as a candidate material for piezocatalytic applications, but also offers insights for the development of efficient piezocatalysts in future. [Display omitted] • The self-made MOF-BFO exhibits superior piezocatalytic activity. • A series of MOF-BFO with varying O V concentrations were synthesized. • MOF-BFO demonstrated notable stability and repeatability. • Appealing insights into the design of high-performance piezocatalysts are revealed. • The potential piezocatalytic mechanism is briefly elucidated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2) is a versatile oxidant that has attracted significant attention in various industrial applications, including water treatment, pulp and paper bleaching, and chemical synthesis. Photocatalytic H 2 O 2 production using semiconductor photocatalysts has emerged as a highly promising approach due to its environmental friendliness and sustainability. Among the various photocatalytic systems, Z-scheme photocatalysts have demonstrated particular promise for efficient H 2 O 2 production owing to their unique electron transfer mechanism. This review article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the recent progress in the development and application of Z-scheme photocatalysts for efficient photocatalytic H 2 O 2 production. It covers the fundamental principles of photocatalytic H 2 O 2 production and Z-scheme photocatalytic systems, summarizes the achievements of Z-scheme photocatalysts, and discusses the challenges and future prospects. This timely review fills a critical gap in the field by providing a comprehensive understanding of recent progress in Z-scheme photocatalysts for efficient H 2 O 2 production. [Display omitted] • Comprehensive overview of Z-scheme photocatalysts for H 2 O 2 production. • Covers features, mechanisms, and applications of direct and indirect Z-schemes. • Discusses challenges, opportunities, and future research directions. • Valuable resource for researchers in photocatalytic H 2 O 2 production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite of the moderate working temperature and relatively high hydrogen capacity of NaAlH 4 , the slow H 2 absorption and desorption kinetics and poor reversibility pose a major bottleneck hindering its practical application. Herein, porous NiTiO 3 nanorods is constructed to tailor reversible hydrogen storage performance of NaAlH 4. It is theoretically and experimentally demonstrated that the building of NiTiO 3 nanorods effectively promotes the uniform distribution of catalytic Ni-based species and Ti-based species inside of NaAlH 4 matrix that are capable of synergistically weakening Al-H bonds of NaAlH 4. As a result, under the catalysis of porous NiTiO 3 nanorods, the onset temperature for H 2 desorption from NaAlH 4 is decreased down to 89 °C, 91 °C lower than that of pure NaAlH 4. In addition, NaAlH 4 under the catalysis of porous NiTiO 3 nanorods is capable of releasing 4.5 wt% H 2 within 60 min, 3.8 and 0.9 wt% higher than that of NaAlH 4 catalyzed by NiO and TiO 2 , respectively. More importantly, a reversible capacity of 4.6 wt% could be obtained for NaAlH 4 under the catalysis of porous NiTiO 3 nanorods after 5 cycles, corresponding to a capacity retention of 95%, while this value is significantly decreased to 42% for NaAlH 4 without the addition of NiTiO 3 nanorods. This work provides a new perspective for the development and design of high-performance catalysts for realizing reversible hydrogen storage of NaAlH 4 under moderate condition. ● NiTiO 3 nanorods promotes the uniform distribution of catalytic Ni-based species and Ti-based species inside of NaAlH 4. ● Under the catalysis of porous NiTiO 3 nanorods, the onset temperature for H 2 desorption from NaAlH 4 is decreased down to 89 °C. ● A reversible capacity of 4.6 wt% could be obtained for NaAlH 4 under the catalysis of porous NiTiO 3 nanorods after 5 cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tribological properties of polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) with different matching pairs (Al 2 O 3 , ZrO 2 , and GCr15 balls) in drilling fluid were studied. The friction coefficient, microstructure, wear rate, three-dimensional surface morphology, and transfer behavior of the friction film of different balls and PDC were analyzed experimentally. The results showed that there are significant differences in friction and wear behavior between PDC and different balls in the drilling fluid environment. In addition, the surface of PDC will form a friction-protective film in the presence of drilling fluid. Different friction pairs exhibit different degrees of damage to the protective film and form a transfer film during the friction process. When the protective film on PDC is destroyed, small particles in the drilling fluid can fill the groove area to repair and prevent further friction and wear. • The friction behavior of PDC is affected by the drilling fluid medium. • Different friction pairs have different extent of damage to the protective film. • The friction pair materials will affect the friction and wear mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dielectric capacitors have been extensively studied in electronic and power systems based on their high power density and ultra-fast discharge rates. In this study, the dielectric, energy storage and charge-discharge properties of Sr 0.7 Bi 0.2 TiO 3 -based lead-free relaxor ferroelectric ceramic were investigated. The dielectric breakdown strength was significantly improved by introducing the rare earth element Nd, which was attributed to the rise in resistivity and large band gap. The results show that Sr 0.7 Bi 0.15 Nd 0.05 TiO 3 obtain a high recoverable energy storage density of 2.34 J/cm3 with high efficiency of 92%. In addition, pulsed charge-discharge tests demonstrated that Sr 0.7 Bi 0.15 Nd 0.05 TiO 3 possesses a high power density of 73.5 MW/cm3, a short discharge period of 0.1 μs, and a pulsed discharge energy density of 2.0 J/cm3. Meanwhile, the energy storage performance of Sr 0.7 Bi 0.15 Nd 0.05 TiO 3 exhibits excellent stability of temperature, frequency and cycling. This work provides a systematic study and a new strategy for enhancing the performance of SBT ceramics. • Nd doping broadens the dielectric peak and enhances the relaxor properties. • The improved activation energy and band gap increase the breakdown strength. • Ceramics achieve excellent energy storage density and efficiency at 360 kV/cm. • Ceramics possess excellent charge-discharge performance and thermal stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work, the phase equilibria of the Cr-Nb-Ru system at 1100 ℃ were investigated via a combination of diffusion triple and equilibrated alloys. The samples were examined by means of X-ray diffraction and electron probe microanalysis. The isothermal section of the Cr-Nb-Ru ternary system at 1100 ℃ was constructed, which consists of 11 single-phase regions, 19 two-phase regions, and 9 three-phase regions. One new ternary compound τ was discovered. The homogeneity ranges for the phases in this system are established. Three miscibility gaps were observed, corresponding to Cr solid dissolved in HCP(Ru), Nb solid dissolved in HCP(Ru) and Ru solid dissolved in BCC(Cr)，respectively. The miscibility gap of Nb and Cr solid dissolved in HCP(Ru) go through each other. • The isothermal section of the Cr-Nb-Ru ternary system was constructed at 1100 ℃. • One new ternary compound was discovered. • Three miscibility gaps were observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anti-counterfeiting materials development has been raised for a long time to improve the level of security against counterfeiting. Increasing counterfeiting difficulties as well as reducing difficulties of materials preparation are two major concerns in the development of anti-counterfeiting materials. Herein, carbon dots (CDs) and triethyl 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylate (Et3BTC), both of which show two random lasing peaks located around 325 nm and 450 nm at 265 nm excitation are chosen as two lasing mediums to form hybrids. Moreover, lasing intensity ratio of the two lasing bands from the hybrids can be tuned by changing the working temperature, excitation area, and even bending angle of substrate. As a result, a strategy of dual random lasing medium modulation based high security flexible multi-level anti-counterfeiting technique is developed. Thus, it is suitable for anti-counterfeiting of high-value items due to its high security and excellent waterproofness. This work will provide a perspective to boost the development of high security anti-counterfeiting techniques. [Display omitted] • Lasing at UV-B (325 nm) and visible (450 nm) regimes are realized from carbon dots/ Et3BTC hybrids. • Intensity responses of the two random lasing mediums under different lasing conditions are found to be distinct. • Modulation of the two lasing bands are utilized to realize flexible multi-level anti-counterfeiting. • This development is suitable for anti-counterfeiting on high-value items due to its high security and waterproofness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, preparation of Cu-Ni/Nano-Al 2 O 3 composite coating with (111)-preferred orientation on the surface of the H64 brass via electrodeposition technique. Variation of the deposition current density was found to play a key role in the control of the microstructure and strongly influence the corrosion resistance of the composite coating. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy results indicated that the increase of nano-alumina content in composite coating is caused by the change of polarization mode. Under different current densities, the Ni (111) plane is only preferred orientation and the relative texture coefficient reaches the highest value of 54.36% at 5 A•dm−2. The crystallite size of these coatings is about 10–55 nm dependent on current density, and high current density could refine the size. The microstructure of the coating changed from cauliflower to spherical with increasing deposition current density. Moreover, the Cu-Ni/Nano-Al 2 O 3 composite coating obtained at 5 A•dm−2 increased the polarization resistance and coating resistance of the H64 brass by about 50% and 83%, respectively. The corrosion potential (E corr) of Cu-Ni/Nano-Al 2 O 3 composite coating is shifted towards the nobler direction from − 1.191 V to − 0.063 V (Ag/AgCl) with the current density increases. The corrosion mechanism of Cu-Ni/Nano-Al 2 O 3 composite coating has gone through two stages corresponding to two-time and three-time constant of EEC models, respectively. The Cu-Ni/Nano-Al 2 O 3 has large potential merits in field of corrosion. [Display omitted] ● Nodules of coatings become spherical with increase of deposition current density. ● Increasing the deposition potential changes polarization mode of electrodeposition. ● Deposition current density does not change the preferred orientation of Ni (1 1 1). ● The anti-corrosion mechanism of composite coating changes from 5 A•dm−2. ● Nano-alumina distorts the diffusion path of Cl- in the composite coatings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iron hexacyanoferrate (FeHCF) is regarded as a promising cathode material of sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) due to the merits of easy preparation, low cost and three-dimensional open framework. However, the practical application of FeHCF is highly restricted by the intrinsic [Fe(CN) 6 ]4- vacancy and coordinated water as well as nanoscale particles. Herein, sodium citrate is introduced to mediate the drawbacks of FeHCF, resulting in microscale particles with less water content. Accordingly, the modified sample, FeHCF-3, achieved the performance of 92 mA h g−1 at 100 mA g−1 and 80 % capacity retention after 300 cycles. Furthermore, an optimal iron hexacyanoferrate (FeHCF-H-2) with high-salt-concentration preparation is designed and performs a good reversibility of 96 mA h g−1 after 700 cycles at 100 mA g−1. Such strategy may drive the application of high-tap, low-defect and stable cathode for SIBs. • The sodium citrate in FeSO 4 solution helps to adjust the growth of FeHCF. • High-salt-concentration solution preparation toward high stability and ∼μm size • High capacity of 116 mA h g−1 and good capacity retention of 80 % after 700 cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molybdenum carbide is a promising material as electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Herein, a facile strategy was proposed to prepare Mo-precursor by coordination of Mo with polysaccharide from natural biomass (jujube) at room temperature, which also acted as carbon and chelating agent. After the Mo-polysaccharide complex is carbonized, Mo 2 C nanoparticles (NPs) are highly dispersed on N-doped carbon matrix. In this process, nitrogen self-doping, lamellar carbon formation and molybdenum carbonization were achieved simultaneously, and particle aggregation is avoided. The results show that 2D carbon nanosheets-embedded Mo 2 C NPs is an excellent electrocatalyst for HER in alkaline medium. An overpotential of 124 mV at j = 10 mA cm−2 can be reached when the optimum Mo 2 C/NC-1.0 material as electrode material, and it is better than other Mo 2 C materials reported recently. The exceptional HER performance is originated from the 2D lamellar structure and rich-N atom from jujube source, which can accelerate electron transfer and change the electron density of Mo 2 C. This study opens a new avenue to design biomass-derived C/Mo 2 C used as catalyst in hydrogen-evolving reactions. [Display omitted] • Polysaccharide from jujube acts as chelating agent and provides anchor point of Mo. • Nitrogen self-doping and formation of carbon nanosheets/Mo 2 C was achieved in-situ. • The as-obtained Mo 2 C/NC exhibited exceptional HER electrocatalytic performance. • Jujube-derived C/Mo 2 C is a promising non-noble metal catalyst for energy applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construction of a Z-scheme heterojunction favors the improvement of the photocatalytic activity of photocatalysts. Herein, the LaVO 4 /Bi 3 O 4 Cl Z-scheme heterojunction was designed reasonably by the method of in situ growth. The obtained heterojunction was further used as a photocatalyst for the degradation of ofloxacin (OFX), an antibiotic, in wastewater. The degradation efficiency of OFX by the optimal sample (LBC-2) was 94.3 % and the values of k were about 114.7 and 2.4 times those of LaVO 4 and Bi 3 O 4 Cl, respectively. In addition, LBC-2 maintained high activity after 4 cycles. The significantly reduced recombination rate of carriers in LBC-2 was reflected by the results of the photoluminescence (PL), photocurrent (PC), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) studies. The degradation pathways of OFX were proposed accounting to the intermediates detected by liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy (LC-MS). Toxicity estimations showed that the toxicity of some intermediates decreased. This work provides new insight into the development of Z-scheme photocatalysts for the removal of antibiotics as pollutants. • Novel Z-scheme LaVO 4 /Bi 3 O 4 Cl composite photocatalysts were synthesized. • LaVO 4 /Bi 3 O 4 Cl composites exhibited excellent activity for ofloxacin degradation. • The apparent rate constant for ofloxacin degradation was about 114.7 and 2.4 times as that of LaVO 4 and Bi 3 O 4 Cl. • Z-scheme heterojunction boosted the fast transfer of charge carriers. • The degradation pathway of ofloxacin was deduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel Z-scheme BiOCl/Bi 24 O 31 Br 10 heterojunction with hierarchical structure was firstly fabricated, in which BiOCl nanosheets grew in-situ and vertically on the surface of Bi 24 O 31 Br 10 nanosheets. The obtained BiOCl/Bi 24 O 31 Br 10 composites exhibited favorable photocatalytic activity for RhB degradation under simulated sunlight irradiation. Especially, BB-0.3 (mass fraction of Bi 24 O 31 Br 10 , 30%) composite performed the best photocatalytic activity, and its degradation rate constant (k) for RhB was nearly 4.1 and 7.7 times higher than that of pure BiOCl and Bi 24 O 31 Br 10 , respectively. Larger specific surface area, wider photo-response range and efficient separation of photogenerated carriers were the main reasons for improving photocatalytic activity, which could be proved by Brunner-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis, UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectra (UV–vis DRS), photoluminescence spectra (PL), transient photocurrent response and electrochemical impedance (EIS). Meanwhile, the effects of the catalyst dosage, pollutant concentration, initial solution pH and inorganic ions were discussed. Free radical scavenging experiments and electron spin resonance (ESR) measurement indicated that •O 2 - and h+ made significant contributions to the photocatalytic degradation of RhB. And recycling tests showed that the BB-0.3 heterojunction had a good stability. The possible photocatalytic mechanism of the Z-scheme heterojunction between BiOCl and Bi 24 O 31 Br 10 was proposed. [Display omitted] • BiOCl/Bi 24 O 31 Br 10 heterojunction is firstly fabricated by solvothermal method. • BiOCl nanosheets grow in-suit and vertically on the surface of Bi 24 O 31 Br 10. • BiOCl nanosheets and Bi 24 O 31 Br 10 nanosheets form a 3D hierarchical structure. • BiOCl/Bi 24 O 31 Br 10 heterojunction exhibits good photocatalytic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An efficient Ho:SrF 2 single-crystal fiber (SCF), lightly Ho-doped to a concentration of 0.5 at%, was successfully grown using the temperature gradient technique, and its laser characteristics were studied. Several optical parameters of the Ho:SrF 2 SCF were determined using the Judd-Ofelt (J-O) theory, including the J-O intensity parameters, radiative lifetimes, and fluorescence branching ratios. In addition, the continuous-wave (CW), tunable, and passive Q-switched (PQS) laser operations of Ho:SrF 2 SCF pumped by a thulium-doped fiber laser were demonstrated in this study. While the CW laser was operating, average output power greater than 1 W and a continuous tuning range of 62 nm were obtained. For the PQS operation, a minimum pulse duration of 779 ns with a repetition rate of 36.27 kHz was achieved using silver nanorods as saturable absorbers. These results indicate that the Ho:SrF 2 SCF has potential application in tunable or ultrafast laser at 2.1 µm. • The Ho-doped SrF 2 single-crystal fiber (Ho:SrF 2 SCF) was first grown using the temperature gradient technique. • A systematic study of the Ho:SrF 2 SCF spectral characteristics has been carried out. • We presented the first experimental demonstration of CW, tunable, and PQS operations of in-band pumped Ho:SrF 2 SCF laser. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical bath–deposited cadmium sulfide (CBD-CdS) is the most widely used buffer layer material for antimony selenosulfide (Sb 2 (S,Se) 3) photovoltaic devices, but its medium band gap, large band gap offset with transparent conducting oxides, and surface defects must be addressed to improve its applicability. Hexagonal CdS films (60 nm thick) prepared using the thermal evaporation method were used as the buffer layers of Sb 2 (S,Se) 3 photovoltaic devices. Compared with CBD-CdS (60 nm thick), thermal evaporation–deposited CdS (TED-CdS) films have a larger band gap and fewer surface defects. The Sb 2 (S,Se) 3 film deposited on TED-CdS is more compact, and its 1D ribbons are stacked more vertically to the substrate. The band gap offset between CdS and fluorine-doped tin oxide glass decreases from 0.76 eV (CBD-CdS) to 0.60 eV (TED-CdS). Therefore, suppressed electron trap density and charge recombination, as well as improved light harvesting, are achieved. By replacing CBD-CdS with TED-CdS, the best device efficiency increases from 6.14 % to 7.16 %, with the open circuit voltage, short-circuit current density, and fill factor increasing from 0.660 V, 15.96 mA/cm2, and 58.37 % to 0.664 V, 17.39 mA/cm2, and 62.85 %, respectively. The device stability and reproducibility are also improved. [Display omitted] • Hexagonal CdS buffer layer was prepared by thermal evaporation (TED-CdS). • TED-CdS has larger band gap than chemical bath deposited CdS (CBD-CdS). • TED-CdS is conducive to the growth of [221]-oriented Sb 2 (S,Se) 3 grains. • TED-CdS decreases the band gap offset between CdS and FTO. • Improved light harvesting and suppressed charge recombination are achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bifunctional catalysts which can improve both oxygen evolution (OER) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity are highly desirable for fuel cells, metal-air batteries and water splitting. Here, we report a perovskite structure Sr 0.9 M 0.1 RuO 3-δ (SMRO, M=K, Na, Ag) synthesized via sol-gel method performing excellent bifunctional catalytic activity. With the metal ion (M+) doping in A-site, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis reveals that oxygen vacancy and lattice oxygen are introduced into the structure, which is confirmed as the primary reason for the improvement of catalytic activity. The highest OER and ORR activity among these four samples is observed in Sr 0.9 Ag 0.1 RuO 3 (SARO). This work may shed light on the designing of high-efficiency bifunctional OER/ORR electrocatalysts. • With the metal ion (M+) doping in A-site, XPS analysis reveals that oxygen vacancy and lattice oxygen are introduced into the perovskite structure, leading to the OER/ORR activity improved efficiently. • Sr 0.9 Ag 0.1 RuO 3 (SARO) performs the highest bifunctional OER and ORR activity among the four samples investigated in this paper. • The high catalytic activity in SARO can retain at least 8 hours for OER and 2000 potential cycles for ORR in long-term stability tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Layered lithium-rich manganese-based materials with high voltage stability and high energy density are used to modify the surface of spent LiCoO 2 materials (LCO) for designing high-performance Li+-storage structures with high specific capacity and high voltage cycling stability. In this typical regeneration process, Mn2+, Co2+, Ni2+, and Li+ acetates were introduced as raw materials for coating Li 1.20 Mn 0.54 Co 0.13 Ni 0.13 O 2 (LLO) on the surface of spent LCO particles uniformly via a sol-gel method. The structural, morphological, and elemental-chemical-state characterisation results indicate that the recycled LLO@LCO materials exhibit a typical core-shell structure, with a layer-structured-Li 1.20 Mn 0.54 Co 0.13 Ni 0.13 O 2 layer ~ 10 nm thick as the high-voltage-stable-shell and a well-ordered layer-LiCoO 2 as the high-capacity-core. As expected, the regenerated LLO@LCO composites show an upgraded Li+-storage performance compared to bare LCO. The optimised LLO@LCO materials show an initial capacity of 197.1 mAh g−1 at 0.1 C, and ~ 95.8% retention after 100 cycles under 3.0–4.5 V at a rate of 1 C. All results indicate that this highly efficient, LLO assisted modification regenerate strategy can be easily extended to regenerate other spent cathodes to synthesise advanced energy storage materials with high voltage cycle stability and high specific capacity. • LLO was introduced for regenerating spent LCO. • LLO@LCO compounds were synthesized via sol-gel method. • Recycled LLO@LCO shows upgraded high-voltage stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AB y compounds with superlattice structures are considered as new generation materials for hydrogen storage and very promising as negative electrode for Ni- M H batteries. These compounds can be considered as the stacking of two fundamental layers along the c crystallographic axis: [ A 2 B 4 ] and [ AB 5 ]. Binary R Ni x (R = rare earths) compounds adopting stacking structures absorb large quantity of hydrogen but show poor reversibility. The superlattice structures are built by constraining the ab planes of the [ A 2 B 4 ] subunit to that of the more stable [ AB 5 ] one. The volume mismatch between the two subunits is the main cause of the multi-plateau behavior of the binary R Ni x (R = rare earths) compounds. The multi-element compounds show often improved hydrogen storage properties. In this review we highlight the structural evolution with the element substitution and the correlation between the subunit volume matches and the hydrogenation properties. • AB y compounds are promising as negative electrode for Ni- MH batteries and hydrogen storage. • The superlattice structures are built by constraining the ab planes of the [ A 2 B 4 ] to that of the more stable [ AB 5 ] one. • The volume match between the two subunits is an important parameter controlling the hydrogen storage properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microcomposite particles of aluminum (Al) dotted by ammonium dinitramide (ADN) (Al@ADN) are successfully prepared by an in-situ crystallization growth method. The morphologies, structures and thermal behavior of Al@ADN are characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and simultaneous thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry. The compositions and morphologies of Al@ADN after heating are characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and SEM. A high-speed camera is used to record the combustion performances of Al@ADN in a transparent quartz tube. Furthermore, the morphologies and structures of the residues are analyzed by SEM and XRD. The results show that ADN is deposited on the surface of Al to form Al@ADN. The decomposition of ADN increases the total oxidation degree of the Al particles. Under heating, the acids decomposed by ADN corrode the surficial alumina layer and the internal aluminum react with HNO 3 to form Al(NO 3) 3 , which makes the combustion of Al easier. Under an oxygen atmosphere, the pure Al could not be ignited. In contrast, Al@ADN could be ignited and Al@ADN 5:1 has a shorter ignition and burning time compared with Al@ADN 10:1. After burning, the Al@ADN composites are completely converted to α- and γ-Al 2 O 3. For Al@ADN 10:1, the residues show a cube-like stacking, while a ribbon-like stacking is presented for Al@ADN 5:1. [Display omitted] • Core-shell energy storage materials of aluminum dotted by ammonium dinitramide. • Shorter ignition time and burning time with increasing ammonium dinitramide. • Thermal oxidation interaction mechanism of aluminum and ammonium dinitramide. • Aluminum shells are corroded by decomposition of ammonium dinitramide to form Al(NO 3) 3. • Morphologies and structures after aluminum combustion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Sputtering conditions largely affect the structure and properties of the NbC films. • The NbC phase in the NbC films is the key factor affecting the catalytic activity. • The highest hydrogen permeability of NbC/V membranes is ~1.9 times that of pure Pd. • NbC exhibits high potential as catalysts for H 2 dissociation in membrane applications. Niobium carbide (NbC) catalytic films were deposited on vanadium (V) foils by magnetron sputtering to prepare the NbC/V composite membranes for high temperature hydrogen separation. It is found that the sputtering power and substrate bias largely affect the structure and catalytic activity of the NbC films, and thus the hydrogen permeability of the NbC/V composite membranes. Optimized conditions for membrane preparation were obtained, which generated a pronounced high hydrogen permeability, particularly ~5.85 × 10−8 mol H 2 m−1 s−1 Pa−0.5 at 650 °C. This is 1.9 times that of pure palladium (Pd). The high hydrogen permeability of the NbC/V membranes can be attributed to the high catalytic activity of the NbC films towards hydrogen dissociation, as the cubic NbC phase in the films exhibits preferential growth along the catalytically dominated crystalline plane and a relatively high percentage. This work demonstrates that the NbC/V system shows high potential as a new non-precious metal membrane for hydrogen separation and purification at high temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Mn-Cu alloys are fabricated by laser powder bed fusion based on mixed element powders. • The optimal processing windows for the dense Mn-Cu alloys is discovered. • The as-fabricated Mn-Cu alloys present good tensile properties. Mn-Cu alloys with high Mn contents have good damping capacity but poor workability and mechanical properties. In this research, laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) was applied to fabricate the Mn-Cu alloys (Mn 63 Cu 37 , Mn 73 Cu 27 , and Mn 82 Cu 18) based on mixed element powders. The printability, microstructure and mechanical properties of the as-fabricated Mn-Cu alloys were investigated through a series of characterization methods. The results indicate that the Mn-Cu alloys with high relative densities (99.76–99.85%) can be fabricated using the optimal processing parameters. The as-fabricated Mn-Cu alloys show higher strengths (537.5–589.6 MPa) and yield strengths (404.0–440.1 MPa) than those of commercial Mn-Cu alloys fabricated by conventional methods. The tensile strength presents an overall downward trend with increasing Mn content. Thus, LPBF can be considered as a promising method to fabricate Mn-Cu alloys with high Mn contents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Series of porous spinel gallate nanospheres are prepared by solvothermal method. • The as-obtained porous spinel gallate nanospheres are composed of nanoparticles. • The porous CdGa 2 O 4 exhibits remarkable formaldehyde sensing performance. • The sensor based on CdGa 2 O 4 responds and recovers ultra-fast to formaldehyde. Spinel metal oxides, prepared at high temperature, have shown excellent gas sensing properties among metal oxide sensing materials. Herein, a series of porous spinel gallate nanospheres, including CdGa 2 O 4 , NiGa 2 O 4 , CoGa 2 O 4 , CuGa 2 O 4 , ZnGa 2 O 4 , and MgGa 2 O 4 were prepared by solvothermal method and followed low temperature calcination. XRD, SEM, XPS and N 2 adsorption-desorption have been carried out to determine their structure, morphology, chemical state and surface area, respectively. These nanospheres are all composed of tiny nanoparticles, giving meso-porous characters. Furthermore, the sensor based on CdGa 2 O 4 exhibits excellent formaldehyde sensing performance, including good selectivity, short response time, and excellent stability at the low working temperature of 120 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of recyclable photocatalysts with enhanced photo-induced charge separation and efficient visible light utilization is imperative for antibiotic pollutants removal in aqueous environment. Herein, a Z-scheme Fe 3 O 4 /BiOCl/BiOI heterojunction photocatalyst was constructed using a facile solvothermal method on the basis of BiOCl/BiOI composites. A series of characterization methods were employed to analyze the microstructure, morphology, optical property and chemical composition of as-prepared ternary Fe 3 O 4 /BiOCl/BiOI composite. Field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) analysis revealed that Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles were well loaded on the surface of BiOCl/BiOI microspheres. The main active species of Fe 3 O 4 /BiOCl/BiOI during photocatalysis were confirmed by radical trapping experiments, which indicated the formation of Z-scheme heterojunction. Compared to pure BiOCl and BiOI, Fe 3 O 4 /BiOCl/BiOI nanocomposite exhibited significantly improved photocatalytic performance toward tetracycline (TC) degradation (89%, 80 min). Furthermore, the photocatalytic activity of Fe 3 O 4 /BiOCl/BiOI remained at a high level after five cycles, which suggested that the ternary composite possessed good stability and reusability. Such superior photocatalytic activity of Fe 3 O 4 /BiOCl/BiOI was mainly attributed to the suitable band structure and construction of Z-scheme heterojunction, resulting in the enhanced light utilization and migration rate of charge carriers. In addition, Obviously, the ternary composite revealed a potential prospect in the practical application of photocatalytic degradation due to its good magnetic recovery performance and minimal environmental impact. [Display omitted] • The ternary composite (Fe 3 O 4 /BiOCl/BiOI) with magnetic property was synthesized by a facile solvothermal method. • The Z-scheme heterojunction for efficient charge separation was constructed. • Fe 3 O 4 /BiOCl/BiOI possessed superior photocatalytic performance with excellent stability and recyclability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By chemical substitutions with Ba2+ and La3+ at A-site in PbHfO 3 -based ceramics, an ultrahigh energy storage efficiency of 91% and high energy density of 7.3 J cm−3 are achieved simultaneously at 290 kV cm−1 in Pb 0.925 Ba 0.045 La 0.03 (Hf 0.6 Sn 0.4) 0.9925 O 3 ceramics. [Display omitted] Near-zero remanent polarization, high breakdown electric field, high saturation polarization and low electrical hysteresis are necessary conditions for antiferroelectric ceramics to obtain excellent energy storage performance. Here, Pb 0.925 Ba x La 0.075−x (Hf 0.6 Sn 0.4) 0.98125+x/4 O 3 lead-based antiferroelectric ceramics were prepared by a rolling process. The composition modulations of Ba and La are beneficial to adjust the phase switching field, improve the saturation polarization and reduce the electrical hysteresis, leading to an enhanced energy storage performance. Simultaneously, the Pb 0.925 Ba 0.045 La 0.03 (Hf 0.6 Sn 0.4) 0.9925 O 3 ceramic exhibited a high energy storage density of 7.3 J cm−3 and an energy storage efficiency of 91%, revealing that this composition is an outstanding candidate in pulsed energy storage application and lays a foundation for further study on the energy storage performances of PbHfO 3 -based antiferroelectric ceramics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• x wt %-BT/P(VDF-HFP) films were prepared by topochemical microcrystal conversion process and solution casting process. • The composite films exhibit a high breakdown strength of 480 MV/m and the energy density of 19.5 J/cm³. • The excellent cycle life stability of discharge energy density has been achieved in 1.0 wt %-BT/P(VDF-HFP) composite films. Polymer-based dielectric films are considered as most promising materials for pulsed power capacitors due to their ultra-high power density and current density, fast discharging speed, excellent cycle lifetime and so on. However, the relatively low energy density and efficiency limit their applications in modern electronics and electrical power systems. Here we demonstrate a remarkable improvement in the breakdown strength and energy density of [111]c-BaTiO 3 (BT) textured ceramic platelets synthesized in a poly(vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene) (P(VDF-HFP)) matrix. The breakdown strength of 1.0 wt% BT/P(VDF-HFP) composite films is 130 MV/m higher than that of pristine poly(vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene) films. The highest energy density of 19.5 J/cm³ and discharged energy density of 10.6 J/cm³ are achieved under an electric field of 480 MV/m in the 1.0 wt % BT/P(VDF-HFP) composite films. Fatigue experimental results show that the energy density and efficiency enhanced with the increase of cycles. This study provides a new paradigm to develop the polymer composites with high breakdown strength and energy density, which has great potential for flexible electrical energy storage applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Pt decorated GIO nanofibers have been prepared by electrospinning method. • All Pt-GIO sensors show higher sensitivity to acetone than that of GIO sensor. • The detection limit of the 1.2 at% Pt-GIO sensor is as low as 300 ppb. • The 1.2 at% Pt-GIO sensor can detect acetone in exhaust breath. The concentration of acetone in exhaled breath is an efficient indicator for the diagnosis of diabetes. However, it is difficult to detect acetone in exhaled breath due to the extremely low acetone concentration, rather complex composition and very high humidity. Herein, we report Pt-decorated foam-like Ga-In bimetal oxide nanofibers (Pt-GIO) for trace concentration acetone detection. We found that the Pt-GIO based sensor exhibits enhanced sensing response towards acetone compared with that of Ga-In bimetal oxide (GIO), due to the formation of Schottky contact between Pt and n-type GIO, leading to the increased chemisorbed oxygen. As a result, the Pt-GIO based sensors gives a high response (3.2), short response time (13 s) to 1.8 ppm acetone and very low detection limit (300 ppb). The Pt-GIO sensor also gives good stability and is nearly insensitive to moisture in the range of 40% RH to 95%. These advantages including high response, low detection limit, short response time and high moisture resistance endow Pt-GIO a promising sensing material for acetone detection in exhaled breath. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green synthesis of antibacterial metal oxide nanoparticles is attractive for develop novel antibacterial agents. In this study, probiotic strain Lactobacillus plantarum ZDY2013 fermentation liquid (LFL) was utilized for the synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (called as LFL-ZnO) via an ultrasound-microwave-facilitated procedure. SEM and TEM show the synthesized LFL-ZnO with a spherical morphology that are surrounded by LFL. Zeta potential and hydrodynamic sizes were − 25.533 ± 0.205 mV and 537.5 nm by dynamic light scattering (DLS) analyzer, respectively. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results revealed the hexagonal wurtzite structure of LFL-ZnO with a crystallite size of 41 nm. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrum and thermal gravimetric (TG) curve showed the structure differences between H-ZnO (synthesized by ddH 2 O instead of LFL) and LFL-ZnO. In addition, LFL-ZnO significantly inhibited the growth of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) with MIC = 100 μg/mL. The possible antibacterial mechanisms may be attributed to LFL-ZnO release a high concentration of Zn2+ inducing the destruction of bacterial cell integrity resulting in the leakage of protein and reducing sugars. Meanwhile, CLSM results demonstrate the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by LFL-ZnO is another important antibacterial mechanism. The synthesized LFL-ZnO has broad potential to be developed in pharmaceutics as an effective antimicrobial nanomaterial. [Display omitted] • Probiotic strain Lactobacillus plantarum ZDY2013 fermentation liquid (LFL) were utilized for the synthesis of LFL-ZnO. • The LFL-ZnO performs an excellent antibacterial activity against MRSA, and the MIC is 100 μg/mL. • The possible antibacterial mechanisms had been investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A non-carbonaceous titanium-based materials of Na 2 Ti 3 O 7 have been considered as an attractive anode material for sodium ion battery (SIBs), due to its low charge potential and high energy density. However, the selection of preferred sodium salts in liquid electrolyte is still a challenge to improve battery performance. Herein, the compatibility of Na 2 Ti 3 O 7 @C anode material with sodium perchlorate (NaClO 4)-based and sodium trifluoromethyl sulfonate (NaCF 3 SO 3)-based electrolytes are studied, respectively. The results show that solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) film formed by NaCF 3 SO 3 -based electrolyte is thin, compact and uniform, which can effectively reduce the transmission energy barrier of Na+. Different from that, the SEI film derived in NaClO 4 -based electrolyte contains more Na 2 CO 3 and NaF, caused by the continuous decomposition of NaClO 4 salt in carbonate solvent. It makes the SEI film thicker and the interface impedance larger, which results in the decline of battery cycle performance. In addition, more sulfur-containing compounds with good sodium conductivity and stability are generated due to the decomposed of NaCF 3 SO 3 salt in carbonate solvent, which improves interfacial transport performance of materials, and inhibits the increase of the SEI film thickness and thus improves the cycling and rate performance of batteries. This study provides a reference method for designing advanced SIBs. [Display omitted] • NaCF 3 SO 3 improves the initial coulomb efficiency of the material. • NaClO 4 promotes the formation of a thick but soft SEI film containing more Na 2 CO 3. • A thin but hard SEI film derived NaCF 3 SO 3 contains more stable inorganic species. • NaCF 3 SO 3 -based electrolyte is more conducive to performance promotion of Na 2 Ti 3 O 7 @C. • Direct visualization information of the formation of SEI film is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antimony selenosulfide (Sb 2 (S,Se) 3), an emerging photovoltaic material, exhibits excellent photovoltaic performance, low toxicity, and high stability with a broad development prospects. High-efficiency Sb 2 (S,Se) 3 solar cells use Spiro-OMeTAD as a hole-transport layer for a long time, which poses serious cost, stability and safety issues. This study applies molybdenum trioxide layer prepared by electron-beam evaporation as an alternative to Spiro-OMeTAD, improving cell stability and reducing the manufacturing cost. Device performance characterization and analysis reveals the significant role of MoO 3 in enhancing charge collection, increasing built-in voltage, and inhibiting carrier recombination. Finally, Sb 2 (S,Se) 3 solar cells with a photoelectric conversion efficiency value of 7.20% were obtained based on the FTO/CdS/Sb 2 (S,Se) 3 /MoO 3 /Au structure. This work could lay the foundation for the further development of stable and efficient fully inorganic Sb 2 (S,Se) 3 solar cells. [Display omitted] • Stable electron beam evaporation-prepared MoO 3 hole-transport layer for Sb 2 (S,Se) 3 solar cells for the first time. • MoO 3 layer can effectively enhance the hole mobility and inhibit the carrier recombination of the device. • Sb 2 (S,Se) 3 with MoO 3 HTL achieved a 7.2 % efficiency based on a high current density of 16.53 mA cm-2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of active nonprecious-metal and heteroatom-doped materials is critical for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Herein, asphaltene-derived carbon-coated Fe- and N-doped hierarchical hollow porous carbon microtubes were prepared through feasible freeze-drying and carbonization/activation strategies. Cotton with a fibrous morphology acted as a soft template and carbon precursor, while asphaltene with easy graphitization properties was utilized to stabilize the structure of microtubes and accelerate the charge conductivity. Meanwhile, Fe- and N-doping changed the electronic structure of carbon and increased the number of active sites. In particular, the optimum sample displayed excellent OER activity with a lower overpotential of 261.4 mV at 10 mA/cm2 and Tafel slope of 94.60 mV/dec under alkaline conditions. Moreover, the catalyst demonstrated excellent long-term durability with a 10% attenuation rate after continuous operation for 50 h by the chronoamperometry method at a constant potential of 1.5 V. This work provides a strategy for the effective resource utilization of biomass and asphaltene to prepare highly efficient OER electrocatalysts. The iron and nitrogen anchored hierarchical hollow porous carbon microtubes with high degree of graphitization were synthesized using cotton and asphaltene as precursors and exhibited a low overpotential, small Tafel slope and remarkable long-term durability as electrocatalyst towards oxygen evolution reaction. [Display omitted] • Iron and nitrogen anchored hierarchical hollow porous carbon microtubes werederived from cotton and asphaltene. • Cotton provided the resultant carbon microtubes skeleton and a mass transport path for OER. • Graphitc carbon from asphaltene accelerate the charge conductivity. • Synergistic effect of hierarchical hollow porous tubular and doping of Fe and N atoms resulted in excellent OER activity. • Fe3N site played an important role for high OER activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, Fe 2 O 3 with oxygen vacancies (OVs) introduced by Ti doping is partially wrapped by reduced graphene oxide (rGO), and then grown directly on carbon cloth (CC) to obtain a self-supported electrode with hierarchical structures (Ti-Fe 2 O 3 @rGO/CC). Compared with Fe 2 O 3 nanosheets, Ti-doped Fe 2 O 3 nanosheets show better lithium storage performance because the existence of OVs can not only promote faster charge transfer kinetics but also help to maintain the integrity of electrode structure and improve the electrochemical activity. Especially, the rGO sheets are partially wrapped on Ti-Fe 2 O 3 , inhibiting the agglomeration of components and shortening the diffusion distance of Li+, to obtain better cycle stability. Moreover, it can also provide a buffer to alleviate the volume expansion, avoid the excessive growth of SEI film, and ensure that OVs can maximize their advantages under deep discharge conditions. The Ti-Fe 2 O 3 @rGO/CC electrode delivers a high capacity of 1193 mAh g−1 (3.245 mAh cm−2) at 200 mA g−1, showing great potential as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries. [Display omitted] • Fe 2 O 3 with oxygen vacancies was partially wrapped by rGO and loaded on carbon cloth as self-supported electrode. • The OVs promote fast charge transfer, maintain the electrode integrity and improve the electrochemical activity. • The rGO inhibits excessive growth of SEI film and ensures the OVs to maximize their advantage under deep discharge. • The electrode delivers high Coulomb efficiency and high reversible capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quasi two-dimensional perovskite solar cells (Q-2D PSCs) has attracted the attention of many researchers in recent years due to improved stability compared to their three-dimensional (3D) counterparts. However, the insulation of organic cation could hinder charge transfer between the octahedral sheets, thereby decreasing photoelectric performance of Q-2D PSCs. Here, the study of the synergistic effect of MACl and GuSCN on crystal orientation and quality of films based on the 4F‐PEA 2 MA 4 Pb 5 I 16 perovskite are reported. The Q-2D perovskite film exhibits more vertical orientation growth and lower trap-state density with the effect of dual additive. As a result, the device obtained a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 15.05% for planar p-i-n solar cell using the Q-2D perovskite film with dual additive, which retained an average of 85% of their initial PCEs after 300 h in an ambient environment with humidity of 50 ± 10%. This result indicates that the use of dual additive MACl and GuSCN is an effective way to adjust the crystal orientation and quality of perovskite films, which are key factors to influence the performance of Q-2D PSCs. • The Q-2D perovskite film 4F‐PEA 2 MA 4 Pb 5 I 16 with dual additives (MACl and GaSCN) was prepared for the first time. • With the synergistic effect, the high-quality Q-2D perovskite film with more vertical orientation was obtained. • There was a larger concentration window of GaSCN additive in the presence of MACl due to their synergistic effect. • Compared with the Q-2D PSCs without additive, the PCE of Q-2D PSCs based on dual additives increased by 1.76 times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rare earth–Mg–Ni-based alloys with superlattice structures are novel anode materials for nickel metal hydride batteries, wherein A 5 B 19 -type alloys have been regarded as the replacement of the current commercialized A 2 B 7 -type alloys due to the superior discharge ability at high rates and cycling stability. However, it is still a challenge to further improve the hydrogen storage properties of the A 5 B 19 -type alloys in a low-cost approach. Herein, we select low-cost Mn and Fe elements to substitute Ni to further reduce the cost of an A 5 B 19 -type La 0.72 Y 0.13 Mg 0.15 Ni 3.70 Al 0.15 alloy and focus on their effects on the alloy's structure and hydrogen storage properties. Results show that the La 0.72 Y 0.13 Mg 0.15 Ni 3.65 Al 0.15 Fe 0.05 alloy features increased intrinsic gas-solid hydrogen storage ability of 1.44 wt% and hydrogen absorption enthalpy change of −22.9 kJ mol–1, which have been altered by 0.21 wt% and 7.3 kJ mol–1 in contrast to the La 0.72 Y 0.13 Mg 0.15 Ni 3.70 Al 0.15 alloy, respectively. Furthermore, the Fe substitution benefits capacity retention during electrochemical cycling compared to Mn, which maintains 87.5% and 62.4% after cycling 100 and 500 times. The Mn substitution results in superior rate capability compared to the alloy containing Fe. The work provides guidance for designing hydrogen storage alloys with superlattice structures to improve the electrochemical performance. • Pr 5 Co 19 -type alloys with low cost Mn and Fe substituted Ni are obtained. • Effect of Mn and Fe substituted Ni on hydrogen storage properties is clarified. • Fe substituted Ni increases hydrogen storage capacity from 1.23 wt% to 1.44 wt%. • Fe substitution rises the capacity retention from 52.6% to 62.4% at the 500th cycle. • Mn substitution optimizes the discharge ability at high rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introducing defects into Pd-based metallene has been shown to significantly enhance its electrocatalytic performance. In this study, we embedded a new type of atomic-scale cavities into the basal plane of PdMo bimetallene (c-PdMo) through precise etching. These cavities introduced tensile strain and increased the generalized coordination number (CN ̅), resulting in superior performance in formate oxidation reaction (FOR) and methanol oxidation reaction (MOR), with mass activities of 5.01 mA μ g NM − 1 and 5.38 mA μ g NM − 1 , respectively. Notably, a two-electrode system comprising commercial Pt/C and c-PdMo coated on carbon paper achieved cell voltages of only 0.517 V and 0.362 V at 10 mA cm−2 for FOR and MOR, respectively. Additionally, density functional theory calculations revealed that the deliberate lattice tensile strain and enhanced coordination numbers reduced the D-band center of defective PdMo, which improved OH adsorption and reduced CO adsorption, thus optimizing FOR and MOR catalysis on the surface of c-PdMo bimetallene. [Display omitted] • PdMo bimetallene with atomic-scale cavities (c-PdMo) was prepared via etching. • Atomic-scale cavities can regulate coordination number and strain of bimetallene. • Atomic-scale cavities can modulate the surface adsorption energies of CO and OH. • c-PdMo exhibited highly-efficient mass activity for FOR and MOR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The forming of Li-Bi alloy can build a lithiophilic protective layer on the lithium anode, however, it is found that the lithium dendrites trend to grow on the surface of bismuth-rich solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) and there is an exfoliation of SEI from substrate caused by de-alloying process at a large current density. The failure cause of the bismuth-rich SEI is considered as the inadequate Li-ionic conductivity of the passivation layer, which cannot facilitate the lithium deposition on the substrate. Then the components with high Li-ionic conductivities such as Li 3 N, LiF and Li 2 S are introduced into the SEI to adjust the characteristic of the bismuth-rich layer by the addition of LiNO 3 , Bi 2 S 3 and FEC. All of them enhance the SEI's performances effectively and LiNO 3 presents the best. With the addition of LiNO 3 , the SEI thickness is decreased and Li-ionic conductivity is enhanced while Li 3 N became one of the major components of the layer. Utilizing the improved bismuth-rich protective layer the Li/Li symmetric cell presents an overpotential at ∼10 mV in a long cycle over ∼1700 h at 4 mA cm−2, and the LiFePO 4 /Li cell with the cathode loading of ∼10 mg cm−2 exhibits a capacity retention rate 72.1% in 400 cycles. This work provides a new SEI design strategy for lithium metal anode operating at high current density and an inspiration for improving other functional interfacial layers in lithium batteries. • Lithium bismuth alloy and dendrites trend to dealloy and grow on the SEI at high current density. • Additives enhancing Li-ionic conductivities are introduced to adjust the bismuth-rich layer's components. • Lithium nitrate addition make Li 3 N a major component of the layer and significantly enhances SEI electrochemical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Y 3 LiGeS 7 and Y 3 Cd 0.5 GeS 7 were successfully synthesized for the first time. • Optical performances of title crystals were systematically investigated. • All of them exhibit large SHG responses with requisite phase-matching behavior. • SHG-density and dipole moment calculation analyze the origin of NLO effect. [Display omitted] Combination of multiple structural groups was developed as one effective method for regulating material property and exploring new nonlinear optical (NLO) crystals. For that reason, four Ln 3 MGeS 7 (Y 3 LiGeS 7 , Y 3 Cd 0.5 GeS 7 , Gd 3 Cd 0.5 GeS 7 and Sm 3 Zn 0.5 GeS 7) crystals with various structural motifs were successfully synthesized and systematically investigated. Note that Y 3 LiGeS 7 and Y 3 Cd 0.5 GeS 7 were firstly synthesized so far. Performance test shows that Ln 3 MGeS 7 compounds exhibit the variable optical bandgaps (1.62–2.33 eV) and good second harmonic generation (SHG) responses (0.7–1.1 × commercial AgGaS 2) with requisite phase-matching behavior, which agree well with the theoretical results (Y 3 LiGeS 7 : Δ n = 0.058 and d 33 = 19.97 pm/V; Y 3 Cd 0.5 GeS 7 : Δ n = 0.055 and d 33 = 20.6 pm/V) and introduction of MIIB (Zn, Cd) atoms into crystal structure is conducive to enlarge the SHG effect. SHG density and dipole-moment calculations indicate that their SHG effects are originated from the major contribution on LnS n units with moderate effect of GeS 4 and MIIBS 6 (Zn, Cd) ligands. Therefore, selecting appropriate functional motifs (LnS n and MIIB) into crystal structure can promote the enhancement of NLO property and further realize the rational design of new promising infrared NLO materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bi 2 WO 6 /BN heterojunction photocatalyst with high catalytic activity has been successfully constructed by the solvothermal synthesis. It is worth noting that the formation of superoxide radicals (·O 2 -) and hydroxyl free radicals (·OH) benefit from the formation of heterojunctions, which effectively degrade pollutants. The photocatalytic activities of the optimal sample for tetracycline (TC) and ofloxacin (OFL) degradation efficiency reached almost 99.1% and 94.66% under visible-light irradiation, respectively. It is mainly because the addition of BN not only provided more active sites for the catalyst but also improved the separation efficiency of electron-hole pairs. It can be found that h+ and·O 2 - played a major role in the degradation process through the active species quenching experiment. Furthermore, the possible photocatalytic degradation pathways of TC were revealed by analyzing intermediates and a reasonable photocatalytic mechanism was proposed. Moreover, Bi 2 WO 6 /BN heterojunctions were endowed with excellent recycling and stability. Therefore, this research illustrated that two dimensions/two dimensions (2D/2D) Bi 2 WO 6 /BN heterojunction may hold a great prospect for the degradation of antibiotics in wastewater. [Display omitted] • 2D/2D Bi 2 WO 6 /BN heterojunction was synthesized by a simple and efficient way. • Heterojunctions showed excellent degradation efficiency of tetracycline. • 2D BN plays an important role as a supporter to promote charge separation. • Heterojunctions exhibited high stability during recycling experiments. • The photodegradation mechanism and pathways of TC were proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The oxidation behaviors of Zr-Sn-Nb and Zr-4 alloy were investigated under three ambients in the range of 650–1250 ℃. • The kinetics transitions for Zr-Sn-Nb and Zr-4 alloy under three test ambients were obtained and analyzed. • The break-away of oxide layer resulting from the martensite phase transformation of from t-ZrO 2 to m-ZrO 2 was clearly observed. • A multi-layer structure of oxide-nitride-oxide was found in air ambient caused by the re-oxidation of ZrN. • The effects of crack formation of oxide layer on oxidation resistance in various scenarios were studied. Zirconium-based alloys are widely used for fuel claddings particularly in pressurized water reactor. This study investigates the oxidation characteristics of Zr-4 and Zr-Sn-Nb alloy in steam, oxygen and air atmosphere respectively in temperature range of 650–1250 ℃ by a modified thermo-gravimetric analyzer. The oxidation rate exponents and oxidation kinetic correlations are calculated. The rate transitions of the kinetic oxidation for Zr-Sn-Nb and Zr-4 occur both at 1100 ℃ in steam, both 950 ℃ in air, and 1200 ℃ and 1150 ℃ in oxygen, respectively. The oxidation kinetics of both zirconium alloys in air is faster than in steam and oxygen. The maximum thickness of the oxide layers for both zirconium alloys is reached at 1150 ℃ in steam due to the phase transformation of the zirconium from monoclinic to tetragonal. The oxide layer formed in air is porous, heterogeneous with a multi-layer structure of oxide-nitride-oxide because of the formation and re-oxidation of zirconium nitride in oxygen starvation environment. The oxidation resistance of the zirconium alloy is related to the integrity and compactness of the oxide layer. Gas diffusion through the imperfection in the oxide scale may accelerate subsequent oxidation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ceramics of Y 2 GaSbO 7 (YGSO) were prepared by the solid-state reaction method. The ceramics were confirmed by XRD and TEM to exhibit the Fd-3 m (227) space group and a cubic pyrochlore structure within the temperature range of 1420–1500 °C. XPS verified that the valence states of Y, Ga, and Sb in the ceramics were + 3, + 3, and + 5, respectively. Additionally, the relationship between the FWHM of the notable peak at 775 cm−1 and the Q × f value was elucidated through Raman spectroscopic analysis. The analysis of the P-V-L theory revealed that the Sb-O bond is crucial in determining ε r , while the values of τ f and Q × f are affected by the Y-O bond. At 1460 °C, YGSO ceramics obtained the maximum relative density (97.5%) and the best microwave dielectric properties (ε r = 14.78, Q × f = 50,153 GHz, and τ f = –22.3 ppm/°C). • For the first time, a Y 2 GaSbO 7 microwave dielectric ceramic with a pyrochlore structure was discovered. • The Raman spectra of the ceramics were analyzed, and the valence state was studied using XPS. • TEM analysis confirmed the cubic structure of Y 2 GaSbO 7 ceramics. • SEM images revealed the microstructure of the ceramic grains, with the maximum relative density reaching 97.5%. • The relationship between α , f i , E b , U b , and the dielectric properties of Y 2 GaSbO 7 ceramics was examined using P-V-L theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The "shuttle effect" caused by polysulfide (LiPSs) dissolution and diffusion is a great challenge for sulfur (S) cathode in lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs). Herein, we have successfully constructed Co/CoV 2 O 6 tandem catalytic heterostructure anchored by N-doped carbon (Co/CoV 2 O 6 /NC) via an impregnation-assisted pyriaolysis method. The "adsorption-transfer-conversion" tandem catalytic mechanism for LiPSs is realized by utilizing the three behaviors of the strong chemical adsorption of CoV 2 O 6 to LiPSs, the strong conversion of Co to LiPSs, and the transport effect of CoV 2 O 6 ←Co interfacial built-in electric field to polysulfide ions. This can effectively suppress the "shuttle effect" by separating the adsorption and conversion process of LiPSs at different active sites. The tandem catalytic characteristic coupled with the interfacial Co-N and V-N bonds among Co, CoV 2 O 6 and NC, the high electrical conductivities of metal Co and NC conducting network, the hierarchical porous structure of polyhedral framework, collectively endow Co/CoV 2 O 6 /NC@S cathode with strong structural stability, weak electrochemical polarization, good electrochemical reversibility and fast electrochemical kinetics. As a result, Co/CoV 2 O 6 /NC@S cathode presents the significantly enhanced electrochemical performance with a high capacity of 558.4 mAh g−1 at 0.2 C after 100 cycles and a low-capacity decay rate of 0.123% per cycle during 300 cycles at 1 C. • Co/CoV 2 O 6 tandem catalytic heterostructure was successfully constructed. • The adsorption-transfer-conversion tandem catalytic mechanism was realized. • The shuttle effect was suppressed by separating adsorption and conversion. • A high capacity of 558.4 mAh g−1 at 0.2 C after 100 cycles was achieved. • A low-capacity decay rate of 0.123%/cycle during 300 cycles at 1 C was achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two-dimensional Ti 3 C 2 MXene with high bulk density can act as prospective electrode material to construct high volumetric energy density supercapacitors. Herein, a series of nitrogen-doped Ti 3 C 2 (N-Ti 3 C 2) films are successfully synthesized by adjusting the quantity of urea using a facile solvothermal method. The incorporation of nitrogen atoms can enlarge interlayer spacing and diminish -F terminal groups of Ti 3 C 2 to promote the diffusion and intercalation of electrolyte ions, and bring about defect sites to provide more electrochemical reactive sites, thus improving the specific capacitance of N-Ti 3 C 2. As a result, the 2.0 N-Ti 3 C 2 film shows the highest volumetric capacitance of 2898.5 F cm−3 at scan rate of 2 mV s−1 in 3 M H 2 SO 4 solution, which is mainly attributed to its high pyridinic N content and low -F terminal groups. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations indicate that the doped N atoms have a higher adsorption energy for protons to enhance the pseudocapacitance of 2.0 N-Ti 3 C 2 electrode, and the increased density of states demonstrate the improvement of its electric conductivity after N doping, which promotes the rate performance of 2.0 N-Ti 3 C 2 electrode. The assembled symmetric supercapacitor based on 2.0 N-Ti 3 C 2 film delivers a high volumetric energy density of 40.8 Wh L−1 and good cycling stability. Our work provides an effective and alternative strategy to improve capacitance of other MXenes for high-performance supercapacitors. [Display omitted] • Flexible nitrogen-doped Ti 3 C 2 films are synthesized by a solvothermal method. • Nitrogen atoms can enlarge interlayer spacing and generate defect sites in Ti 3 C 2. • High pyridinic N can act as electron-donors to absorb more electrolyte ions of H+. • Low -F terminal groups are beneficial to enhance pseudocapacitance of N-Ti 3 C 2. • Optimal 2.0 N-Ti 3 C 2 shows a volumetric capacitance of 2898.5 F cm−3 at 2 mV s−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of efficient catalysts to activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS) for pollutant degradation has captured tremendous attentions. Herein, a series of high-performance MIL-68(Fe)/MoS 2 (68M) composite catalysts with Fe-Mo bimetallic active sites were synthesized. Several characterization results confirmed the successful preparation of these composite materials. The PMS activation by MIL-68(Fe)/MoS 2 was systematically evaluated by degrading Rhodamine B (RhB). It was shown that the RhB removal rate could reach up to 99% within 15 min with catalyst and PMS dosage of 0.2 g/L and 0.4 mM, respectively. It could be attributed to the synergistic effects of Fe-site, Mo-site and S-vacancy. The RhB removal rate could achieve 91%− 99% under a broad PH range (2−10) in 68M-10/PMS system. The RhB removal efficiency still maintained higher-level (92.2%) after being used for five cycles, suggesting the outstanding reusability of 68M-10. The PMS activation mechanism was explored by XPS, EPR and the RhB degradation pathway was also proposed based on HR-MS results. Above results highlighted the bright application prospect of the synthesized catalysts in solving the increasing dye crisis. • MIL-68(Fe)/MoS 2 with Fe-Mo bimetallic active sites were synthesized. • The 68 M-10 exhibited excellent PMS activation ability for RhB degradation. • SO 4 •−, O 2 •−, •OH and 1O 2 played the significant role in the RhB degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the microstructure and hydrogen storage properties of Ti 1- x Ce x V 0.45 Mn 1.5 (x = 0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, and 0.20) alloys have been studied. It shows that the x = 0 alloy consists of a C14 Laves single phase. Moreover, alloys containing Ce can exhibit the CeO 2 phase, whose content rises as Ce content does. Furthermore, CeO 2 phase aggregation causes the alloy to fracture and the hydrogen diffusion channel to enlarge. According to the PCT curves (25 °C), the plateau pressure increases with increasing Ce content, and the hydrogen storage capacity decreases with increasing Ce content due to increase in Ce content which does not absorb hydrogen. And it is also found that increase in Ce substitution for Ti results in better dynamic properties for the alloys. And the dehydrogenation kinetics curves show that hydrogen desorption rate substantially increases with x getting larger. This is because CeO 2 phase acts as the "hydrogen pump" to increase the rate of hydrogen discharge in the alloy, The fastest hydrogenation kinetics are shown, the best hydrogen storage performance is achieved, and the ma x imum hydrogenation is reached in less than 100 s. • According to the PCT curves, the plateau pressure increases with increasing Ce content and the hydrogen storage capacity decreases with increasing Ce content. • In this study, CeO 2 phase acts as the "hydrogen pump" to increase the rate of hydrogen discharge in the alloy. • CeO 2 phase aggregation leads to cracks in the alloy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The photo-Fenton catalyst MIL-53(Fe)/BiOI were prepared by co-precipitation method. • MIL-53(Fe)/BiOI can effectively degrade tetracycline in mild pH. • The enhanced degradation ability depends on the synergy of photocatalysis and Fenton. • Singlet oxygen and hole were demonstrated to be the main active species. • The possible reaction pathway and mechanism diagram were proposed. [Display omitted] In this work, a series of MIL-53(Fe)/BiOI composites were synthesized by a combined hydrothermal and facile co-precipitation method. The heterojunctions were further used as photocatalysts for tetracycline (TC) degradation in photo-Fenton system. The TC degradation rate constant for MIL-53(Fe)/BiOI (0.0906 min−1) was 2.1 and 2.3 times higher than that for MIL-53(Fe) (0.0432 min−1) and BiOI (0.0389 min−1), respectively. The photoelectrical characterization results suggested that the enhanced photocatalytic activity of the MIL-53(Fe)/BiOI composite was attributed to the high electron and holes separation efficiency. The scavenging experiment results and electron spin resonance analysis demonstrated that h+ and singlet oxygen were the main reactive species in the degradation process. The possible photo-Fenton degradation mechanism was further elucidated based on the band structures of MIL-53(Fe) and BiOI with the generation process of reactive species. This work provided a new idea to construct metal-organic-framework-based composite photocatalysts for photo-Fenton system, and it is also promising for the applications in environmental restoration and protection field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrocaloric (EC) refrigeration materials have seen significant progress recently, with efficient Barium titanate-based (BT-based) lead-free materials particularly promising for microelectronics applications. However, their performance still lags behind their lead-based counterparts, highlighting the need for further improvements. This study employs a novel density adjustment strategy (DAS) to enhance the EC performance of (0.5- x)BCT-BTZ- x BST ceramics by carefully balancing the relationships among density, dielectric breakdown strength (BDS), and Δ T. Although Δ T intuitively decreases with increasing density, enhanced BDS can partially compensate for this decrease. An excellent EC performance with Δ T of 2.21 K and Δ T /Δ E of 0.471 K mm kV−1 is obtained in x = 0.5, together with a broader temperature span of 50.3 °C near room temperature, which surpasses or is comparable to other lead-free or lead-based ones. The results suggest that the DAS provides a promising approach for developing efficient EC, making speediness of application in EC devices. [Display omitted] • Developed innovative density adjustment strategy (DAS) for (0.5- x)BCT-BTZ- x BST ceramics to reconcile ρ and Δ T relationship. • Excellent EC properties (Δ T = 2.21 K, Δ T /Δ E = 0.471 K mm kV−1, T span =50.3 ℃) achieved by balancing ρ, BDS, and Δ T. • Identified physical mechanisms responsible for enhanced EC properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four groups of newly developed Ni-based superalloy samples with different Zr contents were manufactured by Direct energy deposition (DED). This study focuses on the influence of Zr element concentration on microstructure and cracking formation mechanism in DED-processed Ni-based superalloy ZGH451. Although Zr content is low, it strongly affects the formation of the precipitated phase and hot tearing tendency. Measurement of the crack area showed that the crack density value increases with the Zr concentration. According to thermodynamic simulation results and microstructures observed, Zr microsegregation in the interdendritic regions and considerable amounts of Zr is present in oxides or carbides. Zr contributes to forming large-size carbides mainly due to zirconia providing nucleation sites and the dissolution of Zr. Simultaneously, the solidification has been retarded due to the continuous accumulation of large Zr atoms, which increases the γ-γ′ eutectic fraction. Moreover, Zr addition could effectively decrease the solidus temperature of ZGH451 alloys, leading to the critical liquid film at the end of solidification. Based on these results, staying below 0.05 wt% of Zr content to reduce the risk of hot tearing in additive manufacturing superalloy was proposed. • A newly designed ZGH451 superalloy with different Zr contents is successfully produced by direct energy deposition. • The effect of Zr contents on various precipitation phases and microstructure of ZGH451 superalloy is revealed. • The hot cracking formation mechanism in Zr-modified ZGH451 superalloy is systematically studied. • An upper limit for the Zr content of 0.05 wt% is proposed to optimize alloy design for AM superalloy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2195 Al-Cu-Li alloy is widely utilized in the aerospace industry due to its lightweight nature and high strength. Consequently, gaining a comprehensive understanding of techniques to enhance its microstructural and mechanical properties is crucial for the consistent production of reliable and high-strength aerospace components. In this investigation, a pristine 2195 industrial ingot was subject to three distinct forging pretreatments: PT1, which involved a direct three upsetting and three stretching (3U3S) process; PT2, which combined double stage homogenization (DH) with 3U3S; and PT3, which involved DH along with six upsetting and six stretching (6U6S). Subsequent warm deformation and T8 aging treatment were applied to the pretreated forgings. The microstructure evolution during the processes and the final mechanical properties in three orthogonal dimensions were examined. The findings revealed that the combination of DH and multi-dimensional forging (MDF) facilitated the dissolution of non-equilibrium phases to a greater extent. Consequently, the main strengthening phase transformed from the T 1 + δ' phase observed in PT1 to the denser T1 + little θ' phase observed in PT2 and PT3 after T8 aging treatment. Notably, the tensile strength and yield strength of PT2 and PT3 specimens increased by 20–30 MPa in all three directions. Moreover, the MDF process accelerated the recrystallization behavior from PT1 to PT3, resulting in a gradual reduction in the average grain size of the pretreated samples from 356 µm to 186 µm. Following warm forging and T8 aging, the grains exhibited a finer and equiaxed structure. Additionally, the coarse phase was identified as the primary source of transgranular cracking. The coarse phases within the matrix became more homogeneous and finer from PT1 to PT3, with a gradual decrease in their area fraction. On the fracture surfaces, the aggregation of coarse phases diminished. Consequently, the elongation in the z-direction improved, and the elongation anisotropy and standard deviation decreased in all three directions for PT3 specimens. The findings presented in this study provide valuable insights into the high-performance manufacturing of Al-Cu-Li alloys. • The DH and doubling the strain of MDF both promoted the dissolution of non-equilibrium phases. • Combine DH treatment with MDF enhanced the precipitation kinetics of the T 1 phase, increasing the strength by 20–30 MPa. • The coarse phase was the main transgranular cracking sources, which was diminished gradually by the improved process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To reduce the impedance of the interface between solid electrolytes and electrodes and improve the interfacial stability, the liquid electrolyte (LE) is added between solid-state electrolytes and electrodes. We design LE containing different lithium salts, additives and a solid-state electrolyte membrane containing polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), Li 1.3 Al 0.3 Ti 1.7 (PO 4) 3 (LATP) and polypropylene membrane (PP) (LATP membrane), and systematically investigate the interfacial wettability, stability and safety through contact angle analysis, interfacial impedance measurements, and linear scanning voltammetry. The results show that the LE containing 1 M lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF 6) salt, 1.3-propane sultone (1.3-PS) additive, adiponitrile, fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC), and that containing 0.575 M lithium bis(trifluoromethane sulfonimide) (LiTFSI)/0.575 M LiPF 6 salt, trimethyl phosphate, FEC, and PS exhibit superior performance. The interfacial impedance of the Li|LE-LATP membrane-LE|Li coin cell is only ∼50 Ω. The LiNi 0.6 Co 0.2 Mn 0.2 O 2 (NCM622)|LE-LATP membrane-LE|Si/C coin cell exhibits an initial specific discharge capacity of ∼163 mAh g−1 at 0.5 C and 25 °C, and the capacity retention rate is ∼87% after 100 cycles. Furthermore, the 5 Ah NCM622|LE–LATP membrane–LE|Si/C pouch battery exhibits a capacity retention rate of> 90% after 400 cycles at 25 °C and 1 C. [Display omitted] • 14 LE containing different lithium salts and additives were successfully designed. • The composite solid-state electrolyte membrane was successfully prepared. • Two kinds of LE with relatively good performance were obtained. • The 5Ah pouch quasi-solid-state battery has excellent cycling performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Construction heterointerfaces of transition metal sulfides is an effective strategy to enhance the catalytic activity of oxygen evolution reaction (OER) by modulating their electronic structures. Further, incorporating these sulfides with a carbon-based support can improve their catalytic stability by preventing metal active site demetallization and dissolution. Herein, we utilized a combined hard template-pyrolysis method to construct heterostructure of FeS and Ni 3 S 2 encapsulated in N-doped carbon (FeS/Ni 3 S 2 -x/NC) and optimized the heterostructure by adjusting the Fe and Ni precursor ratio. Largely exposed FeS/Ni 3 S 2 heterointerfaces enabled a high OER catalytic activity. Especially, the optimized heterostructure of FeS/Ni 3 S 2 -2/NC with a larger electrochemical active area and more activity sites (Ni3+) afforded a small OER overpotential of 270 mV at 10 mA cm−2, and exhibited a negligible voltage loss for 35-hour operation at 10 mA cm−2. Furthermore, FeS/Ni 3 S 2 -2/NC was employed in rechargeable zinc-air batteries as the air cathode, displaying a superior charge performance and operational stability over 300 h at 5 mA cm−2. This work provides a promising design and engineering strategy for transition metal sulfides as effective OER catalysts. [Display omitted] • Optimized heterostructure of FeS/Ni 3 S 2 catalyst exhibits a superior OER performance and excellent charge performance beyond Pt/C+RuO2 in ZABs. • FeS/Ni 3 S 2 -2/NC afforded a OER overpotential of 270 mV at 10 mA cm−2 and the satisfactory stability. • FeS@Ni 3 S 2 -2/NC-based ZABs displayed excellent charge and cyclic performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]