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Metal-free photocatalysis that produces reactive oxygen species (ROS) shows significant promising applications for environmental remediation. Herein, we constructed iodine-doped carbon nitride (I-CN) for applications in the photocatalytic inactivation of bacteria and the heterogeneous Fenton reaction. Our findings revealed that I-CN demonstrates superior photocatalytic activity compared to pure CN, due to enhanced light adsorption and a narrowed band gap. Antibacterial tests confirmed that I-CN exhibits exceptional antibacterial activity against both Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The results showed that I-CN effectively generates superoxide radicals and hydroxyl radicals under light irradiation, resulting in enhanced antibacterial activity. In addition, I-CN can also be applied for a heterogeneous photo-Fenton-like reaction, achieving a high performance for the degradation of sulfamethoxazole (SMX), a typical antibiotic, via the photocatalytic activation of peroxymonosulfate (PMS). These results shed new light on the fabrication of metal-free nanozymes and their applications for disinfection and water decontamination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Li21Si5 alloy is a promising pre-lithiation material for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, its instability in atmospheric environments and polar solutions limits its applications, particularly in the field of water-based anodes. Herein, a PEO-Li21Si5 coating strategy was proposed to efficiently replenish lithium and stabilize the electrode structure for LIBs. Polyethylene oxide (PEO) was added to Li21Si5 to create a PEO-Li21Si5 pre-lithiation layer, which was coated on the surface of the Si@C anode. HRTEM and XPS tests indicated that the PEO (weakly polar) would react with the interface of the Li21Si5 to build a stable passivation layer, allowing lithium ions inside the Li21Si5 to be released during the first cycle, which in turn improved the ICE of the LIBs. Moreover, PEO-Li21Si5 was able to coat the Si@C particles due to the wettability of the electrolyte to PEO. And it would suppress the displacement caused by the cyclic expansion of the Si, achieving the stability of the electrode structure. This strategy achieved an initial coulombic efficiency (ICE) of over 100% with stable and long-lasting cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, NH3BH3 (AB) is used to induce hydrogen generation during NaBH4 (SB) hydrolysis in order to reduce the use of catalysts, simplify the preparation process, reduce the cost and improve desorption kinetics and hydrogen capacity as well. xNaBH4–yNH3BH3 composites are prepared by ball-milling in different proportions (from x:y = 1:1 to 8:1). The experimental results demonstrate that all composites can release more than 90% of hydrogen at 70 °C within 1 h, and their hydrogen yields can reach 9 wt% (taking reacted water into account). Among them, the composites in the proportion of 4:1 and 5:1, whose hydrogen yields reach no less than 10 wt%, show the best hydrogen generation properties. This is due to the impact of the following aspects: AB additive improves the dispersibility of SB particles, makes the composite more porous, hampers the generated metaborate from adhering to the surface of SB, and decreases the pH value of the composite during hydrolysis. The main solid byproduct of this hydrolysis system is NaBO2·2H2O. By hydrolytic kinetic simulation of the composites, the fitted activation energies of the complexes are between 37.2 and 45.6 kJ mol−1, which are comparable to the catalytic system with some precious metals and alloys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]