Search

A recent article in the National Science Review discusses the potential of atomic hydrogen as a therapeutic medium in hydrogen therapy for chronic diseases. The article highlights the limitations of molecular hydrogen and explores the use of solid-state materials containing atomic hydrogen. The authors demonstrate that atomic hydrogen has superior RONS scavenging capabilities and can effectively promote wound healing in chronic diabetic wounds. This research expands the understanding of hydrogen therapeutic biomaterials and provides insights for future advancements in hydrogen therapy. [Extracted from the article]

In order to improve capability of operational decision-making synchronization (ODMS) in command and control (C2) organization, the paper puts forward that ODMS is the negotiation process of situation cognition with three phases about "situation cognition, situation interaction and decision-making synchronization" in complex environment, and then themodel and strategies of ODMS are given in quantity. Firstly, measure indexes of three steps above are given in the paper based on the time consumed in negotiation, and three patterns are proposed for negotiating timely in high quality during situation interaction. Secondly, the ODMS model with two stages in continuous changing situation is put forward in the paper, and ODMS strategies are analyzed within environment influence and time restriction. Thirdly, simulation cases are given to validate the process of ODMS under different continuous changing situations the results of this model are better than the other previous models to fulfill the actual restrictions, and the process of ODMS can be adjustedmore reasonable for improving the capability of ODMS.Then we discuss the case and summarize the influence factors of ODMS in the C2 organization as organization structure, shared information resources, negotiation patterns, and allocation of decision rights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Alkali niobates ANbO3 (A=Na, K) photocatalysts were prepared by a conventional solid state reaction method. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, N2 adsorption–desorption measurement, and scanning electron microscopy. It was found that ANbO3 (A=Na, K) are indirect band-gap semiconductors with an orthorhombic system. The band structures and density of states (DOS) were theoretically calculated by the density functional theory. The photocatalytic activities were evaluated by photoreduction of CO2 into CH4. It was observed that KNbO3 showed a higher photocatalytic activity than NaNbO3 due to the narrower band gap and higher mobile charge carriers, which are helpful to enhance the light absorption and promote photoinduced carriers transport in the photocatalysts so as to improve the photocatalytic performance. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The Bi x In1−x TaO4 (0< x <1) photocatalysts were synthesized by solid-state reaction and characterized by powder X-ray diffraction. Rietveld structure refinement revealed that the variation of x in the Bi x In1−x TaO4 photocatalysts could cause the change in crystal structure. The structure of the Bi0.2In0.8TaO4 photocatalyst is monoclinic system with space group P2/a. However, the structure of the Bi x In1−x TaO4 (x =0.5 and 0.8) photocatalysts is triclinic system with space group P-1. The band gaps of the Bi x In1−x TaO4 (x =0.2, 0.5 and 0.8) photocatalysts were estimated to be about 2.86, 2.71 and 2.74eV, respectively. Under visible light irradiation (λ >420nm), H2 and O2 were evolved using the Bi x In1−x TaO4 photocatalysts from CH3OH/H2O and AgNO3/H2O solutions, respectively. The Bi0.5In0.5TaO4 photocatalyst showed the highest activity compared with that of the Bi x In1−x TaO4 (x =0.2 and 0.8) photocatalysts. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A new visible-light-driven photocatalyst In12NiCr2Ti10O42 crystallized in a monoclinic system with the space group P21/a was synthesized by a solid-state reaction method. The photophysical and photocatalytic properties of In12NiCr2Ti10O42 were investigated. The band gap energy was estimated from the UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectrum to be ∼2.14eV. Efficient H2 was evolved from aqueous methanol solution over Pt (0.2wt%)/In12NiCr2Ti10O42 powder photocatalyst under visible light irradiation. A possible band structure for In12NiCr2Ti10O42 was proposed in accordance with the crystal structure, photophysical and photocatalytic properties. The present study suggests a promising method for the development of visible-light-responsive photocatalysts with tailed properties by properly utilizing appropriate transition metals. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A series of novel Bi2MTaO7 (M=In, Ga and Fe) photocatalysts with a distorted pyrochlore-type structure have been developed by the solid-state reaction method. In order to search the optimum conditions used for evaluating the photocatalytic activities of these photocatalysts for H2 evolution, surface modification of the Bi2InTaO7 photocatalyst was conducted by loading different kinds and amounts of co-catalysts, respectively. The 0.2wt%-Pt co-catalyst loaded was found to have the highest photocatalytic activity for H2 evolution from aqueous CH3OH/H2O solution under UV light irradiation. The photocatalytic activities of the Bi2MTaO7 (M=Ga and Fe) photocatalysts were also evaluated under the optimum conditions. Relevance between the photocatalytic activities of the series of novel Bi2MTaO7 (M=In, Ga and Fe) photocatalysts and their crystal structures, especially the lattice distortions and angles between the corner-linked MO6 (M=In, Ga, Fe and Ta) octahedral, are discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A series of novel oxide semiconductors, 3d transition-metal doped In1−x M x TaO4 (M=Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn), were synthesized by the ceramic method, and their photocatalytic properties for H2O decomposition under visible light irradiation were examined. It was found that the photocatalytic activity of InTaO4 was significantly enhanced while In was substituted by Ni, but suppressed in most of other substitutions. Theoretical calculations indicated that under the octahedral crystal field, the M 3d electron orbitals split into the lower energy t 2g and the higher energy e g parts. With increase in the atomic number of transition-metal M, the 3d energy states shift to the lower energy side. Most of these 3d orbitals hybridize with O-2p or Ta 5d orbitals, localizing the charge carriers. However, Ni 3d–e g states, which lie slightly above the O-2p orbitals, play a role in narrowing the band gap of the un-doped InTaO4 and hence significantly enhance the photocatalytic activity. The controlling factors of photocatalytic activity, such as co-catalysts, surface area, crystallinity of these oxide semiconductors were also studied. The results indicate that not only a suitable energy band structure, but also nano-structured bulk and surface properties are crucial for photocatalysis reaction. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The new Bi2GaTaO7 compound was synthesized by solid-state reaction method and characterized by powder X-ray diffraction and the Rietveld structure refinement. The Bi2GaTaO7 compound crystallizes in the pyrochlore-type structure, cubic system with space group Fd3m and the lattice parameter . The band gap of the Bi2GaTaO7 compound was estimated to be about 2.187eV. The Bi2GaTaO7 compound shows strong optical absorption in the visible light region (λ>420nm). This indicates that the Bi2GaTaO7 compound has the ability to respond to the wavelength of the visible light region and has potential for splitting water into H2 and O2 under visible light irradiation. Photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) dye on the Bi2GaTaO7 compound was first investigated under ultraviolet light irradiation. MB was degraded largely after ultraviolet light irradiation for 70min over the photocatalyst at room temperature in air. The high activity has potential to be kept in a wide range of wavelength up to 568nm. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Two new functional double oxides, Bi2MTaO7 (M = Ga and In), were synthesized by the conventional solid-state reaction method. They were characterized by the Rietveld structural analysis and UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. Bi2MTaO7 have distorted pyrochlore-type structure. The lattice distortion of Bi2InTaO7 (0.067) is larger than that of Bi2GaTaO7 (0.039). The angle between the corner-linked MO6 octahedral in Bi2InTaO7 (143.4°) is closer to 180° than that of Bi2GaTaO7 (128.3°). The abilities of the H2 and O2 evolution over Bi2MTaO7 were evaluated from an aqueous CH3OH solution and an aqueous Ce(SO4)2 solution under UV light irradiation, respectively. The rates of the H2 and O2 evolution over Bi2InTaO7 were clearly larger than that of Bi2GaTaO7. These results suggest that the abilities of the H2 and O2 evolution might be correlated with the lattice distortions and the angles between the corner-linked MO6 octahedral in Bi2MTaO7. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A new series of visible light-driven photocatalysts M2.5VMoO8 (M = Mg, Zn) crystallized in the orthorhombic crystal system were synthesized by a solid-state reaction method. The photophysical and photocatalytic properties of M2.5VMoO8 (M = Mg, Zn) under visible light irradiation were examined. It was found that efficient O2 was evolved from aqueous AgNO3 solution dispersed with the M2.5VMoO8 (M = Mg, Zn) powder samples synthesized under visible light irradiation. The electronic band structures of M2.5VMoO8 (M = Mg, Zn) were discussed in regard to the corresponding photocatalytic properties. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

MIn2O4 (M=alkali earth metal) semiconductors showed a novel photocatalytic activity for Methylene blue (MB) degradation under visible light irradiation. With increasing the ionic radius of M, the catalytic activity decreased monotonously. The possible reason for the activity change was discussed based on the effects of the radius of M ion on the crystal and electronic structure of the materials. XRD and Raman spectroscopic measurements showed that the crystal structure of BaIn2O4 is clearly different from CaIn2O4 and SrIn2O4. The density functional theory (DFT) with plane-wave basis was applied to calculate the density of state and band structure for MIn2O4 (M=Ca, Sr). The calculation revealed that the depth of M ionic core potential affects apparently the band structure. The results indicated that there is a correlation between the photocatalytic activity and the crystal and electronic structure of the photocatalysts. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A Zn-doped Lu2O3/Ga2O3 (Z-LGO) composite oxide semiconductor was synthesized by the solid-state reaction method. The Z-LGO powder samples were characterized with powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS). The results showed that the Z-LGO was mainly composed of the Zn-doped Lu2O3 and Ga2O3, of which the particle sizes were 0.5–3.0 μm and the average compositions were consistent with the raw materials used. The photophysical and photocatalytic properties of the Z-LGO powder samples were examined. It was found that the Z-LGO was a novel composite photocatalyst for stoichiometric water splitting under UV light irradiation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) dye was first investigated over the CaIn2O4 photocatalyst under visible light irradiation. MB was degraded largely after visible light irradiation for 120 min over the photocatalyst at room temperature in air. The high activity could be kept in a wide range of wavelength up to 580 nm. SO42− concentration was detected as a product of MB degradation, indicating that MB was mineralized over the CaIn2O4 photocatalyst under visible light. The photocatalytic reaction pathway of MB degradation over the photocatalyst was also suggested. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

BaCrO4 and SrCrO4 photocatalyst powders were prepared by the solid state reaction method. They were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, UV–Vis diffuse reflection spectroscopy and photocatalytic activity measurements in case of sacrificial reagents CH3OH and AgNO3 under UV and visible light irradiation (λ>420 nm), respectively. The band gaps of BaCrO4 and SrCrO4 were determined as 2.63 and 2.44 eV. Due to the decrease of the ionic radius of the cation, the photocatalyst SrCrO4 showed much lower photocatalytic activity than BaCrO4 in evolving H2 from CH3OH/H2O solution. The difference in their photocatalytic activity is ascribed to the special electronic structures of BaCrO4 and SrCrO4. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The research on a new series of solid photocatalysts with different crystal structures was reviewed. The first system is A2B2O7 pyrochlore-crystal type: Bi2MNbO7 (M=Al, Ga, In and Y, rare earth, and Fe), which is cubic system and space group Fd3m. The second system is ABO4 stibotantalite-crystal type: BiMO4 (M=Nb5+, Ta5+), in which both the triclinic system with space group P1 in the case of M=Ta and the orthorhombic system with space group Pnna in the case of M=Nb. The third system is ABO4 wolframite-crystal type: InMO4 (M=Nb5+, Ta5+), which is monoclinic system and space group P2/a. Although these photocatalysts crystallize in the different crystal structure, they contain the same octahedral TaO6 and/or NbO6 in the different photocatalysts. The band structure of the photocatalysts is defined by Ta/Nb d-level for a conduction band and O 2p-level for a valence band. The band gaps of the photocatalysts were estimated to be between 2.7 and 2.4 eV. Metal doped InTaO4 photocatalysts were also investigated. Under visible light (λ>420 nm) or ultra-violet irradiation, the H2 and/or O2 evolutions were observed from pure water as well as aqueous CH3OH/H2O and AgNO3 solutions. The photocatalytic activity increases significantly by loading co-catalysts such as Pt, RuO2 and NiOx on the surface of the photocatalysts. Finally, direct water splitting into H2 and O2 under visible light irradiation was firstly established using newly synthesized NiOx (partly oxidized nickel) promoted In0.9Ni0.1TaO4 photocatalyst. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A novel series of water splitting solid photocatalysts NiM2O6 (M=Nb,Ta) were synthesized by the solid-state reaction method. The NiNb2O6 photocatalyst crystallizes in the Columbite-type structure, orthorhombic with space group pbcn, while NiTa2O6 belongs to the tri-Rutil-type structure, tetragonal system with space group P42/mnm. Both photocatalysts showed high activity to evolve H2 from an aqueous methanol solution under ultra-violet light irradiation. The new photocatalysts can also split water to generate H2 from pure water under visible light irradiation (λ>420 nm) without any co-catalyst. The band gaps of NiNb2O6 and NiTa2O6 were estimated to be 2.2 and 2.3 eV, respectively. The difference in the band gaps of the photocatalysts is supposed to come from their different conduction band levels formed by Nb 4d in NbO6 and Ta 5d in TaO6. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We report three new series of solid photocatalysts with different crystal structure: Bi2MNbO7 (M=Al3+, Ga3+ and In3+); A2B2O7 pyrochlore-type with cubic system and space group Fd3m; InMO4(M=Nb5+, Ta5+): ABO4 wolframite-type with monoclinic system and space group P2/a and BiMO4(M=Nb5+, Ta5+): ABO4 stibotantalite-type with triclinic system and space group P1(M=Ta) and orthorhombic systems with space group Pnna (M=Nb), respectively. Although the photocatalysts crystallize in the different crystal structure, they contain the same octahedral TaO6 and/or NbO6 in the different photocatalysts. The band structure of the photocatalysts is defined by Ta/Nb d-level and O 2p-level. The band gaps of the photocatalysts were estimated to be between 2.7 and 2.4 eV. Under visible light (λ>420 nm) or ultra-violet irradiation, these photocatalysts were found to split water into H2 and/or O2. The photocatalytic activity increases significantly by loading co-catalysts on the surface of the photocatalyst, such as NiO and Pt. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The photophysical and photocatalytic properties of BaCr2O4 synthesized with normal spinel-type crystal structure were studied. It was found that H2 could be photocatalytically evolved from the aqueous CH3OH solution suspended with Pt(0.2 wt%)/BaCr2O4 powder under irradiation of both ultraviolet (UV) and visible lights. The wavelength dependence of H2 evolution under visible light irradiation showed a maximum activity for λ>540 nm. A possible electronic band structure and corresponding photoexcitation modes of BaCr2O4 under irradiation of UV and visible lights were proposed in regard to the complicated photophysical and photocatalytic properties. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The observation of photocatalytic properties and the electronic structure of a new series of rare earth photocatalysts, BiRNbO7 (R = Y, rare earth), are reported for the firstly time. Polycrystalline samples of BiRNbO7 were synthesized by a solid-state reaction and characterized by XRD and SEM-EDX. H2 was evolved from pure water under UV irradiation on the BiRNbO7 photocatalysts. The variation of ion radius rR3+ of R in Bi2RNbO7 led to a change in the band structure and photocatalytic activity. The photocatalytic activity AR3+ decreased with increasing rR3+. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In0.8M0.2TaO4 (M=Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu) photocatalysts crystallize in the same crystal structure: wolframite type, monoclinic crystal structure with space group P2/c. The rate of H2 evolution from an aqueous methanol solution under UV irradiation significantly changed with the variation of doping atoms, and In0.8Ni0.2TaO4 showed the highest activity. Under visible light irradiation (λ>420 nm), H2 and O2 were evolved from an aqueous methanol and silver nitrate solution, respectively, using the photocatalysts, In0.8M0.2TaO4 (M=Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, and Cu). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

InVO4, with band gap of about 2.0 eV, was found to be a new visible light responding photocatalyst for water decomposition. The photocatalyst showed activity to visible light in a wide wavelength range up to 600 nm. Although the native photocatalyst could evolve H2 from pure water under visible light irradiation (λ>420 nm), the photocatalytic activity increases significantly by loading NiO as a co-catalyst. Correlation of the photocatalytic properties with crystal and electronic structure of the compound is discussed in connection with the recently reported 4d and 5d transition metal photocatalysts InNbO4 and InTaO4. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Improving polarizability is an important strategy for designing high‐performance mid‐infrared (mid‐IR) nonlinear optical (NLO) materials. The substitution of equivalent or aliovalent atoms can manipulate the polarizability by adjusting the symmetry of the polyhedron. Herein, the Li+ and Cd2+ are introduced into the Cu3PS4 as the equivalent and aliovalent dopants for the Cu site. As a result, Li+ can significantly improve the bandgap (Eg) of LixCu3−xPS4 from 2.38 to 2.88 eV, leading to a higher laser‐induced damage threshold (LIDT) of 4.9 times than AgGaS2 (AGS) with a comparable second harmonic generation (SHG) response of AGS (26−45 µm). Interestingly, Cd2+ can improve the SHG response and enlarge the Eg simultaneously. As a result, Cd0.4Cu2.2PS4 has a large SHG response of 10 × AGS at 2050 nm (26−45 µm) and a LIDT of 2.6 × AGS. Theoretical calculations reveal that lattice vacancies induced by Cd2+ significantly boost polarizability compared to LixCu3−xPS4 with no vacancy, leading to a strong NLO response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ion‐conductive elastomers have emerged as ideal candidates for ionic skin and wearable devices due to their intrinsic stretchability and excellent electrical properties. Despite continuous efforts in this field, strain‐stiffening, robust yet compliant ionic elastomers are still unattainable due to the limited intermolecular interactions, restricting their reliability and durability in practical applications. Inspired by the interwoven collagen fiber network and synergistic non‐covalent interaction in the dermis, an immense strain‐stiffening, ultra‐stretchable, highly tough, and elastic ionic elastomer are reported by introducing the metal–oxygen interactions into the highly entangled network. The ionic elastomers also show intriguing self‐healing ability, high adhesion, and environmental tolerance, contributed by the dynamic synergistic noncovalent interactions. The prepared ionic skin displays sensitive and stable responses to temperature and strain. This work demonstrates a new design strategy for fabricating high‐performance ionic elastomers with excellent mechanical and electrical properties, showing great prospects in wearable and flexible devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to zinc dendrites and parasitic reactions, aqueous Zn‐metal batteries often suffer from poor reversibility and cyclability. Electrolyte additives present a promising strategy to improve Zn anode stability. However, the ever‐evolving perspectives and mechanisms, paradoxically, complicate battery design, causing a scenario where any electrolyte additive seems to be effective. Herein, it is taken ionic liquid (IL) additives as an example and detailed explored the impact of three typical IL anions, namely OTF−, TFA−, and BF4−. It is identified that the primary determinant of electrolyte additives as their electrical double layer (EDL) structures and their subsequent solid‐electrolyte interface (SEI) composition. An advantageous EDL structure, akin to an ion‐shield, can reduce the absorption of H2O molecules, which further enrich the SEI with zincophilic and hydrophobic components, thereby mitigating parasitic reactions and Zn dendrite formation. As a result, the Zn||Zn cell with optimal [EMIM]OTF additives demonstrates an exceptional cycling life under challenging conditions, its cumulative plated capacity surpasses most previously reported results by utilizing different IL additives. This work extends beyond performance enhancements, representing a valuable exploration of key criteria for electrolyte additives is believed. These insights are expected to offer fundamental guidance for future research and electrolyte design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although orthorhombic GeSe is predicted to have an ultrahigh figure of merit, ZT ≈ 2.5, up to now, the highest experimental value is ≈0.2 due to the low carrier concentration (nH ≈ 1018 cm−3). Improving symmetry is an effective approach for enhancing the ZT of GeSe‐based materials. With Te‐alloying, Ge4Se3Te displays the two‐dimensional hexagonal structure and high nH ≈ 1.23 × 1021 cm−3. Interestingly, Ge4Se3Te transformed from the hexagonal into the rhombohedral phase with only ≈2% I–V–VI2‐alloying (I = Li, Na, K, Cu, Ag; V = Sb, Bi; VI = Se, Te). According to the calculated results of Ge0.82Ag0.09Bi0.09Se0.614Te0.386 single‐crystal grown via AgBiTe2‐alloying, it exhibits a higher valley degeneracy than the hexagonal Ge4Se3Te. For instance, AgBiTe2‐alloying induces a strong band convergence and band inversion effect, resulting in a significantly enhanced Seebeck coefficient and power factor with a similar nH from 17 µV K−1 and 0.63 µW cm−1 K−2 for pristine Ge4Se3Te to 124 µV K−1 and 5.97 µW cm−1 K−2 for 12%AgBiTe2‐alloyed sample, respectively. Moreover, the sharply reduced phonon velocity, nano‐domain wall structure, and strong anharmonicity lead to low lattice thermal conductivity. As a result, a record‐high average ZT ≈0.95 over 323–773 K with an excellent ZT ≈ 1.30 is achieved at 723 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photocatalytic CO2 reduction into renewable hydrocarbon fuels is a green solution to address CO2 emission and energy issues simultaneously. However, the fast recombination of photogenerated charge carriers and the sluggish surface reaction kinetics restrict the efficiency of photocatalytic CO2 reduction. The emergence of 2D MXenes has potential in improving the efficiency of photocatalytic CO2 reduction, owing to their high electrical conductivity, flexible structural properties, and abundant active sites. Hence, this review will concisely summarize and highlight recent advances of MXenes‐based photocatalysts used in photocatalytic CO2 reduction. First, the synthesis and properties of MXenes is briefly introduced. Second, the mechanism of CO2 photoreduction along with the roles of MXenes in photocatalytic CO2 reduction are summarized, including promoting the adsorption of CO2, enhancing the separation of photo‐induced charge carriers, acting as a robust support, and photothermal effect. Third, different kinds of MXenes‐based photocatalysts such as MXenes/metal oxides, MXenes/nitrides, MXenes/LDH, MXenes/perovskite, and MXene‐derived photocatalysts for CO2 reduction are classified via the type of semiconductors. Finally, the challenges and perspectives are also presented, including exploring suitable MXenes via machine learning, uncovering the structure‐activity relationship by in situ, time‐ and space‐resolved characterization techniques, improving anti‐oxidization ability, and scale‐up applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Engineering triple‐phase boundaries in low Pt‐loaded catalyst layers is highly desired yet challenging due to the poor Pt utilization caused by inhomogeneous Nafion ionomer coverage over catalyst nanoparticles and high mass transport resistance near catalyst surface. Herein, an effective Pt catalyst/support design strategy by using urea to modify the carbon supports is reported, in which the balance between nitrogen doping and Pt nanoparticle deposition can be well achieved without sacrificing catalyst performance. The nitrogen‐modified carbon with the positively charged surface can electrostatically attract with ionomer with negative charges in a catalyst ink. Meanwhile, ionomer can be preserved into a solid catalyst layer, forming a desirable ionomer/catalyst interface with improved dry proton accessibility and lowered oxygen transport resistance. Consequently, this interface leads to striking performance improvement in the kinetic and mass transport regions in the membrane electrode assembly level, with the current density of 1.11 A cm−2 at 0.65 V under 50% RH and 85 °C operating conditions, reaching 2.8 times this value compared with the one without modification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single-crystalline hexagonal prism Zn2GeO4nanorods with different aspect ratios have been prepared viaa solution phase route, which exhibits improved photocatalytic activities in overall water splitting and photoreduction of CO2due to the low crystal defects, high specific surface area and beneficial microstructure on the catalyst's surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All-inorganic carbon-based CsPbBr3 perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have gained growing interest for their remarkable stability. However, compared to their organic–inorganic hybrid counterparts, there is still substantial room for improving their performance primarily due to the inferior photogenerated carrier collection efficiency. Here, we employ area-dependent transient photocurrent to assess the carrier transit time in CsPbBr3 PSCs, revealing that an extended carrier transit time relative to the lifetime significantly contributes to their low carrier collection efficiency. To address this challenge, we narrow the gap between carrier transit time and lifetime by introducing a dual-functional additive, serving to facilitate both crystallization orientation and defect passivation. Consequently, we achieve enhanced short-circuit current and efficiency in CsPbBr3 PSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photoreduction of CO2 into hydrocarbon fuels is a promising avenue for achieving a sustainable alternative to the artificial carbon cycle. Photocatalytic CO2 conversion is the chemical transformation of photogenerated carriers and adsorbed CO2 at active sites of catalysts. Active sites can regulate the kinetic process of carriers, control the adsorption of CO2 and intermediates, lower activation barriers, and promote C‐C coupling. This review mainly concentrates on the efficiency and selectivity regulation of the target products through construction of active sites. First, the principles of CO2 photoreduction, such as the influencing factors and specific pathways for monocarbon and multicarbon (C2+) formation, are discussed. Then, leading works focusing on improving catalytic efficiency and regulating product selectivity through the introduction of active sites are highlighted, concerning the underlying mechanism of the performance, especially for C2+ generation. Subsequently, an overview of the currently available in situ techniques and theoretical calculation for identifying the active sites are provided. Finally, the challenges of emerging strategies to achieve carbon recycling from scientific, technical, and economic perspectives are considered. This review offers deep insight into the construction of active site with atomic precision to achieve efficient photocatalytic CO2 conversion and the generation of C2+ in high selectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With ZIF-67 as the precursor, oxygen vacancy-rich Co3O4 nanoparticles were derived and anchored on the surface of 2D polyimide (PI) to construct a Z-scheme hybrid heterojunction (20ZP) through a simultaneous solvothermal in situ crystallization and polymerization strategy. XRD, XPS and EPR confirmed that both Co(III) and oxygen vacancies are formed during the low temperature conversion of ZIF-67 to Co3O4 nanoparticles that in turn accelerate the polymerization of PI. Synchronous crystallization makes the interfacial architecture intermetal and compact, inducing a strong interfacial electronic interaction between Co3O4 nanoparticles and PI. UV–vis DRS spectra and transient photocurrent response demonstrate that the incorporation of Co3O4 on polyimide not only extends the light absorption in the visible range, but also enhances the charge transfer rate. EIS, TRPL techniques and DFT calculations have confirmed that the photoinduced interfacial charge transfer pathway of this hybrid heterojunction characterized the Z-scheme in which the photoinduced electrons transfer from the conduction band of Co3O4 to the valence band of PI, significantly inhibiting the recombination of electrons and holes within PI. More importantly, the oxygen vacancies located below the conductor band of Co3O4 can deepen the band bending, improve the charge separation efficiency and accelerate electron transfer between Co3O4 and PI. This Z-scheme hybrid heterojunction structure can not only maintain the high reducing capacity of photoinduced electrons on the conductor band of PI, but also enhance the oxidative capacity of the heterojunction composite material, thus promoting the overall progress of the photocatalytic hydrogen release reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One‐unit‐cell, single‐crystal, hexagonal CuInP2S6 atomically thin sheets of≈0.81 nm in thickness was successfully synthesized for photocatalytic reduction of CO2. Exciting ethene (C2H4) as the main product was dominantly generated with the yield‐based selectivity reaching ≈56.4 %, and the electron‐based selectivity as high as ≈74.6 %. The tandem synergistic effect of charge‐enriched Cu−In dual sites confined on the lateral edge of the CuInP2S6 monolayer (ML) is mainly responsible for efficient conversion and high selectivity of the C2H4 product as the basal surface site of the ML, exposing S atoms, can not derive the CO2 photoreduction due to the high energy barrier for the proton‐coupled electron transfer of CO2 into *COOH. The marginal In site of the ML preeminently targets CO2 conversion to *CO under light illumination, and the *CO then migrates to the neighbor Cu sites for the subsequent C−C coupling reaction into C2H4 with thermodynamic and kinetic feasibility. Moreover, ultrathin structure of the ML also allows to shorten the transfer distance of charge carriers from the interior onto the surface, thus inhibiting electron‐hole recombination and enabling more electrons to survive and accumulate on the exposed active sites for CO2 reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One‐unit‐cell, single‐crystal, hexagonal CuInP2S6 atomically thin sheets of≈0.81 nm in thickness was successfully synthesized for photocatalytic reduction of CO2. Exciting ethene (C2H4) as the main product was dominantly generated with the yield‐based selectivity reaching ≈56.4 %, and the electron‐based selectivity as high as ≈74.6 %. The tandem synergistic effect of charge‐enriched Cu−In dual sites confined on the lateral edge of the CuInP2S6 monolayer (ML) is mainly responsible for efficient conversion and high selectivity of the C2H4 product as the basal surface site of the ML, exposing S atoms, can not derive the CO2 photoreduction due to the high energy barrier for the proton‐coupled electron transfer of CO2 into *COOH. The marginal In site of the ML preeminently targets CO2 conversion to *CO under light illumination, and the *CO then migrates to the neighbor Cu sites for the subsequent C−C coupling reaction into C2H4 with thermodynamic and kinetic feasibility. Moreover, ultrathin structure of the ML also allows to shorten the transfer distance of charge carriers from the interior onto the surface, thus inhibiting electron‐hole recombination and enabling more electrons to survive and accumulate on the exposed active sites for CO2 reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Broadband emissive perovskites are next‐generation materials for solid‐state lighting and radiative detection. However, white‐emitting perovskites are generally synthesized by regulating B/X sites, while not enough attention is paid to the A‐site, which is thought to hardly affect the band‐edge structures and optoelectronic properties. Here, a series of Sb3+‐doped In‐based 0D halide perovskite derivatives are described with various organoammonium cations in A‐sites. Warm‐white light emitting across the visible spectrum (450–850 nm), large Stokes shifts, and high photoluminescence quantum yields are easily tunable by molecularly tailoring A‐site cations. These features enable a light yield up to 60976 Photons/MeV as X‐ray scintillator, and a detection limit of 90 nGyair/s that is ≈60 times lower than the medical requirement. It is proved that A‐site plays a critical role in determining the degree of distortion of polyhedra, which influences the broadband photoluminescence and self‐trapped exciton (STE) dominates the emission process. Moreover, for the first time, via the incorporation of 2,6‐dimethylpiperazine, a mixed A‐site regulating strategy produces a standard white‐light emission, which originates from the blue‐light and yellow‐light related to various STE emission centers. It is foreseen that this strategy highlights the expanded role of A‐site and the importance of rethinking A‐sites in perovskites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The establishment of green and environmental friendly sunlight‐driven organic reactions has received increasing attention since the 21st century. By virtue of their functional designability, micromesoporous structure, and thermal/chemical stability, porous organic polymers (POPs) have exhibited enormous promise in photocatalytic organic reactions as ideal potential alternatives to conventional small molecule and inorganic semiconductor catalysts. In particular, amorphous POPs are simplified in terms of preparation conditions and process flow. Herein, various amorphous POP materials based on polymers of intrinsic microporosity, hypercrosslinked polymers, conjugated microporous polymers, and porous aromatic frameworks are reviewed, while typical synthetic strategies are briefly introduced. It also highlights an overview of the research progress in photocatalytic oxidation, coupling, reduction, cycloaddition, and polymerization reactions at home and abroad in recent years. Finally, the challenges and prospects for future research on amorphous POPs are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lunar glasses with different origins act as snapshots of their formation processes, providing a rich archive of the Moon's formation and evolution. Here, we reveal diverse glasses from Chang'E-5 (CE-5) lunar regolith, and clarify their physical origins of liquid quenching, vapor deposition and irradiation damage respectively. The series of quenched glasses, including rotation-featured particles, vesicular agglutinates and adhered melts, record multiple-scale impact events. Abundant micro-impact products, like micron- to nano-scale glass droplets or craters, highlight that the regolith is heavily reworked by frequent micrometeorite bombardment. Distinct from Apollo samples, the indigenous ultra-elongated glass fibers drawn from viscous melts and the widespread ultra-thin deposited amorphous rims without nanophase iron particles both indicate a relatively gentle impact environment at the CE-5 landing site. The clarification of multitype CE-5 glasses also provides a catalogue of diverse lunar glasses, meaning that more of the Moon's mysteries, recorded in glasses, could be deciphered in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flexible conductive materials capable of simulating transparent ocean organisms have garnered interest in underwater motion monitoring and covert communication applications. However, the creation of underwater flexible conductors that possess mechanical robustness, adhesion, and self‐healing properties remains a challenge. Herein, hydrophobic interaction is combined with electrostatic interaction to obtain a solvent‐free transparent poly(ionic liquid) elastomer (PILE) fabricated using soft acrylate monomers and acrylate ionic liquids. The synergy of hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions can eliminate the hydration of water molecules underwater, giving the PILE adjustable fracture strength, good elasticity, high stretchability, high toughness, fatigue resistance, underwater self‐healing ability, underwater adhesion, and ionic conductivity. As a result, the transparent iontronic sensor generated from the PILE can achieve multifunctional sensing and human motion detection with high sensitivity and stability. In particular, the sensor can also transmit information underwater through stretching, pressing, and non‐contact modes, demonstrating its huge potential in underwater flexible iontronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In light of the rapid development of intelligence and miniaturization in electronics, the growing demand for sustainable energy sources gives rise to a plethora of environmental/mechanical energy harvesters. However, the fluctuating nature of these generated energies frequently presents a challenge to their immediate usability. Although electrolytic capacitors can smooth fluctuating energy, lacking miniaturization and flexibility constrain their potential applications. Conversely, electrochemical capacitors (ECs), particularly fiber‐shaped electrochemical capacitors (FSECs), can offer superior flexibility. Nevertheless, the inherent trade‐off between ion transport and charge storage in fibrous electrodes poses a significant obstacle to their filtering capability. Here, a hierarchically 3D fibrous electrode that effectively balances ion transport and charge storage through its unhindered primary framework and intertwined secondary frameworks is presented. The resulting FSEC exhibits an exceptional specific areal capacitance of 1.37 mF cm−2 with a phase angle of −82° at 120 Hz, surpassing that of fiber‐shaped filter capacitors and most non‐fibrous filter ECs previously reported. Additionally, the FSEC displays excellent flexibility and high‐frequency response, rendering it well‐suited for filtering arbitrary ripple voltage and compatible with environmental/mechanical energy harvesters. These results demonstrate a promising approach for designing fibrous high‐frequency response electrodes and a foundation for portable environmental energy harvesting devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Cyano-modified graphitic carbon nitride (g-NCNCN x) was developed for photocatalytic perfluoroalkylation reactions.. • Photocatalytic addition or coupling reaction can be achieved selectively and effectively with a broad substrate scope. • g-NCNCN x exhibits excellent photocatalytic activity for at least five catalytic cycles. • More photoelectrons of g-NCNCN x generated after light irradiation, improving the photocatalytic performance, comparing to pristine g-CN x. Photocatalytic radical fluoroalkylation has become an important approach to prepare valuable organofluorine compounds under mild conditions. Compared to the homogenous photocatalytic fluoroalkylation reactions based on the precious metal complexes or organic dyes, heterogeneous photocatalysis using metal-free carbon nitride catalyst shows cost-effective, easier separation and excellent recyclability. In this work, we report the visible-light-induced photocatalytic perfluoroalkylation of alkynes with perfluoroalkyl iodides (R f I) using heterogeneous cyano-modified graphitic carbon nitride (g-NCNCNx) as the photocatalyst. The mechanism proposed by the experimental and computational studies reveals that the long-lived triplet excited states in photoinduced g-NCNCNx are involved in the initial bimolecular electron transfer process, resulting in the effective activation of R f I and the improvement of sequential photocatalytic reactions. Moreover, the stronger interaction between the substate and surface of catalyst g-NCNCNx can further improve the photocatalytic activity, comparing to the pristine carbon nitride (g-CNx). Through simple variation of the reaction conditions, the photocatalytic addition or coupling reaction can be achieved effectively and selectively. Importantly, the heterogeneous g-NCNCNx photocatalyst can not only show high performance with a wide reaction scope, but also be readily recovered and reused for at least five catalytic cycles with high photocatalytic activity. This work provides a sustainable alternative to the conventional metal-based photocatalysts for organofluorine synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strategies to efficiently activate CO2 by strongly inhibiting the competitive hydrogen evolution reaction process are highly desired for practical applications of the electrochemical CO2 reduction technique. Here, we assembled a core–shell In@InOxHy architecture on carbon black by one-step reduction of NaBH4 as a CO2-to-formate catalyst with high selectivity. The stable CO2-to-formate reaction originates from the creation of steritic frustrated Lewis pairs (FLPs) on the InOxHy shell with In–OVs (OVs, oxygen vacancies) Lewis acid, and In–OH Lewis base. During CO2 reduction, the electrochemically stable FLPs are capable of first capturing and stabilizing protons to protonate FLPs to In–H Lewis acid and In–OH2 Lewis base due to its strong steric electrostatic field; then, CO2 is captured and activated by the protonated FLPs to selectively produce formate. Our results demonstrated that FLPs can be created on the surface of oxyphilic single-metal catalysts efficient in accelerating CO2 reduction with high selectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simultaneous optimization on bulk photogenerated‐carrier separation and surface atomic arrangement of catalyst is crucial for reactivity of CO2 photo‐reduction. Rare studies capture the detail that, better than in‐plane regulation, interlayer‐spacing regulation may significantly influence the carrier transport of the bulk‐catalyst thereby affecting its CO2 photo‐reduction in g‐C3N4. Herein, through a single atom‐assisted thermal‐polymerization process, single‐atom In‐bonded N‐atom (Inδ+–N4) in the (002) crystal planes of g‐C3N4 is originally constructed. This Inδ+–N4 reduces the (002) interplanar spacing of g‐C3N4 by electrostatic adsorption, which significantly enhances the separation of bulk carriers and greatly promotes the reactivity of CO2 photoreduction. The CO2 photo‐conversion performance of this resulted single‐atom In modified g‐C3N4 is significantly superior to other single atom loaded carbon nitride catalysts. Moreover, the Inδ+–N4 enhances the CO2 adsorption on g‐C3N4, reduces the *COOH formation energy, and optimizes the reaction path. It achieves a remarkable 398.87 µmol g−1 h−1 yield rate, 0.21% apparent quantum efficiency, and nearly 100% selectivity for CO without any cocatalyst or sacrificial agent. Through d(002) modulation of carbon nitride by single In atom, this study provides a ground‐breaking insight for reactivity enhancement from a double‐gain view of bulk structural control and surface atomic arrangement for CO2‐reduction photocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrolytes have a profound impact on the chemical environment of electrocatalysis, influencing the reaction rate and selectivity of products. Experimental and theoretical studies have extensively investigated the interaction mechanisms between electrolyte ions (i.e., alkali metal cations, carbonate anions) and reactants or the catalyst surface in electrocatalytic reactions such as the hydrogen evolution reaction, oxygen evolution reaction, oxygen reduction reaction, water oxidation reaction, and CO2 reduction reaction. Past studies have demonstrated a noticeable dependence of electrochemical reaction activity and selectivity on the identity of electrolyte ions. However, few overviews have comprehensively and specifically discussed the effects of electrolyte cations and anions on common electrochemical reactions. In order to clarify and give more insights on this research area, this review aims to summarize and highlight recent progress in understanding the effects of various electrolyte ionic species and their influence mechanisms in diverse electrocatalytic reactions for water splitting, H2O2 production, and CO2 reduction. The challenges and perspectives on the effect of electrolyte ions in electrocatalysis are also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ti 3 C 2 MXene/CdIn 2 S 4 Schottky heterojunctions were constructed by a solvothermal method, showing the highly photocatalytic efficiencies for H 2 production and Cr(VI) reduction under visible light, owing to the synergistic effect of Schottky heterojunction and S vacancies. [Display omitted] Developing efficient heterojunction photocatalysts that have a high charge carrier separation rate and improved light-harvesting capacity is a crucial step in solving energy crisis and reducing environmental pollution. Herein, we synthesized few-layered Ti 3 C 2 MXene sheets (MXs) by a manual shaking process, and combined with CdIn 2 S 4 (CIS) to construct novel Ti 3 C 2 MXene/CdIn 2 S 4 (MXCIS) Schottky heterojunction through a solvothermal method. The strong interface between two-dimensional (2D) Ti 3 C 2 MXene and 2D CIS nanoplates led to enhanced light-harvesting capacity and promoted charge separation rate. Additionally, the presence of S vacancies on the MXCIS surface helped to trap free electrons. The optimal sample, 5-MXCIS (with 5 wt% MXs loading), exhibited outstanding performance for photocatalytic hydrogen (H 2) evolution and Cr(VI) reduction under visible light due to the synergistic effect of enhanced light-harvesting capacity and charge separation rate. The charge transfer kinetics was thoroughly studied using multiple techniques. The reactive species of •O 2 −, •OH and h+ were generated in 5-MXCIS system, and e− and •O 2 − radicals were found to be the main contributors to Cr(VI) photoreduction. Based on the characterization results, a possible photocatalytic mechanism for H 2 evolution and Cr(VI) reduction was proposed. On the whole, this work provides new insights into the design of 2D/2D MXene-based Schottky heterojunction photocatalysts for boosting photocatalytic efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sluggish kinetics of CO2 activation and reduction severely limit the energy conversion efficiency of electrocatalytic CO2 reduction into fuels. Here, ZnSn(OH)6 with an alternating arrangement of Zn(OH)6 and Sn(OH)6 octahedral units and SrSn(OH)6 with an alternating arrangement of SrO6 and Sn(OH)6 octahedral units were adopted to check the effects of frustrated Lewis pairs (FLPs) on electrochemical CO2 reduction. The FLPs were in situ electrochemically reconstructed on ZnSn(OH)6 by reducing the electrochemically unstable Sn–OH to Sn–oxygen vacancies (Sn–OVs) as a Lewis acid site, which are able to create strong interactions with the adjacent electrochemically stable Zn–OH, a Lewis base site. Compared to SrSn(OH)6 without FLPs, the higher formate selectivity of ZnSn(OH)6 originates from the strong ability of FLPs to capture protons and activate CO2via the electrostatic field of FLPs triggering better electron transfer and strong orbital interactions under negative potentials. Our findings may guide the design of electrocatalysts for CO2 reduction with high catalytic performances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrogen (N) deficiency occurs in over 80% of karst soil of southwest China, which restricts regional agricultural production. To test whether N fixed by legumes becomes available to nonfixing companion species, N fluxes between soybean and maize under no, partial, and total restriction of root contact were measured on a karst site in southwest China. N content and its transfer between soybean and maize intercrops were explored in a 2-year plot experiment, with N movement between crops monitored using 15N isotopes. Mesh barrier (30 μm) and no restrictions barrier root separation increased N uptake of maize by 1.28%-3.45% and 3.2%-3.45%, respectively. N uptake by soybean with no restrictions root separation was 1.23 and 1.56 times higher than that by mesh and solid barriers, respectively. In the unrestricted root condition, N transfer from soybean to maize in no restrictions barrier was 2.34-3.02 mg higher than that of mesh barrier. Therefore, it was implied that soybean/maize intercropping could improve N uptake and transfer efficiently in the karst region of southwest China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building up a lunar settlement is the ultimate aim of lunar exploitation. Yet, limited fuel and oxygen supplies restrict human survival on the Moon. Herein, we demonstrate the in situ resource utilization of lunar soil for extraterrestrial fuel and oxygen production, which may power up our solely natural satellite and supply respiratory gas. Specifically, the lunar soil is loaded with Cu species and employed for electrocatalytic CO2 conversion, demonstrating significant production of methane. In addition, the selected component in lunar soil (i.e. MgSiO3) loaded with Cu can reach a CH4 Faradaic efficiency of 72.05% with a CH4 production rate of 0.8 mL/min at 600 mA/cm2. Simultaneously, an O2 production rate of 2.3 mL/min can be achieved. Furthermore, we demonstrate that our developed process starting from catalyst preparation to electrocatalytic CO2 conversion is so accessible that it can be operated in an unmmaned manner via a robotic system. Such a highly efficient extraterrestrial fuel and oxygen production system is expected to push forward the development of mankind's civilization toward an extraterrestrial settlement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates Ga‐doped n‐type PbTe thermoelectric materials and the dynamic phase conversion process of the second phases via Cu2Se alloying. Introducing Cu2Se enhances its electrical transport properties while reducing its lattice thermal conductivity (κlat) via weak electron–phonon coupling. Cu2Te and CuGa(Te/Se)2 (tetragonal phase) nanocrystals precipitate during the alloying process, resulting in Te vacancies and interstitial Cu in the PbTe matrix. At room temperature, Te vacancies and interstitial Cu atoms serve as n‐type dopants, increasing the carrier concentration and electrical conductivity from ≈1.18 × 1019 cm−3 and ≈1870 S cm−1 to ≈2.26 × 1019 cm−3 and ≈3029 S cm−1, respectively. With increasing temperature, the sample exhibits a dynamic change in Cu2Te content and the generation of a new phase of CuGa(Te/Se)2 (cubic phase), strengthening the phonon scattering and obtaining an ultralow κlat. Pb0.975Ga0.025Te‐3%CuSe exhibits a maximum figure of merit of ≈1.63 at 823 K, making it promising for intermediate‐temperature device applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]