Rational phosphating layer design in biomass-derived hard carbons toward fast charging capability of sodium ion battery anodes.

Continuous side reactions between a biomass-derived hard carbon (HC) surface and the electrolyte affect its cycling stability and fast-charging performance. Therefore, constructing a stable solid electrolyte interface (SEI) while facilitating easier desolvation of sodium ions in the electrolyte is key to achieving stable fast charging. Theoretical calculations confirmed that NaP can induce the formation of a Na solvation structure with low solvent coordination, thus achieving a lower desolvation energy barrier and faster Na diffusion capability through the SEI.

Co-doped RuIr nanoparticles for enhanced activity and stability in alkaline overall water splitting.

Developing highly active and stable bifunctional electrocatalysts for overall water splitting is critical for sustainable hydrogen production. Herein, the introduction of Co dopants into RuIr alloys resulted in a comprehensive enhancement of both HER and OER activities and stability. Co dopants tuned the electronic structure of Ru/Ir, optimizing the hydrogen binding energy and weakening the OH adsorption ability on Ru/Ir active sites, thereby enhancing HER performance.

Research Progress and Perspectives on Anti-Poisoning Hydrogen Oxidation Reaction Electrocatalysts for Hydrogen Fuel Cells.

As global demand for clean and sustainable energy continues to rise, fuel cell technology has seen rapid advancement. However, the presence of trace impurities like carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) in hydrogen fuel can significantly deactivate the anode by blocking its active sites, leading to reduced performance. Developing electrocatalysts that are resistant to CO and H₂S poisoning has therefore become a critical priority.

P-Doping Modulated RuIr Nanoparticles Anchored on Co/N/C Catalysts with Improved Alkaline Hydrogen Evolution Activity and Stability.

Achieving efficient and stable hydrogen evolution reactions in alkaline conditions is crucial for hydrogen production. In this study, a RuIr/CoNC-P catalyst featuring RuIr alloys alongside P-doping and CoNx sites is developed. RuIr alloying optimizes the electronic structure between Ru and Ir, promoting electron transfer from Ru to Ir.

Electrochemical Exfoliation of Two-Dimensional Phosphorene Sheets and its Energy Application.

Recently, single or few-layer phosphorene has attracted intense attention due to its exceptional physicochemical properties. To this end, mass production of high-quality phosphorene nanosheets with specific functionalities represents a pivotal factor for the basic academic studies and practical applications. Among the current synthetic methods, electrochemical exfoliation of black phosphorous is one of the most hopeful ways for mass-production of phosphorene sheets owing to the uncomplicated apparatus, low cost as well as significant efficiency.

Nitrogen and Oxygen Co-Doped Porous Hard Carbon Nanospheres with Core-Shell Architecture as Anode Materials for Superior Potassium-Ion Storage.

The investigation of carbonaceous-based anode materials will promote the fast application of low-cost potassium-ion batteries (PIBs). Here a nitrogen and oxygen co-doped yolk-shell carbon sphere (NO-YS-CS) is constructed as anode material for K-ion storage. The novel architecture, featuring with developed porous structure and high surface specific area, is beneficial to achieving excellent electrochemical kinetics behavior and great electrode stability from buffering the large volume expansion.

Confinement of Pt NPs by hollow-porous-carbon-spheres pore regulation with promoted activity and durability in the hydrogen evolution reaction.

Electrochemical water splitting is a promising method to generate pollution-free and sustainable hydrogen energy. However, the specific activity and durability of noble metal catalysts is the main hindrance to the hydrogen evolution reaction. Based on the continuous pore regulation of hollow porous carbon spheres (N-HPCSs) by hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide, the 6.

Expanded MoSe Nanosheets Vertically Bonded on Reduced Graphene Oxide for Sodium and Potassium-Ion Storage.

The cost-efficient and plentiful Na and K resources motivate the research on ideal electrodes for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) and potassium-ion batteries (PIBs). Here, MoSe nanosheets perpendicularly anchored on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) are studied as an electrode for SIBs and PIBs. Not only does the graphene network serves as a nucleation substrate for suppressing the agglomeration of MoSe nanosheets to eliminate the electrode fracture but also facilitates the electrochemical kinetics process and provides a buffer zone to tolerate the large strain.

Fe-Mn bimetallic oxides-catalyzed oxygen reduction reaction in alkaline direct methanol fuel cells.

Two Fe-Mn bimetallic oxides were synthesized through a facile solvothermal method without using any templates. FeO/MnO is made up of FeO and MnO as confirmed XRD. TEM and HRTEM observations show FeO nanoparticles uniformly dispersed on the MnO substrate and a distinct heterojunction boundary between FeO nanoparticles and MnO substrate.

Quasi-zero-dimensional cobalt-doped CeO dots on Pd catalysts for alcohol electro-oxidation with enhanced poisoning-tolerance.

Deactivation of an anode catalyst resulting from the poisoning of CO-like intermediates is one of the major problems for methanol and ethanol electro-oxidation reactions (MOR & EOR), and remains a grand challenge towards achieving high performance for direct alcohol fuel cells (DAFCs). Herein, we report a new approach for the preparation of ultrafine cobalt-doped CeO dots (Co-CeO, d = 3.6 nm), which can be an effective anti-poisoning promoter for Pd catalysts towards MOR and EOR in alkaline media.