Heterointerface-Enhanced Active Hydrogen Generation in Ru/RuOx/CNTs for Nitrate Reduction to Ammonia at Low Overpotentials.

Ru/RuOx/CNTs heterostructured materials are synthesized using an in situ method. The Ru─RuOx heterostructure facilitates active hydrogen dissociation, leading to excellent catalytic performance in nitrate reduction, with ammonia as the primary product at low overpotentials. The process achieves Faradaic efficiencies of ammonia exceeding 90% and a production rate of 1.

Ultrathin CuS Nanosheets with Sulfur Vacancy for Multimodal Tumor Therapy.

Multimodal tumor therapy with nanotechnology is an effective and integrative strategy to overcome the limitations of therapeutic efficacy and possible side effects associated with monotherapy. However, the construction of multimodal treatment nanoplatforms often involves various functional components, leading to certain challenges, such as time-consuming synthesis processes, low product yield, and inadequate biocompatibility. To address these issues, we have developed a straightforward method for preparing ultrathin CuS nanosheets (NSs) with surface defects for photothermal/photodynamic/chemodynamic therapy.

Large-scale synthesis, mechanism, and application of a luminescent copper hydride nanocluster.

Elucidating the structure-property relationships of ultra-small metal nanocluster with basic nuclear is of great significance for understanding the evolution mechanism in both the structures and properties of polynuclear metal nanoclusters. In this study, an ultra-small copper hydride (CuH for short) nanocluster was simply synthesized with high yield, and the large-scale preparation was also achieved. Single crystal X-ray diffractometer (SC-XRD) analysis shows that this copper NC contains a tetrahedral Cu core co-capped by four PPhPy ligands and two Cl in which the existence of the central H atom in tetrahedron was further identified experimentally and theoretically.

Electrochemical Reversible Reforming between Ethylamine and Acetonitrile on Heterostructured Pd-Ni(OH) Nanosheets.

Rational design of electrocatalysts is essential to achieve desirable performance of electrochemical synthesis process. Heterostructured catalysts have thus attracted widespread attention due to their multifunctional intrinsic properties, and diverse catalytic applications with corresponding outstanding activities. Here, we report an in situ restoration strategy for the synthesis of ultrathin Pd-Ni(OH) nanosheets.

Ammonia-assisted synthesis of low-crystalline FeCo hydroxides for efficient electrochemical overall water splitting.

Low-crystalline FeCo hydroxides were synthesized on a gram scale with the aid of ammonia, and they exhibited impressive catalytic activity for both the HER and OER. We utilized these catalysts to assemble a water splitting cell, which functions efficiently. The electrolytic cell can produce a consistent current density of 200 mA cm for over 20 hours while operating at a voltage of 1.

Mesoporous PtPb Nanosheets as Efficient Electrocatalysts for Hydrogen Evolution and Ethanol Oxidation.

Using a one-pot hydrothermal method with ethylenediamine, we have synthesized mesoporous PtPb nanosheets that exhibit exceptional activity in both hydrogen evolution and ethanol oxidation. The resulting PtPb nanosheets have a Pt-enriched structure with up to 80 % atomic content of Pt. The synthetic method generated a significant mesoporous structure, formed through the dissolution of Pb species.

Heterostructured Ru/Ni(OH) Nanomaterials as Multifunctional Electrocatalysts for Selective Reforming of Ethanol.

The electrochemical reforming of ethanol into hydrogen and hydrocarbons can reduce the electric potential energy barrier of hydrogen production from electrochemical water splitting, obtaining high value-added anode products. In this work, Ru/Ni(OH) heterostructured nanomaterials were synthesized successfully by an reduction strategy with remarkable multifunctional catalytic properties. In the hydrogen evolution reaction, Ru/Ni(OH) exhibits a smaller overpotential of 31 mV to obtain a current density of 10 mA/cm, which is better than that of commercial Pt/C.

Upconversion nanoparticles@AgBiS core-shell nanoparticles with cancer-cell-specific cytotoxicity for combined photothermal and photodynamic therapy of cancers.

UCNPs@AgBiS core-shell nanoparticles that AgBiS coated on the surface of upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) was successfully prepared through an ion exchange reaction. The photothermal conversion efficiency of AgBiS can be improved from 14.7% to 45% due to the cross relaxation between Nd ions and AgBiS.

Ultrathin Amorphous/Crystalline Heterophase Rh and Rh Alloy Nanosheets as Tandem Catalysts for Direct Indole Synthesis.

Heterogeneous noble-metal-based catalysis plays an essential role in the production of fine chemicals. Rh-based catalysts are one of the most active candidates for indole synthesis. However, it is still highly desired to develop heterogeneous Rh-based catalysts with high activity and selectivity.

Construction of highly accessible single Co site catalyst for glucose detection.

The development of high-performance glucose sensors is an urgent need, especially for diabetes mellitus diagnosis. However, the glucose monitoring is conventionally operated in an invasive finger-prick manner and their noninvasive alternatives largely suffered from the relatively poor sensitivity, selectivity, and stability, resulted from the lack of robust and efficient catalysts. In this paper, we design a concave shaped nitrogen-doped carbon framework embellished with single Co site catalyst (Co SSC) by selectively controlling the etching rate on different facet of carbon substrate, which is beneficial to the diffusion and contact of analyte.

Ultrathin Ni(0)-Embedded Ni(OH) Heterostructured Nanosheets with Enhanced Electrochemical Overall Water Splitting.

The efficiency of splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen is highly dependent on the catalyst used. Herein, ultrathin Ni(0)-embedded Ni(OH) heterostructured nanosheets, referred to as Ni/Ni(OH) nanosheets, with superior water splitting activity are synthesized by a partial reduction strategy. This synthetic strategy confers the heterostructured Ni/Ni(OH) nanosheets with abundant Ni(0)-Ni(II) active interfaces for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and Ni(II) defects as transitional active sites for oxygen evolution reaction (OER).

Engineering the Electronic Structure of Submonolayer Pt on Intermetallic PdPb via Charge Transfer Boosts the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction.

The efficient electrochemical hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) plays a key role in accelerating sustainable H production from water electrolysis, but its large-scale applications are hindered by the high cost of the state-of-the-art Pt catalyst. In this work, submonolayer Pt was controllably deposited on an intermetallic PdPb nanoplate (AL-Pt/PdPb). The atomic efficiency and electronic structure of the active surface Pt layer were largely optimized, greatly enhancing the acidic HER.

Single Cobalt Atoms with Precise N-Coordination as Superior Oxygen Reduction Reaction Catalysts.

A new strategy for achieving stable Co single atoms (SAs) on nitrogen-doped porous carbon with high metal loading over 4 wt % is reported. The strategy is based on a pyrolysis process of predesigned bimetallic Zn/Co metal-organic frameworks, during which Co can be reduced by carbonization of the organic linker and Zn is selectively evaporated away at high temperatures above 800 °C. The spherical aberration correction electron microscopy and extended X-ray absorption fine structure measurements both confirm the atomic dispersion of Co atoms stabilized by as-generated N-doped porous carbon.

Modulating fcc and hcp Ruthenium on the Surface of Palladium-Copper Alloy through Tunable Lattice Mismatch.

Herein, we report an epitaxial-growth-mediated method to grow face-centered cubic (fcc) Ru, which is thermodynamically unfavorable in the bulk form, on the surface of Pd-Cu alloy. Induced by the galvanic replacement between Ru and Pd-Cu alloy, a shape transformation from a Pd-Cu@Ru core-shell to a yolk-shell structure was observed during the epitaxial growth. The successful coating of the unconventional crystallographic structure is critically dependent on the moderate lattice mismatch between the fcc Ru overlayer and PdCu3 alloy substrate.

Ultrathin Icosahedral Pt-Enriched Nanocage with Excellent Oxygen Reduction Reaction Activity.

Cost-efficient utilization of Pt in the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is of great importance for the potential industrial scale demand of proton-exchange membrane fuel cells. Designing a hollow structure of a Pt catalyst offers a great opportunity to enhance the electrocatalytic performance and maximize the use of precious Pt. Herein we report a routine to synthesize ultrathin icosahedral Pt-enriched nanocages.

Hydrogel-derived non-precious electrocatalysts for efficient oxygen reduction.

The development of highly active, cheap and robust oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) electrocatalysts to replace precious metal platinum is extremely urgent and challenging for renewable energy devices. Herein we report a novel, green and especially facile hydrogel strategy to construct N and B co-doped nanocarbon embedded with Co-based nanoparticles as an efficient non-precious ORR catalyst. The agarose hydrogel provides a general host matrix to achieve a homogeneous distribution of key precursory components including cobalt (II) acetate and buffer salts, which, upon freeze-drying and carbonization, produces the highly active ORR catalyst.

Multifunctional electroactive heteroatom-doped carbon aerogels.

The design and synthesis of highly active, durable, and cheap nanomaterials for various renewable energy storage and conversion applications is extremely desirable but remains challenging. Here, a green and efficient strategy to produce CoOx nanoparticles and surface N-co-doped carbon aerogels (Co-N-CAs) is reported by multicomponent surface self-assembly of commercially melamine sponge (CMS). In the methodology, the CMS simultaneously function as green N precursor for surface N doping and 3D support.

Synthesis and photocatalytic performance of ZnIn2S4 nanotubes and nanowires.

ZnIn2S4 nanotubes and nanowires have been selectively fabricated via a convenient one-step wet-chemical approach by using porous polycarbonate membrane as a hard template. The wall of nanotubes is as thin as 5 nm, and the diameter of them is 200 nm. Formation mechanism of ZnIn2S4 nanotubes and nanowires is also discussed according to the experimental results.

Phosphate-free synthesis, optical absorption and photoelectric properties of Cu2ZnGeS4 and Cu2ZnGeSe4 uniform nanocrystals.

Copper-based quaternary chalcogenide semiconductor Cu2ZnGeS4 and Cu2ZnGeSe4 nanocrystals have been synthesized successfully via a simple and convenient one-pot phosphine-free solution approach. Oleylamine was used as both the solvent and reductant for Se or S and benefited the formation of homogeneous quaternary nanocrystals. Scanning transmission electron microscopy-EDS elemental mapping confirms the uniform spatial distribution of four elements in nanocrystals.

Synthesis and photoelectric properties of Cu2ZnGeS4 and Cu2ZnGeSe4 single-crystalline nanowire arrays.

Cu2ZnGeS4 (CZGS) and Cu2ZnGeSe4 (CZGSe) single crystalline nanowire arrays have been prepared via a convenient one-step nanoconfined solvothermal approach. The porous anodic aluminum oxide was used as a morphology directing template by offering nanospace in the AAO pores for confined solvothermal reaction. The structure, morphology, composition, and optical absorption properties of the as-prepared samples were characterized using X-ray powder diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy, and a UV-vis spectrophotometer.