Effective Electron Transport Research Articles

Exploring Electron Transfer Mechanism in Synergistic Interactional Reduced Polyoxometalate-Based Cu(I)-Organic Framework for Photocatalytic Removal of U(VI).

Photocatalytic reduction of U(VI) is a promising method for removing uranium containing pollutants. However, using polyoxometalate-based metal-organic frameworks (POMOFs) for photoreduction of U(VI) is rare, and the relevant charge transfer pathway is also not yet clear. In this article, we demonstrate a highly efficient strategy and revealed a clearly electron transfer pathway for the photoreduction of U(VI) with 99% removal efficiency by using a novel POMOF, [Cu(4,4'-bipy)]5·{AsMo4VMo6VIV2VO40(VIVO)[VIVO(H2O)]}·2H2O (1), as catalyst. The POMOF catalyst was constructed by the connection of reduced {AsMo10V4} clusters and Cu(I)-MOF chains through Cu-O coordination bonds, which exhibits a broader and stronger light absorption capacity due to the presence of reduced {AsMo10V4} clusters. Significantly, the transition of electrons from Cu(I)-MOF to {AsMo10V4} clusters (Cu → Mo/V) greatly inhibits the recombination of photogenerated carriers, thereby advancing electron transfer. More importantly, the {AsMo10V4} clusters are not only adsorption sites but also catalytically active sites. This causes the fast transfer of photogenerated electrons from Mo/V to UO22+(Mo/V → O → U) via the surface oxygen atoms. The shorter electron transmission distance between catalytic active sites and UO22+ achieves faster and more effective electron transport. All in all, the highly effective photocatalytic removal of U(VI) using the POMOF as a catalyst is predominantly due to the synergistic interaction between Cu(I)-MOFs and reduced {AsMo10V4} clusters.

Electrochemical approach for nonenzymatic glucose sensing with noble metal-free 2D graphene-based ternary nanocomposite

The present work demonstrates a new nanocomposite of ZnO, SnO2, and Graphene, which is more effective and inexpensive for glucose detection than existing materials. Further, ZnO and SnO2 is a desirable selection for glucose sensing application because of its advantageous characteristics, which include high adsorption capacity, broad surface area, good catalytic activity, promotes effective electron transport, and biocompatibility. These materials were synthesized through a self-assembly method. The synthesized ZnO-G-SnO2 nanocomposite was then assessed through X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), Raman spectroscopy, Energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy (DRS), Photocurrent testing, and Nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms. The ZnO-G-SnO2 nanocomposite was used in the fabrication of an enzyme-free biosensor, which displayed good sensitivity and selectivity in glucose solution through cyclic voltammetry. These results indicate that ZnO-G-SnO2 is useful for glucose detection with efficient electrocatalytic activity in the direction of organically significant concentrations with low current density (0.0010 Ma/cm2) and 0.5 mmol/L at the potential from ‐1.0 to 1.0 v. Altogether, this nanocomposite biosensor can detect glucose accurately and with good sensitivity.

Fabrication of a supporting kapok‑carbon/rGO electrode via self-assembly with enhanced capacitance

To address the limitations associated with biomass mass transfer and improve the capacitance of graphene oxide (GO), a supporting Kapok Fiber carbon/reduced GO (CKF/rGO) electrode was constructed via an effective combination of CKF and GO. The carbon electrode (CKF-800/rGO-1:1) fabricated by mixing GO with CKF-800 in a 1:1 ratio showed a specific capacitance of 721.6 mF·cm−2 at a current density of 0.5 mA·cm−2. Moreover, the capacitance retention rate of this film was 95.71 % after 5000 cycles at a current density of 10 mA·cm−2. The use of GO as a stable support system, combined with the kapok carbon's large surface area and a unique tubular transmission channel for carbon electrodes, contributed to this result. Furthermore, the combination prevents agglomeration and restacking between graphene layers, ensuring effective electron and ion transport and providing a CKF/rGO composite carbon-supported electrode with excellent electrochemical properties. Therefore, CKF-800/rGO-1:1 represents a promising material for use as a supporting biomass-based carbon electrode.

ZnxCd1–xSySe1–y as an effective electron transport layer for improving the efficiency of Sb2S3 and Sb2Se3 thin-film solar cells

ZnxCd1–xSySe1–y as an effective electron transport layer for improving the efficiency of Sb2S3 and Sb2Se3 thin-film solar cells

Reviewing carbon nanotube fillers for enhanced conductivity in proton exchange membrane fuel cell bipolar plates

This article reviews recent studies on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as fillers in enhancing the electrical conductivity of composite bipolar plates (BPPs) used for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs). Findings revealed that CNTs possess high-aspect ratios, which facilitate effective electron transport and promote charge-carrier mobility within the composite, thereby enhancing conductivity. In addition, strategies addressing the challenges of achieving high conductivity by optimizing filler dispersion, resin viscosity, and fiber alignment were explored.

Enhanced photocatalytic activity of V3O7 / V2O5 - reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite towards methylene blue dye degradation.

This work investigates the photocatalytic performance of V2O5and V3O7nanoparticles and their nanocomposites with rGO. The as-annealed V2O5and V3O7nanoparticles exhibited pure orthorhombic and monoclinic structures with an optical bandgap of 2.3 and 2.5eV, respectively. The corresponding vibrational modes using Raman and FTIR spectroscopy analysis further confirm the form. The morphological studies reveal that V2O5and V3O7nanoparticles possess plate and petal-like morphology, respectively. Moreover, in the case of V2O5/V3O7-rGO nanocomposites, the plate/petal-like nanoparticles are embedded within rGO sheets. Incorporating nanoparticles within rGO sheets has quenched the green photoluminescence emission, enhancing their photocatalytic performance upon irradiation with white light of 100 mW/cm2. This is ascribed to the effective transport of interfacial electrons from vanadium oxide nanoparticles to the rGO surface, reducing the recombination of photogenerated charge carriers. These results indicate that the vanadium oxide/rGO nanocomposites have potential applications in wastewater treatment.

Small-Molecule Copper Chloride Modulating the Buried Interfaces of Perovskite Solar Cells.

In perovskite solar cells (PSCs), tin dioxide (SnO2) is a highly effective electron transport material. On the other hand, the low intrinsic conductivity of SnO2, the high trap-state density on the surface and bulk of SnO2, and inadequate interface contacts between SnO2 and perovskite significantly impact device performance. Herein, small-molecule copper(II) chloride (CuCl2) is introduced into the SnO2 dispersion, which inhibits the agglomeration of SnO2 colloids and improves the quality of the electron transport layer. Furthermore, the introduction of CuCl2 optimizes the energy-level array between the ETL and perovskite layer (PVK) and passivates the anion/cation defects in SnO2, perovskite, and their interface, realizing the systematic modulation of the photoelectronic properties of the ETLs and PVKs as well as the PVK/ETL. As a result, the CuCl2-opmized PSC exhibits an impressive power conversion efficiency of 23.71%, along with improved stability.

Inkjet-printed SnOx as an effective electron transport layer for planar perovskite solar cells and the effect of Cu doping.

Inkjet printing is a more sustainable and scalable fabrication method than spin coating for producing perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Although spin-coated SnO2 has been intensively studied as an effective electron transport layer (ETL) for PSCs, inkjet-printed SnO2 ETLs have not been widely reported. Here, we fabricated inkjet-printed, solution-processed SnOx ETLs for planar PSCs. A champion efficiency of 17.55% was achieved for the cell using a low-temperature processed SnOx ETL. The low-temperature SnOx exhibited an amorphous structure and outperformed high-temperature crystalline SnO2. The improved performance was attributed to enhanced charge extraction and transport and suppressed charge recombination at ETL/perovskite interfaces, which originated from enhanced electrical and optical properties of SnOx, improved perovskite film quality, and well-matched energy level alignment between the SnOx ETL and the perovskite layer. Furthermore, SnOx was doped with Cu. Cu doping increased surface oxygen defects and upshifted energy levels of SnOx, leading to reduced device performance. A tunable hysteresis was observed for PSCs with Cu-doped SnOx ETLs, decreasing at first and turning into inverted hysteresis afterwards with increasing Cu doping level. This tunable hysteresis was related to the interplay between charge/ion accumulation and recombination at ETL/perovskite interfaces in the case of electron extraction barriers.

Facilitated Visible-Light-Driven Peroxymonosulfate Activation by a Co-Fe Layered Double Hydroxide Derived p-n Heterostructure for Sulfadiazine Degradation: Affecting Parameters, Kinetics, and Mechanistic Insights.

The utilization of multivalence ionic metal species generated through a peroxymonosulfate (PMS)-assisted photocatalytic system is a promising platform for the selective degradation of water contaminants. However, achieving an effective electron transport and enhanced separation efficiency for these metal species is a daunting challenge. Thus, our current study addresses this challenge by using a Co-Fe-based layered-double-hydroxide template to synthesize a Co3O4/FeCo2O4 p-n heterojunction composite via a simple monosynthetic route. The resultant composite is thoroughly validated through advanced characterization techniques that efficiently activate PMS for sulfadiazine (SDZ) degradation under visible light, achieving a remarkable degradation efficiency of up to 90%. This accomplishment is attributed to factors including intimate interfacial contact, excellent light harvesting, mesoporosity, and oxygen vacancies within the composite. The formation of a distinct p-n heterojunction following the S-scheme charge dynamic significantly enhances photogenerated carrier separation and reduces charge recombination. The research delves into comprehensive investigations including degradation studies, active species trapping experiments, parameter exploration, and in-depth liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry for analysis of the degradation byproducts and pathway. Induced oxygen vacancies, strategically placed active surface sites, and mesoporosity in the Co3O4/FeCo2O4 composite synergistically boosted the sluggish PMS activation, leading to enhanced SDZ degradation. This study introduces a new perspective by demonstrating the potential of a single-material, mixed-metal oxide-based p-n heterojunction photocatalytic system following the S-scheme charge-transfer route for SDZ degradation. The findings contribute toward emphasizing the importance of tailored composite materials in tackling persistent contaminants.

Fluorene- and fluorenone-based molecules as electron-transporting SAMs for photovoltaic devices.

New semiconductors containing fluorene or fluorenone central fragments along with phosphonic acid anchoring groups were synthesized and investigated as electron transporting materials for possible application in photovoltaic devices. These derivatives demonstrate good thermal stability and suitable electrochemical properties for effective electron transport from perovskite, Sb2S3 and Sb2Se3 absorber layers. Self-assembled fluorene and fluorenone electron-transporting materials have shown improved substrate wettability, indicating bond formation between monolayer-forming compounds and the ITO, TiO2, Sb2S3, or Sb2Se3 surface. Additionally, investigated materials have compatible energetic band alignment and can passivate perovskite interface defects, which makes them interesting candidates for application in the n-i-p structure perovskite solar cell.

Synergistic Effect of CNT-TiO2 Catalyst and 3D Electrode Architecture for Electrochemical Performance in Lithium-Sulfur Batteries

Lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs) are a potential electrochemical storage system for the future with high capacity (1675 mAh g−1) and energy density (∼2600 Wh kg−1). The poor conductivity of sulfur, polysulfide shuttle effect, and volume expansion of the sulfur cathode are the main hurdles to their commercialization. To mitigate these issues, this work represents a rational composite of hybrid multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) -TiO2 high surface area carbon-sulfur composite (CTHS) onto a 3D carbon fiber (CF) based free-standing electrode (CTHS@CF) architecture. TiO2 can effectively anchor the polysulfides by chemical bonding and improve cyclability. MWCNTs and CFs are the effective electron transport materials that accelerate the redox kinetics of polysulfides. The electrochemistry of CTHS@CF reveals an excellent discharge capacity of 910 mAh g−1 (1st cycle) at 100 mA g−1 compared to the conventional aluminum-coated (CTHS@Al) of 532 mAh g−1. The CTHS@CF (at 300 mA g−1) displays 514 mAh g−1 (initial discharge) capacity with 83% capacity retention up to 100 cycles, whereas CTHS@Al shows 394 mAh g−1 with 44% capacity retention. Combining 3D electrode architecture with the metal oxide (TiO2) plays a vital role in the electrochemistry of LSBs by improving the stability of the battery’s cycle life and overall energy density.

(Invited) Utilizing Conjugated Imine Polymers to Stabilize Nanoparticle Silicon Anodes

Silicon anodes provide a compelling route towards delivering high-capacity lithium-ion batteries, however they are notoriously difficult to stabilize in conventional liquid electrolytes that are compatible with high performance cathodes. Furthermore, the drastic changes in volume that occur as silicon is lithiated and delithiated can lead to rapid cell failure and innovative polymeric binders are required to help mitigate mechanical issues. We have recently developed a novel method to synthesize the conjugated binder polyphenylmethanimine (polyPMI) using an imine metathesis reaction. We have demonstrated that this polymer can be used to stabilize silicon nanoparticles to produce a composite lithium-ion battery anode that is electrochemically stable for hundreds of lithiation and delithiation cycles with a Coulombic efficiency that is greater than 99.95% in a traditional carbonate liquid electrolyte.1 This novel polymeric coating passivates silicon nanoparticles by shielding them from direct electrolyte contact while maintaining effective ionic and electronic transport and also imbues the electrodes with excellent mechanical resilience to the volumetric changes experienced during cycling. We will cover the structure/property relationship of polyPMI within the context of the unique mechanical and electrochemical requirements of nanoparticle silicon anodes. We will also discuss the electrochemical behavior of this polymer and how it also offers new opportunities as an organic lithium-coordinating material that can be used to stabilize a variety of other battery electrodes. More broadly, we will posit that this solution-processed, ionically conductive, and electronically conductive polymer is applicable for a variety of energy storage and conversion technologies. Finally, this work will demonstrate how this novel polymer chemistry provides additional opportunities for tuning electrode architecture to target high areal capacity electrodes that enable high gravimetric and volumetric capacity full cells.1. T. R. Martin et al., Adv. Energy Mater., 2203921 (2023).

Polysaccharides derived from Ganoderma lucidum applied to the extraction chitosan and development of electrochemical sensor based on extracted chitosan and graphitic carbon nitride modified electrode for determination nitrite in food samples

The current study focused on extracting chitosan from polysaccharides generated from Ganoderma lucidum and applying it to the construction of electrochemically modified electrodes based on graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) for the measurement of nitrite in water and food samples. Ganoderma Lucidum polysaccharides were isolated and characterized. The chitosan was then isolated enzymatically from the polysaccharides using a chemical technique. The isolated chitosan and g-C3N4 were used to modify a GCE (chitosan/g-C3N4/GCE). The structural investigations employing FT-IR, SEM, and XRD show that chitosan successfully interacted with g-C3N4 in the chitosan/g-C3N4 sample. Electrochemical evaluation using cycle voltammetry (CV), differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), and amperometry revealed that the chitosan/g-C3N4/GCE electrode has good sensitivity and selectivity for determining nitrite. The use of chitosan and g-C3N4 in electrode surface modification improved nitrite electro-oxidation performance by allowing for more effective adsorption and electron transport processes. DPV measurement showed that the sensor had a sensitivity of 0.12103 μA/μM, a linear range of 40 to 2000 μM, and a limit of detection of 21 nM, and amperometry measurement showed the sensor's sensitivity of 0.15487 μA/μM, linear range of 20 to 4230 μM, and an LOD of 10 nM. These findings indicated a more sensitive and wide range of sensor performance using amperometry with respect to the DPV technique. The method's validity and accuracy in determining nitrite in prepared genuine samples (water, milk, apple juice, orange juice, Aloe vera, and tomato juice) were investigated. RSD values (3.19 % to 4.75 %) and recovery values (80.00 % to 98.33 %) were found to be satisfactory. The data also revealed that there were no substantial matrix interferences, demonstrating the accuracy and applicability of the proposed approach for detecting nitrite in food samples. Therefore, the proposed sensor design has several advantages that make it a promising candidate for various applications. Its reusability, stability, wide linear range, accuracy, and low cost make it an attractive option for many industries.

Interfacial engineering of α-Fe2O3 coupled Co3O4 heterostructures anchored on g-C3N4 structure for enhanced electrocatalytic performance in alkaline oxygen evolution reaction

Creating an efficient electrocatalytic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) by developing a low-cost, stable metal oxide nanocomposite based on earth-abundant materials is an essential and highly efficient method to meet the increasing demand for sustainable energy. For this reason, we have proposed a simple and effective interfacial engineering approach to construct a novel graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) strongly coupled with α-Fe2O3 and Co3O4 as dual co-catalysts for highly active electrocatalysts (ECs) OER in a typical alkaline electrolyte. The detailed structural, chemical, and morphological characterizations were performed by various analyses. The as-synthesized g-C3N4/Co3O4/α-Fe2O3 (GCFO) nanocomposite ECs exhibited efficient and stable OER performances with low overpotentials of 359 mV to attain a 10 mA/cm2 current density and a less Tafel slope of 116 mV dec−1, resulting in better durability after 14 h of the i-t test. A strong coupling interaction was found at the interface between the g-C3N4 and the α-Fe2O3/Co3O4 heterostructure, which acts as an effective electron transport channel and exposes more catalytically active sites to explore the outstanding performances for electrocatalysis OER. These results show that a novel approach for the rational coupling of composite heterostructures could be an alternative to using noble metals for sustainable energy-related applications.

Vanadium and tantalum doping of tin dioxide: a theoretical study.

The increasing demand of efficient optoelectronic devices such as photovoltaics has created a great research interest in methods to manipulate the electronic and optical properties of all the layers of the device. Tin dioxide (SnO2), due to his charge transport capability, high stability and easy fabrication is the main electron transport layer in modern photovoltaics which have achieved a record efficiency. While the wide band gap of SnO2 makes it an effective electron transport layer, its potential for other energy applications such as photocatalysis is limited. To further improve is conductivity and reduce its bandgap, doping or co-doping with various elements has been proposed. In the present density functional theory (DFT) study, we focus on the investigation of vanadium (V) and tantalum (Ta) doped SnO2 both in the bulk and the surface. Here we focus on interstitial and substitutional doping aiming to leverage these modifications to enhance the density of states for energy application. These changes also have the potential to influence the optical properties of the material, such as absorption, and make SnO2 more versatile for photovoltaic and photocatalytic applications. The calculations show the formation of gap states near the band edges which are beneficial for the electron transition and in the case of Ta doping the lowest bandgap value is achieved. Interestingly, in the case of Ta interstitial, deep trap states are formed which depending of the application could be advantageous. Regarding the optical properties, we found that V doping significantly increases the refractive index of SnO2 while the absorption is generally improved in all the cases. Lastly, we investigate the electronic properties of the (110) surface of SnO2, and we discuss possible other applications due to surface doping. The present work highlights the importance of V and Ta doping for energy applications and sensor applications.

Simulation Design of Novel Non-Fluorine Polymers as Electron Transport Layer for Lead-Free Perovskite Solar Cells.

Significant progress has been made in the advancement of perovskite solar cells, but their commercialization remains hindered by their lead-based toxicity. Many non-toxic perovskite-based solar cells have demonstrated potential, such as Cs2AgBi0.75Sb0.25Br6, but their power conversion efficiency is inadequate. To address this issue, some researchers are focusing on emerging acceptor-donor-acceptor'-donor-acceptor (A-DA'D-A)-type non-fullerene acceptors (NFAs) for Cs2AgBi0.75Sb0.25Br6 to find effective electron transport layers for high-performance photovoltaic responses with low voltage drops. In this comparative study, four novel A-DA'D-A-type NFAs, BT-LIC, BT-BIC, BT-L4F, and BT-BO-L4F, were used as electron transport layers (ETLs) for the proposed devices, FTO/PEDOT:PSS/Cs2AgBi0.75Sb0.25Br6/ETL/Au. Comprehensive simulations were conducted to optimize the devices. The simulations showed that all optimized devices exhibit photovoltaic responses, with the BT-BIC device having the highest power conversion efficiency (13.2%) and the BT-LIC device having the lowest (6.8%). The BT-BIC as an ETL provides fewer interfacial traps and better band alignment, enabling greater open-circuit voltage for efficient photovoltaic responses.

A Computational Study on the Impact of Anchoring Groups on the Optical and Electronic Properties of Triphenylamine-Based Dyes for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell Applications

Anchoring groups are crucial for enhancing the performance of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). For instance, cyanoacrylic acid serves as the primary anchoring group in DSSC due to its crucial elements required for effective electron transport. However, it suffers from degradation. To address this limitation, this study proposes alternative cyano-based anchoring groups for sensitizers. Density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT were used to investigate the optical and electronic properties of the dyes. The studied dyes (excluding the dye containing OH group) displayed three absorption bands within the visible and NIR regions. Low-energy peaks ranged from 498 to 576 nm, corresponding to excitation from ground state to first excited state. Moderate intensity bands appeared at 376 to 418 nm, with the highest energy bands falling within 351 to 384 nm. Ground state oxidation potential values for the dyes were lower than the redox potential of the iodide/triiodide pair. Similarly, excited state oxidation potential values were higher than or equal to the conduction band of TiO2, except for NO2 and CHO containing dyes. Ionization potential values ranged from 6.24 eV to 6.40 eV, while electron affinity values were within 1.21 eV to 2.74 eV. Chemical potential values ranged from 3.75 to 4.57 eV, and chemical hardness of the dyes fell between 1.83 to 2.54 eV. The proposed cyano-based anchoring groups show promising potential for enhancing DSSC performance.

Enhanced photoconversion efficiency of Cu2MnSnS4 solar cells by Sn-/Zn-based oxides and chalcogenides buffer and electron transport layers

Copper Manganese Tin Sulfide, Cu2MnSnS4 (CMTS), has emerged as a potential candidate for cost-competitive, eco-friendly single- or multiple p-n junction kesterite quaternary photovoltaics (PVs) due to its distinct optical and electrical properties, with earth-abundant as well as non-toxic constituents. In this article, Cu2MnSnS4 absorber-based heterostructures with ZnMgO, WS2, SnO2, CdS electron transport (window) and SnS2, ZnSe, ZnSnO, Zn(O,S) buffer layers have been investigated by executing a systematic study and proposing the mostly efficient device structures containing the favourable band alignment using the SCAPS-1D simulator. Initially, an effective buffer and electron transport (window) layers have been optimized from Al:ZnO/window (ZnMgO, WS2, SnS2, or CdS)/buffer (SnS2, ZnSe, ZnSnO, Zn(O,S))/Cu2MnSnS4/Pt structures. Subsequently, the impact of different properties of each active layer of optimized structures, such as bandgap, layer thickness, carrier concentration, bulk and interface defect densities, and working temperature, was determined by measuring PV parameters and corresponding quantum efficiency. The present study exhibited the maximum photocurrent, JSC of 23.69 mA/cm2, open circuit voltage, VOC of 1.236 V, fill factor, FF of 85.49% and photoconversion efficiency, PCE of 25.03% with optimized SLG/Mo/Cu2MnSnS4/SnS2/ZnMgO/ZnO:Al/Pt structure under AM1.5G irradiation. Furthermore, a detailed comparison among recent studies has been carried out to demonstrate the significance of the proposed structure, challenges, and future prospects. Thus, obtained results pave significant resources and emancipate a new pathway to fabricate enviro-benign, cost-competitive, high-efficiency CMTS-thin film photovoltaics.

One-step spin-coating of methylammonium lead iodide on SILAR-deposited tin oxide, SnO2 films for effective electron transport

Tin oxide (SnO2) materials were prepared via successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) technique at varying deposition times. The synthesized tin oxide layer served as an electron transport layer for the deposition of a perovskite layer via spin coating method. The morphology, structure, elemental, optical features and vibration modes of the prepared samples have been studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), UV–vis spectrophotometry, and Raman spectrophotometry, respectively. The films revealed granular-shaped nanograins with a maximum average grain size of 197.03 nm. XRD results showed a cassiterite pure-phase crystal structure with several prominent peaks. EDX studies confirmed the as-deposited elemental constituents with good optical properties obtained from the optical studies. The band gap energies ranged from 4.01 to 4.24 eV at increasing deposition times. The phonon modes and crystal structures were also revealed from the Raman studies. The materials find applications in solar cells and electronic devices.

Insights into the underpinning effect of graphene in Cu1Mn10 on enhancing the low-temperature catalytic activity for CO oxidation

CO emission is a critical issue of industrial processes such as steel-smelting, cement manufacturing, and waste incineration. Catalytic oxidation based on Cu–Mn binary catalysts shows great potential for efficient removal of CO, whereas their practical applicability is limited by the inferior low-temperature catalytic activity and the high catalyst cost owing to a substantial quantity of Cu. In this study, doping graphene is designed to adjust the electron transfer capability to improve the low-temperature catalytic activity as well as reduce the amount of Cu, and thereby Cu1Mn10 catalysts doped with slight amounts of graphene (x%G-Cu1Mn10, x is 1∼5) were fabricated. It was found that the introduction of graphene could form effective electron transport channels to enhance the intermetallic interaction and oxygen vacancy generation, thus improving the low-temperature catalytic performance of the Cu1Mn10 catalyst. Among all the catalysts, 4%G-Cu1Mn10 exhibited the highest activity, achieving CO conversion of 92% at 110 °C at a weight hourly space velocity of 120,000 mL/(g∙h). The introduction of graphene also enabled the catalyst with excellent catalytic activity and stability at a relative humidity of 70%. Attractively, 4%G-Cu1Mn10 can be further loaded into the polyester fabric, presenting great application potentials in the effective elimination of CO during the dust removal process since the flue gas temperature in the dust collector is just around the T90% and the catalyst that is inside of fabric fiber rather than on the fabric surface can be rarely influenced by the dust. In general, doping graphene provides a facile method to enhance the low-temperature activities of the Cu–Mn binary catalysts and cut down the use of valuable Cu, showing great application potential.