Rate Of Evolution Research Articles

Enhancing the Activity of a Carbon Nitride Photocatalyst by Constructing a Triazine-Heptazine Homojunction.

Establishing homojunctions at the molecular level between different but physicochemically similar phases belonging to the same family of materials is an effective approach to promoting the photocatalytic activity of polymeric carbon nitride (CN) materials. Here, we prepared a CN material with a uniform distribution of homojunctions by combining two synthetic strategies: supramolecular assemblies as the precursor and molten salt as the medium. We designed porous CN rods with triazine-heptazine homojunctions (THCNs) using a melem supramolecular aggregate (Me) and melamine as the precursors and a KCl/LiBr salt mixture as the liquid reaction medium. The triazine/heptazine ratio is controlled by varying the relative amounts of the chosen precursors, and the molten salt treatment enhances the structural order of the interplanar packing units for the THCN skeleton, leading to rapid charge migration. The resulting built-in electric field induced by the triazine-heptazine homojunction enhances photogenerated charge separation; the optimal THCN catalyst exhibits an excellent H2 evolution rate via photocatalytic water splitting, which is ∼24 times as high as that of reference bulk CN, with long-term stability.

Conjugated Polymer/Recombinant Escherichia coli Biohybrid Systems for Photobiocatalytic Hydrogen Production.

Biohybrid photocatalysts are composite materials that combine the efficient light-absorbing properties of synthetic materials with the highly evolved metabolic pathways and self-repair mechanisms of biological systems. Here, we show the potential of conjugated polymers as photosensitizers in biohybrid systems by combining a series of polymer nanoparticles with engineered Escherichia coli cells. Under simulated solar light irradiation, the biohybrid system consisting of fluorene/dibenzo [b,d]thiophene sulfone copolymer (LP41) and recombinant E. coli (i.e., a LP41/HydA BL21 biohybrid) shows a sacrificial hydrogen evolution rate of 3.442 mmol g-1 h-1 (normalized to polymer amount). It is over 30 times higher than the polymer photocatalyst alone (0.105 mmol g-1 h-1), while no detectable hydrogen was generated from the E. coli cells alone, demonstrating the strong synergy between the polymer nanoparticles and bacterial cells. The differences in the physical interactions between synthetic materials and microorganisms, as well as redox energy level alignment, elucidate the trends in photochemical activity. Our results suggest that organic semiconductors may offer advantages, such as solution processability, low toxicity, and more tunable surface interactions with the biological components over inorganic materials.

Photogeneration of Hydrogen: Insights from a Pt(II)‐Complex Incorporated into a Covalent Organic Framework

AbstractPt(II)‐based molecular catalysts stand as a prototypical system in hydrogen evolution reactions (HER) owing to their consistently elevated activity levels. Their integration into heterogeneous systems thus provides an ideal platform to develop catalytic materials with optimal atom economy. In this work, by rational molecular design, we have synthesized a novel two‐dimensional photoactive Covalent Organic Framework (COF), wherein the pore walls host a quinoline‐based α‐diimine ligand serving as a coordination site for anchoring a Pt(II) molecular catalyst. Thorough structural analyses, employing X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DR), coupled with DFT calculations, distinctly confirm the Pt(II) complexation through the coordination site of the α‐diimine ligand. The Pt(II)‐metalated COF exhibits photocatalytic activity with a hydrogen evolution rate reaching up to 1300 μmol g−1 h−1. Nevertheless, the occurrence of platinum nanoparticles in post‐catalysis samples, along with reduced photocatalytic activity in the presence of chloride ions, suggests that Pt(II) anchored into the COF backbone might not be the primary catalytic site.

Integration of hydrogen evolution and dye removal in flexocatalysis by centrosymmetric semiconductor nanorods

In this work, coupling of the hydrogen (H2) production and dye degradation was first realized in a single flexocatalytic process using cerium oxide nanorods (CeO2 NRs). The flexoelectric polarization in a bending nanorod created an internal electric field, which promoted the separation of the thermal-excited electrons and holes. As a consequence, the H2 evolution rate of the flexocatalysis in dark was twice higher than that of the photocatalysis by the same CeO2 NRs. Moreover, simultaneous dye degradation was realized without reducing the H2 evolution rate, with the degradation constant rate of 0.065 min−1, dye removal efficiency of 89.3%, and H2 generation at 486.4 μmol g−1 h−1. The dual-functional catalytic performance of the CeO2 NRs was benefited from the unique periodic flexoelectric field induced by the ultrasound vibration, which could not be achieved by photocatalysis. This work revealed the important role of flexoelectric effect in overcoming the limitation in photocatalysis, which could be extended to a wide range of semiconductor nanomaterials for designing novel kinds of advanced flexocatalysts.

Different Evolutionary Trends of Galloanseres: Mitogenomics Analysis

The two existing clades of Galloanseres, orders Galliformes (landfowl) and Anseriformes (waterfowl), exhibit dramatically different evolutionary trends. Mitochondria serve as primary sites for energy production in organisms, and numerous studies have revealed their role in biological evolution and ecological adaptation. We assembled the complete mitogenome sequences of two species of the genus Aythya within Anseriformes: Aythya baeri and Aythya marila. A phylogenetic tree was constructed for 142 species within Galloanseres, and their divergence times were inferred. The divergence between Galliformes and Anseriformes occurred ~79.62 million years ago (Mya), followed by rapid evolution and diversification after the Middle Miocene (~13.82 Mya). The analysis of selective pressure indicated that the mitochondrial protein-coding genes (PCGs) of Galloanseres species have predominantly undergone purifying selection. The free-ratio model revealed that the evolutionary rates of COX1 and COX3 were lower than those of the other PCGs, whereas ND2 and ND6 had faster evolutionary rates. The CmC model also indicated that most PCGs in Anseriformes exhibited stronger selective constraints. Our study suggests that the distinct evolutionary trends and energy requirements of Galliformes and Anseriformes drive different evolutionary patterns in the mitogenome.

Construction of a bifunctional BiVO4 based S-scheme heterojunction for enhancing photothermal-photocatalytic oxygen generation and benzaldehyde production

In order to address the main challenges in photocatalysis, such as the recombination of photo-generated carriers and the limited absorption range of light, a successful strategy was developed by creating a photothermal-photocatalytic S-scheme heterojunction through the combination of CdS nanoparticles with BiVO4 nanorods. XPS analysis, as well as SPV results, revealed the establishment, direction, and strength of the internal electric field (IEF) in the created CdS/BiVO4 heterojunction. Due to the matched band structure and the strong IEF, the heterojunction followed the S-scheme transfer mode under light, inducing the strong redox ability and fast separation of photo-generated carriers. Besides that, the heat generated by incorporating a photothermal-effect during illumination also helped to boost the photocatalytic reaction. As a result, the engineered CdS/BiVO4 heterojunction exhibited an impressive benzaldehyde production of 17.45 mmol g−1·h−1, approximately four times higher than that of pure BiVO4 (3.70 mmol g−1·h−1). Furthermore, the oxygen evolution rate of the CdS/BiVO4 heterojunction was 3146.68 µmol·g−1, much higher than that of BiVO4 (1042.98 µmol·g−1). This study introduces a novel approach to overcome the fundamental obstacles in semiconductor photocatalysis, paving the way for enhanced overall performance.

S‐Scheme g‐C3N4/CdS Heterostructures Grafting Single Pd Atoms for Ultrafast Charge Transport and Efficient Visible‐Light‐Driven H2 Evolution

AbstractEmerging step‐scheme (S‐scheme) heterostructures hold unique superiority in steering directional charge transport and reinforcing redox capacity, yet rational modification of S‐scheme heterostructures by single atoms (SAs) for efficient photocatalytic H2 evolution is rarely reported. In this work, Pd SAs‐modulated organic–inorganic g‐C3N4/CdS S‐scheme heterostructures are designed and prepared by a one‐pot mechanochemical approach allowing for g‐C3N4 nanosheets/CdS nanoparticles to confine atomically dispersed Pd co‐catalysts. The g‐C3N4/CdS S‐scheme charge‐transfer pathway is corroborated by a combination of in situ irradiated X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, electron paramagnetic resonance, and Kelvin probe force microscopy. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations, high‐angle annular dark‐field scanning transmission electron microscopy, and X‐ray absorption fine structure identify Pd‐S3 and Pd‐N2 atomic moieties underpinned by the electronic interaction between Pd SAs and g‐C3N4/CdS heterostructures, in which the d‐band center of Pd SAs is optimized for proton adsorption thermodynamically. Further, the g‐C3N4/CdS S‐scheme heterostructures alongside Pd SAs in concert boost the rapid migration of photogenerated electrons (1.05 ps) via Pd─S and Pd─N bond‐derived channels. A maximal H2 evolution rate of 85.66 mmol h−1 g−1 is achieved by 1 wt% Pd‐20 wt% g‐C3N4/CdS hierarchical composites. This work may guide the design of high‐efficiency S‐scheme‐based photocatalysts for solar‐to‐H2 conversion and beyond.

Harnessing the Power of Light: The Synergistic Effects of Crystalline Carbon Nitride and Ti3C2Tx MXene in Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production

AbstractPhotocatalytic hydrogen evolution is an environmentally friendly means of energy generation. Although g‐C3N4 possesses fascinating features, its inherent shortcomings limit its photocatalytic applications. Therefore, modifying the intrinsic properties of g‐C3N4 and introducing cocatalysts are essential to ameliorate the photocatalytic efficiency. To achieve this, metal‐like Ti3C2Tx is integrated with crystalline g‐C3N4 via a combined salt‐assisted and freeze‐drying approach to form crystalline g‐C3N4/Ti3C2Tx (CCN/TCT) hybrids with different Ti3C2Tx loading amounts (0, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 1, 5, 10 wt.%). Benefiting from the crystallization of CN, as evidenced by the XRD graph, and the marvelous conductivity of Ti3C2Tx supported by EIS plots, CCN/TCT/Pt loaded with 0.5 wt.% Ti3C2Tx displays an elevated H2 (2) should be subscripted evolution rate of 2651.93 µmol g−1 h−1 and a high apparent quantum efficiency of 7.26% (420 nm), outperforming CN/Pt, CCN/Pt, and other CCN/TCT/Pt hybrids. The enhanced performance is attributed to the synergistic effect of the highly crystalline structure of CCN that enables fleet charge transport and the efficient dual cocatalysts, Ti3C2Tx and Pt, that foster charge separation and provide plentiful active sites. This work demonstrates the potential of CCN/TCT as a promising material for hydrogen production, suggesting a significant advancement in the design of CCN heterostructures for effective photocatalytic systems.

Mechanistic Analysis of Hydrogen Evolution Reaction on Stationary Polycrystalline Gold Electrodes in H2SO4 Solutions

An impedance model based on the Volmer–Heyrovsky–Tafel mechanism was developed to study the kinetics of the hydrogen evolution reaction on polycrystalline gold electrodes at moderate overpotentials in aqueous H2SO4 (0.5 and 1.0 M) solutions. The model was optimized on data from potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and model parameters were extracted. Consistent with expectations, the magnitude of the impedance data indicated a higher rate of hydrogen evolution at lower pH. Also, the fractional surface coverage of adsorbed hydrogen (θHads) increases with increasing overpotential but the small value of θHads indicates only weak adsorption of H on gold. Tafel slopes and exchange current densities were estimated to be in the range of 81–124 mV/dec, and 10−6 and 10−5 A/cm2 in H2SO4 (0.5 and 1.0 M), respectively. The results show that the model accounts well for the experimental data, such as the steady-state current density. Sensitivity analysis reveals that the electrochemical parameters (α1, α2, k10, k−10, and k20) associated with the kinetics of the hydrogen evolution reaction have a major impact on the calculated impedance but the standard rate constant for hydrogen oxidation reaction (k−20) does not strongly affect the calculated impedance.

Complete Plastid Genome Sequences of Three Tropical African Beilschmiediineae Trees (Lauraceae: Crytocaryeae)

Millions of years of isolation have given Madagascar a unique flora that still reflects some of its relationship with the continents of Africa and India. Here, the complete chloroplast sequence of Beilschmiedia moratii, a tropical tree in Madagascar, was determined. The plastome, with a length of 158,410 bp, was 143 bp and 187 bp smaller than those of two closely related species, B. pierreana and Potameia microphylla, in sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar with published sequences, respectively. A total of 124 repeats and 114 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) were detected in the plastome of B. moratii. Six highly variable regions, including ndhF, ndhF-rpl32, trnC-petN, pebE-petL, rpl32-trnL, and ycf1, among the three African species were identified and 1151 mutation events, including 14 SVs, 351 indels, and 786 substitutions, were accurately located. There were 634 mutation events between B. moratii and P. microphylla with a mean nucleotide variability (π) value of 0.00279, while there were 827 mutation events between B. moratii and B. pierreana with a mean π value of 0.00385. The Ka/Ks ratios of 86 protein-coding genes in the three African species were less than 1, and the mean value between B. moratii and P. microphylla was 0.184, while the mean value between B. moratii and B. pierreana was 0.286. In this study, the plastid genomes of the three African Beilschmiediineae species were compared for the first time and revealed that B. moratii and P. microphylla from Madagascar were relatively conserved, with low mutation rates and slower evolutionary rates.

Facile Fabrication of SrTiO3/In2O3 on Carbon Fibers via a Self-Assembly Strategy for Enhanced Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production

Photocatalytic water splitting by semiconductors is considered a promising and cost-effective method for achieving sustainable hydrogen production. In this study, a CF/SrTiO3/In2O3 photocatalytic material with a double-layer core–shell structure was developed. The experimental results indicated that the produced CF/SrTiO3/In2O3 composite fiber displayed superior photocatalytic hydrogen production performance, achieving a hydrogen evolution rate of approximately 320.71 μmol/g·h, which is roughly seven times higher than that of the CF/SrTiO3 fiber alone. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of the CF/SrTiO3/In2O3 fiber can be attributed to the heterojunction structure enriched with oxygen vacancies. It was found that these oxygen vacancies created defective states that served as traps for photogenerated electrons, facilitating their migration to the surface defect states and enabling the reduction of H+ in water to produce hydrogen. Furthermore, the synergy between the heterojunction structure and the conductivity of the carbon fiber promoted the generation and migration of photogenerated electrons, reduced the recombination of photogenerated electron–hole pairs, and ultimately improved photocatalytic hydrogen production. This study presents a new approach for designing efficient photocatalysts with surface oxygen vacancies on carbon fibers, providing new insights into the sustainable application of photocatalysts.

Toxicity of the sunscreen UV filter benzophenone-3 (OBZ) to the microalga Selenastrum capricornutum: An insight into OBZ’s damage to photosynthesis and respiration

Oxybenzone (OBZ; benzophenone-3, CAS# 131–57–7), as a new pollutant and ultraviolet absorbent, shows a significant threat to the survival of phytoplankton. This study aims to explore the acute toxic effects of OBZ on the growth of the microalga Selenastrum capricornutum, as well as the mechanisms for its damage to the primary metabolic pathways of photosynthesis and respiration. The results demonstrated that the concentrations for 50 % of maximal effect (EC50) of OBZ for S. capricornutum were 9.07 mg L−1 and 8.54 mg L−1 at 72 h and 96 h, respectively. A dosage of 4.56 mg L−1 OBZ significantly lowered the photosynthetic oxygen evolution rate of S. capricornutum in both light and dark conditions for a duration of 2 h, while it had no effect on the respiratory oxygen consumption rate under darkness. OBZ caused a significant decline in the efficiency of photosynthetic electron transport due to its damage to photosystem II (PSII), thereby decreasing the photosynthetic oxygen evolution rate. Over-accumulated H2O2 was produced under light due to the damage caused by OBZ to the donor and acceptor sides of PSII, resulting in increased peroxidation of cytomembranes and inhibition of algal respiration. OBZ’s damage to photosynthesis and respiration will hinder the conversion and reuse of energy in algal cells, which is an important reason that OBZ has toxic effects on S. capricornutum. The present study indicated that OBZ has an acute toxic effect on the microalga S. capricornutum. In the two most important primary metabolic pathways in algae, photosynthesis is more sensitive to the toxicity of OBZ than respiration, especially in the dark.

Phenotypic convergence is more frequent and stronger in herbivorous freshwater fishes.

Constraints on phenotypic evolution can lead to patterns of convergent evolution, by limiting the 'pool' of potential phenotypes in the face of endogenous (functional, developmental) or exogenous (competition, predation) selective pressures. Evaluation of convergence depends on integrating ecological and morphological data within a robust, comparative phylogenetic context. The staggering diversity of teleost fishes offers a multitude of lineages adapted for similar ecological roles, and therefore, offers numerous replicated evolutionary experiments for exploring phenotypic convergence. However, our understanding of fish feeding systems has been primarily shaped by marine species, with the monolithic exception of freshwater cichlids. Here we use piranhas and pacus (Serrasalmidae) to explore the evolution of different feeding ecologies and their morphological proxies in Neotropical freshwater environments. Specifically, we explore whether convergence is more widespread among plant-eating fishes, arising from strong constraints on phenotypic evolution in herbivores. Using osteological micro-computed tomographic imaging (μCT), we describe the major axes of morphological variation in pacus and piranhas, regarding their diet and feeding behaviors. Next, we evaluated whether herbivorous niches are less labile than other dietary guilds and whether herbivorous species' phenotypes evolve at a slower evolutionary rate than other taxa. We then assess how convergent herbivorous taxa are, using three different suites of morphological characters (dental, jaw, and abdominal morphometrics). Ecologically, herbivory is not a dead end, exhibiting similar observed transition rates as those between carnivores and omnivores. However, we documented widespread convergence in herbivores and that herbivores have slower rates of phenotypic evolution than carnivores. Most instances of convergence are found in herbivorous taxa, specifically in frugivores and folivores. Moreover, instances of 'complete' convergence, indicated by positive convergence metrics observed in more than one morphometric dataset, were only found in herbivores. Herbivores do appear to evolve under constrained circumstances, but this has not limited their ecological lability.

Multi-phase shear thickening fluid based on ionic liquid dispersion medium for impact resistance and wear protection

Shear thickening fluids (STFs) have attracted increasing attention as smart materials with unique rheological properties. However, the preparation of STFs usually relies on a composite system of spherical nanoparticles with polyethylene glycol. In this work, novel multi-phase STFs (ILSTFs) were prepared in an ionic liquid by incorporating nanosized SiO2 and rod-shaped calcium metasilicate (CaSiO3) particles as a dispersed phase. Compared to traditional STFs, ILSTFs demonstrate excellent thermal stability. Rheological tests indicate that ILSTFs exhibit continuous shear thickening behavior, resulting in excellent energy absorption and impact wear resistance. In addition, ILSTFs can serve as a new type of lubricant. The tribological properties and impact resistance of ILSTFs were highly correlated with the shear thickening effect, with the multi-phase ILSTF system with CaSiO3 demonstrating superior impact wear resistance compared to the single-phase system. In this study, finite element analysis (FEA) is further utilized to investigate the local damage evolution and energy absorption rate of STF under impact loading, providing insights into the underlying mechanism. This ionic liquid-based STF holds promise for applications as a flexible filling component in the fields of lubrication technology and impact protection structures.

Exploring the diversity and evolutionary strategies of prophages in Hyphomicrobiales, comparing animal-associated with non-animal-associated bacteria

The Hyphomicrobiales bacterial order (previously Rhizobiales) exhibits a wide range of lifestyle characteristics, including free-living, plant-association, nitrogen-fixing, and association with animals (Bartonella and Brucella). This study explores the diversity and evolutionary strategies of bacteriophages within the Hyphomicrobiales order, comparing animal-associated (AAB) with non-animal-associated bacteria (NAAB). We curated 560 high-quality complete genomes of 58 genera from this order and used the PHASTER server for prophage annotation and classification. For 19 genera with representative genomes, we curated 96 genomes and used the Defense-Finder server to summarize the type of anti-phage systems (APS) found in this order. We analyzed the genetic repertoire and length distributions of prophages, estimating evolutionary rates and comparing intact, questionable, and incomplete prophages in both groups. Analyses of best-fit parameters and bootstrap sensitivity were used to understand the evolutionary processes driving prophage gene content. A total of 1860 prophages distributed in Hyphomicrobiales were found, 695 in AAB and 1165 in the NAAB genera. The results revealed a similar number of prophages per genome in AAB and NAAB and a similar length distribution, suggesting shared mechanisms of genetic acquisition of prophage genes. Changes in the frequency of specific gene classes were observed between incomplete and intact prophages, indicating preferential loss or enrichment in both groups. The analysis of best-fit parameters and bootstrap sensitivity tests indicated a higher selection coefficient, induction rate, and turnover in NAAB genomes. We found 68 types of APS in Hyphomicrobiales; restriction modification (RM) and abortive infection (Abi) were the most frequent APS found for all Hyphomicrobiales, and within the AAB group. This classification of APS showed that NAAB genomes have a greater diversity of defense systems compared to AAB, which could be related to the higher rates of prophage induction and turnover in the latter group. Our study provides insights into the distributions of both prophages and APS in Hyphomicrobiales genomes, demonstrating that NAAB carry more defense systems against phages, while AAB show increased prophage stability and an increased number of incomplete prophages. These results suggest a greater role for domesticated prophages within animal-associated bacteria in Hyphomicrobiales.

Solar-Driven Conversion of CO2 to C2 Products by the 3d Transition Metal Intercalates of Layered Lead Iodides.

Photocatalytic CO2 reduction to high-value-added C2+ products presents significant challenges, which is attributed to the slow kinetics of multi-e- CO2 photoreduction and the high thermodynamic barrier for C-C coupling. Incorporating redox-active Co2+/Ni2+ cations into lead halide photocatalysts has high potentials to improve carrier transport and introduce charge polarized bimetallic sites, addressing the kinetic and thermodynamic issues, respectively. In this study, a coordination-driven synthetic strategy is developed to introduce 3d transition metals into the interlamellar region of layered organolead iodides with atomic precision. The resultant bimetallic halide hybrids exhibit selective photoreduction of CO2 to C2H5OH using H2O vapor at the evolution rates of 24.9-31.4µmol g-1h-1 and high selectivity of 89.5-93.6%, while pristine layered lead iodide yields only C1 products. Band structure calculations and photoluminescence studies indicate that the interlayer Co2+/Ni2+ species greatly contribute to the frontier orbitals and enhance exciton dissociation into free carriers, facilitating carrier transport between adjacent lead iodide layers. In addition, Bader charge distribution calculations and in situ experimental spectroscopic studies reveal that the asymmetric Ni-O-Pb bimetallic catalytic sites exhibit intrinsic charge polarization, promoting C-C coupling and leading to the formation of the key *OC-CHO intermediate.

High-latitude ocean habitats are a crucible of fish body shape diversification

Abstract A decline in diversity from the equator to the poles is a common feature of Earth’s biodiversity. Here, we examine body shape diversity in marine fishes across latitudes and explore the role of time and evolutionary rate in explaining the diversity gradient. Marine fishes’ occupation of upper latitude environments has increased substantially over the last 80 million years. Fishes in the highest latitudes exhibit twice the rate of body shape evolution and one and a third times the disparity compared to equatorial latitudes. The faster evolution of body shape may be a response to increased ecological opportunity in polar and subpolar oceans due to (1) the evolution of antifreeze proteins allowing certain lineages to invade regions of cold water, (2) environmental disturbances driven by cyclical warming and cooling in high latitudes, and (3) rapid transitions across depth gradients. Our results add to growing evidence that evolutionary rates are often faster at temperate, not tropical, latitudes.

Preparation and electrocatalytic oxygen evolution of bimetallic phosphates (NiFe)2P/NF

Abstract The energy and environmental crisis pose a great challenge to human development in the 21st century. The design and development of clean and renewable energy and the solution for environmental pollution have become a hotspot in the current research. Based on the preparation of transition metal phosphates, transition metals were used as raw materials, Prussian blue-like NiFe(CN)6 as a precursor, which was in situ grown on nickel foam (NF) substrate. After low temperature phosphating treatment, a bimetallic phosphide electrocatalyst (NiFe)2P/NF was prepared on NF substrate. Using 1 mol·L−1 KOH solution as a basic electrolyte, based on the electrochemical workstation of a three-electrode system, the electrochemical catalytic oxygen evolution performance of the material was tested and evaluated. Experiments show that (NiFe)2P/NF catalyst has excellent oxygen evolution performance. In an alkaline medium, the overpotential required to obtain the catalytic current density of 10 mA·cm−2 is only 220 mV, and the Tafel slope is 67 mV·dec−1. This is largely due to: (1) (NiFe)2p/NF nanocatalysts were well dispersed on NF substrates, which increased the number of active sites exposed; (2) the hollow heterostructure of bimetallic phosphates promotes the electron interaction between (NiFe)2P and NF, increased the rate of charge transfer, and the electrical conductivity of the material is improved; and (3) theoretical calculations show that (NiFe)2P/NF hollow heterostructure can effectively reduce the dissociation barrier of water, promote the dissociation of water; furthermore, the kinetic reaction rate of electrocatalytic oxygen evolution is accelerated. Meanwhile, the catalyst still has high activity and high stability in 30 wt% concentrated alkali solution. Therefore, the construction of (NiFe)2P/NF electrocatalysts enriches the application of non-noble metal nanomaterials in the field of oxygen production from electrolytic water.

Amorphous nitrogen-doped carbon layers forming the interfacial channel for rapid charge transfer in ZnIn2S4/BiVO4 Z-scheme photocatalyst for enhancing organic pollutants degradation with simultaneous hydrogen evolution

Efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution from the organic wastewater represents an ideal solution for simultaneously addressing energy shortages and environmental pollution. However, the sluggish transport of photogenerated carriers at contact interface poses a key obstacle to enhancing photocatalytic activity. Here, ZnIn2S4/BiVO4@N-C (ZIS/BVO@N-C) Z-scheme photocatalysts were successfully constructed by a simple hydrothermal-impregnation method. ZIS/BVO@N-C-10% demonstrated outstanding photocatalytic performance, achieving a hydrogen evolution rate of 2695.68 μmol·g−1·h−1 and a degradation rate of 492.96 mmol·g−1·h−1 under visible light, surpassing those of ZIS (851.52 μmol·g−1·h−1 and 174.83 mmol·g−1·h−1) and ZIS/BVO-10% (1228.98 μmol·g−1·h−1 and 277.78 mmol·g−1·h−1). Characterization results and density functional theory (DFT) calculations revealed that the introduction of the N-C layer reduced interfacial impedance and enhanced the strength of interfacial electric field, overcoming the interfacial barrier and improving the photogenerated separation and migration efficiency at the interface, and ultimately enhancing the photocatalytic activity of ZIS/BVO@N-C. Based on experimental and characterization results, the photocatalytic mechanism of ZIS/BVO@N-C Z-scheme has been proposed. Furthermore, ZIS/BVO@N-C exhibited excellent stability, highlighting its potential for practical applications. This work also presents a new strategy for designing highly active Z-scheme photocatalysts for organic wastewater treatment and simultaneous hydrogen energy recovery.

Long‐Lasting Hydrogen Evolution and Efficient Dew Harvest Realized via Electrospinning Polyvinylidene Fluoride Membrane on Hybrid Hydrogels

Long‐lasting hydrogen evolution and efficient dew harvest is realized via electrospinning a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane on hybrid hydrogels embedded with photocatalytic g‐C3N4/Pt nanosheets. Due to the hindrance of water evaporation by the hydrophobic PVDF membrane, the drying process of the hybrid hydrogels significantly slows down. Hence, the g‐C3N4/Pt nanosheets can continue working on photocatalytic splitting of the water molecules in the hydrogels. When the thickness of the PVDF membrane is 48 μm, the hydrogen evolution rate can reach 2,543 μmol h−1 g−1, which is 38% more than that of the hybrid hydrogel without covering. Therefore, the hybrid hydrogels covered with PVDF membrane are able to work with high efficiency for 12 h, sufficient for hydrogen evolution during the daytime. In addition, the hydrophobic PVDF membrane and hydrophilic hydrogels construct a Janus structure and induce a fast transport of water molecules from the hydrophobic to hydrophilic side. It is beneficial for the rapid collection of dew in the morning. Based on the long‐lasting hydrogen evolution and efficient dew harvest, the present hybrid hydrogels covered with PVDF membrane are very suitable for the environment rich in solar resource and lack of water supply, such as desert or prairie.