High Adsorption Energy Research Articles

Quantum-chemical modeling of sorption interactions of histidine enantiomers with carbon nanotubes

In this study, the elementary act of adsorption of monomers and dimers of histidine enantiomers on a dextrorotatory model CNT-(7,6) chirality from an aqueous solution was studied using quantum chemistry methods to interpret the adsorption isotherm of L- and D-histidine on carbon nanotubes mkNANO MKN-SWCNT S1 and identify the mechanism of sorption sorbent-sorbate interactions. Quantum chemical modelling of the structures was carried out using the GAUSSIAN 09 program by the B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) GD3 method; the influence of the environment was considered using the Tomasi polarization continuum model (PCM). The results of quantum chemical modelling have established a greater number of point interactions of nitrogen and oxygen atoms of the D-isomer with the dextrorotatory CNT, which determines the higher adsorption energy of the D-histidine monomer and dimer on the CNT compared to the L-isomer. It was shown that enantiomers are attached to nanotubes mainly by van der Waals forces and π-π interactions between the imidazole ring of histidine and the carbon nanotube. The contribution of π-π stacking interactions to the adsorption value was assessed using quantum chemistry methods. The formation of 4 different L-amino acid dimers is possible on the surface of CNT: 2L1, 2L2, 2L3, 2L4 and also for the D isomer: 2D1; 2D2; 2D3; 2D4. The results of quantum chemical modelling showed that dimers 2L4 and 2D4 have the highest adsorption energy on CNT. Quantum chemistry methods were also used to calculate the average energy of intermolecular H bonds in seven, eight, and thirteen particle clusters of L-histidine, as well as in seven- and nine-particle clusters of the D-enantiomer. The calculation showed that this value increases with increasing cluster size. This led to a significant contribution of hydrogen bonding to the decrease in the energy of the sorption system during cluster adsorption.

3D layer-by-layer amorphous MoSx assembled from [Mo3S13]2- clusters for efficient removal of tetracycline: Synergy of adsorption and photo-assisted PMS activation

Peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation and photocatalysis are effective technologies to remove organic pollutants, but the adsorption effect of the catalyst is usually unheeded in degradation process. Herein, a bifunctional catalyst of amorphous MoSx (a-MoSx) with 3D layer-by-layer superstructure was synthesized by assembling basic active units [Mo3S13]2- of MoS2. The large interlayer spacing and high exposure of active sites render a-MoSx to have excellent synergy of adsorption and photo-assisted PMS activation for tetracycline (TC) degradation. Experiments and DFT calculation show that TC can be efficiently enriched on a-MoSx by pore filling, π-π interaction, hydrogen bonding and high adsorption energy. Subsequently, PMS can be quickly activated through electron transfer with a-MoSx, resulting in high TC degradation efficiency of 96.6% within 20 min. In addition, the synergistic mechanism of adsorption and photo-assisted PMS activation was explored, and the degradation pathway of TC was expounded. This work is inspirational for constructing bifunctional catalysts with superior synergistic adsorption and catalytic capabilities to remove refractory organic pollutants in water.

Adsorption and sensing properties of greenhouse gases (CO2, CH4, N2O and SF6) on pristine and Cr modified WSe2 monolayer based on density functional theory

With the increasing global warming, monitoring and reducing the content of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere has become a top priority. In this study, we investigated the adsorption and sensing performances of pristine and two Cr-modified WSe2 (Cr-doped and Cr-substituted) monolayers on four greenhouse gases (CO2, CH4, N2O, and SF6) based on DFT, and explored their application prospects as a greenhouse gas sensor. The mechanism of gas sensing was analyzed from the aspects of adsorption energy, charge transfer, density of states (DOS), band structure, sensitivity, desorption time, etc. The experimental results show that both Cr modification methods could significantly improve the adsorption capacity of the intrinsic WSe2 monolayer. The two Cr-WSe2 monolayers possess strong chemisorption on all four gases according to high adsorption energy and charge transfer, so they can be used to purify CO2, CH4, N2O, and SF6 in the atmosphere. In addition, Cr-WSe2 monolayers have good desorption behavior to CO2 and CH4 at high temperatures, which makes them possible to be used as gas-sensing material for recycling under certain conditions. Our research has some theoretical implications for exploring potential sensing materials for the recovery of greenhouse gases.

Mechanism of coupling corrosion caused by flue gas and deposits in municipal solid waste incinerator: Roles of H2O(g), HCl, and SO2

The key corrosive media and coupling corrosion mechanism in waste incinerators were investigated. The presence of H2O(g) and the fluctuation of HCl/SO2 concentration significantly affect corrosion by affecting chemical reactions rather than molten phase formation·H2O(g) had higher adsorption energy (−40.67 kJ/mol) on NaCl (100) surface than O2 (−7.95 kJ/mol), generating more HCl than Cl2 and inhibiting corrosion. Oxidation of HCl was catalyzed by alkali salts in waste incineration ash, enhancing the production of Cl2 by 110% and accelerating corrosion. SO2 participated in the sulfidation of NaCl/KCl to form Cl2 and increased the corrosion weight gain by about 1–2.5 times.

Ultrasmall metal alloy nanozymes mimicking neutrophil enzymatic cascades for tumor catalytic therapy

Developing strategies that emulate the killing mechanism of neutrophils, which involves the enzymatic cascade of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and myeloperoxidase (MPO), shows potential as a viable approach for cancer therapy. Nonetheless, utilizing natural enzymes as therapeutics is hindered by various challenges. While nanozymes have emerged for cancer treatment, developing SOD-MPO cascade in one nanozyme remains a challenge. Here, we develop nanozymes possessing both SOD- and MPO-like activities through alloying Au and Pd, which exhibits the highest cascade activity when the ratio of Au and Pd is 1:3, attributing to the high d-band center and adsorption energy for superoxide anions, as determined through theoretical calculations. The Au1Pd3 alloy nanozymes exhibit excellent tumor therapeutic performance and safety in female tumor-bearing mice, with safety attributed to their tumor-specific killing ability and renal clearance ability caused by ultrasmall size. Together, this work develops ultrasmall AuPd alloy nanozymes that mimic neutrophil enzymatic cascades for catalytic treatment of tumors.

Surface modification of transition metals (TM: Mn, Fe, Co) decorated Pt-doped carbon quantum dots (Pt@CQDs) nanostructure as nonenzymatic sensors for nitrotyrosine (a biomarker for Alzheimer): Perspective from density functional theory

To develop a method for the detection of nitrotyrosine (NTS), transition metals: cobalt (Co), Iron (Fe), and Manganese (Mn) decorated Platinum-doped carbon quantum dot (Pt@CQDs) nanomaterial surfaces were computationally investigated. This study employed density functional theory (DFT) at the d3bj-B3LYP/def2SVP level of theory to gain in-depth knowledge of the adsorption, selectivity, reactivity, and trapping efficacy of nitrotyrosine (NTS) as a biomarker for Alzheimer disease. Results of the adsorption energy of the systems increased as −46.661 kcal/mol, −45.308 kcal/mol, −666.673 kcal/mol, and −12.507 kcal/mol which correspond to NTS_Co_Pt@CQDs, NTS_Fe_Pt@CQDs, NTS_Mn_Pt@CQDs, and NTS_Pt@CQDs. NTS_Mn_Pt@QDs system demonstrated the chemisorption as it has the highest adsorption energy. HOMO-LUMO analysis shows that cobalt decorated surface had the least energy gap of 1.586 eV while interaction with nitrotyrosine a decrease in the energy gap was observed particularly NTS_Pt@CQDs and NTS_Fe_Pt@CQDs exhibiting values of 1.850 eV and 1.665 eV respectively, whereas, Co_Pt@CQDs and Mn_Pt@CQDs systems showed drastic increase in the energy gap to 2.404 eV and 2.719 eV. This collective finding of this study is significant enough to present these systems as potential models for the detection and trapping of nitrotyrosine biomarkers for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.

Unveiling the oxidation mechanism of persistent organic contaminants via visible light-induced dye-sensitized reaction by red mud suspension with peroxymonosulfate

A dye-sensitized photocatalysis system was developed for degrading persistent organic contaminants using solid waste (i.e., red mud, RM) and peroxymonosulfate (PMS) under visible light. Complete degradation of acid orange 7 (AO7) was achieved in RM suspension with PMS, where the co-existence of amorphous FeO(OH)/α-Fe2O3 was the key factor for PMS activation. The experimental results obtained from photochemical and electrochemical observations confirmed the enhanced PMS activation due to the Fe-OH phase in RM. DFT calculations verified the acceleration of PMS activation due to the high adsorption energy of PMS on FeO(OH) and low energy barrier for generating reactive radicals. Compared to the control experiment without AO7 showing almost no degradation of other organic contaminants (phenol, bisphenol A, 4-chlorophenol, 4-nitrophenol, and benzoic acid), photo-sensitized AO7* enhanced electron transfer in the FeIII/FeII cycle, dramatically enhancing the degradation of organic contaminants via radical (•OH, SO4•−, and O2•−) and non-radical (dye*+ and 1O2) pathways. Therefore, the novel finding of this study can provide new insights for unique PMS activation by heterogeneous Fe(III) containing solid wastes and highlight the importance of sensitized dye on the interaction of PMS with Fe charge carrier for the photo-oxidation of organic contaminants under visible light.

Investigation of the adsorption and sensor properties of resorcinol (RSL) on X9N9 (X = Al, B, Ga, In) nanorings by DFT and QTAIM analysis with solvent effects

De-aromative oxygenation of resorcinol is recognized as an important process that produces a variety of bioactive chemicals. Hence, we evaluated the sensing application by utilizing density functional theory to study the resorcinol (RSL)-X9N9 (X = Al, B, Ga, and In) nanoring interaction. We saw that RSL had a strong interaction with every ring. A charge transfer occurs between nanorings and RSL, causing dipole moment to be induced. The band gap energies of all complexes are less than that of RSL. In vacuum the band gap energies of the complexes are less than that of pristine rings while in water, RSL-Ga/In-N complexes, the band gap energies are higher than that of pristine rings. In vacuum all the complexes, except B9N9-RSL have higher adsorption energies. In water phase, Al9N9/Ga9N9-RSL complexes have higher adsorption energies. These values suggest they are good dopants for RSL. The electrical conductivity and work function are significantly altered as a result of the alteration in the Frontier Molecular Orbitals (FMOs) energies of the nanorings following interaction. It is possible to use the X9N9 nanorings for RSL as both an electronic sensor and a work function-based sensor. The extended recovery time of RSL with X9N9, however, indicates that it can be used to store RSL or remove it from a specific environment. Atom in Molecules (AIM) analysis predicts the comprehension reactivity, chemical bonding, and the creation of compounds. The present work can be extended to investigate the effect of coinage metal doping with nanorings to study doping effects and drug delivery carrier properties.

In silico design of a new Podophyllotoxin derivative with potent anti-tubulin activity

Nowadays, there is an increasing focus on cancer as a major cause of death. Therefore, comprehending the chemical reactivity, geometric and electronic structures of inhibitors can aid in the development of better quality and more efficient drugs. In this study, we propose a hybrid compound of Podophyllotoxin (PPT) and vitamin C (VC) as an anti-cancer agent. The PPT and its derivatives are well-known for their anti-tubulin properties. The geometry optimisation and calculation of global chemical reactivity indices (µ = −3.836 eV, η = 2.402 eV, S = 0.416 eV, and ω = 3.061 eV) were performed using the M06/6-311++G (d, p) level of theory. The global reactivity descriptors predict that the PPT-VC compound has more nucleophilic properties compared to Etoposide and Teniposide compounds. Furthermore, the PPT-VC compound exhibits a lower HOMOPPT-VC–LUMOSWCNT gap and a higher adsorption energy (−37.4 kJ mol−1) in the encapsulation process than other derivatives into SWCNT, providing additional evidence of its nucleophilic nature as an effective anti-tubulin agent. Therefore, the PPT-VC@SWCNT compound can be considered a reliable drug delivery system (DDS). Molecular docking analysis reveals that the best cavity of tubulin has an interaction energy of −102.1 kJ mol−1, involving both bonding and non-bonding interactions.

Efficient detection of 45 ppb ammonia at room temperature using Ni-doped CeO2 octahedral nanostructures

To meet the requirements in air quality monitors for the public and industrial safety, sensors are required that can selectively detect the concentration of gaseous pollutants down to the parts per million (ppm) and ppb (parts per billion) levels. Herein, we report a remarkable NH3 sensor using Ni-doped CeO2 octahedral nanostructure which efficiently detects NH3 as low as 45 ppb at room temperature. The Ni-doped CeO2 sensor exhibits the maximum response of 42 towards 225 ppm NH3, which is ten-fold higher than pure CeO2. The improved sensing performance is caused by the enhancement of oxygen vacancy, bandgap narrowing, and redox property of CeO2 caused by Ni doping. Density functional theory confirms that O vacancy with Ni at Ce site (VONiCe) augments the sensing capabilities. The Bader charge analysis predicts the amount of charge transfer (0.04 e) between the Ni-CeO2 surface and the NH3 molecule. As well, the high negative adsorption energy (≈750 meV) and lowest distance (1.40 Å) of the NH3 molecule from the sensor surface lowers the detection limit. The present work enlightens the fabrication of sensing elements through defect engineering for ultra-trace detection of NH3 to be useful further in the field of sensor applications.

Influence of en-APTAS membrane on NO gas selectivity of HfO2-based memristor gas sensors

Memristor-based gas sensors (gas sensor + memristor, gasistor) have gained popularity due to their high response characteristics and ability to operate at RT. In this paper, N-[3-(Trimethoxysilyl)propyl]ethylenediamine (en-APTAS), a commonly used membrane for NO x gas sensors, is applied in the gasistor with carbon nanotubes (CNTs)-top electrode (TE). As a result, we have demonstrated the response time was reduced by 104 s, and the response to 10 ppm Nitric oxide (NO) gas increased to 3.69, indicating an enhanced sensing property in a range of 10–50 ppm. Furthermore, when decorated with the proposed en-APTAS, the gasistor with CNTs-TE demonstrated a 3.76-fold increase in response to NO gas compared to NO2 gas, demonstrating remarkable selectivity. These improved features are attributed to the high adsorption energy of en-APTAS and the large kinetic diameter of NO2. The research proposal will be a foundational stage towards attaining selectivity in other gasistor studies.

CO gas sensing properties of Pd- and Al-doped zinc oxide nanotubes: a DFT study

Surface engineering and doping of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures have been two feasible techniques for improving the gas-detecting capability of these nanostructures. However, the role of fundamental processes and factors that affect this improvement has not been fully understood. In this study, the adsorption of CO gas molecules on Pd- and Al-doped ZnO nanotubes is investigated using the first-principles calculations. The binding strength and charge transport as well as some other structural and electronic properties of these nanotubes are studied. The calculation results indicate the active interaction of CO gas molecules with Pd- and Al-doped ZnO nanotubes at high adsorption energies. The results provide a better atomistic insight and a more comprehensive explanation of the improvements in the electrical properties and sensing capabilities of Pd- and Al-doped ZnO.

Spatially thermal confinement nanoreactors for efficient photocatalytic microinterface reactions and application prospect evaluation under real weather and actual water matrices

Photothermal photocatalysis has been a breakthrough in the photocatalysis field, yet the wasted radicals, insufficient contact of pollutant with catalyst, and low utilization efficiency of heat energy are the major barriers for practical application. In this work, a novel full-spectrum adsorption catalyst (MoS2-MoO3/C3N4) with interlayer confinement space (OMS-CNS) was fabricated as “spatially thermal confinement nanoreactor”, which can enrichment pollutants, free radicals and photothermal effect to improve the degradation efficiency of ampicillin (AMP) by 2.06 times. The synergistic of confinement effects and photothermal effects concentrated heat in the interlayer nanoreactor and simultaneously promoted the generation of •O2− and 1O2, further contributed to a more harmless degradation pathway for AMP compared with conventional photothermal photocatalytic systems. Furthermore, the enlarged interlayer spacing and high interlayer adsorption energy (Eads) enabled AMP to enter the nanoreactor for quick reaction with newly generated active radicals under locally high temperature, avoiding heat loss and the diffusion limitation of free radicals. Furthermore, the excellent degradation efficiencies of AMP were also maintained even in the actual wastewater matrices or at outdoor sunlight irradiation due to the construction of confinement space with high temperature environment and enriched ROS. The combination of the confinement catalysis and photothermal effects provides promising insight into efficient photocatalysis performance.

Corrosion resistant body-centered cubic VNbTa refractory medium-entropy alloy

The corrosion behavior of VNbTa medium-entropy alloy (MEA) was investigated by electrochemical measurement and first-principles calculation. Due to the synergism of higher bond strength and higher oxygen or OH adsorption heat among constituent elements, the MEA has better corrosion resistance than 316 L stainless steel. The stability passive film was related to the high-valent oxides (V2O5, Nb2O5, and Ta2O5). The calculation results show that VNbTa MEA has a high work function and adsorption energy for O, and the formation of initial passive film is mainly determined by the bonding of surface Ta, V atoms and O atoms.

A DFT study of Mg9O9 nanoring for gas sensing and removal applications

The toxic gas molecules are extremely harmful to both the environment and human health. To address this issue, we need to develop materials that can detect these gases and assist in their removal from the surrounding. Here, we analyzed the structure and electronic properties along with stability of newly predicted Mg9O9 nanoring i.e. allotrope of cyclo[18]carbon (C18 nanoring) employing density functional theory (DFT). In addition, present work also investigated the sensing properties of Mg9O9 nanoring towards toxic gases such as CO, NO and NH3. The substantial interaction of NO and NH3 gases with Mg9O9 nanoring is confirmed by the high adsorption energy and short adsorption distance. In contrast, weak interaction of CO gas molecule with Mg9O9 nanoring is verified by the comparatively long adsorption distance and small adsorption energy. The modulation in the dipole moment of the nanoring after adsorption of toxic gas molecules further confirms interaction between them. Our results indicate that the Mg9O9 nanoring is suitable for work-function-based sensor for NO and NH3 gases, as well as an electronic sensor only for NO gas molecule. The Mg9O9 nanoring shows an optimal recovery time (τ) for NO gas, indicating its applications as a sensor. Conversely, a longer τ observed for NH3 gas with Mg9O9 nanoring depicts its potential for gas adsorption or removal from the environment. Our findings unequivocally demonstrate that the Mg9O9 nanoring can function as a highly effective toxic gas sensor.

Exploring Carbon Monoxide and Carbon Dioxide Adsorption on (5,5) Aluminum Nitride Nanotubes for Enhanced Sensor Applications: A DFT Study

This study examined the sensitivity of single-walled (5,5) aluminium nitride nanotubes ((5,5) AlNNTs) to carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO2) gas molecules by performing DFT calculations using a hybrid functional, specifically, B3LYP (Becke’s three-parameter, Lee-Yang-Parr) exchange-correlation functional at a 6–31G* basis set. This research investigates the adsorption behavior of CO2 and CO molecules on pristine and silicon-doped aluminum nitride nanotubes (AlNNTs) and examines their implications for sensor applications. The study assesses each system’s adsorption energy, sensing potential, and recovery time to gain insights into their binding strength and practical viability. For CO2 adsorption on (5,5) AlNNT, significant adsorption energy of −24.36 kcal/mol was observed, indicating a strong binding to the nanotube surface, with a sensing potential of 8.95%. However, the slow recovery time of approximately 4.964 days may limit its real-time application. Si-(5,5) AlNNT exhibited a CO2 adsorption energy of −19.69 kcal/mol, a sensing potential of 5.40%, and a relatively short recovery time of approximately 2.978 min, making it a promising candidate for CO2 sensing. CO adsorption on (5,5) AlNNT showed an adsorption energy of −25.20 kcal/mol, a sensing potential of 9.095%, but a longer recovery time of approximately 20.130 days. Si-(5,5) AlNNT displayed a high CO adsorption energy of −20.78 kcal/mol, a sensing potential of 4.29%, and a recovery time of approximately 18.320 min. These findings provide insights into the adsorption characteristics of carbon molecules on AlNNTs, highlighting their potential for CO2 and CO sensing applications.

Evaluation of the structural, electronic and magnetic properties of modified 8-16-4 graphyne by 3d transition metals: A DFT-D2 study

A new two-dimensional carbon allotrope called 8-16-4 graphyne (GY) has been recently introduced (in 2021). This allotrope consists of sp. and sp2 hybridized carbon atoms. To investigate the adsorption behavior of single atom of 3d transition metals (TM) on 8-16-4 GY, corrected density functional theory (DFT-D2) was employed. The results reveal that single TM atoms prefer to bind tightly in the center of the 16-carbon ring of GY, and the adsorption energy of TMs decreases from Sc to Zn with a reducible trend from −9.282 to −1.158 eV, respectively. These high adsorption energies show that diffusion of TM atoms and clustering of them are prevented on the surface of the carbon frame. Pristine and 3d TM decorated GY have some Dirac points, zero band gap, and conductivity properties. Also, pristine and all of TM decorated GY except Cr, Mn, and Fe-decorated GY haven't magnetic properties. These findings suggest that 8-16-4 GY is a suitable carbonic substrate to prevent the clustering of TM atoms that is essential for some applications such as effective single-atom catalysts, hydrogen storage, CO2 capture, etcetera.

High-pressure deformation exposes zinc (002) crystal planes adapted for high-performance zinc anodes

Excessive dendrite growth will seriously affect the future development of aqueous zinc-ion batteries. Therefore, reducing dendrite formation during anode cycling has important practical significance for ZiBs. Previous research have shown that the (002) crystal plane induces zinc to deposit on the anode surface at a small angle, thereby mitigating the generation of longitudinal dendrites and thereby improving cycle performance. This paper uses extrusion method to prepare zinc foil with high (002) crystal plane ratio, in which the diffraction peak intensity ratio of (002)/(100) crystal plane is about 130.The assembled symmetrical battery can operate stably for 400 h at 0.5 mA cm−2 and 0.5 mAh cm−2, and obtains a cycle life of 160 h at 20 mA cm−2 and 20 mAh cm−2. The surface of the anode after cycling exhibits thin and large deposited flakes, fully exhibiting the characteristics of the (002) crystal plane. In terms of plating/stripping kinetics, because the (002) crystal plane has high adsorption energy for zinc, PZn obtains a lower polarization voltage and a larger exchange current density (4.56 mA cm−2). In addition, due to the low surface energy of the (002) crystal plane, which also shows a lower activation energy (17.95 kJ mol−1), lowers the reaction energy barrier, and reduces the difficulty of the electrode reaction. In terms of practicality, it has approximately 140 mAh g−1 at 1 A g−1 in a complete cell consisting of Na sodium-doped V2O5 cathode. It also has a 94 % capacity retention rate after cycling. This article verifies the influence of rich (002) crystal planes on the performance of metallic zinc anodes, and provides guidance for the future optimization of crystal planes of zinc anodes.

Inhibition performances of new pyrazole derivatives against the corrosion of C38 steel in acidic medium: Computational study

Corrosion inhibition performances of two new pyrazole derivatives, namely 5-(4-dimethylamino)phenyl)-3-(4-dimethylamino)styryl)-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazole-1-carbothio amide (P1) and 5-(4-dimethylamino)phenyl)-3-phenyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazole-1-carbothio amide (P2) against the corrosion of carbon steel in acidic medium are theoretically investigated by combination of the density functional theory with the molecular dynamics approach. Additionally, the toxicity and solubility of the aforementioned molecules were investigated. Quantum chemical parameters of considered molecules (calculated energy levels of HOMO and LUMO molecular orbitals as well as the gap between them, hardness, softness, chemical potential, electronegativity, electrophilicity index, nucleophilicity, electro donating power, electro accepting power, polarizability, dipole moment, metal-inhibitor interaction energy, the fraction of electrons transferred from inhibitors to metal surface, back-donation energy, Fukui indices) were calculated at B3LYP/SVP, CAM-B3lyp/TZVP and ωB97XD/Def2-TZVP levels of theory. Comparative calculations were performed in the gaseous phase and in the aqueous solutions. The adsorption behavior of the mentioned molecules on the Fe (110) surface was investigated with the molecular dynamics. Both considered molecules demonstrates high adsorption energies on steel surface, low toxicity and high solubility. P1 is found to be more efficient in hydrochloric acid, whereas P2 molecule is found to be more efficient in sulfuric acid.

Recyclable fabrication of hollow N-doped amorphous carbon nanospindles with abundant short-range curved carbon fragments as bifunctional anode for lithium/sodium ion storage

A recyclable hard-template method is proposed to exploit spindle-shaped hollow nitrogen-doped amorphous carbon (h-NAC) with a large number of short-range curved carbon fragments as anodes for lithium/sodium ion batteries (LIBs/SIBs). Besides providing adsorption sites due to the high existence of oxygen-containing functional groups (CO and COOH), the heavily exposed edge regions also provide a favorable storage environment with high adsorption energy for Li+/Na+ due to their short-range curved structure. Importantly, the etching solution of hard templates can be recycled to generate the FeOOH nanospindles as a precursor through a simple chemical titration, which supplies a new idea for the green preparation of hollow materials. The h-NAC electrode is proven to be bifunctional for storing lithium and sodium ions, displaying favorable rate capability (255 mAh g−1 and 106 mAh g−1 at 5 A g−1 for LIBs and SIBs, respectively). After 1000 cycles at 1 A g−1, the reproducible capacities of the LIBs and SIBs kept 496 mAh g−1 and 181 mAh g−1, respectively.