High Electrocatalytic Activity Research Articles

Novel electrochemical ZnO/MnO2/rGO nanocomposite-based catalyst for simultaneous determination of hydroquinone and pyrocatechol.

An innovative electrochemical sensing method is introduced for dihydroxy benzene (DHB) isomers, specifically hydroquinone (HQ) and pyrocatechol (PCC), employing a zinc-oxide/manganese-oxide/reduced-graphene-oxide (ZnO/MnO2/rGO) nanocomposite (NC) as an electrode modifier material. Comprehensive characterization confirmed well-dispersed ZnO/MnO2 nanoparticles on rGO sheets. Electrochemical analysis revealed the ZnO/MnO2/rGO-NC-based modified electrode possesses low electrical resistance (126.2 Ω), high electrocatalytic activity, and rapid electron transport, attributed to the synergies between ZnO, MnO2 and rGO. The modified electrode demonstrated exceptional electrochemical performance in terms of selectivity for the simultaneous detection of HQ and PCC. Differential pulse voltammetry studies validated the proposed sensor's ability to detect HQ and PCC within linear response ranges of 0.01-115 μM and 0.03-60.53 μM, with detection limits of 0.0055 µM and 0.0053 µM, respectively. Practical validation using diverse water samples showcased excellent percent recovery of HQ and PCC using the ZnO/MnO2/rGO-based electrochemical sensor, underscoring the sensor's potential for real-world applications in environmental monitoring.

Integrating Cu/CuxO ternary nanocomposites with multi-walled carbon nanotubes enabling a high-performance nonenzymatic amperometric glucose sensor

We developed a new nonenzymatic amperometric glucose sensor by integrating a ternary nanocomposite, Cu/Cu2O/CuO (Cu/CuxO), with multi-wall carbon nanotubes (Cu/CuxO@MWCNTs) as the electrocatalyst. The Cu/CuxO@MWCNTs nanocomposite is prepared via an electroless plating process followed by thermal treatment. The constructed nanocomposites are systematically characterized with a transmission electron microscope, an X-ray diffractometer, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, respectively. The Cu/CuxO@MWCNTs nanocomposites-modified glassy carbon electrodes exhibit high electrocatalytic activity toward glucose electrooxidation under alkaline conditions. The efficient electrocatalytic activity of Cu/CuxO@MWCNTs for glucose electrooxidation is utilized for glucose detection using Cu/CuxO@MWCNTs-modified glassy carbon electrodes. The Cu/CuxO@MWCNTs-modified electrode displays an excellent sensing performance within a wide analyte concentration from 0.005-6,000 M (low detection limit is calculated to be 0.003 μM) with superior stability, selectivity, repeatability, and reproductivity. This as-prepared electrochemical sensor is successfully applied to selective glucose detection with satisfactory results.

Effect of Sm dopant on electrocatalytic activity of AgNbO3 perovskite fabricated by sonication method for Oxygen Evaluation Reaction (OER)

Excessive reliance on fossil fuels causes a variety of difficulties and the use of efficient electrocatalysts material has exhibited significant attention for high electrocatalytic activity. Most transition metal oxide materials performance can be enhanced by the incorporation of metals for OER activity. This work presents the synthesis of samarium (Sm) doped silver niobium oxide (AgNbO3) was achieved using sonication techniques. An electrocatalyst, Sm-doped AgNbO3, has shown promising results for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in alkaline medium with a significant increase in active sites, enhanced electrical conductivity and improved stability. The Sm-doped AgNbO3 electrocatalyst exhibits overpotential of 203 mV and Tafel slope of 35.22 mV dec−1 for OER activity at current densities of 10 mA cm−2. By utilizing, electrochemical surface area (ECSA), the Sm-doped AgNbO3 electrocatalyst exhibited higher ECSA values of 1009 cm−2 with a higher roughness factor of 2008.60. Further, observations of low charge transfer resistance value (Rct = 0.17 Ω) along with a durability of 50 h, indicate that this material is highly efficient and long-lasting as an electrocatalyst for energy conversion systems.

IrO2-ZrO2-SiO2 ternary oxide composites- based DSAs: Activity toward oxygen evolution reaction with long-term stability

BackgroundHigher purity of copper is produced by Electrowinning (EW) in the cathode. A major challenge in this technique is the anodic structure that causes in the energy consumption, corrosion resistance, and contamination of the copper produced in the cathode. MethodsTernary metallic oxide (IrO2-ZrO2-SiO2) composites with the different molar percentages of IrO2: SiO2 (10:60, 15:55, and 20:50%) were prepared on titanium substrate by the sol-gel technique, and then thermal decomposition to study the impact of IrO2 and SiO2 contents on the electrocatalyst performances of the dimensionally stable anodes (DSAs). The physicochemical properties of the DSAs were determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), Atomic force microscopy (AFM), and electrochemical measurements. Significant findingsFE-SEM and AFM images display the impact of SiO2 on the crystallization and crystal growth of IrO2, leading to the formation of finer oxide particles and the porous morphology of the ternary oxide coatings. The DSA composed of 50 % SiO2 and 20 % IrO2 (IZS (20–30–50)) with a more porous surface area represented high apparent electrocatalytic activity toward the oxygen evolution reaction with long-term stability as analyzed under cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and accelerated lifetime (ALT) plots.

ZIF-8 derived iron-, sulphur-, and nitrogen-doped catalysts for anion-exchange membrane fuel cell application

This study presents the preparation of tridoped Fe, N, S carbon-based catalysts using ZIF-8 as the main carbon source and iron(II)acetate, 1,10-phenanthroline, ammonia gas and thiourea as precursors for Fe, N and S elements. Thiourea was mixed via planetary ball-milling with a Fe–N–C catalyst prepared by inert gas pyrolysis, and different pyrolysis conditions were applied thereafter. The main goal of the work is to synthesise active non-precious metal electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). High electrocatalytic ORR activity in alkaline media was observed for the two materials obtained after thiourea addition and subsequent pyrolysis. Physico-chemical characterisation revealed successful S- and N-doping for all three catalysts with enhanced porosity for the two materials that were subjected to additional pyrolysis after the thiourea addition. The sulphur doping was highest for the FeNSC3 material that was subjected to a second pyrolysis in N2 and a third pyrolysis in NH3, compared to the FeNSC2 material that was subjected to a single pyrolysis in NH3 flow after thiourea addition. The ORR activity of FeNSC2 with half-wave potential of 0.88 V was slightly higher than that of FeNSC3, and the former was selected for evaluation as a cathode catalyst in an anion-exchange membrane fuel cell.

La-doped Sr4Fe4Co2O13-δ as a promising in-situ self-assembled composite cathode for protonic ceramic fuel cells

Protonic ceramic fuel cells (PCFCs) exhibit a lower activation energy compared to conventional oxygen-ion conducting solid oxide fuel cells, which makes them better suited for operating at low temperatures. Regrettably, the use of PCFCs at lower temperatures is restricted due to the absence of durable and highly active cathode materials. Herein, we rationally design in-situ self-assembled composite cathodes with the nominal compositions of Sr4-xLaxFe4Co2O13-δ (SLxFC, x = 0.4, 0.8, 1, and 2) for PCFCs. The SL0.4FC, displays a composite of cubic perovskite phase and spinel phase, the other compositions yield a mixture of both orthorhombic perovskite and spinel phases. The self-assembled SL1FC composite cathode has the highest electrocatalytic activity among all samples, particularly at temperatures (<650 °C). For instance, it demonstrates a very low area-specific resistance (ASR) of 0.465 Ω cm2 at 550 °C. The PCFC with the SL1FC composite cathode provides a high peak power density (PPD) of 518 mW cm−2 at the same temperature. More importantly, the SL1FC electrode demonstrates robust long-term stability (400 h for the symmetrical cell mode and 200 h for the single cell mode). This study shows how La doping enhances the electrochemical activity of Sr4Fe4Co2O13-δ and how the synergistic effect of the two phases boosts the electrochemical performance of the composite cathode.

Cobalt/nitrogen doped hollow carbon sphere-bamboo like carbon nanotube for highly efficient oxygen reduction reaction

The exploration of non-Pt catalysts with high electrocatalytic activity and durability is especially important for cathodic oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in fuel cell. Here, cobalt and nitrogen doped hollow carbon sphere-bamboo like carbon nanotube (Co/NHCS-BCNT) is prepared by using SiO2 sphere as sacrificial template. Co nanoparticles are confined in the cavity and top end of the in-situ formed BCNT, which can not only avoid the agglomeration of Co nanoparticles but also inhibit corrosion in caustic electrolyte. The synergistic effect between NHCS and well-dispersed Co particles makes Co/NHCS-BCNT have superior catalytic activity toward ORR. The electrochemical surface area (ECSA) of Co/NHCS-BCNT is 222 cm2, which is higher than those of NHCS (164 cm2) and HCS (135 cm2). The onset potential and half-wave potential of Co/NHCS-BCNT are 0.941V and 0.814V, respectively, which are close to commercial Pt/C (0.949V, 0.807V). The Tafel slope of Co/NHCS-BCNT (63.8mV dec-1) is lower than that of Pt/C (71.7mV dec-1). In addition, Co/NHCS-BCNT shows excellent durability and fuel selectivity.

The layer-by-layer assembled ERGO+/ERGO− multilayer modified electrode for sensitive detection of dopamine

Graphene materials represented by graphene oxide (GO) have been widely regarded as functional coatings or films to modify surface of the electrode for detecting dopamine molecules. However, interfacial material properties for detection sensitivity, film stability, and applicability to electrodes are still highly desired. Herein, we first present a screen-printing carbon electrode (SPCE) coated with an electrochemically reduced layer-by-layer (LbL) assembled multilayer driven by an electrostatic interaction between positively charged polyethyleneimine-modified GO with amine groups (ERGO+) and negatively charged carboxyl-functionalized GO (ERGO−), which is briefly described as (ERGO+/ERGO−)n/SPCE. Firstly, without using conventional glassy carbon and gold electrodes, SPCE was tried to make coatings adapt to more flexible and unstable electrodes, simultaneously guaranteeing higher detection performance. Secondly, although a variety of electrochemical sensors such as GO−/SPCE and ERGO−/SPCE were obtained through the drop-casting technique, as-prepared (ERGO+/ERGO−)n/SPCE showed much higher electrocatalytic activities with enhanced peak current signals and reduced charge transfer resistance. Finally, excellent electrochemical properties and sensing performances of the (ERGO+/ERGO−)n/SPCE sensor for detection of dopamine were demonstrated, especially having a linear range of 1 μM to 1000 μM. Meanwhile, the detection limit is as low as 0.39 μM and S/N is equal to 3. The present work offers a potential direction to develop GO modified electrodes for sensitive biomolecular detection.

Role of electron transfer between bare electrode and benzoguanamine to fabricate an electrochemical sensor for drugs: Theoretical and electrochemical approach

Herein, a poly(benzoguanamine) (BNZ) modified carbon paste electrode (CPE) was applied for the electroanalysis of paracetamol (PA) in PA tablet and human urine. Theoretical evaluation of the quantum chemical parameters of benzoguanamine (BZ) via density functional theory (DFT) calculations show that it is a reactive monomer with a tendency for back bond formation with the bare carbon paste electrode (BCPE). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of BCPE and BNZ modified CPE (BNZ/CPE) show that the BNZ films were deposited on the bare electrode in layers. Results of the electrochemical characterization of these electrodes in 1 mM K4[Fe(CN)6] revealed that the BNZ/CPE has a higher electrocatalytic activity towards K4[Fe(CN)6] oxidation than BCPE. The limit of detection (LOD) of PA at the BNZ/CPE was estimated as 13.2 nM over a linear dynamic range (LDR) of 0.05–0.45 μM. Also, the proposed sensor offered PA recoveries of 99.2–100.4 % and 98.4–100.8 % in PA tablet solution and human urine sample, respectively. The BNZ/CPE showed remarkable shelf-life by retaining 97.4 % of its initial current response after 21 days of application for PA electroanalysis at 7 days interval. Notably, this study is the first attempt at the application of the BNZ/CPE for PA electroanalysis.

Interfacial electronic structure modulations of Au@CuS with defective Ni-doped CoS2 facilitates the electroreduction of N2 into NH3

The nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) offers a sustainable pathway for ammonia production. However, its effectiveness is hindered by the selective adsorption of nitrogen and the subsequent occurrence of the hydrogen evolution reaction. In this work, a novel and efficient NRR catalyst, Au@CuS heterostructured nanoparticles supported on carbon-coated Ni-doped CoS2 hollow nanocages (Au@CuS/Ni-CoS2/C), was designed and synthesized to enhance the conversion of N2 to NH3 under ambient conditions. The defective Ni-CoS2@C nanocages not only provide a larger surface area for the loading of Au@CuS nanoparticles but also improve conductivity and promote synergistic effects among different components within catalyst. Both experimental investigations and density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that the integration of Au and CuS leads to unique inorganic donor–acceptor couplings with electron enriched in Au nanoparticles due to the higher work function of Au compared to CuS. This electron enrichment expedites the adsorption and dissociation of N2 molecules over the electron-rich Au active sites, thereby significantly optimizing the adsorption of intermediates and catalyzing subsequent hydrogenation reduction processes. Benefiting from these synergistic advantages, the resulting Au@CuS/Ni-CoS2/C catalyst exhibited high NRR electrocatalytic activity with an NH3 yield of 25.61 µg h−1 mg−1cat. and a Faraday efficiency of 14.99 % at –0.3 V (vs. reversible hydrogen electrode, RHE), surpassing those of Au@CuS, Ni-CoS2/C, and Au/Ni-CoS2/C. This work presents a new strategy for precisely adjusting the valence state of Au species, thereby facilitating the production of valuable ammonia through NRR.

Hydrothermal synthesis of high-performance cobalt phosphate nanorod architecture as bifunctional electrocatalysts for rechargeable Zn-air batteries and supercapatteries

Transition-metal-phosphate bifunctional electrocatalysts demonstrate superior oxygen evolution reaction (OER), oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), and capacitive properties owing to their high electrocatalytic and conductive activities. In this study, cobalt phosphate (Co3P2O8) nanorod (NR) electrocatalytic materials were developed via a facile one-step hydrothermal synthesis, followed by an annealing process. The unique NR structures offer superior electrocatalytic activities, continuous and quick electron transport pathways, short ion diffusion lengths, and rich active sites toward rechargeable Zn-air batteries (ZABs) and supercapatteries (SCs). The self-assembled Co3P2O8 NR electrocatalyst exhibited higher current density values during the OER and ORR measurements than the commercially available Pt/C and IrO2 materials. The Co3P2O8 NR catalyst exhibits an excellent OER overpotential of 180 mV. The Co3P2O8 NR catalyst exhibits superior onset and half-wave potentials of 0.92 V and 0.80 V, respectively. Moreover, the fabricated Co3P2O8 NRs-based ZAB exhibited better durability than the Pt/C-based ZAB. Significantly, the Co3P2O8 NR electrode demonstrated an excellent specific capacity of 373 mAh g-1 with outstanding cycling stability of 99% after 5000 cycles. Additionally, the fabricated Co3P2O8 NRs//activated carbon SC demonstrated high specific energy and power densities of 25.62 Wh kg-1 and 2953.12 W kg-1, respectively with remarkable cycling stability of 89% after 7000 cycles. Specifically, the practical applicability of the fabricated Co3P2O8 NRs-based ZAB and SC was tested using a blue light-emitting diode nameplate energized by two devices in series. Overall, the catalytic and energy-storage properties of the Co3P2O8 NR material can provide a new pathway for high-energy electrochemical applications.

Stabilization of active ultrathin amorphous ruthenium oxide via constructing electronically interacted heterostructure for acidic water oxidation

Amorphous RuOx (a-RuOx) with disordered atomic arrangement and abundant coordinatively unsaturated Ru sites possesses high intrinsic electrocatalytic activity for oxygen evolution reaction (OER). However, the a-RuOx is prone to fast corrosion during OER in strong acid. Here, we realized the stabilization of an ultrathin a-RuOx layer via constructing heterointerface with crystalline α-MnO2 nanorods array (MnO2@a-RuOx). Benefiting from the strong electronic interfacial interaction, the as-formed MnO2@a-RuOx electrocatalyst display an ultralow overpotential of 128 mV to reach 10 mA cm−2 and stable operation for over 100 h in 0.1 M HClO4. The assembled proton exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolyzer reach 1 A cm−2 at applied cell voltage of 1.71 V. Extensive characterizations indicate the MnO2 substrate work as an electron donor pool to prevent the overoxidation of Ru sites and the OER proceeds in adsorbent evolution mechanism process without involving lattice oxygen. Our work provides a promising route to construct robust amorphous phase electrocatalysts.

Electrochemical aptasensors based on porous carbon derived from graphene oxide/ZIF-8 composites for the detection of Erwinia cypripedii

In this research, self-screening aptamer and MOFs-derived nanomaterial have been combined to construct electrochemical aptasensor for environmental detection. By utilizing the large specific surface area of reduced graphene oxide (rGO), ZIF-8 was grown in situ on surface of rGO, and the composites was pyrolyzed to obtain MOFs-derived porous carbon materials (rGO-NCZIF). Thanks to the synergistic effect between rGO and NCZIF, the complex exhibits remarkable characteristics, including a high electron transfer rate and electrocatalytic activity. In addition, the orderly arrangement of imidazole ligands within ZIF-8 facilitated the uniform doping of nitrogen elements into the porous carbon, thereby significantly enhancing its electrochemical performance. After carboxylation, rGO-NCZIF was functionalized with self-screening aptamer for fabricating electrochemical aptasensor, which can be used to detect Erwinia cypripedii, a kind of quarantine plant bacteria, with detection limit of 4.92 × 103 cfu/mL. Due to the simplicity and speed, the aptasensor is suitable for rapid customs inspection and quarantine. Additionally, the universality of this sensing strategy was verified through exosomes detection by changing the aptamer. The results indicated that the rGO-NCZIF-based electrochemical aptasensor had practical value in the environmental and medical fields.

Shuttle-free zinc–iodine batteries enabled by a cobalt single atom anchored on N-doped porous carbon host with ultra-high specific surface area

Aqueous zinc‑iodine batteries are favorable solutions for grid-level energy storage owing to their cost-effective components and intrinsic safety. Nevertheless, the sluggish conversion kinetics and polyiodide shuttle effect have significantly hindered their practical applications. Herein, a Co single atom anchored on N-doped porous carbon nanosheets (Co-SAs@NPC) was produced through an efficient molten-salt engaged pyrolysis process and further utilized as the iodine host for aqueous zinc-iodine batteries. The large specific surface area (1741 m2 g−1) combined with abundant heteroatom-containing functional groups can afford a tight physical and chemical confinement towards iodine species. Meanwhile, the presence of Co single atoms exhibits high electrocatalytic activity towards I2 reduction reactions. According to the experimental results and DFT theoretical calculations, the resulting Co-SAs@NPC can simultaneously offer generous electrochemical active sites and electrocatalytic activity, which displays a high adsorption ability towards iodide species and boost the reversible redox reactions between iodine and iodides. Consequently, the as-assembled zinc-iodine batteries with Co-SAs@NPC/I2 cathodes can deliver a high specific capacity (295 mA h g−1 at 0.3 A g−1), good rate performance (199 mAh g−1 at 20 A g−1), and long cyclic stability over 10,000 cycles. Additionally, the absence of polyiodide shuttle was analyzed by a series of ex-situ spectrum analyses.

Biological recognition element anchored 2D graphene materials for the electrochemical detection of hazardous pollutants

The detection of hazardous pollutants in environmental and industrial settings is of critical importance for safeguarding human health and the ecosystem. Recent years witnessed significant progress and development in novel sensing platforms. The combination of biological recognition elements with two-dimensional (2D) materials enhanced the selectivity and sensitivity of pollutant detection. This review focuses on the integration of biological recognition elements, such as antibodies, nucleic acids, enzymes, aptamers, and proteins with 2D graphene for electrochemical detection of hazardous pollutants. The unique properties of graphene include high electrocatalytic activity, high surface area, and excellent conductivity, combined with the specificity and affinity of biological recognition elements, enabling selective and sensitive detection of hazardous pollutants. The synergistic coupling between 2D graphene and biological recognition elements offers several advantages, including improved sensor performance, rapid response, and potential for multi-analyte detection. Furthermore, the immobilization strategies, surface modifications, and fabrication techniques employed to anchor biological recognition elements onto graphene are discussed. The application of these bio-functionalized 2D material-based sensors for the detection of various hazardous pollutants, such as heavy metals, organic compounds, and environmental toxins, is highlighted. Moreover, the challenges and future perspectives in this field are addressed, including sensor stability, scalability, and the integration of advanced technologies, such as nanotechnology and artificial intelligence, for real-time monitoring and data analysis.

Aminosilane assisted deposition of gold nanoparticles on Zn(OH)2 nanosheets and their application in electrochemical sensor

A facile and efficient method for systematical deposition of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) on Zn(OH)2 nanosheets (NS) with different Zn and Au ratios was established in the presence of N-[3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl]diethylenetriamine (TPDT silane), without adding any external reducing agents, at room temperature. Here, TPDT silane behaves as both a stabilizing and reducing agent. UV–vis absorption spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to confirm the formation of AuNPs on Zn(OH)2 NS. As the concentration of AuNPs increased, a proportional increase in both the number and size of deposited AuNPs on Zn(OH)2 NS was observed. To understand how the variation in the number and size of AuNPs affects their catalytic activity, the electrocatalytic activity of different composition ratios of Zn(OH)2-Au NS toward nitrite ions was studied using cyclic voltammetry and amperometric technique. The TPDT-stabilized Zn(OH)2-Au NS showed high electrocatalytic activity, attributed to the effective electron transfer from Zn(OH)2 NS to AuNPs, creating a synergistic effect that enhances the overall activity. The optimal Zn(OH)2-Au NS modified electrode showed an amperometric sensitivity of 5.72 nA/µM and a limit of detection of 1.2 µM for nitrite ions in water sample well below the guideline value of WHO. This demonstrates the practical applicability of this method for real-world water analysis.

Enhancing the oxygen evolution reaction activity of Iron (oxy) hydroxide by increasing reactive sites with morphology modulation

Nonprecious transition metal (oxy)hydroxides play a vital role in accelerating the kinetics of sluggish oxygen evolution reaction (OER). The fast electron transfer from the electrocatalyst material surface to the electrode is key to obtaining improved OER activity in terms of improved reaction kinetics and reduced overpotential. Therefore, it is highly desirable to design electrocatalysts with efficient electron transport properties. Here, an approach of modulation of the morphology of Iron (oxy)hydroxide through the incorporation of Cr is used to obtain high electrocatalytic activity. The incorporation of Cr resulted in the modified morphology of Iron (oxy)hydroxide with the formation of a porous pit-like structure which offers large reactive sites to effectively adsorb the reactants and allow an efficient electron transfer pathway from electrocatalyst to circuit through Ni foam electrode. A 50% Cr incorporated electrocatalyst (Fe5.0Cr5.0 (oxy)hydroxide) exhibits excellent OER activity with an overpotential of 237mV and 297mV at current densities of 10 and 100mAcm─2, respectively owing to fast electron transport from electrocatalyst to substrate due to formation of porous pit-like structure. Furthermore, Fe5.0Cr5.0 electrocatalyst shows high durability of over 100h at 10mAcm─2. The enhanced OER activity is attributed to the effect of Cr incorporation and morphology modulation which helps to modulate the electronic structure as well as electrocatalytic active sites of Fe (oxy)hydroxide. The systematic incorporation and modulation of morphology pave the way for designing future electrocatalysts for various electrochemical activities.

Al-Ce co-doped BaTiO3 nanofibers as a high-performance bifunctional electrochemical supercapacitor and water-splitting electrocatalyst

Supercapacitors and water splitting cells have recently played a key role in offering green energy through converting renewable sources into electricity. Perovskite-type electrocatalysts such as BaTiO3, have been well-known for their ability to efficiently split water and serve as supercapacitors due to their high electrocatalytic activity. In this study, BaTiO3, Al-doped BaTiO3, Ce-doped BaTiO3, and Al-Ce co-doped BaTiO3 nanofibers were fabricated via a two-step hydrothermal method, which were then characterized and compared for their electrocatalytic performance. Based on the obtained results, Al-Ce co-doped BaTiO3 electrode exhibited a high capacitance of 224.18 Fg−1 at a scan rate of 10 mVs−1, high durability during over the 1000 CV cycles and 2000 charge–discharge cycles, proving effective energy storage properties. Additionally, the onset potentials for OER and HER processes were 11 and − 174 mV vs. RHE, respectively, demonstrating the high activity of the Al-Ce co-doped BaTiO3 electrode. Moreover, in overall water splitting, the amount of the overpotential was 0.820 mV at 10 mAcm−2, which confirmed the excellent efficiency of the electrode. Hence, the remarkable electrocatalytic performance of the Al-Ce co-doped BaTiO3 electrode make it a promising candidate for renewable energy technologies owing to its high conductivity and fast charge transfer.

Engineering Triple-Phase Interfaces around the Anode toward Practical Alkali Metal-Air Batteries.

Alkali metal-air batteries (AMABs) promise ultrahigh gravimetric energy densities, while the inherent poor cycle stability hinders their practical application. To address this challenge, most previous efforts are devoted to advancing the air cathodes with high electrocatalytic activity. Recent studies have underlined the solid-liquid-gas triple-phase interface around the anode can play far more significant roles than previously acknowledged by the scientific community. Besides the bottlenecks of uncontrollable dendrite growth and gas evolution in conventional alkali metal batteries, the corrosive gases, intermediate oxygen species, and redox mediators in AMABs cause more severe anode corrosion and structural collapse, posing greater challenges to the stabilization of the anode triple-phase interface. This work aims to provide a timely perspective on the anode interface engineering for durable AMABs. Taking the Li-air battery as a typical example, this critical review shows the latest developed anode stabilization strategies, including formulating electrolytes to build protective interphases, fabricating advanced anodes to improve their anti-corrosion capability, and designing functional separator to shield the corrosive species. Finally, the remaining scientific and technical issues from the prospects of anode interface engineering are highlighted, particularly materials system engineering, for the practical use of AMABs.

In-situ synthesis of high-quality porous Co-NC@MoS2 composites

MOF-derived nanoporous carbon materials and TMDCs are promising candidates for catalytical applications in many fields, such as photovoltaic devices and lithium-sulfur batteries. Traditional TMDCs catalysts suffer from low conductivity and poor catalytic activity, making it difficult to meet industrial applications. Here, Co-NC@MoS2 composite materials were successfully prepared by chemical vapor deposition technology, which exhibit the high electrocatalytic activity, good charge transport ability, multiple internal channels and excellent electrical conductivity due to the dual advantages of two materials. The composite is expected to be applied in energy catalysis fields such as quantum dot sensitized solar cells.