Interfacial Connection Research Articles

Phosphate ester functionalized fluorene-benzothiadiazole alternating copolymer/hydroxylated g-C3N4 heterojunctions for efficient hydrogen evolution under visible-light irradiation

It is highly desirable to explore functionalized polymer semiconductor/g-C3N4 heterojunction photocatalysts with the tight interfacial connection for promoting the photogenerated electron-hole pair separation, improving the hydrophilicity, extending the visible light response and achieving the efficient visible light-driven H2 evolution. Herein, we synthesized novel poly[9,9-bis(3-ethyl phosphate propyl)fluorene-alt-benzothiadiazole] (PPFBT) with a phosphate ester on every repeating unit by the Suzuki polymerization and then fabricated PPFBT/hydroxylated g-C3N4 (PPFBT/CN-OH) heterojunctions via a surface hydroxyl-induced assembly process. The ratio-optimized 5PPFBT/CN-OH shows the hydrogen evolution activity of 2662.4 μmol·g−1·h−1, an 11.1-time enhancement compared to CN-OH. The improved photocatalytic activity is mainly attributed to the enhanced electron-hole pair separation due to the tight interfacial connection by hydrogen bond (P=O…H-O) and N…S interactions between PPFBT and CN-OH. It is verified that abundant phosphate ester groups of PPFBT improve the hydrophilicity and form coordination bonds with platinum (P=O:Pt) as a cocatalyst to facilitate water splitting for H2 evolution. It is also confirmed that the enhanced electron-hole pair separation is mainly dependent on the excited high-energy level electron transfer from CN-OH to PPFBT. This work provides a rational molecular design strategy for constructing efficient functionalized polymer semiconductor/g-C3N4 heterojunctions for sunlight-driven H2 evolution.

Sliding behavior at the graphene oxide and polyethylene interface

Harnessing their excellent physical attributes, two-dimensional nanostructures have gained prominences as reinforcements in polymer nanocomposites. Given the intricate structure of nanofillers and the varied interfacial connections, in-depth understanding of the strengthening mechanisms becomes pivotal for optimizing nanocomposite design. By varying the GO's morphology, a notable divergence of approximately 30% is evident in the interfacial shear strength. This divergence is attributed to the mechanical interlocking effect instigated by the presence of -O- and -OH functional groups. Functionalizing with groups like -CH3-CH2-NH2 (-Ethylamine) and -(HOCH2)3CNH2 (-TRIS) enhances the mass density of PE polymers at the interphase, which changes the interface sliding (low-density interphase) to the cohesive sliding during the pull-out process. As a result, the maximum interfacial shear strength (204–223 MPa) of these two samples is much larger than that of the pristine GO/PE (149–151 MPa), and even comparable with the pure PE's tensile strength. Intriguingly, shorter or highly flexible functional group exhibit a comparatively weaker influence on the interfacial shear strength. Moreover, as the sliding surface shifts toward the cohesive zone, diminishing sample thickness (less than 60 Å) generally corresponds to augmented interfacial shear strength due to the boundary confinement effect. In summary, this work offers a comprehensively elucidation of GO/PE pull-out behavior, facilitating the design of nanocomposites with exceptional mechanical performance.

Melamine-based covalent organic frameworks intercalated montmorillonite for photocatalytic and antibacterial applications

In the present work, copper oxide materials such as cuprous oxide (Cu2O) and cupric oxide (CuO), as transition metal oxide was successfully included on montmorillonite (Mt)/Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) composite, have been constructed by a facile solvothermal method, and their monomer blocks subsequent assembled into mesoporous COFs, schiff base network-1 (SNW-1), that was intercalated into the montmorillonite layers of a novel nanocomposite (Mt/COF-CuO/Cu2O) for simultaneous antibacterial and heterogeneous photocatalyst performance to degradation of textile important industrially dye such as methyl green (MG) from wastewater. The structures and properties of the resulting materials were then systematically characterized using a series of analytical techniques. The XRD pattern of Mt/COF-CuO/Cu2O nanocomposite confirmed that the formation of CuO and Cu2O nanoparticles in the monoclinic and octahedral phase, respectively. The SEM images of Mt/COF nanocomposite displayed the interfacial connections between irregular spherical grains shape of COF and the layers flat montmorillonite. Mt/COF modified by CuO/Cu2O with plate-shaped morphology and an average width of 50 nm. The diffuse reflectance spectra showed the presence of both Cu2O and CuO nanoparticles in Mt/COF-CuO/Cu2O. The new synthesized photocatalyst showed excellent activity under visible light and was used for the photodegradation of methyl green as target cationic pollutant. The effects of COF incorporation and CuO/Cu2O on the photocatalytic performance have been discussed in detail. In this process, the effects of various parameters such as pH, weight of adsorbent, and concentration of the dye was optimized. The mechanism of separation of the photogenerated electrons and holes at the Mt/COF-CuO/Cu2O nanocomposite was discussed. The antibacterial testing results showed that antibacterial activity of Mt/COF-CuO/Cu2O nanocomposite was more than CuO nanoparticles and Mt/COF against Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis.

The effect of cold glow discharge nitrogen plasma treatment of sisal fiber (Agave Sisalana) on sisal fiber reinforced epoxy composite

Purpose The incompatibility of natural fibers with polymer matrices is one of the key obstacles restricting their use in polymer composites. The interfacial connection between the fibers and the matrix was weak resulting in a lack of mechanical properties in the composites. Chemical treatments are often used to change the surface features of plant fibers, yet these treatments have significant drawbacks such as using substantial amounts of liquid and chemicals. Plasma modification has recently become very popular as a viable option as it is easy, dry, ecologically friendly, time-saving and reduces energy consumption. This paper aims to explore plasma treatment for improving the surface adhesion characteristics of sisal fibers (SFs) without compromising the mechanical attributes of the fiber. Design/methodology/approach A cold glow discharge plasma (CGDP) modification using N2 gas at varied power densities of 80 W and 120 W for 0.5 h was conducted to improve the surface morphology and interfacial compatibility of SF. The mechanical characteristics of unmodified and CGDP-modified SF-reinforced epoxy composite (SFREC) were examined as per the American Society for Testing and Materials standards. Findings The cold glow discharge nitrogen plasma treatment of SF at 120 W (30 min) enhanced the SFREC by nearly 122.75% superior interlaminar shear strength, 71.09% greater flexural strength, 84.22% higher tensile strength and 109.74% higher elongation. The combination of improved surface roughness and more effective lignocellulosic exposure has been responsible for the increase in the mechanical characteristics of treated composites. The development of hydrophobicity in the SF had been induced by CGDP N2 modification and enhanced the size of crystals and crystalline structure by removing some unwanted constituents of the SF and etching the smooth lignin-rich surface layer of the SF particularly revealed via FTIR and XRD. Research limitations/implications Chemical and physical treatments have been identified as the most efficient ways of treating the fiber surface. However, the huge amounts of liquids and chemicals needed in chemical methods and their exorbitant performance in terms of energy expenditure have limited their applicability in the past decades. The use of appropriate cohesion in addition to stimulating the biopolymer texture without changing its bulk polymer properties leads to the formation and establishment of plasma surface treatments that offer a unified, repeatable, cost-effective and environmentally benign replacement. Originality/value The authors are sure that this technology will be adopted by the polymer industry, aerospace, automotive and related sectors in the future.

Novel in-situ composites of chlorine-doped CQDs and g-C3N4 with improved interfacial connectivity and accelerated charge transfer to enhance photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline and hydrogen evolution

The photocatalytic performance of graphite-phase carbon nitrides (g-C3N4) composites is severely limited by poor interfacial connectivity and a narrow visible light response range. Although carbon quantum dots (CQDs) can enhance the visible light absorption of g-C3N4, it is difficult to produce effective interfacial connectivity due to their different properties. Herein, a novel “in-situ composite modified by chlorine-doped CQDs” strategy was proposed to further enhance the photocatalytic redox capability of g-C3N4. Specifically, chlorine-doped CQDs (Cl-CQDs) were prepared from mulberry branch powder and sulfoxide chloride directly, and the novel metal-free photocatalyst (Cl-CCN) was prepared by in-situ compounding the Cl-CQDs with g-C3N4. Cl-CCN shows superior photocatalytic tetracycline degradation rate (0.0269 min−1) and hydrogen production rate (1397.5 µmol g−1h−1), which are 14.9 and 2.75 times higher than those of g-C3N4, respectively. The characterization and DFT calculation results reveal that the C − Cl covalent bonds serve as fast electronic channels to bridge the hydrophilic Cl-CQDs and hydrophobic g-C3N4 and significantly enhance the interfacial coupling and charge transfer. On this basis, a possible mechanism for tetracycline degradation and hydrogen production photocatalyzed by Cl-CCN is proposed. This study provides a concise and economical method for modifying and enhancing the photocatalytic activity of composites CQDs/g-C3N4.

Ultra-fast route to fabricate large-area anode-supported solid oxide fuel cell via microwave-assisted sintering

Herein, a practical, facile, and ultra-fast technique to fabricate a large-area multi-layered solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) is reported. In this technique, a total 25 tape-casted green films of anode-support layer, anode functional layer (AFL), electrolyte layer, and buffer layer were sequentially co-laminated and co-sintered at 1250 °C using microwave energy (2.45 GHz) in a record short time of 90 min. This process is 16 times faster than the conventional sintering process. The microwave-assisted sintering method enhanced the densification of the electrolyte and buffer layer by directly transferring the heat into the cell material. Despite the incredibly rapid processing time, the microwave-assisted sintered cell showed improved interfacial connectivity of the electrolyte and buffer layer in comparison to the conventionally sintered cell. The large-area (6 cm × 6 cm) SOFC fabricated through this route showed a maximum power density of 1.05 Wcm-2 at 750 °C. Moreover, the cell showed exceptional long-term stability tested under a constant current of 10 A for 500 h at 750 °C. The approach seems appealing in terms of its rapidity, simplicity, economic viability, and applicability in multi-layer energy devices.

Mechanical behavior of natural bonding interface in hollow steel-UHPC composite bridge deck

The hollow steel-UHPC (Ultra-high performance concrete) composite deck with interfacial connection by natural bond is a new type of deck with simple appearance and high-stress efficiency. However, the interfacial bonding properties of this composite deck and their effect on the structural performance remain unclear. In this study, the shear tests under different interface sizes, curing conditions and interface states were carried out to analyze the interfacial bonding properties between UHPC and steel tube in composite deck. Besides, the finite element model was used to further study the influence of different interface behaviors on the mechanical properties of composite deck. Results indicated that the whole failure process of UHPC-steel tube composite specimens included the elastic stage, the interface bond failure stage and the friction stage. The ultimate strength of composite specimens would not completely be lost when they failed, since there was also residual interface strength provided by friction. The influence of curing conditions on the interface strength was most significant. The ultimate load of composite deck was increased by 13.69% when the interfacial bonding strength was increased from 0.5 to 4 MPa. However, the influence of interfacial stiffness on the mechanical behavior of composite deck was negligible. When the interfacial fracture energy was increased from 1.4 to 4 N/mm, the ultimate load of composite deck was increased nonlinearly and slowly by 13.87%. Finally, there was little effect on the performance of composite deck when the interfacial bonding strength exceeded 4 MPa or the fracture energy was larger than 4 N/mm.

Facile and green lyocell/feather nonwovens with in-situ growth of ZIF-8 as adsorbent for physicochemical CO2 capture

Carbon dioxide (CO2) removal based on porous materials adsorption is one of the most promising strategies to address current global climate change issues. However, existing porous materials suffer from several problems including weak interfacial connection between functional nanomaterials and substrates, not being eco-friendly, poor processability, short service life, and expensive manufacturing cost. Herein, we report a green fiber-based CO2 adsorbent through in-situ growth of ZIF-8 on 3D fibrillar lyocell/feather nonwovens (ZIF-8@LFNW) in a low-cost and scalable manner. The combination of fibrillation treatment with de-crosslink strategy endows lyocell/feather nonwovens with the coexisting structure of micro-nano fibers and abundant functional groups such as hydroxyl, carboxyl group, and amino group, which greatly increases ZIF-8 loading. Moreover, with the synergistic effect of ZIF-8 and amino groups in feather fibers, the resultant ZIF-8@LFNW achieved both physical and chemical capturing of CO2. Notably, ZIF-8@LFNW with the loading rate of 12.41 wt% possessed optimal CO2 adsorption capacity of 4.46 cm3 g−1 at a high CO2 concentration environment and 190.84 ppm g−1 at a low CO2 concentration environment whilst exhibiting stable cyclic adsorption/desorption behavior. Taken together, this work paves the way for designing high-performance environmentally friendly fiber-based CO2 adsorbents.

Ultra-thin nanosheets of Ti3C2Tx MXene/MoSe2 nanocomposite electrode for asymmetric supercapacitor and electrocatalytic water splitting

Nanohybrid anode materials for highly efficient asymmetric supercapacitors are developed with a hydrothermal approach using organ-like (Ti3C2Tx) MXene as a main basis. The MoSe2/Ti3C2Tx hybrid supercapacitor has a high specific capacitance of 1531.2 Fg−1 at 1 Ag−1 and a low potential of 200 mV at 10 mAg−1. Additionally, the Tafel slope of 37.7 mV dec−1 for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) makes this supercapacitor an excellent electrochemical performer. The supercapacitor with Ti3C2Tx/MoSe2nanohybrid as the positive electrode shows excellent performance. Even after 10,000 cycles, it retains a capacitance of 94.1% with a high current density of 5 Ag−1, a high specific energy of 58.8 Whkg−1 and a high specific power of 800.3 Wkg−1. In comparison with unmodified MoSe2, it increases conductivity, speed of charge transfer, and active sites which is explained by the strong interfacial connection between MXene and Ti3C2Tx crystals.

Facilely in-situ growth of porphyrin metal-organic frameworks on the Ti3C2 MXene/TiO2 for greatly improved photocatalytic hydrogen generation

Developing efficient photocatalysts with high carrier separation and improved light capture are significant means in resolving energy crisis and reducing environmental pollution. Herein, by using the Cu2+ riveted to the partially oxidized MXene (TT) as the growth sites, carboxylporphyrin copper metal-organic frameworks (CuTMOF) was in-situ assembled on the TT-Cu2+, thereby the TT/CuTMOF nanocomposite with a tight interfacial connection was constructed. It showed the increased visible absorption as well as charge transfer in the nanocomposite. The photocatalytic behavior in the generation of hydrogen of the TT/CuTMOF nanocomposite was investigated, showing that the photocatalytic performance of the in-situ growth TT/CuTMOF nanocomposite was superior to some comparisons (such as TT/TCPP, the mixture of TT and CuTMOF). Especially, the photocatalytic activity of the TT/CuTMOF nanocomposite was about 54.5 times than that of pure TT. Moreover, the TT/CuTMOF nanocomposite showed higher cycle stability with methanol as a sacrificial agent. The photocatalytic mechanism for H2 generation was suggested. This work offers a unique perspective on fabricating greatly effective photocatalytic materials for hydrogen production.

Synergistic effects of alloy elements on the structural stability, mechanical properties and electronic structure of Ni3Sn4: Using first principles

Ni3Sn4 and Ni3Sn4-based ternary phases play an important role in the interfacial connection in solder joints. In this study, we provide a detailed investigation of the structural stability, mechanical properties and electronic structures of Ni3-xMxSn4 (M = Co, Pd, Pt and Cu，x = 0–1.5) and Ni3Sn4-xNx (NIn, Ge, Pb and Sb，x = 0–1.5) using first-principles methods. The calculated formation enthalpies reveal that the alloy elements (Pd, Pt, Ge and Sb) can improve the structural stability of Ni3Sn4, but Co, Cu, In and Pb do the opposite. The elastic constants (Cij) of Ni3-xMxSn4 and Ni3Sn4-xNx structures are typically lower than those of Ni3Sn4. Cu and Sb elements are detrimental to the ductility of Ni3Sn4, and the elements of Ge and Pb can improve the ductility of Ni3Sn4. The rest of elements (In, Co, Pd and Pt) have less influence on the ductility and brittleness of Ni3Sn4. Electronic structure analysis shows that the trend of the Fermi Level values (Ef) are consistent with the formation enthalpies (Hf) of Ni3-xMxSn4 and Ni3Sn4-xNx. The orbitals hybridization between Ni-d, M-d, Sn-p and N-p have a significant effect on Ni3Sn4. Finally, the bulk modulus (B), shear modulus (G), Young's modulus (E), Poisson's ratio (ν), and differential charge density are calculated completely.

Study of changes in microstructure and metal interface Cu/Al during bimetallic construction wire straining

This article investigates the effect of a new processing technology on the change in microstructure and mechanical properties of bimetallic aluminum-copper wire. This technology makes it possible to produce a new generation of wire for use in the construction of new overhead lines and reconstruction of old ones. The study was conducted using a transmission electron microscope, EBSD analysis, tensile tests, and determination of microhardness and electrical conductivity. The results of the study show that an ultrafine-grained copper-aluminum composite with a gradient structure is formed during straining by ECAP-drawing. Annealing after straining at 200 °C increases the strength of the interfacial connection between Cu and Al and improves the strength characteristics of the bimetallic aluminum-copper wire. The use of such aluminum-copper wires for overhead transmission lines allows to reduce the wire cross-section and, accordingly, wind loads, as well as to increase the strength properties without an additional increase in the total weight of the wire.

Durability Study of Anode-Supported SOFC with Large-Area Fabricated By 4-Layer Sequential Co-Lamination and GDC Co-Firing Process

Electrolyte-Cathode interfaces are life-threatening regions of solid oxide fuel cells where degradation phenomena occur due to chemical interdiffusion. The Buffer layer is inserted between the electrolyte-cathode to limit the cation exchange across the interface. However, state of the art buffer layer coated by screen printing does not fully prevent cation migration which results in the formation of insulating phases such as La2ZrO7 and SrZrO3. Herein, a reliable four-layered (NiO-YSZ, NiO-CeScSZ, CeScSZ, and GDC) thin film-based anode-supported SOFCs with a large-area (12 cm × 12 cm) were fabricated by sequential co-lamination, in which all cell components perform a distinct role to enhance the interfacial connectivity and packing density of electrolytes. This enhanced connectivity with a highly dense electrolyte (5-6 µm) and buffer layer (2-3 µm) was accomplished on the porous anode support without any structural defects. The single cell (144 cm2) showed a power output of 38 W at a total current of 50 A (700 °C). The Post-tested cell had exceptional micro-structural characteristics and excellent interfacial adhesion and retained its structural integrity during steady and unsteady state operation. Also, the formation of insulating phases and decomposition of the cathode were completely prevented, resulting in a remarkable improvement in durability. The cell with a four-layered structure exhibits an extreme low degradation rate of 0.2% kh-1 under 25 A current and 21 dynamic load cycling conditions, which satisfies the strict benchmark of durability for technology commercialization.

Interfacial Enhancement by CNTs Grafting towards High-Performance Mechanical Properties of Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Epoxy Composites.

The problem of interfacial interaction between carbon fiber (CF) and the matrix is the key to the failure of CF-reinforced plastic (CFRP). A general strategy to enhance interfacial connections is to create covalent bonds between the components, but this usually reduces the toughness of the composite material, which in turn limits the range of applications of the composite. In this study, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were grafted onto the CF surface using the molecular layer bridging effect of the dual coupling agent to prepare multi-scale reinforcements, which significantly improved the roughness and chemical activity of the CF surface. By introducing a transition layer structure between the carbon fibers and the epoxy resin matrix to moderate the large modulus and scale differences between them, the interfacial interaction was improved while enhancing the strength and toughness of CFRP. We used amine-cured bisphenol A-based epoxy resin (E44) as the matrix resin and prepared the composites by the hand-paste method and performed tensile tests on the prepared composites, which showed that, compared with the original CF-reinforced composites, the modified composites showed an increase in tensile strength, Young's modulus and elongation at break by 40.5%, 66.3% and 41.9%, respectively.

Durability improvement of large-area anode supported solid oxide fuel cell fabricated by 4-layer sequential co-lamination and co-firing process

In this work, thin-film based 4-layered (NiO-YSZ, NiO-ScCeSZ, ScCeSZ, and GDC) anode-supported solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) with a large-area (12cm × 12 cm) is fabricated by sequential co-lamination and GDC cofiring process to improve the cell durability. This results in a highly dense electrolyte (5–6 μm) and buffer layer (2–3 μm) on the porous anode support. The single cell shows a high-power output of 41.5W at 50A and a maximum power density of 1.6 Wcm−2 at 700 °C. After the current load cycling of 21 times from 25 to 50 A, the large-area cell shows a very small degradation of 0.018V, which is attributed to strong interfacial connectivity between the ScCeSZ electrolyte and GDC buffer layer. Subsequently, the long-term test is carried out for 1000 h at 700 °C under a constant current density of 250 mA/cm2. The cell with a 4-layered structure exhibits the lowest degradation rate of 0.2% kh−1 at 25A current, which satisfies the stringent benchmark of longevity for the commercialization of technology.

Fabrication of bio-fiber based Eichhornia crassipes/Al2O3 particles hybrid biocomposites and investigation of important properties

The need for environmentally friendly composite materials that meet the necessary criteria is growing. Making novel environmentally acceptable composites with hybrid Eichhornia crassipes (EGs)/Al2O3 particles is an option. This paper aims to investigate the thermal, tensile strength, and flexural strength properties of a polyester composite filled with hybrid EG/Al2O3 particles. The tensile strength, flexural strength, and morphology of EGs/Al2O3 hybrid composite will be investigated in this work. The hot pressed for 60 minutes at 170°C procedure was used to shape the hybrid composite. EGs/Al2O3 particles content was altered from 0:25 to 5:20, 10:15 to 15:10, 20:5, and 25:0 (vol.%). The results reveal that when the EGs content of the composite is in the range of 10–15% (vol.%), the tensile and bending strength of the composite increases. The EGI (15% EGs:10% Al2O3) and EGH (10% EGs:10% Al2O3) composites had the highest tensile and bending strengths, with 38.697 and 77.786 MPa, respectively. The boost in strength is thought to be due to Al2O3 acting as a cursor in the composite, preventing fracture progression. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) fracture morphology reveals a strong and tight interfacial connection between the EGs, Al2O3, and polyester layers. In addition, when the EGs grew, the composites’ thermal characteristics improved. According to the findings, the EGs/ Al2O3 particle hybrid composite can be used in automotive applications.

Tremella-like Boron-doped hierarchical CN and dispersion Co phthalocyanine assembling heterojunction for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

Semiconducting photocatalysts' electronic configuration significantly impacts their band gaps, charge carrier transport properties, and photocatalytic activities. Boron-doped tremella-like hierarchical CN and ultrathin Co phthalocyanine (CoPe) heterojunction (B1.5HCN-Co0.5%) formation via strengthened H-bonding interfacial connection possess excellent photocatalytic activities in water where the small amounts of catalysts exhibit a high photocatalytic H2 evolution activity with H2 evolution rate of 17818.82 μmol h−1 g−1 under simulated sunlight and 5558.81 μmol h−1 g−1 under visible light (≥420 nm). According to detailed characterization, the unique tremella-like hierarchical structure with abundant mesopores shortens the charge diffusion length. At the same time, incorporating CoPe improves the charge transport properties of B1.5HCN achieving effective spatial separation, which is primarily responsible for the improved performance. Both a significant amount of experimental data and theoretical calculations demonstrated the critical role of boron-doped and CoPe in photocatalytic H2 evolution. Heteroatom doping and heterojunction construction are essential in rationally regulating band structure to construct more efficient CN-based photocatalysts.

Efficient Electrocatalytic Nitrate Reduction to Ammonia Based on DNA-Templated Copper Nanoclusters

In alkaline solutions, the electrocatalytic conversion of nitrates to ammonia (NH3) (NO3RR) is hindered by the sluggish hydrogenation step due to the lack of protons on the electrode surface, making it a grand challenge to synthesize NH3 at a high rate and selectivity. Herein, single-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (ssDNA)-templated copper nanoclusters (CuNCs) were synthesized for the electrocatalytic production of NH3. Because ssDNA was involved in the optimization of the interfacial water distribution and H-bond network connectivity, the water-electrolysis-induced proton generation was enhanced on the electrode surface, which facilitated the NO3RR kinetics. The activation energy (Ea) and in situ spectroscopy studies adequately demonstrated that the NO3RR was exothermic until NH3 desorption, indicating that, in alkaline media, the NO3RR catalyzed by ssDNA-templated CuNCs followed the same reaction path as the NO3RR in acidic media. Electrocatalytic tests further verified the efficiency of ssDNA-templated CuNCs, which achieved a high NH3 yield rate of 2.62 mg h-1 cm-2 and a Faraday efficiency of 96.8% at -0.6 V vs reversible hydrogen electrode. The results of this study lay the foundation for engineering catalyst surface ligands for the electrocatalytic NO3RR.

Photoelectrocatalytic CO2 reduction with ternary nanocomposite of MXene (Ti3C2)-Cu2O-Fe3O4: Comprehensive utilization of electrolyte and light-wavelength

The photoelectrocatalytic reduction of CO2 to high-value-added chemicals is considered one of the most promising technologies for reducing the energy crisis and global warming. In this study, new Cu2O/Fe3O4 and Ti3C2/Cu2O/Fe3O4 ternary nanocomposites were fabricated using a simple hydrothermal method and used as photocathodes in PEC-CO2R for the first time to achieve low overpotentials, high product selectivities, and high current densities by supplying different light sources and halide ion electrolytes. The successful junctions of Ti3C2/Cu2O/Fe3O4 were determined by analytical techniques, and all the results agreed well and confirmed that the 2D MXene and CuFe mixed metal oxide had interfacial connections with efficient separation of photogenerated electrons and holes, thus supplying plentiful photoinduced electrons to the CO2RR. First-principles DFT calculations were utilized for the first time to explore the electronic structure and electron flow in ternary nanocomposites. Additionally, the unique surface area of 2D MXene provides abundant reactive sites, and the heterojunction of mixed-metal oxides with MXene effectively promotes the efficiency of light utilization. Consequently, in the new PEC-CO2R system of Ti3C2/Cu2O/Fe3O4, methanol and ethanol were used as the major products at maximum rates of 65.48072 μmol/ml and 25.88482 μmol/ml, respectively, under UV-light irradiation. Moreover, the proposed nanocomposite maintained adequate stability after one month with long-term usability. Hence, this work demonstrates the use of 2D MXenes with Cu2O/Fe3O4 ternary nanocomposites as novel and efficient catalysts for PEC-CO2R.

Engineering of Interfacial Interactions Among BN And CNT Hybrid Towards Higher Heat Conduction Within TPU Composites

The demand for high thermal conductivity has stimulated the rapid development of materials that can efficiently manipulate thermal energy for future applications. Typically, polymer-based composites on hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) are excellent for providing thermally conductive yet electrically insulating pathways. However, it is quite difficult for BN alone to develop strong interfacial connections within polymer chains. In this work, first, we established the hydroxylation of both h-BN and carbon nanotubes (CNT) then formed a urethane crosslink between the filler-filler interfaces and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) matrix. Owing to the unique structure of hybrid fillers, an unprecedented thermal conductivity of 4.52 Wm-1K-1 is achieved at just 60 wt. % loading of h-BN and 2 wt. % of CNT. Nevertheless, outstanding yielding strength and Young’s modulus such as 11.5 MPs and 13.5 GPa are also achieved by tension. We hope these findings will facilitate the researchers to design novel hybrid structures for next-generation electronic packaging.