Modification Of Active Site Research Articles

Pyrene-4,5,9,10-tetraone-based covalent organic framework/carbon nanotube composite as sodium-ion cathodes with high-rate capability

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have attracted significant interest in the field of rechargeable batteries on account of their unique properties, including robust frameworks, well-defined porosity, abundant redox-active sites, and flexible structure designability. However, the limited active site utilization and low electrical conductivity always bring about poor electrochemical performance, thereby hindering practical applications. Herein, we reported a pyrene-4,5,9,10-tetraone-based covalent organic framework composite (Tp-PTO-COF@CNTs) grown on multi-walled carbon nanotubes via in-situ polycondensation. The Tp-PTO-COF@CNTs with numerous active sites (C=O groups) and strong π-π interaction between CNTs and COFs could accommodate more Na-ions and boost structural stability. Moreover, the existence of 1D CNTs could improve electronic conductivity, which facilitates fast transport of electrons and enhances reaction kinetics. In view of the two synergistic effects, Tp- PTO-COF@CNTs cathode displays an outstanding sodium-ion storage property with high initial capacity of 223.2 mA h/g at 0.1 A/g, remarkable rate capability at as high as 20 A/g, and ultra-long cycling stability (163.0 mA h/g exceeding 5000 cycles at 5 A/g). Furthermore, the ex-situ measurements are proposed to better confirm the role of carbonyl groups as redox-active centers. Such ultra-stable structural advantage might inspire the development of COF cathode materials for sodium-ion batteries.

In Situ Fe/Co/B Codoped MoS2 Ultrathin Nanosheets Enable Efficient Electrocatalytic Nitrogen Reduction.

The development of sustainable and effective electrochemical nitrogen fixation catalysts is crucial for the mitigation of the terrible energy consumption resulting from the Haber-Bosch process. Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) exhibits promise toward nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) on account of its similar structure to natural nitrogenases MoFe-co but still undergoes serious challenges with unsatisfactory catalytic performance resulted from limited active sites, conductivity, and selectivity. In this work, Fe/Co/B codoped MoS2 ultrathin nanosheets are synthesized and verified as excellent NRR catalysts with high activity, selectivity, and durability. The FeCoB-MoS2 demonstrates a high ammonia yield of 36.99 μg h-1 mgcat-1 at -0.15 V vs RHE and Faraday efficiency (FE) of 30.65% at -0.10 V vs RHE in 0.1 M HCl. The experimental results and the density functional theory (DFT) calculations emphasize that codoping of Fe, Co, and B into MoS2 synergistically enhances its conductivity and optimizes the electronic structure of the catalyst, which significantly improves the electrocatalytic ammonia synthesis performance. This work broadens the potential and enlightens the strategy for designing efficient electrocatalysts in the NRR field.

Conjugated Enhanced Polyimide Enables High‐Capacity Ammonium Ion Storage

AbstractAqueous ammonium ion batteries (AIBs) have emerged as a promising next‐generation rechargeable battery due to their safety, sustainability, abundant resources, and superior electrochemical performance. However, organic anode materials, particularly polyimide anode materials, suffer from low specific capacity caused by limited active sites. Herein, the study has developed a micro‐granular‐structured π‐conjugated enhanced polyimide (PTPD) as the anode material for AIBs. The large π‐conjugated enhanced structure enables long‐range electron delocalization, decreased bandgap, and reduced spatial steric hindrance, resulting in increased active sites capable of storing NH4+ ions. PTPD exhibits reversible oxidation and reduction reaction in (NH4)2SO4 solution, delivering a high specific capacity of 206.67 mAh g−1 at a current density of 0.5 A g−1, exceptional rate capability, and excellent cycling stability with a capacity retention of 74.28% after 2500 cycles at a current density of 10 A g−1. Furthermore, theoretical simulations and materials analysis demonstrate that PTPD undergoes enol‐keto transformation of carbonyl groups, effectively capturing NH4+ to store charges. This study provides an effective strategy for designing polymer‐based AIBs anodes with high specific capacity and cycling stability.

Nanozyme Catalytic Performance Enhancement through Defect and Electronic Structure Regulation of Metal-Doped NiCo2O4@Pd.

Spinel oxides have emerged as a promising candidate in the realm of nanozymes with variable oxidation states, while their limited active sites and low conductivity hinder further application. In this work, we synthesize a series of metal-doped NiCo2O4 nanospheres decorated with Pd, which are deployed as highly efficient nanozymes for the detection of cancer biomarkers. Through meticulous modulation of the molar ratio between NiCo2O4 and Pd, we orchestrated precise control over the oxygen vacancies and electronic structure within the nanozymes, a key factor in amplifying the catalytic prowess. Leveraging the superior H2O2 reduction catalytic properties of Fe-NiCo2O4@Pd, we have successfully implemented its application in the electrochemical detection of biomarkers, achieving unparalleled analytical performance, much higher than that of Pd/C and other reported nanozymes. This research paves the way for innovative electron modification strategies in the design of high-performance nanozymes, presenting a formidable tool for clinical diagnostic analyses.

Stable Hierarchical Porous Heterostructure Ni2P/NC@CoNi2S4 Fabricated via the NiCo-LDH Template Strategy for High-Performance Supercapacitors.

Transition metal phosphide/sulfide (TMP/TMS) heterostructures are attractive supercapacitor electrode materials due to their rapid redox reaction kinetics. However, the limited active sites and weak interfacial interactions result in undesirable electrochemical performance. Herein, based on constructing the NiCo-LDH template on Ni-MOF-derived Ni2P/NC, Ni2P/NC@CoNi2S4 with a porous heterostructure is fabricated by sulfurizing the intermediate and is used for supercapacitors. The exposed Ni sites in the phosphating-obtained Ni2P/NC coordinate with OH- to in situ form an intimate-connected Ni2P/NC@NiCo-LDH, and the CoNi2S4 nanosheets retaining the original cross-linked structure of NiCo-LDH integrate the porous carbon skeleton of Ni2P/NC to yield a hierarchical pore structure with rich electroactive sites. The conducting carbon backbone and the intense electronic interactions at the interface accelerate electron transfer, and the hierarchical pores offer sufficient ion diffusion paths to accelerate redox reactions. These confer Ni2P/NC@CoNi2S4 with a high specific capacitance of 2499 F·g-1 at 1 A·g-1. The NiCo-LDH template producing a tight interfacial connection, significantly enhances the stability of the heterostructure, leading to a 91.89% capacitance retention after 10,000 cycles. Moreover, the fabricated Ni2P/NC@CoNi2S4//NC asymmetric supercapacitor exhibits an excellent energy density of 73.68 Wh kg-1 at a power density of 700 W kg-1, superior to most reported composites of TMPs or TMSs.

Insight into the configuration of hard-soft carbon composites for high performance sodium-ion batteries

Hard carbon materials are considered suitable anode materials for sodium-ion batteries due to their abundant defect sites and large interlayer distance, which are respectively beneficial to the adsorption/desorption and insertion/extraction behaviors of Na+ during the electrochemical process. However, the poor electrical conductivity resulting from the intrinsic short-range ordered structure in the carbon skeleton and limited active sites significantly hinders their electrochemical performance. Herein, hard and soft carbon composites with various configurations are developed using a layer-by-layer coating method with SiO2 nanospheres as templates. These composites, including the hard carbon coated soft carbon composite structure (SC@HC), soft carbon coated hard carbon composite structure (HC@SC), and uniformly mixed soft and hard carbon composites (HSC), are prepared through confined-carbonization under the outermost SiO2 layer. The resulting hollow nanospheres possess ultra-small diameters (approximately 50 nm), ultra-thin wall thicknesses (5-6 nm), and different hard/soft carbon layer arrangements. Evaluation of sodium storage properties showed that the combination of soft and hard carbon outperformed pure soft or hard carbon, with HC@SC configuration offering materials with larger interlayer spacing, higher defect concentration, and a more complete conductive network. This enhances sodium storage capacity (293 mAh g-1@1 A g-1) and rate performance (242 mAh g-1@5 A g-1). The findings of this study present a novel approach to designing soft and hard carbon composites for high-performance sodium-ion batteries.

A triple-benefit strategy of microstructure, electronic property and active site modulation on ZnIn2S4 photocatalyst by Sn atom doping

To overcome the high cost and complex preparation of cocatalysts in photocatalytic H₂ production, this study pioneers a triple-benefit strategy in visible-light-absorbing semiconductors through microstructure optimization, electronic property modulation, and active site modification in two-dimensional (2D) hexagonal ZnIn₂S₄ (ZIS) via Sn atom doping. Facilely synthesized through a one-step hydrothermal method without surfactants, 4–6 nm thick Sn-doped ZIS nanosheets exhibit reduced charge recombination by preventing excessive self-assembly and aggregation. Density Functional Theory (DFT) and X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (XAFS) confirm Sn’s substitution for Zn on (001) surface, shifting the Fermi level into the conduction band to facilitate electron migration and charge separation. This adjustment also modulates the electronic properties of adjacent S atoms, triggering the inert basal plane for an enhanced H₂ evolution reaction kinetics. Consequently, Sn-ZIS achieves a H₂ evolution rate of 62.18 μmol h−1 under visible light, significantly outperforming pure ZIS and Pt@ZIS by 6.7 and 3.5 times, respectively.

Defects-rich MgFe LDH: A high-capacity adsorbent for methyl orange wastewater

Dye pollution is a common pollutant in wastewater that poses a serious threat to human health. Layered double hydroxide (LDH) is a commonly used adsorbent for dye removal. However, its adsorption efficiency is significantly limited by the limited adsorption active sites of the adsorbent. In this paper, a defects-rich MgFe LDH adsorbent for anionic dye wastewater was synthesized by a simple hydrothermal method and alkaline etching. Different analytical techniques, such as XRD, FT-IR, SEM, TEM, XPS, and N2 adsorption-desorption isotherm, were used to verify the chemical composition and surface characteristics of the materials, and the effects of pH, temperature, and contact time on the adsorption effect of methyl orange and the adsorption mechanism were analyzed. Alkaline etching of Al and Zn in the laminate generated defects that expose unsaturated coordination centers and create abundant adsorption sites, which can electrostatically attract and coordinate with dye ions. At 25°C, the adsorption capacity of MgFe LDH with Al etched and MgFe LDH with Zn etched for methyl orange dye reached 1722 mg/g and 1685 mg/g, respectively, much higher than that of MgFe LDH (544 mg/g). This work provides a promising method for the removal of dye wastewater by adsorption and a new idea for the design and development of high-performance dye wastewater adsorbents.

The effect of thermoelectric augmentation dramatically increased the specific capacity for electrochemical energy storage

Conventional methods to enhance the performance of electrode materials include morphological modification and defect engineering, but the limited number of active sites for the electrode remains a huge obstacle to achieving high-performance supercapacitors. In this work, we proposed a strategy to improve the electrode performance under the condition of limited active sites through the thermoelectric effect, and designed thermoelectric electrodes of the p-type Fe0.3Co0.7Sb3 cathode and the n-type Cu0.3Ag1.7Se anode for supercapacitors, respectively. In particular, the charge carriers generated by the thermoelectric effect accelerate the electrochemical reaction process at the interface between the thermoelectric electrode and the electrolyte under the temperature difference (ΔT) condition, thus increasing the specific capacity of the electrode. The p-Type Fe0.3Co0.7Sb3 cathode and the n-Type Cu0.3Ag1.7Se anode exhibit a 150% and 208% increase in the specific capacity, respectively. Furthermore, electrodes with different conduction types and various thermoelectric properties, such as n/p-type bismuth telluride and n/p-type half-Heusler thermoelectric materials are also studied, confirming the universality of the above phenomenon in thermoelectric electrodes. This work provides a universal route for the thermoelectric effect to promote the energy density of supercapacitors used in high temperature difference environments.

Construction of g-C3N4/Ti3CN MXene Schottky heterojunctions for boosting photocatalytic hydrogen production

Converting solar energy into clean hydrogen (H2) fuel via photocatalytic hydrogen production technology is a promising strategy for sustainable social development. Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) has attracted much attention due to its unique visible light activity and excellent tunable atomic structure. However, bulk g-C3N4 suffers from challenges such as sluggish charge carrier dynamics and limited active catalytic sites, resulting in lower solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency. Herein, we prepare defective ultrathin g-C3N4 nanosheets and subsequently construct 2D g-C3N4/2D Ti3CN MXene heterojunction via electrostatic-driven assembly. The optimized composite CM-2 exhibits the highest hydrogen evolution rate of 7630.5 µmol g−1 h−1. The increase in the hydrogen production rate is attributed to the effective coupling of two materials to form Schottky heterojunctions, which may inhibit the recombination of electron-hole pairs. Additionally, this work explores the pathway of electron transfer in Schottky photocatalyst, and further unveils the synergy of defects and built-in electric field in accelerating photo-induced charge transport as well as enhancing the hydrogen-evolving activity, thereby providing valuable insights for the rational design of highly efficient photocatalytic materials.

Metal organic framework-derived porous Ni-doped In2O3 for highly sensitive and selective detection to hydrogen at low temperature

Achieving high sensitivity and selective detection at low temperature is of great significance for hydrogen leakage monitoring and early warning. As a very promising hydrogen sensitive material, In2O3 still faces great challenges in achieving high-performance hydrogen sensing at low temperatures due to inherent defects such as low specific surface area and limited active sites. Here, we prepared Ni-doped In2O3 mesoporous nanomaterials using metal organic framework (MOF) as sacrificial templates. The prepared Ni-doped In2O3 exhibited mesoporous structures with small diameters (2–3 nm), which could be used as effective molecular sieves for the selective detection of hydrogen. The high specific surface area (72.0 m²/g) provided numerous active sites for surface redox reactions, resulting in a remarkable hydrogen sensing response. Notably, gas sensitivity tests demonstrated that the Ni-doped In2O3 gas sensor achieved optimal hydrogen detection performance at 100°C. Particularly, the 3 at% Ni-doped In2O3 nanomaterials exhibited a high response of 12.5–100 ppm hydrogen, along with favorable response/recovery time and a practical limit of detection down to 5 ppm. Furthermore, the Ni-doped In2O3 sensor exhibited excellent reversibility, reproducibility, selectivity and long-term stability. In addition, simulation calculations based on molecular dynamics (MD) and density functional theory (DFT) show that molecular sieve effect is the main reason for the enhanced selectivity, and Ni doping induced oxygen vacancy (OV) defects could enhance gas adsorption. This work could provide technical support for leak detection and warning during hydrogen use, storage and transportation in the future.

Integrating bimetallic borides with g-C3N4 containing cyanamide defects for efficient photocatalytic nitrogen fixation

The sustainable generation of ammonia by photocatalytic nitrogen fixation under mild conditions is fascinating compared to conventional industrial processes. Nevertheless, owing to the low charge transfer efficiency, the insufficient light absorption capacity and limited active sites of the photocatalyst cause the difficult adsorption and activation of N2 molecules, thereby resulting in a low photocatalytic conversion efficiency. Herein, a novel bimetallic CoMoB nanosheets (CoMoB) co-catalyst modified carbon nitride with dual moiety defects (CN-TH3/3) Schottky junction photocatalyst is designed for photocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR). The photocatalytic nitrogen reduction rate of the optimized CoMoB/CN-TH3/3 photocatalyst is 4.81 mM·g−1·h−1, which is 6.2 and 2.2 times higher than carbon nitride (CN) (0.78 mM·g−1·h−1) and CN-TH3/3 (2.21 mM·g−1·h−1), respectively. The excellent photocatalytic NRR performance is ascribed not only to the introduction of dual moiety defects (cyano and cyanamide groups) that extends the visible light absorption range and promotes exciton polarization dissociation, but also to the formation of interfacial electric field between CoMoB and CN-TH3/3, which effectively facilitates the interfacial charge transfer. Thus, the synergistic interaction between CN-TH3/3 and CoMoB further increases the electron numble of CoMoB active sites, which effectively strengthens the adsorption and activation of N2 and weakens the NN triple bond, thereby enhancing the photocatalytic NRR activity. This work highlights the introduced dual moiety defects and bimetallic CoMoB co-catalyst to synergistically enhance the photocatalytic nitrogen reduction performance.

Construction of three-dimensional polyethyleneimine incorporated graphene oxide aerogels as high-capacity electrode for enhanced uranium(VI) electrosorption performance

Electrosorption technique is paid more attention in recovery of uranium(VI) due to its low energy consumption, green process and easy regeneration, but still is hindered by the limited accessible active sites on the electrode material, poor surface wettability and inherent ion exclusion effects. Herein, novel there dimensional porous polyethyleneimine/graphene oxide aerogel (PEI/GOA) electrode was constructed by incorporating polyethyleneimine into graphene oxide and using chitosan as binder for uranium(VI) electrosorption. The synthesized PEI/GOA had a stable three-dimensional porous structure, high specific capacitance (54.06F/G) and good charge–discharge stability. The electrosorption process of uranium(VI) by PEI/GOA electrode was affected by applied voltage and pH, fitted by the pesuo-second-order kinetics and Langmuir model. The maximum theoretical electrosorption capacity of uranium(VI) by PEI/GOA electrode at − 1.2 V was 419.71 mg/g, which was 2.2 times higher than that of pure graphene oxide electrode. PEI/GOA electrode exhibited less than 20 % loss after five cycles using 0.1 M NaHCO3 as the eluent. The efficient U(VI) electrosorption by PEI/GOA electrode was not only attributed to the formation of the electric double layer, but also due to the interaction and synergy of the –NH2, –CONH- and –OH on the PEI/GOA electrode. This research offers a new approach for the efficient removal of uranium (VI) from uranium-containing wastewater.

Three-dimensional crosslinked structure assembled by novel elemental iodine doped Nb2O5 ultrathin nanosheets for exceptional visible-light photocatalytic performance

The application of Nb2O5 in photocatalysis has sparked interest due to its potent oxidation capabilities and eco-friendly properties. However, challenges such as poor visible light response, limited reactive active sites and rapid charge recombination still hinder its practical use. Herein, a novel approach introduces elemental I-doped Nb2O5 (INO) catalyst with a three-dimensional crosslinked structure formed by ultrathin nanosheets, for the first time. This pioneering approach results in the INO catalyst with a high specific surface area (98.51 m2 g−1), abundant active sites, and enhanced visible light absorption. The dispersion of elemental I within the Nb2O5 lattice promotes the presence of delocalized electrons and improves charge carrier mobility, leading to superior catalytic performance for the degradation of diclofenac (DCF). During a 75-min period, the degradation efficiency of INO catalyst to diclofenac was found to reach 91.5 %, with a corresponding rate constant of 35.0 × 10−3 min−1. Furthermore, the study investigates the DCF degradation pathway and the toxicity changes in its byproducts. This innovative research opens new avenues for enhancing the visible light catalytic activity of Nb2O5 catalysts.

Selective Oxidation of sp-Bonded Carbon in Graphdiyne/Carbon Nanotubes Heterostructures to Form Dominant Epoxy Groups for Two-Electron Oxygen Reduction.

Two-electron oxygen reduction reaction (2e- ORR) is of great significance to H2O2 production and reversible nonalkaline Zn-air batteries (ZABs). Multiple oxygen-containing sp2-bonded nanocarbons have been developed as electrocatalysts for 2e- ORR, but they still suffer from poor activity and stability due to the limited and mixed active sites at the edges as well as hydrophilic character. Herein, graphdiyne (GDY) with rich sp-C bonds is studied for enhanced 2e- ORR. First, computational studies show that GDY has a favorable formation energy for producing five-membered epoxy ring-dominated groups, which is selective toward the 2e- ORR pathway. Then based on the difference in chemical activity of sp-C bonds in GDY and sp2-C bonds in CNTs, we experimentally achieved conductive and hydrophobic carbon nanotubes (CNTs) covering O-modified GDY (CNTs/GDY-O) through a mild oxidation treatment combined with an in situ CNTs growth approach. Consequently, the CNTs/GDY-O exhibits an average Faraday efficiency of 91.8% toward H2O2 production and record stability over 330 h in neutral media. As a cathode electrocatalyst, it greatly extends the lifetime of 2e- nonalkaline ZABs at both room and subzero temperatures.

Synergistic Enhancement of Supercapacitors with Cobalt–Copper Bimetal–Organic Framework

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), as high‐potential electrode materials for applications in supercapacitors, have received significant attention recently. Unfortunately, MOF materials still suffer from unsatisfactory specific capacitances due to poor conductivity and limited redox active sites. Herein, a novel cobalt–copper‐based bimetal–organic framework (CoCu‐MOF) is synthesized by a bottom‐up synthesis strategy, the material properties systematically characterized, and finally investigated as a supercapacitor electrode material. The synthesized CoCu‐MOF presents a high specific surface area of 62.4 m2 g−1, and 83% of the copper ions attains the +1 oxidation state contributing to the formation of additional redox active sites and leading to the formation of dual‐redox sites. The CoCu‐MOF displays an excellent specific capacitance of 618 F g−1 at a current density of 1 A g−1, which is more than twice that of Co‐MOF and four times that of Cu‐MOF. The CoCu‐MOF retains 75% of its original capacitance after 3000 charge–discharge cycles at the current density of 1 A g−1. Overall, this work demonstrates how the bimetallic synergistic strategy can effectively enhance the electrochemical properties of MOFs by providing a higher specific surface area and by the introduction of dual redox sites.

Vacancy-rich Fe-Ce mixed oxides as nanoenzymes for efficient antioxidant activity in vitro

Traditional anti-oxidant drugs possess limited active sites and short half-lives that hamper the efficiency of the removal of excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) that are linked to various diseases. On this point, the CeO2 nanozyme has recently attracted much attention because of its anti-oxidant ability to act as a ROS scavenger. While introducing trivalent ions into CeO2 helps induce the increasing Ce3+, it may damage the auto-regenerative ability and finally lead to decreased ROS activities. Here, Fe-Ce mixed oxides (Fe-CeO2) is developed as a nanozyme with adjustable oxygen vacancies. The ROS scavenging capabilities of Fe-CeO2 outperformed those of CeO2, primarily due to a higher concentration of oxygen vacancies. Moreover, the auto-regenerative properties of CeO2 are still retained after forming Fe-Ce mixed oxides. To delve into the enhanced scavenging activity driven by the increasing oxygen vacancies, we employ density functional theory (DFT) calculations to provide a comprehensive explanation, which can be attributed to the stimulated generation of oxygen vacancies and the more energetically favorable reaction path. This study provides a more profound understanding of the structure–activity relationship in nanozymes and inspires a novel approach for a highly efficient ROS scavenger via defect engineering.

Fe-Incorporated Metal-Organic Cobalt Hydroxide Toward Efficient Oxygen Evolution Reaction

Metal-organic cobalt hydroxide emerges as a cost-effective electrocatalyst for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in energy conversion. However, the limited active sites and poor conductivity hinder their large-scale application. This study employed salicylate as a bridging ligand to synthesize iron-incorporated metal-organic cobalt hydroxide. The influence of Fe intercalation on Co(OH)(Hsal) (where Hsal denotes o-HOC6H4COO−) was investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Fe0.2Co0.8(OH)(Hsal) demonstrates remarkable electrocatalytic activity, displaying an OER overpotential of 298 mV at 10 mA cm−2 and a Tafel slope of 57.46 mV dec−1. This enhancement can be attributed to improved charge transfer kinetics and increased active sites. This work highlights the crucial role of Fe in improving the efficiency of Co-based oxygen-evolving catalysts (OECs) and its potential for boosting efficient hydrogen generation in alkaline environments.Graphical

Flame modified carbon-based electrodes as positive electrode for high performance of hydrogen/iron battery

The electrode is a core component that affects the overall performance of the hydrogen/iron redox flow battery. To address the drawbacks associated with the limited electrochemical activity and fewer active sites of the carbon-based electrode, this study employs a straightforward and effective flame method to synthesize carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on carbon paper and NiO/CNT composite on graphite felt. The CNT on the modified carbon-based electrode contains many hydrophilic and oxygen-containing functional groups, greatly improving the hydrophilicity of the electrode, thereby increasing the electrochemical surface area. The modified carbon-based electrode exhibits better electrochemical activity due to the CNT or NiO/CNT providing more active sites. At 50 mA cm−2, the energy efficiency of pristine carbon paper and graphite felt is 60.8% and 52.4%, respectively, while the energy efficiency of the modified carbon paper and graphite felt reached 75.3% and 80.5%, respectively. The modified carbon-based electrode achieves a 100% coulombic efficiency, with no significant degradation in energy efficiency after running for 300 cycles, demonstrating excellent stability. This study not only investigates the performance of graphite felt electrodes in hydrogen/iron batteries but also proposes a flame method for preparing CNT-modified carbon-based electrodes for high-performance hydrogen/iron batteries.

Atomic selenium regulating endows three-dimensional N-doped carbon with fast and stable potassium ion storage

Three-dimensional honeycomb-like nitrogen-doped carbon skeleton (3DCN) is regarded as highly promising anode candidate for potassium-ion batteries (PIBs) due to its conspicuous merits including stable structural and fast electrolyte penetration, but it still suffers from limited active sites and sluggish insertion kinetics for K+ storage, leading to unsatisfied specific capacity and unstable structure at high rates. Herein, we propose Se atom-activation combined with micro and mesopores-construction strategies in the carbon layer of 3DCN (Se-3DCN) to increase the specific capacity and promote the reaction kinetics meanwhile maintain the structural stability un-compromised, through a simultaneously conducted Se-decoration and carbon-etching process. The Se atoms induce more delocalized electrons around it therefore activate surrounded carbon atoms being capable of storing K+, and increase the electrical conductivity of electrode. The micro and mesopores homogenize the structural stress that resulted from the volume expansion after K+ intercalation, achieving high structural stability. Therefore, the obtained Se-3DCN anode presents satisfying specific capacities and cycling performances at various rates (294.9 mAh/g at 2000 mA g−1 after 10,000 cycles with zero attenuation). In addition, a full cell assembled with Se-3DCN anode and PTCDA cathode exhibits high energy and power density of 166 Wh kg−1 and 1684 W kg−1, respectively.