Template Method Research Articles

Hetero‐Dimensional Micro‐Nano Architectures Toward Electromagnetic Devices and Hybrid Energy Transport

AbstractHuman spaceflight, lunar exploration projects, and interstellar travel are the grand visions of human exploration of the universe. However, the energy sustainability of these projects is a concern. Electromagnetic functional materials and devices are expected to fulfill their potential in electronic communication and energy utilization. Herein, hetero‐dimensional micro‐nano architectures composed of Cu3Se2 microspheres and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) sheets are fabricated for the first time by the sacrificial template method, anion substitution engineering, electrostatic adsorption, and reduction‐oxidation reaction. Based on the excellent electromagnetic response of the composites, they exhibit strong and ultra‐wide microwave absorption ability with the effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) reaching 8.24 GHz at a thickness of 2.2 mm. In addition, an electromagnetic metamaterial with an EAB to ≈13.5 GHz is proposed, exhibiting significant properties. More significantly, the composites can be used to construct a range of electromagnetic devices: a spiral antenna with adjustable return loss and gain, with a maximum gain of up to 2.5 dBi; a microstrip power divider that can efficiently split the input signal into four equal parts and output it; a hybridized energy transport device can convert and store electromagnetic energy. This work provides new inspiration for electromagnetic protection, electronic communication, and energy development.

MnNi@PVP Nanoenzyme Based on Regulating Inflammation and Immune Homeostasis for the Therapy of Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Nanozymes exhibiting remarkable antioxidant capabilities represent an effective therapeutic approach for ulcerative colitis (UC). This study synthesized the MnNi@PVP nanoenzyme through high-temperature pyrolysis and the NaCl template method, which exhibited multienzyme activity comprising glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT). This study investigated the therapeutic effect of MnNi@PVP on colitis caused by sodium dextran sulfate (DSS). The findings indicated that MnNi@PVP notably decreased the disease activity index (DAI) score, which encompasses weight loss, colon shortening, and histopathological changes. MnNi@PVP showed effectiveness in addressing oxidative damage and suppressing the levels of proinflammatory markers, such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and interleukin (IL)-6, by inactivating the TLR4 pathway and macrophages. In addition, MnNi@PVP demonstrated the ability to repair tight junction proteins (occludin and ZO-1) and restore the intestinal barrier. The transcriptome sequencing demonstrated that MnNi@PVP could regulate inflammatory factor expression pathways and immune processes. Additionally, negatively charged MnNi@PVP can selectively bind to inflamed colonic tissues through electrostatic interactions, endowing it with targeted reparative capabilities at the location of intestinal inflammation. The MnNi@PVP, which possesses the reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) clearance capability examined in this section, is expected to provide the basis for the targeted repair of intestinal function.

Hybrid framework for correcting water-to-air image sequences

When an underwater camera captures aerial targets, the received light undergoes refraction at the water-air interface. In particular, the calm water compresses the image, while turbulent water causes nonlinear distortion in the captured images. However, existing methods for correcting water-to-air distortion often cause images with distortion or overall shifts. To address the above issue, we propose a multi-strategy hybrid framework to process image sequences effectively, particularly for high-precision applications. Our framework includes a spatiotemporal crossover block to transform and merge features, effectively addressing the template-free problem. Additionally, we introduce an enhancement network to produce a high-quality template in the first stage and a histogram template method to maintain high chromaticity and reduce template noise in the correction stage. Furthermore, our framework incorporates a new registration scheme to facilitate sequence transfer and processing. Compared to existing algorithms, our approach achieves a high restoration level in terms of morphology and color for publicly available image sequences.

Research on Graphitic Carbon Nitride (g-C3N4) prepared by template-based method and its photocatalytic properties

Abstract. The Graphitic Carbon Nitride (g-C3N4), a non-metallic polymer photocatalytic material, has a wide range of raw materials and a simple preparation process. Due to its unique electronic structure and excellent photocatalytic performance, g-C3N4 has attracted wide attention in the field of environmental purification and energy conversion in recent years. However, g-C3N4 faces a lot of challenges, including a wide band gap, many interlayer defects, and poor interlayer electron transport. Nevertheless, its unique semiconductor structure and chemical stability still provide the possibility to explore the effect of its piezoelectric properties on photocatalysis, which paves the way for a novel approach to environmentally friendly hydrogen production. Therefore, the paper delves into the application of different template methods in the preparation of g-C3N4 by reviewing the related literature, and analyzes the role of different template materials in the preparation. In addition, in this paper, the photocatalytic properties of g-C3N4 are explored, which are mainly reflected in the photocatalytic water separation performance and photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes. It is found that the g-C3N4 shows great potential in the fields of photocatalytic water decomposition for hydrogen production and degradation of organic pollutants due to its unique band gap, nontoxicity, low cost and wide range of sources. Future research should continue to explore more kinds of template materials and their preparation processes, with the aim of realizing further enhancement of the performance of g-C3N4 photocatalysts and promoting their practical applications in the fields of environment and energy.

A Comparative Study of Aortic Valve Neocuspidization Techniques: Formula vs. Template Methods of Neocusp Formation

A Comparative Study of Aortic Valve Neocuspidization Techniques: Formula vs. Template Methods of Neocusp Formation

Hydrophobic and Elastic Structural Triboelectric Materials Enabled by Template Method toward Real-Time Material Recognition.

Since each material has a unique ability to lose or obtain electrons, specific triboelectric signals are produced when triboelectric materials are in contact with different objects. Triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) devices show great potential for use as tactile sensors; nevertheless, analyzing the structure-function relationship of functionalized triboelectric sensing interfaces under environmental conditions and improving the sensing stability and accuracy through the design of hydrophobic structure on the triboelectric material surface remain major challenges in the development of intelligent sensing networks. Compared with the traditional rigid micronanostructure, the elastic micronanostructure strategy is applied to achieve both hydrophobicity and stability of triboelectric materials based on the template method in this work. The corresponding surface roughness and contact angle are 89.9 nm and 117.9°, respectively. As expected, the output voltage and charge density are enhanced by almost 65.8 and 33.4%, respectively, with the establishment of an elastic micronanostructure on the triboelectric material surface. More importantly, the triboelectric signal waveforms also present acceptable durability for subsequent recognition after immersion in water or ethanol for 12 days and metal impact for 12 000 cycles. Hence, combined with deep machine learning and triboelectric effect, a material perception system integrated with a moisture-resistant TENG-based sensor after fatigue testing, data processing, and display modules is also developed for real-time monitoring with approximately 100% (mask), 76% (plank), 93% (plastic), and 89% (rubber) identification accuracies in the natural environment. Finally, the proposed hydrophobic and elastic triboelectric materials show broad potential for application in the field of human-computer interaction.

Core‐Shell Amorphous FePO4 as Cathode Material for Lithium‐Ion and Sodium‐Ion Batteries

AbstractAmorphous FePO4 (AFP) is a promising cathode material for lithium‐ion and sodium‐ion batteries (LIBs & SIBs) due to its stability, high theoretical capacity, and cost‐effective processing. However, challenges such as low electronic conductivity and volumetric changes seriously hinder its practical application. To overcome these hurdles, core‐shell structure synthesis emerges as a useful solution. In this work, we for the first time made this comprehensive review on the progresses of core‐shell amorphous FePO4 (CS‐AFP). This review summarizes 1) various synthesis methods such as template method, microemulsion method, and other methods, 2) characterization techniques, and 3) their involvement in improving electrochemical performance in LIBs and SIBs. In terms of further understanding the underlying mechanisms of advancing electrochemical performance of CS‐AFP, the future perspective on two main aspects were insighted: (i) in situ characterization and (ii) novel designs of materials and structure for CS‐AFP.

Exceptional Electrical Detection of Trace NO2 via Mixed Metal MOF-on-MOF Film-Based Sensors.

The tunability of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) makes them exceptional materials for the development of highly selective, low-power sensors for toxic gas detection. Herein, we demonstrate enhanced detection of NO2 gas by a MOF-based electrical impedance sensor made using a unique mixed metal MOF-on-MOF synthesis. A combined experimental and computational study was performed using the exemplar NixMg1-x-MOF-74 to understand the fundamental structure-property relationships behind metal mixing and MOF film synthesis methods on sensor performance. Density functional theory results indicated that the presence of Ni in Mg-MOF-74 increased framework stability and increased the electron density of states at lower energies near the HOMO, as well as enhanced the NO2-Mg adsorption interaction. Impedance data of the NixMg1-x-MOF-74 films with larger Ni contents showed greater impedance change after exposure to 1 ppm of NO2 gas. Furthermore, when synthesized through either a drop-cast or direct solvothermal film growth approach, the monometallic Ni-based sensors had the best performance. However, the mixed metal NixMg1-x-MOF-74 sensors synthesized through a MOF-on-MOF approach resulted in the highest impedance change, outperforming all monometallic Ni-based sensors. In particular, the mixed metal Ni-on-Mg-MOF-74 film was the best-performing sensor with an impedance change of 309 upon trace NO2 exposure. Change in impedance response after NO2 exposure was improved by 52% compared to the best monometallic Ni-on-Ni-MOF-74 sensor. Structural analysis of the Ni-on-Mg film showed that the first Mg-MOF-74 layer acts as a structural template controlling the structural features of the final film after metal exchange with Ni. This led to improved film quality, evidenced by the greater crystallinity and larger MOF grain sizes, and resulted in enhanced sensor performance which was not achievable through other metal mixing methods. Altogether, this study identifies structure-property relationships and synthetic templating methods that inform MOF-based sensor design, allowing for improved detection of toxic compounds.

Hybrid Particle Size Template Method for Controllable Synthesis of Nitrogen-doped Multilevel Porous Carbon as High-rate Zn-ion Hybrid Supercapacitor Cathode Materials.

Achieving high rate performance without compromising energy density has always been a critical objective for zinc-ion hybrid supercapacitors (ZHSCs). The pore structure and surface properties of carbon cathode materials play a crucial role. We propose utilizing a hybrid particle size (20 and 40 nm) magnesium oxide templates to regulate the pore structure of nitrogen-doped porous carbon derived from the soybean isolate. The multilevel pore structure enhanced ion transport efficiency while also improving the utilization of micropores. Nitrogen doping and oxygen-containing functional groups enhanced the wettability of carbon materials with aqueous electrolytes and facilitated the chemisorption of Zn2+ on the carbon material surface. The nitrogen-doped multilevel porous carbon material (HT-NMPC-1/1) prepared with a 1:1 mass ratio of the two templates exhibited a specific capacity of 146.65 mAh g-1 at 0.2 A g-1. Moreover, the Swagelok cells assembled with HT-NMPC-1/1 and Zn foil achieved a high energy density of 121.5 W h kg-1, high power output of 166 W kg-1, and 93.09% capacity retention after 8000 cycles at 2 A g-1. Therefore, HT-NMPC-1/1 is a highly promising candidate for ZHSCs cathode materials. Furthermore, the novel pore regulation strategy and straightforward preparation method offer valuable reference points for other porous carbon-based functional materials.

Fireproof Cavity Structure with Enhanced Impact Resistance and Thermal Insulation toward Safeguarding.

Developing devices emphasizing safety protection is becoming increasingly important due to the widespread occurrence of impact damage and thermal hazards. Herein, the F-SSG/TPU-based circular cavity structure (FC) is developed through a convenient and efficient template method, which can effectively achieve anti-impact and thermal insulation for protection. The flame-retardant shear stiffening gel/thermoplastic urethane (F-SSG/TPU) is synthesized through the dynamic interaction between the SSG, TPU, and modified ammonium polyphosphate (APP@UiO-66-NH2) by thermo-solvent reactions. The developed FC can dissipate the impact force from 4.19 to 0.99 kN at 45 cm impacting heights, indicating good anti-impact performance. Moreover, the thermal insulation test demonstrates that the FC achieves a temperature drop of 76 °C at 160 °C attributed to the unique cavity structure design. Under the continuous shock of high-temperature flame, FC remains intact, and its performance is almost undamaged. These results elaborate that the designed FC can effectively resist various damage, such as high-temperature shock and collision. Then, a wearable wristband integrated with FC is developed which exhibits superior impact resistance and heat insulation properties compared with commercial wristbands. In short, this cavity structure based on high-performance F-SSG/TPU material shows promising potential applications in the protection field.

"Synergistic Hybridization of Mn-MOF@rGO and Ti3C2 for High-Performance Supercapattery Devices and Hydrogen Evolution Reaction"

The burgeoning interest in two-dimensional (2D) materials stems from their heightened storage capacity and superior conductivity. Here, we synthesized a metal-organic framework of manganese (Mn-MOF) and introduced reduced graphene oxide (rGO) doping into this heterostructure using a hydrothermal method. Subsequently, Ti3C2Tx MXene was prepared via a template method. The Mn-MOF@rGO was then combined with Ti3C2Tx MXene in a 50/50 wt% ratio using hydrothermal techniques, and their structural and electrochemical characteristics were evaluated. In 3-electrode measurements, the MnMOF@rGO/Ti3C2Tx composite conductor exhibited a precise capacity of 2645 C/g (5.29 C/cm3) at 1.8 A/g. Furthermore, a hybrid device termed a supercapattery was fabricated employing MnMOF@rGO/Ti3C2Tx along with activated carbon (AC) composite electrodes, demonstrating remarkable energy density of 67 Wh/kg and an impressive power density of 880 W/kg. After 8,000 cycles, the electrode exhibited 84% capacity retention and maintained 92% columbic efficiency. In the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), the MnMOF@rGO/Ti3C2Tx composite displayed a minimal Tafel slope of 54.65 mV/dec. These two-dimensional composite electrodes offer novel avenues for the advancement of high-performance energy device.

One-dimensional rare-earth La-MOFs coordinated with hexamethylenetetramine-Co MOFs derived highly efficient catalyst for cascade reaction of nitroarenes with alcohols☆

A composite metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) structure, designated as Co-hmta@La-salen, was synthesized through coordination interactions between a one-dimensional lanthanum MOFs (La-salen) with high density of uncoordinated imine (–CH=N–) groups and a cobalt-based MOFs (Co-hmta) structure prepared using hydrogen bonding stacking with hexamethylenetetramine (hmta) as the organic ligand. Subsequently, the Co-hmta@La-salen composite was chosen as a template for the pyrolysis process to synthesize a La(OH)3 supported metallic Co catalyst incorporating carbon-nitrogen (Co/La(OH)3-CN-hmta) catalyst. The catalytic results show that Co/La(OH)3-CN-hmta (54% and 46% selectivity for aniline and N-phenylbenzylamine, respectively) displays superior cascade performance compared to classic Co/La(OH)3-CN-nit catalyst (69% and 31% selectivity for aniline and N-phenylbenzylamine, respectively). Moreover, the kinetic test results indicate that N-alkylation is the rate-limiting step of the overall cascade reaction. The Co/La(OH)3-CN-hmta catalyst can be separated from the reaction system using a magnet, and it also exhibits good cyclic stability. All of these suggest that the “MOFs plus MOFs via coordination” templating method can be employed as an efficient strategy for the preparation of supported catalysts.

Construction of Microporous Structure in Hard Carbon via Adjustable Zn Salt Templates for High-Performance Sodium-Ion Batteries

Template method is an effective strategy for the construction of microporous structure in hard carbons. However, the introduction of templates will inevitably affect the original structure of hard carbon, making it necessary to develop an adjustable template for the high sodium storage property of Sodium-ion battery anodes. Herein, we propose an effective strategy of developing size-controlled ZnO microcrystal in precursor carbon by zinc salts templates and promoting the formation of numerous closed pores during subsequent pyrolysis. All of the obtained hard carbons exhibit high specific capacities of over 340 mAh/g, and initial Coulomb efficiencies of over 90%. Besides, the information of closed pore structure in hard carbon, accompanying with the diffusive behavior of Na+ and the in-situ Raman spectroscopy reveal a strong link between the increased plateau and the closed pore volume, providing a compelling insight for the mechanism of Na+ storage in hard carbon. The optimal sample exhibits the highest closed pore volume, which performs a remarkable specific capacity of 374 mAh/g and a high initial Coulombic efficiency of 92.4%. Furthermore, all zinc salt-derived hard carbon exhibit analogous microstructures and electrochemical behaviors, demonstrating the universality of utilizing both inorganic and organic zinc salts as templates for adjusting the microporous structure of hard carbon. These findings provide a systematic approach to enhance the reversible capacity and maintain high initial Coulombic efficiency for sodium-ion battery anodes.

Reaction site-isolation for simultaneous removal of NOx and toluene: A reverse strategy to realize bifunctional catalysis

In this study, 3V5W/Cu@Ti catalyst with the function of reaction site-isolation was prepared to achieve the simultaneous removal of NO and toluene. The catalyst was prepared through the hard template and impregnation method, and V-W, and Cu species were introduced into the outer and inner layers of the hollow spherical shell TiO2, respectively. Under the coexistence of multi-pollutants, toluene was completely removed with NO conversions above 90% at 250 ℃. Even at high temperatures of 350-400 ℃, complete conversions of NO and toluene were maintained with apparent lower by-products than those for other catalysts. DFT calculations and activation energy(Ea) indicate that NH3 tends to adsorb and react at the V/W sites on the catalyst's outer layer, while toluene is more likely to adsorb and react at the Cu sites on the inner layer. The Ea and DFT results were well-consistent with the catalytic reactivity, revealing the achievement of reaction site-isolation.

Synthesis of palygorskite based microspheres for efficient and recyclable simultaneous removal of radioactive iodine and iodide

The valence state of radioactive iodine is abundant and convertible. Therefore, it is crucial to synthesize a cost-effective, recyclable adsorbent that can effectively and simultaneously remove polyvalent radioactive iodine. Polymerized microsphere adsorbents (PMs) with pore size of 10 ∼ 20 μm and surface of palygorskite (PAL) were prepared by the Pickering emulsion template method using dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) as functional monomer and affordable PAL as matrix material. Under the synergistic effect of chemical adsorption of tertiary amine group in PDEAEMA and physical adsorption, the optimized PM-2 exhibits excellent adsorption activities for gaseous iodine (2.98 g/g), iodine in n-hexane (1.39 g/g), and iodide (1.48 mmol/g). After heating and soaking in NaOH solution, the high adsorption capacity and almost unchanged morphology and crystal structure of PM-2 after 5 cycles indicate that PMs have outstanding physical and chemical stability and reusability. Importantly, PMs also show astonishing adsorption activity for the simultaneous removal of iodine and iodide. Moreover, the ultra-fast adsorption rate and ultra-high adsorption efficiency of PMs provide promising results for the removal of polyvalent radioactive iodine in environmental remediation.

Nanoarchitectonics of hierarchical porous biochars from heavy bio-oil by coupling calcium salts assisted template carbonization and K2CO3 activation for high-performance supercapacitors

Biochar derived from biomass has shown potential as electrode materials for supercapacitors, but controlling its pore structure is a challenge. Additionally, coking issues have limited the industrial application of heavy bio-oil, which could be used to prepare carbonous biochar as a substitute for biomass. Herein, to widen the utilization of bio-oil and to control the pore structure, this study introduces a novel approach to utilize heavy bio-oil and regulate pore structure by combining the hard template method and activation method, in which calcium citrate tetrahydrate (CCT), calcium acetate and calcium carbonate act as templates and K2CO3 acts as activator. Through CCT-assisted template carbonization at 700 °C and K2CO3 activation with a mass ratio of 1:2, a hierarchical porous biochar (CCT-700–1:2) with a specific surface area of 2213.09 m2 g−1 was successfully synthesized. The CCT-700–1:2 electrode shows outstanding capacitive performance with a specific capacitance of 213.86 F g−1 at 0.5 A. The assembled solid-state symmetric supercapacitor displays impressive rate capability, maintaining the capacity retention ratio being 69.7 % at 20 A g−1. Furthermore, it demonstrates exceptional cycle stability and the capacitance retention is around 98 % even after 60,000 cycles. The symmetric supercapacitors also show the high energy density being 16.36 W h kg−1 at 250 W kg−1. This study presents a hopeful method for producing sustainable carbon materials by bio-oil used as energy storage devices, enhancing the potential utilizations of biomass derived products in the area of supercapacitors.

Preparation of PDMS permeation membrane by emulsion dilution method and its separation performance for aromatics

Natural aroma compounds are a kind of important food additive. Taking bis(2-ethylhexyl) sodium sulfosuccinate (AOT) as the surfactant, water-in-n-heptane emulsions were prepared. Then, the emulsions were adopted as the diluter to prepare polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) pervaporation membranes using the emulsion templating method (ePDMS), of which the separation layer was controlled by the template action of emulsion drops. The ePDMS membranes were utilized to separate aroma compounds. Field-emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) analysis revealed that the surface of the ePDMS membrane remained smooth, and white light interferometry confirmed the membrane’s surface smoothness. FESEM cross-sectional analysis exposed the voids left by the evaporation of the emulsion, rendering the separation layer of the ePDMS membrane more porous. Water contact angle measurements demonstrated the hydrophobicity of the ePDMS membrane, which is advantageous for the pervaporation of aromatic compounds. Fourier transform infrared spectrometry analysis confirmed the evaporation and separation of the emulsion, retaining the original chemical properties of the PDMS membrane. In an ethanol–water system, the permeation flux of ethanol in ePDMS membranes prepared with 1 emulsion (Vwater:Vn-heptane = 1:9; mass concentration of AOT of 1.0 mg/ml) is 90.6% higher than that in PDMS membranes, while the separation factor does not change obviously. The separation performance of ePDMS membranes for linalool in water was further studied. Results show that the permeation flux and separation factor of linalool in ePDMS composite membranes at 50 °C are 786 g m−2 h−1 and 17.69, which separately increase by 84.7% and 27.1% compared with those in PDMS membranes. This indicates that adding ethanol exerts a significant synergistic effect on the separation of linalool.

Multienzyme-mimic Fe single-atom nanozymes regulate infection microenvironment for photothermal-enhanced catalytic antibacterial therapy

The rational design of nanozymes with highly efficient reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation to overcome the resistant infection microenvironment still faces a significant challenge. Herein, the highly active Fe single-atom nanozymes (Fe SAzymes) with a hierarchically porous nanostructure were prepared through a colloidal silica-induced template method. The proposed Fe SAzymes with satisfactory oxidase (OD)-like and peroxidase (POD)-like activity can transform O2 and H2O2 to superoxide anion free radical (•O2-) and hydroxyl radical (•OH), which possess an excellent bactericidal effect. Also, the glutathione peroxidase (GPX)-like activity of Fe SAzymes can consume glutathione in the infection microenvironment, thus facilitating ROS generation to enhance the sterilization effect. Besides, the intrinsic photothermal effect of Fe SAzymes further significantly boosts the enzyme-like activity to generate much more reactive oxygen species for efficient antibacterial therapy. Accordingly, both in vitro and in vivo results indicate that the Fe SAzymes with synergistically photothermal-catalytic performances exhibit satisfactory antibacterial effects and biocompatibility. This work provides new insights into designing highly efficient SAzymes for effective sterilization applications by an amount of ROS generation.

Multilayer structured bismuth silicate inverse opal film with improved piezo-photocatalytic performance for wastewater purification and dyes removal

Suppressing the recombination of photogenerated charge carriers is thought to be possible by combining the photocatalytic method with the piezoelectric action of piezoelectric semiconductors. A new piezo-photocatalyst, Bi2SiO5 inverse opal film, was prepared by inverse template method. The introduction of 3D ordered inverse opal structure was favorable for light harvesting. The unique two-dimensional layered structure of Bi2SiO5 facilitates electron-hole (e--h+) pair separation. The degradation efficiency of Bi2SiO5 inverse opal film is 15 times higher than that of planar- Bi2SiO5 film under UV light alone. When co-excited by UV light and mechanical energy (ultrasonic vibration), the Bi2SiO5 inverse opal film demonstrated a significantly accelerated degradation rate of RhB compared with planar Bi2SiO5 film. The enhanced piezo-photocatalytic efficiency resulted from the effective separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs in the Bi2SiO5 inverse opal under the inherent piezoelectric field. Consequently, our work offers fresh perspective on piezo-photocatalytic materials based on Bi2SiO5 for effective wastewater treatment.

Single nickel atoms anchored on porous N-doped nanocarbon with dual reaction sites for highly-efficient transfer hydrogenation of furfural to furfuryl alcohol

The non-precious metal single-atom catalysts (SACs) supported on carbon materials for the catalytic transfer hydrogenation (CTH) of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes (UAL) still suffer from the problems of harsh reaction conditions and low activity. In this work, nickel SACs anchored on porous N-doped nanocarbon (Ni1/NC900) with dual reaction sites were synthesized using the high internal-phase emulsion (HIPE) template method combined with impregnation. The Ni1/NC900 catalyst exhibited remarkable catalytic activity for the CTH of furfural (FF) to furfuryl alcohol (FFA), achieving >99.0 % conversion and selectivity at 100 °C for 60 min, with a turnover frequency (TOF) of 2908.1 h−1, surpassing other reported nickel-based catalysts by 1–3 orders of magnitude. The excellent catalytic performance of Ni1/NC900 was attributed to the high mass transfer efficiency (HMTE) of the support and the dual reaction sites of Ni–N4 and pyridinic N, where Ni–N4 as Lewis acidic site for adsorption of FF and isopropanol (i-PrOH), while the adjacent pyridinic N as Lewis basic site for the deprotonation of i-PrOH. The isotope labeling experiments revealed that the hydrogenation of FF was accomplished by proton transfer with i-PrOH, in agreement with the intermolecular hydride transfer mechanism. Furthermore, Ni1/NC900 demonstrated excellent stability and well general applicability, demonstrating its potential for industrial applications. This work provides a reference for the application of carbon-based non-precious metal SACs in the CTH reaction of UAL.