Sandwich-type Bimetal-Organic Frameworks/Graphene Oxide Derived Porous Nanosheets doped Fe/Co-N Active Sites for Oxygen Reduction Reaction

Recent Advances and Future Perspectives of Metal-Based Electrocatalysts for Overall Electrochemical Water Splitting

Recently, the growing demand for a renewable and sustainable fuel alternative is contingent on fuel cell technologies. Even though it is regarded as an environmentally sustainable method of generating fuel for immediate concerns, it must be enhanced to make it extraordinarily affordable, and environmentally sustainable. Hydrogen (H₂ ) synthesis by electrochemical water splitting (ECWS) is considered one of the foremost potential prospective methods for renewable energy output and H₂ society implementation. Existing massive H₂ output is mostly reliant on the steaming reformation of carbon fuels that yield CO₂ together with H₂ and is a finite resource. ECWS is a viable, efficient, and contamination-free method for H₂ evolution. Consequently, developing reliable and cost-effective technology for ECWS was a top priority for scientists around the globe. Utilizing renewable technologies to decrease total fuel utilization is crucial for H₂ evolution. Capturing and transforming the fuel from the ambient through various renewable solutions for water splitting (WS) could effectively reduce the need for additional electricity. ECWS is among the foremost potential prospective methods for renewable energy output and the achievement of a H₂ -based economy. For the overall water splitting (OWS), several transition-metal-based polyfunctional metal catalysts for both cathode and anode have been synthesized. Furthermore, the essential to the widespread adoption of such technology is the development of reduced-price, super functional electrocatalysts to substitute those, depending on metals. Many metal-premised electrocatalysts for both the anode and cathode have been designed for the WS process. The attributes of H₂ and oxygen (O₂ ) dynamics interactions on the electrodes of water electrolysis cells and the fundamental techniques for evaluating the achievement of electrocatalysts are outlined in this paper. Special emphasis is paid to their fabrication, electrocatalytic performance, durability, and measures for enhancing their efficiency. In addition, prospective ideas on metal-based WS electrocatalysts based on existing problems are presented. It is anticipated that this review will offer a straight direction toward the engineering and construction of novel polyfunctional electrocatalysts encompassing superior efficiency in a suitable WS technique.

3D Interconnected Honeycomb-Like Multifunctional Catalyst for Zn-Air Batteries

Developing high-performance and low-cost electrocatalysts is key to achieve the clean-energy target. Herein, a dual regulation method is proposed to prepare a 3D honeycomb-like carbon-based catalyst with stable Fe/Co co-dopants. Fe atoms are highly dispersed and fixed to the polymer microsphere, followed by a high-temperature decomposition, for the generation of carbon-based catalyst with a honeycomb-like structure. The as-prepared catalyst contains a large number of Fe/Co nanoparticles (Fe/Co NPs), providing the excellent catalytic activity and durability in oxygen reduction reaction, oxygen evolution reaction and hydrogen evolution reaction. The Zn-air battery assembled by the as-prepared catalyst as air cathode shows a good charge and discharge capacity, and it exhibits an ultra-long service life by maintaining a stable charge and discharge platform for a 311-h cycle. Further X-ray absorption fine structure characterization and density functional theory calculation confirms that the Fe doping optimizes the intermediate adsorption process and electron transfer of Co.

Differences and Similarities of Photocatalysis and Electrocatalysis in Two-Dimensional Nanomaterials: Strategies, Traps, Applications and Challenges

Photocatalysis and electrocatalysis have been essential parts of electrochemical processes for over half a century. Recent progress in the controllable synthesis of 2D nanomaterials has exhibited enhanced catalytic performance compared to bulk materials. This has led to significant interest in the exploitation of 2D nanomaterials for catalysis. There have been a variety of excellent reviews on 2D nanomaterials for catalysis, but related issues of differences and similarities between photocatalysis and electrocatalysis in 2D nanomaterials are still vacant. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview on the differences and similarities of photocatalysis and electrocatalysis in the latest 2D nanomaterials. Strategies and traps for performance enhancement of 2D nanocatalysts are highlighted, which point out the differences and similarities of series issues for photocatalysis and electrocatalysis. In addition, 2D nanocatalysts and their catalytic applications are discussed. Finally, opportunities, challenges and development directions for 2D nanocatalysts are described. The intention of this review is to inspire and direct interest in this research realm for the creation of future 2D nanomaterials for photocatalysis and electrocatalysis.

Fluorescence Switchable Block Copolymer Particles with Doubly Alternate-Layered Nanoparticle Arrays

The precise self-assembly of block copolymers (BCPs) and inorganic nanoparticles (NPs) under 3D confinement offers microparticles with programmable nanostructures and functionalities. Here, fluorescence-switchable hybrid microspheres are developed by forming doubly alternating arrays of Au NPs and CdSe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) within polystyrene-block-poly(4-vinylpyridine) (PS-b-P4VP) BCP domains. These doubly alternating arrays afford controlled nonradiative energy transfer (NRET) between the QDs and Au NPs that is dependent on the layer-to-layer distance. Solvent-selective swelling of the hybrid particles tunes the distance between layers, modulating their NRET behavior and affording switchable fluorescence. The particle fluorescence is "OFF" in water through strong NRET from the QDs to Au NPs, but is "ON" in alcohols due to the increased distance between the Au NP and QD arrays in the swollen P4VP domains. The experimentally observed NRET intensity as a function of interparticle distance shows larger quenching efficiencies than those theoretically predicted due to the enhanced quenching within a 3D-confined system. Finally, the robust and reversible fluorescence switching of the hybrid particles in different solvents is demonstrated, highlighting their potentials for bioimaging, sensing, and diagnostic applications.

Flexible, Porous, and Metal-Heteroatom-Doped Carbon Nanofibers as Efficient ORR Electrocatalysts for Zn-Air Battery

Developing an efficient and durable oxygen reduction electrocatalyst is critical for clean-energy technology, such as fuel cells and metal-air batteries. In this study, we developed a facile strategy for the preparation of flexible, porous, and well-dispersed metal-heteroatom-doped carbon nanofibers by direct carbonization of electrospun Zn/Co-ZIFs/PAN nanofibers (Zn/Co-ZIFs/PAN). The obtained Zn/Co and N co-doped porous carbon nanofibers carbonized at 800 °C (Zn/Co-N@PCNFs-800) presented a good flexibility, a continuous porous structure, and a superior oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalytic activity to that of commercial 20 wt% Pt/C, in terms of its onset potential (0.98 V vs. RHE), half-wave potential (0.89 V vs. RHE), and limiting current density (- 5.26 mA cm^-2). In addition, we tested the suitability and durability of Zn/Co-N@PCNFs-800 as the oxygen cathode for a rechargeable Zn-air battery. The prepared Zn-air batteries exhibited a higher power density (83.5 mW cm^-2), a higher specific capacity (640.3 mAh g^-1), an excellent reversibility, and a better cycling life than the commercial 20 wt% Pt/C + RuO₂ catalysts. This design strategy of flexible porous non-precious metal-doped ORR electrocatalysts obtained from electrospun ZIFs/polymer nanofibers could be extended to fabricate other novel, stable, and easy-to-use multi-functional electrocatalysts for clean-energy technology.

Sponge-like N-doped carbon materials with Co-based nanoparticles derived from biomass as highly efficient electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction in alkaline media

The development of highly efficient and low-cost catalysts towards Oxygen Reduction Reaction (ORR) is of significance for renewable energy technologies such as proton-exchange membrane fuel cells and metal–air batteries. This study is to utilize the biomass of soybean straw as the supporting carbon materials to prepare nitrogen and cobalt dual-doped porous biocarbon electrocatalysts (CoNASS) possessing high content of N (1.92%), embedding cobalt nanoparticles and sponge-like structure with high specific surface area (1185.00 m² g⁻¹) as well as appropriate pore diameter (∼2.17 nm). Meantime, CoNASS exhibits a good electrocatalytic activity with a half-wave potential of 0.786 V (vs. RHE), comparable to a half-wave potential of 0.827 V (vs. RHE) for the commercial Pt/C. The detections of electrochemical kinetics show the electron transfer number of CoNASS is in the range of 3.84–3.92, which indicates 4-electron pathway dominantly occurs in ORR. And the limiting diffusion current density of CoNASS at 1600 rpm is around 5.8 mA cm⁻² slightly higher than that of the benchmark Pt/C (5.6 mA cm⁻²). This work opens a new avenue to utilize soybean straw, one of agriculture waste of large quantity, to prepare high efficient and low-cost catalysts for ORR.

Sponge-like N-doped carbon materials with Co-based nanoparticles derived from biomass as high efficient electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction.

Porous Fe–N-codoped carbon microspheres: an efficient and durable electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction reaction

Porous Fe–N-codoped carbon microspheres act as an efficient and stable electrocatalyst for ORR.