Efficient CO2 Electroreduction with a Monolayer Bi2WO6 through a Metallic Intermediate Surface State

In situ single iron atom doping on Bi2WO6 monolayers triggers efficient photo-fenton reaction

Developing an efficient photocatalytic system for hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) activation in Fenton-like processes holds significant promise for advancing water purification technologies. However, challenges such as high carrier recombination rates, limited active sites, and suboptimal H2O2 activation efficiency impede optimal performance. Here we show that single-iron-atom dispersed Bi2WO6 monolayers (SIAD-BWOM), designed through a facile hydrothermal approach, can offer abundant active sites for H2O2 activation. The SIAD-BWOM catalyst demonstrates superior photo-Fenton degradation capabilities, particularly for the persistent pesticide dinotefuran (DNF), showcasing its potential in addressing recalcitrant organic pollutants. We reveal that the incorporation of iron atoms in place of tungsten within the electron-rich [WO4]2- layers significantly facilitates electron transfer processes and boosts the Fe(II)/Fe(III) cycle efficiency. Complementary experimental investigations and theoretical analyses further elucidate how the atomically dispersed iron induces lattice strain in the Bi2WO6 monolayer, thereby modulating the d-band center of iron to improve H2O2 adsorption and activation. Our research provides a practical framework for developing advanced photo-Fenton catalysts, which can be used to treat emerging and refractory organic pollutants more effectively.

Concentrated Formic Acid from CO2 Electrolysis for Directly Driving Fuel Cell

The production of formic acid via electrochemical CO2 reduction may serve as a key link for the carbon cycle in the formic acid economy, yet its practical feasibility is largely limited by the quantity and concentration of the product. Here we demonstrate continuous electrochemical CO2 reduction for formic acid production at 2 M at an industrial-level current densities (i.e., 200 mA cm-2 ) for 300 h on membrane electrode assembly using scalable lattice-distorted bismuth catalysts. The optimized catalysts also enable a Faradaic efficiency for formate of 94.2 % and a highest partial formate current density of 1.16 A cm-2 , reaching a production rate of 21.7 mmol cm-2  h-1 . To assess the practicality of this system, we perform a comprehensive techno-economic analysis and life cycle assessment, showing that our approach can potentially substitute conventional methyl formate hydrolysis for industrial formic acid production. Furthermore, the resultant formic acid serves as direct fuel for air-breathing formic acid fuel cells, boasting a power density of 55 mW cm-2 and an exceptional thermal efficiency of 20.1 %.

Anion-Mediated In Situ Reconstruction of the Bi2MoO6 Precatalyst for Enhanced Electrochemical CO2 Reduction over a Wide Potential Window

Electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (eCO2RR) is a viable approach to achieve carbon neutrality. Bismuth-based electrocatalysts demonstrate exceptional selectivity in CO2-to-formate conversion, but their reconstruction mechanisms during the eCO2RR remain elusive. Herein, the reconstruction processes of bismuth molybdate (Bi2MoO6) nanoplates are elucidated during the eCO2RR. Operando and ex situ measurements reveal the in situ partial reduction of Bi2MoO6 to Bi metal, forming Bi@Bi2MoO6 at negative potentials. Meanwhile, CO32- ions in the electrolyte spontaneously exchange with MoO42- in Bi2MoO6. The obtained Bi@Bi2MoO6/Bi2O2CO3 delivers a formate Faradaic efficiency (FE) of 95.2% at -1.0 V. Notably, high formate FEs (>90%) are maintained within a wide 500 mV window. Although computational calculations indicate a higher energy barrier for *OCHO formation on Bi2O2CO3, the prevention of excessive reduction to metal Bi significantly enhances long-term stability. Furthermore, the CO32- ion exchange process occurs in various 2D Bi-containing precatalysts, which should be emphasized in further studies.

Anion Exchange Facilitates the In Situ Construction of Bi/BiO Interfaces for Enhanced Electrochemical CO2 -to-Formate Conversion Over a Wide Potential Window

Electrochemical reduction of CO2 (CO2 RR) into value-added products is a promising strategy to reduce energy consumption and solve environmental issues. Formic acid/formate is one of the high-value, easy-to-collect, and economically viable products. Herein, the reconstructed Bi2 O2 CO3 nanosheets (BOCR NSs) are synthesized by an in situ electrochemical anion exchange strategy from Bi2 O2 SO4 as a pre-catalyst. The BOCR NSs achieve a high formate Faradaic efficiency (FEformate ) of 95.7% at -1.1 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode (vs. RHE), and maintain FEformate above 90% in a wide potential range from -0.8 to -1.5 V in H-cell. The in situ spectroscopic studies reveal that the obtained BOCR NSs undergo the anion exchange from Bi2 O2 SO4 to Bi2 O2 CO3 and further promote the self-reduction to metallic Bi to construct Bi/BiO active site to facilitate the formation of OCHO* intermediate. This result demonstrates anion exchange strategy can be used to rational design high performance of the catalysts toward CO2 RR.

Selective Exposure of Robust Perovskite Layer of Aurivillius-Type Compounds for Stable Photocatalytic Overall Water Splitting

Aurivillius-type compounds ((Bi2 O2 )2+ (An -1 Bn O3 n +1 )2- ) with alternately stacked layers of bismuth oxide (Bi2 O2 )2+ and perovskite (An -1 Bn O3 n +1 )2- are promising photocatalysts for overall water splitting due to their suitable band structures and adjustable layered characteristics. However, the self-reduction of Bi3+ at the top (Bi2 O2 )2+ layers induced by photogenerated electrons during photocatalytic processes causes inactivation of the compounds as photocatalysts. Here, using Bi3 TiNbO9 as a model photocatalyst, its surface termination is modulated by acid etching, which well suppresses the self-corrosion phenomenon. A combination of comprehensive experimental investigations together with theoretical calculations reveals the transition of the material surface from the self-reduction-sensitive (Bi2 O2 )2+ layer to the robust (BiTiNbO7 )2- perovskite layer, enabling effective electron transfer through surface trapping and effective hole transfer through surface electric field, and also efficient transfer of the electrons to the cocatalyst for greatly enhanced photocatalytic overall water splitting. Moreover, this facile modification strategy can be readily extended to other Aurivillius compounds (e.g., SrBi2 Nb2 O9 , Bi4 Ti3 O12 , and SrBi4 Ti4 O15 ) and therefore justify its usefulness in rationally tailoring surface structures of layered photocatalysts for high photocatalytic overall water-splitting activity and stability.

Spinel-Derived Formation and Amorphization of Bimetallic Oxyhydroxides for Efficient Electrocatalytic Biomass Oxidation

Replacing the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) with water-assisted oxidation of organic molecules represents a promising approach for achieving sustainable electrochemical biomass utilization. Among numerous OER catalysts, spinels have received substantial attention due to their manifold compositions and valence states, yet their application in biomass conversions remains rare. Herein, a series of spinels were investigated for the selective electrooxidation of furfural and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, two model substrates for versatile value-added chemical products. Spinel sulfides universally exhibit superior catalytic performance compared to that of spinel oxides, and further investigations show that the replacement of oxygen with sulfur led to the complete phase transition of spinel sulfides into amorphous bimetallic oxyhydroxides during electrochemical activation, serving as the active species. Excellent values of conversion rate (100%), selectivity (100%), faradaic efficiency (>95%), and stability were achieved via sulfide-derived amorphous CuCo-oxyhydroxide. Furthermore, a volcano-like correlation was established between their BEOR and OER activities based on an OER-assisted organic oxidation mechanism.

Atomically Precise Integration of Multiple Functional Motifs in Catalytic Metal-Organic Frameworks for Highly Efficient Nitrate Electroreduction

Ammonia production plays a central role in modern industry and agriculture with a continuous surge in its demand, yet the current industrial Haber-Bosch process suffers from low energy efficiency and accounts for high carbon emissions. Direct electrochemical conversion of nitrate to ammonia therefore emerges as an appealing approach with satisfactory sustainability while reducing the environmental impact from nitrate pollution. To this end, electrocatalysts for efficient conversion of eight-electron nitrate to ammonia require collective contributions at least from high-density reactive sites, selective reaction pathways, efficient multielectron transfer, and multiproton transport processes. Here, we report a catalytic metal-organic framework (two-dimensional (2D) In-MOF In8) catalyst integrated with multiple functional motifs with atomic precision, including uniformly dispersed, high-density, single-atom catalytic sites, high proton conductivity (efficient proton transport channel), high electron conductivity (promoted by the redox-active ligands), and confined microporous environments. These eventually lead to a direct and efficient electrochemical reduction of nitrate to ammonia and record high yield rate, FE, and selectivity for NH₃ production. A novel "dynamic ligand dissociation" mechanism provides an unprecedented working principle that allows for the use of a high-quality MOF crystalline structure to function as highly ordered, high-density, single-atom catalyst (SAC)-like catalytic systems and ensures the maximum utilization of the metal centers within the MOF structure. Further, the atomically precise assembly of multiple functional motifs within a MOF catalyst offers an effective and facile strategy for the future development of framework-based enzyme-mimic systems.

The Critical Role of Initial/Operando Oxygen Loading in General Bismuth-Based Catalysts for Electroreduction of Carbon Dioxide

Operando reconstruction of solid catalyst into a distinct active state frequently occurs during electrocatalytic processes. The correlation between initial and operando states, if ever existing, is critical for the understanding and precise design of a catalytic system. Inspired by recently established intermediate metallic state of Bi-based catalysts during electrocatalytic carbon dioxide reduction (CO₂RR), here we investigate a series of Bi oxide catalysts (Bi, Bi₂O₃, BiO₂) and demonstrate that the operando surface/subsurface oxygen loading, positively correlated to the initial oxygen content, plays a critical role in determining Bi-based CO₂RR performance. Higher initial oxygen loading indicates a better electrocatalytic efficiency. Further analysis shows that this conclusion generally applies to all Bi-based electrocatalysts reported up to date. Following this principle, cost-effective BiO₂ nanocrystals demonstrated the highest formate Faradaic efficiency (FE) and current density compared to Bi/Bi₂O₃, further allowing a pair-electrolysis system with 800 mA/cm² current density and an overall 175% FE for formate production.

W4PCl11 monolayer: an unexplored 2D material with moderate direct bandgap and strong visible-light absorption for highly efficient solar cells

The discovery of novel two-dimensional (2D) materials with excellent electronic and optoelectronic properties have attracted much scientific attention. Based on the first-principles calculations, we predict an unexplored 2D W₄PCl₁₁ monolayer, which is potentially strippable from its bulk counterpart with the exfoliation energy of only 0.16 J m^-2. The dynamical, thermal, and mechanical stabilities have also been confirmed. Remarkably, W₄PCl₁₁ monolayer is direct semiconductor with a bandgap of 1.25 eV, which endows the monolayer with very strong visible-light absorption in the magnitude of 10⁵ cm^-1. Meanwhile, the calculated carrier mobilities of W₄PCl₁₁ monolayer can reach to 10³ cm² V^-1 s^-1. Considering the moderate direct bandgap and high carrier mobility, W₄PCl₁₁ monolayer should be a superior candidate for the donor material of excitonic solar cells. The estimated power conversion efficiency of the fabricated W₄PCl₁₁/Bi₂WO₆ heterojunction reaches as high as 21.64%, which much superior to those of most recently reported 2D heterojunction. All these outstanding properties accompanied with its experimental feasibility endows W₄PCl₁₁ monolayer with promising photovoltaic applications.