Electrochemical Synthesis of Copper Mesh-Supported Thermo-Catalysts

Metallic substrates, widely studied in the context of monolithic catalysts, offer inherent advantages in heterogeneous catalysis due to their exceptional thermal conductivity and mechanical properties. However, synthesizing stable monolithic catalysts with metallic substrates in a well-controlled manner remains a significant challenge. Here, this work introduces a simple, cost-efficient method to fabricate robust Cu mesh-supported thermo-catalysts using a modified cycling chronopotentiometry approach, where the Cu mesh serves as a donor of Cu ions. In this method, the Cu mesh surface generates two distinct layers of CuO and Cu2O. In this context, CuO acts as the active phase, accounting for the high CO oxidation activity of Cu mesh catalysts with T90 ≈ 120 °C. Additionally, these catalysts exhibit considerable potential in electrocatalysis, showcasing significant research and application value.

Studying the Structure and Properties of Epoxy Composites Modified by Original and Functionalized with Hexamethylenediamine by Electrochemically Synthesized Graphene Oxide

In this study, we used multilayer graphene oxide (GO) obtained by anodic oxidation of graphite powder in 83% sulfuric acid. The modification of GO was carried out by its interaction with hexamethylenediamine (HMDA) according to the mechanism of nucleophilic substitution between the amino group of HMDA (HMDA) and the epoxy groups of GO, accompanied by partial reduction of multilayer GO and an increase in the deformation of the carbon layers. The structure and properties of modified HMDA-GO were characterized using research methods such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The conducted studies show the effectiveness of using HMDA-OG for modifying epoxy composites. Functionalizing treatment of GO particles helps reduce the free surface energy at the polymer-nanofiller interface and increase adhesion, which leads to the improvement in physical and mechanical characteristics of the composite material. The results demonstrate an increase in the strength and elastic modulus in bending by 48% and 102%, respectively, an increase in the impact strength by 122%, and an increase in the strength and elastic modulus in tension by 82% and 47%, respectively, as compared to the pristine epoxy composite which did not contain GO-HMDA. It has been found that the addition of GO-HMDA into the epoxy composition initiates the polymerization process due to the participation of reactive amino groups in the polymerization reaction, and also provides an increase in the thermal stability of epoxy nanocomposites.

The Nexus of Innovation: Electrochemically Synthesizing H2O2 and Its Integration with Downstream Reactions

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) represents a chemically significant oxidant that is prized for its diverse applicability across various industrial domains. Recent innovations have shed light on the electrosynthesis of H2O2 through two-electron oxygen reduction reactions (2e- ORR) or two-electron water oxidation reactions (2e- WOR), processes that underscore the attractive possibility for the on-site production of this indispensable oxidizing agent. However, the translation of these methods into practical utilization within chemical manufacturing industries remains an aspiration rather than a realized goal. This Perspective intends to furnish a comprehensive overview of the latest advancements in the domain of coupled chemical reactions with H2O2, critically examining emergent strategies that may pave the way for the development of new reaction pathways. These pathways could enable applications that hinge on the availability and reactivity of H2O2, including, but not limited to the chemical synthesis coupled with H2O2 and waste water treatment byFenton-like reactions. Concurrently, the Perspective acknowledges and elucidates some of the salient challenges and opportunities inherent in the coupling of electrochemically generated H2O2, thereby providing a scholarly analysis that might guide future research.

Direct Electrochemical Synthesis of Metal-Organic Frameworks: Cu3 (BTC)2 and Cu(TCPP) on Copper Thin films and Copper-Based Microstructures

Cu thin films and Cu2 O microstructures were partially converted to the Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) Cu3 (BTC)2 or Cu(TCPP) using an electrochemical process with a higher control and at milder conditions compared to the traditional solvothermal MOF synthesis. Initially, either a Cu thin film was sputtered, or different kinds of Cu or Cu2 O microstructures were electrochemically deposited onto a conductive ITO glass substrate. Then, these Cu thin films or Cu-based microstructures were subsequently coated with a thin layer of either Cu3 (BTC)2 or Cu(TCPP) by controlled anodic dissolution of the Cu-based substrate at room temperature and in the presence of the desired organic linker molecules: 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid (BTC) or photoactive 4,4',4'',4'''-(Porphine-5,10,15,20-tetrayl) tetrakis(benzoic acid) (TCPP) in the electrolyte. An increase in size of the Cu micro cubes with exposed planes [100] of 38,7 % for the Cu2 O@Cu3 (BTC)2 and a 68,9 % increase for the Cu2 O@Cu(TCPP) was roughly estimated. Finally, XRD, Raman spectroscopy and UV-vis absorption spectroscopy were used to characterize the initial Cu films or Cu-based microstructures, and the obtained core-shell Cu2 O@Cu(BTC) and Cu2 O@Cu(TCPP) microstructures.

Electrochemical Radical Tandem Difluoroethylation/Cyclization of Unsaturated Amides to Access MeCF2-Featured Indolo/Benzoimidazo [2,1-a]Isoquinolin-6(5H)-ones

A metal-free electrochemical oxidative difluoroethylation of 2-arylbenzimidazoles was accomplished, which provided an efficient strategy for the synthesis of MeCF2-containing benzo[4,5]imidazo[2,1-a]-isoquinolin-6(5H)-ones. In addition, the method also enabled the efficient construction of various difluoroethylated indolo[2,1-a]isoquinolin-6(5H)-ones. Notably, this electrochemical synthesis protocol proceeded well under mild conditions without metal catalysts or exogenous additives/oxidants added.

Hydrogen Spillover Accelerates Electrocatalytic Semi-hydrogenation of Acetylene in Membrane Electrode Assembly Reactor

Electrocatalytic acetylene semi-hydrogenation (EASH) offers a promising and environmentally friendly pathway for the production of C2H4, a widely used petrochemical feedstock. While the economic feasibility of this route has been demonstrated in three-electrode systems, its viability in practical device remains unverified. In this study, we designed a highly efficient electrocatalyst based on a PdCu alloy system utilizing the hydrogen spillover mechanism. The catalyst achieved an operational current density of 600 mA cm-2 in a zero-gap membrane electrode assembly (MEA) reactor, with the C2H4 selectivity exceeding 85%. This data confirms the economic feasibility of EASH in real-world applications. Furthermore, through in situ Raman spectroscopy and theoretical calculations, we elucidated the catalytic mechanism involving interfacial hydrogen spillover. Our findings underscore the economic viability and potential of EASH as a greener and scalable approach for C2H4 production, thus advancing the field of electrocatalysis in sustainable chemical synthesis.

1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate as suitable solvent for BF3: the case of alkyne hydration. Chemistry vs electrochemistry

In order to replace the expensive metal/ligand catalysts and classic toxic and volatile solvents, commonly used for the hydration of alkynes, the hydration reaction of alkynes was studied in the ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (BMIm-BF4) adding boron trifluoride diethyl etherate (BF3·Et2O) as catalyst. Different ionic liquids were used, varying the cation or the anion, in order to identify the best one, in terms of both efficiency and reduced costs. The developed method was efficaciously applied to different alkynes, achieving the desired hydration products with good yields. The results obtained using a conventional approach (i.e., adding BF3·Et2O) were compared with those achieved using BF3 electrogenerated in BMIm-BF4, demonstrating the possibility of obtaining the products of alkyne hydration with analogous or improved yields, using less hazardous precursors to generate the reactive species in situ. In particular, for terminal arylalkynes, the electrochemical route proved to be advantageous, yielding preferentially the hydration products vs the aldol condensation products. Importantly, the ability to recycle the ionic liquid in subsequent reactions was successfully demonstrated.

A Universal Electrochemical Synthetic Strategy for the Direct Assembly of Single-Atom Catalysts

Single-atom catalysts (SACs) have been one of the frontiers in the field of catalysis in recent years owing to their high atomic utilization and unique electronic structure. To facilitate the practical application of single-atom, it is vital to develop a sustainable, facile single-atom preparation method with mass production potential. Herein, a universal one-step electrochemical synthesis strategy is proposed, and various metal-organic framework-supported SACs (including Pt, Au, Ir, Pd, Ru, Mo, Rh, and W) are straightforwardly obtained by simply replacing the guest metal precursors. As a proof-of-concept, the electrosynthetic Pt-based catalysts exhibit outstanding activity and stability in the electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). This study not only enriches the single-atom synthesis methodology, but also extends the scenario of electrochemical synthesis, opening up new avenues for the design of advanced electro-synthesized catalysts.

Li-Mediated Electrochemical Nitrogen Fixation: Key Advances and Future Perspectives

The electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction holds great potential for ammonia production using electricity generated from renewable energy sources and is sustainable. The low solubility of nitrogen in aqueous media, poor kinetics, and intrinsic competition by the hydrogen evolution reaction result in meager ammonia production rates. Attributing measured ammonia as a valid product, not an impurity, is challenging despite rigorous analytical experimentation. In this regard, Li-mediated electrochemical nitrogen reduction is a proven method providing significant ammonia yields. Herein, fundamental advances and insights into the Li-mediated strategy are summarized, emphasizing the role of lithium, reaction parameters, cell designs, and mechanistic evaluation. Challenges and perspectives are presented to highlight the prospects of this strategy as a continuous, stable, and modular approach toward sustainable ammonia production.

Review of Electrochemically Synthesized Resistive Switching Devices: Memory Storage, Neuromorphic Computing, and Sensing Applications

Resistive-switching-based memory devices meet most of the requirements for use in next-generation information and communication technology applications, including standalone memory devices, neuromorphic hardware, and embedded sensing devices with on-chip storage, due to their low cost, excellent memory retention, compatibility with 3D integration, in-memory computing capabilities, and ease of fabrication. Electrochemical synthesis is the most widespread technique for the fabrication of state-of-the-art memory devices. The present review article summarizes the electrochemical approaches that have been proposed for the fabrication of switching, memristor, and memristive devices for memory storage, neuromorphic computing, and sensing applications, highlighting their various advantages and performance metrics. We also present the challenges and future research directions for this field in the concluding section.

High-throughput Synthesis of Solution-Processable Van der Waals Heterostructures through Electrochemistry

Two-dimensional van der Waals heterostructures (2D vdWHs) have recently gained widespread attention because of their abundant and exotic properties, which open up many new possibilities for next-generation nanoelectronics. However, practical applications remain challenging due to the lack of high-throughput techniques for fabricating high-quality vdWHs. Here, we demonstrate a general electrochemical strategy to prepare solution-processable high-quality vdWHs, in which electrostatic forces drive the stacking of electrochemically exfoliated individual assemblies with intact structures and clean interfaces into vdWHs with strong interlayer interactions. Thanks to the excellent combination of strong light absorption, interfacial charge transfer, and decent charge transport properties in individual layers, thin-film photodetectors based on graphene/In2Se3 vdWHs exhibit great promise for NIR photodetection, owing to a high responsivity (267 mA W-1), fast rise (72 ms) and decay (426 ms) times under near-infrared (NIR) illumination. This approach enables various hybrid systems, including graphene/In2Se3, graphene/MoS2 and graphene/MoSe2 vdWHs, providing a broad avenue for exploring emerging electronic, photonic, and exotic quantum phenomena.

Revolutionizing Drug Delivery and Therapeutics: The Biomedical Applications of Conductive Polymers and Composites-Based Systems

The first conductive polymers (CPs) were developed during the 1970s as a unique class of organic substances with properties that are electrically and optically comparable to those of inorganic semiconductors and metals while also exhibiting the desirable traits of conventional polymers. CPs have become a subject of intensive research due to their exceptional qualities, such as high mechanical and optical properties, tunable electrical characteristics, ease of synthesis and fabrication, and higher environmental stability than traditional inorganic materials. Although conducting polymers have several limitations in their pure state, coupling with other materials helps overcome these drawbacks. Owing to the fact that various types of tissues are responsive to stimuli and electrical fields has made these smart biomaterials attractive for a range of medical and biological applications. For various applications, including the delivery of drugs, biosensors, biomedical implants, and tissue engineering, electrical CPs and composites have attracted significant interest in both research and industry. These bimodalities can be programmed to respond to both internal and external stimuli. Additionally, these smart biomaterials have the ability to deliver drugs in various concentrations and at an extensive range. This review briefly discusses the commonly used CPs, composites, and their synthesis processes. Further highlights the importance of these materials in drug delivery along with their applicability in various delivery systems.

Synthesis of 3-Thiocyanobenzothiophene via Difunctionalization of Active Alkyne Promoted by Electrochemical-Oxidation

A novel and green method for the synthesis of 3-thiocyanatobenzothiophenes via electrochemical-oxidation promoted difunctionalization of active alkyne has been developed. In this protocol, inexpensive and easily available potassium thiocyanate was chosen as the thiocyanation reagent, 2-alkynylthioanisoles as the substrates, a variety of 3-thiocyanatobenzothiophenes were obtained in moderate to good yields under oxidant- and catalyst-free conditions. Moreover, the continuous flow system has good applicability for this transformation, the use of continuous flow system has overcome the disadvantage of low efficiency in traditional electrochemical amplification, and realized the stable and excellent yields of target products in the scale-up reactions.

Ni-Co Alloy Nanoparticles Catalyze Selective Electrochemical Coupling of Nitroarenes into Azoxybenzene Compounds in Aqueous Electrolyte

In theory, electrocatalysts in their metallic forms should be the most stable chemical state under cathodic potentials. It is known that the highly dispersed nanoparticle (NP) types of electrocatalysts often possess higher activity than their bulk counterparts. However, facilely and controllably fabricating well-dispersed nonprecious metal NPs with superior electrocatalytic activity, selectivity, and durability is highly challenging. Here, we report a facile reductive pyrolysis approach to controllably synthesize NiCo alloy NPs confined on the tip of N-doped carbon nanotubes (N-CNTs) from a bimetal-MOF precursor. The electrocatalytic performance of the resultant NiCo@N-CNTs are evaluated by a wide spectrum of nitroarene reductive coupling reactions to produce azoxy-benzenes, a class of precious chemicals for textile, food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries. The superior electrocatalytic stability, full conversion of nitroarenes, >99% selectivities, and >97% faradic efficiencies toward the targeted azoxy-benzene products are readily attainable by NiCo@N-CNTs, attributable to the alloying-induced synergetic effect. The presence of a CNT confinement effect in NiCo@N-CNTs induces high stability. This added to the metallic states of NiCo empowers NiCo@N-CNTs with excellent electrochemical stability under reductive reaction conditions. In an effort to enhance the energy utilization efficiency, we construct a NiCo@N-CNTs||Ni(OH)₂/NF two-electrode electrolyzer to simultaneously reduce nitrobenzene at the cathode and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural with >99% yields for both azoxy-benzene and 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid.

Creation of a Composite Bioactive Coating with Antibacterial Effect Promising for Bone Implantation

When creating titanium-containing bone implants, the bioactive coatings that promote their rapid engraftment are important. The engraftment rate of titanium implants with bone tissue depends significantly on the modification of the implant surface. It is achieved by changing either the relief or the chemical composition of the surface layer, as well as a combination of these two factors. In this work, we studied the creation of composite coatings with a two-level (the micro- and nanolevel) hierarchy of the surface relief, which have bioactive and bactericidal properties, which are promising for bone implantation. Using the developed non-lithographic template electrochemical synthesis, a composite coating on titanium with a controlled surface structure was created based on an island-type TiO₂ film, silver and hydroxyapatite (HAp). This TiO₂/Ag/HAp composite coating has a developed surface relief at the micro- and nanolevels and has a significant cytological response and the ability to accelerate osteosynthesis, and also has an antibacterial effect. Thus, the developed biomaterial is suitable for production of dental and orthopedic implants with improved biomedical properties.

Electroreductively Induced Radicals for Organic Synthesis

Organic electrochemistry has attracted tremendous interest within the novel sustainable methodologies that have not only reduced the undesired byproducts, but also utilized cleaner and renewable energy sources. Particularly, oxidative electrochemistry has gained major attention. On the contrary, reductive electrolysis remains an underexplored research direction. In this context, we discuss advances in transition-metal-free cathodically generated radicals for selective organic transformations since 2016. We highlight the electroreductive reaction of alkyl radicals, aryl radicals, acyl radicals, silyl radicals, fluorosulfonyl radicals and trifluoromethoxyl radicals.

Electrochemical Synthesis of Nb-Doped BaTiO3 Nanoparticles with Titanium-Niobium Alloy as Electrode

In this paper, Nb-doped BaTiO3 nanoparticles (BaNb0.47Ti0.53O3) were prepared using an electrochemical method in an alkaline solution, with titanium-niobium alloy as the electrode. The results indicated that under relatively mild conditions (normal temperature and pressure, V < 60 V, I < 5 A), cubic perovskite phase Nb-doped BaTiO3 nanoparticles with high crystallinity and uniform distribution can be synthesized. With this increase in alkalinity, the crystallinity of the sample increases, the crystal grain size decreases, and the particles become more equally dispersed. Furthermore, in our study, the average grain size of the nanoparticles was 5−20 nm, and the particles with good crystallinity were obtained at a concentration of 3 mol/L of NaOH. This provides a new idea and method for introducing foreign ions under high alkalinity conditions.

Functionalization of Graphene Derivatives with Conducting Polymers and Their Applications in Uric Acid Detection

In this article, we review recent progress concerning the development of sensorial platforms based on graphene derivatives and conducting polymers (CPs), alternatively deposited or co-deposited on the working electrode (usually a glassy carbon electrode; GCE) using a simple potentiostatic method (often cyclic voltammetry; CV), possibly followed by the deposition of metallic nanoparticles (NPs) on the electrode surface (ES). These materials have been successfully used to detect an extended range of biomolecules of clinical interest, such as uric acid (UA), dopamine (DA), ascorbic acid (AA), adenine, guanine, and others. The most common method is electrochemical synthesis. In the composites, which are often combined with metallic NPs, the interaction between the graphene derivatives-including graphene oxide (GO), reduced graphene oxide (RGO), or graphene quantum dots (GQDs)-and the CPs is usually governed by non-covalent functionalization through π-π interactions, hydrogen bonds, and van der Waals (VW) forces. The functionalization of GO, RGO, or GQDs with CPs has been shown to speed up electron transfer during the oxidation process, thus improving the electrochemical response of the resulting sensor. The oxidation mechanism behind the electrochemical response of the sensor seems to involve a partial charge transfer (CT) from the analytes to graphene derivatives, due to the overlapping of π orbitals.

Electrochemical-Induced Cascade Reaction of 2-Formyl Benzonitrile with Anilines: Synthesis of N-Aryl Isoindolinones

An electrochemical initiated tandem reaction of anilines with 2-formyl benzonitrile has been developed. Thus, unprecedented 3-N-aryl substituted isoindolinones have been conveniently achieved by constant current electrolysis in a divided cell using catalytic amount of electricity and supporting electrolyte and a Pt-cathode as working electrode. The origin of the electrochemical activation as well as the mechanism of the subsequent chemical cascade reactions have been investigated by DFT calculations.

One-Step Regio- and Stereoselective Electrochemical Synthesis of Orexin Receptor Antagonist Oxidative Metabolites

Synthesis of drug metabolites, which often have complex structures, is an integral step in the evaluation of drug candidate metabolism, pharmacokinetic (PK) properties, and safety profiles. Frequently, such synthetic endeavors entail arduous, multiple-step de novo synthetic routes. Herein, we present the one-step Shono-type electrochemical synthesis of milligrams of chiral α-hydroxyl amide metabolites of two orexin receptor antagonists, MK-8133 and MK-6096, as revealed by a small-scale (pico- to nano-mole level) reaction screening using a lab-built online electrochemistry (EC)/mass spectrometry (MS) (EC/MS) platform. The electrochemical oxidation of MK-8133 and MK-6096 was conducted in aqueous media and found to produce the corresponding α-piperidinols with exclusive regio- and stereoselectivity, as confirmed by high-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) characterization of products. Based on density functional theory (DFT) calculations, the exceptional regio- and stereoselectivity for this electrochemical oxidation are governed by more favorable energetics of the transition state, leading to the preferred secondary carbon radical α to the amide group and subsequent steric hindrance associated with the U-shaped conformation of the cation derived from the secondary α-carbon radical, respectively.

Electrochemically Prepared Polyaniline as an Alternative to Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate) for Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells

The goal of this work is to substitute the conventional high-cost poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) in inverted perovskite solar cells (PSCs) with an efficient and conducting polyaniline (PANI) polymer. The reported use of PANI in PSCs involves a chemical synthesis method which is prone to contamination with impurities as it requires several materials for polymerization and adhesion improvement with substrates, contributing to low device efficiencies. This work mitigates this issue using an electrochemical method that is low cost, less time consuming, and capable of producing thin films of PANI with excellent adhesion to substrates. Results demonstrated that the power conversion efficiency of the electrochemically synthesized PANI-based PSC is 16.94% versus 15.11% for the PEDOT:PSS-based device. It was observed that the work function of PANI was lower compared to that of PEDOT:PSS which decreased V _OC but enhanced hole extraction at the hole transport layer/perovskite interface, thus increasing J _SC. Doping electrolyte solution with lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide LiTFSI increased the work function of PANI, thus increasing V _OC from 0.87 to 0.93 V. This method enables simple and scalable synthesis of PANI as a competitive hole transport material to replace rather expensive PEDOT:PSS, thus enabling an important step toward low-cost inverted perovskite photovoltaic devices.

Green Electrosynthesis of 5,5'-Azotetrazolate Energetic Materials Plus Energy-Efficient Hydrogen Production Using Ruthenium Single-Atom Catalysts

Water electrolysis involves two parallel reactions, that is, oxygen evolution (OER) and hydrogen evolution (HER), in which sluggish OER is a significant limiting step that results in high energy consumption. Coupling the thermodynamically favorable electrooxidation of organic alternatives to value-added fine chemicals HER is a promising approach for the simultaneous cost-effective production of value-added chemicals and hydrogen. Here, a new coupling system for the green electrochemical synthesis of organic energetic materials (EMs) plus hydrogen production using single-atom catalysts is introduced. The catalysts are prepared by the facile galvanostatic deposition of ruthenium single atoms on the molybdenum selenide and reveal a low HER overpotential of 38.9 mV at -10 mA cm^-2 in an alkaline medium. Importantly, the cell voltage of water electrolysis can be significantly reduced to only 1.35 V at a current of 10 mA cm^-2 by coupling water splitting with the electrooxidation of 5-amino-1H-tetrazole to synthesize 5,5'-azotetrazolate energetic material. These materials are traditionally synthesized under harsh conditions involving a strong oxidizing agent, high-temperature conditions, and difficult separation of by-products. This study provides a green and efficient method of synthesizing organic EMs while simultaneously producing hydrogen.

Role of Electrochemical Techniques for Photovoltaic and Supercapacitor Applications

Electrochemistry forms the base of large-scale production of various materials, encompassing numerous applications in metallurgical engineering, chemical engineering, electrical engineering, and material science. This field is important for energy harvesting applications, especially supercapacitors (SCs) and photovoltaic (PV) devices. This review examines various electrochemical techniques employed to fabricate and characterize PV devices and SCs. Fabricating these energy harvesting devices is carried out by electrochemical methods, including electroreduction, electrocoagulation, sol-gel process, hydrothermal growth, spray pyrolysis, template-assisted growth, and electrodeposition. The characterization techniques used are cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, photoelectrochemical characterization, galvanostatic charge-discharge, and I-V curve. A study on different recently reported materials is also presented to analyze their performance in various energy harvesting applications regarding their efficiency, fill factor, power density, and energy density. In addition, a comparative study of electrochemical fabrication techniques with others (including physical vapor deposition, mechanical milling, laser ablation, and centrifugal spinning) has been conducted. The various challenges of electrochemistry in PVs and SCs are also highlighted. This review also emphasizes the future perspectives of electrochemistry in energy harvesting applications.

Electrochemical Hydrogen Peroxide Synthesis from Selective Oxygen Reduction over Metal Selenide Catalysts

Se-based nanoalloys as an emerging class of metal chalcogenide with tunable crystalline structure, component distribution, and electronic structure have attracted considerable interest in renewable energy conversion and utilization. In this Letter, we report a series of nanosized M-Se catalysts (M = Cu, Ni, Co) as prepared from laser ablation method and screen their electrocatalytic performance for onsite H₂O₂ generation from selective oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in alkaline media. A flexible control on 2e^-/4e^- ORR pathway has been achieved by engineering the alloying component. Moreover, through a feedback loop between theory and experiment an optimized scaling relationship between oxygenated ORR intermediates has been discovered on cubic Cu_7.2Se₄ nanocrystals, that is, the ensemble effect of isolated Cu component destabilizes O* binding while the ligand effect of Se to Cu fine-tunes the binding strength of OOH*, leading to a superb H₂O₂ selectivity above 90% over a wide potential window even after 1400 potential cycles.

Mechanism of Dy3+ and Nd3+ Ions Electrochemical Coreduction with Ni2+, Co2+, and Fe3+ Ions in Chloride Melts

The present paper is devoted to the study of the processes of the mechanism of electrochemical coreduction of Dy³⁺ and Nd³⁺ ions with Ni²⁺, Co²⁺, and Fe³⁺ ions in the equimolar NaCl-KCl melt at 973 K and characterization of the synthesized samples. The performed voltammetry analysis of the electrochemical coreduction processes elucidated a significant difference in the values of the extraction potentials of the studied metals. This melt testifies that intermetallic compounds of Dy and Nd with Ni, Co, and Fe may be synthesized in the kinetic regime. The intermetallic phases of Dy and Nd with Ni, Co, and Fe are found to be formed along with the phases of metallic Ni, Co, and Fe either during electrolysis at the cathode current densities exceeding the limiting diffusion current of Ni²⁺, Co²⁺, and Fe³⁺ ions or in the potentiostatic regime at the potentials of the corresponding voltammetry curves. Therefore, the following interrelated key parameters affecting the electrochemical synthesis of Dy and Nd intermetallic compounds with Ni, Co, and Fe were determined: (i) composition of the electrolyte, i.e., concentrations of FeCl₃, CoCl₂, NiCl₂, DyCl₃, and NdCl₃; (ii) cathode current density or electrolysis potential and (iii) electrolysis time. The obtained samples were characterized by micro-X-ray diffraction analysis, cyclic voltammetry, and scanning electron microscopy methods.

Advances in the Methods for the Synthesis of Carbon Dots and Their Emerging Applications

Cutting-edge technologies are making inroads into new areas and this remarkable progress has been successfully influenced by the tiny level engineering of carbon dots technology, their synthesis advancement and impressive applications in the field of allied sciences. The advances of science and its conjugation with interdisciplinary fields emerged in carbon dots making, their controlled characterization and applications into faster, cheaper as well as more reliable products in various scientific domains. Thus, a new era in nanotechnology has developed into carbon dots technology. The understanding of the generation process, control on making processes and selected applications of carbon dots such as energy storage, environmental monitoring, catalysis, contaminates detections and complex environmental forensics, drug delivery, drug targeting and other biomedical applications, etc., are among the most promising applications of carbon dots and thus it is a prominent area of research today. In this regard, various types of carbon dot nanomaterials such as oxides, their composites and conjugations, etc., have been garnering significant attention due to their remarkable potential in this prominent area of energy, the environment and technology. Thus, the present paper highlights the role and importance of carbon dots, recent advancements in their synthesis methods, properties and emerging applications.

Electrochemical Oxidative Syntheses of NH-Sulfoximines, NH-Sulfonimidamides and Dibenzothiazines via Anodically Generated Hypervalent Iodine Intermediates

Herein, we report a general method for the synthesis of NH-sulfoximines and NH-sulfonimidamides through direct electrochemical oxidative catalysis involving an iodoarene(I)/iodoarene(III) redox couple. In addition, dibenzothiazines can be synthesized from [1,1'-biaryl]-2-sulfides under standard conditions. Notably, only a catalytic amount of iodoarene is required for the generation in situ of an active hypervalent iodine catalyst, which avoids the need for an excess of a hypervalent iodine reagent relative to conventional approaches. Moreover, this protocol features broad substrate scope and wide functional group tolerance, delivering the target compounds with good-to-excellent yields even for a scale of more than 10 g.

Advanced TexSy-C Nanocomposites for High-Performance Lithium Ion Batteries

This study is dedicated to expand the family of lithium-tellurium sulfide batteries, which have been recognized as a promising choice for future energy storage systems. Herein, a novel electrochemical method has been applied to engineer micro-nano TexSy material, and it is found that TexSy phases combined with multi-walled carbon nanotubes endow the as-constructed lithium-ion batteries excellent cycling stability and high rate performance. In the process of material synthesis, the sulfur was successfully embedded into the tellurium matrix, which improved the overall capacity performance. TexSy was characterized and verified as a micro-nano-structured material with less Te and more S. Compared with the original pure Te particles, the capacity is greatly improved, and the volume expansion change is effectively inhibited. After the assembly of Li-TexSy battery, the stable electrical contact and rapid transport capacity of lithium ions, as well as significant electrochemical performance are verified.

Free-Standing Single Ag Nanowires for Multifunctional Optical Probes

Miniaturized and manipulable optical probes are the foundation for developing in situ characterization devices in confined space. We developed two methods for fabricating free-standing single Ag nanowires (AgNWs) directly at the tip of a glass capillary either by chemical or electrochemical reduction. The electrochemical nature of both methods resulted in a rapid growth rate of AgNWs up to 1.38 μm/s and a controllable length from 5 to 450 μm. The AgNWs with a unique anisotropic structure allow localized surface plasmon resonance and surface plasmon waveguides in the radial direction and axial direction, respectively. We verified the possibility of using single AgNWs as an optical dispersion device and waveguide probe. By controlling the experimental conditions, rough-surface AgNWs with high surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) activity were also fabricated. These SERS-active probes also exhibited advantages in acquiring molecular information from a single living cell.

Nanoporous Silver Telluride for Active Hydrogen Evolution

Silver-based nanomaterials have been versatile building blocks of various photoassisted energy applications; however, they have demonstrated poor electrochemical catalytic performance and stability, in particular, in acidic environments. Here we report a stable and high-performance electrochemical catalyst of silver telluride (AgTe) for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), which was synthesized with a nanoporous structure by an electrochemical synthesis method. X-ray spectroscopy techniques on the nanometer scale and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy revealed an orthorhombic structure of nanoporous AgTe with precise lattice constants. First-principles calculations show that the AgTe surface possesses highly active catalytic sites for the HER with an optimized Gibbs free energy change of hydrogen adsorption (-0.005 eV). Our nanoporous AgTe demonstrates exceptional stability and performance for the HER, an overpotential of 27 mV, and a Tafel slope of 33 mV/dec. As a stable catalyst for hydrogen production, AgTe is comparable to platinum-based catalysts and provides a breakthrough for high-performance electrochemical catalysts.

Electrochemical Synthesis of Benzimidazoles via Dehydrogenative Cyclization of Amidines

The development of efficient and sustainable methodologies for the synthesis of N-heterocycles is a constant focus of organic synthesis. Herein an electrochemical method is reported for the synthesis of benzimidazoles through dehydrogenative cyclization of easily available N-aryl amidines. The reactions were conducted under simple constant current conditions in an undivided cell without need for catalysts, chemical oxidants, or additives, and produced H₂ as the only theoretical byproduct.

Electrochemical Synthesis of Large Area Two-Dimensional Metal-Organic Framework Films on Copper Anodes

Owing to their excellent physical and electrical properties, metal-organic framework (MOF) materials with well-defined supramolecular structures have received extensive research attention. However, the fabrication of large-area two-dimensional (2D) MOF films is still a significant challenge. Herein, we propose a novel electrochemical (EC) synthesis method for the preparation of large-area Cu₃ (HHTP)₂ MOF film on single-crystal Cu (100) anode. The surface reaction was achieved via charge-induced molecular assembly. The synthesized MOF film exhibited a high crystalline quality with an electrical conductivity of approximately 0.087 S cm^-1 , which was around 1000 times larger than the previously reported values for the same material prepared by the interface method. In addition, Cu₂ (MTCP), Cu₃ (BTPA)₂ , and Cu₃ (TPTC)₂ MOF films were synthesized on Cu foil with the same strategy, which confirmed the universality of the proposed method. This controllable EC method can be effectively applied to the industrial-scale production of 2D MOF films on Cu foil.

Electrochemical Synthesis and Electro-Optical Properties of Dibenzothiophene/Thiophene Conjugated Polymers With Stepwise Enhanced Conjugation Lengths

A total of six conjugated polymers, namely PDBT-Th, PDBT-Th:Th, PDBT-2Th, PDBT-Th:2Th, PDBT-2Th:Th, and PDBT-2Th:2Th, consisting of dibenzothiophene, thiophene, and bithiophene were electrochemically synthesized. Their electrochemical and electrochromic properties were investigated in relation to the conjugation chain lengths of the thiophene units in the conjugated backbones. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations showed that longer conjugation lengths resulted in decreased HOMO-LUMO gaps in the polymers. The optical band gaps (E_g,opt) and electrochemical band gaps (E_g,cv) were decreased from PDBT-Th to PDBT-Th:Th, however, PDBT-Th:2Th, PDBT-2Th, PDBT-2Th:Th and PDBT-2Th:2Th displayed the similar band gaps. The conjugation length increments significantly improved the electrochemical stability of the conjugated polymers and exhibited reversible color changes due to the formation of polarons and bipolarons. The results suggest that the conjugated polymers prepared herein are promising candidates for fabricating flexible organic electrochromic devices.

Ultrafast Construction of Oxygen-Containing Scaffold over Graphite for Trapping Ni2+ into Single Atom Catalysts

Ultrafast construction of oxygen-containing scaffold over graphite for trapping Ni²⁺ into single atom catalysts (SACs) was developed and presented by a one-step electrochemical activation technique. The present method for Ni SACs starts with graphite foil and is capable of achieving ultrafast preparation (1.5 min) and mass production. The defective oxygen featuring the strong electronegativity enables primarily attracting Ni²⁺ ions and stabilizing Ni atoms via Ni-O₆ coordination instead of conventional metal-C or metal-N. In addition, the oxygen defects for trapping are tunable through altering the applied voltage or electrolyte, further altering the loading of Ni atoms, indicative of enhanced oxygen evolution activity. This simple and ultrafast electrochemical synthesis is promising for the mass and controllable production of oxygen-coordinated Ni SACs, which exhibit good performance for oxygen evolution reaction.

Environmentally friendly route for graphene oxide production via electrochemical synthesis focused on the adsorptive removal of dyes from water

This work shows a promising, environmentally friendly and greener alternative for the production and application of electrochemically produced Graphene Oxide (GO) for the adsorptive removal of Methylene Blue (MB) dye in an aqueous medium. During the adsorption tests, GO produced via electrochemical route reached the equilibrium in only 10 min of contact, exhibiting a percentage removal of MB over 97%. It could also be observed that the experimental data better fitted to the pseudo-second order kinetic model. By analysing the isotherms, it was verified the maximum adsorptive capacity was 500 mg g^-1 (303.15 K) and that in overall, adsorptive capacity decreases with the increase in temperature. Experimental equilibrium data were better fitted to the Freundlich isotherms in all temperatures studied (303.15, 318.15 and 333.15 K). The thermodynamic analysis confirmed the exothermic nature of the process, and that MB adsorption onto GO occurs spontaneously. ΔH◦ and ΔG◦ values suggested that physisorption occurred, which is mainly due to π-π interactions and electrostatic interactions between MB and oxygen functional groups on the GO surface. Cost-effectiveness analysis showed there is a lower cost involved in the production of electrochemical GO, as compared to the Hummers method; and in the reusability study, even after 5 cycles GO removed ≥ 90% MB. Thus, the electrochemically produced GO seems to be an efficient, cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative for colour removal from water, as it uses less hazardous and expensive reagents when compared to those applied in the traditional GO synthesis, without losing, however, the efficiency in colour removal from water.

Nickel-Graphene Nanoplatelet Deposited on Carbon Fiber as Binder-Free Electrode for Electrochemical Supercapacitor Application

A binder-free process for the electrode preparation for supercapacitor application was suggested by drop casting graphene nanoplatelets on a carbon fiber (GnP@CF) followed by electrodeposition of Ni nanoparticles (NPs). The microstructure of the electrode showed that Ni was homogeneously distributed over the surface of the GnP@CF. XRD analysis confirmed the cubic structure of metallic Ni NPs. The Ni-GnP@CF electrode showed excellent pseudocapacitive behavior in alkaline solution by exhibiting a specific capacitance of 480 F/g at 1.0 A/g, while it was 375 F/g for Ni@CF. The low value of series resistance of Ni-GnP@CF (1 Ω) was attributed to the high capacitance. The enhanced capacitance of the electrode could be correlated to the highly nanoporous structure of the composite material, synergetic effect of the electrical double layer charge-storage properties of graphene, and the pseudocapacitive nature of Ni NPs.

Electrochemical Synthesis of Spiro[4.5]trienones through Radical-Initiated Dearomative Spirocyclization

A novel and green route has been developed for the electrochemical synthesis of spiro[4.5]trienones through radical-initiated dearomative spirocyclization of alkynes with diselenides. This metal-free and oxidant-free electrosynthesis reaction was performed in an undivided cell under mild conditions. A variety of selenation spiro[4.5]trienones products were prepared in moderate-to-good yields, showing a broad scope and functional group tolerance. Moreover, the developed continuous-flow system combined with electrosynthesis possesses the potential to achieve scaled-up reactions, overcoming the low efficiency of conventional electrochemical scaled-up reactions.

ZnO Nanostructures with Antibacterial Properties Prepared by a Green Electrochemical-Thermal Approach

Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures are widely applied materials, and are also capable of antimicrobial action. They can be obtained by several methods, which include physical and chemical approaches. Considering the recent rise of green and low-cost synthetic routes for nanomaterial development, electrochemical techniques represent a valid alternative to biogenic synthesis. Following a hybrid electrochemical-thermal method modified by our group, here we report on the aqueous electrosynthesis of ZnO nanomaterials based on the use of alternative stabilizers. We tested both benzyl-hexadecyl-dimetylammonium chloride (BAC) and poly-diallyl-(dimethylammonium) chloride (PDDA). Transmission electron microscopy images showed the formation of rod-like and flower-like structures with a variable aspect-ratio. The combination of UV–Vis, FTIR and XPS spectroscopies allowed for the univocal assessment of the material composition as a function of different thermal treatments. In fact, the latter guaranteed the complete conversion of the as-prepared colloidal materials into stoichiometric ZnO species without excessive morphological modification. The antimicrobial efficacy of both materials was tested against Bacillus subtilis as a Gram-positive model microorganism.

Tailorable Synthesis of Highly Oxidized Graphene Oxides via an Environmentally-Friendly Electrochemical Process

Graphene oxide (GO) is an attractive alternative to graphene for many applications due to its captivating optical, chemical, and electrical characteristics. In this work, GO powders with a different amount of surface groups were synthesized from graphite via an electrochemical two-stage process. Many synthesis conditions were tried to maximize the oxidation level, and comprehensive characterization of the resulting samples was carried out via elemental analysis, microscopies (TEM, SEM, AFM), X-ray diffraction, FT-IR and Raman spectroscopies as well as electrical resistance measurements. SEM and TEM images corroborate that the electrochemical process used herein preserves the integrity of the graphene flakes, enabling to obtain large, uniform and well exfoliated GO sheets. The GOs display a wide range of C/O ratios, determined by the voltage and time of each stage as well as the electrolyte concentration, and an unprecedented minimum C/O value was obtained for the optimal conditions. FT-IR evidences strong intermolecular interactions between neighbouring oxygenated groups. The intensity ratio of D/G bands in the Raman spectra is high for samples prepared using concentrated H2SO4 as an electrolyte, indicative of many defects. Furthermore, these GOs exhibit smaller interlayer spacing than that expected according to their oxygen content, which suggests predominant oxidation on the flake edges. Results point out that the electrical resistance is conditioned mostly by the interlayer distance and not simply by the C/O ratio. The tuning of the oxidation level is useful for the design of GOs with tailorable structural, electrical, optical, mechanical, and thermal properties.

Electrochemical synthesis of carbon nano spheres and its application for detection of ciprofloxacin

Carbon nano spheres (CNSs) were synthesized by single step electrochemical synthesis route in ultra-pure water as a medium of synthesis. Characterization of synthesized CNSs was carried out using atomic force microscope (AFM), particle size analyzer, zeta potential analyzer and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) measurements, from which the information about the morphology and functional groups present on the surface of the particles are obtained. The particle size of the CNSs was found to be 6 nm. FTIR spectrum shows the presence of functional groups such as -OH, C≡C, C = C and on the CNSs. Electrochemical and spectroscopic experiments were conducted to determine the interaction of the drug molecule ciprofloxacin (Cf) with CNSs, strong interaction between Cf and CNSs leads to the development of analytical method of detection of Cf using CNSs as the pre-concentrating agent. The detection of limit of the present method is obtained as 0.15 μM at (S/N) ratio of 3. CNSs can be considered as a potential candidate for the fabrication of sensor for high sensitive determination of Cf.

In Situ Electrochemical Synthesis of Novel Lithium-Rich Organic Cathodes for All-Organic Li-Ion Full Batteries

The lithium-rich organic cathodes are undoubtedly important for fabricating lithium-ion (Li-ion) full batteries. Currently, very few lithium-rich organic cathodes have been reported for their O₂-sensitive characteristics. In this article, we initially propose a new electrochemical method to in situ synthesize a novel lithium-rich organic cathode, namely lithium anthracene-9,10-bis[2-benzene-1,4-bis(olate)] (ABB4OLi, C_T = 256 mA h g^-1), from its phenol precursor of anthracene-9,10-bis(2-benzene-1,4-diol). The addition of anthracene moiety as the linking bridge is to increase the molecular weight and simultaneously enhance the electronic conductivity for the designed organic molecule (ABB4OLi). In Li-ion half cells, ABB4OLi could deliver average specific capacities of 194 mA h g^-1 during 250 cycles (50 mA g^-1) and 100 mA h g^-1 during 400 cycles (2 A g^-1). In the all-organic Li-ion full cells with the working voltage above 1 V, the ABB4OLi electrode could realize the average capacities of 70 mA h g^-1_cathode during 200 cycles (50 mA g^-1). This work has forwarded a significant step for the development of organic Li-ion full batteries.

Electrochemical Deposition of Nanomaterials for Electrochemical Sensing

The most commonly used methods to electrodeposit nanomaterials on conductive supports or to obtain electrosynthesis nanomaterials are described. Au, layered double hydroxides (LDHs), metal oxides, and polymers are the classes of compounds taken into account. The electrochemical approach for the synthesis allows one to obtain nanostructures with well-defined morphologies, even without the use of a template, and of variable sizes simply by controlling the experimental synthesis conditions. In fact, parameters such as current density, applied potential (constant, pulsed or ramp) and duration of the synthesis play a key role in determining the shape and size of the resulting nanostructures. This review aims to describe the most recent applications in the field of electrochemical sensors of the considered nanomaterials and special attention is devoted to the analytical figures of merit of the devices.

Determination of the vapour pressure curves and vaporization enthalpies of hafnium alkoxides using thermogravimetric analysis

In order to identify a volatile metallo-organic precursor for the deposition of hafnium oxide (HfO₂) films for atomic layer deposition (ALD) applications, the evaporative properties of hafnium alkoxides (hafnium isopropoxide, hafnium n-propoxide and hafnium n-butoxide) were investigated using thermogravimetric analysis. These hafnium alkoxide samples were synthesized by the electrochemical method and characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance and inductively coupled plasma analysis techniques. The characterization results indicated that the products were 99.997% high-purity hafnium alkoxides and could meet the requirement of purity considering the usage of making HfO₂ gate oxide by ALD. Synthesized samples were subjected to a simultaneous thermogravimetric-differential thermal analysis unit at 10 K min^-1 in a dry nitrogen atmosphere flowing at 100 ml min^-1. Benzoic acid was used to calculate a calibration constant, which could then be inserted into a modified Langmuir equation to calculate vapour pressure curves for hafnium isopropoxide and hafnium n-propoxide. Detailed vapour pressure data for the HfO₂ precursor hafnium alkoxides were determined. The vapour pressure curve of hafnium isopropoxide was constructed within the first stage, and calculated to be lnp = 31.157 (±0.200)-13130.57 (±56.50)/T. Hafnium n-propoxide and hafnium n-butoxide were simultaneously undergoing evaporation and decomposition, thus making calculations invalid.

Controllable Electrochemical Synthesis of Copper Sulfides as Sodium-Ion Battery Anodes with Superior Rate Capability and Ultralong Cycle Life

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are prospective alternative to lithium-ion batteries for large-scale energy-storage applications, owing to the abundant resources of sodium. Metal sulfides are deemed to be promising anode materials for SIBs due to their low-cost and eco-friendliness. Herein, for the first time, series of copper sulfides (Cu₂S, Cu₇S₄, and Cu₇KS₄) are controllably synthesized via a facile electrochemical route in KCl-NaCl-Na₂S molten salts. The as-prepared Cu₂S with micron-sized flakes structure is first investigated as anode of SIBs, which delivers a capacity of 430 mAh g^-1 with a high initial Coulombic efficiency of 84.9% at a current density of 100 mA g^-1. Moreover, the Cu₂S anode demonstrates superior capability (337 mAh g^-1 at 20 A g^-1, corresponding to 50 C) and ultralong cycle performance (88.2% of capacity retention after 5000 cycles at 5 A g^-1, corresponding to 0.0024% of fade rate per cycle). Meanwhile, the pseudocapacitance contribution and robust porous structure in situ formed during cycling endow the Cu₂S anodes with outstanding rate capability and enhanced cyclic performance, which are revealed by kinetics analysis and ex situ characterization.

Electrochemical Synthesis of Dihydrobenzofurans and Evaluation of Their Insect Antifeedant Activities

Electrochemically synthesized dihydrobenzofurans were evaluated for their insect antifeedant activities against phytophagous insects. They were prepared through the coupling reactions of various alkenes with a phenoxy cation generated by oxidation near the cathode in the electrolytic reaction. The insect antifeedant activities of these synthetic dihydrobenzofurans were evaluated in the common cutworm (Spodoptera litura) and diamond back moth (Plutella xylostella) with the dual choice leaf disk bioassay method. The insect antifeedant activities of most of the acetophenone-type dihydrobenzofurans were strong, while those of derivatives with a t-butyl group were weaker. The biological activities in insect species differed with the structural features of the compounds.

Sensitive and Reversible Detection of Methanol and Water Vapor by In Situ Electrochemically Grown CuBTC MOFs on Interdigitated Electrodes

The in situ electrochemical growth of Cu benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylate (CuBTC) metal-organic frameworks, as an affinity layer, directly on custom-fabricated Cu interdigitated electrodes (IDEs) is described, acting as a transducer. Crystalline 5-7 µm thick CuBTC layers are grown on IDEs consisting of 100 electrodes with a width and a gap of both 50 µm and a height of 6-8 µm. These capacitive sensors are exposed to methanol and water vapor at 30 °C. The affinities show to be completely reversible with higher affinity toward water compared to methanol. For exposure to 1000 ppm methanol, a fast response is observed with a capacitance change of 5.57 pF at equilibrium. The capacitance increases in time followed diffusion-controlled kinetics (k = 2.9 mmol s^-0.5 g^-1_CuBTC ). The observed capacitance change with methanol concentration follows a Langmuir adsorption isotherm, with a value for the equilibrium affinity K_e = 174.8 bar^-1 . A volume fraction f_MeOH = 0.038 is occupied upon exposure to 1000 ppm of methanol. The thin CuBTC affinity layer on the Cu-IDEs shows fast, reversible, and sensitive responses to methanol and water vapor, enabling quantitative detection in the range of 100-8000 ppm.

A Single-Step Electrochemical Synthesis of Luminescent WS2 Quantum Dots

Transition-metal dichalcogenide quantum dots (TMDQDs) with few layers are in the forefront of recent research on tailored 2D layered materials owing to their unique band structure. Such quantum dots (QDs) draw wide interest as potential candidates for components in optoelectronic devices. Although a few attempts towards single step synthesis of MoS₂ QDs have been demonstrated, limited methods are available for WS₂ QDs. Herein, we demonstrate a one-step electrochemical synthesis of luminescent WS₂ QDs from their bulk material. This is achieved by a synergistic effect of perchlorate intercalation in non-aqueous electrolyte and the applied electric field. The average size of the WS₂ QDs is 3  ±1 nm (N=102) with few layers. The QDs show a higher photoluminescence (PL) quantum efficiency (5 %) and exhibit an excitation wavelength-dependent photoluminescence. This unprecedented electrochemical avenue offers a strategy to synthesize size tunable WS₂ nanostructures, which have been systematically investigated by various characterization techniques such as transmission electron microscopy (TEM), photoluminescence and UV/Vis spectroscopies, and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Time-dependent TEM investigations revealed that time plays a vital role in this electrochemical transformation. This electrochemical transformation provides a facile method to obtain WS₂ QDs from their bulk counterpart, which is expected to have a greater impact on the design and development of nanostructures derived from 2D materials.

Effect of the Metal Ion on the Enantioselectivity and Linkage Isomerization of Thiosemicarbazone Helicates

The effect of the metal ion and ligand design on the enantioselectivity and linkage isomerization of neutral cobalt and zinc bisthiosemicarbazone metallohelicates has been investigated in this work. The electrochemical synthesis has afforded the enantioselective formation of chirally pure cobalt helicates, and the ΛΛ isomer of a single enantiomer has been crystallized as only product for the cobalt methyl-substituted thiosemicarbazone helicate. Interestingly linkage isomers have been formed from zinc ethyl-substituted thiosemicarbazone helicate enantiomers for the first time. The co-existence of these isomers has been evaluated from the point of view of both experimental results and computational calculations.

Cathodic Aromatic C,C Cross-Coupling Reaction via Single Electron Transfer Pathway

We have successfully developed a novel cathodic cross-coupling reaction of aryl halides with arenes. Utilization of the cathodic single electron transfer (SET) mechanism for activation of aryl halides enables the cross-coupling reaction to proceed without the need for any transition metal catalysts or single electron donors in a mild condition. The SET from a cathode to an aryl halide initiates a radical chain by giving an anion radical of the aryl halide. The following propagation cycle also consists entirely of anion radical intermediates.

Electrodeposition of Epitaxial Lead Iodide and Conversion to Textured Methylammonium Lead Iodide Perovskite

Applications for lead iodide, such as lasing, luminescence, radiation detection, and as a precursor for methylammonium lead iodide perovskite photovoltaic cells, require highly ordered crystalline thin films. Here, an electrochemical synthesis route is introduced that yields textured and epitaxial films of lead iodide at room temperature by reducing molecular iodine to iodide ions in the presence of lead ions. Lead iodide grows with a [0001] fiber texture on polycrystalline substrates such as fluorine-doped tin oxide. On single-crystal Au(100), Au(111), and Au(110) the out-of-plane orientation of lead iodide is also [0001], but the in-plane orientation is controlled by the single-crystal substrate. The epitaxial lead iodide on single-crystal gold is converted to textured methylammonium lead iodide perovskite with a preferred [110] orientation via methylammonium iodide vapor-assisted chemical transformation of the solid.