Laser-driven ion acceleration,as produced by interaction of a high-intensity laser with a target,is a growing field of interest.One of the current challenges is to enhance the acceleration process,i.e.,to increase the...Laser-driven ion acceleration,as produced by interaction of a high-intensity laser with a target,is a growing field of interest.One of the current challenges is to enhance the acceleration process,i.e.,to increase the produced ion energy and the ion number and to shape the energy distribution for future applications.In this paper,we investigate the effect of helical coil(HC)targets on the laser-matter interaction process using a 150 TW laser.We demonstrate that HC targets significantly enhance proton acceleration,improving energy bunching and beam focusing and increasing the cutoff energy.For the first time,we extend this analysis to carbon ions,revealing a marked reduction in the number of low-energy carbon ions and the potential for energy bunching and post-acceleration through an optimized HC design.Simulations using the particle-in-cell code SOPHIE confirm the experimental results,providing insights into the current propagation and ion synchronization mechanisms in HCs.Our findings suggest that HC targets can be optimized for multispecies ion acceleration.展开更多
Photocatalytic water splitting is a promising way to produce H_(2),a green and clean energy source.However,efficient H_(2) production typically relies on the addition of electron donors,such as alcohols and acids,whic...Photocatalytic water splitting is a promising way to produce H_(2),a green and clean energy source.However,efficient H_(2) production typically relies on the addition of electron donors,such as alcohols and acids,which are neither environmentally friendly nor cost-effective.Recently,we have witnessed a surge of studies in coupling photocatalytic H_(2) evolution with organic pollutant oxidation,which significantly promotes charge separation and improves the overall photocatalytic efficiency.It is thus an opportune time to critically assess the recent literature concerning dual-functional photocatalytic systems and provide perspectives for its future development.In this minireview,we begin with the working principles and requirements for synergistic photocatalytic systems.We then summarize and critically discuss the recent advances in photocatalytic H_(2) production and the degradation of various organic pollutants,including antibiotics,dyes,and phenols.Finally,we discuss the current challenges and suggest future directions for this field.展开更多
Atomically dispersed metal site(ADMS)materials have emerged as a promising class of materials for electrocatalysis reactions in the field of energy conversion.Characterized by individual metal atoms dispersed on suita...Atomically dispersed metal site(ADMS)materials have emerged as a promising class of materials for electrocatalysis reactions in the field of energy conversion.Characterized by individual metal atoms dispersed on suitable supports,ADMS materials provide unique catalytic sites with highly tunable electronic structures.This review summarizes recent advancements in the field,with a focus on the critical roles of support materials,coordination environments,and the mechanisms underlying catalytic activity at the atomic level.First,commonly used density functional theory(DFT)simulations are reviewed,emphasizing their pivotal role in elucidating reaction mechanisms and predicting the behavior of ADMS in electrochemical reactions for hydrogen energy utilization.Then,advancements in ADMS for half-cell electrochemical reactions,including oxygen evolution reaction,hydrogen evolution reaction,and oxygen reduction reaction,as well as their applications in fuel cells and water splitting,are summarized.Finally,the challenges and future prospects of ADMS are discussed.This review underscores the transformative potential of ADMS in electrocatalysis,paving the way for innovative and sustainable energy conversion technologies.展开更多
Layered vanadates are ideal energy storage materials due to their multielectron redox reactions and excellent cation storage capacity.However,their practical application still faces challenges,such as slow reaction ki...Layered vanadates are ideal energy storage materials due to their multielectron redox reactions and excellent cation storage capacity.However,their practical application still faces challenges,such as slow reaction kinetics and poor structural stability.In this study,we synthesized[Me_(2)NH_(2)]V_(3)O_(7)(MNVO),a layered vanadate with expended layer spacing and enhanced pH resistance,using a one-step simple hydrothermal gram-scale method.Experimental analyses and density functional theory(DFT)calculations revealed supportive ionic and hydrogen bonding interactions between the thin-layered[Me_(2)NH_(2)]+cation and[V_(3)O_(7)]-anion layers,clarifying the energy storage mechanism of the H^(+)/Zn^(2+)co-insertion.The synergistic effect of these bonds and oxygen vacancies increased the electronic conductivity and significantly reduced the diffusion energy barrier of the insertion ions,thereby improving the rate capability of the material.In an acidic electrolyte,aqueous zinc-ion batteries employing MNVO as the cathode exhibited a high specific capacity of 433 mAh g^(-1)at 0.1 A g^(-1).The prepared electrodes exhibited a maximum specific capacity of 237 mAh g^(-1)at 5 A g^(-1)and maintained a capacity retention of 83.5%after 10,000 cycles.This work introduces a novel approach for advancing layered cathodes,paving the way for their practical application in energy storage devices.展开更多
Beyond conventional electrocatalyst engineering,recent studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of manipulating the local reaction environment to enhance the performance of electrocatalytic reactions.The general pr...Beyond conventional electrocatalyst engineering,recent studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of manipulating the local reaction environment to enhance the performance of electrocatalytic reactions.The general principles and strategies of local environmental engineering for different electrocatalytic processes have been extensively investigated.This perspective critically appraises the recent advancements in local reaction environment engineering for water activation,aiming to provide a comprehensive assessment of this emerging field.展开更多
To effectively enhance the catalytic activity of NiS,NiS particles confined into carbon fibers were prepared by electrostatic spinning followed pyrolyzation and NiS particles decorating was performed by further hydrot...To effectively enhance the catalytic activity of NiS,NiS particles confined into carbon fibers were prepared by electrostatic spinning followed pyrolyzation and NiS particles decorating was performed by further hydrothermal loading.The decorated NiS exhibits particle(NiS@PAN-NiS)and needle-like(NiS@PAN-NiS^(*))morphologies.After adding the catalysts into MgH_(2),the synthesized MgH_(2)-5 wt%NiS@PAN-NiS composite can absorb 2.6 wt%hydrogen at 353 K and release 5.0 wt%hydrogen within 1 h at 573 K.The initial hydrogen desorption temperature was reduced to 539 K.The activation energies for hydrogen absorption/desorption were greatly reduced to 66.76 and 89.95 kJ mol^(-1),respectively.The method of confining by electrospinning and particle decoration by hydrothermal loading reduce NiS particle agglomeration.The Mg_(2)Ni/Mg_(2)NiH_(4)hydrogen pump formed by reaction between NiS and MgH_(2)effectively enhanced hydrogen absorption and desorption kinetics.The formed MgS also improved the catalytic activity on the transformation of Mg and MgH_(2).Moreover,the carbon fibers should influence the contact between in situ formed MgS and Mg_(2)Ni,providing more catalytic sites and hydrogen diffusion pathways.The construction of NiS/carbon fibers confined NiS composite by carbon fibers derived from pyrolyzation as medium provides considerable way for designing NiS-based catalysts to enhance the hydrogen storage performances of MgH_(2).展开更多
Exploring highly active and stable transition metal-based bifunctional electrocatalysts has recently attracted extensive research interests for achieving high inherent activity, abundant exposed active sites, rapid ma...Exploring highly active and stable transition metal-based bifunctional electrocatalysts has recently attracted extensive research interests for achieving high inherent activity, abundant exposed active sites, rapid mass transfer, and strong structure stability for overall water splitting. Herein, an interface engineering coupled with shell-protection strategy was applied to construct three-dimensional(3D) core-shell NixSy@MnOxHy heterostructure nanorods grown on nickel foam(NixSy@MnOxHy/NF) as a bifunctional electrocatalyst. NixSy@MnOxHy/NF was synthesized via a facile hydrothermal reaction followed by an electrodeposition process. The X-ray absorption fine structure spectra reveal that abundant Mn-S bonds connect the heterostructure interfaces of N ixSy@MnOxHy, leading to a strong electronic interaction, which improves the intrinsic activities of hydrogen evolution reaction and oxygen evolution reaction(OER). Besides, as an efficient protective shell, the MnOxHy dramatically inhibits the electrochemical corrosion of the electrocatalyst at high current densities, which remarkably enhances the stability at high potentials. Furthermore, the 3D nanorod structure not only exposes enriched active sites, but also accelerates the electrolyte diffusion and bubble desorption. Therefore, NixSy@MnOxHy/NF exhibits exceptional bifunctional activity and stability for overall water splitting, with low overpotentials of 326 and 356 mV for OER at 100 and 500 mA cm^(–2), respectively, along with high stability of 150 h at 100 mA cm^(–2). Furthermore, for overall water splitting, it presents a low cell voltage of 1.529 V at 10 mA cm^(–2), accompanied by excellent stability at 100 mA cm^(–2) for 100 h. This work sheds a light on exploring highly active and stable bifunctional electrocatalysts by the interface engineering coupled with shell-protection strategy.展开更多
Compared with commercial lithium batteries with liquid electrolytes,all-solidstate lithium batteries(ASSLBs)possess the advantages of higher safety,better electrochemical stability,higher energy density,and longer cyc...Compared with commercial lithium batteries with liquid electrolytes,all-solidstate lithium batteries(ASSLBs)possess the advantages of higher safety,better electrochemical stability,higher energy density,and longer cycle life;therefore,ASSLBs have been identified as promising candidates for next-generation safe and stable high-energy-storage devices.The design and fabrication of solid-state electrolytes(SSEs)are vital for the future commercialization of ASSLBs.Among various SSEs,solid polymer composite electrolytes(SPCEs)consisting of inorganic nanofillers and polymer matrix have shown great application prospects in the practice of ASSLBs.The incorporation of inorganic nanofillers into the polymer matrix has been considered as a crucial method to achieve high ionic conductivity for SPCE.In this review,the mechanisms of Li+transport variation caused by incorporating inorganic nanofillers into the polymer matrix are discussed in detail.On the basis of the recent progress,the respective contributions of polymer chains,passive ceramic nanofillers,and active ceramic nanofillers in affecting the Li+transport process of SPCE are reviewed systematically.The inherent relationship between the morphological characteristics of inorganic nanofillers and the ionic conductivity of the resultant SPCE is discussed.Finally,the challenges and future perspectives for developing high-performance SPCE are put forward.This review aims to provide possible strategies for the further improvement of ionic conductivity in inorganic nanoscale filler-reinforced SPCE and highlight their inspiration for future research directions.展开更多
Owing to the wide range and low cost of sodium resources,sodium-ion batteries(SIBs)have received extensive attention and research.Metal sulfides with high theoretical capacity are used as promising anode materials for...Owing to the wide range and low cost of sodium resources,sodium-ion batteries(SIBs)have received extensive attention and research.Metal sulfides with high theoretical capacity are used as promising anode materials for SIBs.This paper presents the electrochemical performance of the binder-free NiS_(2)nanosheet arrays grown on stainless steel(SS)substrate(NiS_(2)/SS)using an in situ growth and sulfidation strategy as anode for sodium ion batteries.Owing to the close connection between the NiS_(2)nanosheet arrays and the SS current collector,the NiS_(2)/SS anode demonstrates high rate capability with a reversible capacity of 492.5 mAh·g^(-1)at 5.0C rate.Such rate capability is superior to that of NiS_(2)nanoparticles(NiS_(2)/CMC:41.7 mAh·g^(-1)at 5.0C,NiS_(2)/PVDF:7.3 mAh·g^(-1)at 5.0C)and other Ni sulfides(100–450 mAh·g^(-1)at 5.0C)reported.Furthermore,the initial reversible specific capacity and Coulombic efficiency of NiS_(2)/SS are 786.5 mAh·g^(-1)and 81%,respec-tively,demonstrating a better sodium storage ability than those of most NiS_(2)anodes reported for SIBs.In addition,the amorphization and conversion mechanism during the sodiation/desodiation process of NiS_(2)are proposed after investigation by in situ X-ray diffraction(XRD)measurements of intermediate products at successive charge/discharge stages.展开更多
Seed treatment with endophytic fungi has been regarded as an effective method for plant parasitic nematode control.Endophytic fungi from cucumber seedlings were isolated and screened for their potential to be used as ...Seed treatment with endophytic fungi has been regarded as an effective method for plant parasitic nematode control.Endophytic fungi from cucumber seedlings were isolated and screened for their potential to be used as seed treatment agents against Meloidogyne incognita.Among the 294 isolates screened,23 significantly reduced galls formed by M.incognita in greenhouse test.The 10 most effective isolates were Fusarium(5),Trichoderma(1),Chaetomium(1),Acremonium(1),Paecilomyces(1),and Phyllosticta(1) .Their control efficacies were repeatedly tested and their colonizations as well as in vitro activity against M.incognita were studied.They reduced the number of galls by 24.0%-58.4%in the first screening and 15.6%-44.3%in the repeated test,respectively.Phyllosticta Ph511 and Chaetomium Ch1001 had high colonizations on both the roots and the aboveground parts of cucumber seedlings.Fusarium isolates had colonization preference on the roots,their root colonizations ranging from 20.1%to 47.3%of the total root area.Trichoderma Tr882,Paecilomyces Pa972,and Acremonium Ac985 had low colonizations on both the roots and the aboveground parts.Acremonium Ac985,Chaetomium Ch1001,Paecilomyces Pa972,and Phyllosticta Ph511 produced compounds affecting motility of the second stage juveniles of M.incognita.Based on these results,Chae-tomium Ch1001 was considered to have the highest potential as a seed treatment agent for M.incognita biocontrol.展开更多
Rechargeable zinc-air batteries(ZABs)are currently receiving extensive attention because of their extremely high theoretical specific energy density,low manufacturing costs,and environmental friendliness.Exploring bif...Rechargeable zinc-air batteries(ZABs)are currently receiving extensive attention because of their extremely high theoretical specific energy density,low manufacturing costs,and environmental friendliness.Exploring bifunctional catalysts with high activity and stability to overcome sluggish kinetics of oxygen reduction reaction and oxygen evolution reaction is critical for the development of rechargeable ZABs.Atomically dispersed metal-nitrogen-carbon(M-N-C)catalysts possessing prominent advantages of high metal atom utilization and electrocatalytic activity are promising candidates to promote oxygen electrocatalysis.In this work,general principles for designing atomically dispersed M-N-C are reviewed.Then,strategies aiming at enhancing the bifunctional catalytic activity and stability are presented.Finally,the challenges and perspectives of M-N-C bifunctional oxygen catalysts for ZABs are outlined.It is expected that this review will provide insights into the targeted optimization of atomically dispersed M-N-C catalysts in rechargeable ZABs.展开更多
Oxygen reduction/evolution reactions(ORR/OERs)catalysts play a key role in the metal‐air battery and water‐splitting process.Herein,we developed a facile template‐free method to fabricate a new type of non–noble m...Oxygen reduction/evolution reactions(ORR/OERs)catalysts play a key role in the metal‐air battery and water‐splitting process.Herein,we developed a facile template‐free method to fabricate a new type of non–noble metal‐based hybrid catalyst which consists of binary FeNi alloy/nitride nanocrystals with graphitic‐shell and biomass‐derived N‐doped carbon(NC)(FexNiyN@C/NC).This novel nanostructure exhibits superior performance for ORR/OER,which can be attributed to the strong interactions between the graphitic‐shell encapsulated FeNi alloy/nitride nanocrystals and the N‐doped porous carbon substrate.The X‐ray absorption spectroscopy technique was employed to reveal the underlying mechanisms for the excellent performance.The assembled Zn‐air battery device exhibits outstanding charging/discharging performance and cycling stability,indicating the great potential of this type of novel catalysts.展开更多
This paper is devoted to reviewing the results achieved so far in the application of the single-pixel imaging technique to terahertz(THz)systems.The use of THz radiation for imaging purposes has been largely explored ...This paper is devoted to reviewing the results achieved so far in the application of the single-pixel imaging technique to terahertz(THz)systems.The use of THz radiation for imaging purposes has been largely explored in the last twenty years,due to the unique capabilities of this kind of radiation in interrogating material properties.However,THz imaging systems are still limited by the long acquisition time required to reconstruct the object image and significant efforts have been recently directed to overcome this drawback.One of the most promising approaches in this sense is the so-called“single-pixel”imaging,which in general enables image reconstruction by patterning the beam probing the object and measuring the total transmission(or reflection)with a single-pixel detector(i.e.,with no spatial resolution).The main advantages of such technique are that i)no bulky moving parts are required to raster-scan the object and ii)compressed sensing(CS)algorithms,which allow an appropriate reconstruction of the image with an incomplete set of measurements,can be successfully implemented.Overall,this can result in a reduction of the acquisition time.In this review,we cover the experimental solutions proposed to implement such imaging technique at THz frequencies,as well as some practical uses for typical THz applications.展开更多
In order to determine the level of resistance of sugar beet varieties against Rhizoctonia solani AG 2-21IIB and AG 4, a methodology was implemented under greenhouse conditions that contemplated the most important crit...In order to determine the level of resistance of sugar beet varieties against Rhizoctonia solani AG 2-21IIB and AG 4, a methodology was implemented under greenhouse conditions that contemplated the most important criteria regarding to plant-pathogen interaction. The effect of plant growth stage on the development of the disease was evaluated. Seven sugar beet varieties were tested for resistance to R. solani AG 2-2IIIB and AG 4. To detect differences in leaf temperature between/L solani inoculated plants and non-infected plants, an infrared （IR） camera was tested. High incidence of R. solani AG 2-2IIIB and AG 4 in sugar beet plants was evident when the fungal inoculum was applied to two and four weeks old plants. At four weeks after sowing, it was the optimum time to inoculate sugar beet plants in order to generate R. solani infection, since at this time all plants were infected. Significant differences were detected regarding disease incidence between sugar beet varieties inoculated with different anastomosis groups. Leaf temperature was significant different between inoculated and non-inoculated plants, demonstrated that this technique could be a new tool for breeders to screen for resistance of new varieties.展开更多
Ammonia serves as a crucial chemical raw material and hydrogen energy carrier.Aqueous electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction(NRR),powered by renewable energy,has attracted tremendous interest during the past few...Ammonia serves as a crucial chemical raw material and hydrogen energy carrier.Aqueous electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction(NRR),powered by renewable energy,has attracted tremendous interest during the past few years.Although some achievements have been revealed in aqueous NRR,significant challenges have also been identified.The activity and selectivity are fundamentally limited by nitrogen activation and competitive hydrogen evolution.This review focuses on the hurdles of nitrogen activation and delves into complementary strategies,including materials design and system optimization(reactor,electrolyte,and mediator).Then,it introduces advanced interdisciplinary technologies that have recently emerged for nitrogen activation using high-energy physics such as plasma and triboelectrification.With a better understanding of the corresponding reaction mechanisms in the coming years,these technologies have the potential to be extended in further applications.This review provides further insight into the reaction mechanisms of selectivity and stability of different reaction systems.We then recommend a rigorous and detailed protocol for investigating NRR performance and also highlight several potential research directions in this exciting field,coupling with advanced interdisciplinary applications,in situ/operando characterizations,and theoretical calculations.展开更多
An overview of plant surface structures and their evolution is presented.It combines surface chemistry and architecture with their functions and refers to possible biomimetic applications.Within some 3.5 billion years...An overview of plant surface structures and their evolution is presented.It combines surface chemistry and architecture with their functions and refers to possible biomimetic applications.Within some 3.5 billion years biological species evolved highly complex multifunctional surfaces for interacting with their environments:some 10 million living prototypes(i.e.,estimated number of existing plants and animals)for engineers.The complexity of the hierarchical structures and their functionality in biological organisms surpasses all abiotic natural surfaces:even superhydrophobicity is restricted in nature to living organisms and was probably a key evolutionary step with the invasion of terrestrial habitats some 350–450 million years ago in plants and insects.Special attention should be paid to the fact that global environmental change implies a dramatic loss of species and with it the biological role models.Plants,the dominating group of organisms on our planet,are sessile organisms with large multifunctional surfaces and thus exhibit particular intriguing features.Superhydrophilicity and superhydrophobicity are focal points in this work.We estimate that superhydrophobic plant leaves(e.g.,grasses)comprise in total an area of around 250 million km^2,which is about 50%of the total surface of our planet.A survey of structures and functions based on own examinations of almost 20,000 species is provided,for further references we refer to Barthlott et al.(Philos.Trans.R.Soc.A 374:20160191,1).A basic difference exists between aquatic nonvascular and land-living vascular plants;the latter exhibit a particular intriguing surface chemistry and architecture.The diversity of features is described in detail according to their hierarchical structural order.The first underlying and essential feature is the polymer cuticle superimposed by epicuticular wax and the curvature of single cells up to complex multicellular structures.A descriptive terminology for this diversity is provided.Simplified,the functions of plant surface characteristics may be grouped into six categories:(1)mechanical properties,(2)influence on reflection and absorption of spectral radiation,(3)reduction of water loss or increase of water uptake,moisture harvesting,(4)adhesion and nonadhesion(lotus effect,insect trapping),(5)drag and turbulence increase,or(6)air retention under water for drag reduction or gas exchange(Salvinia effect).This list is far from complete.A short overview of the history of bionics and the impressive spectrum of existing and anticipated biomimetic applications are provided.The major challenge for engineers and materials scientists,the durability of the fragile nanocoatings,is also discussed.展开更多
CO poisoning is one of the obstacles for platinum catalysts toward the electro-catalysis process for proton exchange membrane fuel cell(PEMFC)or direct methanol fuel cell(DMFC).Herein,we aim to weaken the CO poisoning...CO poisoning is one of the obstacles for platinum catalysts toward the electro-catalysis process for proton exchange membrane fuel cell(PEMFC)or direct methanol fuel cell(DMFC).Herein,we aim to weaken the CO poisoning on Pt by varying the cluster sizes and supports via doping graphene with B and N based on DFT+D3 calculations.展开更多
Regulating the local configuration of atomically dispersed transition-metal atom catalysts is the key to oxygen electrocatalysis performance enhancement.Unlike the previously reported singleatom or dual-atom configura...Regulating the local configuration of atomically dispersed transition-metal atom catalysts is the key to oxygen electrocatalysis performance enhancement.Unlike the previously reported singleatom or dual-atom configurations,we designed a new type of binary-atom catalyst,through engineering Fe-N_(4)electronic structure with adjacent Co-N_(2)C_(2)and nitrogen-coordinated Co nanoclusters,as oxygen electrocatalysts.The resultant optimized electronic structure of the Fe-N_(4)active center favors the binding capability of intermediates and enhances oxygen reduction reaction(ORR)activity in both alkaline and acid conditions.In addition,anchoring M-N-C atomic sites on highly graphitized carbon supports guarantees of efficient charge-and mass-transports,and escorts the high bifunctional catalytic activity of the entire catalyst.Further,through the combination of electrochemical studies and in-situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy analyses,the ORR degradation mechanisms under highly oxidative conditions during oxygen evolution reaction processes were revealed.This work developed a new binary-atom catalyst and systematically investigates the effect of highly oxidative environments on ORR electrochemical behavior.It demonstrates the strategy for facilitating oxygen electrocatalytic activity and stability of the atomically dispersed M-N-C catalysts.展开更多
Countries in the Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) region are among the most water-scarce regions in the world, and their dryland soils are usually poor in organic carbon content (<0.5%). In this study, we su...Countries in the Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) region are among the most water-scarce regions in the world, and their dryland soils are usually poor in organic carbon content (<0.5%). In this study, we summarize examples of how people in the few oases of the MENA region overcome environmental challenges by sustainably managing economically important date production. On the basis of the limited studies found in the existing literature, this mini-review focuses on the role of traditional soil organic matter amendments beneath the soil surface as a key tool in land restoration. We conclude that soil organic matter amendments can be very successful in restoring soil water and preventing the soil from salinization.展开更多
Homogeneous and vertically aligned silicon nanowires(SiNWs)were successfully fabricated using silver assisted chemical etching technique.The prepared samples were characterized using scanning electron microscopy,trans...Homogeneous and vertically aligned silicon nanowires(SiNWs)were successfully fabricated using silver assisted chemical etching technique.The prepared samples were characterized using scanning electron microscopy,transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy.Photocatalytic degradation properties of graphene oxide(GO)modified SiNWs have been investigated.We found that the SiNWs morphology depends on etching time and etchant composition.The SiNWs length could be tuned from 1 to 42μm,respectively when varying the etching time from 5 to 30 min.The etchant concentration was found to accelerate the etching process;doubling the concentrations increases the length of the SiNWs by a factor of two for fixed etching time.Changes in bundle morphology were also studied as function of etching parameters.The SiNWs diameter was found to be independent of etching time or etchant composition while the size of the SiNWs bundle increases with increasing etching time and etchant concentration.The addition of GO was found to improve significantly the photocatalytic activity of SiNWs.A strong correlation between etching parameters and photocatalysis efficiency has been observed,mainly for SiNWs prepared at optimum etching time and etchant concentrations of 10 min and 4:1:8.A degradation of92%was obtained which further improved to 96%by addition of hydrogen peroxide.Only degradation efficiency of 16%and 31%has been observed for bare Si and GO/bare Si samples respectively.The obtained results demonstrate that the developed SiNWs/GO composite exhibits excellent photocatalytic performance and could be used as potential platform for the degradation of organic pollutants.展开更多
基金supported by the CEA/DAM Laser Plasma Experiments Validation Project and the CEA/DAM Basic Technical and Scientific Studies Projectsupported by the National Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada(NSERC)(Grant Nos.RGPIN-2023-05459 and ALLRP 556340-20)+3 种基金the Digital Research Alliance of Canada(Job pve-323-ac)the Canada Foundation for Innovation(CFI)the Ministère de l’Économie,de l’Innovation et de l’Énergie(MEIE)from QuébecThis study was granted access to the HPC resources of IRENE under allocation Grant No.A0170512899 made by GENCI.We acknowledge the financial support of the IdEx University of Bordeaux/Grand Research Program“GPR LIGHT”and of the Graduate Program on Light Sciences and Technologies of the University of Bordeaux.
文摘Laser-driven ion acceleration,as produced by interaction of a high-intensity laser with a target,is a growing field of interest.One of the current challenges is to enhance the acceleration process,i.e.,to increase the produced ion energy and the ion number and to shape the energy distribution for future applications.In this paper,we investigate the effect of helical coil(HC)targets on the laser-matter interaction process using a 150 TW laser.We demonstrate that HC targets significantly enhance proton acceleration,improving energy bunching and beam focusing and increasing the cutoff energy.For the first time,we extend this analysis to carbon ions,revealing a marked reduction in the number of low-energy carbon ions and the potential for energy bunching and post-acceleration through an optimized HC design.Simulations using the particle-in-cell code SOPHIE confirm the experimental results,providing insights into the current propagation and ion synchronization mechanisms in HCs.Our findings suggest that HC targets can be optimized for multispecies ion acceleration.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.22206113 and 22376124)the Outstanding Youth Science Fund(Overseas)of Shandong Provincial Natural Science Foundation(No.2022HWYQ-015)+4 种基金the Taishan Scholars Project Special Fund(No.tsqn202211039)the Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation(No.2021A1515111137)Qilu Youth Talent Program of Shandong University(No.61440082163171)the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canadale Fonds de recherche du Quebec-Nature et technologies.
文摘Photocatalytic water splitting is a promising way to produce H_(2),a green and clean energy source.However,efficient H_(2) production typically relies on the addition of electron donors,such as alcohols and acids,which are neither environmentally friendly nor cost-effective.Recently,we have witnessed a surge of studies in coupling photocatalytic H_(2) evolution with organic pollutant oxidation,which significantly promotes charge separation and improves the overall photocatalytic efficiency.It is thus an opportune time to critically assess the recent literature concerning dual-functional photocatalytic systems and provide perspectives for its future development.In this minireview,we begin with the working principles and requirements for synergistic photocatalytic systems.We then summarize and critically discuss the recent advances in photocatalytic H_(2) production and the degradation of various organic pollutants,including antibiotics,dyes,and phenols.Finally,we discuss the current challenges and suggest future directions for this field.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(22005072,21965006)Guizhou Provincial Key Technology R&D Program(Qian Ke He support(2023)General 122)+3 种基金Guiyang Guian Science and Technology Personnel Training Project([2024]2-13)Youth Science and Technology Talent Development Project from Guizhou Provincial Department of Education(KY[2022]163)Guizhou Provincial Science and Technology Foundation(KYJZ[2024]029)the ETS Marcelle-Gauvreau Engineering Research Chair program.
文摘Atomically dispersed metal site(ADMS)materials have emerged as a promising class of materials for electrocatalysis reactions in the field of energy conversion.Characterized by individual metal atoms dispersed on suitable supports,ADMS materials provide unique catalytic sites with highly tunable electronic structures.This review summarizes recent advancements in the field,with a focus on the critical roles of support materials,coordination environments,and the mechanisms underlying catalytic activity at the atomic level.First,commonly used density functional theory(DFT)simulations are reviewed,emphasizing their pivotal role in elucidating reaction mechanisms and predicting the behavior of ADMS in electrochemical reactions for hydrogen energy utilization.Then,advancements in ADMS for half-cell electrochemical reactions,including oxygen evolution reaction,hydrogen evolution reaction,and oxygen reduction reaction,as well as their applications in fuel cells and water splitting,are summarized.Finally,the challenges and future prospects of ADMS are discussed.This review underscores the transformative potential of ADMS in electrocatalysis,paving the way for innovative and sustainable energy conversion technologies.
基金Science Fund for Outstanding Young Scholars of Hunan Province,Grant/Award Number:2023JJ20064National Natural Science Foundation of China,Grant/Award Number:12004057+1 种基金Graduate Research and Innovation Foundation of Chongqing,Grant/Award Number:CYB23026Natural Science Foundation of Chongqing Municipality,Grant/Award Number:CSTB2022NSCQ-MSX1183。
文摘Layered vanadates are ideal energy storage materials due to their multielectron redox reactions and excellent cation storage capacity.However,their practical application still faces challenges,such as slow reaction kinetics and poor structural stability.In this study,we synthesized[Me_(2)NH_(2)]V_(3)O_(7)(MNVO),a layered vanadate with expended layer spacing and enhanced pH resistance,using a one-step simple hydrothermal gram-scale method.Experimental analyses and density functional theory(DFT)calculations revealed supportive ionic and hydrogen bonding interactions between the thin-layered[Me_(2)NH_(2)]+cation and[V_(3)O_(7)]-anion layers,clarifying the energy storage mechanism of the H^(+)/Zn^(2+)co-insertion.The synergistic effect of these bonds and oxygen vacancies increased the electronic conductivity and significantly reduced the diffusion energy barrier of the insertion ions,thereby improving the rate capability of the material.In an acidic electrolyte,aqueous zinc-ion batteries employing MNVO as the cathode exhibited a high specific capacity of 433 mAh g^(-1)at 0.1 A g^(-1).The prepared electrodes exhibited a maximum specific capacity of 237 mAh g^(-1)at 5 A g^(-1)and maintained a capacity retention of 83.5%after 10,000 cycles.This work introduces a novel approach for advancing layered cathodes,paving the way for their practical application in energy storage devices.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(22208331)the Science and Technology Innovation Fund of Wuhan Textile University(243001)+3 种基金Department of Science and Technology of Hubei Province(2021CSA076)the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2022YFE0138900)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(21972017)the"Scientific and Technical Innovation Action Plan"Basic Research Field of Shanghai Science and Technology Committee(19JC1410500).
文摘Beyond conventional electrocatalyst engineering,recent studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of manipulating the local reaction environment to enhance the performance of electrocatalytic reactions.The general principles and strategies of local environmental engineering for different electrocatalytic processes have been extensively investigated.This perspective critically appraises the recent advancements in local reaction environment engineering for water activation,aiming to provide a comprehensive assessment of this emerging field.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.52101274 and 52472131)the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province(Nos.ZR2020QE011 and ZR2022ME089)+6 种基金Yantai Basic Research Project(No.2024JCYJ097)the Key Research and Development Projects of Shandong Province(No.2024TSGC0402)the Youth Top Talent Foundation of Yantai University(No.2219008)the Graduate Innovation Foundation of Yantai University(No.GIFYTU2240)the Natural Science Foundation of Qinghai Province for Distinguished Young Scholars(No.2025-ZJ-966J)the Talent Youth Project of Chinese Academy of Sciences(No.E410GC03)the CollegeStudent Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program Project(No.202311066088)
文摘To effectively enhance the catalytic activity of NiS,NiS particles confined into carbon fibers were prepared by electrostatic spinning followed pyrolyzation and NiS particles decorating was performed by further hydrothermal loading.The decorated NiS exhibits particle(NiS@PAN-NiS)and needle-like(NiS@PAN-NiS^(*))morphologies.After adding the catalysts into MgH_(2),the synthesized MgH_(2)-5 wt%NiS@PAN-NiS composite can absorb 2.6 wt%hydrogen at 353 K and release 5.0 wt%hydrogen within 1 h at 573 K.The initial hydrogen desorption temperature was reduced to 539 K.The activation energies for hydrogen absorption/desorption were greatly reduced to 66.76 and 89.95 kJ mol^(-1),respectively.The method of confining by electrospinning and particle decoration by hydrothermal loading reduce NiS particle agglomeration.The Mg_(2)Ni/Mg_(2)NiH_(4)hydrogen pump formed by reaction between NiS and MgH_(2)effectively enhanced hydrogen absorption and desorption kinetics.The formed MgS also improved the catalytic activity on the transformation of Mg and MgH_(2).Moreover,the carbon fibers should influence the contact between in situ formed MgS and Mg_(2)Ni,providing more catalytic sites and hydrogen diffusion pathways.The construction of NiS/carbon fibers confined NiS composite by carbon fibers derived from pyrolyzation as medium provides considerable way for designing NiS-based catalysts to enhance the hydrogen storage performances of MgH_(2).
基金supported by the Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation(2021A1515110859)the Research Fund Program of Key Laboratory of Fuel Cell Technology of Guangdong Province+2 种基金the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada(NSERC)Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique(INRS)。
文摘Exploring highly active and stable transition metal-based bifunctional electrocatalysts has recently attracted extensive research interests for achieving high inherent activity, abundant exposed active sites, rapid mass transfer, and strong structure stability for overall water splitting. Herein, an interface engineering coupled with shell-protection strategy was applied to construct three-dimensional(3D) core-shell NixSy@MnOxHy heterostructure nanorods grown on nickel foam(NixSy@MnOxHy/NF) as a bifunctional electrocatalyst. NixSy@MnOxHy/NF was synthesized via a facile hydrothermal reaction followed by an electrodeposition process. The X-ray absorption fine structure spectra reveal that abundant Mn-S bonds connect the heterostructure interfaces of N ixSy@MnOxHy, leading to a strong electronic interaction, which improves the intrinsic activities of hydrogen evolution reaction and oxygen evolution reaction(OER). Besides, as an efficient protective shell, the MnOxHy dramatically inhibits the electrochemical corrosion of the electrocatalyst at high current densities, which remarkably enhances the stability at high potentials. Furthermore, the 3D nanorod structure not only exposes enriched active sites, but also accelerates the electrolyte diffusion and bubble desorption. Therefore, NixSy@MnOxHy/NF exhibits exceptional bifunctional activity and stability for overall water splitting, with low overpotentials of 326 and 356 mV for OER at 100 and 500 mA cm^(–2), respectively, along with high stability of 150 h at 100 mA cm^(–2). Furthermore, for overall water splitting, it presents a low cell voltage of 1.529 V at 10 mA cm^(–2), accompanied by excellent stability at 100 mA cm^(–2) for 100 h. This work sheds a light on exploring highly active and stable bifunctional electrocatalysts by the interface engineering coupled with shell-protection strategy.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.21673051)the Department of Science and Technology of Guangdong Province,China(No.2019A050510043).
文摘Compared with commercial lithium batteries with liquid electrolytes,all-solidstate lithium batteries(ASSLBs)possess the advantages of higher safety,better electrochemical stability,higher energy density,and longer cycle life;therefore,ASSLBs have been identified as promising candidates for next-generation safe and stable high-energy-storage devices.The design and fabrication of solid-state electrolytes(SSEs)are vital for the future commercialization of ASSLBs.Among various SSEs,solid polymer composite electrolytes(SPCEs)consisting of inorganic nanofillers and polymer matrix have shown great application prospects in the practice of ASSLBs.The incorporation of inorganic nanofillers into the polymer matrix has been considered as a crucial method to achieve high ionic conductivity for SPCE.In this review,the mechanisms of Li+transport variation caused by incorporating inorganic nanofillers into the polymer matrix are discussed in detail.On the basis of the recent progress,the respective contributions of polymer chains,passive ceramic nanofillers,and active ceramic nanofillers in affecting the Li+transport process of SPCE are reviewed systematically.The inherent relationship between the morphological characteristics of inorganic nanofillers and the ionic conductivity of the resultant SPCE is discussed.Finally,the challenges and future perspectives for developing high-performance SPCE are put forward.This review aims to provide possible strategies for the further improvement of ionic conductivity in inorganic nanoscale filler-reinforced SPCE and highlight their inspiration for future research directions.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.21673051)the Department of Science and Technology of Guangdong Province(No.2019A050510043)the Department of Science and Technology of Zhuhai City,China(No.ZH22017001200059PWC)。
文摘Owing to the wide range and low cost of sodium resources,sodium-ion batteries(SIBs)have received extensive attention and research.Metal sulfides with high theoretical capacity are used as promising anode materials for SIBs.This paper presents the electrochemical performance of the binder-free NiS_(2)nanosheet arrays grown on stainless steel(SS)substrate(NiS_(2)/SS)using an in situ growth and sulfidation strategy as anode for sodium ion batteries.Owing to the close connection between the NiS_(2)nanosheet arrays and the SS current collector,the NiS_(2)/SS anode demonstrates high rate capability with a reversible capacity of 492.5 mAh·g^(-1)at 5.0C rate.Such rate capability is superior to that of NiS_(2)nanoparticles(NiS_(2)/CMC:41.7 mAh·g^(-1)at 5.0C,NiS_(2)/PVDF:7.3 mAh·g^(-1)at 5.0C)and other Ni sulfides(100–450 mAh·g^(-1)at 5.0C)reported.Furthermore,the initial reversible specific capacity and Coulombic efficiency of NiS_(2)/SS are 786.5 mAh·g^(-1)and 81%,respec-tively,demonstrating a better sodium storage ability than those of most NiS_(2)anodes reported for SIBs.In addition,the amorphization and conversion mechanism during the sodiation/desodiation process of NiS_(2)are proposed after investigation by in situ X-ray diffraction(XRD)measurements of intermediate products at successive charge/discharge stages.
基金Project supported by the German Academic Exchange Agency (DAAD),the China Scholarship Council(CSC),the Special Fund for Agro-scientific Research in the Public Interest(No.nyhezx07-050-6)the Science and Technology Department of Zhejiang Province of China(No.2008C22062)the Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China(No.R307396)
文摘Seed treatment with endophytic fungi has been regarded as an effective method for plant parasitic nematode control.Endophytic fungi from cucumber seedlings were isolated and screened for their potential to be used as seed treatment agents against Meloidogyne incognita.Among the 294 isolates screened,23 significantly reduced galls formed by M.incognita in greenhouse test.The 10 most effective isolates were Fusarium(5),Trichoderma(1),Chaetomium(1),Acremonium(1),Paecilomyces(1),and Phyllosticta(1) .Their control efficacies were repeatedly tested and their colonizations as well as in vitro activity against M.incognita were studied.They reduced the number of galls by 24.0%-58.4%in the first screening and 15.6%-44.3%in the repeated test,respectively.Phyllosticta Ph511 and Chaetomium Ch1001 had high colonizations on both the roots and the aboveground parts of cucumber seedlings.Fusarium isolates had colonization preference on the roots,their root colonizations ranging from 20.1%to 47.3%of the total root area.Trichoderma Tr882,Paecilomyces Pa972,and Acremonium Ac985 had low colonizations on both the roots and the aboveground parts.Acremonium Ac985,Chaetomium Ch1001,Paecilomyces Pa972,and Phyllosticta Ph511 produced compounds affecting motility of the second stage juveniles of M.incognita.Based on these results,Chae-tomium Ch1001 was considered to have the highest potential as a seed treatment agent for M.incognita biocontrol.
基金This work is supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada(NSERC)Centre Québéco is sur les Materiaux Fonctionnels(CQMF),Fonds de Recherche du Québec-Nature et Technologies(FRQNT)+2 种基金Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique(INRS)This work is also supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(21972017)the“Scientific and Technical Innovation Action Plan”Hong Kong,Macao and Taiwan Science&Technology Cooperation Project of Shanghai Science and Technology Committee(19160760600).F.Dong gratefully acknowledges scholarships from the China Scholarship Council(CSC).
文摘Rechargeable zinc-air batteries(ZABs)are currently receiving extensive attention because of their extremely high theoretical specific energy density,low manufacturing costs,and environmental friendliness.Exploring bifunctional catalysts with high activity and stability to overcome sluggish kinetics of oxygen reduction reaction and oxygen evolution reaction is critical for the development of rechargeable ZABs.Atomically dispersed metal-nitrogen-carbon(M-N-C)catalysts possessing prominent advantages of high metal atom utilization and electrocatalytic activity are promising candidates to promote oxygen electrocatalysis.In this work,general principles for designing atomically dispersed M-N-C are reviewed.Then,strategies aiming at enhancing the bifunctional catalytic activity and stability are presented.Finally,the challenges and perspectives of M-N-C bifunctional oxygen catalysts for ZABs are outlined.It is expected that this review will provide insights into the targeted optimization of atomically dispersed M-N-C catalysts in rechargeable ZABs.
基金This study was supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada(NSERC)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(21972017)+2 种基金Canada Foundation for Innovation(CFI)Centre Québécois sur les Materiaux Fonctionnels,Fondsde Recherche du Québec‐Nature et TechnologiesInstitut National de la Recherche Scientifique.Mingjie Wu gratefully acknowledges the scholarships from the China Scholarship Council.
文摘Oxygen reduction/evolution reactions(ORR/OERs)catalysts play a key role in the metal‐air battery and water‐splitting process.Herein,we developed a facile template‐free method to fabricate a new type of non–noble metal‐based hybrid catalyst which consists of binary FeNi alloy/nitride nanocrystals with graphitic‐shell and biomass‐derived N‐doped carbon(NC)(FexNiyN@C/NC).This novel nanostructure exhibits superior performance for ORR/OER,which can be attributed to the strong interactions between the graphitic‐shell encapsulated FeNi alloy/nitride nanocrystals and the N‐doped porous carbon substrate.The X‐ray absorption spectroscopy technique was employed to reveal the underlying mechanisms for the excellent performance.The assembled Zn‐air battery device exhibits outstanding charging/discharging performance and cycling stability,indicating the great potential of this type of novel catalysts.
文摘This paper is devoted to reviewing the results achieved so far in the application of the single-pixel imaging technique to terahertz(THz)systems.The use of THz radiation for imaging purposes has been largely explored in the last twenty years,due to the unique capabilities of this kind of radiation in interrogating material properties.However,THz imaging systems are still limited by the long acquisition time required to reconstruct the object image and significant efforts have been recently directed to overcome this drawback.One of the most promising approaches in this sense is the so-called“single-pixel”imaging,which in general enables image reconstruction by patterning the beam probing the object and measuring the total transmission(or reflection)with a single-pixel detector(i.e.,with no spatial resolution).The main advantages of such technique are that i)no bulky moving parts are required to raster-scan the object and ii)compressed sensing(CS)algorithms,which allow an appropriate reconstruction of the image with an incomplete set of measurements,can be successfully implemented.Overall,this can result in a reduction of the acquisition time.In this review,we cover the experimental solutions proposed to implement such imaging technique at THz frequencies,as well as some practical uses for typical THz applications.
文摘In order to determine the level of resistance of sugar beet varieties against Rhizoctonia solani AG 2-21IIB and AG 4, a methodology was implemented under greenhouse conditions that contemplated the most important criteria regarding to plant-pathogen interaction. The effect of plant growth stage on the development of the disease was evaluated. Seven sugar beet varieties were tested for resistance to R. solani AG 2-2IIIB and AG 4. To detect differences in leaf temperature between/L solani inoculated plants and non-infected plants, an infrared （IR） camera was tested. High incidence of R. solani AG 2-2IIIB and AG 4 in sugar beet plants was evident when the fungal inoculum was applied to two and four weeks old plants. At four weeks after sowing, it was the optimum time to inoculate sugar beet plants in order to generate R. solani infection, since at this time all plants were infected. Significant differences were detected regarding disease incidence between sugar beet varieties inoculated with different anastomosis groups. Leaf temperature was significant different between inoculated and non-inoculated plants, demonstrated that this technique could be a new tool for breeders to screen for resistance of new varieties.
基金Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)Fonds de Recherche du Québec-Nature et Technologies (FRQNT)+3 种基金Centre Québécois sur les Materiaux Fonctionnels (CQMF)Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS)École de Technologie Supérieure (ÉTS)King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)。
文摘Ammonia serves as a crucial chemical raw material and hydrogen energy carrier.Aqueous electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction(NRR),powered by renewable energy,has attracted tremendous interest during the past few years.Although some achievements have been revealed in aqueous NRR,significant challenges have also been identified.The activity and selectivity are fundamentally limited by nitrogen activation and competitive hydrogen evolution.This review focuses on the hurdles of nitrogen activation and delves into complementary strategies,including materials design and system optimization(reactor,electrolyte,and mediator).Then,it introduces advanced interdisciplinary technologies that have recently emerged for nitrogen activation using high-energy physics such as plasma and triboelectrification.With a better understanding of the corresponding reaction mechanisms in the coming years,these technologies have the potential to be extended in further applications.This review provides further insight into the reaction mechanisms of selectivity and stability of different reaction systems.We then recommend a rigorous and detailed protocol for investigating NRR performance and also highlight several potential research directions in this exciting field,coupling with advanced interdisciplinary applications,in situ/operando characterizations,and theoretical calculations.
基金supported by the Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt DBUthe German Research Council DFG+1 种基金the Federal Ministry for Science and Education BMBFthe Academy of Science and Literature in Mainz
文摘An overview of plant surface structures and their evolution is presented.It combines surface chemistry and architecture with their functions and refers to possible biomimetic applications.Within some 3.5 billion years biological species evolved highly complex multifunctional surfaces for interacting with their environments:some 10 million living prototypes(i.e.,estimated number of existing plants and animals)for engineers.The complexity of the hierarchical structures and their functionality in biological organisms surpasses all abiotic natural surfaces:even superhydrophobicity is restricted in nature to living organisms and was probably a key evolutionary step with the invasion of terrestrial habitats some 350–450 million years ago in plants and insects.Special attention should be paid to the fact that global environmental change implies a dramatic loss of species and with it the biological role models.Plants,the dominating group of organisms on our planet,are sessile organisms with large multifunctional surfaces and thus exhibit particular intriguing features.Superhydrophilicity and superhydrophobicity are focal points in this work.We estimate that superhydrophobic plant leaves(e.g.,grasses)comprise in total an area of around 250 million km^2,which is about 50%of the total surface of our planet.A survey of structures and functions based on own examinations of almost 20,000 species is provided,for further references we refer to Barthlott et al.(Philos.Trans.R.Soc.A 374:20160191,1).A basic difference exists between aquatic nonvascular and land-living vascular plants;the latter exhibit a particular intriguing surface chemistry and architecture.The diversity of features is described in detail according to their hierarchical structural order.The first underlying and essential feature is the polymer cuticle superimposed by epicuticular wax and the curvature of single cells up to complex multicellular structures.A descriptive terminology for this diversity is provided.Simplified,the functions of plant surface characteristics may be grouped into six categories:(1)mechanical properties,(2)influence on reflection and absorption of spectral radiation,(3)reduction of water loss or increase of water uptake,moisture harvesting,(4)adhesion and nonadhesion(lotus effect,insect trapping),(5)drag and turbulence increase,or(6)air retention under water for drag reduction or gas exchange(Salvinia effect).This list is far from complete.A short overview of the history of bionics and the impressive spectrum of existing and anticipated biomimetic applications are provided.The major challenge for engineers and materials scientists,the durability of the fragile nanocoatings,is also discussed.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.21975136)the Open Funds from National Engineering Lab for Mobile Source Emission Control Technology(No.NELMS2020A12)。
文摘CO poisoning is one of the obstacles for platinum catalysts toward the electro-catalysis process for proton exchange membrane fuel cell(PEMFC)or direct methanol fuel cell(DMFC).Herein,we aim to weaken the CO poisoning on Pt by varying the cluster sizes and supports via doping graphene with B and N based on DFT+D3 calculations.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (22208331, 52003300)the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)+4 种基金the Fonds de Recherche du Québec-Nature et Technologies (FRQNT)Centre Québécois sur les Materiaux Fonctionnels (CQMF), McGill Universityécole de Technologie Supérieure (éTS)Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS)the support from the Marcelle-Gauvreau Engineering Research Chair program
文摘Regulating the local configuration of atomically dispersed transition-metal atom catalysts is the key to oxygen electrocatalysis performance enhancement.Unlike the previously reported singleatom or dual-atom configurations,we designed a new type of binary-atom catalyst,through engineering Fe-N_(4)electronic structure with adjacent Co-N_(2)C_(2)and nitrogen-coordinated Co nanoclusters,as oxygen electrocatalysts.The resultant optimized electronic structure of the Fe-N_(4)active center favors the binding capability of intermediates and enhances oxygen reduction reaction(ORR)activity in both alkaline and acid conditions.In addition,anchoring M-N-C atomic sites on highly graphitized carbon supports guarantees of efficient charge-and mass-transports,and escorts the high bifunctional catalytic activity of the entire catalyst.Further,through the combination of electrochemical studies and in-situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy analyses,the ORR degradation mechanisms under highly oxidative conditions during oxygen evolution reaction processes were revealed.This work developed a new binary-atom catalyst and systematically investigates the effect of highly oxidative environments on ORR electrochemical behavior.It demonstrates the strategy for facilitating oxygen electrocatalytic activity and stability of the atomically dispersed M-N-C catalysts.
基金supported by the Exploratory Grant(STC_TUNGER-006/INTOASES)as part of the Bilateral Scientific and Technological Cooperation between the Republic of Tunisia and the Federal Republic of Germany
文摘Countries in the Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) region are among the most water-scarce regions in the world, and their dryland soils are usually poor in organic carbon content (<0.5%). In this study, we summarize examples of how people in the few oases of the MENA region overcome environmental challenges by sustainably managing economically important date production. On the basis of the limited studies found in the existing literature, this mini-review focuses on the role of traditional soil organic matter amendments beneath the soil surface as a key tool in land restoration. We conclude that soil organic matter amendments can be very successful in restoring soil water and preventing the soil from salinization.
基金supported by the University of Sharjah and Sharjah Research Academy(No.802143072)。
文摘Homogeneous and vertically aligned silicon nanowires(SiNWs)were successfully fabricated using silver assisted chemical etching technique.The prepared samples were characterized using scanning electron microscopy,transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy.Photocatalytic degradation properties of graphene oxide(GO)modified SiNWs have been investigated.We found that the SiNWs morphology depends on etching time and etchant composition.The SiNWs length could be tuned from 1 to 42μm,respectively when varying the etching time from 5 to 30 min.The etchant concentration was found to accelerate the etching process;doubling the concentrations increases the length of the SiNWs by a factor of two for fixed etching time.Changes in bundle morphology were also studied as function of etching parameters.The SiNWs diameter was found to be independent of etching time or etchant composition while the size of the SiNWs bundle increases with increasing etching time and etchant concentration.The addition of GO was found to improve significantly the photocatalytic activity of SiNWs.A strong correlation between etching parameters and photocatalysis efficiency has been observed,mainly for SiNWs prepared at optimum etching time and etchant concentrations of 10 min and 4:1:8.A degradation of92%was obtained which further improved to 96%by addition of hydrogen peroxide.Only degradation efficiency of 16%and 31%has been observed for bare Si and GO/bare Si samples respectively.The obtained results demonstrate that the developed SiNWs/GO composite exhibits excellent photocatalytic performance and could be used as potential platform for the degradation of organic pollutants.
