Fluorinated inverse opal carbon nitride combined with vanadium pentoxide as a Z-scheme photocatalyst with enhanced photocatalytic activity

In this work, Z-scheme V₂O₅ loaded fluorinated inverse opal carbon nitride (IO F-CN/V₂O₅) was synthesized as a product of ternary collaborative modification with heterostructure construction, element doping and inverse opal structure. The catalyst presented the highest photocatalytic activity and rate constant for degradation of typical organic pollutants Rhodamine B (RhB) and was also used for the efficient removal of antibiotics, represented by norfloxacin (NOR), sulfadiazine (SD) and levofloxacin (LVX). Characterizations confirmed its increased specific surface area, narrowed bandgap, and enhanced visible light utilization capacity. Further mechanism study including band structure study and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) proved the successful construction of Z-scheme heterojunction, which improved photo-generated charge carrier migration and provide sufficient free radicals for the degradation process. The combination of different modifications contributed to the synergetic improvement of removal efficiency towards different organic pollutants.     

Co-POM@MOF-derivatives with trace cobalt content for highly efficient oxygen reduction

A simple and effective method for constructing highly efficient oxygen reduction catalysts with trace amount of isolated cobalt was firstly developed by the pyrolysis of Co-centered polyoxometalate@metalorganic framework （Co-POM@MOF）.The Co-centered polyoxometalate ([Co W₁₂O₄₀]^6-) was confined in the well-defined void space of ZIF-8 to achieve homogeneous dispersion of polyoxoanions,where the isolated Co centers were well surrounded by the W-O shell and ZIF-8 fra...     

基于NiCo2O4纳米片电极的非对称混合电容器

The looming global energy crisis and ever-increasing energy demands have catalyzed the development of renewable energy storage systems. In this regard, supercapacitors (SCs) have attracted widespread attention because of their advantageous attributes such as high power density, excellent cycle stability, and environmental friendliness. However, SCs exhibit low energy density and it is important to optimize electrode materials to improve the overall performance of these devices. Among the various electrode materials available, spinel nickel cobaltate (NiCo₂O₄) is particularly interesting because of its excellent theoretical capacitance. Based on the understanding that the performances of the electrode materials strongly depend on their morphologies and structures, in this study, we successfully synthesized NiCo₂O₄ nanosheets on Ni foam via a simple hydrothermal route followed by calcination. The structures and morphologies of the as-synthesized products were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area analysis, and the results showed that they were uniformly distributed on the Ni foam support. The surface chemical states of the elements in the samples were identified by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The as-synthesized NiCo₂O₄ products were then tested as cathode materials for supercapacitors in a traditional three-electrode system. The electrochemical performances of the NiCo₂O₄ electrode materials were studied and the area capacitance was found to be 1.26 C·cm^-2 at a current density of 1 mA·cm^-2. Furthermore, outstanding cycling stability with 97.6% retention of the initial discharge capacitance after 10000 cycles and excellent rate performance (67.5% capacitance retention with the current density from 1 to 14 mA·cm^-2) were achieved. It was found that the Ni foam supporting the NiCo₂O₄ nanosheets increased the conductivity of the electrode materials. However, it is worth noting that the contribution of nickel foam to the areal capacitance of the electrode materials was almost zero during the charge and discharge processes. To further investigate the practical application of the as-synthesized NiCo₂O₄ nanosheets-based electrode, a device was assembled with the as-prepared samples as the positive electrode and active carbon (AC) as the negative electrode. The assembled supercapacitor showed energy densities of 0.14 and 0.09 Wh·cm^-3 at 1.56 and 4.5 W·cm^-3, respectively. Furthermore, it was able to maintain 95% of its initial specific capacitance after 10000 cycles. The excellent electrochemical performance of the NiCo₂O₄ nanosheets could be ascribed to their unique spatial structure composed of interconnected ultrathin nanosheets, which facilitated electron transportation and ion penetration, suggesting their potential applications as electrode materials for high performance supercapacitors. The present synthetic route can be extended to other ternary transition metal oxides/sulfides for future energy storage devices and systems.     

M-lump and interactive solutions to a (3 $${+}$$ + 1)-dimensional nonlinear system

Nonlinear Dynamics - This paper aims at computing M-lump solutions for the $$(3+1)$$ -dimensional nonlinear evolution equation. These solutions in all directions decline to an identical state...     

Chattering reduced sliding mode control for a class of chaotic systems

Nonlinear Dynamics - This paper presents a sliding mode control scheme for chaotic systems. Finite time stability of the system states is realized by implementing the proposed controller, which is...     

In Situ Electropolymerization Enables Ultrafast Long Cycle Life and High-Voltage Organic Cathodes for Lithium Batteries

Organic cathode materials have attracted extensive attention because of their diverse structures, facile synthesis, and environmental friendliness. However, they often suffer from insufficient cycling stability caused by the dissolution problem, poor rate performance, and low voltages. An in situ electropolymerization method was developed to stabilize and enhance organic cathodes for lithium batteries. 4,4′,4′′-Tris(carbazol-9-yl)-triphenylamine (TCTA) was employed because carbazole groups can be polymerized under an electric field and they may serve as high-voltage redox-active centers. The electropolymerized TCTA electrodes demonstrated excellent electrochemical performance with a high discharge voltage of 3.95 V, ultrafast rate capability of 20 A g⁻¹, and a long cycle life of 5000 cycles. Our findings provide a new strategy to address the dissolution issue and they explore the molecular design of organic electrode materials for use in rechargeable batteries.     

Crystal phase control in two-dimensional materials

It is the nature of crystals to exist in different polymorphs. The recent emergence of two-dimensional (2D) materials has evoked the discovery of a number of new crystal phases that are different from their bulk structures at ambient conditions, and revealed novel structure-dependent properties, which deserve in-depth understanding and further exploration. In this contribution, we review the recent development of crystal phase control in 2D materials, including group V and VI. transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), group IVA metal chalcogenides and noble metals. For each group of materials, we begin with introducing the various existing crystal phases and their structure-related properties, followed by a detailed discussion on factors that influence these crystal structures and thus the possible strategies for phase control. Finally, after summarizing the whole paper, we present the challenges and opportunities in this research direction.     

Study of the Reactivity of Ni Nanotubes in Media with Different рН

Nickel nanotubes have been synthesized by electrochemical deposition, and their reactivity in aggressive media has been investigated. Kinetic curves of the variation in the atomic ratio between Ni and O in the nanotube crystal structure as a function of the medium acidity are built.     

Synthesis,structures, and electrochemistry of diiron toluene-3,4-dithiolate complexes containing phosphine ligands

Transition Metal Chemistry - In this paper, four diiron toluene-3,4-dithiolate complexes with phosphine ligands were synthesized and characterized. Treatment of complex...