Controllable Synthesis of Hexagonal WO3 Nanoplates for Efficient Visible‐Light‐Driven Photocatalytic Oxygen Production

Facilitating charge‐carrier separation and transfer is fundamentally important to improve the photocatalytic performance of semiconductor materials. Herein, two‐dimensional hexagonal WO₃ nanoplates were synthesized by a two‐step route: rapid evaporation and solid‐phase sintering. The as‐prepared WO₃ exhibits an enhanced activity of photocatalytic water oxidation compared to bulk monoclinic WO₃. The electron dynamics analysis reveals that a more efficient charge‐carrier separation in the former can be obtained, the origin of which can be attributed to an increased number of surface defects in hexagonal WO₃ nanoplates. This work not only presents a novel and simple method to produce two‐dimensional hexagonal WO₃ nanoplates, but also demonstrates that surface defects and two‐dimensional geometric structures can promote the charge separation, which may be extended to the design of other efficient photocatalysts.     

Sb‐Triggered β‐to‐α Transition: Solvothermal Synthesis of Metastable α‐Cu2Se

Control over phase stabilities during synthesis processes is of great importance for both fundamental studies and practical applications. We describe herein a facile strategy for the synthesis of Cu₂Se with phase selectivity through a simple solvothermal method. In the presence and absence of SbCl₃, monoclinic α‐Cu₂Se and cubic β‐Cu₂Se can be synthesized, respectively. The formation of α‐Cu₂Se requires optimization of the Cu/Se molar ratio in the starting reagents, the reaction temperature, as well as the timing for the addition of SbCl₃. Differential scanning calorimetry of the synthesized α‐Cu₂Se has shown that a part of it undergoes a phase transition to β‐Cu₂Se at 135 °C, and that this phase transition is irreversible on cooling to ambient temperature. Kinetic studies have revealed that in the presence of Sb species the kinetically favored β‐Cu₂Se transforms to the thermodynamically favored α‐Cu₂Se. In this β‐to‐α phase transition process, the distribution of Cu ions in β‐Cu₂Se, as determined by the Cu/Se ratio and temperature, is likely to play a crucial role.     

Light‐Driven Organocatalysis Using Inexpensive,Nontoxic Bi2O3 as the Photocatalyst

The development of enantioselective catalytic processes that make use of sunlight as the energy source and nontoxic, affordable materials as catalysts represents one of the new and rapidly evolving areas in chemical research. The direct asymmetric α‐alkylation of aldehydes with α‐bromocarbonyl compounds can be successfully achieved by combining bismuth‐based materials as low‐band‐gap photocatalysts with the second‐generation MacMillan imidazolidinone as the chiral catalyst and simulated sunlight as a low‐cost and clean energy source. This reaction also proceeded with high efficiency when the reaction vial was exposed to the morning sunlight on a clear September day in Tarragona, Spain.     

Two‐Dimensional Hollow TiO2 Nanoplates with Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity

Two‐dimensional anatase TiO₂ hollow nanoplates were firstly synthesized through a facile synthesis route by using α‐Fe₂O₃ nanoplates as removable templates. Two‐dimensional hollow TiO₂ nanoplates with different ratios of anatase and rutile phases were obtained by adjusting the calcining temperature. The average diameters were around 600 nm, and the shell thickness was approximately 30 nm. The photocatalytic performance of TiO₂ was investigated by decomposing rhodamine B under simulated sunlight. Among the TiO₂ samples, the anatase TiO₂ hollow nanoplates manifested a significant enhancement in the photocatalytic performances. The excellent catalytic performance can be attributed to the unique structure of the two‐dimensional anatase TiO₂ hollow nanoplates, including a large surface area and increased dye–photocatalyst contact areas as well as more active sites for photodegradation.     

Ostwald‐Ripening‐Induced Growth of Parallel Face‐Exposed Ag Nanoplates on Micro‐Hemispheres for High SERS Activity

Ag nanoplates, as two‐dimensional plasmonic nanostructures, have attracted intensive attention due to their strong shape‐dependent optical properties and related applications. Here parallel face‐exposed Ag nanoplates vertically grown on micro‐hemisphere surfaces have been achieved by firstly electrodepositing the micro‐hemispheres assembled by Ag nanoplates, whose planar surfaces are stuck together, on indium tin oxide substrates, and then Ostwald ripening the as‐electrodeposited micro‐hemispheres in water. The sizes of the nanoplates and the gaps between the neighboring nanoplates have been tailored by tuning the Ostwald‐ripening duration, so that the SERS activity of the micro‐hemispheres has been remarkably improved. The improved SERS activity can be well explained by our systematic finite‐element simulation. Therefore, Ostwald ripening offers a route to the synthesis of Ag nanoplates, and the optimization of plasmon coupling and SERS activity of nanostructure‐assembled systems.     

Fine-Tuning Bi2Te3-Copper Selenide Alloys Enables an Efficient n-Type Thermoelectric Conversion

Bismuth tellurides is one of the most promising thermoelectric (TE) material candidates in low-temperature application circumstances, but the n-type thermoelectric property is relatively low compared to the p-type counterpart and still needs to be improved. Herein, we incorporated different copper selenides (CuSe, Cu₃Se₂ and Cu_2−xSe) into a Bi₂Te₃ matrix to create the alloy by grinding and successive sintering to enable higher thermoelectric performance. The results demonstrated that all alloys achieved n-type TE characteristics and Bi₂Te₃-CuSe exhibited the best Seebeck coefficient and power factor among them. Along with the low thermal conductivity, the maximum dimensionless TE figure of merit (ZT) value of 1.64 at 573 K was delivered for Bi₂Te₃-CuSe alloy, which is among the best reported results in the n-type Bi₂Te₃-based TE materials to the best of our knowledge. The improved TE properties should be related to the co-doping process of Se and Cu. Our investigation shows a new method to enhance the performance of n-type TE materials by appropriate co-doping or alloying.     

Single‐Layered Ultrasmall Nanoplates of MoS2 Embedded in Carbon Nanofibers with Excellent Electrochemical Performance for Lithium and Sodium Storage

The preparation and electrochemical storage behavior of MoS₂ nanodots—more precisely single‐layered ultrasmall nanoplates—embedded in carbon nanowires has been studied. The preparation is achieved by an electrospinning process that can be easily scaled up. The rate performance and cycling stability of both lithium and sodium storage were found to be outstanding. The storage behavior is, moreover, highly exciting from a fundamental point of view, as the differences between the usual storage modes—insertion, conversion, interfacial storage—are beneficially blurred. The restriction to ultrasmall reaction domains allows for an almost diffusion‐less and nucleation‐free “conversion”, thereby resulting in a high capacity and a remarkable cycling performance.     

Sb_2Te_3纳米片的水热合成与表征

在水热条件下,以乙醇胺为还原剂,实现了亚碲酸根(TeO~(2-)_3)的分步还原,并以新生成的单质Te纳米棒为碲源,原位一步法合成出六方相Sb_2Te_3纳米片.采用X射线粉末衍射仪(XRD)、场发射扫描电子显微镜(FESEM)和透射电子显微镜(TEM)等对产物的物相、形貌及组成进行了表征.结果表明,产物Sb_2Te_3为六方纳米片,厚度约为100~200 nm,直径约为0.6~1.5μm,形貌均一,分散性良好.适宜的合成条件是水/乙醇胺体积比为8∶12,180℃下反应24 h.依据部分实验结果以及单质Te和六方相Sb_2Te_3晶体结构的比较,证明了Sb_2Te_3主要以外延方式在单质Te纳米棒表面生长,且两者的晶面取向为(003)Te//(003)Sb_2Te_3,[110]Te//[110]Sb_2Te_3.     

Controlled Synthesis of 3D Flower‐like Ni2P Composed of Mesoporous Nanoplates for Overall Water Splitting

Developing efficient non‐noble metal and earth‐abundant electrocatalysts with tunable microstructures for overall water splitting is critical to promote clean energy technologies for a hydrogen economy. Herein, novel three‐dimensional (3D) flower‐like Ni₂P composed of mesoporous nanoplates with controllable morphology and high surface area was prepared by a hydrothermal method and low‐temperature phosphidation as efficient electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Compared with the urchin‐like Ni_x P_y , the 3D flower‐like Ni₂P with a diameter of 5 μm presented an efficient and stable catalytic performance in 0.5 m H₂SO₄, with a small Tafel slope of 79 mV dec⁻¹ and an overpotential of about 240 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm⁻² with a mass loading density of 0.283 mg cm⁻². In addition, the catalyst also exhibited a remarkable performance for the OER in 1.0 m KOH electrolyte, with an overpotential of 320 mV to reach a current density of 10 mA cm⁻² and a small Tafel slope of 72 mV dec⁻¹. The excellent catalytic performance of the as‐prepared Ni₂P may be ascribed to its novel 3D morphology with unique mesoporous structure.     

Solvent‐Driven Reductive Activation of CO2 by Bismuth: Switching from Metalloformate Complexes to Oxalate Products

In this work, we investigated how the reductive activation of CO₂ with an atomic bismuth model catalyst changes under aprotic solvation. IR photodissociation spectroscopy of mass‐selected [Bi(CO₂)_n]^? cluster ions was used to follow the structural evolution of the core ion with increasing cluster size. We interpreted the IR spectra by comparison with density‐functional‐theory calculations. The results show that CO₂ binds to a bismuth atom in the presence of an excess electron to form a metalloformate ion, BiCOO^?. Solvation with additional CO₂ molecules leads to the stabilization of a bismuth(I) oxalate complex and results in a core ion switch.     

原位制备具有增强光催化活性的S型Bi2Se3/g-C3N4光催化剂

光催化氧化是一种应用前景良好的环境治理技术.与絮凝、物理吸附和化学氧化等常见的方法相比,光催化氧化具有环境友好、氧化完全、方便和廉价等优势.特别是可见光光催化氧化,可利用太阳能中占比最高的可见光,在应用中更具优势.因而,探索可见光响应性能优异的光催化剂一直是光催化氧化领域的一个重要研究内容.硒化铋(Bi₂Se₃)是一种带隙(带隙宽度在0.3~1.3 e V)非常窄的半导体,能吸收全部波长范围的可见光和近红外光.此外,Bi₂Se₃还具有独特的金属表面态,其表面具有良好的导电性.这些特性使其在可见光光催化氧化领域具有很大的应用潜力.然而,由于Bi₂Se₃价带位置高,氧化能力很弱,其价带上的空穴在光催化反应中难以被消耗,导致空穴大量累积,并迅速与光生电子复合,大幅降低了Bi₂Se₃的光催化性能.因此,一直以来,Bi₂Se₃很少被用于光催化反应.如何充分利用Bi₂Se₃的光响应优势,制备出性能优异的光催化剂,仍是具有挑战性和吸引力的研究方向.本文采用预先制备的Bi2O3/g-C₃N₄复合物作为前驱体,通过原位转化的方法,将前驱体置于热的Se蒸汽中,使前驱体上的Bi2O3与Se蒸汽反应,完全转化为Bi₂Se₃纳米颗粒,从而制得Bi₂Se₃/g-C₃N₄复合光催化剂(Bi₂Se₃含量约为4 wt%).透射电镜结果表明,所形成的Bi₂Se₃纳米颗粒较均匀地分布在g-C₃N₄表面.表面功函数分析发现,Bi₂Se₃与g-C₃N₄结合后,它们的费米能级分别由原来的-0.55和-0.18 e V变为平衡时的-0.22 e V,可形成指向g-C₃N₄的内建电场,有利于形成梯型(S型)异质结.在此基础上,能级位移、荧光分析、结构计算和反应自由基测试等结果表明,Bi₂Se₃和g-C₃N₄之间形成了S型异质结.在可见光光催化降解苯酚的实验中,所制备的Bi₂Se₃/g-C₃N₄复合物的光催化活性明显优于单一的Bi₂Se₃和g-C₃N₄.结合比表面、孔结构、光吸收和荧光等对比分析,认为Bi₂Se₃/g-C₃N₄的这种S型异质结构在其光催化活性增强中起到了关键作用.在光照条件下,其g-C₃N₄导带中光生电子向Bi₂Se₃的价带迁移,并与光生空穴复合,从而使Bi₂Se₃导带上可保留更多的高活性光生电子参与光催化反应,由此Bi₂Se₃/g-C₃N₄的光催化活性增强.循环性能测试和光还原实验结果表明,所制备的Bi₂Se₃/g-C₃N₄复合光催化剂具有良好的稳定性.本文工作为高可见光吸收的光催化剂制备和性能增强提供了新途径和新视野.     

Misfit‐Layered Bi1.85Sr2Co1.85O7.7−δ for the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction: Beyond van der Waals Heterostructures

Recent research on stable 2D nanomaterials has led to the discovery of new materials for energy‐conversion and energy‐storage applications. A class of layered heterostructures known as misfit‐layered chalcogenides consists of well‐defined atomic layers and has previously been applied as thermoelectric materials for use as high‐temperature thermoelectric batteries. The performance of such misfit‐layered chalcogenides in electrochemical applications, specifically the hydrogen evolution reaction, is currently unexplored. Herein, a misfit‐layered chalcogenide consisting of CoO₂ layers interleaved with an SrO–BiO–BiO–SrO rock‐salt block and having the formula Bi_1.85Sr₂Co_1.85O_7.7?δ is synthesized and examined for its structural and electrochemical properties. The hydrogen‐evolution performance of misfit‐layered Bi_1.85Sr₂Co_1.85O_7.7?δ, which has an overpotential of 589 mV and a Tafel slope of 51 mV per decade, demonstrates the promising potential of misfit‐layered chalcogenides as electrocatalysts instead of classical carbon.     

Facile Surfactant‐Free Synthesis of p‐Type SnSe Nanoplates with Exceptional Thermoelectric Power Factors

A surfactant‐free solution methodology, simply using water as a solvent, has been developed for the straightforward synthesis of single‐phase orthorhombic SnSe nanoplates in gram quantities. Individual nanoplates are composed of {100} surfaces with {011} edge facets. Hot‐pressed nanostructured compacts (E_g≈0.85 eV) exhibit excellent electrical conductivity and thermoelectric power factors (S²σ) at 550 K. S²σ values are 8‐fold higher than equivalent materials prepared using citric acid as a structure‐directing agent, and electrical properties are comparable to the best‐performing, extrinsically doped p‐type polycrystalline tin selenides. The method offers an energy‐efficient, rapid route to p‐type SnSe nanostructures.     

Revealing the Role of Tin(IV) Halides in the Anisotropic Growth of CsPbX3 Perovskite Nanoplates

CsPbX₃ perovskite nanoplates (PNPLs) were formed in a synthesis driven by SnX₄ (X=Cl, Br, I) salts. The role played by these hard Lewis acids in directing PNPL formation is addressed. Sn⁴⁺ disturbs the acid–base equilibrium of the system, increasing the protonation rate of oleylamine and inducing anisotropic growth of nanocrystals. Sn⁴⁺ cations influence the reaction dynamics owing to complexation with oleylamine molecules. By monitoring the photoluminescence excitation and photoluminescence (PL) spectra of the PNPLs grown at different temperatures, the influence of the thickness on their optical properties is mapped. Time‐resolved and spectrally resolved PL for colloidal dispersions with different optical densities reveals that the dependence of the overall PL lifetime on the emission wavelength do not originate from energy transfer between PNPLs but from the contribution of PNPLs with distinct thickness, indicating that thicker PNPLs exhibit longer PL lifetimes.     

Thermoregulated Phase‐Transition Synthesis of Two‐Dimensional Carbon Nanoplates Rich in sp2 Carbon and Unimodal Ultramicropores for Kinetic Gas Separation

The development of highly selective, chemically stable and moisture‐resistant adsorbents is a key milestone for gas separation. Porous carbons featured with random orientation and cross‐linking of turbostratic nanodomains usually have a wide distribution of micropores. Here we have developed a thermoregulated phase‐transition‐assisted synthesis of carbon nanoplates with more than 80 % sp² carbon, unimodal ultramicropore and a controllable thickness. The thin structure allows oriented growth of carbon crystallites, and stacking of crystallites in nearly parallel orientation are responsible for the single size of the micropores. When used for gas separation from CH₄, carbon nanoplates exhibit high uptakes (5.2, 5.3 and 5.1 mmol g^?1) and selectivities (7, 71 and 386) for CO₂, C₂H₆ and C₃H₈ under ambient conditions. The dynamic adsorption capacities are close to equilibrium uptakes of single components, further demonstrating superiority of carbon nanoplates in terms of selectivity and sorption kinetics.     

A Facile Molten‐Salt Route for Large‐Scale Synthesis of NiFe2O4 Nanoplates with Enhanced Lithium Storage Capability

Binary metal oxides have been deemed as a promising class of electrode materials for high‐performance lithium ion batteries owing to their higher conductivity and electrochemical activity than corresponding monometal oxides. Here, NiFe₂O₄ nanoplates consisting of nanosized building blocks have been successfully fabricated by a facile, large‐scale NaCl and KCl molten‐salt route, and the changes in the morphology of NiFe₂O₄ as a function of the molten‐salt amount have been systemically investigated. The results indicate that the molten‐salt amount mainly influences the diameter and thickness of the NiFe₂O₄ nanoplates as well as the morphology of the nanosized building blocks. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and galvanostatic charge–discharge measurements have been conducted to evaluate the lithium storage properties of the NiFe₂O₄ nanoplates prepared with a Ni(NO₃)₂/Fe(NO₃)₃/KCl/NaCl molar ratio of 1:2:20:60. A high reversible capacity of 888 mAh g^?1 is delivered over 100 cycles at a current density of 100 mA g^?1. Even at a current density of 5000 mA g^?1, the discharge capacity could still reach 173 mAh g^?1. Such excellent electrochemical performances of the NiFe₂O₄ nanoplates are contributed to the short Li⁺ diffusion distance of the nanosized building blocks and the synergetic effect of the Ni²⁺ and Fe³⁺ ions.     

Photocatalytic Au–Bi2S3 Heteronanostructures

Au–Bi₂S₃ heteronanostructure photocatalysts were designed in which the coupling of a metal plasmon and a semiconductor exciton aids the absorption of solar light, enhances charge separation, and results in improved catalytic activity. Furthermore, these nanostructures show a unique pattern of structural combination, with Au nanoparticles positioned at the center of Bi₂S₃ nanorods. The chemistry of formation of these nanostructures, their epitaxy at the junction, and their photoconductance were studied, as well as their photoresponse properties.     

Coordination‐Driven Hierarchical Assembly of Silver Nanoparticles on MoS2 Nanosheets for Improved Lithium Storage

We report a novel strategy for the hierarchical assembly of Ag nanoparticles (NPs) on MoS₂ nanosheets through coordination by using a multifunctional organic ligand. The presence of Ag NPs on the surface of MoS₂ nanosheets inhibits their agglomeration, thereby providing increased interlayer spacing for easy Li⁺ ion intercalation. Such a unique hybrid architecture also ensures sufficient percolation pathways on the whole surface of the MoS₂ nanosheets. Moreover, the high rigidity and low deformability of the Ag NPs effectively preserve the hybrid architecture during the charge–discharge process, which translates into a high cycle stability. A prominent synergistic effect between MoS₂ and Ag is witnessed. When the Ag content is only 5 wt %, the Ag–MoS₂ hybrid delivers a reversible capacity as high as 920 mA h g^?1 at a current density of 100 mA g^?1, making the Ag–MoS₂ hybrid an attractive candidate for next‐generation LIBs.