Electrochemical Phase Evolution of Metal-Based Pre-Catalysts for High-Rate Polysulfide Conversion

In situ evolution of electrocatalysts is of paramount importance in defining catalytic reactions. Catalysts for aprotic electrochemistry such as lithium–sulfur (Li-S) batteries are the cornerstone to enhance intrinsically sluggish reaction kinetics but the true active phases are often controversial. Herein, we reveal the electrochemical phase evolution of metal-based pre-catalysts (Co₄N) in working Li-S batteries that renders highly active electrocatalysts (CoS_x). Electrochemical cycling induces the transformation from single-crystalline Co₄N to polycrystalline CoS_x that are rich in active sites. This transformation propels all-phase polysulfide-involving reactions. Consequently, Co₄N enables stable operation of high-rate (10 C, 16.7 mA cm⁻²) and electrolyte-starved (4.7 μL mg_S⁻¹) Li-S batteries. The general concept of electrochemically induced sulfurization is verified by thermodynamic energetics for most of low-valence metal compounds.     

A Non-Conjugated Polymer Acceptor for Efficient and Thermally Stable All-Polymer Solar Cells

A non-conjugated polymer acceptor PF1-TS4 was firstly synthesized by embedding a thioalkyl segment in the mainchain, which shows excellent photophysical properties on par with a fully conjugated polymer, with a low optical band gap of 1.58 eV and a high absorption coefficient >10⁵ cm⁻¹, a high LUMO level of −3.89 eV, and suitable crystallinity. Matched with the polymer donor PM6, the PF1-TS4-based all-PSC achieved a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 8.63 %, which is ≈45 % higher than that of a device based on the small molecule acceptor counterpart IDIC16. Moreover, the PF1-TS4-based all-PSC has good thermal stability with ≈70 % of its initial PCE retained after being stored at 85 °C for 180 h, while the IDIC16-based device only retained ≈50 % of its initial PCE when stored at 85 °C for only 18 h. Our work provides a new strategy to develop efficient polymer acceptor materials by linkage of conjugated units with non-conjugated thioalkyl segments.     

Tailoring A Poly(ether sulfone) Bipolar Membrane: Osmotic-Energy Generator with High Power Density

Osmotic energy, obtained through different concentrations of salt solutions, is recognized as a form of a sustainable energy source. In the past years, membranes derived from asymmetric aromatic compounds have attracted attention because of their low cost and high performance in osmotic energy conversion. The membrane formation process, charging state, functional groups, membrane thickness, and the ion-exchange capacity of the membrane could affect the power generation performance. Among asymmetric membranes, a bipolar membrane could largely promote the ion transport. Here, two polymers with the same poly(ether sulfone) main chain but opposite charges were synthesized to prepare bipolar membranes by a nonsolvent-induced phase separation (NIPS) and spin-coating (SC) method. The maximum power density of the bipolar membrane reaches about 6.2 W m⁻² under a 50-fold salinity gradient, and this result can serve as a reference for the design of bipolar membranes for osmotic energy conversion systems.     

基于正电荷和光热协同效应的新型半导体聚合物纳米抗菌材料

由于抗生素的不当使用和细菌多药耐药的出现, 迫切需要开发新的抗菌剂. 本文制备了具有光热转换性能的正电荷半导体高分子材料及具有协同抗菌活性的半导体聚合物纳米粒子(SP-PPh₃ NPs). SP-PPh₃ NPs的光热转化效率为43.8%. 带正电荷的SP-PPh₃ NPs可以附着在细菌上, 有助于将热量有效传递给细菌. 在热和正电荷的协同作用下, SP-PPh₃ NPs对革兰氏阴性大肠杆菌(E. coli)和革兰氏阳性金黄色葡萄球菌(S. aureus)均具有抗菌活性, 其对二者的体外抑菌率分别为99.9%和98.6%. 此外, SP-PPh₃ NPs具有良好的生物相容性, 对小鼠的主要器官几乎无副作用. 对细菌感染的小鼠皮肤伤口用SP-PPh₃ NPs治疗12 d后, 伤口可以很好地愈合.     

光催化甲烷转化研究进展

甲烷催化转化为高附加值产物、实现甲烷高效利用,具有重要的研究意义及工业应用价值。长期以来,如何在较温和的条件下将甲烷转化为其它更有价值的有机衍生物,如醇、芳烃、长链烷烃和烯烃等,是催化、化学及化工领域的热点和难点课题之一。光催化反应由光能激发产生光生电子和空穴,参与到甲烷C―H键活化和自由基形成,这为低温甲烷转化提供新的途径,本文主要围绕甲烷氧化和偶联反应,总结了近年来光催化研究进展,并对如何进一步提高光催化性能提出展望。     

选择性合成不同形貌的Sb2S3纳米结构应用于高性能的染料敏化太阳能电池（英文）

近几十年来,随着全球变暖和能源危机的日益严重,对取之不尽、用之不竭的清洁能源技术的需求越来越迫切.1991年Gratzel首次报道了染料敏化太阳能电池(DSSCs),它以低廉的价格、优异的理论功率转换效率(PCE)、环保、多色透明等优点而引起了研究者的关注.Sb2S3因其1.5-2.2 eV的间隙宽度被认为是最有前途的对电极材料之一.此外,Sb2S3是地球中含量丰富的无毒锑矿物的主要成分,还被广泛应用于太阳能转换材料、催化剂、光导探测器等领域.众所周知,石墨烯具有巨大的比表面积、显著的载流子迁移率和优异的热/化学稳定性,这使得提高电子转移效率和电催化活性成为可能.首先,采用改进的Hummers方法制备了氧化石墨烯纳米片;然后采用水热法通过改变Sb源以及实验pH值,合成了Sb2S3和Sb2S3@RGO样品.对样品进行X射线粉末衍射(XRD)、扫描电子显微镜镜(SEM)、投射电子显微镜(TEM)以及比表面积表征.结果表明,在Sb源不变的情况下,Sb2S3样品的形貌随pH值的变化而变化.以三乙酸锑为Sb源,在pH=3时,Sb2S3的形貌类似于一个完整的纳米棒结构;在pH值为6时,样品为不规则球体;当pH值为8时,纳米片结构开始出现;但当p H=10时,纳米片结构并不均匀.根据XRD分析,只有当pH值为3时,样品的衍射峰才与标准卡(JCPDS42-1393)的衍射峰一致.当以氯化锑作为锑源,样品的形貌由不规则的杆状(pH=3)转变为纳米球(pH=6),然后出现纳米片结构(pH=8).不同的是,当p H值为10时,纳米薄片形成均一的花状结构.XRD结果表明,除pH值为3外,样品的衍射峰与标准卡(JCPDS42-1393)的值吻合较好.结果表明,合成条件所需的Sb源和碱性环境是合成具有均匀花状结构的纳米片状Sb2S3所必不可少的.测得Sb2S3的比表面积约为41.72 m^2g^-1,平均孔径为31.08nm,Sb2S3@RGO的分别为44.53 m^2g^-1和22.65 nm.Sb2S3和Sb2S3@RGO复合材料均具有介孔结构,为内部电催化剂提供了广阔的通道,从而提高了对电极的催化能力,促进了电化学反应.将Sb2S3纳米花球和Sb2S3@RGO纳米薄片作为染料敏化太阳能电池的对电极进行了测试,由于石墨烯的引入,后者比前者具有更好的电催化性能.电化学实验结果表明,与Sb2S3,RGO,Pt作为对电极相比,制备的Sb2S3@RGO纳米薄片具有更好的催化活性、电荷转移能力和电化学稳定性,Sb2S3@RGO的功率转换效率达到8.17%,优于标准Pt对电极(7.75%).     

磷酸锂原位包覆富锂锰基锂离子电池正极材料

本工作通过“碳酸盐共沉淀-沉淀转化-固相反应”方法,实现磷酸锂原位包覆和改性富锂锰基锂离子电池正极材料Li_1.2Mn_0.54Co_0.13Ni_0.13O₂,研究了磷酸锂包覆层的形成过程及其对电化学性能的影响.结果显示,碳酸盐前驱体经沉淀转化反应原位形成磷酸镍包覆层,与锂源混合煅烧,最终转化为厚度小于30 nm的磷酸锂包覆层.该材料组装的半电池在125 mAh·g^-1电流密度下循环175圈后容量达191.1 mAh·g^-1,容量保持率为81.8%,平均每圈电压衰减仅为1.09 mV.磷酸锂包覆层缓解了材料表面与电解液之间的副反应,抑制了不可逆相变和过渡金属溶出,同时磷酸锂作为锂离子导体促进锂离子传输.本工作表明沉淀转化法原位包覆磷酸锂是提升富锂锰基正极材料性能的有效途径.     

多尺度Ag/CuO复合光热材料的制备及在海水淡化中的应用

采用原位化学反应和热处理相结合的策略,在泡沫铜表面形成丝线状与花瓣状的立体无机物阵列,然后在其表面蒸镀Ag纳米颗粒(NPs),成功制备了基于泡沫铜的Ag/CuO复合光热材料。该复合材料因表面三维立体阵列结构以及Ag NPs而具备较高的太阳光吸收率。故而,Ag/CuO复合光热材料结合三聚氰胺泡沫组成的蒸发器件实现了高效的海水淡化。本研究除了探索光陷阱深度和金属掺杂对吸收体光热转换效率增强之外,还搭建了太阳能驱动界面蒸汽生成测试系统,测试了样品的光热蒸发性能。在1倍太阳(1 kW·m~(-2))辐照下,该器件整体蒸发速率高达1.097 6 kg·m~(-2)·h~(-1),即其蒸发效率可达78.38%。     

化学能转化成电能的实验设计

以常见的铜锌原电池反应为例,设计了一组对比实验装置,即化学反应装置与原电池装置。以化学反应装置中的能量变化为依据,展示了化学反应中释放出的能量具体形式为“热”与“功”;通过与原电池装置的比较,证明原电池实验装置中的“热”转化为了电能。     

Phosphorene: a Potential 2D Material for Highly Efficient Polysulfide Trapping and Conversion

Effectively trapping lithium polysulfide species and accelerating the reaction conversion kinetics are the main strategies to improve the performance of lithium-sulfur(Li-S) batteries. Since the researchers found in 2014 that two-dimensional(2D) phosphorene nanosheets could be exfoliated from the bulk black phosphorus, numerous researches have been devoted to exploring the phosphorene with unique properties for the application in Li-S batteries. In this review, we summarize the recent theoretical and experimental progress of phosphorene for Li-S batteries. Besides, we also introduce the relationship between the interfacial interaction on phosphorene and the performance enhancement of Li-S batteries. Furthermore, future challenges and remaining opportunities for phosphorene in Li-S batteries are finally discussed.