Synthesis of tunable core–shell nanostructures based on TiO2-graphene architectures and their application in the photodegradation of rhodamine dyes

We present the synthesis of core–shell nanostructural materials with multi-component architectures based on TiO₂ and graphitic layers. The composites have been synthesized by chemical vapor deposition with methane as the carbon source, for 5, 10, 30 and 45 min. The final products were characterized by a combination of analytical approaches which include: electron microscopy, Raman, FT-IR and UV–vis spectroscopy as well as thermogravimetric analysis. The amount of graphene shells covering the TiO₂ surfaces was found to vary linearly with the reaction time. Furthermore, the compounds were shown to have excellent stability and photocatalytic activity towards the UV degradation of rhodamine (RhB) dye solution at room temperature. These composites could have major applications in the area of environmental cleaning of various pollutants, electrochemistry or nanomedicine.     

Electron irradiation-enhanced core/shell organization of Al(Cr,Fe, Mn)Si dispersoids in Al–Mg–Si alloys

The age hardening 6061-T6 aluminium alloy has been chosen as structural material for the core vessel of the material testing Jules Horowitz nuclear reactor. The alloy contains incoherent Al(Cr, Fe, Mn)Si dispersoids whose characterization by energy-filtered transmission electron microscopy (EFTEM) analysis shows a core/shell organization tendency where the core is (Mn, Fe) rich, and the shell is Cr rich. The present work studies the stability of this organization under irradiation. TEM characterization on the same particles, before and after 1 MeV electron irradiation, reveals that the core/shell organization is enhanced after irradiation. It is proposed that the high level of point defects, created by irradiation, ensures a radiation-enhanced diffusion process favourable to the unmixing forces between (Fe, Mn) and Cr. Shell formation may result in the low-energy interface segregation of Cr atoms within the (Fe, Mn) system combined with the unmixing of Cr, Fe and Mn components.     

Dealloyed PtCu catalyst as an efficient electrocatalyst in oxygen reduction reaction

Pt-transition metal alloy catalysts with an active Pt surface have exceptional properties for use in oxygen electro-reduction reactions in fuel cells. Herein, we report the simple synthesis of dealloyed PtCu catalysts and their catalytic performance in oxygen reduction. The dealloyed PtCu catalysts consisted of a Pt-enriched shell with a Pt–Cu alloy core and were synthesized through a chemical co-reduction process followed by thermal annealing and chemical dealloying. During synthesis, thermal annealing leads to a high degree of formation of PtCu alloy particles (e.g., PtCu or PtCu₃), and chemical dealloying causes selective dissolution of unstable Cu species from the surface layers of the PtCu alloy particles, resulting in a PtCu alloy@Pt-enriched surface core–shell configuration. Our PtCu₃/C catalyst exhibits a great improvement in the oxygen reduction reaction with a mass activity of 0.501 A/mg_Pt, which is 2.24 times greater than that of a commercial Pt catalyst. In this article, the synthesis details, characteristics and performance improvements in ORR of chemically dealloyed PtCu catalysts are systemically explained.     

Using Simple Spray Pyrolysis to Prepare Yolk–Shell‐Structured ZnO–Mn3O4 Systems with the Optimum Composition for Superior Electrochemical Properties

A spray‐pyrolysis process is introduced as an effective tool for the preparation of yolk–shell‐structured materials with electrochemical properties suitable for anode materials in Li‐ion batteries (LIBs). Yolk–shell‐structured ZnO–Mn₃O₄ systems with various molar ratios of the Zn and Mn components are prepared. The yolk–shell‐structured ZnO–Mn₃O₄ powders with a molar ratio of 1:1 of the Zn and Mn components are shown to have high capacities and good cycling performances.     

Cube‐in‐Cube Hollow Cu9S5 Nanostructures with Enhanced Photocatalytic Activities in Solar H2 Evolution

Hydrogen produced from water under solar energy is an ideal clean energy source, and the efficiency of hydrogen production usually depends on the catalytic systems based on new compounds and/or a unique nanostructure. Herein, well‐defined cube‐in‐cube hollow Cu₉S₅ nanostructures have been successfully prepared with Cu₂O nanocubes and CS₂ as precursors, and single‐shell hollow Cu₉S₅ nanocubes could be obtained by replacing CS₂ with Na₂S. The formation mechanism of cube‐in‐cube hollow nanostructures has been proposed based on the Kirkendell effect and an outward self‐assembly process. Further studies revealed that the cube‐in‐cube hollow Cu₉S₅ nanostructures exhibited better photocatalytic activity toward solar H₂ evolution and would be a promising photocatalyst in the solar hydrogen industry.     

Semiconductor and Metallic Core–Shell Nanostructures: Synthesis and Applications in Solar Cells and Catalysis

Nano‐heterostructures have attracted great attention due to their extraordinary properties beyond those of their single‐component counterparts. This review focuses on a specific type of hybrid structures: core–shell structures. In particular, we present and discuss the recent wet‐chemical synthesis approaches for semiconductor and metallic core–shell nanostructures, and their relevant properties and potential applications in photovoltaics and catalysis, respectively.     

水环境对GC和AT碱基对质子转移的影响

采用B3LYP/DZP++的方法研究了第一水化层作用和连续化处理的水溶剂作用对鸟嘌呤-胞嘧啶(GC)碱基对和腺嘌呤-胸腺嘧啶(AT)碱基对质子转移反应的影响. GC和AT碱基对在连续化水溶剂作用下,均发生单质子转移(SPT1)和分步的双质子转移(DPT),而在第一水化层5 个水分子的作用下(GC·5H₂O,AT·5H₂O)或同时考虑第一水化层作用和连续化水溶剂作用(GC·5H₂O+PCM,AT·5H₂O+PCM)时,GC和AT碱基对的质子转移均只得到单质子转移反应(SPT1). 单质子转移过程中的活化能变化情况表明：第一水化层对GC和AT碱基对结构和质子转移影响较大,水环境对碱基对的作用主要发生在第一水化层.     

Control of the Electronic Ground State on an Electron‐Transfer Copper Site by Second‐Sphere Perturbations

The Cu_A center is a dinuclear copper site that serves as an optimized hub for long‐range electron transfer in heme–copper terminal oxidases. Its electronic structure can be described in terms of a σ_u* ground‐state wavefunction with an alternative, less populated ground state of π_u symmetry, which is thermally accessible. It is now shown that second‐sphere mutations in the Cu_A containing subunit of Thermus thermophilus ba₃ oxidase perturb the electronic structure, which leads to a substantial increase in the population of the π_u state, as shown by different spectroscopic methods. This perturbation does not affect the redox potential of the metal site, and despite an increase in the reorganization energy, it is not detrimental to the electron‐transfer kinetics. The mutations were achieved by replacing the loops that are involved in protein–protein interactions with cytochrome c, suggesting that transient protein binding could also elicit ground‐state switching in the oxidase, which enables alternative electron‐transfer pathways.     

核壳结构Cu@CoW的合成和对硼氨配合物水解的催化性能

分别以硼氨配合物和硼氢化钠为还原剂合成了核壳结构的Cu@CoW三元合金催化剂和非核壳结构的CuCoW三元合金催化剂,25℃下,Cu0.4@Co0.5W0.1三元合金催化剂对于硼氨配合物水解反应的TOF(转换频率)值达到0.369 0 molH2·molcat-1·s-1,明显高于非核壳结构的Cu0.4Co0.5W0.1催化剂,接近Pt、Pd等贵金属的催化活性,反应的活化能为49 kJ·mol-1。与非核壳结构的CuCoW合金相比,核壳结构的Cu@CoW三元合金催化剂的催化性能及稳定性均有明显提高。     

TiC/C core/shell nanowires arrays as advanced anode of sodium ion batteries

High-perfo rmance anodes of sodium ion batteries(SIBs)largely depends on rational architecture design and binder-free smart hybridization.Herein,we report TiC/C core/shell nanowires arrays prepared by a one-step chemical vapor deposition(CVD)method and apply it as the anode of SIBs for the first time.The conductive TiC core is intimately decorated with carbon shell.The as-obtained TiC/C nanowires are homogeneously grown on the substrate and show core/shell heterostructure and porous architecture with high electronic conductivity and reinforced stability.Owing to these merits,the TiC/C electrode displays good rate performance and outstanding cycling performance with a capacity of 135.3 mAh/g at 0.1 A/g and superior capacity retention of 90.14%after 1000 cycles at 2 A/g.The reported strategy would provide a promising way to construct binder-free arrays electrodes for sodium ion storage.