Chalcogen heteroatoms doped nickel-nitrogen-carbon single-atom catalysts with asymmetric coordination for efficient electrochemical CO_(2) reduction

The electronic configuration of central metal atoms in single-atom catalysts(SACs)is pivotal in electrochemical CO_(2) reduction reaction(eCO_(2)RR).Herein,chalcogen heteroatoms(e.g.,S,Se,and Te)were incorporated into the symmetric nickel-nitrogen-carbon(Ni-N_(4)-C)configuration to obtain Ni-X-N_(3)-C(X:S,Se,and Te)SACs with asymmetric coordination presented for central Ni atoms.Among these obtained Ni-X-N_(3)-C(X:S,Se,and Te)SACs,Ni-Se-N_(3)-C exhibited superior eCO_(2)RR activity,with CO selectivity reaching~98% at-0.70 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode(RHE).The Zn-CO_(2) battery integrated with Ni-Se-N_(3)-C as cathode and Zn foil as anode achieved a peak power density of 1.82 mW cm^(-2) and maintained remarkable rechargeable stability over 20 h.In-situ spectral investigations and theoretical calculations demonstrated that the chalcogen heteroatoms doped into the Ni-N_(4)-C configuration would break coordination symmetry and trigger charge redistribution,and then regulate the intermediate behaviors and thermodynamic reaction pathways for eCO_(2)RR.Especially,for Ni-Se-N_(3)-C,the introduced Se atoms could significantly raise the d-band center of central Ni atoms and thus remarkably lower the energy barrier for the rate-determining step of ^(*)COOH formation,contributing to the promising eCO_(2)RR performance for high selectivity CO production by competing with hydrogen evolution reaction.

Biomass-derived activated carbon materials with plentiful heteroatoms for high-performance electrochemical capacitor electrodes

Activated carbons for electrochemical capacitor electrodes are prepared from soyabean using chemical activation with KOH. The pore size is easily controllable by changing the mass ratio between KOH and carbonized product. The as-prepared materials possess a large specific surface area, unique structure, well- developed hierarchical porosity and plentiful heteroatoms（mainly O and N）. Thus resulted in its high specific capacitance,good rate capacity and cycling stability. Moreover, attributing to worldwide availability, renewable nature and low-cost, activated carbon prepared from soyabean has a good potential in energy conversion and storage devices.

An ensemble learning classifier to discover arsenene catalysts with implanted heteroatoms for hydrogen evolution reaction

Accurate regulation of two-dimensional materials has become an effective strategy to develop a wide range of catalytic applications.The introduction of heterogeneous components has a significant impact on the performance of materials,which makes it difficult to discover and understand the structure-property relationships at the atomic level.Here,we developed a novel and efficient ensemble learning classifier with synthetic minority oversampling technique(SMOTE) to discover all possible arsenene catalysts with implanted heteroatoms for hydrogen evolution reaction(HER).A total of 850 doped arsenenes were collected as a database and 140 modified arsenene materials with different doping atoms and doping sites were identified as promising candidate catalysts for HER,with a machine learning prediction accuracy of 81%.Based on the results of machine learning,we proposed 13 low-cost and easily synthesized two-dimensional Fe-doped arsenene catalytic materials that are expected to contribute to high-efficient HER.The proposed ensemble method achieved high prediction accuracy,but millions of times faster to predict Gibbs free energies and only required a small amount of data.This study indicates that the presented ensemble learning classifier is capable of screening high-efficient catalysts,and can be further extended to predict other two-dimensional catalysts with delicate regulation.

Roles of heteroatoms in electrocatalysts for alkaline water splitting:A review focusing on the reaction mechanism

Alkaline water splitting is a promising technology for“green hydrogen”generation.To improve its efficiency,highly robust catalysts are required to reduce the overpotential for low electrical power consumption.Heteroatom modification is one of the most effective strategies for boosting catalytic performance,as it can regulate the physicochemical properties of host catalysts to improve their intrinsic activity.Herein,aiming to provide an overview of the impact of heteroatoms on catalytic activity at the atomic level,we present a review of the key role of heteroatoms in enhancing reaction kinetics based on the reaction pathways of the hydrogen evolution reaction(HER)and oxygen evolution reaction(OER)in alkaline media.In particular,the introduction of heteroatoms can directly and indirectly optimize the interactions between the active sites and intermediates,thus improving the intrinsic activity.To clearly illustrate this influence in detail,we have summarized a series of representative heteroatom-modified electrocatalysts and discussed the important roles of heteroatoms in the OER and HER reaction pathways.Finally,some challenges and perspectives for heteroatom-modified electrodes are discussed.We hope that this review will be helpful for the development of efficient and low-cost electrocatalysts for water electrolysis and other energy conversion applications.

Heteroatoms-doped carbon nanocages with enhanced dipolar and defective polarization toward light-weight microwave absorbers

Light-weight and exceptional microwave absorption are two vital characteristics for microwave absorbers in practical applications,but still face challenges.Herein,we employ a sacrificial template strategy to fabricate heteroatoms-doped carbon nanocages(CNs)via chemical vapor deposition,in which heteroatoms are simultaneously doped into the carbon frameworks by bubbling flowing source liquid.Compared with CNs,doped heteroatoms,accompanied with the inevitably defective arrangements in the lattice,not only decrease the electrical conductivity and balance the impedance characteristics,but also introduce structuralchemical defects and trigger dominant dipolar/defect polarization.As a result,both the minimum reflection loss(R_(L,min))and effective absorption bandwidth(EAB)greatly increase at an ultralow filler loading of 5 wt.%owing to internal hollow void and high specific surface area.The R_(L,min) values reach−53.6,−43.2,and−50.1 dB for N-CNs,S-CNs,and N,S-CNs with the corresponding EAB of 4.9,2.5,and 3.1 GHz,respectively.Furthermore,this work provides an effective strategy for the construction of heteroatoms-doped hollow carbon frameworks in large-scale production and the obtained doped carbon nanocages can be used as light-weight and high-performance microwave absorbers.

Effect of doping order on metal-free heteroatoms dual-doped carbon as oxygen reduction electrocatalyst

Metal-free heteroatoms dual-doped carbon has been recognized as one of the most promising Pt/C-substitutes for oxygen reduction reaction(ORR).Herein,we optimize the preparation process by doping order of metal-free heteroatoms to obtain the best electrocatalytic performance through three types of dual-doped carbon,including XC-N(first X doping then N doping),NC-X(first N doping then X doping) and NXC(N and X doping)(X=P,S and F).XC-N has more defect than the other two indicated by Raman spectra.X-ray photoelectron spectrom(XPS) measurements indicate that N and X have been dual-doped into the carbon matrix with different doping contents and modes,Electrocatalytic results,including the potential of ORR peak(Ep),the half-wave potential,the diffusion-limiting current density mainly follows the order of XC-N>NC-X> NXC,Furthermore,the synergistic effect of second atom doping are also compared with the single doped carbon(NC,PC,SC and FC).The differences in electronegativity and atomic radius of these metal-free heteroatoms can affect the defect degree,the doping content and mode of hete roatoms on carbon matrix,induce polarization effect and space effect to affect O2 adsorption and product desorption,ultimately to the ORR electrocatalytic performance.

Metallaaromatics Containing Main-group Heteroatoms

Metallaaromatics are metallacycles that are derived from the formal replacement of a carbon atom in the framework of organic aromatics with a metal fragment. As an important subclass of metallaaromatics, metallaaromatics that contain main-group heteroatoms have attracted considera- ble attention. In the past ten years, we have developed several new methods to construct metallaaromatics as well as those containing main-group het- eroatoms, such as metallapyridine, metallapyridinium, metallapyridyne, metallafuran, metallabenzothiazole, metallabenzoxazole, metallabenzthiophene, aza-metallapentalene and some novel tricyclic/tetracyclic metallaaromatics. In addition, interesting reactions such as the first hetero-Diels Aider reaction between 1-metalla-1,3-dienes and nitriles, the first intramolecular nucleophilic aromatic substitution （SNAr） reaction of metallabenzene, and the first iodine-mediated electrophilic cyclizations of a metallabenzene complex were demonstrated. In this account, recent and novel approaches for their synthesis and property analyses are summarized. The structural diversity and unique properties of metallaaromatics containing main-group heteroatoms will strongly inspire further investigation of these species and provide a wide range of potential applications.

Effects of heteroatoms on 1,2-rearrangements of 3-membered ring carbenes

1,2-rearrangements of carbenes :CCH_2X(X=CH_2, NH and O) are studied by using ab initio gradient method. Heteroatoms N and O stabilize the carbene and decrease its reactivity, mainly by changing frontier molecular orbitals, but retain the way of the reaction. The reaction starts from the attack of the migrating hydrogen on the carbene p AO and ends with the entrance of the hydrogen into the carbene σ orbital. Reactivities are in the order of X=CH_2>NH>O. The reaction is exothermic or endothermic according to whether the product is a 4n+2 or 4n π electron molecule.

Clustering-triggered Emission of Nonaromatic Polymers with Multitype Heteroatoms and Effective Hydrogen Bonding

Nonconventional luminophores without large conjugated structures are attracting increasing attention for their unique aggregation-induced emission(AIE)properties and promising applications in optoelectronic and biomedical areas.The emission mechanism,however,remains elusive,which makes rational molecular design difficult.Recently,we proposed the clustering-triggered emission(CTE)mechanism to illustrate the emission.The clustering of electron-rich nonconventional chromophores withπand/or n electrons and consequent electron cloud overlap is crucial to the luminescence.Herein,based on the CTE mechanism,nonaromatic polymers containing multitype heteroatoms(i.e.,O,N,and S)and involving amide(CONH)and sulfide(-S-)groups were designed and synthesized through facile thiol-ene click chemistry.The resulting polymers demonstrated typical concentration-enhanced emission,AIE phenomenon,and excitation-dependent emission.Notably,compared with polysulfides,these polymers exhibited much higher solid-state emission efficiencies,because of the incorporation of amide units,which contributed to the formation of emissive clusters with highly rigidified conformations through effective hydrogen bonding.Furthermore,distinct persistent cryogenic phosphorescence or even room temperature phosphorescence(RTP)was noticed.These photophysical behaviors can well be rationalized in terms of the CTE mechanism,indicating the feasibility of rational molecular design and luminescence regulation.

Local coordination and electronic interactions of Pd/MXene via dual‐atom codoping with superior durability for efficient electrocatalytic ethanol oxidation

Catalyst design relies heavily on electronic metal‐support interactions,but the metal‐support interface with an uncontrollable electronic or coordination environment makes it challenging.Herein,we outline a promising approach for the rational design of catalysts involving heteroatoms as anchors for Pd nanoparticles for ethanol oxidation reaction(EOR)catalysis.The doped B and N atoms from dimethylamine borane(DB)occupy the position of the Ti_(3)C_(2) lattice to anchor the supported Pd nanoparticles.The electrons transfer from the support to B atoms,and then to the metal Pd to form a stable electronic center.A strong electronic interaction can be produced and the d‐band center can be shifted down,driving Pd into the dominant metallic state and making Pd nanoparticles deposit uniformly on the support.As‐obtained Pd/DB–Ti_(3)C_(2) exhibits superior durability to its counterpart(∼14.6% retention)with 91.1% retention after 2000 cycles,placing it among the top single metal anodic catalysts.Further,in situ Raman and density functional theory computations confirm that Pd/DB–Ti_(3)C_(2) is capable of dehydrogenating ethanol at low reaction energies.

Flame-assisted ultrafast synthesis of functionalized carbon nanosheets for high-performance sodium storage

The unique structural features of hard carbon(HC)make it a promising anode candidate for sodium-ion batteries(SIB).However,traditional methods of preparing HC require special equipment,long reaction times,and large energy consumption,resulting in low throughputs and efficiency.In our contribution,a novel synthesis method is proposed,involving the formation of HC nanosheets(NS-CNs)within minutes by creating an anoxic environment through flame combustion and further introducing sulfur and nitrogen sources to achieve heteroatom doping.The effect of heterogeneous element doping on the microstructure of HC is quantitatively analyzed by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and image processing technology.Combined with density functional theory calculation,it is verified that the functionalized HC exhibits stronger Na^(+)adsorption ability,electron gain ability,and Na^(+) migration ability.As a result,NS-CNs as SIB anodes provide an ultrahigh reversible capacity of 542.7mAh g^(-1) at 0.1Ag^(-1),and excellent rate performance with a reversible capacity of 236.4mAh g^(-1) at 2Ag^(-1) after 1200 cycles.Furthermore,full cell assembled with NS-CNs as the can present 230mAh g^(-1) at 0.5Ag^(-1) after 150 cycles.Finally,in/ex situ techniques confirm that the excellent sodium storage properties of NS-CNs are due to the construction of abundant active sites based on the novel synthesis method for realizing the reversible adsorption of Na^(+).This work provides a novel strategy to develop novel carbons and gives deep insights for the further investigation of facile preparation methods to develop high-performance carbon anodes for alkali-ion batteries.

Hydrogen evolution reaction activity enhancement from active site turnover mechanism

Although heteroatom doping is an effective way to improve the catalytic activity of transition metal phosphides(TMPs),the mechanism of activity enhancement needs to be further refined.To this end,we synthesized a Co-doped Ni_(2)P catalyst as a research model and found that the introduction of heterogeneous Co reconstructed the charge distribution around the P site,which effectively enhanced the hydrogen evolution reaction(HER)activity of the pure Ni_(2)P.Based on in-situ Raman real-time monitoring technology,we monitored for the first time that Co doping triggered a switch of the active site(from the original Co-active site to the P-active site),which promoted the adsorption of H_(2)O to enhance the HER activity.The density functional theory(DFT)calculations indicated that the P site of Co-Ni_(2)P expressed the highest activity and the Ni site of pure Ni_(2)P expressed the highest activity,which further confirms the in-situ Raman monitoring results.The active site turnover mechanism discovered in this study will undoubtedly provide more rational and targeted ideas for future catalyst design.

The effect of the carbon components on the performance of carbonbased transition metal electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction

The hydrogen evolution reaction(HER)is a promising way to produce hydrogen,and the use of non-precious metals with an excellent electrochemical performance is vital for this.Carbon-based transition metal catalysts have high activity and stability,which are important in reducing the cost of hydrogen production and promoting the development of the hydrogen production industry.However,there is a lack of discussion regarding the effect of carbon components on the performance of these electrocatalysts.This review of the literature discusses the choice of the carbon components in these catalysts and their impact on catalytic performance,including electronic structure control by heteroatom doping,morphology adjustment,and the influence of self-supporting materials.It not only analyzes the progress in HER,but also provides guidance for synthesizing high-performance carbon-based transition metal catalysts.

Small but mighty:Empowering sodium/potassium-ion battery performance with S-doped SnO_(2) quantum dots embedded in N,S codoped carbon fiber network

SnO_(2) has been extensively investigated as an anode material for sodium-ion batteries(SIBs)and potassium-ion batteries(PIBs)due to its high Na/K storage capacity,high abundance,and low toxicity.However,the sluggish reaction kinetics,low electronic conductivity,and large volume changes during charge and discharge hinder the practical applications of SnO_(2)-based electrodes for SIBs and PIBs.Engineering rational structures with fast charge/ion transfer and robust stability is important to overcoming these challenges.Herein,S-doped SnO_(2)(S-SnO_(2))quantum dots(QDs)(≈3 nm)encapsulated in an N,S codoped carbon fiber networks(S-SnO_(2)-CFN)are rationally fabricated using a sequential freeze-drying,calcination,and S-doping strategy.Experimental analysis and density functional theory calculations reveal that the integration of S-SnO_(2) QDs with N,S codoped carbon fiber network remarkably decreases the adsorption energies of Na/K atoms in the interlayer of SnO_(2)-CFN,and the S doping can increase the conductivity of SnO_(2),thereby enhancing the ion transfer kinetics.The synergistic interaction between S-SnO_(2) QDs and N,S codoped carbon fiber network results in a composite with fast Na+/K+storage and extraordinary long-term cyclability.Specifically,the S-SnO_(2)-CFN delivers high rate capacities of 141.0 mAh g^(−1) at 20 A g^(−1) in SIBs and 102.8 mAh g^(−1) at 10 A g^(−1) in PIBs.Impressively,it delivers ultra-stable sodium storage up to 10,000 cycles at 5 A g^(−1) and potassium storage up to 5000 cycles at 2 A g^(−1).This study provides insights into constructing metal oxide-based carbon fiber network structures for high-performance electrochemical energy storage and conversion devices.

Heteroatom self-doped graphitic carbon materials from Sargassum thunbergii with improved supercapacitance performance

It is well-known that high specific surface area and improved pore structure is significantly desired for the application of supercapacitor based on biomass-based activated carbon.Herein,Sargassum thunbergii was selected as carbon precursor.Then,a simple and environmentally friendly method was designed to synthesize heteroatom self-doped porous carbon materials via synchronous activation and graphitization by using K_(2)FeO_(4).Our results demonstrated that activation temperature plays an important role in porous structure,morphology,and degree of graphitization,thus affecting the performance of supercapacitance.Sargassum thunbergii-based graphitized porous carbons STGPC-2 sample(calcination temperature at 700℃)has a large specific surface area(1641.98 m^(2)g^(-1)),pore volume(0.91 cm^(3)g^(-1)),high microporosity(Vmicro=0.62 cm^(3)g1,more than 68%),and a certain degree of graphitization.In three-electrode system,The STGPC-2 electrode exhibited a high specific capacitance of 325.5 F g^(-1)at 0.5 A g^(-1)and displays high rate capability(248 F g^(-1)at 10 A g^(-1)in 6 M KOH electrolyte).The symmetric STGPC-2 supercapacitor exhibits energy density as high as 21.3 Wh kg^(-1)(at a power density of 450 W kg^(-1))and excellent long-term cycling stability(97%capacitance retention after 3000 cycles)in 1 M Na2SO4 electrolyte.

Protein-derived nitrogen and sulfur co-doped carbon for efficient adsorptive removal of heavy metals

A nitrogen and sulfur co-doped carbon has been synthesized employing egg white as a sustainable protein-rich precursor.According to CHNS elemental analysis,N,S and O heteroatoms accounted for mass fractions of 3.66%,2.28%and 19.29%respectively,and the types of surface functionalities were further characterized by FT-IR and XPS measurements.Although the carbon possessed a smaller surface area(815 m2·g-1)compared to a commercial activated carbon(1100 m2·g-1),its adsorption capacity towards Co2+reached 320.3 mg·g-1,which was over 8 times higher compared to the limited 34.0 mg·g-1 over the activate carbon.Furthermore,the carbon was found to be an efficient adsorbent towards a series of metal ions including VO2+,Cr3+,Ni2+,Cu2+and Cd2+.Combined with its environmental merits,the protein derived carbon may be a promising candidate for heavy metal pollution control.

Review on Heteroatom Doping Carbonaceous Materials Toward Electrocatalytic Carbon Dioxide Reduction

Carbon dioxide(CO_(2))reduction into chemicals or fuels by electrocatalysis can eff ectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions and alleviate the energy crisis.Currently,CO_(2)electrocatalytic reduction(CO_(2)RR)has been considered as an ideal way to achieve“carbon neutrality.”In CO_(2)RR,the characteristics and properties of catalysts directly determine the reaction activity and selectivity of the catalytic process.Much attention has been paid to carbon-based catalysts because of their diversity,low cost,high availability,and high throughput.However,electrically neutral carbon atoms have no catalytic activity.Incorpo-rating heteroatoms has become an eff ective strategy to control the catalytic activity of carbon-based materials.The doped carbon-based catalysts reported at present show excellent catalytic performance and application potential in CO_(2)RR.Based on the type and quantity of heteroatoms doped into carbon-based catalysts,this review summarizes the performances and catalytic mechanisms of carbon-based materials doped with a single atom(including metal and without metal)and multi atoms(including metal and without metal)in CO_(2)RR and reveals prospects for developing CO_(2)electroreduction in the future.

Free-standing phosphorous-doped molybdenum nitride in 3D carbon nanosheet towards hydrogen evolution at all pH values

Highly efficient electrocatalysts towards hydrogen evolution reaction(HER) with large current density at all-pH values are critical for the sustainable hydrogen production. Herein, we report a free-standing HER electrode, phosphorous-doped molybdenum nitride nanoparticles embedded in 3-dimentional carbon nanosheet matrix(P-Mo2N-CNS) fabricated via one-step carbonization and in-situ formation. The asprepared catalyst shows free-standing architecture with interconnected porous microstructure. P-doped Mo2N nanoparticles with an average diameter of 4.4 nm are well embedded in the 3-dimentional vertical carbon nanosheets matrix. Remarkable electrocatalytic HER performance is observed in alkaline, neutral and acidic media at large current densities. The overpotential of P-Mo2N-CNS to drive a current density of 100 mA cm-2 in 0.5 M H2SO4 and 1.0 M PBS is only 181 and 221 mV, respectively. In particular, the current density reaches up to 1000 mA cm-2 at a low overpotential of 256 mV in 1.0 M KOH, much better than that of the commercial Pt/C catalyst. Density functional theory calculations suggest the optimized H sorption kinetics on Mo2N after P doping, elucidating the superior activity.

2D NMR Studies on the Benzodiheteropine and its Cycloaddition Products

The signals of 1H NMR and 13 C NMR for benzodiheteropine 1 and its cycloaddtion products 2～5 were assigned by two dimensional NMR techniques. The characteristics of their structures were analyzed and discussed. The boat conformation of the seven membered heteroatomic ring in these structures was interpreted on the basis of the spectrum of NOESY as well. The coupling constants of relative protons were in accord with above results.

Recent advances in graphene based materials as anode materials in sodium-ion batteries

Sodium-ion batteries(SIBs)have emerged as a promising alternative to Lithium-ion batteries(LIBs)for energy storage applications,due to abundant sodium resources,low cost,and similar electrochemical performance.However,the large radius of Na+and high molar mass compared to Li^+,result in large volume strain during charge/discharge and low reversible capacity and poor cycling stability.Due to exceptional physical and chemical properties,graphene has attracted increasing attention as a potential anode material for SIBs.When integrated with other nanomaterials in electrodes,graphene can improve the electrical conductivity,accommodate the large volume change and enhance reaction kinetics.This paper provides a systematic review of recent progress in the application of graphene based anodes for SIBs,with a focus on preparation,structural configuration,Na+storage mechanism and electrochemical performance.Additionally,some challenges and future perspectives are provided to improve the sodium storage performance of graphene based electrodes.