Electrocatalytic generation of reactive species and implications in microbial inactivation

Controlling microbial proliferation in water systems,including wastewater,recreational water,and drinking water,is essential to societal health.Microbial inactivation through electrochemically generated reactive species(RS)mediated pathways provides an effective route toward this microbial control.Herein we provide an overview of recent progress toward electrocatalytic generation of RS and their application in water disinfection,with a focus on the selective production of RS,the microorganism interactions with RS(including both RS mechanisms of action and innate microorganism responses to RS),and practical implementation of electrochemically generated RS for microbial inactivation.The article is concluded with a perspective where the challenges and opportunities of RS‐based electrochemical disinfection of water are highlighted,along with possible future research directions.

NiFeRuO_(x)nanosheets on Ni foam as an electrocatalyst for efficient overall alkaline seawater splitting

The electrocatalyst NiFeRuO_(x)/NF,comprised of NiFeRuO_(x)nanosheets grown on Ni foam,was synthesized using a hydrothermal process followed by thermal annealing.NiFeRuO_(x)/NF displays high electrocatalytic activity and stability for overall alkaline seawater splitting:98 mV@10 mA∙cm^(−2)in hydrogen evolution reaction,318 mV@50 mA∙cm^(−2)in oxygen evolution reaction,and a cell voltage of 1.53 V@10 mA∙cm^(−2),as well as 20 h of durability.A solar-driven system containing such a bifunctional NiFeRuO_(x)/NF has an almost 100%Faradaic efficiency.The NiFeRuO_(x)coating around Ni foam is an anti-corrosion layer and also a critical factor for enhancement of bifunctional performances.

Stoichiometry design in hierarchical CoNiFe phosphide for highly efficient water oxidation

Rational composition design of trimetallic phosphide catalysts is of significant importance for enhanced surface reaction and efficient catalytic performance.Herein,hierarchical Co_(x)Ni_(y)Fe_(z)P with precise control of stoichiometric metallic elements(x:y:z=(1-10):(1-10):1)has been synthesized,and Co_(1.3)Ni_(0.5)Fe_(0.2)P,as the most optimal composition,exhibits remarkable catalytic activity(η=320 mV at 10 mA cm^(−2))and long-term stability(ignorable decrease after 10 h continuous test at the current density of 10 mA cm^(−2))toward oxygen evolution reaction(OER).It is found that the surface P in Co_(1.3)Ni_(0.5)Fe_(0.2)P was replaced by O under the OER process.The density function theory calculations before and after long-term stability tests suggest the clear increasing of the density of states near the Fermi level of Co_(1.3)Ni_(0.5)Fe_(0.2)P/Co_(1.3)Ni_(0.5)Fe_(0.2)O,which could enhance the OH−adsorption of our electrocatalysts and the corresponding OER performance.