Metal organic framework‐ionic liquid hybrid catalysts for the selective electrochemical reduction of CO_(2) to CH4

The electrochemical reduction of CO_(2) towards hydrocarbons is a promising technology that can utilize CO_(2) and prevent its atmospheric accumulation while simultaneously storing renewable en‐ergy.However,current CO_(2) electrolyzers remain impractical on a large scale due to the low current densities and faradaic efficiencies(FE)on various electrocatalysts.In this study,hybrid HKUST‐1 metal‐organic framework‒fluorinated imidazolium‐based room temperature ionic liquid(RTIL)electrocatalysts are designed to selectively reduce CO_(2) to CH_(4).An impressive FE of 65.5%towards CH_(4) at-1.13 V is achieved for the HKUST‐1/[BMIM][PF_(6)]hybrid,with a stable FE greater than 50%maintained for at least 9 h in an H‐cell.The observed improvements are attributed to the increased local CO_(2) concentration and the improved CO_(2)‐to‐CH_(4) thermodynamics in the presence of the RTIL molecules adsorbed on the HKUST‐1‐derived Cu clusters.These findings offer a novel approach of immobilizing RTIL co‐catalysts within porous frameworks for CO_(2) electroreduction applications.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi reduce ammonia emissions under different land-use types in agro-pastoral areas

Ammonia(NH3)emissions,the most important nitrogen(N)loss form,always induce a series of environmental problems such as increased frequency of regional haze pollution,accelerated N deposition,and N eutrophication.Arbuscular mycorrhizal(AM)fungi play key roles in N cycling.However,it is still unclear whether AM fungi can alleviate N losses by reducing NH3emissions.The potential mechanisms by which AM fungi reduce NH_(3)emissions in five land-use types(grazed grassland,mowed grassland,fenced grassland,artificial alfalfa grassland,and cropland)were explored in this study.Results showed that AM fungal inoculation significantly reduced NH3emissions,and the mycorrhizal responses of NH3emissions were determined by land-use type.Structural equation modeling(SEM)showed that AM fungi and land-use type directly affected NH_(3)emissions.In addition,the reduction in NH_(3)emissions was largely driven by the decline in soil NH_(4)^(+)-N and pH and the increases in abundances of ammonia-oxidizing archaea(AOA)amoA and bacteria(AOB)amoB genes,urease activity,and plant N uptake induced by AM fungal inoculation and land-use type.The present results highlight that reducing the negative influence of agricultural intensification caused by land-use type changes on AM fungi should be considered to reduce N losses in agriculture and grassland ecosystems.