Defect and interface engineering for electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction under ambient conditions

Electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction(e-NRR)under ambient conditions is an emerging strategy to tackle the hydrogen-and energy-intensive operations for traditional Haber-Bosch process in industrial ammonia(NH_(3))synthesis.However,the e-NRR performance is currently impeded by the inherent inertness of N_(2) molecules,the extremely slow kinetics and the overwhelming competition from the hydrogen evolution reaction(HER),all of which cause unsatisfied yield and ammonia selectivity(Faradaic efficiency,FE).Defect and interface engineering are capable of achieving novel physical and chemical properties as well as superior synergistic effects for various electrocatalysts.In this review,we first provide a general introduction to the NRR mechanism.We then focus on the recent progress in defect and interface engineering and summarize how defect and interface can be rationally designed and functioned in NRR catalysts.Particularly,the origin of superior NRR catalytic activity by applying these approaches was discussed from both theoretical and experimental perspectives.Finally,the remaining challenges and future perspectives in this emerging area are highlighted.It is expected that this review will shed some light on designing NRR electrocatalysts with excellent activity,selectivity and stability.

Porous LaFeO3 nanofiber with oxygen vacancies as an efficient electrocatalyst for N2 conversion to NH3 under ambient conditions

Electrocatalytic N2 reduction to NH3 under ambient conditions is an eco-friendly and sustainable alternative to the traditional Haber-Bosch process. However, inhibited by the high activation barrier of N2, this process needs efficient electrocatalysts to adsorb and activate the N2, enabling the N2 reduction reaction(NRR). Herein, we report that porous LaFeO3 nanofiber with oxygen vacancies acts as an efficient NRR electrocatalyst with abundant active sites to enhance the adsorption and activation of N2. When tested in 0.1 M HCl, such electrocatalyst achieves a high Faradaic efficiency of 8.77% and a large NH3 yield rate of 18.59 μg h–1 mgcat–1.at-0.55 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode. This catalyst also shows high long-term electrochemical stability and excellent selectivity for NH3 formation. Density functional theory calculations reveal that, by introducing oxygen vacancy on LaFeO3, the subsurface metallic ions are exposed with newly localized electronic states near the Fermi level, which facilitates the adsorption and activation of N2 molecules as well as the subsequent hydrogenation reactions.

Enhancing fly ash utilization in backfill materials treated with CO_(2)carbonation under ambient conditions

The environmental concerns resulting from coal-fired power generation that produces large amounts of CO_(2)and fly ash are of great interest.To mitigate,this study aims to develop a novel carbonated CO_(2)-fly ash-based backfill(CFBF)material under ambient conditions.The performance of CFBF was investigated for different fly ash-cement ratios and compared with non-CO_(2)reacted samples.The fresh CFBF slurry conformed to the Herschel-Bulkley model with shear thinning characteristics.After carbonation,the yield stress of the fresh slurry increased significantly by lowering fly ash ratio due to gel formation.The setting times were accelerated,resulting in approximately 40.6%of increased early strength.The final strength decreased when incorporating a lower fly ash ratio(50%and 60%),which was related to the existing heterogeneous pores caused by rapid fluid loss.The strength increased with fly ash content above 70%because additional C-S(A)-H and silica gels were characterized to precipitate on the grain surface,so the binding between particles increased.The C-S(A)-H gel was developed through the pozzolanic reaction,where CaCO_(3)was the prerequisite calcium source obtained in the CO_(2)-fly ash reaction.Furthermore,the maximum CO_(2)uptake efficiency was 1.39 mg-CO_(2)/g-CFBF.The CFBF material is feasible to co-dispose CO_(2)and fly ash in the mine goaf as negative carbon backfill materials,and simultaneously mitigates the strata movement and water lost in post-subsurface mining.

Commercial indium-tin oxide glass:A catalyst electrode for efficient N_(2)reduction at ambient conditions

The typical Haber technical process for industrial NH_(3)production involves plenty of energy-consumption and large quantities of greenhouse gas emission.In contrast,electrochemical N_(2)reduction proffers environment-friendly and energy-efficient avenues to synthesize NH_(3)at mild conditions but demands efficient electrocatalysts for the N_(2)reduction reaction(NRR).Herein we report for the first time that commercial indium-tin oxide glass(ITO/G)can be used as a catalyst electrode toward artificial N_(2)fixation,as it demonstrates excellent selectivity at mild conditions.Such ITO/G delivers excellent NRR performance with a NH_(3)yield of 1.06×10^(-10) mol s^(-1) cm^(-2) and a faradaic efficiency of 6.17%at-0.40 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode(RHE)in 0.5 M LiClO4.Furthermore,the ITO/G also possesses good electrochemical stability and durability.Finally,the possible reaction mechanism for the NRR on the ITO catalysts was explored using first-principles calculations.

Theoretical analysis of the surface temperature regulation of an infrared false target subjected to periodical ambient conditions

Infrared false target is an important mean to induce the infrared-guided weapons,and the key issue is how to keep the surface temperature of the infrared false target to be the same as that of the object to be protected.One-dimensional heat transfer models of a metal plate and imitative material were established to explore the influences of the thermophysical properties of imitative material on the surface temperature difference（STD） between the metal plate and imitative material which were subjected to periodical ambient conditions.It is elucidated that the STD is determined by the imitative material’s dimensionless thickness（dim*,） and the thermal inertia(Pim).When dim* is above 1.0,the STD is invariable as long as Pim is a constant.And if the dimensionless thickness of metal plate（d,m*） is also larger than 1.0,the STD approaches to zero as long as Pimis the same as the thermal inertia of metal plate（Pm）.When dim* is between 0.08 and 1,the STD varies irregularly with Pim and dim*.However,if dm* is also in the range of 0.08-1,the STD approaches to zero on condition that Pim=Pm and dim*= dm*.If dim*,is below 0.08,the STD is unchanged when Pimdim* is a constant.And if dm* is also less than 0.08,the STD approaches to zero as long as Pimdim* = Pmdm*.Furthermore,an applicationoriented discussion indicates that the imitative material can be both light and thin via the application of the phase change material with a preset STD because of its high specific heat capacity during the phase transition process.

Thermal catalysis under dark ambient conditions in environmental remediation:Fundamental principles, development, and challenges

Thermal catalytic degradation of organic pollutants conducted in the dark at room temperature under atmospheric pressure without the need of external chemicals and energy sources has attracted a lot of attention over the last two decades. It provides unparalleled advantages over other advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) in treating domestic and industrial contaminated wastewater from the viewpoint of energy/chemical conservation and ease of operation. Rich knowledge has been accumulated in terms of the synthesis and application of thermal catalysts though controversies remain regarding their underlying mechanisms. This review sheds light on the proposed thermo- catalysis mechanism for the first time and presents the development of thermal catalysts under dark ambient conditions with a focus on catalyst materials, catalytic activity, and mechanism. The present review aims to provide mechanistic insights into the rational design of novel and efficient catalysts, and their underlying mechanisms as well as the emerging challenges and perspectives in thermo-catalysis under dark ambient conditions used for the practical and efficient treatment of contaminated wastewater.

Ultrafast metal oxide reduction at Pd/PdO_(2) interface enables onesecond hydrogen gas detection under ambient conditions

Here,we report a Pd/PdO_(x) sensing material that achieves 1-s detection of 4% H_(2) gas(i.e.,the lower explosive limit concentration for H_(2))at room temperature in air.The Pd/PdO_(x) material is a network of interconnected nanoscopic domains of Pd,PdO,and PdO_(2).Upon exposure to 4% H_(2),PdO and PdO_(2) in the Pd/PdO_(x) are immediately reduced to metallic Pd,generating over a>90% drop in electrical resistance.The mechanistic study reveals that the Pd/PdO_(2) interface in Pd/PdOx is responsible for the ultrafast PdO_(x) reduction.Metallic Pd at the Pd/PdO_(2) interface enables fast H_(2) dissociation to adsorbed H atoms,significantly lowering the PdO2 reduction barrier.In addition,control experiments suggest that the interconnectivity of Pd,PdO,and PdO2 in our Pd/PdO_(x) sensing material further facilitates the reduction of PdO,which would otherwise not occur.The 1-s response time of Pd/PdO_(x) under ambient conditions makes it an excellent alarm for the timely detection of hydrogen gas leaks.

Ambient-Condition Strategy for Production of Hollow Ga_(2)O_(3)@rGO Crystalline Nanostructures Toward Efficient Lithium Storage

Crystallineγ-Ga_(2)O_(3)@rGO core-shell nanostructures are synthesized in gram scale,which are accomplished by a facile sonochemical strategy under ambient condition.They are composed of uniformγ-Ga_(2)O_(3)nanospheres encapsulated by reduced graphene oxide(rGO)nanolayers,and their formation is mainly attributed to the existed opposite zeta potential between the Ga_(2)O_(3)and rGO.The as-constructed lithium-ion batteries(LIBs)based on as-fabricatedγ-Ga_(2)O_(3)@rGO nanostructures deliver an initial discharge capacity of 1000 mAh g^(-1)at 100 mA g^(-1)and reversible capacity of 600 mAh g^(-1)under 500 mA g^(-1)after 1000 cycles,respectively,which are remarkably higher than those of pristineγ-Ga_(2)O_(3)with a much reduced lifetime of 100 cycles and much lower capacity.Ex situ XRD and XPS analyses demonstrate that the reversible LIBs storage is dominant by a conversion reaction and alloying mechanism,where the discharged product of liquid metal Ga exhibits self-healing ability,thus preventing the destroy of electrodes.Additionally,the rGO shell could act robustly as conductive network of the electrode for significantly improved conductivity,endowing the efficient Li storage behaviors.This work might provide some insight on mass production of advanced electrode materials under mild condition for energy storage and conversion applications.

Controllable and large-area growth of ZnO nanosheet arrays under ambient condition as superior anodes for scalable aqueous batteries

Two-dimensional(2D)oxides have been the focus of substantial research interest recently,owing to their fascinating physico-chemical properties.However,fabrication of large-area 2D oxide materials in a controlled manner under mild conditions still remains a formidable challenge.Herein,we develop a facile and universal strategy based on the sonochemistry approach for controllable and large-area growth of quasi-aligned single-crystalline ZnO nanosheets on a Zn substrate(Zn@SC-ZnO)under ambient conditions.The obtained ZnO nanosheets possess the desired exclusively exposed(001)facets,which have been confirmed to play a critical role in significantly reducing the activation energy and facilitating the stripping/plating processes of Zn.Accordingly,the constructed Zn@SC-ZnO||Zn@SC-ZnO symmetric cell has very low polarization overpotential down to~20 mV,with limited dendrite growth and side reactions for Zn anodes.The developed Zn@SC-ZnO//MnO_(2)aqueous Zn-ion batteries(ZIBs)show a voltage efficiency of 88.2%under 500 mA g^(-1)at the stage of 50%depth of discharge,which is state of the art for ZIBs reported to date.Furthermore,the as-assembled large-size cell(5 cm×5 cm)delivers an open circuit potential of 1.648 V,and can be robustly operated under a high current of 20 mA,showing excellent potential for future scalable applications.

Versatile application of wet-oxidation for ambient CO abatement over Fe(OH)_x supported subnanometer platinum group metal catalysts

The efficient and stable abatement of CO pollutant under ambient conditions is of great significance;however,it remains a formidable challenge.Herein,we report the versatile application of wet oxidation over Fe(OH)x supported subnanometer Pt group metal(PGM)catalysts for the complete removal of CO under ambient temperature and humidity conditions.Typically,the 1.8 wt%Rh/Fe(OH)x catalyst exhibited better durability during a^1400 min run for wet oxidation than for dry CO oxidation.Multiple characterization results including HR-TEM,H2-TPR,and in-situ DRIFTS suggested that Fe(OH)x,with good reducibility,promoted by the subnanometer Rh clusters,provided sites for the adsorption and reaction of O2 and H2 O to form OH species.Subsequently,these OH species reacted with the adsorbed CO on Rh sites with a considerably lower activation energy(9 kJ mol^-1)than that of dissociated 0 species(22 kJ mol^-1),thus rationalizing the outstanding performance of Rh/Fe(OH)x for wet oxidation.Extended experiments with other PGMs revealed a good generality for the application of wet oxidation in the efficient abatement of CO under humid conditions with Fe(OH)x as the support.

Determination of dynamic modeⅠfracture toughness of rock at ambient high temperatures using notched semi-circular bend method

To investigate the influence of loading rate and high temperature on the dynamic fracture toughness of rock,dynamic fracture tests were carried out on notched semi-circular bend specimens under four temperature conditions based on the split Hopkinson pressure bar system.Experimental and analytical methods were applied to investigating the effect of temperature gradient on the stress waves.A high-speed camera was used to check the fracture characteristics of the specimens.The results demonstrate that the temperature gradient on the bars will not significantly distort the shape of the stress wave.The dynamic force balance is achieved even when the specimens are at a temperature of 400°C.The dynamic fracture toughness linearly develops with the increase of loading rate within the temperature range of 25-400°C,and high temperature has a strengthening effect on the dynamic fracture toughness.

Clinical, scientific and stakeholders’ caring about identity perturbations

In this editorial we comment on the article by Zhang et al published in the recent issue of the World Journal of Psychiatry.We focus on identity diffusion,identity perturbations,their origin and developmental pathways.This is an upcoming problem in the society as not only school children are affected.Adolescents and young people suffer from uncertainty in gender identity,in self-image,migration effects due to chronic crises caused by war,pandemic disruptions or climate change.We show how such chronic uncertainty can be cared for,treated,and contained.The key is affective holding,reflection and to provide adequate affective mentalizing in a close concomitant way.These key features also depend on ambient conditions,such as psychotherapeutic care.In a qualitative interview study carried out in a cyclical research design with a comparative analysis on the basis of thematic coding using Grounded Theory Methodology we found institu-tionalized defenses in health policies.Professionals request better training and adequat academic knowledge as well as research into unresolved areas for improvement of the ambient conditions for adequat development of the self.Practice points for further clinical and scientific development are given and discussed.

Facile synthesis of bimetallic N-doped carbon hybrid material for electrochemical nitrogen reduction

Due to the increasingly depleted limited fossil fuel resources,the development of renewable energy is the key to promote sustainable development which is an important part of the energy strategy[1].NH3 is one of most important and largest chemical productions in the world,it can be used as a feedstock for nitrogen fertilizer productions[2,3]or as a carbon-free energy carrier[4,5].

Oxygen-deficient SnO_(2)nanoparticles with ultrathin carbon shell for efficient electrocatalytic N_(2)reduction

For high-efficiency NH_(3)synthesis via ambient-condition electrohydrogenation of inert N_(2),it is pivotal to ingeniously design an active electrocatalyst with multiple features of abundant surfacial deficiency,good conductivity and large surface area.Here,oxygen-deficient SnO_(2)nanoparticles encapsulated by ultrathin carbon layer(d-SnO_(2)@C)are developed by hydrothermal deposition coupled with annealing process,as promising catalysts for ambient electrocatalytic N_(2)reduction.d-SnO_(2)@C exhibits high activity and excellent selectivity for electrocatalytic conversion of N_(2)to NH_(3)in acidic electrolytes,with Faradic efficiency as high as 12.7%at-0.15 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode(RHE)and large NH_(3)yield rate of 16.68μg h^(-1)mgcat^(-1)at-0.25 V vs.RHE in 0.1 mol L^(-1)HCl.Benefiting from the structural superiority of enhanced charge transfer efficiency and optimized surface states,d-SnO_(2)@C also achieves excellent long-term stability.

Studies of Stability in Electrical Property and Sensitivity of Polypyrrole Conductive Fabrics Used for Intelligent Flexible Sensors

Electrically conducting fabrics used as flexible sensors can be produced by vacuumed vapor deposition.The research of what impacts the wide and reliable application of the flexible sensors shows that the stability of flexible sensors is one of the critical issues.The electrical performance of weft knitted fabrics in course and wale direction does not show significant differences under different ambient conditions,which include time,temperature,and relative humidity.Tests of stimuli responding sensitivity of conductive fabrics indicate that the sensitivity keeps at a constant level and the average sensitivity is stable over 38 days.

Crystallization and Orientation Modulation Enable Highly Efficient Doctor-Bladed Perovskite Solar Cells

With the rapid rise in perovskite solar cells(PSCs)performance,it is imperative to develop scalable fabrication techniques to accelerate potential commercialization.However,the power conversion efficiencies(PCEs)of PSCs fabricated via scalable two-step sequential deposition lag far behind the state-of-the-art spin-coated ones.Herein,the additive methylammonium chloride(MACl)is introduced to modulate the crystallization and orientation of a two-step sequential doctorbladed perovskite film in ambient conditions.MACl can significantly improve perovskite film quality and increase grain size and crystallinity,thus decreasing trap density and suppressing nonradiative recombination.Meanwhile,MACl also promotes the preferred face-up orientation of the(100)plane of perovskite film,which is more conducive to the transport and collection of carriers,thereby significantly improving the fill factor.As a result,a champion PCE of 23.14%and excellent longterm stability are achieved for PSCs based on the structure of ITO/SnO_(2)/FA_(1-x)MA_xPb(I_(1-y)Br_y)_3/Spiro-OMeTAD/Ag.The superior PCEs of 21.20%and 17.54%are achieved for 1.03 cm~2 PSC and 10.93 cm~2 mini-module,respectively.These results represent substantial progress in large-scale two-step sequential deposition of high-performance PSCs for practical applications.

Fully Roll‑to‑Roll Processed Efficient Perovskite Solar Cells via Precise Control on the Morphology of PbI_(2):CsI Layer

Perovskite solar cells(PSCs)have attracted tremendous attention as a promising alternative candidate for clean energy generation.Many attempts have been made with various deposition techniques to scale-up manufacturing.Slot-die coating is a robust and facile deposition technique that can be applied in large-area roll-to-roll(R2R)fabrication of thin film solar cells with the advantages of high material utilization,low cost and high throughput.Herein,we demonstrate the encouraging result of PSCs prepared by slot-die coating under ambient environment using a twostep sequential process whereby PbI_(2):CsI is slot-die coated first followed by a subsequent slot-die coating of organic cations containing solution.A porous PbI_(2):CsI film can promote the rapid and complete transformation into perovskite film.The crystallinity and morphology of perovskite films are significantly improved by optimizing nitrogen blowing and controlling substrate temperature.A power conversion efficiency(PCE)of 18.13%is achieved,which is promising for PSCs fabricated by two-step fully slot-die-coated devices.Furthermore,PSCs with a 1 cm2 area yield a champion PCE of 15.10%.Moreover,a PCE of 13.00%is obtained on a flexible substrate by the roll-to-roll(R2R)coating,which is one of the highest reported cells with all layers except for metal electrode fabricated by R2R process under ambient condition.

Controllable synthesis of a hollow Cr2O3 electrocatalyst for enhanced nitrogen reduction toward ammonia synthesis

As a fascinating alternative to the energy-intensive Haber-Bosch process,the electrochemically-driven N_(2) reduction reaction(NRR)utilizing the N_(2) and H_(2)O for the production of NH3 has received enormous attention.The development and preparation of promising electrocatalysts are requisite to realize an efficient N_(2) conversion for NH3 production.In this research,we propose a template-assisted strategy to construct the hollow electrocatalyst with controllable morphology.As a paradigm,the hollow Cr_(2)O_(3) nanocatalyst with a uniform size(~170 nm),small cavity and ultrathin shell(~15 nm)is successfully fabricated with this strategy.This promising hollow structure is favourable to trap N_(2) into the cavity,provides abundant active sites to accelerate the three-phase interactions,and facilitates the reactant transfer across the shell.Attributed to these synergetic effects,the designed catalyst displays an outstanding behaviour in N_(2) fixation for NH3 production in ambient condition.In the neutral electrolyte of 0.1 mol·L^(-1) Na_(2)SO_(4),an impressive electrocatalytic performance with the NH3 generation rate of 2.72μg·h^(-1)·cm^(-2) and a high FE of 5.31%is acquired respectively at-0.85 V with the hollow Cr_(2)O_(3) catalyst.Inspired by this work,it is highly expected that this approach could be applied as a universal strategy and extended to fabricating other promising electrocatalysts for realizing highly efficient nitrogen reduction reaction(NRR).

Iron-group electrocatalysts for ambient nitrogen reduction reaction in aqueous media

Electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction(NRR)is considered as an alternative to the industrial Haber-Bosch process for NH3 production due to both low energy consumption and environment friendliness.However,the major problem of electrochemical NRR is the unsatisfied efficiency and selectivity of electrocatalyst.As one group of the cheapest and most abundant transition metals,iron-group(Fe,Co,Ni and Cu)electrocatalysts show promising potential on cost and performance advantages as ideal substitute for traditional noble-metal catalysts.In this minireview,we summarize recent advances of iron-group-based materials(including their oxides,hydroxides,nitrides,sulfides and phosphides,etc.)as non-noble metal electrocatalysts towards ambient N2-to-NH3 conversion in aqueous media.Strategies to boost NRR performances and perspectives for future developments are discussed to provide guidance for the field of NRR studies.

Co3(hexahydroxytriphenylene)2:A conductive metal-organic framework for ambient electrocatalytic N2 reduction to NH3

As a carbon-neutral alternative to the Haber-Bosch process,electrochemical N2 reduction enables environment-friendly NH3 synthesis at ambient conditions but needs active electrocatalysts for the N2 reduction reaction.Here,we report that conductive metal-organic framework CO3(hexahydroxytriphenylene)2(Co3 HHTP2)nanoparticles act as an efficient catalyst for ambient electrochemical N2-to-NH3 fixation.When tested in 0.5 M LiClO4,such Co3 HHTP2 achieves a large NH3 yield of 22.14μg·h^-1·mg^-1 cat.with a faradaic efficiency of 3.34%at-0.40 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode.This catalyst also shows high electrochemical stability and excellent selectivity toward NH3 synthesis.