Recent advances in cobalt phosphide-based materials for electrocatalytic water splitting:From catalytic mechanism and synthesis method to optimization design

Electrochemical water splitting has long been considered an effective energy conversion technology for trans-ferring intermittent renewable electricity into hydrogen fuel,and the exploration of cost-effective and high-performance electrocatalysts is crucial in making electrolyzed water technology commercially viable.Cobalt phosphide(Co-P)has emerged as a catalyst of high potential owing to its high catalytic activity and durability in water splitting.This paper systematically reviews the latest advances in the development of Co-P-based materials for use in water splitting.The essential effects of P in enhancing the catalytic performance of the hydrogen evolution reaction and oxygen evolution reaction are first outlined.Then,versatile synthesis techniques for Co-P electrocatalysts are summarized,followed by advanced strategies to enhance the electrocatalytic performance of Co-P materials,including heteroatom doping,composite construction,integration with well-conductive sub-strates,and structure control from the viewpoint of experiment.Along with these optimization strategies,the understanding of the inherent mechanism of enhanced catalytic performance is also discussed.Finally,some existing challenges in the development of highly active and stable Co-P-based materials are clarified,and pro-spective directions for prompting the wide commercialization of water electrolysis technology are proposed.

Microfluidic-oriented synthesis of enriched iridium nanodots/carbon architecture for robust electrocatalytic nitrogen fixation

Electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction(NRR)is considered as a promising candidate to achieve ammonia synthesis because of clean electric energy,moderate reaction condition,safe operating process and harmless by-products.However,the chemical inertness of nitrogen and poor activated capacity on catalyst surface usually produce low ammonia yield and faradic efficiency.Herein,the microfluidic technology is proposed to efficiently fabricate enriched iridium nanodots/carbon architecture.Owing to in-situ co-precipitation reaction and microfluidic manipulation,the iridium nanodots/carbon nanomaterials possess small average size,uniform dispersion,high conductivity and abundant active sites,producing good proton activation and rapid electrons transmission and moderate adsorption/desorption capacity.As a result,the as-prepared iridium nanodots/carbon nanomaterials realize large ammonia yield of 28.73 μg h^(-1) cm^(-2) and faradic efficiency of 9.14%in KOH solution.Moreover,the high ammonia yield of 11.21 μg h^(-1) cm^(-2) and faradic efficiency of 24.30%are also achieved in H_(2)SO_(4) solution.The microfluidic method provides a reference for large-scale fabrication of nano-sized catalyst materials,which may accelerate the progress of electrocatalytic NRR in industrialization field.

Efficient electrocatalytic urea synthesis from CO_(2)and nitrate over the scale-up produced FeNi alloy-decorated nanoporous carbon

Electrocatalytic urea synthesis provides a favorable strategy for conventional energy-consuming urea synthesis,but achieving large-scale catalyst synthesis with high catalytic efficiency remains challenging.Herein,we developed a simple method for the preparation of a series of FeNi-alloy-based catalysts,named FeNi@nC-T(n represents the content of nanoporous carbon as 1,3,5,7 or 9 g and T=900,950,1000 or 1100°C),for highly performed urea synthesis via NO_(3)−and CO_(2)co-reduction.The FeNi@7C-1000 achieved a high urea yield of 1041.33 mmol h^(−1)gFeNi^(−1)with a Faradaic efficiency of 15.56%at–1.2 V vs.RHE.Moreover,the scale-up synthesized FeNi@7C-950-S(over 140 g per batch)was achieved with its high catalytic performance and high stability maintained.Mechanism investigation illuminated that the Ni and Fe sites catalyze and stabilize the key*CO and*N intermediates and minimize the C–N coupling reaction barriers for highly efficient urea synthesis.

Green synthesis of ZSM-5 using silica fume and catalytic co-cracking of lignin and plastics for production of monocyclic aromatics

ZSM-5 with hierarchical pore structure was synthesized by a simple two-step hydrothermal crystallization from silica fume without using any organic ammonium templates.The synthesized ZSM-5 were oval shaped particles with a particle size about 2.0 μm and weak acid-dominated with proper Brønsted(B)and Lewis(L)acid sites.The ZSM-5 was used for catalytic co-cracking of n-octane and guaiacol,lowdensity polyethylene(LDPE)and alkali lignin(AL)to enhance the production of benzene,toluene,ethylbenzene and xylene(BTEX).The most significant synergistic effect occurred at n-octane/guaiacol at 1:1 and LDPE/AL at 1:3,under the condition,the achieved BTEX selectivity were 24%and 33%(mass)higher than the calculated values(weighted average).The highest BTEX selectivity reached 88.5%,which was 3.7%and 54.2%higher than those from individual cracking LDPE and AL.The synthesized ZSM-5 exhibited superior catalytic performance compared to the commercial ZSM-5,indicating potential application prospect.

NH_(4)Cl-assisted synthesis of TaON nanoparticle applied to photocatalytic hydrogen and oxygen evolution from water

Oxynitride semiconductors are promising photocatalyst materials for visible light-driven water splitting,while the synthesis of well crystalized oxynitride still remains challenge.In present work,narrow-bandgap TaON nanoparticles are synthesized via heating a vacuum-sealed mixture of KTaO_(3),Ta and NH_(4)Cl.This method possesses multiple advantages in terms of lower calcination parameter,higher N conversion efficiency and superior photocatalytic activity in comparison with the traditional thermal ammonolysis using NH_(3) gas as a nitrogen source.Through the analysis of intermediates produced upon the elevation of heating temperature,a gas-solid-phase reaction between TaCl_(5) and Ta_(2)O_(5) is demonstrated as the final step,which is conducive to decreasing thermal energy barrier and accelerating nitridation process.Precise control of preparation conditions,including calcination temperature and duration,allows for the regulation of surface O/N ratio of TaON particles to unity,resulting in optimized photocat-alytic activity.Photoelectrochemical assessment and intensity modulated photocurrent spectroscopy provide convincing evidence for improved charge transfer effciency of photoexcited holes at TaON surface.A Z-scheme overall water splitting is accomplished by employing the TaON as an effective oxygen evolution photocatalyst,SrTiO_(3):Rh as a hydrogen evolution photocatalyst,and reduced graphene oxide(rGO)as a solid-state electron mediator.This work presents a promising strategy for the synthesis of high-quality oxynitride materials in application to photocatalytic water splitting.

Exploring nitrogen reduction reaction mechanisms in electrocatalytic ammonia synthesis:A comprehensive review

The electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction(eNRR)holds significant promise as a sustainable alternative to the conventional large-scale Haber Bosch process,offering a carbon footprint-free approach for ammonia synthesis.While the process is thermodynamically feasible at ambient temperature and pressure,challenges such as the competing hydrogen evolution reaction,low nitrogen solubility in electrolytes,and the activation of inert dinitrogen(N_(2))gas adversely affect the performance of ammonia production.These hurdles result in low Faradaic efficiency and low ammonia production rate,which pose obstacles to the commercialisation of the process.Researchers have been actively designing and proposing various electrocatalysts to address these issues,but challenges still need to be resolved.A key strategy in electrocatalyst design lies in understanding the underlying mechanisms that govern the success or failure of the electrocatalyst in driving the electrochemical reaction.Through mechanistic studies,we gain valuable insights into the factors affecting the reaction,enabling us to propose optimised designs to overcome the barriers.This review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the various mechanisms involved in eNRR on the electrocatalyst surface.It delves into the various mechanisms such as dissociative,associative,Mars-van Krevelen,lithium-mediated nitrogen reduction and surface hydrogenation mechanisms of nitrogen reduction.By unravelling the intricacies of eNRR mechanisms and exploring promising avenues,we can pave the way for more efficient and commercially viable ammonia synthesis through this sustainable electrochemical process by designing an efficient electrocatalyst.

Dielectric barrier discharge plasma-assisted catalytic ammonia synthesis:synergistic effect of Ni-MOF-74 catalyst and nanosecond pulsed plasma

Ammonia is one of the most important chemical raw materials in both manufacture and life of human.Traditionally Haber-Bosch method for ammonia synthesis involves high temperature and high pressure conditions,leading to significant energy consumption and environmental pollution.Non-thermal plasma(NTP) is a promising alternative approach to ammonia synthesis at low temperature and atmospheric pressure.In this study,the synergistic effect of nanosecond pulsed dielectric barrier discharge(np-DBD) and Ni-MOF-74 catalyst was investigated in ammonia synthesis by utilizing nitrogen and hydrogen as feedstock.The results demonstrated that the plasma catalytic-synthesis process parameters play a crucial role in the synthesis process of ammonia.The highest ammonia synthesis rate of 5145.16 μmol·g^(-1)·h^(-1)with an energy efficiency of 1.27 g·kWh^(-1)was observed in the presence of the Ni-MOF-74 catalyst,which was3.7 times higher than that without Ni-MOF-74 catalyst.The synergistic effect of Ni-MOF-74catalyst and nanosecond pulsed plasma was explored by in-situ plasma discharge diagnostics.

Plasma-assisted synthesis of porous bismuth nanosheets for electrocatalytic CO_(2)-to-formate reduction

The electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction(eCO_(2)RR)to formate,driven by clean energy,is a promising approach for producing renewable chemicals and high-value fuels.Despite its potential,further development faces challenges due to limitations in electrocatalytic activity and durability,especially for nonnoble metal-based catalysts.Here,naturally abundant bismuth-based nanosheets that can effectively drive CO_(2)-to-formate electrocatalytic reduction are prepared using the plasma-activated Bi_(2)Se_(3) followed by a reduction process.Thus-obtained plasma-activated Bi nanosheets(P-BiNS)feature ultrathin structures and high surface areas.Such nanostructures ensure the P-BiNS with outstanding eCO_(2)RR catalytic performance,highlighted by the current density of over 80 mA cm^(-2) and a formate Faradic efficiency of>90%.Furthermore,P-BiNS catalysts demonstrate excellent durability and stability without deactivation following over 50h of operation.The selectivity for formate production is also studied by density functional theory(DFT)calculations,validating the importance and efficacy of the stabilization of intermediates(^(*)OCHO)on the P-BiNS surfaces.This study provides a facile plasma-assisted approach for developing high-performance and low-cost electrocatalysts.

Navigating the pathways:TAR-DNA-binding-protein-43 aggregation,axonal transport,and local synthesis in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis pathology

Neurons are highly polarized cells with axons reaching over a meter long in adult humans.To survive and maintain their proper function,neurons depend on specific mechanisms that regulate spatiotemporal signaling and metabolic events,which need to be carried out at the right place,time,and intensity.Such mechanisms include axonal transport,local synthesis,and liquid-liquid phase separations.Alterations and malfunctions in these processes are correlated to neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS).

Synthesis of three-dimensional ordered mesoporous MnO_2 and its catalytic performance in formaldehyde oxidation

Three-dimensional（3D）ordered mesoporous MnO2 was prepared using KIT-6 mesoporous molecular sieves as a hard template.The material was used for catalytic oxidation of HCHO.The material has high surface areas and the mesoporous characteristics of the template,with cubic symmetry（ia3d）.It consists of a β-MnO2 crystalline phase corresponding to pyrolusite,with a rutile structure.Transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed that the 3D-MnO2 catalyst has a large number of exposed Mn4＋ ions on the（110）crystal plane surfaces,with a lattice spacing of 0.311 nm; this enhances oxidation of HCHO.Complete conversion of HCHO to CO2 and H2O was achieved at 130 °C on 3D-MnO2; the same conversions on α-MnO2 and β-MnO2 nanorods were obtained at 140 and 180 °C,respectively,under the same conditions.The specific mesoporous structure,high specific surface area,and large number of surface Mn4＋ ions are responsible for the catalytic activity of 3D-MnO2 in HCHO oxidation.

In situ electrochemical synthesis of MOF-5 and its application in improving photocatalytic activity of BiOBr

Metal-organic frameworks（MOFs） are important functional materials. MOF-5（IL）（Zn4O（BDC）3（BDC=1,4-benzenedicarboxylate） was in situ synthesized by the electrochemical method using a tunable ionic liquid（IL）, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride, as template. The crystallization of distinctly spherical MOF-5（IL） synthsized in ionic liquid by the electrochemical method is attributed to π-π stacking effect, ionic bond, and coordination bond. The analysis results show that the product MOF-5（IL） exhibits better crystallinity and higher thermal stability than MOF-5 generated using the solvothermal method. The cyclic voltammetry reveals that the electrosynthesis reaction is irreversible and controlled by the diffusion. The experiments on methylorange degradation show that the unique structure characteristics of MOF-5（IL） can enhance the photocatalytic ability of Bi OBr. Therefore, MOFs can replace noble metals to improve the photocatalytic properties of bismuth oxyhalide.

One-step hydrothermal synthesis of Cu-SAPO-34/cordierite and its catalytic performance on NO_x removal from diesel vehicles

Cu-SAPO-34/cordierite catalysts were prepared via one-step hydrothermal synthesis method and their performances to remove NO x from the diesel vehicle exhaust were evaluated. The morphology, structure, Cu content and valence state were characterized by SEM, XRD, ICP and XPS, respectively. The experimental results show the active component Cu of the catalysts via in situ synthesis could significantly improve the selective catalytic reduction （SCR） activities of NOx and the optimal Cu content is in the range of 0.30%-0.40%（mass fraction）. No N 2 O is detected by gas chromatograph （GC） during the evaluation process, which implies that NOx is almost entirely converted to N2 over Cu-SAPO-34/cordierite catalyst. The conversion rate of NOx to N2 by NH3 over catalyst could almost be up to 100%in the temperature range of 300-670 ℃with a space velocity of 12000 h-1 and it is still more than 60% at 300-620 ℃ under 36000 h-1. The catalysts also show the good hydrothermal and chemical stability at the atmosphere with H 2 O.

Preparation of Ni(HCO_3)_2 and its catalytic performance in synthesis of benzoin ethyl ether

Ni（HCO3）2 with unique phase and high crystallinity was synthesized with urea hydrolysis. The as-prepared samples were well characterized in detail. N2 adsorption and desorption result manifests a high surface area of 99.03 m2/g with a pore size of 7.8 nm. Scanning electron microscopy （SEM） and particle size distribution reveal that the diameters of the formed pellets are uniform. Thermogravimetry （TG） analysis result shows that 500 ℃ could be the appropriate temperature for converting Ni（HCO3）2 precursors into NiO via a thermal decomposition process. CO2 and NH3 temperature-programmed desorption results show that Ni（HCO3）2 has explicit acid-base sites. Transmission electron microscopy （TEM） results vividly indicate that the pellets are aggregated by hexagonal platelets and possess porous structures. Ni（HCO3）2 can efficiently catalyze the one-step synthesis of benzoin ethyl ether from benzaldehyde and ethanol, with the conversion ofbenzaldehyde up to 57.5% and nearly 100% selectivity of benzoin ethyl ether.

Facile synthesis of tin oxide nanocrystals and their photocatalytic activity

Tin oxide nanociystals with diameters smaller than 10 nm were synthesized using Na2SnO3 and CO2 as reactants and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide（CTAB） as stabilizer under mild conditions.As a mild acidic gas,CO2 is favorable for the accurate adjustment of pH value of Na2SnO3 solution.Stannate salt is stable,cheap and easy in operation.The effects of Na2SnO3concentration,CTAB concentration,aging temperature,and aging time on the nanociystals were studied.It was found that,with the increasing Na2SnO3 concentration,aging temperature and aging time,SnO2 nanociystals size decreases.The formation of SnO2nanociystals can be interpreted by electrostatic-interaction mechanism.SnO2 nanociystals show high photocatalytic activities in the degradation of Rhodamine B solution.The catalytic activity of small nanocrystals is higher than that of large ones.

Synthesis of a chabazite-supported copper catalyst with full mesopores for selective catalytic reduction of nitrogen oxides at low temperature

A series of meso‐microporous copper‐supporting chabazite molecular sieve（CuSAPO‐34） catalysts with excellent performance in low‐temperature ammonia selective catalytic reduction（NH3‐SCR）have been synthesized via a one‐pot hydrothermal crystallization method. The physicochemical properties of the catalysts were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, N2 adsorption‐desorption measurements, X‐ray diffraction, 27 Al magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance, diffuse reflectance ultraviolet‐visible spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma‐atomic emission spectroscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, temperature‐programmed reduction measurements, and electron paramagnetic resonance analysis. The formation of micro‐mesopores in the Cu‐SAPO‐34 catalysts decreases diffusion resistance and greatly improves the accessibility of reactants to catalytic active sites. The main active sites for NH3‐SCR reaction are the isolated Cu^2＋ species displaced into the ellipsoidal cavity of the Cu‐SAPO‐34 catalysts.

Synthesis,characterization and catalytic reactivity of pentacoordinate iron dicarbonyl as a model of the [Fe]-hydrogenase active site

Two mono iron complexes Fe（CO）2PR3（NN） （R = Cy （3）, Ph （4）, NN = o-phenylenediamine dianion ligand, N2H2Ph2-） derived from the ligand substitution of Fe（CO）3hPR3 by the NN ligand were isolated and structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. They have a similar first coordination sphere and oxidation state of the iron center as the [Fe]-hydrogenase active site, and can be a model of it IR demonstrated that the effect of the NN ligand on the coordinated CO stretch- ing frequencies was due to its excellent electron donating ability. The reversible protonation/deprotonation of the NN ligand was identified by infrared spectroscopy and density functional theory computation. The NN ligand is an effective proton acceptor as the internal base of the cysteine thiolate ligand in [Fe]-hydrogenase. The electrochemical properties of complexes 3, 4 were investigated by cyclic voltammograms. Complex 3 catalyzed the transfer hydrogenation of benzoquinone to hydroquinone effectively under mild conditions.

Effects of Co_3O_4 nanocatalyst morphology on CO oxidation:Synthesis process map and catalytic activity

This study focuses on drawing a hydrothermal synthesis process map for Co3O4 nanoparticles with various morphologies and investigating the effects of Co3O4 nanocatalyst morphology on CO oxidation.A series of cobalt-hydroxide-carbonate nanoparticles with various morphologies（i.e.,nanorods,nanosheets,and nanocubes） were successfully synthesized,and Co3O4 nanoparticles were obtained by thermal decomposition of the cobalt-hydroxide-carbonate precursors.The results suggest that the cobalt source is a key factor for controlling the morphology of cobalt-hydroxide-carbonate at relatively low hydrothermal temperatures（≤ 140℃）.Nanorods can be synthesized in CoCl2 solution,while Co（NO3）2 solution promotes the formation of nanosheets.Further increasing the synthesis temperature（higher than 140 ℃） results in the formation of nanocubes in either Co（NO3）2 or CoCl2 solution.The reaction time only affects the size of the obtained nanoparticles.The presence of CTAB could improve the uniformity and dispersion of particles.Co3O4 nanosheets showed much higher catalytic activity for CO oxidation than nanorods and nanocubes because it has more abundant Co^（3＋） on the surface,much higher reducibility,and better oxygen desorption capacity.

Hydrothermal synthesis of nanosized ZSM-22 and their use in the catalytic conversion of methanol

ZSM‐22 zeolite with different crystal lengths was prepared using a modified hydrothermal method. Rotation speed, Si/Al molar ratio and co‐solvent have important effects on the crystal size of ZSM‐22. The nanosized zeolite samples were characterized by X‐ray diffraction, X‐ray fluorescence, nitrogen adsorption, scanning electron microscopy, temperature‐programmed desorption of am‐monia and solid state nuclear magnetic resonance. The catalytic performance of nanosized ZSM‐22 was tested using the conversion of methanol. Compared to conventional ZSM‐22, the nanosized ZSM‐22 zeolite exhibited superior selectivity to ethylene and aromatics and lower selectivity to propylene. Stability against deactivation was clearly shown by the nanosized ZSM‐22 zeolite. A higher external surface area and smaller particle size make this nanosized ZSM‐22 zeolite attractive for catalytic applications.

Synthesis and characterization of ZnTiO_3 with high photocatalytic activity

Perovskite ZnTiO3 was prepared through a new method which contained a hydrothermal process for the preparation of titanate nanotubes and an ion-exchange process.The titanate nanotubes were inferred to be H2Ti3O7·3H2O.X-ray diffraction（XRD）result revealed the presence of cubic perovskite phase of ZnTiO3.The unique chain-like morphology of ZnTiO3 was observed by scanning electron microscopy（SEM） and transmission electron microscopy（TEM）.UV-Vis diffusive reflection spectra of ZnTiO3indicated that the absorbance obviously increased in the visible light region.The degradation rate of methyl orange solution（15 mg/L）reached 95.3%over ZnTiO3（0.3 g/L） after 20 min xenon light irradiation,which was higher than that using the commercial catalyst P25 under the same reaction condition.The degradation kinetic results follow the first-order equation and the rate constant is 0.1020.

Rh_2O_3/mesoporous MO_x-Al_2O_3(M = Mn,Fe,Co,Ni,Cu,Ba)catalysts:Synthesis,characterization,and catalytic applications

Recently,a one-pot self-assembly method was proposed for the synthesis of mesoporous Al2O3 and MOx-Al2O3 composite materials.However,few attempts have been made to use mesoporous MOx-Al2O3 composites to support metal oxides for catalysis.In the present work,mesoporous MOx-Al2O3（M = Mn,Fe,Co,Ni,Cu,Ba）materials were prepared by a one-pot self-assembly method using Pluronic P123 as a structure-directing agent.The obtained mesoporous materials were loaded with Rh2O3 nanoparticles via impregnation with Rh（NO3）3 followed by calcination in air at 500°C.The resulting catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction,N2 adsorption-desorption measurements,transmission electron microscopy,inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry,X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy,and their catalytic activity and stability for CO oxidation and N2O decomposition were tested.The Rh2O3 nanoparticles were found to be on the order of1 nm in size and were highly dispersed on the high surface area mesoporous MOx-Al2O3 supports.A number of the Rh2O3/mesoporous MOx-Al2O3 catalysts exhibited higher catalytic activity than the Rh2O3/mesoporous Al2O3 prepared for comparison.