Crystal plane induced in-situ electrochemical activation of manganese-based cathode enable long-term aqueous zinc-ion batteries

Rapid capacity decay and sluggish reaction kinetics are major barriers hindering the applications of manganese-based cathode materials for aqueous zinc-ion batteries.Herein,the effects of crystal plane on the in-situ transformation behavior and electrochemical performance of manganese-based cathode is discussed.A comprehensive discussion manifests that the exposed(100)crystal plane is beneficial to the phase transformation from tunnel-structured MnO_(2) to layer-structured ZnMn_(3)O_(7)·3H_(2)O,which plays a critical role for the high reactivity,high capacity,fast diffusion kinetics and long cycling stability.Additionally,a two-stage zinc storage mechanism can be demonstrated,involving continuous activation reaction and phase transition reaction.As expected,it exhibits a high capacity of 275 mAh g^(-1)at 100 mA g^(-1),a superior durability over 1000 cycles and good rate capability.This study may open new windows toward developing advanced cathodes for ZIBs,and facilitate the applications of ZIBs in large-scale energy storage system.

Enhanced performance in the direct electrocatalytic synthesis of ammonia from N2 and H2O by an in-situ electrochemical activation of CNT-supported iron oxide nanoparticles

The direct electrocatalytic synthesis of ammonia from N2 and H2O by using renewable energy sources and ambient pressure/temperature operations is a breakthrough technology,which can reduce by over 90%the greenhouse gas emissions of this chemical and energy storage process.We report here an in-situ electrochemical activation method to prepare Fe2O3-CNT(iron oxide on carbon nanotubes)electrocatalysts for the direct ammonia synthesis from N2 and H2O.The in-situ electrochemical activation leads to a large increase of the ammonia formation rate and Faradaic efficiency which reach the surprising high values of 41.6μg mgcat^−1 h^−1 and 17%,respectively,for an in-situ activation of 3 h,among the highest values reported so far for non-precious metal catalysts that use a continuous-flow polymer-electrolytemembrane cell and gas-phase operations for the ammonia synthesis hemicell.The electrocatalyst was stable at least 12 h at the working conditions.Tests by switching N2 to Ar evidence that ammonia was formed from the gas-phase nitrogen.The analysis of the changes of reactivity and of the electrocatalyst characteristics as a function of the time of activation indicates a linear relationship between the ammonia formation rate and a specific XPS(X-ray-photoelectron spectroscopy)oxygen signal related to O2−in iron-oxide species.This results together with characterization data by TEM and XRD suggest that the iron species active in the direct and selective synthesis of ammonia is a maghemite-type iron oxide,and this transformation from the initial hematite is responsible for the in-situ enhancement of 3-4 times of the TOF(turnover frequency)and NH3 Faradaic efficiency.This transformation is likely related to the stabilization of the maghemite species at CNT defect sites,although for longer times of preactivation a sintering occurs with a loss of performances.

In-situ electrochemical activation designed hybrid electrocatalysts for water electrolysis

Developing transition metal-based electrocatalysts with rich active sites for water electrolysis plays important roles in renewable energy fields. So far, some strategies including designing nanostructures,incorporating conductive support or foreign elements have been adopted to develop efficient electrocatalysts. Herein, we summarize recent progresses and propose in-situ electrochemical activation as a new pretreating technique for enhanced catalytic performances. The activation techniques mainly comprise facile electrochemical processes such as anodic oxidation, cathodic reduction, etching, lithium-assisted tuning and counter electrode electro-dissolution. During these electrochemical treatments, the catalyst surfaces are modified from bulk phase, which can tune local electronic structures, create more active species, enlarge surface area and thus improve the catalytic performances. Meanwhile, this technique can couple the atomic, electronic structures with electrocatalysis mechanisms for water splitting.Compared to traditional chemical treatment, the in-situ electrochemical activation techniques have superior advantages such as facile operation, mild environment, variable control, high efficiency and flexibility. This review may provide guidance for improving water electrolysis efficiencies and hold promising for application in many other energy-conversion fields such as supercapacitors, fuel cells and batteries.

Strategies to achieve effective nitrogen activation

Ammonia serves as a crucial chemical raw material and hydrogen energy carrier.Aqueous electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction(NRR),powered by renewable energy,has attracted tremendous interest during the past few years.Although some achievements have been revealed in aqueous NRR,significant challenges have also been identified.The activity and selectivity are fundamentally limited by nitrogen activation and competitive hydrogen evolution.This review focuses on the hurdles of nitrogen activation and delves into complementary strategies,including materials design and system optimization(reactor,electrolyte,and mediator).Then,it introduces advanced interdisciplinary technologies that have recently emerged for nitrogen activation using high-energy physics such as plasma and triboelectrification.With a better understanding of the corresponding reaction mechanisms in the coming years,these technologies have the potential to be extended in further applications.This review provides further insight into the reaction mechanisms of selectivity and stability of different reaction systems.We then recommend a rigorous and detailed protocol for investigating NRR performance and also highlight several potential research directions in this exciting field,coupling with advanced interdisciplinary applications,in situ/operando characterizations,and theoretical calculations.

High Fe^(LS)(C)electrochemical activity of an iron hexacyanoferrate cathode boosts superior sodium ion storage

Sodium iron hexacyanoferrate(FeHCF)is one of the most promising cathode materials for sodium-ion batteries(SIBs)due to its low cost theoretical capacity.However,the low electrochemical activity of Fe^(LS)(C)in FeHCF drags down its practical capacity and potential plateau.Herein,FeHCF with high Fe^(LS)(C)electrochemical activity(C-FeHCF)is synthesized via a facile citric acid-assisted solvothermal method.As the cathode of SIBs,C-FeHCF shows superior cycling stability(ca.87.3%capacity retention for 1000 cycles at 10 C)and outstanding rate performance(ca.68.5%capacity retention at 50 C).Importantly,the contribution of Fe^(LS)(C)to the whole capacity was quantitatively analyzed via combining dQ/dV and discharge curve for the first time,and the index reaches 44.53%for C-FeHCF,close to the theoretical value.In-situ X-ray diffraction proves the structure stability of C-FeHCF during charge-discharge process,ensuring its superior cycling performance.Furthermore,the application feasibility of the C-FeHCF cathode in quasi-solid SIBs is also evaluated.The quasi-solid SIBs with the C-FeHCF cathode exhibit excellent electrochemical performance,delivering an initial discharge capacity of 106.5 mAh g^(−1) at 5 C and high capacity retention of 89.8%over 1200 cycles.This work opens new insights into the design and development of advanced cathode materials for SIBs and the beyond.

Activation of urchin-like Ni-doped W_(18)O_(49)/NF by electrochemical tuning for efficient water splitting

The electrochemical conversion is closely correlated with the electrocatalytic activities of the electrocatalyst.Herein,the urchin-like Ni-doped W_(18)O_(49)/NF with enriched active sites was prepared by solvothermal method followed by a low-temperature pyrolysis treatment was reported.Results demonstrate that the incorporation of Ni-doping triggers the lattice distortion of W_(18)O_(49) for the increasement of oxygen defects.Further,high-valent W^(6+)are partially reduced to low-valent W^(4+),wherein the electrons originate from the oxidation process of Ni^(2+)to Ni^(3+).The Ni^(3+)ions show an enhanced orbital overlap with the OER reaction intermediates.The generated W^(4+)ions contribute to release oxygen vacancies,eventually reorganizing Ni-doped W_(18)O_(49)/NF to unique electrochemical active species with a special amorphous-crystalline interface(AM/NiWO_x/NiOOH/NF).Simultaneously,the reconstruction results in an optimized valence band and conduction band.Eventually,the resultant AM/NiWO_x/NiOOH/NF with abundant active sites and improved oxidation/reduction capability exhibits more superior catalytic performance compared with the Ni-doped W_(18)O_(49)/NF counterpart.This study gives more insights in the electrochemical evolution of the tungsten-based oxide and provides effective strategies for optimizing the catalytic activity of materials with inherent hydrogen evolution reaction limitations.

Plasma Activation of Integrated Carbon Nanotube Electrodes for Electrochemical Detection of Catechol

In this study, integrated multi-wall carbon nanotube （MWCNT） electrodes were prepared in the holes of glass directly by microwave plasma chemical vapour deposition （MWPCVD）. The electrochemical behaviour of catechol at the integrated MWCNT electrodes was investigated. The oxygen plasma treated CNT electrodes had better electrochemical performance for the analysis of catechol than that of as-synthesized CNT electrodes. Both the as-synthesized CNTs and plasma treated CNTs were characterized by TEM（transmission electron microscopy, XPS（X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy） and Raman spectroscopy. The results revealed that the oxygen plasma activation is an effective method to enhance the electrochemical properties of CNT electrodes.

Perspectives in Electrochemical in situ Structural Reconstruction of Cathode Materials for Multivalent-ion Storage

Multivalent-ion(such as Zn^(2+),Mg^(2+),Al^(3+))batteries are considered as a prospective alternative for large-scale energy storage.However,the main problem of cathode materials for multivalent-ion batteries is the sluggish diffusion of multivalent ions.Many cathode materials will self-adjust under electrochemical conditions to achieve the optimal state for multivalent-ion storage.In this review,the significant role of electrochemical in situ structural reconstruction of cathode materials is suggested.The types,basic characteristics,and formation mechanisms of reconstructed phases have been systematically discussed and commented.The most important insight we pointed out is that the cathode materials with loose structures after in situ electrochemical activation are conducive to the reversible diffusion of multivalent ions.Moreover,several crucial issues of electrochemical activation and reconstruction were further analyzed and discussed.The challenges and future perspectives are presented in the final section.

Activation of Transition Metal(Fe,Co and Ni)-Oxide Nanoclusters by Nitrogen Defects in Carbon Nanotube for Selective CO_(2) Reduction Reaction

The electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction reaction(CO_(2)RR),which can produce value-added chemical feedstocks,is a proton-coupled-electron process with sluggish kinetics.Thus,highly efficient,cheap catalysts are urgently required.Transition metal oxides such as CoO_(x),FeO_(x),and NiO_(x)are low-cost,low toxicity,and abundant materials for a wide range of electrochemical reactions,but are almost inert for CO_(2)RR.Here,we report for the first time that nitrogen doped carbon nanotubes(N-CNT)have a surprising activation effect on the activity and selectivity of transition metal-oxide(MO_(x)where M=Fe,Ni,and Co)nanoclusters for CO_(2)RR.MO_(x)supported on N-CNT,MO_(x)/N-CNT,achieves a CO yield of 2.6–2.8 mmol cm−2 min−1 at an overpotential of−0.55 V,which is two orders of magnitude higher than MO_(x)supported on acid treated CNTs(MO_(x)/O-CNT)and four times higher than pristine N-CNT.The faraday efficiency for electrochemical CO_(2)-to-CO conversion is as high as 90.3%at overpotential of 0.44 V.Both in-situ XAS measurements and DFT calculations disclose that MO_(x)nanoclusters can be hydrated in CO_(2)saturated KHCO_(3),and the N defects of N-CNT effectively stabilize these metal hydroxyl species under carbon dioxide reduction reaction conditions,which can split the water molecules and provide local protons to inhibit the poisoning of active sites under carbon dioxide reduction reaction conditions.

A high-performance biochar produced from bamboo pyrolysis with in-situ nitrogen doping and activation for adsorption of phenol and methylene blue

Nitrogen doping is a promising method for the preparation of functional carbon materials.In this study,a nitrogen-doped porous coral biochar was prepared by using bamboo as raw material,urea as nitrogen source,and KHCO3 as green activator through in-situ pyrolysis.The structure of the obtained biochar was characterized by various techniques including nitrogen adsorption and desorption,Raman spectroscopy,X-ray photoelectron spectrometer,and etc.The adsorption properties of nitrogen-doped biochar were evaluated with phenol and methylene blue probes.The results showed that the nitrogen source ratio had a significant effect on the evolution of pore structure of biochar.Low urea addition ratio was beneficial to the development of pore structures.The optimum specific surface area of nitrogen-doped biochar could be up to 1693 m^2·g^-1.Nitrogen doping can effectively improve the adsorption capacity of biochar to phenol and methylene blue.Biochar prepared at 973.15 K with low urea addition ratio exhibited the highest adsorption capacity for phenol and methylene blue,and the equilibrium adsorption capacity was 169.0 mg·g^-1 and 499.3 mg·g^-1,respectively.By comparing the adsorption capacity of various adsorbents in related fields,it is proved that the nitrogen-doped biochar prepared in this study has a good adsorption effect.

Effect of N-doping-derived solvent adsorption on electrochemical double layer structure and performance of porous carbon

N-doped porous carbon has been extensively investigated for broad electrochemical applications.The performance is significantly impacted by the electrochemical double layer(EDL),which is material dependent and hard to characterize.Limited understanding of doping-derived EDL structure hinders insight into the structure-performance relations and the rational design of high-performance materials.Thus,we analyzed the mass and chemical composition variation of EDL within electrochemical operation by electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance,in-situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy,and time-offlight secondary ion mass spectrometry.We found that N-doping triggers specifically adsorbed propylene carbonate solvent in the inner Helmholtz plane(IHP),which prevents ion rearrangement and enhances the migration of cations.However,this specific adsorption accelerated solvent decomposition,rendering rapid performance degradation in practical devices.This work reveals that the surface chemistry of electrodes can cause specific adsorption of solvents and change the EDL structure,which complements the classical EDL theory and provide guidance for practical applications.

Controllably partial removal of thiolate ligands from unsupported Au_(25) nanoclusters by rapid thermal treatments for electrochemical CO_(2)reduction

Colloidal synthesis of metal nanoclusters will inevitably lead to the blockage of catalytically active sites by organic ligands.Here,taking[Au_(25)(PET)_(18)]-(PET=2-phenylethanethiol)nanocluster as a model catalyst,this work reports a feasible procedure to achieve the controllably partial removal of thiolate ligands from unsupported[Au_(25)(PET)_(18)]-nanoclusters with the preservation of the core structure.This procedure shortens the processing duration by rapid heating and cooling on the basis of traditional annealing treatment,avoiding the reconfiguration or agglomeration of Au_(25)nanoclusters,where the degree of dethiolation can be regulated by the control of duration.This work finds that a moderate degree of dethiolation can expose the Au active sites while maintaining the suppression of the competing hydrogen evolution reaction.Consequently,the activity and selectivity towards CO formation in electrochemical CO_(2)reduction reaction of Au_(25)nanoclusters can be promoted.This work provides a new approach for the removal of thiolate ligands from atomically precise gold nanoclusters.

Zeolite-mediated hybrid Cu^(+)/Cu~0 interface for electrochemical nitrate reduction to ammonia

The electrocatalytic conversion of reactive nitrogen species to ammonia is a promising strategy for efficient NH_(3) synthesis.In this study,we reveal that the hybrid Cu^(+)/Cu~0 interface is catalytically active for electrochemical ammonia synthesis from nitrate reduction.To maintain the hybrid Cu^(+)/Cu~0 state at negative reaction potentials,hydrophilic zeolite is used to modify Cu/Cu_(2)O electrocatalyst,which demonstrates an impressive NH_(3) production rate of 41.65 mg h^(-1) cm^(-2)with ~100% Faradaic efficiency of ammonia synthesis at-0.6 V vs.RHE.In-situ Raman spectroscopy unveil the high activity originates from the zeolite reconstruction at the electrode–electrolyte interface,which protects the valence state of Cu~0/Cu^(+) site under negative potential and promotes electrochemical activity towards NH_(3) synthesis.

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.

Self-regeneration of activated carbon modified with palladium catalyst for electrochemical dechlorination

Catalyst regeneration and the retention of high catalytic activity are still the critical issues in environmental application. A novel fluidized gas-liquid-solid electrochemical reactor was developed to simultaneously remove chlorinated pollutants and in situ regenerate the spent catalyst. Activated carbon modified with palladium catalyst （AC-Pd） was prepared for electrochemical dechlorination. For the 4-chlorophenol wastewater of initial concentration 200 mg· L^- 1, the removal efficiency could nearly reach 100% in less than 30 rain. Catalytic activity of AC-Pd catalyst was preserved effectively even in consecutive cycling run without special regeneration. OH radicals, generated by electrochemical reaction, played a critical role in self-regeneration of AC-Pd. High catalytic activity of spent AC-Pd catalyst provided an attractive alternative in wastewater treatment.

Carbon‐based metal‐free catalysts for electrochemical CO2 reduction: Activity, selectivity, and stability

Zero or negative emissions of carbon dioxide(CO2)is the need of the times,as inexorable rising and alarming levels of CO2 in the atmosphere lead to global warming and severe climate change.The electrochemical CO2 reduction(eCO2R)to value‐added fuels and chemicals by using renewable electricity provides a cleaner and more sustainable route with economic benefits,in which the key is to develop clean and economical electrocatalysts.Carbon‐based catalyst materials possess desirable properties such as high offset potential for H2 evolution and chemical stability at the negative applied potential.Although it is still challenging to achieve highly efficient carbon‐based catalysts,considerable efforts have been devoted to overcoming the low selectivity,activity,and stability.Here,we summarize and discuss the recent progress in carbon‐based metal‐free catalysts including carbon nanotubes,carbon nanofibers,carbon nanoribbons,graphene,carbon nitride,and diamonds with an emphasis on their activity,product selectivity,and stability.In addition,the key challenges and future potential approaches for efficient eCO2R to low carbon‐based fuels are highlighted.For a good understanding of the whole history of the development of eCO2R,the CO2 reduction reactions,principles,and techniques including the role of electrolytes,electrochemical cell design and evaluation,product selectivity,and structural composition are also discussed.The metal/metal oxides decorated with carbon‐based electrocatalysts are also summarized.We aim to provide insights for further development of carbon‐based metal‐free electrocatalysts for CO2 reduction from the perspective of both fundamental understanding and technological applications in the future.

Recent update on electrochemical CO_(2)reduction catalyzed by metal sulfide materials

Seeking and developing efficient CO_(2)reduction reaction(CO_(2)RR)electrocatalysts is a hot topic in this era of global warming.Among material candidates for sustainable and cost-effective applications,metal sulfides have attracted attention as promising nature-inspired materials due to multiple adsorption sites which are enhanced by the covalent character of sulfur.This article summarizes the current status regarding the utilization and development of metal sulfide materials as CO_(2)RR electrocatalysts.First,the research background and basic principles of electrochemical CO_(2)RR are introduced.Next,an overview of the main obstacles to developing efficient CO_(2)RR electrocatalysts is presented.The section is followed by a summary of the empirical evidence supporting the application of metal sulfides as CO_(2)RR electrocatalysts beside nature-inspired motivation.The summary of synthesis methods of various metal sulfides is also presented.Furthermore,the paper also highlights the recent works on metal sulfide as efficient CO_(2)RR including the undertaking strategy on the activity enhancement,and finally,discusses the challenges and prospect of metal sulfides-based CO_(2)RR electrocatalysts.Despite recent efforts,metal sulfides remain relatively unexplored as materials for CO_(2)RR electrocatalytic applications.Therefore,this review aims to stimulate novel ideas and research for improved catalyst designs and functionality.

Research Surveys of Electrochemical Sensors for in-situ Determining Hydrogen in Steels

The principle, construction and application of two types of electrochemical sensors-amperometric and potentiometric are surveyed. Both types of sensors are very sensitive to changes in temperature. The accuracy of hydrogen measurement depends on both the precision of sensors developed and the reliable technique of installation and security of sensors. The two types of sensors have been used for in-situ determining hydrogen permeated in steels owing to a corrosive reaction, a hydrogen gas circumstance at elevated temperatures and high pressure or also a pretreatment process such as pickling and plating process, etc.

Influence of nitrogen hetero-substitution on the electrochemical performance of coal-based activated carbons measured in non-aqueous electrolyte

Nitrogen-containing carbons were prepared by modification of activated carbons.The modified carbons were used as electrode materials with improved electrochemical performance.Precursor anthracite was activated by KOH(KOH:anthracite= 1:1), modified by melamine or urea and then treated at 1173 K to obtain the modified carbons.The porous structure, the chemical composition and the electrochemical characteristics of the carbons were investigated by nitrogen sorption, XPS and electrochemical methods respectively.Electrochemical experiments were performed in an organic electrolytic solution of 1 M(C2H5)4NBF4/PC.The samples modified by the different methods showed differences in chemical composition that introduced varying degrees of electrochemical performance enhancement.The presence of nitrogen enhanced the electron donor properties and the surface wettability of the activated carbons:this ensured a sufficient utilization of the exposed surface for charge storage.

Preparation of activated carbons from mesophase pitch and their electrochemical properties

The influences of molar ratio of KOH to C and activated temperature on the pore structure and electrochemical property of porous activated carbon from mesophase pitch activated by KOH were investigated. The surface areas and the pore structures of activated carbons were analyzed by nitrogen adsorption, and the electrochemical properties of the activated carbons were studied using two-electrode capacitors in organic electrolyte. The results indicate that the maximum surface area of 3 190 m2/g is obtained at molar ratio of KOH to C of 5:1, the maximum specific capacitance of 122 F/g is attained at molar ratio of KOH to C of 4:1, and 800 ℃ is the proper temperature to obtain the maximum surface area and capacitance.