Preface to Special Issue on Celebrating the 70th Anniversary of Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences

The 70th anniversary of Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics (DICP), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), has been celebrating in various ways through the year of 2019. DICP was established with the name of Scientific Research Institute of Dalian University on March 19, 1949, which is even a little earlier than the foundation of the People's Republic of China (October 1, 1949). Since then, the name of the institute has changed several times in order to fulfill the assigned regional and national research mission. In 1970, the institute was named as the “Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences”.

Special Issue: In celebration of the 70th anniversary of Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics(DICP) is a comprehensive chemical engineering research institute with strong international reputation, which has made significant contributions to national economic construction, national security and the progress of science and technology(S&T).

Electrochemical reconstruction of non-noble metal-based heterostructure nanorod arrays electrodes for highly stable anion exchange membrane seawater electrolysis

Direct seawater electrolysis for hydrogen production has been regarded as a viable route to utilize surplus renewable energy and address the climate crisis.However,the harsh electrochemical environment of seawater,particularly the presence of aggressive Cl^(-),has been proven to be prone to parasitic chloride ion oxidation and corrosion reactions,thus restricting seawater electrolyzer lifetime.Herein,hierarchical structure(Ni,Fe)O(OH)@NiCoS nanorod arrays(NAs)catalysts with heterointerfaces and localized oxygen vacancies were synthesized at nickel foam substrates via the combination of hydrothermal and annealing methods to boost seawater dissociation.The hiera rchical nanostructure of NiCoS NAs enhanced electrode charge transfer rate and active surface area to accelerate oxygen evolution reaction(OER)and generated sulfate gradient layers to repulsive aggressive Cl^(-).The fabricated heterostructure and vacancies of(Ni,Fe)O(OH)tuned catalyst electronic structure into an electrophilic state to enhance the binding affinity of hydroxyl intermediates and facilitate the structural transformation into amorphousγ-NiFeOOH for promoting OER.Furthermore,through operando electrochemistry techniques,we found that theγ-NiFeOOH possessing an unsaturated coordination environment and lattice-oxygen-participated OER mechanism can minimize electrode Cl^(-)corrosion enabled by stabilizing the adsorption of OH*intermediates,making it one of the best OER catalysts in the seawater medium reported to date.Consequently,these catalysts can deliver current densities of 100 and 500 mA cm-2for boosting OER at minimal overpotentials of 245and 316 mV,respectively,and thus prevent chloride ion oxidation simultaneously.Impressively,a highly stable anion exchange membrane(AEM)seawater electrolyzer based on the non-noble metal heterostructure electrodes reached a record low degradation rate under 100μV h-1at constant industrial current densities of 400 and 600 mA cm-2over 300 h,which exhibits a promising future for the nonprecious and stable AEMWE in the direct seawater electrolysis industry.

Catalyst design and structure control for photocatalytic refineries of cellulosic biomass to fuels and chemicals

Lignocellulosic biomass is the largest renewable hydrocarbon resource on earth.Converting cellulose,one of the major components of lignocellulose,powered by solar energy is a promising way of providing lowcarbon-footprint energy chemicals such as H_(2),HCOOH,CO,and transportation fuels.State-of-the-art biorefineries target the full use of biomass feedstocks as they have a maximum collection radius of 75-100 km,requesting efficient and selective photocatalysts that significantly influence the outcome of photocatalytic biorefineries.Well-performed photocatalysts can harvest a broad solar spectrum and are active in breaking the chemical bonds of cellulose,decreasing the capital investments of biorefineries.Besides,photocatalysts should control the selectivity of cellulose conversion,originating target products to level down separation costs.Charge separation in photocatalysts and interfacial charge transfer between photocatalysts and cellulose affect the activity and selectivity of cellulose refineries to H2 and carbonaceous chemicals.To account for the challenges above,this review summarizes photocatalysts for the refineries of cellulose and downstream platform molecules based on the types of products,with the structure features of different types of photocatalysts discussed in relation to the targets of either improving the activity or product selectivity.In addition,this review also sheds light on the methods for designing and regulating photocatalyst structures to facilitate photocatalytic refineries of cellulose and platform molecules,meanwhile summarizing proposed future research challenges and opportunities for designing efficient photocatalysts.

Catalytic conversion of lignocellulosic biomass into chemicals and fuels

In the search of alternative resources to make commodity chemicals and transportation fuels for a low carbon future,lignocellulosic biomass with over 180-billion-ton annual production rate has been identified as a promising feedstock.This review focuses on the state-of-the-art catalytic transformation of lignocellulosic biomass into value-added chemicals and fuels.Following a brief introduction on the structure,major resources and pretreatment methods of lignocellulosic biomass,the catalytic conversion of three main components,i.e.,cellulose,hemicellulose and lignin,into various compounds are comprehensively discussed.Either in separate steps or in one-pot,cellulose and hemicellulose are hydrolyzed into sugars and upgraded into oxygen-containing chemicals such as 5-HMF,furfural,polyols,and organic acids,or even nitrogen-containing chemicals such as amino acids.On the other hand,lignin is first depolymerized into phenols,catechols,guaiacols,aldehydes and ketones,and then further transformed into hydrocarbon fuels,bioplastic precursors and bioactive compounds.The review then introduces the transformations of whole biomass via catalytic gasification,catalytic pyrolysis,as well as emerging strategies.Finally,opportunities,challenges and prospective of woody biomass valorization are highlighted.

High-throughput mechanistic study of highly selective hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks for electrochemical nitrate reduction to ammonia

Hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks(HOFs),an emerging porous macrocyclic materials linked by hydrogen-bond,hold potential for gas separation and storage,sensors,optical,and electrocatalysts.Here,HOF-based electrocatalysts are rationally developed for nitrates reduction to ammonia,allowing not only to regulate wastewater pollution but also to accomplish carbon-neutral ammonia(NH_(3))synthesis.We preform high-throughput computational screening of thirty-six HOFs with various metals as active sites,denoted as HOF-M1,for nitrate reduction reaction(NO_(3)RR)toward NH_(3).We have implemented a hierarchical four-step screening strategy,and ultimately,HOF-Ti1 was selected based on its exceptional catalytic activity and selectivity in the NO_(3)RR process.Through additional analysis,we discovered that the d band center of the active metal sites serves as an effective parameter for designing and predicting the performance of HOFs in NO_(3)RR.This research not only showcases the immense potential of electrocatalysis in transforming NO_(3)RR into NH_(3)but also provides researchers with a compelling incentive to undertake further experimental investigations.

The key challenges and future opportunities of electrochemical capacitors

Electrochemical capacitors(ECs)with unique merits of fast charge/discharge rate and long cyclability are one of the representative electrochemical energy storage systems,possessing wide applications in power electronics and automotive transportation,etc.[1,2].Furthermore.

Modeling and analysis of air combustion and steam regeneration in methanol to olefins processes

Light olefins is the incredibly important materials in chemical industry.Methanol to olefins(MTO),which provides a non-oil route for light olefins production,received considerable attention in the past decades.However,the catalyst deactivation is an inevitable feature in MTO processes,and regeneration,therefore,is one of the key steps in industrial MTO processes.Traditionally the MTO catalyst is regenerated by removing the deposited coke via air combustion,which unavoidably transforms coke into carbon dioxide and reduces the carbon utilization efficiency.Recent study shows that the coke species over MTO catalyst can be regenerated via steam,which can promote the light olefins yield as the deactivated coke species can be essentially transferred to industrially useful synthesis gas,is a promising pathway for further MTO processes development.In this work,we modelled and analyzed these two MTO regeneration methods in terms of carbon utilization efficiency and technology economics.As shown,the steam regeneration could achieve a carbon utilization efficiency of 84.31%,compared to 74.74%for air combustion regeneration.The MTO processes using steam regeneration can essentially achieve the near-zero carbon emission.In addition,light olefins production of the MTO processes using steam regeneration is 12.81%higher than that using air combustion regeneration.In this regard,steam regeneration could be considered as a potential yet promising regeneration method for further MTO processes,showing not only great environmental benefits but also competitive economic performance.

High-performance and robust high-temperature polymer electrolyte membranes with moderate microphase separation by implementation of terphenyl-based polymers

Acid loss and plasticization of phosphoric acid(PA)-doped high-temperature polymer electrolyte membranes(HT-PEMs)are critical limitations to their practical application in fuel cells.To overcome these barriers,poly(terphenyl piperidinium)s constructed from the m-and p-isomers of terphenyl were synthesized to regulate the microstructure of the membrane.Highly rigid p-terphenyl units prompt the formation of moderate PA aggregates,where the ion-pair interaction between piperidinium and biphosphate is reinforced,leading to a reduction in the plasticizing effect.As a result,there are trade-offs between the proton conductivity,mechanical strength,and PA retention of the membranes with varied m/p-isomer ratios.The designed PA-doped PTP-20m membrane exhibits superior ionic conductivity,good mechanical strength,and excellent PA retention over a wide range of temperature(80–160°C)as well as satisfactory resistance to harsh accelerated aging tests.As a result,the membrane presents a desirable combination of performance(1.462 W cm^(-2) under the H_(2)/O_(2)condition,which is 1.5 times higher than that of PBI-based membrane)and durability(300 h at 160°C and 0.2 A cm^(-2))in the fuel cell.The results of this study provide new insights that will guide molecular design from the perspective of microstructure to improve the performance and robustness of HT-PEMs.

Built defects of homogeneous junction to enhance the lithium storage capacity of niobium pentoxide materials

Niobium pentoxide(Nb_(2)O_(5))is deemed one of the promising anode materials for lithium-ion batteries(LIBs)for its outstanding intrinsic fast Li-(de)intercalation kinetics.The specific capacity,however,is still limited,because the(de)intercalation of excessive Li-ions brings the undesired stress to damage Nb_(2)O_(5) crystals.To increase the capacity of Nb_(2)O_(5) and alleviate the lattice distortion caused by stress,numerous homogeneous H-and M-phases junction interfaces were proposed to produce coercive stress within theNb_(2)O_(5)crystals.Such interfaces bring about rich oxygen vacancies with structural shrinkage tendency,which pre-generate coercive stress to resist the expansion stress caused by excessive Li-ions intercalation.Therefore,the synthesized Nb_(2)O_(5) achieves the highest lithium storage capacity of 315 mA h g−1 to date,and exhibits high-rate performance(118 mA h g^(-1) at 20 C)as well as excellent cycling stability(138 mA h g^(-1) at 10 C after 600 cycles).

Application of machine learning in perovskite materials and devices:A review

Metal-halide hybrid perovskite materials are excellent candidates for solar cells and photoelectric devices.In recent years,machine learning(ML)techniques have developed rapidly in many fields and provided ideas for material discovery and design.ML can be applied to discover new materials quickly and effectively,with significant savings in resources and time compared with traditional experiments and density functional theory(DFT)calculations.In this review,we present the application of ML in per-ovskites and briefly review the recent works in the field of ML-assisted perovskite design.Firstly,the advantages of perovskites in solar cells and the merits of ML applied to perovskites are discussed.Secondly,the workflow of ML in perovskite design and some basic ML algorithms are introduced.Thirdly,the applications of ML in predicting various properties of perovskite materials and devices are reviewed.Finally,we propose some prospects for the future development of this field.The rapid devel-opment of ML technology will largely promote the process of materials science,and ML will become an increasingly popular method for predicting the target properties of materials and devices.

High-silica faujasite zeolite-tailored metal encapsulation for the low-temperature production of pentanoic biofuels

Zeolite-encapsulated metal nanoclusters are at the heart of bifunctional catalysts,which hold great potential for petrochemical conversion and the emerging sustainable biorefineries.Nevertheless,efficient encapsulation of metal nanoclusters into a high-silica zeolite Y in particular with good structural integrity still remains a significant challenge.Herein,we have constructed Ru nanoclusters(~1 nm)encapsulated inside a high-silica zeolite Y(SY)with a SiO_(2)/Al_(2)O_(3) ratio(SAR)of 10 via a cooperative strategy for direct zeolite synthesis and a consecutive impregnation for metal encapsulation.Compared with the benchmark Ru/H-USY and other analogues,the as-prepared Ru/H-SY markedly boosts the yields of pentanoic biofuels and stability in the direct hydrodeoxygenation of biomass-derived levulinate even at a mild temperature of 180℃,which are attributed to the notable stabilization of transition states by the enhanced acid accessibility and properly sized constraints of zeolite cavities owing to the good structural integrity.

Mechanism of high Li-ion conductivity in poly(vinylene carbonate)-poly(ethylene oxide)cross-linked network based electrolyte revealed by solid-state NMR

Solid polymer electrolytes(SPEs)have become increasingly important in advanced lithium-ion batteries(LIBs)due to their improved safety and mechanical properties compared to organic liquid electrolytes.Cross-linked polymers have the potential to further improve the mechanical property without trading off Li-ion conductivity.In this study,focusing on a recently developed cross-linked SPE,i.e.,the one based on poly(vinylene carbonate)-poly(ethylene oxide)cross-linked network(PVCN),we used solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR)techniques to investigate the fundamental interaction between the chain segments and Li ions,as well as the lithium-ion motion.By utilizing homonuclear/heteronuclear correlation,CP(cross-polarization)kinetics,and spin-lattice relaxation experiments,etc.,we revealed the structural characteristics and their relations to lithium-ion mobilities.It is found that the network formation prevents poly(ethylene oxide)chains from crystallization,which could create sufficient space for segmental tumbling and Li-ion co nductio n.As such,the mechanical property is greatly improved with even higher Li-ion mobilities compared to the poly(vinylene carbonate)or poly(ethylene oxide)based SPE analogues.

Progress in in-situ electrochemical nuclear magnetic resonance for battery research

A thorough understanding of the fundamental electrochemical and chemical processes in batteries is crucial to advancing energy density and power density.However,the characterizations of such processes are complex.In-situ electrochemical nuclear magnetic resonance(EC-NMR)offers the capability to collect real-time data during battery operation,furnishing insights into the local structures and ionic dynamics of materials by monitoring changes in the chemical environment around the nuclei.EC-NMR also has the advantages of being both quantitative and non-destructive.This paper systematically reviews the design of EC-NMR approach,and delves into the applications and progress of EC-NMR concerning battery reaction mechanisms,failure mechanisms,and overall battery systems.The review culminates in a comprehensive summary of the perspective and challenges associated with EC-NMR.

Hierarchically Structured Nb_(2)O_5 Microflowers with Enhanced Capacity and Fast-Charging Capability for Flexible Planar Sodium Ion Micro-Supercapacitors

Planar Na ion micro-supercapacitors(NIMSCs) that offer both high energy density and power density are deemed to a promising class of miniaturized power sources for wearable and portable microelectron-ics. Nevertheless, the development of NIMSCs are hugely impeded by the low capacity and sluggish Na ion kinetics in the negative electrode.Herein, we demonstrate a novel carbon-coated Nb_(2)O_5 microflower with a hierarchical structure composed of vertically intercrossed and porous nanosheets, boosting Na ion storage performance. The unique structural merits, including uniform carbon coating, ultrathin nanosheets and abun-dant pores, endow the Nb_(2)O_5 microflower with highly reversible Na ion storage capacity of 245 mAh g^(-1) at 0.25 C and excellent rate capability.Benefiting from high capacity and fast charging of Nb_(2)O_5 microflower, the planar NIMSCs consisted of Nb_(2)O_5 negative electrode and activated car-bon positive electrode deliver high areal energy density of 60.7 μWh cm^(-2),considerable voltage window of 3.5 V and extraordinary cyclability. Therefore, this work exploits a structural design strategy towards electrode materials for application in NIMSCs, holding great promise for flexible microelectronics.

Tackling application limitations of high-safetyγ-butyrolactone electrolytes:Exploring mechanisms and proposing solutions

Developing wide-temperature and high-safety lithium-ion batteries(LIBs)presents significant challenges attributed to the absence of suitable solvents possessing broad liquid range and non-flammability properties.γ-Butyrolactone(GBL)has emerged as a promising solvent;however,its incompatibility with graphite anode has hindered its application.This limitation necessitates a comprehensive investigation into the underlying mechanisms and potential solutions.In this study,we achieve a molecular-level understanding of the perplexing interphase formation process by employing in-situ spectroelectrochemical techniques and density function calculations.Our findings reveal that,even at high salt concentrations,GBL consistently occupies the primary Li^(+)solvation sheath,leading to extensive GBL decomposition and the formation of a high-impedance and inorganic-poor solid-electrolyte interphase(SEI)layer.Contrary to manipulating solvation structures,our research demonstrates that the utilization of filmforming additives with higher reduction potential facilitates the pre-establishment of a robust SEI film on the graphite anode.This approach effectively inhibits GBL decomposition and significantly enhances the battery's lifespan.This study provides the first reported intrinsic understanding of the unique GBLgraphite incompatibility and offers valuable insights for the development of wide-temperature and high-safety LIBs.

Potential industrial applications of photo/electrocatalysis: Recent progress and future challenges

Nowadays,the rapid development of the social economy inevitably leads to global energy and environmental crisis.For this reason,more and more scholars focus on the development of photocatalysis and/or electrocatalysis technology for the advantage in the sustainable production of high-value-added products,and the high efficiency in pollutants remediation.Although there is plenty of outstanding research has been put forward continuously,most of them focuses on catalysis performance and reaction mechanisms in laboratory conditions.Realizing industrial application of photo/electrocatalytic processes is still a challenge that needs to be overcome by social demand.In this regard,this review comprehensively summarized several explorations in thefield of photo/electrocatalytic reduction towards potential industrial applications in recent years.Special attention is paid to the successful attempts and the current status of photo/electrocatalytic water splitting,carbon dioxide conversion,resource utilization from waste,etc.,by using advanced reactors.The key problems and challenges of photo/electrocatalysis in future industrial practice are also discussed,and the possible development directions are also pointed out from the industry view.

Toward a comprehensive hypothesis of oxygen-evolution reaction in the presence of iron and gold

This study investigates the effects of Fe on the oxygen-evolution reaction(OER)in the presence of Au.Two distinct areas of OER were identified:the first associated with Fe sites at low overpotential(~330 mV),and the second with Au sites at high overpotential(~870 mV).Various factors such as surface Fe concentration,electrochemical method,scan rate,potential range,concentration,method of adding K_(2)Fe O_(4),nature of Fe,and temperature were varied to observe diverse behaviors during OER for Fe O_(x)H_(y)/Au.Trace amounts of Fe ions had a significant impact on OER,reaching a saturation point where the activity did not increase further.Strong electronic interaction between Fe and Au ions was indicated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS)and electron paramagnetic resonance(EPR)analyses.In situ visible spectroscopy confirmed the formation of Fe O_(4)^(2-)during OER.In situ Mossbauer and surfaceenhanced Raman spectroscopy(SERS)analyses suggest the involvement of Fe-based species as intermediates during the rate-determining step of OER.A lattice OER mechanism based on Fe O_(x)H_(y)was proposed for operation at low overpotentials.Density functional theory(DFT)calculations revealed that Fe oxide,Fe-oxide clusters,and Fe doping on the Au foil exhibited different activities and stabilities during OER.The study provides insights into the interplay between Fe and Au in OER,advancing the understanding of OER mechanisms and offering implications for the design of efficient electrocatalytic systems.

Advances in catalytic conversion of lignocellulose to chemicals and liquid fuels

In response to the awareness of limited fossil resources and environmental concerns,catalytic conversion of renewable lignocellulose biomass to value-added chemicals and fuels is of great significance and attractive for sustainable chemistry.Division of Biomass Conversion and Bio-Energy attached to Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy has devoted themselves to valorization of lignocellulose biomass since launched in 2011.Our research interests focus on breeding of biomass resources(inulin and microalgae),exploration of catalytic and biological technologies,and production of energy chemicals and fuels.Although lignocellulose biomass is renewable and abundant,the way of utilization should be reasonable according to its structural characteristics in view of efficiency and economy.In this review,to celebrate the DICP's 70 th anniversary,we will highlight the major fundamental advances in DICP about the conversion of lignocellulose to value-added chemicals and liquid fuels.Particular attention will be paid to the transformation of cellulose and its derivatives to glycols,acids and nitrogen-containing chemicals,hemicellulose-derived platform molecule furfural to jet fuels and lignin to aromatics using catalytic technologies.

Electrochemical reduction of CO_2 in solid oxide electrolysis cells

The effort on electrochemical reduction of COto useful chemicals using the renewable energy to drive the process is growing fast recently. In this review, we introduce the recent progresses on the electrochemical reduction of COin solid oxide electrolysis cells（SOECs）. At high temperature, only CO is produced with high current densities and Faradic efficiency while the reactor is complicated and a better sealing technique is urgently needed. The typical electrolytes such as zirconia-based oxides, ceria-based oxides and lanthanum gallates-based oxides, anodes and cathodes are introduced in this review, and the cathode materials, such as conventional metal–ceramics（cermets）, mixed ionic and electronic conductors（MIECs） are discussed in detail. In the future, to gain more value-added products, the electrolyte, cathode and anode materials should be developed to allow SOECs to be operated at temperature range of 573–873 K. At those temperatures, SOECs may combine the advantages of the low temperature system and the high temperature system to produce various products with high current densities.