EcoEnergy最新文献

Recently, the emergence of topological electride catalysts has attracted significant attention in the fields of condensed matter physics, chemistry, and materials science. In this study, we found that electride Hf₂Se exhibits various types of topological quantum states under the constraint of symmetric operations, particularly the Weyl point (WP) located at the K valley. The WP is closely aligned with the Fermi level and generates an extensive Fermi arc surface state on the (001) surface. In addition, electride Hf₂Se exhibits a lower work function on the (001) surface. Remarkably, electride Hf₂Se exhibits extremely high stability in both air and water environments. The catalytic activity of electride Hf₂Se for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) was significantly improved by utilizing its robust surface state and low work function. Therefore, we provide a new insight into the application of electrides in HER.

Plastics are one of the greatest inventions of the 20^th century that bring convenience to mankind. Owing to the commercialization of plastics, plastic pollution has become a petrifying environmental issue as the demand for plastic products overwhelms plastic recycling rates. However, the conventional methods (i.e., pyrolysis and gasification) require high pressure and temperature to treat waste plastic, resulting in ineluctably energy-waste and secondary pollution. On the contrary, selective catalylic technologies provide a green approach to degrade plastics whilst also reforming them into value-added chemicals and fuels. In this review, innovative green approaches, including photocatalysis, electrocatalysis, and photoelectrocatalysis, have been comprehensively reviewed from the perspective of sustainable use of resources. Distinctive emphasis is placed on highlighting the merits of each technology and enlightening the state-of-the-art modification strategies that strengthen the pillars of catalytic activities. The transformation of plastics with the above techniques is also elaborated in terms of the reaction conditions and products from various plastic waste as substrates. With a feasibility breakdown for each technology displayed in this study, insights on the challenges and prospects of innovative green technologies for plastic upcycling are underscored as well to facilitate the society moving toward a plastic circular economy.

Proton exchange membrane water electrolyzer (PEMWE) is of great importance for the production of green hydrogen. The large-scale implementation of PEMWE, however, is seriously impeded by the sluggish oxygen evolution reaction (OER) at the anode, which results in considerable overpotential and thus the decreased energy conversion efficiency. To overcome this problem, researchers have extensively explored efficient anode catalysts that possess high activity and prolonged stability. Up to now, Ir-based and Ru-based catalysts are considered to be the most efficient candidates. Especially perovskite-based catalysts have received intensive attention due to their distinctive structures and exceptional OER catalytic performance. To further promote their practical application, considerable research efforts are devoted to structural engineering toward enhanced activity and stability. In this paper, a review of the research progress on the advanced design of Ir- and Ru-based perovskite catalysts is presented, with a focus on phase engineering, doping/substitution, morphology control, and compositing with other materials for perovskite catalysts as well as some preparation methods commonly used. It also summarizes the challenges and opportunities concerning perovskite-based catalysts in current research, yielding further comprehension of the pertinent preparation and scrutiny of perovskite catalysts in the future.

A new carbon allotrope, graphdiyne (GDY) has great promise for future use. Much interest was piqued when it was initially prepared in 2010. GDY is made up of sp- and sp²-hybridized carbon atoms. It has a one-atom thick two-dimensional structure and many interesting and useful qualities, such as strong chemical bonds, super-large π structures, the ability to change from an alkyne to an alkene, and can be grown on any surface. GDY has become one of the frontier hotspots in chemistry and materials science, with original research achievements in energy conversion and storage, catalysis, intelligent information, life sciences constantly emerging and so on, showing revolutionary performance. In electrochemical cells, the electrode interface content not only accounts for a small proportion in the entire electrode system but it also plays a crucial role, affecting the efficiency, lifespan, power performance, and safety performance of the battery. In view of this, the intrinsic properties of GDY have been thoroughly analyzed, and a new GDY-based electrochemical interface has been proposed by combining the key problems of electrochemical interfaces in electrochemical energy storage and conversion. This has led to new understanding and insights to address many critical scientific issues. In this review, the structure, characteristics, and applications of GDY in interface engineering are presented. In particular, recent advances in GDY and its aggregates in energy storage and conversion are summarized and discussed.

Lithium sulfur (Li-S) batteries have been regarded as one of the most promising next-generation batteries. However, the shuttle effect caused by solubility and sluggish kinetics of polysulfides on the cathode and the uneven deposition of lithium on the anode hindered its practical application seriously. Herein, we designed W₂N quantum dots (QW₂N) embedded in mesoporous carbon microspheres (MC) as catalyst (QW₂N/MC) modified on both sides of the separator. The ultrafine QW₂N associated with nitrogen vacancies provide abundant active sites to adsorb the polysulfides and induce the fast in situ conversion, which highly prevent the shuttle effect. Meanwhile, the QW₂N/MC layer on the anode side regulated the uniform deposition of lithium due to the good affinity with lithium ions. In long-term performance evaluations, the Li-S batteries achieved a reversible discharge capacity of 685.4 mAh g⁻¹ after 600 cycles at 1 C with a decay rate as low as 0.07% per cycle. When the sulfur loading was increased to about 7.44 mg cm⁻², it still maintained a high areal capacity of 5.97 mAh cm⁻². This study showed a novel strategy to accelerate the polysulfides conversion and regulate uniform lithium deposition simultaneously by introducing QW₂N modified separators, showing great potential in constructing high-performance Li-S batteries.

The exploration of triboelectricity at the liquid–solid (L-S) interface has sparked significant interest due to its potential for sustainable energy harvesting and technological advancement. Motivated by the need for innovative energy solutions and the unique advantages offered by liquid-based environments, a comprehensive review of the fundamental concepts, mechanisms, and applications of liquid–solid triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) is provided. Three basic working modes of liquid–solid TENGs and the distinct properties and mechanisms of each model are discussed systematically. The physical fundamental of liquid–solid TENGs is further investigated, which includes “Wang Transition”, Wang's Hybrid Electric Double Layer model, tribovoltaic effect, equivalent circuit model, and the mechanisms of liquid–solid contact electrification based on density functional theory. Understanding charge transfer and charge distribution at the liquid–solid interface is also crucial to confirm the underlying mechanisms of liquid–solid TENGs. Finally, a broad range of applications of liquid–solid TENGs are explored, emphasizing their potential in addressing energy challenges and complex interdisciplinary issues that link the disciplines of materials science, chemistry, physics, and even electrical engineering.