Nano Pd doped Ni foam electrode stimulated electrochemical reduction of tetrabromobisphenol A: Optimization strategies and function mechanism.

Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), a hazardous and persistent flame retardant, has been widely detected in the natural aquatic system. The acceleration of reductive debromination (rate-limiting process) is vital during the decomposition and detoxification of TBBPA. This study achieved superior TBBPA electrochemical reductive debromination performance by nano Pd doped Ni foam electrode (4.8 times higher than Ni foam electrode). The optimal TBBPA reductive debromination performance was obtained under -1.2 V of cathode potential, 1.2 wt% of Pd loading, 10 mg L-1 of TBBPA and 100 mM of Na2SO4 as the electrolyte solution. UPLC-QTOF-MS verified that Br atoms in TBBPA were removed sequentially to form bisphenol A as the major product. Most TBBPA was reductively debrominated by atomic H* through indirect hydrodebromination, evidenced by the atomic H* quenching test. The higher solution conductivity and appropriate TBBPA concentration would contribute to the debromination efficiency. Excessive H2 generation whether by over negative potential or H atom richness electrolyte largely disturbed the reaction process and restricted the debromination. The improved generation of reductant (H*)adsPd was the most significant, while excessive Pd loading would make aggregation and limit the debromination efficiency. The study confirmed the optimization strategies of conditions for Pd/Ni foam electrode and revealed the related function mechanism for stimulating TBBPA electrochemical reduction, giving suggestions for the efficient removal of TBBPA in the aquatic environment.

Biodegradation and metabolism of tetrabromobisphenol A in microbial fuel cell: Behaviors, dynamic pathway and the molecular ecological mechanism.

Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) has aroused widespread pollution in industrial wastewater. Microbial fuel cell (MFC) was proved powerful in organics degradation and simultaneous resource recovery during wastewater treatment. However, the TBBPA biotransformation potential, pathway and the related molecular mechanism remain poorly understood. In this study, the enhanced degradation and detoxification performance of TBBPA in MFC anode was confirmed, evidenced by the shorter degradation period (2.3 times shorter) and less generation of bisphenol A. UPLC-QTOF-MS analysis verified TBBPA metabolism went through reductive debromination, hydrolytic debromination, oxidative ring cleavage and o-methylation. Accompanied with those biochemical processes, the metabolites underwent dynamic changes. The distinctly decreased abundance and fewer interactions with other functional genera for the potential reductive dehalogenators (Pseudomonas, etc.) possibly led to the suppressed reductive debromination (5.1%) in the closed bioanode. Otherwise, the more abundant potential function bacteria with more collaborated interrelations, including hydrolytic dehalogenators (Acinetobacter, etc.), aromatics degrading bacteria (Geobacter, Holophaga, etc.) and electroactive bacteria (Geobacter, Desulfovibrio, etc.) made great sense to the enhanced hydrolytic debromination and detoxification of TBBPA. This study revealed that MFC anode was beneficial to TBBPA degradation and provided theoretical support for the decomposition and transformation of micro-pollutants in the municipal sewage treatment coupled with MFC process.

A Flexible Solid Electrolyte Interphase Layer for Long-Life Lithium Metal Anodes.

Lithium (Li) metal is a promising anode material for high-energy density batteries. However, the unstable and static solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) can be destroyed by the dynamic Li plating/stripping behavior on the Li anode surface, leading to side reactions and Li dendrites growth. Herein, we design a smart Li polyacrylic acid (LiPAA) SEI layer high elasticity to address the dynamic Li plating/stripping processes by self-adapting interface regulation, which is demonstrated by in situ AFM. With the high binding ability and excellent stability of the LiPAA polymer, the smart SEI can significantly reduce the side reactions and improve battery safety markedly. Stable cycling of 700 h is achieved in the LiPAA-Li/LiPAA-Li symmetrical cell. The innovative strategy of self-adapting SEI design is broadly applicable, providing opportunities for use in Li metal anodes.

Stable Li Metal Anodes via Regulating Lithium Plating/Stripping in Vertically Aligned Microchannels.

Li anodes have been rapidly developed in recent years owing to the rising demand for higher-energy-density batteries. However, the safety issues induced by dendrites hinder the practical applications of Li anodes. Here, Li metal anodes stabilized by regulating lithium plating/stripping in vertically aligned microchannels are reported. The current density distribution and morphology evolution of the Li deposits on porous Cu current collectors are systematically analyzed. Based on simulations in COMSOL Multiphysics, the tip effect leads to preferential deposition on the microchannel walls, thus taking full advantage of the lightening rod theory of classical electromagnetism for restraining growth of Li dendrites. The Li anode with a porous Cu current collector achieves an enhanced cycle stability and a higher average Coulombic efficiency of 98.5% within 200 cycles. In addition, the resultant LiFePO4 /Li full battery demonstrates excellent rate capability and stable cycling performance, thus demonstrating promise as a current collector for high-energy-density, safe rechargeable Li batteries.

Triboelectric Nanogenerator Enhanced Nanofiber Air Filters for Efficient Particulate Matter Removal.

We developed a high-efficiency rotating triboelectric nanogenerator (R-TENG) enhanced polyimide (PI) nanofiber air filter for particulate matter (PM) removal in ambient atmosphere. The PI electrospinning nanofiber film exhibited high removal efficiency for the PM particles that have diameters larger than 0.5 µm. When the R-TENG is connected, the removal efficiency of the filter is enhanced, especially when the particle diameters of the PM are smaller than 100 nm. The highest removal efficiency is 90.6% for particles with a diameter of 33.4 nm and the highest efficiency enhancement reaches 207.8% at the diameter of 76.4 nm where the removal efficiency enhanced from 27.1% to 83.6%. This technology with zero ozone release and low pressure drop offers an approach for air cleaning and haze treatment.

A new strategy for the synthesis of iron-oxide nanocrystals by using a single-spinneret electrospinning technique.

Iron-oxide nanocrystals (IONCs) have been widely researched, owing to their unique physical and chemical properties. Herein, a new strategy that involves an electrospinning technique with the addition of a surfactant is reported as an effective method for the fabrication of shaped IONCs. With the same precursor compositions, only iron-oxide nanoparticles were obtained by using a sol-gel method without electrospinning. However, when the electrospinning technique was introduced, IONCs with special geometrical shapes (e.g., octahedral) were obtained. Characterization data indicated that the IONCs were composed of magnetite (Fe3O4) and maghemite (γ-Fe2O3), the ratio of which could be tuned by changing the concentration of the surfactants in the precursor solutions. A mechanism for the formation of IONCs is also proposed. The effect of surfactant on the decomposition of the iron complex is the main motivation for the formation of IONCs. In the sol-gel method without electrospinning, this effect is completely inhibited by the disturbance of long molecular chains. However, in the electrospinning strategy, such disturbance can be completely or partially diminished by the electrical force field during the electrospinning process and by the spatial effect of the nanofibers, thus leading to the formation of IONCs. Finally, the magnetic properties of the obtained IONCs were investigated. This strategy is versatile and environmentally friendly and it will be applicable to the synthesis of many other functional inorganic materials.

Direct formation of reusable TiO2/CoFe2O4 heterogeneous photocatalytic fibers via two-spinneret electrospinning.

A reusable photocatalytic TiO2/CoFe2O4 composite nanofiber was directly formed by using a vertical two-spinneret electrospinning process and sol-gel method, followed by heat treatment at 550 degrees C for 2 h. The high photocatalytic activity of the composite nanofibers depends on the good morphology of the fibers and the appropriate calcination temperature. The crystal structure and magnetic properties of the fibers were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersion spectroscopy (EDS), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The photocatalytic activity of the TiO2/CoFe2O4 fibers was investigated through ultraviolet-visible absorbance following the photo-oxidative decomposition of phenol. Meanwhile, the presence of CoFe2O4 not only broadens the response region of visible light, but also enhances the absorbance of UV light. Furthermore, these fibers displayed photocatalytic activity associated with magnetic activity of CoFe2O4 ferrites, allowing easy separated of the photocatalysts after the photo-oxidative process and effectively avoided the secondary pollution of the treated water.

Fabrication characterization and activity of a solar light driven photocatalyst: cerium doped TiO2 magnetic nanofibers.

A novel magnetic separable composite photocatalytic nanofiber consisting of TiO2 as the major phase, CeO(2-y) and CoFe2O4 as the dopant phase was prepared by sol-gel method and electrospinning technique, and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectrum (UV-vis DRS) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The photocatalytic activity of the resultant CoFe2O4-TiO2 and CeO(2-y)/CoFe2O4-TiO2 nanofibers was evaluated by photodegradation of methylene blue (MB) in an aqueous solution under xenon lamp (the irradiation spectrum energy distribution is similar to sunlight) irradiation in a photochemical reactor. The results showed that the dopant of Ce could affect the absorbance ability and photo-response range. The sample containing 1.0 wt% CeO(2-y) exhibited the highest degradation with 35% for MB under simulate solar light irradiation. Furthermore, the as-synthesized composite photocatalytic nanofibers could be separated easily by an external magnetic field, thus it might hold potential for application in wastewater treatment.

Synthesis of nanostructured SnO2/C microfibers with improved performances as anode material for Li-ion batteries.

Nanostructured SnO2/C microfibers were prepared by thermal decomposition of tin alginate fibers produced via wet-spinning technique. Results of X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy show that the as-obtained SnO2/C microfibers consist of nano-sized SnO2 crystals with a mean diameter of 10-15 nm. Transmission electron microscopy visualization reveals that the composite fibers exhibit a porous structure consisting of both micropores and mesopores. Electrochemical evaluations of cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge-discharge indicate that the SnO2/C microfibers possess a high capacity and good rate capability compared with commercial SnO2. The improved performances of SnO2/C fibers can be attributed to the nano-size of SnO2 particles dispersed in carbon matrix and the existing nanopores in the SnO2/C microfibers.

Microstructure and magnetic property of M-type SrRe(x)Fe(12-x)O19 by sol-gel method.

Magnetoplumbite-type (M-type) SrRE(x)Fe(12-x)O19 (RE = La and Ce, x = 0-1.0) powders were prepared by a citric acid sol-gel technique and subsequent heat treatment. The crystal structure, grain size and magnetic properties were investigated by X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The XRD patterns show that SrRE(x)Fe(12-x)O19 (RE = La and Ce) are mainly hexagonal magnetic plumbite structure, and the average grain size of 30-40 nm was calculated using the Scherer's equation based on the XRD spectrum. Substitution of Fe ion by the rare earth La ion causes a significant decrease in intrinsic coercivity (Hc) and a slight decrease in saturation magnetization (Ms) as shown in the magnetization hysteresis loops. However, the Hc rises gradually in a small wave pattern with the increase of doping content of the rare earth Ce. The relation between the crystal structure and magnetic properties was also studied in this work.

Polyethylene glycol-directed SnO2 nanowires for enhanced gas-sensing properties.

SnO(2) nanowires with lengths in the tens of micrometres range have been synthesized on a large scale via a facile polyethylene glycol-directed method at ambient temperature followed by a suitable thermal treatment of the precursor nanowires. The morphology of the precursor of the SnO(2) nanowires is tunable by changing the concentration of either SnCl(2) or polyethylene glycol. After calcination, the resulting SnO(2) nanowires retain a similar shape to the precursor, but with hierarchical architecture, which can be considered as one-dimensional nanowires assembled by interconnected SnO(2) nanoparticles with a high surface-to-volume ratio. The SnO(2) nanowires are investigated with XRD, SEM, TEM, and gas sensing tests for detecting CO and H(2). It is found that the present SnO(2) nanowires exhibit a remarkable sensitivity and low detection limit (10 ppm for H(2)), as well as good reproducibility and short response/recovery times, which benefit from the unique hierarchical structure with a high surface-to-volume ratio and the 3D network formed by the nanowires.

Cell adhesive and growth behavior on electrospun nanofibrous scaffolds by designed multifunctional composites.

Nanostructured biocomposite scaffolds of poly(l-lactide) (PLLA) blended with collagen (coll) or hydroxyapatite (HA), or both for tissue engineering application, were fabricated by electrospinning. The electrospun scaffolds were characterized for the morphology, chemical and tensile properties by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), water contact angle (WCA), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) measurement, and tensile testing. Electrospun biocomposite scaffolds of PLLA and collagen or (and) HA in the diameter range of 200-700 nm mimic the nanoscale structure of the extracellular matrix (ECM) with a well-interconnection pore network structure. The presence of collagen in the scaffolds increased their hydrophility, and enhanced cell attachment and proliferation, while HA improved the tensile properties of the scaffolds. The biocompatibility of the electrospun scaffolds and the viability of contacting cells were evaluated by 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole dihydrochloride (DAPI) nuclear staining and by fluorescein diacetate (FDA) and propidium iodide (PI) double staining methods. The results support the conclusion that 293T cells grew well on composite scaffolds. Compared with pure PLLA scaffolds a greater density of viable cells was seen on the composites, especially the PLLA/HA/collagen scaffolds.