Durable CO2 conversion in the proton-exchange membrane system.

Electrolysis that reduces carbon dioxide (CO2) to useful chemicals can, in principle, contribute to a more sustainable and carbon-neutral future1-6. However, it remains challenging to develop this into a robust process because efficient conversion typically requires alkaline conditions in which CO2 precipitates as carbonate, and this limits carbon utilization and the stability of the system7-12. Strategies such as physical washing, pulsed operation and the use of dipolar membranes can partially alleviate these problems but do not fully resolve them11,13-15. CO2 electrolysis in acid electrolyte, where carbonate does not form, has therefore been explored as an ultimately more workable solution16-18. Herein we develop a proton-exchange membrane system that reduces CO2 to formic acid at a catalyst that is derived from waste lead-acid batteries and in which a lattice carbon activation mechanism contributes. When coupling CO2 reduction with hydrogen oxidation, formic acid is produced with over 93% Faradaic efficiency. The system is compatible with start-up/shut-down processes, achieves nearly 91% single-pass conversion efficiency for CO2 at a current density of 600 mA cm-2 and cell voltage of 2.2 V and is shown to operate continuously for more than 5,200 h. We expect that this exceptional performance, enabled by the use of a robust and efficient catalyst, stable three-phase interface and durable membrane, will help advance the development of carbon-neutral technologies.

Highly Selective Electrocatalytic CO2 Conversion to Tailored Products through Precise Regulation of Hydrogenation and C-C Coupling.

The electrochemical reduction reaction of carbon dioxide (CO2RR) into valuable products offers notable economic benefits and contributes to environmental sustainability. However, precisely controlling the reaction pathways and selectively converting key intermediates pose considerable challenges. In this study, our theoretical calculations reveal that the active sites with different states of copper atoms (1-3-5-7-9) play a pivotal role in the adsorption behavior of the *CHO critical intermediate. This behavior dictates the subsequent hydrogenation and coupling steps, ultimately influencing the formation of the desired products. Consequently, we designed two model electrocatalysts comprising Cu single atoms and particles supported on CeO2. This design enables controlled *CHO intermediate transformation through either hydrogenation with *H or coupling with *CO, leading to a highly selective CO2RR. Notably, our selective control strategy tunes the Faradaic efficiency from 61.1% for ethylene (C2H4) to 61.2% for methane (CH4). Additionally, the catalyst demonstrated a high current density and remarkable stability, exceeding 500 h of operation. This work not only provides efficient catalysts for selective CO2RR but also offers valuable insights into tailoring surface chemistry and designing catalysts for precise control over catalytic processes to achieve targeted product generation in CO2RR technology.

Surface Redox Chemistry Regulates the Reaction Microenvironment for Efficient Hydrogen Peroxide Generation.

Electrosynthesis has emerged as an enticing solution for hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production. However, efficient H2O2 generation encounters challenges related to the robust gas-liquid-solid interface within electrochemical reactors. In this work, we introduce an effective hydrophobic coating modified by iron (Fe) sites to optimize the reaction microenvironment. This modification aims to mitigate radical corrosion through Fe(II)/Fe(III) redox chemistry, reinforcing the reaction microenvironment at the three-phase interface. Consequently, we achieved a remarkable yield of up to 336.1 mmol h-1 with sustained catalyst operation for an extensive duration of 230 h at 200 mA cm-2 without causing damage to the reaction interface. Additionally, the Faradaic efficiency of H2O2 exceeded 90% across a broad range of test current densities. This surface redox chemistry approach for manipulating the reaction microenvironment not only advances long-term H2O2 electrosynthesis but also holds promise for other gas-starvation electrochemical reactions.

Hydrogen Peroxide Spillover on Platinum-Iron Hybrid Electrocatalyst for Stable Oxygen Reduction.

Iron-nitrogen-carbon (Fe-N-C) catalysts, although the most active platinum-free option for the cathodic oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), suffer from poor durability due to the Fe leaching and consequent Fenton effect, limiting their practical application in low-temperature fuel cells. This work demonstrates an integrated catalyst of a platinum-iron (PtFe) alloy planted in an Fe-N-C matrix (PtFe/Fe-N-C) to address this challenge. This novel catalyst exhibits both high-efficiency activity and stability, as evidenced by its impressive half-wave potential (E1/2) of 0.93 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode (vs RHE) and minimal 7 mV decay even after 50,000 potential cycles. Remarkably, it exhibits a very low hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) yield (0.07%) at 0.6 V and maintains this performance with negligible change after 10,000 potential cycles. Fuel cells assembled with this cathode PtFe/Fe-N-C catalyst show exceptional durability, with only 8 mV voltage loss at 0.8 A cm-2 after 30,000 cycles and ignorable current degradation at a voltage of 0.6 V over 85 h. Comprehensive in situ experiments and theoretical calculations reveal that oxygen species spillover from Fe-N-C to PtFe alloy not only inhibits H2O2 production but also eliminates harmful oxygenated radicals. This work paves the way for the design of highly efficient and stable ORR catalysts and has significant implications for the development of next-generation fuel cells.

Recent advances in proton exchange membrane water electrolysis.

Proton exchange membrane water electrolyzers (PEMWEs) are an attractive technology for renewable energy conversion and storage. By using green electricity generated from renewable sources like wind or solar, high-purity hydrogen gas can be produced in PEMWE systems, which can be used in fuel cells and other industrial sectors. To date, significant advances have been achieved in improving the efficiency of PEMWEs through the design of stack components; however, challenges remain for their large-scale and long-term application due to high cost and durability issues in acidic conditions. In this review, we examine the latest developments in engineering PEMWE systems and assess the gap that still needs to be filled for their practical applications. We provide a comprehensive summary of the reaction mechanisms, the correlation among structure-composition-performance, manufacturing methods, system design strategies, and operation protocols of advanced PEMWEs. We also highlight the discrepancies between the critical parameters required for practical PEMWEs and those reported in the literature. Finally, we propose the potential solution to bridge the gap and enable the appreciable applications of PEMWEs. This review may provide valuable insights for research communities and industry practitioners working in these fields and facilitate the development of more cost-effective and durable PEMWE systems for a sustainable energy future.

Low-coordination Nanocrystalline Copper-based Catalysts through Theory-guided Electrochemical Restructuring for Selective CO2 Reduction to Ethylene.

Revealing the dynamic reconstruction process and tailoring advanced copper (Cu) catalysts is of paramount significance for promoting the conversion of CO2 into ethylene (C2H4), paving the way for carbon neutralization and facilitating renewable energy storage. In this study, we initially employed density functional theory (DFT) and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to elucidate the restructuring behavior of a catalyst under electrochemical conditions and delineated its restructuring patterns. Leveraging insights into this restructuring behavior, we devised an efficient, low-coordination copper-based catalyst. The resulting synthesized catalyst demonstrated an impressive Faradaic efficiency (FE) exceeding 70 % for ethylene generation at a current density of 800 mA cm-2. Furthermore, it showed robust stability, maintaining consistent performance for 230 hours at a cell voltage of 3.5 V in a full-cell system. Our research not only deepens the understanding of the active sites involved in designing efficient carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO2RR) catalysts but also advances CO2 electrolysis technologies for industrial application.

Regulating Reversible Oxygen Electrocatalysis by Built-in Electric Field of Heterojunction Electrocatalyst with Modified d-Band.

Developing bifunctional catalysts for oxygen electrochemical reactions is essential for high-performance electrochemical energy devices. Here, a Mott-Schottky heterojunction composed of porous cobalt-nitrogen-carbon (Co-N-C) polyhedra containing abundant metal-phosphides for reversible oxygen electrocatalysis is reported. As a demonstration, this catalyst shows excellent activity in the oxygen electrocatalysis and thus delivers outstanding performance in rechargeable zinc-air batteries (ZABs). The built-in electric field in the Mott-Schottky heterojunction can promote electron transfer in oxygen electrocatalysis. More importantly, an appropriate d-band center of the heterojunction catalyst also endows oxygen intermediates with a balanced adsorption/desorption capability, thus enhancing oxygen electrocatalysis and consequently improving the performance of ZABs. The work demonstrates an important design principle for preparing efficient multifunctional catalysts in energy conversion technologies.

Scalable Molten Salt Synthesis of Platinum Alloys Planted in Metal-Nitrogen-Graphene for Efficient Oxygen Reduction.

Fuel cells are considered as a promising alternative to the existing traditional energy systems towards a sustainable future. Nevertheless, the synthesis of efficient and robust platinum (Pt) based catalysts remains a challenge for practical applications. In this work, we present a simple and scalable molten-salt synthesis method for producing a low-platinum (Pt) nanoalloy implanted in metal-nitrogen-graphene. The as-prepared low-Pt alloyed graphene exhibits a high oxygen reduction activity of 1.29 A mgPt -1 and excellent durability over 30 000 potential cycles. The catalyst nanoarchitecture of graphene encased Pt nanoalloy provides a robust capability against nanoparticle migration and corrosion due to a strong metal-support interaction. Similarly, advanced characterization and theoretical calculations show that the multiple active sites in platinum alloyed graphene synergistically account for the improved oxygen reduction. This work not only provides an efficient and robust low-Pt catalyst but also a facile design idea and scalable preparation technique for integrated catalysts to achieve more profound applications in fuel cells and beyond.

[The Preliminary Study on Anti-photodamaged Effect of Astaxanthin Liposomes in Mice Skin].

OBJECTIVE: To study the protective effects of astaxanthin liposome (Asx-lipo) on photodamage by UVB in mice skin. METHODS: 40 C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into four groups: The blank group (no irradiation, no drug use), model group (UVB light injury group, no drug use), control group (irradiation + astaxanthin), experimental group (irradiation + astaxanthin liposome), each group with 10 mice. Each group was given the corresponding light (the radiation intensity was 2 mW·cm2, the time of irradiation was 60 s, 1 times a day for the first 5 days, and 1 times every other day for the next 9 days, 10 times in a total of 2 weeks.) and drug intervention (topically treated with 4 mL 0.2‰ astaxanthin or 4 mL 0.2‰ Asx-lipo 10 min before the irradiation) for two weeks. After that, samples were examined by the following indicators: the histological changes of skin, Ki-67, 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine(8-OHdG), superoxide dismutase(SOD) activities and serum matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13). RESULTS: HE staining the model group and the control group showed that the dermis became thin, the dermal collagen fibers were long and thin, and the arrangement was loose and disordered. Compared with the blank group, the expression of Ki-67, MMP-13 and 8-OHdG increased and SOD activity decreased, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the pathological changes of skin tissues in the experimental group were significantly improved, with decreased expressions of Ki-67, MMP-13 and 8-OHdG and increased SOD activity, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The photodamage of mice skin can be improved by topical Asx-lipo. The mechanism may be related to the strong antioxidation of Asx-lipo.

Highly efficient and selective photocatalytic oxidation of sulfide by a chromophore-catalyst dyad of ruthenium-based complexes.

Electronic coupling across a bridging ligand between a chromophore and a catalyst center has an important influence on biological and synthetic photocatalytic processes. Structural and associated electronic modifications of ligands may improve the efficiency of photocatalytic transformations of organic substrates. Two ruthenium-based supramolecular assemblies based on a chromophore-catalyst dyad containing a Ru-aqua complex and its chloro form as the catalytic components were synthesized and structurally characterized, and their spectroscopic and electrochemical properties were investigated. Under visible light irradiation and in the presence of [Co(NH3)5Cl]Cl2 as a sacrificial electron acceptor, both complexes exhibited good photocatalytic activity toward oxidation of sulfide into the corresponding sulfoxide with high efficiency and >99% product selectivity in neutral aqueous solution. The Ru-aqua complex assembly was more efficient than the chloro complex. Isotopic labeling experiments using (18)O-labeled water demonstrated the oxygen atom transfer from the water to the organic substrate, likely through the formation of an active intermediate, Ru(IV)═O.

Efficient water oxidation catalyzed by mononuclear ruthenium(II) complexes incorporating Schiff base ligands.

Four new charge-neutral ruthenium(II) complexes containing dianionic Schiff base and isoquinoline or 4-picoline ligands were synthesized and characterized by NMR and ESI-MS spectroscopies, elemental analysis, and X-ray diffraction. The complexes exhibited excellent chemical water oxidation activity and high stability under acidic conditions (pH 1.0) using (NH4)2Ce(NO3)6 as a sacrificial electron acceptor. The high catalytic activities of these complexes for water oxidation were sustained for more than 10 h at low concentrations. High turnover numbers of up to 3200 were achieved. A water nucleophilic attack mechanism was proposed. A Ru(V)=O intermediate was detected during the catalytic cycle by high-resolution mass spectrometry.

Photochemical, electrochemical, and photoelectrochemical water oxidation catalyzed by water-soluble mononuclear ruthenium complexes.

Two mononuclear ruthenium complexes [Ru(H2tcbp)(isoq)2] (1) and [Ru(H2tcbp)(pic)2] (2) (H4tcbp=4,4',6,6'-tetracarboxy-2,2'-bipyridine, isoq=isoquinoline, pic=4-picoline) are synthesized and fully characterized. Two spare carboxyl groups on the 4,4'-positions are introduced to enhance the solubility of 1 and 2 in water and to simultaneously allow them to tether to the electrode surface by an ester linkage. The photochemical, electrochemical, and photoelectrochemical water oxidation performance of 1 in neutral aqueous solution is investigated. Under electrochemical conditions, water oxidation is conducted on the deposited indium-tin-oxide anode, and a turnover number higher than 15,000 per water oxidation catalyst (WOC) 1 is obtained during 10 h of electrolysis under 1.42 V vs. NHE, corresponding to a turnover frequency of 0.41 s(-1). The low overpotential (0.17 V) of electrochemical water oxidation for 1 in the homogeneous solution enables water oxidation under visible light by using [Ru(bpy)3](2+) (P1) (bpy=2,2'-bipyridine) or [Ru(bpy)2(4,4'-(COOEt)2-bpy)](2+) (P2) as a photosensitizer. In a three-component system containing 1 or 2 as a light-driven WOC, P1 or P2 as a photosensitizer, and Na2S2O8 or [CoCl(NH3)5]Cl2 as a sacrificial electron acceptor, a high turnover frequency of 0.81 s(-1) and a turnover number of up to 600 for 1 under different catalytic conditions are achieved. In a photoelectrochemical system, the WOC 1 and photosensitizer are immobilized together on the photoanode. The electrons efficiently transfer from the WOC to the photogenerated oxidizing photosensitizer, and a high photocurrent density of 85 µA cm(-2) is obtained by applying 0.3 V bias vs. NHE.

RhNi Bimetallenes with Lattice-Compressed Rh Skin towards Ultrastable Acidic Nitrate Electroreduction.

Harvesting recyclable ammonia (NH3) from acidic nitrate (NO3 -)-containing wastewater requires the utilization of corrosion-resistant electrocatalytic materials with high activity and selectivity towards acidic electrochemical nitrate reduction (NO3ER). Herein, ultrathin RhNi bimetallenes with Rh-skin-type structure (RhNi@Rh BMLs) are fabricated towards acidic NO3ER. The Rh-skin atoms on the surface of RhNi@Rh BMLs experience the lattice compression-induced strain effect, resulting in shortened Rh-Rh bond and downshifted d-band center. Experimental and theoretical calculation results corroborate that Rh-skin atoms can inhibit NO2*/NH2* adsorption-induced Rh dissolution, contributing to the exceptional electrocatalytic durability of RhNi@Rh BMLs (over 400 h) towards acidic NO3ER. RhNi@Rh BMLs also reveal an excellent catalytic performance, boasting a 98.4% NH3 Faradaic efficiency and a 13.4 mg h-1 mgcat -1 NH3 yield. Theoretical calculations reveal that compressive stress tunes the electronic structure of Rh skin atoms, which facilitates the reduction of NO* to NOH* in NO3ER. The practicality of RhNi@Rh BMLs has also been confirmed in an alkaline-acidic hybrid zinc-nitrate battery with a 1.39 V open circuit voltage and a 10.5 mW cm-2 power density. This work offers valuable insights into the nature of electrocatalyst deactivation behavior and guides the development of high-efficiency corrosion-resistant electrocatalysts for applications in energy and environment.

Integration Construction of Hybrid Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Reduction.

There is notable progress in the development of efficient oxygen reduction electrocatalysts, which are crucial components of fuel cells. However, these superior activities are limited by imbalanced mass transport and cannot be fully reflected in actual fuel cell applications. Herein, the design concepts and development tracks of platinum (Pt)-nanocarbon hybrid catalysts, aiming to enhance the performance of both cathodic electrocatalysts and fuel cells, are presented. This review commences with an introduction to Pt/C catalysts, highlighting the diverse architectures developed to date, with particular emphasis on heteroatom modification and microstructure construction of functionalized nanocarbons based on integrated design concepts. This discussion encompasses the structural evolution, property enhancement, and catalytic mechanisms of Pt/C-based catalysts, including rational preparation recipes, superior activity, strong stability, robust metal-support interactions, adsorption regulation, synergistic pathways, confinement strategies, ionomer optimization, mass transport permission, multidimensional construction, and reactor upgrading. Furthermore, this review explores the low-barrier or barrier-free mass exchange interfaces and channels achieved through the impressive multidimensional construction of Pt-nanocarbon integrated catalysts, with the goal of optimizing fuel cell efficiency. In conclusion, this review outlines the challenges associated with Pt-nanocarbon integrated catalysts and provides perspectives on the future development trends of fuel cells and beyond.

Corrosion Chemistry of Electrocatalysts.

Electrocatalysts are the core components of many sustainable energy conversion technologies that are considered the most potential solution to the worldwide energy and environmental crises. The reliability of structure and composition pledges that electrocatalysts can achieve predictable and stable performance. However, during the electrochemical reaction, electrocatalysts are influenced directly by the applied potential, the electrolyte, and the adsorption/desorption of reactive species, triggering structural and compositional corrosion, which directly affects the catalytic behaviors of electrocatalysts (performance degradation or enhancement) and invalidates the established structure-activity relationship. Therefore, it is necessary to elucidate the corrosion behavior and mechanism of electrocatalysts to formulate targeted corrosion-resistant strategies or use corrosion reconstruction synthesis techniques to guide the preparation of efficient and stable electrocatalysts. Herein, the most recent developments in electrocatalyst corrosion chemistry are outlined, including corrosion mechanisms, mitigation strategies, and corrosion syntheses/reconstructions based on typical materials and important electrocatalytic reactions. Finally, potential opportunities and challenges are also proposed to foresee the possible development in this field. It is believed that this contribution will raise more awareness regarding nanomaterial corrosion chemistry in energy technologies and beyond.

Ultrathin rhodium nanosheet-gold nanowire nanocomposites for alkaline methanol oxidation reaction.

Electrostatically assembled ultrathin rhodium nanosheet-gold nanowire nanocomposites (Rh-Au CNSs) were used as an advanced electrocatalyst for the methanol oxidation reaction, which revealed a mass activity of 355 mA mgRh-1 at 0.607 V potential, much higher than single metal Rh nanosheets (273 mA mgRh-1) and commercial Rh nanoparticles (165 mA mgRh-1).

An integrated platinum-nanocarbon electrocatalyst for efficient oxygen reduction.

Efficient and robust platinum-carbon electrocatalysts are of great significance for the long-term service of high-performance fuel cells. Here, we report a Pt alloy integrated in a cobalt-nitrogen-nanocarbon matrix by a multiscale design principle for efficient oxygen reduction reaction. This Pt integrated catalyst demonstrates an increased mass activity, 11.7 times higher than that of commercial Pt catalyst, and retains a stability of 98.7% after 30,000 potential cycles. Additionally, this integrated catalyst delivers a current density of 1.50 A cm-2 at 0.6 V in the hydrogen-air fuel cell and achieves a power density of 980 mW cm-2. Comprehensive investigations demonstrate that the synergistic contribution of components and structure in the platinum-carbon integrated catalyst is responsible for the high-efficiency ORR in fuel cells.

Ultrathin NiSe Nanosheets on Ni Foam for Efficient and Durable Hydrazine-Assisted Electrolytic Hydrogen Production.

Hydrazine-assisted electrochemical water splitting is an important avenue toward low cost and sustainable hydrogen production. An efficient and stable bifunctional electrocatalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and the anodic hydrazine oxidation reaction (HzOR) is fundamental to this goal. Herein, we employed a facile method to fabricate ultrathin NiSe nanosheet arrays on nickel foam (NiSe/NF), which exhibits predominant electrocatalytic activity for both HER and HzOR. Our investigations revealed that the excellent electrocatalytic activity of the NiSe/NF mainly arises from the abundant electrocatalytic active sites endowed by the ultrathin nanosheet morphology, the rugged feature of the extended (100) nanosheet surface, the rich presence of Se on the nanosheet surface, and the three-dimensional (3D) porous structure of the NF and other factors such as high conductivity of the NiSe/NF and strong NiSe-NF adhesion. We assembled a hydrazine-boosted electrochemical water splitting cell using NiSe/NF as a bifunctional catalyst for both of the electrodes, and the constructed cell exhibits an ultralow overpotential (310 mV at 10 mA cm-2), which is robust for 30 h continuous electrolysis in a 1 M KOH electrolyte. This work provides a promising avenue toward low cost, high-efficiency, and stable hydrogen production based on hydrazine-assisted electrolytic water splitting for future.

Efficient Nitrate-to-Ammonia Electroreduction at Cobalt Phosphide Nanoshuttles.

The nitrate electroreduction reaction (NO3--ERR) is an efficient and green approach for nitrate remediation, which requires a highly active and selective electrocatalyst. In this work, porous and amorphous cobalt phosphide nanoshuttles (CoP PANSs) are successfully synthesized by using Mg2+ ion-doped calcium carbonate nanoshuttles (Mg-CaCO3 NSs) as the initial reaction precursor via precipitation transformation and a high-temperature phosphidation strategy. Various physical characterizations show that CoP PANSs have porous architecture, amorphous crystal structure, and big surface area. Electrochemical measurements reveal for the first time that CoP PANSs have outstanding electroactivity for NO3--ERR in a neutral electrolyte. At an applied potential of -0.5 V vs reversible hydrogen electrode, CoP PANSs can achieve a high Faraday efficiency (94.24 ± 2.8%) and high yield rate (19.28 ± 0.53 mg h-1 mgcat-1) for ammonia production, which exceeds most reported values at various electrocatalysts for NO3--ERR. Thus, the present result indicates that cobalt phosphide nanomaterials have promising application for NO3--ERR.