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Surface modification of oxygen evolution reaction (OER) cocatalysts is a promising approach to improve PEC water oxidation activity by accelerating the surface charge injection efficiency and catalytic reaction kinetics. However, the PEC performance is still restricted by inefficient charge transfer at the semiconductor/cocatalyst interface. In this study, ultrathin Ti3C2 nanosheets, serving as a highly efficient hole transport layer, were introduced into the Fe2O3/CoAl-layered double hydroxide (LDH) interface. The obtained Fe2O3–Ti3C2–CoAl photoanodes exhibited a significantly improved photocurrent density of 2.1 mA cm−2 at 1.23 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) under AM 1.5G illumination. In this system, the Ti3C2 nanolayer not only suppresses the interfacial recombination of photogenerated carriers but also facilitates efficient hole transfer from Fe2O3 to the OER cocatalyst, thus promoting the PEC performance. This study provides a new guideline for optimizing the charge transfer at the semiconductor/cocatalyst interface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Si2N2O ceramic foam is developed by the combination of biological foaming (BF) technique and direct ink writing (DIW). The effect of yeast content on the rheological properties of inks and phase composition, microstructure, and mechanical properties of ceramic foam are systematically investigated. The inks consist of different proportions of yeast suspension and ceramic start powder suspension that exhibit superior printing behavior and proper fermentation capacity. Yeast cells and additives derived from commercial active yeast are fully utilized as BF agent, nutrient, and emulsifier. The variation of yeast contents bring about the evolution of phases, pores density, and mechanical properties of ceramic parts. The Si2N2O foams with porosities from 61.5 ± 4.3% to 71.0 ± 4.5% are successfully fabricated. The corresponding compressive strength decreases from 33.1 ± 2.6 to 8.3 ± 1.5 MPa. As a result, a promising reference for the design and preparation of BF ceramic ink and hierarchical ceramic foam based on DIW is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]