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Abstract The low-potential aldehyde oxidation reaction can occur at low potential (~0 VRHE) and release H2 at the anode, enabling hydrogen production with less than one-tenth of the energy consumption required for water splitting. Nevertheless, the activity and stability of Cu catalysts remain inadequate due to the oxidative deactivation of Cu-based materials. Herein, we elucidate the deactivation and reactivation cycle of Cu electrocatalyst and develop a self-reactivating PdCu catalyst that exhibits significantly enhanced stability. Initially, in-situ Raman spectroscopy confirm the cycle involved in electrochemical oxidation and non-electrochemical reduction. Subsequently, in-situ Raman spectroscopy and X-ray absorption fine structure reveal that the Pd component accelerates the rate of the non-electrochemical reduction, thereby enhancing the stability of the Cu-based electrocatalyst. Finally, a bipolar hydrogen production device is assembled utilizing the PdCu electrocatalyst, which can deliver a current of 400 mA cm−2 at 0.42 V and operate continuously for 120 h. This work offers guidance to enhance the stability of the Cu-based electrocatalyst in a bipolar hydrogen production system.

Abstract Currently, conventional dimethoxymethane synthesis methods are environmentally unfriendly. Here, we report a photo-redox catalysis system to generate dimethoxymethane using a silver and tungsten co-modified blue titanium dioxide catalyst (Ag.W-BTO) by coupling CO2 reduction and CH3OH oxidation under mild conditions. The Ag.W-BTO structure and its electron and hole transfer are comprehensively investigated by combining advanced characterizations and theoretical studies. Strikingly, Ag.W-BTO achieve a record photocatalytic activity of 5702.49 µmol g−1 with 92.08% dimethoxymethane selectivity in 9 h of ultraviolet-visible irradiation without sacrificial agents. Systematic isotope labeling experiments, in-situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier-transform analysis, and theoretical calculations reveal that the Ag and W species respectively catalyze CO2 conversion to *CH2O and CH3OH oxidation to *CH3O. Subsequently, an asymmetric carbon-oxygen coupling process between these two crucial intermediates produces dimethoxymethane. This work presents a CO2 photocatalytic reduction system for multi-carbon production to meet the objectives of sustainable economic development and carbon neutrality.

In this work, vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) and titanium-modified V2O5 thin films were synthesized using the sol-gel spin coating route. The effect of Ti-doping concentration on the electrochromic optical properties and atomic/electronic structures of V2O5 smart thin films is examined. As the doping concentration of Ti increases, the surface roughness of the films is reduced. The structure of the films is analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy, while the electrochromic modulation of atomic and electronic structures is elucidated through Raman and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) conducted during lithiation and delithiation. The XRD patterns demonstrate that an increase in Ti concentration leads to a more amorphous structure of the films and a shift of the main diffraction peak to a lower angle, attributable to the enlarged spacing between the stacking layers resulting from the incorporation of Ti ions. Soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and in situ hard XAS of the V L-edge, the O K-edge, and the V K-edge revealed a reduction in the charge state of V and local atomic structural symmetry modification upon lithated coloration and delithiated bleaching process. The critical insights provided by in situ XAS provides reveal that a small amount of Ti has the ability to modify the interlayer distance and local atomic structure of V2O5, thereby improving its electrochromic switching rate and stability when utilized in smart windows.

Abstract Researchers are investigating innovative composite materials for renewable energy and energy storage systems. The major goals of this studies are i) to develop a low‐cost and stable trimetallic oxide catalyst and ii) to change the electrical environment of the active sites through site‐selective Mo substitution. The effect of Mo on NiCoMoO4 is elucidated using both in situ X‐ray absorption spectroscopy and X‐ray diffraction analysis. Also, density functional theory strategies show that NiCoMoO4 has extraordinary catalytic redox activity because of the high adsorption energy of the Mo atom on the active crystal plane. Further, it is demonstrated that hierarchical nanoflower structures of NiCoMoO4 on reduced graphene oxide can be employed as a powerful bifunctional electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction/evolution reactions in alkaline solutions, providing a small overpotential difference of 0.75 V. Also, Zn–air batteries based on the developed bifunctional electrocatalyst exhibit outstanding cycling stability and a high‐power density of 125.1 mW cm−2. This work encourages the use of Zn–air batteries in practical applications and provides an interesting concept for designing a bifunctional electrocatalyst.

In this work, the novel CuTa2O6 phase was successfully synthesized by the hydrothermal and followed by the calcination process. The X-ray diffraction pattern confirms the formation of different phases. At a low temperature, CuTa2O6 exhibits the orthorhombic phase, whereas, at a higher temperature, it underwent a phase transition to a cubic crystal structure. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic results suggest the presence of all the elements (Cu, Ta, and O). The optical studies were carried out using a UV-Vis DRS spectrophotometer. FESEM images confirm the spherical-shaped particles for the sample annealed at a high temperature. The local atomic and electronic structures around Cu and the contribution of the Cu oxidation state in the CuTa2O6 system were determined by X-ray absorption spectroscopy. To investigate the effective usage of CuTa2O6 in treating wastewater, its photocatalytic activity was investigated by evaluating its use in the photodegradation of MO dye under visible light irradiation. Moreover, the prepared CuTa2O6 photocatalyst exhibits significant photocatalytic activity in the degradation of MO dye and shows excellent stability; it is therefore a promising material for potential use in a practical photocatalyst. The CuTa2O6 photocatalyst suggests an alternative avenue of research into effective photo-catalysts for solar hydrogen water splitting.

Bismuth vanadate (BiVO4) has attracted substantial attention on account of its usefulness in producing hydrogen by photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. The exploitation of BiVO4 for this purpose is yet limited by severe charge recombination in the bulk of BiVO4, which is caused by the short diffusion length of the photoexcited charge carriers and inefficient charge separation. Enormous effort has been made to improve the photocurrent density and solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency of BiVO4. This study demonstrates that modulating the composition of the electrode and the electronic configuration of BiVO4 by decoration with silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) is effective in not only enhancing the charge carrier concentration but also suppressing charge recombination in the solar water splitting process. Decoration with a small number of Ag NPs significantly enhances the photocurrent density of BiVO4 to an extent that increases with the concentration of the Ag NPs. At 0.5% Ag NPs, the photocurrent density approaches 4.1 mA cm−2 at 1.23 V versus a reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) under solar simulated light illumination; this value is much higher than the 2.3 mA cm−2 of pure BiVO4 under the same conditions. X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) is utilized to investigate the electronic structure of pure BiVO4 and its modification by decoration with Ag NPs. Analytical results indicate that increased distortion of the VO4 tetrahedra alters the V 3d–O 2p hybridized states. Additionally, as the Ag concentration increases, the oxygen vacancy defects that act as recombination centers in BiVO4 are reduced. In situ XAS, which is conducted under dark and solar illumination conditions, reveals that the significantly enhanced PEC performance is attributable to the synergy of modulated atomic/electronic structures and the localized surface plasmon resonance effect of the Ag nanoparticles.

Understanding of single-layer and bilayer thin films of WO3 and Ta2O5 for electrochromic applications remains elusive. In this study, single layers of WO3 and Ta2O5 and bilayer thin films of WO3/Ta2O5 and Ta2O5/WO3 were prepared by the sol–gel method followed by spin coating. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed the semicrystalline nature of WO3 and the absence of significant crystalline planes in Ta2O5. Raman spectroscopy confirmed the characteristic vibrational modes of WO3 and Ta2O5 in both single-layer and bilayer thin films. Enhancement in cyclic voltammetry (CV) was observed in Ta2O5/WO3 compared to other thin films. Additionally, Ta2O5/WO3 exhibited a greater change in transmittance (ΔT) relative to other configurations. The impact of proton irradiation on the thin films was further investigated, revealing modifications in their structural and phonon vibrational properties. Notably, the CV performance of the irradiated thin films was drastically reduced. X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) provided insights into the modulation of hybridization of O with W/Ta and the charge states of W and Ta in the thin films. This study provides a comprehensive understanding of single-layer and bilayer electrochromic thin films and their response to proton irradiation, paving the way for the development of space-applicable electrochromic bilayer thin films with improved performance and stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid advancement of the hydrogen economy hinges on developing efficient systems that combine the sulfion oxidation reaction (SOR) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) to achieve cost-effective hydrogen production. Herein, a metal–organic framework derived Co3O4-integrated WS2 (CW) heterostructure with sulfur-rich vacancies was synthesized via a hydrothermal process. This ultrathin nanosheet structure afforded efficient electrocatalytic performance towards oxygen evolution reaction (OER), HER, and SOR by providing abundant active sites and optimal electronic configurations. The optimal CW heterostructure exhibited excellent OER and HER performance with lower overpotentials of 270 and 153 mV, respectively. The higher turnover frequency of the CW-2 electrocatalysts is 0.226 s−1 at the potential of 1.65 V. In situ/operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) provided detailed insights into the dynamics at the catalyst surface and structural evolution under electrochemical conditions. In situ/operando XAS demonstrated a decrease in the coordination number of W–S when the applied potential was increased to 1.55 V due to the formation of sulfur vacancies. Sulfur and metal vacancies were plausibly co-existent, as demonstrated by the variation in the coordination number for the W–S first shell with the applied voltage, and the similar trend for the W–W second shell. Because of these advantages, the CW heterostructure exhibited better electrocatalytic activity for the OER, HER, and SOR. The assembled system with the CW-2 heterostructure established a remarkably low cell voltage of 0.41 V (@ 10 mA cm−2) for driving the cathodic HER and anodic SOR, with high faradaic efficiency (86.27%), and exceptional durability over 80 h. The findings of this study should contribute significantly to energy-efficient hydrogen production and sustainable sulfion recycling through the development of robust and highly effective catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The low-potential aldehyde oxidation reaction can occur at low potential (~0 VRHE) and release H2 at the anode, enabling hydrogen production with less than one-tenth of the energy consumption required for water splitting. Nevertheless, the activity and stability of Cu catalysts remain inadequate due to the oxidative deactivation of Cu-based materials. Herein, we elucidate the deactivation and reactivation cycle of Cu electrocatalyst and develop a self-reactivating PdCu catalyst that exhibits significantly enhanced stability. Initially, in-situ Raman spectroscopy confirm the cycle involved in electrochemical oxidation and non-electrochemical reduction. Subsequently, in-situ Raman spectroscopy and X-ray absorption fine structure reveal that the Pd component accelerates the rate of the non-electrochemical reduction, thereby enhancing the stability of the Cu-based electrocatalyst. Finally, a bipolar hydrogen production device is assembled utilizing the PdCu electrocatalyst, which can deliver a current of 400 mA cm−2 at 0.42 V and operate continuously for 120 h. This work offers guidance to enhance the stability of the Cu-based electrocatalyst in a bipolar hydrogen production system.A low-potential dual-side hydrogen production system is more efficient than water splitting but suffers from stability issues. Here, the authors report a self-reactivating PdCu catalyst that operates stably for 120 h, offering an alternative solution for energy-efficient hydrogen production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MoSSe is a semiconducting material with a layered structure similar to MoS2 and MoSe2, which shows potential applications in optoelectronics, solar cells, sensing, and catalysis. Synthesis of this material with a controllable structure and chemical composition represents a great challenge. Herein, we report a new method for the synthesis of MoSSe by employing an [Et4N]2[Mo3S4Se3Br6] complex as the sole precursor. Thermal annealing of this complex under an Ar atmosphere at moderate temperatures ranging from 350 °C to 650 °C resulted in the formation of pure MoSSe. The morphology and structure of MoSSe were characterized using SEM, HRTEM, XRD, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS). The effects of annealing temperature on the structure of MoSSe were also examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Currently, conventional dimethoxymethane synthesis methods are environmentally unfriendly. Here, we report a photo-redox catalysis system to generate dimethoxymethane using a silver and tungsten co-modified blue titanium dioxide catalyst (Ag.W-BTO) by coupling CO2 reduction and CH3OH oxidation under mild conditions. The Ag.W-BTO structure and its electron and hole transfer are comprehensively investigated by combining advanced characterizations and theoretical studies. Strikingly, Ag.W-BTO achieve a record photocatalytic activity of 5702.49 µmol g−1 with 92.08% dimethoxymethane selectivity in 9 h of ultraviolet-visible irradiation without sacrificial agents. Systematic isotope labeling experiments, in-situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier-transform analysis, and theoretical calculations reveal that the Ag and W species respectively catalyze CO2 conversion to *CH2O and CH3OH oxidation to *CH3O. Subsequently, an asymmetric carbon-oxygen coupling process between these two crucial intermediates produces dimethoxymethane. This work presents a CO2 photocatalytic reduction system for multi-carbon production to meet the objectives of sustainable economic development and carbon neutrality. This study unravels the efficient photocatalytic route for synthesizing dimethoxymethane by coupling CO2 reduction integrated with CH3OH oxidation by using a silver and tungsten comodified blue titanium dioxide catalyst under mild conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methanol oxidation plays a central role to implement sustainable energy economy, which is restricted by the sluggish reaction kinetics due to the multi‐electron transfer process accompanied by numerous sequential intermediate. In this study, an efficient cascade methanol oxidation reaction is catalyzed by single‐Ir‐atom catalyst at ultra‐low potential (<0.1 V) with the promotion of the thermal and electrochemical integration in a high temperature polymer electrolyte membrane electrolyzer. At the elevated temperature, the electron deficient Ir site with higher methanol affinity could spontaneous catalyze the CH3OH dehydrogenation to CO under the voltage, then the generated CO and H2 was electrochemically oxidized to CO2 and proton. However, the methanol cannot thermally decompose with the voltage absence, which confirm the indispensable of the coupling of thermal and electrochemical integration for the methanol oxidation. By assembling the methanol oxidation reaction with hydrogen evolution reaction with single‐Ir‐atom catalysts in the anode chamber, a max hydrogen production rate reaches 18 mol gIr−1 h−1, which is much greater than that of Ir nanoparticles and commercial Pt/C. This study also demonstrated the electrochemical methanol oxidation activity of the single atom catalysts, which broadens the renewable energy devices and the catalyst design by an integration concept. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photocatalytic nanomaterials for indoor air purification have garnered attention for the removal of aromatic compounds, including toluene, among volatile organic compounds (VOCs). However, there are still limitations that need to be addressed for the practical implementation of this technology, such as low efficiency under indoor lighting and the stability of photocatalytic nanomaterials under real atmospheric conditions. In this study, we present an nanoscaled iron-decorated blue TiO2/WO3 Z-schemed catalyst that possesses the ideal band position for efficiently eliminating toluene. This catalyst generates reactive oxygen species, oxidizing toluene to benzaldehyde and ultimately converting it to CO2 under visible LED light. The toluene removal efficiency continuous flow reaction system is five times higher than that of each catalyst under a constant airflow system. The introduction of nanoscaled iron at the interface and on the surface between BTO and WO3 nanoparticles facilitates Z-scheme charge transfer, promoting the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and effectively breaking down toluene via the Fenton reaction. The catalytic activity of BTO-Fe/WO3 is maintained at over 92% efficiency, even after three recycling cycles. This study demonstrates that the hybridization of nanoscaled iron and semiconductors can decompose the stable toluene ring even under an ambient visible light, showcasing practical performance for feasible air purification in a common indoor environment system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Researchers are investigating innovative composite materials for renewable energy and energy storage systems. The major goals of this studies are i) to develop a low‐cost and stable trimetallic oxide catalyst and ii) to change the electrical environment of the active sites through site‐selective Mo substitution. The effect of Mo on NiCoMoO4 is elucidated using both in situ X‐ray absorption spectroscopy and X‐ray diffraction analysis. Also, density functional theory strategies show that NiCoMoO4 has extraordinary catalytic redox activity because of the high adsorption energy of the Mo atom on the active crystal plane. Further, it is demonstrated that hierarchical nanoflower structures of NiCoMoO4 on reduced graphene oxide can be employed as a powerful bifunctional electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction/evolution reactions in alkaline solutions, providing a small overpotential difference of 0.75 V. Also, Zn–air batteries based on the developed bifunctional electrocatalyst exhibit outstanding cycling stability and a high‐power density of 125.1 mW cm−2. This work encourages the use of Zn–air batteries in practical applications and provides an interesting concept for designing a bifunctional electrocatalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two iodide‐derived copper (ID‐Cu) electrocatalysts (E‐ID‐Cu and W‐ID‐Cu) are prepared by electrochemical/wet chemical iodination of Cu foil and subsequent in situ electrochemical reduction reaction. In comparison to electropolished Cu (EP‐Cu), both E‐ID‐Cu and W‐ID‐Cu can produce multicarbon (C2+) products with much‐improved selectivity, with Faradic efficiency (FE) reaching 64.39% for E‐ID‐Cu and 71.16% for W‐ID‐Cu at −1.1 V versus reversible hydrogen electrodes (RHE), which can be attributed to their localized geometry features with high defect density and high surface roughness. Given the well‐determined FEs towards C2+ products, the partial current densities for C2+ production can be estimated to be 251.8 mA cm−2 for E‐ID‐Cu and 290.0 mA cm−2 for W‐ID‐Cu at −1.2 V versus RHE in a flow cell. In situ characterizations and theoretical calculations reveal that the high‐density defects and high surface roughness can promote *CO adsorption by raising the d band center and then facilitate C–C coupling, contributing to the high selectivity of C2+ products for ID‐Cu. Interestingly, the high surface roughness can increase the residence time of *C–H intermediates and decrease the formation energy of the *OCCO and*CH3CH2O intermediates, thus favoring C2+ production, with a unique C2H6 product observed over W‐ID‐Cu with FE of 10.14% at −0.7 V versus RHE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bismuth vanadate (BiVO4) has attracted substantial attention on account of its usefulness in producing hydrogen by photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. The exploitation of BiVO4 for this purpose is yet limited by severe charge recombination in the bulk of BiVO4, which is caused by the short diffusion length of the photoexcited charge carriers and inefficient charge separation. Enormous effort has been made to improve the photocurrent density and solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency of BiVO4. This study demonstrates that modulating the composition of the electrode and the electronic configuration of BiVO4 by decoration with silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) is effective in not only enhancing the charge carrier concentration but also suppressing charge recombination in the solar water splitting process. Decoration with a small number of Ag NPs significantly enhances the photocurrent density of BiVO4 to an extent that increases with the concentration of the Ag NPs. At 0.5% Ag NPs, the photocurrent density approaches 4.1 mA cm−2 at 1.23 V versus a reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) under solar simulated light illumination; this value is much higher than the 2.3 mA cm−2 of pure BiVO4 under the same conditions. X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) is utilized to investigate the electronic structure of pure BiVO4 and its modification by decoration with Ag NPs. Analytical results indicate that increased distortion of the VO4 tetrahedra alters the V 3d–O 2p hybridized states. Additionally, as the Ag concentration increases, the oxygen vacancy defects that act as recombination centers in BiVO4 are reduced. In situ XAS, which is conducted under dark and solar illumination conditions, reveals that the significantly enhanced PEC performance is attributable to the synergy of modulated atomic/electronic structures and the localized surface plasmon resonance effect of the Ag nanoparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gobies are dominant in terms of both species diversity and abundance in estuarine habitats, but little is known about their early developmental stages in the coastal waters of Vietnam. To examine species diversity of goby larvae and juveniles, monthly collections were carried out using a small seine net from the Ka Long estuary in the northernmost Vietnamese coast, from September 2014 to August 2015. A total of 1,334 goby fishes of 20 species or more in three families (Butidae, Oxudercidae and Gobiidae) were caught, including nine unidentified species. This is the first record of gobies at early developmental stages from an estuary in Vietnam. The family Oxudercidae was the most abundant in terms of total species, and Gobiopterus chuno was the most frequent species in the study area. The goby specimens collected were mostly postflexion larvae and juveniles, ranging from 2.3 mm to 99.1 mm in body length. The size of nine dominant gobies was around 10 mm body length. In the study site, goby fishes are from tropical, subtropical and temperate zones, suggesting this goby fauna can display transitional biodiversity from tropical to temperate waters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endophytic bacteria (EB) possess different beneficial traits. Endophytic microbes are often functional in that they may carry nutrients from the soil into plants, modulate plant development, increase stress tolerance of plants, suppress virulence in pathogens, increase disease resistance in plants, and suppress development of competitor plant species. They may enhance plant development by carrying nutrients from the soil into plants and protect plants against phytopathogens by synthesizing extra-/intracellular proteolytic enzymes, as well as releasing antimicrobial metabolites and competing with pathogens for habitation and nutrients. In this study, we investigated the ability to produce exo/endo-enzymes such as gelatinase, amylase, and catalase, and antagonistic activity of 77 EB strains isolated from lowland rice roots grown in Doan Ket commune, Thanh Mien district, Hai Duong province, Vietnam. Out of 77 isolates, 76 (98.71%) showed the ability to liquefy gelatin after 7 days with different rates of hydrolysis. The test of starch hydrolysis revealed 58 (75.33%) isolates that were able to hydrolyze starch. Fiftyone out of 77 isolates (66.24%) were able to produce catalase. The antagonistic activity of rice root endophytic bacteria was determined against bacterial leaf blight disease-causing pathogen Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo), strains X19.2 and VX41. We found that three isolates (TP5, TP7, TP11) showed the ability to inhibit the growth of strain VX41 and twelve isolates (TP3, TP7, TP8, TP9, TP10, TP11, TP12, TP13, TP15, TP17, TP21, TP23) were able to inhibit the growth of strain X19.2. These results are served as a venue for further investigation in planta under the conditions of net house and field trials in order to confirm the potential strains for the development of bioinoculant toward controlling the disease caused by Xoo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ichthyo-fauna in the Ba Che and Tien Yen rivers, northern Vietnam is highly diverse, with a total of 245 species determined. However, data on the distribution of fish species are not sufficiently provided for the whole area. This study was conducted from 2008 to 2011 at 27 stations from the Ba Che and Tien Yen river basins to determine the distribution of fish species according to different sections of the rivers, water bodies, seasons, and salinity levels. The results show that fish species are distributed mainly in the river (with 210 species), concentrated in the downstream area (with 213 species). Fishes are mainly collected in the dry season when the salinity level of river is high, due to seawater intrusion which also brings in 160 species of marine fish. This shows that fish distribution in the research areas is mainly dominated by the presence of marine species. While for freshwater fish, it is clearly affected by the mountainous features. Apart from the common characteristics sharing between the two river basins, but the number of both freshwater and marine fish species in the Tien Yen river are larger than those of Ba Che river, which is related to fresh water surface, river morphology, the width and location of the estuary to the sea. The downstream area is home to the fish species recorded in the Red Data Book of Vietnam and the complementary species for Vietnam, while the middle and upstream of the rivers may offer a high potential of biodiversity, with many possibly new species for science. These are important data for the conservation and sustainable development of fish resources in the Ba Che and Tien Yen river basins [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early stages from fertilized eggs to juveniles are important in the existence and development cycles of fish. At these stages, fish are still not fully developed, and are thus easily affected by environmental factors. Vietnam has a rich fish diversity, with ca 3000 species, and fishery resources play significantly roles not only in the daily lives of local residents but also in national economic development. Ichthyological studies in Vietnam have focused mainly on matured fish while early life history has so far been less researched. This paper presents an overview of studies in Vietnam related to early stages of fish and provides an orientation for this field in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silver-biddy (Gerreidae: Gerres) are commercially important euryhaline fishes in coastal waters; however, information about their distribution during early stages in estuarine environments is poorly known. The present study aims to elucidate the habitat utilization of two species of the family, Gerres japonicus and G. limbatus as larvae and juveniles based on monthly collections from 2013 to 2015 in the Tien Yen estuary, northern Vietnam. They occurred from April to June for G. japonicus and in April and May for G. limbatus with a peak in May for both the species. Both G. japonicus and G. limbatus used the Tien Yen estuary as a nursery ground; however, the former species that colonized the shallows along the banks of the estuary extended to near freshwater habitat, whereas the latter was found at the end of the upper reach and the middle reach. The different habitat uses between the two species in the early life history may be related to their specific salinity preference as G. japonicus prefer lower salinities than G. limbatus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis of α-amino acids via the electrocatalytic C-N coupling attracted extensive attention owing to the mild reaction conditions, controllable reaction parameters, and atom economy. However, the α-amino acid yield remains unsatisfying. Herein, the efficient electrocatalytic synthesis of α-amino acids is achieved with an atomically dispersed Fe loaded defective TiO 2 monolithic electrocatalyst ( ad Fe-TiO x /Ti). The desired electrocatalyst composition for the hydrogenation of oxime is screened. The prepared ad Fe-TiO x /Ti exhibited a high glyoxylic acid conversion of ≈100% and a glycine selectivity of 80.2%. The electrochemical experiments and theoretical calculations demonstrated that atomically dispersed Fe ( ad Fe) sites and oxygen vacancies (OVs) enhanced the adsorption of glyoxylic acid (GA), glyoxylic oxime (GO), and nitrate (NO 3 - ). ad Fe sites further promote the step of H 2 NO * → H 2 NOH * in the conversion of NO 3 - to hydroxylamine (NH 2 OH) and the step of NH-CH 2 -COOH * → NH 2 -CH 2 -COOH * in the reduction of GO to glycine. The coupling pathway and the critical intermediate are revealed by synchrotron radiation Fourier transform infrared (SR-FTIR) spectroscopy and differential electrochemical mass spectrometry (DEMS). Additionally, six other α-amino acids are successfully synthesized by the ad Fe-TiO x /Ti, showcasing its versatility in the electrosynthesis of α-amino acids. This work provides an efficient electrocatalyst for the C-N coupling synthesis of α-amino acids., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

This investigation explores the potential of co-incorporating nickel (Ni) and cobalt (Co) into copper oxide (CuO) nanostructures for bifunctional electrochemical charge storage and oxygen evolution reactions (OER). A facile wet chemical synthesis method is employed to co-incorporate Ni and Co into CuO, yielding diverse nanostructured morphologies, including rods, spheres, and flake. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman analyses confirmed the formation of NiCo-CuO nanostructure, with minor phases of nickel oxide (NiO) and cobalt tetraoxide (Co 3 O 4 ). High-resolution Transmission Electron Microscope (HRTEM) also confirms the diverse morphologies and the minor phases of oxides. Synchrotron X-ray absorption spectroscopy revealed higher charge states of Cu, Ni, and Co in the NiCo-CuO nanostructure, enhancing its charge storage and OER. Site-selective X-ray absorption near edge structure analysis elucidated the spatial distribution of Cu, Ni, and Co in the nanostructure. Furthermore, extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy provided insights into the local atomic structures, revealing increased coordination numbers and interatomic distances in the NiCo-CuO nanostructure. In situ Raman analysis discloses the transformation of Co 3 O 4 into cobalt hydroxide (Co(OH) 2 ) and cobalt oxide (CoO)  into cobalt oxyhydroxide (CoOOH) The NiCo-CuO nanostructures exhibited superior specific capacitance, favorable Tafel behavior, and low overpotential positioning as promising bifunctional materials for energy storage and conversion applications. This work contributes to the development of efficient CuO nanocatalysts., (© 2025 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

The development of an excellent multifunctional electrocatalyst that is based on non-precious metal is critical for improving the electrochemical processes of the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), and the urea oxidation reaction (UOR) in alkaline media. This study demonstrates that incorporating Mo into Co 3 O 4 facilitated the formation of rich oxygen vacancies (Vo), which promotes effective nitrate adsorption and activation in urea electrolysis. Subsequently, in situ/operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy is used to explore the active sites in Mo-Co 3 O 4 -3 under OER, indicating the oxygen vacancies are first filled with OH • in Mo-Co 3 O 4 ; facilitated the pre-oxidation of low-valence Co, and promoted the reconstruction/deprotonation of intermediate Co-OOH • . Mo-Co 3 O 4 -3 electrocatalysts show impressive HER, OER, and UOR with low overpotentials of 141 mV, 220 mV, and 1.32 V, respectively, at 10 mA cm -2 in an alkaline medium. Furthermore, in situ/Operando Raman spectroscopy results reveal the importance of CoOOH active sites for enhanced electrochemical performance in Mo-Co 3 O 4 -3 compared to the pure Co 3 O 4 . The urea electrolyzer with Mo-Co 3 O 4 electrocatalysts acts as an anode and the cathode delivers 1.42 V at 10 mA cm -2 . A viable approach to creating effective UOR electrocatalysts involves synergistic engineering exploiting doping and oxygen vacancies., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Transition metal single-atom catalysts (SACs) have been regarded as possible alternatives to platinum-based materials due to their satisfactory performance of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). By contrast, main-group metal elements are rarely studied due to their unfavorable surface and electronic states. Herein, a main-group Sn-based SAC with penta-coordinated and asymmetric first-shell ligands is reported as an efficient and robust ORR catalyst. The introduction of the vertical oxygen atom breaks the symmetric charge balance, modulating the binding strength to oxygen intermediates and decreasing the energy barrier for the ORR process. As expected, the prepared Sn SAC exhibits outstanding ORR activity with a high half-wave potential of 0.912 V (vs RHE) and an excellent mass activity of 13.1 A mg Sn -1 at 0.850 V (vs RHE), which surpasses that of commercial Pt/C and most reported transition-metal-based SACs. Additionally, the reported Sn SAC shows excellent ORR stability due to the strong interaction between Sn sites and the carbon support with oxygen atom as the bridge. The excellent ORR performance of Sn SAC was also proven by both liquid- and solid-state zinc-air battery (ZAB) measurements, indicating its great potential in practical applications.

Efficient charge-carrier separation and their utilization are the key factors in overcoming sluggish four-electron reaction kinetics involved in photocatalytic oxygen evolution. Here, a novel study demonstrates the significance of Na 2 S 2 O 8 as a sacrificial agent in comparison to AgNO 3 . Resultantly, BiFeO 3 (BFO) and titanium doped-oxygen deficient BiFeO 3 (Ti-BFO-R) nanostructures achieve ≈64 and 44.5 times higher O 2 evolution in the presence of Na 2 S 2 O 8 compared to AgNO 3 as a sacrificial agent, respectively. Furthermore, the presence of Co single atoms (Co-SAs) deposited via immersion method on BFO and Ti-BFO-R nanostructures led to achieving outstanding O 2 evolution at a rate of 16.11 and 23.89 mmol g -1 h -1 , respectively, which is 153 and 227.5 times higher compared to BFO (in the presence of AgNO 3 ), the highest O 2 evolution observed for BFO-based materials to date. The successful deposition of Co-SAs is confirmed by aberration-corrected high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (AC HAADF-STEM) and X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES). The charge transfer investigations confirm the significance of Co-SAs on BFO-based photocatalysts for improved charge-carrier separation, transport, and utilization. This novel study validates the excellent role of Na 2 S 2 O 8 as a sacrificial agent and Co-SAs as a cocatalyst for BFO-based nanostructures for efficient O 2 evolution., (© 2023 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)