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The electrochemical manipulation of organic compounds offers a promising alternative for the synthesis of valuable organic materials under mild conditions. In this study, the MoO2@NiO heterostructure was successfully synthesized as an efficient thin-film electrode material for electrochemical ethanol oxidation, using amorphous Ni(OH)x nanosheets as the precursor. During electrocatalytic ethanol oxidation, this electrode exhibited a significantly reduced overpotential, achieving a value of only 1.41 V at a current density of 50 mA cm−2. Additionally, product analysis revealed that the heterojunction electrode demonstrated high faradaic efficiency (70%) and selectivity (80%) for acetaldehyde. The outstanding performance of this electrode can be attributed to the in situ transformation of MoO2 species during the catalytic process. In the electrolyte, MoO2 exists as MoO42− and undergoes a series of processes including precipitation, dissolution, and redeposition on the electrode surface. These processes lead to the formation of a novel molecular outer layer, significantly enhancing the activity and stability of the electrode material. This study provides valuable insights into the potential replacement of anodes in the electrocatalytic oxidation of ethanol in aqueous solutions, thereby contributing to the development of more efficient and sustainable electrochemical systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water-responsive actuators have been of increasing interest in various applications. In this work, water-responsive actuators based on the bilayer composite film were prepared using commercialized PVA and SBS by a two-step solution casting method. In order to improve the adhesion between the PVA layer and SBS layer, SBS was firstly epoxidized to improve the polarity. Immediately after a thin film was formed on the surface of the epoxidized-SBS (E-SBS)/tetrahydrofuran solution, the PVA aqueous solution was poured onto the film and dried. It was found that the adhesive property between the two layers was improved and the adhesion strength reached 1005 kPa. The resultant bilayer film displayed the water-responsive two-way shape memory effect and exhibited excellent cyclic performance in five cycles. Flower-like and claw-like actuators based on the bilayer composite film were prepared and the actuation performance was demonstrated, suggesting their potential for applications in the fields of biomedicine and sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on hollow Co3O4 cubes synthesized via a self-sacrificing template method and their application as an anode material for reversible electrochemical lithium storage. The hollow Co3O4 cube with a porous hierarchical structure increases the contact surface, shortens the diffusion path of ion/electron, and improves its structure stability and collaborative electronic transmission. Due to their ultrathin subunits and hollow interior, the electrodes exhibit excellent electrochemical performance. Impressively, a high discharge specific capacity of 1600 mA h g−1 is obtained at 400 mA g−1 after 100 cycles. And a reversible specific capacity of 1032 mA h g−1 could still be maintained even at 1000 mA g−1 after 150 cycles. This implies the remarkable potential as an anode for lithium ion batteries. Thus, the hollow Co3O4 cube might give insights into transition-metal oxides as energy storage materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]