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The exploration of high‐efficiency electrocatalysts is becoming indispensable for the production of H2 from electrochemcial seawater splitting. Herein, a feasible strategy is developed to realize the in situ encapsulation of Ni‐decorated Fe3N into porous N‐doped carbon nanolayer, abbreviated as Nix‐Fe3N@NCPs, by an association of wet‐impregnation treatment and thermal annealing. More concretely, the doping of Ni can initiate the synergistic effect to optimize the internal electronic structure, which strengthen the adsorption of intermediates and interface charge transfer. Meantime, the architecture of NCPs encapsulation nanolayer not only enhances the conductivity and the structural stability, but also effectively prevents Cl− ions transport from poisoning of electrocatalytic active sites. On these grounds, the preferred Ni0.10‐Fe3N@NCPs electrocatalyst delivers the exceptional bifunctional electrocatalytic performance in electrolytic seawater. The corresponding HER and OER overpotentials to attain the current densities of 10, 100, and 500 mA cm−2 are only required 47, 147, and 291 mV as well as 152, 249, and 312 mV, respectively. In addition, the Ni0.10‐Fe3N@NCPs electrocatalysts achieves an ultra‐low voltage of 1.80 V at 500 mA cm−2 with ultralong lifespan of 1200 h in zero‐gap alkaline electrolyzer. This work provides a cutting‐edge scientific research exploration for the development of electrocatalyst for seawater electrolysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrochemical performance of all‐solid‐state lithium batteries (ASSLBs) can be significantly improved by addressing the challenges posed by space charge layer (SCL) effect, which plays a crucial role in determining Li+ ions transport kinetic at cathodic interface. Therefore, it is critical to realize the in situ inspection and visualization of SCL behaviors for solving sluggish Li+ ions transport issues, despite remaining grant challenges. Therewith, the well‐defined model of LiNbO3‐coated NCM (NCM@LNO) cathode is constructed and assembled for the representative Li6PS5Cl‐based ASSLBs, which not only ensures excellent cathodic compatibility, but also preferably enables the better monitoring of Li+ ions transport kinetics. Combining ex situ analysis with DFT calculation, the formation and evolution mechanism of SCL are comprehensively understood, and the relationship between well‐controlled SCL configuration and Li+ electrochemical behavior has been also further illustrated and established through the operando Raman spectroscopy. On these grounds, the preferred NCM@LNO cathodes acquire the enhanced discharge capacity of 90.6% (144.8 mAh g−1) after 100 cycles and it can still deliver the exceptional capacity of 136.2 mAh g−1 after 800 cycles in ASSLBs. Hence, the research will pave up a new perspective for fundamental scientific insight of the SCL and reasonable tailoring of cathodic interface for high‐efficiency ASSLBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs) are investigated as promising alternatives to lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) on account of the economical abundance and reliable availability of sodium, as well as its analogous chemical properties compared to lithium. Nevertheless, the performance of SIBs is severely restricted by the availability of satisfactory cathode nanomaterials with stable frameworks to accommodate the transportation of large‐sized Na+ ions. These challenges can be effectively resolved when exploiting Prussian blue (PB) and its analogs (PBAs) as SIB cathodes. This is mainly because PB and PBAs have 3D open frameworks with large interstitial space, which are more favorable for fast insertion/extraction of Na+ ions during the charging/discharging process, thus enabling the improvement of integrated performance in SIB systems. This overview offers a comprehensive summarization of recent advancements in the electrochemical performance of PB and PBAs when employing them as cathodes in SIBs. For better understanding, the fabrication strategy, structural characterization, and electrochemical performance exposition are systematically organized and explained according to tuning PB and metal‐based PBAs. Additionally, the current trajectories and prospective future directions pertaining to the utilization of PB and PBA cathodes in the SIB system are thoroughly examined and deliberated upon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sodium ion batteries (SIBs) are considered as the ideal candidates for the next generation of electrochemical energy storage devices. The major challenges of anode lie in poor cycling stability and the sluggish kinetics attributed to the inherent large Na+ size. In this work, Bi nanosphere encapsulated in N‐doped carbon nanowires (Bi@N‐C) is assembled by facile electrospinning and carbonization. N‐doped carbon mitigates the structure stress/strain during alloying/dealloying, optimizes the ionic/electronic diffusion, and provides fast electron transfer and structural stability. Due to the excellent structure, Bi@N‐C shows excellent Na storage performance in SIBs in terms of good cycling stability and rate capacity in half cells and full cells. The fundamental mechanism of the outstanding electrochemical performance of Bi@N‐C has been demonstrated through synchrotron in‐situ XRD, atomic force microscopy, ex‐situ scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and density functional theory (DFT) calculation. Importantly, a deeper understanding of the underlying reasons of the performance improvement is elucidated, which is vital for providing the theoretical basis for application of SIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heterogeneous Fenton‐like process with a wide pH range is a promising alternative to traditional homogeneous Fenton reactions. Recently, the boosting effect of MoS2 cocatalysts is widely recognized in Fenton reactions, and the primary mechanism is the promotion of the reduction and recycling of high‐valence metal ions. Unfortunately, integrating heterogeneous Fenton‐like catalysts and MoS2 cocatalyst to form an efficient system remains challenging due to the severe deactivation of MoS2 and the inability of simple physical mixing to speed up the reaction. For the first time, the direct activation of commercially available bulk MoS2 powder in a durable acidic microenvironment is achieved. The foam‐modified photo‐Fenton catalyst (Cu‐CN‐ef) promotes the rapid activation and formed an ideal MoS2‐excited photo‐Fenton system. The significant synergistic effect of the system is ascribed to the outstanding sustainability of Cu‐Mo redox cycling and favorable local acidic microenvironment on the surface of Cu‐CN‐ef. This system works well in outdoor cases with a tiny amount of commercially available Cu‐CN/MoS2 powder, promising a new route for portable and rapid solar‐powered wastewater treatment. The unique effervescence modification method shows great potential in the rational reconstruction of the affinity interface of composite catalysts and efficient solar energy utilization systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar photocatalytic technology is of great significance for adjusting energy structure and environmental improvement. Developing an efficient and low‐cost photocatalyst is key to realizing the conversion of solar to chemical energy. In this study, α‐Fe2O3‐modified few‐layer g‐C3N4 hybrids (α‐Fe2O3/FL g‐C3N4) were successfully prepared by a two‐step calcination route with a mixture of α‐Fe2O3 and melamine. The samples were characterized by Thermogravimetric analysis, X‐ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared, scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope, High‐resolution transmission electron microscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller, UV–Vis absorption spectrum, photoluminescence, and Time‐resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy; furthermore, their photoelectrochemical measurements and their photocatalytic performances were evaluated by visible light‐driven hydrogen evolution and degradation of RhB. The results showed that the hydrogen production activity and degradation ability of α‐Fe2O3/FL g‐C3N4 were significantly enhanced compared with those of α‐Fe2O3/multilayer g‐C3N4 (α‐Fe2O3/ML g‐C3N4) and FL g‐C3N4. The enhanced photoactivities were mainly attributed to the synergistic effect between the increased visible‐light absorption, enhanced surface area, and highly efficient electron transfer and separation on the Z‐type heterojunction interface. This work not only provides evidence for the formation of FL g‐C3N4 nanosheets using a thermal exfoliation method but also provides new insights into the interfacial charge carrier dynamics of Z‐scheme α‐Fe2O3/FL g‐C3N4 heterostructures for photocatalytic H2 generation and pollutant degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silicone (Si) is one type of anode materials with intriguingly high theoretical capacity. However, the severe volume change associated with the repeated lithiation and delithiation processes hampers the mechanical/electrical integrity of Si anodes and hence reduces the battery's cycle‐life. To address this issue, sequence‐defined peptoids are designed and fabricated with two tailored functional groups, "OH" and "COOH", as cross‐linkable polymeric binders for Si anodes of LIBs. Experimental results show that both the capacity and stability of such peptoids‐bound Si anodes can be significantly improved due to the decreased cracks of Si nanoparticles. Particularly, the 15‐mer peptoid binder in Si anode can result in a much higher reversible capacity (ca. 3110 mAh g−1) after 500 cycles at 1.0 A g−1 compared to other reported binders in literature. According to the density functional theory (DFT) calculations, it is the functional groups presented on the side chains of peptoids that facilitate the formation of Si−O binding efficiency and robustness, and then maintain the integrity of the Si anode. The sequence‐designed polymers can act as a new platform for understanding the interactions between binders and Si anode materials, and promote the realization of high‐performance batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because of limited treatment options, preeclampsia (PE) is the leading cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Recently, lncRNA TDRG1 is reported to be aberrantly down‐regulated in PE placenta, and the abnormal expression of TDRG1 might play a key or partial role in PE development. In this study, we found that TDRG1 was significantly down‐regulated in PE placenta compared with the normal placenta. The cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and cell cycle were explored by CCK‐8, wound‐healing, transwell, and flow cytometer assay, respectively. Experimental results showed that TDRG1 accelerated the proliferation, migration, and invasion of trophoblast cells. Dual‐luciferase reporter assays confirmed that TDRG1 could bind to miR‐214‐5p. Besides, knockdown of TDRG1 suppressed the cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, while knockdown of miR‐214‐5p reversed the effect. Jagged1 and Notch1 were negatively regulated by miR‐214‐5p while positively modulated by TDRG1. In conclusion, TDRG1 promoted trophoblast cells viability and invasion by negatively regulating miR‐214‐5p expression, contributing to a better understanding of PE pathogenesis and providing new light on TDRG1‐directed diagnosis and treatment. Significance of the study: In this work, we observed that TDRG1 was able to promote cell proliferation, migration, and invasion cells by suppressing the expression of miR‐214‐5p and regulating the Notch signalling pathway in trophoblast cells. As far as we know, the effect of TDRG1/miR‐214‐5p axis on cell viability, migration, and invasion of trophoblast cells was firstly introduced. Our findings provided a better understanding of the mechanism of PE. Moreover, it is reasonable to believe that TDRG1 may be employed as a strategy to treat PE in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Photocatalytic reduction of CO2 with H2O vapor is gaining increased interest because it is a promising “green chemistry” route for the direct conversion of CO2 to value‐added chemicals driven by solar energy. To increase the efficiency of photocatalytic conversion, most efforts are made by exploring various photocatalysts while little effort on advanced light management. For the first time, it is demonstrated that bio‐degradable transparent paper with excellent light diffusivity can effectively enhance the light utilization of photocatalytic reactions when attached on the device surface, and thus greatly increase the conversion efficiency. As a proof‐of‐concept, a graphitic carbon nitride (g‐C3N4) photocatalyst with transparent paper attached, exhibited 1.5 times higher photocatalytic activity than bare g‐C3N4 in the reduction of CO2 under visible light irradiation. The improved catalytic performance can be ascribed to the (1) refractive index matching and (2) enhanced light absorption via prolonged light traveling path in transparent paper, which decreases the light reflection at surface and traps the absorbed light inside, leading to an increased light absorption at the active layer of the device. The transparent paper with a controllable light management behavior has an unprecedented potential for applications in photocatalysis as a general method for improved light utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The CO2 desorption analyses of several amines were performed to reveal the behaviour of the amine regeneration process. A typical primary amine (MEA) and two other secondary amines (MMEA and DEA) were selected, in preparation for amine solutions under different concentrations, from 1-7 mol/L. The regeneration curves were generated and plotted to describe the process. It was discovered that the specific CO2 loadings (mol/mol) that distinguish the amine regeneration curves into different regions were the same for the specific amine, despite different concentrations. These points were defined as 'turning points' on regeneration curves. The turning points of MEA, MMEA, and DEA are located at CO2 loadings of 0.40 mol/mol, 0.38 mol/mol, and 0.28 mol/mol, respectively. The carbamate stabilities of the three amines were compared with each other based on the slope of regeneration curves at slow region. The amine regeneration tests compared the relative heat duty at the first 2 h: MMEA > MEA > > DEA, which is the same order as carbamate stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) to synthesize ammonia (NH3) is considered as a promising method due to its approvable advantages of zero‐pollution emission, feasible reaction proceedings, good safety and easy management. The multiple efforts have been devoted to the exploration of earth‐abundant‐element‐based nanomaterials as high‐efficiency electrocatalysts for realizing their industrial applications. Among these, the Ni‐based nanomaterials is prioritized as an attractive non‐noble‐metal electrocatalysts for catalyzing NRR because they are earth‐abundance and exceedingly easy to synthesize as well as also delivers the potential of high electrocatalytic activity and durability. In this review, after briefly elucidating the underlying mechanisms of NRR during the electrochemical process, we systematically sum up the recent research progress in representative Ni‐based electrocatalysts, including monometallic Ni‐based nanomaterials, bimetallic Ni‐based nanomaterials, polymetallic Ni‐based nanomaterials, etc. In particular, we discuss the effects of physicochemical properties, such as phases, crystallinity, morphology, composition, defects, heteroatom doping, and strain engineering, on the comprehensive performance of the abovementioned electrocatalysts, with the aim of establishing the nanostructure‐function relationships of the electrocatalysts. In addition, the promising directions of Ni‐based electrocatalysts for NRR are also pointed out and highlighted. The generic approach in this review may expand the frontiers of NRR and provides the inspiration for developing high‐efficiently Ni‐based electrocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]