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A strategy involving organic photocatalytic conversion using hydrothermal synthesis of high-entropy oxide (HEO) (CoCuZnMnNa)Ox nanoparticles was developed. Under mild conditions, HEO nanoparticles were driven by visible light to achieve ideal yields and selectivity in sulfide oxidative coupling reactions and benzimidazole cyclization reactions, with a wide substrate range. This study is expected to contribute to the use of high-entropy oxides in organic photocatalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selective coupling of thiols to produce disulfides is one very important and classic type of coupling reactions. Herein, an environmentally friendly and practical photocatalytic system for oxidative coupling of thiols to disulfides is developed. With no sacrificial agent, no additional additive, just sole water as solvent, performed in air at room temperature, excellent conversions of thiols and excellent selectivities of disulfides are obtained using a cheap and simple semiconductor material of bismuth sulfide (Bi2S3) under blue LED illumination. Excellent conversions and selectivities for coupling of thiols to produce disulfides are obtained, and the system is reusable. The as‐prepared photocatalyst is adequately characterized and the mechanism of photocatalytic reaction is discussed deeply. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With a view to using solar energy, the exploitation of near‐infrared (NIR) light, which constitutes about 50 % of solar energy, in photocatalytic H2O2 synthesis remains challenging. In this study, resorcinol−formaldehyde (RF), which has a relatively low bandgap and high conductivity, is introduced for photothermal catalytic generation of H2O2 under ambient conditions. Owing to the promoted surface charge transfer rate under high temperature, the photosynthetic yield reaches roughly 2000 μm within 40 min under 400 mW cm−2 irradiation with a solar‐to‐chemical conversion (SCC) efficiency of up to 0.19 % at 338 K under ambient conditions, exceeding the rate of photocatalysis with a cooling system by a factor of about 2.5. Notably, the H2O2 produced by RF during photothermal process was formed via a two‐channel pathway, leading to the overall promotion of H2O2 formation. The resultant H2O2 can be applied in situ for pollutant removal. This work offers a sustainable and economical route for the efficient formation of H2O2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, the increasing concerns regarding environmental and energy-related issues due to the use of fossil fuels have triggered extensive research on sustainable electrochemical energy storage and conversion (EESC). In this case, covalent triazine frameworks (CTFs) possess a large surface area, tailorable conjugated structures, electron donating–accepting/conducting moieties, and excellent chemical and thermal stabilities. These merits make them leading candidates for EESC. However, their poor electrical conductivity impedes electron and ion conduction, leading to unsatisfactory electrochemical performances, which limit their commercial applications. Thus, to overcome these challenges, CTF-based nanocomposites and their derivatives such as heteroatom-doped porous carbons, which inherit most of the merits of pristine CTFs, lead to excellent performances in the field of EESC. In this review, initially, we briefly highlight the existing strategies for the synthesis of CTFs with application-targeted properties. Next, we review the contemporary progress of CTFs and their derivatives related to electrochemical energy storage (supercapacitors, alkali-ion batteries, lithium–sulfur batteries, etc.) and conversion (oxygen reduction/evolution reaction, hydrogen evolution reaction, carbon dioxide reduction reaction, etc.). Finally, we discuss perspectives on current challenges and recommendations for the further development of CTF-based nanomaterials in burgeoning EESC research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fe-Nx nanoparticles-embedded porous carbons with a desirable superstructure have attracted immense attention as promising catalysts for electrochemical oxygen reduction reaction. Herein, we employed Fe-coordinated covalent triazine polymer for the fabrication of Fe-Nx nanoparticle-embedded porous carbon nanoflorets (Fe/N@CNFs) employing a hypersaline-confinement-conversion strategy. Presence of tailored N types within the covalent triazine polymer interwork in high proportions contributes to the generation of Fe/N coordination and subsequent Fe-Nx nanoparticles. Owing to the utilization of NaCl crystals, the resultant Fe/N@CNF-800 which was generated by pyrolysis at 800 °C showed nanoflower structure and large specific surface area, which remarkably suppressed the agglomeration of high catalytic active sites. As expect, the Fe/N@CNF-800 exhibited unexpected oxygen reduction reaction catalytic performance with an ultrahigh half-wave potential (0.89 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode), a dominant 4e− transfer approach and great cycle stability (> 92% after 100000 s). As a demonstration, the Fe/N-PCNF-800-assembled zinc—air battery delivered a high open circuit voltage of 1.51 V, a maximum peak power density of 164 mW·cm−2, as well as eminent rate performance, surpassing those of commercial Pt/C. This contribution offers a valuable avenue to exploit efficient metal nanoparticles-based carbon catalysts towards energy-related electrocatalytic reactions and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]