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The rise of water effluents containing emerging contaminants that resist conventional chemical and physical treatments makes the treatment of wastewater more complex. Plasma-based treatment methods have great potential to degrade many of the emerging contaminants, including dyes. In this study, using pulsed nanosecond discharges, we investigate the degradation of methylene blue (MB) dye in water by generating plasma in Ar-O2 gas bubbles in water. The scalability of the setup is studied by producing discharges in a one electrode setup (a needle-to-plate configuration) and in a four electrodes setup (four needles-to-wire configuration). The discharge was characterized by electrical measurements (current and voltage waveforms) and optical emission spectroscopy. We find that the discharge properties are stable during the 30 min of processing, with and without the presence of MB in solution at low electrical conductivity. The production rate of H2O2 in the one electrode setup was measured in 0% and 70% O2, and it was found to be ∼2.3 and 2.9 mg/Lmin, respectively. In the four electrodes setup, H2O2 production rate was lower: ∼1.2 and 1.9 mg/Lmin in 0% and 100% O2. Degradation of MB was assessed in both setups for (i) different % of O2 in the gas mixture, (ii) different MB initial concentration, and (iii) different initial water conductivity. In the one electrode setup, a high MB degradation (> 85%) was generally achieved in all conditions, but a better performance is noted in high O2 percentage (> 50%) at low initial water conductivity. At low MB concentration and low electrical conductivity, the performance of the four electrodes setup was better than the one electrode setup. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fractal‐like geometries applied to biosignal‐electrodes design show great potential for enhancing the signal acquisition of sensing systems. This study reports a novel approach for flexible, silver‐free, and dry fractal‐like electrodes based on Laser‐Induced Graphene (LIG) obtained through laser photothermal processing of a commercial polyimide film. This one‐step mask‐less manufacturing process enables the simple fabrication of natural and optimized fractal‐like shapes inspired by actual snowflake patterns. To ensure a reliable and standardized connection to the measurement unit, the electrodes are equipped with a snap terminal. The electrodes are structurally characterized using various techniques including Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Raman spectroscopy, and X‐ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). By benchmarking the performance of these electrodes against Ag/AgCl wet commercial electrodes and LIG electrodes shaped as commercial ones, a heart rate‐monitoring accuracy of over 96.8% is achieved, with high specificity, positive prediction, and sensitivity, surpassing the 95.8% achieved by conventional commercial electrodes. These results demonstrate the efficacy of fractal‐based designs in combination with LIG‐based transduction, offering flexible and cost‐effective electrocardiogram (ECG) electrodes with improved performance compared to traditional wet electrodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the direct electrochemical oxidation of ethylene glycol (EG) on a nickel-based metal-organic framework (MOF)/multiwall carbon nanotubes (CNTs) hybrid composite electrode was investigated. This investigation is used to verify the possibility of using the Ni-MOF/CNTs electrode in the ethylene glycol fuel cells. The morphology of the composite layer on the surface of the electrode substrate was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The cyclic voltammetry technique was used to examine the typical electrocatalytic performance of the electrode. In 0.1 M NaOH solution, well-defined oxidation and reduction peaks of Ni2+/Ni3+ redox couple were observed. The electrocatalytic current at the Ni-MOF electrode was also studied for comparison with that of the Ni-MOF/CNTs electrode. Owing to the synergetic effect of the MOF and the CNTs, the Ni-MOF/CNTs electrode shows a satisfactory electrocatalytic activity toward the EG electro-oxidation, making it a promising candidate for use as an ideal anode material in direct alkaline alcohol fuel cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dopamine (DA), ascorbic acid (AA), and uric acid (UA) are crucial neurochemicals, and their abnormal levels are involved in various neurological disorders. While electrodes for their detection have been developed, achieving the sensitivity required for in vivo applications remains a challenge. In this study, we proposed a synthetic Au24Cd nanoenzyme (ACNE) that significantly enhanced the electrochemical performance of metal electrodes. ACNE-modified electrodes demonstrated a remarkable 10-fold reduction in impedance compared to silver microelectrodes. Furthermore, we validated their excellent electrocatalytic activity and sensitivity using five electrochemical detection methods, including cyclic voltammetry, differential pulse voltammetry, square-wave pulse voltammetry, normal pulse voltammetry, and linear scanning voltammetry. Importantly, the stability of gold microelectrodes (Au MEs) modified with ACNEs was significantly improved, exhibiting a 30-fold enhancement compared to Au MEs. This improved performance suggests that ACNE functionalization holds great promise for developing micro-biosensors with enhanced sensitivity and stability for detecting small molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This work describes a low-cost wet chemical synthesis technique to produce TiN–ZnS nanocomposites suitable for high energy density supercapacitors. Ti, Zn, N, and S elements in the synthesized materials were verified using comprehensive morphological, structural, and surface chemical investigations. Due to improved electric conductivity and electroactivity, this TiN–ZnS nanocomposite electrode exhibited excellent capacitance and charge transport kinetics, outperforming individual TiN and ZnS electrodes in electrochemical performance. The TiN–ZnS || MnO2 electrode configuration in an asymmetric supercapacitor system exhibited a high energy density of 74.13 Wh kg−1 and an exceptional power density of 7648 W kg−1 at a current density of 9 A g−1. The TiN–ZnS electrode also showed a remarkable retention rate of 96.8% even after 10 000 cycles. This work highlights the potential of the TiN–ZnS composite as a high-performance electrode for supercapacitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrochemical oxidation is an energy-efficient and environmentally friendly reaction mode, but it is limited by the difficulty of fabricating electrode systems that can efficiently perform high-yield oxidation reactions at low potentials. Herein, we prepared V–N supported electrocatalysts with nickel foam as the electrode substrate (VO-N/NF nanocomposite) for electrocatalytic benzyl alcohol oxidation by a one-step hydrothermal method. Specifically, the VO-N/NF nanocomposite electrode can reach a current density of 100 mA cm−2 at a low voltage of 1.395 V (vs. RHE) in 1.0 M KOH electrolyte with only 0.2 mmol metal precursor. The synergistic effect of high-valent nickel-based compounds, as well as the exposed active sites resulting from the dissolution of V elements in the process, makes it super-efficient and profitable for electrocatalytic oxidation. The best proof is that the conversion, selectivity, and faradaic efficiency reach 99.7%, 99.5%, and 99.3%, respectively. Meanwhile, the electrode performance remains good after repeated reactions, with the conversion of benzyl alcohol and faradaic efficiency both being above 98.5%. The design of the electrode provides a new idea to broaden the range of organic reactions carried out by electrocatalysis. And it also helps to reduce the high overpotential caused by the original oxygen evolution reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research into affordable and highly efficient overall water splitting electrocatalytic electrodes represents a crucial strategy for decentralised power generation. This study employed a two-step electrochemical method consisting of dealloying and anodic oxidation to construct microwave sintered AlCoCrFeNi high entropy alloy self-supporting efficient overall water splitting electrode. The AlCoCrFeNi high entropy alloy is mainly composed of BCC and FCC phases. After electrochemical treatment, a porous structure is formed on the surface of the AlCoCrFeNi high entropy alloy with in situ growth of ice-crystalline and lamellar structures predominantly composed of M-OOH. These structures enhance the surface wettability of the electrode and accelerate the bubble desorption during the water splitting process. After electrochemical dealloying and anodic oxidation, the overpotential of AlCoCrFeNi electrode for OER (HER) at 100 mA cm−2 significantly decreases from 366 (238) mV to 279 (173) mV, and the Tafel slope is considerably reduced to 39.73 (97) mV dec−1. Ultimately only a potential of 1.74 V is required to achieve overall water splitting at 100 mA cm−2. Excellent electrocatalytic performance of the electrode is attributed to abundant porous structure and the abundance of active sites provided by the M-OOH. Both of chronopotentiometry and continuous CV results show that the electrode has excellent electrocatalytic stability of OER, HER, and overall water splitting. This suggests that structural adjustments and surface modifications of bulk electrodes through multistep electrochemical treatment offer a new avenue for the development of overall water splitting electrodes. [Display omitted] • A self-supporting overall water splitting electrode was prepared by microwave sintering. • The HEA electrode was treated by a two-step electrochemical method. • The more abundant porous structures was obtained by electrochemical dealloying. • The ice-crystalline and lamellar structures were formed by anodic oxidation. • A potential of 1.74 V was required to achieve overall water splitting at 100 mA cm−2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High‐energy lithium‐ion storage devices that can be used at high rates are the eternal pursuit in electrical vehicles and various other applications. However, existing anode materials are difficult to achieve the desired fast‐charging reaction. Here, a new type of distorted iron oxide quantum dots is reported containing abundant crystallographic defects and edge dislocations encapsulated in carbon (d‐Fe2O3 QDs@C). When used as the anode, it achieves nearly complete six‐electron reaction close to the theoretical capacity. More importantly, it harvests exceptional fast‐charging capability, delivering over half of the capacity (475 mAh g−1) in <1 min. Even at its fastest, the distorted structure can still harvest 182 mAh g−1 within just 7 s, far outperforming all existing Fe‐based anodes and is unprecedented. Theoretical calculations reveal that the exceptional fast‐charging characteristic originates from the optimized ion adsorption and significantly reduced ion migration energy barrier, thus ensuring that the electrode can still effectively operate at ultra‐large currents. This promotional effect is further verified by ex situ characterization. Besides, the constructed lithium‐ion capacitor also exhibits prominent energy/power output with excellent stability. These findings emphasize the superiority of distorted structure in fast‐charging capability and afford novel insights into the development of next‐generation high performance electrodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Li‐excess cation‐disordered rocksalt oxides can boost the energy density of rechargeable batteries by using anionic redox, but the inferior reversibility of anionic redox hinders its use for practical applications. Herein, a binary system of Li3NbO4–LiMnO2 is targeted and the systematic study on factors affecting electrode reversibility, i.e., percolation probability, electronic conductivity, defect concentrations, and electrolyte solutions, is conducted. A Mn‐rich sample, Li1.1Nb0.1Mn0.8O2, delivers a smaller reversible capacity compared with a Li‐rich sample, Li1.3Nb0.3Mn0.4O2, because of the limitation of ionic migration associated with insufficient percolation probability for disordered oxides. Nevertheless, a larger reversible capacity of Li1.3Nb0.3Mn0.4O2 originates from excessive activation of anionic redox, leading to the degradation of electrode reversibility. The superior performance of Li1.1Nb0.1Mn0.8O2, including Li ion migration kinetics and electronic transport properties, is unlocked by the enrichment of structural defects for nanosized oxides. Moreover, electrode reversibility is further improved by using a highly concentrated electrolyte solution with LiN(SO2F)2 through the surface stabilization on high‐voltage exposure. Superior capacity retention, >100 cycles, is achieved for nanosized Li1.1Nb0.1Mn0.8O2. The electrolyte decomposition and surface stabilization mechanisms are also carefully examined, and it is revealed that the use of highly concentrated electrolyte solution can effectively prevent lattice oxygen being further oxidized and transition metal ion dissolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper compares materials potentially suitable for preparing solid reference electrodes, which could be used in miniaturized flow electrochemical cells. The tested electrodes are based on Sb, Bi, Pd, Pt, and Ag. The stable potential of the reference electrodes was maintained by the pH of the electrolyte, except for the AgCl electrode, whose potential was given by the concentration of chlorides. The performance of the reference electrodes was evaluated through a series of experiments focusing on potential dependences, long‐term and short‐term stability, cyclic voltammetry, and flow injection analysis with amperometric detection. Potentiometric experiments showed that Sb‐based electrodes had the closest slope to theoretical values with minor changes over five weeks. Theory‐consistent results of potential dependence were also observed for AgCl electrodes. The results of the voltammetric and flow amperometric experiment suggest that Sb‐based reference electrodes are the most suitable tools for electrochemical measurement. AgCl electrodes are limited by the necessity of maintaining a high chloride concentration. Bi‐based and PdH electrodes provide unstable results, the latter particularly due to hydrogen desorption. Although able to provide the stable potential to some extent, Pt electrodes are not suitable as the reference electrodes due to the deformation of mainly hydrodynamic voltammograms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In pursuing green hydrogen fuel, electrochemical water-splitting emerges as the optimal method. A critical challenge in advancing this process is identifying a cost-effective electrocatalyst for oxygen evolution on the anode. Recent research has demonstrated the efficacy of first-row transition metal carbonates as catalysts for various oxidation reactions. In this study, Earth-abundant first-row transition metal carbonates were electrodeposited onto nickel foam (NF) electrodes and evaluated for their performance in the oxygen evolution reaction. The investigation compares the activity of these carbonates on NF electrodes against bare NF electrodes. Notably, Fe2(CO3)3/NF exhibited superior oxygen evolution activity, characterized by low overpotential values, i.e. Iron is master of them all (R. Kipling, Cold Iron, Rewards and Fairies, Macmillan and Co. Ltd., 1910). Comprehensive catalytic stability and durability tests also indicate that these transition metal carbonates maintain stable activity, positioning them as durable and efficient electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Symmetrical solid oxide fuel cell (S–SOFC) has gained extensive attention for its simplifying fabrication process and reducing cost. Fe-based double perovskite PrBaFe 2 O 5+δ (PBF) is a potential electrode material for S–SOFC due to the excellent mixed electronic and oxygen ionic conductivity. However, the electrochemical performance of PBF is limited by lacking enough oxygen vacancies and the sluggish oxygen-ion transport kinetics. Herein, a BaCoO 3-δ (BCO) impregnated PBF (PBF–BCO) electrode is investigated with enhanced catalytic activity. The BCO decoration can significantly decrease the polarization resistance (Rp) by approximately 36.5% and 26.0% compared to PBF at 800 °C in air and hydrogen atmosphere, respectively. The peak power density (PPD) of an electrolyte-supported S–SOFC with PBF–BCO electrode is nearly 36% higher than that of PBF electrode. The prominent electrochemical performance of the PBF–BCO electrode is attributed to the significantly accelerated oxygen adsorption/dissociation processes, which promote the oxygen reduction reactions (ORR) and enhanced charge transfer processes in H 2 atmosphere for superior hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR). The results demonstrate that the BCO impregnated PBF is one of the promising electrode materials for S–SOFC. • BCO impregnated PBF are studied as electrodes for S–SOFC. • The introduction of BCO can reduce the Rp of PBF in air and hydrogen atmospheres. • The PBF–25BCO electrode achieves a 36% enhancement in PPD compared with the PBF. • PBF–25BCO cell displays favorable stability under operating conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TiO2 nanotube arrays (TNTA) were prepared by anodization, and then bismuth oxide (Bi2O3) was deposited on TNTA by vacuum impregnation‐chemical precipitation method to prepare Bi2O3@TNTA composite electrodes, which were used to detect 4‐nitrophenol (4‐NP) as an electrochemical (EC) sensor. The effects of the Bi2O3 loading amount and the pH value of the detection solution on the detection performance were exhaustively studied. Under best conditions, the linear range is 5 μΜ–30 mM, the sensitivity is 0.6696 μA ⋅ μM−1 ⋅ cm−2, and the limit of detection is 0.64 μΜ. The composite electrodes are characterized by outstanding reproducibility, superior stability and strong selectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aluminum–air (Al–air) batteries are considered one of the most promising next-generation energy storage devices. In this paper, we carry out an orthogonal experimental study on the SLM printing process parameters in 3D-printed Al–air battery anodes. The surface roughness, densification, and discharge performance of the electrodes under different process parameters are observed to reveal the effects of different process parameters on the forming quality and discharge performance of aluminum–air battery anodes. The results show that the laser power is the most important factor affecting the surface roughness of the porous aluminum anode, and the scanning spacing is the most important factor affecting the densification. The best printing parameters for the porous aluminum anode can be obtained when the laser power is 325 W, the scanning speed is 1000 mm/s, the scanning spacing is 0.12 mm, and the thickness of the powder spread is 0.03 mm. At this time, the surface roughness of the porous aluminum anode obtained by this process parameter is 15.01 μm, the densification is 94.97%, and the discharge is stable with a high value. In addition, we also carry out data validation to ensure that the data we obtain are optimal and valid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study focused on the design of an extremely sensitive electrochemical sensor of ascorbic acid based on a mixture of NiAl2O4-NiO nanoparticles that, produced in a single step using the sol–gel method, on an ITO electrode. This new sensing platform is useful for the detection of ascorbic acid with a wide range of concentrations extending from the attomolar to the molar. SEM micrographs show the porous structure of the NiAl2O4-NiO sample, with a high specific surface area, which is beneficial for the catalytic performance of the nanocomposite. An XRD diffractogram confirmed the existence of two phases, NiAl2O4 and NiO, both corresponding to the face-centred cubic crystal structure. The performances of the modified electrode, as a biomolecule, in the detection of ascorbic acid was evaluated electrochemically by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The sensor exhibited a sensitive electrocatalytic response at a working potential of E = +0.3 V vs. Ag/Ag Cl, reaching a steady-state current within 30 s after each addition of ascorbic acid solution with a wide dynamic range of concentrations extending from attolevels (10−18 M) to molar (10 mM) and limits of detection and quantification of 1.2 × 10−18 M and 3.96 × 10−18 M, respectively. This detection device was tested for the quantification of ascorbic acid in a 500 mg vitamin C commercialized tablet that was not pre-treated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coating porous silicon with metal catalysts such as palladium is considered a reliable method to improve the hydrogen storage performance of electrodes. Here, in order to evaluate the most effective use of Pd nanoparticle or Pd thin film, Pd nanoparticles with a size of 36 nm obtained by electroless method, and a Pd thin film with a thickness of 30 nm deposited by thermal evaporation were coated onto nanoporous silicon sample" and studied. The Pd deposits were confirmed by Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The obtained electrode materials: PS and Pd/PS were characterized by different electrochemical characterization techniques: cyclic voltammetry (CV) and galvanostatic charge/discharge. The results showed that Pd NPs/PS achieved the highest hydrogen storage capacity with a value of 425.9 mA h g-1. These results confirm that using Pd nanoparticles as catalyst metal is more suitable to improving the hydrogen storage capacity of electrode materials. • Nano PS was coated with Pd nanoparticles and Pd thin film. • The Effect of Palladium on the electrochemical hydrogen storage behavior of nonporous silicon was studied. • Electrochemical hydrogen storage capacity of Pd nanoparticles/PS was 425.9 mAhg−1(1.64 wt%). • The mechanism of hydrogen adsorption and desorption reaction in PS and Pd/PS was studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rare earth element doped bimetallic oxides are a new technology for improving the electrochemical performance of electrode materials. In this study, 0.5% La-NiMoO4 flower-like structured nanomaterials were directly grown on nickel-based surfaces through a fast and simple room temperature stirring method. The characterization methods such as SEM and TEM confirmed that the prepared product has a three-dimensional nanoflower-like structure, and also demonstrated that the prepared 0.5% La-NiMoO4 nanoflower material was successfully doped with rare earth elements. We also conducted electrochemical tests on the material, and the results showed that at a reaction time of 16 h, the 0.5% La-NiMoO4 flower-like structure exhibited excellent electrochemical performance. At a current density of 2 A g-1, the specific capacitance was 2100 F g-1. After 5500 cycles of charging and discharging at a current density of 1 A g-1, the capacitance retention rate was 99.8%. A 0.5% La-NiMoO4/Ni//Fe2O3/Ni asymmetric supercapacitor device was assembled using 0.5% La-NiMoO4 as the positive electrode and Fe2O3 as the negative electrode. At a current density of 15 A g-1 and a working window voltage of 1.8 V, the power density of the asymmetric device was 8000 W kg-1 (energy density 56.5 W h kg-1). At a current density of 5 A g-1, the device underwent 5000 cycles of charge and discharge, and the capacitance retention rate was 89.5%. The 0.5% La-NiMoO4 electrode material prepared in this study through a simple, fast, environmentally friendly method exhibits good electrochemical performance, making it a potential electrode material for development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanocomposites containing mixed transition metal oxides demonstrate significant promise as materials for supercapacitors, specifically due to their enhanced surface area, synergistic effect of multiple metal cations, excellent electrical conductivity, and improved electrochemical properties. In this study, we synthesized a nanocomposite with a nanograss array morphology consisting of SnO 2 /CoFe 2 O 4 /Fe 3 O 4 using an in-situ sol-gel method. For comparison, we synthesized a composite (CoFe 2 O 4 /Fe 3 O 4) without SnO 2. Through a systematic characterization employing various analytical techniques, we examined the structural, morphological, and textural attributes of the resulting composites. The results reveal that the phase percentages of CoFe 2 O 4 , SnO 2 , and Fe 3 O 4 were 38%, 33%, and 29% in the SnO 2 /CoFe 2 O 4 /Fe 3 O 4 composite. Also, the nanograss array of SnO 2 /CoFe 2 O 4 /Fe 3 O 4 is composed of nano-sized primary particles, while CoFe 2 O 4 /Fe 3 O 4 showed spherical-like nanoparticle morphology. The BET surface area of the SnO 2 /CoFe 2 O 4 /Fe 3 O 4 composite was found to be seven times higher than that of CoFe 2 O 4 /Fe 3 O 4. We also evaluated the electrochemical performance of the SnO 2 /CoFe 2 O 4 /Fe 3 O 4 composite as a cathode material for battery-type supercapacitors. The synergistic combination of SnO 2 and CoFe 2 O 4 /Fe 3 O 4 in the SnO 2 /CoFe 2 O 4 /Fe 3 O 4 electrode resulted in a high specific capacity of 465C g−1 at 1 A g−1, which is 2.5 times higher than the CoFe 2 O 4 /Fe 3 O 4 electrode. Additionally, the SnO 2 /CoFe 2 O 4 /Fe 3 O 4 electrode exhibited a remarkable rate capability of 87% at 10 A g−1 and excellent cyclic performance with 96% capacity retention after 5000 cycles. A hybrid supercapacitor was fabricated, featuring a cathode composed of a composite electrode consisting of SnO 2 /CoFe 2 O 4 /Fe 3 O 4 and an anode comprising activated carbon (AC). This fabricated SnO 2 /CoFe 2 O 4 /Fe 3 O 4 //AC HSC device configuration exhibited impressive performance characteristics, boasting a notable energy density of 38.4 Wh kg−1 at 1468.2 W kg−1. These findings underscore the significant impact of SnO 2 on the physio/electrochemical properties of the CoFe 2 O 4 /Fe 3 O 4 composite. The outstanding electrochemical performance of this electrode underscores its potential for application in next-generation hybrid supercapacitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel idea of using carbon foam (CF) is introduced to enhance the electrochemical performance of a slurry electrode system in a proton flow reactor system. Steam-activated and acid-washed Norit from peat is used as active charge carrier particles to prepare 15 wt% carbon slurry to be used in this study. The slurry flow rates in the experimental electrochemical system can be varied from 0 to 200 ml min−1, while using two channel widths of 1.6 cm and 2 cm to facilitate the slurry flow. Two sets of CFs with 10 pores per inch (PPI) and 5 PPI are used to understand the effect of introducing CFs with different pore sizes on the performance of slurry electrode. Slurry is charged slurry up to 100 C under constant application of 10 mA and 30 mA. After adding CF, the results show a significant drop in charging potential to generate both levels of current of 25% after using 5 PPI and 41% with 10 PPI. Furthermore, using the narrow channel flow of 1.6 cm and increasing the slurry flow rate from 100 ml min−1 to 150 ml min−1 lower the charging potential considerably by 19% and 21% (compared to base slurry) for 5 PPI and 10 PPI CF, respectively. Application of CF further enables the system to attain higher discharging time during the discharge cycle, and a maximum of 336% and 115% discharging capacity improvement is observed with 10 PPI and 5 PPI CF, respectively. • The use of carbon foam in the context of a slurry-based proton flow reactor is experimentally investigated. • By introducing carbon foam both electronic and ionic resistances of the carbon slurry are reduced significantly. • Slurry charging potential is dropped by 21% and 19% after adding 10 PPI and 5 PPI carbon foams, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a new type of complex was constructed by coordinating quercetin (QC) with cerium (Ce) ions. This complex was introduced into perfluorosulfonic acid resin (PFSA) to fabricate a proton exchange membrane. The coordination process prevented the formation of ion cross-links between cerium and sulfonic acid groups in PFSA, thereby keeping proton conductivity and fuel cell performance of membrane samples at a high level. Due to the insolubility of quercetin in water, its coordination with cerium minimized cerium migration, providing long-lasting resistance to free radicals. The effects of additives on PFSA membrane properties were investigated by measuring IEC, water uptake, swelling ratio, and proton conductivity. Fenton degradation experiments and membrane electrode assembly performance tests was conducted simultaneously. The results demonstrated that compared to the addition of quercetin or cerium alone, the use of QC-Ce increased the proton conductivity by 23.70% after 24-h Fenton degradation and lowered fluoride release by 58.29%. Meanwhile, the PFSA/QC-Ce composite membrane samples maintained an open circuit voltage of 0.935 V and a maximum power density of 668.15 mW cm−2 after 96 h of open circuit voltage hold testing. • Combining organic antioxidant and cerium ions through coordination. • Reduces mainly ionic bonds and maintains the membrane performance. • Limits the migration of cerium for long-term free radical scavenging. • Organic antioxidant and cerium ions synergistically eliminate free radicals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 3D structure (i.e., microstructure) of porous electrodes governs the performance of emerging electrochemical technologies such as fuel cells, electrolysis, and batteries. Sustaining electrochemical reactions and convective‐diffusive mass transport at high efficiency is complex and motivates the search for sophisticated microstructures with multimodal pore size distributions and pore size gradients. Here a new synthesis route for porous, metallic layers is presented that combines the characteristics of carbon structures (i.e., pore size, porosity) with the properties of metals (i.e., recyclability, conductivity). Building on the method of dynamic hydrogen bubble templating, a novel approach is engineered to manufacture thin, free‐standing layers using an electrochemical flow cell through the introduction of an intermediate layer and optimization of the synthesis parameters. Mechanically stable layers are created with thicknesses ranging from ≈50 to ≈200 µm comprising porous, dendritic structures, arranged to form a vascular network of larger pores with a gradient in radii from ≈5 µm at the bottom and up to ≈36 µm at the top of the material. Using X‐ray tomographic data, the morphology is analyzed, and the diffusive transport through the material as a function of liquid filling is simulated and compared to state‐of‐the‐art carbon fiber‐based electrodes, showing significantly higher mass transfer properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Functional electrical stimulation (FES) is a rehabilitation technique that enables functional improvements in patients with motor control impairments. This study presents an original design and prototyping method for a smart sleeve for FES applications. The article explains how to integrate a carbon-based dry electrode into a textile structure and ensure an electrical connection between the electrodes and the stimulator for effective delivery of the FES. It also describes the materials and the step-by-step manufacturing processes. Results: The carbon-based dry electrode is integrated into the textile substrate by a thermal compression molding process on an embroidered conductive matrix. This matrix is composed of textile silver-plated conductive yarns and is linked to the stimulator. Besides ensuring the electrical connection, the matrix improves the fixation between the textile substrate and the electrode. The stimulation intensity, the perceived comfort and the muscle torque generated by the smart FES sleeve were compared to hydrogel electrodes. The results show a better average comfort and a higher average stimulation intensity with the smart FES sleeve, while there were no significant differences for the muscle torque generated. Conclusions: The integration of the proposed dry electrodes into a textile is a viable solution. The wearable FES system does not negatively impact the electrodes' performance, and tends to improve it. Additionally, the proposed prototyping method is applicable to an entire garment in order to target all muscles. Moreover, the process is feasible for industrial production and commercialization since all materials and processes used are already available on the market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrode is a key component in a microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) that needs significant improvement for practical implementation. Accurate and reproducible analytical methods are substantial for the effective development of electrode technology. Linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) is an essential analytical method for evaluating electrode performance. In this study, inoculated carbon brush (IB), abiotic brush (AB), Pt wire (PtW), stainless steel wire (SSW), and mesh (SSM) were tested to find the most suitable counter electrode under different medium conditions. The coefficient of variation (Cv) of maximum current (Imax) was the most decisive indicator of the reproducibility test. This study shows that (i) the electrode used in operation is an appropriate counter electrode in an acetate-added condition, (ii) the anode LSV test should avoid the use of Pt wire as counter electrodes, and (iii) PtW is an appropriate counter electrode in cathode LSV in all conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Benzoquinone (BQ) is considered to be a desirable cathode material for aqueous zinc‐based batteries. The major limitations of BQ electrode are the severe sublimation and poor electrical conductivity, which results in serious mass loss during electrode preparation and inferior rate performance. In this study, iodine (I2) species are utilized as an efficient catalyst for the highly reversible conversion of BQ/BQ2− couple in the Zn‐BQ battery system, wherein N‐doped porous carbon is employed as a host material for anchoring the BQ molecule. In the combination electrode (denoted as BQ‐I@NPC) with 1wt% I2 additive where I2 can serve as a carrier to accelerates the Zn2+ transmission, and reduce the voltage hysteresis of the electrode. As a result, the BQ‐I@NPC cathode delivers a high specific capacity of ≈482 mAh g−1 at 0.25 A g−1, realizing a high energy density of 545 Wh kg−1 (based on BQ), which is the highest values among reported organic cathode materials for aqueous Zn‐based batteries. Also, a high BQ loading (8 mg cm−2) can be attained, and achieving a superior cycling stability with a capacity retention of ≈80% after 20,000 times at 10 C. The work proposes an effective approach toward high performance organic electrode materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aqueous non‐metallic ion batteries have attracted much attention in recent years owing to their fast kinetics, long cycle life, and low manufacture cost. Organic compounds with flexible structural designability are promising electrode materials for aqueous non‐metallic ion batteries. In this review, the recent progress of organic electrode materials is systematically summarized for aqueous non‐metallic ion batteries with the focus on the interaction between non‐metallic ion charge carriers and organic electrode host materials. Both the cations (proton, ammonium ion, and methyl viologen ions) and anions (chloridion, sulfate ion, perchlorate ion, trifluoromethanesulfonate and trifluoromethanesulfonimide ion) storage are discussed. Moreover, the design strategies toward improving the comprehensive performance of organic electrode materials in aqueous non‐metallic ion batteries will be summarized. More organic electrode materials with new reaction mechanisms need to be explored to meet the diverse demands of aqueous non‐metallic ion batteries with different charge carriers in the future. This review provides insights into developing high‐performance organic electrodes for aqueous non‐metallic ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although disubstituted imidazolium cation is sterically crowded, hundreds of ionic liquids based on this cation have been reported as electrolytes for energy storage devices. In contrast to disubstituted imidazolium, non-substituted imidazolium is uncrowded sterically and has not yet been investigated as an electrolyte, to the best of our knowledge. Hence, imidazolium hydrogen sulfate [Imi][HSO4], in mixture with water, was studied as an electrolyte for PANI-based electrode materials. For comparison, pyrrolidinium with hydrogen sulfate or p-toluene sulfonate ([Pyrr][HSO4] or [Pyrr][PTS]), in mixture with water, were also investigated as alternatives to the conventional electrolyte (i.e., aqueous H2SO4) for PANI electrodes. Walden plots of binary mixture ionic liquid–water weight ratios with the optimal ionic conductivity (i.e., [Imi][HSO4]/water 48/52 wt% (195.1 mS/cm), [Pyrr][HSO4]/water 41/59 wt% (186.6 mS/cm), and [Pyrr][PTS]/water 48/52 wt% (43.4 mS/cm) along with the electrochemical performances of PANI in these binary mixtures showed that [Pyrr][HSO4]aq or [Imi][HSO4]aq are convenient electrolytes for PANI/PIL, as opposed to [Pyrr][PTS]aq. Furthermore, replacing the conventional aqueous electrolyte H2SO4 with [Imi][HSO4] aq increased the specific capacitance of PANI/PIL from 249.8 to 268.5 F/g at 15 mV/s. Moreover, PANI/PIL electrodes displayed a quasi-ideal capacitive behavior in [Imi][HSO4]aq (the correction factor of CPE4 was 0.99). This primary study has shown that non-substituted imidazolium as an electrolyte could enhance the electrochemical performances of PANI electrodes and could be a good alternative to the conventional electrolyte. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are sustainable energy recovery systems because they use organic waste as biofuel. Using critical raw materials (CRMs), like platinum-group metals, at the cathode side threatens MFC technology's sustainability and raises costs. By developing an efficient electrode design for MFC performance enhancement, CRM-based cathodic catalysts should be replaced with CRM-free materials. This work proposes developing and optimizing iron-based air cathodes for enhancing oxygen reduction in MFCs. By subjecting iron phthalocyanine and carbon black pearls to controlled thermal treatments, we obtained Fe-based electrocatalysts combining high surface area (628 m2 g−1) and catalytic activity for O2 reduction at near-neutral pH. The electrocatalysts were integrated on carbon cloth and carbon paper to obtain gas diffusion electrodes whose architecture was optimized to maximize MFC performance. Excellent cell performance was achieved with the carbon-paper-based cathode modified with the Fe-based electrocatalysts (maximum power density-PDmax = 1028 mWm−2) compared to a traditional electrode design based on carbon cloth (619 mWm−2), indicating the optimized cathodes as promising electrodes for energy recovery in an MFC application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mesoporous silica materials (MSMs) are widely used materials in many applications due to their diverse pore structures. However, the electrical conductivity of MSMs is poor which limits their use in electrochemical applications. In this study, widely used MSMs of different structural properties such as MCM-41, MCM-48, SBA-15, and SBA-16 were synthesized and reinforced with graphene oxide (GO) to obtain conductive composite supports for enzyme immobilization. MSMs were first synthesized using a hydrothermal method and characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography, scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray, and MAPPING techniques. Aqueous dispersion of GO:MSM composites were prepared with as-synthesized materials and coated on screen-printed electrodes (SPE). The best composites were chosen based on their electroanalytical performance. Glucose oxidase (GOx) was then immobilized on modified SPEs using a simple drop-casting method to produce enzymatic electrodes. The electroanalytical performance of the enzymatic electrodes was investigated using different glucose concentrations to demonstrate biocatalytic activity. Stability tests were performed using intraday and interday measurements which revealed that SPE/GO:MCM-41/GOx electrode showed a more stable performance (3-folds) than SPE/GO/GOx electrode. This study presents an investigation of MSM mixed with GO in enzymatic electrochemical systems providing insight into the use of such materials to preserve enzyme activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the transient behavior of an earthing system under the influence of lightning current injected in to it. Vertical rods and horizontal electrodes buried in homogeneous soil are considered in this analysis. State-space representation (SSR)-based transmission line methodology (TLM) is adopted with nonlinear parameters for modeling the earthing electrodes in the time domain. Soil ionization phenomenon is taken up with the presence of residual resistivity. In this method, soil resistivity variation is adopted to evaluate the soil ionization phenomenon that occurs due to changes in the electric field. This study incorporates mutual coupling between the electrode segments for low and high soil resistivity. Earthing electrodes are subjected to high-magnitude lightning current impulse with different peaks. Transient voltage and impulse impedance are calculated to analyze the transient behavior of earthing electrodes with soil ionization. The impulse impedance of vertical earthing rods and horizontal electrodes is calculated and compared with the power frequency impedance. Percentage ohmic reduction between them is also reported. The influences of a critical electric field, soil resistivity and lightning magnitude on the transient performance of earthing electrodes are calculated. Also, an effect of the front time of lightning current impulse for a fixed peak on the impedance of the earthing electrode is evaluated and significant changes are observed. Simulated results are validated with the experimental and theoretical results reported in the literature, and adequate agreements are achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work is the first attempt to explore the supercapacitor applications of Barium nickelate (BaNiO3) perovskite nanoparticles. The nanoparticles are synthesized using a simple combustion method and their morphology, elemental composition, and so forth are studied using standard characterization methods such as x‐ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and so forth. The nanoparticles were found to be hexagonal in shape, with an average particle size of 16 nm, and the elemental analysis confirms the successful synthesis of the BaNiO3 perovskite nanoparticles. For electrochemical studies, the electrodes are fabricated over a wearable and flexible conductive fabric (CF) substrate. A slurry paste of the synthesized BaNiO3 nanoparticles is applied over CF and dried overnight, thereby forming a thin film electrode. The fabricated electrode acts as a positive electrode with a high specific capacitance of 508.64 F g−1 at 2.2 A g−1 current density. Upon increasing the current density, the electrode maintains 60% of its specific capacitance and displays 97% cyclic stability over 5000 cycles. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) study indicates excellent conductivity of the electrode, with a bulk resistance of 3.2 Ohms. The electrochemical performance of the fabricated electrode is also compared with various previously reported works and the electrode displays higher specific capacitance and better cyclic stability. These findings suggest that the BaNiO3 perovskite nanoparticles‐based electrode holds promise for utilization as an anode material in supercapacitor applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, transition metal oxide (Bi2WO6) and metal organic framework (MIL-53(Al)) were used to prepare a composite. The MIL-53(Al) and Bi2WO6 powder were synthesized through hydrothermal route and the MIL-53(Al)/Bi2WO6 composite was prepared through impregnation technique. FESEM-EDX, XRD, FTIR and multi-point BET were used to characterize the MIL-53(Al), Bi2WO6 and composite. Electrochemical study was performed by employing a potentiostat and a 3-electrode cell, where platinum wire taken as counter electrode, active material-coated graphitic carbon felt as the working electrode and Ag/AgCl taken as reference electrode. MIL-53(Al) and Bi2WO6 were tested separately to determine the electrochemical efficiency, and it was found through galvanostatic charge–discharge method that they both have low energy densities when compared to the composite. The energy density of the composite was found to increase due to the characteristic changes resulting from the combination of MIL-53(Al) and Bi2WO6. Compared with the pristine MIL-53(Al) and Bi2WO6, the composite has exhibited higher specific capacitance of 554 F g−1 at 0.5 A g−1 and the lowest equivalent series resistance (ESR) resistance was obtained in electrochemical impedance spectroscopy study, which confirms that the MIL-53(Al)/Bi2WO6 hybrid has improved its performance as electrode material for supercapacitor application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of magnesium ion batteries as a viable alternative to lithium–ion batteries is impeded by the lack of efficient and stable electrode materials. Here, we present the synthesis of nanocomposites of tin–containing silicon oxycarbonitride (Sn/SiOCN) as anode materials for magnesium ion batteries (MIBs). The elemental and phase composition, morphology, and surface area of the nanocomposites are assessed by several characterization techniques. The galvanostatic cycling tests indicate a substantial initial discharging capacity for the anode with 42.2 wt. % of tin. Specifically, the first discharging capacities are 489.9 mA/g, 172.9 mA/g, and 136.6 mA/g at current densities of 0.5 mA/g, 50 mA/g, and 500 mA/g, respectively. After 100 cycles at a current density of 500 mA/g, the anode containing 33.8 wt % of tin exhibits a reversible capacity of 101.8 mAh/g and a remarkable rate performance efficiency of 76.5 %. Increasing tin content in the electrode materials increases the battery performance by decreasing electrode impedance and thus facilitating Mg2+ diffusion, as revealed by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Ex situ XRD and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) characterizations following the magnesiation–demagnesiation process confirm the storage of reversible storage of Mg2+ ions in Sn/SiOCN electrode through incorporation in the SiOCN network and alloying/dealloying process involving Mg−Mg2Sn−Mg. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal selenides are essential electrode materials for promising electrochemical energy storage with comparable or improved electrochemical performance than metal oxides. Herein, Se/NiSe2/CoSe2 (S/NS/CS) is fabricated using a solvothermal approach with the assistance of polyethyleneimine, followed by annealing at different temperatures (300, 400, 500, and 600 °C) for one hour under an argon atmosphere. After annealing, all electrodes' physical and electrochemical properties were examined, which determined that the best electrode is NiCo2O4/NiO (NCO/NO) formed at 500 °C. Additional hydrothermal method uses NCO/NO with SeO2 as a selenium source to prepare S/NS/CS nanocomposite, with a specific surface architecture that enables easy ion movement and robust conductivity, giving it exceptional electrochemical energy storage properties. It exhibited a remarkable capacitance of 468 F g−1 at a current density of 0.5 A g−1. For practical applications, the hybrid S/NS/CS//AC device was designed using S/NS/CS as a positive electrode and commercial activated carbon (AC) as a negative electrode. The asymmetric device demonstrated an excellent capacitance of 142 F g−1 (189 C g−1) and a superb specific energy of 44 Wh kg−1 at a specific power of 840 W kg−1 at a current density of 1 A g−1, providing 80 % capacity retention and 100 % coulombic efficiency after 5000 cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although zinc‒air batteries (ZABs) are regarded as one of the most prospective energy storage devices, their practical application has been restricted by poor air electrode performance. Herein, we developed a free‐standing air electrode that is fabricated on the basis of a multifunctional three‐dimensional interconnected graphene network. Specifically, a three‐dimensional interconnected graphene network with fast mass and electron transport ability, prepared by catalyzing growth of graphene foam on nickel foam and then filling reduced graphene oxide into the pores of graphene foam, is used to anchor iron phthalocyanine molecules with atomic Fe‒N4 sites for boosting the oxygen reduction during discharging and nanosized FeNi hydroxides for accelerating the oxygen evolution during charging. As a result, the obtained air electrode exhibited an ultra‐small electrocatalytic overpotential of 0.603 V for oxygen reactions, a high peak power density of 220.2 mW cm‒2, and a small and stable charge‒discharge voltage gap of 0.70 V at 10 mA cm‒2 after 1136 cycles. Furthermore, in situ Raman spectroscopy together with theoretical calculations confirmed that phase transformation of FeNi hydroxides takes place from α‐Ni(OH)x to β‐Ni(OH)x to γ‐Ni(3+δ)+OOH for the oxygen evolution reaction and Ni is the active center while Fe enhances the activity of Ni active sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and iron ions dissolved from steelmaking slag (SS), when attached to an electrode surface, improve the performance of carbon fiber electrodes. However, the electrode potential decreases during the attachment (fermentation without aeration), leading to decreased electrode performance when used as a cathode. Additionally, SS dissolution increases the solution pH, which can affect the survival rate of LAB. This study examines the effects of aeration on an electrode potential and solution pH on the survival rate of LAB in solution during fermentation. In the experiments, SS, LAB beverage, bamboo powder, and carbon fiber electrodes were placed in a bottle with and without aeration. Temporal measurements of the solution pH, iron ion concentrations, adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and electrode potential were performed. The results showed that aeration could prevent a 0.5-fold decrease in the electrode potential due to fermentation. The solution pH temporarily increased and exceeded eight during the fermentation, suggesting that SS had been dissolved. ATP began to decrease when the solution pH exceeded 8, indicating that the solution pH influences the survival rate of LAB. It is recommended that the fermentation should be conducted within three days. Furthermore, to improve the performance of a sediment microbial fuel cell (SMFC), the electrodes with and without aeration should be used as the cathode and anode of SMFC, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work, treatability studies were carried out with oil refinery wastewater (effluent from the secondary treatment) using electrooxidation (EO) process employing two mixed oxide anodes: SnO2–RuO2–IrO2|Ti and IrO2–Ta2O5|Ti. Both electrodes' performance were compared by their capacity to generate active chlorine in a synthetic solution and organic matter mineralization of a sample with an average phenol (C6H6O) concentration of 100 mg L−1. Before degradation experiments, surface analysis, and linear sweep voltammetry tests were performed. SnO2–RuO2–IrO2|Ti anode yielded higher active chlorine, reaching an average concentration of 340 mg L−1 at 90 min of electrolysis and 25 mA cm−2. On the other hand, IrO2–Ta2O5|Ti anode only generated an average concentration of 200 mg L−1 at 90 min and 40 mA cm−2. Regarding the degradation experiments, SnO2–RuO2–IrO2|Ti anode showed the highest dissolved organic carbon removal, ranging from 26% to 40%. In addition, through a three‐dimensional excitation–emission matrix fluorescence analysis, it was possible to elucidate the degradation of C6H6O and some possible polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons present in the effluent. The results suggested that 65%–90% of the hydrocarbons and C6H6O present in the effluent were degraded with the SnO2–RuO2–IrO2|Ti anode applying 25 mA cm−2 within the first 30 min of electrolysis, reaching almost 99% degradation at 90 min. The EO process using SnO2–RuO2–IrO2|Ti can be an alternative for tertiary treatment of oil refinery wastewater for degradation and mineralization of the remaining organic matter of secondary effluents (biological processes) via active chlorine species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphene oxide (GO) was used as an ion-to-electron transducer for all-solid-state nitrate electrodes based on an alkyl ammonium salt as the sensing element. Commercially available carbon screen-printed electrodes modified with GO were used as conductive substrates, whose morphology and distribution along the surface were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The potentiometric performance of the GO-based electrodes revealed a Nernstian slope of −53.5 ± 2.0 mV decade−1 (R2 = 0.9976 ± 0.0015) in the range from 3.0 × 10−6 to 10−2 M and a lower limit of detection of 1.9 × 10−6 M. An impressive reproducibility between equally prepared electrodes (n = 15) was demonstrated by a variation of <6% for the calibration parameters. Constant current chronopotentiometry and water layer tests were used to evaluate the potential signal stability, providing similar performance to previously published works with graphene-based ion-selective electrodes. Notably, the GO-based sensors showed the absence of a water layer, a long-term drift of 0.3 mV h−1, and a stable performance (LOD and sensitivity) over 3 months. The applicability of the proposed sensors was demonstrated in determining nitrate levels in water samples with great accuracy, yielding recovery values from 87.8 to 107.9%, and comparable (p > 0.05) results to a commercial nitrate probe. These findings demonstrate the use of GO as an alternative ion-to-electron transducer for the fabrication of all-solid-state potentiometric electrodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the novel cobalt‐free high‐entropy perovskite, La0.2Pr0.2Nd0.2Sm0.2Sr0.2FeO3–δ (LPNSSF), as an air electrode material for solid oxide cells (SOCs). When testing a button cell with a single‐phase LPNSSF electrode, a current density of 0.55 A cm−2 is obtained at 0.7 V in fuel cell mode at 800°C. In order to mitigate the moderate electronic conductivity of LPNSSF, two approaches are explored. Incorporating a Co‐free highly conductive perovskite, LaNi0.6Fe0.4O3–δ (LNF), either as an LPNSSF–LNF composite electrode or as a current collector layer (CCL), enhances the performance to 0.61 and 0.66 A cm−2, respectively, under the same conditions. Microstructural features are studied by electron microscopy and show a rather dense structure of the CCL. Optimization of the current collector increases the current density further to 0.96 A cm−2 at 0.7 V in a 5 × 5 cm2 anode‐supported cell at 800°C. This cell exhibits good long‐term stability in electrolysis mode in H2‐H2O with 80% humidification. Continuous polarization of −0.69 A cm−2 is sustained for 1000 h, with an average degradation rate of 10 mV kh−1 after an initial run‐in phase. These findings demonstrate the promising performance and durability of LPNSSF as cobalt‐free SOC air electrode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is essential to the water splitting and CO2 reduction reactions, while this reaction is kinetically sluggish and demands the efficient electrocatalyst. Transition metal selenides (TMSes) have gained greater attention as nonprecious metal‐based electrocatalysts due to their low cost, earth abundance, and high efficiency. Typically, TMSe can exhibit superior OER activity to their counterparts such as hydroxides/oxyhydroxides and sulfides. As such, their unique way to boost the catalytic activity is intriguing to researchers and many studies have been recently carried out. The last decades have witnessed the rapid development of TMSe‐based electrocatalysts in design and preparation for OER. However, there is still no exclusive review summarizing the recent development of this material for OER electrocatalysis. Herein, this article underscores the significant promise of TMSes in advancing the field of high‐performance OER electrocatalysts. The research progress is summarized and the importance of strategies to improve the performance of selenide electrodes including multimetal composite, hybrid composite with carbonaceous materials, morphological engineering, heterostructure engineering, and vacancies engineering is emphasized. Finally, the future challenges and opportunities concerning the improvement of TMSe electrocatalysts are outlined, which are essential for their further application in electrochemical energy conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Constructing low‐tortuosity structure is a facile and effective strategy to significantly improve the electrochemical performances of thick electrodes of batteries. In this study, the low‐tortuosity structured electrodes with an array grooved structure are fabricated using a method of laser etching post‐processing, promoting excellent electrochemical performance of sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs). The effects of laser post‐processing parameters including the etching shape, interval, and scan number on the structures and electrochemical performances of the prepared electrodes are investigated. Results show that the array grooved structures of the laser‐treated electrodes not only reduce the tortuosity to enhance the ion transfer efficiency, but also provide extra space to accommodate more electrolyte, which helps strengthen the electrochemical reaction kinetics of the electrodes. The proposed electrode with a parallelogram etching shape, an interval of 0.1 mm, and a scan number of 10 can produce a high rate capacity of 120.7 mAh g−1 at 500 mA g−1 and an outstanding cycle performance with a high capacity maintenance rate of 97.8% after 200 cycles. This study validates a new method to create low‐tortuosity electrodes for SIBs by optimizing the process parameter, which can be potentially extended to the fabrication of other advanced energy storage devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The enzyme electrode based on enzymatic and electrochemical cascade reactions is a golden approach for detecting various biomarkers. How the interfacial architectures of a promising three‐phase interface enzyme electrode can influence the cascade reactions and electrode performance, however, remains unclear. In this study, a mathematical model has been developed to describe intraphase and interphase mass transfer, coupled with cascade reactions. The results reveal that the interfacial architectures determine the mass transfer of oxygen (substrate of oxidase) and H2O2 (enzymatic product) in the cascade reactions, hence affecting the electrode current. Generally, thinner pore walls facilitate the mass transfer of oxygen, thereby enhancing the enzymatic kinetics and H2O2 production. Meanwhile, smaller pore sizes shorten the diffusion pathway of H2O2 to the electrode surface, thereby increasing the electrocatalytic reaction rate. This work provides an efficient in silico tool for the design of high‐performance three‐phase enzyme electrodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Capacitive deionization (CDI) has attracted significant attention as a water treatment technology owing to its low cost, high efficiency, and eco‐friendliness. However, the unsatisfactory desalination performance of traditional electrode materials hinders the development of CDI. Herein, 1T‐MoS2/C hybrid microspheres are successfully fabricated through confinement and phase engineering strategies. The confinement effect of porous hollow carbon microspheres reduces the overgrowth and agglomeration of MoS2 nanosheets, which is beneficial for exposing more active sites and enhancing stability. Meanwhile, the 1T phase MoS2 displays high intrinsic conductivity and large interlayer spacing, which is conducive to rapid insertion/extraction of Na+. Consequently, 1T‐MoS2/C hybrid becomes a prospect electrode material for CDI, which showcases outstanding desalination capacity (48.1 mg/g at 1.2 V), eminent desalination rate as well as exceptional stability. Moreover, the desalination mechanisms are clarified through various characterizations and density functional theory calculations. This study provides new perspectives on designing high‐performance MoS2‐based CDI electrode materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing advanced electrode materials for supercapacitors (SCs) has received incredible attention. The suitable electrode for high capacitance and energy density are significant challenges for SCs. This work reports an efficient hydrothermal synthesis of MoS2 nanosheets on carbon cloth (MoS2@CC). The large surface area of the binder-free MoS2@CC electrode provides rich active sites and an improved electrolyte ion diffusion rate. The MoS2@CC electrode exhibits good electrochemical performance by delivering a high specific capacitance of 947 F g−1 at the current density of 1.0 A g−1 and retains an excellent capacitance of 96.5% over 10 000 cycles. The high performance of the MoS2@CC electrode can be clarified through density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The DFT outcomes reveal that the electrode possesses favorable Li-ion intercalation and adsorption properties. The calculated adsorption energy of −0.352 eV at the hollow site shows the high stability of the system. The low energy barrier of path 1 (0.83 eV) easily facilitates Li-ions in the electrode material, which is beneficial for its fast electrochemical performance. The obtained results of the MoS2@CC electrode present improved pseudocapacitive performance, showing a significant possibility for high-performance SCs' application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]