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Inkjet printing is a more sustainable and scalable fabrication method than spin coating for producing perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Although spin-coated SnO2 has been intensively studied as an effective electron transport layer (ETL) for PSCs, inkjet-printed SnO2 ETLs have not been widely reported. Here, we fabricated inkjet-printed, solution-processed SnOx ETLs for planar PSCs. A champion efficiency of 17.55% was achieved for the cell using a low-temperature processed SnOx ETL. The low-temperature SnOx exhibited an amorphous structure and outperformed high-temperature crystalline SnO2. The improved performance was attributed to enhanced charge extraction and transport and suppressed charge recombination at ETL/perovskite interfaces, which originated from enhanced electrical and optical properties of SnOx, improved perovskite film quality, and well-matched energy level alignment between the SnOx ETL and the perovskite layer. Furthermore, SnOx was doped with Cu. Cu doping increased surface oxygen defects and upshifted energy levels of SnOx, leading to reduced device performance. A tunable hysteresis was observed for PSCs with Cu-doped SnOx ETLs, decreasing at first and turning into inverted hysteresis afterwards with increasing Cu doping level. This tunable hysteresis was related to the interplay between charge/ion accumulation and recombination at ETL/perovskite interfaces in the case of electron extraction barriers.

First-principles calculations are performed, revealing a significant enhancement of the piezoelectric properties of wurtzite Zn 3 6 O 3 6 upon the incorporation of a single Cu atom. Research has demonstrated that the piezoelectric constant d 3 3 reaches its maximum value at a doping concentration of 1.4% for Cu atoms. The lattice parameters a and c of Zn 3 6 O 3 6 are decreased and the piezoelectric strain coefficient d 3 3 is increased by replacing one Cu atom in Zn 3 6 O 3 6 . It is found that elastic softening is the primary factor responsible for the increase of d 3 3 in Zn 3 5 Cu1O 3 6 . By differential charge density analysis, it is found that the covalency between Cu–O bonds is lower than that of Zn–O bonds, and the covalent bonding characteristics are weakened. Bader charge analysis shows that the charge of Cu is higher than that of Zn, indicating a more significant ionic bonding feature than that of Zn. Thus, a weaker covalent and stronger ionic bond are considered to play an essential role in promoting elastic softening for ZnO, which eventually promotes a significant enhancement in piezoelectric properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehensive Summary Electron transfer is an important way to activate persulfate. Currently, the electrons for persulfate activation mainly originate from organic contaminants or the catalyst itself, which can lead to selective activation of persulfate or oxidation of the catalyst, respectively, and thus become a bottleneck restricting its application. In this work, Cu−doped FeVO4 (Cu−FVO) was prepared, and the results showed that Cu doping can significantly improve the photocatalytic activity and stability of FVO for peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation. The optimized Cu−FVO/PMS/light system exhibited a high BPA degradation rate that is 4.3 times higher than that of the FVO/PMS/light. This system manifested a broad applicability to various organic contaminants even with complex matrix. Photoelectrochemical analysis and DFT theoretical calculations revealed that Cu doping boosted the photogenerated charge separation and the adsorption of PMS on FVO. Furthermore, Cu doping led to the establishment of an electron transfer channel from Cu−FVO to PMS, through which photogenerated electrons achieved an efficient PMS activation. Meanwhile, holes were consumed by organic contaminants to avoid the oxidation of catalyst. These collectively enhanced the photocatalytic activity and stability of Cu−FVO, which also maintained high catalytic activity even after 20 cycling degradation reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zirconia-toughened alumina (ZTA) is widely applied in total hip arthroplasty (THA). However, problems with insufficient fracture toughness and lubrication remain, leading to wear, squeaking, and fracturing. In this study, the Cu doping of ZTA (Cu-ZTA) is proposed to solve these problems. To further promote the use of Cu-ZTA, the role of Cu doping on its tribological properties must be studied. In this study, the microstructure, mechanical properties, and stability capacity in a physiological environment, as well as the tribological behaviors of Cu-ZTA in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and bovine serum albumin (BSA), were systematically studied with varying amounts of Cu. The results demonstrated that holes and soft Cu-rich phases appeared, and grains grew after Cu doping, causing a decrease in hardness. The fracture toughness increased after Cu doping because the Cu-rich particles formed "bridges" during crack propagation and release energy. The incorporation of Cu improved the stability of ZTA in physiological environments, which enhanced the long-term stability of Cu-ZTA. The protein adsorption results indicated that a higher hydrophobicity and roughness contributed to a greater protein adsorption on the Cu-ZTA surfaces after Cu incorporation. In the BSA solution, the 5.0 wt% Cu-ZTA ceramics achieved a lower coefficient of friction (COF) and wear rate compared to ZTA, and a higher protein adsorption and formation of the denatured protein layer catalyzed by Cu ions in the wear track during friction, thus clearly improving the tribological properties of the Cu-ZTA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low-dimensional metal halides are favored for optoelectronic device applications due to their strong electron–phonon coupling capability, which produces exciton self-trapping and broadband emission optoelectronic properties. Conventional methods for enhancing electron–phonon coupling involve the introduction of permanent defects or lattice distortions that inhibit the intrinsic structure and properties. In this work, we report that Cu-doped CsPb2Br5 nanocrystals exhibit broadband red emission with a high Stokes shift, a long fluorescence lifetime (9.27 μs), and a high photoluminescence quantum yield (∼ 36%) in the visible to near-infrared spectral range (∼550 to 825 nm). At the same time, the fact that the emission spectrum is independent of the excitation wavelength and the excitation spectrum is independent of the emission wavelength, together with the similarity of the decay kinetics, suggests that the broad-band emission has intrinsic properties. The soft vibrational modes of Raman spectroscopy indicate the softness of the lattice and the highly anharmonic character of the structure on the global and local scales. These properties lead to short-range elastic lattice deformation of Cu/CsPb2Br5 nanocrystals upon photoexcitation by strong electron–phonon coupling, resulting in self-trapped exciton emission. This method of doping-induced local distortion and exciton self-capture provides a way to improve the properties of the optoelectronic materials. Meanwhile, the fluorescence change in the crystal structure from CsPbBr3 to CsPb2Br5 can also be used for anticounterfeiting inks. Therefore, CsPb2Br5 crystals have promising applications in solid-state lighting and optoelectronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we investigated the influence of Cu doping and gamma irradiation on the photocatalytic activity of lead sulfide (PbS) nanoparticles for methylene blue (MB) degradation under solar light. The optical bandgap of the γ-irradiated Pb (1-x) Cu x S (where x = 0 to 0.02) was calculated between 2.29 eV - 2.72 eV, facilitating the modulation of optical bandgaps in PbS. Additional analyses incorporating photoluminescence and the Brunauer (Emmett) Teller method were used to determine optical properties, surface area, and pore distribution. The photocatalytic degradation of MB under sunlight irradiation was investigated. The photocatalytic activity was enhanced with the increasing rate of MB degradation. Notably, gamma-irradiated Pb 0.99 Cu 0.01 S exhibited a remarkable MB degradation efficiency of 73.64 %, demonstrating its stability over three consecutive cycles. This underscores its inherent stability and potential for repeated use. Overall, these findings highlight the significant potential of gamma-irradiated Cu-doped PbS nanoparticles as durable, renewable photocatalysts for efficient degradation in an aqueous media, thereby offering a promising approach for environmental remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Semiconductor-based photocatalysis by utilizing solar energy for sustainable organic pollutant elimination has been a promising tactic to alleviate environmental issues. Nevertheless, the development of robust and efficient photocatalysts to degrade organic pollutants still faces major challenges because of insufficient charge separation. Here we design and fabricate a heterojunction consisting of copper, carbon-modified TiO2, and sulfur-doped g-C3N4 nanosheets (i.e., S-C3N4/Cu/C-TiO2). The heterostructure affords a remarkable synergistic photocatalysis for tetracycline hydrochloride degradation, achieving an 82.6% removal efficiency within 30 min under visible light irradiation, about 15.4 and 7.3 times higher than that of S-C3N4 and C-TiO2, respectively. The superior performance is attributed to the synergy between Cu doping and the Z-scheme heterojunction, which not only enhances the interfacial electric field effect, facilitating charge separation, but also boosts the redox capability. The charge carrier transfer between Cu/C-TiO2 and S-C3N4 follows a Z-scheme, as verified by trapping experiments, electron spin-resonance spectroscopy, and density functional theory calculations. Furthermore, the tetracycline hydrochloride degradation pathways are enunciated by liquid chromatograph mass spectrometry analysis. This work provides an effective approach for constructing high-performance photocatalysts that have potential in environmental remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) are competitive alternatives for large-scale energy-storage devices owing to the abundance of zinc and low cost, high theoretical specific capacity, and high safety of these batteries. High-performance and stable cathode materials in AZIBs are the key to storing Zn2+. Manganese-based cathode materials have attracted considerable attention because of their abundance, low toxicity, low cost, and abundant valence states (Mn2+, Mn3+, Mn4+, and Mn7+). However, as a typical cathode material, birnessite-MnO 2 (δ-MnO 2) has low conductivity and structural instability. The crystal structure may undergo severe distortion, disorder, and structural damage, leading to severe cyclic instability. In addition, its energy-storage mechanism is still unclear, and most of the reported manganese oxide-based materials do not have excellent electrochemical performance. Herein, we propose a copper-doped Cu 0.05 K 0.11 Mn 0.84 O 2 ·0.54H 2 O (Cu 2 -KMO) cathode, which exhibits a large interlayer spacing, a stable structure, and accelerated reaction kinetics. This cathode was prepared using a simple hydrothermal method. The AZIB assembled using Cu 2 -KMO showed high specific capacity (600 mA h g−1 at 0.1 A g−1 after 75 cycles). The dissolution-deposition energy storage mechanism of Cu-KMO in AZIBs with double electron transfer was revealed using ex situ tests. The good electrochemical performance of the Cu 2 -KMO cathode fabricated by the doping strategy in this study provides ideas for the subsequent preparation of manganese dioxide using other strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grain boundary resistance is one of the main factors inhibiting the electrical properties of BaZr 0.1 Ce 0.7 Y 0.2 O 3-δ (BZCY) proton conduction electrolytes for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). The Cu-doping strategy is applied to improve the electrical performance of grain boundary by promoting the grain growth and reducing the grain boundary blocking effect. For BaZr 0.1 Ce 0.7 Y 0.2-x Cu x O 3-δ (BZCYCu x , x = 0, 0.025, 0.050, 0.075, 0.100), the largest average grain size is 11.64 μm, which is approximately 5 times that of the BZCY electrolyte without Cu doping (2.13 μm). The optimized electrical performance is 1.64 × 10−2 S cm−1 at 700 °C in moist air, which is twice that of BZCY. This is mainly attributed to the enhanced grain boundary conductivity by appropriate Cu doping, while BZCYCu 0.075 has the highest w / d g (0.733) and a relative low Δ φ (0) (0.201). The anode-supported cell shows a peak power density of 810 mW cm−2 at 700 °C in moist H 2 (as fuels) and ambient air (as oxidants). • Large grain sized BZCY electrolytes (∼11.64 μm) is prepared by Cu doping. • The cleaning effect on grain boundaries reduces the impurity blocking effect. • The optimized electrical conductivity is 1.64 × 10−2 S cm−1 at 700 °C in moist air. • The peak power density reaches 810 mW cm−2 at 700 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrocatalytic carbonylation of CO and CH3OH to dimethyl carbonate (DMC) on metallic palladium (Pd) electrode offers a promising strategy for C1 valorization at the anode. However, its broader application is limited by the high working potential and the low DMC selectivity accompanied with severe methanol self‐oxidation. Herein, our theoretical analysis of the intermediate adsorption interactions on both Pd0 and Pd4+ surfaces revealed that inevitable reconstruction of Pd surface under strongly oxidative potential diminishes its CO adsorption capacity, thus damaging the DMC formation. Further theoretical modeling indicates that doping Pd with Cu not only stabilizes low‐valence Pd in oxidative environments but also lowers the overall energy barrier for DMC formation. Guided by this insight, we developed a facile two‐step thermal shock method to prepare PdCu alloy electrocatalysts for DMC. Remarkably, the predicted Pd3Cu demonstrated the highest DMC selectivity among existing Pd‐based electrocatalysts, reaching a peaked DMC selectivity of 93 % at 1.0 V versus Ag/AgCl electrode. (Quasi) in situ spectra investigations further confirmed the predicted dual role of Cu dopant in promoting Pd‐catalyzed DMC formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Producing hydrogen by water electrolysis in acidic system is essential for advancing the proton‐exchange membrane water electrolyzer (PEMWE) and maintaining the global sustainability. However, excavating highly active and durable catalysts for anodic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in acid medium remains a great challenge due to the sluggish kinetics of OER and the severe catalyst dissolution. In this work, we developed a Cu doped RuO2 catalyst (Cu‐RuO2@CP) through simple drop casting and low temperature pyrolysis procedures. The incorporation of Cu into RuO2 executes complicated responsibilities: improving OER activity by raising more oxygen vacancies and accelerating the charge transfer between solid‐liquid interface; strengthening the long‐term durability via suppressing the over‐oxidation of RuO2 into soluble RuO4; lowering the catalyst cost by replacing with less expensive Cu. Hence, the Cu‐RuO2@CP exhibits excellent activity and stability in 0.5 M H2SO4 electrolyte, requiring a low overpotential of 200 mV to achieve 10 mA cm−2 and preserving stability for almost 500 h. Moreover, the overpotential is as low as 397 mV even when operating under an industrial‐level current density of 1000 mA cm−2, paving a new way to develop high performance OER electrocatalyst in acidic environment to promote the large‐scale utilization of PEMWE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The ZnO nanorods, ZnO nanotubes, and Cu-doped ZnO nanotube photoanodes were electro-synthesized to improve the photoelectrochemical water-splitting performance. The structural, optical, morphologic, and photoelectrocatalytic properties of the prepared samples were investigated. UV-visible results show Cu-doped ZnO nanotube photoanode extends the visible light absorption and reduces the band gap. Mott-Schottky analysis displays that the Cudoped ZnO nanotube sample has higher electron density than other samples. Nyquist plots indicate that Cu doping reduces the charge transfer resistance and improves charge transfer. By comparing the LSV voltammograms, it was found that Cu-doped ZnO nanotube photoelectrode has a maximum photocurrent density of 78.3 µA/cm2 at 1.6 V vs. RHE. While the value of photocurrent density obtained for pure ZnO nanorods sample is 9.6µA/cm2 at 1.6 V vs. RHE. Due to the role of Cu in reducing the band gap and reducing the charge recombination rate, Cu doping enhances the photoelectrochemical efficiency of the ZnO nanotube. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prussian Blue Analogs (PBAs) have shown considerable prospects as the cathode materials for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) on account of their high theoretical capacity, low cost, and easy preparation. The low practical capacity and poor cycling stability of PBAs, however, limit their wide practical deployment. To address these issues, a new strategy is deployed through introducing Fe vacancies and Cu-dopant into the PBAs frame structure, boosting the specific capacity and improving the cycling stability. On the one hand, the introduction of Fe vacancies in PBA (PBA□Fe) can provide additional storage sites and facilitate Na[sup +] diffusion kinetics, yielding a high capacity of ≈164 mAh g[sup -1] at a low current density which approaches the theoretical capacity. On the other hand, the Cu-dopant is further helpful in stabilizing the structure of PBA□Fe, thus improving the cycling stability. This work paves a new strategy that enables unlocking the capacity and improving the cycling stability of PBA materials toward high-performance SIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single-phase white light emitters have become a potential substitute for tricolor phosphor mixtures for the white light-emitting diodes (WLEDs) application to simplify device structure and eliminate self-absorption. Newly developed lowdimensional halides, noted for their highly efficient luminescent characteristics, have seen increasing interest in recent years. Herein, highly efficient white-light emission is demonstrated in single-phase zero-dimensional halide single crystal, namely monovalent Cu-doped Cs2HfCl6. Cs2HfCl6:Cu single crystals have three luminescent centers. Two emission peaks at 365 nm and 380 nm correspond to the intrinsic self-trapped excitons emission and a defect-related trapped exciton emission, respectively. Cu doping introduces an intense Cu-bound exciton emission peaking at 540 nm with a large Stokes shift of 250 nm and a high photoluminescence quantum yield of 68%. With different excitation wavelengths and Cu-doping concentrations, Cs2HfCl6:Cu single crystals show tunable emissions. Under 254 nm ultraviolet light excitation, Cs2HfCl6:0.5%Cu yields cold white light with a high color rendering index (Ra = 87.3). These findings demonstrate the potential of Cs2HfCl6:Cu as a promising phosphor for cold WLEDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large Seebeck coefficients induced by high degeneracy of conduction band minimum, and low intrinsic lattice thermal conductivity originated from large lattice vibrational anharmonicity render Mg3Sb2 as a promising n-type thermoelectric material. Herein, we demonstrated unique concentration-dependent occupation behaviors of Cu in Mg3.4Sb1.5Bi0.49Te0.01 matrix, evidenced by structural characterization and transport property measurements. It is found that Cu atoms prefer to enter the interstitial lattice sites in Mg3Sb2 host with low doping level (Mg3.4Sb1.5Bi0.49Te0.01 + x% Cu, x

In the current work, new nanocomposite adsorbers of Cu-doped zeolitic imidazole framework (Cu-doped-ZIF-8) were constructed via in-suit assembled in the presence of both Zn and Cu ions, and analyzed using different techniques. The adsorptive efficiency of Cu-doped-ZIF-8 adsorber has been assessed toward Malachite Green (MG) dye removal. Compared with undoped-ZIF-8, adsorption uptake of Cu-doped ZIF-8 was enhanced 1.8 times, reaching 219 mg/g under constant conditions (solution pH = 6.8, initial MG concentration 30 mg/L, adsorber dose 0.5 g/L, and adsorption time 90 min). The boosted adsorption efficiency was owing to the effective π-complications originated between Cu nods and the MG dye molecules. According to the kinetic and adsorption-isotherm analyses, the Pseudo-first-order and Langmuir equations were matched well with the experimental adsorption process, suggesting that the chemisorption was controlled, and the Cu-doped-ZIF-8 sample displayed a uniform surface towards MG dye adsorption process. Furthermore, the stability of Cu-doped-ZIF-8 was tested, in which the MG adsorption capacity decreased only to 213 mg/g for after five adsorption cycles.

The intrinsic luminescence characteristics of ZnO nanorods (ZnO NRs) at 380 nm make them widely used in the fields of UV detectors. However, their application is limited by the narrow luminescent spectrum. In this paper, Cu doped ZnO NRs films have been grown by hydrothermal method on Si substrates. Besides, the influence of Cu atomic content on the microstructure, intrinsic and defects luminescence performance of the films has also been studied. The results showed that the higher energy released from O2− bonding with Cu2+ than that with Zn2+ inhibited the NRs' growth in the C-axis direction and improved that in the horizontal direction after Cu doping. After testing, it was found that Cu2+ replaced Zn2+, and the grain cell became larger with the improvement of Cu atomic content. Through the PL spectrum, Cu doping could increase the number of defects(V Zn and Zn i) which were determined as main defects in visible light of ZnO NRs. In terms of photoelectric properties, the intrinsic and defects luminescence performance of ZnO nanorods reached the best with the Cu atomic content of 0.5 %. In addition, Cu working as the acceptor level could also enhance the intrinsic luminescence performance of nanorods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) is a widely studied material with many attractive properties such as its photocatalytic features. However, its commercial use is limited due to issues such as deactivation in the visible spectrum caused by its wide bandgap and the short lifetime of photo-excited charge carriers. To overcome these challenges, various modifications could be considered. In this study, we investigated copper doping and electron beam treatment. As-spun TiO2 nanofibers were fabricated by electrospinning a TiO2 sol, which obtained viscosity through a polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) matrix. Cu-doped TiO2 nanofibers with varying dopant concentrations were synthesized by adding copper salts. Then, the as-spun nanofibers were calcined for crystallization. To evaluate photocatalytic performance, a photodegradation test of methylene blue aqueous solution was performed for 6 h. Methylene blue concentration was measured over time using UV-Vis spectroscopy. The results showed that Cu doping at an appropriate concentration and electron-beam irradiation showed improved photocatalytic efficiency compared to bare TiO2 nanofibers. When the molar ratio of Cu/Ti was 0.05%, photodegradation rate was highest, which was 10.39% higher than that of bare TiO2. As a result of additional electron-beam treatment of this sample, photocatalytic efficiency improved up to 8.93% compared to samples without electron-beam treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CH4 combustion is one of the effective ways to reduce atmospheric lean CH4. Herein, a series of La-Co-Cu-O catalysts were successfully prepared by sol–gel method and applied to CH4 combustion. The doping of Cu could improve the catalytic activity of LaCoO3 catalyst. Among the samples, La0.85Cu0.15CoO3 and LaCu0.15Co0.85O3 with the same Cu doping amount exhibited better catalytic performance. Compared with LaCu0.15Co0.85O3, La0.85Cu0.15CoO3 catalyst with better redox ability and stronger adsorption capacity for CH4 and O2, exhibited higher reactivity in CH4 combustion. It was proposed that the coexistence of exposed dispersed Co3O4 particles and Cu ions in the system of La0.85Cu0.15CoO3 could lead to relatively better redox ability and stronger adsorption capacity for CH4 combustion. The La0.85Cu0.15CoO3 is proved to be an extremely valuable and potential catalyst for CH4 combustion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The key to realizing efficient hydrogen production driven by sustainable solar is to develop high performance photocatalysts. Herein, a ZnIn 2 S 4 /Cu-doped WO 3 ·0.5H 2 O (ZIS/Cu-WO) heterojunction was synthesized and the synergy between Cu doping and Z-scheme heterojunction in hydrogen production was explored. The synthesized (ZIS/Cu-WO) has a special octahedral structure. The doping of Cu ions can induce the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of WO 3 ·0.5H 2 O, which extends the spectral response range and improves charge conduction. After growing ZnIn 2 S 4 (ZIS), the optimal ZIS/Cu-WO photocatalyst shows a remarkable H 2 production rate of 3084 μmolg-1h-1, which is 7.0 times than undoped ZnIn 2 S 4 /WO 3 ·0.5H 2 O (ZIS/WO). The enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen production performance is attributed to the synergistic effect of Cu doping and Z-scheme heterojunction, which further accelerated the separation of photogenerated electron holes. Moreover, the Z-scheme photogenerated charge transfer mechanism was confirmed, and the ZIS/Cu-WO heterojunction exhibits superior stability in 16 h cycle test. This study provides a valuable reference in designing metal ion-doped heterojunction photocatalysts. [Display omitted] • Cu doping can accelerate the charge generation and transfer in ZnIn 2 S 4 /Cu-WO 3. • Cu doping induces the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect in WO 3. • Synergy between Cu doping and heterojunction improves photocatalytic performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The design and synthesis of efficient photocatalysts for overall water splitting is a promising research topic. By reasonable modification, the hydrogen evolution photocatalyst can have the ability for overall water splitting. Both ZnIn 2 S 4 and TiO 2 have shown great potential in the field of photocatalytic hydrogen evolution, but their use for efficient overall water splitting is challenging. In this work, a Z-scheme heterojunction material of Cu-doped ZnIn 2 S 4 composite TiO 2 with rich oxygen vacancies was synthesized. Cu doping enhanced the light absorption, reduced the bandgap, and improved photocatalytic activity. In addition, the oxygen vacancies in TiO 2 were conducive to the separation and migration of electron-hole pairs, and the construction of a Z-scheme heterojunction between ZnIn 2 S 4 and TiO 2 can also effectively promote the separation and migration of carriers. Therefore, the photocatalytic activity of this material was significantly improved and exhibited excellent overall water splitting activity without any sacrificial agents and co-catalysts. The optimized hydrogen and oxygen evolution rates were 589.64 μmol/g/h and 292.75 μmol/g/h, respectively. This work provided favorable evidence for metal element doping to promote the photocatalytic activity of composite heterojunction materials and provided a new strategy for the development of heterojunction photocatalysts for overall water splitting. The structure diagram of synthesized Z-scheme heterojunction Cu/ZIS/TiO 2 (V O) photocatalyst which improved separation and migration of carriers and resulted in enhanced photocatalytic overall water splitting activity. [Display omitted] • Cu doping significantly enhanced the light absorption of the photocatalyst. • A Z-scheme heterojunction improved the separation and migration of carriers. • The porous TiO 2 (V O) can build closer contact and enhance reaction rate. • Cu/ZIS/TiO 2 (V O) photocatalyst presented an excellent overall water splitting activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to explore the effects of various hydroxyapatite (HA) doping techniques in depth. For this purpose, two ions with comparable sizes, namely Mn2+ and Cu2+, were selected based on their suitability as dopants for HA in biomedical applications. Moreover, their paramagnetic properties enable sample characterization through electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. Two different approaches were employed: (I) ion-substituted α-TCP was used as starting material; (II) foreign ions presented in the solution during the transformation of undoped α-TCP to HA. The foreign ions influenced the hydrolysis process of α-TCP, altering the phase purity and morphology of the products. Doped α-TCP showed a weaker effect, while adding ions to the synthesis solution had substantial impact. Mn-doped α-TCP transformed into plate-like HA particles while Mn2+ ions present in the solution led to the formation of both plate- and rod-shaped particles. In contrast, Cu2+ ions induced the formation of rod-like particles independently of the doping process. Plate-like particles demonstrated higher Brunauer–Emmet–Teller surface area (S BET) than rod-like HA. Each sample exhibited a combination of mesopores and macropores, with mesopores in the range of 15–17 Å being dominant. EPR investigations revealed that Mn2+ and Cu2+ are excellent paramagnetic probes to monitor synthesis reactions of HA and determine the localisation of foreign ions in the material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrocatalytic biomass valorization coupled with hydrogen production provides an efficient and economical way to achieve a zero‐carbon economy. Ni‐based electrocatalysts are promising candidates due to their intrinsic redox capabilities, but the rational design of active Ni site coordination is still a huge challenge. Herein, the combined strategies of surface reconstruction and heteroatom doping are adopted to modify Ni3S2 pre‐catalysts and the obtained bimetallic catalyst exhibits superior electrocatalytic performance toward 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) oxidation to 2,5‐furanedicarboxylic acid (FDCA). Specifically, the oxysulfide‐coordinated amorphous NiOOH (NiOOH‐SOx) active phase is in situ constructed following the anionic regulation mechanism, which endows numerous defects and unsaturated sites for anodic HMF oxidation. Cu heteroatom doping further modulates the electronic structure of active sites with abundant Lewis acidic sites, offering advanced capability for HMF adsorption. Several operando characterization techniques (in situ Raman, infrared, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopies) are performed to disclose the reaction pathway and structure‐activity‐potential relationship. Theoretical results further demonstrate that Cu doping and oxyanionic regulation effectively modulate the local coordination environment of Ni sites and correspondingly tailor the intermediate adsorption behavior and then promote the reaction kinetics. Moreover, a two‐electrode system is assembled to pair HMF oxidation with cathode hydrogen production, demonstrating better energy conversion efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To prevent bacterial contamination and enhance wear-resistance of titanium-based tools and implants, it is crucial to develop functional coatings with inherent antimicrobial property and high surface hardness. In this study, the micro-arc oxidation technique was employed to prepare ceramic oxide films with antibacterial properties on titanium metal surfaces by incorporating trace amounts of copper. It was found that the phytic acid (C 6 H 18 O 24 P 6) used as the chelating agent in the Cu-containing electrolyte can not be recycled and the adding of alternative chelating agent calcium gluconate (C 12 H 22 O 14 Ca) can significantly promote the cyclic utilization. The oxide film prepared by using C 12 H 22 O 14 Ca as the chelating agent exhibits a typical volcanic micro-arc oxidation morphology with uniform copper distribution, high hardness and excellent substrate adhesion. Most importantly, in vitro antibacterial tests demonstrate the outstanding antibacterial performance of Cu-doped TiO 2 film with an antibacterial rate of up to 99.9% against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we investigated the effects of Cu doping on the performance of CoFeSiB amorphous microwires as the core of a fluxgate magnetometer. The noise performance of fluxgate sensors primarily depends on the crystal structure of constituent materials. CoFeSiB amorphous microwires with varying Cu doping ratios were prepared using melt-extraction technology. The microstructure of microwire configurations was observed using transmission electron microscopy, and the growth of nanocrystalline was examined. Additionally, the magnetic performance of the microwire and the noise of the magnetic fluxgate sensors were tested to establish the relationship between Cu-doped CoFeSiB amorphous wires and sensor noise performance. The results indicated that Cu doping triggers a positive mixing enthalpy and the reduced difference in the atomic radius that enhances the degree of nanocrystalline formation within the system; differential scanning calorimetry analysis indicates that this is due to Cu doping reducing the glass formation capacity of the system. In addition, Cu doping affects the soft magnetic properties of amorphous microwires, with 1% low-doping samples exhibiting better soft magnetic properties. This phenomenon is likely the result of the interaction between nanocrystalline organization and magnetic domains. Furthermore, a Cu doping ratio of 1% yields the best noise performance, aligning with the trend observed in the material's magnetic properties. Therefore, to reduce the noise of the CoFeSiB amorphous wire sensor, the primary goal should be to reduce microscopic defects in amorphous alloys and enhance soft magnetic properties. Cu doping is a superior preparation method which facilitates control over preparation conditions, ensuring the formation of stable amorphous wires with consistent performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of Cu-doped layered P2-type Na0.67 Ni0.33-x CuxMn0.67O2 ( x = 0, 0. 05, 0. 10, 0. 15, 0. 20, 0. 25) with regular morphology and smooth surface were synthisized by sol-gel method. The morphology, structure and composition of those materials were characterized using SEM, XRD, EDS and XPS technologies, and their electrochemical properties were investigated by cyclic voltammetry and constant current charge-discharge methods through using them as cathode materials for sodium ion batteries. The optimum doping ratio was obtained. It is found that doping did not change the layered structure and morphology of the materials. Those materials exhibit good cycling stability and multiplicative performance due to the introduction of highly electrochemically active Cu2+ as a substituent and the increase of the surface active sodium storage sites. In the voltage range of 2. 0 V to 4. 3 V and a multiplicity of 0. 1 C, the initial discharge specific capacity of Na0.67Ni0.18Cu Ni0.15Mn Ni0.67O2(with Cu doped ratio of 0. 15) has an initial discharge specific capacity of 126. 74 mAh / g and a capacity retention rate of 79. 10% after 100 cycles, which is 50. 92% higher than that of the undoped material. The enhanced electrochemical properties of the material are attributed to the insertion of Cu2+ into the transition metal layer, and the radius of Cu2+(0. 73 Å) is larger than that of Ni2+(0. 69 Å), which widens the transition metal layer spacing and provides channels for Na+ diffusion, and in turn increases the Na+ diffusion rate. When charged to high voltage, the Na+ vacancy generation during Na+ de/embedding process is inhibited, thus the crystal structure of the material is stabilized, the P2-O2 phase transition is suppressed, and the cycling stability is improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coconut shell–activated carbon is a highly promising catalytic carrier due to its chemical stability and high porosity. Meanwhile, manganese-based oxidants are very effective catalysts in NH3-SCR, but their instability restricts their use. In an attempt to create catalysts that perform well at low temperatures, this study characterized nitric acid-modified coconut shell-activated carbon carriers at different concentrations using N2 adsorption-desorption, XRD, BET, XPS, DRIFTS, and other methods. By doping with Cu and Mn as the main active substance, optimal Mn-Cu composite catalysts were prepared. The study found that Mn7Cu3/AC-B catalyst had the best activity at low temperatures, achieving up to 99% denitrification efficiency at 225 °C. The catalyst had the highest content of Mn4+, Cu2+, and Oα, which favored the reaction and made the catalyst more resistant to water and sulfur. The use of the appropriate concentration of nitric acid helps to remove carrier impurities and improve carrier structural parameters, thus enabling uniform dispersion of active substances and facilitating the reaction. Moreover, copper and manganese have a synergistic effect, and the composite catalysts have higher redox capacity, catalyst acidic sites, and N2 selection compared to single manganese catalysts. This study aims to prepare better resistant catalysts for low-temperature reactions and contribute to the optimization of manganese-based catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A novel CCMS NCNFs electrode was synthesized via an electrospinning route followed by hydrothermal process. • The multidimensional structure can synergistically shorten ion diffusion path and improve the electronic conductivity. • The formed heterointerface of heterostructured multi-component metal sulfides can accelerate reaction kinetics by synergetic effect. • The obtained CCMS NCNFs electrode shows notable Li+/Na+/K+ storage performance. Transition metal sulfides with the high theoretical capacity and low cost have been considered as advanced anode candidate for alkali metal ion batteries, but suffered from unsatisfactory electrical conductivity and huge volume expansion. Herein, a multidimensional structure Cu-doped Co 1- x S 2 @MoS 2 in-situ-grown on N -doped carbon nanofibers (denoted as Cu-Co 1- x S 2 @MoS 2 NCNFs) have been elaborately constructed for the first time. The bimetallic zeolitic imidazolate framework CuCo-ZIFs were encapsulated in the one-dimensional (1D) NCNFs through an electrospinning route and then on which the two-dimensional (2D) MoS 2 nanosheets were in-situ grown via a hydrothermal process. The architecture of 1D NCNFs can effectively shorten ion diffusion path and enhance electrical conductivity. Besides, the formed heterointerface between MOF-derived binary metal sulfides and MoS 2 can provide extra active centers and accelerate reaction kinetics, which guarantee a superior reversibility. As expected, the resulting Cu-Co 1- x S 2 @MoS 2 NCNFs electrode delivers excellent specific capacity of Na-ion batteries (845.6 mAh/g at 0.1 A/g), Li-ion batteries (1145.7 mAh/g at 0.1 A/g), and K-ion batteries (474.3 mAh/g at 0.1 A/g). Therefore, this innovative design strategy will bring a meaningful prospect for developing high-performance multi-component metal sulfides electrode for alkali metal ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bi 2 S 3 has been considered as a promising medium temperature thermoelectric material due to its low thermal conductivity and cost-effective features. However, the intrinsically poor electrical conductivity of Bi 2 S 3 still limits its further thermoelectric applications. In this work, we optimize the thermoelectric performance of Bi 2 S 3 using Cu doping via a facile hydrothermal method combined with spark plasma sintering. A well-tuned carrier concentration of 1.2 × 1019 cm−3 and electrical conductivity of 47 S cm−1 at 523 K was attained, which is attributed to the increased electrons by Cu doping. In addition, the appeared micro-nano pores in both Bi 2 S 3 and Cu doped Bi 2 S 3 samples after spark plasma sintering benefits the reduction of lattice thermal conductivity (κ l). The Bi 1.985 Cu 0.015 S 3 sample exhibited the lowest κ l of 0.405 W m−1 K−1 at 573 K, which is the lowest value as far as we know in the reported Cu doped Bi 2 S 3 materials at the same temperature. Finally, A maximum ZT value of 0.3 at 573 K was achieved in Bi 1.985 Cu 0.015 S 3 sample. This study provides a new strategy to achieve low κ l and high ZT value in Bi 2 S 3 -based thermoelectric materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CdZnS thin films created via chemical bath deposition were examined to see how Cu doping affected their characteristics. Cu ions were added to the films in order to change their optical, structural, and morphological characteristics. These findings suggest that Cu doping can be used to modify the optical characteristics of CdZnS thin films. By using Xray diffraction (XRD) and the energy dispersive analysis of X-ray method (EDAX), we were able to investigate the compositional ratio as well as the structural features of the films. The field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) technique was utilized in order to investigate the surface morphology of the produced films. The morphology of prepared films was fiber-like and in nanoscale. In addition, the UV-vis spectroscopy technique was utilized in order to characterize the optical properties of thin films. The prepared Cu-CdZnS film was found to have direct band gap equal to 2.64 eV and indirect gap equal to 2.4 eV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) is a typical heavy metal pollutant, making its removal from wastewater imperative. Although nanosized zero-valent iron (nZVI) and graphene-based materials are excellent remediation materials, they have drawbacks, such as agglomeration and being difficult to recycle. A facile synthesis method for decorating reduced graphene oxide (rGO) with ultrathin nZVI (within 10 nm) was explored in this study in order to develop an effective tool for Cr(VI) detoxication. Cu particles were doped in these composites for electron-transfer enhancement and were verified to improve the rate by 2.4~3.4 times. Batch experiments were conducted at different pHs, initial concentrations, ionic strengths, and humic acid (HA) concentrations. From these observations, it was found that the acid condition and appearance of Cu and rGO enhanced the treatment capacity. This procedure was fitted with a pseudo-second-order model, and the existence of NaCl and HA impeded it to some extent. Cr(VI) could be detoxified into Cr(III) and precipitated on the surface. Combining these analyses, a kinetics study, and the characterizations before and after the reaction, the removal mechanism of Cr(VI) was further discussed as a complex process involving adsorption, reduction, and precipitation. The maximum removal capacity of 156.25 mg g−1 occurred in the acid condition, providing a potential Cr(VI) remediation method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, chemical pyrolysis method was employed to synthesize nanocrystalline pure SnO2 and copper-doped SnO2 films (at different doping levels: 3%, 5%, and 7%) on glass substrates at 350°C. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results reveal the prepared films are polycrystalline with a tetragonal crystal structure and the intensity of peaks decreased with increased doping ratio of copper. Field Emission-Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) results confirm that the particle size decreases as Cu-doping increase. EDX images show the presence of Sn, Cu, and O in the structures of the prepared films. Optical results show acceptable transmittance at the middle of the visible region (80% for 7% Cu doping). Additionally, the optical energy gap of the pure SnO2 was calculated to be 3.75 eV, and this energy gap increased to 3.90 eV with higher levels of Cu doping. The absorption coefficient decreased as the Cu doping concentration increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon dioxide valorisation is one of the most discussed topics amongst researchers; indeed, finding a way to significantly reduce CO2 concentration in the atmosphere is crucial in order to mitigate climate change effects in the next decades. In this study, SrTiO3-supported Cu nanoparticles are exploited as Localised Surface Plasmon Resonance (LSPR)-mediated catalysts for CO2 reduction. The materials were prepared via sol–gel citrate route methodology, inserting Cu as a dopant in the perovskite structure; reducing treatments at different temperatures were performed to promote copper atom exsolution, thus forming nanostructures upon the surface. The perovskitic structure was confirmed via ex situ and operando XRD analysis, while compositional analysis was carried out through XPS and EDS; SEM and TEM images revealed morphological changes with different reducing treatments, and bulk reducibility was analysed with H2-TPR, revealing different Cu species in the material. Band gap analysis via DRS showed the successful incorporation of copper in the perovskite, affecting the light absorption properties. Finally, catalytic tests showed that copper nanoparticles play a role in CO2 activation with sunlight, proving that LSPR could be exploited for catalytic means. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, Cu-doped Bi2WO6 was synthesized via a solvothermal method and applied it in photocatalytic N2 immobilization. Characterization results showed the presence of a small amount of metallic Bi in the photocatalyst, indicating that the synthesized photocatalyst is actually Bi/Cu-Bi2WO6 composite. The doped Cu had a valence state of +2 and most likely substituted the position of Bi3+. The introduced Cu did not affect the metallic Bi content, but mainly influenced the energy band structure of Bi2WO6. The band gap was slightly narrowed, the conduction band was elevated, and the work function was reduced. The reduced work function improved the transfer and separation of charge carriers, which mainly caused the increased photoactivity. The optimized NH3 generation rates of Bi/Cu-Bi2WO6 reached 624 and 243 (µmol·L−1·g−1·h−1 under simulated solar and visible light, and these values were approximately 2.8 and 5.9 times higher those of Bi/Bi2WO6, respectively. This research provides a method for improving the photocatalytic N2 fixation and may provide more information on the design and preparation of heteroatom-doped semiconductor photocatalysts for N2-to-NH3 conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inkjet printing is a more sustainable and scalable fabrication method than spin coating for producing perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Although spin-coated SnO2 has been intensively studied as an effective electron transport layer (ETL) for PSCs, inkjet-printed SnO2 ETLs have not been widely reported. Here, we fabricated inkjet-printed, solution-processed SnOx ETLs for planar PSCs. A champion efficiency of 17.55% was achieved for the cell using a low-temperature processed SnOx ETL. The low-temperature SnOx exhibited an amorphous structure and outperformed high-temperature crystalline SnO2. The improved performance was attributed to enhanced charge extraction and transport and suppressed charge recombination at ETL/perovskite interfaces, which originated from enhanced electrical and optical properties of SnOx, improved perovskite film quality, and well-matched energy level alignment between the SnOx ETL and the perovskite layer. Furthermore, SnOx was doped with Cu. Cu doping increased surface oxygen defects and upshifted energy levels of SnOx, leading to reduced device performance. A tunable hysteresis was observed for PSCs with Cu-doped SnOx ETLs, decreasing at first and turning into inverted hysteresis afterwards with increasing Cu doping level. This tunable hysteresis was related to the interplay between charge/ion accumulation and recombination at ETL/perovskite interfaces in the case of electron extraction barriers.

Treatment of organic wastewater is still a difficult problem to solve. In this paper, Cu-doped SnSe powder was synthesized by a convenient and efficient hydrothermal method. Meanwhile, the degradation effect of different doping concentrations of SnSe on methylene blue was investigated. It was found that at low doping concentrations, the degradation effect on methylene blue was not obvious because Cu was dissolved in the lattice of the SnSe matrix at low concentrations. As the doping concentration increased, SnSe changed from a layered structure to a nanocluster structure with reduced particle size, and a mixed phase of SnSe and Cu2SnSe4 appeared. In fact, the degradation effect on methylene blue was significantly enhanced, and we found that the catalytic degradation effect on methylene blue was best at a doping concentration of 10 wt.%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The water-gas shift (WGS) reaction has received renewed interest because it is one of the key reactions for producing hydrogen and renewable energy in contemporary technologies like fuel cells and bio-refineries. Catalysts play an important role in WGS reaction for achieving high CO conversion and hydrogen generation activity. Thus, the performance and stability of catalysts are vital for the WGS reaction. In the present work, the CuCe metal-organic framework (MOF) is used as a template to derive the nanostructured Cu/CeO 2 catalyst. The influence of CuCe-MOF templated approach on the WGS activity of Cu/CeO 2 has been established. Different Cu doping levels had a significant impact on WGS activity. Amongst, the Ce 0.8 Cu 0.2 O 2 (Cu2Ce) catalyst had a highest CO conversion (96%). The long-term stability tests further prove that the Cu2Ce catalyst had maintained high CO conversion over 100 h reaction time. XRD and TEM results suggest that different loadings of Cu content have a distinct impact on the dispersion of Cu and the catalytic properties. N 2 O chemisorption results suggest that 20 wt.% of Cu loading resulted in high Cu dispersion (52%) compared to other loadings. The H 2 -temperature programmed reduction (TPR) revealed that the superior catalytic activity of Cu2Ce catalyst could be attributed to the strong reducibility (i.e. lower redox temperature) derived from CuCe-MOF template. It further suggests well-dispersed copper oxide species at low Cu loadings and crystalline copper oxide species at high Cu loadings. This work emphasizes the significance of Cu/CeO 2 catalysts with exceptional catalytic activity and stability for the WGS process with MOF-precursor. [Display omitted] • Cu/CeO 2 catalysts are synthesized using CuCe-BTC-MOF as a porous template. • High Cu dispersion and strong redox behaviour of Cu/CeO 2 are inherited from MOF. • Enhanced CO conversion and a high stability are achieved. • Well-organized MOF-template approach is crucial for improved WGS activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

O3‐type Fe/Mn‐based layered oxide cathode materials with abundant reserves have a promising prospect in sodium‐ion batteries. However, the electrochemical reversibility of most O3‐type Fe/Mn‐based oxide cathode materials is still not high enough. Herein, the effect of different Cu contents on the electrochemical properties of O3‐NaFe0.50Mn0.50O2 materials is systematically investigated. The as‐prepared NaFe0.30Mn0.50Cu0.20O2 cathode achieves the synergistic optimization of the interface and bulk phase. It shows superior electrochemical performance, with an initial discharge specific capacity of 114 mAh g−1 at 0.1 C, a capacity retention rate of 94 % after 100 cycles at 0.5 C, and excellent chemical stability in air and water. In addition, the sodium ion full battery based on NaFe0.30Mn0.50Cu0.20O2 cathode and hard carbon anode has a capacity retention rate of 81 % after 100 cycles. This research provides a useful approach for the preparation of low‐cost and high‐performance O3‐type layered cathode materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) is a widely studied material with many attractive properties such as its photocatalytic features. However, its commercial use is limited due to issues such as deactivation in the visible spectrum caused by its wide bandgap and the short lifetime of photo-excited charge carriers. To overcome these challenges, various modifications could be considered. In this study, we investigated copper doping and electron beam treatment. As-spun TiO2 nanofibers were fabricated by electrospinning a TiO2 sol, which obtained viscosity through a polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) matrix. Cu-doped TiO2 nanofibers with varying dopant concentrations were synthesized by adding copper salts. Then, the as-spun nanofibers were calcined for crystallization. To evaluate photocatalytic performance, a photodegradation test of methylene blue aqueous solution was performed for 6 h. Methylene blue concentration was measured over time using UV-Vis spectroscopy. The results showed that Cu doping at an appropriate concentration and electron-beam irradiation showed improved photocatalytic efficiency compared to bare TiO2 nanofibers. When the molar ratio of Cu/Ti was 0.05%, photodegradation rate was highest, which was 10.39% higher than that of bare TiO2. As a result of additional electron-beam treatment of this sample, photocatalytic efficiency improved up to 8.93% compared to samples without electron-beam treatment.

In this study, we investigated the effects of Cu doping on the performance of CoFeSiB amorphous microwires as the core of a fluxgate magnetometer. The noise performance of fluxgate sensors primarily depends on the crystal structure of constituent materials. CoFeSiB amorphous microwires with varying Cu doping ratios were prepared using melt-extraction technology. The microstructure of microwire configurations was observed using transmission electron microscopy, and the growth of nanocrystalline was examined. Additionally, the magnetic performance of the microwire and the noise of the magnetic fluxgate sensors were tested to establish the relationship between Cu-doped CoFeSiB amorphous wires and sensor noise performance. The results indicated that Cu doping triggers a positive mixing enthalpy and the reduced difference in the atomic radius that enhances the degree of nanocrystalline formation within the system; differential scanning calorimetry analysis indicates that this is due to Cu doping reducing the glass formation capacity of the system. In addition, Cu doping affects the soft magnetic properties of amorphous microwires, with 1% low-doping samples exhibiting better soft magnetic properties. This phenomenon is likely the result of the interaction between nanocrystalline organization and magnetic domains. Furthermore, a Cu doping ratio of 1% yields the best noise performance, aligning with the trend observed in the material’s magnetic properties. Therefore, to reduce the noise of the CoFeSiB amorphous wire sensor, the primary goal should be to reduce microscopic defects in amorphous alloys and enhance soft magnetic properties. Cu doping is a superior preparation method which facilitates control over preparation conditions, ensuring the formation of stable amorphous wires with consistent performance.

Cu-doped Bi 2 MoO 6 microspheres were synthesized via a simple solvothermal method and exhibited much higher activity than pure Bi 2 MoO 6 for photocatalytic N 2 fixation due to their elevated Femi level, conduction band position, and charge separation efficiency. [Display omitted] This study enhances the photocatalytic N 2 immobilization performance of Bi 2 MoO 6 through Cu doping. Cu-doped Bi 2 MoO 6 was synthesized via a simple solvothermal method. Various characterizations were implemented to examine the influence of Cu doping on the properties of Bi 2 MoO 6. Results indicated that the doped Cu element had a valence state of + 2 and substituted the position of Bi3+. Cu doping exerted minimal effect on the morphology of Bi 2 MoO 6 but largely influenced the energy band structure. The band gap was slightly narrowed, and the conduction band was raised, such that Cu-doped Bi 2 MoO 6 could generate more electrons with stronger reducibility. Moreover, importantly, Cu doping reduced work function and improved charge separation efficiency, which was considered the major cause of enhanced photoactivity. In addition, the Cu-Bi 2 MoO 6 catalyst exhibited higher capability in the adsorption and activation of N 2. Under the combined effects of the aforementioned changes, Cu-Bi 2 MoO 6 demonstrated considerably higher photocatalytic efficiency than Bi 2 MoO 6. The optimized NH 3 generation rate reached 302 μmol/L g−1h−1 and 157 μmol/L g−1h−1 under simulated solar light and visible light, respectively, both achieving about 2.2 times higher than that of Bi 2 MoO 6. This work provides a successful example of improving photocatalytic N 2 fixation, and it may show some light on the design and preparation of heteroatom-doped semiconductor photocatalysts for N 2 -to-NH 3 conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the SnS thin film was deposited on the glass substrate by spray technique at 350 °C. The impact of Cu doping on physical properties of the SnS thin film was investigated using a variable doping concentration [Cu/Sn] from 1 to 5%. XRD revealed that films of polycrystalline nature have orthorhombic crystal structures with a preferential orientation along the (111) plane given that peak intensity decreases with increasing Cu doping concentration. Atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy measurements reveal the dependence of surface roughness and morphology because of copper doping. The optical properties were studied by measuring the transmission characteristics which were used to find the optical band gap energy. The Hall effect measurement results confirm the p type of all samples and that their resistivity is strongly dependent on Cu concentration. The influence of the dopant rate on the PV parameters of simulated SnS-based solar cell was studied using the SCAPS-1D software. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, a study on the photocatalysis and antibacterial performances of Cu‐doped titania films as a function of the dopant concentration is presented. The TiO2 films are produced by sol–gel spin‐coating technique, and the doping is performed by adding different quantities of copper in the form of salt (CuSO4) during the preparation of sol. The obtained films are characterized by Raman and X‐ray diffraction spectroscopies, atomic force microscopy, and Rutherford backscattering spectrometry, to investigate on the chemical–physical properties, the quality, the composition, and the thickness. The photocatalytic activity of the films is studied by measuring the degradation of methylene blue (MB) under UV light, while Staphylococcus aureus is chosen for microbiological testing. The results show a correlation between photocatalysis and antibactericity with a rise of these two activities with increasing dopant concentrations in the films up to a given point, beyond which structural defects are introduced, promoting electron–hole recombination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zirconia-toughened alumina (ZTA) is considered the gold standard material for total hip arthroplasty (THA). However, it still lacks sufficient lubrication and fracture toughness, and it has the risk of wearing, squeaking, and fracturing. Cu doping is considered to address these issues. To further promote the application of Cu doping, its effect on biocompatibility needs to be studied. In this study, Cu-doped ZTA (Cu-ZTA) ceramics with different Cu contents were prepared using a fast hot pressed sintering (FHPS) equipment and their biocompatibility was systematically studied. The results demonstrate that, depending on the Cu content, Cu doping reduces the stability of the tetragonal zirconia, resulting in a tetragonal-to-monoclinic phase transition of zirconia, thereby creating pores on the surface of the ZTA. The biocompatibility of the Cu-ZTA with different Cu contents was analyzed based on osteoblasts and macrophages. The results suggested that Cu doping increased the adhesion of osteoblasts and slightly improved their viability. In contrast, Cu doping influenced the morphology of macrophages, causing the shrinkage and extension of their pseudopodia. Cu doping also induced the pro-inflammatory polarization of macrophages and stimulated the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6). Therefore, Cu doping can improve the cytocompatibility of osteoblasts with ZTA ceramic surfaces, however, the enhanced effect of Cu-doped ZTA ceramics on the early inflammatory response requires special attention and further study. • The pores on the surface of ZTA ceramics lead to an increase in osteoblast adhesion. • A doping of 3 wt% Cu shows to most improve osteoblast viability. • Cu doping stimulates the pro-inflammatory polarization of macrophages. • Cu doping induces high-level inflammatory cytokine release. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]