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Photocatalytic fixation of nitrogen to ammonia represents an attractive alternative to the Haber-Bosch process under ambient conditions, and the performance can be enhanced by defect engineering of the photocatalysts, in particular, formation of shallow energy levels due to oxygen vacancies that can significantly facilitate the adsorption and activation of nitrogen. This calls for deliberate size engineering of the photocatalysts. In the present study, pyrochlore Bi2Ti2O7 quantum dots and (bulk-like) nanosheets are prepared hydrothermally by using bismuth nitrate and titanium sulfate as the precursors. Despite a similar oxygen vacancy concentration, the quantum dots exhibit a drastically enhanced photocatalytic performance toward nitrogen fixation, at a rate of 332.03 µmol g-1 h-1, which is 77 times higher than that of the nanosheet counterpart. Spectroscopic and computational studies based on density functional theory calculations show that the shallow levels arising from oxygen vacancies in the Bi2Ti2O7 quantum dots, in conjunction with the moderately constrained quantum confinement effect, facilitate the chemical adsorption and activation of nitrogen.

High‐level pseudocapacitive materials require incorporations of significant redox regions into conductive and penetrable skeletons to enable the creation of devices capable of delivering high power for extended periods. Coordination nanosheets (CNs) are appealing materials for their high natural electrical conductivities, huge explicit surface regions, and semi‐one‐layered adjusted pore clusters. Thus, rational design of ligands and topological networks with desired electronic structure is required for the advancement in this field. Herein, we report three novel conjugated CNs (RV‐10‐M, M=Zn, Ni, and Co), by utilizing the full conjugation of the terpyridine‐attached flexible tetraphenylethylene (TPE) units as the molecular rotors at the center. We prepare binder‐free transparent nanosheets supported on Ni‐foam with outstanding pseudocapacitive properties via a hydrothermal route followed by facile exfoliation. Among three CNs, the high surface area of RV‐10‐Co facilitates fast transport of ions and electrons and could achieve a high specific capacity of 670.8 C/g (1677 F/g) at 1 A/g current density. Besides, the corresponding flexible RV‐10‐Co possesses a maximum energy density of 37.26 Wh kg−1 at a power density of 171 W kg−1 and 70 % capacitance retention even after 1000 cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, there is a significant interest among researchers in elemental monolayer materials owing to their exceptional sensitivity, selectivity, and stability in detecting air pollutants. In the proposed study, the structural stability of bare arsenaluminane is validated through cohesive energy analysis. It is used to adsorb the sewer gas contaminants, which are butyric acid and butyl acetate. Subsequently, the electronic properties of arsenaluminane are examined using band structure analysis and projected density of states spectra. The calculated band gap of arsenaluminane is 1.408 eV (predicted using hybrid-GGA/B3LYP), indicating its semiconducting state. Notably, the adsorption characteristics of butyric acid and butyl acetate molecules on arsenaluminane were investigated by analysing adsorption energy, relative band gap changes, and Mulliken charge transfer. Specifically, the calculated adsorption energies fall within the physisorption regime and the Mulliken charge transfer ranges from 0.084 e to 0.598 e, suggesting that arsenaluminane behaves as a promising chemical sensor for detecting sewer gas molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Rare Metals is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

A novel hybrid nanocarbon consisting of one rippled and two planar nanosheets has been synthesized and characterized. Two meso pairs of [5]helicenes are formed along the long molecular axis of the hybrid to connect rippled and planar subunits, leading to a stable conformation. It is shown that the hybrid possesses the individual electronic properties of the rippled and planar subunits. Compared to the rippled subunit, such hybrid has a better geometric match to C60 and complexes with C60 in a 1 : 1 stoichiometry, with the association constant on the order of 105 M−1. The hybrid displays unusual anti‐Kasha fluorescence emission. The transient absorption spectroscopy revealed that the singlet fission (SF) from higher level singlet excited states (Sn) is operative in the film of the hybrid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human urine phosphorus (existing in the form of phosphate) is a biomarker for the diagnosis of several diseases such as kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, and rickets. Therefore, the selective detection of phosphate in urine samples is crucial in the field of clinical diagnosis. Herein, we reported the phosphatase-like catalytic activity of few-layered h-BNNS for the first time. As the phosphatase-like activity of few-layered h-BNNS could be effectively inhibited by phosphate, a selective fluorescent method for the detection of phosphate was proposed. The linear range for phosphate detection is 0.5–10 µM with a detection limit of 0.33 µM. The fluorescent method was then explored for the detection of human urine phosphorus in real samples. The results obtained by the proposed method were consistent with those of the traditional method, indicating that the present method has potential application for urine phosphorus detection in clinical disease diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen boride (HB) nanosheets are recognized as a safe and lightweight hydrogen carrier, yet their hydrogen (H2) generation technique has been limited. In the present study, nitrogen‐containing organic heterocycles are mixed with HB nanosheets in acetonitrile solution for visible‐light‐driven H2 generation. After exploring various nitrogen‐containing heterocycles, the mixture of 1,10‐phenanthroline molecules (Phens) and HB nanosheets exhibited significant H2 generation even under visible light irradiation. The quantum efficiency for H2 generation of the mixture of HB nanosheets and Phens is 0.6%. Based on spectroscopic and electrochemical analyses and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, it is determined that radical species generated from Phens with electrons and protons donated by HB nanosheets are responsive to visible light for H2 generation. The HB nanosheets/Phens mixture presented in this study can generate H2 using renewable energy sources such as sunlight without the need for complex electrochemical systems or heating mechanisms and is expected to serve as a lightweight hydrogen storage/release system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, the advantages of sheet stacking in polycrystalline Si (Poly-Si)–based nanosheet MOSFETs and CMOS inverters were statistically analyzed through technology computer-aided design simulations. Poly-Si is used as the channel material to make the high-density three-dimensional structure in a simple process. We studied the transfer characteristics of single-layer nanosheet (SN) MOSFETs and 3-layer multi-bridge nanosheet (MN) MOSFETs depending on the location and the number of grain boundaries (GBs). Further, the DC/switching performance of SN CMOS and MN CMOS inverters was analyzed based on the location and number of GBs. The multilayer stacked structure not only increased the average on state current and switching speed but also reduced the dispersion of characteristics and performance. In addition, multilayer stacked structure increased the yield based on the 3 sigma-level. Therefore, the stacked MN structure is suitable for implementation in MOSFETs and CMOS inverters with high performance and reliability against fluctuations caused by poly-Si GBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photocatalytic fixation of nitrogen to ammonia represents an attractive alternative to the Haber–Bosch process under ambient conditions, and the performance can be enhanced by defect engineering of the photocatalysts, in particular, formation of shallow energy levels due to oxygen vacancies that can significantly facilitate the adsorption and activation of nitrogen. This calls for deliberate size engineering of the photocatalysts. In the present study, pyrochlore Bi2Ti2O7 quantum dots and (bulk‐like) nanosheets are prepared hydrothermally by using bismuth nitrate and titanium sulfate as the precursors. Despite a similar oxygen vacancy concentration, the quantum dots exhibit a drastically enhanced photocatalytic performance toward nitrogen fixation, at a rate of 332.03 µmol g−1 h−1, which is 77 times higher than that of the nanosheet counterpart. Spectroscopic and computational studies based on density functional theory calculations show that the shallow levels arising from oxygen vacancies in the Bi2Ti2O7 quantum dots, in conjunction with the moderately constrained quantum confinement effect, facilitate the chemical adsorption and activation of nitrogen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inspired by the desire to solve a series of problems such as the easy mottling and peeling of the physically attached artificial interfacial layer on the surface of Zn anode, ZnSiO 3 with a nanosheet morphology was constructed on the surface of Zn foil through the self-growth reaction. The ZnSiO 3 nano-interfacial layer effectively slices the surface of the Zn foil into individual microscopic interfacial layers, and this study provides a new perspective for the interfacial engineering of the protection of Zn anodes. [Display omitted] Among battery technologies, aqueous zinc ion batteries (AZIBs) have hit between the eyes in the next generation of extensive energy storage devices due to their outstanding superiority. The main problem that currently restricts the development of AZIBs is how to obtain stable Zn anodes. In this study, taking the improvement of a series of problems caused by the physically attached artificial interfacial layer on Zn anode as a starting point, a nanosheet morphology of ZnSiO 3 (denoted as ZnSi) is constructed by self-growth on Zn foil (Zn@ZnSi) by a simple hydrothermal reaction. The ZnSi nano-interfacial layer effectively slices the surface of the Zn foil into individual microscopic interfacial layers, constructing abundant pores. The nanosheets of Zn@ZnSi construct rich nanoscale Zn2+ transport channels, which provide higher electron and ion transport paths, thus achieving the effect of effectively homogenizing the electric field distribution and decreasing the local current density. Thanks to its inherent and structural properties, the Zn@ZnSi anode has a high specific capacity and good cycling stability compared with the Zn electrode. The lifetime of the Zn@ZnSi//Zn@ZnSi symmetric cell is much higher than that of the Zn//Zn symmetric cell at 1 mA cm−2. The capacity of the Zn@ZnSi//NH 4 V 4 O 10 full cell can still reach 98 mAh g−1 after 1000 cycles at 1 A/g. The low-cost and scalable synthesis of ZnSi nano-interfacial layer on Zn is expected to provide new perspectives on interfacial engineering for Zn anodic protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing efficient and stable oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalysts under various alkaline conditions is crucial for commercial hydrogen (H₂) production. This study synthesized superhydrophilic NiFe LDH/NF with a nanosheet structure. The strong electronic interactions between the metals modify the electronic structures of Ni and Fe. In-situ Raman spectroscopy reveals numerous high-valent nickel intermediates with high OER activity during the reaction, significantly improving the catalyst's overall performance. At room temperature, the NiFe LDH/NF catalyst exhibits a current density of 50/100 mA cm−2 with only 217/233 mV required in 1 M KOH. Moreover, the catalyst requires only 180 mV under industrial conditions (60 °C, 6 M KOH), 243 mV in alkaline artificial seawater, and 280 mV in alkaline natural seawater to achieve 100 mA cm−2. The catalyst also exhibits long-term operational durability under these conditions, indicating a wide range of potential applications. [Display omitted] • NiFe LDH was directly grown in situ on a nickel foam surface by a hydrothermal method. • The catalyst's nanosheet structure and superhydrophilicity enhance the exposure of active sites to the electrolyte. • The two metalssynergistically alter the electronic structure,generating numerous high-valent active metals. • The catalysts demonstrate high activity and stability in alkaline media, even under harsh industrial conditions and seawater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wrinkles are pervasive in ultrathin two‐dimensional (2D) materials, but the regulation of wrinkles is rarely explored systematically. Here, we employed a series of carboxylic acids (from formic acid to octanoic acid) to control the wrinkles of Zr‐BTB (BTB=1, 3, 5‐(4‐carboxylphenyl)‐benzene) metal–organic framework (MOF) nanosheet. The wrinkles at the micrometer scale were observed with transmission electron microscopy. Furthermore, high‐angle annular dark‐field (HAADF) images showed lattice distortion in many nanoscale regions, which was precisely matched to the nano‐wrinkles. With the changes of hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity, MOF‐MOF and MOF‐solvent interactions were possibly synergistically regulated and wrinkles with different sizes were obtained, which was supported by HAADF, molecular dynamics, and density functional theory calculation. Different wrinkle sizes resulted in different pore sizes between the Zr‐BTB nanosheet interlayers, providing highly‐oriented thin films and the successive optimization of kinetic diffusion pathways, proved by grazing‐incidence wide‐angle X‐ray scattering and nitrogen adsorption. The most suitable wrinkle pore from Zr‐BTB‐C4 exhibited highly efficient chromatographic separation of the substituted benzene isomers. Our work provides a rational route for the modulation of nanoscale wrinkles and their stacked pores of MOF nanosheets and improves the separation abilities of MOFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Micronanoelectronic Technology is the property of Micronanoelectronic Technology Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

[Display omitted] The production of hydrogen gas as an environmentally friendly and emission-free fuel source, has emerged as the preeminent substitute for traditional fossil fuels. The demand for a viable and low-cost substitute of the anodic Oxygen Evolution Reaction (OER) in hydrogen gas production has led researchers to explore the Hydrazine Oxidation Reaction (HzOR), aiming to reduce overpotential. In this study, we present the synthesis of a NiSeP@NiCo/Cu electrocatalyst via electrodeposition method, offering precise control over parameter adjustments and an affordable price. The binder-free nanosheet structure of this electrocatalyst demonstrates improved performance in water electrolysis, resulting in potentials of −40 and −134 mV vs. Reversible Hydrogen Electrode (RHE) for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction (HER) and 0.041 and 0.194 V (vs. RHE) for HzOR (i = 10 and 100 mA.cm−2). The electrode has excellent features, including active electrochemical surface, synergistic effects among the elements, high stability, super-hydrophilicity and super-aerophobicity. The Bi-functional performance of electrode was tested in a two-electrode set for HER/HzOR, the cell voltage required to reach current densities of 10 and 100 mA.cm−2 were determined as 0.071 and 0.298 V respectively. On the whole, this work presents the excellent capabilities of the synthesized electrode (NiSeP@NiCo/Cu) for hydrogen gas production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In this paper, we introduce a novel Forkshape nanosheet Inductive Tunnel Field-Effect Transistor (FS-iTFET) featuring a Gate-All-Around structure and a full-line tunneling heterojunction channel. The overlapping gate and source contact regions create a strong and uniform electric field in the channel. Furthermore, the metal–semiconductor Schottky junction in the intrinsic source region induces the required carriers without the need for doping. This innovative design achieves both a steeper subthreshold swing (SS) and a higher ON-state current (I ON). Using calibration-based simulations with Sentaurus TCAD, we compare the performance of three newly designed device structures: the conventional Nanosheet Tunnel Field-Effect Transistor (NS-TFET), the Nanosheet Line-tunneling TFET (NS-LTFET), and the proposed FS-iTFET. Simulation results show that, compared to the traditional NS-TFET, the NS-LTFET with its full line-tunneling structure improves the average subthreshold swing (SS AVG) by 19.2%. More significantly, the FS-iTFET, utilizing the Schottky-inductive source, further improves the SS AVG by 49% and achieves a superior I ON/I OFF ratio. Additionally, we explore the impact of Trap-Assisted Tunneling on the performance of the three different integrations. The FS-iTFET consistently demonstrates superior performance across various metrics, highlighting its potential in advancing tunnel field-effect transistor technology.

Concern over increasing pollution and ways to mitigate it is in high demand due to the swift advancement of technology and the creation of advanced utilities. Nitrogen oxide (NO2) is a well‐known evolved toxin that poses a threat to human health, the environment, and biodiversity. Therefore, several works are carried to sense the NO2 gas at its trace concentration. However, the majority of NO2 sensors that have been reported have inadequate Limit of Detection (LOD), high operating temperature, and low sensitivity. Orthorhombic molybdenum oxide (α‐MoO3) recently emerged as hotspot in the gas sensing research and noted for its high sensitivity, and distinct sensing capabilities owing to its unique layered structure. In this study, Fe‐doped α‐MoO3 nanosheets for NO2 sensing is prepared, and at a low operating temperature of 110 °C, an excellent sensitivity of 1282% for 10 ppm of NO2 is achieved. Long‐term stability, good repeatability, and an ultra‐low detection limit of 79 ppt are also demonstrated by the manufactured sensors. In addition, the obtained low activation energy of ‐2.9 KJ mol−1 and the high band bending for FM6 supports the highly responsive NO2 detection at low operating temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel two-dimensional (2D) half-Heusler ZrNiSn nanosheet for thermoelectric applications was designed from bulk half-Heusler ZrNiSn through first-principles calculation. Investigation of bulk half-Heusler and 2D nanosheet ZrNiSn was performed with the Quantum Espresso code based on a density functional theory plane wave basis set. Electronic band structure and density of states calculations were used to study the confinement effects. On moving from bulk to 2D a change of structure is observed from face-centered cubic to trigonal due to confinement effects. The semiconducting nature of bulk ZrNiSn is undisturbed while moving to a 2D nanosheet; however, the band gap is widened from 0.46 to 1.3 eV due to the restricted motion of electrons in one direction. Compared with bulk ZrNiSn, 2D nanosheets were found to have a higher Seebeck coefficient a lower thermal conductivity and higher figure of merit, which makes 2D ZrNiSn nanosheets suitable for thermoelectric applications. Atomically thin 2D structures with a flat surface have the potential to form van der Waals heterojunctions, paving the way for device fabrication at the nanoscale level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium‐sulfur (Li‐S) battery are considered as the next generation energy storage system owing to their ultra‐high theoretical specific capacity and energy density. However, the commercialization of Li‐S battery is still hindered by the intrinsically low conductivity of sulfur, sluggish catalytic conversion and notorious shuttle effect of polysulfides. The implantation of defects in sulfur electrocatalyst can effectively increase its conductivity and catalytic efficiency of lithium polysulfides, but the current mainstream defective materials are limited and lack of in‐depth research. Herein, a defective niobium selenide (NbSe2‐x) nanosheet sulfur electrocatalyst is constructed with enriched selenium defects, which demonstrates strong interaction with sulfur species, endowing NbSe2‐x with rapid and reliable sulfur reduction reaction. As a result, the Li‐S cell with NbSe2‐x exhibits excellent multiplicative performance in both coin cell and pouch cell, which maintains stable cycling for over 2000 cycles under 5 C, corresponding to a low‐capacity fading rate of 0.024% per cycle. Ah level pouch cell is also fabricated, showing a decent energy density of 378 Wh kg−1. This creative strategy not only emphasizes the importance of selenium defect engineering in Li‐S batterie toward practical application, but also enlightens the material engineering to realize superior performance in related energy storage and conversion area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we introduce a novel Forkshape nanosheet Inductive Tunnel Field-Effect Transistor (FS-iTFET) featuring a Gate-All-Around structure and a full-line tunneling heterojunction channel. The overlapping gate and source contact regions create a strong and uniform electric field in the channel. Furthermore, the metal–semiconductor Schottky junction in the intrinsic source region induces the required carriers without the need for doping. This innovative design achieves both a steeper subthreshold swing (SS) and a higher ON-state current (ION). Using calibration-based simulations with Sentaurus TCAD, we compare the performance of three newly designed device structures: the conventional Nanosheet Tunnel Field-Effect Transistor (NS-TFET), the Nanosheet Line-tunneling TFET (NS-LTFET), and the proposed FS-iTFET. Simulation results show that, compared to the traditional NS-TFET, the NS-LTFET with its full line-tunneling structure improves the average subthreshold swing (SSAVG) by 19.2%. More significantly, the FS-iTFET, utilizing the Schottky-inductive source, further improves the SSAVG by 49% and achieves a superior ION/IOFF ratio. Additionally, we explore the impact of Trap-Assisted Tunneling on the performance of the three different integrations. The FS-iTFET consistently demonstrates superior performance across various metrics, highlighting its potential in advancing tunnel field-effect transistor technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a hydrogen sensor made of WSe 2 modified monocrystalline SnSe 2 nanolayer. The hydrogen sensitive property of tungsten diselenide (WSe 2) and tin diselenide (SnSe 2) was found by hydrothermal adjustment of the molar ratio. The samples were characterized for their crystal structure, microstructure, morphology, and elemental composition, and the morphology and heterojunction formation of the nanocomposites were confirmed. When the optimal molar ratio is 1:1 and the optimal working temperature is 270 °C, the WSe 2 /SnSe 2 sensor have good sensing properties for hydrogen, and the sensitivity for 100 ppm hydrogen is about 7.27. Finally, the experiment proves that WSe 2 /SnSe 2 gas sensor has a unique selection of hydrogen and has a wide application prospect in hydrogen detection in the future. The gas sensing mechanism of the hydrogen sensor is discussed based on its material structure. • A hydrogen sensor with WSe 2 modified monocrystalline SnSe 2 was proposed. • The sensor has the best response to hydrogen at 270 °C. • The enhanced sensing mechanism with p-n heterojunction is discussed. • Hydrogen sensor has fast response and long-term stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A magnetically responsive photonic crystal of colloidal nanosheets can exhibit a controllable structural color, offering diverse potential applications. In this study, we systematically investigated how the lateral sizes of graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets affect their magnetic responsiveness in a photonic system. Contrary to the prediction that larger lateral sizes of nanosheets would be more responsive to an applied magnetic field based on the magnetic energy of anisotropic materials, we discovered that GO nanosheets with larger lateral sizes in the photonic system scarcely responded to a 12 T magnetic field. The lack of magnetic response may be due to the strongly restricted rotational motion of GO nanosheets by mutual electrostatic forces. In contrast, GO nanosheets with medium lateral sizes readily responded to the 12 T magnetic field, forming a uniaxially oriented structure that resulted in a vivid structural color. However, smaller GO nanosheets displayed a less vivid structural color, possibly because of less structural ordering of GO nanosheets. Finally, we found that the photonic crystal of GO nanosheets with optimized lateral sizes responded effectively to the 12 T magnetic field across various GO concentrations, resulting in a vivid and tunable structural color. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultrathin two-dimensional (2D) nanostructures, with superhigh exposure of the under-coordinated metal atoms relative to large-sized quasi-spherical particles or bulk counterparts, have shown enormous potential to enhance various heterogeneous catalytic reactions. The creation of in-plane holes and rational assembling of ultrathin 2D nanosheets into 3D hierarchical architectures can prevent the restacking issue of nanosheets, thereby providing more active sites by hampering atomic diffusion, nearby nanosheet aggregation, and thermodynamic structural reform. Herein, we report the stepwise construction of ultrathin CuAuAg nanosheet-assembled 3D nanoflowers (NFs). The synthesis involves the conversion of Au@CuxO mesoporous nanospheres into CuAg NFs, followed by a controlled galvanic replacement reaction with chloroauric acid to create holes and manipulate the atomic ratio between Cu, Au, and Ag. With strong broad-spectrum light absorption across the UV–vis region, the current CuAuAg NFs exhibited satisfactory photothermal conversion under Xe lamp irradiation. When serving as HER electrocatalysts, the Cu10.5Au58.4Ag31.1 NFs displayed the optimized performance in terms of overpotential and activity, surpassing the Cu71.4Ag28.6 NFs and Au NCs, which is supported by DFT simulations, showcasing the multimetallic coupling advantage for HER. This study presents a viable route to construct trimetallic 3D hierarchical nanostructures and validates their application in photothermal conversion and electrocatalytic HER, guiding the design of high-performance photosensitizers and electrocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Density functional theory (DFT) analyses were carried out to study electronic structures and magnetic properties of Mn- and Cu-doped GaNNS. To investigate the influence of transition metal atoms (TM) on magnetic properties, we substituted Ga atoms with Mn and Cu atoms in different concentrations. Investigation shows that TM leads to electronic structural reconstruction which changes their properties in this way, and plays a significant role in spin polarization. Although the pure nanosheet is a nonmagnetic semiconductor, the doped atoms induce magnetism in the structure. The band gap changes monotonically depending on the concentration of TM atoms. The observed good half-metal ferromagnetism GaNNS:Mn, allows them to be a potential candidate for use in spintronics. The local magnetic moment calculated from Mulliken analyses for the Mn atom is approximately 4.05 μ B. By choosing the appropriate concentration of impurity atoms one can obtain a magnetic semiconductor and is half-metal. Thus, Mn-atoms may induce half-metallic ferromagnetism in GaN nanosheet, which makes it a potential candidate for spintronics device applications. Also observed, was weak ferromagnetism in Cu-doped GaNNS is not suitable for use in spintronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introducing multiple active sites and constructing a heterostructure are efficient strategies to develop high-performance electrocatalysts. Herein, two-dimensional heterostructure NiFeP@FeOOH nanosheets supported by nickel foam (NF) are prepared by a hydrothermal–phosphorization–electrodeposition process. The synthesis of self-supporting heterostructure NiFeP@FeOOH nanosheets on NF increases the specific surface region, while bimetallic phosphide realizes rapid charge transfer, improving the electron transfer rate. The introduction of FeOOH and the construction of a heterostructure result in a synergistic effect among the components, and the surface-active sites are abundant. In situ Raman spectroscopy showed that the excellent oxygen evolution reaction (OER) performance was due to reconstruction-induced hydroxyl oxide, which achieved a multi-active site reaction. The NiFeP@FeOOH/NF electrocatalytic activity was then significantly improved. The findings indicate that in a 1.0 M KOH alkaline solution, NiFeP@FeOOH/NF showed an OER overpotential of 235 mV at 100 mA cm−2, a Tafel slope of 46.46 mV dec−1, and it worked stably at 50 mA cm−2 for 80 h. This research proves that constructing heterostructure and introducing FeOOH are of great significance to the study of the properties of OER electrocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improving the performance of porous nickel-based material used widely in the energy field is necessary. Alloying and increasing the specific surface area are essential approaches. This study used rice paper (Chinese traditional calligraphy and painting paper) as biomass templates to prepare hierarchical porous Ni and Ni-Cu foils (Nip and NiCup) with a thickness of about 60 μm by impregnating and high-temperature reduction process. The Ni3S2/Nip electrodes were prepared by an in situ-grown Ni3S2 nanosheet array on the struts of Nip via a hydrothermal process. Two modification methods using Cu-added alloying and Ni-S nanosheet growing were compared to determine their effects on the microstructure, phase, and performance in methanol oxidation (MOR) and urea oxidation (UOR). The results showed that both alloying effects and morphology control can promote MOR and UOR. Compared to the current density value of Nip at 0.8 V, the values of the preferred Ni10Cup and nanosheet array Ni3S2/Nip increased by 24.5% and 27.3% for methanol oxidation and by 15.4% and 38.4% for urea oxidation, respectively. Adding Cu helped to improve electron transfer and facilitated the transition from Ni2+ to Ni3+. The large specific surface area of Ni3S2 nanosheets provided more active sites for the reaction. Compared to Ni10Cup, Ni3S2/Nip with a lower impedance value exhibits better electrocatalytic performance and stability, achieving peak current densities of 269.7 mA cm−2 (MOR) and 303.9 mA cm−2 (UOR) at 0.8 V, maintaining 91.2% (MOR) and 102.4% (UOR) of the initial peak current density after 2000 cycles. The foil electrodes obtained under both modification strategies can be used as anode material in portable cells, and might also be applied to the oxidation of other small organic molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Inorganic Chemicals Industry is the property of Editorial Office of Inorganic Chemicals Industry and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Polymetallic layered double hydroxides are promising cost-effective catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) due to their versatile anionic and cationic tunability. Nevertheless, several challenges persist, notably, issues related to low electrical conductivity, poor catalytic activity, and stability, especially at high current density. Herein, we report the design of Ce- and La-doped CoNiFe-layered double hydroxide (CeLaCoNiFe-LDH) nanosheets through a facile and scalable in situ self-assembly strategy that displays enhanced OER activity. Experimental and theoretical investigations provide insights into the impact of Ce-and La-doping by comparing CeCoNiFe-LDH, LaCoNiFe-LDH, and pristine CoNiFe-LDH, all synthesized using the same methodology. These results reveal that doping Ce3+ and La3+ into CoNiFe-LDH substantially improves its electronic structure, resulting in enhanced conductivity, more oxygen vacancies (Vo), electron interaction, and active site formation. Consequently, significantly reduced overpotentials of 175, 314, and 424 mV at 10, 100, and 500 mA cm−2, respectively, and a highly stable current density of 120 h in 1 M KOH were achieved. Notably, these performance metrics surpass those of unmodified LDHs and are competitive with many lanthanide-doped transition metal-based LDH electrocatalysts, as well as noble metal catalysts like ruthenium catalysts. This work represents a pioneering effort in doping Ce3+ and La3+ ions into a functional CoNiFe-based electrocatalyst, offering inspiring OER performance and scalability potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Hydrogen boride (HB) nanosheets are recognized as a safe and lightweight hydrogen carrier, yet their hydrogen (H2) generation technique has been limited. In the present study, nitrogen‐containing organic heterocycles are mixed with HB nanosheets in acetonitrile solution for visible‐light‐driven H2 generation. After exploring various nitrogen‐containing heterocycles, the mixture of 1,10‐phenanthroline molecules (Phens) and HB nanosheets exhibited significant H2 generation even under visible light irradiation. The quantum efficiency for H2 generation of the mixture of HB nanosheets and Phens is 0.6%. Based on spectroscopic and electrochemical analyses and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, it is determined that radical species generated from Phens with electrons and protons donated by HB nanosheets are responsive to visible light for H2 generation. The HB nanosheets/Phens mixture presented in this study can generate H2 using renewable energy sources such as sunlight without the need for complex electrochemical systems or heating mechanisms and is expected to serve as a lightweight hydrogen storage/release system.

Abstract Photocatalytic fixation of nitrogen to ammonia represents an attractive alternative to the Haber–Bosch process under ambient conditions, and the performance can be enhanced by defect engineering of the photocatalysts, in particular, formation of shallow energy levels due to oxygen vacancies that can significantly facilitate the adsorption and activation of nitrogen. This calls for deliberate size engineering of the photocatalysts. In the present study, pyrochlore Bi2Ti2O7 quantum dots and (bulk‐like) nanosheets are prepared hydrothermally by using bismuth nitrate and titanium sulfate as the precursors. Despite a similar oxygen vacancy concentration, the quantum dots exhibit a drastically enhanced photocatalytic performance toward nitrogen fixation, at a rate of 332.03 µmol g−1 h−1, which is 77 times higher than that of the nanosheet counterpart. Spectroscopic and computational studies based on density functional theory calculations show that the shallow levels arising from oxygen vacancies in the Bi2Ti2O7 quantum dots, in conjunction with the moderately constrained quantum confinement effect, facilitate the chemical adsorption and activation of nitrogen.

Heavy oil extraction is a challenging and energy-intensive process. Herein, Ti3AlC2 was etched to obtain nanosheet layer Ti3C2Tx MXene, which was then carboxylated and poly-(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-grafted to obtain Ti3C2Tx-COOH-g-PEG to increase viscosity for stabilizing SDBS emulsions. Morphological analysis confirmed the formation of a nanosheet layer structure, and structural analysis confirmed PEG grafting (21.50%). Crossover emulsification experiments demonstrated that Ti3C2Tx-COOH-g-PEG at 0.3 mg/mL exhibited excellent resistance to mineralization, high temperatures, and elevated pH levels. Ti3C2Tx-COOH-g-PEG improved the surfactant solubility under high mineralization conditions and reduced solution corrosiveness. Emulsion displacement tests proved the effectiveness of Ti3C2Tx-COOH-g-PEG in enhancing the heavy oil recovery by 25.07%. Therefore, Ti3C2Tx-COOH-g-PEG is an ideal emulsion stabilizer, offering substantial improvements in emulsification for enhancing oil recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of lightweight and wearable fabrics that can rapidly degrade chemical warfare agents (CWAs) is highly desirable. Two-dimensional (2D) metal–organic framework (MOF) nanosheets are distinguishingly attractive due to their better accessible catalytic active sites for CWAs degradation and smaller diffusion barriers compared to their three-dimensional (3D) counterparts. However, ultrathin 2D MOF nanosheets uniformly and vertically grown on fabrics remain a challenge. Herein, we have grown ultrathin 2D Zr-BTB metal–organic framework (MOF) nanosheets, composed of 6-connected Zr6O4(OH)412+ and 1,3,5-tris-(4-carboxyphenyl)-benzene (BTB), vertically on polypropylene fabrics using a microwave-assisted solvothermal method. We have optimized the modulator, reaction temperature, and time to achieve a loading rate of up to 50%. The resulting composite fabric exhibits superior catalytic performance in degrading dimethyl methylphosphonate, a nerve agent stimulant, with half-lives of 0.77 min in bulk solution and 0.1 min in the surface contact state. This is due to the better accessible catalytic active sites and smaller diffusion barriers of the separate vertically grown 2D MOF nanosheets. The composite also shows a good filtration detoxification performance, with a single filtration detoxification rate above 88%. It demonstrates good reusability, making it competitive for environmental purification and chemical protective applications, such as gas filters, protective suits, and clothing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biphenylene network (BPN) structures have garnered attention owing to the presence of 4-, 6-, 8-, and 12-membered rings in their unit cells, leading to unique properties. Additionally, the versatility of aluminum (Al) combined with group V elements, particularly nitrogen (N) atoms, presents promising applications across various domains. These factors have motivated us to investigate BPN-AlN structures containing 4-, 6-, and 12-membered rings using density functional theory methods. These rings lead to large holes, making this structure useful for ion storage in energy storage materials. This study contains the stability (thermal, mechanical, and dynamical), structural, electronic, thermoelectric, and optical properties of the BPN-AlN nanosheet. The dynamic stability of the proposed BPN-AlN nanosheet was confirmed by the absence of negative modes in the phonon dispersion spectrum. Furthermore, minimal energy fluctuations in the ab initio molecular dynamics simulation, even at a high temperature of 1500 K, prove the thermal stability of the BPN-AlN nanosheet. This calculation leads to the BPN-AlN nanosheet's high melting temperature. The BPN-AlN nanosheet has exhibited semiconductor behavior with a high indirect band gap of 4.025 eV. By investigating the electron localization function, the BPN-AlN nanosheet shows polar ionic bonds, which introduces this nanosheet as a good candidate for absorbing numerous polar substances like sensors. The Seebeck coefficient exhibits the highest peak values of 359 μV/K (n-type) and 305 μV/K (p-type) at 300 K. Additionally, the ultralow lattice thermal conductivity, approximately 0.46 W/mK at 300 K, confirms the superior thermoelectric properties of BPN-AlN nanosheets. The study of the optical properties of the BPN-AlN nanosheet reveals significant absorption and minimal reflection of ultraviolet light, highlighting the potential of the BPN-AlN nanosheet for applications in ultraviolet protection. The specific electronic and optical properties imply that the BPB-AlN nanosheet may be used in the generation of nano-optoelectronic technology design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, flower shape cerium oxide (CeO2) nanosheets were synthesized at room temperature through a facile precipitation method without adding any surfactant. The synthesized nanosheets were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), high resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), X‐ray diffractometry (XRD) and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Results showed that the CeO2 nanosheets form a petal‐like morphology and have fluorite crystal structure with no crystal phase impurity while the average crystallite size of nanosheets i. e. ~10 nm. The CeO2 nanosheets are applied as an antimicrobial agent and the antibacterial property against G+ and G− bacteria i. e. (E. coli and S. Aureus) were studied. The obtained results showed that the synthesized CeO2 nanosheets had good antibacterial performance at different concentrations, which should be attributed to the reversible Ce3+/Ce4+ valence states and greater oxygen vacancies. XPS study of CeO2 nanosheets after antibacterial test confirmed the existence of Ce3+ ions and oxygen vacancies. CeO2 nanosheets have showed the greater potential as antibacterial nanomaterials against both the bactericides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rose Bengal (RB) is a halogen-containing water-soluble dye that is frequently used for therapeutic purposes. The dye, on the other hand, is poisonous and may cause inflammation, stinging and other adverse reactions in eyes and skin of living beings as it comes in water resources with medical waste. As a reason, it is thought to be desirable to propose a systematic approach for removing or minimising the effect of RB dye via adsorption. Here in this work, a novel CeO2/Fe3O4/g-C3N4 (CFC) nanocomposite has been synthesised by the co-precipitation-assisted hydrothermal method. The morphological and structural properties were studied by powder HRTEM, XRD, EDAX, FTIR and XPS, and also, the surface area of the CFC was measured by BET. UV-DRS was employed for the band gap calculation. This nanocomposite showed excellent adsorption properties for Rose Bengal (RB). The synthesised nanostructure exhibited a maximum adsorption capacity of 83.05 mgg−1 for RB dye. Furthermore, the nanocomposite has shown adsorption efficiency close to 99% after being regenerated and reused up to five times. It followed pseudo-second-order kinetics and an isotherm best fit with the Langmuir model. Based on the adsorption studies and FTIR studies, it is confirmed that the hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions are the predominating factors for the adsorption process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the junctionless Fin Field Effect Transistor (FinFET) and nanosheet Field Effect Transistor (NSFET) with a gate length of 12 nm are implemented using the Sentaurus Technology Computer-Aided Design (TCAD) tool. To compare the junctionless FinFET and NSFET, simulations are done at constant threshold voltage. The NSFET outperformed FinFET in terms of current driving capabilities, Subthreshold Swing (SS), Drain Induced Barrier Lowering (DIBL), and intrinsic voltage gain (AV). Further, the device design guidelines are presented for FinFET and NSFET in terms of geometrical parameters. The simulation indicates that downscaling the gate length from 16 to 8 nm leads to an increase in SS and DIBL by 21 and 68.49 % in FinFET whereas 19 and 70.14 % in nanosheet FET. The height variation of FinFET seems to make the least impact on short channel effects (SCEs) while scaling the thickness of NSFET from 9 to 5 nm improves the DIBL and SS by 61.9 % and 15.54 % respectively. In the case of scaling the width of FinFET from 10 to 5 nm, DIBL and SS increase by 55.4 % and 14 % whereas scaling of nanosheet width from 24 to 12 nm gives 19.44 % and 1.37 % improvement in DIBL and SS, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are still many challenges including low conductivity of cathodes, shuttle effect of polysulfides, and significant volume change of sulfur during cycling to be solved before practical applications of lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries. In this work, (FeO)2FeBO3 nanoparticles (NPs) anchored on interconnected nitrogen-doped carbon nanosheets (NCNs) were synthesized, serving as sulfur carriers for Li–S batteries to solve such issues. NCNs have the cross-linked network structure, which possess good electrical conductivity, large specific surface area, and abundant micropores and mesopores, enabling the cathode to be well infiltrated and permeated by the electrolyte, ensuring the rapid electron/ion transfer, and alleviating the volume expansion during the electrochemical reaction. In addition, polar (FeO)2FeBO3 can enhance the adsorption of polysulfides, effectively alleviating the polysulfide shuttle effect. Under a current density of 1.0 A·g−1, the initial discharging and charging specific capacities of the (FeO)2FeBO3@NCNs-2/S electrode were obtained to be 1113.2 and 1098.3 mA·h·g−1, respectively. After 1000 cycles, its capacity maintained at 436.8 mA·h·g−1, displaying a decay rate of 0.08% per cycle. Therefore, combining NCNs with (FeO)2FeBO3 NPs is conducive to the performance improvement of Li–S batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present article reports a novel approach for synthesizing two-dimensional (2D) lattice-engineered layered titanate–bismuth vanadate (NS-titanate–BiVO4) nanohybrid thin films by a combination of electrophoretic deposition (EPD) and chemical solution growth (CSG) methods. The synthesized nanohybrid thin films display significant absorption of visible light and depressed electron–hole recombination, demonstrating the strong electronic coupling between the hybridized species. Upon hybridization, the chemical stability of pristine BiVO4 is significantly enhanced due to the highly stable NS-titanate. The hybridization of NS-titanate with BiVO4 leads to the formation of highly mesoporous house-of-cards-type morphology beneficial for improved photocatalytic activity. The resultant nanohybrids are very effective for visible-light-driven photocatalytic degradation of dyes (methylene blue (MB), rhodamine-B (Rh-B)) and tetracycline hydrochloride (TC) antibiotic with photodegradation rates of 85.1, 97, and 73%, respectively, higher than that of pristine BiVO4 which is one of the most prominent visible-light-active photocatalysts. Present results underscore the superior photofunctionality of the NS-titanate–BiVO4 nanohybrids as an effective visible-light-driven photocatalyst. Moreover, these findings vividly demonstrate that NS-titanate-based nanohybrids are quite effective in enhancing photocatalytic activity and developing various types of 2D nanosheet-based hybrid materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemotherapy is one of the most commonly used methods for treating cancer, but its side effects severely limit its application and impair treatment effectiveness. Removing off-target chemotherapy drugs from the serum promptly through adsorption is the most direct approach to minimize their side effects. In this study, we synthesized a series of adsorption materials to remove the chemotherapy drug doxorubicin by modifying MOF nanosheets with sulfonated azocalix[4]arenes. The strong affinity of sulfonated azocalix[4]arenes for doxorubicin results in high adsorption strength (Langmuir adsorption constant = 2.45–5.73 L mg−1) and more complete removal of the drug. The extensive external surface area of the 2D nanosheets facilitates the exposure of a large number of accessible adsorption sites, which capture DOX molecules without internal diffusion, leading to a high adsorption rate (pseudo-second-order rate constant = 0.0058–0.0065 g mg−1 min−1). These adsorbents perform effectively in physiological environments and exhibit low cytotoxicity and good hemocompatibility. These features make them suitable for removing doxorubicin from serum during "drug capture" procedures. The optimal adsorbent can remove 91% of the clinical concentration of doxorubicin within 5 min. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface chemistry and bulk structure jointly play crucial roles in achieving high-performance supercapacitors. Here, the synergistic effect of surface chemistry properties (vacancy and phosphorization) and structure-derived properties (hollow hydrangea-like structure) on energy storage is explored by the surface treatment and architecture design of the nanostructures. The theoretical calculations and experiments prove that surface chemistry modulation is capable of improving electronic conductivity and electrolyte wettability. The structural engineering of both hollow and nanosheets produces a high specific surface area and an abundant pore structure, which is favorable in exposing more active sites and shortens the ion diffusion distance. Benefiting from its admirable physicochemical properties, the surface phosphorylated MnCo2O4.5 hollow hydrangea-like structure (P-MnCoO) delivers a high capacitance of 425 F g−1 at 1 A g−1, a superior capability rate of 63.9%, capacitance retention at 10 A g−1, and extremely long cyclic stability (91.1% after 10,000 cycles). The fabricated P-MnCoO/AC asymmetric supercapacitor achieved superior energy and power density. This work opens a new avenue to further improve the electrochemical performance of metal oxides for supercapacitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Halide perovskite Cs3Bi2Br9 (CBB) has excellent potential in photocatalysis due to its promising light-harvesting properties. However, its photocatalytic performance might be limited due to the unfavorable charge carrier migration and water-induced properties, which limit the stability and photocatalytic performance. Therefore, we address this constraint in this work by synthesizing a stable halide perovskite heterojunction by introducing hydrogen titanate nanosheets (H2Ti3O7-NS, HTiO-NS). Optimizing the weight % (wt%) of CBB enables synthesizing the optimal CBB/HTiO-NS, CBHTNS heterostructure. The detailed morphology and structure characterization proved that the cubic shape of CBB is anchored on the HTiO-NS surface. The 30 wt% CBB/HTiO-NS-30 (CBHTNS-30) heterojunction showed the highest BnOH photooxidation performance with 98% conversion and 75% benzoic acid (BzA) selectivity at 2 h under blue light irradiation. Detailed optical and photoelectrochemical characterization showed that the incorporating CBB and HTiO-NS widened the range of the visible-light response and improved the ability to separate the photo-induced charge carriers. The presence of HTiO-NS has increased the oxidative properties, possibly by charge separation in the heterojunction, which facilitated the generation of superoxide and hydroxyl radicals. A possible reaction pathway for the photocatalytic oxidation of BnOH to BzH and BzA was also suggested. Furthermore, through scavenger experiments, we found that the photogenerated h+, e− and •O2− play an essential role in the BnOH photooxidation, while the •OH have a minor effect on the reaction. This work may provide a strategy for using HTiO-NS-based photocatalyst to enhance the charge carrier migration and photocatalytic performance of CBB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Real-time monitoring of triethylamine (TEA) is critical to environmental safety and daily life. However, detailed challenges remain for TEA gas sensors, such as low-cost and facile synthetic methods, and low working temperatures. In this study, a combination of hydrothermal and wet chemical approaches is utilized for the rational construction of α -MoO 3 @WO 3 with a sheet-like nanostructure. Additionally, the sensing performances towards triethylamine are investigated. According to the results, it was found that the α -MoO 3 @WO 3 sensor has a higher response value (80.4) and faster response and recovery times (9/26 s) than those of pristine MoO 3 at low optimum temperature (200 °C). Again, the α -MoO 3 @WO 3 based sensor also demonstrated high selectivity to TEA as well as good stability. The enhancement of the MoO 3 @WO 3 sensor's gas-sensitive mechanism may be attributed to the formation of n-n heterojunction between MoO 3 and WO 3 and the synergistic effect of both. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The notorious dendrite and infinite volume change seriously restrict the advancement of lithium metal anodes (LMAs), during the long-term process of stripping/plating. Herein, the nanosheets of metal fluoride (CoF2) and metal nitride (CoN) with magnificent lithiophilicity on the nickel (Ni) foam are designed as the "regulator" to uniform the Li plating and build stronger solid electrolyte interface (SEI) layer for dendrite free LMAs. The Ni foam offers abundant space to receive deposited Li metal. The CoN nanosheets can guarantee the fast transfer of electrons, which provides a stable interface of Li+ reduction. Moreover, the nanosheet structure with lithiophilicity would accelerate the move of Li+ and decrease the nucleation barrier, due to the high lattice-matching of Li and CoN. Meanwhile, the CoF2 could increase the content of F (LiF) in the SEI layer, which enhances the strength and avoids the destruction of SEI layer. With the cooperation of CoN and CoF2, the composited anode (Li/NF@CNCF) exhibits ultra-long cycle performance (more than 1200 h) and fantastic structure stability at 1 mA·cm−2 with 1 mAh·cm−2. Based on the LiFePO4 and Li/NF@CNCF, the full cells deliver excellent specifical capacity and steady coulombic efficiency. The strategy contributes an effective approach to alleviate the issues of lithium metal anodes in the field of LMAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two-dimensional nanomaterials have been studied as materials that may exhibit properties and functions different from those of bulk materials. In this review, graphene oxide with controlled surface oxygen functional groups, transition meta dichalcogenide (hereafter referred to as TMDC), MXene nanosheets and oxynitride nanosheets using soft chemical exfoliation synthesis, and their typical functions are described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymetallic composites can significantly affect the structure and active sites of materials. In this study, we prepared polymetallic organic structures using a metal-organic framework (MOF) synthesis strategy and a hydrothermal method. We controlled and adjusted the ratio of metals to create precursors, which were then calcined to produce targeted polymetallic oxides. The polymetallic oxides prepared (RuCoMoCuO x /C) demonstrated excellent properties for both HER and OER in 1.0 M KOH, with an overpotential of 136 mV @ 10 mA cm−2 for HER and 296 mV @ 10 mA cm−2 for OER. The efficient catalytic performance of dual hydrolysis is attributed to the lamellar porous structure of RuCoMoCuO x /C and the synergistic effect of each metal element in the polymetallic catalyst. DFT theoretical calculations show that when H 2 O molecules adsorb around Ru, Co, and Mo sites, OH* adsorbs at electron-deficient centers, while H+ is more readily adsorbed by electron-rich Cu sites. This unique configuration is more conducive to water dissociation. Herein, the strategy of hydrothermal synthesis of the polymetallic MOF precursor RuCoMoCuO was proposed, followed by calcination at 500 °C to form the final polymetallic oxide RuCoMoCuO x /C with abundant oxygen vacancies. The prepared RuCoMoCuO x /C nanosheets have excellent OER and HER properties. In alkaline electrolyte, when the current density was 10 mA cm−2, the overpotential was η 10 = 296 mV and 136 mV, respectively. The DFT calculation revealed that Cu as the electron-rich center was beneficial to the adsorption energy of hydrogen, while Ru, Co and Mo were the best OH adsorption sites in the electron loss center. [Display omitted] • We report the bifunctional water electrolysis catalyst RuCoMoCuO x /C. • The synthesis strategy includes ion-exchange and calcination-oxidation processes. • The porous sheet structure and metal synergism improve the OER and HER performance. • The calcination strategy promotes the formation of pores on the catalyst surface. • Oxygen vacancies exist in RuCoMoCuO x /C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrolytic water of oxygen evolution reaction is a four-electron transport process, which results in a slow kinetic process coupled with a high oxygen evolution reaction application potential; therefore, the catalysts have become an urgent bottleneck in the research of hydrolysis reactions. Research on the oxygen evolution reaction is booming with various materials such as noble metals and transition metals. Because of their intrinsically excellent charge transport properties and cost-effective features, transition metal sulfides have attracted much investigation. Herein, we combined the synergistic catalysis of transition metals with the modification of trace noble metal atoms to design and synthesize gold-doped cobalt–nickel sulfide nanosheets (Au-CoNiSx NSs) for oxygen evolution reaction. The cobalt–nickel ratio of electrodeposition and the doping of Au on the millimolar scale were studied. The doping of Au atoms promoted the deposition of sulfur elements and led to the formation of more compact nanostructures, thereby improving the OER performance. The optimal electrochemical performance was obtained with Co/Ni = 3:1 and Au addition of 0.5 mmol/L, with an overpotential of 305.9 mV (vs RHE) at a current density of 10 mA/cm2 and a Tafel slope of 60.98 mV/dec. In the chronopotentiometry measurement, there was no significant difference in electrochemical performance within 12 h, indicating that the nanomaterial has good catalytic stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient removal of broad-spectrum organic pollutants is crucial in wastewater treatment. This research focuses on the synthesis of three-dimensional TiVCTX MXene/graphene nanosheet-based aerogels, known as TiVCTX/GAs, using a straightforward hydrothermal self-assembly method, followed by freeze-drying. The integration of bimetallic MXene and graphene aerogel in TiVCTX/GAs results in an impressive broad-spectrum removal capability for multiple organic contaminants from wastewater. TiVCTX/GAs exhibit effective adsorption of various dyes and drugs, with adsorption capacities reaching 319.67, 303.45, 229.97, 217.87, and 283.38 mg·g–1 for methylene blue, rhodamine B, Congo red, methyl orange, and tetracycline hydrochloride, respectively. To fully comprehend the adsorption mechanism of TiVCTX/GAs, various models for the adsorption process were examined including kinetic, isothermal, and thermodynamic models. The adsorption process aligns with the Langmuir model and the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The intraparticle diffusion model suggests that intraparticle diffusion is not the only rate-controlling step. Moreover, thermodynamic analysis indicates that the adsorption process by TiVCTX/GAs is spontaneous. These aerogels also effectively remove common oils and organic solvents from wastewater through absorption treatment with a substantial absorption capacity ranging from 40 to 90 g·g–1. Particularly, for high-viscosity oils that are challenging to absorb, TiVCTX/GAs demonstrate remarkable absorption ability by reducing their viscosity through photothermal heating. Overall, TiVCTX/GAs show great promise as versatile adsorbents and absorbers for efficiently and comprehensively removing various organic contaminants from wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exfoliation into a 2D nanosheet structure can lead to enhanced surface activity and unique optical and electronic properties in polymeric carbon nitride (PCN). In this study, four common exfoliation strategies (liquid ultrasonication, thermal oxidation, hydrothermal oxidation, and chemical oxidation) were adopted, and their effects on the structural and electronic changes in PCN were analyzed in detail. This allows us to understand the relationship between the exfoliation mechanism and the structural/optical properties. Here, we demonstrate that the thermal and ultrasonic exfoliation methods can effectively reduce the thickness of PCN while preserving its original structure. In contrast, the chemical and hydrothermal treatments can strongly affect the morphology and structure of PCN, leading to a decreased performance in phenol photodegradation. Therefore, depending on the employed exfoliation method, the surface area, functionalization, band edge positions, charge carrier generation, and mobility are influenced differently up to the point where semiconducting behavior is entirely lost. Our results allow conclusions about the applicability of the different exfoliation methods to obtain distinct material properties for photocatalytic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]