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The construction of high-efficiency and low-cost non-noble metal bifunctional electrocatalysts for water electrolysis is crucial for commercial large-scale application of hydrogen energy. Here, we report a novel strategy with erbium-doped NiCoP nanowire arrays in situ grown on conductive nickel foam (Er-NiCoP/NF). Significantly, the developed electrode shows exceptional bifunctional catalytic activity, which only requires overpotentials of 46 and 225 mV to afford a current density of 10 mA cm⁻² for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), respectively. Density functional theory calculations reveal that the appropriate Er incorporation into the NiCoP lattice can significantly modulate the electronic structure with the d-band centers of Ni and Co atoms by shifting to lower energies with respect to the Fermi level, and optimize the Gibbs free energies of HER/OER intermediates, thereby accelerating water-splitting kinetics. When assembled as a solar-driven overall water-splitting electrolyzer, the as-prepared electrode shows a high and stable solar-to-hydrogen efficiency of 19.6%, indicating its potential for practical storage of intermittent energy.

Complex multi-metallic alloys with ultra-small sizes have received extensive attention in the fields of Zn-air battery and water splitting, because of their unique advantages including adjustable composition, tailorable active sites, and optimizable electronic structure. In this effort, an atomic-level orbital coupling strategy is presented to effectively regulate the electronic structures of ultra-small tri-metal Fe-Co-Ni nanoalloy particles confined in an N-doped carbon hollow nanobox. As expected, the optimal nanoalloy hybrid material exhibited notable bi-functional catalytic performances toward the oxygen reduction reaction (half-wave potential of 0.902 V) and oxygen evolution reaction (1.589 V at 10 mA cm−2) with a small ΔE of 0.687 V, exceeding the precious-metal-based and many previously reported catalysts. Furthermore, the as-assembled Zn-air device also displayed a superior specific capacity of 894 mA h g−1, a maximal power density of 247 mW cm−2, and impressive durability (over 100 hours). Ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations revealed that the electronic structures could be finely tuned and optimized through ternary metal alloying, resulting in a suitable d-band center and advantageous interfacial charge-transfer, which in turn could effectively reduce the involved energy barriers in the electrocatalytic process and significantly boost its intrinsic activity of reversible oxygen catalysis. Thus, this work affords an effective method for the rational creation of bi-functional non-noble-metal-based electrocatalysts for sustainable energy technology.

An octahedral metal-organic framework, MIL-100, was synthesized by a hydrothermal method followed by high-temperature calcination. Thereafter, hematite nanoparticles were assembled on its surface to form Fe2O3-MIL-100, which was used to develop an electrochemical sensor for the sensitive detection of paraquat (PQ). The Fe2O3-MIL-100-based electrochemical sensor showed appreciable sensing performance under optimized conditions, with a linear response in the range of 0.01–30 μM and a limit of detection of 2.6 nM. The Fe2O3-MIL-100-based electrode produced an excellent current response to PQ even after 20 d of storage. Notably, the Fe2O3-MIL-100-based electrochemical sensor exhibited high sensitivity and selectivity for PQ detection in milk and honey samples. Therefore, the fabricated sensor can be an effective tool for the rapid detection of PQ in foods.

Formaldehyde (FA) is widely used in industry and also common in daily life. Finding an efficient method to determine FA is quite an industrial challenge. Herein, a novel method based on a resonance light scattering (RLS) technique was developed for the detection of FA with high sensitivity. Carbon dots (CDs) were used as RLS probes. CDs were obtained via one-pot solvothermal treatment from o-phenylenediamine. CDs showed yellow fluorescence with a quantum yield of 0.41. Due to the multiple amino groups on the surface of CDs, FA can be captured easily by formation of a covalent C = N bond based on the Schiff-base reaction. Owing to the covalent crosslinking, CD nanoparticles aggregated, and even formed precipitate. The aggregation of CDs induced RLS enhancement, where the RLS increment was linearly related to the concentration of FA ranging from 4 nM to 1.6 mM, with a limit of detection (LOD) of 1.6 nM. In comparison with many previous reports, the present RLS method showed a wider linear range and lower LOD. Furthermore, the RLS system was successfully used to detect FA in real food samples. The proposed system has prospective applicability in the detection of FA in food fields.

Inexpensive, high-activity bifunctional catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) are imperative for the development of energy storage and conversion systems. A nitrogen-doped carbon material with a micro−meso−macroporous structure doped with La (LaPNC) containing La−O/N−C active sites is prepared using SiO₂ particle templating of carbon and a metal node exchange strategy. The coordination environment of La sites stabilized by two oxygen and four nitrogen atoms (LaO₂N₄), is further verified by X-ray absorption spectroscopy. The ORR half-wave potential reaches 0.852 V, and the OER overpotential reaches 263 mV at 10 mA cm⁻². The Zn−air battery, with LaPNC as the air cathode, has a maximum power density of 202 mW cm⁻² and achieves stable charge−discharge for at least 100 h without a significant increase or decrease in the charge or discharge voltages, respectively. Density functional theory calculations suggest that LaO₂N₄ sites exhibit the lowest activation free energy and the most easily desorbed oxygen capacity. This study provides new insights into the design of efficient, durable bifunctional catalysts as alternatives to precious-metal-based catalysts.

The realization of a hydrogen-based economy with robust hydrogen evolution reaction catalysts remains a challenge. In this study, we prepared MoO2/Mo2N3 heterostructure nanoclusters co-doped with nitrogen, phosphorus, and erbium for the first time. The introduction of the nitrogen and phosphorus atoms into the transition metal increases the d-electron density and contracts the d-band, which leads to a rearranged electronic structure of the MoO2/Mo2N3 heterojunction. The coupling of the rare earth erbium dopant with the valence band of the heterojunction leads to the redistribution of the electron density in the catalyst and promotes covalent interaction with the adsorbed intermediates, thereby optimizing the Gibbs free energy of intermediate adsorption and improving the catalytic activity for the hydrogen evolution reaction. Not only is an efficient and economical catalyst for electrolytic aquatic hydrogen production provided in this work, but a new synthesis scheme is also proposed for the rational synthesis of homologous core–shell polymetallic nanostructures with broad application prospects.

In this study, the spatial distribution and accumulation dynamics of volatile oil in Angelica sinensis roots was realized by fluorescence imaging combined with mass spectrometry imaging. The laser scanning confocal microscopy was used to determine the optimal excitation wavelength and the fluorescent stability of volatile oil in the sections of Angelica sinensis roots. The results demonstrated that 488 nm was the most suitable excitation wavelength for the identification and quantitative analysis of volatile oil. It was observed that volatile oil accumulated in the oil chamber of the phelloderm and secondary phloem, and the oil canal of the secondary xylem. The results also indicated that there were differences in content during different periods. Furthermore, the MALDI-TOF-MSI technology was used to study the spatial distribution and compare the chemical compositions of different parts of Angelica sinensis roots during the harvest period. A total of 55, 49, 50 and 30 compounds were identified from the head, body, tail of the root and root bark, respectively. The spatial distribution of phthalides, organic acids and other compounds were revealed in Angelica sinensis roots. The method developed in this study could be used for the in situ analysis of volatile oil in Angelica sinensis roots.

Developing highly efficient and stable noble-metal-free electrocatalysts for water splitting is critical for producing clean and sustainable energy. Here, we design a hierarchical transition metal hydroxide/sulfide (NiFe(OH)x-Ni3S2/NF) electrode with dual heterointerface coexistence using a cation exchange-induced surface reconfiguration strategy. The electrode exhibits superior electrocatalytic activities, achieving low overpotentials of 55 mV for hydrogen evolution and 182 mV for oxygen evolution at 10 mA cm-2. Furthermore, the assembled two-electrode system requires voltages as low as 1.55 and 1.62 V to deliver industrially relevant current densities of 500 and 1000 mA cm-2, respectively, with excellent durability for over 200 h, which is comparable to commercial electrolysis. Theoretical calculations reveal that the hierarchical heterostructure increases the electronic delocalization of the Fe and Ni catalytic centers, lowering the energy barrier of the rate-limiting step and promoting O2 desorption. Finally, by implementing the catalysts in a solar-driven water electrolysis system, we demonstrate a record and durable solar-to-hydrogen (STH) conversion efficiency of up to 20.05%. This work provides a promising strategy for developing low-cost and high-efficiency bifunctional catalysts for a large-scale solar-to-hydrogen generation.

Peroxymonosulfate (PMS) driven by halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) modified with nanomanganese cobaltate (MnCo₂O₄) generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) that offer high degradation efficiency and mineralization rates for many typical antibiotic pollutants, such as ornidazole (ONZ). The experimental results show that halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) modified with nanomanganese cobaltate (MnCo₂O₄@HNTs denoted as MCO@HNTs) can degrade ONZ completely over a wide pH range (6.08–11.00) with little influence of the pH value. MCO@HNTs + PMS exhibited higher catalytic activity and lower Co- and Mn-ion leaching rates. It also showed a strong anti-interference effect on natural lake water and anions. Additionally, PMS can be quickly activated and consumed in natural lakes to avoid secondary pollution. The roasting of MCO@HNTs showed good catalytic activity and stability after degrading ONZ. The combination of ion quenching and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) analysis illustrated that the MCO@HNTs + PMS system had a strong oxidation capacity, and the produced singlet oxygen (¹O₂) was the main ROS for ONZ degradation. The degradation pathway of ONZ via the MCO@HNTs + PMS system was proposed based on the types of intermediates determined via liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). This comprehensive study shows the preparation of a simple, environmentally friendly, and cheap PMS activation catalyst that has practical application value in the treatment of antibiotic wastewater and provides a focus on actual water testing with residual amount of PMS.