In Situ Growth of Ag Nanodots Decorated Cu2 O Porous Nanobelts Networks on Copper Foam for Efficient HER Electrocatalysis

Developing earth-abundant electrocatalysts for high-efficiency hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) has become one of the leading research frontiers in energy conversion. Here, the design and in situ growth of Ag nanodots decorated Cu₂ O porous nanobelts networks on Cu foam (denoted as Ag@Cu₂ O/CF) are carried out via a simple one-pot solution strategy at room temperature. Serving as self-supporting electrocatalysts, Ag@Cu₂ O porous nanobelts provide plentiful active sites, and the 3D hybrid foams provide fast transportation for electrolyte and short diffusion path for newly formed H₂ bubbles, which result in excellent electrocatalytic HER activity and long-term stability. Owing to the synergistic effect between Ag nanodots and Cu₂ O porous nanobelts and CF, the hybrid electrocatalyst exhibits a low Tafel slope of 58 mV dec^-1 , a small overpotential of 108 mV at 10 mA cm^-2 , and high durability for more than 20 h at a potential of 200 mV for HER in 1.0 mol L^-1 KOH solution.

Theoretical investigation of properties of boron nitride nanocages and nanotubes as high-performance anode materials for lithium-ion batteries

In this paper, applications of B30N30, B36N36, BNNT(8, 0), and BNNT(10, 0) as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries were investigated by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Results show that the average values of voltage cell (Vcell) and adsorption energy (Ead) of BNNT(8, 0) and BNNT(10, 0) were higher than B30N30 and B36N36 by approximately 0.405 V and 5.25 kcal/mol, respectively. The F functionalization of studied nanostructures as a strategy to improve the performance of these systems as anode materials of lithium-ion batteries was investigated. Results show that the F functionalization of studied nanostructures increases the average values of Vcell and Ead by approximately 0.182 V and 8.89 kcal/mol, respectively. Obtained results propose that F functionalized B36N36 and BNNT(10, 0) have larger Vcell and Ead values, and therefore, these nanostructures have a higher potential as anode materials for the lithium-ion battery.

Boron nitride encapsulated copper nanoparticles: a facile one-step synthesis and their effect on thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate

Reactivity is of great importance for metal nanoparticles used as catalysts, biomaterials and advanced sensors, but seeking for high reactivity seems to be conflict with high chemical stability required for metal nanoparticles. There is a subtle balance between reactivity and stability. This could be reached for colloidal metal nanoparticles using organic capping reagents, whereas it is challenging for powder metal nanoparticles. Here, we developed an alternative approach to encapsulate copper nanoparticles with a chemical inertness material—hexagonal boron nitride. The wrapped copper nanoparticles not only exhibit high oxidation resistance under air atmosphere, but also keep excellent promoting effect on thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate. This approach opens the way to design metal nanoparticles with both high stability and reactivity for nanocatalysts and their technological application.

Aggregates of the pentacenequinone derivative as reactors for the preparation of Ag@Cu2O core–shell NPs: an active photocatalyst for Suzuki and Suzuki type coupling reactions

Aggregates of the pentacenequinone derivative stabilized Ag@Cu₂O core–shell nanoparticles (NPs) enabled efficient visible light harvesting to catalyse the palladium free Suzuki–Miyaura and Suzuki type cross coupling reactions at room temperature.