General Solution Route for Nanoplates of Hexagonal Oxide or Hydroxide

Manipulation of Electron Transfer between Pd and TiO2 for Improved Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution Reaction Performance

The urgent need of catalysts with improved performances toward the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is still one of the crucial issues for the water splitting electrocatalysis. Herein, we exhibit that the HER activity of the Pd nanocubes could be improved by selecting the appropriately shaped titania nanocrystals as support. In particular, we used Pd nanoparticles with (100)-facet exposed to show that the HER performance of Pd cubes can be improved in both acidic and alkaline electrolyte media when combined on the anatase TiO₂ nanocrystals. Furthermore, we have also investigated the facet effect of TiO₂ on the performance in detail, which indicated stronger catalytic activity when (001)-TiO₂ was used rather than (mix 101/001)-TiO₂ and (101)-TiO₂. The electron-transfer-induced improvement of HER activity of Pd/TiO₂ was assessed by electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS). Thereafter, the combined support materials with suitable facet exposed can give an additional adjusting path to regulate the HER activities of Pd nanocatalysts, which henceforth can further contribute to a novel way for tuning other catalysts with good electrocatalytic properties.

High performance white-light-controlled resistance switching memory of an Ag/α-Fe2O3/FTO thin film

A white-light-controlled resistance switching memory device based on an Ag/α-Fe₂O₃/FTO structure, made by growing an α-Fe₂O₃ nanorod array on FTO, shows high performance with an OFF/ON ratio of ∼10⁴ and exceptional stability at room temperature.

Shape-controlled iron oxide nanocrystals: synthesis, magnetic properties and energy conversion applications

Iron oxide nanocrystals (IONCs) with various geometric morphologies show excellent physical and chemical properties and have received extensive attention in recent years.

Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity of Ultrathin Ba5Nb4O15 Two-Dimensional Nanosheets

Anisotropic two-dimensional (2D) nanosheets of the layered perovskite, Ba5Nb4O15, with thicknesses of 5-10 nm and lateral sizes of 300-1200 nm, were synthesized by a hydrothermal route. The influences of the 2D morphology of the material on the crystal and electronic structures, light absorption properties, and photocatalytic activity were investigated. The ultrathin nanosheets showed much-enhanced photocatalytic activity compared to both thick nanosheets (∼30 nm) and micrometer-sized particles for the evolution of H2 from water splitting under UV light illumination. This enhanced activity is predominantly attributed to the larger surface area, higher optical absorption, and charge separation ability of the 2D nanosheet, which results from the variation of the local crystal structure arising from the ultrathin morphology of the Ba5Nb4O15.