Ultrathin amorphous iron-doped cobalt-molybdenum hydroxide nanosheets for advanced oxygen evolution reactions

Recent Progress on Phase Engineering of Nanomaterials

As a key structural parameter, phase depicts the arrangement of atoms in materials. Normally, a nanomaterial exists in its thermodynamically stable crystal phase. With the development of nanotechnology, nanomaterials with unconventional crystal phases, which rarely exist in their bulk counterparts, or amorphous phase have been prepared using carefully controlled reaction conditions. Together these methods are beginning to enable phase engineering of nanomaterials (PEN), i.e., the synthesis of nanomaterials with unconventional phases and the transformation between different phases, to obtain desired properties and functions. This Review summarizes the research progress in the field of PEN. First, we present representative strategies for the direct synthesis of unconventional phases and modulation of phase transformation in diverse kinds of nanomaterials. We cover the synthesis of nanomaterials ranging from metal nanostructures such as Au, Ag, Cu, Pd, and Ru, and their alloys; metal oxides, borides, and carbides; to transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) and 2D layered materials. We review synthesis and growth methods ranging from wet-chemical reduction and seed-mediated epitaxial growth to chemical vapor deposition (CVD), high pressure phase transformation, and electron and ion-beam irradiation. After that, we summarize the significant influence of phase on the various properties of unconventional-phase nanomaterials. We also discuss the potential applications of the developed unconventional-phase nanomaterials in different areas including catalysis, electrochemical energy storage (batteries and supercapacitors), solar cells, optoelectronics, and sensing. Finally, we discuss existing challenges and future research directions in PEN.

WCx-Supported RuNi Single Atoms for Electrocatalytic Oxygen Evolution

Single-atom catalysts anchored to oxide or carbonaceous substances are typically tightly coordinated by oxygen or heteroatoms, which certainly impact their electronic structure and coordination environment, thereby affecting their catalytic activity. In this study, we prepared a stable oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalyst on tungsten carbide using a simple pyrolysis method. The unique structure of tungsten carbide allows the atomic RuNi catalytic site to weakly bond to the surface W and C atoms. XRD patterns and HRTEM images of the WCx-RuNi showed the characteristics of phase-pure WC and W2C, and the absence of nanoparticles. Combined with XPS, the atomic dispersion of Ru/Ni in the catalyst was confirmed. The catalyst exhibits excellent catalytic ability, with a low overpotential of 330 mV at 50 mA/cm2 in 1 m KOH solutions, and demonstrates high long-term stability. This high OER activity is ascribed to the synergistic action of metal Ru/Ni atoms with double monomers. The addition of Ni increases the state density of WCx-RuNi near the Fermi level, promoting the adsorption of oxygen-containing intermediates and enhancing electron exchange. The larger proximity of the d band center to the Fermi level suggests a strong interaction between the d electrons and the valence or conduction band, facilitating charge transfer. Our research offers a promising avenue for reasonable utilization of inexpensive and durable WCx carrier-supported metal single-atom catalysts for electrochemical catalysis.

Molybdenum-iron-cobalt oxyhydroxide with rich oxygen vacancies for the oxygen evolution reaction

The sluggish kinetics of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) restrains the development of water splitting technologies and the efficiency of producing sustainable resources. To this end, the introduction of iron and molybdenum in catalytic systems has been employed as a crucial strategy for the enhancement of catalytic activity toward the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), but the relationship between catalyst components and catalytic performance is still evasive. In this study, by doping iron and molybdenum into cobalt hydroxide via a cation-exchange method, rich oxygen vacancies and active metal centers are introduced to the trimetallic oxyhydroxide, endowing the catalyst with a low overpotential of 223 mV at 10 mA cm^-2, a low Tafel slope of 43.6 mV dec^-1, and a long stable operation time (>50 h) in alkaline media, comparable to the current best OER catalyst. Moreover, it is demonstrated that the doping of iron favors the generation of oxygen vacancies. It is also found in this work that using a certain amount (5 mg) of iron dopant can alter the electronic structure of the catalyst by tuning the electronic density around the metal ions, thus optimizing the binding energy of intermediates. The present work unveils the doping effect of iron and molybdenum on the construction of trimetallic oxyhydroxide catalysts, and sheds light on the relationship between the catalyst components and catalytic performance of the OER.

Highly sensitive competitive electrochemiluminescence immunosensor based on ABEI-H2O2 system with cobalt hydroxide nanosheets and bimetal PdAg as co-enhancer for detection of florfenicol

A competitive electrochemiluminescence immunoassay was established based on the isoluminol-H₂O₂ (ABEI-H₂O₂) system catalyzed by cobalt hydroxide (Co(OH)₂) to detect florfenicol residues in food. First , ultra-thin two-dimensional Co(OH)₂ nanosheets were used as the catalyst of ABEI-H₂O₂ system, and excellent catalytic effects were acquired by catalytic decomposition of hydrogen peroxide with cobalt ions. Then, bimetal PdAg (Pd/Ag) alloy nanoparticles were used as a bridge to connect ABEI and antibody due to their good biocompatibility; Pd/Ag alloy nanoparticles also had a catalytic effect to further amplify the ECL signal in the system due to the synergistic catalytic effect of the bimetal. A competitive immunoassay strategy was used to detect florfenicol, where the florfenicol in the sample will compete with the antibody for the limited binding sites on the coating antigen. The ECL immunosensor for florfenicol detection shows high sensitivity, with a linear range from 10^-4  to 10² ng mL^-1, and a detection limit of 3.1 × 10^-5 ng mL^-1, where the scan potential was varied from 0 to 0.6 V vs Ag/AgCl . This work was the first to use Co(OH)₂ nanosheets and bimetal PdAg catalytic signal amplification methods to design the sensor, which provides a novel, convenient and reliable strategy for ultra-sensitive detection of florfenicol, and other biological small molecules. A novel ECL immunosensor based on ABEI-H₂O₂₂.

Manipulation on Two-Dimensional Amorphous Nanomaterials for Enhanced Electrochemical Energy Storage and Conversion

Low-carbon society is calling for advanced electrochemical energy storage and conversion systems and techniques, in which functional electrode materials are a core factor. As a new member of the material family, two-dimensional amorphous nanomaterials (2D ANMs) are booming gradually and show promising application prospects in electrochemical fields for extended specific surface area, abundant active sites, tunable electron states, and faster ion transport capacity. Specifically, their flexible structures provide significant adjustment room that allows readily and desirable modification. Recent advances have witnessed omnifarious manipulation means on 2D ANMs for enhanced electrochemical performance. Here, this review is devoted to collecting and summarizing the manipulation strategies of 2D ANMs in terms of component interaction and geometric configuration design, expecting to promote the controllable development of such a new class of nanomaterial. Our view covers the 2D ANMs applied in electrochemical fields, including battery, supercapacitor, and electrocatalysis, meanwhile we also clarify the relationship between manipulation manner and beneficial effect on electrochemical properties. Finally, we conclude the review with our personal insights and provide an outlook for more effective manipulation ways on functional and practical 2D ANMs.

A novel electrochemiluminescence immunosensing strategy fabricated by Co(OH)2 two-dimensional nanosheets and Ru@SiO2-Au NPs for the highly sensitive detection of enrofloxacin

In this work, a novel sensitive electrochemiluminescence immunosensor based on Ru@SiO₂-Au NPs and Co(OH)₂ two-dimensional nanosheets (2D Co(OH)₂) is constructed for the detection of enrofloxacin (ENR). Ruthenium bipyridine silica spheres and modified gold nanoparticles were synthesized as immune probe materials, which were combined with ENR antibodies (Abs) to form the immune probe part. 2D Co(OH)₂ with a large specific surface area and good catalytic effect was firstly used as an immune substrate material, and at the same time, it was conjugated with the coating antigen (Ae) of ENR to form an immune substrate. Based on the principle of competitive immunity, ENR and ENR coated antigen could jointly compete for the specific binding sites on the ENR antibody, so as to achieve efficient detection of ENR. Under optimal conditions, the prepared immunosensor exhibited high sensitivity with a wide linear range from 0.0001 to 1000 ng mL^-1 and a low detection limit (LOD) of 0.063 pg mL^-1. The proposed immunosensor has been successfully applied to the detection of ENR residues in poultry, aquatic products and lake water.

Detection of enrofloxacin by flow injection chemiluminescence immunoassay based on cobalt hydroxide nanozyme

The emergence and development of low-cost and high-efficiency nanozymes are promising to replace natural enzymes promoting the application of chemiluminescence immunoassays. Herein, a rapid and highly sensitive flow injection chemiluminescence immunoassay based on cobalt hydroxide (Co(OH)₂) nanozyme was established to detect enrofloxacin (ENR) residues in food. In this system, Co(OH)₂ nanosheets act as nanozymes to catalyze and amplify the chemiluminescence signal of the luminol-PIP-H₂O₂ system, as well as a carrier for immobilizing antibodies to form stable immunoprobes. In addition, carboxyl resin beads with good stability and biocompatibility were used as the base of the immunosensor to carry more coating antigens, based on the principle of competitive immunity and to achieve the rapid detection of ENR. Under optimal conditions, the linear working range is 0.0001 ~ 1000 ng/mL, and the limit of detection (LOD) is 0.041 pg/mL (S/N = 3). The method has been successfully applied to the analysis of aquatic products and poultry food. A non-enzyme immunosensor using Co(OH)₂ nanosheets as antibody-conjugated carriers and peroxidase mimics for catalytic amplification of the chemiluminescence signal of luminol and using carboxyl resin beads as platform was designed to detect ENR residues in food.