Integrated Conductive Hybrid Electrode Materials Based on PPy@ZIF-67-Derived Oxyhydroxide@CFs Composites for Energy Storage

High mass loading paper-based electrode material with cellulose fibers under coordination of zirconium oxyhydroxide nanoparticles and sulfosalicylic acid

With the rapid expansion of the flexible electronics market, it is critical to develop high-performance flexible energy storage electrode materials. Cellulose fibers, which are sustainable, low cost, and flexible, fully meet the requirements of flexible electrode materials, but they are electrically insulating and cause a decrease in energy density. In this study, high-performance paper-based flexible electrode materials (PANI:SSA/Zr-CFs) were prepared with cellulose fibers and polyaniline. A high mass loading of polyaniline was wrapped on zirconia hydroxide-modified cellulose fibers under metal-organic acid coordination through a facile in situ chemical polymerization process. The increase in mass loading of PANI on cellulose fibers not only improves the electrical conductivity but also enhances the area-specific capacitance of the flexible electrodes. The results of electrochemical tests show that the area specific capacitance of the PANI:SSA/Zr-CFs electrode is 4181 mF/cm² at 1 mA/cm², which is more than two times higher than that of the electrode with PANI on pristine CFs. This work provides a new strategy for the design and manufacture of high-performance flexible electronic electrodes based on cellulose fibers.

Recent Advances in Functional Polymer Materials for Energy, Water, and Biomedical Applications: A Review

Academic research regarding polymeric materials has been of great interest. Likewise, polymer industries are considered as the most familiar petrochemical industries. Despite the valuable and continuous advancements in various polymeric material technologies over the last century, many varieties and advances related to the field of polymer science and engineering still promise a great potential for exciting new applications. Research, development, and industrial support have been the key factors behind the great progress in the field of polymer applications. This work provides insight into the recent energy applications of polymers, including energy storage and production. The study of polymeric materials in the field of enhanced oil recovery and water treatment technologies will be presented and evaluated. In addition, in this review, we wish to emphasize the great importance of various functional polymers as effective adsorbents of organic pollutants from industrial wastewater. Furthermore, recent advances in biomedical applications are reviewed and discussed.

Photocatalytic and Electrocatalytic Properties of Cu-Loaded ZIF-67-Derivatized Bean Sprout-Like Co-TiO2/Ti Nanostructures

ZIF-derivatized catalysts have shown high potential in catalysis. Herein, bean sprout-like Co-TiO2/Ti nanostructures were first synthesized by thermal treatment at 800 °C under Ar-flow conditions using sacrificial ZIF-67 templated on Ti sheets. It was observed that ZIF-67 on Ti sheets started to thermally decompose at around 350 °C and was converted to the cubic phase Co3O4. The head of the bean sprout structure was observed to be Co3O4, while the stem showed a crystal structure of rutile TiO2 grown from the metallic Ti support. Cu sputter-deposited Co-TiO2/Ti nanostructures were also prepared for photocatalytic and electrocatalytic CO2 reduction performances, as well as electrochemical oxygen reaction (OER). Gas chromatography results after photocatalytic CO2 reduction showed that CH3OH, CO and CH4 were produced as major products with the highest MeOH selectivity of 64% and minor C2 compounds of C2H2, C2H4 and C2H6. For electrocatalytic CO2 reduction, CO, CH4 and C2H4 were meaningfully detected, but H2 was dominantly produced. The amounts were observed to be dependent on the Cu deposition amount. Electrochemical OER performances in 0.1 M KOH electrolyte exhibited onset overpotentials of 330-430 mV (vs. RHE) and Tafel slopes of 117-134 mV/dec that were dependent on Cu-loading thickness. The present unique results provide useful information for synthesis of bean sprout-like Co-TiO2/Ti hybrid nanostructures and their applications to CO2 reduction and electrochemical water splitting in energy and environmental fields.