Regulation of the d-band center of metal-organic frameworks for energy-saving hydrogen generation coupled with selective glycerol oxidation

The hybrid electrolyzer coupled glycerol oxidation (GOR) with hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is fascinating to simultaneously generate H2 and high value-added chemicals with low energy input, yet facing a challenge. Herein, Cu-based metal-organic frameworks (Cu-MOFs) are reported as model catalysts for both HER and GOR through doping of atomically dispersed precious and nonprecious metals. Remarkably, the HER activity of Ru-doped Cu-MOF outperformed a Pt/C catalyst, with its Faradaic efficiency for formate formation at 90% at a low potential of 1.40 V. Furthermore, the hybrid electrolyzer only needed 1.36 V to achieve 10 mA cm-2, 340 mV lower than that for splitting pure water. Theoretical calculations demonstrated that electronic interactions between the host and guest (doped) metals shifted downward the d-band centers (εd) of MOFs. This consequently lowered water adsorption and dissociation energy barriers and optimized hydrogen adsorption energy, leading to significantly enhanced HER activities. Meanwhile, the downshift of εd centers reduced energy barriers for rate-limiting step and the formation energy of OH*, synergistically enhancing the activity of MOFs for GOR. These findings offered an effective means for simultaneous productions of hydrogen fuel and high value-added chemicals using one hybrid electrolyzer with low energy input.

Metal Oxide-Supported Metal Catalysts for Electrocatalytic Oxygen Reduction Reaction: Characterization Methods, Modulation Strategies, and Recent Progress

The sluggish kinetics of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) with complex multielectron transfer steps significantly limits the large-scale application of electrochemical energy devices, including metal-air batteries and fuel cells. Recent years witnessed the development of metal oxide-supported metal catalysts (MOSMCs), covering single atoms, clusters, and nanoparticles. As alternatives to conventional carbon-dispersed metal catalysts, MOSMCs are gaining increasing interest due to their unique electronic configuration and potentially high corrosion resistance. By engineering the metal oxide substrate, supported metal, and their interactions, MOSMCs can be facilely modulated. Significant progress has been made in advancing MOSMCs for ORR, and their further development warrants advanced characterization methods to better understand MOSMCs and precise modulation strategies to boost their functionalities. In this regard, a comprehensive review of MOSMCs for ORR is still lacking despite this fast-developing field. To eliminate this gap, advanced characterization methods are introduced for clarifying MOSMCs experimentally and theoretically, discuss critical methods of boosting their intrinsic activities and number of active sites, and systematically overview the status of MOSMCs based on different metal oxide substrates for ORR. By conveying methods, research status, critical challenges, and perspectives, this review will rationally promote the design of MOSMCs for electrochemical energy devices.

New Insights into Adsorption Properties of the Tubular Au26 from AIMD Simulations and Electronic Interactions

Recently, we revealed the electronic nature of the tubular Au₂₆ based on spherical aromaticity. The peculiar structure of the Au₂₆ could be an ideal catalyst model for studying the adsorptions of the Au nanotubes. However, through Google Scholar, we found that no one has reported connections between the structure and reactivity properties of Au₂₆. Here, three kinds of molecules are selected to study the fundamental adsorption behaviors that occur on the surface of Au₂₆. When one CO molecule is adsorbed on the Au₂₆, the σ-hole adsorption structure is quickly identified as belonging to a ground state energy, and it still maintains integrity at a temperature of 500 K, where σ donations and π-back donations take place; however, two CO molecules make the structure of Au₂₆ appear with distortions or collapse. When one H₂ is adsorbed on the Au₂₆, the H-H bond length is slightly elongated due to charge transfers to the anti-bonding σ* orbital of H₂. The Au₂₆-H₂ can maintain integrity within 100 fs at 300 K and the H₂ molecule starts moving away from the Au₂₆ after 200 fs. Moreover, the Au₂₆ can act as a Lewis base to stabilize the electron-deficient BH₃ molecule, and frontier molecular orbitals overlap between the Au₂₆ and BH₃.

Bio-inspired Antibacterial Hydrogel Adhesives with High Adhesion Strength

Traditional adhesives such as cyanoacrylate glue are mostly solvent based. They are facing the problem of insufficient adhesion to some substrates, and also the drawback of volatilization and release of small organic molecules in the process of usage. Therefore, a novel adhesive with non-irritating, high adhesive strength and antibacterial properties is highly required. In this study, a full physically crosslinked zwitterionic poly(betaine sulfonate methacrylate) (PSBMA) hydrogel is proposed. The physical crosslinking interactions endow the hydrogel with good self-healing property. Besides, the pure physical crosslinking hydrogel can form PSBMA powder adhesive after lyophilization and return to the hydrogel state after hydration. The mechanical properties of PSBMA adhesive can be modulated via adjusting the solid content and initiator dosage. Following the cure process similar to that of snail mucus or insect exoskeleton does in nature, adhesion of the PSBMA adhesive is improved at least 100 times than its wet state. In addition, the PSBMA adhesive is easy to be removed due to the dissociation of cross-linked structure in salt water environment. Moreover, PSBMA adhesive with antifouling properties can effectively prevent adhesion of proteins and bacteria, which shows potential applications in assembly of medical devices. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Electronic Metal-Support Interaction of Single-Atom Catalysts and Applications in Electrocatalysis

The electronic metal-support interaction (EMSI), which acts as a bridge between theoretical electronic study and the design of heterogenous catalysts, has attracted much attention. Utilizing the interaction between the metal and the support is one of the most essential strategies to enhance electrocatalytic efficiency due to structural and synergetic promotion. To date, as the ideal model for realizing EMSI, many types of single-atom catalysts (SACs) have been developed. The understanding of the electronic interaction on SACs has also been pushed to a higher level. However, systematic theories and operando experiments are seldom reported, and will be necessary to put forward and be carried out, respectively. Herein, the types, characterization, mechanism, and electrocatalytic applications of EMSI are comprehensively summarized and discussed. In addition to the basic information above, the challenges, opportunities, and future development of the EMSI on SACs are also proposed to present an overall view and reference to the later research.

Strong Electronic Interaction Enhanced Electrocatalysis of Metal Sulfide Clusters Embedded Metal-Organic Framework Ultrathin Nanosheets toward Highly Efficient Overall Water Splitting

Unique metal sulfide (MS) clusters embedded ultrathin nanosheets of Fe/Ni metal-organic framework (MOF) are grown on nickel foam (NiFe-MS/MOF@NF) as a highly efficient bifunctional electrocatalyst for overall water splitting. It exhibits remarkable catalytic activity and stability toward both the oxygen evolution reaction (OER, ƞ = 230 mV at 50 mA cm-2) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER, ƞ = 156 mV at 50 mA cm-2) in alkaline media, and bi-functionally catalyzes overall alkaline water splitting at a current density of 50 mA cm-2 by 1.74 V cell voltage without iR compensation. The enhancement mechanism is ascribed to the impregnated metal sulfide clusters in the nanosheets, which not only promote the formation of ultrathin nanosheet to greatly enlarge the reaction surface area while offering high electric conductivity, but more importantly, efficiently modulate the electronic structure of the catalytically active atom sites to an electron-rich state via strong electronic interaction and strengthen the adsorption of oxygenate intermediate to facilitate fast electrochemical reactions. This work reports a highly efficient HER/OER bifunctional electrocatalyst and may shed light on the rational design and synthesis of uniquely structured MOF-derived catalysts.

Boosting Overall Water Splitting via FeOOH Nanoflake-Decorated PrBa0.5Sr0.5Co2O5+δ Nanorods

The development of an efficient, robust, and low-cost catalyst for water electrolysis is critically important for renewable energy conversion. Herein, we achieve a significant improvement in electrocatalytic activity for both the oxygen-evolution reaction (OER) and the hydrogen-evolution reaction (HER) by constructing a novel hierarchical PrBa_0.5Sr_0.5Co₂O_5+δ (PBSC)@FeOOH catalyst. The optimized PBSC@FeOOH-20 catalyst consisted of layered perovskite PBSC nanorods and 20 nm thick amorphous FeOOH nanoflakes exhibiting an excellent electrocatalytic activity for the OER and the HER in 0.1 M KOH media, delivering a current density of 10 mA cm^-2 at overpotentials of 390 mV for the OER and 280 mV for the HER, respectively. The substantially enhanced performance is probably attributed to the hierarchical nanostructure, the good charge-transfer capability, and the strong electronic interactions of FeOOH and PBSC. Importantly, an alkaline electrolyzer-integrated PBSC@FeOOH-20 catalyst as both the anode and cathode shows a highly active overall water splitting with a low voltage of 1.638 V at 10 mA cm^-2 and high stability during continuous operation. This study provides new insights into exploring efficient bifunctional catalysts for overall water splitting, and it suggests that the rational design of the oxyhydroxide/perovskite heterostructure shows great potential as a promising type of electrocatalysts.

Synergistic Activation of Palladium Nanoparticles by Polyoxometalate-Attached Melem for Boosting Formic Acid Dehydrogenation Efficiency

Pd nanoparticles (NPs) anchored on a phosphotungstic acid attached melem porous hybrid (PW/melem) were prepared by hybridization of phosphotungstic acid Pd salt and melem, followed by chemical reduction. PW/melem was demonstrated to be an outstanding support that can stabilize and disperse small Pd NPs (2 nm), and significantly boost their efficiency for H₂ generation from the dehydrogenation of formic acid (FA). Experimental results and mechanistic investigations indicate that a strong electronic interaction exists between Pd NPs and the PW anions; the PW anions accept electrons from Pd first and, during FA dehydrogenation, the reduced blue PW donates electrons to Pd. Moreover, melem plays an important role in hydrogen transfer and can accelerate H₂ generation. The overall synergistic effect of PW and melem endows Pd NPs with extremely high activity and stability for complete FA conversion at 50 °C, achieving a high turnover frequency of 15 393 h^-1 .