As one of the most important photocatalysts, TiO2 has triggered broad interest and intensive studies for decades. Observation of the interfacial reactions between water and TiO2 at microscopic scale can provide key insight into the mechanisms of photocatalytic processes. Currently, experimental methodologies for characterizing photocatalytic reactions of anatase TiO2 are mostly confined to water vapor or single molecule chemistry. Here, we investigate the photocatalytic reaction of anatase TiO2 nanoparticles in water using liquid environmental transmission electron microscopy. A self-hydrogenated shell is observed on the TiO2 surface before the generation of hydrogen bubbles. First-principles calculations suggest that this shell is formed through subsurface diffusion of photo-reduced water protons generated at the aqueous TiO2 interface, which promotes photocatalytic hydrogen evolution by reducing the activation barrier for H2 (H–H bond) formation. Experiments confirm that the self-hydrogenated shell contains reduced titanium ions, and its thickness can increase to several nanometers with increasing UV illuminance.

Using formic acid as a cosolvent and saturated sodium sulfate as a coagulation bath, soy protein/poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) blend fibers were prepared using wet-spinning approaches. The structure and mechanical, thermal, and water-uptake properties of the spun fibers were investigated. Morphological analysis with polarized optical microscopy (POM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that spun PVA or blend fibers were composed of nanoparticles and exhibited a porous morphology. Blend fibers exhibited only one glass transition temperature in differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) thermograms due to high compatibility between the two components. The best mechanical strength and thermal stability were achieved when 70% PVA was composited with soy protein. This was thought to be due to the effects of cross-linking and hydrogen bonding between functional groups of soy protein and PVA hydroxyl groups.

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The S-NiFeV LDH catalyst exhibits exceptional catalytic activity and stability toward the urea oxidation reaction via a sulfur-doping strategy.

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