Cu nanowires hold great promise for the fabrication of low-cost transparent electrodes. However, their current synthesis is mainly performed in aqueous media with poor nanowire dispersibility. We report herein the novel synthesis of ultralong single-crystalline Cu nanowires with excellent dispersibility, providing an excellent candidate material for high-performance transparent electrode fabrication.

Heavily doped semiconductors have recently emerged as a remarkable class of plasmonic alternative to conventional noble metals; however, controlled manipulation of their surface plasmon bands toward short wavelengths, especially in the visible light spectrum, still remains a challenge. Here we demonstrate that hydrogen doped given MoO3 and WO3 via a facile H-spillover approach, namely, hydrogen bronzes, exhibit strong localized surface plasmon resonances in the visible light region. Through variation of their stoichiometric compositions, tunable plasmon resonances could be observed in a wide range, which hinge upon the reduction temperatures, metal species, the nature and the size of metal oxide supports in the synthetic H2 reduction process as well as oxidation treatment in the postsynthetic process. Density functional theory calculations unravel that the intercalation of hydrogen atoms into the given host structures yields appreciable delocalized electrons, enabling their plasmonic properties. The plasmonic hybrids show potentials in heterogeneous catalysis, in which visible light irradiation enhanced catalytic performance toward p-nitrophenol reduction relative to dark condition. Our findings provide direct evidence for achieving plasmon resonances in hydrogen doped metal oxide semiconductors, and may allow large-scale applications with low-price and earth-abundant elements.

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Uniform cubic anatase TiO2 fully enclosed by high energy facets was prepared using green method for enhancing the photocatalytic activity.

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We report synergistic catalysis of plasmonic Au@Pd nanoparticles supported on titanium-doped zirconium-based amine-functionalized metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) (UiO-66­(Zr100–x Ti x )) for boosting room-temperature hydrogen production from formic acid (HCOOH) under visible light irradiation. Our results revealed that the electronically promoted Pd sites by the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect of Au as well as doping of amine functionality in the MOFs with titanium ions play crucial roles in achieving exceptional catalytic performance. Remarkably, a high H2 production rate of 42000 mL h–1 g–1 (Pd) with high a turnover frequency (TOF) of 200 h–1 based on Pd was obtained under visible light irradiation. Kinetic isotope effect (KIE) measurements demonstrated that dissociations of O–H and C–H bonds of formic acid, which are two important steps for hydrogen production from HCOOH, are individually facilitated by the assistance of amine groups within MOFs and active electron-rich Pd sites induced by the LSPR effect under visible light irradiation.

Protein channels in biologic systems can effectively transport ions such as proton (H(+)), sodium (Na(+)), and calcium (Ca(+)) ions. However, none of such channels is able to conduct electrons. Inspired by the biologic proton channels, we report a novel hierarchical nanostructured hydrous hexagonal WO3 (h-WO3) which can conduct both protons and electrons. This mixed protonic-electronic conductor (MPEC) can be synthesized by a facile single-step hydrothermal reaction at low temperature, which results in a three-dimensional nanostructure self-assembled from h-WO3 nanorods. Such a unique h-WO3 contains biomimetic proton channels where single-file water chains embedded within the electron-conducting matrix, which is critical for fast electrokinetics. The mixed conductivities, high redox capacitance, and structural robustness afford the h-WO3 with unprecedented electrochemical performance, including high capacitance, fast charge/discharge capability, and very long cycling life (>50,000 cycles without capacitance decay), thus providing a new platform for a broad range of applications.

Design and engineering of metal–organic frameworks for the adsorption/degradation of inorganic toxic gases, organic vapors and particulate matter.