The utilization of sunlight to drive energy conversion via photocatalysis is a promising approach to pursue a sustainable future. In the past decade, the research of photocatalysts has been shifted from inorganic to abundant organic polymeric catalysts. Polymeric carbon nitride (PCN) has emerged as a promising photocatalyst for solar energy conversion on account of its superior physicochemical properties. However, its practical applications are still hindered by several limitations, including high-charge recombination probability and weak visible-light absorption, etc. As a result of facile structure modifications at the nano-and molecular levels, the structure engineering of PCN has been proven as an efficient solution. This review highlights a panorama of the latest research advancements regarding the structure engineering of PCN at the nano-and molecular scales. A perspective about the challenges and future trends in the structure engineering and applications of PCN is provided at the end of the review.
This review highlights the latest research advancements regarding the electrochemical energy conversion and storage application from PCN to PCN-derived carbon materials.
Rechargeable Li metal batteries have attracted lots of attention because they can achieve high energy densities. However, the commercialization of rechargeable Li metal batteries is delayed because Li dendrites may be generated during the batteries' electrochemical cycles, which may cause severe safety issues. In this research, a Li-B alloy is investigated as an anode for rechargeable batteries instead of Li metal. Results show that the Li-B alloy has better effects in suppressing the formation of dendritic lithium, reducing the interface impedance and improving the cycle performance. These effects may result from the unique structure of Li-B alloy, in which free lithium is embedded in the Li 7 B 6 framework. These results suggest that Li-B alloy may be a promising anode material applicable in rechargeable lithium batteries.
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