No abstract

The sluggish sodium reaction kinetics, unstable Sn/Na O interface, and large volume expansion are major obstacles that impede practical applications of SnO -based electrodes for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). Herein, we report the crafting of homogeneously confined oxygen-vacancy-containing SnO nanoparticles with well-defined void space in porous carbon nanofibers (denoted SnO /C composites) that address the issues noted above for advanced SIBs. Notably, SnO /C composites can be readily exploited as the working electrode, without need for binders and conductive additives. In contrast to past work, SnO /C composites-based SIBs show remarkable electrochemical performance, offering high reversible capacity, ultralong cyclic stability, and excellent rate capability. A discharge capacity of 565 mAh g at 1 A g is retained after 2000 cycles.

The room temperature (RT) sodium–sulfur batteries (Na–S) hold great promise for practical applications including energy storage and conversion due to high energy density, long lifespan, and low cost, as well based on the abundant reserves of both sodium metal and sulfur. Herein, freestanding (C/S/BaTiO3)@TiO2 (CSB@TiO2) electrode with only ≈3 wt% of BaTiO3 additive and ≈4 nm thickness of amorphous TiO2 atomic layer deposition protective layer is rational designed, and first used for RT Na–S batteries. Results show that such cathode material exhibits high rate capability and excellent durability compared with pure C/S and C/S/BaTiO3 electrodes. Notably, this CSB@TiO2 electrode performs a discharge capacity of 524.8 and 382 mA h g−1 after 1400 cycles at 1 A g−1 and 3000 cycles at 2 A g−1, respectively. Such superior electrochemical performance is mainly attributed from the “BaTiO3‐C‐TiO2” synergetic structure within the matrix, which enables effectively inhibiting the shuttle effect, restraining the volumetric variation and stabilizing the ionic transport interface.

Solar-to-fuel conversion through photocatalytic process is regarded as a promising technology with the potential to reduce the reliance on the dwindling reserved fossil fuels and to support the sustainable development...

Solar H 2 production is considered as a potentially promising way to utilize solar energy and tackle climate change stemming from the combustion of fossil fuels. Photocatalytic, photoelectrochemical, photovoltaic−electrochemical, solar thermochemical, photothermal catalytic, and photobiological technologies are the most intensively studied routes for solar H 2 production. In this Focus Review, we provide a comprehensive review of these technologies. After a brief introduction of the principles and mechanisms of these technologies, the recent achievements in solar H 2 production are summarized, with a particular focus on the high solar-to-H 2 (STH) conversion efficiency achieved by each route. We then comparatively analyze and evaluate these technologies based on the metrics of STH efficiency, durability, economic viability, and environmental sustainability, aiming to assess the commercial feasibility of these solar technologies compared with current industrial H 2 production processes. Finally, the challenges and prospects of future research on solar H 2 production technologies are presented.

Methanol steam reforming (MSR) is a promising reaction that enables efficient production and safe transportation of hydrogen, but it requires a relatively high temperature to achieve high activity, leading to large energy consumption. Here, we report a plasmonic ZnCu alloy catalyst, consisting of plasmonic Cu nanoparticles with surface-deposited Zn atoms, for efficient solar-driven MSR without additional thermal energy input. Experimental results and theoretical calculations suggest that Zn atoms act not only as the catalytic sites for water reduction with lower activation energy but also as the charge transfer channel, pumping hot electrons into water molecules and subsequently resulting in the formation of electron-deficient Cu for methanol activation. These merits together with photothermal heating render the optimal ZnCu catalyst a high H2 production rate of 328 mmol gcatalyst –1 h–1 with a solar energy conversion efficiency of 1.2% under 7.9 Suns irradiation, far exceeding the reported conventional photocatalytic and thermocatalytic MSR. This work provides a potential strategy for efficient solar-driven H2 production and various other energy-demanding industrial reactions through designing alloy catalysts.

No abstract

No abstract