A Co@N-CNTF electrocatalyst derived from a metal–organic framework exhibits high catalytic activity in the ORR, OER and HER.

This review investigates relevant topics in the design and fabrication of conducting polymer composites for electrochemical capacitive energy storage.

High‐value recycling of photovoltaic silicon waste is an important path to achieve “carbon neutrality.” However, the current remelting and refining technology of Si waste (WSi) is tedious with high secondary energy consumption and repollution, and it can only achieve its relegation recycling. Here, an efficient and high‐value recycling strategy is proposed in which photovoltaic WSi is converted to high energy density and stable Si nanowires (SiNWs) electrodes for lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) in milliseconds. The flash heating and quenching (≈2100 K, 10 ms) provided by an electrothermal shock drive directional diffusion of Si atoms to form SiNWs within the confined space between graphene oxide films. As a result, the SiNWs self‐assemble to form a conductive SiNWs–reduced graphene oxide composite (SiNWs@RGO). When applied as a binder‐free anode for LIBs the SiNWs@RGO electrode exhibits an ultrahigh initial Coulombic efficiency (89.5%) and robust cycle stability (2381.7 mAh g−1 at 1 A g−1 for more than 500 cycles) at high Si content of 76%. Moreover, full LIBs constructed using the commercial Li[Ni0.8Co0.16Al0.04]O2 cathode exhibit impressive cycling performance. In addition, this clean high‐value recycling method will promote economic, environmentally friendly, and sustainable development of renewable energy.

Aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) is a new therapeutic target in the central nervous system. However, the association between ALDH2 and brain edema following ischemic stroke (IS) remains unclear. The present study was investigated to whether active ALDH2 can attenuate brain edema by using a rat model of IS, with the aim of clarifying the underlying mechanisms involved. Rats were administered the ALDH2 agonist Alda-1, vehicle or the ALDH2 inhibitor cyanamide (CYA) 15 min prior to a 1.5 h middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) surgery. The effects of ALDH2 were subsequently investigated 24 h after reperfusion by evaluating neurological function, infarct sizes, brain edema volumes, 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (4-HNE) levels, and aquaporin 4 (AQP4) protein expression. The results demonstrated that increasing ALDH2 activity significantly improved neurological deficits, reduced infarct sizes, and attenuated brain edema after MCAO. Alda-1 administration led to decreased 4-HNE levels and inhibited AQP4 protein expression in the peri-infarct section of the brain. Whereas, CYA administration increased 4-HNE levels, AQP4 expression, and simultaneously aggravated brain edema following MCAO. In conclusion, increasing ALDH2 activity can improve brain edema, infarct volumes, and reduce neurological impairment in a rat IS model. The therapeutic benefits of ALDH2 are related to 4-HNE clearance and AQP4 down-regulation.

Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) are a promising non-noble-metal electrocatalyst toward the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). However, the sluggish HER kinetics and poor electric conductivities of the TMDs severely restrict their practical applications for high-efficient water splitting. Herein, a nanosheet array of 2D anion-tailored MoSe x S 2−x on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) was prepared through an anionic substitution reaction. The all-solid-state sulfidation of the CNT-MoSe 2 precursor using the sulfur powder as the sulfur source indicates a green and easily scalable strategy for the preparation of the CNT-MoSe x S 2−x hybrid. As a result, the CNT-MoSe x S 2−x hybrid delivers an excellent HER performance including a low onset overpotential (83 mV), small Tafel slope (40 mV dec −1 ) and long-term stability (overpotential at 10 mA cm −2 from 160 to 166 mV after 6000 cycles). The superior electrocatalytic activities of the CNT-MoSe x S 2−x hybrid are originated from decreased hydrogen adsorption energy associated with altering arrangements of Se and S atoms within the MoSe x S 2−x nanosheets. In addition, the MoSe x S 2−x nanosheet array on the highly conductive backbones of CNTs also enables an efficient electron/ion transport thus manifesting fast HER kinetics.