Materials Today CatalysisPub Date : 2025-06-01Epub Date: 2025-05-27DOI: 10.1016/j.mtcata.2025.100104
Xinyu Yang , Sheng-Hua Zhou , Xiaofang Li , Xin-Tao Wu , Qi-Long Zhu
{"title":"Allying cobalt nanoclusters with carbon nanofibers for selectively electrocatalytic hydrogenation of unsaturated aldehyde with water as hydrogen source","authors":"Xinyu Yang , Sheng-Hua Zhou , Xiaofang Li , Xin-Tao Wu , Qi-Long Zhu","doi":"10.1016/j.mtcata.2025.100104","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtcata.2025.100104","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The electrocatalytic hydrogenation of α, β-unsaturated aldehydes has attracted significant attention, yet the design of electrocatalysts with selective adsorption over C<img>C or C<img>O bond remaining a challenging task. In this study, the Co nanoclusters anchored onto the nitrogen-doped porous carbon nanofibers were elaborately fabricated for efficient electrocatalytic hydrogenation. A kinetically driven mono-micelle-oriented self-assembly method was applied to synthesize the polymer nanofibers as the accommodation for Co<sup>2 +</sup>. The stepwise pyrolysis of Co<sup>2+</sup>/polymer nanofibers with dicyandiamide yielded the evenly distributed Co nanoclusters with an average size of ∼4 nm over the nitrogen-doped porous carbon nanofibers. Benefited from the high activity of the Co nanoclusters and their rapid electron communication with the nitrogen-doped porous carbon nanofibers, this electrocatalyst demonstrated excellent performance in the selectively electrocatalytic hydrogenation of cinnamaldehyde to hydrocinnamaldehyde, achieving a high selectivity of 90.9 % and a conversion of 68.2 % at 12 mA cm<sup>−2</sup>. The further in-situ spectroscopy analysis and density functional theory calculations revealed the more preferred adsorption of C<img>C bond and easier water dissociation to give the active H atoms over the Co nanoclusters, which shed light on the hydrogenation mechanism over this electrocatalyst. Our study can provide a new insight in catalyst design for electrocatalytic hydrogenation reaction.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100892,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Catalysis","volume":"9 ","pages":"Article 100104"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144185726","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Materials Today CatalysisPub Date : 2025-06-01Epub Date: 2025-05-07DOI: 10.1016/j.mtcata.2025.100101
Hailing Zhao , Kaijie Ma , Shiqin Gao , Bolun Wang , Yang Wang
{"title":"Advances in understanding and manipulating electrode wettability for electrocatalytic performance enhancement","authors":"Hailing Zhao , Kaijie Ma , Shiqin Gao , Bolun Wang , Yang Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.mtcata.2025.100101","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtcata.2025.100101","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In the realm of heterogeneous catalysis, the wettability of the catalyst significantly impacts the interaction between the catalyst surface and reactants or products, thereby playing a pivotal role in determining catalytic performance. Electrocatalytic reactions predominantly occur at multiphase interfaces. As a result, gas-liquid-solid interface mass transfer is of utmost importance during the reaction process. In the electrocatalysis process, for steps including molecular adsorption, desorption, and surface transfer, the modulation of electrode wettability directly influences the behavior of gas bubbles beneath the solution. This affects the gas-liquid-solid interface mass transfer process during electrocatalysis. Consequently, a comprehensive understanding of the principles governing this interfacial interaction is crucial for fundamentally enhancing the efficiency of electrocatalytic reactions. This review summarizes the basic theory of wettability and its relationship with electrocatalytic reactions. It also accentuates some recent advancements in the impact of electrode wettability in heterogeneous electrocatalytic reactions. Finally, the review offers a perspective on the challenges associated with wettability regulation in influencing the electrocatalytic reaction process.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100892,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Catalysis","volume":"9 ","pages":"Article 100101"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143929592","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Materials Today CatalysisPub Date : 2025-06-01Epub Date: 2025-04-05DOI: 10.1016/j.mtcata.2025.100099
Bachir Yaou Balarabe , Yerkanat N. Kanafin , Kuralay Rustembekkyzy , Imanzhussip Serkul , Meruert A. Nauryzbaeva , Timur Sh. Atabaev
{"title":"Assessing the photocatalytic activity of visible light active Bi2S3-based nanocomposites for Methylene Blue and Rhodamine B degradation","authors":"Bachir Yaou Balarabe , Yerkanat N. Kanafin , Kuralay Rustembekkyzy , Imanzhussip Serkul , Meruert A. Nauryzbaeva , Timur Sh. Atabaev","doi":"10.1016/j.mtcata.2025.100099","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtcata.2025.100099","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>High levels of organic compounds, notably synthetic dyes like Methylene blue (MB) and Rhodamine B (RhB), in untreated effluents have become a major environmental concern, endangering human health and ecosystems. These dyes are difficult to remove due to their non-biodegradable nature, prompting extensive research in this area. Photocatalysis has emerged as a promising, environmentally friendly method that only requires a light source and a photocatalyst for pollutant degradation. Bismuth sulfide (Bi<sub>2</sub>S<sub>3</sub>) stands out among other photocatalytic materials due to its narrow band gap, strong light absorption in the visible range, and nontoxicity, making it a good candidate to improve the overall photocatalytic efficiency. Therefore, this review article focuses on recent advances in Bi<sub>2</sub>S<sub>3</sub>-based nanocomposites and their role in the effective degradation of organic pollutants, particularly MB and RhB, through enhanced photocatalytic mechanisms.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100892,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Catalysis","volume":"9 ","pages":"Article 100099"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143839610","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Materials Today CatalysisPub Date : 2025-06-01Epub Date: 2025-05-09DOI: 10.1016/j.mtcata.2025.100102
Jiahao Liu , Zhaorui Zhang , Chenshuai Han, Minghui Yang
{"title":"VN/Copper foam self-supporting catalyst for efficient electrocatalytic hydrogen peroxide generation","authors":"Jiahao Liu , Zhaorui Zhang , Chenshuai Han, Minghui Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.mtcata.2025.100102","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtcata.2025.100102","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Hydrogen peroxide (H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>) is a crucial chemical, while its conventional production methods are energy-intensive and environmentally damaging. Electrocatalytic synthesis of H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> through 2e<sup>-</sup> oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) presents a sustainable alternative. Here, we introduce a novel VN/Copper foam (VN/CF) self-supporting catalyst, achieving an H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> production yield rate of 169.7 mg·h<sup>−1</sup>·cm<sup>−2</sup> with a Faradaic efficiency (FE) of 89.1 %. The self-supporting VN/CF demonstrates remarkable durability, sustaining stable operation at a current density of 300 mA cm<sup>−2</sup> over 110 h. Notably, the capital cost of 70 wt% H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> is remarkably low at just $0.25/kg. This work highlights the potential of self-supported metal nitrides as stable and efficient 2e<sup>-</sup> ORR catalysts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100892,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Catalysis","volume":"9 ","pages":"Article 100102"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143948226","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Materials Today CatalysisPub Date : 2025-06-01Epub Date: 2025-05-27DOI: 10.1016/j.mtcata.2025.100105
Shanqing Qu , Yaxiong Yang , Mingxia Gao , Zhenglong Li , Wenping Sun , Chu Liang , Xin Zhang , Xiaoyu Zhang , Lingchao Zhang , Ruizi Wang , Hongge Pan
{"title":"Superior reversible hydrogen storage in eutectic LiBH4–KBH4 system via Ni–based catalysts synergized with graphene","authors":"Shanqing Qu , Yaxiong Yang , Mingxia Gao , Zhenglong Li , Wenping Sun , Chu Liang , Xin Zhang , Xiaoyu Zhang , Lingchao Zhang , Ruizi Wang , Hongge Pan","doi":"10.1016/j.mtcata.2025.100105","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtcata.2025.100105","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Light metal borohydrides are promising candidates for solid–state hydrogen storage due to their high hydrogen storage capacities; however, the reversibility and kinetics of de/hydrogenation still require significant improvement. The present work focuses on the improvement of the hydrogen storage properties of the eutectic borohydride system of LiBH<sub>4</sub>–KBH<sub>4</sub> (Li/KBH<sub>4</sub>). A layered composite of graphene supported with ultrafine Ni<sub>3</sub>B nanoparticles (Ni<sub>3</sub>B/G) is designed and synthesized, which acts as catalyst and confinement carrier for Li/KBH<sub>4</sub>. Assisted with a heating of the mixture of Li/KBH<sub>4</sub> and Ni<sub>3</sub>B/G to 110 °C in the molten state of Li/KBH<sub>4</sub>, an interlayer structure of graphene dispersed with Ni<sub>3</sub>B nanoparticles and sheet–like Li/KBH<sub>4</sub> is constructed. The graphene effectively disperses Ni<sub>3</sub>B nanoparticles and confines the Li/KBH<sub>4</sub> in its interlayers. The confinement of Li/KBH<sub>4</sub> and the catalysis of Ni<sub>3</sub>B nanoparticles, assisted with the high thermal conductivity of graphene, contribute synergistically the hydrogen storage of Li/KBH<sub>4</sub>. The main dehydrogenation peak temperature of the system is lowered to 278 °C. The system can release 8.5 wt% H<sub>2</sub> within 30 min at 350 °C. The capacity retention achieves 81.2 % after 50 cycles. DFT theoretical analysis shows that there is strong charge transfer interaction between Ni<sub>3</sub>B and LiBH<sub>4</sub>/KBH<sub>4</sub>, which destabilizes the [BH<sub>4</sub>]<sup>–</sup> structure and promotes the dehydrogenation. This work provides a new approach for the design of new structural LiBH<sub>4</sub>–based eutectic system with high capacity, low dehydrogenation temperature, high reversibility and long cycling life.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100892,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Catalysis","volume":"9 ","pages":"Article 100105"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144169432","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Materials Today CatalysisPub Date : 2025-06-01Epub Date: 2025-06-06DOI: 10.1016/j.mtcata.2025.100106
Kai Bao , Cong Ma , Lingzhi Wang , Ruijie Li , Wenbin Wang , Zongxiao Wu , Wei Zhai , Jingkun Wu , Chengxuan Ke , Zhixiang Tao , Zhuangzhuang Yin , Junlei Qi , Qiyuan He
{"title":"Microelectrochemical investigation of electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction","authors":"Kai Bao , Cong Ma , Lingzhi Wang , Ruijie Li , Wenbin Wang , Zongxiao Wu , Wei Zhai , Jingkun Wu , Chengxuan Ke , Zhixiang Tao , Zhuangzhuang Yin , Junlei Qi , Qiyuan He","doi":"10.1016/j.mtcata.2025.100106","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtcata.2025.100106","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), as a green and sustainable method of hydrogen production, has attracted wide attention in recent years. Designing electrocatalysts with high efficiency, low-cost and stability for HER is becoming increasingly promising and feasible. The emerging microelectrochemical investigation has proven to be a highly effective tool in uncovering complex catalytic mechanism, particularly in HER of single-entity nanocatalysts. Among the various microelectrochemical methods, ultramicroelectrode (UME) and on-chip electrochemical microcell (OCEM) are mostly widely regarded. Both techniques have been extensively employed to analysis the HER process of single-entity nanomaterials, giving unique perspectives inaccessible to conventional electrochemical methods. This review outlines the principles and compares the similarities and differences among UME, OCEM and conventional electrochemical methods. The applications of UME and OCEM investigation of specific nanocatalyts, especially 2D materials, are comprehensively reviewed. Finally, challenges and outlook of microelectrochemical methods in electrocatalysis and beyond are discussed.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100892,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Catalysis","volume":"9 ","pages":"Article 100106"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144253684","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Materials Today CatalysisPub Date : 2025-06-01Epub Date: 2025-03-24DOI: 10.1016/j.mtcata.2025.100098
Gongyue Dong , Xiaojuan Guo , Cheng Cheng , Feng Chen , Jinfeng Zhang , Yanping Du , Wei Meng , Maochang Liu , Jinwen Shi
{"title":"Constructing electron transport channel of SnO2/BaSO4 on g-C3N4 for enhanced visible-light-driven photocatalytic H2 production","authors":"Gongyue Dong , Xiaojuan Guo , Cheng Cheng , Feng Chen , Jinfeng Zhang , Yanping Du , Wei Meng , Maochang Liu , Jinwen Shi","doi":"10.1016/j.mtcata.2025.100098","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtcata.2025.100098","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>) is confronted with the issue of poor utilization of photogenerated charge carriers, thereby leading to limited performance of photocatalytic hydrogen (H<sub>2</sub>) production, which restricts its potential application. Herein, the electron transport material SnO<sub>2</sub>/BaSO<sub>4</sub> was synthesized to integrate with g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> for addressing the above problem. Various characterizations were conducted to investigate the g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>-SnO<sub>2</sub>/BaSO<sub>4</sub> photocatalyst, and it demonstrated that photogenerated electrons from g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> expeditiously migrate to SnO<sub>2</sub>/BaSO<sub>4</sub> nanoparticles, which markedly hindered photogenerated carriers’ recombination. Subsequently, the g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>-SnO<sub>2</sub>/BaSO<sub>4</sub> photocatalyst demonstrated promoted photocatalytic H<sub>2</sub> production at a rate of 14.2 μmol h<sup>−1</sup> under visible-light illumination, which was 2.5 times higher than that of pristine g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100892,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Catalysis","volume":"9 ","pages":"Article 100098"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143725196","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Materials Today CatalysisPub Date : 2025-03-01Epub Date: 2024-12-10DOI: 10.1016/j.mtcata.2024.100081
Jian Chen , Yixin Huang , Liu Wan, Cheng Du, Yan Zhang, Mingjiang Xie
{"title":"Polytriazine@CdS nanosheets as photosensitizer free catalyst for efficient photocatalytic reduction of CO2","authors":"Jian Chen , Yixin Huang , Liu Wan, Cheng Du, Yan Zhang, Mingjiang Xie","doi":"10.1016/j.mtcata.2024.100081","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtcata.2024.100081","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The development of CdS-based photocatalysts with the appropriate bandgap structure, impressive optical response, and long-lasting reusability is both crucial and challenging. The heterogeneous catalyst, made up of polytriazine and CdS, demonstrates exceptional photogenerated charge separation and transfer capabilities, as well as superior CO<sub>2</sub> adsorption abilities. In this study, we have shown that the CO<sub>2</sub> photoassisted reduction efficiency of CdS nanosheets can be significantly improved through surface modification with a polytriazine polymer coating. The PP@CdS photocatalyst has been thoroughly characterized using techniques such as XRD, TEM, SEM, N<sub>2</sub> adsorption-desorption, CO<sub>2</sub> adsorption, DRS, XPS, and photoelectric performance tests. The catalytic performance of the PP@CdS was assessed through photoassisted CO<sub>2</sub> reduction reactions under visible light irradiation in an aqueous medium at 25 ℃. Owing to its enhanced CO<sub>2</sub> adsorption capacity and the efficient separation and utilization of photogenerated electrons, the PP@CdS photocatalyst demonstrated a CO yield (6.7 μmol/g/h) 1.3 times greater and a CH<sub>4</sub> yield (4.2 μmol/g/h) 1.3 times higher than that of bare CdS nanosheets. Furthermore, the PP@CdS photocatalyst demonstrated outstanding reusability in CO<sub>2</sub> reduction reactions. This study presents a novel approach to enhancing the CO<sub>2</sub> adsorption capacity and modulating the bandgap structure of polymer-coated semiconductor materials.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100892,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Catalysis","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100081"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143148540","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Materials Today CatalysisPub Date : 2025-03-01Epub Date: 2025-02-07DOI: 10.1016/j.mtcata.2025.100090
Kang Huang , Zhixiu Lu , Shilong Dai , Chunyu Cui , Nam Dong Kim , Huilong Fei
{"title":"Coupling cobalt single-atom catalyst with recyclable LiBr redox mediator enables stable LiOH-based Li-O2 batteries","authors":"Kang Huang , Zhixiu Lu , Shilong Dai , Chunyu Cui , Nam Dong Kim , Huilong Fei","doi":"10.1016/j.mtcata.2025.100090","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtcata.2025.100090","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cycling Li-O<sub>2</sub> batteries (LOBs) via LiOH is promising for developing practically viable batteries, while promoting the formation and decomposition of LiOH remains a challenge. Cobalt single atom catalysts (Co-SACs) have been exploited to mediate the direct 4e<sup>−</sup> oxygen reduction reaction for generating LiOH discharge products, but their inferior oxygen evolution activity renders the battery low energy efficiency and poor cycling life. Herein, we for the first time introduce LiBr redox mediator (RM) into the Co-SACs-catalyzed LOB system to facilitate the decomposition of LiOH. In the discharge process, the catalysis of Co-SAC is unaffected with the presence of LiBr. During charging, Br<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup> is identified as the oxidizer to decompose LiOH at an appropriate potential (3.6 V). Significantly, the soluble Br<sup>−</sup> is recyclable in the system as the BrO<sup>−</sup> intermediate could shuttle to the anode and react with Li metal to regenerate Br<sup>−</sup> so that the generation of LiBrO<sub>3</sub> deposit is circumvented. Consequently, the fabricated LOB demonstrates fewer side reactions, stable energy efficiency (drop rate of 0.10 % per cycle) and long cycle life (300 cycles at 1000 mA/g) under the ambient atmosphere.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100892,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Catalysis","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100090"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143378854","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}