Design and Synthesis of Palladium/Black Phosphorus–Graphene Hybrids as High-Performance Catalysts for Ethanol Electrooxidation in Alkaline Media

In this study, a series of Pd-supported black phosphorus–graphene (Pd/BP-G) catalysts are prepared to explore their electrocatalytic performances in the electrooxidation of ethanol in alkaline media. The characterization results show that BP is combined with activated graphene to form a P–C bond and a P–O–C bond heterojunction. Pd nanoparticles equally anchor on the BP-G hybrid, and Pd/BP-G exhibited enhanced electrocatalytic activity for the ethanol oxidation reaction in alkaline media. The electrochemically active surface area and mass activity for the Pd/BP-G catalyst reached 210.4 m2·gPd–1 and 3960.0 mA·mgPd–1, which are 9.54 and 5.86 times higher than those of commercial Pd/C, respectively. Further studies show that Pd/BP-G catalysts have reliable stabilities and faster reaction kinetics. These results indicate that the prepared Pd/BP-G catalysts have great application potentials in direct ethanol fuel cells

Silicon@Natural Nitrogen-Doped Biomass Carbon Composites Derived from “Silicon Tofu” as Green and Efficient Anode Materials for Lithium-Ion Batteries

The use of Si/nitrogen-doped carbon composites is an effective means to improve the performance of silicon anode materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), but the large-scale development of such materials is restricted by their high cost and challenging processes. Tofu, a low-cost food rich in protein, can be used as a natural source of carbon and nitrogen. In addition, it has a developed pore structure. Herein, we report for the first time the ingenious application of the traditional tofu manufacturing technology in the field of silicon materials and the fabrication of unprecedented “silicon tofu.” After simple carbonization, the intertwined protein in silicon tofu is transformed into a natural amorphous carbon conductive network doped with nitrogen atoms, which can effectively maintain the integrity of the electrode structure during the cycle process. Because of the synergistic effect of the natural porous structure and nitrogen doping, the optimized Si@natural nitrogen-doped biomass carbon composite can maintain a reversible capacity of a 731.6 mA h g–1 after 300 cycles, even at a high current density of 1 A g–1. Moreover, the overall preparation process is environmentally friendly and sustainable. This research provides a simple, clean, and scalable solution for green and efficient anode materials for LIBs

Pd@HHSS (SM) from Facile synthesis of palladium nanoparticles on hierarchical hollow silica spheres and its catalytic properties in Suzuki-reaction

characterization data and NMR spectr

Constructing Dual-Function TiO₂/MWCNTs-NH₂‑HPW Composites as Both Catalysts and Adsorbents for Highly Efficient Oxidative Adsorption Desulfurization in Fuel Oil

The rational design of efficient polar heterogeneous catalysts for catalytic oxidative–adsorptive desulfurization (OADS) in fuel oil is of paramount significance in the field of environmental remediation. Herein, we fabricate a polar heterogeneous catalyst (titanium dioxide-assisted phosphotungstic acid supported aminated multiwalled carbon nanotubes (TiO2/MWCNTs-NH2-HPW)) with highly effective oxidative–adsorptive desulfurization (OADS) performance, which was prepared by depositing titanium dioxide and immobilizing phosphotungstic acid (HPW) on aminated multiwalled carbon nanotubes (NH2-MWCNTs). HPW, as a catalytic center, is immobilized on MWCNTs-NH2 via the positive charge of −NH3+ by electrostatic attraction. More importantly, amorphous titanium dioxides that contain Ti–OH, as adsorption centers, are well coated on MWCNTs-NH2-HPW, and the polarity of the catalysts can be easily tuned by loading different amounts of polar TiO2 (with abundant −OH), which can affect their catalytic performance and improve their adsorption capacity. The 15% TiO2/MWCNTs-NH2-HPW catalyst exhibits the highest desulfurization performance, and its dibenzothiophene (DBT) removal efficiency can reach 99% in 30 min at 60 °C without using an extractant. Its equilibrium adsorption capacity of the S element is approximately 63.36 mg/g because polar groups, such as −OH from TiO2 and −NH2, can effectively adsorb oxidation products (sulfoxide or sulfones) by hydrogen bonding. Furthermore, a possible OADS mechanism of TiO2/MWCNTs-NH2-HPW is proposed by monitoring the desulfurization process via gas chromatography (GC) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR). This work provides a rational design strategy for constructing dual-function composites as both catalysts and adsorbents for oxidative–adsorptive desulfurization in fuel oil

Polymeric Surfactant (PIBSA-X) Facilitates the Formation of a Water-in-Oil Emulsion Reactor for the Preparation of Ultrasmall Nanosilica

Despite the widespread application of ultrasmall nanosilica, solving its aggregation problem during the preparation process remains a challenge. In this paper, ultrasmall nanosilica with a controllable size and aggregates were prepared through the water-in-oil (W/O) emulsion method by using polyisobutylene succinic anhydride-type polymeric surfactants (PIBSA-X) as an isolating agent. PIBSA-X polymeric surfactants with different hydrophilic groups were prepared using industrial-grade PIBSA, which can form stable W/O-type emulsions well. Subsequently, the W/O-type emulsion droplets were used as reactors and tetraethyl orthosilicate was hydrolyzed under ammonia alkaline conditions to synthesize ultrasmall nanosilica (10 nm). Furthermore, the morphological evolution of nanosilica aggregates can be tuned by varying the oil/water ratio, which controls the emulsion droplets. A possible mechanism is proposed to explain why the emulsion method approach affords nanosilica aggregates with various morphologies and pellet size in water-in-oil (W/O-type) emulsion droplets. This study provides a precise and simple synthetic method for the development of ultrasmall nanosilica, which has good potential to be industrialized