Chao Han

Interfacial Pt triggers the transition from Volmer–Heyrovsky to Volmer–Tafel HER.

Developing an efficient photocatalysis system enriched with charge transfer multi‐channels at the atomic level is significant in promoting the efficiency and stability of catalysts for H ₂ production. In this work, through partial Zn ²⁺ replacement with Pd ²⁺ in ZnIn ₂ S ₄ (ZIS) nanosheets grown on TiO ₂ microspheres, a Pd‐doped ZIS wrapped TiO ₂ (TiO ₂ @Pd‐ZIS) core@shell composite featuring multi‐function is fabricated. The TiO ₂ @Pd‐ZIS photocatalyst exhibits excellent photocatalytic hydrogen evolution (PHE) performance in deionized water using triethanolamine (TEA) as a sacrificial agent, and it also has potential in tap water, lake water, simulated seawater, and antibiotic‐containing systems. As a proof of concept, a S‐scheme heterojunction is constructed in the TiO ₂ @Pd‐ZIS, where the Ti─S bonds act as interfacial charge transfer channels, and the presence of Pd ²⁺ significantly broadens the light response range and enhances the intensity of the internal built‐in electric field (IEF) at the heterojunction interface. Driven by the Pd─S bonding interaction, the directional migration of charges is achieved, thereby generating new H ^* adsorption sites that are closer to the thermodynamically neutral state, which is conducive to efficient PHE. It demonstrates that the S‐scheme heterojunction and interfacial metal‐sulfur bond integrating could achieve enhanced charge transfer with synergy of optimized H ^* adsorption behavior for high‐performance hydrogen production.

Two-dimensional silicon nanosheets are promising anodes for next-generation lithium-ion batteries due to their high capacity and moderate volume expansion, but complex synthesis and stacking issues hinder practical application. In this study, a simple and cost-effective one-pot method is reported to synthesize Si/SiO_x/Sn (02 as the precursor via topochemical reaction. The samples consist of layered silicon nanosheets with Sn nanoparticles embedded as conductive and ductile pillars. Subsequent acid washing adjusts the Sn content, optimizing the structure to enhance conductivity, prevent stacking of silicon nanosheets, and reduce expansion. Furthermore, the surface hydroxyl (-OH) group density decreases with prolonged acid washing time. Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) reveals that the hydroxyl content influences the concentration of organic components and Li₂CO₃ content of solid electrolyte interphase (SEI). Benefiting from this unique structure, the silicon-based nanosheets deliver capacity of 687 mAh g^-1 after 200 cycles, with a capacity retention rate of 90% and a maximum Coulombic efficiency of 99.4%. Additionally, the material demonstrates excellent performance at a high rate (484 mAh g^-1 at 2 A g^-1). This work provides a novel approach for synthesizing stable silicon nanosheet materials, offering new insights for the development of high-performance lithium-ion battery anodes.

By altering the local coordination environment of Ni sites, an interfacial microenvironment and electron-rich state favorable to water adsorption are constructed, tuning the morphology and electronic structure of Ni-MOF and promoting the Volmer step.

Electrochemical nitrate reduction (NO ₃ RR) provides a promising route for ammonia production, yet its large‐scale application is limited by slow multi‐proton/electron transfer kinetics. In this work, a low‐cost, stable Co ₃ Mo electrocatalyst is engineered through a tandem reconstruction–chemical activation strategy to regulate interfacial NO ₃ ⁻ and H ₂ O behavior, enabling efficient nitrate hydrogenation to ammonia at an ultralow potential. The Co ₃ Mo catalyst achieves an onset potential of only +0.27 V vs. RHE, along with a Faradaic efficiency exceeding 95% and an ammonia yield rate of 5.86 mmol h ⁻¹ cm ⁻² at −0.4 V vs. RHE. In situ experiments and theoretical investigations elucidate the dynamic reconstruction of Co ₃ Mo for enhanced NO ₃ RR performance, where Co sites enhance NO ₃ ⁻ to NO ₂ ⁻ conversion via surface hydroxylation, while Mo sites facilitate active hydrogen ( ^* H) formation on the Co ₃ Mo (200) plane, promoting hydrogenation of nitrogen intermediates. The generated ammonia is upconverted into ammonium formate via integrated electrolysis, coupling cathodic NO ₃ RR with anodic formaldehyde oxidation (FOR). The flow cell achieves current densities of 250 and 500 mA cm ⁻² at ultralow voltages of 0.31 and 0.53 V, respectively, with ammonium formate collection efficiencies above 73.9%. This work presents an effective reconstruction strategy to enhance NO ₃ RR performance and advance its practical commercialization.

The limited cycle life of anode-free sodium metal batteries (AFSMBs) remains a key obstacle to practical application, largely due to the mechanical and electrochemical instability of modified current-collector interfaces. Here, we report a magneto-electric coupling strategy to construct structurally robust and sodiophilic multicomponent alloy current collectors. Zn-containing alloy phases lower the Na nucleation barrier and mitigate volume strain. Fe/Co/Ni-based ferromagnetic phases introduce Lorentz-force regulation of Na⁺ flux, and Cu provides mechanical buffering and improved interfacial compatibility. Benefiting from this synergistic design, symmetric cells deliver stable Na plating/stripping for over 3500 h at 1 mA cm^-2 and 1 mAh cm^-2, while anode-free full cells retain 60% of their capacity after 200 cycles at 5 C. This study presents a promising pathway for developing long-life anode-free sodium metal batteries through stabilizing the interface of current collectors.