Weiju Hao

Artificial photosynthesis technology holds great promise for sustainable energy conversion and value‐added chemical synthesis, yet integrating efficient light absorption with high product selectivity remains a major challenge. This study constructs an Ni‐La ₂ O ₃ /La ₂ NiO ₄ catalyst through in situ perovskite derivation that mechanistically and functionally mimics the chloroplast for artificial photosynthesis by coupling photo and photothermal catalysis with the integration of broad‐spectrum light harvesting, directional charge transfer, as well as CO ₂ adsorption and hydrogenation. Three functional interfaces are formed: La ₂ O ₃ ‐La ₂ NiO ₄ (Z‐scheme), Ni‐La ₂ NiO ₄ (Schottky junction), and La ₂ O ₃ (adsorption)‐Ni(activation). The two heterojunctions facilitate electron transfer to metallic Ni nanoparticles, which activates H ⁺ to form an NADPH‐like surface Ni‐H species by enabling the collection of photo and photothermal generated electrons. Meanwhile, the Lewis‐basic La ₂ O ₃ captures CO ₂ and promotes its activation at the La ₂ O ₃ ‐Ni interface. In CO ₂ ‐to‐CH ₄ conversion, Ni‐La ₂ O ₃ /La ₂ NiO ₄ demonstrates an exceptional CH ₄ production rate of 9.96 µmol h ⁻¹ g ⁻¹ and a selectivity of 92.5% under natural conditions (i.e., AM 1.5 irradiation, ambient temperature, and atmospheric pressure) without external assistance, which outperforms pure La ₂ NiO ₄ by 10.2 and 4.6 times, respectively. This work advances a new strategy for efficient solar‐to‐fuel conversion.

Alkaline anion exchange membrane water electrolyzers (AEMWEs), which combine the high current density of proton-exchange membrane electrolyzers with the low cost of alkaline electrolyzers, have emerged as a premier technology for scalable green hydrogen production. Overcoming the sluggish kinetics of the oxygen evolution reaction is critical to enabling sustainable hydrogen production. Herein, we present iridium single-atom catalysts supported on nickel–iron borides (Ir-NiFeB), in which isolated Ir atoms with Ir–O–Ni/Fe coordination trigger direct O–O radical coupling at oxygen-bridged dual-metal centers, thereby inducing a mechanistic transition from the adsorption evolution mechanism (AEM) to the localized oxide path mechanism (OPM). The Ir-mediated electron injection optimizes the d-band center and the electronic structure, as corroborated by a significant reduction in the reaction energy barrier under the OPM. This mechanistic optimization endows Ir-NiFeB with an overpotential of 190 mV at 10 mA cm–2 under alkaline media. The AEMWE with Ir-NiFeB at the anode achieved a cell voltage of 1.7 V at 1 A cm–2 and maintained stable operation exceeding 500 h. Remarkably, considering electricity consumption alone, the AEMWE achieves energy efficiencies of 87% and 73% at 1 A cm–2, based on the higher and lower heating values of hydrogen, respectively, thereby potentially producing hydrogen at an energy consumption of 45.2 kWh kg–1 and a cost of $0.90 per kg. This work demonstrates that atomic-scale coordination engineering can activate the OPM, overcoming AEM limitations and offering a scalable strategy for practical, high-performance electrolysis with minimal noble metal loading.

Designing and creating visible-light-responsive materials for clean, sustainable solar-to-chemical energy conversions is an efficient and promising avenue toward a green, carbon-neutral energy society. Herein, Au nanoparticle-decorated, morphology-tuned ZnO catalysts with strong hot electron injection effect and prominent electron synergy at the Au-ZnO interface are reported via a facile one-step hydrothermal strategy for selective O2-to-H2O2 photosynthesis. The enhanced electron transfer from the ZnO substrate to the active Au species increases the catalyst’s surface electron density, thereby modifying the chemical activation of small molecules. Localized surface plasmon resonance-enhanced hot-electron-injected Au nanoparticles can further modulate the Gibbs free-energy barriers for photocatalytic H2O2 production. Notably, the engineered Au/ZnO nanosheet catalyst shows an exceptional H2O2 formation efficiency, with the production rate of 7,322 μmol g-1 h-1 and a record apparent quantum yield of 27.23% at 550 nm, as well as excellent cyclic stability under solar light irradiation. The versatile photocatalyst also exhibits broad applications in environmental remediation, including dye mineralization, antibiotic degradation, bacterial inactivation, and H2 generation. Moreover, isotope-labeling exploration, in situ spectroscopic analysis, and theoretical simulations for structure-activity relationships and reaction mechanisms via key ·O2- and *OOH species of the selective two-electron pathway on Au/ZnO nanosheet are also comprehensively demonstrated.

The “rock-solid” CoB-based sponge electrodes were achieved via a one-step mild electroless plating method. Combing with the AEMWE, it operates for more than 600 h at an current density of 500 mA cm ⁻² .

Designing active and stable catalytic electrodes is essential for large-scale hydrogen production through water electrolysis. In this work, we successfully fabricated a catalytic electrode (Pt-NiB/MS) via a one-step, rapid, and mild electroless plating method, incorporating ultra-trace platinum-decorated NiB alloy onto a corrosion-resistant and cost-effective sponge substrate. This electrode is comparable to industrial-grade three-dimensional nickel foam and Raney nickel substrates. The precise modulation of Pt enables the design of tunable three-dimensional electrodes and the fabrication of ultra-rigid structures that can serve as robust alternatives to commercial electrodes. Doping with merely 0.02% Pt effectively regulates the electronic structure of the NiB alloy surface, facilitating the generation and transformation of reaction intermediates. The electrode exhibits outstanding HER/OER activity, with trace Pt incorporation reducing the overall water-splitting overpotential by 40 mV at a current density of 200 mA cm ⁻² , enabling operation at only 1.846 V. Furthermore, it demonstrates remarkable long-term stability, maintaining performance over 720 h at a current density of 0.5 A cm ⁻² . More importantly, this preparation strategy enables a universal, mild, and rapid synthesis approach for various noble metals (e.g., Ru, Ir), expanding its applicability. The developed electrode exhibits excellent electrocatalytic performance and potential for integration into anion exchange membrane systems. This strategy provides a promising alternative to industrial-grade Raney nickel.

Seawater electrolysis for hydrogen production offers a promising source of virtually unlimited clean energy without relying on freshwater resources. However, the presence of halide ions (Cl⁻, Br⁻) in seawater poses a significant challenge to achieving efficient and sustained electrolysis. In this work, we propose a strategy to enhance the long-term catalytic stability of boron-based electrodes in seawater through the use of a protective "sacrificial armor layer." Chromium (Cr) is introduced as this sacrificial layer; during anodic oxidation, it gradually leaches out, generating chromate ions (CrO₄ ² ⁻) in situ. These ions adsorb onto the anode surface and effectively repel chloride ions via electrostatic repulsion, thereby shielding the electrode from corrosion. Attractively, the Cr-NiB@HP flexible electrode operates stably for more than 1400 and 720 h at current densities of 100 and 500 mA cm ⁻² , respectively, demonstrating excellent stability. The designed "filterable" electrode can be directly used for one-step in-situ filtration catalysis in special environment (seawater, sewage, or lake water) systems. This work reveals the construction of a corrosion-resistant filterable electrode, which holds promise for application in large-scale industrial seawater electrolysis. Graphical Abstract Filterable Cr-NiB@HP electrode is applied in multiple scenarios and achieved excellent long-term stability in overall seawater splitting. Cr species leached from the surface of the electrode during electrolysis effectively protect the active species of the electrode from chloride ions in seawater. The filtered electrodes can be used in AEM electrolyzers, and the assembled homemade hydrogen production unit can achieve a hydrogen production efficiency of 320 mL min ^-1 , realizing initial industrial applications.

Economical, stable, and corrosion‐resistant catalytic electrodes are still urgently needed for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in water and seawater. Herein, a mild electroless plating strategy is used to achieve large‐scale preparation of the “integrated” phosphorus‐based precatalyst (FeP–NiP) on nickel foam (NF), which is in situ reconstructed into a highly active and corrosion‐resistant (Fe)NiOOH phase for OER. The interaction between phosphate anions (PO _x ^{y −} ) and iron ions (Fe ³⁺ ) tunes the electronic structure of the catalytic phase to further enhance OER kinetics. The integrated FeP–NiP@NF electrode exhibits low overpotentials for OER in alkaline water/seawater, requiring only 275/289, 320/336, and 349/358 mV to reach 0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 A cm ^{− 2} , respectively. The in situ reconstructed PO _x ^{y −} anion electrostatically repels Cl ⁻ in seawater electrolytes, allowing stable operation for over 7 days at 1.0 A cm ^{− 2} in extreme electrolytes (1.0 M KOH + seawater and 6.0 M KOH + seawater), demonstrating industrial‐level stability. This study overcomes the complex synthesis limitations of P‐based materials through innovative material design, opening new avenues for electrochemical energy conversion.

It is challenging that how to construct corrosion‐resistant and cost‐effective catalytic electrodes for oxygen/chlorine evolution reaction (OER/CER) in industrial‐scale applications. In this work, the sol–gel method can be used to rapidly construct high‐efficiency industrial‐grade stable Ti‐based anodes Ru ₅ Ir ₅ Mo ₅ @Ti at 450 °C for 2 h. The doping of Mo element lowered surface oxygen's vacancy formation energy, thereby facilitating an additional hydrolysis pathway assisted by lattice oxygen vacancies. This enhancement led to improved selectivity and specific activity for CER under conditions of high concentration doping. Additionally, it decreased the binding energy of OER intermediates on the neighboring ruthenium active sites. To achieve 10 mA cm ⁻² , the overpotentials of CER and OER were only 183 mV (5.0 M NaCl) and 257 mV (1.0 M KOH + 0.5 M NaCl). What's more, Ru ₅ Ir ₅ Mo ₅ @Ti electrodes catalyze stably at industrial‐grade current densities in neutral and alkaline electrolytes for more than 72 h at 200 mA cm ⁻² and 144 h at 250 mA cm ⁻² , respectively, with ultralow performance attenuation. Further industrial‐grade evaluation of CER showed its Cl ₂ evolution polarizability, enhanced lifespan, and enhanced weight loss can meet necessary requirements, providing new opportunities for large‐scale industrial applications.