Mei Li

Bio: Mei Li is an academic researcher from Tianjin University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Catalysis & Photocatalysis. The author has an hindex of 11, co-authored 26 publications receiving 280 citations.

Construction of Highly Active and Selective PolydopamineModified Hollow ZnO/Co 3 O 4 p‑n HeterojunctionCatalyst for Photocatalytic CO 2 Reduction

Abstract: The facile synthesis of low-cost, eco-friendly photocatalysts with high charge separation efficiency and CO2 adsorption capacity for efficient photocatalytic CO2 reduction remains a challenge. Here...

Plasmonic AuPd-based Mott-Schottky photocatalyst for synergistically enhanced hydrogen evolution from formic acid and aldehyde

Abstract: Plasmonic AuPd alloy nanoparticles supported on super small carbon nitride nanospheres (AuxPdy/CNS) for the design of Mott-Schottky catalysts were successfully synthesized and further applied for the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution from formic acid. A high turnover frequency (TOF) value of 1017.8 h−1 was obtained for the AuPd/CNS catalyst under visible-light irradiation (λ > 420 nm) at 298 K. XPS analysis, photoelectrochemical characterization and density functional theory (DFT) calculation indicate that the remarkable photocatalytic activities are mainly attributed to the optimized electronic structure of Pd in the AuPd/CNS composite resulting from the alloying, plasmonic and Mott-Schottky effects. These effects can efficiently accelerate the electron transfer from photoresponsive super small carbon nitride nanospheres and plasmonic Au to the active Pd sites. We also infer that the alloying effect is the main factor on the high activity, which is mainly due to weakened adsorption of hydrogen atoms on Pd sites according to the DFT calculation. Moreover, the Mott-Schottky AuPd/CNS catalyst presents a good universality for the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution from a series of aldehyde aqueous solutions.

Visible-Light-Driven Multichannel Regulation of Local Electron Density to Accelerate Activation of O–H and B–H Bonds for Ammonia Borane Hydrolysis

Abstract: Regulating electron density at the active site by integrating contributions from multiple channels is an effective strategy to accelerate the reaction rate. Herein, the hydrolysis of ammonia borane...

Well-defined Co–Pt–OH as “electronic pump” on Co-LDH nanocages for enhanced oxygen evolution reaction

Abstract: The acceleration of electron transfer through the regulation of coordination environment of active sites is an effective way to improve reaction performances. Herein, cobalt layered double hydroxide decorated with sub-1 nm platinum clusters (Pt/Co-LDH) were synthesized for oxygen evolution reaction (OER). The integration of platinum unexpectedly induced unique nanocage structures assembled by ultra-thin LDH nanosheets via an in-situ redox process. The as-prepared Pt/Co-LDH nanocages exhibit high OER activity with a low overpotential of 265 mV at 10 mA cm−2. Experiments and density functional theory calculations indicate the high catalytic activity is mainly attributed to the strong interactions between Pt and Co-LDH, which can regulate the local coordination environment and electronic structures of cobalt. The well-defined Co–Pt−OH structures could help promote the adsorption energy of water molecules and reduce the energy barrier of rate-limiting step, benefiting from the enhanced electron transfer during the electrocatalytic process, playing the role of “electronic pump”. Furthermore, the novel in-situ redox synthetic strategy also presents a facile universality to obtain metal-doped (Pt, Au, Pd) Co-LDH nanocage structures.

Molecular heterogeneous catalysts derived from bipyridine-based organosilica nanotubes for C–H bond activation

Abstract: Heterogeneous metal complex catalysts for direct C–H activation with high activity and durability have always been desired for transforming raw materials into feedstock chemicals. This study described the design and synthesis of one-dimensional organosilica nanotubes containing 2,2′-bipyridine (bpy) ligands in the framework (BPy-NT) and their post-synthetic metalation to provide highly active and robust molecular heterogeneous catalysts. By adjusting the ratios of organosilane precursors, very short BPy-NT with ∼50 nm length could be controllably obtained. The post-synthetic metalation of bipyridine-functionalized nanotubes with [IrCp*Cl(μ-Cl)]2 (Cp* = η5-pentamethylcyclopentadienyl) and [Ir(cod)(OMe)]2 (cod = 1,5-cyclooctadiene) afforded solid catalysts, IrCp*-BPy-NT and Ir(cod)-BPy-NT, which were utilized for C–H oxidation of heterocycles and cycloalkanes as well as C–H borylation of arenes. The cut-short nanotube catalysts displayed enhanced activities and durability as compared to the analogous homogeneous catalysts and other conventional heterogeneous catalysts, benefiting from the isolated active sites as well as the fast transport of substrates and products. After the reactions, a detailed characterization of Ir-immobilized BPy-NT via TEM, SEM, nitrogen adsorption, UV/vis, XPS, and 13C CP MAS NMR indicated the molecular nature of the active species as well as stable structures of nanotube scaffolds. This study demonstrates the potential of BPy-NT with a short length as an integration platform for the construction of efficient heterogeneous catalytic systems for organic transformations.

Polymer-Derived Heteroatom-Doped Porous Carbon Materials.

Abstract: Heteroatom-doped porous carbon materials (HPCMs) have found extensive applications in adsorption/separation, organic catalysis, sensing, and energy conversion/storage. The judicious choice of carbon precursors is crucial for the manufacture of HPCMs with specific usages and maximization of their functions. In this regard, polymers as precursors have demonstrated great promise because of their versatile molecular and nanoscale structures, modulatable chemical composition, and rich processing techniques to generate textures that, in combination with proper solid-state chemistry, can be maintained throughout carbonization. This Review comprehensively surveys the progress in polymer-derived functional HPCMs in terms of how to produce and control their porosities, heteroatom doping effects, and morphologies and their related use. First, we summarize and discuss synthetic approaches, including hard and soft templating methods as well as direct synthesis strategies employing polymers to control the pores and/or heteroatoms in HPCMs. Second, we summarize the heteroatom doping effects on the thermal stability, electronic and optical properties, and surface chemistry of HPCMs. Specifically, the heteroatom doping effect, which involves both single-type heteroatom doping and codoping of two or more types of heteroatoms into the carbon network, is discussed. Considering the significance of the morphologies of HPCMs in their application spectrum, potential choices of suitable polymeric precursors and strategies to precisely regulate the morphologies of HPCMs are presented. Finally, we provide our perspective on how to predefine the structures of HPCMs by using polymers to realize their potential applications in the current fields of energy generation/conversion and environmental remediation. We believe that these analyses and deductions are valuable for a systematic understanding of polymer-derived carbon materials and will serve as a source of inspiration for the design of future HPCMs.

Metal Organic Frameworks Derived Hierarchical Hollow NiO/Ni/Graphene Composites for Lithium and Sodium Storage

Abstract: Ni-based metal organic frameworks (Ni-MOFs) with unique hierarchical hollow ball-in-ball nanostructure were synthesized by solvothermal reactions. After successive carbonization and oxidation treatments, hierarchical NiO/Ni nanocrystals covered with a graphene shell were obtained with the hollow ball-in-ball nanostructure intact. The resulting materials exhibited superior performance as the anode in lithium ion batteries (LIBs): they provide high reversible specific capacity (1144 mAh/g), excellent cyclability (nearly no capacity loss after 1000 cycles) and rate performance (805 mAh/g at 15 A/g). In addition, the hierarchical NiO/Ni/Graphene composites demonstrated promising performance as anode materials for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). Such a superior lithium and sodium storage performance is derived from the well-designed hierarchical hollow ball-in-ball structure of NiO/Ni/Graphene composites, which not only mitigates the volume expansion of NiO during the cycles but also provides a continuous highly conductive graphene matrix to facilitate the fast charge transfer and form a stable SEI layer.

“Stabilization wedges: Solving the climate problem for the next 50 years with current technologies” from science magazine (2004)

Abstract: Humanity already possesses the fundamental scientific, technical, and industrial know-how to solve the carbon and climate problem for the next half-century. A portfolio of technologies now exists to meet the world's energy needs over the next 50 years and limit atmospheric CO2 to a trajectory that avoids a doubling of the preindustrial concentration. Every element in this portfolio has passed beyond the laboratory bench and demonstration project; many are already implemented somewhere at full industrial scale. Although no element is a credible candidate for doing the entire job (or even half the job) by itself, the portfolio as a whole is large enough that not every element has to be used.

Rational Catalyst and Electrolyte Design for Co2 Electroreduction Towards Multicarbon Products

Abstract: CO2 electroreduction reaction (CO2RR) to fuels and feedstocks is an attractive route to close the anthropogenic carbon cycle and store renewable energy. The generation of more reduced chemicals, especially multicarbon oxygenate and hydrocarbon products (C2+) with higher energy density is highly desirable for industrial applications. However, selective conversion of CO2 to C2+ suffers from high overpotential, low reaction rate and low selectivity, and the process is extremely sensitive to the catalyst structure and electrolyte. Here we discuss strategies to achieve high C2+ selectivity through rational design of the catalyst and electrolyte. Current state-of-the-art catalysts, including Cu and Cu-bimetallic catalysts as well as alternative materials are considered. The importance of taking into consideration the dynamic evolution of the catalyst structure and composition are highlighted, focusing on findings extracted from in situ and operando characterizations. Additional theoretical insight into the reaction mechanisms underlying the improved C2+ selectivity of specific catalyst geometries/compositions in synergy with a well-chosen electrolyte are also provided.