Ming Wen

Bio: Ming Wen is an academic researcher from Tongji University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Catalysis & Electrocatalyst. The author has an hindex of 22, co-authored 70 publications receiving 1627 citations.

Engineering NiS/Ni2P Heterostructures for Efficient Electrocatalytic Water Splitting

Abstract: Developing high-active and low-cost bifunctional materials for catalyzing the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) holds a pivotal role in water splitting. Therefore, we present a new strategy to form NiS/Ni2P heterostructures. The as-obtained NiS/Ni2P/carbon cloth (CC) requires overpotentials of 111 mV for the HER and 265 mV for the OER to reach a current density of 20 mA cm-2, outperforming their counterparts such as NiS and Ni2P under the same conditions. Additionally, the NiS/Ni2P/CC electrode requires a 1.67 V cell voltage to deliver 10 mA cm-2 in a two-electrode electrolysis system, which is comparable to the cell using the benchmark Pt/C||RuO2 electrode. Detailed characterizations reveal that strong electronic interactions between NiS and Ni2P, abundant active sites, and smaller charge-transfer resistance contribute to the improved HER and OER activity.

Ni/graphene Nanostructure and Its Electron-Enhanced Catalytic Action for Hydrogenation Reaction of Nitrophenol

Abstract: Two-dimensional (2D) heterostructured Ni/graphene nanocomposites were constructed via electrostatic-induced spread by following in situ-reduction growth process for magnetically recyclable catalysis of p-nitrophenol to p-aminophenol. The heterostructures with large 2D surface and moderate inflexibility enable the superior catalytic activity and selectivity toward hydrogenation reaction for p-nitrophenol. On the basis of high-efficiency utilization of Ni Nps catalysis activity and electron-enhanced effect from graphene, the coupling effect of Ni/graphene magnetic nanocomposites can lead to highly catalytic activity for the hydrogenation reaction of p-nitrophenol with the pseudo-first-order rate constants of 11.7 × 10–3 s–1, which is over 2-fold compared to Ni Nps (5.45 × 10–3 s–1) and higher than reported noble metal nanocomposites. Complete conversion of p-nitrophenol was achieved with selectivity to p-aminophenol as high as 90% under atmosphere and room temperature. Additionally, this heterostructured ma...

Nanoalloy Materials for Chemical Catalysis

Abstract: Nanoalloys (NAs), which are distinctly different from bulk alloys or single metals, take on intrinsic features including tunable components and ratios, variable constructions, reconfigurable electronic structures, and optimizable performances, which endow NAs with fascinating prospects in the catalysis field. Here, the focus is on NA materials for chemical catalysis (except photocatalysis or electrocatalysis). In terms of composition, NA systems are divided into three groups, noble metal, base metal, and noble/base metal mixed NAs. Their design and fabrication for the optimization of catalytic performance are systematically summarized. Additionally, the correlations between the composition/structure and catalytic properties are also mentioned. Lastly, the challenges faced in current research are discussed, and further pathways toward their development are suggested.

Stepwise blossoming of BiOBr nanoplate-assembled microflowers and their visible-light photocatalytic activities

Abstract: Stepwise blossoming of nanoplate-assembled BiOBr microflowers from bud to blossom structures with average diameters from 1 to 3.5 μm and nanoplate thicknesses from 25 to 120 nm is obtained in a solvothermal system through surfactant modulation and time control. The above BiOBr structures exhibit excellent visible-light photocatalytic activity toward degradation of methylene blue (MB) solution, among which the structure from a 24 h reaction gives the best photocatalytic activity. A quantitative relationship is established among crystallite size (R), specific surface area (S) and photocatalytic activity (D). The equation D = 15(R)2/5(S)1/5 offers a quantitative characterization of crystallinity-dominated photocatalytic activity.

Cocatalysts for Selective Photoreduction of CO2 into Solar Fuels.

Abstract: Photoreduction of CO2 into sustainable and green solar fuels is generally believed to be an appealing solution to simultaneously overcome both environmental problems and energy crisis. The low selectivity of challenging multi-electron CO2 photoreduction reactions makes it one of the holy grails in heterogeneous photocatalysis. This Review highlights the important roles of cocatalysts in selective photocatalytic CO2 reduction into solar fuels using semiconductor catalysts. A special emphasis in this review is placed on the key role, design considerations and modification strategies of cocatalysts for CO2 photoreduction. Various cocatalysts, such as the biomimetic, metal-based, metal-free, and multifunctional ones, and their selectivity for CO2 photoreduction are summarized and discussed, along with the recent advances in this area. This Review provides useful information for the design of highly selective cocatalysts for photo(electro)reduction and electroreduction of CO2 and complements the existing reviews on various semiconductor photocatalysts.

Bimetallic Nanocrystals: Syntheses, Properties, and Applications

Abstract: Achieving mastery over the synthesis of metal nanocrystals has emerged as one of the foremost scientific endeavors in recent years. This intense interest stems from the fact that the composition, size, and shape of nanocrystals not only define their overall physicochemical properties but also determine their effectiveness in technologically important applications. Our aim is to present a comprehensive review of recent research activities on bimetallic nanocrystals. We begin with a brief introduction to the architectural diversity of bimetallic nanocrystals, followed by discussion of the various synthetic techniques necessary for controlling the elemental ratio and spatial arrangement. We have selected key examples from the literature that exemplify critical concepts and place a special emphasis on mechanistic understanding. We then discuss the composition-dependent properties of bimetallic nanocrystals in terms of catalysis, optics, and magnetism and conclude the Review by highlighting applications that h...

Engineering BiOX (X = Cl, Br, I) nanostructures for highly efficient photocatalytic applications

Abstract: Heterogeneous photocatalysis that employs photo-excited semiconductor materials to reduce water and oxidize toxic pollutants upon solar light irradiation holds great prospects for renewable energy substitutes and environmental protection. To utilize solar light effectively, the quest for highly active photocatalysts working under visible light has always been the research focus. Layered BiOX (X = Cl, Br, I) are a kind of newly exploited efficient photocatalysts, and their light response can be tuned from UV to visible light range. The properties of semiconductors are dependent on their morphologies and compositions as well as structures, and this also offers the guidelines for design of highly-efficient photocatalysts. In this review, recent advances and emerging strategies in tailoring BiOX (X = Cl, Br, I) nanostructures to boost their photocatalytic properties are surveyed.

Recent advances in electrochemical sensing for hydrogen peroxide: a review

Abstract: Due to the significance of hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) in biological systems and its practical applications, the development of efficient electrochemical H(2)O(2) sensors holds a special attraction for researchers Various materials such as Prussian blue (PB), heme proteins, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and transition metals have been applied to the construction of H(2)O(2) sensors In this article, the electrocatalytic H(2)O(2) determinations are mainly focused on because they can provide a superior sensing performance over non-electrocatalytic ones The synergetic effect between nanotechnology and electrochemical H(2)O(2) determination is also highlighted in various aspects In addition, some recent progress for in vivo H(2)O(2) measurements is also presented Finally, the future prospects for more efficient H(2)O(2) sensing are discussed