Molecular self-assembly is the spontaneous association of molecules under equilibrium conditions into stable, structurally well-defined aggregates joined by noncovalent bonds. Molecular self-assembly is ubiquitous in biological systems and underlies the formation of a wide variety of complex biological structures. Understanding self-assembly and the associated noncovalent interactions that connect complementary interacting molecular surfaces in biological aggregates is a central concern in structural biochemistry. Self-assembly is also emerging as a new strategy in chemical synthesis, with the potential of generating nonbiological structures with dimensions of 1 to 10(2) nanometers (with molecular weights of 10(4) to 10(10) daltons). Structures in the upper part of this range of sizes are presently inaccessible through chemical synthesis, and the ability to prepare them would open a route to structures comparable in size (and perhaps complementary in function) to those that can be prepared by microlithography and other techniques of microfabrication.

Molecular self-assembly and nanochemistry: A chemical strategy for the synthesis of nanostructures

The detection methods and generation mechanisms of the intrinsic reactive oxygen species (ROS), i.e., superoxide anion radical (•O2–), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), singlet oxygen (1O2), and hydroxyl radical (•OH) in photocatalysis, were surveyed comprehensively. Consequently, the major photocatalyst used in heterogeneous photocatalytic systems was found to be TiO2. However, besides TiO2 some representative photocatalysts were also involved in the discussion. Among the various issues we focused on the detection methods and generation reactions of ROS in the aqueous suspensions of photocatalysts. On the careful account of the experimental results presented so far, we proposed the following apprehension: adsorbed •OH could be regarded as trapped holes, which are involved in a rapid adsorption–desorption equilibrium at the TiO2–solution interface. Because the equilibrium shifts to the adsorption side, trapped holes must be actually the dominant oxidation species whereas •OH in solution would exert the reactivity...

Generation and Detection of Reactive Oxygen Species in Photocatalysis

A review on g-C3N4-based photocatalysts

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is broadly recognised as having the potential to play a key role in meeting climate change targets, delivering low carbon heat and power, decarbonising industry and, more recently, its ability to facilitate the net removal of CO2 from the atmosphere. However, despite this broad consensus and its technical maturity, CCS has not yet been deployed on a scale commensurate with the ambitions articulated a decade ago. Thus, in this paper we review the current state-of-the-art of CO2 capture, transport, utilisation and storage from a multi-scale perspective, moving from the global to molecular scales. In light of the COP21 commitments to limit warming to less than 2 °C, we extend the remit of this study to include the key negative emissions technologies (NETs) of bioenergy with CCS (BECCS), and direct air capture (DAC). Cognisant of the non-technical barriers to deploying CCS, we reflect on recent experience from the UK's CCS commercialisation programme and consider the commercial and political barriers to the large-scale deployment of CCS. In all areas, we focus on identifying and clearly articulating the key research challenges that could usefully be addressed in the coming decade.

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Carbon capture and storage (CCS): the way forward

Hydrogen fuel is considered as the cleanest renewable resource and the primary alternative to fossil fuels for future energy supply. Sustainable hydrogen generation is the major prerequisite to realize future hydrogen economy. The electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), as the vital step of water electrolysis to H2 production, has been the subject of extensive study over the past decades. In this comprehensive review, we first summarize the fundamentals of HER and review the recent state-of-the-art advances in the low-cost and high-performance catalysts based on noble and non-noble metals, as well as metal-free HER electrocatalysts. We systemically discuss the insights into the relationship among the catalytic activity, morphology, structure, composition, and synthetic method. Strategies for developing an effective catalyst, including increasing the intrinsic activity of active sites and/or increasing the number of active sites, are summarized and highlighted. Finally, the challenges, perspectives, and research directions of HER electrocatalysis are featured.

Recent Advances in Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution Using Nanoparticles.

Highly-dispersed CoS2/N-doped carbon nanoparticles anchored on RGO skeleton as a hierarchical composite counter electrode for quantum dot sensitized solar cells

Catalytic ozonation for low-temperature NOX (x = 1, 2) removal with OH radicals over Cu doped Ce0.90Co0.10O2 − δ catalysts and mechanism analysis

Hydrothermal reaction in Cerium and Gadolinium solution as an optimization method is developed and first reported for the densification of gadolinia doped ceria, the barrier layer between Zirconia electrolyte and (La,Sr)(Co,Fe)O3-δ cathode. This method is based on the hydrothermal reaction for nano particles in-situly grown on porous surface, to improve barrier layer density, alongside the sintering of cathode at 1075 °C. As a result, the ohmic resistance is prominently decreased by ∼16.4 % at 750 °C for electrolyte supported symmetrical cell. Whereas, the cathode polarization resistance is decreased by as much as a factor of ∼3 from 0.3702 Ω·cm2 to 0.1325 Ω·cm2 at 750 °C and p O 2 = 0.21 a t m . Furthermore, the anode supported cell exhibits higher open circuit voltage, smaller area specific resistance, elevated performance output and less degradation. And this modified barrier layer shows reduced Sr migration in 300 h operation at 750 °C. The hydrothermal reaction is demonstrated to prepare denser and sintering-active barrier layer with faster oxygen ion transfer and better interface connection, with large-scale application prospects and cost-competitiveness.

Lower down both ohmic and cathode polarization resistances of solid oxide fuel cell via hydrothermal modified gadolinia doped ceria barrier layer

Effect of Small Nb-doping Amount on the Performance of BaCoO3-δ-based Perovskite as Bifunctional Oxygen Catalysts

In this study, the widely studied MnCe (MnOx–CeO2) catalyst prepared by the co-precipitation method was used for investigating the effects of oxygen in the calcination atmosphere (referred as Oca) on its catalytic performance for NO oxidation. The evaluation of catalytic performance showed that MnCe-O (calcined in O2/Ar) exhibited a much lower NO conversion in comparison with MnCe-A (calcined in Ar) catalyst. The characterization results revealed that Oca could cause the sintering of MnCe catalysts and then reduce the surface area, which decreased the active sites for catalytic reaction. Simultaneously, Oca inhibited the incorporation of Mn ions into CeO2 lattice, which could weaken the interaction between MnOx and CeO2 supports. This weak interaction decreased the amounts of active oxygen species and weakened the redox properties of MnCe catalyst. Furthermore, the nitrate species adsorbed on MnCe-O was more stable than that on MnCe-A. Therefore, the inferior catalytic performance of MnCe-O could be attributed to the collective effect of low concentration active sites and active oxygen species, poor redox properties and stable adsorbed nitrate species.

Qin Zhong

Papers

Highly-dispersed CoS2/N-doped carbon nanoparticles anchored on RGO skeleton as a hierarchical composite counter electrode for quantum dot sensitized solar cells

Catalytic ozonation for low-temperature NOX (x = 1, 2) removal with OH radicals over Cu doped Ce0.90Co0.10O2 − δ catalysts and mechanism analysis

Lower down both ohmic and cathode polarization resistances of solid oxide fuel cell via hydrothermal modified gadolinia doped ceria barrier layer

Effect of Small Nb-doping Amount on the Performance of BaCoO3-δ-based Perovskite as Bifunctional Oxygen Catalysts

The inhibition effect of oxygen in the calcination atmosphere on the catalytic performance of MnO x –CeO 2 catalysts for NO oxidation