Rui-Ning Wang

TL;DR: In this paper, an efficient non-noble catalysts for the ALH evolution reaction (HER) was proposed for a clean energy system, and an efficient alkaline HER electroca...

TL;DR: In this article, the defect induced light absorption in anatase TiO 2 hollow spheres could be reduced by Mg doping, and the defect states evolution was investigated by the transient infrared absorption-excitation energy scanning spectroscopic measurement (TRIRA-EESS).

Abstract: Hierarchically structured nitrogen-doped carbon nanotube (NCNT) composites, with copper (Cu) nanoparticles embedded uniformly within the nanotube walls and cobalt oxide (CoxOy) nanoparticles decorated on the nanotube surfaces, are fabricated via a combinational process. This process involves the growth of Cu embedded CNTs by low- and high-temperature chemical vapor deposition, post-treatment with ammonia for nitrogen doping of these CNTs, precipitation-assisted separation of NCNTs from cobalt nitrate aqueous solution, and finally thermal annealing for CoxOy decoration. Theoretical calculations show that interaction of Cu nanoparticles with CNT walls can effectively decrease the work function of CNT surfaces and improve adsorption of hydroxyl ions onto the CNT surfaces. Thus, the activities of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) are significantly enhanced. Because of this benefit, further nitrogen doping, and synergistic coupling between CoxOy and NCNTs, Cu@NCNT/CoxOy composites exhibit ORR activity comparable to that of commercial Pt/C catalysts and high OER activity (outperforming that of IrO2 catalysts). More importantly, the composites display superior long-term stability for both ORR and OER. This simple but general synthesis protocol can be extended to design and synthesis of other metal/metal oxide systems for fabrication of high-performance carbon-based electrocatalysts with multifunctional catalytic activities.

TL;DR: This study demonstrates that the spin crossover, based on the Stark effect, is achieved in this molecular junction under an electric bias but not in the isolated molecule under external electric fields.

TL;DR: In this article, a spin filtering effect was found in a nanoribbon with B atoms on both sides to obtain a metallic ribbon, and in one segment of this ribbon which acts as the scattering region, the B atoms at one edge are substituted by C atoms or by N atoms.