Nankai University

About: Nankai University is a education organization based out in Tianjin, China. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Catalysis & Adsorption. The organization has 42964 authors who have published 51866 publications receiving 1127896 citations. The organization is also known as: Nánkāi Dàxué.

An Ion-Imprinted Functionalized Silica Gel Sorbent Prepared by a Surface Imprinting Technique Combined with a Sol−Gel Process for Selective Solid-Phase Extraction of Cadmium(II)

Abstract: A new ion-imprinted thiol-functionalized silica gel sorbent was synthesized by a surface imprinting technique in combination with a sol−gel process for selective on-line, solid-phase extraction of Cd(II). The Cd(II)-imprinted thiol-functionalized silica sorbent was characterized by FT-IR, the static adsorption−desorption experiment, and the dynamic adsorption−desorption method. The maximum static adsorption capacity of the ion-imprinted functionalized sorbent was 284 μmol g-1. The largest selectivity coefficient for Cd(II) in the presence of Pb(II) was over 220. The static uptake capacity and selectivity coefficient of the ion-imprinted functionalized sorbent are higher than those of the nonimprinted sorbent. The breakthrough capacity and dynamic capacity of the imprinted functionalized silica gel sorbent for 4 mg L-1 of Cd(II) at 5.2 mL min-1 of sample flow rate were 11.7 and 64.3 μmol g-1, respectively. No remarkable effect of sample flow rate on the dynamic capacity was observed as the sample flow rate...

FeS2 /CoS2 Interface Nanosheets as Efficient Bifunctional Electrocatalyst for Overall Water Splitting.

Abstract: Electrochemical water splitting to produce hydrogen and oxygen, as an important reaction for renewable energy storage, needs highly efficient and stable catalysts. Herein, FeS2 /CoS2 interface nanosheets (NSs) as efficient bifunctional electrocatalysts for overall water splitting are reported. The thickness and interface disordered structure with rich defects of FeS2 /CoS2 NSs are confirmed by atomic force microscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. Furthermore, extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy clarifies that FeS2 /CoS2 NSs with sulfur vacancies, which can further increase electrocatalytic performance. Benefiting from the interface nanosheets' structure with abundant defects, the FeS2 /CoS2 NSs show remarkable hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) performance with a low overpotential of 78.2 mV at 10 mA cm-2 and a superior stability for 80 h in 1.0 m KOH, and an overpotential of 302 mV at 100 mA cm-2 for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). More importantly, the FeS2 /CoS2 NSs display excellent performance for overall water splitting with a voltage of 1.47 V to achieve current density of 10 mA cm-2 and maintain the activity for at least 21 h. The present work highlights the importance of engineering interface nanosheets with rich defects based on transition metal dichalcogenides for boosting the HER and OER performance.

Solution Processable Rhodanine‐Based Small Molecule Organic Photovoltaic Cells with a Power Conversion Efficiency of 6.1%

Abstract: In the past few years, great progress has been made in organic photovoltaic (OPV) cells for an alternate of silicon semiconductorbased solar cells. OPV has the advantages of clean, low-cost, flexibility, and the possibility of roll-to-roll production.[1–4] Currently, most of the works have been focused on polymer donor molecules using bulk heterojunction (BHJ) architecture and [6,6]-phenyl-C61–butyric acid methyl ester (PC61BM) as the acceptor.[5,6] Indeed, in addition to the currently better OPV performance than small molecules, polymers have the advantages for such as better film forming quality and so on.[7] However, it cannot be denied that there are disadvantages for polymer-based OPV, such as batch to batch reproducibility, difficulty of purification, and so on. In contrast, small molecules intrinsically do not have such flaws;[8] additionally, their band structures could be tuned easily with much more choices of chemical modification. Furthermore, small molecules generally have higher charge mobility and open voltages.[9,10] However, even with these advantages, small-molecule-based OPV cells have not been investigated as intensively as that of their polymer counterparts because one of the major problems for small molecules is their generally poor film quality when using the simple solution spinning process.[11] This has been hampering their performance, and indeed their power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) (4%–5%)[12–18] are still significantly lower compared with that (>7%)[19–25] from polymers. It is thus expected that better PCE could be achieved when their intrinsic bad film quality and morphology in BHJ architecture could be improved combining with their other advantages. But to achieve this, careful molecule design has to be carried out to address many factors collectively, including their molar absorption, morphology compatibility with the acceptors for a better film quality, and so on.

The First Introduction of Graphene to Rechargeable Li–CO2 Batteries

Abstract: The utilization of the greenhouse gas CO2 in energy-storage systems is highly desirable. It is now shown that the introduction of graphene as a cathode material significantly improves the performance of Li-CO2 batteries. Such batteries display a superior discharge capacity and enhanced cycle stability. Therefore, graphene can act as an efficient cathode in Li-CO2 batteries, and it provides a novel approach for simultaneously capturing CO2 and storing energy.

Multi-functional electrospun nanofibres for advances in tissue regeneration, energy conversion & storage, and water treatment.

Abstract: Tissue regeneration, energy conversion & storage, and water treatment are some of the most critical challenges facing humanity in the 21st century. In order to address such challenges, one-dimensional (1D) materials are projected to play a key role in developing emerging solutions for the increasingly complex problems. Eletrospinning technology has been demonstrated to be a simple, versatile, and cost-effective method in fabricating a rich variety of materials with 1D nanostructures. These include polymers, composites, and inorganic materials with unique chemical and physical properties. In this tutorial review, we first give a brief introduction to electrospun materials with a special emphasis on the design, fabrication, and modification of 1D functional materials. Adopting the perspective of chemists and materials scientists, we then focus on the recent significant progress made in the domains of tissue regeneration (e.g., skin, nerve, heart and bone) and conversion & storage of clean energy (e.g., solar cells, fuel cells, batteries, and supercapacitors), where nanofibres have been used as active nanomaterials. Furthermore, this review's scope also includes the advances in the use of electrospun materials for the removal of heavy metal ions, organic pollutants, gas and bacteria in water treatment applications. Finally a conclusion and perspective is provided, in which we discuss the remaining challenges for 1D electrospun nanomaterials in tissue regeneration, energy conversion & storage, and water treatment.