Southwest University

About: Southwest University is a education organization based out in Chongqing, China. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Bombyx mori. The organization has 29772 authors who have published 27755 publications receiving 409441 citations. The organization is also known as: Southwest University in Chongqing & SWU.

Strong Electronic Interaction Enhanced Electrocatalysis of Metal Sulfide Clusters Embedded Metal-Organic Framework Ultrathin Nanosheets toward Highly Efficient Overall Water Splitting.

Abstract: Unique metal sulfide (MS) clusters embedded ultrathin nanosheets of Fe/Ni metal-organic framework (MOF) are grown on nickel foam (NiFe-MS/MOF@NF) as a highly efficient bifunctional electrocatalyst for overall water splitting. It exhibits remarkable catalytic activity and stability toward both the oxygen evolution reaction (OER, ƞ = 230 mV at 50 mA cm-2) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER, ƞ = 156 mV at 50 mA cm-2) in alkaline media, and bi-functionally catalyzes overall alkaline water splitting at a current density of 50 mA cm-2 by 1.74 V cell voltage without iR compensation. The enhancement mechanism is ascribed to the impregnated metal sulfide clusters in the nanosheets, which not only promote the formation of ultrathin nanosheet to greatly enlarge the reaction surface area while offering high electric conductivity, but more importantly, efficiently modulate the electronic structure of the catalytically active atom sites to an electron-rich state via strong electronic interaction and strengthen the adsorption of oxygenate intermediate to facilitate fast electrochemical reactions. This work reports a highly efficient HER/OER bifunctional electrocatalyst and may shed light on the rational design and synthesis of uniquely structured MOF-derived catalysts.

Sustainable Epoxy Vitrimers from Epoxidized Soybean Oil and Vanillin

Abstract: Epoxidized soybean oil (ESO)-derived epoxy thermosets are usually limited by their poor mechanical properties and non-reprocessability. Herein, we report sustainable epoxy vitrimers synthesized fac...

Highly conductive and metallic cobalt-nickel selenide nanorods supported on Ni foam as an efficient electrocatalyst for alkaline water splitting.

Abstract: Water splitting has long been considered as a promising chemical reaction that can produce clean hydrogen fuel to relieve the energy crisis and environmental pollution. Herein, we report that Co0.75Ni0.25Se/NF formed by two-step growth of metallic cobalt–nickel selenide nanorods on porous nickel foam was used as a bifunctional electrocatalyst. Ni foam serves as a slow-releasing nickel source together with a Co source to form a special proportional cobalt–nickel selenide. Due to its unique rough nanostructure, bimetallic cooperative effects and intrinsic metallic character, the obtained Co0.75Ni0.25Se/NF electrode exhibits a low overpotential of 269 mV (50 mA cm−2) for the oxygen evolution reaction and an overpotential of 106 mV (10 mA cm−2) for the hydrogen evolution reaction. Furthermore, this bifunctional electrocatalyst requires a cell voltage of 1.60 V to achieve a current density of 10 mA cm−2. Besides, based on theoretical calculation, it is further shown that the synergy between Co and Ni elements is beneficial for improving the internal structure of the catalyst, resulting in a high electrical conductivity, and low HER Gibbs free-energy and water adsorption energy. The present results indicate that Co0.75Ni0.25Se/NF exhibits advanced electrocatalytic activity for overall water splitting. This work offers an appropriate methodology and theoretical guidance to synthesize a bimetal–selenide electrocatalyst for water splitting.