Ni1−xCoxSe2?C/ZnIn2S4 Hybrid Nanocages with Strong 2D/2D Hetero-Interface Interaction Enable Efficient H2-Releasing Photocatalysis

Designing a semiconductor-based heterostructure photocatalyst for achieving the efficient separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs is highly important for enhancing H₂ releasing photocatalysis. Here, a new class of Ni_1−xCo_xSe₂–C/ZnIn₂S₄ hierarchical nanocages with abundant and compact ZnIn₂S₄ nanosheets/Ni_1−xCo_xSe₂^ C nanosheets 2D/2D hetero–interfaces, is designed and synthesized. The constructed heterostructure photocatalyst exposes rich hetero-junctions, supplying the broad and short transfer paths for charge carriers. The close contacts of these two kinds of nanosheets induce a strong interaction between ZnIn₂S₄ and Ni_1−xCo_xSe₂ C, improving the separation and transfer of photo-generated electron-hole pairs. As a consequence, the distinctive Ni_1−xCo_xSe₂ C/ZnIn₂S₄ hierarchical nanocages without using additional noble-metal cocatalysts, display remarkable H₂-relaesing photocatalytic activity with a rate of 5.10 mmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹ under visible light irradiation, which is 6.2 and 30 times higher than those of fresh ZnIn₂S₄ nanosheets and bare Ni_1−xCo_xSe₂ C nanocages, respectively. Spectroscopic characterizations and theory calculations reveal that the strong interaction between ZnIn₂S₄ and Ni_1−xCo_xSe₂ C 2D/2D hetero-interfaces can powerfully promote the separation of photo-generated charge carriers and the electrons transfer from ZnIn₂S₄ to Ni_1−xCo_xSe₂ C.     

Superior Low-Temperature Reversible Adhesion Based on Bio-Inspired Microfibrillar Adhesives Fabricated by Phenyl Containing Polydimethylsiloxane Elastomers

Gecko-inspired microfibrillar adhesives have achieved great progress in microstructure design and adhesion improvement over the past two decades. Space applications nowadays show great interest in this material for the characteristics of reversible adhesion and universal van der Waals interactions. However, the impact of harsh environment of space on the performance of microfibrillar adhesives, especially the extreme low temperature, is rarely addressed. Herein, microfibrillar adhesives fabricated by phenyl containing polydimethylsiloxane (p-PDMS) elastomers with superior low-temperature reversible adhesion is proposed. p-PDMS elastomers are synthesized through one-pot anionic ring-opening copolymerization, and the resulting elastomers become non-crystallizable with excellent low-temperature elasticity. Low-temperature adhesion tests demonstrate that the adhesion strength of microfibrillar adhesives fabricated by p-PDMS elastomers can be well maintained to as low as −120 °C. In contrast, the adhesion strength of pure PDMS microfibrillar adhesive reduces more than 50% below its crystallization temperature. The low-temperature cyclic adhesion tests further demonstrate that p-PDMS microfibrillar adhesives exhibit superior reversible adhesion compared to that of PDMS microfibrillar adhesives, owing to the sustainable conformal contact and even distribution of loads over repeated cycles. This study provides a new fabrication strategy for microfibrillar adhesives, and is beneficial for the practical application of microfibrillar adhesives.     

Approximation Optimal Vibration Control with Applications to Jacket Offshore Platforms with Nonlinear Dynamic Characteristics

International Journal of Control, Automation and Systems - The vibration control problem of offshore jacket platforms is studied. The model of offshore platforms with nonlinear interactions of the...     

Ni2P(O)–Fe2P(O)/CeOx as high effective bifunctional catalyst for overall water splitting

The development of cost-effective bifunctional catalysts with excellent performance and good stability is of great significance for overall water splitting. In this work, NiFe layered double hydroxides (LDHs) nanosheets are prepared on nickel foam by hydrothermal method, and then Ni₂P(O)–Fe₂P(O)/CeO_x nanosheets are in situ synthesized by electrodeposition and phosphating on NiFe LDHs. The obtained self-supporting Ni₂P(O)–Fe₂P(O)/CeO_x exhibit excellent catalytic performances in alkaline solution due to more active sites and fast electron transport. When the current density is 10 mA cm^?2, the overpotential of hydrogen evolution reaction and oxygen evolution reaction are 75 mV and 268 mV, respectively. In addition, driven by two Ni₂P(O)–Fe₂P(O)/CeO_x electrodes, the alkaline battery can reach 1.45 V at 10 mA cm^?2.     

A highly active composite electrocatalyst Ni–Fe–P–Nb2O5/NF for overall water splitting

This work demonstrates a facile Nb₂O₅-decorated electrocatalyst to prepare cost-effective Ni–Fe–P–Nb₂O₅/NF and compared HER & OER performance in alkaline media. The prepared electrocatalyst presented an outstanding electrocatalytic performance towards hydrogen evolution reaction, which required a quite low overpotential of 39.05 mV at the current density of ?10 mA cm^?2 in 1 M KOH electrolyte. Moreover, the Ni–Fe–P–Nb₂O₅/NF catalyst also has excellent oxygen evolution efficiency, which needs only 322 mV to reach the current density of 50 mA cm^?2. Furthermore, its electrocatalytic performance towards overall water splitting worked as both cathode and anode achieved a quite low potential of 1.56 V (10 mA cm^?2).     

Ni-Foam Structured Ni-Phyllosilicate Ensemble as an Efficient Monolithic Catalyst for CO2 Methanation

This work proposed a new path to synthesize Ni-phyllosilicate through the reaction of nickel hydroxide and silica sol on the surface of Ni-foam to form the monolithic Ni-phyllosilicate/Ni-foam catalyst. Ni-phyllosilicate could reprint the morphology of nickel hydroxid and firmly anchor on the framework of Ni-foam, which obtained fine Ni particles of 2.8 nm after reduction in H₂ at 650 °C, resulting in high catalytic activity for CO₂ methanation. In addition, the Ni-phyllosilicate/Ni-foam catalyst showed high long-term stability in a 100 h-lifetime test owing to the combined effects of surface confinement of Ni-phyllosilicate, firm anchoring between Ni-phyllosilicate and Ni-foam, as well as the high heat transfer property of Ni-foam.

Graphical Abstract

     

Three-dimensional Ni2P–MoP2 mesoporous nanorods array as self-standing electrocatalyst for highly efficient hydrogen evolution

Electrochemical hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) via the splitting of water has required electrocatalysts with cost-effectiveness, environmentally friendliness, high catalytic activity, and superior stability to meet the hydrogen economy in future. In this context, we report the successful synthesis of self-standing mesoporous Ni₂P–MoP₂ nanorod arrays on nickel foam (Ni₂P–MoP₂ NRs/3D-NF) through an effective phosphidization of the corresponding NiMoO₄ NRs/3D-NF. The as-synthesis Ni₂P–MoP₂ NRs/3D-NF, as an efficient HER electrocatalyst, exhibits small overpotential of 82.2 and 124.7 mV to reach current density of 10 and 50 mA cm⁻², a low Tafel slope of 52.9 mV dec⁻¹ and it retains its catalytic performance for at least 20 h in alkaline condition. Our work also offers a new strategy in designing and using transition metal phosphide-based 3D nanoarrays catalysts with enhanced catalytic efficiency for mass production of hydrogen fuels.     

Determination of a suitable index for a solvent via two-column extractive distillation using a heuristic method

The traditional approach to solvent selection in the extractive distillation process strictly focuses on the change in the relative volatility of light-heavy components induced by the solvent. However, the total annual cost of the process may not be minimal when the solvent induces the largest change in relative volatility. This work presents a heuristic method for selecting the optimal solvent to minimize the total annual cost. The functional relationship between the relative volatility and the total annual cost is established, where the main factors, such as the relative volatility of the light-heavy components and the relative volatility of the heavy-component solvent, are taken into account. Binary azeotropic mixtures of methanol-toluene and methanol-acetone are separated to verify the feasibility of the model. The results show that using the solvent with the minimal two-column extractive distillation index, the process achieves a minimal total annual cost. The method is conducive for sustainable advancements in chemistry and engineering because a suitable solvent can be selected without simulation verification.     

Self-supported Ni2P nanotubes coated with FeP nanoparticles electrocatalyst (FeP@Ni2P/NF) for oxygen evolution reaction

Bimetallic phosphides have been widely investigated as electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) due to their efficient activity and environmental friendliness. While the reasonable design and controllable synthesis of bimetallic phosphide with typical nanostructure is still a great challenge. Hence, we put forward a novel and straightforward way for constructing FeP nanoparticles coated Ni₂P ultrathin nanotube arrays on the surface of Ni foil (FeP@Ni₂P/NF), which is synthesized through two steps of electrodeposition and subsequent in-situ phosphorization process. The obtained FeP@Ni₂P/NF shows excellent electrochemical activity for OER, and it only needs potential of 1.52 V vs. RHE to reach the current density of 50 mA cm⁻² in an alkaline media. The excellent electrocatalytic activity of FeP@Ni₂P/NF mainly benefits from: (i) the synergistic effect between FeP and Ni₂P promoting electron transfer; (ii) the formation of the unique 3D ultrathin nanotube arrays increasing the quantity of active sites and avoiding the agglomeration of catalysts during testing. In addition, the influence of reaction condition on the electrochemical activity for OER has also been investigated through altering the phosphorization temperature of precursor.