摘要 : In recent years, non-noble high-entropy alloy catalysts have received widespread attention due to their excellent catalytic performance. In terms of preparation methods, common techniques for preparing non-noble high-entropy alloy catalysts include carbon thermal shock synthesis, rapid moving bed pyrolysis, mechanical alloying, electrochemical deposition, laser-induced reduction of thermal ion emission, and template method. These methods can effectively enhance the catalytic activity and selectivity of catalysts by precisely controlling their size, morphology, and composition, laying a solid foundation for their application in different catalytic reactions. In terms of catalytic reaction applications, non-noble high-entropy alloy catalysts have demonstrated excellent performance in many important chemical reactions such as water electrolysis, fuel cell oxygen reduction, nitrogen related reactions, and CO/CO2 conversion. For example, CuCrFeNiCoP non-noble high-entropy alloy thin films exhibit excellent characteristics of low overpotential and high current density in the electrolysis of water under alkaline conditions, and their performance is superior to commercial Pt/C catalysts. But the problem still exists. Firstly, how to further optimize the synthesis technology to reduce costs, improve production efficiency, and achieve large-scale preparation; Secondly, it is necessary to continue exploring its performance in various catalytic reactions, deeply studying the relationship between the structure and performance of catalysts, in order to improve their catalytic performance; Finally, strengthen interdisciplinary research and combine knowledge and technology from multiple disciplines such as materials science, chemistry, and physics to provide new ideas and methods for the design and preparation of high entropy alloy catalysts.

摘要 : Supercapacitors exhibit important application value in new energy vehicles, smart grids, and wearable devices due to their high-power density, long cycle life, and wide temperature adaptability. However, the core bottleneck lies in traditional carbon-based electrode materials suffering from inefficient pore structures, surface chemical inertness, and unsustainable preparation processes. Here, we successfully constructed Celosia cristata L.-like N, O co-doped porous carbon electrode materials by simple high-temperature pyrolysis, using histidine as both the carbon precursor and self-doping source, and combining with the structure directing agent (zinc acetate) to modulate homogeneous dispersion of Zn 2+ through coordination chemistry. The optimized carbonaceous products exhibited mesoporous network structure (specific surface area of 1145 m 2 g −1 ), with a high specific capacitance of 241 F g −1 at a current density of 0.1 A g −1 . The assembled symmetric supercapacitor demonstrates excellent electrochemical performance, maintaining 80 F g −1 at a high current density of 20 A g −1 and a capacity retention of 96.7 % after 40, 000 cycles at 5 A g −1 . This strategy enables molecular-scale anchoring coordination of metal ions through precise design of biomass molecules, effectively solving the problem of pore structure damage caused by metal aggregation in traditional templating methods. It provides a universal solution for developing high-performance, low-cost, and eco-friendly supercapacitor electrode materials.

摘要 : Salt crystallization at evaporation interfaces severely limits the efficiency and durability of solar-driven desalination systems, hindering their practical application. Here, we employed alkali-treated and dried rattan waste to construct a solar evaporator with a hierarchically porous substrate, and further incorporated poly-dopamine (PDA) to prepare the PDA-modified rattan evaporator (PDA-AR), achieving synergistically enhanced evaporation efficiency and long-term salt resistance. PDA-AR features contracted macroscopic pores (100–200 μm) and a dense framework, which increases the effective evaporation area. In a 20 wt% salt solution, PDA-AR exhibits a high evaporation rate (1.47 kg·m− 2·h− 1) and high photothermal efficiency (90.4%). And it maintains stable salt resistance for 30 consecutive cycles. Mechanistic studies reveal that PDA-AR enhances capillary forces and hydrogen bonding through pore contraction, thereby improving water transport capability and compressive strength via rapid salt dissolution. Furthermore, PDA-AR exhibits strong environmental adaptability, effectively purifying dye-contaminated water, as confirmed by UV–vis absorption spectra showing removal of methylene blue (~ 291 and ~ 664 nm) and methyl orange (~ 273 and ~ 465 nm). This work highlights microstructure regulation as a viable strategy to optimize solar evaporators, offering scalable solutions for sustainable desalination and water purification.

摘要 : The development of cost-efficient and highly efficient catalysts is critical to produce green hydrogen through electrocatalytic water splitting. Herein, a highly active electrocatalyst composed of Co 9 S 8 /Cr 2 S 3 heterojunction nanoparticles grown on carbonized wood (Co 9 S 8 /Cr 2 S 3/ CW) is reported. Density functional theory (DFT) simulations validate that the growth of Cr 2 S 3 can induce interface charge rearrangement in Co 9 S 8 /Cr 2 S 3 heterojunctions, which optimized the adsorption energy of HER/OER intermediates, resulting in high electrocatalytic performances. Specifically, The Co 9 S 8 /Cr 2 S 3/ CW catalyst requires overpotentials of 280 and 344 mV to drive a current density of 100 mA cm −2 for the OER and HER, respectively. Besides, as-prepared Co 9 S 8 /Cr 2 S 3/ CW bifunctional catalyst is used as the cathode and anode of assembling two-electrode electrolyzer. The electrolyzer illustrates a low voltage of 1.87 V for overall water splitting to achieve a current density of 100 mA cm −2 . This work provides important reference and guidance for achieving high electrocatalytic activity by regulating the electronic structure of catalyst through heterojunction construction strategy.

摘要 : The composite of wood-derived carbon and metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) is an effective strategy for improving the performance of supercapacitor electrodes, but there are still issues such as low MOF loading, insufficient wood carbon conductivity, and poor structural stability. This study developed a universal strategy for growing MOFs on a wood-based substrate to synthesize composite materials. DBD plasma technology is first applied for the in situ rapid growth of MOFs on woody surfaces. After carbonization, the composite material can be directly used as a self-supporting thick electrode for supercapacitors. The inherent porous network of the wood synergistically interacts with MOF crystals to optimize the pore structure, enabling the P-ZIF-8@CW electrode to achieve a remarkable specific areal capacitance of 10.05F cm −2 . The symmetric supercapacitor assembled using this electrode achieves an energy density of 0.55 mWh cm −2 at a power density of 2500 mW cm −2, with a capacitance retention rate of 93.76 % after 40, 000 cycles.

摘要 : Zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs), a subclass of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), have attracted significant attention due to their unique properties and potential applications. ZIFs are composed of metal ions and imidazole linkers and possess a zeolite-like topology. This unique structure endows ZIFs with excellent porosity and thermal stability. This paper analyzes how various nanostructured morphologies derived from ZIF-8 and ZIF-67 precursors significantly influence the electrochemical performance of supercapacitors. The classification of nanostructured morphologies highlights their crucial role in modulating the electrochemical behavior of supercapacitors and significantly enhances their electrochemical performance. Our discussion not only covers the synthesis and characterization of these nanostructures but also emphasizes their core role in shaping the electrochemical properties of the resulting materials. As the research field centered on ZIF-based supercapacitors continues to evolve, innovative achievements based on ZIF-8 and ZIF-67 will redefine the standards of energy storage and pave the way for groundbreaking technological advancements.

摘要 : The development of carbon-based cathodes with tailored pore structures is critical but challenging for high-performance aqueous zinc-ion capacitors (ZICs). Herein, a dual-template strategy is proposed by employing cesium ions (Cs + ) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) to synthesize hierarchical porous carbon aerogel nanofibers (CANF) from cellulose acetate. This method facilitates the formation of interconnected micropores (1–1.3 nm) and mesopores (2.6–10 nm), which are ideally suited for the transport of hydrated [Zn(H 2 O) 6 ] 2+ ions (0.86 nm) and partially desolvated Zn 2+ ions (0.2–0.86 nm) into the material interior, thereby promoting the formation of a thinner electric double layer. The optimized CANF 25 –700 electrode delivers a high specific capacity of 226 mAh g −1 at 0.1 A g −1 and retains 103 mAh g −1 at 10 A g −1, alongside excellent cycling stability over 96, 000 cycles. In situ EIS, ex situ XRD and XPS analyses reveal that reversible Zn 4 SO 4 (OH) 6 ·3H 2 O phase transitions and dynamic interactions between Zn 2+ and surface carbonyl groups dominate the charge storage mechanism. Additionally, a quasi-solid-state ZIC assembled with CANF 25 –700 demonstrates mechanical flexibility, powering LEDs and retaining 91.1 % capacity after 9800 cycles. This work provides a robust platform for rational pore-size engineering and unveils critical insights into Zn 2+ storage mechanisms, offering new opportunities for designing high-rate, long-life, and flexible ZICs.

摘要 : Biomass represented by agricultural and forestry wastes is an excellent class of carbon source, which possesses developed pore structure and abundant oxygen-containing functional groups after carbonization. In this study, porous activated carbon materials were prepared by pyrolysis in a household microwave oven using pine wood powder as the raw material, KHCO 3 as the microwave absorber and activator, and ZnCl 2 -KCl molten salt as the reaction medium. The microstructure and surface properties of the activated carbon were resolved and the adsorption effect and mechanism of action on methylene blue were investigated. The effects of the concentration of KHCO 3 solution, soaking time and microwave time on the adsorption properties of carbon materials were studied. Appropriate soaking concentration and microwave time are beneficial to the increase of specific surface area and number of active functional groups of carbon. The outstanding adsorption performance (179.25 mg g −1 ) was attributed to the high specific surface area (935 m 2 g −1 ) and abundant oxygen-containing functional groups provided by the microwave-molten salt-activation method. In addition, activated carbon has a large adsorption capacity for a variety of dyes. Molten salt assisted microwave-induced carbothermal shock offers a more economical and rapid strategy for the synthesis of activated carbon which is promising for various applications.

摘要 : The discharge of Cr(VI)-containing wastewater from the leather and printing industries poses a significant threat to both the ecosystem and human health. However, developing a cost-effective method to produce high-performance Cr(VI) decontamination materials remains a considerable challenge. In this study, lignocellulose was utilized as a biomass template to synthesize a green nano-iron-modified biochar mosaic-textured composite (C-nFe@BCFT) through the calcination of a precursor material (P-nFe@BCFT) for Cr(VI) removal. Structural and morphological analyses confirmed the successful assembly and uniform dispersion of smaller green nano-iron particles with higher Fe(II) content on the heterogeneous surface. Compared to the larger nano-iron particles distributed on the smooth surface of P-nFe@BCFT, the rough surface of C-nFe@BCFT provided multilayer active sites, enhancing redox reactions for more efficient Cr(VI) reduction. Under optimized conditions (pH = 2.0, T = 298.15 K), the maximum Cr(VI) removal capacity of C-nFe@BCFT (263.8 mg·g −1 ) was significantly higher than that of P-nFe@BCFT (152 mg·g −1 ). This work presents a promising strategy for developing green and sustainable materials using a biomass template for the effective transformation of highly toxic Cr(VI) into the less toxic Cr(III), contributing to improved wastewater treatment.

摘要 : Natural woods are increasingly recognized as promising green candidates for high areal capacity wood-based hard carbon thick electrodes (WHCTEs). Their unique 3-D transport network features abundant straight, open channels aligned along the longitudinal direction, which has attracted significant attention in recent years. However, direct carbonization yields underdeveloped pore structures, restricting electrochemical active surfaces and lithium storage performance. To address this issue, calcium acetate (Ca(AC)2) was employed as a templating agent to engineer hierarchical porous architectures. Systematic studies reveal adjustable Ca(AC)2 dosage effectively modulates pore structures, with BET analysis confirming meso-/macropore distributions (2–130 nm) in all samples. This optimized porosity reduces electrode impedance and enhances lithium storage, delivering record areal capacities of 6.81/3.89 mAh cm-2 at 0.1/1.0 mA cm-2, which is 190%/110% higher than commercial graphite electrode (3.5–3.6 mAh cm-2. Kinetic analysis further identifies an "adsorption-insertion" dual lithium storage mechanism. The widely distributed porosity significantly contributes to performance improvements, demonstrating a viable strategy for developing sustainable WHCTEs. These findings provide critical insights for designing thick carbon electrodes in alkali-metal-ion batteries.