Defect-rich MoS2 ultrathin nanosheets are synthesized on a gram scale for electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution. The novel defect-rich structure introduces additional active edge sites into the nanosheets, which significantly improves their performance. Low onset overpotential and small Tafel slope, along with large cathodic current density excellent durability, all achieved hydrogen-evolution-reaction electrocatalyst.

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) has emerged as a promising electrocatalyst for catalyzing protons to hydrogen via the so-called evolution reaction (HER). In order enhance HER activity, tremendous effort been made engineer MoS2 catalysts with either more active sites or higher conductivity. However, at present, synergistically structural and electronic modulations still remain challenging. this work, we demonstrate successfully synergistic regulations of both benefits by controllable disorder...

A promising family of mixed transition-metal oxides (MTMOs) (designated as Ax B3-x O4 ; A, B=Co, Ni, Zn, Mn, Fe, etc.) with stoichiometric or even non-stoichiometric compositions, typically in a spinel structure, has recently attracted increasing research interest worldwide. Benefiting from their remarkable electrochemical properties, these MTMOs will play significant roles for low-cost and environmentally friendly energy storage/conversion technologies. In this Review, we summarize recent...

Two-dimensional nanosheets have attracted tremendous attention because of their promising practical application and theoretical values. The atomic-thick are able to not only enhance the intrinsic properties bulk counterparts but also give birth new properties. Herein, we highlight an available pathway prepare ultrathin graphitic-phase C3N4 (g-C3N4) by a "green" liquid exfoliation route from g-C3N4 in water for first time. as-obtained nanosheet solution is very stable both acidic alkaline...

Electrochemical water splitting is a clean technology for H2 fuels, but greatly hindered by the slow kinetics of oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Herein, series spinel-structured nanosheets with deficiencies and ultrathin thicknesses were designed to increase reactivity number active sites catalysts, which then taken as an excellent platform promoting oxidation process. Theoretical investigations showed that vacancies confined in nanosheet could lower adsorption energy H2O, leading increased...

Isolated single-atom platinum (Pt) embedded in the sub-nanoporosity of 2D g-C3 N4 as a new form co-catalyst is reported. The highly stable maximizes atom efficiency and alters surface trap states , leading to significantly enhanced photocatalytic H2 evolution activity, 8.6 times higher than that Pt nanoparticles up 50 for bare .

Finding an ideal model for disclosing the role of oxygen vacancies in photocatalysis remains a huge challenge. Herein, O-vacancies confined atomically thin sheets is proposed as excellent platform to study O-vacancy-photocatalysis relationship. As example, O-vacancy-rich/-poor 5-atom-thick In2O3 porous are first synthesized via mesoscopic-assembly fast-heating strategy, taking advantage artificial hexagonal mesostructured In-oleate complex. Theoretical/experimental results reveal that endow...

Crystal facet engineering of semiconductors is growing interest and an important strategy for fine-tuning solar-driven photocatalytic activity. However, the primary factor in exposed active facets that determines property still elusive. Herein, we have experimentally achieved high solar activity ultrathin BiOCl nanosheets with almost fully {001} provide some new deep-seated insights into how defects affect property. As thickness reduces to atomic scale, predominant change from isolated...

With the rapid development of portable electronics, such as e-paper and other flexible devices, practical power sources with ultrathin geometries become an important prerequisite, in which supercapacitors in-plane configurations are recently emerging a favorable competitive candidate. As is known, electrode materials two-dimensional (2D) permeable channels, high-conductivity structural scaffolds, high specific surface areas indispensible requirements for superior performance, while it...

Exploring efficient and inexpensive oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalysts is of great importance for various electrochemical energy storage conversion technologies. Ni-based have been actively pursued because their promising activity earth abundance. However, the OER efficiency most developed has intrinsically limited due to low electrical conductivity poor active site exposure yield. Herein, we report metallic Ni3N nanosheets as an electrocatalyst first time. The first-principles...

According to Yang Shao-Horn's principle, CoSe2 is a promising candidate as an efficient, affordable, and sustainable alternative electrocatalyst for the oxygen evolution reaction, owing its well-suited electronic configuration of Co ions. However, catalytic efficiency pure still far below what expected, because poor active site exposure yield. Herein, we successfully overcome disadvantage insufficient sites in bulk by reducing thickness into atomic scale rather than any additional...

Abstract Rational design of non‐noble materials as highly efficient, economical, and durable bifunctional catalysts for oxygen evolution reduction reactions (OER/ORR) is currently a critical obstacle rechargeable metal‐air batteries. A new route involving S was developed to achieve atomic dispersion Fe‐N x species on N co‐decorated hierarchical carbon layers, resulting in single‐atom OER/ORR the first time. The abundant atomically dispersed are catalytically active, structure offers more...

Benefiting from its strong oxidizing properties, the singlet oxygen has garnered serious attentions in physical, chemical, as well biological studies. However, photosensitizers for generation of bear low quantum yields, lack long wavelength absorption band, poor biocompatibility, undegradable living tissues, and so on. Here we first demonstrate exfoliated black phosphorus nanosheets to be effective with a high yield about 0.91, rendering their attractive applications catalysis photodynamic...

The effect of defects on electron-hole separation is not always clear and sometimes contradictory. Herein, we initially built models two-dimensional atomic layers with tunable defect concentrations, hence directly disclose the type distribution at level. As a prototype, defective one-unit-cell ZnIn2S4 are successfully synthesized for first time. Aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy manifests their distinct zinc vacancy confirmed by positron annihilation spectrometry...

Organolead halide perovskites have attracted extensive attentions as light harvesting materials for solar cells recently, because of its high charge‐carrier mobilities, photoconversion efficiencies, low energy cost, ease deposition, and so on. Herein, with CH 3 NH PbI film deposited on flexible ITO coated substrate, the first organolead perovskite based broadband photodetector is demonstrated. The sensitive to a wavelength from ultraviolet entire visible light, showing photo‐responsivity...

Planar supercapacitors have recently attracted much attention owing to their unique and advantageous design for 2D nanomaterials based energy storage devices. However, improving the electrochemical performance of planar still remains a great challenge. Here we report first time novel, high-performance in-plane supercapacitor on hybrid nanostructures quasi-2D ultrathin MnO2/graphene nanosheets. Specifically, structures δ-MnO2 nanosheets integrated graphene sheets not only introduce more...

Electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) to value-added products is a promising approach reduce CO2 levels and mitigate the energy crisis. However, poor product selectivity still major obstacle development reduction. Here we demonstrate exclusive Ni–N4 sites through topo-chemical transformation strategy, bringing unprecedentedly high activity for Topo-chemical by layer coating successfully ensures preservation structure maximum extent avoids agglomeration Ni atoms particles,...

Designing highly efficient electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) plays a key role in the development of various renewable energy storage and conversion devices. In this work, we developed metallic Co4N porous nanowire arrays directly grown on flexible substrates as active OER first time. Benefiting from collaborative advantages character, 1D arrays, unique 3D electrode configuration, surface oxidation activated arrays/carbon cloth achieved an extremely small overpotential 257...

Excitonic effects mediated by Coulomb interactions between photogenerated electrons and holes play crucial roles in photoinduced processes of semiconductors. In terms photocatalysis, however, efforts have seldom been devoted to the relevant aspects. For catalysts with giant excitonic effects, coexisting, competitive exciton generation serves as a key obstacle yield free charge carriers, hence, transformation excitons into carriers would be beneficial for optimizing charge-carrier-involved...

We demonstrated in this paper the shape-controlled synthesis of hematite (α-Fe2O3) nanostructures with a gradient diameters (from less than 20 nm to larger 300 nm) and surface areas 5.9 52.3 m2/g) through an improved synthetic strategy by adopting high concentration inorganic salts temperature systems influence final products nanostructures. The benefits present work also stem from first report on <20-nm-diameter porous nanorods, as well new facile less-than-20-nm because diameter size meets...

Abstract Ultrathin metal layers can be highly active carbon dioxide electroreduction catalysts, but may also prone to oxidation. Here we construct a model of graphene confined ultrathin reactive metals, taking the synthetic tin quantum sheets in as an example. The higher electrochemical area ensures 9 times larger adsorption capacity relative bulk tin, while highly-conductive favours rate-determining electron transfer from its radical anion. lowered tin–tin coordination numbers, revealed by...