Themed collection 2019 Journal of Materials Chemistry A Most Popular Articles

Tannic acid (TA)-modified Pd nanoparticles (Pd-TA) are efficient for ambient electrocatalytic N₂-to-NH₃ fixation with an NH₃ yield of 24.12 μg h⁻¹ mg_cat.⁻¹ and a faradaic efficiency of 9.49%.

Novel aqueous hybrid ion capacitors based on an MB functionalized graphene cathode and asymmetric electrolytes exhibited both improved energy density and power density.

As a non-metal electrocatalyst for the N₂ reduction reaction, boron phosphide nanoparticles offer a high NH₃ yield of 26.42 μg h⁻¹ mg_cat.⁻¹ and a high faradaic efficiency of 12.7% at –0.60 V vs. the reversible hydrogen electrode in 0.1 M HCl.

The function of the interfacial effect caused by MoO₂/Mo₂C heterostructures was proved by DFT and DOS calculations, promoting ultrastable cycling performance.

An ultra-facile one-step method is discovered to synthesize defect-free ZIF-8 molecular sieve membranes in aqueous solution at room temperature for exceptional gas separation.

High selectivity and sensitivity were measured using a novel type of sensor device, based on ZnO nanowires (NWs) coated with a thin layer of boron nitride (BN) decorated with palladium nanoparticles (NPs).

Ternary solar cells with an efficiency of 16.7% were enabled through the use of PCBM as a higher LUMO-level acceptor additive to concurrently increase V_oc, J_sc and FF values.

Thermally driven magnetic-molecular junctions can be designed as pure spin current generators, spin thermoelectric devices or thermal-spin converters.

GO-pDA-PEI with excellent stability provided enough movement space and active sites for highly preferential adsorption of U(VI).

A facile method is used to prepare a series of high-performance Ni/SiO_x/nitrogen-doped carbon ternary anodes for lithium-ion batteries.

A ternary strategy could combine the advantages of incorporated materials as an encouraging approach to achieve high power conversion efficiency (PCE) polymer solar cells (PSCs).

Magnetic functional heterojunction reactors, containing a 3D specific recognition layer and TiO₂–POPD heterojunction, improve the selectivity and photocatalytic activity.

Zinc ion stabilized MnO₂ nanospheres with a flower-like morphology and mesoporous texture are prepared, and they show high specific capacity and superior cycling stability for Zn-ion batteries.

Amphiphilic two-dimensional graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets exhibit improved performance for visible-light-driven phase-boundary photocatalytic reduction of nitrobenzene to aniline.

Engineering sulfur vacancies in ultrathin MoS₂ nanosheets enabled enhanced trapping of polysulfide intermediates with propelled redox conversion kinetics.

The best catalyst for OER is Rh-V_CC with η^OER of 0.35 V, followed by Co-V_CC (0.43 V). For ORR, Rh-V_CC exhibits the lowest η^ORR value of 0.27 V, followed by Co-V_CC (0.42 V).

A new approach for the synthesis of infinite Ti–O rod-based MOFs with superior photocatalytic H₂ evolution performances was developed.

Zn–Ni–Co ternary hydroxide nanoarrays with a controlled morphology are used as the cathode material for supercapacitors for the first time.

A gradient-pore-oriented graphite felt electrode was prepared by a facile one-step etching method, showing improved electrochemical activity and enhanced mass transport from nano- to micro-scale in flow batteries.

‘Kapok fiber-PPy aerogels were prepared by using polypyrrole modification of the Ca²⁺ crosslinked kapok fiber aerogels. The kapok fiber-PPy aerogels show excellent light absorption, high porosity and mechanical strength’. As a solar steam generator a high energy conversion efficiency of 82.4% was obtained under 1 sun illumination.

A multifunctional 2D polymeric semiconductor was incorporated to provide surprisingly robust efficacy in grain boundary functionalization and defect passivation of perovskite, which suppresses charge recombination and thus affording an illustrious photovoltage of 1.16 V and power conversion efficiency of 21.1%.

Electrode materials with macroporous structures have desirable structural advantages, which can provide excellent reaction sites for electrons and ions.

A strategy of mitigating polarization saturation is applied to enhance the energy storage properties of Sn-modified NBT–ST relaxor ceramics.

Calculated voltage stability window of selected Na oxides.

Next-generation fused ring energetic materials for different applications were designed by regulating mechanical sensitivity.

The exciton distribution can be optimized by employing ternary strategy, which well supports the performance improvement of ternary PSCs.

We firstly report a reliable method to synthesize PtRh-S and PtRh-L NCs with different size of 5.5 and 10.5 nm. PtRh-S NCs show much better electrochemical activity and stability than PtRh-L NCs and pure Pt NCs towards EGOR.

Electrode materials of flexible asymmetric supercapacitors are usually suffers from low capacitance and sluggish kinetics.

Intercalation-type MoNb₁₂O₃₃ with a porous-microspherical nanoarchitecture is explored as the first molybdenum niobium oxide anode material for Li⁺ storage.

A Ti₃C₂T_x MXene/rGO hybrid aerogel is applied for the first time as a free-standing polysulfide reservoir to inhibit the shuttle effect and improve the overall performance of Li–S batteries.

A selective integration of Ni(OH)₂ NNAs@NiO–NiCo₂O₄ NSAs was rationally designed and directly utilized as a binder-free flexible electrode for hybrid SCs with excellent energy density.

Porous (Co, Mn)(Co, Mn)₂O₄-based microspheres (CM-11-Ms) and core–shell microspheres (CM-11-CSMs) were firstly synthesized via controlled pyrolysis of CoMn-precursor microspheres at different temperatures under nitrogen, exhibiting advanced lithium storage capacities.

MXene-derived TiO₂/RGO composite was designed and synthesized by the hydrothermal process as a universal anode for Li-ion and K-ion batteries.

Atomic Fe-doped hollow carbon nanopolyhedra as efficient ORR catalysts.

By first-principles computations, nitrogen becomes activated via distal pathway on the single Ru-atom-embedded two boron monolayers, exhibiting relatively low reaction energy barriers of 0.42 and 0.44 eV, respectively.

A novel lead-free polar dielectric ceramic with linear-like polarization responses was found in (1 − x)(Bi_0.5Na_0.5)TiO₃–xNaNbO₃ ((1 − x)BNT–xNN) solid solutions, exhibiting giant energy storage density/efficiency and super stability against temperature and frequency.

Ni-foam-supported Co(OH)F and Co–P nanoarrays were developed for energy-efficient hydrogen production with the assistance of urea electrolysis.

The alternative charge arrangement on the {010} facet of BiOCl facilitates benzyl oxidation and selectivity for benzoic acid ring-opening reactions, subsequently resulting in remarkably enhanced photocatalytic efficiency.

A novel porous material was realized for highly efficient post-combustion CO₂ capture with high CO₂ adsorption capacity, high selectivity and moderate heat of adsorption, mainly attributed to the suitable pore size and dual functionalities.

The mechanism of sodium storage in hard carbon has been revealed by in situ transmission electron microscopy.

High energy density was achieved in lead-free La-doped AgNbO₃ antiferroelectric ceramics.

A new catalyst, P-3G simultaneously exhibited outstanding multifunctional catalytic activities for the ORR, OER, and HER. The synergistic effects between perovskite oxides and 3DNG was firstly proposed by DFT calculations.

A novel quinone–amine route is developed to fabricate N, O codoped carbon nanospheres for an all-solid-state supercapacitor with an ultrahigh energy density.

The V_oc of carbon based CsPbIBr₂ PSCs can be highly boosted through the surface passivation of SnO₂ films.

A novel indole-based aerogel (4-HIFA) has been obtained by the condensation of 4-hydroxyindole and formaldehyde via sol–gel technology, which proceeds easily by acid catalysis in one pot.

Ag(Nb_0.8Ta_0.2)O₃ is used here as a model system to shed light on the nature of the low temperature phase behavior of the unsubstituted parent compound AgNbO₃, which is an important material for high-power energy storage applications.

Synergistic design of a N, O co-doped honeycomb porous carbon electrode and an ionogel electrolyte is reported to boost the energy output of all-solid-state supercapacitors.

An argyrodite Li₆PS₅Br electrolyte is synthesized using tetrahydrofuran and ethanol solvents and shows the highest conductivity of 3.1 mS cm⁻¹.

MXene/carbon composite electrodes with high loadings of MXene were prepared via electrospinning. These flexible and free-standing electrodes exhibit high areal capacitance relative to pure carbon nanofibers and MXene-coated fibers and textiles.

A microcellular structure can effectively tune the dielectric properties of PVDF/carbon composite foams.