Low-temperature performance is crucial for aqueous zinc metal batteries (AZMBs). Subzero temperatures modify the chemical interactions between solvents, anions, and Zn2+ ions, which in turn affect the hydrogen-bond structures, molecular adsorption, and solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) formation. However, few studies have investigated how these factors collectively enhance electrochemical performance. In this study, 2-picolinamide (PA), an organic compound with an aromatic heterocyclic ring and amide groups, is introduced into the electrolyte. PA molecules substantially disrupt the original hydrogen bonds between water molecules, enabling the operation at extremely low temperatures. The breakdown of adsorbed PA forms a robust, hydrophobic SEI composed of soft organic materials and inorganic frameworks, which helps reduce cracking and dendrite formation during plating and stripping at subzero temperatures. It also expels free water from the electric double layer, minimizing side reactions. Additionally, PA adsorption on the electrode surface and the presence of the SEI layer promote the preferential growth of the (101) facet, thereby alleviating slow mass transport and sluggish reaction kinetics and consequently maintaining a stable electrode morphology under low-temperature conditions. Accordingly, at −20 °C, the Zn/Zn symmetric cell achieves stable cycling for over 8000 h at 1 mA cm−2 and 1 mAh cm−2. Even at −40 °C, the cell can maintain stable operation for up to 2200 h at 0.5 mA cm−2 and 0.5 mAh cm−2. At room temperature, the Zn//ZnxV2O5⋅H2O pouch cell delivers a promising specific capacity of 500 mAh g−1, and it can still reach 370 mAh g−1 even at −20 °C. This study improves the low-temperature performance of advanced AZMBs by modifying solvation structures, constructing interfacial molecular layers, and forming an SEI layer in situ on the Zn anode.
Circumventing the scaling relationship among oxygenated intermediates in the adsorbate evolution mechanism remains a central challenge in oxygen evolution reaction catalysis. Here we report a topology-directed in situ confinement strategy to construct a defect-rich hybrid electrocatalyst comprising ultrafine cobalt oxide (CoO) nanoparticles confined within a nitrogen/sulfur co-doped carbon (NSC) matrix and integrated with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) (CoO@NSC/rGO). This hierarchical architecture suppresses nanoparticle aggregation while providing continuous pathways for charge transfer and mass transport. During oxygen evolution reaction (OER), surface and near-surface regions of CoO function to reconstruct into CoOOH-like oxyhydroxide species that constitute the direct OER-active phase, whereas the residual CoO core acts as a structural and electronic reservoir. Interfacial Co-S/Co-N coordination does not act as an independent active phase but electronically modulates and stabilises the neighbouring CoO-derived CoOOH surface. Spectroscopic analyses and theoretical calculations reveal an electron-enriched Co environment with an upshifted d-band centre, which optimizes the adsorption energetics of oxygen intermediates and facilitates lattice-oxygen participation. lattice oxygen oxidation mechanism (LOM) involvement is further supported by Raman detection of superoxide intermediates and by 18O-isotope labeling mass spectrometry, which detects 16O18O evolution. Benefiting from these mechanism-enabled kinetics, CoO@NSC/rGO delivers a low OER overpotential and enables efficient overall water splitting at a reduced cell voltage, outperforming commercial IrO2 under comparable conditions. This work illustrates how topology-confined interfacial electronic modulation can enable LOM-involved OER pathways in Co-based hybrid electrocatalysts.
Self-healing polyurethanes (SHPUs) are characterized by high structural tunability, flexible dynamic bond construction, and excellent compatibility between mechanical and functional properties. As a result, they exhibit promising potential for a wide range of applications, including smart coatings, flexible sensors, wearable electronics, and information anti-counterfeiting. However, most currently reported SHPUs still rely on single-stimulus-triggered healing patterns, which often suffers from harsh activation conditions, limited spatial selectivity, low energy efficiency, and poor adaptability to complex environments. Multi-stimulus synergistic strategies have recently emerged as a promising route to overcome these limitations by coordinating healing processes across temporal, spatial, and energetic dimensions. In this review, recent advances in multi-stimulus synergistic SHPUs are systematically summarized and classified into three core mechanistic patterns, including sequential triggering, synchronous enhancement, and hybrid synergistic mechanisms. The hybrid synergistic mechanism combines the features of sequential triggering and synchronous enhancement. The sequential triggering mechanism includes representative paradigms such as location-healing, preconditioning-healing, and shape-memory-assisted self-healing. The synchronous enhancement mechanism is mainly represented by light-heat, electro-heat, and magneto-heat coupling. Further discussion covers applications of the relevant systems in intelligent protective coatings, flexible sensors and wearable electronics, and information storage and anti-counterfeiting fields. Finally, current challenges and future opportunities are highlighted, with particular emphasis placed on expanding stimulus combinations, establishing general mechanistic criteria, standardizing evaluation methods, and advancing device-level integration.
MXenes have emerged as a highly versatile class of two-dimensional materials with exceptional electrical conductivity, flexibility, and hydrophilicity. Integrating MXene with polymers has unlocked extensive opportunities for various applications. This review discusses the preparation methods of MXenes and their polymer composites and critically analyzes the structure-property relationships that govern their performance in sensors, supercapacitors, and electromagnetic interference shielding. The potential of these composites in biomedical and other cutting-edge applications is also explained. Additionally, the role of emerging tools, such as machine learning and density functional theory calculations, is highlighted as promising approaches for accelerating the development and application directions of MXenes and their composites. Furthermore, this review discusses the associated challenges and offers future perspectives for advancing the potential of these materials. Overall, this review aims to critically summarize existing efforts and provide a platform for researchers seeking to develop high-performance MXene/polymer composites.
Biomass-inorganic composites prepared from agricultural and forestry residues as reinforcing materials are economical, low-carbon, and environmentally friendly. However, their broader application is hindered by poor interfacial compatibility between the organic and inorganic phases, which compromises their overall performance. Inspired by the synergistic enhancements in rigidity and flexibility observed in nacre structures, this study proposes a rapid biomimetic self-assembly strategy to enable synergistic bridging and film formation. In this strategy, chemical anchoring and mechanical interlocking are used to construct a compatible organic-inorganic interface to develop lightweight reed-based composites. Coupling agents collaborated with nano-silica to hydrophobize and graft reed scraps, which formed micro/nanoscale rough interfaces. This promoted the formation of siloxane networks and enhanced mechanical interlocking and chemical bonding with the cement matrix. Concurrently, an emulsion was introduced to establish an interpenetrating network, generate a hydrophobic protective film, and regulate pore structure and interface toughness. Compared to conventional composites, the biomimetic nacre-structured composites exhibited a 104.7% increase in compressive strength, an 82.6% improvement in flexural strength, a 33.9% enhancement in softening coefficient, and also showed good thermal insulation performance. This research proposes a nacre-inspired interface design that expands the utility of reed resources, optimizes the performance of composite materials, and provides a new design idea for the development of thermal insulation green building materials with load-bearing properties.
The outstanding performance of halide perovskites demonstrates significant potential for the fabrication of simple, efficient, and high-performance Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs). In this work, two distinct perovskite films were successfully prepared by precise compositional control and integrated with Poly (vinylidene fluoride)/Polyethylene terephthalate (PVDF/PET) to construct perovskite-based TENG devices. Experimental results reveal that the perovskite film exhibits reduced defects and extended carrier lifetime, which facilitate charge retention and interfacial triboelectric charge transfer. Following compositional control, the output voltage (Voc) and current (Isc) of the perovskite device increased by 32.1 V and 1.5 μA. Scanning Kelvin probe microscopy shows that perovskite B (Cs0.05FA0.85MA0.10Pb(I0.97Br0.03)3, PB) exhibits a greater surface potential increase compared to perovskite A (Cs0.05(FA0.85MA0.15)0.95PbI0.85Br0.15, PA) after contact with PVDF. Notably, PB shows an increased surface potential after contact with PVDF, whereas its surface potential decreases after contact with PET. Complementary electrostatic force microscopy measurements further support that PB's surface becomes positively charged upon PVDF contact and negatively charged after PET contact. This study provides new insight into the triboelectric mechanisms of perovskite materials.
As human lifespan increases with societal development, tumors have become one of the major diseases threatening public health. However, traditional cancer therapies face inevitable limitations and side effects. Consequently, minimally invasive alternatives, such as photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT), have attracted significant research interest. This comprehensive review summarizes the application of rare-earth-doped and rare-earth-containing nanomaterials in PDT and PTT for cancer therapy. We first introduce the fundamental principles of both therapies and the critical role of rare earth (RE) components, followed by a discussion of four major material categories: carbon-based nanomaterials, upconversion nanomaterials, sulfide/oxide nanoparticles, and metal nanocomposites. Furthermore, the review discusses the phototherapeutic applications of these materials from a mechanism-guided perspective, with emphasis on PDT, PTT, and synergistic combined therapy. Finally, we address the current challenges, proposed solutions, and future prospects of this rapidly developing field. Rather than functioning as universal performance enhancers, RE components regulate phototherapy through ion-specific mechanisms, including Near-infrared (NIR)-to-visible/Ultraviolet (UV) conversion, photosensitizer activation, oxygen/reactive oxygen species modulation, magnetic or optical imaging, and temperature-feedback monitoring. These multifunctional roles provide a promising but still preclinical foundation for next-generation tumor phototherapy, provided that biosafety, irradiation parameters, metabolism, and scalable synthesis are carefully evaluated.
The balance between high energy and stability represents a long-standing fundamental challenge in energetic materials. The emergence of reticular materials offers an effective nano-architectural strategy for decoupling high energy release from stability. Covalent organic frameworks have garnered significant research interest due to their ability to integrate high-energy materials into well-defined nanoscale frameworks, thereby enhancing stability. Existing energetic covalent organic frameworks (ECOFs) typically comprise flexible energetic monomers and are employed as standalone explosives; however, such materials often exhibit low energy density and limited structural robustness. Herein, we design an ECOF incorporating rigid hydrazine-functionalized tetrazine motifs, which demonstrates remarkable thermochemical stability, robust framework integrity, and favorable combustion characteristics. When employed as a nano-enabled additive to “lock” energetic materials, abundant unsaturated bonds within the ECOF establish nanoscale interfacial conjugated electron bridges that promote electron delocalization. This nano-interfacial effect facilitates rapid redox reactions, significantly enhancing energy release. Using ammonium dinitramide (ADN) as a model system, the ECOF cage increases ADN's combustion pressure by 172.8% and elevates its thermal decomposition temperature by 39.7 °C, effectively resolving the trade-off between high energy and stability. The applicability in solid propellants and the universality of this nano-interfacial rapid-redox mechanism are further validated.
The system explores the key challenges and cutting-edge solutions faced in achieving efficient synthesis of ammonia under mild conditions. The traditional catalytic Haber method is limited by thermodynamic equilibrium and harsh reaction conditions, while the emerging synergistic pathway of plasma activation and electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction shows breakthrough potential. This pathway effectively dissociates the strong triple bonds of nitrogen through plasma activation and combines with electrocatalytic processes for efficient protonation at room temperature and pressure, thereby significantly reducing the reaction energy barrier. However, the complexity of this multiphase catalytic system poses higher requirements for understanding the reaction mechanism and optimizing catalyst design. In view of this, the guiding role of machine learning technology in this field is emphasized: by integrating multi-scale simulations and high-throughput experimental data, machine learning can deeply analyze the complex dynamic processes on the plasma catalytic interface, accurately describe the adsorption behavior of key intermediate species, and establish the structure-activity relationship between material descriptors and catalytic performance, ultimately achieving rational design of nitrogen reduction reaction electrocatalysts and composite system configurations, providing theoretical basis and innovative paradigm for accelerating the development of low-energy ammonia synthesis technology.
Accurate detection of dopamine is critical for the diagnosis and monitoring of diverse neurological diseases, and electrochemical analysis, with its high sensitivity, rapid response, ease of operation, and excellent selectivity, serves as an effective approach for dopamine monitoring. In this study, a hierarchical hollow composite material, consisting of polyaniline-coated hollow carbon spheres and platinum single-atom catalysts (Pt/PANI@HCS), was developed for electrochemical dopamine sensing using a hard-template method. Firstly, silica spheres were used as templates, and hollow carbon spheres (HCS) were prepared by carbonization of phenolic resin and partial etching with alkaline solution. Then, polyaniline (PANI) was polymerized on the surface of HCS to form a conductive network. Finally, platinum single-atom catalysts (Pt SACs) were precisely loaded using a UV light-assisted reduction method. Synchrotron X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) analysis confirmed the formation of stable Pt-N coordination bonds in the material. Combined with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) characterization, it revealed strong interactions between Pt and PANI. Thanks to the unique Pt-N coordination and the synergistic effect of π-π stacking, this composite material exhibited excellent electrochemical sensing performance for dopamine: a wide linear range (0.5 μM to 63 μM), low detection limit (LOD) (0.24 μM), and good anti-interference ability. Further, the recovery rates of serum sample tests ranged from 94.20% to 106.60%, confirming their application potential in actual biological sample detection. This strategy of tuning interfacial interactions opens a new avenue for designing new neurotransmitter sensors.
Advanced electromagnetic protection requires both efficient wave attenuation and reduced reflection to suppress secondary radiation. Here, we report a Janus aerogel composite (J-EMI) consisting of a polyimide (PI)-based dual-gradient absorption layer and a dense Ti3C2Tx MXene reflective layer. The dual-gradient layer (DGL-3) comprises opposing gradients of magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles and conductive polypyrrole (PPy), which together improve impedance matching and attenuation capability. Owing to the conductive-magnetic coupling in this structure, DGL-3 shows an attenuation constant of 739 Np m−1. The resulting J-EMI composite achieves a shielding effectiveness (SEt) of 67.2 dB at a thickness of 800 μm (±50 μm). The Janus structure reduces front-face reflection and exhibits absorption-dominant shielding behavior with an absorption-to-reflection (A/R) ratio of 1.27 through an absorb-reflect-reabsorb process. In addition, the porous framework provides a low thermal conductivity of 0.02 W m−1 K−1, enabling infrared stealth and thermal insulation. The composite also supports Joule heating for rapid de-icing within 60 s and retains over 94% of its shielding performance after exposure to thermal shock (−196 to 600 °C) and corrosive chemical environments. This work presents a Janus dual-gradient design that integrates EMI shielding, thermal management, and environmental stability in a lightweight aerogel system.
Zinc-ion hybrid supercapacitors (ZICs) are promising for wearable and automotive applications, yet their development is challenged by the kinetic mismatch between the carbon cathode and the zinc anode, causing performance decay. In this work, we fabricate a 3D open nanoarchitecture (Ti3C2Tz-MC) featuring MIL-88B(V) derivatives and Ti3C2Tz, prepared by solvothermal synthesis followed by thermal annealing. The resulting nanocomposite comprises spindle-shaped V2O3@C nanospikes uniformly distributed on Ti3C2Tz nanosheets, suppressing MXene self-stacking and creating abundant active interfaces. Its heterostructure, comprising crystalline Ti3C2Tz and V2O3 embedded in an amorphous carbon matrix, enhances conductivity and Zn2+ diffusion, while in-situ electrochemical induction further converts V2O3@C to amorphous V2O5@C, unlocking additional active sites and accelerating ion transport. Consequently, the Ti3C2Tz-MC electrode delivers a superior gravimetric capacity of 610.1 mAh g−1 at 0.05 A g−1 that is almost 10 times that of pristine Ti3C2Tz, along with noteworthy rate capability and ultralong cycling stability (98.2% capacity retention after 20,000 cycles). Density functional theory calculations attribute the enhanced kinetics to a built-in electric field at the heterointerface for efficient electron transfer and optimal Zn2+ adsorption energy for facile ion transport, collectively boosting the capacitance and rate capability. Furthermore, a flexible ZIC achieves an outstanding energy density of 564.0 Wh kg−1, retains 97% of its capacity at a bending angle of 135°, and can power a red LED. This work offers a generalized heterointerface engineering strategy, featuring intertwined crystalline-amorphous phases, which provides fundamental insights into ion transport and a practical solution to reconcile kinetic mismatch in ZICs.
Achieving synergy between ultra-high strength and plasticity in nanocrystalline metals remains a grand challenge, as they are typically plagued by intrinsic brittleness arising from catastrophic shear localization. Here, we overcome this limitation by engineering an oxide/nanocrystalline dual-phase (ONDP) architecture within a CoCrFeNiMn high-entropy alloy via rapid current-activated sintering. Guided by atomistic simulations and lattice misfit calculations, a high density of semi-coherent C15-Cr2MnO4 nanoprecipitates was successfully introduced via an ethylene glycol-assisted ball milling and sintering process. The fabricated alloy delivers a compressive yield strength of 4.5 GPa, which is among the highest values reported for nanocrystalline fcc metals/alloys tested by micropillar compression, while maintaining >30% uniform plasticity. Mechanistically, these semi-coherent oxides effectively suppress grain rotation and convert the nanocrystalline matrix into dislocation storage reservoirs, thereby avoiding strain localization and enabling pronounced strain hardening. This study establishes a scalable pathway for stabilizing nanostructures through O-induced dual-phase engineering, offering a blueprint for next-generation high-performance structural materials.
Transition metal carbides and nitrides based on Ti, Nb, and other group VB metals (e.g., Ta) have emerged as promising alternatives to noble-metal coatings for proton exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE), owing to their excellent electrical conductivity and corrosion resistance. However, the atomistic mechanism underlying passivation corrosion remains unclear, which hinders the rational design and screening of new coating materials. Here, starting from an explicit description of the initial surface state, we uncover a previously unrecognized reaction pathway governed by metal–oxygen atomic pairs, involving sequential precipitation, diffusion, denitridation, and oxidation processes. By using a state-of-the-art pH–field coupled modeling method, this framework enables the rapid prediction of passivation barriers at realistic electrode potentials using simple adsorption-energy descriptors derived from individual metal–oxygen pairs. More importantly, the passivation barriers predicted by our approach exhibit remarkable consistency with diverse experimental observations. Such unprecedented consistency highlights the potential of this framework as a powerful predictive tool for the rapid screening of passivation-resistant materials under extreme anodic potentials and acidic corrosion environments far beyond PEMWE applications.
Solar-driven photocatalysis offers a sustainable pathway for the deep oxidation of nitric oxide (NO) to harmless nitrate (NO3−), yet achieving both high efficiency and strict selectivity simultaneously remains a critical challenge. Herein, we report the rational design of Bi4Ti3O12 catalyst enriched with dynamic Bi0/Biδ+@defective sites, which precisely regulate carrier dynamics and reaction pathways during the photocatalytic NO oxidation. Time-dependent operando Raman spectroscopy and density functional theory (DFT) calculations unravel the dynamic evolution mechanism of Bi0/Biδ+@defective sites. The frontier Pz orbital of Bi0 donates electrons to NO, generating the Biδ+@defective coordination and the key intermediate NO− that avoids nitrogen dioxide (NO2) formation. Subsequently, photoexcited electrons from the Bi4Ti3O12 catalyst endow the unoccupied Pz orbital of Biδ+ and the antibonding orbital of H2O, regenerating the Bi0@defective coordination and forming ·OH radicals, thereby accelerating the overall reaction rate. As a result, Bi4Ti3O12 microspheres enriched with dynamic Bi0/Biδ+@defective sites exhibit an outstanding efficiency of NO conversion (55.6%), accompanied by an exceptionally low NO2 selectivity (0.057%). More importantly, in situ Fourier transform infrared and DFT calculations further confirm that dynamic Bi0/Biδ+@defective sites facilitate the spontaneous activation of H2O, enabling the direct conversion of NO to NO3− via a ·OH radical-mediated pathway. This work provides fundamental insights into the design of photocatalysts with dynamic active sites for environmental purification.
Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) are rapidly emerging as a pivotal material class for engineering next-generation superhydrophobic surfaces. These materials are distinguished by properties such as tunable wettability, facile and scalable synthesis, mechanical robustness, and excellent stability. This review systematically elucidates the fundamental mechanisms underpinning TMDs-driven superhydrophobicity, which originate from their intrinsic low surface energy and the ability to achieve atomic-level structural precision at the nanoscale. We particularly highlight unique superhydrophobic mechanisms in TMDs, including surface aging and adsorption behaviors, defect-induced hydrophobicity, and phase transition-driven wettability switching, offering unconventional routes to enhance non-wetting performance. Unlike conventional 2D materials such as graphene or MXenes, which primarily rely on static structural roughness or physical texturing, the wettability of TMDs is uniquely governed by their dynamic phase-dependent surface chemistry and tunable atomic defect densities. The article critically summarizes recent advances in fabricating TMDs-based superhydrophobic surfaces, with a focus on two complementary design strategies: constructing hierarchical micro-nano structures and applying deliberate chemical modifications to achieve durable water repellency. The discussion also covers advanced fabrication techniques that reconcile industrial scalability with economic and environmental sustainability. Moreover, the review emphasizes emerging applications of multifunctional TMDs surfaces in self-cleaning coatings, corrosion resistance, and energy harvesting systems. Finally, we outline current challenges and future research directions, underscoring the role of TMDs as a versatile platform for advancing interfacial science and sustainable technology.
Metal halide perovskite quantum dots (PeQDs) are promising for diverse optoelectronic applications. However, their inherent ionic crystal nature and low defect formation energy make them highly susceptible to environmental degradation and surface defect formation, fundamentally limiting their practical applications. To address these challenges, we propose a topological encapsulation strategy to fabricate ultra-stable and highly efficient CsPbBr3@SiO2 composites. This approach involves the in situ coating of perovskite precursors with SiO2 microcapsules, followed by in situ calcination under strictly spatially confined conditions within a SiO2 matrix. The sealed SiO2 microcapsules function as topologically closed zero-dimensional nanoreactors, which not only regulate crystal growth but also effectively suppress the desorption and volatilization of reactive halide species, thereby minimizing the formation of halogen vacancies. Consequently, the photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of the obtained PeQDs reaches nearly 100%. Moreover, the composites exhibit remarkable comprehensive environmental stability: they retain 99.8% of their initial photoluminescence (PL) intensity after immersion in water for 7200 h and preserve 88% of its initial PL intensity after 1000 h of continuous blue-light irradiation. By leveraging these outstanding optical properties and environmental resilience, we implement the materials in health-oriented lighting, high-color-gamut liquid crystal displays, 3D printing, and flexible weaving, underscoring their commercial potential.
Atmospheric pressure microwave plasma (APMP) has been sought after as a straightforward and scalable method for free-standing graphene (FSG) synthesis from diverse carbon feedstocks, without vacuum infrastructure or post-synthesis transfer. Yet, despite a decade of experimental advances, the field remains fragmented, as process parameters are optimized in isolation, plasma diagnostics rarely inform synthesis design, and computational models operate disconnected from experimental validation. This review bridges these gaps by systematically correlating reactor configuration, plasma-gas chemistry, and FSG structural outcomes across the global body of APMP literature. Through critical analysis of over 50 studies with various types of APMP reactors, such as tubular surface-wave discharges (SWD), nozzle-based SWD torches, and cavity resonators, we reveal that the interplay between gas temperature, C2 radical abundance monitored via optical emission spectroscopy, and post-plasma C/H ratio governs the transition from amorphous carbon to high-crystallinity few-layer FSG nanosheets with Raman ratios ID/IG less than 0.3 and I2D/IG more than 1.5. This review also demonstrates how key gas species from in-situ FTIR and multi-scale simulations (0D kinetics to 3D fluid dynamics) collectively decode the “chemically frozen” non-equilibrium pathways underlying the graphene nucleation, which are insights inaccessible through experiments alone. Moreover, the advantageous single-step FSG synthesis of APMP enables extension to in-situ-doped and hybrid nanostructures with demonstrated performance across various applications. Finally, this review addresses the current challenges hindering mass adoption, such as FSG's quality-yield trade-off, and outlines strategic recommendations and future research directions to bridge the gap between research and industrial commercialization.
Early warning of thermal runaway in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is a critical challenge for ensuring operational safety. Conventional monitoring approaches based on temperature and voltage are often limited by delayed response and susceptibility to environmental interference. In contrast, gas monitoring presents a promising alternative. Key electrolyte components such as dimethyl carbonate (DMC) are released during the early stages of thermal runaway, preceding gases like hydrogen and carbon monoxide, offering a unique opportunity for early warning. However, current DMC gas sensors are often hampered by the high operating temperatures and the sluggish response/recovery dynamics. In this work, we developed a gas sensor based on a Co3O4-ZnO p-n heterojunction. Under the operating temperature of 160 °C, the sensor exhibits a high response value of ∼110 to 500 ppm DMC, along with rapid response and recovery times (2 s and 15 s, respectively), as well as excellent selectivity against interfering gases such as H2, CO, and so on. The sensor also demonstrates stable performance over 32 d. Material characterization and theoretical calculations reveal that the p-n heterojunction effectively enhances carrier density and oxygen vacancy concentration, thereby facilitating DMC adsorption and electron transfer. Through simulated battery electrolyte leakage experiments, the sensor's capability for real-time and rapid detection of DMC is validated, highlighting its potential as an effective solution for early warning of thermal runaway in LIBs.
Converting hazardous metal waste (e.g., spent batteries, red mud, slag, and electroplating sludge) into functional materials has gained growing scientific interest due to its high environmental and economic benefits. While numerous reviews exist on biomass-derived catalysts, a comprehensive summary focusing on the rapid development of metal waste-derived electrocatalysts and photocatalysts for sustainability applications has been lacking. In this review, bridge this gap by comprehensively summarizing recent advances in this emerging field. Overall, the main strategies for developing electro/photocatalysts from metal waste are firstly summarized, including pyrolysis, wet-chemical, electrochemical, and microwave-assisted methods. Then, applications of metal waste-derived electrocatalysts in oxygen evolution, hydrogen production, nitrogen fixation, CO2 conversion, and oxygen reduction are then analyzed. Subsequently, implementations of metal waste-derived photocatalysts in pollutant degradation, hydrogen production, and carbon dioxide/organic valorization are discussed. A special emphasis is put on highlighting catalysts' physicochemical property-performance correlation and outlining the efficient catalyst design strategies. Finally, key challenges and perspectives on the development of high-performance metal waste-derived catalysts for future sustainability applications are suggested, with a focus on the unique issues of stability, scalability, and sustainability assessment for these systems. This review aims to stimulate further research into the valorization of hazardous metal wastes for a circular economy.
