Photo-Chemically-Deposited and Industrial Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 Catalyst Material Surface Structures During CO2 Hydrogenation to Methanol: EXAFS,XANES and XPS Analyses of Phases After Oxidation,Reduction, and Reaction

Catalysis Letters - Industrial Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 or novel rate catalysts, prepared with a photochemical deposition method, were studied under functional CH3OH synthesis conditions at the set temperature...     

Advances on Emerging Materials for Flexible Supercapacitors: Current Trends and Beyond

The progressive size reduction of electronic components is experiencing bottlenecks in shrinking charge storage devices like batteries and supercapacitors, limiting their development into wearable and flexible zero‐pollution technologies. The inherent long cycle life, rapid charge–discharge patterns, and power density of supercapacitors rank them superior over other energy storage devices. In the modern market of zero‐pollution energy devices, currently the lightweight formula and shape adaptability are trending to meet the current requirement of wearables. Carbon nanomaterials have the potential to meet this demand, as they are the core of active electrode materials for supercapacitors and texturally tailored to demonstrate flexible and stretchable properties. With this perspective, the latest progress in novel materials from conventional carbons to recently developed and emerging nanomaterials toward lightweight stretchable active compounds for flexi‐wearable supercapacitors is presented. In addition, the limitations and challenges in realizing wearable energy storage systems and integrating the future of nanomaterials for efficient wearable technology are provided. Moreover, future perspectives on economically viable materials for wearables are also discussed, which could motivate researchers to pursue fabrication of cheap and efficient flexible nanomaterials for energy storage and pave the way for enabling a wide‐range of material‐based applications.     

Mixed Copper/Copper‐Oxide Anchored Mesoporous Fullerene Nanohybrids as Superior Electrocatalysts toward Oxygen Reduction Reaction

Developing a highly active, stable, and efficient non‐noble metal‐free functional electrocatalyst to supplant the benchmark Pt/C‐based catalysts in practical fuel cell applications remains a stupendous challenge. A rational strategy is developed to directly anchor highly active and dispersed copper (Cu) nanospecies on mesoporous fullerenes (referred to as Cu‐MFC₆₀) toward enhancing oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) electrocatalysis. The preparation of Cu‐MFC₆₀ involves i) the synthesis of ordered MFC₆₀ via the prevalent nanohard templating technique and ii) the postfunctionalization of MFC₆₀ with finely distributed Cu nanospecies through incipient wet impregnation. The concurrence of Cu and cuprous oxide nanoparticles in the as‐developed Cu‐MFC₆₀ samples through relevant material characterizations is affirmed. The optimized ORR catalyst, Cu(15%)‐MFC₆₀, exhibits superior electrocatalytic ORR characteristics with an onset potential of 0.860 vs reversible hydrogen electrode, diffusion‐limiting current density (?5.183 mA cm^?2), improved stability, and tolerance to methanol crossover along with a high selectivity (four‐electron transfer). This enhanced ORR performance can be attributed to the rapid mass transfer and abundant active sites owing to the synergistic coupling effects arising from the mixed copper nanospecies and the fullerene framework.     

TiO2 and ZrO2 supported Ru catalysts for CO mitigation following the water-gas shift reaction

CO oxidation and methanation over Ru-TiO₂ and Ru-ZrO₂ catalysts were investigated for CO removal for applications in proton exchange membrane fuel cells. The catalysts were synthesised by the deposition precipitation method at a pH of 7–7.5 for better interactions between the support and the active Ru metal. Various characterization experiments such as TPR, XPS, FTIR-CO, CO chemisorption and HRTEM were conducted to better understand the physio-chemical properties of Ru on the supports. Both catalysts showed excellent activity for the total oxidation of CO, however, with the addition of H₂, the catalysts activity to CO oxidation decreased significantly. Higher temperatures for the preferential oxidation reaction indicated that the Ru catalysts not only oxidize CO, but hydrogenate it as well. Furthermore, H₂ oxidation was favoured over the catalysts. Hydrogenation of CO over these catalysts gave high CO conversion and selectivity towards CH₄. Both the catalysts showed similar activity across the temperature range screened and gave maximum CO conversions of 99.9% from 240 °C onwards, with 99.9% selectivity towards CH₄. The catalysts also showed good stability in the reaction and the similarities in the catalytic activity of these were attributed to the well-dispersed Ru metal over the supports. The Ru catalysts effectively reduced CO concentrations in the reformate gas to less than 10 ppm, as is required for practical applications.