Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Johannes E. Froech, Lesley P. Spencer, Mehran Kianinia, Daniel D. Totonjian, Minh Nguyen, Andreas Gottscholl, Vladimir Dyakonov, Milos Toth, Sejeong Kim, Igor Aharonovich
Summary: Color centers in hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) have shown efficient coupling to bullseye cavities, demonstrating a 6.5-fold enhancement in boron vacancy spin defects. Through finite-difference time-domain modeling, emission dipole orientation and enhanced contrast in optically detected magnetic resonance readout have been elucidated. This paves the way for integrating hBN spin defects with photonic resonators for a scalable spin-photon interface.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Angus Gale, Dominic Scognamiglio, Ivan Zhigulin, Benjamin Whitefield, Mehran Kianinia, Igor Aharonovich, Milos Toth
Summary: Negatively charged boron vacancies (VB-) in hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) have become of interest as spin defects for quantum information processing and quantum sensing. This study investigates the switching of charge states of VB defects in hBN under laser and electron beam excitation, demonstrating deterministic and reversible switching between the -1 and 0 states controlled by excess electrons or holes injected into hBN by a layered heterostructure device. This work provides a means to monitor and manipulate the charge state of VB defects, enabling the stabilization of the -1 state necessary for spin manipulation and optical readout.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Lei Zhao, Xiaoyan Sun, Xianghui Zeng, Yang Li, Wei Fang, Xing Du, Xuan He, Daheng Wang, Weixin Li, Hui Chen
Summary: This research synthesized a new type of (Co0.2Cr0.2Fe0.2Mn0.2Ni0.2)N0.956 high-entropy nitride ceramic powder with a cubic single-phase zinc blende structure. Nitrogen vacancies, which significantly influence the structure and magnetic properties of high-entropy nitrides, were introduced by hydrogenation. Samples heat-treated at 300 degrees C for 30 min in Ar/H2 atmosphere exhibited the highest amount of nitrogen vacancies. The nitrogen vacancies affected the interactions among metal ions in the crystal, resulting in changes in coercivity and saturation magnetization.
APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Jinshu Tian, Jian Guan, Mingliang Xu, Shuya Qian, Kai Ma, Shaolong Wan, Zhaoxia Zhang, Haifeng Xiong, Shuai Wang, Yong Wang, Jingdong Lin
Summary: In this study, an efficient method for stabilizing hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) with high specific surface area (SSA) under harsh conditions was proposed. The vacancy defects in h-BN were repaired with metal ions to significantly improve the antioxidant stability of the material. The repaired h-BN maintained a few-layer structure and exhibited high SSA and strong oxidation resistance, making it an excellent platform for fundamental studies and applications.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zhankai Liu, Bing Yan, Shengyan Meng, Rui Liu, Wen-Duo Lu, Jian Sheng, Yanhui Yi, An-Hui Lu
Summary: The study found that N2-treated hexagonal boron nitride showed remarkable activity with good selectivity towards propane, while O2 treatment led to sintering effect of BOx species which suppressed the catalytic performance.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Tong Li, Si-Rui Zhao, Xiao-Xiao Sheng, Yi-Tian Jiang, Liu-Yan Ji, Feng-Rui Wang, Yi-Xiang Chen, Jin-Ku Liu
Summary: A novel molybdenum dioxide/boron nitride heterojunction composite was synthesized using a two-step calcination method, which showed prospective applications in metal corrosion protection. The total impedance values of MoO2/BN-1 and MoO2/BN-2 coatings increased to 314.7% and 163.6%, respectively, compared to an epoxy coating. This increase was attributed to the synergistic effects of physical barrier, electron transport blocking, and photo-induced corrosion protection. These stabilized molybdenum oxide heterojunctions with boron nitride carriers demonstrated feasibility for practical corrosion protection applications.
PROGRESS IN ORGANIC COATINGS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Peter Udvarhelyi, Tristan Clua-Provost, Alrik Durand, Jiahan Li, James H. H. Edgar, Bernard Gil, Guillaume Cassabois, Vincent Jacques, Adam Gali
Summary: Researchers determine the coupling of boron-vacancy spin defect (V-B(-)) in hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) to strain and electric fields using first-principles calculations. Their work reveals the interplay between local piezoelectric and elastic effects in the response to electric fields. Theoretical predictions are used to analyze optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR) spectra on hBN crystals with varying densities of V-B(-) centers, confirming that the orthorhombic zero-field splitting parameter is a result of local electric fields from surrounding charge defects. This study paves the way for applications of V-B(-) centers in quantitative electric field imaging and quantum sensing under pressure.
NPJ COMPUTATIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Liubov Yu. Antipina, Kristina Yu. Kotyakova, Pavel B. Sorokin
Summary: This research investigates the stability of vitamin B2 (riboflavin) on hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN), both in its pristine state and in the presence of vacancy defects. The study demonstrates the spontaneous physical sorption of riboflavin onto the h-BN surface, facilitated by π-π stacking interactions. The research highlights the significant impact of vacancy defects on the adsorption properties of h-BN and expands our understanding of the interplay between boron nitride defects and riboflavin sorption.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Xingyu Gao, Siddhant Pandey, Mehran Kianinia, Jonghoon Ahn, Peng Ju, Igor Aharonovich, Niranjan Shivaram, Tongcang Li
Summary: The study demonstrates that optically addressable spin ensembles can be generated in hBN through femtosecond laser irradiation, with the creation of spin defects strongly influenced by the pulse energy of the laser. Proper laser parameters can lead to successful generation of spin defects, showcasing promising prospects for quantum technologies.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yazhou Zhang, Shaoqi Zhan, Kunlong Liu, Mengfei Qiao, Ning Liu, Ruixuan Qin, Liangping Xiao, Pengyao You, Wentong Jing, Nanfeng Zheng
Summary: In this study, a Pd nanoparticles catalyst supported on hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) was developed for the hydrogenation of aldehydes/ketones to alcohols via hydrogen spillover. The feasibility of hydrogen spillover from Pd to h-BN is determined by the nitrogen vacancies in h-BN. The hydrogen spillover-based hydrogenation mechanism leads to a high tolerance to CO poisoning for the catalyst system.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Ying Li, Dongyue Gao, Shihui Zhao, Yupeng Xiao, Zhonglu Guo, Yi Fang, Jing Lin, Zhenya Liu, Yang Huang, Kai Guo, Chengchun Tang
Summary: The study finds that carbon-doped hexagonal boron nitride nanoribbons (BNNR) can effectively enhance the catalytic performance of nitrogen reduction reaction, reduce the overpotential of NRR reaction, and selectively modulate the adsorption free energy of NRR intermediates without affecting the activation ability of pristine BNNR.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Aniruddha Seal, Ananth Govind Rajan
Summary: The study shows that certain defects in hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) can enhance water slippage on its surface, providing a new approach for tuning water flow.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Vidur Raj, Dipankar Chugh, Lachlan E. Black, M. M. Shehata, Li Li, Felipe Kremer, Daniel H. Macdonald, Hark Hoe Tan, Chennupati Jagadish
Summary: Research has shown that wafer-scale, few monolayers thick hBN as a passivation layer can significantly improve solar cell performance, with a relatively low interface defect density and potential for high-quality passivation. hBN-based passivation layers are especially useful in cases where the growth of lattice-matched passivation layers is complicated.
NPJ 2D MATERIALS AND APPLICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Chen Chen, Yang Hang, Hui Shan Wang, Yang Wang, Xiujun Wang, Chengxin Jiang, Yu Feng, Chenxi Liu, Eli Janzen, James H. Edgar, Zhipeng Wei, Wanlin Guo, Weida Hu, Zhuhua Zhang, Haomin Wang, Xiaoming Xie
Summary: The bandgap of hBN nanoribbons (BNNRs) can be changed by spatial/electrostatic confinement. Water adsorption greatly reduces the bandgap of zigzag-oriented BNNRs (zBNNRs) and can tune their conductance and optical bandgaps.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Jiahui Li, Chuanfeng Zhang, Yang Liu, Biyun Fang, Jun Ni, Jianxin Lin, Bingyu Lin, Lilong Jiang
Summary: Synergistic optimization of nitrogen dissociation and hydrogen transfer is used to develop a highly efficient ammonia synthesis catalyst. The presence of highly dispersed Ni metal enhances nitrogen vacancy and accelerates the exchange and reaction of lattice N species with gaseous nitrogen species. Additionally, Ni species facilitate hydrogen transfer, spillover, and release, leading to increased catalytic activity of the optimized molybdenum nitride catalyst with 0.1 wt% Ni.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Hoje Chun, Byungchan Han, Sangaraju Shanmugam, David Kumar Yesudoss
Summary: This study reports the engineering of an electrocatalyst/support interface to enhance the selectivity of nitrogen cathodes for the electrochemical synthesis of ammonia. By utilizing a strong catalyst-support interaction strategy, the NbTiO4@NCNR hybrid exhibits a 10-fold increase in selectivity compared to pure metal oxide. The enhanced performance is attributed to bridging bonds in the interface that facilitate electron transport and promote the kinetics of nitrogen reduction.
APPLIED CATALYSIS B-ENVIRONMENTAL
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Bolun Yu, Denan Li, Qianqian Zhu, Shufan Yao, Lifeng Zhang, Yanshuo Li, Zhenxin Zhang
Summary: This study successfully improved the catalytic activity of a zeolitic octahedral metal oxide by incorporating a single zinc species into its micropore. The zinc incorporation achieved a high ethane conversion rate and ethylene selectivity. Mechanism study showed that the isolated zinc site played a crucial role in activating oxygen and ethane, as well as stabilizing intermediates and transition states.
APPLIED CATALYSIS B-ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ruoqi Liu, Hao Fei, Jian Wang, Ting Guo, Fangyang Liu, Zhuangzhi Wu, Dezhi Wang
Summary: This work successfully synthesized a high-performing S-enriched MoS2 catalyst for electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR), demonstrating high activity and selectivity. The synergistic effect of the 1T phase and bridging S22- species was shown to play a positive role in NRR performances, and DFT calculations revealed the mechanism behind the improved performance.
APPLIED CATALYSIS B-ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Pan Xia, Lele Zhao, Xi Chen, Zhihong Ye, Zhihong Zheng, Qiang He, Ignasi Sires
Summary: This study presents a modified gas-diffusion electrode (GDE) for highly efficient and stable H2O2 electrosynthesis by using trace polymethylhydrosiloxane (PMHS). DFT calculations provide an in-depth understanding of the roles of PMHS functional groups.
APPLIED CATALYSIS B-ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Kwangchol Ri, Songsik Pak, Dunyu Sun, Qiang Zhong, Shaogui Yang, Songil Sin, Leliang Wu, Yue Sun, Hui Cao, Chunxiao Han, Chenmin Xu, Yazi Liu, Huan He, Shiyin Li, Cheng Sun
Summary: Different B-doped rGO catalysts were synthesized and their 2e- oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) performance was investigated. It was found that the 2e- ORR selectivity of B-doped rGO was influenced by the B content and oxygen mass transfer conditions. The synthesized catalyst exhibited high 2e- ORR selectivity and was capable of degrading organic pollutants continuously.
APPLIED CATALYSIS B-ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Li Lv, Lin Lei, Qi-Wen Chen, Cheng-Li Yin, Huiqing Fan, Jian-Ping Zhou
Summary: Monoclinic phase La2Ti2O7 and orthorhombic phase Bi4Ti3O12 are widely used in photocatalysis due to their layered crystal structure. The electronic structures of these phases play a crucial role in their photocatalytic activity. Heat treatment in a nitrogen atmosphere introduces more oxygen vacancies into the S-scheme heterojunction, leading to enhanced NO removal efficiency.
APPLIED CATALYSIS B-ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Choe Earn Choong, Minhee Kim, Jun Sup Lim, Young June Hong, Geon Joon Lee, Keun Hwa Chae, In Wook Nah, Yeomin Yoon, Eun Ha Choi, Min Jang
Summary: In this study, the synergistic effect between argon-plasma-system (AP) and catalysts in promoting the production of reactive species for water remediation was investigated. By altering the oxygen vacancies concentration of CeO2/Bi2O3 catalyst, the production of hydrated electrons was stimulated for PFOA removal. The results showed that the built-in electric field in the Bi/Ce0.43 interface enhanced electron migration and eaq- generation, leading to improved PFOA removal efficiency.
APPLIED CATALYSIS B-ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yushan Wu, Di Xu, Yanfei Xu, Xin Tian, Mingyue Ding
Summary: Efficient synthesis of primary amines from carbonyl compounds was achieved via reductive amination using Ru@NC-Al2O3 as a catalyst, exhibiting high activity and selectivity under mild conditions.
APPLIED CATALYSIS B-ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yilan Jiang, Peifang Wang, Tingyue Chen, Keyi Gao, Yiran Xiong, Yin Lu, Dionysios D. Dionysiou, Dawei Wang
Summary: By controlling the content of Co and Ni in Co1-xNixFe2O4, the production of O-1(2) from H2O2 can be regulated. NiFe2O4, with the lowest lattice distortion degree, can efficiently produce O-1(2) as the dominant reactive oxygen species. The system also exhibits significant resistance to water matrix interference.
APPLIED CATALYSIS B-ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Shuai Feng, Donglian Li, Hao Dong, Song Xie, Yaping Miao, Xuming Zhang, Biao Gao, Paul K. Chu, Xiang Peng
Summary: In this study, MoO2/Mo2N heterostructures were prepared by regulating the coordination of Mo atoms. The electrocatalyst exhibits high current density and excellent stability for hydrogen evolution reaction.
APPLIED CATALYSIS B-ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Jia-Cheng E. Yang, Min -Ping Zhu, Daqin Guan, Baoling Yuan, Darren Delai Sun, Chenghua Sun, Ming-Lai Fu
Summary: This study successfully modulated the electron configuration and spin state of millimetric metal catalysts by adjusting the support curvature radius. The electronic structure-oriented spin catalysis was found to affect the degradation of pollutants, providing new insights for the design and production of highly active, reusable, and stable catalysts.
APPLIED CATALYSIS B-ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Tao Zhong, Su Tang, Wenbin Huang, Wei Liu, Huinan Zhao, Lingling Hu, Shuanghong Tian, Chun He
Summary: In this study, a highly efficient photocatalyst for the elimination of CH3SH was developed by engineering different crystal facets and coupling them with PHI. Cu (111)/PHI exhibited the highest elimination efficiency and showed good stability and reusability. The enhanced surface electron pump effect and effective adsorption mechanisms were revealed through comprehensive characterizations and DFT calculations.
APPLIED CATALYSIS B-ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Feifei Yang, Tianyu Zhang, Jiankang Zhao, Wei Zhou, Nicole J. Libretto, Jeffrey T. Miller
Summary: A Ni3Sn intermetallic nano particle was found to have geometrically isolated Ni sites that could selectively cleave C-O bonds in biomass derivatives. This nano particle showed high activity and selectivity towards 2-methylfuran, unlike Ni nanoparticles that produced other unwanted products derived from the aromatic rings.
APPLIED CATALYSIS B-ENVIRONMENTAL
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Lulu Qiao, Di Liu, Anquan Zhu, Jinxian Feng, Pengfei Zhou, Chunfa Liu, Kar Wei Ng, Hui Pan
Summary: This study reveals that surface evolution plays a crucial role in enhancing the electrocatalytic performance of transition metal oxides for electrochemical nitrate reduction reaction (e-NO3RR). Incorporating nickel into Co3O4 can promote surface reconstruction and improve the adsorption of intermediates and reduce energy barriers, leading to enhanced catalytic performance. The reconstructed cobalt-nickel hydroxides (CoyNi1_y(OH)2) on the catalyst's surface serve as the active phase.
APPLIED CATALYSIS B-ENVIRONMENTAL
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Xinyu Song, Yang Shi, Zelin Wu, Bingkun Huang, Xinhao Wang, Heng Zhang, Peng Zhou, Wen Liu, Zhicheng Pan, Zhaokun Xiong, Bo Lai
Summary: This study explores the discriminative activities and mechanisms for activation of O-O bond in peroxy compounds via single-atom catalysts (SACs) with higher coordination numbers (M-N5). The atomic catalyst (Fe-SAC) with Fe-N5 as the active center was constructed, effectively activating peroxymonosulfate (PMS), peroxydisulfate (PDS), and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The study demonstrates the degradation efficiencies of acyclovir are related to the O-O bond length in different peroxy compounds, and reveals the discriminative mechanisms for activation of O-O bond in different Fenton-like systems.
APPLIED CATALYSIS B-ENVIRONMENTAL
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yangzhuo He, Hong Qin, Ziwei Wang, Han Wang, Yuan Zhu, Chengyun Zhou, Ying Zeng, Yicheng Li, Piao Xu, Guangming Zeng
Summary: A dual-metal-organic framework (MOF) assisted strategy was proposed to construct a magnetic Fe-Mn oxycarbide anchored on N-doped carbon for peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation. The FeMn@NC-800 catalyst exhibited superior activity with almost 100% degradation of sulfamethazine (SMZ) in 30 minutes. The study provided insights for the rational design of high-performance heterogeneous catalysts and proposed a novel nonradical-based catalytic oxidation for environmental cleaning.
APPLIED CATALYSIS B-ENVIRONMENTAL
(2024)