Jianchun Jiang’s research while affiliated with Henan Agricultural University and other places

Metal-free heterostructure carbon catalysts are promising alternatives to metal-based catalysts for electrochemical hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) synthesis via the two-electron oxygen reduction reaction (2e– ORR). However, one appropriate nanocrystal type is being sought to resolve a concern at industrial-level current densities. Herein, nano boron crystal domains (Bn) overcame the stability limitations of traditional carbon-based electrocatalysts for sustainable H2O2 production and industrial application. A Bn–C catalyst offered multiple active sites, while the nano Bn imparted an O2 enrichment effect enhancing mass transfer during ORR electrocatalysis. The Bn–C exhibited a very high mass activity (11.6/10.7 mol gcat–1 h–1) in alkaline/neutral electrolytes and showed negligible loss in activity and Faradaic efficiency (over 90%) during 100 h continuous electrolysis at high current density (>300 mA cm–2). Density functional theory and in situ Raman experiments demonstrated that the –OH groups connecting nano Bn provided an inductive effect on B atoms in the carbon matrix, alleviating a binding strength that is too strong with *OOH intermediate.

Cobalt‐based monolithic phosphides are an attractive approach due to their stability and corrosion resistance properties for catalytic reactions. Herein, phosphourous ‐induced Co‐based dual active sites phosphides (Co2P‐Ni2P‐NC) are fabricated on phosphourous‐activated nickel foam (P‐NF) through the phosphorization method. The results confirm the uniform growth of Co2P‐Ni2P nanoparticles (NPs) with octahedral morphology embedded in the carbon‐nitrogen matrix. Co2P‐Ni2P NPs (9.26 nm) express prominent interfacial interaction and a strong electronic modulation through phosphorous (P) inducing. Thus, the dual active sites (Co2P, Ni2P) synergistically increase the catalytic activity of the optimized catalyst Co2P‐Ni2P‐NC with excellent efficiency for ammonia borane hydrolysis with hydrogen evolution (rB = 4495 mL min⁻¹ g⁻¹Co), turnover frequency (TOF = 1214.4 h⁻¹), and apparent activation energy (Ea = 36.17 kJ mol⁻¹). The P‐activated nickel foam in Co2P‐Ni2P‐NC contributes significantly to increasing the catalytic activity of the as‐prepared catalysts. Thus, this work provides a rational design for developing a monolithic catalyst for industrial applications in the field of heterogeneous catalysis and sustainable energy.

Lignocellulose biomass, Earth's most abundant renewable resource, is crucial for sustainable production of high–value chemicals and bioengineered materials, especially for energy storage. Efficient pretreatment is vital to boost lignocellulose conversion to bioenergy and biomaterials, cut costs, and broaden its energy–sector applications. Machine learning (ML) has become a key tool in this field, optimizing pretreatment processes, improving decision‐making, and driving innovation in lignocellulose valorization for energy storage. This review explores main pretreatment strategies – physical, chemical, physicochemical, biological, and integrated methods – evaluating their pros and cons for energy storage. It also stresses ML's role in refining these processes, supported by case studies showing its effectiveness. The review examines challenges and opportunities of integrating ML into lignocellulose pretreatment for energy storage, underlining pretreatment's importance in unlocking lignocellulose's full potential. By blending process knowledge with advanced computational techniques, this work aims to spur progress toward a sustainable, circular bioeconomy, particularly in energy storage solutions.

Natural biomass-derived carbon material is one promising alternative to traditional graphene-based catalyst for oxygen electrocatalysis. However, their electrocatalytic performance were constrained by the limited modulating strategy. Herein, using N-doped commercial coconut shell-derived activated carbon (AC) as catalyst model, the controllably enhanced sp ² -C domains, through an flash Joule heating process, effectively improve the edge defect density and overall graphitization degree of AC catalyst, which tunes the electronic structure of N configurations and accelerates electron transfer, leading to excellent oxygen reduction reaction performance (half-wave potential of 0.884 V RHE , equivalent to commercial 20% Pt/C, with a higher kinetic current density of 5.88 mA cm ⁻² ) and oxygen evolution reaction activity (overpotential of 295 mV at 10 mA cm ² ). In a Zn-air battery, the catalyst shows outstanding cycle stability (over 1200 h) and a peak power density of 121 mW cm ⁻² , surpassing commercial Pt/C and RuO 2 catalysts. Density functional theory simulation reveals that the enhanced catalytic activity arises from the axial regulation of local sp ² -C domains. This work establishes a robust strategy for sp ² -C domain modulation, offering broad applicability in natural biomass-based carbon catalysts for electrocatalysis.

In this study, a series of puffball carbon-supported catalysts were synthesized to facilitate the hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of the lignin model compound vanillin (VAN) into 2-methoxy-4-methylphenol (MMP). The Co-ZIF/BC catalyst, prepared by loading ZIF-67 onto puffball carbon support, achieved a VAN conversion rate of 96.28% and a selectivity of 86.57% for MMP under reaction conditions of 240 °C and 1.5 MPa of H2 for 4 h. Based on the characterization results, it was found that the Co-ZIF/BC catalyst exhibited high crystal defects, a large specific surface area, and mesopore volume, as well as strong Lewis acid sites. Additionally, the Co–N bonds formed between Co nanoparticles and nitrogen increased the electron density on the catalyst surface. The abundant surface Co0 species enhanced hydrogen adsorption and dissociation, providing more active sites, which facilitated the activation of reactants and improved the efficiency of the catalytic reaction. The use of abundant and low-cost puffball materials in the preparation of the Co-ZIF/BC catalyst not only reduced production costs but also supported the sustainability of the catalytic process, aligning with the principles of green chemistry.