Inorganic metal sulfides have received extensive investigation as anode materials in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, applications of crystalline organic hybrid metal sulfides as anode materials in LIBs are quite rare. In addition, combining the nanoparticles of crystalline organic hybrid metal sulfides with conductive materials is expected to enhance the electrochemical lithium storage performance. Nevertheless, due to the difficulty of harvesting the nanoparticles of crystalline organic hybrid metal sulfides, this approach has never been tried to date. Herein, nanoparticles of a crystalline organic hybrid cadmium antimony sulfide (1,4-DABH2)Cd2Sb2S6 (DCAS) were prepared by a top-down method, including the procedures of solvothermal synthesis, ball milling, and ultrasonic pulverization. Thereafter, the nanoparticles of DCAS with sizes of ∼500 nm were intercalated into graphene oxide nanosheets through a freeze-drying treatment and a DCAS@GO composite was obtained. Compared with the reported Sb2S3- and CdS-based composites, the DCAS@GO composite exhibited superior electrochemical Li+ ion storage performance, including a high capacity of 1075.6 mAh g-1 at 100 mA g-1 and exceptional rate tolerances (646.8 mAh g-1 at 5000 mA g-1). In addition, DCAS@GO can provide a high capacity of 705.6 mAh g-1 after 500 cycles at 1000 mA g-1. Our research offers a viable approach for preparing the nanoparticles of crystalline organic hybrid metal sulfides and proves that intercalating organic hybrid metal sulfide nanoparticles into GO nanosheets can efficiently boost the electrochemical Li+ ion storage performance.

In order to realize the low-carbon development policy, the large-scale development and utilization of nuclear energy is very essential. Uranium is the key resource for nuclear industry. The extracting and recycling uranium from seawater and nuclear wastewater is necessary for secure uranium reserves, ensure energy security, control pollution and protect the environment. The novel nanomaterial MXene possesses the layered structure, high specific surface area, and modifiable surface terminal groups, which allowed it to enrich uranium. In addition, good photovoltaic and photothermal properties improves the ability to adsorb uranium. The excellent radiation resistance of the MAX phase strongly indicates the potential use of MXene as an effective uranium adsorbent. However, there are relatively few reviews on its application in uranium extraction and recovery. This review focuses on the recent advances in the use of MXene-based materials as highly efficient adsorbents for the recovery of uranium from seawater and nuclear wastewater. First, the structural, synthetic and characterization aspects of MXene materials are introduced. Subsequently, the adsorptive properties of MXene-based materials are evaluated in terms of uranium extraction recovery capability, selectivity, and reproducibility. Furthermore, the interaction mechanisms between uranium and MXene absorbers are discussed. Finally, the challenges for MXene materials in uranium adsorption applications are proposed for better design of new types of MXene-based adsorbents.

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries hold promise for sustainable energy storage, yet challenges in finding high-performance cathode materials persist. Polyoxovanadates (POVs) are emerging as potential candidates due to their structural diversity and robust redox activity. Despite their potential, issues like dissolution in electrolytes, structural degradation, and byproduct accumulation persist. This work introduces a POV-based hydrophobic two-dimensional (2D) layered superstructure that addresses these challenges. The hydrophobic nature minimizes POV dissolution, enhancing structural stability and inhibiting phase transitions during cycling. The 2D arrangement ensures a larger surface area and improved electronic conductivity, resulting in faster kinetics and higher specific capacity. The superstructure demonstrates improved cycle life and an increased operating voltage, marking a significant advancement in POV-based cathode materials for aqueous zinc-ion batteries.

Solar-driven photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting systems are highly promising for converting solar energy into clean and sustainable chemical energy. In such PEC systems, an integrated photoelectrode incorporates a light harvester for absorbing solar energy, an interlayer for transporting photogenerated charge carriers, and a co-catalyst for triggering redox reactions. Thus, understanding the correlations between the intrinsic structural properties and functions of the photoelectrodes is crucial. Here we critically examine various 2D layered photoanodes/photocathodes, including graphitic carbon nitrides, transition metal dichalcogenides, layered double hydroxides, layered bismuth oxyhalide nanosheets, and MXenes, combined with advanced nanocarbons (carbon dots, carbon nanotubes, graphene, and graphdiyne) as co-catalysts to assemble integrated photoelectrodes for oxygen evolution/hydrogen evolution reactions. The fundamental principles of PEC water splitting and physicochemical properties of photoelectrodes and the associated catalytic reactions are analyzed. Elaborate strategies for the assembly of 2D photoelectrodes with nanocarbons to enhance the PEC performances are introduced. The mechanisms of interplay of 2D photoelectrodes and nanocarbon co-catalysts are further discussed. The challenges and opportunities in the field are identified to guide future research for maximizing the conversion efficiency of PEC water splitting.

The inevitable oxidation of Sn2+ and p-type self-doping has plagued the development of two-dimensional (2D) Sn-based perovskite field effect transistors. In this work, we demonstrate the modulation of the properties of phenethylammonium tin iodide ((PEA)2SnI4) perovskite thin films by introducing the aromatic polymer additives of poly(4-vinylphenol) (PVP) and poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVPD) during the crystallization processes, keeping the 2D layered structure of (PEA)2SnI4 unchanged. The proposed formation mechanisms of the polymer-assisted (PEA)2SnI4:PVP and (PEA)2SnI4:PVPD films disclose that the interactions between the polymers and (PEA)2SnI4, such as hydrogen bonds, π-π interactions, and coordination bonds, lead to the improvement of the morphology and crystallization as well as the inhibition of Sn2+ oxidation of the films. However, the field-effect transistors based on the two polymer-assisted (PEA)2SnI4 thin films constructed on the dielectric of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) modified by crosslinking PVP (CL-PVP) exhibit quite a different performance. Compared with the (PEA)2SnI4 transistor, without sacrificing the hole mobility, the on-off current ratio of the (PEA)2SnI4:PVP device increases by one order of magnitude, and the subthreshold slope declines slightly due to the reduced leakage current, which results from the reduction of p-type self-doping of the perovskite film and the improved quality of the perovskite/dielectric interface because of the strong π-π interactions between the benzene rings in CL-PVP and (PEA)2SnI4:PVP. In contrast, the (PEA)2SnI4:PVPD transistor exhibits relatively poor overall performance because of the N-vinylpyrrolidone of PVPD. More importantly, employing PVP and PVPD as additives can effectively enhance the chemical stability of (PEA)2SnI4 as well as the operational stabilities of the corresponding transistors. Our work provides an effective strategy for selecting chemical additives to improve 2D perovskite properties and suppress the oxidation of Sn-based perovskites, and paves a way toward the future applications of Sn-based perovskite optoelectronic devices with high performance and stability.

Metal chalcogenides with large active sites have been received great attention as an excellent catalyst due to their hierarchical structural properties. Here, we have demonstrated the synthesis of ytterbium-doped molybdenum selenide (YbMoSe2) in the form of two-dimensional nanosheets by using a simple ultrasonic method. The formation of the crystal phase of prepared YbMoSe2 nanosheets was studied by using the selective characterization techniques. The reported HRTEM confirmed that the introduction of heterogeneous spin of Yb with MoSe2 creates the lattice distortion. Thus, the active sites can be increased by creating the lattice distortion on the basal plane of the metal chalcogenides nanosheets. The band gap study was carried out by using UV-visible spectrometer and demonstrated the decreasing band gap of MoSe2 from 1.30 eV to 1.15 eV due to the Yb substitution/doping. The increasing active sites with decreasing band gap facilitate an excellent electronic conductivity and electrochemical activity. Furthermore, the electrocatalytic activity of YbMoSe2 modified glassy carbon electrode (YbMoSe2/GCE) toward the sensing of diphenylamine (DPA) anti-scald agent. As expected, YbMoSe2/GCE showed a high level of electrochemical activity with a low limit of detection (0.004 µM) and excellent sensitivity (11.4 µA µM-1 cm-2) towards the detection of DPA. In addition, the superior selectivity, stability, and reproducibility of YbMoSe2/GCE also were recorded. The beneficial electrochemical activity of YbMoSe2/GCE offered the more advantages to detection of DPA in the food sample also.

We constructed a series of two-dimensional (2D) layered mesoporous mono- and binary-transition-metal nitride/graphene nanocomposites (TMN/G, TM = Ti, Cr, W, Mo, TiCr, TiW, and TiMo) via an efficient and versatile nanocasting strategy for the first time. The 2D layered mesoporous TMN/G is constituted of small TMN nanoparticles composited with graphene nanosheets and has a large surface area with high porosity. Through decoration with well-dispersed Pt nanoparticles, 2D layered mesoporous Pt/TMN/G catalysts can be obtained that display excellent catalytic activity and stability for methanol electro-oxidation reactions (MOR) and oxygen reduction reactions (ORR) in both acidic and alkaline media. The 2D layered mesoporous binary-Pt/TMN/G catalysts possess catalytic activity superior to that of mono-Pt/TMN/G, graphene free Pt/TMN, Pt/G, and Pt/C catalysts. Encouragingly, the 2D layered mesoporous Pt/Ti0.5Cr0.5N/G catalyst exhibits the best electrocatalytic performance for both MOR and ORR. The outstanding electrocatalytic performance of the Pt/Ti0.5Cr0.5N/G catalyst is rooted in its large surface area, high porosity, strong interaction among Pt, Ti0.5Cr0.5N, and graphene, an excellent electron transfer property facilitated by N-doped graphene, and the small size of Pt and Ti0.5Cr0.5N nanocrystals. The outstanding catalytic performance provides the 2D layered mesoporous Pt/Ti0.5Cr0.5N/G catalyst with a wide range of application prospects in direct methanol fuel cells in both acidic and alkaline media. The synthetic method may be available for constructing other 2D layered mesoporous metal nitrides, carbides, and phosphides.