ABSTRACT
Developing electrocatalysts with high activity and durability for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in both acidic and alkaline electrolytes remains challenging. In this study, we synthesize a self-supported ruthenium-iron oxide on carbon cloth (Ru-Fe-Ox/CC) using solvothermal methods followed by air calcination. The morphology of the nanoparticle exposes numerous active sites vital for electrocatalysis. Additionally, the strong electronic interaction between Ru and Fe enhances electrocatalytic kinetics optimization. The porous structure of the carbon cloth matrix facilitates mass transport, improving electrolyte penetration and bubble release. Consequently, Ru-Fe-Ox/CC demonstrates excellent catalytic performance, achieving low overpotentials of 32 mV and 28 mV for HER and 216 mV and 228 mV for OER in acidic and alkaline electrolytes, respectively. Notably, only 1.48 V and 1.46 V are required to reach 10 mA cm-2 for efficient water-splitting in both mediums, exhibiting remarkable stability. This research offers insights into designing versatile, highly efficient catalysts suitable for varied pH conditions.
ABSTRACT
Improving the efficiency of overall water splitting (OWS) is crucial due to the slow four-electron transfer process in the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). The coupling of the thermodynamically favorable hydrazine oxidation reaction (HzOR) with the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) significantly boosts hydrogen production. A Ru-decorated MoNi/MoO2 micropillar (Ru-MoNi/MoO2) has been synthesized using a hydrothermal followed by reduction annealing. Benefiting from Ru moderating the active interface of Mo-based alloys/oxides and the unique one-dimensional micropillar morphology. The synthesized Ru-MoNi/MoO2 exhibits outstanding bifunctional activity for HER and HzOR, achieving 10 mA cm-2 at merely -13 mV and -34 mV in 1 M KOH and 1 M KOH + 0.5 M N2H4, respectively. Notably, with Ru-MoNi/MoO2 in a dual-electrode setup, only 0.57 V is needed to achieve 50 mA cm-2, demonstrating good stability and facilitating hydrazine-assisted water splitting (OHzS). This work offers insights into the modulation of alloy/metal oxide active interfaces, contributing to the development of efficient bifunctional catalysts for HER and HzOR.
ABSTRACT
Developing bifunctional catalysts for overall water splitting with high activity and durability at high current density remains a challenge. In an attempt to overcome this bottleneck, in this work, unique CoNiFe-layered double hydroxide nanoflowers are in situ grown on nickel-iron (NiFe) foam through a corrosive approach and following a chemical vapor deposition process to generate nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes at the presence of melamine (CoNiFe@NCNTs). The coupling effects between various metal species act a key role in accelerating the reaction kinetics. Moreover, the in situ formed NCNTs also favor promoting electrocatalytic activity and stability. For oxygen evolution reaction it requires low overpotentials of 330 and 341 mV in 1M KOH and 1M KOH + seawater to drive 500 mA cm-2. Moreover, water electrolysis can be operated with CoNiFe@NCNTs as both anode and cathode with small voltages of 1.95 and 1.93 V to achieve 500 mA cm-2 in 1M KOH and 1M KOH + seawater, respectively.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To explore effects of acupotomy on pain, function, gait and serum inflammatory factors in patients with knee osteoarthritis(KOA). METHODS: From December 2017 to June 2019, 110 patients with KOA were collected and divided into acupotomy group(56 cases) and western medicine group(54 cases) by using random number table method. In acupotomy group, there were 16 males and 40 females, aged from 46 to 74 years old with an average of (62.98±6.68) years old, the course of disease ranged from 1 to 240 months with an average of 24.5(15.25, 33.00) months;were treated with acupotomy on the pain points around knee joint once a week for 3 weeks. In western medicine group, there were 18 males and 36 females, aged from 47 to 73 years old with an average of (64.19±5.98 ) years old;the course of disease ranged from 1 to 220 months with an average of 25.00(13.75, 33.00) months;were took celecoxib capsule orally, 200 mg once a day for 3 weeks. Oxford Knee Score(OKS) was performed before treatment, 3 weeks and 3 months after treatment. Gait kinematics analysis and serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) were measured before and after treatment for 3 weeks. RESULTS: All patients were followed up from 6 to 24 months with an average of(15.03±4.55) months. OKS between two groups decreased significantly at 3 weeks and 3 months after treatment(P<0.001). Functional scores and overall scores in acupotomology group were significantly decreased at 3 months compared with 3 weeks after treatment(P<0.001). OKS of acupotomy group were significantly lower than those of western medicine group at 3 weeks and 3 months after treatment(P<0.05). Gait speed, frequency and length between two groups were significantly improved at 3 weeks after treatment(P<0.05). At 3 weeks after treatment, gait freguency of acupotomy group was significantly improved compared with western medicine group(P<0.05). TNF-α and IL-1ß were significantly lower in both groups at 3 weeks after treatment than before treatment(P<0.05). At 3 weeks after treatment, level of IL-1 ß was lower in western medicine group than in acupotomy group(P<0.05), and difference in TNF-α level was not statistically significant(P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Acupotomology of pain points could significantly improve pain, function, gait, and decreased serum inflammatory factors at early to mid stage of KOA patients, in particular, it is superior to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in terms of knee function recovery and cadence improvement.
