Dopamine (DA), uric acid (UA) and ascorbic acid (AA) are biomolecules widely distributed in the human body and play an important role in many physiological processes. An abnormal concentration of them is associated with various diseases. Thus, the accurate and fast detection of them has been one of the major demands in the healthcare industry. In this study, we demonstrate that Ti₃C₂T_x/PtNP modified glassy carbon electrodes (GCEs) show a good electrochemical performance in the detection of DA and UA. However, there is no response signal to AA for either the CV or DPV curve due to the electrostatic repulsion between the negatively charged electrode surface and the negatively charged AA. Ti₃C₂T_x(MXene)/Pt nanoparticles (PtNPs) are prepared by etching Ti₃AlC₂(MAX) with HF and reducing H₂PtCl₆ with a NaBH₄ aqueous solution. The morphology of Ti₃C₂T_x/PtNPs is multilayered accordion-like Ti₃C₂T_x decorated with PtNPs with a diameter of 10–20 nm. Furthermore, it is found that the electrochemical detection of DA will be enhanced by AA. The electrochemical detection rule of AA enhanced DA can be expressed as follows: I_(DA+AA) = 0.011216C_AA + 0.039950C_DA + 1.1175(I_(DA+AA) is the peak current of DA coexisting with AA. C_AA is the concentration of AA. C_DA is the concentration of DA). This can be used as a calibration to correct the concentration of DA when AA and DA coexist. Notably, AA promotes the stability of the electrode because it cleans the oxidation products from the electrode surface in time. In addition, the sensor exhibits good reproducibility and satisfactory recovery results in a real sample.

Growing interest in low-cost clean hydrogen production has positioned anion exchange membrane water electrolysis (AEMWE) as a leading sustainable technology. Its appeal lies in compatibility with platinum-group metal-free catalysts, inexpensive anode flow fields, and cost-effective bipolar plates. Recent advances in AEMWE focus critically on optimizing membrane electrode assembly (MEA) design to achieve industrially viable efficiency and durability. Key progress includes component-level innovations, such as developing nonprecious metal catalysts, fabricating anion exchange membranes (AEMs) with high ionic conductivity and alkaline stability, and engineering gas diffusion layers (GDLs) with hierarchical porosity for effective mass transport. Central to improving performance is interfacial engineering within the MEA, which combines catalyst layers (CLs), AEM, and GDLs to reduce ionic/charge transfer resistance and prevent mechanical delamination. A transformative breakthrough involves ordered, gap-free electrode assembly. This approach utilizes strategies such as ionomer-bonded architectures to establish continuous ion-conducting pathways or in situ catalyst deposition directly onto AEM surfaces, creating vertically aligned triple-phase boundaries. These ordered structures maximize catalyst utilization, markedly reduce voltage losses at industrially relevant current densities, and mitigate interfacial degradation during differential-pressure operation. Future advancements require scalable manufacturing of these ordered architectures to bridge material innovations with industrial deployment.

Renewable energy-driven water electrolysis is widely regarded as a pivotal approach for achieving carbon-free hydrogen production. The development of highly efficient electrocatalysts is crucial to advancing the efficiency and scalability of electrolytic water splitting. Recent advancements in characterization techniques have revealed that catalysts often undergo surface reconstruction during the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER), leading to the formation of real active species. Understanding the surface reconstruction process through advanced characterization methods is essential for the rational design of high-performance catalysts. However, the surface reconstruction of catalysts is a highly complex phenomenon, and conventional ex situ characterization techniques often fall short of capturing the dynamic evolution of the catalyst surface. Consequently, in situ characterization methods have emerged as indispensable tools for elucidating the surface reconstruction process. This paper provides a detailed review of the process of surface reconstruction, the reasons behind it, and the in situ characterization methods, and finally discusses the challenges faced by the characterization methods for the reconstruction of water electrolysis catalysts in future development.

Enhanced denitrification has been reported under weak electric fields. However, it is difficult to investigate the mechanism of enhanced denitrification due to the complex interspecific interactions of mixed-culture systems. In this study, Pseudomonas stutzeri, capable of denitrification under anaerobic conditions, was selected for treating low COD/N (2.0, ratio between concentration of chemical oxygen demand and NO₃⁻-N) artificial wastewater under constant external voltages of 0.2, 0.4, and 0.6 V. The results revealed that P. stutzeri exhibited the highest efficiency in nitrate reduction at 0.2 V. Moreover, the maximum nitrate removal rate was 15.96 mg/(L·h) among the closed-circuit groups, 19.39% higher than that under the open-circuit group. Additionally, a notable reduction in nitrite accumulation was observed under weak electric fields. Enzyme activity analysis showed that the nitrate reductase activities were significantly increased among the closed-circuit groups, while nitrite reductase activities were inhibited. Transcriptomic analysis indicated that amino acid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, and energy metabolism were increased, enhancing the resistance of P. stutzeri to environmental stress and the efficiency of carbon source utilization for denitrification. The current study examined the impacts of weak electric fields on enzyme activities and microbial metabolic pathways and offers valuable insights into the mechanism by which denitrification is enhanced by weak electric fields.