A WO_3−x/TiO_2−x nanotube array (NTA) heterojunction photoanode was strategically designed to improve photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) performance by establishing a synergistic vacancy-induced self-doping effect and localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect of metalloid non-stoichiometric tungsten suboxide. The WO_3−x/TiO_2−x NTA heterojunction photoanode was synthesized through a successive process of anodic oxidation to form TiO₂ nanotube arrays, magnetron sputtering to deposit metalloid WO_3−x, and post-hydrogen reduction to engender oxygen vacancy in TiO_2−x as well as crystallization. On the merits of such a synergistic effect, WO_3−x/TiO_2−x shows higher light-harvesting ability, stronger photocurrent response, and resultant improved photoelectrocatalytic performance than the contrast of WO_3−x/TiO₂, WO₃/TiO₂ and TiO₂, confirming the importance of oxygen vacancies in improving PEC performance. Theoretical calculation based on density functional theory was applied to investigate the electronic structural features of samples and reveal how the oxygen vacancy determines the optical property. The carrier density tuning mechanism and charge transfer model were considered to be associated with the synergistic effect of self-doping and metalloid LSPR effect in the WO_3−x/TiO_2−x NTA.

The substrate of solar cells with high haze, transparent, flexible, green and low coatings will be needed in the future. This paper reports a method for ultraviolet-assisted delignification of wood in an alkaline solution environment to improve the transmittance of “transparent wood”. Scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction image (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and transmittance-haze and chemical composition analysis were used to explore the mechanisms underlying the effect of ultraviolet-assisted lignin modification on the optical properties of “transparent wood”. The results show that UV-assisted delignification accelerates the rate of removal of lignin and chromogenic groups, which in turn improves the optical properties of the “transparent wood”, with UV-assisted lignin modification for 2 h increasing the light transmission of the “transparent wood” by 20%. UV-assisted delignification for 4 h and impregnation resulted in “transparent wood” with a transparency of 71% and a haze of 90%. This report provides a rapid and easy method to prepare high-quality “transparent wood”. The “transparent wood” with high transmittance and high haze is a potential candidate for transparent solar substrates. Meanwhile, this method is enlightening for high quality, fast and green preparation of other derived functional materials based on lignin wood.

Carbon quantum dots (CQDs), a distinctive class of fluorescent carbon nanomaterials, exhibit considerable potential for widespread application across several industries due to their safety, environmental sustainability, excellent water solubility, and tunable yet stable fluorescence properties. Nevertheless, the mass field is limited, and the cost of production is higher for the majority of methods. This study examines a cost-effective approach for the hydrothermal synthesis of nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots (N-CQDs) from wood using NH₃·H₂O as the nitrogen precursor, facilitated by H₂O₂ and ultraviolet light. The produced N-CQDs demonstrate superior crystallinity and solubility in water, with the average particle size of 5.02 nm. After 10 experiments under the same conditions, a significant and stable yield of 5.04 g (42 wt%) was finally obtained by hydrothermal synthesis. The N-CQDs solution exhibits green fluorescence when exposed to ultraviolet light, and its fluorescence performance is influenced by concentration and excitation wavelength. Furthermore, it explores their application in identifying Fe (III) in water. The surface of N-CQDs is abundant in hydrophilic hydroxyl groups, distinctive nitrogen-containing groups, and various oxygen-containing functional groups. Fe (III) can extinguish fluorescence in water. The ratio of fluorescence intensity before and after to the addition of Fe (III) solution to the N-CQDs solution (F₀/F) exhibits the effective linear correlation within the concentration range of 0.1 to 100 μmol/L. Within the concentration range of 100 to 1000 μmol/L, the increase in Fe (III) concentration results in substantial aggregation of Fe (III) and N-CQDs, along with a blue shift in the fluorescence wavelength. This discovery possesses significant potential for the synthesis and application of environmentally friendly, high-yield N-CQDs.

A superhydrophobic wood surface was produced by employing the solvothermal method to form shuttle-like, well-crystallized MIL-88(Fe) on the surface of wood and assembling a Octadecylphosphonic acid (OPA) reagent. The nanosized MIL-88(Fe) molecule caused the wood’s surface to take on a nano mastoid shape. In addition, MIL-88(Fe) provides metal sites to capture OPA molecules, preventing the long-chain alkane hydrophobic group from contacting the surface of the wood. They both make a considerable difference in the growth of a hydrophobic wood surface. The results of the experiment indicate that the water contact angle (WCA) increases with reactant concentration. The WCA of the samples prepared with 5.0 × 10⁻² M FeCl₃ was 140.57°. When the reactant concentration was 10.0 × 10⁻² M, the greatest WCA = 153.69° reading was obtained. The research’s findings present a novel technique for producing superhydrophobic wood surfaces.