In this paper, we propose for the first time the synthesis of α-MoO₃ nanorods in a one-step procedure at mild temperatures. By changing the growth parameters, the microstructure and controllable morphology of the resulting products can be customized. The average diameter of the as-prepared nanorods is about 200 nm. The electrochromic and capacitance properties of the synthesized products were studied. The results show that the electrochromic properties of α-MoO₃ nanorods at 550 nm have 67% high transmission contrast, good cycle stability and fast response time. The MoO₃ nanorods also exhibit a stable supercapacitor performance with 98.5% capacitance retention after 10,000 cycles. Although current density varies sequentially, the nanostructure always exhibits a stable capacitor to maintain 100%. These results indicate the as-prepared MoO₃ nanorods may be good candidates for applications in electrochromic devices and supercapacitors.

In this study, we examined the adsorption and sensing capabilities of transition metal doped PtS₂ monolayers (TM = Co, Cu, Fe, Ni) towards three industrially relevant toxic and hazardous gases: CO, NO, and H₂S, using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The interaction between the gases and the TM-doped PtS₂ monolayer substrates was thoroughly investigated, taking into account various adsorption configurations, charge transfer phenomena, band structures, and state densities. Results indicate that the TM dopants markedly enhances the conductivity and gas adsorption capacity of PtS₂ monolayer. Specifically, the TM-doped PtS₂ monolayers exhibit strong adsorption properties towards CO, NO, and H₂S, with the adsorption process identified as chemisorption. By analyzing the alterations in conductivity subsequent to gas adsorption, we discerned that Ni-PtS₂ could potentially serve as an effective sensor for CO, NO, and H₂S. Consequently, our results furnish a solid theoretical foundation for the development of PtS₂-based sensors aimed at detecting these gases. Furthermore, the findings of this research offer valuable insights into the design of gas nanosensors.

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) have exhibited potential in energy recovery from waste. In this study, an MFC reactor with a polyaniline–sodium alginate–graphene oxide (PANI–SA–GO)/carbon brush (CB) hydrogel anode achieved maximum power density with 4970 mW/m³ and produced a corresponding current density of 4.66 A/m², which was 2.72 times larger than the MFC equipped with a carbon felt film (CF) anode (1825 mW/m³). Scanning electron microscopy indicated that the PANI-SA-GO/CB composite anode had a three-dimensional macroporous structure. This structure had a large specific surface area, providing more sites for microbial growth and attachment. When the charging-discharging time was set from 60 min to 90 min, the stored charge of the PANI-SA-GO/CB hydrogel anode (6378.41 C/m²) was 15.08 times higher than that of the CF (423.05 C/m²). Thus, the mismatch between power supply and electricity consumption was addressed. This study provided a simple and environment-friendly modification method and allowed the prepared PANI–SA–GO/CB hydrogel anode to markedly promote the energy storage and output performance of the MFC.

Microbial fuel cell (MFC) technology has become a novel and attractive method for generating renewable energy during wastewater treatment. In this study, researchers combined carbon felt (CF), metal oxide (NiO), and polyaniline (PANI) to prepare CF/NiO/PANI multilayer capacitive bioelectrodes. The MFC equipped with a CF/NiO/PANI bioanode has a peak power density of 1988.31 ± 50.96 mW/m², which is 3.8 times higher than that of the MFC with a bare CF electrode, having a peak power density of 518.29 ± 27.07 mW/m². Charge–discharge cycle tests show that the storage charge capacity of the CF/NiO/PANI bioanode is 3304.64 C/m², which is 10.5 times greater than that of the bare CF anode. The electrochemical, morphological, and chemical properties of the prepared anodes are characterized using techniques such as SEM, EDS, FTIR, XPS, and XRD. Notably, high-throughput sequencing reveals that electrogenic bacteria account for 79.2% of the total microbial population on the CF/NiO/PANI multilayer capacitive bioelectrode. The synergistic effects of the composite materials result in the formation of a richer biofilm on the electrode surface, providing more active sites and enhancing capacitive characteristics. This innovative approach significantly improves the output power and peak current of MFCs, while also endowing the electrode with dual functions of simultaneous power generation and energy storage.