Currently, designing and developing high-performance, cost-effective yet stable electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is a challenging task owing to the existing high overpotential and sluggish OER kinetics. Herein, we successfully fabricated a hierarchical necklace-like nanohybrid via assembling Ni–Co mixed metal phosphides/carbon (NiCoP/C) hollow nanocages and nanosheets with carbon nanotubes (CNTs). It was revealed that Ni–Co-layered double hydroxide/carbon hollow nanocages and nanosheets derived from Co-based MOF polyhedrons (ZIF-67) could pass through CNTs and perpendicularly anchor onto the surface of CNTs, respectively, thus finally constructing a hierarchical CNTs@NiCoP/C nanohybrid via further low-temperature phosphorization. The as-assembled CNTs@NiCoP/C electrocatalyst exhibited promising electrocatalytic performance towards OER with a low overpotential of about 0.297 V for reaching a current density of 10.0 mA cm⁻² and a low Tafel slope of 57.35 mV dec⁻¹ in 1.0 M KOH owing to the advantages of its unique superstructure and multiple composition. Furthermore, the present CNTs@NiCoP/C also possessed good long-term operation stability. This synthesis strategy involving the combination of transition metal phosphides and CNTs to form hierarchical nanostructures holds promising potential for designing highly OER-active electrocatalysts.

In heterogeneous catalysis processes, development of high-performance acid–base sites synergistic catalysis has drawn increasing attention. In this work, we prepared Mg/Zr/Al mixed metal oxides (denoted as Mg₂Zr_xAl_1−x–MMO) derived from Mg–Zr–Al layered double hydroxides (LDHs) precursors. Their catalytic performance toward the synthesis of diethyl carbonate (DEC) from urea and ethanol was studied in detail, and the highest catalytic activity was obtained over the Mg₂Zr_0.53Al_0.47MMO catalyst (DEC yield: 37.6%). By establishing correlation between the catalytic performance and Lewis acid–base sites measured by NH₃-TPD and CO₂-TPD, it is found that both weak acid site and medium strength base site contribute to the overall yield of DEC, which demonstrates an acid–base synergistic catalysis in this reaction. In addition, in situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (in situ FTIR) measurements reveal that the Lewis base site activates ethanol to give ethoxide species; while Lewis acid site facilitates the activated adsorption of urea and the intermediate ethyl carbamate (EC). Therefore, this work provides an effective method for the preparation of tunable acid–base catalysts based on LDHs precursor approach, which can be potentially used in cooperative acid–base catalysis reaction.

3D NiP–Al₂O₃/NF electrocatalyst was prepared via the reduction of an LDH precursor, which exhibited excellent catalytic performance for OER and biomass upgrading.

Highly efficient synchronized production of phenol and 2,5-dimethylfuran was achieved via a bimetallic Ni–Cu catalyzed dehydrogenation–hydrogenation coupling process.

Currently, the catalytic transformation and utilization of biomass-derived compounds are of great importance to the alleviation of environmental problems and sustainable development. Among them, furfural alcohol derived from biomass resources has been found to be one of the most prospective biomass platforms for high-value chemicals and biofuels. Herein, high-surface-area ZrO₂ with abundant oxygen defects and surface acid–base sites was synthesized and used as a heterogeneous catalyst for the catalytic transfer hydrogenation of furfural into furfural alcohol using alcohol as a hydrogen donor. The as-synthesized ZrO₂ exhibited excellent catalytic performance with 98.2% FA conversion and 97.1% FOL selectivity, even comparable with that of a homogeneous Lewis acid catalyst. A series of characterization studies and experimental results revealed that acid sites on the surface of ZrO₂ could adsorb and activate the CO bond in furfural and base sites could facilitate the formation of alkoxide species. The synergistic effect of surface acid–base sites affords a harmonious environment for the reaction, which is crucial for catalytic transfer hydrogenation of furfural with high efficiency. Furthermore, the as-prepared ZrO₂ catalyst also exhibited a potential application for the efficient catalytic transfer hydrogenation of a series of biomass-derived carbonyl compounds.

Bimetallic sulfide ((Ni_0.3Co_0.7)₉S₈) nanoparticles confined by dual-carbon nanostructures are prepared, and deliver high electrochemical performances as anodes for Li⁺/Na⁺ batteries.