Advanced Materials

doi: 10.1002/adma.201570240pmid: N/A

doi: 10.1002/adma.201570237pmid: N/A

This special issue, guest‐edited by J. L. Gong, J. Chen, N. Zhao, and Y. Liu, offers an overview on the representative materials research carried out at the Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin). The issue focuses on functional inorganic, organic, polymeric, and hybrid materials for applications in the catalysis, energy, and optoelectronic fields. The front cover shows the main buildings of the Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tianjin University (bottom left), and Nankai University (bottom right).

Zheng, Xiaoyu; Luo, Jiayan; Lv, Wei; Wang, Da‐Wei; Yang, Quan‐Hong

doi: 10.1002/adma.201570238pmid: N/A

Two‐dimensional porous carbon is a new class of carbon nanomaterial. Its high aspect ratio, hierarchical pore structures, and short ion‐transport length make it advantageous in many applications, such as energy storage, adsorption, separation, catalysis, and sensing. J. Luo, Q.‐H. Yang, and co‐workers present a conceptual review on the synthesis of porous carbon sheets along with their improved electrochemical behaviors on page 5388.

doi: 10.1002/adma.201570239pmid: N/A

Gong, Jinlong; Chen, Jun; Zhao, Naiqin; Liu, Yu

doi: 10.1002/adma.201503738pmid: 26378435

Ji, Junyi; Li, Yang; Peng, Wenchao; Zhang, Guoliang; Zhang, Fengbao; Fan, Xiaobin

doi: 10.1002/adma.201501115pmid: 26270245

The increasing demand for energy has triggered tremendous research effort for the development of high‐performance and durable energy‐storage devices. Advanced graphene‐based electrodes with high electrical conductivity and ion accessibility can exhibit superior electrochemical performance in energy‐storage devices. Among them, binder‐free configurations can enhance the electron conductivity of the electrode, which leads to a higher capacity by avoiding the addition of non‐conductive and inactive binders. Graphene, a 2D material, can be fabricated into a porous and flexible structure with an interconnected conductive network. Such a conductive structure is favorable for both electron and ion transport to the entire electrode surface. In this review, the main processes used to prepare binder‐free graphene‐based hybrids with high porosity and well‐designed electron conductive networks are summarized. Then, the applications of free‐standing binder‐free graphene‐based electrodes in energy‐storage devices are discussed. Future research aspects with regard to overcoming the technological bottlenecks are also proposed.

He, Guangwei; Li, Zhen; Zhao, Jing; Wang, Shaofei; Wu, Hong; Guiver, Michael D.; Jiang, Zhongyi

doi: 10.1002/adma.201501406pmid: 26270555

Polymer‐based materials with tunable nanoscale structures and associated microenvironments hold great promise as next‐generation ion‐exchange membranes (IEMs) for acid or alkaline fuel cells. Understanding the relationships between nanostructure, physical and chemical microenvironment, and ion‐transport properties are critical to the rational design and development of IEMs. These matters are addressed here by discussing representative and important advances since 2011, with particular emphasis on aromatic‐polymer‐based nanostructured IEMs, which are broadly divided into nanostructured polymer membranes and nanostructured polymer–filler composite membranes. For each category of membrane, the core factors that influence the physical and chemical microenvironments of the ion nanochannels are summarized. In addition, a brief perspective on the possible future directions of nanostructured IEMs is presented.

Ma, Yanfeng; Chang, Huicong; Zhang, Miao; Chen, Yongsheng

doi: 10.1002/adma.201501622pmid: 26293692

Lithium‐ion hybrid supercapacitors (LIHSs), also called Li‐ion capacitors, have attracted much attention due to the combination of the rapid charge–discharge and long cycle life of supercapacitors and the high energy‐storage capacity of lithium‐ion batteries. Thus, LIHSs are expected to become the ultimate power source for hybrid and all‐electric vehicles in the near future. As an electrode material, graphene has many advantages, including high surface area and porous structure, high electric conductivity, and high chemical and thermal stability, etc. Compared with other electrode materials, such as activated carbon, graphite, and metal oxides, graphene‐based materials with 3D open frameworks show higher effective specific surface area, better control of channels, and higher conductivity, which make them better candidates for LIHS applications. Here, the latest advances in electrode materials for LIHSs are briefly summarized, with an emphasis on graphene‐based electrode materials (including 3D graphene networks) for LIHS applications. An outlook is also presented to highlight some future directions.

Huang, Zhen‐Feng; Song, Jiajia; Pan, Lun; Zhang, Xiangwen; Wang, Li; Zou, Ji‐Jun

doi: 10.1002/adma.201501217pmid: 26287959

The conversion, storage, and utilization of renewable energy have all become more important than ever before as a response to ever‐growing energy and environment concerns. The performance of energy‐related technologies strongly relies on the structure and property of the material used. The earth‐abundant family of tungsten oxides (WOx≤3) receives considerable attention in photocatalysis, electrochemistry, and phototherapy due to their highly tunable structures and unique physicochemical properties. Great breakthroughs have been made in enhancing the optical absorption, charge separation, redox capability, and electrical conductivity of WOx≤3 through control of the composition, crystal structure, morphology, and construction of composite structures with other materials, which significantly promotes the efficiency of processes and devices based on this material. Herein, the properties and synthesis of WOx≤3 family are reviewed, and then their energy‐related applications are highlighted, including solar‐light‐driven water splitting, CO2 reduction, and pollutant removal, electrochromism, supercapacitors, lithium batteries, solar and fuel cells, non‐volatile memory devices, gas sensors, and cancer therapy, from the aspect of function‐oriented structure design and control.

Zhang, Peng; Wang, Tuo; Gong, Jinlong

doi: 10.1002/adma.201500888pmid: 26265309

H2 generation by solar water splitting is one of the most promising solutions to meet the increasing energy demands of the fast developing society. However, the efficiency of solar‐water‐splitting systems is still too low for practical applications, which requires further enhancement via different strategies such as doping, construction of heterojunctions, morphology control, and optimization of the crystal structure. Recently, integration of plasmonic metals to semiconductor photocatalysts has been proved to be an effective way to improve their photocatalytic activities. Thus, in‐depth understanding of the enhancement mechanisms is of great importance for better utilization of the plasmonic effect. This review describes the relevant mechanisms from three aspects, including: i) light absorption and scattering; ii) hot‐electron injection and iii) plasmon‐induced resonance energy transfer (PIRET). Perspectives are also proposed to trigger further innovative thinking on plasmonic‐enhanced solar water splitting.