The present invention relates to a method for producing at least one product by electrochemical synthesis on a directly electrically-heated working electrode (1), in which at least one educt reacts on the heated working electrode (1) to the at least one product. The invention also relates to the use of a directly electrically-heated working electrode (1) for the electrochemical synthesis of at least one product. The invention relates in particular to a working electrode (1), particularly in the form of a three-dimensional, preferably conical spiral, designed for the electrochemical synthesis. Another object of the invention is the synthesis/regeneration of an enzymatic cofactor on a working electrode (1) according to the invention.

This disclosure relates to graphene derivatives, as well as related devices including graphene derivatives and methods of using graphene derivatives.

A method for obtaining aluminum-containing nanoparticles is provided. The method includes exposing at least one surface comprising aluminum to an alkaline aqueous solution. The method further includes exposing the at least one surface to electro-hydraulic shock waves and an electron flux. The at least one surface undergoes electro-erosion which creates alumina-hydrated nanoparticles having a negative surface electrical charge. The method further includes transforming the alumina-hydrated nanoparticles into aquachelate nanoparticles by attaching water molecules to the alumina-hydrated nanoparticles.

A method for obtaining aluminum-containing nanoparticles is provided. The method includes exposing at least one surface comprising aluminum to an alkaline aqueous solution. The method further includes exposing the at least one surface to electro-hydraulic shock waves and an electron flux. The at least one surface undergoes electro-erosion which creates alumina-hydrated nanoparticles having a negative surface electrical charge. The method further includes transforming the alumina-hydrated nanoparticles into aquachelate nanoparticles by attaching water molecules to the alumina-hydrated nanoparticles.

Systems and methods of synthesizing nanoparticles on substrates using rapid, high temperature thermal shock. A method involves depositing micro-sized particles or salt precursors on a substrate, and applying a rapid, high temperature thermal pulse or shock to the micro-sized particles or the salt precursors and the substrate to cause the micro-sized particles or the salt precursors to become nanoparticles on the substrate. A system may include a rotatable member that receives a roll of a substrate sheet having micro-sized particles or salt precursors; a motor that rotates the rotatable member so as to unroll consecutive portions of the substrate sheet from the roll; and a thermal energy source that applies a short, high temperature thermal shock to consecutive portions of the substrate sheet that are unrolled from the roll by rotating the first rotatable member. Some systems and methods produce nanoparticles on existing substrate. The nanoparticles may be metallic, ceramic, inorganic, semiconductor, or compound nanoparticles. The substrate may be a carbon-based substrate, a conducting substrate, or a non-conducting substrate. The high temperature thermal shock process may be enabled by electrical Joule heating, microwave heating, thermal radiative heating, plasma heating, or laser heating.

A process for oxidizing water using hydrated cobalt molybdenum is disclosed. A plurality of hydrated cobalt molybdenum nanoparticles are supported on an electrode and are able to catalytically interact with water molecules generating oxygen. The catalyst can be used as part of an electrochemical or photo-electrochemical cell for the generation of electrical energy.

The present invention relates to a method for preparing graphene oxide by cutting an end face of a 3-dimensional carbon-based material by electrochemical oxidation and the graphene oxide prepared by the method. The method comprises: connecting a piece of a 3-dimensional carbon-based material as an electrode and another piece of a 3-dimensional carbon-based material or inert material as another electrode to the two electrodes of a DC power supply respectively, wherein an end face of at least one piece of a 3-dimensional carbon-based material serves as the working face and is positioned in contact and parallel with the liquid surface of an electrolyte solution; then electrifying the two pieces for electrolysis, during which the working zone for the end face serving as the working face is between −5 mm below and 5 mm above the liquid surface of the electrolyte solution; and intermittently or continuously controlling the end face within the working zone, such that the graphite lamella on the end face of the at least one piece of the 3-dimensional carbon-based material as an electrode is expansion-exfoliated and cut into graphene oxide by electrochemical oxidation, to obtain a graphene oxide-containing electrolyte solution. The method has a higher expansion-based exfoliating and cutting ability by oxidation, and can produce high-quality graphene oxide having fewer layers and more uniform particle-size distribution with low energy consumption and no contamination.

The present invention relates to a method for preparing graphene oxide by cutting an end face of a 3-dimensional carbon-based material by electrochemical oxidation and the graphene oxide prepared by the method. The method comprises: connecting a piece of a 3-dimensional carbon-based material as an electrode and another piece of a 3-dimensional carbon-based material or inert material as another electrode to the two electrodes of a DC power supply respectively, wherein an end face of at least one piece of a 3-dimensional carbon-based material serves as the working face and is positioned in contact and parallel with the liquid surface of an electrolyte solution; then electrifying the two pieces for electrolysis, during which the working zone for the end face serving as the working face is between −5 mm below and 5 mm above the liquid surface of the electrolyte solution; and intermittently or continuously controlling the end face within the working zone, such that the graphite lamella on the end face of the at least one piece of the 3-dimensional carbon-based material as an electrode is expansion-exfoliated and cut into graphene oxide by electrochemical oxidation, to obtain a graphene oxide-containing electrolyte solution. The method has a higher expansion-based exfoliating and cutting ability by oxidation, and can produce high-quality graphene oxide having fewer layers and more uniform particle-size distribution with low energy consumption and no contamination.

A method for making a metal oxyhydroxide electrocatalytic material comprises titrating a precursor solution with a (bi)carbonate salt, the precursor solution comprising a first metal salt and a solvent, wherein the titration induces reactions between the (bi)carbonate salt and the first metal salt to provide first metal carbonate species in the titrated precursor solution; and exposing the titrated precursor solution to microwave radiation to decompose the first metal carbonate species to form the metal oxyhydroxide electrocatalytic material and carbon dioxide. Mixed metal oxyhydroxide electrocatalytic materials such as nickel-iron oxyhydroxide may be formed. Also provided are the materials themselves, electrocatalytic systems comprising the materials, and methods of using the materials and systems.

A photochemical electrode includes: an electrically-conductive layer; and a photo-excited material layer including a photo-excited material provided over the electrically-conductive layer, wherein in a surface of the photo-excited material layer, a lattice plane having highest atomic density in a crystal structure of the photo-excited material is oriented in a surface direction of the surface of the photo-excited material layer.