An electrode of a chemical cell includes a substrate having a surface, an array of conductive projections supported by the substrate and extending outward from the surface of the substrate, each conductive projection of the array of conductive projections having a semiconductor composition for catalytic conversion of carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) in the chemical cell, and a plurality of nanoparticles disposed over the array of nanowires, each nanoparticle of the plurality of nanoparticles having a metallic composition for the catalytic conversion of CO.sub.2 in the chemical cell. Each nanoparticle of the plurality of nanoparticles has a size at least an order of magnitude smaller than a lateral dimension of each conductive projection of the array of conductive projections.

An electrode of a chemical cell includes a substrate having a surface, an array of conductive projections supported by the substrate and extending outward from the surface of the substrate, each conductive projection of the array of conductive projections having a semiconductor composition for catalytic conversion of carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) in the chemical cell, and a plurality of nanoparticles disposed over the array of nanowires, each nanoparticle of the plurality of nanoparticles having a metallic composition for the catalytic conversion of CO.sub.2 in the chemical cell. Each nanoparticle of the plurality of nanoparticles has a size at least an order of magnitude smaller than a lateral dimension of each conductive projection of the array of conductive projections.

The method for forming a water sterilization electrode includes heating a conductive medium to an elevated temperature in a heating apparatus. The method further includes growing oxide nanostructures on the conductive medium at the elevated temperature by supplying one or more oxidizing gases to the heating apparatus. The method further includes ramping down from the elevated temperature at 2-30° C./min to a room temperature to form the water sterilization electrode having the oxide nanostructures on the conductive medium.

A method for forming a single atom catalyst on a two-dimensional support material involves providing the two-dimensional support material. The two-dimensional support material is combined with at least two heteroatoms and a metal to form a solution. Liquid is removed from the solution to form a material that includes the two-dimensional support material, the at least two heteroatoms, and the metal. The material including the two-dimensional support material, the at least two heteroatoms, and the metal is heated to form the single atom catalyst that includes single atoms of the metal. The at least two heteroatoms bind the single atoms of the metal to, and stabilize the single atoms of the metal on, the two-dimensional support material.

An electrocatalyst comprising (i) carbon nanospikes and (ii) copper alloy nanoparticles containing copper and at least one noble metal and residing on and/or between the carbon nanospikes. Also disclosed herein is a method of producing the electrocatalyst. Also described herein is a method for converting carbon dioxide into hydrocarbons by use of the above-described electrocatalyst. The method for producing hydrocarbons more specifically involves contacting the electrocatalyst with an aqueous solution of a bicarbonate salt while the aqueous solution is in contact with a source of carbon dioxide, and electrically powering the electrocatalyst as a cathode at negative potential condition while the cathode is in electrical communication with a counter electrode electrically powered as an anode, to convert the carbon dioxide into hydrocarbons containing at least four carbon atoms and composed of only carbon and hydrogen.

A process provides an unlimited source of ethanol based, liquid disinfectant for application directly to human hands or to hand wipes, by combining a carbon nanospike catalyst with a copper catalyst, carbon dioxide, water and water vapor in an electrochemical process initiated by a power source. Further, an improved process provides for making the carbon nanospike, through injection with photons and electromagnetic waves.

The invention provides a catalytic electrode for converting molecules, the electrode comprising a predetermined number of single catalytic sites supported on a substrate. Also provided is a method for oxidizing water comprising contacting the water with size selected catalyst clusters. The invention also provides a method for reducing an oxidized moiety, the method comprising contacting the moiety with size selected catalyst clusters at a predetermined voltage potential.

The invention provides a catalytic electrode for converting molecules, the electrode comprising a predetermined number of single catalytic sites supported on a substrate. Also provided is a method for oxidizing water comprising contacting the water with size selected catalyst clusters. The invention also provides a method for reducing an oxidized moiety, the method comprising contacting the moiety with size selected catalyst clusters at a predetermined voltage potential.

The method for forming a water sterilization electrode includes heating a conductive medium to an elevated temperature in a heating apparatus. The method further includes growing oxide nanostructures on the conductive medium at the elevated temperature by supplying one or more oxidizing gases to the heating apparatus. The method further includes ramping down from the elevated temperature at 2-30° C./min to a room temperature to form the water sterilization electrode having the oxide nanostructures on the conductive medium.

Embodiments of the present disclosure describe a photoelectrochemical (PEC) cell comprising a semiconductor photoelectrode configured with at least two light-harvesting faces; a catalyst layer deposited on at least one light-harvesting face and in contact with an electrolyte; a reference electrode deposited on at least another light-harvesting face; and a counter electrode in contact with the electrolyte.