According to one embodiment, a reduction catalyst includes a current collector including a metal layer; and organic molecules including a quaternary nitrogen cation, which are bonded to the metal layer. The organic molecules are represented by any of the following general formulae I to V.

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The nitride semiconductor photocatalytic thin film of the present embodiment is a nitride semiconductor photocatalytic thin film that exhibits a catalytic function to cause a redox reaction by light irradiation. The nitride semiconductor photocatalytic thin film includes: a conductive substrate; a semiconductor thin film disposed on a surface of the conductive substrate; a first catalyst layer that forms an ohmic junction on a portion of a surface of the semiconductor thin film; a second catalyst layer that forms a Schottky junction on a portion of the surface of the semiconductor thin film, and a protective layer disposed to cover a back surface of the conductive substrate and side surfaces of the conductive substrate and the semiconductor thin film. The substrate and the semiconductor thin film include a same element and have a same crystal structure.

The nitride semiconductor photocatalytic thin film of the present embodiment is a nitride semiconductor photocatalytic thin film that exhibits a catalytic function to cause a redox reaction by light irradiation. The nitride semiconductor photocatalytic thin film includes: a conductive substrate; a semiconductor thin film disposed on a surface of the conductive substrate; a first catalyst layer that forms an ohmic junction on a portion of a surface of the semiconductor thin film; a second catalyst layer that forms a Schottky junction on a portion of the surface of the semiconductor thin film, and a protective layer disposed to cover a back surface of the conductive substrate and side surfaces of the conductive substrate and the semiconductor thin film. The substrate and the semiconductor thin film include a same element and have a same crystal structure.

The present disclosure provides a synthesis method of a g-C.sub.3N.sub.4/C composite material based on a hollyhock stalk, including the following steps: (1) pretreatment of hollyhock stalks; and (2) fabrication of the g-C.sub.3N.sub.4/C composite material. In this method, with the hollyhock stalk as a carbon skeleton, g-C.sub.3N.sub.4 is spread on a template surface to form a laminated layer, and a composite system with a special structure is constructed. Compared with pure phase g-C.sub.3N.sub.4, the composite material substantially increases specific surface area and has a clear interface; the carbon skeleton not only functions as a rigid support, but also increases the electron transfer efficiency of the composite material, thereby improving the separation efficiency of photogenerated carriers and the utilization rate of visible light. Raw materials used in the method are inexpensive and environmentally friendly, which can be used for industrial production and bulk production of eco-friendly materials for harnessing environmental organic pollutants.

Process for increasingly producing D-Lactide and meso lactide by depolymerizing by back biting polylactide (PLA) said process which comprises: (i) Depolymerizing polylactide into its corresponding dimeric cyclic esters by heating the polylactide in the presence of a catalyst system comprising a catalyst and a co-catalyst in a reaction zone at temperature and pressure at which the polylactide is molten; (ii) Forming a vapor product stream from the reaction zone; (iii) Removing the vapor product stream and optionally condense it; (iv) Recovering, either together or separately meso-lactide, D-lactide and L-lactide.

Process for increasingly producing D-Lactide and meso lactide by depolymerizing by back biting polylactide (PLA) said process which comprises: (i) Depolymerizing polylactide into its corresponding dimeric cyclic esters by heating the polylactide in the presence of a catalyst system comprising a catalyst and a co-catalyst in a reaction zone at temperature and pressure at which the polylactide is molten; (ii) Forming a vapor product stream from the reaction zone; (iii) Removing the vapor product stream and optionally condense it; (iv) Recovering, either together or separately meso-lactide, D-lactide and L-lactide.

Provided is a method for producing a photocatalyst electrode for water decomposition that exhibits excellent detachability between the substrate and the photocatalyst layer and exhibits high photocurrent density. The method for producing a photocatalyst electrode for water decomposition of the invention includes: a metal layer forming step of forming a metal layer on one surface of a first substrate by a vapor phase film-forming method or a liquid phase film-forming method; a photocatalyst layer forming step of forming a photocatalyst layer by subjecting the metal layer to at least one treatment selected from an oxidation treatment, a nitriding treatment, a sulfurization treatment, or a selenization treatment; a current collecting layer forming step of forming a current collecting layer on a surface of the photocatalyst layer, the surface being on the opposite side of the first substrate; and a detachment step of detaching the first substrate from the photocatalyst layer.

A nanocomposite coating and method of making and using the coating. The nanocomposite coating is disposed on a base material, such as a metal or ceramic; and the nanocomposite consists essentially of a matrix of an alloy selected from the group of Cu, Ni, Pd, Pt and Re which are catalytically active for cracking of carbon bonds in oils and greases and a grain structure selected from the group of borides, carbides and nitrides.

A nanocomposite coating and method of making and using the coating. The nanocomposite coating is disposed on a base material, such as a metal or ceramic; and the nanocomposite consists essentially of a matrix of an alloy selected from the group of Cu, Ni, Pd, Pt and Re which are catalytically active for cracking of carbon bonds in oils and greases and a grain structure selected from the group of borides, carbides and nitrides.

Disclosed are a photocatalyst and application thereof in environmentally friendly photocatalytic treatment of a power battery. The photocatalyst is obtained by loading Ag-TaON on a hollow glass microsphere, wherein a mass ratio of the Ag-TaON to the hollow glass microsphere is 1: 5 to 10. According to the invention, the Ag-TaON and the hollow glass microsphere are compounded, the hollow glass microsphere has better light permeability, which avoids mutual shielding between catalysts, such that the photocatalyst filled in a reactor is fully excited, which is capable of effectively improving a light utilization rate, thus improving the catalytic conversion efficiency of the photocatalyst.