Photoelectrochemical cells including a cathode including alpha-hematite and a metal dichalcogenide, an anode including a conducting polymer, and an electrolyte.

An oral care implement having conductive protrusions. In one embodiment, the oral care implement includes a handle and a head coupled to the handle. Furthermore, the oral care implement includes a power source. A plurality of conductive protrusions may be electrically coupled to the power source. The plurality of conductive protrusions may include a base proximate the head and a distal end spaced from the head. Furthermore, at least one of the conductive protrusions may taper from the base to the distal end.

Features for an aqueous reactor include a field generator. The field generator includes a series of parallel conductive plates including a series of intermediate neutral plates. The intermediate neutral plates are arranged in interleaved sets between an anode and a cathode. Other features of the aqueous reactor may include a sealed reaction vessel, fluid circulation manifold, electrical power modulator, vacuum port, and barrier membrane. Methods of using the field generator include immersion in an electrolyte solution and application of an external voltage and vacuum to generate hydrogen and oxygen gases. The reactor and related components can be arranged to produce gaseous fuel or liquid fuel. In one use, a mixture of a carbon based material and a liquid hydrocarbon is added. The preferred carbon based material is powdered coal.

A single-step, in situ bipolar exfoliation system, and methods for exfoliations of multi-layer bulk black phosphorous into single-layer (two-dimensional), few-layer, or even nano-platelets phosphorene are provided. The bipolar exfoliation system can include: a first driving electrode; a second driving electrode electrically connected to the first driving electrode through an external power supply; at least one bipolar electrode comprising multi-layer bulk black phosphorous; and a solvent in physical contact with the first driving electrode, the second driving electrode, and the at least one bipolar electrode. The system can be configured such that the electric conditions between the first and second driving electrodes can be used to turn one end of the at least one bipolar electrode into an anodic pole and the other end of the at least one bipolar electrode into a cathodic pole such that the multi-layer black phosphorous is exfoliated into the single-layer, few-layer, or nano-platelets phosphorene.

The present disclosure generally relates to methods of electrochemical coupling of thiols to form disulfide compounds. A method of synthesizing a disulfide compound is provided. The method may include providing an electrochemical cell that has a compartment, an anode, and a cathode. The compartment may contain a solution of one or more thiol compounds, a catalyst, and a solvent. The method may also include providing an electrical current to the electrochemical cell and converting the one or more thiol compounds into the disulfide compound.

Electrochemical cells for the oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural are provided. Also provided are methods of using the cells to carry out the oxidation reactions. The electrochemical cells and methods use catalytic copper-based anodes to carry out the electrochemical oxidation reactions.

Electrochemical and photoelectrochemical cells for the oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural to 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid and/or 2,5-diformylfuran are provided. Also provided are methods of using the cells to carry out the electrochemical and photoelectrochemical oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural to 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid and/or 2,5-diformylfuran.

A method for producing an electrochemical cell is provided, the method including determining a spatial distribution (k.sub.x,y.sup.f) of a parameter of interest (k) representative of a permeability of a diffusion layer of at least one electrode of a reference electrochemical cell in operation, the determining being performed by defining a spatial distribution (T.sub.x,y.sup.c) of a set-point temperature (T.sup.c) within the cell in operation, by measuring a spatial distribution (D.sub.x,y.sup.r) of a first thermal quantity (D.sup.r) representative of local removal of heat, by estimating a spatial distribution (Q.sub.x,y.sup.e) of a second thermal quantity (Q.sup.e) representative of local production of heat (Q.sup.e), and by determining the spatial distribution (k.sub.x/y.sup.f) depending on the estimated spatial distribution (Q.sub.x,y.sup.e), and the method further including producing the electrochemical cell based on the reference electrochemical cell and in which the parameter of interest (k) has the determined spatial distribution (k.sub.x,y.sup.f).

In some embodiments, an oral care device includes a flexible base substrate, a power source disposed on the base substrate, and first and second electrodes electrically connected to the power source. Also disclosed are methods of using the same, for example, for whitening the teeth or for treating other conditions in the oral cavity.

Graphene oxide (GO) is an emerging material for energy, environmental, and many other applications which in the past has been produced using chemical processes involving high-energy consumption and hazardous chemicals. Embodiments of the present invention focus on bioelectrochemical systems (BES) having microorganism(s), an anode (11) and cathode (14) to produce GO (13) from graphite, coal, and other carbonaceous materials under ambient conditions without chemical amendments. In some embodiments, value-added organic compounds (17) and even H.sub.2 (16) can be produced.