•Visible light-active (VLA) photocatalysts for water disinfection were summarized.•Recent advances in the fabrication of VLA photocatalysts were reviewed.•Disinfection mechanisms, efficacy and ...stability of the catalysts were discussed.•Insightful discussion on existing challenges and future developments.
Photocatalysis has emerged as a valuable approach for microbial disinfection. The development of visible light-active (VLA) photocatalysts to tackle water contamination is imperative, taking into consideration that visible light makes up a substantial fraction of the solar spectrum. Consequently, several novel photocatalytic materials and systems have recently emerged as promising candidates for the disinfection of water. The current review summarizes the latest advances in the synthesis of VLA photocatalysts using a variety of synthetic methods, including conventional photocatalyst modification with doping agents, heterostructure or composite formation, π-conjugated architecture coupling and exploration of multi-component oxides. The microbial disinfection efficiencies, recyclability characteristics and disinfection mechanisms of diverse classes of photocatalysts are also reviewed in detail. Finally, the emerging challenges and new perspectives are discussed as an insight into future developments in this field.
Converting CO2 into value‐added products by photocatalysis, electrocatalysis, and photoelectrocatalysis is a promising method to alleviate the global environmental problems and energy crisis. Among ...the semiconductor materials applied in CO2 catalytic reduction, Cu2O has the advantages of abundant reserves, low price and environmental friendliness. Moreover, Cu2O has unique adsorption and activation properties for CO2, which is conducive to the generation of C2+ products through CC coupling. This review introduces the basic principles of CO2 reduction and summarizes the pathways for the generation of C1, C2, and C2+ products. The factors affecting CO2 reduction performance are further discussed from the perspective of the reaction environment, medium, and novel reactor design. Then, the properties of Cu2O‐based catalysts in CO2 reduction are summarized and several optimization strategies to enhance their stability and redox capacity are discussed. Subsequently, the application of Cu2O‐based catalysts in photocatalytic, electrocatalytic, and photoelectrocatalytic CO2 reduction is described. Finally, the opportunities, challenges and several research directions of Cu2O‐based catalysts in the field of CO2 catalytic reduction are presented, which is guidance for its wide application in the energy and environmental fields is provided.
This review focus on the research progress of Cu2O‐based catalysts applied in photo‐, electro‐, and photoelectrocatalytic reduction of CO2. The properties of Cu2O‐based catalysts in CO2 reduction and several optimization strategies to enhance its performance are also discussed.
Photocatalytic CO2 conversion into solar fuels is a promising technology to alleviate CO2 emissions and energy crises. The development of core‐shell structured photocatalysts brings many benefits to ...the photocatalytic CO2 reduction process, such as high conversion efficiency, sufficient product selectivity, and endurable catalyst stability. Core‐shell nanostructured materials with excellent physicochemical features take an irreplaceable position in the field of photocatalytic CO2 reduction. In this review, the recent development of core‐shell materials applied for photocatalytic reduction of CO2 is introduced. First, the basic principle of photocatalytic CO2 reduction is introduced. In detail, the classification and synthesis techniques of core‐shell catalysts are discussed. Furthermore, it is also emphasized that the excellent properties of the core‐shell structure can greatly improve the activity, selectivity, and stability in the process of photocatalytic CO2 reduction. Hopefully, this paper can provide a favorable reference for the preparation of efficient photocatalysts for CO2 reduction.
This review summarizes the recent development of core‐shell materials applied for photocatalytic reduction of CO2, including its catalytic function, adsorption performance, and light responsiveness. The advantages of these materials for photocatalytic CO2 reduction are highlighted.
•A theory-based method for a computational student performance prediction.•A Genetic Programming model for grade prediction is described and tested.•Model evaluation suggests high success rates for ...predicting student grades.
Building a student performance prediction model that is both practical and understandable for users is a challenging task fraught with confounding factors to collect and measure. Most current prediction models are difficult for teachers to interpret. This poses significant problems for model use (e.g. personalizing education and intervention) as well as model evaluation. In this paper, we synthesize learning analytics approaches, educational data mining (EDM) and HCI theory to explore the development of more usable prediction models and prediction model representations using data from a collaborative geometry problem solving environment: Virtual Math Teams with Geogebra (VMTwG). First, based on theory proposed by Hrastinski (2009) establishing online learning as online participation, we operationalized activity theory to holistically quantify students’ participation in the CSCL (Computer-supported Collaborative Learning) course. As a result, 6 variables, Subject, Rules, Tools, Division of Labor, Community, and Object, are constructed. This analysis of variables prior to the application of a model distinguishes our approach from prior approaches (feature selection, Ad-hoc guesswork etc.). The approach described diminishes data dimensionality and systematically contextualizes data in a semantic background. Secondly, an advanced modeling technique, Genetic Programming (GP), underlies the developed prediction model. We demonstrate how connecting the structure of VMTwG trace data to a theoretical framework and processing that data using the GP algorithmic approach outperforms traditional models in prediction rate and interpretability. Theoretical and practical implications are then discussed.
Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are one type of porous organic materials linked by covalent bonds. COFs materials exhibit many outstanding characteristics such as high porosity, high chemical and ...thermal stability, large specific surface area, efficient electron transfer efficiency, and the ability for predesigned structures. These exceptional advantages enable COFs materials to exhibit remarkable performance in photocatalysis. Additionally, the activity of COFs materials as photocatalysts can be significantly upgraded by ion doping and the formation of heterojunctions. This paper summarizes the latest research progress on COF‐based materials applied in photocatalytic systems. Initially, typical structures and preparation methods of COFs are analyzed and compared. Moreover, the essential principles of photocatalytic reactions over COFs‐based materials and the latest research developments in photocatalytic hydrogen production, CO2 reduction, pollutants elimination, organic transformation, and overall water splitting are indicated. At last, the outlook and challenges of COF‐based materials in photocatalysis are discussed. This review is intended to permit instructive guidance for the efficient use of photocatalysis based on COFs in the future.
In this review, typical structures and preparation methods of covalent organic framework (COFs) are introduced. Subsequently, the essential principles of photocatalytic reactions over COFs‐based materials and the latest research developments in photocatalytic hydrogen production, CO2 reduction, and pollutant elimination are discussed. Finally, challenges and prospects for COFs‐based materials applied in photocatalysis are proposed.
The ever‐increasing demand for clean and renewable power sources has sparked intensive research on water splitting to produce hydrogen, in which the exploration of electrocatalysts is the central ...issue. Herein, a new strategy, metal–organic framework template‐directed fabrication of hierarchically structured Co3O4@X (X = Co3O4, CoS, C, and CoP) electrocatalysts for efficient oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is developed, where Co3O4@X are derived from cobalt carbonatehydroxide@zeolitic‐imidazolate‐framework‐67 (CCH@ZIF‐67). Unique hierarchical structure and synergistic effect of resulting catalysts endow abundant exposed active sites, facile ion diffusion path, and improved conductivity, being favorable for improving catalytic activity of them. Consequently, these derivatives Co3O4@X reveal highly efficient electrocatalytic performance with long‐term durability for the OER, much superior to previously reported cobalt‐based catalysts as well as the Ir/C catalyst. Particularly, Co3O4@CoP exhibits the highest electrocatalytic capability with the lower overpotential of 238 mV at the current density of 10 mA cm−2. Furthermore, Co3O4@X can also efficiently catalyze other small molecules through electro‐oxidation reaction (e.g., glycerol, methanol, or ethanol). It is expected that the strategy presented here can be extended to the fabrication of other composite electrode materials with hierarchical structures for more efficient water splitting.
A new strategy for the fabrication of hierarchically structured composites as highly effective and stable electrocatalysts is proposed. The oxidation, sulfurization, carbonization, and phosphorization of premade cobalt carbonate hydroxide@zeolitic‐imidazolate‐framework‐67 (CCH@ZIF‐67) produced Co3O4@X (X = Co3O4, CoS, C, and CoP) derivatives, respectively, which as electrocatalysts exhibit excellent performance in the oxygen evolution reaction with low overpotential and high stability.
Photocatalytic hydrogen evolution can effectively alleviate the troublesome global energy crisis by converting solar energy into the chemical energy of hydrogen. In order to realize efficient ...hydrogen generation, a variety of semiconductor materials have been extensively investigated, including TiO2, CdS, g‐C3N4, metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs), and others. In recent years, to achieve higher photocatalytic performance and reach the level of large‐scale industrial applications, photocatalysts decorated with transition metal phosphides (TMPs) have shone brightly because of their low cost, stable physical and chemical properties, and substitution for precious metals of TMPs. This Review highlights the preparation methods and properties associated with photocatalysis of TMPs. Moreover, the H2 generation efficiency of photocatalysts loaded with TMPs and the roles of TMPs in catalytic systems are also studied systematically. Apart from being co‐catalysts, several TMPs can also serve as host catalysts to boost the activity of photocatalytic composites. Finally, the development prospects and challenges of TMPs are put forward, which is valuable for future researchers to expand the application of TMPs in photocatalytic directions and to develop more active photocatalytic systems.
H2 evolution: This Review highlights the preparation methods and properties of transition metal phosphides (TMPs). Moreover, the hydrogen evolution efficiency of photocatalysts loaded with TMPs and the roles of TMPs in catalytic systems are also studied systematically. In addition, several TMPs can also serve as host catalysts to boost the activity of photocatalytic composites. This work demonstrates the importance of TMPs in the photocatalytic conversion of solar energy into chemical energy.
In recent years, three‐dimensionally ordered macroporous (3DOM) materials have attracted tremendous interest in the field of photocatalysis due to the periodic spatial structure and unique ...physicochemical properties of 3DOM catalysts. In this review, the fundamentals and principles of 3DOM photocatalysts are briefly introduced, including the overview of 3DOM materials, the photocatalytic principles based on 3DOM materials, and the advantages of 3DOM materials in photocatalysis. The preparation methods of 3DOM materials are also presented. The structure and properties of 3DOM materials and their effects on photocatalytic performance are briefly summarized. More importantly, 3DOM materials, as a supported catalyst, are extensively employed to combine with various common materials, including metal nanoparticles, metal oxides, metal sulfides, and carbon materials, to enhance photocatalytic performance. Finally, the prospects and challenges for the development of 3DOM materials in the field of photocatalysis are presented.
In this review, the structure, properties, and preparation of 3DOM materials are reported. Subsequently, the superiorities of 3DOM materials in photocatalytic application are summarized.
We revisit the constraints on inflation models by using the current cosmological observations involving the latest local measurement of the Hubble constant (
H
0
=
73.00
±
1.75
km s
-
1
Mpc
-
1
). ...We constrain the primordial power spectra of both scalar and tensor perturbations with the observational data including the Planck 2015 CMB full data, the BICEP2 and Keck Array CMB B-mode data, the BAO data, and the direct measurement of
H
0
. In order to relieve the tension between the local determination of the Hubble constant and the other astrophysical observations, we consider the additional parameter
N
eff
in the cosmological model. We find that, for the
Λ
CDM
+
r
+
N
eff
model, the scale invariance is only excluded at the 3.3
σ
level, and
Δ
N
eff
>
0
is favored at the 1.6
σ
level. Comparing the obtained 1
σ
and 2
σ
contours of
(
n
s
,
r
)
with the theoretical predictions of selected inflation models, we find that both the convex and the concave potentials are favored at 2
σ
level, the natural inflation model is excluded at more than 2
σ
level, the Starobinsky
R
2
inflation model is only favored at around 2
σ
level, and the spontaneously broken SUSY inflation model is now the most favored model.
Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory vascular disease driven by traditional and nontraditional risk factors. Genome-wide association combined with clonal lineage tracing and clinical trials have ...demonstrated that innate and adaptive immune responses can promote or quell atherosclerosis. Several signaling pathways, that are associated with the inflammatory response, have been implicated within atherosclerosis such as NLRP3 inflammasome, toll-like receptors, proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9, Notch and Wnt signaling pathways, which are of importance for atherosclerosis development and regression. Targeting inflammatory pathways, especially the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway and its regulated inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1β, could represent an attractive new route for the treatment of atherosclerotic diseases. Herein, we summarize the knowledge on cellular participants and key inflammatory signaling pathways in atherosclerosis, and discuss the preclinical studies targeting these key pathways for atherosclerosis, the clinical trials that are going to target some of these processes, and the effects of quelling inflammation and atherosclerosis in the clinic.
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