SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3898-7
Platinum (Pt) is the benchmark catalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) in acidic electrolytes, but its performance in alkaline media is limited by excessively strong hydrogen binding energy (HBE). Here, we report oxygen-modified ultrasmall RuCu nanocrystals (RuCu/C-200) as an efficient catalyst for both alkaline HER and HOR. The RuCu/C-200 catalyst exhibits excellent HER activity with an overpotential of 9 mV at 10 mA cm−2 and a Tafel slope of 19.7 mV dec−1. For HOR, it achieves a 4.2-fold higher exchange current density than the unannealed sample. Mechanistic studies reveal that the optimized HBE, hydroxyl binding energy (OHBE), and strongly hydrogen-bonded interfacial water, induced by oxygen modification, are the intrinsic determinants of the improved catalytic activity. This work underscores the potential of combining nanoscale structural design with oxygen modification to develop high-performance Ru-based electrocatalysts for both alkaline HER and HOR.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2025041502
Microplastics (MPs), defined as plastic particles smaller than 5 mm, are ubiquitous environmental contaminants with documented presence in urban, rural, marine, remote, and polar atmospheres. The atmosphere serves as a primary medium for their long-range transport, raising concerns regarding climate interactions and human health. This review synthesizes recent advances in atmospheric MPs research, encompassing sampling strategies, pretreatment protocols, analytical techniques, occurrence characteristics, and ecological ramifications. Passive and active sampling methods are delineated, with active samplers enabling quantitative flux measurements. Pretreatment typically involves sequential steps of sieving, density separation, digestion, staining, and filtration to isolate MPs from complex matrices. Identification relies on visual inspection, micro-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (μ-FTIR), micro-Raman spectroscopy, laser direct infrared imaging (LDIR), and mass spectrometry. Reported atmospheric MPs predominantly exhibit dimensions below 700 μm, with fibrous morphologies being most prevalent. Color distribution is dominated by black, followed by white and transparent particles. Over 20 polymer types have been identified, with textiles, tire wear, and dust identified as principal sources. Atmospheric MPs can influence solar radiation balance, cloud formation processes, and pose risks to flora, fauna, and human health. However, research remains nascent; standardization of sampling and analytical protocols, along with comprehensive toxicological assessments, are critical knowledge gaps requiring urgent attention.