The development of a general strategy for synthesizing hierarchical porous transition-metal oxide and chalcogenide mesoporous nanotubes, is still highly challenging. Herein we present a facile self-template strategy to synthesize Co₃O₄ mesoporous nanotubes with outstanding performances in both the electrocatalytic oxygen-evolution reaction (OER) and Li-ion battery via the thermal-oxidation-induced transformation of cheap and easily-prepared Co-Asp(cobalt–aspartic acid) nanowires. The initially formed thin layers on the precursor surfaces, oxygen-induced outward diffusion of interior precursors, the gas release of organic oxidation, and subsequent Kirkendall effect are important for the appearance of the mesoporous nanotubes. This self-template strategy of low-cost precursors is found to be a versatile method to prepare other functional mesoporous nanotubes of transition-metal oxides and chalcogenides, such as NiO, NiCo₂O₄, Mn₅O₈, CoS₂ and CoSe₂.

The development of a general strategy for synthesizing hierarchical porous transition-metal oxide and chalcogenide mesoporous nanotubes, is still highly challenging. Herein we present a facile self-template strategy to synthesize Co₃O₄ mesoporous nanotubes with outstanding performances in both the electrocatalytic oxygen-evolution reaction (OER) and Li-ion battery via the thermal-oxidation-induced transformation of cheap and easily-prepared Co-Asp(cobalt–aspartic acid) nanowires. The initially formed thin layers on the precursor surfaces, oxygen-induced outward diffusion of interior precursors, the gas release of organic oxidation, and subsequent Kirkendall effect are important for the appearance of the mesoporous nanotubes. This self-template strategy of low-cost precursors is found to be a versatile method to prepare other functional mesoporous nanotubes of transition-metal oxides and chalcogenides, such as NiO, NiCo₂O₄, Mn₅O₈, CoS₂ and CoSe₂.

The production of clean and renewable hydrogen through water splitting by using solar energy has received much attention due to the increasing global energy demand. We report an economic and artificial photosynthetic system free of noble metals, consisting of ultrathin CdS nanosheets as a photosensitizer and nickel-based complex as a molecular catalyst. Emission quenching and flash photolysis studies reveal that this hybrid system allows for effective electron transfer from the excited CdS nanosheets to the nickel-based complex to generate reduced intermediate species for efficient hydrogen evolution. Notably, the unique morphological and structural features of the ultrathin CdS nanosheets contribute to the highly efficient photocatalytic performance. As a consequence, the resulting system shows exceptional activity and stability for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution in aqueous solution with a turnover number (TON) of about 28 000 versus catalyst and a lifetime of over 90 h under visible light irradiation.

The unique optoelectronic properties and promising photovoltaic applications of organolead halide perovskites have driven the exploration of facile strategies to synthesize organometal halide perovskites and corresponding hybrid materials and devices. Currently, the preparation of CH₃NH₃PbBr₃ perovskite nanowires, especially those with porous features, is still a great challenge. An efficient self-template-directed synthesis of high-quality porous CH₃NH₃PbBr₃ perovskite nanowires in solution at room temperature using the Pb-containing precursor nanowires as both the sacrificial template and the Pb²⁺ source in the presence of CH₃NH₃Br and HBr is now presented. The initial formation of CH₃NH₃PbBr₃ perovskite layers on the surface of the precursor nanowires and the following dissolution of the organic component of the latter led to the formation of mesopores and the preservation of the 1D morphology. Furthermore, the perovskite nanowires are potential materials for visible-light photodetectors with high sensitivity and stability.

The unique optoelectronic properties and promising photovoltaic applications of organolead halide perovskites have driven the exploration of facile strategies to synthesize organometal halide perovskites and corresponding hybrid materials and devices. Currently, the preparation of CH₃NH₃PbBr₃ perovskite nanowires, especially those with porous features, is still a great challenge. An efficient self-template-directed synthesis of high-quality porous CH₃NH₃PbBr₃ perovskite nanowires in solution at room temperature using the Pb-containing precursor nanowires as both the sacrificial template and the Pb²⁺ source in the presence of CH₃NH₃Br and HBr is now presented. The initial formation of CH₃NH₃PbBr₃ perovskite layers on the surface of the precursor nanowires and the following dissolution of the organic component of the latter led to the formation of mesopores and the preservation of the 1D morphology. Furthermore, the perovskite nanowires are potential materials for visible-light photodetectors with high sensitivity and stability.

Porous hybrid Cu₂O/polypyrrole nanoflakes have been synthesized from solid CuO nanoplate templates through the pyrrole-induced reductive transformation reaction at elevated temperature. The conversion mechanism involves the reductive transformation of CuO to Cu₂O and the in situ oxidative polymerization of pyrrole to polypyrrole. In addition, the morphology of the as-converted nanohybrids depends on the shape of the CuO precursors. The strategy enables us to transform single-crystalline CuO nanosheets into hollow hybrid Cu₂O/polypyrrole nanoframes. The ability to transform CuO and an organic monomer into porous hybrid materials of conducting polymer and Cu₂O with macrosized morphological retention opens up interesting possibilities to create novel nanostructures. Electrochemical examinations show that these porous hybrid Cu₂O/polypyrrole nanostructures exhibit efficient catalytic activity towards oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), excellent methanol tolerance ability, and catalytic stability in alkaline solution, thus making them promising nonprecious-metal-based catalysts for ORR in alkaline fuel cells and metal–air batteries.

Pt–Co alloy nanoparticle networks (NNs) with adjustable composition are synthesized by co-reduction of H₂PtCl₆ and CoCl₂ with NaBH₄ in an ethylene glycol assisted cetyltrimethylammonium bromide/water/chloroform system at room temperature. Electrochemical measurements indicate that the as-prepared spongelike Pt–Co NNs exhibit composition-dependent electrocatalytic activities and CO tolerance with better durability toward methanol and formic acid oxidation than commercially available Pt/C catalyst. In particular, Pt₃Co NNs show the highest specific activity, while Pt₂Co NNs exhibit optimal mass activity among Pt–Co alloy NNs with different composition. These Pt–Co alloy NNs may be promising supportless anode catalysts for the direct methanol and direct formic acid fuel cells.