Monodisperse CuB23 nanoparticles grown on graphene exert exceedingly high activity towards unactivated alkyl halide Heck coupling and levulinic acid hydrogenation.

A novel solution plasma processing approach was developed to synthesize mesoporous amorphous FeOF nanococoons on a large scale via using NaF and FeCl3•xH2O as the precursors, and CO2 released from the hydrolysis of urea as the growth director. The obtained mesoporous amorphous FeOF nanococoons deliver a reversible capacity of 238.9 mAhg -1 at a current rate of 1 Ag -1 and show almost no degradation, even after 3000 cycles by adopting the optimized 1.0 M sodium trifluoromethanesulfonate (NaTFSA) in triglyme (TGM) as the electrolyte and applying the cut-off voltage to 1.3 V. Furthermore, the nanococoons exhibit a capacity of 190.4 mAhg −1 at an ultrahigh current density of 20 Ag −1 because of the coexisting pseudocapacitance-type reaction. Meanwhile, the attempt for commercial 18650 batteries exhibited a stable discharge capacity of 4897 mAh at 4 A for 300 cycles, which allows for consideration for this type of room-temperature battery in commercial utilization. The superior electrochemical performance of the mesoporous amorphous FeOF nanococoons is because of the collaboration of optimized electrolyte, controlling the terminate voltage to 1.3V, and its particular nanostructure, which significantly improve the ionic and electronic transport and intercalation kinetics of Na ions.

CuB23 short nanotubes are efficient catalysts to replace Pd and Ni for Heck-type coupling of inactivated alkyl halides and alkenes.