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Understanding the thermal decomposition of metal salt precursors on carbon structures is essential for the controlled synthesis of metal-decorated carbon nanomaterials. Here, the thermolysis of a Ni precursor salt, NiCl2·6H2O, on amorphous carbon (a-C) and graphene oxide (GO) substrates is explored using in situ transmission electron microscopy. Thermal decomposition of NiCl2·6H2O on GO occurs at higher temperatures and slower kinetics than on a-C substrate. This is correlated to a higher activation barrier for Cl2 removal calculated by the density functional theory, strong Ni-GO interaction, high-density oxygen functional groups, defects, and weak van der Waals using GO substrate. The thermolysis of NiCl2·6H2O proceeds via multistep decomposition stages into the formation of Ni nanoparticles with significant differences in their size and distribution depending on the substrate. Using GO substrates leads to nanoparticles with 500% smaller average sizes and higher thermal stability than a-C substrate. Ni nanoparticles showcase the fcc crystal structure, and no size effect on the stability of the crystal structure is observed. These findings demonstrate the significant role of carbon substrate on nanoparticle formation and growth during the thermolysis of carbon–metal heterostructures. This opens new venues to engineer stable, supported catalysts and new carbon-based sensors and filtering devices. 

Study of nucleation and growth dynamic events of cubic-phase ice crystals at TiO₂–water nanointerface. 

Real-time TEM images of evolution of the liposomes formed via self-assembly of phosphatidylcholine lipids in liquid pockets of GLC shows three stages of fast initial growth, slow growth and stabilization, and formation of stable liposomes. 

A lithium-air battery based on lithium oxide (Li₂O) formation can theoretically deliver an energy density that is comparable to that of gasoline. Lithium oxide formation involves a four-electron reaction that is more difficult to achieve than the one- and two-electron reaction processes that result in lithium superoxide (LiO₂) and lithium peroxide (Li₂O₂), respectively. By using a composite polymer electrolyte based on Li₁₀GeP₂S₁₂nanoparticles embedded in a modified polyethylene oxide polymer matrix, we found that Li₂O is the main product in a room temperature solid-state lithium-air battery. The battery is rechargeable for 1000 cycles with a low polarization gap and can operate at high rates. The four-electron reaction is enabled by a mixed ion–electron-conducting discharge product and its interface with air. 

Abstract Selective conversion of methane (CH 4 ) into value-added chemicals represents a grand challenge for the efficient utilization of rising hydrocarbon sources. We report here dimeric copper centers supported on graphitic carbon nitride (denoted as Cu 2 @C 3 N 4 ) as advanced catalysts for CH 4 partial oxidation. The copper-dimer catalysts demonstrate high selectivity for partial oxidation of methane under both thermo- and photocatalytic reaction conditions, with hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) and oxygen (O 2 ) being used as the oxidizer, respectively. In particular, the photocatalytic oxidation of CH 4 with O 2 achieves >10% conversion, and >98% selectivity toward methyl oxygenates and a mass-specific activity of 1399.3 mmol g Cu −1 h −1 . Mechanistic studies reveal that the high reactivity of Cu 2 @C 3 N 4 can be ascribed to symphonic mechanisms among the bridging oxygen, the two copper sites and the semiconducting C 3 N 4 substrate, which do not only facilitate the heterolytic scission of C-H bond, but also promotes H 2 O 2 and O 2 activation in thermo- and photocatalysis, respectively.