Sustainable Energy & Fuels最新文献

A dual heteroatom (N,P)-doped carbon nanostructure grafted on nickel nanoparticles synergistically enhances the catalytic effect for H₂O adsorption during the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). We developed a one-step pyrolysis route to synthesize N,P-codoped carbon grafted on Ni nanoparticles as an efficient electrocatalyst for H₂ generation. The atomic size mismatch of N and P with C disrupts the sp² carbon lattice, introducing defects. Furthermore, defect coalescence generates pores and abundant active sites, enabling excellent HER performance with an overpotential of only 41 mV at 10 mA cm⁻² in 1 M KOH. We developed a custom setup to quantify the generated H₂ as a function of applied potential using chronoamperometric measurements. The H₂ generation rate increased with applied negative potential, reaching 3.60 mL mg⁻¹ min⁻¹ at −200 mV. The dynamics of ions for a highly efficient catalyst were further investigated using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) at the same applied potential. The interconnected pores in the nanostructure facilitated the electroactive species to access internal active sites, consequently lowering the magnitude of impedance (|Z|_imp). As the applied negative potential increased, a sharp decrease in |Z|_imp indicated an improved HER kinetics, leading to faster reaction rates and enhanced performance.

The global transition toward renewable hydrogen highlights the need for robust environmental assessments of biomass-based pathways. Rice straw, an abundant agricultural residue in Thailand, is a promising feedstock, yet direct comparative evaluations of its thermochemical and biological conversion routes in Southeast Asia remain limited. This study fills this gap by conducting a life cycle assessment of hydrogen production from rice straw via gasification and dark fermentation under Thailand's agricultural conditions. Using the ReCiPe 2016 (Hierarchist) method, both midpoint and endpoint indicators are analyzed. Results show that the global warming potentials of gasification (∼14.2 kg CO₂-eq per kg H₂) and dark fermentation (∼14.6 kg CO₂-eq per kg H₂) are comparable, representing a substantial reduction compared to fossil-based hydrogen production (∼30–35 kg CO₂-eq per kg H₂). However, dark fermentation has markedly higher impacts on fine particulate matter formation, terrestrial acidification, and fossil resource scarcity, largely driven by upstream straw production and chemicals used in the dark fermentation process, whereas gasification burdens stem from its energy-intensive conversion stage. These findings underscore the need for technology-specific strategies to advance the development of renewable hydrogen in Thailand. For dark fermentation, improvements in circular nutrient and chemical management are critical, while gasification pathways should prioritize energy efficiency and integration with renewable energy sources. Overall, these results indicate that biomass-based hydrogen is not inherently more environmentally friendly than fossil-based hydrogen, particularly when assessed from a cradle-to-gate perspective. Further investigation with uncertainty quantification may help strengthen the results and support policymakers in making informed decisions for hydrogen development within the country's Bio-Circular-Green economy strategy and 2050 net-zero target.

Correction for ‘Experimental and computational analysis of Ni–P and Fe–P metal foams for enhanced hydrogen evolution reaction in alkaline media’ by Natália Podrojková et al., Sustainable Energy Fuels, 2025, 9, 5044–5056, https://doi.org/10.1039/D5SE00527B.

To enhance the efficiency of electrochemical water splitting for hydrogen production, it is essential to employ hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) electrocatalysts that lower the energy barrier and accelerate the HER kinetics. In this study, a ruthenium (Ru) nanoparticle-anchored zirconium dioxide (ZrO₂) matrix derived from a Zr-based metal–organic framework (MOF), denoted as Ru_x@UiO-bpy-900 (bpy refers to bipyridine), was synthesized via a liquid-phase impregnation and subsequent calcination method at 900 °C. The incorporation of Ru, which exhibits platinum-like hydrogen binding energy, modulates the hybrid structure of UiO-bpy-derived carbon materials, enhances electron transport, and leverages the synergistic effect of Ru/Zr bimetallic sites to alter the electronic structure of the material, thereby improving the hydrogen evolution efficiency. The catalyst requires an overpotential of only 28 mV to achieve a current density of 10 mA cm⁻² in 1 M KOH, outperforming the reference Pt/C catalyst. It also demonstrates superior HER activity across the entire pH range compared to UiO-bpy-900. This work provides a foundation for the development of MOF-based electrocatalysts suitable for energy conversion and storage applications.

High-voltage LiNi_0.5Mn_1.5O₄ (LNMO) cathode materials are highly desirable for the fabrication of next-generation lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). In this study, citric acid, glycine, and sucrose fuels were used to optimize the structural and electrochemical properties of LNMO materials obtained by sol–gel combustion synthesis (SCS). The experimental results showed that the type of fuel used in the SCS process influenced the enthalpy of combustion, crystallite size, morphology, cationic disorder and electrochemical properties of the LNMO materials. XRD results indicated that all the LNMO materials have a phase-pure spinel structure with the Fd3m space group. The glycine fuel composition produced LNMO material (LNMO-G) with the least crystallite size, less cationic disorder and the highest crystallinity compared with those having the citric acid fuel (LNMO-C) and sucrose fuel (LNMO-S) compositions. As a result, the LNMO-G cell delivered the highest first discharge capacity of 115.83 mA h g⁻¹ and retained 80.06% of its initial capacity after 200 cycles at a current density of 1C. Moreover, the LNMO-G cell had the best rate capability compared with the LNMO-C and LNMO-S cells, with a discharge capacity of 60 mA h g⁻¹ at a rate of 2C between 3.50 and 5.30 V. Furthermore, Ag doping (LNMAO) improved the rate capability and Li-ion kinetics of the LNMO-G cathode material. The LNMAO cathode achieved a reversible discharge capacity of 100 mA h g⁻¹ at a rate of 2C between 3.50 and 5.30 V. These findings show that LNMO cathode materials can be optimized for ultra-high-voltage (>5.0 V) performance in LIBs for advanced applications.

The photocatalytic CO₂ reduction reaction (CO₂RR) has attracted considerable attention as a promising strategy for sustainable fuel production. Recent efforts have focused on enhancing the catalytic performance of iron-doped tetraphenylporphyrin (Fe-TPP) through chemical modification. This work has systematically investigated the hydroxyl, amino-functionalized Fe-TPP (Fe-OHTPP and Fe-NH₂TPP) as a photocatalyst for CO₂RR using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The HOMO–LUMO analysis reveals that the Fe center acts as an electronic bridge, promoting efficient charge transfer. To explore the photocatalytic mechanism, we examined the most favorable adsorption configurations of key intermediates and evaluated their reaction and Gibbs free energies. The calculated limiting potential of Fe-NH₂TPP is −0.24 eV, and the adsorption energy of the C₁ product CH₄ molecule is −0.05 eV for both surfaces, indicating that the catalyst remains stable and reusable after product release. Overall, the results demonstrate that Fe-OHTPP and Fe-NH₂TPP catalysts thermodynamically favors C₁ production, providing mechanistic insights of CO₂ conversion into value-added chemical fuels via hydroxyl, amino-functionalized Fe-TPP photocatalysts.

Core–shell nanofibers have emerged as a versatile class of nanostructured materials due to their unique ability to integrate multiple functionalities within a single architecture. Their coaxial geometry, which combines core and shell domains, allows for precise control over composition, interfacial interactions, and surface characteristics, making them highly attractive for advanced electronic and biomedical applications. This review highlights recent advancements in the design, synthesis, and application of core–shell nanofibers, with a focus on their roles in magnetoelectric devices and drug delivery systems. For magnetoelectric devices, core–shell nanofibers provide efficient coupling between magnetic and electric order parameters, enabling the development of miniaturized, flexible, high-sensitivity sensors, energy harvesters, and transducers. Their high aspect ratio, tunable interfacial stress transfer, and enhanced magnetoelectric coupling provide new opportunities for next-generation spintronic and wearable technologies. In parallel, the unique core–shell morphology offers distinct advantages in drug delivery, such as high loading efficiency, sequential or sustained release, and protection of bioactive agents, which are crucial for wound healing, tissue engineering, and targeted therapies. Also, this review highlights recent progress in core–shell nanofiber-based electrodes for HT-PEMFCs, DEFCs, and IT-SOFCs, emphasizing their role in enhancing catalytic activity, stability, and ionic conductivity. These advancements pave the way for high-efficiency and durable fuel cell technologies for next-generation, efficient, and sustainable fuel cell systems. We further summarize the progress in electrospinning and other fabrication techniques that enables scalable production of uniform core–shell nanofibers, along with critical insights into structure–property relationships, challenges, and future perspectives. This review highlights the multifunctional potential of core–shell nanofibers as a transformative platform for next-generation devices and healthcare solutions, bridging developments in the electronic and biomedical domains.

To achieve sustainable and low-waste biodiesel production, a catalyst-free process was investigated by using superheated methanol vapor (SMV) at atmospheric pressure. This process eliminates catalyst procurement costs, reduces requirements for water washing and associated equipment, and lowers expenses for catalyst waste treatment. The effects of bubble column reactor design such as the use of packing, reaction time, and reaction temperature on the conversion of palm fatty acid distillate (PFAD) into fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) have been investigated. The application of packing at temperatures of 240–270 °C successfully increases the contact area between methanol bubbles and the oil, hence providing better reaction performance of the SMV process while applying lower temperature and pressure compared to supercritical processing. The results showed that the FAME concentration in the product can reach 97.5 wt% which meets the quality standard. The highest conversion is obtained at 90.6% exceeding the previous research on the SMV process. The effects of reaction temperature, time, and reactor design on the conversion of PFAD into FAME have been elucidated.

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Quadruple perovskite oxides (QPOs), AA'₃B₄O₁₂, exhibit a cationic order of 1 : 3 at the A site, with 25% of the A site occupied by conventional A-site cations with icosahedral coordination and 75% occupied by A′ ions with pseudosquare planar coordination. Traditional 3d transition metal ions occupy the B site with octahedral coordination. This complex crystal structure provides multiple metal sites (A, A′, and B), which act as active centers for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in water electrolysis. Therefore, the intrinsic OER activity and the stability of QPOs have been significantly improved. In recent years, extensive experimental and theoretical research has been conducted on QPOs, and many QPOs have been synthesized under high-pressure and high-temperature conditions. These QPOs exhibited superior intrinsic OER activity and stability compared to advanced perovskite oxide-based catalysts. This is attributed to the complex crystal structure of the QPO and its electronic interaction between the A′- and B-sites. Nowadays, the QPO has become a promising candidate for OER electrocatalysts, which prompts us to review the latest developments in this thriving research field. However, relatively few comprehensive reviews have been published on this important topic to date. This article reviews the systematic research on the OER activity of QPOs in recent years, in which multiple transition metal ions are located at different crystal sites. It is expected that this timely review will not only deepen our understanding of the OER mechanism in QPOs but also provide guidance for designing the next generation of OER electrocatalysts in the future.