Sustainable Energy & Fuels最新文献

Rechargeable aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ARZIBs) have gained considerable attention as sustainable energy storage systems due to their inherent safety, environmental friendliness, and low cost. Among various cathode candidates, β-MnO₂ is particularly attractive owing to its structural stability and abundance. However, its practical application is hindered by the dissolution of Mn²⁺ ions during cycling, which leads to poor long-term performance. In this study, β-MnO₂ was synthesized via a hydrothermal method and integrated into electrodes using both conventional PVDF and a novel water-based, cross-linked binder system composed of xanthan gum and citric acid (c-XG-CA). The c-XG-CA binder, abundant in hydroxyl, carboxyl, and acetyl groups, was shown to enhance Mn²⁺ adsorption capacity, improve electrode adhesion, and increase hydrophilicity compared to PVDF. The formation and stability of the cross-linked structure, along with its manganese ion adsorption behavior, were verified through FTIR and DFT analyses. Electrochemical evaluations revealed that the β-MnO₂-c-XG-CA cathode achieved superior cycling stability (73% capacity retention after 200 cycles at C/2) and higher diffusion coefficients. Post-cycling XRD and SEM characterization studies indicated the formation of reversible Zn–buserite and Zn_x(OTf)_y(OH)_2x−y·nH₂O phases. These findings demonstrate that the c-XG-CA binder offers significant structural and electrochemical advantages, making it a promising alternative to conventional binders for high-performance ARZIBs.

To enhance power adequacy in low-carbon power systems across a multi-timescale and improve the utilization of renewable energy, this work proposes a coordinated strategy for short-term power dispatch and long-term energy shifting in a hybrid integrated energy system (IES) supported by diversified energy storage. A time-period averaging method is employed to analyze the annual net power sequence, taking into account seasonal variations in renewable generation and load demand, thereby revealing supply–demand adequacy across different seasons. Based on the source–load matching characteristics, a long-term operational strategy for seasonal energy storage modules is explored to realize inter-seasonal energy shifting. Subsequently, a collaborative scheduling model for short- and long-term energy storage is developed, aiming to balance power regulation and energy adequacy, with a particular focus on the role of seasonal storage in alleviating seasonal power shortages and enhancing system economic and environmental performance. The results demonstrate that the coordinated operation of diversified energy storage systems significantly improves the energy efficiency, reduces energy losses, and lowers dependence on external energy supply in the hybrid IES. Under the proposed joint long–short-term storage strategy, the system independence reaches 85%. In terms of operational cost, energy costs and carbon emission costs are reduced by 8.56% and 11.35%, respectively, compared to short-term-only and long-term-only strategies. Although the inclusion of seasonal storage modules, such as electrolyzers and fuel cells, leads to a 4.31% increase in maintenance costs within a certain capacity range, it results in a 6.92% reduction in both energy and carbon emission costs. The proposed long–short-term coupled scheduling strategy for the hybrid IES effectively enhances system operational efficiency and adaptability.

Screen-printed supercapacitors have become a promising energy storage solution, combining high power density, rapid charge and discharge capabilities, and long cycle life, while also offering a cost-effective and scalable manufacturing method. This review explores the principles of screen-printed supercapacitor devices, highlighting the importance of energy storage mechanisms in supercapacitors and the advantages of using screen-printing technology for device fabrication. A detailed overview of screen-printing technology, its historical evolution in electronics, and comparisons with other fabrication methods such as photolithography, inkjet printing, and vacuum deposition are presented. The review also discusses the materials used in screen-printed supercapacitors, including carbon-based, graphene oxide, MXene-based, and metal sulfide materials, as well as the integration of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) in enhancing electrochemical performance. While screen-printed supercapacitors offer several advantages in terms of cost, scalability, and flexibility, challenges in their development remain. These challenges include issues with ink formulation and conductivity, material compatibility with substrates, electrode architecture, process optimization, and performance limitations. Furthermore, print resolution, patterning accuracy, and the durability and flexibility of screen-printed supercapacitors for wearable or portable devices continue to pose significant concerns. Despite these hurdles, recent innovations are paving the way for improved performance and scalability. New approaches, such as co-doping and the use of hybrid materials, are being explored to enrich the electrochemical properties of screen-printed supercapacitors. The potential for integrating screen-printed supercapacitors into practical applications, such as wearable electronics, IoT devices, and energy harvesting systems, is also discussed. These supercapacitors enable the development of self-sustaining systems, such as wireless sensors and flexible electronics, that benefit from the combination of high power and fast energy storage capabilities. The review concludes with a look at the future direction of screen-printed supercapacitors, focusing on sustainability through the use of eco-friendly materials, the potential for large-scale production, and the commercialization prospects of this technology.

Copper nanowires with fivefold twinned structures (t-CuNWs) are shown to be effective as cathode catalysts for the electrochemical CO₂ reduction reaction (CO₂RR) in a zero-gap electrolyzer to produce ethylene. The t-CuNWs, with surfaces enclosed by (100) facets, were selected for their enhanced CO adsorption strength, which along with the presence of the twin boundary defects, are proposed to promote C–C coupling—a key pathway toward multi-carbon (C₂) products. We also find that the entangled t-CuNWs exhibit enhanced hydrophobicity when compared to commercial Cu nanoparticles (CuNPs), which reduces electrode flooding and contributes to enhance the stability of the cathode. These characteristics distinguish t-CuNWs from CuNPs in terms of activity (overpotential, selectivity) and stability. The t-CuNWs exhibited ∼40% C₂H₄ Faradaic efficiency (FE) for more than 4 hours under a current density of 100 mA cm⁻², while commercial CuNPs exhibited ∼20% C₂H₄ FE for less than 4 hours and the CuNPs devices consistently required increased operating voltages. These findings highlight the potential of (100) faceted t-CuNWs for C₂ product formation in CO₂RR with facet engineering and hydrophobicity control.

2,5-Bis(furan-2-ylmethyl)cyclopentan-1-one (FCFDH), a C₁₅ precursor for renewable jet fuel range cycloalkanes and high-value electronic photolithography material, was selectively synthesized via a cascade aldol condensation/hydrogenation reaction of furfural and cyclopentanone under solvent-free conditions. Non-noble metal Cu and Ni modified MgAl-hydrotalcite (Cu₂Ni₁/MgAl-HT) was found to be an effective and stable catalyst for this reaction. Under the optimized conditions (423 K, 4 MPa H₂, 10 h), 97.0% cyclopentanone conversion and 82.0% carbon yield of FCFDH were achieved. Based on the characterization results, the presence of Ni and Cu species increased the acidity of MgAl-HT and formed Ni–Cu alloy particles with an average size of 2.33 nm during the preparation of the catalyst. Both effects facilitate the aldol condensation of furfural and cyclopentanone and the formation of FCFDH by the selective hydrogenation of CC bonds.

Air-cathode microbial fuel cells (MFCs) offer a sustainable approach to bioelectricity generation, but their commercialization is hindered by costly platinum catalysts and inefficient microbial electron transfer. This study investigates bio-palladium (bio-Pd) nanoparticles as a cost-effective cathode catalyst and optimizes microbial consortia to enhance MFC performance. Four cathode configurations were tested, two incorporating bio-Pd (9.6–16.9 nm, characterized via XRD and SEM-EDS), alongside sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) and marine bacteria (MB) cultures. The CM3 cathode, combining bio-Pd, activated charcoal, and carbon black, achieved a peak power density of 3.70 ± 0.15 mW m⁻², six times higher than the control, with a low internal resistance of 210 ± 15 Ω m². MB, dominated by electroactive Paraclostridium sp., outperformed SRB, delivering 4.18 ± 0.17 mW m⁻² due to its dense biofilm (85% anode coverage) and efficient direct and indirect electron transfer, as confirmed by 16S rRNA sequencing and SEM. These advancements, yielding power densities comparable to bio-catalytic systems, highlight bio-Pd's potential as a sustainable alternative to platinum and Paraclostridium's role as a high-performance inoculum. Addressing South Africa's energy challenges and UN Sustainable Development Goals (6, 7, 9, 13), this work paves the way for scalable MFCs in wastewater treatment and renewable energy, though long-term stability requires further exploration.

Entropy-driven alloying has emerged as an innovative approach for synthesizing high-performance thermoelectric materials. This study explores the influence of processing conditions on the structural, mechanical, and transport properties of AgSnSbTe₃, a cation-disordered entropy-stabilised alloy of AgSbTe₂ and SnTe, providing a detailed comparison with existing literature. Modifications in the synthesis route led to intrinsic variations in transport properties, and this study provides an in-depth scientific analysis to demonstrate how these variations in processing steps directly influence the transport properties. Unlike previous studies that used annealing or spark plasma sintering for fabricating AgSnSbTe₃, this work adopts a simple melt-processing route without post-processing. Despite this, an impressive thermoelectric figure of merit, zT ∼ 0.8 at 673 K is achieved, with reduced processing time and energy consumption for material fabrication. In this work, the “Thermoelectric Efficiency Index” (TEI) is proposed to integrate thermoelectric performance (zT) with processability factors, including processing time and energy consumption for material fabrication, to assess the feasibility of a material (performance) and its synthesizability/processing conditions (time and energy) for commercial applications and sustainable manufacturing. The proposed synthesis approach achieves a significantly higher TEI (∼250%) compared to previous studies, thus making it a more viable route for real time industrial applications. This research underscores the necessity of balancing material efficiency, processability, and energy consumption to achieve realistic and energy-efficient solutions for thermoelectric waste heat recovery. From a scientific standpoint, this work also illustrates the anharmonic contributions to phonon scattering, a phenomenon attributed to cation disordering in the entropy-stabilised structure.

Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are at the forefront of sustainable energy technologies, offering clean and efficient energy conversion powered by renewable sources. The gas diffusion layer (GDL), an important component of PEMFCs, plays a pivotal role in facilitating gas and water transport, electron conduction, and thermal management between the catalyst layer (CL) and the bipolar plate. The discharge performance and power density of PEMFCs are significantly affected by the properties of the GDL. In this perspective, we focus on strategies for optimizing the bulk structure of the GDL, specifically engineering pore architecture and wettability. Meanwhile, from the aspect of relationships between the GDL and other components, we highlight the influence of the GDL surface structure on the CL|GDL interface and summarize the progress in integrated GDL and flow field (integrated GDL|FF) designs. These advancements promote efficient mass transport and enhance the overall performance of PEMFCs. Moving forward, we anticipate that GDL advancements will evolve synergistically with next-generation membrane electrode assemblies, ultimately enabling a new class of highly integrated PEMFC stacks.

A unitized regenerative fuel cell (URFC) is a device that converts and stores electricity generated from renewable sources into hydrogen, which may subsequently be converted back into electricity as needed. The commercialization of traditional proton exchange membranes and alkaline URFCs is hampered by the high cost of platinum group electrocatalysts and the differential pressure required to connect a URFC to renewable energy sources. The anion exchange membrane-based unitized regenerative fuel cell (AEM-URFC) is a promising option for large-scale renewable energy storage and hydrogen generation. It does not require a costly platinum metal catalyst, and it is readily incorporated into renewable energy systems. This is new technology in its infancy, and thus it requires a potential roadmap for sustainable growth, prior to its commercialization. This review describes recent advances made in the creation of AEM-URFC modules and their performance. It also presents comparisons with conventional technology and a brief economic analysis. The purpose is to summarize recent developments and then to recognise gaps in the existing literature. It concludes with a discussion of some challenges and suggestions for potential actions relevant to the development of long-lasting AEM-URFCs.