ChemSusChem最新文献

Advancement of sulfur (S) cathode of lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries is hindered by issues such as insulating nature of sulfur, sluggish redox kinetics, polysulfide dissolution and shuttling. To address these issues, we initiate a study on applying an important amino acid of protein, arginine (Arg), as a functional additive into S cathode. Based on our simulation study, the positively charged Arg facilitates strong interactions with polysulfides. The experimental results indicate that the interaction enable capability of trapping polysulfides within the S cathode, responsible for reducing shuttle effects. Furthermore, the positively charged Arg also promotes efficient ion diffusion and polysulfides conversion. The new findings include that, with addition of only 1 wt % Arg, the resultant cathode demonstrates effectively enhanced electrolyte wettability, polysulfide adsorption and redox kinetics, leading to enhanced rate performance and long-term cycling stability. This study highlights the great potential of amino acids being able to act as effective functional bio-additives in S cathode, paving a new way to high-performance and sustainable energy storage solutions.

The Cover Feature shows how continuous-flow supercritical water treatment of birch followed by alkali extraction of lignin allowed the isolation of lignin and lignin carbohydrate complexes (LCCs) in 13–19 wt % yield with respect to the initial woody biomass with a high number of β-O-4 moieties up to 57/100 Ar. Such an approach may be extended to other biomass feedstocks, enabling the isolation of non-degraded lignins/LCCs with tunable structure and properties. More information can be found in the Research Article by D. Rigo, E. Capanema and co-workers. Cover design: Eric Gabriel.

The Cover Feature shows a novel and stable Ru-based catalyst with biochar and Al₂O₃ as composite support (Ru/C-Al₂O₃) that was employed in the hydrodeoxygenation of lignin-derived phenolic compounds. H₂ was efficiently activated to form active H species that participate in the hydrogenation of guaiacol. Moreover, under catalysis of the Al₂O₃ acid site, deoxygenation then occurs to form cyclohexane. The composite support has a large surface area, thus improving Ru metal dispersion and enhancing its catalytic activity. More information can be found in the Research Article by R. Shu, N. Shi and co-workers (DOI: 10.1002/cssc.202401870).

The Front Cover shows the solvent-free mechanochemical synthesis of chitin-derived, palladium-based catalytic systems by extrusion. In their Research Article, A. Perosa, D. RodrÍguez-Padrón and co-workers explore the impact of nanoparticle size, N-doping in the support, and their synergistic effects in Heck–Mizoroki and Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reactions. The authors also uncover how these factors drive more sustainable and efficient catalytic processes.

The Cover Feature shows aromatic poly(dithioacetal)s, which are multifunctional materials for eco-friendly optics with a high refractive index (>1.7), visible transparency, thermal stability, on-demand degradability, and recyclability. Cyclic low-molecular-weight products from zinc-catalyzed polymer degradation lead to acid-catalyzed repolymerization to the raw polymer, representing a closed-loop recycling process without any deterioration in the optical properties. More information can be found in the Research Article by K. Oyaizu and co-workers.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are extremely stable chemicals that are essential for modern life and decarbonization technologies. Yet PFAS are persistent pollutants that are harmful to human health. Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (GenX), a replacement for the PFAS chemical perfluorooctanoic acid, continues to pollute waterways. In this study, we report the complete defluorination of GenX through electrocatalysis in aqueous LiOH electrolytes, utilizing high surface area anodes consisting of pulsed laser in liquid synthesized [NiFe]-(OH)₂ nanocatalysts on hydrophilic carbon fiber paper. Additional experiments with industrial nickel-iron alloy demonstrated exceptional stability for >100 hours. Including a brief interval of reversed polarity in pulsed electrolysis and optimizing the pulse train sequence enabled the complete defluorination of GenX. Our facile approach employs only nonprecious materials, does not require bisulfate or other auxiliary chemical agents that are consumed, and thus provides a promising strategy for alleviating the environmental impact of PFAS pollutants.

Lithium (Li) metal anodes (LMAs), which show a great potential in constructing high-specific-energy-density Li metal batteries (LMBs), have abstracted wide research interest. However, the generation of Li dendrites and the repeated change of volume upon Li plating/stripping severely block the practical commercialization of LMBs. Herein, the functional carbon fibers (CFs) decorated with ZnO embedded carbon cage (ZnO@C-d-CFs) were fabricated successfully by a two-step route including the in-situ growth of Zn-based metal organic frameworks (MOFs) and subsequent carbonization process, which enriched the lithiophilic sites of CFs host and improved Li⁺ kinetics of Li⁺ plating/stripping. Markedly, our designed ZnO@C-d-CFs possessed an obvious surface stability for Li⁺ plating/stripping (e. g., 1000 cycles with a CE of ~100 % for ZnO@C-d-CFs||Li cell, 1200 h for Li-ZnO@C-d-CFs|| Li-ZnO@C-d-CFs cell), and demonstrated a great potential in practical LMBs (e. g., a low-capacity decay of 0.067 mAh g^-1 per cycle within the monitored 900 cycles in Li-ZnO@C-d-CFs||LiFePO₄ (LFP) cell). The impressive results verified an effectiveness of surface modification on Li host to boost the stable LMAs.

Electrolyte wettability significantly effects the electrochemical performance of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). In this study, buoyancy testing is employed to accurately measure the force-time curve of electrolyte penetration into the electrodes and thereby calculate the wettability rate. Electrochemical performance is comprehensively evaluated through CR2025 coin half-cell testing, four-point probe analysis, and C-rate cycling experiments. The effects of conductive agent content, morphology, and size on wettability, conductivity and electrochemical performance are investigated. The results show that carbon nanotube (CNT) conductive agent have strong effect on electrolyte wettability, conductivity, and electrochemical performance. Specifically, electrodes with 3 % CNT content show a 48.9 % increase in wettability, a 95.7 % reduction in electrode resistance, and a 10 % increase in cycle life compared to 1 % CNT. The results show that wettability and conductivity have an equally important effect on electrochemical properties. Larger CNT sizes improve wettability but increase electrode resistance, negatively impacting LIB performance. CNT conductive agents facilitate electrolyte movement along the nanotubes, reducing tortuosity and enhancing wettability. Optical observation of the wetting process on the surface and cross-section of the pure conductive agent electrode strongly supports this conclusion. These results provide valuable insight into optimizing LIB performance by manipulating CNT properties and incorporating them as conductive agents.

The integration of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with functional materials has established a versatile platform for a wide range of energy storage applications. Due to their large specific surface area, high porosity, and tunable structural properties, MOFs hold significant promise as components in energy storage systems, including electrodes, electrolytes, and separators for alkali metal-ion batteries (AIBs). Although lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are widely used, their commercial graphite anode materials are nearing their theoretical capacity limits, and the scarcity of lithium and cobalt resources increases costs. Although zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) suffer from limited cycling stability, they are attractive for their low cost, high capacity, and excellent safety. Meanwhile, potassium-ion (PIBs) and sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) show promise due to their affordability and abundant resources, but they encounter issues such as short cycle life and low energy density. This review outlines the applications of MOF composites in LIBs, SIBs, and ZIBs, introduces common synthesis methods, and forecasts future development directions and challenges in energy storage applications. We emphasize how the understanding can lay the foundation for developing MOF composites with enhanced functionalities.

Based on the concept "Derived from Agroforestry, belong to (Servicing) Agroforestry", we herein achieved the tandem catalytic transformation of lignin to phenolic aryl acrylic esters, which can work as plant growth regulators. The transformation involves the first catalytic oxidative fractionation (COF) of lignin into aromatic aldehydes, which can further undergo Knoevenagel condensation with acids/esters with active C_α-H to generate the phenolic aryl acrylic esters. For the first lignin transformation, the Cu salt (CuSO₄) in a 7.5 wt % NaOH aqueous solution could achieve the selective cleavage of lignin C-C bonds to provide a 25.0 wt % yield of aromatic aldehydes. Subsequently, the unique basic sites of the self-assembled hybrid system of CeO₂ and 2-cyanopyridine could overcome the limitations of traditional homogeneous/heterogeneous bases and facilitate the condensation between phenolic-containing aromatic aldehydes and malonic ester to aryl acrylic esters. Furthermore, the lignin-based phenolic aryl acrylic esters showed different plant growth regulation activity based on the various structural groups for peppermint seed cultivation. The above results can expand the high-value utilization of lignin in the agroforestry field.