Materials Today Sustainability最新文献

The recovery of spent graphite (SG) from lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) has been neglected due to its relatively low value and the lack of effective recovery methods. In this study, a green and cost-effective water washing process was used to recycle the spent graphite of LIBs anode, and the recovered graphite (RG) was used as the cathode material of aluminum ion batteries (AIBs). The RG retained the integrated graphite structure after the water washing process, showing a slightly enlarged interlayer spacing. When used as a cathode material for AIBs, it exhibits better electrochemical performance than commercial artificial graphite. At a current density of 50 mA g⁻¹, the RG shows a high specific capacity of 95.2 mAh g⁻¹. At a high current density of 2000 mA g⁻¹, the specific capacity still maintains 51 mAh g⁻¹, demonstrating excellent rate performance. Meanwhile, the average specific capacity of 72.5 mAh g⁻¹ was steadily cycled for 10,000 cycles at a current density of 1000 mA g⁻¹, showing excellent cycle performance. This work provides a novel approach to the high-value-added application of spent graphite from lithium batteries and a development of high-performance graphite cathode materials for AIBs.

The commercialization of state-of-the-art perovskite solar cells (PSCs) is hindered by lead toxicity, high production costs, and stability issues. The current study addresses these challenges by exploring lead-free Rb-doped CsSnI₃ perovskite with carbon-based materials. Herein, the impact of Rb-doping in CsSnI₃ perovskite has been thoroughly investigated on its structural, electrical, and optical properties via DFT studies. The results show that the incorporation of Rb-cation into CsSnI₃ significantly enhances the stability of the perovskite active layer (PAL), addressing the major challenge of degradation under environmental conditions. Further, DFT results are used to investigate the potential of Cs_0.75Rb_0.25SnI₃ as a PAL in device architecture FTO/ETL/Cs_0.75Rb_0.25SnI₃/CNTs/C via SCAPS-1D with different electron transport layer (ETL) and carbon-based hole transport layer and back contact. Simulation results show that among different ETLs, WO₃ demonstrates the best performance. Further, we have employed a gradient doping (GD) strategy in PAL, dividing it into two sub-layers of thickness 200 nm each with different doping concentrations in the simulated device FTO/WO₃/CsRbSnI₃/CNTs/C. The aim of implementing GD is to strengthen the electric field and improve the energy band alignments which helps in reducing interfacial recombination. Besides, the impact of band-gap, interfacial defects, hysteresis effect, and C–V and C–F analysis are examined. The results reveal that at doping gradient G = 300, the device attains the best PCE of 19.05% with E_g of 1.32 eV (PAL-1) and 1.22 eV (PAL-2). This study can serve as a benchmark for developing high-performance and low-cost CsRbSnI₃-based PSCs utilizing a gradient doping strategy.

This article explores nanocarbons (NCs) decorated metal oxides (MOx) and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) hybrid nanosystems for efficient CO₂ detection and conversion to energy for environment sustainability. NCs have emerged as promising low-cost sensing and catalytic materials for conversion, which are decorated MOx and MOFs to fabricate hybrid nanosystems. These systems are considered for the next generation of CO₂ detection and value-added products using photo/electro/biological catalytic processes. To cater to state-of-the-art knowledge and aspects, this article summarises the research progress of functional C-based MOx and MOF hybrid materials as effective platforms for desired absorption/adsorption of CO₂ and conversion technologies, which will be part of a circular economy. At the end of this article, limitations, challenges, and future perspectives of C-based materials are summarized to understand and implement the knowledge for advanced sensing devices and efficient reduction of fuel/chemical production. NCs-decorated MOx hybrid materials have shown the potential for highly selective and fast-responsive CO₂ detectors due to their high carrier rates, nominal working temperature, chemical compositions, morphologies, large specific surface area, and high mechanical strength. C-based nanomaterials, such as CNTs, C₆₀, C-QDs, and Gr, might be considered for flexible sensors that enhance stability and limit of detection (LOD). MOFs are highly recommended for CO₂ detection and reduction through adsorption, owing to their interconnected linker arms, cage-like structure, and extensive internal surface area. This article contributes to the ongoing research on innovative materials and strategies for addressing global environmental challenges and energy sustainability through advanced sensing and conversion technologies.

Dolomite is a cost-effective and abundant natural mineral which is characterized by its versatility, non-toxicity, and simple handling. This review analyzes the available scientific literature and delves into multiple dimensions of dolomite. It begins by exploring the origin, structure, and properties of dolomite along with its extraction and purification. This is followed by a critical analysis of its application in various traditional and emerging fields. The traditional areas discussed include agriculture, construction, glass manufacturing, and refractories, with a focus on recent advancements. Similarly, emerging areas of dolomite application include adsorption of heavy metals, polymer engineering (as a mineral filler), catalysis, and membrane separation. Greater emphasis has been placed on the application of dolomite in ceramic membranes, where its composites have been observed to have excellent chemical and mechanical properties, along with high porosity. This is in addition to dolomite being very effective in all the areas mentioned in the article, including as a fertilizer, transesterification and tar removal catalyst, mineral filler, and adsorbent. By underscoring the versatility and benefits of dolomite, this review article serves as an impetus for future research on its sustainable applications.

Low-density polyethene (LDPE) is extensively used in single-end-use food packaging and contributes significantly to global waste plastic. This study addresses this challenge by introducing a sustainable approach to reclaim and valorise waste LDPE from milk packaging by converting them into 3D printing filaments. The process involves extruding shredded LDPE pouches into continuous filaments using a modified thermal extruder. The research comprehensively investigates the effects of two key extrusion parameters, nozzle temperature and screw speed, on the resulting filament's physical and mechanical properties. Characterisation efforts include dimensional analysis, morphological evaluation, chemical integrity assessment, thermal stability analysis, and tensile testing. The results show that filaments remain consistently close to 1.75 mm diameter, which is required by most commercial FDM 3D printers. The filaments are chemically intact, thermally stable, and have high toughness across the range of extrusion parameters. The results and a preliminary demonstration of 3D printing indicate that the LDPE waste can be effectively transformed into consistent filaments that have the potential for 3D printing. A carbon footprint assessment underscores the environmental benefits of this approach, showing substantial reductions in estimated CO₂ emissions compared to conventional filament production methods. While challenges related to the quality of printed parts remain, the research opens avenues for optimizing 3D printing parameters and exploring multiple recycling cycles. This work represents a step towards sustainable plastic waste management and offers insights into transforming single-use plastic items into valuable resources.

The hybrid nanocomposite of Copper Ferrite/Carbon sphere (CuFe₂O₄/C-sphere NC) has been synthesized and their combined electrochemical activity for supercapacitors is achieved. XRD study reveals the average crystallite size of CuFe₂O₄/C-sphere NC as 112 nm. CuFe₂O₄/C-sphere NC provides a huge specific surface area of 532 m²/g. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) analysis exhibits the competitive specific capacity of CuFe₂O₄/C-sphere NC as 320 C/g at the sweep rate of 10 mV/s. The galvanostatic charge-discharge (GCD) study shows a good specific capacity of 264 C/g at 1 A/g and excellent cyclic stability of 82.4% for 5000 cycles. The CuFe₂O₄/C-sphere//AC solid-state hybrid supercapacitor provides a high specific capacity of 131 C/g along with remarkable energy density and power density of 40.9 Wh/kg and 11248 W/kg respectively.

The main issues encountered in aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) include corrosion and passivation of the zinc anode, electrolyte decomposition leading to hydrogen evolution, and dissolution consumption of cathode materials. This study proposes the use of ammonium persulfate (APS) as an electrolyte additive to enhance battery performance. The addition of APS not only adjusts the solvation structure of Zn²⁺, reduces water activity, but also allows NH⁴⁺ ions to preferentially adsorb onto the surface of the zinc electrode, forming a protective layer and achieving dendrite-free zinc anodes. Results indicate that the inclusion of APS additive in the electrolyte can increase the specific capacity of zinc-ion batteries from 321 mAh g⁻¹ to 418 mAh g⁻¹. Additionally, batteries with APS exhibit superior stability. Under low current density, the battery lifespan can reach 2100 h and a coulombic efficiency can up to 99.6%. This study delves into the design of multifunctional electrolyte additives and provides valuable insights for the development of practical ZIBs.

Recent research has focused on developing eco-friendly nanomaterials to combat mosquito infestations. This study demonstrates the enhancement of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles through the addition of carbon nanoparticles (C-NPs), significantly boosting their photocatalytic efficiency. This enhancement allows TiO₂ to purify water and act as an effective pesticide. Formulated TiO₂-carbon (TiO₂-C) nanocomposite films showed increased photocatalytic activity against third-instar larvae of Culex pipiens under natural sunlight. The addition of C-NPs improved sunlight absorption and reduced electron-hole recombination rates compared to pristine TiO₂ (P-TiO₂), making it more effective for mosquito control. The superior performance of the TiO₂-C nanocomposite was confirmed through X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra (UV-vis DRS), and Photoluminescence emission (PL). These analyses confirmed successful carbon incorporation, expanding the absorption spectrum and enhancing optical properties. The UV-vis DRS spectra showed a decrease in the bandgap energy (Eg) of P-TiO₂ from 3.2 eV to 3.1 eV, improving its photocatalytic effectiveness under natural sunlight. Bioactivity tests, including catalase activity, reduced glutathione (GSH) colorimetric assay, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) assay, along with microscopic and histological examinations of treated larvae, indicated that the TiO₂-C nanocomposite effectively reduces the mosquito population and causes significant physiological damage and abnormalities in larval structures and midgut cells. These findings highlight the enhanced photocatalytic capabilities of the TiO₂-C nanocomposite, making it a novel and effective solution for mosquito control with significant public health and environmental benefits.