Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-01-20DOI: 10.1016/j.mtsust.2026.101311
Mohd Shkir , Mohd Taukeer Khan , S. AlFaify , Ashwani Kumar , R. Marnadu , Sambasivam Sangaraju
This study systematically investigates the effect of cerium (Ce) doping on the photocatalytic performance of nickel oxide (NiO) under visible light irradiation. The introduction of Ce3+/Ce4+ ions into the NiO lattice induces lattice strain and generates oxygen vacancies, thereby enhancing charge separation and visible-light absorption. These defects promote the generation of reactive oxygen species (O2•- and •OH), which drive the degradation of organic pollutants. Structural, optical, and electronic analyses of NiO doped with 1 %, 3 %, and 5 % Ce highlight the key role of the Ce3+/Ce4+ redox couple in facilitating thermally assisted polaronic hopping and improving charge transport. Notably, Ce-NiO-3 % showed higher surface area of 114.4 m2g-1 than pure NiO. Among all samples, Ce–NiO-3 % showed the best photocatalytic activity, degrading over 95 % of methylene blue within 90 min. The enhanced activity arises from the synergistic effects of bandgap narrowing, defect engineering, and redox-mediated ROS generation. This work provides valuable insights for designing efficient, defect-engineered Ce–NiO photocatalysts for environmental remediation.
{"title":"Oxygen vacancy engineering and synergistic effects of Ce-doping in NiO octahedra for enhanced photodegradation of organic and antibiotic pollutants","authors":"Mohd Shkir , Mohd Taukeer Khan , S. AlFaify , Ashwani Kumar , R. Marnadu , Sambasivam Sangaraju","doi":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2026.101311","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2026.101311","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study systematically investigates the effect of cerium (Ce) doping on the photocatalytic performance of nickel oxide (NiO) under visible light irradiation. The introduction of Ce<sup>3+</sup>/Ce<sup>4+</sup> ions into the NiO lattice induces lattice strain and generates oxygen vacancies, thereby enhancing charge separation and visible-light absorption. These defects promote the generation of reactive oxygen species (O<sub>2</sub>•<sup>-</sup> and •OH), which drive the degradation of organic pollutants. Structural, optical, and electronic analyses of NiO doped with 1 %, 3 %, and 5 % Ce highlight the key role of the Ce<sup>3+</sup>/Ce<sup>4+</sup> redox couple in facilitating thermally assisted polaronic hopping and improving charge transport. Notably, Ce-NiO-3 % showed higher surface area of 114.4 m<sup>2</sup>g<sup>-1</sup> than pure NiO. Among all samples, Ce–NiO-3 % showed the best photocatalytic activity, degrading over 95 % of methylene blue within 90 min. The enhanced activity arises from the synergistic effects of bandgap narrowing, defect engineering, and redox-mediated ROS generation. This work provides valuable insights for designing efficient, defect-engineered Ce–NiO photocatalysts for environmental remediation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18322,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Sustainability","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 101311"},"PeriodicalIF":7.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146077849","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2025-11-30DOI: 10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101265
Hana M. Abumelha , Reem Ghubayra , Zahra H. Alhalafi , Kholood M. Alkhamis , Amnah S. Al Zbedy , Nasser A. Alamrani , Ali Sayqal , Nashwa M. El-Metwaly
The ultrasonic-chemical synthesis of pure tin dioxide quantum dots (SnO2QDs) and zinc-doped tin dioxide quantum dots (SnO2QDs/Zns) were reported for photocatalytic abatement of Reactive Yellow 145 (RY145) dye and real textile wastewater treatment. Structural characterization confirmed the retention of the rutile SnO2 phase with quantum-confined crystallite sizes ranging from 7.47 to 9.63 nm, and uniform Zn incorporation without forming segregated ZnO phases at low doping levels, as evidenced by XRD and EDX mapping. Optical analyses revealed tunable bandgap energies from 3.06 eV in undoped SnO2QDs to 3.51 eV in higher Zn-doped samples. The photocatalytic activity, assessed via degradation kinetics of RY145 under Xenon lamp irradiation, demonstrated a marked improvement for SnO2QDs/Zn1 (4 % Zn) with a rate constant (k) of 9.92 × 10−3 s−1, exceeding the performance of undoped SnO2QDs1 (k = 6.93 × 10−3 s−1) and surpassing SnO2QDs/Zn2 (6 % Zn) by over 320 %. Notably, the catalysts maintained over 87 % activity after seven recycling cycles in real industrial wastewater, emphasizing operational stability. An economic evaluation revealed a 25.4 % cost reduction for SnO2QDs/Zn1 relative to SnO2QDs/Zn2. This investigation underscores the critical role of nanoscale structural engineering and dopant optimization in advancing semiconductor photocatalysts for environmental applications and water treatment technologies.
{"title":"Remarkable photocatalytic efficiency, economic analysis and recycling processes of Sn-Zn quantum dots oxides for Reactive Yellow 145 dye removal and real industrial wastewater treatment","authors":"Hana M. Abumelha , Reem Ghubayra , Zahra H. Alhalafi , Kholood M. Alkhamis , Amnah S. Al Zbedy , Nasser A. Alamrani , Ali Sayqal , Nashwa M. El-Metwaly","doi":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101265","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101265","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The ultrasonic-chemical synthesis of pure tin dioxide quantum dots (SnO<sub>2</sub>QDs) and zinc-doped tin dioxide quantum dots (SnO<sub>2</sub>QDs/Zn<sub>s</sub>) were reported for photocatalytic abatement of Reactive Yellow 145 (RY145) dye and real textile wastewater treatment. Structural characterization confirmed the retention of the rutile SnO<sub>2</sub> phase with quantum-confined crystallite sizes ranging from 7.47 to 9.63 nm, and uniform Zn incorporation without forming segregated ZnO phases at low doping levels, as evidenced by XRD and EDX mapping. Optical analyses revealed tunable bandgap energies from 3.06 eV in undoped SnO<sub>2</sub>QDs to 3.51 eV in higher Zn-doped samples. The photocatalytic activity, assessed via degradation kinetics of RY145 under Xenon lamp irradiation, demonstrated a marked improvement for SnO<sub>2</sub>QDs/Zn1 (4 % Zn) with a rate constant (k) of 9.92 × 10<sup>−3</sup> s<sup>−1</sup>, exceeding the performance of undoped SnO<sub>2</sub>QDs1 (k = 6.93 × 10<sup>−3</sup> s<sup>−1</sup>) and surpassing SnO<sub>2</sub>QDs/Zn2 (6 % Zn) by over 320 %. Notably, the catalysts maintained over 87 % activity after seven recycling cycles in real industrial wastewater, emphasizing operational stability. An economic evaluation revealed a 25.4 % cost reduction for SnO<sub>2</sub>QDs/Zn1 relative to SnO<sub>2</sub>QDs/Zn2. This investigation underscores the critical role of nanoscale structural engineering and dopant optimization in advancing semiconductor photocatalysts for environmental applications and water treatment technologies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18322,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Sustainability","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 101265"},"PeriodicalIF":7.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145683101","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2025-12-24DOI: 10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101296
Fengyi Zhang , Chee Lok Yong , Xinghan Huang , Chiu Chuen Onn , Saznizam Sazmee Sinoh , Chung-Chan Hung , Kim Hung Mo
Building materials can act as carbon sequestration agents by capturing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) and enhancing their performance. This represents a promising approach to reducing the carbon footprint of the construction industry and mitigating the greenhouse effect through CO2 utilization. However, gypsum-based materials tend to show a decline in performance after carbonation, a challenge that remains unresolved in current research. This study is the first to utilize the unique properties of basic oxygen furnace slag (BOFS), which is a type of steel slag waste, to address this issue. A comprehensive evaluation was conducted on bulk density, compressive strength, water resistance, water absorption, porosity, and environmental impact, complemented by advanced analytical techniques, including TGA, SEM, and XRD, to gain deeper insights into the underlying reaction mechanisms. The findings reveal that incorporating BOFS into gypsum-based materials and activating the system with an alkaline activator mitigated deterioration after carbonation while maintaining effective CO2 sequestration. The results indicated that adding 20 % BOFS to gypsum-based blocks with a water-to-binder ratio of 0.20 generated sufficient carbonation products (CaCO3 and SiO2-rich gel) after carbonation. These products effectively filled the internal pores of the specimens and induced subsequent hydration reactions, further improving their compressive strength and water resistance. Furthermore, based on life cycle assessment, these specimens achieved an ideal CO2 uptake of 32 kg CO2 eq per ton, reducing the global warming potential by 94.5 % compared to carbonated cement-based materials. This greener carbon sequestration agent offered promising potential for advancing sustainable building materials.
{"title":"Optimizing carbon sequestration and performance of a sustainable gypsum-based materials using steel slag waste","authors":"Fengyi Zhang , Chee Lok Yong , Xinghan Huang , Chiu Chuen Onn , Saznizam Sazmee Sinoh , Chung-Chan Hung , Kim Hung Mo","doi":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101296","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101296","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Building materials can act as carbon sequestration agents by capturing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) and enhancing their performance. This represents a promising approach to reducing the carbon footprint of the construction industry and mitigating the greenhouse effect through CO<sub>2</sub> utilization. However, gypsum-based materials tend to show a decline in performance after carbonation, a challenge that remains unresolved in current research. This study is the first to utilize the unique properties of basic oxygen furnace slag (BOFS), which is a type of steel slag waste, to address this issue. A comprehensive evaluation was conducted on bulk density, compressive strength, water resistance, water absorption, porosity, and environmental impact, complemented by advanced analytical techniques, including TGA, SEM, and XRD, to gain deeper insights into the underlying reaction mechanisms. The findings reveal that incorporating BOFS into gypsum-based materials and activating the system with an alkaline activator mitigated deterioration after carbonation while maintaining effective CO<sub>2</sub> sequestration. The results indicated that adding 20 % BOFS to gypsum-based blocks with a water-to-binder ratio of 0.20 generated sufficient carbonation products (CaCO<sub>3</sub> and SiO<sub>2</sub>-rich gel) after carbonation. These products effectively filled the internal pores of the specimens and induced subsequent hydration reactions, further improving their compressive strength and water resistance. Furthermore, based on life cycle assessment, these specimens achieved an ideal CO<sub>2</sub> uptake of 32 kg CO<sub>2</sub> eq per ton, reducing the global warming potential by 94.5 % compared to carbonated cement-based materials. This greener carbon sequestration agent offered promising potential for advancing sustainable building materials.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18322,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Sustainability","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 101296"},"PeriodicalIF":7.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145925698","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2025-12-22DOI: 10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101294
Shakira Allahbaksh , Ata-ur- Rehman , Safyan Akram Khan , Shahid Ali , Muhammad Nawaz Tahir , Muhammad Mansha , Majad Khan
The synthesis, electrochemical properties, and application of a novel multifunctional azo dye (MFAD), containing sulfonated and carboxylated naphthalene groups, were explored for aqueous organic redox flow batteries (AORFBs). MFAD was synthesized via a diazo coupling of 3-aminobenzoic acid with 5-amino-2-naphthalenesulfonic acid, resulting in a 97 % yield. Electrochemical testing was carried out using potassium ferrocyanide and potassium permanganate as catholytes with the MFAD as anolyte in different conditions, i.e., MFAD was dissolved in 1M KOH and made two different supporting electrolyte systems: (i) urea with KCl (MFAD1) and (ii) urea, KCl, and Na3PO4 (MFAD2). At a lower current (0.01 A), MFAD1 showed stable charging for 143 cycles but suffered discharge instability after 15 cycles, reducing coulombic efficiency from 99 % to 50 %. Higher current (0.03 A) with supporting electrolytes significantly improved charge capacity and stability. MFAD1 demonstrated a higher average volumetric charge capacity (1200.2 mAh L−1) and average discharge capacity (829.3 mAh L−1), whereas MFAD2, although showing a slightly lower discharge capacity (818.6 mAh L−1), delivered superior coulombic efficiency (76.5 %) compared to MFAD1 (68.8 %). To further assess MFAD's full cell performance, MFAD was further paired with KMnO4 (0.2 M in 1M KOH) without any supporting electrolyte. Under a current of 0.03 A and 10 min cycling, the MFAD/KMnO4 cell achieved an average discharge capacity of 128.4 mAh L−1, maintaining 80 % capacity retention and a coulombic efficiency of 77 %. Long-term cycling over 47.3 h demonstrated excellent stability and had also retained 97 % of the initial capacity. Compared to MFAD1 and MFAD2, the MFAD/KMnO4 system outperformed in stability and coulombic efficiency, highlighting MFAD's strong potential as a scalable and efficient anolyte for high-performance AORFBs. Overall, these findings emphasize the promising role of azobenzene-based molecules for advancing next-generation energy storage systems.
研究了一种新型萘磺酸基和羧化萘基多功能偶氮染料（MFAD）的合成、电化学性能及其在有机氧化还原液流电池（AORFBs）中的应用。采用3-氨基苯甲酸与5-氨基-2-萘磺酸重氮偶联法制备了MFAD，收率为97% %。以亚铁氰化钾和高锰酸钾为阴极电解质，MFAD为阳极电解质，在不同条件下进行电化学测试，即MFAD溶解在1M KOH中，制成两种不同的支撑电解质体系：(i)尿素- KCl （MFAD1）和（ii）尿素- KCl - Na3PO4 （MFAD2）。在较低电流（0.01 a）下，MFAD1在143次循环中稳定充电，但在15次循环后放电不稳定，库仑效率从99 %降低到50 %。更高的电流（0.03 A）与配套电解质显著提高充电容量和稳定性。MFAD1具有较高的平均体积充电容量（1200.2 mAh L−1）和平均放电容量（829.3 mAh L−1），而MFAD2的放电容量（818.6 mAh L−1）略低于MFAD1，但库仑效率（76.5 %）优于MFAD1（68.8 %）。为了进一步评估MFAD的全电池性能，MFAD进一步与KMnO4（0.2 M in 1M KOH）配对，没有任何支持电解质。在0.03 a电流和10 min循环下，MFAD/KMnO4电池的平均放电容量为128.4 mAh L−1，容量保持率为80% %，库仑效率为77 %。在47.3 h以上的长期循环表现出优异的稳定性，并且还保留了97% %的初始容量。与MFAD1和MFAD2相比，MFAD/KMnO4体系在稳定性和库仑效率方面表现优于MFAD1和MFAD2，凸显了MFAD作为高性能主动脉主动脉fb的可扩展高效阳极电解质的强大潜力。总的来说，这些发现强调了偶氮苯基分子在推进下一代储能系统方面的有希望的作用。
{"title":"Synthesis of multifunctional azo dyes based organic electroactive material: Efficient redox couple for aqueous redox flow batteries","authors":"Shakira Allahbaksh , Ata-ur- Rehman , Safyan Akram Khan , Shahid Ali , Muhammad Nawaz Tahir , Muhammad Mansha , Majad Khan","doi":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101294","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101294","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The synthesis, electrochemical properties, and application of a novel multifunctional azo dye (MFAD), containing sulfonated and carboxylated naphthalene groups, were explored for aqueous organic redox flow batteries (AORFBs). MFAD was synthesized via a diazo coupling of 3-aminobenzoic acid with 5-amino-2-naphthalenesulfonic acid, resulting in a 97 % yield. Electrochemical testing was carried out using potassium ferrocyanide and potassium permanganate as catholytes with the MFAD as anolyte in different conditions, i.e., MFAD was dissolved in 1M KOH and made two different supporting electrolyte systems: (i) urea with KCl (MFAD1) and (ii) urea, KCl, and Na<sub>3</sub>PO<sub>4</sub> (MFAD2). At a lower current (0.01 A), MFAD1 showed stable charging for 143 cycles but suffered discharge instability after 15 cycles, reducing coulombic efficiency from 99 % to 50 %. Higher current (0.03 A) with supporting electrolytes significantly improved charge capacity and stability. MFAD1 demonstrated a higher average volumetric charge capacity (1200.2 mAh L<sup>−1</sup>) and average discharge capacity (829.3 mAh L<sup>−1</sup>), whereas MFAD2, although showing a slightly lower discharge capacity (818.6 mAh L<sup>−1</sup>), delivered superior coulombic efficiency (76.5 %) compared to MFAD1 (68.8 %). To further assess MFAD's full cell performance, MFAD was further paired with KMnO<sub>4</sub> (0.2 M in 1M KOH) without any supporting electrolyte. Under a current of 0.03 A and 10 min cycling, the MFAD/KMnO<sub>4</sub> cell achieved an average discharge capacity of 128.4 mAh L<sup>−1</sup>, maintaining 80 % capacity retention and a coulombic efficiency of 77 %. Long-term cycling over 47.3 h demonstrated excellent stability and had also retained 97 % of the initial capacity. Compared to MFAD1 and MFAD2, the MFAD/KMnO<sub>4</sub> system outperformed in stability and coulombic efficiency, highlighting MFAD's strong potential as a scalable and efficient anolyte for high-performance AORFBs. Overall, these findings emphasize the promising role of azobenzene-based molecules for advancing next-generation energy storage systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18322,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Sustainability","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 101294"},"PeriodicalIF":7.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145925702","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-01-17DOI: 10.1016/j.mtsust.2026.101310
Vanessa O. Castro , Bastian Zötzl , Maik Förste , Laura Hohlfeld , Susann Rabe , Claudia Merlini , Katja Heise
The demand for sustainable materials has increased the need for benign solvent systems in polymer processing technologies. In the field of electrospinning, the selection of the solvent system is critical not only for determining the final material properties but also for improving the overall sustainability of the fiber production process. Cellulose acetate (CA) electrospinning typically relies on hazardous or non-green solvents, limiting its sustainable processing. In this study, we present a sustainable approach for electrospinning of CA, by identifying and validating a green binary solvent system based on dimethyl carbonate (DMC) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). CA solutions were prepared using DMC/DMSO (w/w) ratios of 100/0, 83/17, 80/20, 75/25, 67/33 and 50/50, and the influence of the solvent composition on solution processability and fiber properties was studied. By tuning the solvent ratio, the fiber diameter, surface morphology and mechanical performance could be modified. Higher contents of the more volatile solvent (DMC) led to porous fiber surfaces, while increasing amounts of DMSO led to smooth fiber surfaces. In addition, the mechanical properties of the electrospun fiber mats were strongly dependent on the solvent composition. Overall, this study provides a new and sustainable approach to green electrospinning of CA, establishing DMC/DMSO as an effective binary solvent system for producing CA fibers with adaptable properties for various eco-friendly applications.
{"title":"A green binary solvent for the electrospinning of cellulose acetate","authors":"Vanessa O. Castro , Bastian Zötzl , Maik Förste , Laura Hohlfeld , Susann Rabe , Claudia Merlini , Katja Heise","doi":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2026.101310","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2026.101310","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The demand for sustainable materials has increased the need for benign solvent systems in polymer processing technologies. In the field of electrospinning, the selection of the solvent system is critical not only for determining the final material properties but also for improving the overall sustainability of the fiber production process. Cellulose acetate (CA) electrospinning typically relies on hazardous or non-green solvents, limiting its sustainable processing. In this study, we present a sustainable approach for electrospinning of CA, by identifying and validating a green binary solvent system based on dimethyl carbonate (DMC) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). CA solutions were prepared using DMC/DMSO (w/w) ratios of 100/0, 83/17, 80/20, 75/25, 67/33 and 50/50, and the influence of the solvent composition on solution processability and fiber properties was studied. By tuning the solvent ratio, the fiber diameter, surface morphology and mechanical performance could be modified. Higher contents of the more volatile solvent (DMC) led to porous fiber surfaces, while increasing amounts of DMSO led to smooth fiber surfaces. In addition, the mechanical properties of the electrospun fiber mats were strongly dependent on the solvent composition. Overall, this study provides a new and sustainable approach to green electrospinning of CA, establishing DMC/DMSO as an effective binary solvent system for producing CA fibers with adaptable properties for various eco-friendly applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18322,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Sustainability","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 101310"},"PeriodicalIF":7.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146022601","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-01-17DOI: 10.1016/j.mtsust.2026.101313
N.K. Ramogale, N. Mamba, B.S. Mbuli, S.P. Malinga
Biocatalytic membranes have emerged as a sustainable approach for removing and degrading detrimental pollutants from water. This research introduces a uniquely engineered biocatalytic PA-TFC membrane synthesised through in-situ incorporation of an MWCNTs/laccase nanocomposite, offering a new integration strategy that enhances catalytic stability, membrane performance, and pollutant degradation. The study distinguishes itself by demonstrating simultaneous removal and enzymatic degradation of PFOA, supported by multi-technique characterisation and superior functional metrics compared to conventional membranes. The Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Infra-Red spectroscopy confirmed the successful synthesis of modified PA-TFC membranes, revealing the presence of an amide band at 1610 cm−1, which is a characteristic of the polyamide thin film layer. Additionally, the scanning electron microscopy and correlative light electron microscopy showed green fluorescence under confocal microscopy, validating the presence of laccase enzyme aggregates. The modified PA-TFC membranes exhibited enhanced hydrophilicity, as evidenced by reduced water contact angle of 42.07° ± 6.89 and high-water flux of 37.40 ± 1.07 L m−2 h−1. Conversely, the pristine PA-TFC exhibited low hydrophilicity, characterised by an elevated contact angle of 54.42° ± 6.89° and a reduced water flux of up to 9.36 ± 9.36 L m−2 h−1. This was accompanied by enhanced antifouling properties of the modified membranes, with a flux recovery ratio of over 80 %, compared to 72.55 % for the unmodified membrane. Furthermore, the modified membranes achieved the perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) removal efficiencies of 65.33 % ± 3.52, whereas the unmodified membranes exhibited the removal of 55.06 % ± 0.80. Perfluorooctanoic acid was degraded into less toxic by-products such as perfluorohexanoic acid, perfluoroheptanoic acid, perfluorobutanoic acid, and formic acid. The in-situ modified MWCNTs/laccase-PA-TFC membranes exhibited enhanced efficacy compared to other conventional biocatalytic membranes, highlighting their potential in advancing sustainable water treatment applications due to their self-cleaning properties and longevity in degrading the PFOA contaminant.
生物催化膜已成为去除和降解水中有害污染物的一种可持续方法。本研究介绍了一种独特的工程生物催化PA-TFC膜，通过原位掺入MWCNTs/漆酶纳米复合材料合成，提供了一种新的集成策略，提高了催化稳定性、膜性能和污染物降解能力。该研究通过展示PFOA的同时去除和酶降解而脱颖而出，与传统膜相比，该研究得到了多技术表征和优越功能指标的支持。衰减全反射傅里叶红外光谱证实了改性PA-TFC膜的成功合成，发现在1610 cm−1处存在酰胺带，这是聚酰胺薄膜层的特征。此外，扫描电镜和相关光电子显微镜在共聚焦显微镜下显示绿色荧光，证实了漆酶酶聚集物的存在。改性后的PA-TFC膜亲水性增强，水接触角减小42.07° ± 6.89，水通量增大37.40 ± 1.07 L m−2 h−1。相反，原始PA-TFC表现出较低的亲水性，其特征是接触角升高54.42° ± 6.89°，水通量降低至9.36 ± 9.36 L m−2 h−1。与未改性膜的72.55 %相比，改性膜的抗污性能增强，通量回收率超过80 %。此外，改性膜的全氟辛酸（PFOA）去除率为65.33 % ± 3.52，而未改性膜的去除率为55.06 % ± 0.80。全氟辛酸被降解为毒性较小的副产物，如全氟己酸、全氟庚酸、全氟丁酸和甲酸。与其他传统生物催化膜相比，原位改性MWCNTs/漆酶- pa - tfc膜表现出更强的效能，由于其自清洁特性和降解PFOA污染物的寿命，突出了其在推进可持续水处理应用方面的潜力。
{"title":"Biocatalytic degradation of perfluoroalkyl substances from water using multi-walled carbon nanotube/laccase polyamide thin film nanocomposite membranes","authors":"N.K. Ramogale, N. Mamba, B.S. Mbuli, S.P. Malinga","doi":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2026.101313","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2026.101313","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Biocatalytic membranes have emerged as a sustainable approach for removing and degrading detrimental pollutants from water. This research introduces a uniquely engineered biocatalytic PA-TFC membrane synthesised through <em>in-situ</em> incorporation of an MWCNTs/laccase nanocomposite, offering a new integration strategy that enhances catalytic stability, membrane performance, and pollutant degradation. The study distinguishes itself by demonstrating simultaneous removal and enzymatic degradation of PFOA, supported by multi-technique characterisation and superior functional metrics compared to conventional membranes. The Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Infra-Red spectroscopy confirmed the successful synthesis of modified PA-TFC membranes, revealing the presence of an amide band at 1610 cm<sup>−1</sup>, which is a characteristic of the polyamide thin film layer. Additionally, the scanning electron microscopy and correlative light electron microscopy showed green fluorescence under confocal microscopy, validating the presence of laccase enzyme aggregates. The modified PA-TFC membranes exhibited enhanced hydrophilicity, as evidenced by reduced water contact angle of 42.07° ± 6.89 and high-water flux of 37.40 ± 1.07 L m<sup>−2</sup> h<sup>−1</sup>. Conversely, the pristine PA-TFC exhibited low hydrophilicity, characterised by an elevated contact angle of 54.42° ± 6.89° and a reduced water flux of up to 9.36 ± 9.36 L m<sup>−2</sup> h<sup>−1</sup>. This was accompanied by enhanced antifouling properties of the modified membranes, with a flux recovery ratio of over 80 %, compared to 72.55 % for the unmodified membrane. Furthermore, the modified membranes achieved the perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) removal efficiencies of 65.33 % ± 3.52, whereas the unmodified membranes exhibited the removal of 55.06 % ± 0.80. Perfluorooctanoic acid was degraded into less toxic by-products such as perfluorohexanoic acid, perfluoroheptanoic acid, perfluorobutanoic acid, and formic acid. The in-situ modified MWCNTs/laccase-PA-TFC membranes exhibited enhanced efficacy compared to other conventional biocatalytic membranes, highlighting their potential in advancing sustainable water treatment applications due to their self-cleaning properties and longevity in degrading the PFOA contaminant.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18322,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Sustainability","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 101313"},"PeriodicalIF":7.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146022604","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2025-12-09DOI: 10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101272
Muddasira Sarwar , Muhammad Shahbaz , Rabia Ghaffar , Mohsin Saleem , Muhammad Zubair Khan , Muneeb Irshad , Shahzad Sharif , Jung Hyuk Koh , Muhammad Haseeb , Abdul Ghaffar , Imran Shakir , Kamran Ali
Ceria co-doped with Ni and Mg (Ni, Mg@CeO2) was examined for its electrochemical performance, showing impressive power density and cyclic stability in the fabricated device. The material was synthesized using an easy, low-cost solution combustion method. Two different materials were studied to evaluate the impact of co-doping: pristine CeO2/AC (M − 1) and Ni, Mg@CeO2 composite with AC (Activated Carbon) (M − 2). Structural analysis confirmed the face-centered cubic (FCC) structure of CeO2 through X-ray diffractometry (XRD). The structural and optical properties were characterized by using field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, respectively. The electrochemical behavior was tested with cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge-discharge (GCD), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), revealing the pseudocapacitive nature of the ceria-based electrodes. As an electrode material, CeO2/AC (M − 1) achieved a higher specific capacitance (Cs) of 244.4 F/g at 0.5 A/g, while Ni, Mg@CeO2/AC (M − 2) showed 197.6 F/g at the same current. In a full-device setup, Ni, Mg@CeO2//AC (M − 2) reached a Cs of 63.3 F/g at 0.5 A/g, along with excellent cycling stability, retaining 100.4 % coulombic efficiency over 5000 GCD cycles. The hybrid device based on Ni, Mg@CeO2//AC displayed a maximum specific energy of 18.3 Wh/kg and a specific power of 467.5 W/kg at 0.5 A/g.
{"title":"Robust cyclic stability and high-power performance of Ni/Mg co-doped CeO2 electrodes for asymmetric hybrid supercapacitors","authors":"Muddasira Sarwar , Muhammad Shahbaz , Rabia Ghaffar , Mohsin Saleem , Muhammad Zubair Khan , Muneeb Irshad , Shahzad Sharif , Jung Hyuk Koh , Muhammad Haseeb , Abdul Ghaffar , Imran Shakir , Kamran Ali","doi":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101272","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101272","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ceria co-doped with Ni and Mg (Ni, Mg@CeO<sub>2</sub>) was examined for its electrochemical performance, showing impressive power density and cyclic stability in the fabricated device. The material was synthesized using an easy, low-cost solution combustion method. Two different materials were studied to evaluate the impact of co-doping: pristine CeO<sub>2</sub>/AC (M − 1) and Ni, Mg@CeO<sub>2</sub> composite with AC (Activated Carbon) (M − 2). Structural analysis confirmed the face-centered cubic (FCC) structure of CeO<sub>2</sub> through X-ray diffractometry (XRD). The structural and optical properties were characterized by using field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, respectively. The electrochemical behavior was tested with cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge-discharge (GCD), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), revealing the pseudocapacitive nature of the ceria-based electrodes. As an electrode material, CeO<sub>2</sub>/AC (M − 1) achieved a higher specific capacitance (C<sub>s</sub>) of 244.4 F/g at 0.5 A/g, while Ni, Mg@CeO<sub>2</sub>/AC (M − 2) showed 197.6 F/g at the same current. In a full-device setup, Ni, Mg@CeO<sub>2</sub>//AC (M − 2) reached a C<sub>s</sub> of 63.3 F/g at 0.5 A/g, along with excellent cycling stability, retaining 100.4 % coulombic efficiency over 5000 GCD cycles. The hybrid device based on Ni, Mg@CeO<sub>2</sub>//AC displayed a maximum specific energy of 18.3 Wh/kg and a specific power of 467.5 W/kg at 0.5 A/g.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18322,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Sustainability","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 101272"},"PeriodicalIF":7.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145787525","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2025-11-29DOI: 10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101271
Ghada Shaban , Emad H. Bartawi , Martin P. Andersson , Rajan Ambat
The temperature impact on the inhibitory characteristics of black tea extract was examined in a 1 wt.% sodium chloride solution under CO2 saturation. The evaluations were conducted in solutions with pH 5.5 at 20, 40, and 60 °C. The interaction of black tea extract (BTE) with L80-1Cr carbon steel, focusing on its adsorption and chelation properties, was examined using ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis), electrochemical measurements, and density functional theory (DFT) modelling. Additionally, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), computed tomography (CT) scans, focused ion beam (FIB) and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) were employed to study the morphology and cross-section of the film formed on the steel surface. BTE exhibited significantly improved corrosion inhibition properties with temperature, as a maximum polarization resistance of 800 Ω .cm2 and a higher inhibition efficiency of 88 % was observed at 60 °C after 300 h of immersion. Moreover, the inhibition efficiency did not decrease over time; on the contrary, it showed a gradual increase. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations showed that various BTE components have a strong adsorption tendency on the Fe (110) surface and Fe3C (001), with delphinine presenting the greatest adsorption with −104 kJ/mol and the ability to displace 2 water from the surface. UV–Vis spectroscopy showed a shift to lower wavelengths in peak positions, indicating stronger interactions between BTE molecules and Fe2+ ions. Cross-sectional FIB imaging confirmed the formation of Fe2+–BTE chelate layers on top of the corrosion products. As the temperature increased, the thickness of this protective layer grew from 215 nm to 406 nm, while the underlying corrosion layer decreased, highlighting improved protection at higher temperatures. 3D and cross-sectional CT showed a smoother surface of the inhibited sample, consistent with the dual action of BTE, adsorption and chelation.
{"title":"Effect of temperature on CO2 corrosion inhibition by black tea extract: A combined experimental and molecular modelling study","authors":"Ghada Shaban , Emad H. Bartawi , Martin P. Andersson , Rajan Ambat","doi":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101271","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101271","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The temperature impact on the inhibitory characteristics of black tea extract was examined in a 1 wt.% sodium chloride solution under CO<sub>2</sub> saturation. The evaluations were conducted in solutions with pH 5.5 at 20, 40, and 60 °C. The interaction of black tea extract (BTE) with L80-1Cr carbon steel, focusing on its adsorption and chelation properties, was examined using ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis), electrochemical measurements, and density functional theory (DFT) modelling. Additionally, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), computed tomography (CT) scans, focused ion beam (FIB) and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) were employed to study the morphology and cross-section of the film formed on the steel surface. BTE exhibited significantly improved corrosion inhibition properties with temperature, as a maximum polarization resistance of 800 Ω .cm<sup>2</sup> and a higher inhibition efficiency of 88 % was observed at 60 °C after 300 h of immersion. Moreover, the inhibition efficiency did not decrease over time; on the contrary, it showed a gradual increase. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations showed that various BTE components have a strong adsorption tendency on the Fe (110) surface and Fe<sub>3</sub>C (001), with delphinine presenting the greatest adsorption with −104 kJ/mol and the ability to displace 2 water from the surface. UV–Vis spectroscopy showed a shift to lower wavelengths in peak positions, indicating stronger interactions between BTE molecules and Fe<sup>2+</sup> ions. Cross-sectional FIB imaging confirmed the formation of Fe<sup>2+</sup>–BTE chelate layers on top of the corrosion products. As the temperature increased, the thickness of this protective layer grew from 215 nm to 406 nm, while the underlying corrosion layer decreased, highlighting improved protection at higher temperatures. 3D and cross-sectional CT showed a smoother surface of the inhibited sample, consistent with the dual action of BTE, adsorption and chelation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18322,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Sustainability","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 101271"},"PeriodicalIF":7.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145683100","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2025-12-16DOI: 10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101277
Sameer Algburi , Salah Sabeeh , Dima Khater , Hadi Hakami , Saiful Islam , Q. Alkhawlani
Seawater desalination demands membranes that couple high water throughput with tight salt rejection under gentle hydraulic conditions. This study reports electrostatic spray printing of dual charge covalent organic framework graphene active layers on porous supports for forward osmosis desalination of synthetic seawater. The printing route yields uniform films with thickness around 2.8 μm, structural parameter has value 85 × 10−4 m, and mean surface pore size 0.86 μm with BET area 112 m2 g−1. Under 1 M NaCl draw and 3.5 wt% feed at 25 °C, the optimized membrane achieves water flux 78 ± 2 L m−2 h−1 and reverse salt flux 0.8 ± 0.1 g m−2 h−1, while graphene only and covalent organic framework only controls reach 42 and 25 L m−2 h−1 with 1.2 and 2.1 g m−2 h−1 respectively. A random forest model trained on 45 fabrication and operation runs attains R2 of 0.92 and root mean square error 3.2 L m−2 h−1, and Shapley analysis highlights applied voltage, flow rate, and print layer count, with an optimum around 130 layers.
海水淡化要求膜在温和的水力条件下具有高的水通量和严格的排盐能力。本研究报道了在多孔载体上静电喷涂双电荷共价有机骨架石墨烯活性层用于合成海水正向渗透淡化。该工艺制备的薄膜厚度均匀，约为2.8 μm，结构参数为85 × 10−4 m，平均表面孔径为0.86 μm， BET面积为112 m2 g−1。下1 M氯化钠 画和3.5 wt %饲料在25岁 °C,优化膜达到水通量78 ±2 L M−−1和2 h反向盐通量 0.8±0.1 g M−2 h−1,而石墨烯仅和共价有机框架只控制达到42和25 L M−2 h与1.2和2.1 −1 g M−2 h−1分别。经过45次制造和操作运行训练的随机森林模型的R2为0.92，均方根误差为3.2 L m−2 h−1，Shapley分析强调了施加电压，流速和打印层数，最佳层数约为130层。
{"title":"Electrostatic spray printed dual charge covalent organic framework graphene membranes for seawater desalination","authors":"Sameer Algburi , Salah Sabeeh , Dima Khater , Hadi Hakami , Saiful Islam , Q. Alkhawlani","doi":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101277","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101277","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Seawater desalination demands membranes that couple high water throughput with tight salt rejection under gentle hydraulic conditions. This study reports electrostatic spray printing of dual charge covalent organic framework graphene active layers on porous supports for forward osmosis desalination of synthetic seawater. The printing route yields uniform films with thickness around 2.8 μm, structural parameter has value 85 × 10<sup>−4</sup> m, and mean surface pore size 0.86 μm with BET area 112 m<sup>2</sup> g<sup>−1</sup>. Under 1 M NaCl draw and 3.5 wt% feed at 25 °C, the optimized membrane achieves water flux 78 ± 2 L m<sup>−2</sup> h<sup>−1</sup> and reverse salt flux 0.8 ± 0.1 g m<sup>−2</sup> h<sup>−1</sup>, while graphene only and covalent organic framework only controls reach 42 and 25 L m<sup>−2</sup> h<sup>−1</sup> with 1.2 and 2.1 g m<sup>−2</sup> h<sup>−1</sup> respectively. A random forest model trained on 45 fabrication and operation runs attains R<sup>2</sup> of 0.92 and root mean square error 3.2 L m<sup>−2</sup> h<sup>−1</sup>, and Shapley analysis highlights applied voltage, flow rate, and print layer count, with an optimum around 130 layers.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18322,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Sustainability","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 101277"},"PeriodicalIF":7.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145925694","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2025-12-24DOI: 10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101287
Hesam Kamyab , Elham Khalili , Tayebeh Khademi , Ali Yuzir , Mohammad Mahdi Taheri , Saravanan Rajendran , Ana Belén Peñaherrera-Pazmiño
Green synthesis of nanoparticles (NPs) has garnered a considerable amount of attention lately due to its low production expenses, simplicity of manufacturing, safety, and environmental friendliness. It is a dependable method for creating a variety of nanostructures from fungal, plant, and bacterial extracts as well as hybrid materials, including metal salts. A viable and sustainable substitute for traditional synthesis methods is the green synthesis of NPs. According to recent research, NPs have very promising antiviral and antimicrobial capabilities. This article highlights the progress made in the green method for manufacturing NPs utilizing natural substances, including fruit juices, plant extracts, and other pertinent sources. A thorough understanding of these NPs' anticancer, antiviral, and antimicrobial abilities was presented. Numerous opportunities are presented by these NPs to combat potentially fatal viral and other antimicrobial diseases. This review provides readers with a grasp of the latest data and a variety of tactics for designing and developing advanced green nanomaterials using a more environmentally friendly approach. A summary is provided of the present difficulties, critical analysis, and prospects for the green synthesis of NPs as well as the potential for their innovative and successful investigation for biomedical applications.
{"title":"Advances in green synthesis of nanoparticles for biomedical applications: Antimicrobial, antiviral, and cancer therapies","authors":"Hesam Kamyab , Elham Khalili , Tayebeh Khademi , Ali Yuzir , Mohammad Mahdi Taheri , Saravanan Rajendran , Ana Belén Peñaherrera-Pazmiño","doi":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101287","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101287","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Green synthesis of nanoparticles (NPs) has garnered a considerable amount of attention lately due to its low production expenses, simplicity of manufacturing, safety, and environmental friendliness. It is a dependable method for creating a variety of nanostructures from fungal, plant, and bacterial extracts as well as hybrid materials, including metal salts. A viable and sustainable substitute for traditional synthesis methods is the green synthesis of NPs. According to recent research, NPs have very promising antiviral and antimicrobial capabilities. This article highlights the progress made in the green method for manufacturing NPs utilizing natural substances, including fruit juices, plant extracts, and other pertinent sources. A thorough understanding of these NPs' anticancer, antiviral, and antimicrobial abilities was presented. Numerous opportunities are presented by these NPs to combat potentially fatal viral and other antimicrobial diseases. This review provides readers with a grasp of the latest data and a variety of tactics for designing and developing advanced green nanomaterials using a more environmentally friendly approach. A summary is provided of the present difficulties, critical analysis, and prospects for the green synthesis of NPs as well as the potential for their innovative and successful investigation for biomedical applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18322,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Sustainability","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 101287"},"PeriodicalIF":7.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145925697","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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