Pub Date : 2025-12-22DOI: 10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101288
W.S.amadhi Fernando , Peter W. McDonald , Wei Sung Ng , George V. Franks , San H. Thang , Chris Ritchie
Amidst increasing environmental concerns and the limitations associated with conventional synthetic reagents, the advancement of sustainable and efficient alternatives has emerged as a significant priority in mineral processing applications. In the present study, a bio-molecule-based hydrophobic modifier was introduced as a previously unreported kaolinite collector for the froth flotation separation of kaolinite from calcite. Synthetic yttrium-loaded kaolinite (kaol-Y) was used in single mineral flotation tests, with yttrium serving as a proxy for rare earth elements (REEs). This approach aimed to assess the collector's effectiveness in ionic clay systems containing REEs. Spectroscopic techniques were used to analyze selective adsorption, while the selective aggregation of kaolinite under high shear conditions was evaluated using an image-derived particle size measuring technique, providing insights into particle aggregation under dynamic fluid environments. The impact of collector dosages on separation performance was systematically evaluated through lab-scale mechanical flotation cell experiments. The optimal dosage was determined to lie within the range of 0.2–0.4 % wt, resulting in a separation process that achieved over 90 % kaolinite recovery in the concentrate at a grade of 70 %, starting from a feed grade of 50 %. The pH-responsive nature of the collector facilitated the recovery of the reagent from the concentrate, effectively demonstrating a recycling strategy that provides a cost-effective and sustainable solution for kaolinite flotation. This approach, employing bio-inspired collectors, holds significant promise for ongoing advancements and further optimization in flotation processes.
{"title":"A pH-responsive flavylium surfactant as a recyclable hydrophobic modifier for selective aggregation and flotation of kaolinite","authors":"W.S.amadhi Fernando , Peter W. McDonald , Wei Sung Ng , George V. Franks , San H. Thang , Chris Ritchie","doi":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101288","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101288","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Amidst increasing environmental concerns and the limitations associated with conventional synthetic reagents, the advancement of sustainable and efficient alternatives has emerged as a significant priority in mineral processing applications. In the present study, a bio-molecule-based hydrophobic modifier was introduced as a previously unreported kaolinite collector for the froth flotation separation of kaolinite from calcite. Synthetic yttrium-loaded kaolinite (kaol-Y) was used in single mineral flotation tests, with yttrium serving as a proxy for rare earth elements (REEs). This approach aimed to assess the collector's effectiveness in ionic clay systems containing REEs. Spectroscopic techniques were used to analyze selective adsorption, while the selective aggregation of kaolinite under high shear conditions was evaluated using an image-derived particle size measuring technique, providing insights into particle aggregation under dynamic fluid environments. The impact of collector dosages on separation performance was systematically evaluated through lab-scale mechanical flotation cell experiments. The optimal dosage was determined to lie within the range of 0.2–0.4 % wt, resulting in a separation process that achieved over 90 % kaolinite recovery in the concentrate at a grade of 70 %, starting from a feed grade of 50 %. The pH-responsive nature of the collector facilitated the recovery of the reagent from the concentrate, effectively demonstrating a recycling strategy that provides a cost-effective and sustainable solution for kaolinite flotation. This approach, employing bio-inspired collectors, holds significant promise for ongoing advancements and further optimization in flotation processes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18322,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Sustainability","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 101288"},"PeriodicalIF":7.9,"publicationDate":"2025-12-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146022603","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 : 2025-12-22DOI: 10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101289
Denys Vidish , Soumyadeep Saha , Louis-Vincent Delumeau , Tristan Grovu , Kevin P. Musselman
The world is drowning in single-use-plastic waste. Compostable and recyclable alternatives to single-use flexible packaging exist but do not provide an adequate barrier to water-vapor and oxygen. We address this by using atmospheric-pressure spatial atomic layer deposition to apply Al2O3-ZnO nanolaminates on compostable polylactic acid (PLA) and recyclable polyethylene terephthalate (PET) films for flexible packaging. This industrially scalable coating is performed at 50 °C, preserving film integrity while enabling nanoscale control. The nanolaminate structure is found to enhance the bending resistance, improve the coating stability, and drastically reduce the water-vapor transmission rate (WVTR) and oxygen transmission rate (OTR). An optimized 8-stack Al2O3-ZnO nanolaminate that is ∼96 nm thick reduces the WVTR of PLA packaging film from ∼300 g m−2·24hr−1 to <0.5 g m−2·24hr−1 and its OTR from ∼1000 cm3 m−2·24hr−1 to <10 cm3 m−2·24hr−1 (both measured at 38oC and 90 % relative humidity), making it ideal for packaging air-sensitive goods. When the 8-stack nanolaminate is laminated between two PET films to form a simple packaging structure and is subjected to the harshest industry-standard Gelbo flex durability testing, it retains a WVTR <2 g m−2·24hr−1. These ultrathin coatings are well-positioned to meet recyclability and compostability standards, enabling a viable path to sustainable flex packaging.
世界正在被一次性塑料垃圾淹没。存在可堆肥和可回收的一次性软包装替代品，但不能提供足够的水蒸气和氧气屏障。我们利用常压空间原子层沉积技术将Al2O3-ZnO纳米层材料应用于可堆肥聚乳酸（PLA）和可回收聚对苯二甲酸乙二醇酯（PET）薄膜上，用于软包装。这种工业上可扩展的涂层在50 °C下进行，在保持薄膜完整性的同时实现纳米级控制。纳米层合结构增强了涂层的抗弯性能，提高了涂层的稳定性，并显著降低了水蒸气透过率（WVTR）和氧气透过率（OTR）。一个优化8-stack Al2O3-ZnO nanolaminate∼96 nm厚减少解放军包装膜的WVTR∼300 g −2·24 hr−1 & lt; 0.5 g m−2·24 hr−1及其工程从1000年∼ 立方厘米 m−2·24小时−1 & lt; 10 立方厘米 m−2·24小时−1(以38摄氏度和90年 %相对湿度),使其适合包装气敏商品。当8层纳米层压在两个PET薄膜之间形成简单的包装结构，并进行最严格的行业标准Gelbo弯曲耐久性测试时，它保持WVTR <；2 g m−2·24小时−1。这些超薄涂层很好地满足可回收性和可堆肥性标准，使可持续软包装成为可行的途径。
{"title":"Metal-oxide nanolaminate barrier coatings to enable large-scale manufacturing of sustainable flex packaging","authors":"Denys Vidish , Soumyadeep Saha , Louis-Vincent Delumeau , Tristan Grovu , Kevin P. Musselman","doi":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101289","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101289","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The world is drowning in single-use-plastic waste. Compostable and recyclable alternatives to single-use flexible packaging exist but do not provide an adequate barrier to water-vapor and oxygen. We address this by using atmospheric-pressure spatial atomic layer deposition to apply Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>-ZnO nanolaminates on compostable polylactic acid (PLA) and recyclable polyethylene terephthalate (PET) films for flexible packaging. This industrially scalable coating is performed at 50 °C, preserving film integrity while enabling nanoscale control. The nanolaminate structure is found to enhance the bending resistance, improve the coating stability, and drastically reduce the water-vapor transmission rate (WVTR) and oxygen transmission rate (OTR). An optimized 8-stack Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>-ZnO nanolaminate that is ∼96 nm thick reduces the WVTR of PLA packaging film from ∼300 g m<sup>−2</sup>·24hr<sup>−1</sup> to <0.5 g m<sup>−2</sup>·24hr<sup>−1</sup> and its OTR from ∼1000 cm<sup>3</sup> m<sup>−2</sup>·24hr<sup>−1</sup> to <10 cm<sup>3</sup> m<sup>−2</sup>·24hr<sup>−1</sup> (both measured at 38<sup>o</sup>C and 90 % relative humidity), making it ideal for packaging air-sensitive goods. When the 8-stack nanolaminate is laminated between two PET films to form a simple packaging structure and is subjected to the harshest industry-standard Gelbo flex durability testing, it retains a WVTR <2 g m<sup>−2</sup>·24hr<sup>−1</sup>. These ultrathin coatings are well-positioned to meet recyclability and compostability standards, enabling a viable path to sustainable flex packaging.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18322,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Sustainability","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 101289"},"PeriodicalIF":7.9,"publicationDate":"2025-12-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145925812","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}
Iron oxide nanoparticles were synthesized using NaOH, NaBH4, and Calpurnia aurea leaf extract as reducing agents. XRD analysis confirmed the formation of hematite nanoparticles with rhombohedral structure when using NaOH and NaBH4 as reducing agents, having the average crystallite size of 28.2287 and 21.86575 nm, respectively. The iron oxide nanoparticles synthesized using Calpurnia aurea leaf extract were maghemite with a cubic spinal structure having an average crystallite size of 21.69002, 21.09579, and 19.61541 nm with leaf extract to precursor ratios of 1:2, 1:1, and 2:1, respectively. The FT-IR analysis demonstrated the formation of Fe-O bonds between 460 and 550 cm−1 and around 570 cm−1 for hematite and maghemite nanoparticles, respectively. The optical band gap energy calculation from DRS analysis gave the indirect band gap energy of 1.32 and 1.14 eV and direct band gap energy of 1.62 and 1.55 eV for hematite nanoparticles synthesized using NaOH and NaBH4, respectively. For maghemite nanoparticles synthesized with the leaf extract, indirect band gap energies of 1.62, 1.57, and 1.66 eV and direct band gap energies of 2.09, 2.09, and 2.20 eV were calculated for leaf extract to precursor ratios of 1:2, 1:1, and 2:1, respectively. The TGA-DTA analysis confirmed the improved thermal stability of the maghemite nanoparticles synthesized using the leaf extract. The hematite nanoparticles synthesized with NaOH exhibited a total weight loss of 27.278 % with three different endothermic peaks at 89.95, 31.79, and 650.79 °C, while a weak endothermic peak was observed for hematite nanoparticles obtained using NaBH4 at 94.25 °C. For the maghemite nanoparticles synthesized using leaf extract, the maximum weight loss observed is 8.192 % at a ratio of 1:1, while there are no endothermic or exothermic peaks observed for the three ratios. From the BET analysis, surface areas of 31.082 and 27.113 m2/g were calculated for hematite nanoparticles synthesized with NaOH and NaBH4, respectively, and 45.998, 52.743, and 56.243 m2/g were calculated for maghemite nanoparticles synthesized with leaf extract to precursor ratios of 1:2, 1:1, and 2:1, respectively. The photocatalytic malachite green degradation experiment indicates 98.944, 98.902, and 97.930 % degradation efficiency at the optimized experimental parameters for maghemite nanoparticles synthesized with leaf extract and hematite nanoparticles synthesized with NaBH4 and NaOH, respectively. The degradation of malachite green with the three photocatalysts fits first-order kinetics.
{"title":"Enhancing the phase, thermal stability, band gap energy, and surface area of iron oxide nanoparticles by varying reducing agents and examining their efficacy in photocatalytic dye degradation","authors":"Gemechu Fikadu Aaga , Workineh Mengesha Fereja , Tsion Guta Bekele","doi":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101285","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101285","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Iron oxide nanoparticles were synthesized using NaOH, NaBH<sub>4</sub>, and <em>Calpurnia aurea</em> leaf extract as reducing agents. XRD analysis confirmed the formation of hematite nanoparticles with rhombohedral structure when using NaOH and NaBH<sub>4</sub> as reducing agents, having the average crystallite size of 28.2287 and 21.86575 nm, respectively. The iron oxide nanoparticles synthesized using <em>Calpurnia aurea</em> leaf extract were maghemite with a cubic spinal structure having an average crystallite size of 21.69002, 21.09579, and 19.61541 nm with leaf extract to precursor ratios of 1:2, 1:1, and 2:1, respectively. The FT-IR analysis demonstrated the formation of Fe-O bonds between 460 and 550 cm<sup>−1</sup> and around 570 cm<sup>−1</sup> for hematite and maghemite nanoparticles, respectively. The optical band gap energy calculation from DRS analysis gave the indirect band gap energy of 1.32 and 1.14 eV and direct band gap energy of 1.62 and 1.55 eV for hematite nanoparticles synthesized using NaOH and NaBH<sub>4</sub>, respectively. For maghemite nanoparticles synthesized with the leaf extract, indirect band gap energies of 1.62, 1.57, and 1.66 eV and direct band gap energies of 2.09, 2.09, and 2.20 eV were calculated for leaf extract to precursor ratios of 1:2, 1:1, and 2:1, respectively. The TGA-DTA analysis confirmed the improved thermal stability of the maghemite nanoparticles synthesized using the leaf extract. The hematite nanoparticles synthesized with NaOH exhibited a total weight loss of 27.278 % with three different endothermic peaks at 89.95, 31.79, and 650.79 °C, while a weak endothermic peak was observed for hematite nanoparticles obtained using NaBH<sub>4</sub> at 94.25 °C. For the maghemite nanoparticles synthesized using leaf extract, the maximum weight loss observed is 8.192 % at a ratio of 1:1, while there are no endothermic or exothermic peaks observed for the three ratios. From the BET analysis, surface areas of 31.082 and 27.113 m<sup>2</sup>/g were calculated for hematite nanoparticles synthesized with NaOH and NaBH<sub>4</sub>, respectively, and 45.998, 52.743, and 56.243 m<sup>2</sup>/g were calculated for maghemite nanoparticles synthesized with leaf extract to precursor ratios of 1:2, 1:1, and 2:1, respectively. The photocatalytic malachite green degradation experiment indicates 98.944, 98.902, and 97.930 % degradation efficiency at the optimized experimental parameters for maghemite nanoparticles synthesized with leaf extract and hematite nanoparticles synthesized with NaBH<sub>4</sub> and NaOH, respectively. The degradation of malachite green with the three photocatalysts fits first-order kinetics.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18322,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Sustainability","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 101285"},"PeriodicalIF":7.9,"publicationDate":"2025-12-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145925701","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 : 2025-12-21DOI: 10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101291
Muhammed Kallumottakkal , Rizwan A. Farade , Mohammad Jawaid , Mahmoud Al Ahmad , Noor Izzri Abdul Wahab , T.M. Yunus Khan , Abdul Saddique Shaik
Radio Frequency (RF) energy harvesting is a promising approach to convert ambient RF signals into electrical power suitable for low-energy devices. The exponential growth of the Internet of Things (IoT) has made long-term power solutions important research. This review discusses cutting-edge research on RF energy harvesting, particularly antenna design, which is crucial for maximizing energy efficiency. To deliver a structured analysis, antennas are categorized according to their frequency bands, ports, elements, and polarization modes. The performance metrics—gain, bandwidth, efficiency, and size—are evaluated and analysed in light of practical applications such as healthcare, IoT, mobile communication, and wearable systems. A design-application mapping table and wearable health monitoring case study demonstrate the technology's practicality. This review compares recent designs, discusses design trade-offs, analyses application-specific bottlenecks, and addresses issues related to fabrication challenges for body-worn and flexible systems. Moreover, promotes sustainability through decreased battery dependence, autonomous operation, and reduced electronic waste. Finally, outlines existing limitations and future works focusing on power conversion efficiency, bandwidth upgradability, dynamic range, and key controversies and technological breakthroughs. This paper further elaborates its findings to guide future antenna designs and system integration evolution towards sustainable RF energy harvesting applications for next-generation wireless and IoT applications.
{"title":"Radio frequency energy harvesting: A review on progress and development, applications, and sustainability benefits","authors":"Muhammed Kallumottakkal , Rizwan A. Farade , Mohammad Jawaid , Mahmoud Al Ahmad , Noor Izzri Abdul Wahab , T.M. Yunus Khan , Abdul Saddique Shaik","doi":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101291","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101291","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Radio Frequency (RF) energy harvesting is a promising approach to convert ambient RF signals into electrical power suitable for low-energy devices. The exponential growth of the Internet of Things (IoT) has made long-term power solutions important research. This review discusses cutting-edge research on RF energy harvesting, particularly antenna design, which is crucial for maximizing energy efficiency. To deliver a structured analysis, antennas are categorized according to their frequency bands, ports, elements, and polarization modes. The performance metrics—gain, bandwidth, efficiency, and size—are evaluated and analysed in light of practical applications such as healthcare, IoT, mobile communication, and wearable systems. A design-application mapping table and wearable health monitoring case study demonstrate the technology's practicality. This review compares recent designs, discusses design trade-offs, analyses application-specific bottlenecks, and addresses issues related to fabrication challenges for body-worn and flexible systems. Moreover, promotes sustainability through decreased battery dependence, autonomous operation, and reduced electronic waste. Finally, outlines existing limitations and future works focusing on power conversion efficiency, bandwidth upgradability, dynamic range, and key controversies and technological breakthroughs. This paper further elaborates its findings to guide future antenna designs and system integration evolution towards sustainable RF energy harvesting applications for next-generation wireless and IoT applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18322,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Sustainability","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 101291"},"PeriodicalIF":7.9,"publicationDate":"2025-12-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145976910","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 : 2025-12-21DOI: 10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101290
Pejman Heidarian , Shazed Aziz , Peter Halley , Tony McNally , Ton Peijs , Luigi-Jules Vandi , Russell J. Varley
The environmental impact of traditional petroleum-based plastics has driven the search for sustainable alternatives, with bio-based polyesters emerging as a promising solution. However, these polymers often suffer from insufficient mechanical properties, which limits their applications. To address this, self-reinforcement has been explored as an innovative approach to enhance the performance of bio-based polyesters. This review provides an overview of the recent advancements in self-reinforced bio-based polyesters, focusing on polymers such as poly(lactic acid) (PLA), polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), and poly(butylene succinate) (PBS). Different self-reinforcement techniques, such as electrospinning, melt spinning, and hot compaction are explored for their effectiveness in enhancing tensile strength, modulus, and overall durability. The review also discusses the integration of these materials into applications ranging from packaging to biomedical devices, where biodegradability and mechanical performance are critical. Furthermore, the paper explores the prospects of self-reinforced bio-based polyesters, emphasizing the need for continued innovation in material design and processing techniques to overcome current limitations.
{"title":"Self-reinforced bio-based polyesters: recent progress and prospects","authors":"Pejman Heidarian , Shazed Aziz , Peter Halley , Tony McNally , Ton Peijs , Luigi-Jules Vandi , Russell J. Varley","doi":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101290","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101290","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The environmental impact of traditional petroleum-based plastics has driven the search for sustainable alternatives, with bio-based polyesters emerging as a promising solution. However, these polymers often suffer from insufficient mechanical properties, which limits their applications. To address this, self-reinforcement has been explored as an innovative approach to enhance the performance of bio-based polyesters. This review provides an overview of the recent advancements in self-reinforced bio-based polyesters, focusing on polymers such as poly(lactic acid) (PLA), polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), and poly(butylene succinate) (PBS). Different self-reinforcement techniques, such as electrospinning, melt spinning, and hot compaction are explored for their effectiveness in enhancing tensile strength, modulus, and overall durability. The review also discusses the integration of these materials into applications ranging from packaging to biomedical devices, where biodegradability and mechanical performance are critical. Furthermore, the paper explores the prospects of self-reinforced bio-based polyesters, emphasizing the need for continued innovation in material design and processing techniques to overcome current limitations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18322,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Sustainability","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 101290"},"PeriodicalIF":7.9,"publicationDate":"2025-12-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145925811","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}
The growing demand for sustainable electrical and electronic technologies has accelerated the search for environmentally benign dielectric materials with high-performance characteristics suited for applications such as electromagnetic shielding, energy storage, and electroactive devices. In this work, a Naturally Extracted Dielectric (NED) material derived from cuttlefish bone was processed via lyophilization and thermal calcination at various temperatures to enhance structural consistency. Structural evolution from aragonite-based calcium carbonate to calcium oxide (CaO) was confirmed through X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Dielectric behavior and ion transport mechanisms were assessed using Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS). Among all samples, the material calcined at 750 °C (NED-750) demonstrated the best performance, exhibiting strong Maxwell–Wagner interfacial polarization, high permittivity at low-frequency, and a peak DC conductivity of 5.4 × 10−3 S/m. A reduction of 8.2 % in material density with increasing calcination temperature further indicated enhanced porosity and polarization sites. The correlation of structural data with dielectric response establishes a comprehensive framework for evaluating bio-derived ceramics. These results highlight NED as a promising candidate for next-generation, sustainable dielectric energy storage system and electronic device.
{"title":"Sustainable dielectric materials for energy storage: Processing, properties, and performance evaluation","authors":"Kiran Keshyagol , Shivashankarayya Hiremath , H.M. Vishwanatha , Pavan Hiremath","doi":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101281","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101281","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The growing demand for sustainable electrical and electronic technologies has accelerated the search for environmentally benign dielectric materials with high-performance characteristics suited for applications such as electromagnetic shielding, energy storage, and electroactive devices. In this work, a Naturally Extracted Dielectric (NED) material derived from cuttlefish bone was processed via lyophilization and thermal calcination at various temperatures to enhance structural consistency. Structural evolution from aragonite-based calcium carbonate to calcium oxide (CaO) was confirmed through X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Dielectric behavior and ion transport mechanisms were assessed using Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS). Among all samples, the material calcined at 750 °C (NED-750) demonstrated the best performance, exhibiting strong Maxwell–Wagner interfacial polarization, high permittivity at low-frequency, and a peak DC conductivity of 5.4 × 10<sup>−3</sup> S/m. A reduction of 8.2 % in material density with increasing calcination temperature further indicated enhanced porosity and polarization sites. The correlation of structural data with dielectric response establishes a comprehensive framework for evaluating bio-derived ceramics. These results highlight NED as a promising candidate for next-generation, sustainable dielectric energy storage system and electronic device.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18322,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Sustainability","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 101281"},"PeriodicalIF":7.9,"publicationDate":"2025-12-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145925696","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 : 2025-12-20DOI: 10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101282
Ammar Elsheikh , Ali Ali , Fadl A. Essa , Mohamed A.E. Omer , Mohamed G. Abou-Ali , Ninshu Ma
Hydrogen embrittlement (HE) poses a significant threat to the structural integrity and long-term reliability of its storage tanks, particularly in welded joints, where microstructural heterogeneities increase susceptibility. This review presents a comprehensive analysis of HE phenomena, emphasizing its critical role in material degradation. The paper begins by outlining the fundamentals of HE, describing how atomic hydrogen infiltrates metallic lattices, leading to loss of ductility and premature failure. Various HE mechanisms, including hydrogen-enhanced decohesion (HEDE), hydrogen-enhanced localized plasticity (HELP), and hydrogen-induced cracking (HIC), are discussed and classified based on their underlying physical principles. The susceptibility of commonly used storage tank materials, such as high-strength steels and aluminum alloys, is evaluated, with a focus on microstructural and compositional factors. Special attention is given to the welded regions, where residual stresses, grain boundary structures, and weld metal (WM) composition play a pivotal role in accelerating HE. The review also highlights key factors influencing HE in welded joints, including hydrogen diffusion pathways, welding processes, and post-weld treatments. Experimental methodologies, such as slow strain rate testing and thermal desorption analysis, are discussed alongside simulation approaches that model hydrogen diffusion and crack propagation. Finally, the paper outlines current mitigation strategies, including material selection, heat treatment, hydrogen barriers, and cathodic protection, offering insights into practical solutions for reducing HE risks in hydrogen storage systems. This review aims to guide future research and inform engineering practices for safer hydrogen infrastructure.
{"title":"Hydrogen embrittlement in storage tank materials and welded joints","authors":"Ammar Elsheikh , Ali Ali , Fadl A. Essa , Mohamed A.E. Omer , Mohamed G. Abou-Ali , Ninshu Ma","doi":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101282","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101282","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Hydrogen embrittlement (HE) poses a significant threat to the structural integrity and long-term reliability of its storage tanks, particularly in welded joints, where microstructural heterogeneities increase susceptibility. This review presents a comprehensive analysis of HE phenomena, emphasizing its critical role in material degradation. The paper begins by outlining the fundamentals of HE, describing how atomic hydrogen infiltrates metallic lattices, leading to loss of ductility and premature failure. Various HE mechanisms, including hydrogen-enhanced decohesion (HEDE), hydrogen-enhanced localized plasticity (HELP), and hydrogen-induced cracking (HIC), are discussed and classified based on their underlying physical principles. The susceptibility of commonly used storage tank materials, such as high-strength steels and aluminum alloys, is evaluated, with a focus on microstructural and compositional factors. Special attention is given to the welded regions, where residual stresses, grain boundary structures, and weld metal (WM) composition play a pivotal role in accelerating HE. The review also highlights key factors influencing HE in welded joints, including hydrogen diffusion pathways, welding processes, and post-weld treatments. Experimental methodologies, such as slow strain rate testing and thermal desorption analysis, are discussed alongside simulation approaches that model hydrogen diffusion and crack propagation. Finally, the paper outlines current mitigation strategies, including material selection, heat treatment, hydrogen barriers, and cathodic protection, offering insights into practical solutions for reducing HE risks in hydrogen storage systems. This review aims to guide future research and inform engineering practices for safer hydrogen infrastructure.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18322,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Sustainability","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 101282"},"PeriodicalIF":7.9,"publicationDate":"2025-12-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145925601","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 : 2025-12-17DOI: 10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101279
Zahra Maghazeh, Virginia Signorini, Marco Giacinti Baschetti
Bio-based polymers have recently emerged as a promising alternative to conventional materials for carbon dioxide (CO2) separation, offering a sustainable and environmentally friendly approach to mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. This review explores recent advancements in the design and application of bio-based polymeric membranes for CO2 capture, focusing on their structural properties, separation performance, and scalability. The unique characteristics of bio-based polymers, including tunable functional groups, high processability, and biocompatibility, make them highly suitable for selective CO2 separation in various industrial applications, provided that key challenges such as improving permeability-selectivity trade-off and enhancing chemical stability under harsh conditions, are properly addressed. Additionally, the integration of bio-based polymers with other advanced materials, including nanocomposites and hybrid membranes, is examined as a strategy to further enhance separation efficiency. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of bio-based polymers in membrane technologies for CO2 separation, highlighting both their potential and the technical challenges that need to be addressed for large-scale implementation.
{"title":"The use of biobased polymeric materials as membrane technologies for CO2 capture and separation: a review","authors":"Zahra Maghazeh, Virginia Signorini, Marco Giacinti Baschetti","doi":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101279","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101279","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Bio-based polymers have recently emerged as a promising alternative to conventional materials for carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) separation, offering a sustainable and environmentally friendly approach to mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. This review explores recent advancements in the design and application of bio-based polymeric membranes for CO<sub>2</sub> capture, focusing on their structural properties, separation performance, and scalability. The unique characteristics of bio-based polymers, including tunable functional groups, high processability, and biocompatibility, make them highly suitable for selective CO<sub>2</sub> separation in various industrial applications, provided that key challenges such as improving permeability-selectivity trade-off and enhancing chemical stability under harsh conditions, are properly addressed. Additionally, the integration of bio-based polymers with other advanced materials, including nanocomposites and hybrid membranes, is examined as a strategy to further enhance separation efficiency. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of bio-based polymers in membrane technologies for CO<sub>2</sub> separation, highlighting both their potential and the technical challenges that need to be addressed for large-scale implementation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18322,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Sustainability","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 101279"},"PeriodicalIF":7.9,"publicationDate":"2025-12-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145925810","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 : 2025-12-17DOI: 10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101280
Mohsen Saeidi , Amir Hossein Aghaii , Kaivan Mohammadi , Farzaneh Shayeganfar , Jing Bai , Abdolreza Simchi
Alkaline water electrolysis (AWE) remains limited by sluggish reaction kinetics, high overpotentials, and insufficient catalyst stability. Here, we introduce an engineered hierarchical electrocatalyst in which (B, P, S)-modulated Fe–Ni–Co layered double hydroxides (LDHs) are grown on 3D-printed 316L stainless-steel microarrays with an interface of nickel nanocones (NC) to maximize active surface area and enhance mass transport. Density functional theory indicates that boron substitution at Fe sites balances oxygen-evolution reaction (OER) intermediate binding energies, creating a fully downhill free-energy profile and reducing the OER barrier. Phosphorus incorporation on Ni sites tunes the hydrogen adsorption energy toward near-thermoneutral values, optimizing hydrogen-evolution reaction (HER) kinetics. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirms strong interfacial interactions, reduced oxygen vacancies, and optimized metal–anion bonding, facilitating enhanced charge transfer. The optimized asymmetric electrolyzer delivers 500 mA cm−2 at 1.93 V with Faradaic efficiencies exceeding 79 %, demonstrating a scalable route to efficient and durable AWE.
碱性电解（AWE）仍然受到反应动力学缓慢，高过电位和催化剂稳定性不足的限制。在这里，我们介绍了一种工程级联电催化剂，其中（B， P， S）调制的Fe-Ni-Co层状双氢氧化物（LDHs）生长在3d打印的316L不锈钢微阵列上，该微阵列具有镍纳米锥（NC）界面，以最大化活性表面积并增强质量传输。密度泛函理论表明，Fe位点的硼取代平衡了析氧反应（OER）的中间结合能，形成了一个完全下坡的自由能分布，并降低了OER势垒。磷在Ni位点的结合调整了氢的吸附能接近热中性值，优化了析氢反应动力学。x射线光电子能谱证实了强的界面相互作用，减少了氧空位，优化了金属-阴离子键，促进了电荷转移。优化后的不对称电解槽在1.93 V下输出500 mA cm−2 ，法拉第效率超过79 %，展示了高效和持久的AWE的可扩展路线。
{"title":"Tuning overall water dissociation performance in Fe–Ni–Co layered hydroxides via S, P, and B doping: Experimental and theoretical study","authors":"Mohsen Saeidi , Amir Hossein Aghaii , Kaivan Mohammadi , Farzaneh Shayeganfar , Jing Bai , Abdolreza Simchi","doi":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101280","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101280","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Alkaline water electrolysis (AWE) remains limited by sluggish reaction kinetics, high overpotentials, and insufficient catalyst stability. Here, we introduce an engineered hierarchical electrocatalyst in which (B, P, S)-modulated Fe–Ni–Co layered double hydroxides (LDHs) are grown on 3D-printed 316L stainless-steel microarrays with an interface of nickel nanocones (NC) to maximize active surface area and enhance mass transport. Density functional theory indicates that boron substitution at Fe sites balances oxygen-evolution reaction (OER) intermediate binding energies, creating a fully downhill free-energy profile and reducing the OER barrier. Phosphorus incorporation on Ni sites tunes the hydrogen adsorption energy toward near-thermoneutral values, optimizing hydrogen-evolution reaction (HER) kinetics. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirms strong interfacial interactions, reduced oxygen vacancies, and optimized metal–anion bonding, facilitating enhanced charge transfer. The optimized asymmetric electrolyzer delivers 500 mA cm<sup>−2</sup> at 1.93 V with Faradaic efficiencies exceeding 79 %, demonstrating a scalable route to efficient and durable AWE.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18322,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Sustainability","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 101280"},"PeriodicalIF":7.9,"publicationDate":"2025-12-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145925693","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 : 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":"2025-12-16","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}
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