Pub Date : 2025-12-01DOI: 10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101255
Hao Cheng , Hongyan Du , Chuanping Liu , Kefu Zhang , Fenghua Ba
Phosphorus is essential for crop growth and energy transfer in plants. However, its excessive use leads to water pollution, making the effective removal and recovery of phosphate critically important. To optimize phosphate adsorption efficiency and enable resource utilization, this study synthesized a zirconium (Zr)-modified calcium silicate hydrate (CSH) adsorbent using fly ash as the raw material through a hydrothermal method. The interlayer-rich hydrated Ca2+ in CSH facilitates rapid adsorption via ion exchange, while Zr doping enhances the selectivity and reusability of phosphate adsorption. The maximum adsorption capacity reached 49.83 mg P/g under optimal adsorption conditions at a Zr:Ca molar ratio of 1.25, with an adsorption rate exceeding 99 %. Furthermore, the adsorption mechanism was elucidated through kinetic, isotherm, and thermodynamic analyses, mainly containing ligand exchange between layers and electrostatic interactions. This study not only advances green chemistry in pollution control and resource conservation but also provides innovative insights for the development of environmental industries within the context of carbon neutrality. It offers a novel approach for designing phosphate adsorbents and promotes sustainable practices in environmental management.
{"title":"Highly efficient removal of phosphate by mesoporous Zr-modified calcium silicate hydrate from fly ash","authors":"Hao Cheng , Hongyan Du , Chuanping Liu , Kefu Zhang , Fenghua Ba","doi":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101255","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101255","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Phosphorus is essential for crop growth and energy transfer in plants. However, its excessive use leads to water pollution, making the effective removal and recovery of phosphate critically important. To optimize phosphate adsorption efficiency and enable resource utilization, this study synthesized a zirconium (Zr)-modified calcium silicate hydrate (CSH) adsorbent using fly ash as the raw material through a hydrothermal method. The interlayer-rich hydrated Ca<sup>2+</sup> in CSH facilitates rapid adsorption via ion exchange, while Zr doping enhances the selectivity and reusability of phosphate adsorption. The maximum adsorption capacity reached 49.83 mg P/g under optimal adsorption conditions at a Zr:Ca molar ratio of 1.25, with an adsorption rate exceeding 99 %. Furthermore, the adsorption mechanism was elucidated through kinetic, isotherm, and thermodynamic analyses, mainly containing ligand exchange between layers and electrostatic interactions. This study not only advances green chemistry in pollution control and resource conservation but also provides innovative insights for the development of environmental industries within the context of carbon neutrality. It offers a novel approach for designing phosphate adsorbents and promotes sustainable practices in environmental management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18322,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Sustainability","volume":"32 ","pages":"Article 101255"},"PeriodicalIF":7.9,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145620073","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 : 2025-12-01DOI: 10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101261
Nourman Barakat , Lukas Fischer
Catalytic membranes with leaching-resistant noble metals offer promise for continuous oxidative water purification, but their adoption is hampered by inefficient catalyst utilization and poorly understood reaction mechanisms. Here, we present the in situ synthesis of entangled particle-polymer complexes within the casting solution to fabricate polyethersulfone membranes with pore-confined ultrasmall noble metal nanoparticles. This all-in-one approach maximizes catalyst utilization by achieving pore surface confinement of nanoparticles in near-quantitative yields. By combining thermodynamic, kinetic, and radical probe analyses, we reveal the catalytic mechanisms of pore-confined Ag, Au, Ru, and Pd in degrading ofloxacin via peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation in a realistic water matrix. We further introduce a novel mechanistic model for catalytic pollutant remediation in complex environments, providing a fundamental advance for rational catalyst design. Going beyond conventional models, our model integrates several key catalyst parameters into a single quantitative rate equation: thermodynamic reactivity of active species, catalytic rate constant, PMS affinity, and interference by water matrix components. Furthermore, a unique dual radical/non-radical PMS activation pathway was identified for pore-confined Pd, promoting a catalytic turnover frequency an order of magnitude higher than those of catalytic membranes reported in the literature. The Pd-decorated membrane also drastically outperformed comparable systems for continuous water treatment under environmentally-relevant conditions: it achieved complete flow-through degradation (1.2 s residence time) of 10 μg L−1 ofloxacin in an ionic matrix at neutral pH to below the predicted no-effect concentration (<26 ng L−1), maintaining this single-pass removal over 80 h (28 000 L m−2 volume) flow operation without any metal leaching.
含有抗浸出贵金属的催化膜为连续氧化水净化提供了希望，但由于催化剂利用效率低下和对反应机理的了解不足，其应用受到阻碍。在这里，我们提出了在铸造溶液中原位合成纠缠粒子-聚合物配合物，以制造具有孔限制的超小贵金属纳米颗粒的聚醚砜膜。这种一体化的方法通过实现纳米颗粒的孔表面限制，以接近定量的产量最大化催化剂的利用率。通过结合热力学、动力学和自由基探针分析，我们揭示了孔隙限制的Ag、Au、Ru和Pd在现实水基质中通过过氧单硫酸盐（PMS）活化降解氧氟沙星的催化机理。我们进一步介绍了复杂环境下催化污染物修复的一种新的机制模型，为合理设计催化剂提供了基础。超越传统模型，我们的模型将几个关键的催化剂参数集成到一个单一的定量速率方程中：活性物质的热力学反应性、催化速率常数、PMS亲和性和水基质组分的干扰。此外，我们还发现了一种独特的双自由基/非自由基PMS激活途径，使孔限制Pd的催化转换频率比文献报道的催化膜高一个数量级。Pd-decorated膜也大大优于同类environmentally-relevant条件下连续水处理系统:它实现完整的材料退化(1.2 停留时间)10 μg L−1氧氟沙星在离子矩阵在中性pH值低于预测浓度没有影响(& lt; 26 ng L−1),维持这种单程删除超过80 h(28 000 L m−2卷)流操作没有任何金属浸出。
{"title":"Catalytic membranes with integrated pore-confinement of ultrasmall noble metal nanoparticles: Realizing pollutant degradation in complex water matrices","authors":"Nourman Barakat , Lukas Fischer","doi":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101261","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101261","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Catalytic membranes with leaching-resistant noble metals offer promise for continuous oxidative water purification, but their adoption is hampered by inefficient catalyst utilization and poorly understood reaction mechanisms. Here, we present the <em>in situ</em> synthesis of entangled particle-polymer complexes within the casting solution to fabricate polyethersulfone membranes with pore-confined ultrasmall noble metal nanoparticles. This <em>all-in-one</em> approach maximizes catalyst utilization by achieving pore surface confinement of nanoparticles in near-quantitative yields. By combining thermodynamic, kinetic, and radical probe analyses, we reveal the catalytic mechanisms of pore-confined Ag, Au, Ru, and Pd in degrading ofloxacin via peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation in a realistic water matrix. We further introduce a novel mechanistic model for catalytic pollutant remediation in complex environments, providing a fundamental advance for rational catalyst design. Going beyond conventional models, our model integrates several key catalyst parameters into a single quantitative rate equation: thermodynamic reactivity of active species, catalytic rate constant, PMS affinity, and interference by water matrix components. Furthermore, a unique dual radical/non-radical PMS activation pathway was identified for pore-confined Pd, promoting a catalytic turnover frequency an order of magnitude higher than those of catalytic membranes reported in the literature. The Pd-decorated membrane also drastically outperformed comparable systems for continuous water treatment under environmentally-relevant conditions: it achieved complete flow-through degradation (1.2 s residence time) of 10 μg L<sup>−1</sup> ofloxacin in an ionic matrix at neutral pH to below the predicted no-effect concentration (<26 ng L<sup>−1</sup>), maintaining this single-pass removal over 80 h (28 000 L m<sup>−2</sup> volume) flow operation without any metal leaching.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18322,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Sustainability","volume":"32 ","pages":"Article 101261"},"PeriodicalIF":7.9,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145619935","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 construction practices has promoted interest in the adoption of low-carbon materials for pavement infrastructure. Engineered geopolymer binders have emerged as a promising and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional cementitious binders in soil stabilization, offering reduced carbon emissions, while maintaining comparable mechanical properties. This study investigates the feasibility of using two-part geopolymer stabilized recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) and recycled glass (RG) mixtures in sustainable pavement construction. In this regard, RCA and RG were blended in different proportions and stabilized with alkali-activated fly ash (FA), slag (S), and a binary precursor of (FA+S) at a fixed 50:50 ratio for pavements. The effects of RCA/RG proportion, precursor type and dosage, and curing regime on geopolymer stabilized RCA/RG mixtures were investigated by performing unconfined compressive strength (UCS). The optimum geopolymer stabilized RCA/RG mixtures were further characterized for their resilient modulus and flexural performance through conducting repeated loaded triaxial (RLT) and four-point bending tests. The microstructure of geopolymer stabilized RCA/RG samples were studied scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to understand the reinforcing mechanisms for strength gain. The test results suggested that increasing the RG content led to a decrease in the strength of the geopolymer stabilized RCA/RG mixtures. In contrast, increasing the precursor dosages generally resulted higher UCS values of the stabilized RCA/RG mixtures. Overall, FA geopolymer stabilized RCA/RG mixtures had lower UCS compared to S and (FA+S) geopolymer stabilized RCA/RG mixtures. Most of S and (FA+S) geopolymer stabilized RCA/RG mixtures complied the minimum UCS requirement of 3 MPa stipulated by the local road authority, expect for few stabilized RCA/RG mixtures with addition of 5% precursor dosage. Both curing time and temperature play a critical role influencing the strength development of the geopolymer stabilized RCA/RG mixtures. The RLT and four-point bending test results demonstrated that the addition of RG decreased the resilient modulus and fatigue performance of the geopolymer stabilized RCA/RG mixtures. The findings of this study highlight the potential of geopolymer stabilized RCA/RG mixtures as greener construction materials for pavement structures.
{"title":"Flexural fatigue behavior of low-carbon pavement materials using geopolymer stabilized recycled concrete and recycled glass blends","authors":"Dulanja Dayaratne, Youli Lin, Farshid Maghool, Arul Arulrajah, Muditha Senanayake","doi":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101269","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101269","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The growing demand for sustainable construction practices has promoted interest in the adoption of low-carbon materials for pavement infrastructure. Engineered geopolymer binders have emerged as a promising and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional cementitious binders in soil stabilization, offering reduced carbon emissions, while maintaining comparable mechanical properties. This study investigates the feasibility of using two-part geopolymer stabilized recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) and recycled glass (RG) mixtures in sustainable pavement construction. In this regard, RCA and RG were blended in different proportions and stabilized with alkali-activated fly ash (FA), slag (S), and a binary precursor of (FA+S) at a fixed 50:50 ratio for pavements. The effects of RCA/RG proportion, precursor type and dosage, and curing regime on geopolymer stabilized RCA/RG mixtures were investigated by performing unconfined compressive strength (UCS). The optimum geopolymer stabilized RCA/RG mixtures were further characterized for their resilient modulus and flexural performance through conducting repeated loaded triaxial (RLT) and four-point bending tests. The microstructure of geopolymer stabilized RCA/RG samples were studied scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to understand the reinforcing mechanisms for strength gain. The test results suggested that increasing the RG content led to a decrease in the strength of the geopolymer stabilized RCA/RG mixtures. In contrast, increasing the precursor dosages generally resulted higher UCS values of the stabilized RCA/RG mixtures. Overall, FA geopolymer stabilized RCA/RG mixtures had lower UCS compared to S and (FA+S) geopolymer stabilized RCA/RG mixtures. Most of S and (FA+S) geopolymer stabilized RCA/RG mixtures complied the minimum UCS requirement of 3 MPa stipulated by the local road authority, expect for few stabilized RCA/RG mixtures with addition of 5% precursor dosage. Both curing time and temperature play a critical role influencing the strength development of the geopolymer stabilized RCA/RG mixtures. The RLT and four-point bending test results demonstrated that the addition of RG decreased the resilient modulus and fatigue performance of the geopolymer stabilized RCA/RG mixtures. The findings of this study highlight the potential of geopolymer stabilized RCA/RG mixtures as greener construction materials for pavement structures.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18322,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Sustainability","volume":"32 ","pages":"Article 101269"},"PeriodicalIF":7.9,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145620078","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 : 2025-12-01DOI: 10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101264
Maha Awjan Alreshidi , Krishna Kumar Yadav , Amel Gacem , S. Padmanabhan , S. Ganesan , S. Mahalingam , T. Vinod Kumar , P. Saravanan , Kamal Y. Thajudeen , Ahmed M. Fallatah , Mohammed Muqtader Ahmed , G. Shoba , C. Kavitha , P. Tamizhdurai , Mohammad Khalid
In today's dynamic energy landscape, the shift toward sustainable sources is more urgent than ever. Among emerging solutions, green hydrogen stands out especially for hard-to-decarbonize sectors like transportation and aviation. Sustainable hydrogen originates by electrolysis through renewable energy, providing a zero-carbon substitute for conventional hydrogen, which is primarily generated by carbon-intensive steam methane reforming. Hydrogen's unique properties such as a high energy-to-weight ratio and compatibility with existing infrastructure make it more than just a clean fuel. It represents a paradigm shift in how energy is produced, stored, and used. According to the authoritative International Energy Agency (IEA), by 2040, worldwide consumption of energy could increase by as much as 30 %. Considering this prerequisite with fossil fuels would only worsen climate change, making green hydrogen not just viable but essential. Despite its promise, challenges persist. Safety concerns around hydrogen's flammability have been addressed through modern handling protocols However, its low volumetric energy density presents storage and transportation issues—particularly in aerospace. Encouragingly, technological advancements in high-pressure tanks, cryogenic systems, and solid-state hydrogen carriers are enhancing feasibility and safety.
This review examines the potential and challenges of green hydrogen, with a focus on its application in aviation. It highlights advances in fuel cells, liquefaction, and hydrogen storage that enhance efficiency and safety. Hydrogen-powered aircraft prototypes show projected emission cuts of 50–75 % compared to conventional jet fuels. The review identifies key challenges—scaling infrastructure, reducing costs, and regulatory alignment—and proposes solutions including investment incentives and global safety standards. It also outlines future research directions in materials, hybrid propulsion, and life-cycle assessment, reinforcing green hydrogen's role in sustainable aviation.
{"title":"Zero-emission transportation and aviation through green hydrogen innovation","authors":"Maha Awjan Alreshidi , Krishna Kumar Yadav , Amel Gacem , S. Padmanabhan , S. Ganesan , S. Mahalingam , T. Vinod Kumar , P. Saravanan , Kamal Y. Thajudeen , Ahmed M. Fallatah , Mohammed Muqtader Ahmed , G. Shoba , C. Kavitha , P. Tamizhdurai , Mohammad Khalid","doi":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101264","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101264","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In today's dynamic energy landscape, the shift toward sustainable sources is more urgent than ever. Among emerging solutions, green hydrogen stands out especially for hard-to-decarbonize sectors like transportation and aviation<strong>.</strong> Sustainable hydrogen originates by electrolysis through renewable energy, providing a zero-carbon substitute for conventional hydrogen, which is primarily generated by carbon-intensive steam methane reforming<strong>.</strong> Hydrogen's unique properties such as a high energy-to-weight ratio and compatibility with existing infrastructure make it more than just a clean fuel. It represents a paradigm shift in how energy is produced, stored, and used. According to the authoritative International Energy Agency (IEA), by 2040, worldwide consumption of energy could increase by as much as 30 %. Considering this prerequisite with fossil fuels would only worsen climate change, making green hydrogen not just viable but essential. Despite its promise, challenges persist. Safety concerns around hydrogen's flammability have been addressed through modern handling protocols However, its low volumetric energy density presents storage and transportation issues—particularly in aerospace. Encouragingly, technological advancements in high-pressure tanks, cryogenic systems, and solid-state hydrogen carriers are enhancing feasibility and safety.</div><div>This review examines the potential and challenges of green hydrogen, with a focus on its application in aviation. It highlights advances in fuel cells, liquefaction, and hydrogen storage that enhance efficiency and safety. Hydrogen-powered aircraft prototypes show projected emission cuts of 50–75 % compared to conventional jet fuels. The review identifies key challenges—scaling infrastructure, reducing costs, and regulatory alignment—and proposes solutions including investment incentives and global safety standards. It also outlines future research directions in materials, hybrid propulsion, and life-cycle assessment, reinforcing green hydrogen's role in sustainable aviation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18322,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Sustainability","volume":"32 ","pages":"Article 101264"},"PeriodicalIF":7.9,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145620077","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 : 2025-12-01DOI: 10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101263
Alessandro Gottuso , Marcin Kobielusz , Wojciech Macyk , Michele Fedel , Francesco Parrino
The photocatalytic oxidative cleavage of olefins represents a sustainable route to carbonyl compounds under mild conditions and with high atom economy. While in photocatalytic domains nitrate radicals have emerged as effective mediators for this transformation, current methodologies rely on stoichiometric silver ions as sacrificial electron scavengers, a limitation that compromises cost-efficiency and environmental sustainability. In this work, we demonstrate the selective oxidative cleavage of styrene using an electro-assisted photocatalytic (EA@PC) system, wherein an externally applied bias replaces the function of silver, enabling in situ nitrate radical generation without the need for sacrificial reagents. This strategy achieves comparable efficiency to silver-based systems while mitigating their drawbacks, representing a more scalable and environmentally compatible platform for nitrate radical-mediated oxidative transformations and advancing the practical applicability of heterogeneous photocatalysis in synthetic chemistry.
{"title":"Advancing nitrate radical chemistry through electro-assisted photocatalytic cleavage of olefins","authors":"Alessandro Gottuso , Marcin Kobielusz , Wojciech Macyk , Michele Fedel , Francesco Parrino","doi":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101263","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101263","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The photocatalytic oxidative cleavage of olefins represents a sustainable route to carbonyl compounds under mild conditions and with high atom economy. While in photocatalytic domains nitrate radicals have emerged as effective mediators for this transformation, current methodologies rely on stoichiometric silver ions as sacrificial electron scavengers, a limitation that compromises cost-efficiency and environmental sustainability. In this work, we demonstrate the selective oxidative cleavage of styrene using an electro-assisted photocatalytic (EA@PC) system, wherein an externally applied bias replaces the function of silver, enabling in situ nitrate radical generation without the need for sacrificial reagents. This strategy achieves comparable efficiency to silver-based systems while mitigating their drawbacks, representing a more scalable and environmentally compatible platform for nitrate radical-mediated oxidative transformations and advancing the practical applicability of heterogeneous photocatalysis in synthetic chemistry.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18322,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Sustainability","volume":"32 ","pages":"Article 101263"},"PeriodicalIF":7.9,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145620076","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 : 2025-11-30DOI: 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":"2025-11-30","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 : 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":"2025-11-29","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}
Over the last two decades, graphene and its derivatives based fascinating materials have been exploited in the synthesis of multifunctional polymer nanocomposites (PNCs) derived from various polymer matrices including elastomers, thermoplastics, thermosets, biopolymers, and conducting polymers have been extensively demonstrated. This review provides an in-depth discussion of the recent developments and perspectives of graphene-derived multifunctional PNCs for application in electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding devices. In the first part of the review, the synthesis routes of graphene and its derivatives have been discussed in detail. Later, different processing methods of graphene-derived PNCs have also been discussed. Furthermore, the review discusses the primary EMI shielding mechanism and key parameters that define the EMI shielding effectiveness (SE) of graphene-based PNCs. Besides, the review also highlights key parameters such as the type of polymer matrix, nanofiller type and concentration, sample thickness, and grain size that need to be considered for advancing the EMI shielding properties of PNCs. Finally, the review provides insight into the factors influencing the EMI SE values of PNCs and discusses the challenges and future perspectives for developing a new generation of shielding materials.
{"title":"Graphene and its derivatives based polymer nanocomposites for electromagnetic interference shielding applications: A comprehensive review","authors":"Kalim Deshmukh , Tomáš Kovářík , Mayank Pandey , Priyanka Rani , Vinay Deep Punetha , S.K. Khadheer Pasha , Kishor Kumar Sadasivuni","doi":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101256","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101256","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Over the last two decades, graphene and its derivatives based fascinating materials have been exploited in the synthesis of multifunctional polymer nanocomposites (PNCs) derived from various polymer matrices including elastomers, thermoplastics, thermosets, biopolymers, and conducting polymers have been extensively demonstrated. This review provides an in-depth discussion of the recent developments and perspectives of graphene-derived multifunctional PNCs for application in electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding devices. In the first part of the review, the synthesis routes of graphene and its derivatives have been discussed in detail. Later, different processing methods of graphene-derived PNCs have also been discussed. Furthermore, the review discusses the primary EMI shielding mechanism and key parameters that define the EMI shielding effectiveness (SE) of graphene-based PNCs. Besides, the review also highlights key parameters such as the type of polymer matrix, nanofiller type and concentration, sample thickness, and grain size that need to be considered for advancing the EMI shielding properties of PNCs. Finally, the review provides insight into the factors influencing the EMI SE values of PNCs and discusses the challenges and future perspectives for developing a new generation of shielding materials.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18322,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Sustainability","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 101256"},"PeriodicalIF":7.9,"publicationDate":"2025-11-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145645676","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 : 2025-11-19DOI: 10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101259
Rehan M. El-Shabasy , Ahmed Zayed , Mohamed A. Farag , Kamel R. Shoueir
Graphene and graphene-based nanomaterials have gained remarkable attention owing to their outstanding physicochemical characteristics and versatile functional properties. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview that integrates graphene production, comparing chemical versus green synthesis routes from waste materials, with a discussion of their potential health-related applications. Top-down and bottom-up synthetic approaches, along with several industrial routes, are discussed. The bottom-up method remains the most efficient for high-quality graphene production; however, scale-up limitations, batch-to-batch variability, and cost-effective industrial scalability continue to represent major research challenges. Sustainability metrics (E-factor, energy consumption, and solvent footprint) are essential for a complete evaluation of few-layer graphene (FLG) synthesis routes. Increasing global focus has shifted toward sustainable, eco-friendly production routes. In this context, the upcycling of plastic waste into value-added products such as graphene represents a promising and environmentally sound strategy for large-scale production. FLG and graphene quantum dots (GQDs) have demonstrated considerable potential in biomedical applications including drug delivery, tissue engineering, biosensing, bioimaging, antiviral, and anticancer therapy. However, these applications are largely preclinical, and translation to clinical practice remains limited by variability in material quality, incomplete long-term toxicity and immunogenicity data, and challenges in achieving scalable, GMP-compliant production. The global graphene market is also reviewed, revealing that most commercially available graphene-based materials are applied in energy storage, electronics, and sports composites, whereas biomedical applications remain underrepresented. Addressing these translational barriers through standardized synthesis, thorough safety evaluation, and regulatory harmonization will be essential to fully realize the biomedical potential of graphene, and future research should focus on scalable green production, detailed in vivo safety studies, and clinical translation of graphene-based therapeutics.
{"title":"Green synthesis of relevant and sustainable bio-applications of few-layer graphene: A multi-faceted review and future perspectives","authors":"Rehan M. El-Shabasy , Ahmed Zayed , Mohamed A. Farag , Kamel R. Shoueir","doi":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101259","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101259","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Graphene and graphene-based nanomaterials have gained remarkable attention owing to their outstanding physicochemical characteristics and versatile functional properties. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview that integrates graphene production, comparing chemical versus green synthesis routes from waste materials, with a discussion of their potential health-related applications. Top-down and bottom-up synthetic approaches, along with several industrial routes, are discussed. The bottom-up method remains the most efficient for high-quality graphene production; however, scale-up limitations, batch-to-batch variability, and cost-effective industrial scalability continue to represent major research challenges. Sustainability metrics (E-factor, energy consumption, and solvent footprint) are essential for a complete evaluation of few-layer graphene (FLG) synthesis routes. Increasing global focus has shifted toward sustainable, eco-friendly production routes. In this context, the upcycling of plastic waste into value-added products such as graphene represents a promising and environmentally sound strategy for large-scale production. FLG and graphene quantum dots (GQDs) have demonstrated considerable potential in biomedical applications including drug delivery, tissue engineering, biosensing, bioimaging, antiviral, and anticancer therapy. However, these applications are largely preclinical, and translation to clinical practice remains limited by variability in material quality, incomplete long-term toxicity and immunogenicity data, and challenges in achieving scalable, GMP-compliant production. The global graphene market is also reviewed, revealing that most commercially available graphene-based materials are applied in energy storage, electronics, and sports composites, whereas biomedical applications remain underrepresented. Addressing these translational barriers through standardized synthesis, thorough safety evaluation, and regulatory harmonization will be essential to fully realize the biomedical potential of graphene, and future research should focus on scalable green production, detailed <em>in vivo</em> safety studies, and clinical translation of graphene-based therapeutics.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18322,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Sustainability","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 101259"},"PeriodicalIF":7.9,"publicationDate":"2025-11-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145645568","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 : 2025-11-07DOI: 10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101252
Md Naimur Rahman, Md Alamgir Hossain
Ferrite materials have attracted significant attention due to their tunable structural and magnetic properties, making them highly promising for modern technological applications. Transition metals play a crucial role in spinel ferrites, serving either as dopants or as primary divalent cations, and thus strongly influence their performance. Despite extensive studies, a systematic framework that links transition-metal incorporation to magnetic applications using modern synthesis methods and combined structural and magnetic property analysis is still limited. This review highlights several modern synthesis methodologies and emphasizes the relationship between structural and magnetic properties of transition-metal spinel ferrites, drawing insights from X-ray diffraction (XRD) and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM). Structural parameters, such as lattice constant, crystallite size, dislocation density, unit cell volume, and hopping length, provide insight into structural stability, bond geometry, and structural ordering. Similarly, magnetic parameters, including remanent and saturation magnetization, squareness ratio, coercivity, magnetic moment, and anisotropy, reflect domain stability, magnetic domain structure, and magnetic ordering. Reduced structural stability and altered bond geometry generally favor soft magnetic states (superparamagnetic, paramagnetic, diamagnetic, antiferromagnetic), whereas enhanced stability supports hard magnetic states (ferromagnetic, ferrimagnetic). Notably, transition-metal doping improves both structural and magnetic properties, broadening the potential of spinel ferrites for next-generation technological applications.
{"title":"Transition metal based spinel ferrites: a review","authors":"Md Naimur Rahman, Md Alamgir Hossain","doi":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101252","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101252","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ferrite materials have attracted significant attention due to their tunable structural and magnetic properties, making them highly promising for modern technological applications. Transition metals play a crucial role in spinel ferrites, serving either as dopants or as primary divalent cations, and thus strongly influence their performance. Despite extensive studies, a systematic framework that links transition-metal incorporation to magnetic applications using modern synthesis methods and combined structural and magnetic property analysis is still limited. This review highlights several modern synthesis methodologies and emphasizes the relationship between structural and magnetic properties of transition-metal spinel ferrites, drawing insights from X-ray diffraction (XRD) and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM). Structural parameters, such as lattice constant, crystallite size, dislocation density, unit cell volume, and hopping length, provide insight into structural stability, bond geometry, and structural ordering. Similarly, magnetic parameters, including remanent and saturation magnetization, squareness ratio, coercivity, magnetic moment, and anisotropy, reflect domain stability, magnetic domain structure, and magnetic ordering. Reduced structural stability and altered bond geometry generally favor soft magnetic states (superparamagnetic, paramagnetic, diamagnetic, antiferromagnetic), whereas enhanced stability supports hard magnetic states (ferromagnetic, ferrimagnetic). Notably, transition-metal doping improves both structural and magnetic properties, broadening the potential of spinel ferrites for next-generation technological applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18322,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Sustainability","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 101252"},"PeriodicalIF":7.9,"publicationDate":"2025-11-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145683102","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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