Sustainable Materials and Technologies最新文献

In recent years, the demand for energy storage devices with high-performance has propelled intense research efforts toward the development of promising supercapacitors. Among various electrode material, vanadium pentoxide (V₂O₅) has gained significant interest due to its excellent electrochemical properties. For the application of energy storage, V₂O₅ has intrinsic low electrical conductivity and limited cycle stability, makes its practical application limited. To overcome these challenges, the integration of V₂O₅ with metal-organic framework (MOF) nanocomposites has emerged as a promising strategy. This study focuses on the synthesis, characterization, and electrochemical analysis of V₂O₅ with zeolitic imidazolate framework-67 (ZIF-67) nanocomposites for supercapacitor applications. The V₂O₅@ZIF-67 hybrid material has been prepared by a simple in-situ chemical method. The XRD pattern of V₂O₅@ZIF 67 nanocomposites illustrate the combination of V₂O₅ with ZIF 67, as well as the subsequent growth of two phases without any modification to the parent. Within a potential window of 0 to 0.45 V, the synthesised V₂O₅@ZIF-67 in the three-electrode system exhibits a high specific capacitance of 913.06 F g⁻¹ at a current density of 6 A g⁻¹. The fabricated asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC) device delivers a superior energy density of 9.69 Wh kg⁻¹ and power density of 2187.5 W kg⁻¹.

The improved abstract which especially take the suggestions above can be seen as follow:

This study addresses the challenge of pathogen regulation in confined spaces by introducing the T-robot, an innovative air filtration robot featuring the F-MAX multilayer composite plate. Designed to capture a wide range of pollutants, including harmful viruses and bacteria, the T-robot significantly enhances air quality. The experimental setup used magnesium phosphate cement, electrostatically charged melt-blown fabric, and eco-friendly materials such as lithium brine by-product magnesia. Key results include a virus removal rate of 99.99% and an antibacterial rate of 98%.

The F-MAX system combines multiple layers, each targeting specific particles, with features like the self-healing Desert Rose (DR) coating and high-speed air circulation. The T-robot's high filtration efficiency and sustainable design make it superior to traditional methods, suitable for both commercial and residential use. Its durability and advanced filtration capabilities help reduce airborne contaminants, creating healthier living spaces and demonstrating a commitment to a sustainable future.

On islands distant from the mainland, obtaining raw materials for concrete production is often more challenging. To achieve sustainable development in island reef engineering, using discarded marine concrete and coral waste generated during island construction as recycled aggregates are of considerable significance. The preparation of Recycled Coral Aggregate Concrete (RCAC) for island reef engineering thus holds substantial importance. In this study, RCAC and Natural Aggregate Concrete (NAC), both designed with a compressive strength of C60, were prepared. Initially, the fundamental physical properties of the recycled coarse aggregate, such as apparent density, water absorption, and crushing index, were determined. Subsequently, a comparative analysis of the quasi-static mechanical properties of RCAC with varying proportions of recycled coral coarse aggregate (RCCA) was conducted. Furthermore, the impact compression mechanical properties of different RCAC specimens under various strain rates were examined using the Ф100mm Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB) apparatus. The microstructure and long-term drying shrinkage performance of RCAC were also analyzed using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and a drying shrinkage apparatus. The finding indicated that the 28-day compressive strength of RCAC specimens with 100% coarse aggregate replacement reached a maximum of 62.4 MPa. The quasi-static compressive strength of RCAC specimens with 50% and 100% RCCA replacement was only 11.5% and 14.2% lower than that of NAC, respectively. Under impact loading, the dynamic compressive strength of RCAC specimens increased with the strain rate, with peak stress exhibiting an approximately linear relationship with the strain rate. The energy dissipation of RCAC specimens generally occurred in three stages, with the reflected and absorbed energies of the specimens increasing linearly with strain rate. At the same strain rate, the transmitted energy of RCAC specimens was higher than that of NAC specimens. Microstructural analysis revealed that the morphology of recycled coral aggregate is characterized by its porous and rough surface. The interfacial transition zone between the recycled coral aggregate and the cement mortar was relatively dense. Incorporating recycled coarse aggregate significantly affected the drying shrinkage properties of the concrete, with higher contents of RCCA leading to greater drying shrinkage rates.

The white pollution caused by non-degradable plastics poses a serious threat to human society and the environment, thus developing biodegradable material is urgent. In this work, a novel phosphonitrile hybrid metal-polyphenol network was constructed and used for the preparation of flame retardant, UV resistant and antibacterial multifunctional polyvinyl alcohol composite (PVA@HCPD-Ag). The limiting oxygen index (LOI) value of PVA@HCPD-Ag was improved to 33.5%, while the peak heat release rate (PHRR) and total heat release (THR) decreased by 35.62% and 47.76%. Besides, the ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) value of PVA@HCPD-Ag was significantly improved from 4.63 of the original PVA to 482.79, while the tensile strength was increased by 10.23%. Furthermore, the inhibition efficacy of PVA@HCPD-Ag for E. coli and S. aureus was up to 98.12% and 99.99%. This work explored the synergistic flame retardant effect of in-situ reduced Ag⁰ and phosphonitrile crosslinked polyphenol network and proposed an advanced strategy for developing high value-added functionalized PVA materials.

Amid increasing concerns over microplastic pollution and the persistence of nonbiodegradable polymers in the ocean, this study evaluates the biodegradability of polybutylene succinate (PBS)-based fishing gear under different conditions: pristine PBS fibers, PBS fibers utilized in fishing (PBS_used), and PBS fibers blended with 10% polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA). By simulating compost and marine–sediment interface environments with reference to ISO 14855 and ISO 19679 standards, respectively, we aimed not only to assess the degradation performance of these fibers but also to examine the physical and chemical property changes pre and postdegradation. PBS, PBS_used, and PBS/PHA (9:1) fibers exhibited degradation rates of 31.9%, 35.5%, and 39.5% in compost environments, and 20.3%, 22.1%, and 25.9% at the seawater–sediment interface, respectively. Through comprehensive physicochemical analyses involving molecular weight measurement, field emission–scanning electron microscope, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, tensile property evaluation, and thermogravimetric analysis, the degradation behavior of PBS-based fibers depending on the degradation environment was compared. This study suggests that PBS-based fishing gear can biodegrade under various conditions encountered in the actual fishing sector, thereby preventing ghost fishing and mitigating the issue of abandoned, lost, or otherwise discarded fishing gear.

Developing efficient, stable, and low-cost metal electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is significant for clean energy conversion technology. Regulating the adsorption energy of H intermediates by modulating the electronic structure of the active sites of the electrocatalyst for approximating the equilibrium potential is of primality importance to overcoming the kinetic sluggishness of the HER, yet still represents a great challenge. Herein, we have reported a NiCo alloy electrocatalyst supported by an N-doped carbon dodecahedral substrate with a strong electron coupling between the NiCo alloy and NC to improve the obstacles of both activity and stability for HER. Benefiting from the above electron coupling effect, the Ni₁Co₂/NC catalyst exhibits enhanced HER activity and stability in an acid electrolyte. Specifically, the Ni₁Co₂/NC exhibits enhanced acid HER activity with a low overpotential of 114.7 mV at 10 mA cm⁻² and robust stability with negligible activity decay after 5000 cycles, which are superior to its counterpart. Theoretical calculations revealed that the electron coupling between the NiCo alloy and NC could effectively moderate the electronic states of NiCo alloy, dramatically decreasing the free energy for H adsorption and leading to optimal adsorption/desorption of *H, thereby promoting the overall HER kinetics. This study provides a new perspective on constructing catalysts of HER with low-cost, well-designed structures and superior performance for clean energy conversion technology.

The use of fluorinated gases (F-Gases) in the refrigeration industry is subjected to increasingly restricted laws, such as the F-Gas regulation 517/2014 in Europe, due to their high global warming potential (GWP). Currently, there is a lack of standardized recovery technologies, so most of the F-gases used to be incinerated at the end of their life cycle. This is contrary to the principles of circular economy and development of sustainable processes, which should consider the recycling of these gases. The difficult separation of F-Gases blends might have a solution on the use of Deep Eutectic Solvents (DES) as green absorbents. In this work, the performance of a DES was assessed for the recovery of pentafluoroethane (R-125) and difluoromethane (R-32) from the commercial refrigerant R-410A combining a dual approach based on the experimental measurement of the F-Gases absorption in the DES and on process simulation using Aspen Plus. The environmental impacts of the designed recovery process (circular economy scenario) were examined using a life cycle assessment (LCA) approach and it was compared to the environmental impacts of the industrial manufacture of R-125 (lineal economy scenario). In comparison to the conventional R-125 production, the results of the proposed recovery process revealed a significant reduction in the environmental impacts between 92 and 99% with a recovery of R-125 of 76.7%, acceptable for its further reuse (purity of 98% w/w). The results of this work could pave the way for developing innovative F-Gases recovery technologies using DES, which can contribute to reduce the environmental impacts of these compounds via circular economy strategies.

Photoelectrocatalyst materials catalyze chemical reactions using solar light and an electric field. They have garnered interest due to their potential for sustainable energy conversion and environmental applications. Photoelectrocatalysts have demonstrated moderate magnetic properties, making them potential candidates for practical applications. This review aims to highlight various methods of synthesis, functionalization, and environmental applications of photoelectrocatalysts. The present work also describes different methods for synthesizing photoelectrocatalysts such as sol-gel, hydrothermal/solvothermal, chemical vapour deposition, electrochemical methods, thermal decomposition, chemical bath deposition, co-precipitation, impregnation, and heat treatment. Furthermore, various characterization techniques such as TEM, SEM, STM, XRD, PL, XPS, ET, EIS, BET, RS, ESR, etc., have been summarized and discussed. To enhance the properties and applications of photoelectrocatalysts, functionalization has also been discussed. Additionally, numerous uses such as water splitting, photocatalysis, environmental remediation, carbon dioxide reduction, energy storage, sensor technology, water purification, biomedical applications, etc., have been explored, covering a broad range of fields, and highlighting the versatility of photoelectrocatalysts across various sectors. Likewise, various experimental factors that affect the structure-property relationship of the materials have also been elaborated. Furthermore, challenges and future suggestions have been discussed in the concluding section to provide guidance for researchers. Given its simplicity and conciseness, it is hoped that this review will be equally helpful for researchers and academics interested in the field of photoelectrocatalysts.

In this study, carbon cloth (CC) was enrobed with a TiO₂ layer (CC@TiO₂) and then decorated with poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT, CC@TiO₂-PEDOT). The XRD, Raman, XPS, and EDS results confirmed the successful preparation of the targeted materials, and SEM images revealed the targeted morphology. According to the UV–vis and PL analysis, the CC@TiO₂-PEDOT exhibits wide and strong photoabsorption across the UV–vis spectrum, and the photogenerated charge carriers have a long lifespan and low recombination rate. The photocatalytic assessment revealed that CC@TiO₂-PEDOT was more efficient than CC@TiO₂ and CC@PEDOT in degrading both benzotriazole and 2-hydroxybenzothiazole. However, 2-hydroxybenzothiazole was more stable than benzotriazole. The superoxide anion radicals, holes, and/or hydroxyl radicals of CC@TiO₂-PEDOT played pivotal roles in the photocatalytic degradation of benzotriazole. After the photocatalytic process, the benzotriazole solution was safe to use. The CC@TiO₂ and CC@TiO₂-PEDOT exhibited a superior performance as a potential cathode for vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs) and effectively mitigated the parasitic influence of the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). CC@TiO₂ and CC@TiO₂-PEDOT displayed significantly smaller peak separation of 94 and 62 mV, at a scan rate of 5 mV/s, respectively, and a higher suppression for HER compared to CC or CC@PEDOT. The performance of the CC@TiO₂ and CC@TiO₂-PEDOT electrodes manifests their high reversibility for the V(II)/V(III) redox reaction. This research underscores the multifaceted potential of CC@TiO₂-PEDOT as a promising material for addressing water purification challenges and advancing VRFBs for sustainable energy applications.

Compared with traditional binary ion electrolytes, single-ion electrolytes have higher ion migration number and can avoid concentration polarization. In this work, single proton hydrogel electrolytes were prepared by one-step free radical polymerization of acrylamide and 2-acrylaminoamido-2-methyl-1-propane sulfonic acid in ethylene glycol (EG)/water binary solvent. The electrolyte possesses good mechanical strength and excellent anti-freezing ability. A high conductivity of 1.28 mS cm⁻¹ at −40 °C is achieved by adjusting monomer ratio and EG content. The proton hopping along the ion channel formed by the anionic polymer chain and the Grotthuss transport are responsible for the high conductivity. An extremely high ion migration number of 0.87 is obtained. The fixed anionic group endows the hydrogel electrolyte with good anticorrosion ability. The hydrogel electrolyte assembled supercapacitor (SC) exhibits excellent electrochemical performance in a wide temperature range from −40 °C to 60 °C and can be stored at −30 °C for 10 months without capacitance attenuation. The capacitance retention rate of the SC is as high as 92% after 15,000 cycles at both room temperature and − 40 °C. The single proton hydrogel electrolyte provides a new route for the further development of storage device based proton transport.