Pub Date : 2026-01-22DOI: 10.1016/j.susmat.2026.e01890
Xinlin Ma , Zengyuan Fan , Meng Liu , Yuhan Cui , Hai Ni , Yunpeng Wu , Qiushi Sun , Bin Fu , Jiawei Wang
The massive disposal of medical masks during the COVID−19 pandemic poses serious environmental challenges, highlighting the need for sustainable recycling strategies. Herein, we report a synergistic sulfonation–ball milling activation–carbonization route, to transform waste polypropylene masks into sulfur−doped hierarchical porous carbons with controllable pore structure and heteroatom incorporation. The optimized sample (SPMM−B0.5−700) delivers a high specific surface area of 601.6 m2 g−1, abundant mesopores, and enriched heteroatom functionalities. Benefiting from the combined effects of enhanced sulfur doping and regulated hierarchical porosity, it achieves a remarkable capacitance of 353 F g−1 at 1 A g−1 in a three−electrode system and 122.6 F g−1 at 1 A g−1 in a symmetric supercapacitor, along with an energy density of 33.4 Wh kg−1 and excellent cycling stability over 10000 cycles. This research not only provides a sustainable solution for medical waste management, but also demonstrates the potential of upcycled carbon materials in energy storage applications.
在COVID - 19大流行期间，医用口罩的大量处置构成了严重的环境挑战，凸显了可持续回收战略的必要性。在此，我们报告了一种协同磺化-球磨活化-碳化路线，将废弃聚丙烯掩膜转化为具有可控孔结构和杂原子掺入的硫掺杂分层多孔碳。优化后的样品（SPMM - B0.5 - 700）具有601.6 m2 g - 1的高比表面积，丰富的介孔和丰富的杂原子功能。得益于增强硫掺杂和调节分层孔隙率的综合效应，该材料在三电极体系中在1ag−1时达到353 F g−1，在对称超级电容器中在1ag−1时达到122.6 F g−1，能量密度为33.4 Wh kg−1，并且在10000次循环中具有出色的循环稳定性。该研究不仅为医疗废物管理提供了可持续的解决方案，而且展示了升级再生碳材料在储能应用中的潜力。
{"title":"From medical waste to energy storage: Sulfonation−ball−milling derived porous carbon from waste masks for high−performance supercapacitors","authors":"Xinlin Ma , Zengyuan Fan , Meng Liu , Yuhan Cui , Hai Ni , Yunpeng Wu , Qiushi Sun , Bin Fu , Jiawei Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.susmat.2026.e01890","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.susmat.2026.e01890","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The massive disposal of medical masks during the COVID−19 pandemic poses serious environmental challenges, highlighting the need for sustainable recycling strategies. Herein, we report a synergistic sulfonation–ball milling activation–carbonization route, to transform waste polypropylene masks into sulfur−doped hierarchical porous carbons with controllable pore structure and heteroatom incorporation. The optimized sample (SPMM−B0.5−700) delivers a high specific surface area of 601.6 m<sup>2</sup> g<sup>−1</sup>, abundant mesopores, and enriched heteroatom functionalities. Benefiting from the combined effects of enhanced sulfur doping and regulated hierarchical porosity, it achieves a remarkable capacitance of 353 F g<sup>−1</sup> at 1 A g<sup>−1</sup> in a three−electrode system and 122.6 F g<sup>−1</sup> at 1 A g<sup>−1</sup> in a symmetric supercapacitor, along with an energy density of 33.4 Wh kg<sup>−1</sup> and excellent cycling stability over 10000 cycles. This research not only provides a sustainable solution for medical waste management, but also demonstrates the potential of upcycled carbon materials in energy storage applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":22097,"journal":{"name":"Sustainable Materials and Technologies","volume":"47 ","pages":"Article e01890"},"PeriodicalIF":9.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146077623","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
SrFeO3 is a perovskite-type mixed oxide with the general formula ABO3, well known for its distinctive structural features, including oxygen vacancies and the unusual oxidation states of iron. These characteristics impart high ionic mobility, tunable electronic conductivity, and excellent redox flexibility, making SrFeO3 highly suitable for diverse catalytic and energy-related applications. In this study, a sustainable approach is demonstrated for the recovery of iron values from iron ore slimes, which are then utilized to synthesize SrFeO3 nanoplates through an eco-friendly method. The resulting SrFeO3 exhibits remarkable electrocatalytic activity towards urea electrolysis, requiring a low overpotential of 1.57 V and showing a small Tafel slope of 29 mV dec−1, indicative of fast reaction kinetics. In addition, the catalyst displays excellent durability for up to 18 h, confirming its robustness under prolonged electrochemical operation. Such performance parameters highlight the material's potential to significantly reduce the energy demand of urea oxidation, thereby enhancing the overall efficiency of urea-assisted electrolysis systems. The development of this waste-derived catalytic material aligns with global efforts to promote sustainable and environmentally responsible technologies. By converting low-value waste into high-value functional oxides, the work supports waste-to-wealth strategies while contributing to cleaner chemical synthesis and greener energy production. Overall, the study not only establishes a practical route for utilizing industrial waste but also demonstrates the potential of SrFeO3 nanostructures as efficient electrocatalysts, advancing the broader goals of pollution reduction, resource circularity, and sustainable energy development.
{"title":"Efficient urea oxidation from strontium ferrite nanostructures synthesized using iron recovered from waste iron ore slime","authors":"Sapna Devi , Sunaina , Sushma Kumari , Kritika Sood , Santanu Sarkar , Pratik Swarup Dash , Menaka Jha","doi":"10.1016/j.susmat.2026.e01889","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.susmat.2026.e01889","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>SrFeO<sub>3</sub> is a perovskite-type mixed oxide with the general formula ABO<sub>3</sub>, well known for its distinctive structural features, including oxygen vacancies and the unusual oxidation states of iron. These characteristics impart high ionic mobility, tunable electronic conductivity, and excellent redox flexibility, making SrFeO<sub>3</sub> highly suitable for diverse catalytic and energy-related applications. In this study, a sustainable approach is demonstrated for the recovery of iron values from iron ore slimes, which are then utilized to synthesize SrFeO<sub>3</sub> nanoplates through an eco-friendly method. The resulting SrFeO<sub>3</sub> exhibits remarkable electrocatalytic activity towards urea electrolysis, requiring a low overpotential of 1.57 V and showing a small Tafel slope of 29 mV dec<sup>−1</sup>, indicative of fast reaction kinetics. In addition, the catalyst displays excellent durability for up to 18 h, confirming its robustness under prolonged electrochemical operation. Such performance parameters highlight the material's potential to significantly reduce the energy demand of urea oxidation, thereby enhancing the overall efficiency of urea-assisted electrolysis systems. The development of this waste-derived catalytic material aligns with global efforts to promote sustainable and environmentally responsible technologies. By converting low-value waste into high-value functional oxides, the work supports waste-to-wealth strategies while contributing to cleaner chemical synthesis and greener energy production. Overall, the study not only establishes a practical route for utilizing industrial waste but also demonstrates the potential of SrFeO<sub>3</sub> nanostructures as efficient electrocatalysts, advancing the broader goals of pollution reduction, resource circularity, and sustainable energy development.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":22097,"journal":{"name":"Sustainable Materials and Technologies","volume":"47 ","pages":"Article e01889"},"PeriodicalIF":9.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146077621","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-21DOI: 10.1016/j.susmat.2026.e01892
Ubaid Ullah Jan , Kiruthika Mariappan , Subramanian Sakthinathan , Te-Wei Chiu , Yu-Han Tsai , Muhammad Sheraz Ahmad , Arshid Numan , Chao-Lin Liu , Ching-Lung Chen
In recent years, MXenes have emerged as promising materials for eco-friendly electrochemical nitrate reduction and nitrogen fixation in nitrogen reduction reactions (NRR). MXene possesses high hydrophilicity, large specific surface area, excellent electrical conductivity, and numerous active sites, making it a suitable candidate for catalytic applications. These features support functionalization and enhancement methods, including the integration of co-catalysts and the formation of MXene-based composites and hybrids. Notably, MXene–metal composite catalysts have been reported to achieve Faradaic efficiencies exceeding 95%, underscoring their strong industrial potential for efficient electrochemical nitrate reduction. MXene-based nitrate reduction presents challenges related to scalability, stability, and industrial integration, as well as an unclear structure-activity relationship that affects catalytic performance. Improving selectivity, faradaic efficiency, and nitrate conversion rates remains crucial, while deeper insights into reaction mechanisms and active sites are needed for optimized performance. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the properties, synthesis methods, and applications of MXene-based materials in electrochemical nitrate reduction and nitrogen reduction reactions, focusing on their roles as catalysts. Additionally, current challenges and future directions for sustainable nitrogen-based fuel production are discussed in detail. This work aims to offer valuable insights into the strategic design of MXene catalyst for ENR and NRR. The review also examines the impact of MXene structure, including layer spacing, surface termination, and edge chemistry, on enhancing electrocatalytic efficiency. A particular emphasis is placed on the synthesis of 2D and 3D Mxene metal composite, as well as single-atom catalysts (SACs), which enhance performance by creating highly active and selective sites for ENR. These advances have improved conversion rates and selectivity for desired products, such as NH₃ and N₂. The review examines NO₃− reduction, particularly ENR, using MXene catalysts, analyzing important reaction pathways, intermediates, and reaction rate parameters. Furthermore, the review also discusses how various experimental conditions, such as pH, applied potential, and nitrate concentration, influence the reaction rate and desired product distribution. The final section identifies the challenges and future directions for the ENR, particularly in scaling up the synthesis of MXene-based materials and achieving greater control over product selectivity for industrial applications. Improving the efficiency and selectivity of NO3 to clean nitrogenous fuel conversion will be critical for realizing the potential of MXenes in sustainable energy technologies.
{"title":"MXene-based catalysts for electrochemical nitrate and nitrogen reduction: A review toward sustainable nitrogenous fuels","authors":"Ubaid Ullah Jan , Kiruthika Mariappan , Subramanian Sakthinathan , Te-Wei Chiu , Yu-Han Tsai , Muhammad Sheraz Ahmad , Arshid Numan , Chao-Lin Liu , Ching-Lung Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.susmat.2026.e01892","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.susmat.2026.e01892","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In recent years, MXenes have emerged as promising materials for eco-friendly electrochemical nitrate reduction and nitrogen fixation in nitrogen reduction reactions (NRR). MXene possesses high hydrophilicity, large specific surface area, excellent electrical conductivity, and numerous active sites, making it a suitable candidate for catalytic applications. These features support functionalization and enhancement methods, including the integration of co-catalysts and the formation of MXene-based composites and hybrids. Notably, MXene–metal composite catalysts have been reported to achieve Faradaic efficiencies exceeding 95%, underscoring their strong industrial potential for efficient electrochemical nitrate reduction. MXene-based nitrate reduction presents challenges related to scalability, stability, and industrial integration, as well as an unclear structure-activity relationship that affects catalytic performance. Improving selectivity, faradaic efficiency, and nitrate conversion rates remains crucial, while deeper insights into reaction mechanisms and active sites are needed for optimized performance. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the properties, synthesis methods, and applications of MXene-based materials in electrochemical nitrate reduction and nitrogen reduction reactions, focusing on their roles as catalysts. Additionally, current challenges and future directions for sustainable nitrogen-based fuel production are discussed in detail. This work aims to offer valuable insights into the strategic design of MXene catalyst for ENR and NRR. The review also examines the impact of MXene structure, including layer spacing, surface termination, and edge chemistry, on enhancing electrocatalytic efficiency. A particular emphasis is placed on the synthesis of 2D and 3D Mxene metal composite, as well as single-atom catalysts (SACs), which enhance performance by creating highly active and selective sites for ENR. These advances have improved conversion rates and selectivity for desired products, such as NH₃ and N₂. The review examines NO₃<sup>−</sup> reduction, particularly ENR, using MXene catalysts, analyzing important reaction pathways, intermediates, and reaction rate parameters. Furthermore, the review also discusses how various experimental conditions, such as pH, applied potential, and nitrate concentration, influence the reaction rate and desired product distribution. The final section identifies the challenges and future directions for the ENR, particularly in scaling up the synthesis of MXene-based materials and achieving greater control over product selectivity for industrial applications. Improving the efficiency and selectivity of NO<sub>3</sub> to clean nitrogenous fuel conversion will be critical for realizing the potential of MXenes in sustainable energy technologies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":22097,"journal":{"name":"Sustainable Materials and Technologies","volume":"47 ","pages":"Article e01892"},"PeriodicalIF":9.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146037572","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-21DOI: 10.1016/j.susmat.2026.e01891
Shuang Jia , Rongtian Li , Shihao Liang , Bo Zhang , Tianyang Sun , Xingsheng Li , Xihan Zhuang , Guanhua Jin , Dan Sun , Haiyan Wang
As a key component enabling the commercialization of SIBs, hard carbon anodes have attracted extensive interest. The promise of SIBs is anchored in their cost advantage, which necessitates the development of electrode materials through cost-effective routes. Biomass is abundant and low-cost, serve as ideal precursors for hard carbon anodes. In this work, commercial walnut shell biochar was used as the starting material to synthesize hard carbon through simple acid washing and thermal treatment. Structural analysis shows that the obtained hard carbon possesses a relatively large interlayer spacing and well-developed closed pore structure with a diameter of 2.22 nm. The material HHC1300 exhibits a reversible sodium storage capacity of 287.41 mAh g−1 and an ICE of 89.38%. Notably, the low-voltage plateau region contributes about 70% of the total capacity. These performance metrics exceed those of commercial hard carbon and most laboratory-reported hard carbons derived from lignocellulosic biomass. Furthermore, due to the intrinsically low ash content of the precursor, samples carbonized directly without acid washing can still achieve an ICE of 88.91%. This study demonstrates that incorporating mature industrial carbonization processes into hard carbon fabrication is an effective strategy, paving a practical route toward low-cost, high-performance electrode materials for scalable SIB production.
硬碳阳极作为sib商业化的关键组成部分，引起了人们的广泛关注。sib的前景取决于其成本优势，这就需要通过具有成本效益的途径开发电极材料。生物质资源丰富，成本低，是硬碳阳极的理想前体。本研究以商品核桃壳生物炭为原料，通过简单的酸洗和热处理合成硬碳。结构分析表明，制备的硬碳具有较大的层间距和发育良好的闭孔结构，孔径为2.22 nm。材料HHC1300的可逆钠存储容量为287.41 mAh g−1，ICE为89.38%。值得注意的是，低压高原地区贡献了约70%的总容量。这些性能指标超过了商业硬碳和大多数实验室报告的来自木质纤维素生物质的硬碳。此外，由于前驱体本身灰分含量较低，不经酸洗直接碳化的样品仍可达到88.91%的ICE。该研究表明，将成熟的工业碳化工艺纳入硬碳制造是一种有效的策略，为可扩展的SIB生产的低成本，高性能电极材料铺平了实际途径。
{"title":"Investigating sodium storage behavior in hard carbon directly fabricated from industrial biochar precursors","authors":"Shuang Jia , Rongtian Li , Shihao Liang , Bo Zhang , Tianyang Sun , Xingsheng Li , Xihan Zhuang , Guanhua Jin , Dan Sun , Haiyan Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.susmat.2026.e01891","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.susmat.2026.e01891","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>As a key component enabling the commercialization of SIBs, hard carbon anodes have attracted extensive interest. The promise of SIBs is anchored in their cost advantage, which necessitates the development of electrode materials through cost-effective routes. Biomass is abundant and low-cost, serve as ideal precursors for hard carbon anodes. In this work, commercial walnut shell biochar was used as the starting material to synthesize hard carbon through simple acid washing and thermal treatment. Structural analysis shows that the obtained hard carbon possesses a relatively large interlayer spacing and well-developed closed pore structure with a diameter of 2.22 nm. The material HHC1300 exhibits a reversible sodium storage capacity of 287.41 mAh g<sup>−1</sup> and an ICE of 89.38%. Notably, the low-voltage plateau region contributes about 70% of the total capacity. These performance metrics exceed those of commercial hard carbon and most laboratory-reported hard carbons derived from lignocellulosic biomass. Furthermore, due to the intrinsically low ash content of the precursor, samples carbonized directly without acid washing can still achieve an ICE of 88.91%. This study demonstrates that incorporating mature industrial carbonization processes into hard carbon fabrication is an effective strategy, paving a practical route toward low-cost, high-performance electrode materials for scalable SIB production.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":22097,"journal":{"name":"Sustainable Materials and Technologies","volume":"47 ","pages":"Article e01891"},"PeriodicalIF":9.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146037571","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-21DOI: 10.1016/j.susmat.2026.e01888
HyoMin Jeon , Seo Young Yoon , Nagamalleswara Rao Alluri , Momanyi Amos Okirigiti , HakSu Jang , Changyeon Baek , Tiandong Zhang , Geon-Tae Hwang , Min-Ku Lee , Gyoung-Ja Lee , Kwi-Il Park
Next-generation energy systems require a device that can deliver flexibility and high piezoelectric efficiency. Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) polymer offers excellent flexibility but suffers from limited piezoelectric performance. In this work, hierarchically porous PVDF structures with vertically aligned pores were fabricated via an eco-friendly ice-templating method with gradient cooling, by varying the PVDF concentration from 3 to 15 wt% to overcome these limitations. The calculated electroactive β-phase fraction of the piezoelectret with 15 wt% was 86.77%, which is significantly higher than the 72.63% value of the flat and dense PVDF sample. The piezoelectret PVDF device with 15 wt% generated a maximum electrical output of 35 V and a peak current of 1.1 μA under a constant force, which is significantly higher than that of a dense PVDF-based device. The electromechanical mechanism and the influence of internal porosity on the PVDF device were investigated using multiphysics simulations. The simulation results are in good agreement with the experimentally observed output trends, confirming that the porous piezoelectret structure consistently outperforms the dense PVDF structure. In addition, the unidirectionally grown porous piezoelectret-based device can capture electrical signals under ambient conditions through the impact of falling water droplets, while also reducing organic residues in seawater and rainwater. This dual capability highlights the device as a promising candidate for self-sustained systems that unite energy harvesting with water purification, and points to its potential use in portable purification, field deployable monitoring, and other environmentally relevant applications.
{"title":"Unidirectional porous PVDF Piezoelectrets fabricated via gradient ice-templating for enhanced energy harvesting performance","authors":"HyoMin Jeon , Seo Young Yoon , Nagamalleswara Rao Alluri , Momanyi Amos Okirigiti , HakSu Jang , Changyeon Baek , Tiandong Zhang , Geon-Tae Hwang , Min-Ku Lee , Gyoung-Ja Lee , Kwi-Il Park","doi":"10.1016/j.susmat.2026.e01888","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.susmat.2026.e01888","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Next-generation energy systems require a device that can deliver flexibility and high piezoelectric efficiency. Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) polymer offers excellent flexibility but suffers from limited piezoelectric performance. In this work, hierarchically porous PVDF structures with vertically aligned pores were fabricated via an eco-friendly ice-templating method with gradient cooling, by varying the PVDF concentration from 3 to 15 wt% to overcome these limitations. The calculated electroactive β-phase fraction of the piezoelectret with 15 wt% was 86.77%, which is significantly higher than the 72.63% value of the flat and dense PVDF sample. The piezoelectret PVDF device with 15 wt% generated a maximum electrical output of 35 V and a peak current of 1.1 μA under a constant force, which is significantly higher than that of a dense PVDF-based device. The electromechanical mechanism and the influence of internal porosity on the PVDF device were investigated using multiphysics simulations. The simulation results are in good agreement with the experimentally observed output trends, confirming that the porous piezoelectret structure consistently outperforms the dense PVDF structure. In addition, the unidirectionally grown porous piezoelectret-based device can capture electrical signals under ambient conditions through the impact of falling water droplets, while also reducing organic residues in seawater and rainwater. This dual capability highlights the device as a promising candidate for self-sustained systems that unite energy harvesting with water purification, and points to its potential use in portable purification, field deployable monitoring, and other environmentally relevant applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":22097,"journal":{"name":"Sustainable Materials and Technologies","volume":"47 ","pages":"Article e01888"},"PeriodicalIF":9.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146037569","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-20DOI: 10.1016/j.susmat.2026.e01886
Yujia Xie, Qi Li, Yuanqi Wu, Bowei Li, Xiaochao Sun, Zhaolong Su, Yu Liu
Poly (aryl ether ketone) (PAEK) is a widely utilized high-performance engineering thermoplastic, yet addressing its dependence on non-renewable petroleum sources and inherent lack of recyclability remains a critical issue. While strategies for bio-derived or degradable polymers exist, the corresponding exploration on high-performance PAEK resins persists largely unexplored. The efficient degradation of conventional PAEK necessitates demanding, hazardous, and cost-intensive conditions, primarily due to the exceptional bond energy, chemical inertness, and thermal stability imparted by their wholly aromatic backbone structures. Herein, we report a one-pot synthesis of a bio-based, degradable thermoplastic PAEK, which was achieved employing a novel bis-acetal-containing bisphenol monomer (VD) derived from bio-based precursors erythritol and vanillin. Incorporating a unique bicyclic acetal into the polymer backbone not only preserves its thermal stability but also enhances toughness and solubility, while endowing the material with degradability. The developed PVEK exhibits a homogeneous morphology, robust mechanical strength, excellent thermal stability, and outstanding solvent resistance. This polymer decomposes into harmless products under mildly heated, strongly acidic aqueous conditions, providing a promising plastic pollution mitigation strategy. To further verify its applicability, carbon fibre (CF)/PVEK composites were prepared followed by degradation of the resins to recover the CF. This protocol demonstrates a viable pathway towards controllable degradation of PAEK.
{"title":"High-performance, bio-based, degradable semi aromatic poly aryl ether ketone derived from nonlinear acetal structure","authors":"Yujia Xie, Qi Li, Yuanqi Wu, Bowei Li, Xiaochao Sun, Zhaolong Su, Yu Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.susmat.2026.e01886","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.susmat.2026.e01886","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Poly (aryl ether ketone) (PAEK) is a widely utilized high-performance engineering thermoplastic, yet addressing its dependence on non-renewable petroleum sources and inherent lack of recyclability remains a critical issue. While strategies for bio-derived or degradable polymers exist, the corresponding exploration on high-performance PAEK resins persists largely unexplored. The efficient degradation of conventional PAEK necessitates demanding, hazardous, and cost-intensive conditions, primarily due to the exceptional bond energy, chemical inertness, and thermal stability imparted by their wholly aromatic backbone structures. Herein, we report a one-pot synthesis of a bio-based, degradable thermoplastic PAEK, which was achieved employing a novel bis-acetal-containing bisphenol monomer (VD) derived from bio-based precursors erythritol and vanillin. Incorporating a unique bicyclic acetal into the polymer backbone not only preserves its thermal stability but also enhances toughness and solubility, while endowing the material with degradability. The developed PVEK exhibits a homogeneous morphology, robust mechanical strength, excellent thermal stability, and outstanding solvent resistance. This polymer decomposes into harmless products under mildly heated, strongly acidic aqueous conditions, providing a promising plastic pollution mitigation strategy. To further verify its applicability, carbon fibre (CF)/PVEK composites were prepared followed by degradation of the resins to recover the CF. This protocol demonstrates a viable pathway towards controllable degradation of PAEK.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":22097,"journal":{"name":"Sustainable Materials and Technologies","volume":"47 ","pages":"Article e01886"},"PeriodicalIF":9.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146037568","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-20DOI: 10.1016/j.susmat.2026.e01885
Jianing Wang , Linghua Yao , Shengbo Ge , Qiyu Zhang , Mashallah Rezakazemi , Jiachen Zuo , Lihua Cheng , Libo Zhang
Traditional furniture boards often use large amounts of adhesives, which leads to environmental pollution and cost increase. The development of adhesive-free boards from agricultural and forestry waste is beneficial for technological innovation in the furniture market and the promotion of greener development. This study proposes a strategy to enhance hydrogen bond interactions at the molecular, supramolecular, and inter fiber structural levels of lignocellulosic biomass fibers. Wheat straw, a typical agricultural waste, was selected as the raw material. Alkaline treatment was used to remove lignin from the fibers, followed by zinc chloride treatment to fully swell the cellulose components. Wet pressing was then employed to fabricate high-strength boards, establishing a process for producing self-adhesive boards from agricultural waste, named as WS-A-Zn. WS-A-Zn demonstrated a tensile strength of 12.42 MPa, an internal bonding strength of 0.749 MPa, a flexural strength of 26.366 MPa, and a flexural modulus of 2.963 GPa, which are much higher than the mechanical properties of untreated wheat straw samples (WS) under the same hot-pressing conditions. Among them, the tensile strength of WS-A-Zn is 47 times that of WS. In addition, this board exhibits remarkable water resistance, thermal stability, degradation resistance, and reusability. The life cycle assessment revealed that electricity consumption is the primary factor driving the environmental impact of producing wheat straw hot-pressed boards. In summary, this study offers important insights into the environmentally friendly production of adhesive-free boards for the furniture industry, the high-value utilization of agricultural and forestry waste, and the molecular-level improvements in biomass material properties.
传统的家具板往往使用大量的粘合剂，导致环境污染和成本增加。利用农林废弃物开发无胶粘剂板，有利于家具市场的技术创新，促进绿色发展。本研究提出了一种在木质纤维素生物质纤维的分子、超分子和纤维间结构水平上增强氢键相互作用的策略。以典型的农业废弃物麦秸为原料。采用碱性处理去除纤维中的木质素，再用氯化锌处理使纤维素组分充分膨胀。然后采用湿压法制造高强度板，建立了一种从农业废弃物中生产不干胶板的工艺，称为WS-A-Zn。在相同的热压条件下，WS- a - zn的抗拉强度为12.42 MPa，内部结合强度为0.749 MPa，抗弯强度为26.366 MPa，抗弯模量为2.963 GPa，远远高于未经处理的麦秸样品（WS）的力学性能。其中WS- a - zn的抗拉强度是WS的47倍。此外，该板还具有显著的耐水性、热稳定性、耐降解性和可重复使用性。生命周期评价表明，耗电量是麦草热压板生产对环境影响的主要因素。综上所述，本研究为家具行业无粘合剂板的环保生产、农业和林业废弃物的高价值利用以及生物质材料性能的分子水平改进提供了重要见解。
{"title":"Preparation and life cycle assessment of self-adhesive wheat straw board with wet hot-pressing by enhanced H-bonding","authors":"Jianing Wang , Linghua Yao , Shengbo Ge , Qiyu Zhang , Mashallah Rezakazemi , Jiachen Zuo , Lihua Cheng , Libo Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.susmat.2026.e01885","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.susmat.2026.e01885","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Traditional furniture boards often use large amounts of adhesives, which leads to environmental pollution and cost increase. The development of adhesive-free boards from agricultural and forestry waste is beneficial for technological innovation in the furniture market and the promotion of greener development. This study proposes a strategy to enhance hydrogen bond interactions at the molecular, supramolecular, and inter fiber structural levels of lignocellulosic biomass fibers. Wheat straw, a typical agricultural waste, was selected as the raw material. Alkaline treatment was used to remove lignin from the fibers, followed by zinc chloride treatment to fully swell the cellulose components. Wet pressing was then employed to fabricate high-strength boards, establishing a process for producing self-adhesive boards from agricultural waste, named as WS-A-Zn. WS-A-Zn demonstrated a tensile strength of 12.42 MPa, an internal bonding strength of 0.749 MPa, a flexural strength of 26.366 MPa, and a flexural modulus of 2.963 GPa, which are much higher than the mechanical properties of untreated wheat straw samples (WS) under the same hot-pressing conditions. Among them, the tensile strength of WS-A-Zn is 47 times that of WS. In addition, this board exhibits remarkable water resistance, thermal stability, degradation resistance, and reusability. The life cycle assessment revealed that electricity consumption is the primary factor driving the environmental impact of producing wheat straw hot-pressed boards. In summary, this study offers important insights into the environmentally friendly production of adhesive-free boards for the furniture industry, the high-value utilization of agricultural and forestry waste, and the molecular-level improvements in biomass material properties.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":22097,"journal":{"name":"Sustainable Materials and Technologies","volume":"47 ","pages":"Article e01885"},"PeriodicalIF":9.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146037098","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-20DOI: 10.1016/j.susmat.2026.e01880
Rumeng Ye , Kai Tian , Yingzhe Xu , Jianbiao Peng , Xingbing He , Minjie Deng , Xueying Chu
Current studies involve excessively complex synthesis of metal-modified biochar for the adsorption of tetracycline hydrochloride (TC), focusing on the effects of a single strategy and neglecting systematic comparisons. For environmental sustainability, Fe₃O₄/MnOₓ-modified rice husk biochar (BC) was simply synthesized by impregnation-precipitation. Batch adsorption experiments were conducted on BC, Fe-modified (BC-Fe), and KMnO4-modified (BC-Mn) biochars to assess their TC removal efficiency. The mechanisms were investigated by FTIR, XRD, XPS, and UV–vis. Results demonstrated BC-Fe and BC-Mn exhibited significantly enhanced TC adsorption capacities compared with BC (170.06/266.94/132.86 mg/g, respectively). This improvement is attributed to increased specific surface area, refined microporous architecture, enriched O-containing functional groups, and the incorporation of Fe3O4/MnOx nanoparticles. Divergent adsorption behaviors were observed: BC-Fe operates through an endothermic process dominated by diffusion, pore filling, electrostatic adsorption, coordination interactions, and hydrogen bonding; this process is pH-sensitive and further promoted by the presence of SO42−, PO43− and CO32−ions. In contrast, BC-Mn exhibits a stable adsorption mechanism minimally affected by pH or ionic composition, combining diffusion, pore filling, and hydrogen bonding with catalytic oxidation (Mn (III), Mn (IV)) that disrupts and degrades the conjugated structure of TC. Fe/Mn-modified adsorption guides TC targeted remediation and rice husk sustainable utilization. By converting agricultural byproducts into high-performance environmental remediation materials, this study advances the ecological circular economy, realizing the dual value of waste recycling and pollution control.
{"title":"Valorization of rice husk biochar into Fe- and Mn-modified adsorbents: Contrasting mechanisms of metal oxides in tetracycline remediation","authors":"Rumeng Ye , Kai Tian , Yingzhe Xu , Jianbiao Peng , Xingbing He , Minjie Deng , Xueying Chu","doi":"10.1016/j.susmat.2026.e01880","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.susmat.2026.e01880","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Current studies involve excessively complex synthesis of metal-modified biochar for the adsorption of tetracycline hydrochloride (TC), focusing on the effects of a single strategy and neglecting systematic comparisons. For environmental sustainability, Fe₃O₄/MnOₓ-modified rice husk biochar (BC) was simply synthesized by impregnation-precipitation. Batch adsorption experiments were conducted on BC, Fe-modified (BC-Fe), and KMnO<sub>4</sub>-modified (BC-Mn) biochars to assess their TC removal efficiency. The mechanisms were investigated by FTIR, XRD, XPS, and UV–vis. Results demonstrated BC-Fe and BC-Mn exhibited significantly enhanced TC adsorption capacities compared with BC (170.06/266.94/132.86 mg/g, respectively). This improvement is attributed to increased specific surface area, refined microporous architecture, enriched O-containing functional groups, and the incorporation of Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>/MnO<sub>x</sub> nanoparticles. Divergent adsorption behaviors were observed: BC-Fe operates through an endothermic process dominated by diffusion, pore filling, electrostatic adsorption, coordination interactions, and hydrogen bonding; this process is pH-sensitive and further promoted by the presence of SO<sub>4</sub><sup>2−</sup>, PO<sub>4</sub><sup>3−</sup> and CO<sub>3</sub><sup>2−</sup>ions. In contrast, BC-Mn exhibits a stable adsorption mechanism minimally affected by pH or ionic composition, combining diffusion, pore filling, and hydrogen bonding with catalytic oxidation (Mn (III), Mn (IV)) that disrupts and degrades the conjugated structure of TC. Fe/Mn-modified adsorption guides TC targeted remediation and rice husk sustainable utilization. By converting agricultural byproducts into high-performance environmental remediation materials, this study advances the ecological circular economy, realizing the dual value of waste recycling and pollution control.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":22097,"journal":{"name":"Sustainable Materials and Technologies","volume":"47 ","pages":"Article e01880"},"PeriodicalIF":9.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146037108","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-20DOI: 10.1016/j.susmat.2026.e01883
Tolga Ayzit, Alper Baba
The sustainable co-extraction of critical raw materials (CRMs) with renewable geothermal energy offers a dual pathway to support the circular economy and low-carbon transition. In this study, an integrated geochemical and mineralogical approach is used to comprehensively assess the recoverable lithium (Li) boron (B), strontium (Sr) and other critical raw materials in the geothermal reservoirs of the Dikili-Bergama region Türkiye. A geochemical analysis was carried out by systematic sampling and multi-element testing of geothermal water and reservoir rock. Hydrogeochemical studies of the geothermal fluids indicated the presence of remarkable concentrations of B (4.6 ppm), Sr (2.8 ppm) and Li (1.2 ppm), suggesting the possibility of active leaching processes in the deposit. Mineralogical studies using X-ray diffraction (XRD) have revealed a number of secondary mineral phases, such as quartz and labradorite, indicating the interaction between water and rock. These interactions affect not only the permeability and porosity of the deposit, but also the mobilization and precipitation of CRMs. A techno-economic analysis will be used to identify potential synergies that could improve the economic feasibility of geothermal projects in the region. The Monte Carlo simulation has shown that the Dikili-Bergama geothermal reservoirs have a potential of ∼712 tons of Li. In this study, the CRM potential that emerged during the geothermal energy exploitation process in the region was calculated. The temporality and the process of obtaining are completely related to the extraction technology. This offers the dual benefit of renewable energy and strategic mineral extraction, contributing to sustainable resource management in volcanic environments.
{"title":"Sustainable recovery of critical raw materials from geothermal igneous systems: Geochemical, mineralogical, and techno-economic insights from the Dikili-Bergama field (Western Anatolia, Türkiye)","authors":"Tolga Ayzit, Alper Baba","doi":"10.1016/j.susmat.2026.e01883","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.susmat.2026.e01883","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The sustainable co-extraction of critical raw materials (CRMs) with renewable geothermal energy offers a dual pathway to support the circular economy and low-carbon transition. In this study, an integrated geochemical and mineralogical approach is used to comprehensively assess the recoverable lithium (Li) boron (B), strontium (Sr) and other critical raw materials in the geothermal reservoirs of the Dikili-Bergama region Türkiye. A geochemical analysis was carried out by systematic sampling and multi-element testing of geothermal water and reservoir rock. Hydrogeochemical studies of the geothermal fluids indicated the presence of remarkable concentrations of B (4.6 ppm), Sr (2.8 ppm) and Li (1.2 ppm), suggesting the possibility of active leaching processes in the deposit. Mineralogical studies using X-ray diffraction (XRD) have revealed a number of secondary mineral phases, such as quartz and labradorite, indicating the interaction between water and rock. These interactions affect not only the permeability and porosity of the deposit, but also the mobilization and precipitation of CRMs. A techno-economic analysis will be used to identify potential synergies that could improve the economic feasibility of geothermal projects in the region. The Monte Carlo simulation has shown that the Dikili-Bergama geothermal reservoirs have a potential of ∼712 tons of Li. In this study, the CRM potential that emerged during the geothermal energy exploitation process in the region was calculated. The temporality and the process of obtaining are completely related to the extraction technology. This offers the dual benefit of renewable energy and strategic mineral extraction, contributing to sustainable resource management in volcanic environments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":22097,"journal":{"name":"Sustainable Materials and Technologies","volume":"47 ","pages":"Article e01883"},"PeriodicalIF":9.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146037099","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-20DOI: 10.1016/j.susmat.2026.e01884
Mengxian Wang , Nan Xie
The solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC)-based hydrogen-power cogeneration is seen as a clean and efficient energy conversion and storage technology. This research investigates an SOFC-based hydrogen-electricity cogeneration system coupled with the copper‑chlorine cycle. The life cycle assessment is conducted to analyze its environmental impact and key factors of this system. Based on the EF3.0 method, the consumption of raw materials and resources, and emissions to the environment, are obtained during different stages. The environmental performance is comprehensively evaluated using 16 environmental indicators. The results show that the system demonstrates significant energy conservation and carbon reduction capabilities throughout its life cycle, mainly due to the synergy of the efficient power generation of SOFC and the copper‑chlorine cycle in the use phase. In general, the proposed system achieves a reduction in carbon emissions of 1.21 × 109 kg CO2 eq. The integration of SOFC and the copper‑chlorine cycle presents obvious advantages in the context of carbon neutrality. The climate change indicator of −2.34 × 107 kg CO2 eq, the resource use indicator of −2.31 × 1011 kg Sb eq, and the acidification indicator of −3.16 × 1011 Mole H+ eq achieve the greatest improvements. This study provides a scientific basis for the design and policy-making of clean hydrogen production processes.
基于固体氧化物燃料电池（SOFC）的氢能热电联产是一种清洁、高效的能源转换和储存技术。本研究研究了一种基于sofc的与铜氯循环耦合的氢-电热电联产系统。对该系统进行生命周期评价，分析其环境影响及关键因素。基于EF3.0方法，得到了不同阶段的原材料和资源消耗以及对环境的排放。环境绩效采用16项环境指标进行综合评价。结果表明，该系统在整个生命周期内表现出显著的节能减碳能力，这主要是由于SOFC的高效发电和铜氯循环在使用阶段的协同作用。总的来说，该系统实现了1.21 × 109 kg CO2当量的碳减排。SOFC和铜氯循环的整合在碳中和的背景下具有明显的优势。气候变化指标为−2.34 × 107 kg CO2 eq，资源利用指标为−2.31 × 1011 kg Sb eq，酸化指标为−3.16 × 1011 mol H+ eq，改善幅度最大。该研究为清洁制氢工艺的设计和决策提供了科学依据。
{"title":"Life cycle assessment of a SOFC-based hydrogen-electricity cogeneration system featuring the CuCl cycle","authors":"Mengxian Wang , Nan Xie","doi":"10.1016/j.susmat.2026.e01884","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.susmat.2026.e01884","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC)-based hydrogen-power cogeneration is seen as a clean and efficient energy conversion and storage technology. This research investigates an SOFC-based hydrogen-electricity cogeneration system coupled with the copper‑chlorine cycle. The life cycle assessment is conducted to analyze its environmental impact and key factors of this system. Based on the EF3.0 method, the consumption of raw materials and resources, and emissions to the environment, are obtained during different stages. The environmental performance is comprehensively evaluated using 16 environmental indicators. The results show that the system demonstrates significant energy conservation and carbon reduction capabilities throughout its life cycle, mainly due to the synergy of the efficient power generation of SOFC and the copper‑chlorine cycle in the use phase. In general, the proposed system achieves a reduction in carbon emissions of 1.21 × 10<sup>9</sup> kg CO<sub>2</sub> eq. The integration of SOFC and the copper‑chlorine cycle presents obvious advantages in the context of carbon neutrality. The climate change indicator of −2.34 × 10<sup>7</sup> kg CO<sub>2</sub> eq, the resource use indicator of −2.31 × 10<sup>11</sup> kg Sb eq, and the acidification indicator of −3.16 × 10<sup>11</sup> Mole H<sup>+</sup> eq achieve the greatest improvements. This study provides a scientific basis for the design and policy-making of clean hydrogen production processes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":22097,"journal":{"name":"Sustainable Materials and Technologies","volume":"47 ","pages":"Article e01884"},"PeriodicalIF":9.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146037188","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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