Industrial Chemistry & Materials最新文献

Lithium is an important raw material for new energy-powered vehicles, and ensuring its supply is of great significance for global green and sustainable development. Salt lake brine is the main lithium resource, but the separation of Li⁺ from coexisting metals poses a major challenge. In this work, a lithium-storing metal oxide SnO₂ nanoparticle island-modified LiMn₂O₄ electrode material is designed to endow LiMn₂O₄ with higher lithium extraction capacity and cycling stability. The SnO₂ nanoparticle islands effectively mitigate stress during the charge–discharge process of LiMn₂O₄, thereby enhancing cycling stability and promoting the diffusion of Li⁺. The lithium adsorption capacity of the LiMn₂O₄ electrode material modified with SnO₂ nanoparticles reaches 19.76 mg g⁻¹ within 1 hour, which is 1.7 times higher than that of LiMn₂O₄ (11.45 mg g⁻¹). The LiMn₂O₄ electrode material modified with SnO₂ nanoparticles shows good selectivity and cycling stability for the separation of lithium ions.

Keywords: Electrochemical adsorption; Extraction lithium; Surface modified; LiMn₂O₄.

The worldwide energy structure is gradually shifting from traditional fossil fuels to new energy sources. Through the rapid development of sustainable energy, it is possible to protect the environment, tackle climate change, and improve energy security, thereby achieving sustainable development. Catalysis is the basis of the modern chemical industry, and nowadays it plays an indispensable role in sustainable energy. In this review, some sustainable energy sources including methane, biomass, hydrogen, and plastics will be introduced as alternatives to fossil fuels with emphasis on the catalyst systems employed in the generation and conversion of these sustainable energy sources. We expect such a review paper to be an appetizer in the popular topic of catalysis for sustainable energy and can inspire future research to boost the development of this interdisciplinary field.

Keywords: Sustainable energy; Catalysis; Methane conversion; Biomass upgrading; Hydrogen energy; Plastics recycling.

Ammonia serves as a viable medium for hydrogen storage owing to its significant hydrogen content and elevated energy density, and the absence of carbon dioxide emissions during ammonia-to-hydrogen production has inspired more research on ammonia decomposition. Despite growing interest, a significant gap persists between the depth of existing studies and the practical approach to on-the-spot hydrogen generation using ammonia decomposition. The creation of effective and accessible catalysts to feed ammonia decomposition is a critical step in addressing this daunting challenge. This paper systematically summarizes four key catalyst design strategies, including size effect, alkalinity modulation, metal–support interactions, and alloying, informed by experimental and theoretical investigations into ammonia decomposition. Each strategy's underlying mechanism for enhancing ammonia decomposition is elucidated in detail. Moreover, the paper categorizes catalysts employed in existing ammonia decomposition reactors to guide future catalyst development. The influence of diverse energy sources and reactor configurations on catalyst performance is also discussed to provide a comprehensive framework for advancing ammonia decomposition catalyst research.

Keywords: Ammonia decomposition reaction; Catalyst design; Particle size effect; Adjustment of alkalinity; Strong metal–support interaction; Alloying effect.

As the polyurethane foam (PUF) market, especially in the automotive sector, continues to grow, the environmental impacts of its petrochemical demands and end-of-life waste have motivated the industry to look for more sustainable solutions. This study explores the preparation of recyclable PUFs using commercially available soy polyols (Cargill's BiOH), aiming to enable improved thermal reprocessability of flexible PUFs via vitrimer chemistry. A series of “soy-PUFs” was produced by partially substituting petrochemical polyether polyols with 25% or 50% soy polyols in a standard reference formulation. Incorporation of soy polyols resulted in an increase in the stiffness of the resulting foams. Employing a modest amount (∼0.5 wt%) of dibutyltin dilaurate (DBTDL) in the formulations facilitated dynamic covalent bond exchanges in the cross-linked network during a mild “foam-to-sheet” reprocessing process (160 °C), converting malleable PUFs into densified sheet materials (PUS) with proper compactness and mechanical performance (e.g., tensile modulus = ∼50 MPa). Soy-PUFs demonstrated a modestly enhanced stress relaxation behavior, suggesting adequate reprocessing ability. DMA results demonstrated the phenomenon of forming an “intermediate” region between the hard and soft domains of PUSs after reprocessing.

Keywords: Polyurethane foam; Soybean oil; Polyols; Vitrimer chemistry; Reprocessing; Recycling.

Methane is a primary greenhouse gas that poses significant risks to the safety of coal mine operations. Microbial methane degradation offers a sustainable and environmentally friendly solution with considerable potential for development. However, the slow mass transfer rate often hinders the process, necessitating improvements to enhance methane degradation efficiency. This research introduces an innovative in situ coupling strategy that leverages methanotrophic bacteria's high selectivity and adsorbents' rapid adsorption capabilities. Initially, the dominant strain of methane-degrading bacteria was isolated from rice paddies. Following this, the strain was characterized as methanotroph and its physicochemical properties were investigated to optimize its gas-degrading efficiency. Subsequently, the synthesis of HKUST-1@SBA-16 composites was achieved by incorporating mesoporous silica SBA-16 into HKUST-1, resulting in materials with superior stability and adsorption characteristics. Subsequently, accelerated methane biodegradation was achieved through the in situ coupling of the methanotroph T2 with the HKUST-1@SBA-16 composite. Under optimal conditions, the methane degradation rate within the HKUST-1@SBA-16-T2 system reached 98.65%. This study introduces an innovative approach to the efficacious mitigation of methane emissions achieved by integrating natural microbial processes with metal–organic frameworks (MOFs). This comprehensive strategy is important for preventing coal mine gas outbursts, and this is of great significance and pioneering in the efficient and selective removal of methane using natural bacteria combined with artificial materials.

Keywords: Methanotrophs; MOFs; Methane degradation; Adsorbent; Microbial degradation.

Electrochemical CO₂ reduction has favorable industrial relevance due to its integrability with renewable energies and controllable product generation. Bismuth-based catalysts have emerged as promising candidates in this regard due to their intriguing electrochemical properties and cost-effectiveness. This review focuses on recent advances in bismuth-based catalysts for the electrochemical reduction of CO₂, including synthesis methods and approaches for performance improvements. Insights into product formations using Bi-based catalysts are also presented, where in situ FTIR and Raman spectroscopic studies are highlighted to understand the structural evolution of the catalysts and to decipher the mechanisms of CO₂ reduction. Further, recent progress of electrochemical CO₂ reduction from an industrial perspective and strategies for further development of the bismuth-based catalysts with high activity, selectivity and stability towards practical applications are discussed.

Keywords: Electrochemical CO₂ reduction; Bismuth; Nanomaterials; Electrocatalysts; In situ spectroscopy.

A liquid thermoelectric conversion device (LTE) converts environmental heat into electric power via the electrochemical Seebeck coefficient α. The maximum power (W_max) is expressed as , where ΔT and R′ are the temperature difference between electrodes and device resistance in operation, respectively. Here, we systematically investigated the resistance components of LTEs composed of aqueous, methanol (MeOH) and acetone solutions containing 0.8 M Fe(ClO₄)₂/Fe(ClO₄)₃. We found that the charge transfer resistance R_ct of the MeOH LTE is the smallest among the three LTEs. We demonstrated that the W_max of the MeOH LTE is slightly larger than or comparable with that of the corresponding aqueous LTE. We further discussed the effects of the convection of an electrolyte on R′.

Keywords: Liquid thermoelectric conversion; Methanol; Resistivity components; Coated electrode.

Photocatalytic hydrogen evolution based on the use of carbon nitride (CN) catalyst offers a sustainable route to convert solar energy into hydrogen energy; however, its activity is severely restricted by the sluggish transfer of photogenerated charges. Herein, we report a novel approach involving boron (B) doping-induced π-electron delocalization in CN for efficient hydrogen (H₂) evolution. The as-prepared B-doped CN (BCN) catalyst presented an 8.6-fold enhancement in the H₂-evolution rate (7924.0 μmol h⁻¹ g⁻¹) under visible-light irradiation compared with pristine CN, which corresponded to an apparent quantum yield (AQY) of 14.5% at 405 nm. Experimental analysis and density functional theory (DFT) calculations demonstrated that B doping induced π-electron delocalization in conjugated CN rings to generate a new intermediate state within the band gap to provide a new transfer path for visible-light utilization, thus achieving the high separation and transfer of photoinduced carriers. This work provides a new approach to adjust the electronic structure of CN-like conjugated polymer semiconductors for efficient catalytic energy conversion.

Keywords: B doping; π-electron delocalization; H₂ evolution; Photocatalysis.

Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE, M_w > 10⁶ g mol⁻¹) has been prepared using slurry-phase titanium permethylindenyl-phenoxy (PHENI*) catalysts. Four strategies have been investigated for improving the melt processability of UHMWPE, which is the chief limiting factor to the applications of this high-performance polymer. 1) Active site engineering was used to explore the entanglement density in the resulting polymer, with substantially disentangled PE identified through thermal and rheological characterisation. 2) Hydrogen and ZnEt₂ were employed as chain transfer agents to modulate the polyethylene molecular weight and distribution (MWD). A sequential reactivity protocol using ZnEt₂ was able to produce bimodal UHMWPE with improved processability. 3) MWD tuning was further investigated using multisite catalysts, with the reaction conditions and Ti : Zr ratio able to control MWD to essentially arbitrary shapes. The inclusion of low molecular weight fractions into UHMWPE improves the processability without compromising mechanical characteristics. 4) Polymer-reinforced composite blends of UHMWPE with either HDPE or LDPE as a highly processable matrix were extruded and explored, with polymer miscibility and mechanical properties studied in detail.

Keywords: Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene; Processability; Molecular weight distribution; Polymer composites; Chain transfer agents.

Currently, the practical application of liquid lithium-ion batteries faces challenges in meeting the requirements of high energy density and safety. To address concerns such as electrolyte leakage and flammability, solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) have emerged as promising alternatives to liquid electrolytes. SPEs, particularly those synthesized via in situ polymerization processes, offer advantages in establishing robust interface contacts and compatibility with existing industrial production lines. However, the electrochemical stability of SPEs remains a hurdle for high-voltage lithium metal batteries (LMBs). To enhance interface uniformity, electrochemical stability, and thermal stability, researchers commonly employ fluorination strategies, thus expanding the potential of SPEs in high-voltage, long-cycling LMBs. Fluorine plays a crucial role in achieving these objectives due to its high electronegativity, polarization, outstanding dielectric properties, strong bond strength, stability, and hydrophobic nature. In this study, we delve into how fluorinated electrolytes improve interface stability between SPEs and electrodes by examining their underlying mechanisms. Besides, we provide an overview of current fluorination strategies and their impact on battery performance. Furthermore, we discuss challenges and issues associated with current in situ polymerized fluorinated SPE routes and propose practical strategies for consideration.

Keywords: Lithium metal batteries; In situ polymerization; Fluorinated polymer electrolytes; High-voltage; Long cycling; Stable interface.