Energy & Fuels最新文献

To enhance the photoelectrochemical performance of bismuth vanadate (BiVO₄) photoanodes for solar water oxidation, we report a dual-functional Co-MOF/FeCo-LDH/BiVO₄ photoanode in which FeCo-LDH enables rapid hole extraction/storage while Co-MOF catalyzes OER, yielding synergistic charge-transfer enhancement and improved water-oxidation kinetics. This was achieved by first electrodepositing FeCo-layered double hydroxide (FeCo-LDH) onto nanoporous BiVO₄ followed by hydrothermal deposition of a cobalt-based metal–organic framework oxygen evolution cocatalyst (Co-MOF OEC). Spectroscopic and photocatalytic analyses demonstrate that the synergistic FeCo-LDH and Co-MOF OEC layers significantly accelerate interfacial charge transfer kinetics. The heterostructure exhibits exceptional hole transfer and storage capabilities, which efficiently suppresses bulk charge recombination by promoting photogenerated charge separation. Furthermore, the optimized photoanode demonstrates enhanced oxygen evolution reaction (OER) kinetics, ensuring that surface holes are effectively utilized for water oxidation reactions (WORs). As a result, the Co-MOF/FeCo-LDH/BiVO₄ photoanode achieves a high photocurrent density of 5.15 mA/cm² at 1.23 V vs RHE under AM 1.5G illumination, over 3 times that of pristine BiVO₄ (1.62 mA/cm²). This work provides a rational strategy for designing multifunctional, integrated photoanodes toward efficient solar energy conversion.

A fully “defossilized” synthetic pathway using green methanol and CO₂-based CO was developed for the production of acetic acid. A catalytic system consisting of [Rh(acac)(CO)₂], PPh₃, and CHI₃ enables integrated formic acid decarbonylation and in situ methanol carbonylation without significant formation of methane. Optimization of the individual components of the catalytic system and their interplay with reaction conditions by design of experiments using a factorial approach resulted in an acetate yield of 78 ± 0.5% in the liquid phase (TON = 960, TOF_av = 60 h^–1) while maintaining a high CO selectivity of 85 ± 3% in the gas phase.

The application of water-based drilling fluids in ultradeep and high-temperature wells is facing serious challenges due to the increased friction and wear problems as well as the deterioration of the performance of conventional additives at high temperatures. In this study, a lubricant (PETO-G) based on pentaerythritol oleate and graphene was developed in this study with the aim of enhancing the tribological performance of water-based drilling fluids in high-temperature environments. The thermogravimetric analysis results showed that PETO-G has excellent thermal stability. After aging at 240 °C, its adhesion coefficient was reduced from 0.1808 to 0.0592, average friction coefficient from 0.2767 to 0.0670, and extreme pressure lubrication coefficient from 0.374 to 0.011, showing significantly improved lubrication performance. In addition, the compatibility test results show that PETO-G has good compatibility with other treatments in the drilling fluid without negatively affecting its lubricity. Mechanical and structural analysis was conducted via optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectrometer, and 3D white light interferometry to evaluate wear shape and surface elemental distribution. The synergistic interaction between the layered graphene structure and ester molecules effectively constructs a stable lubricating film. These findings underscore lubricant PETO-G as a viable option for water-based drilling fluids, improving efficiency and safeguarding equipment in ultradeep wells.

Biomass energy is the only renewable carbon source capable of replacing fossil fuels, and biomass pyrolysis is a crucial method for the high-value utilization of biomass. A wealth of research has demonstrated that biomass pyrolysis cannot be regarded merely as the sum of individual thermal cracking processes, as component interactions significantly influence the pyrolysis process as well as the distribution and composition of the resulting products. A comprehensive understanding of these component interactions is essential for elucidating pyrolysis mechanisms. This review begins by addressing the pyrolysis mechanisms of individual biomass components and further explores the interactions across three levels: copyrolysis of various feedstocks (including biomass, coal, hydrocarbons, etc.), polymeric macromolecules (cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin), and secondary pyrolysis products (such as pyrans, furans, phenols, etc.). This article discusses how these interactions affect reaction kinetics, product distribution (gases, bio-oil, and biochar), product properties, and the pathways of the pyrolysis reactions. Furthermore, it summarizes research on the use of interaction models to predict pyrolysis behavior and the role of inorganic components in regulating the pyrolysis process. This work provides a theoretical foundation for understanding biomass pyrolysis mechanisms at both macro- and micro scales, predicting pyrolysis products, and advancing innovations in pyrolysis technologies.

The engineering of ligand and metal node plays a pivotal role in enabling high-performance metal organic frameworks (MOFs) for efficient hydrogen storage at room temperature. This study conducts a systematic investigation into the impacts of ligand length, ligand functional groups, and doped metal atoms on the hydrogen storage performance of UiO-series MOFs. Specifically, UiO-66, UiO-67, and UiO-67-bpydc were synthesized employing H₂bdc, H₂bpdc, and H₂bpydc ligands, respectively. Furthermore, UiO-67-bpydc-Ti/Zr samples with varying Ti incorporation ratios were prepared through an in situ metal substitution strategy. By expanding the ligand from a single benzene ring to a double benzene ring structure, incorporating nitrogen-containing heterocycles and introducing Ti species, the specific surface area of UiO-67-bpydc-Ti/Zr-0.6 increased significantly to 2487.56 m²/g, surpassing those of UiO-66 (1385.77 m²/g) and UiO-67 (1920.57 m²/g). Notably, UiO-67-bpydc-Ti/Zr-0.6 achieved a mass hydrogen storage capacity of 0.40 wt % at 298 K and 100 bar, representing significant improvements compared to UiO-66 (0.23 wt %) and UiO-67 (0.28 wt %), respectively, and exhibited good structural stability over seven cycles. XPS analysis, H₂ adsorption isotherms and DFT calculations reveal that Ti doping induces a “strong-Zr, weak-Ti, negative-O” potential gradient, enhancing H₂ polarization and physical adsorption stability, and thus improving hydrogen storage performance.

We report the fabrication of a cobalt–molybdenum (Co–Mo) heterohierarchical thin-film catalyst electrodeposited on nickel foam (NF) via a facile one-step electrodeposition method for efficient hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) under alkaline conditions. A comprehensive study of alkali and alkaline earth metal halide coelectrolytes demonstrated that the coelectrolyte used during electrodeposition directly governs the Co–Mo catalyst morphology and the degree of Mo incorporation. Scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and inductively coupled plasma–atomic emission spectroscopy analyses showed that using calcium chloride (CaCl₂) as the coelectrolyte considerably improved uniform Mo incorporation and facilitated cobalt hydroxide deposition. The optimized Co–Mo/NF–CaCl₂ catalyst showed an overpotential of 100 ± 6 mV at −10 mA/cm², along with improved charge transfer and active site density, attributed to the better double-layer capacitance and tailored surface microstructure. This study is the first to correlate the coelectrolyte identity in electrodeposited Co–Mo catalysts with HER performance and contributes insights into the bimetallic electrodeposition technique. The high performance and alkaline compatibility of the catalyst make it a promising candidate for sustainable hydrogen generation via anion exchange membrane water electrolysis.

Low-grade oil hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) is a key route for sustainable fuel production. However, traditional transition metal catalysts suffer from poor activity and hydrothermal deactivation in aqueous acidic environments. Here, we developed a Ni/NiAl₂O₄@mSiO₂ catalyst by coating 4 nm mesoporous silica (mSiO₂) on Ni/NiAl₂O₄ via soft templating, achieving synergistic optimization of activity and stability. At 250 °C and 3 MPa H₂, Ni/NiAl₂O₄@mSiO₂ matched the activity of Ni/NiAl₂O₄, while its deactivation rate after 4 cycles (7.5%) was much lower than that of Ni/NiAl₂O₄ (40%). It also exhibited broad applicability to eight fatty acids, delivering >96% alkane yield under optimized conditions. Characterization confirmed that the mSiO₂ layer preserved reactant diffusion/activation while enhancing mass transfer for stearic acid and preventing Ni/NiAl₂O₄ sintering/metal leaching. This work provides critical insights for designing efficient catalysts in low-grade oil valorization.

This study evaluates the emissions, refueling or recharging times, and payload capacities of hydrogen–diesel dual-fuel, battery-electric, and hydrogen fuel cell haul trucks for open-pit mining operations. Both shift-level and long-term cumulative performances are assessed under realistic operational constraints. A generic model simulates optimal truck configurations over a 25 year period (2025–2050), assuming equivalent payload capacity per truck. Payload per shift depends on the number of haulage cycles, which varies with energy density, refueling or recharging times, and maintenance requirements of each technology. Under the simulated settings and imposed assumptions, results show that while battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cell trucks achieve zero tailpipe emissions, they incur substantial cumulative payload losses (65 and 25 Mt, respectively) relative to a diesel baseline. This is primarily due to longer refueling or recharging times and lower energy density. In contrast, by flexibly adjusting fuel shares to meet tightening emission limits, hydrogen–diesel dual-fuel trucks experienced limited impact with a cumulative payload loss of 15 Mt. These differences translate into effective cost of baseline payload estimates, with dual-fuel trucks rising from AU$1.00/t to AU$1.40/t by 2050, compared to AU$1.67/t for battery-electric trucks and AU$1.70/t for fuel cell trucks. A sensitivity analysis highlights the influence of mining road conditions, discount rates, fuel prices, and efficiency degradation over time. The findings highlight the potential of hydrogen–diesel dual-fuel trucks to provide a cost-effective transitional pathway for decarbonizing mining haulage under the simulated conditions.

Shale reservoirs feature extremely low permeability, necessitating hydraulic fracturing to establish complex fracture networks for efficient hydrocarbon extraction. This study aims to clarify the influence of multiangle perforation on fracture propagation and interaction in shale horizontal wells, addressing the limitations of previous works that mainly considered single-angle perforations. An extended finite element method (XFEM) model was established in ABAQUS to simulate multiangle perforation fracturing in shale horizontal wells under realistic in situ stress conditions. The model was validated through triaxial fracturing experiments and theoretical analysis, ensuring its reliability. Subsequently, it was employed to investigate the effects of different perforation azimuths (0, 15, 30, 45, 60, and 75°) on fracture initiation pressure, propagation behavior, and interference characteristics. The XFEM simulations show that, except for 0°, fractures align with the maximum principal stress, with the greatest deflection at 60°. As perforation azimuth increases, fracture initiation and propagation pressures rise from 41.2 to 51.5 MPa and from 14.8 to 18.2 MPa, respectively. The fracture width first decreases and then increases, while the half-length decreases by 31.22%. Interference mainly occurs near crack tips, causing later fractures to deflect and weaken. The findings offer theoretical guidance for optimizing perforation design, enhancing fracturing efficiency, and improving oil and gas recovery in low-permeability shale reservoirs.