Advanced Composites and Hybrid Materials最新文献

This review examines hydrogen (H₂) production from oil and gas resources and the concurrent generation of solid carbon, a byproduct often viewed as waste but with significant potential for innovative uses. The motivation for this review stems from the growing need to explore sustainable H₂ production methods while harnessing the potential of solid carbon byproducts, which are often underutilized. Various H₂ production methods are explored, such as steam-methane reforming, partial oxidation of methane, autothermal reforming, and natural gas decomposition (NGD). These processes are effective but have environmental drawbacks, including carbon dioxide emissions. A key focus is the synergistic production of H₂ and valuable solid carbon. Key findings reveal that solid carbon, produced alongside H₂ from oil and gas resources, holds significant promise for innovative applications across energy storage, construction, and industrial sectors, contributing to a sustainable circular economy (CE). The diverse applications of co-produced solid carbon include electrode materials for energy storage, conductive agents, fuel cells, oxy-combustion, and construction materials. The characterization of derived carbon is analyzed, focusing on how operational conditions and catalysts influence the formation of carbon structures like nanotubes, nanofibers, and amorphous carbon. The importance of solid carbon in H₂ production is highlighted, and its strategic use across industries is advocated. Policy implications are also discussed, aligning these production methods with sustainable development goals and environmental policies such as the CE and carbon capture and utilization. The findings underscore the role of solid carbon in integrating energy production with industrial applications, promoting efficient resource utilization, and advancing a sustainable CE.

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Hydrogen-production methods and the generation of solid carbon as a byproduct are presented. The transformative potential of solid carbon, including its diverse applications ranging from energy storage to construction, is discussed, as well as how operational conditions shape carbon’s structure. Carbon plays a pivotal role in advancing a sustainable, circular economy and has significant industrial application.

Carbon nanotubes exhibit excellent mechanical properties and hold immense promise for diverse applications. Based on the first nature principle, we investigate the mechanical properties, thermoelectric properties, and energy absorption behavior of the three-dimensional carbon cage thermoelectric material Schwarzites C_n under uniaxial tensile and compressive loading. Our investigation unveils that Schwarzites C_n possess a robust compressive strain threshold, enduring deformation by more than 50%. The large pore structure and multiple ring defects of Schwarzites result in a maximum Young’s modulus (Schwarzites C₁₁) of 91.01 Gpa. The specific energy absorption (SEA) values indicate that Schwarzites C_n can be used as a good energy-absorbing material, with an SEA of 55.89 MJ/kg for Schwarzites C₆ at 50% strain in uniaxial compression. At 300 K, Schwarzites C₈ with the highest zT (4.5) increases its zT to 4.83 at 5% tensile strain, an increase of 7.3%. The maximum increase in zT is observed in Schwarzites C₉, from 0.249 to 0.34, with an increase of 36.5%. This study opens up ideas for the design and application of outstanding mechanical performance carbon materials by deriving three-dimensional carbon cage structures from carbon nanotubes.

Efficient separation of emulsified oil is urgently needed to repair the ecological environment, given the explosive development in modern industrial civilization. Herein, Janus porous composites were constructed using two different paraffin oil-in-dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) gel emulsions. One of the gel emulsions contained graphene oxide (GO) within the DMSO phase, while the other continuous phase was dissolved with triarm hydroxyl-terminated poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL-triol). To create Janus porous composites, the gel emulsions were overlaid and solidified with poly[(phenyl isocyanate)-co-formaldehyde] through step-growth polymerization. The resultant GO/PCL Janus porous composites exhibited an asymmetric double-layer structure with a tightly bonded interface. GO/PCL Janus porous composites displayed asymmetric surface wettability, functioning as a liquid diode and enabling effective separation of oil-in-water (O/W) miniemulsion. Under simulated 1.2 sun irradiation, the separation efficiency remained above 95%, and the flux increased to nearly four times that observed without solar irradiation. Furthermore, the Janus porous composite demonstrated excellent reusability, maintaining efficacy after ten cycles of separating emulsified oil. These Janus porous composites demonstrated excellent performance in oil-water separation, making them an ideal candidate for such applications.

Nanostructured metal sulfides (MSs) are considered prospective anodes for Li-ion batteries (LIBs) due to their high specific capacity and abundant raw materials on Earth. Nevertheless, the poor conductivity and volume expansion hinder their application. Here, we report the design of amorphous/crystalline indium sulfide nanotubes coated by carbon, in which MIL-68 (In) metal–organic frameworks (MOF) are used as a precursor to generate In₂S₃/carbon (In₂S₃/C) through a solvothermal process. The construction of amorphous/crystalline structure not only combines the advantages of abundant ion channels of amorphous structure, but also has high crystal conductivity and promotes ion transport. The In₂S₃/C anode of LIBs exhibits excellent performance of 835 mAh g⁻¹ at the current density of 0.5 A g⁻¹ after 500 cycles. In₂S₃/C also shows outstanding long-term performance with 717 mAh g⁻¹ at 2 A g⁻¹. The lithium storage mechanism is elucidated through kinetic analysis and ex situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy investigations. Further density functional theory (DFT) calculations indicate that In₂S₃/C electrodes have low adsorption energies and fast diffusion kinetics. In a word, the MOF-derived amorphous/crystalline In₂S₃/C exhibits better electrochemical performances than commercial In₂S₃. This research will inspire the exploration of MSs as well as detect potential “diamonds in the rough.”

The issue of smog pollution in China is a complex challenge with wide-ranging implications for public health, economic stability, and environmental sustainability. This comprehensive review emphasizes the pressing need to address the harmful effects of smog, specifically the concerns surrounding the release of pollutants such as SO₂ and NO_x as well as the significant filtration of the fine matter and antibiotic resistance. In the context of sulfur dioxide capture, metal–organic frameworks are a fine solution because of the physical properties and excellent adsorption capacity. However, there are persistent concerns regarding MOF stability and irreversible degradation, which necessitate a focus on enhancing structural robustness. MOFs have proven to be an efficient approach to addressing NO_x emissions despite facing challenges related to external factors such as SO₂ interference. MOFs offer sustainable solutions by enabling deeper chemical interactions that combat nitrogen oxide pollutants. MOFs integration into air filters marks a significant shift toward enhancing PM_2.5 removal efficiency without increasing pressure drop. These advancements promise more effective and sustainable means to combat airborne pollutants, contributing to a healthier environment. In addition, MOFs showcase promising strategies to curb antibiotic resistance by inhibiting bacterial growth through diverse structures and advanced oxidation processes. The integration of MOFs with metal oxides, particularly silver, demonstrates exceptional sterilization rates, albeit facing challenges associated with high metal ion doses. Overall, our conclusion highlights the significant roles of MOFs and their derivatives in addressing environmental challenges. In order to fully harness the potential of MOFs for expeditiously addressing smog-related issues in China and effectively mitigating the prevalent environmental pollution, it is imperative to engage in further research and foster collaborative endeavors. These endeavors are essential for paving the way toward innovative, sustainable, and holistic solutions that can significantly enhance public health and safeguard the environment.

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Encapsulation of probiotics using a polysaccharide-based formulation is becoming a common strategy to enhance the viability of probiotics. However, the hydrophilic nature of polysaccharide-based encapsulants may still cause the loss of probiotic activity during harsh processing and gastric digestion. In this study, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG was successfully encapsulated into alginate/pectin composite hydrogel beads using the high-efficiency vibration technology (HEVT), which were further reinforced by CaCO₃ nanocrystals as antacid and freeze-dried into microcapsules. The structure, the physicochemical, encapsulation, and digestion properties of the beads were observed. The sample composed of a mass ratio of 9:1 alginate/pectin with CaCO₃ nanocrystals showed a significantly higher viability of 10.32 Log CFU/g. A maximum of 8.49 Log CFU/g of probiotics survived after harsh gastric digestion and were control-released in the colonic fluid. The formulation with CaCO₃ nanocrystals significantly improved the survival number compared to the alginate/pectin formulation. This can be attributed to the buffering properties of CaCO₃ on the gradual dissolution process and the simultaneous dication-induced egg-box crosslinking. Additionally, after being stored for 56 days, the viable numbers of encapsulated probiotics were more than 5.52 Log CFU/g. The results of animal tests indicated that feeding encapsulated probiotics significantly altered the composition of gut microbiota in mice. Overall, the optimized formulation and fabrication route show promise for direct utilization by the food industry. This study also confirmed the significance of antacid nanocrystals in the design of polysaccharide-based oral delivery system for probiotics.

Aiming to maximize the electromagnetic performance of composite materials based on carbon fibers (CF), this work demonstrates a critical approach regarding important manufacturing parameters of composites, correlating the manipulation of the complex electric permittivity (ε’, ε”) and complex magnetic permeability (µ’, µ”), as well as the increase in the performance of electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding effectiveness (SE). The electromagnetic characterization of composites based on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) reinforced with CF exhibited transitions in electromagnetic properties over the X-band frequency. The materials that are intrinsically dielectric induced the generation of an intense magnetic response and even the characteristic of metacomposite exhibiting negative ε’ and µ”. The samples showed transitions from a double-positive (DPS) medium to a double-negative (DNG) medium (-ε’ and -µ”) or a progression from DPS to a single-negative (SNG) medium (-µ”). Furthermore, some composites have also presented extremely high values of combined electric permittivity, magnetic permeability, Eddy current, and SE of 100.0 dB. The authors highlight the significant influence of composite processability, especially the insulator (PDMS) thickness, enabling the Maxwell–Wagner-Sillars effect and induction of an intense magnetic response. To predict/optimize the electromagnetic performance of composites, we also propose a computational simulation methodology using the Altair FEKO® software and correlate the Smith Chart with the material’s response.

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Hybrid nanomaterials, consisting of carbon dots (CDs), nanogels, and electrospun nanofibers, were developed for tissue engineering and drug delivery. CDs were synthesized using Bombyx mori silk sericin (CD_SS) and SS mixed with folic acid (CD_SSF) and optimized through hydrothermal treatment under various conditions. Extensive analysis was conducted, and CD properties, including morphology, fluorescence, UV–Vis absorption, functional groups, size, zeta potential, and pH-dependent drug release (RhB), were investigated. Both CD_SS and CD_SSF were integrated into bio-derived poly(lactic acid)/silk sericin nanogels, which were further combined with porous electrospun nanofibers of poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA_(P)). Results revealed that CDs synthesized at 220 °C for 6 h exhibited optimal fluorescence (excitation at 320 and 360 nm), a particle size of 10–30 nm, and a zeta potential ranging from − 15.9 to 19.7 mV. CDs were composed of approximately 55% C, 23% O, and 22% N. The pH-dependent release of RhB was higher in pH 7.4 than in pH 5.0, with a significant increase within 4 h and stabilization after 8 h. Bio-derived nanogels embedded with CDs demonstrated spherical shapes (30–200 nm) and were successfully integrated with PLGA_(P) nanofibers. These nanomaterials were non-cytotoxic to normal human dermal fibroblast (NHDF) cells and promoted complete wound healing in scratch tests within 36 h. In conclusion, these designed electrospun nanofibers, incorporating bio-derived nanogels and CDs, hold promise for tissue engineering, particularly in skin tissue regeneration and controlled drug-release applications.

Zinc metal batteries show great promise for energy storage applications in smart grids. However, Zn metal anodes pose significant challenges, mainly as a result of the uncontrollable growth of zinc dendrites on their surfaces, the accumulation of inert by-products, and the occurrence of the hydrogen evolution reaction. These obstacles can significantly reduce the cycling stability of the anodes. To solve these problems, we developed a boric acid-modified multifunctional cellulose separator to protect the zinc metal anode. The undissolved boric acid crystals in the separator facilitated the rapid transport of Zn²⁺ in the separator. The boric acid dissolved in the electrolyte buffered changes in pH and altered the dissolution sheath of Zn²⁺. Furthermore, it reacted with the zinc anode in the battery to form a zinc borate solid electrolyte interface layer, which served to isolate the anode from direct contact with the electrolyte. Thus, the Zn||Zn symmetric cell cycled stably for over 1500 h, whereas the Zn||MnO₂ full cell cycled stably for 4000 cycles under test conditions of 1A g⁻¹, and the capacity retention rate was 90.5%. This study introduces a novel approach to modifying zinc metal battery separators.