Energy advances最新文献

The rising demand for sustainable solutions to global energy and environmental challenges has accelerated research into advanced functional materials. Conductive polymer composites based on polyaniline (PANI), polypyrrole (PPy), poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT), and chitosan have emerged as promising candidates due to their tunable properties, environmental compatibility, and multifunctionality. This review highlights the energy and environmental applications of polymer-based mixed metal oxide catalysts. These composites show excellent performances in supercapacitance and water splitting applications, offering both efficient energy storage and hydrogen generation solutions and eco-friendly fuel alternatives. Using adsorption and corrosion inhibition techniques, water pollution and corrosion have also been addressed. Polymers such as PANI, PPy, PEDOT, and chitosan, when integrated with metal oxides, heteroatoms, and carbonaceous materials, enhance the functional properties of the composites. These materials demonstrate significant potential in supercapacitors, water splitting, adsorption, and corrosion resistance. The review provides a comparative analysis of different composites, helping readers understand how the incorporation of various components can improve performances. The review emphasizes sustainable approaches to tackle the current energy and environmental issues through advanced polymer-based catalytic systems.

In this study, cubic Mn₂O₃ was synthesized using different urea concentrations (3, 6, 9, and 12 mM) via a hydrothermal method. During synthesis, an increase in urea content resulted in decreased particle and crystallite sizes and increased lattice parameters, with a concomitant increase in the surface area and number of Mn³⁺ ions in Mn₂O₃ particles. The electrochemical performance of the Mn₂O₃-9 mM urea sample outperformed samples prepared with other urea contents. The Mn₂O₃-9 mM urea sample exhibited high specific capacitance (C_sp) values in 1 M and 3 M KOH electrolytes, achieving 881.3 F g⁻¹ and 1043.2 F g⁻¹, respectively, at a scan rate of 1 mV s⁻¹. Furthermore, at a current density of 1 A g⁻¹, the C_sp of Mn₂O₃ in 1 M KOH was 758.5 F g⁻¹. The values increased to 891.4 F g⁻¹ with energy density and power density of 44.7 W h kg⁻¹ and 398.1 W kg⁻¹, respectively, in 3 M KOH. Owing to the superior electrochemical performance of the Mn₂O₃-9 mM urea sample, its electrochemical performance was assessed in basic KOH and NaOH and neutral Na₂SO₄ and NaNO₃ aqueous electrolytes. Moreover, the Mn₂O₃-9 mM urea sample demonstrated a C_sp of 721.0 and 446.3 F g⁻¹ in 3 M concentrations of NaOH and NaNO₃ electrolytes, respectively. The Mn₂O₃-9 mM urea sample with the highest content of Mn³⁺ ions displayed the highest C_sp in KOH electrolytes compared with the others owing to the smaller hydration radii of K⁺ and high ionic diffusivity and conductivity of OH⁻ compared with other basic and neutral salts. These results highlight that the synthesis process, electrolyte choice, and concentration of electrolytes significantly influence the electrochemical properties of Mn₂O₃ battery-type, emphasizing their critical role in optimizing material performance for supercapacitor applications.

The global challenge of water scarcity, intensified by a growing population, climate change, and increased demand for fresh water, requires immediate investigation of innovative and sustainable technologies. Capacitive deionization (CDI) and capacitive mixing (CapMix) have emerged as promising solutions, leveraging the electric double layer (EDL) formed at the interface of charged surfaces and electrolytic solutions. The initial technique represents a promising approach to water desalination and ionic separation, as CapMix is a reciprocal technique for energy obtention from exchanging solutions with varying salinity. This study focuses on the use of carbon electrodes with polyelectrolyte (PE) coatings for capacitive energy extraction based on Donnan potential (CDP) in CapMix systems. This investigation considers the impact of applied current, volumetric charge densities of the PEs, and geometric parameters, such as electrode separation distance, on the efficiency and scalability of these systems. The findings provide valuable insights for enhancing energy extraction performance and overcoming challenges associated with electrode use in these applications.

As the demand for sustainable energy storage solutions grows, lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) remain at the forefront of modern energy technologies, widely adopted in electric vehicles and energy storage systems. Although they offer high energy densities and reliability, their long-term usage and safety are compromised by complex structural degradation mechanisms and thermal instability, which affect their key components—cathode, anode, and electrolyte—culminating in hazardous events. To comprehensively address these challenges, this review article elaborates on the electrochemical and physicochemical properties of these key components, exploring their structural characteristics, performance in practical applications, and limitations. A thorough understanding of the degradation pathways of the key components along with various strategies to mitigate failure and enhance safety are highlighted. Finally, attention is given to the unique challenges associated with first responder applications with a specific focus on military operations in extreme environments, such as high and subzero temperatures, mechanical shocks, vibrations, and prolonged storage. This review highlights the critical need for advancements in battery design to ensure safety, durability, and long-term usability in demanding environments.

We present a computational study based on quantum-chemical calculations to investigate the initial lithiation reactions on the (001) surface of α-sulfur. The study aims to explore the possible emerging structures during consecutive lithiation steps and to analyze their reaction enthalpies. Our results show that during the first lithiation reactions, S₈ rings in the lower layers of the (001) surface are preferentially lithiated. In subsequent lithiation steps, we find that S₈ rings on the upper layers, adjacent to previously lithiated molecules, may also undergo lithiation. Once Li₂S₈ dimers are formed, further reactions on the surface can proceed, leading to the formation of Li₂S₈ trimers in a lower/upper/lower layer arrangement or lower-order Li-polysulfides, such as Li₂S₆/Li₂S₂ and Li₂S₅/Li₂S₃. Notably, in contrast to sulfur reduction reactions in the electrolyte, the formation of Li₂S₄/Li₂S₄ does not occur on the (001) surface, likely due to the surface morphology, which prevents complete exposure of S₈ rings to lithium ions. This suggests that surface lithiation predominantly leads to the formation of high-order polysulfides in the early stages of discharge, while the dissolution of these higher-order polysulfides into the electrolyte may facilitate their reduction to Li₂S₄, a process observed experimentally. Our study provides an atomistic mechanism for the discharge process of Li–S batteries with a crystalline α-sulfur cathode, contributing to a deeper understanding of both solid- and liquid-phase reactions during the early discharge stages.

Producing hydrogen as a clean and sustainable fuel source requires an in-depth understanding of the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), which plays a pivotal role in energy conversion processes. Recently, significant interest has been expressed in utilizing transition-metal-based nanomaterials as potential electrocatalysts for the HER owing to their exceptional electrical properties, versatile surface chemistry, and robust catalytic activity. These nanomaterials could enhance the efficiency of hydrogen production when carefully engineered at the interface level. Interface engineering has emerged as a critical strategy for optimizing the surface and interfacial characteristics of nanomaterials, thereby improving their catalytic efficiency. This review provides a comprehensive and detailed overview of the various aspects of interface engineering in the context of transition metal-based nanomaterial electrocatalysts specifically tailored for the HER. The fundamental characteristics of interfaces are described and their role in influencing catalytic performance is emphasized. Key factors, such as atomic arrangements, grain boundaries, and surface imperfections, are explored to better understand their impact on catalytic activity. A range of innovative interface engineering techniques have been used to enhance the catalytic performance of nanomaterial-based electrocatalysts. The techniques include the creation of heterostructures that allow for improved charge separation and enhanced catalytic sites, development of core–shell architectures that can protect active sites while optimizing their accessibility, and manipulation of phase transitions to achieve desirable catalytic properties. Additionally, alloying techniques and the incorporation of single-atom catalysts, which are methods used to fine-tune the electronic and structural attributes of nanomaterials, are discussed. Furthermore, this review highlights recent advancements and prospective pathways in the electrocatalytic processes of the HER and features emerging technologies/methodologies. The review concludes with a thorough discussion of the limitations of nanomaterials, particularly those related to interface stability, scalability, and commercialization of efficient HER electrocatalysts. By providing a detailed examination of the latest innovations and challenges in interface engineering, this paper offers valuable perspectives and guidance for future research and real-world applications aimed at advancing the development of highly efficient electrocatalysts for sustainable hydrogen production.

This study examines the performance of pyrolyzed waste plastic biodiesel (WPO) in a compression ignition engine when combined with n-butanol and enriched hydrogen (H₂). Initially, low-density polyethylene (LDPE) plastic waste underwent conversion into waste plastic biodiesel via a pyrolysis thermochemical process. Experiments were conducted to evaluate blends consisting of 30% and 40% waste plastic biodiesel. In order to enhance the physical properties of the WPO, an additive consisting of 5% n-butanol (nBut5) was introduced, with the objective of improving combustion performance and minimizing exhaust emissions. Furthermore, enriched hydrogen was delivered to the combustion chamber via the inlet manifold at flow rates of 8 and 10 liters per minute (lpm). The findings indicated that the 40% WPO combined with 5% n-butanol demonstrated combustion properties that are similar to those of traditional diesel fuel. Moreover, the integration of the 40 WPO + nBut5 blend with 10 lpm enriched hydrogen resulted in a notable reduction in brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC) by 20.89% and an enhancement in brake thermal efficiency (BTE) by 8.22%, alongside a decrease in exhaust emissions, which included a reduction in carbon monoxide (CO) by 43.84%, unburned hydrocarbons (UBHC) by 57.8 ppm, and smoke opacity by 14.70%. Nonetheless, there was a notable increase in nitrogen oxide (NO_x) emissions, which went up by 236 ppm when compared to conventional diesel fuel.

Dilute anion alloyed III-nitride nanowires exhibited band gap reduction to around 2.4 eV with anion concentrations ranging from 5.6 to 8.8 at% and exhibited photoelectrochemical activity (∼8 mA cm⁻²@10 sun) under AM1.5 visible light. The nanowire electrode also exhibited photoelectrochemical activity using 470 nm wavelength light up to 8.75 mA cm⁻² at 10 sun (470 nm) radiation. The nanowires are grown using a plasma assisted vapor liquid solid (PA-VLS) technique using N₂ gas. The anion-alloyed antimony alloyed gallium nitride (GaSb_xN_1−x) and bismuth alloyed gallium nitride (GaBi_yN_1−y) wurtzite nanowires were grown using PA-VLS employing gold and copper as metallic seeds on a variety of substrates such as silicon, sapphire, and stainless steel. The PA-VLS technique allowed for increasing the antimony and bismuth incorporation levels with temperature as the dissolution of these species into the metals was favored with growth temperatures. Photoelectrochemical spectroscopy measurements showed light absorption of 620 nm photons in the case of the GaSb_0.056N_0.944 sample.

Ag, Cu and Sn based electrocatalysts promise high CO₂ reduction kinetics and efficiencies on gas diffusion electrodes. Ag, Cu, Sn sulfide catalysts in particular may offer altered electronic properties and product selectivity, while still being easy to manufacture in scaleable synthesis routes. Comparing the CO₂ reduction (CO₂RR) performance of Cu₃SnS₄, Ag₃SnS₄, Cu₂S, SnS and Ag₈SnS₆ at 100 mA cm⁻², formate is found to be the primary CO₂RR product with a faradaic efficiency of 57% for Cu₃SnS₄ and 81% for Ag₃SnS₄. Characterization by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray diffraction revealed the formation of Ag₃Sn and Cu₃Sn alloys from the corresponding sulfide species during CO₂RR. But while the Cu₃Sn based electrode surface decomposed into CuO and SnO after 2 h at −100 mA cm⁻², metallic Ag₃Sn sites on the corresponding electrode surface could be detected by XPS after removing the surface layer. Using density functional theory, the binding energies of *H, *CO and *OCHO on Cu₃Sn and Ag₃Sn were computed to identify possible catalytic sites. Thereby, Sn was found to render both Cu and Ag highly oxophilic resulting in strong adsorption of carboxylic functionalities, enabling formate production with a partial current density of up to 162 mA cm⁻².

Sorption enhanced reforming (SER) is emerging as a promising solution for the deployment of blue hydrogen and offers the flexibility to accommodate future green feedstocks. This study assesses the techno-economic feasibility of implementing electrified reactors for the endothermic sorbent regeneration step in SER-based hydrogen production plants, introducing the novel electrified sorption enhanced reforming (eSER) process. The analysis is conducted by integrating a 1-D dynamic heterogeneous model of an adiabatic fixed bed reactor into a process model of the complete plant. A natural gas-based hydrogen production plant with 30 000 Nm³ h⁻¹ capacity is considered, simulating five different cases, two of which are advanced plant configurations designed to capture more than 90% of the feed carbon. Evaluating a set of key performance indicators that covers technical, environmental, and economic aspects of the process, these simulated cases are benchmarked against existing studies utilizing conventional and state of the art steam methane reforming with carbon capture technology from the literature. The findings highlight the remarkable performance of eSER, achieving specific electric consumption of 12–14 kW h per kg_H2 and natural gas to H₂ conversion efficiency exceeding 100% calculated on a chemical energy basis. For the base case configuration, an overall energy efficiency of the eSER process of 74.3% and a CO₂ capture rate of 86.3% are computed. For the advanced configurations, energy efficiency of 73.7% and 73.1%, CO₂ capture rates of 90.3 and 96.6% and levelized cost of hydrogen of 2.50 and 2.52 € per kg_H2 have been obtained.