Advanced Sustainable Systems最新文献

Carbon nano-onions (CNOs) are efficiently functionalized using a sustainable approach based on polymerizable deep eutectic solvents (PDESs), or deep eutectic monomers (DEMs). These systems replace conventional organic solvents, acting simultaneously as dispersing media and functionalization reagents. The method enables the rapid introduction of functional groups such as –OH, –NH₃⁺Br⁻, and –SO₃⁻ onto CNO surfaces. The resulting materials are comprehensively characterized by TGA, ¹³C-CPMAS-TOSS NMR, FT-IR spectroscopy, TEM, AFM, DLS, and XPS. Notably, sulfonate-functionalized CNOs support the Keggin-type polyoxometalate H₃PW₁₂O₄₀ (PW₁₂), which acts as a recyclable heterogeneous catalyst for the oxidation of alcohols to carbonyl compounds.

The escalating global water crisis necessitates the development of sustainable and energy-efficient freshwater generation technologies that reduce reliance on fossil fuels. The burgeoning field of photothermal desalination offers a promising paradigm shift within the water–energy nexus, utilizing solar energy for water purification. This review systematically examines the multifaceted advancements in photothermal desalination, emphasizing the pivotal role of interfacial heating over bulk heating in enhancing energy efficiency. We delineate the relevance of osmoregulatory strategies observed in mangrove ecosystems, presenting them as bio-inspired paradigms for augmenting freshwater production under hypersaline conditions. Additionally, it offers a comprehensive overview of diverse photothermal materials and evaporator architectures that influence overall performance, including light absorption, heat localization, and water transport. Furthermore, we discussed the current strategies to mitigate salt blockage or fouling, a critical issue that can degrade system performance and longevity. Finally, the review connects photothermal desalination research to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and highlights current global efforts and governmental investments driving this technology forward. Herein, we aim to foster the future innovation and development efforts toward more robust, efficient, and scalable photothermal desalination solutions for sustainable freshwater production.

Flexible and wearable piezoelectric sensors have gained attention for applications in human-machine interfacing (HMI) and the artificial intelligence of things (AIoT). In this study, antimony-doped barium titanate (Ba_0.3Sb₀.₇TiO₃) was used to fabricate a piezoelectric nanogenerator (PENG) for finger movement sensing and gesture recognition. The polymer-to-particle ratio was optimized, with 20 wt.% yielding the best performance. The optimized PENG generated a maximum output of 50 V and 1.5 µA under applied force, validated by charging commercial capacitors and powering LEDs. For real-time applications, the device was scaled to finger size and integrated into a wearable glove capable of detecting finger motion. The generated electrical signals were processed using convolutional neural networks (CNNs), converting the signals into readable text through deep learning. Using this approach, the glove successfully recognized the words “SOS” and “HELLO,” demonstrating the potential of the PENG for smart wearable applications. This work highlights the integration of piezoelectric sensing with AI-enabled gesture recognition, offering a promising route for advanced wearable healthcare devices and interactive technologies.

The rapid expansion of lithium-ion battery (LIB) applications in electric vehicles and electronics has led to growing volumes of spent cathodes, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable recycling and upcycling strategies. In this study, we develop a binder-engineering approach to upcycle spent LiFePO₄ (LFP) cathodes into efficient electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in alkaline media. By incorporating fluorine-rich Nafion as a functional binder and acetylene black (AB) as a conductive additive, the resulting catalyst-M12 N-AB(0.3)/NF-exhibits significantly enhanced HER activity. It delivers a low overpotential of 205.3 mV at current density of 10 mA cm⁻² and a Tafel slope of 102 mV dec⁻¹, outperforming gelatin-based analogs (overpotential: 256.1 mV) and most reported waste-derived HER catalysts. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy reveals reduced charge transfer resistance and improved ion-electron transport. The catalyst demonstrates excellent durability over 96 h of continuous operation and 3000 cyclic voltammetry cycles, with performance even improving post-cycling. Driven by the solar energy, substituting the values, the theoretical energy efficiency was determined to be 𝜂_{𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙} with 80.7% which highlights the capability of the recycled LFP-based electrode to enable sustainable approach for solar-to-hydrogen energy conversion from converting spent LIBs.

The development of high-capacity and stable anode materials beyond graphite remains a critical challenge for advancing lithium-ion battery (LIB) technology. Organometallic materials such as metallophthalocyanines (MPcs) offer reversible redox activity, tunability, and high theoretical capacity, yet their practical use is constrained by low conductivity, electrolyte solubility, and limited cycling stability. In this study, we address these limitations through a molecular engineering strategy by synthesizing and directly comparing monomeric cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPc) with a novel cross-linked polymeric cobalt phthalocyanine (pCoPc) as anode materials for LIBs. The pCoPc is prepared via a one-pot cyclotetramerization of pyromellitic dianhydride with a cobalt source, forming an extended conjugated network. FTIR, Raman, XRD, and electron microscopy confirm the successful construction of the polymeric framework, which exhibits reduced particle size and a porous, interconnected morphology relative to monomeric CoPc. As a LIB anode, pCoPc delivers a high specific capacity of 1087 mAh g⁻¹ at 100 mA g⁻¹ over 100 cycles, along with excellent rate capability and long-term stability. These improvements arise from enhanced structural integrity, increased accessible redox sites, improved conductivity, and suppressed dissolution. This work highlights polymeric MPcs as promising anode materials and presents a rational design strategy for high-energy organometallic electrodes.

The long-duration energy storage (LDES) technologies are being developed to cope with the inherent intermittency of solar and wind power as renewable sources. Iron–air batteries (IABs), which leverage earth-abundant iron and oxygen, have emerged as a transformative LDES solution due to their ultralow projected cost, inherent non-flammability, exceptional theoretical energy density, and minimal environmental footprint. This review begins with an overview of the fundamental principles and technical development history of IABs, followed by a comprehensive analysis of their current research landscape. In particular, ongoing challenges and advances in critical components including metal electrodes, electrolytes, and cell structures have been focused on to provide insights into redox kinetics-improving the mechanism of iron-based anode. These advances facilitate the scaling up of IABs and their integration with renewable infrastructure, thereby advancing the sustainable development of renewable energy.

The global pursuit of sustainable development is increasingly constrained by freshwater scarcity and the growing energy crisis. Integrating solar-powered hybrid systems that couple photovoltaic electricity generation with passive steam-based desalination offers a promising solution. Although thermally localized multi-stage solar stills have been explored, stable water production in saline environments remains challenging. Herein, a photovoltaic (PV) cell integrated with a nine-stage membrane distillation (MD) device are developed, enabling simultaneous electricity and clean water generation from diverse saline water (3.5%–20%). Zwitterion-modified Janus membranes, together with the multi-stage architecture, synergistically cool down the PV cell, suppress salt crystallization, recycle vaporization enthalpy, and repurpose waste heat. As a result, the integrated device achieves a high water production rate of 3.89 kg m⁻² h⁻¹, while simultaneously maintaining a stable electricity generation efficiency of 15.3% under 1 sun, maximizing the total solar energy conversion. Under natural sunlight, a daily clean water yield of 10.8 kg m⁻² day⁻¹ is achieved, placing this system among the best-performing solar stills reported to date. This study highlights a low-carbon cogeneration of clean water and electricity, extending the applicability of solar conversion technologies to saline environments.

Energy storage and conversion technologies are crucial in the global shift toward renewable energy sources, addressing the intermittent nature of solar and wind energy and enhancing the stability and reliability of power grids. Polymer/carbon composites have emerged as pivotal materials in this realm, due to their unique ability to combine the electrical conductivity and mechanical strength of carbon materials with the versatility and chemical stability of conductive polymers. This review delves into how these methods affect conductivity, capacitance, and stability, thereby enhancing the efficiency and durability of devices such as supercapacitors and batteries. The discussion extends to the characterization of these materials using advanced techniques that elucidate their structural integrity and functional capabilities, providing insights into their performance enhancements. The applications of polymer/carbon composites in energy storage systems are highlighted by their use in supercapacitors and batteries, where they contribute to increased energy density, faster charge–discharge cycles, and improved longevity. As the demand for more efficient and sustainable energy storage solutions continues to grow, the insights provided by this review into the properties and applications of polymer/carbon composites pave the way for future innovations in energy technologies, ultimately guiding researchers and technologists in developing next-generation materials for advanced energy systems.