Advanced Sustainable Systems最新文献

Realizing highly efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is a key challenge. Herein, a (FFV)₂PdCl₂ complex is developed with dynamic coordination engineering between the Pd^II site and Fluoflavin (FFV) ligands, and couple it with graphite carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) ultrathin nanosheets to construct a novel Z-scheme heterojunction ((FFV)₂PdCl₂/C₃N₄). The resultant heterojunction delivers a HER activity of 648 µmol  h⁻¹ under visible light (λ ≥ 400 nm) illumination and an apparent quantum yield up to 40.1% at 400 nm, far superior to those g-C₃N₄-based catalysts reported previously. Mechanistic and theoretical studies reveal that the dynamic coordination between the Pd^II site and FFV ligands not only significantly accelerates the electron transfer from g-C₃N₄ to (FFV)₂PdCl₂ and then to the Pd^II sites via a Z-scheme mechanism, but also effectively maintain the efficacy and stability of the Pd^II active sties, and thus the (FFV)₂PdCl₂/C₃N₄ with a ultralow Pd-loading amount (ca. 0.1 wt.%) exhibits the impressive activity and durability. The present dynamic coordination and structural evolution of (FFV)₂PdCl₂ are also applicable for significantly improving the HER performance of other semiconductors, thus paving a potential way for manufacturing highly efficient and active H₂ production systems.

In energy conversion processes and various industries, gas evolution reactions (GERs) play an important role. To achieve a future without fossil fuels, the development of high-efficiency electrocatalysts is necessary, as they directly affect the catalytic performance and overall efficiency of reactions. In addition to the discovery of highly active catalysts, the rapid removal of gaseous products on the electrode surface is equally important for GERs. The adherence of bubbles to the electrode surface introduces substantial resistance, significantly diminishing the system's efficiency. One promising solution to reduce the adhesion of bubbles is the development of electrocatalysts with superaerophobic levels. These surface structures, such as nanotubes, nanosheets, and nanowires, prevent gas bubbles from adhering and promote their rapid removal from the electrode. The aim of this review is first to obtain a deep understanding of mechanisms related to the creation of superaerophobic surfaces, including their characteristics, methods of creation, and bubble detachment behavior. Furthermore, recent advances in the application of these surfaces in various gas-evolving reactions to enhance electrocatalytic properties are discussed. By taking this innovative approach, valuable insights can be gained into advancing the field of electrocatalysis and driving progress toward sustainable energy solutions.

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are crucial for achieving sustainable energy goals due to their high energy density and long cycle life. They dominate markets like consumer electronics, electric vehicles, and stationary energy storage systems. However, current LIBs use liquid electrolytes, which are toxic, flammable, and their liquid state does not resist dendrite growth, causing battery capacity decline and failure. Additionally, the limited availability of lithium and other metals makes liquid-based LIBs less sustainable. On the other hand, solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) offer a safer alternative as they are non-volatile and can resist dendrite growth. However, ion transport in solids is much more restricted than in liquids, while imperfect solid-solid interfaces contribute to interfacial resistance leading to lower ionic conductivity and increasing Ohmic losses or requiring battery operation at elevated temperatures. Chemical and mechanical degradation of these interfaces can also result in battery capacity fade, and poorer cyclic performance compared to liquid electrolytes. Understanding the ionic transport mechanisms in SPEs is critical for designing and optimizing the nanostructure of polymers and polymer/electrode interfaces to overcome these limitations. In this review, the fundamental mechanisms of ion transport in SPEs will first be explored. Various state-of-the-art approaches for addressing the key challenges in SPEs and their solutions are then discussed. Furthermore, the current status of SPEs is analyzed to determine their potential for replacing liquid electrolytes in the future.

Among various transition metal sulfides, iron-based sulfides have attracted wide attention due to their abundant resources, low cost, and non-toxicity, showing considerable research value in the field of secondary batteries. Thereinto, Fe₃S₄ has a high theoretical specific capacity of 785 mAh g⁻¹. However, at present, the research related to Fe₃S₄ anode for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) is still in its infancy, and it also suffers from severe volume expansion and limited preparation. Therefore, to further boost its sodium storage potential, the Fe₃S₄@rGO composite with hierarchical structure and carbonaceous network is proposed in this study. Beneficial from the ingenious hierarchitectures and flexible graphene coating, the Fe₃S₄@rGO anode exhibits outstanding sodium storage performance, which can deliver a high capacity of 603 mAh g⁻¹ after 1500 cycles with a superior capacity retention of 98%. The micron flower-like structure composed of 2D nanosheets can provide sufficient active sites and promote the rapid transport of Na⁺. Meanwhile, the 3D interconnected graphene carbon network makes a crucial contribution to alleviating volume changes and enhancing electrical conductivity. This work reveals the application potential of Fe₃S₄ as an anode electrode for SIBs and provides available insights for the development of other electrode materials.

Rapid advancements in portable electronics have created a demand for ultrathin power sources. Microsupercapacitors (MSCs) are becoming a competitive and advantageous option for these applications. It is widely recognized that to develop MSCs with exceptional performance, electrode materials having two-dimensonal (2D) permeable channels, structural scaffolds with high-conductivity and large surface area are suitable. Vanadium ditelluride (VTe₂) stands out as an ideal material platform in this context. Its unique combination of metallic properties and exfoliative characteristics-stemming from the conducting Te–V–Te layers held together by weak van der Waals interlayer interactions- renders it highly promising for high-performance MSCs.  This study is the first to report that the restacking issues and electrochemical performance of VTe₂ can be successfully avoided by the simultaneous incorporation of MXene and CNT to form a ternary hybrid. Here, a laser-induced graphene (LIG)-based MSC utilizing VTe₂/MXene/CNT as the active electrode material is fabricated. This MSC achieve fabrications an outstanding maximum energy density of 6.84 µWh cm⁻² and a power density of 304.7 µW cm⁻². This significant achievement demonstrates the potential of this LIG-based MSC to advance the design of high-performance micro-energy storage devices.

Fog harvesting is a promising path against the global freshwater scarcity. Asymmetric wettability fabric-based fog collection materials inspired by the Namib desert beetle have been reported widely due to their easy access and adjustable structures. Nevertheless, the single drive force for water transportation produced by the asymmetric wettability is insufficient, causing a non-ideal fog harvesting efficiency. Moreover, sustainability challenges persist for fog collection materials, primarily due to their heavy dependence on chemical treatments. Herein, a diatom-inspired Janus fabric (Ly/Csp-3) based on asymmetric wettability and aperture gradient is developed without additional physical or chemical treatment. The wettability gradient and aperture gradient generate dual directional drive forces that regulate the water transport direction more accurately and enhance the transportation rate more effectively. Ly/Csp-3 reaches a one-way transport index of 390.7% and a water collecting rate (WCR) of 1170.5 mg cm⁻² h⁻¹, while exhibiting the capability of anti-acid rain and the resistance to sunlight. This work provides an efficient and programmable biomimetic design proposal for fibrous fog harvesting devices.

The growing accumulation of textile waste poses significant environmental challenges, as only a small percentage of materials is currently recycled. However, cotton waste offers a valuable feedstock for the regeneration of cellulose and nanocellulose (NC). This study presents a sustainable and efficient method for producing NC from textile waste using both binary and ternary natural deep eutectic solvents (NADESs). By treating cotton wool, pre-consumer standard cotton fabrics, and post-consumer denim textiles, with NADESs, NC generation is achieved in high yields (up to ≈90%) in all cases. The most promising NADESs, composed of choline chloride and gallic acid (and tartaric acid), effectively dissolve cotton-based materials when subjected to heating and sonication, producing cellulose nanocrystals with length ranging from 100 to 300 nm and crystallinity level up to ≈80%. The NADESs are characterized by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), as well as modeled by density functional theory (DFT), to investigate their hydrogen bond network. Eventually, their recyclability is also investigated. This approach opens promising applications in the fields of sustainable nanomaterial production and textile recycling, providing a greener alternative for waste valorization and promoting circular economy practices.

Ciprofloxacin Photodegradation

In article number 2400375, Alberto Vomiero, Elisa Moretti, and co-workers synthesize cerium containing-titania nano-octahedra from commercial titania which are tested as photocatalysts for the removal of ciprofloxacin, in aqueous solution under simulated solar light. The optimized Ce concentration leads to an 83% degradation of ciprofloxacin after 360 min under simulated solar light, demonstrating the effectiveness of the new photocatalyst.

Biodegradable materials represent a promising path toward green and sustainable electronics on a global scale in the future. Plastics play a pivotal role in contemporary electronics, including printed circuit boards (PCB), where petroleum-based polymers such as epoxies form the base insulating substrate. In this review paper, several promising bio-based alternatives to conventional PCB materials that are recently developed and investigated are stated and discussed regarding their properties, practical utilization, and further perspective. The given list includes polylactic acid (PLA), cellulose acetate (CA), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and others, with the development of PLA-based PCB substrates being the furthest along regarding the use in industry practice. Yet, all of the provided solutions are still only suitable for prototypes or low-cost electronics without high-reliability requirements. The reason for this is inferior mechanical and thermal properties of biopolymers compared to traditional petroleum-based polymers. Further development is therefore essential, including new types of reinforcements and other additives. However, as Life Cycle Assessment analyses discussed in the paper show, biopolymers are capable of significantly reducing the environmental impact and are likely to play a major role in shaping a sustainable path for the electronics industry, which will be a key challenge in the current decade.