Advanced Sustainable Systems最新文献

The transition toward sustainable, eco-friendly antidegradants in rubber compounds aligns with the global mandate to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Tire–road wear particles (TRWPs) represent a major environmental concern due to their persistence and contribution to microplastic pollution. Conventional non-biodegradable waxes, widely used as static antiozonants, contribute to TRWPs and adversely affect aquatic ecosystems and water quality. In this study, OECD 301B-certified, REACH-compliant biodegradable waxes are investigated as potential alternatives to conventional waxes in natural rubber (NR) compounds. Three grades with differing physical properties are evaluated at equivalent loadings with respect to cure kinetics, physico-mechanical performance, and resistance to oxidative and ozonolytic degradation. NR vulcanizates containing biodegradable waxes exhibit comparable, and in several cases superior, performance relative to the conventional formulation. To quantitatively substantiate sustainability benefits, a mass-balance-based material flow analysis is conducted using SankeyMATIC. Recent reports indicate that approximately 62% of global microplastic generation originates from TRWPs, of which ∼1.62% is attributable to static antiozonants. Replacement with biodegradable waxes shifts this fraction toward degradable pathways, resulting in an estimated ∼1.01% reduction in global microplastic persistence. This cumulative mitigation effect increases with projected tire production growth of 8.34% by 2031, supporting SDG 6 and SDG 14.

In this study, a donor-acceptor (D-A) conjugated design strategy was used to synthesize a novel covalent organic framework (NLCOF, the COF initiated by Na Lv), using 2,5-dimethoxylterephthalaldehyde as the building block via the Kröhnke reaction. Subsequently, ZnIn₂S₄ quantum dots (ZIS QDs) were physically combined with NLCOF for constructing a ZIS QDs-NLCOF S-scheme heterojunction composite photocatalytic system. This system achieved an H₂O₂ production rate of 6 417 µmol·g⁻¹·h⁻¹ in pure water using the 40ZIS-NLC composite catalyst, which was 4.2 and 26.7 times higher than that of ZIS QDs and NLCOF, respectively. Upon adding 1 mL benzyl alcohol to the system, the H₂O₂ production rate drastically increased to 53 383 µmol·g⁻¹·within 5 h. Advanced characterization techniques, including XPS, KPFM, and EPR were employed to elucidate the intrinsic mechanism of S-scheme heterojunction photocatalytic H₂O₂ production. This study offers insights into the rational design of high-performance COF-based heterojunction photocatalysts and provides a robust foundation for optimizing interfacial electron-coupling interactions to enhance overall photocatalytic efficiency.

With the progress of society and the development of medical care, the abuse of antibiotics has become an environmental problem that cannot be ignored. In this work, a significant improvement in photocatalytic efficiency for tetracycline degradation was achieved through the design of a direct Z-scheme heterojunction In₂S₃/MIL-101(Fe), realized by precisely controlling the in situ growth of In₂S₃ nanoblocks on octahedral MIL-101(Fe). MIL-101(Fe) and In₂S₃ generate a strong built-in electric field to facilitate the efficient transfer and separation of photoexcited carriers. Furthermore, the enhanced specific surface area of In₂S₃/MIL-101(Fe) offers more active sites for catalytic reactions. Simulated sunlight-driven photocatalytic degradation experiments of tetracycline hydrochloride (TC) demonstrated a significant enhancement in the performance of the heterojunction photocatalyst. It achieved an 82.2% TC removal efficiency with a degradation rate constant of 0.0113 min⁻¹, representing 3.05 times and 4.52 times the performance of pure In₂S₃ and MIL-101(Fe) materials, respectively. This study offers valuable insights into the design of efficient and stable metal-organic framework (MOF)-based heterojunction photocatalysts and holds promising potential for the remediation of antibiotic pollution.

Solar-driven interfacial evaporation (SDIE) has emerged as a promising strategy to alleviate the global freshwater crisis owing to its high efficiency, low energy demand, and environmental compatibility. Natural and bio-inspired materials offer unique structural and functional advantages in this context, enabling enhanced solar absorption, efficient water transport, localized thermal management, and effective salt resistance. Despite these advances, challenges such as limited material durability, incomplete structural integration, and inefficient vapor condensation continue to restrict long-term stability and large-scale deployment. Looking forward, progress in multifunctional material systems, rational structural design, and integrated water collection strategies inspired by biological prototypes will be essential. This review provides a comprehensive and forward-looking perspective on advancing SDIE by coupling biological inspiration with functional engineering, highlighting pathways toward multifunctional, integrated, and sustainable solar evaporators.

Rationally constructing S-scheme heterojunctions incorporating anion vacancies offers an effective strategy for developing highly efficient photocatalysts. Herein, CoWO₄ was combined with sulfur vacancy-engineered ZnIn₂S₄ (ZIS-X). Owing to its noncentrosymmetric hexagonal structure (space group P63mc), ZIS-X possesses an intrinsic dipole field, which facilitates more efficient charge separation. The hydrogen evolution rate of the optimized ZIS-2/CoWO₄ composite is 11 times higher than that of pure ZIS-2 and 379 times greater than that of CoWO₄ alone. Through photoelectrochemical and analytical investigations, we confirmed that the synergistic interaction between sulfur vacancies and the S-scheme heterojunction significantly enhances charge separation and improves redox efficiency. This research introduces an innovative approach to developing high-efficiency photocatalysts through the modulation of vacancy concentrations and the formation of heterojunction structures.

Fluorescence sensing technology plays a crucial role in environmental monitoring and food safety, resulting from its remarkable sensitivity and visualization capabilities. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have emerged as ideal platforms for high-performance fluorescent probes, mainly due to their large specific surface area, adjustable luminescent properties, and diverse structures. This review summarizes the recent research progress of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and their composites in the field of fluorescence sensing, focusing on elaborating their luminescence mechanisms and sensing mechanisms, systematically introduces the detection of ions (such as Al³⁺, Cu²⁺, Cr₂O₇²⁻, etc.) and organic pollutants in foods, and highlights the advantages of the combination of machine learning algorithms and MOFs. Furthermore, the current challenges in this field are carefully analyzed, and future research directions are proposed, which thus offer a basic reference for promoting the development of MOF-based fluorescence sensing technologies.

Artificial photosynthesis systems that convert solar energy into storable energy have aroused great interest. However, it is generally challenging for a single-component material to meet the requirements for a highly efficient photocatalyst, such as broadband light absorption and effective charge-carrier separation. Heterostructures, which integrate the advantages of multiple materials, offer a promising strategy to overcome the limitations of individual components. Accordingly, designing heterostructures with broadband absorption has emerged as an effective approach to enhancing photocatalytic performance. This review comprehensively overviews heterostructures fabricated by incorporating light absorbers, including narrow-bandgap semiconductors, localized surface plasmon, and upconversion systems. We compare the underlying mechanisms through which these heterostructures broaden the absorption range and promote charge-carrier separation, with particular emphasis on the critical role of interface design. Furthermore, we discuss material selection and modification strategies for various photocatalytic applications. This review aims to offer valuable insights for the rational design of highly active, broadband-responsive heterostructures to achieve efficient solar energy conversion and environmental remediation.

The co-pyrolysis of biomass and plastic waste presents a promising route for sustainable hydrogen-rich syngas and liquid fuel production, yet the development of low-cost and stable catalysts remains a challenge. In this study, hematite-rich mining tailings CT1 are employed as a catalyst in the co-pyrolysis of wheat straw (WS) and polyethylene (PE) to investigate synergistic effects on product distribution and reaction mechanisms. Results show that CT1 significantly enhances H₂ purity, up to 96.76 vol% at 75% PE, and completely suppresses H₂S and heavy hydrocarbons (C₆₊). The catalyst also directs liquid product selectivity toward middle-chain hydrocarbons, achieving over 60% selectivity at 50% PE, suitable for biodiesel and aviation fuel applications. Catalyst characterization reveals that Fe species dynamically evolve under different WS/PE ratios, influencing dehydrogenation, cracking, and deoxygenation pathways. A synergistic mechanism is proposed, wherein PE acts as a hydrogen donor, WS provides the carbon skeleton, and CT1 facilitates selective cracking and desulfurization. This work establishes a novel “waste-to-resource” strategy using iron tailings as a synergistic catalyst, enabling high-value conversion of solid wastes into clean energy and chemicals.

Miniaturized and flexible energy storage systems are critical for next-generation microelectronics, yet scalable fabrication remains a fundamental challenge. Here, we demonstrate a rapid, ambient-processable strategy to fabricate flexible micro-supercapacitors (MSCs) by direct laser-induced carbonization of Co@ZIF-based (a combination of ZIF-8 and ZIF-67) metal–organic framework (MOF) films deposited on commercial cellulose paper. This substrate-integrated approach combines a simple vacuum filtration process with CO₂ laser scribing, enabling the in situ formation of porous carbon–metal oxide hybrid electrodes in seconds, without the need for high-temperature or inert-atmosphere processing. We show that the morphology and electrochemical performance of the MSCs can be precisely tuned by adjusting the laser scribing parameters, with optimal performance achieved at a scan speed of 650 mm s⁻¹. The resulting devices exhibit an areal capacitance of 724.86 µF cm⁻², robust cycling stability over 9000 cycles, and dual-polarity operation. Integration into a low-voltage, USB-powered circuit further validates the device's functional applicability. This work introduces a cost-effective, sustainable, and scalable platform for high-performance micro-energy storage, bridging the gap between laboratory-scale concepts and real-world implementation.