Advanced Sustainable Systems最新文献

Ammonia Synthesis

In their Research Article (10.1002/adsu.202500523), Haoquan Zheng and co-workers demonstrate CuCo nanoparticles on N-doped carbon, derived from a ZIF material with a cross-shaped leaf morphology, for electrocatalytic nitrate-to-ammonia conversion. This design enables the efficient reduction of nitrate and nitrite to ammonia, marking a notable advance in sustainable nitrogen cycle electrochemistry. The work inspires further interest in environmental protection and electrochemical technology.

ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) with uniform size are synthesized by anodizing a Zn sheet at 10 V in 1 M KCl electrolyte, forming randomly oriented nanosheets that transformed into spherical NPs after annealing at 500 °C for 1 h. These NPs are then homogeneously decorated with platinum quantum dots (Pt QDs) via a simple and efficient photodeposition method. Comprehensive characterizations by field-emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscope (EDAX), X-ray photoelectron spectroscope (XPS), UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV–vis DRS), photoluminescence (PL), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) confirmed the morphological evolution, crystal structure, composition, purity, successful decoration of ZnO with Pt QD uniformly, and high surface area. The pristine (ZnO NPs) and hybrid (Pt QDs–ZnO NPs) samples are evaluated for the photodecomposition of methylene blue (MB) under similar conditions. The Pt QDs–ZnO hybrid sample showed superior performance, achieving 99% MB degradation within 100 min compared to the pristine sample. This is attributed to higher surface area, formation of Schottky heterojunctions, reduced bandgap, efficient and improved charge transport. The synthesis and decoration procedures are simple, feasible, and universal for a series of hybrid metals-oxide fabrication with controlled morphology and improved performance.

Supercapacitors represent a transformative energy storage technology, bridging the gap between conventional capacitors and batteries through their exceptional power density, rapid charge/discharge capabilities, and extended cycle life. This comprehensive review examines recent breakthroughs in next-generation supercapacitor technology, with particular emphasis on binder-free electrode architectures and advanced fabrication methodologies. Cutting-edge manufacturing techniques are systematically analyzed, including chemical vapor deposition, electrospinning, sol–gel processing, and additive manufacturing, highlighting their role in overcoming traditional limitations imposed by polymeric binders. The discussion encompasses novel material systems, such as graphene-based architectures, transition metal compounds, and conductive polymer networks, which collectively enable enhanced specific capacitance (>500 F g⁻¹ in optimized systems) and improved energy density while maintaining superior power characteristics. A critical evaluation of scalable production methods addresses the transition from laboratory innovations to industrial implementation, with specific attention to cost-effectiveness and process sustainability. The review further explores emerging applications across diverse sectors, including: 1) renewable energy integration and grid stabilization, 2) electric vehicle power systems, and 3) flexible/wearable electronics. Through a comprehensive assessment of existing challenges and future directions, this review provides a constructive reference for researchers in materials science, electrochemistry, and energy engineering.

Achieving a climate-neutral energy future requires efficient, selective, and durable electrocatalysts for key reactions such as the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and the 4e⁻ oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), which predominantly produces hydroxide ions (OH⁻), essential for metal–air batteries. This work presents a novel Microbubble Lithography (MBL)-assisted microfabrication strategy to create highly ordered, nanostructured Zn₁₀In₂S₁₃ (ZIS)-based metal chalcogenide architectures with precisely engineered surface topographies and electronic structures. The bottom-up, template-free lithographic method enables spatially controlled patterning and nanoscale tuning of active site exposure, allowing precise regulation of catalytic activity and selectivity. The MBL-patterned ZIS demonstrates bifunctionality, achieving a highly selective 4e⁻ ORR pathway favouring OH⁻ production with an onset potential of −0.103 V vs. Ag/AgCl and stability beyond 15 h. It also delivers excellent OER performance with overpotentials of 100 mV at 10 mA cm⁻² and 600 mV at 50 mA cm⁻², a Tafel slope of 120 mV dec⁻¹, and durability over 5000 CV cycles. This study highlights that microbubble- induced nanoarchitecture engineering synergistically enhances active site utilization and intrinsic electronic properties, guiding the design of next-generation bifunctional electrocatalysts for sustainable energy conversion and durable metal-air batteries.

Electrochemical water splitting would be a wise route for fetching greener fuel, since it produces clean hydrogen and oxygen by means of water electrolysis. However, it has always been a big challenge for researchers to develop a low-cost electrocatalyst with high stability and conductivity, along with excellent activity toward bulk generation of hydrogen and oxygen. Even though noble metal-based electrocatalysts show excellent activity, their limited availability, high cost, and low stability hinder their use in large-scale applications. To address this issue, researchers have turned their focus toward transition metal (TM) based electrocatalysts, since they possess good stability even under harsh conditions, high conductivity, low cost, and ease of availability. In this perspective, this review focuses on various types of TM-based electrocatalysts (sulphides, selenides, phosphides, nitrides, carbides, oxides, and layered double hydroxides), their challenges, research trends, and methods to improve the catalytic efficacy toward hydrogen evolution reaction and oxygen evolution reaction activities. Further, this review provides an insight into the fundamental mechanism involved in water electrolysis and important parameters associated, including overpotential, Tafel slope, iR drop, stability, exchange current density, turnover frequency, electrochemical surface area, and double-layer capacitance, along with types of electrolytes, including electrodes and their importance in different electrolytes.

The Sustainable Development Goals aim to achieve sustainable development by 2030, eradicate poverty, protect the planet, and promote prosperity, ensuring a peaceful and prosperous future for all. Advancing waste sorting and management in rural areas aligns with the new development philosophy and resonates with the core essence of Sustainable Development Goal 6. Through a literature review and practical experience in related fields, as well as an analysis of three typical cases in different geographic locations in China, it is found that introducing market mechanisms and the waste classification model with property enterprises as an important carrier has great potential to promote the work of rural domestic waste management. Through autonomous, co-governance, and hosted models, the transitional dependence on the government can be effectively alleviated, and the burden of governance on the government reduced. Simultaneously, villagers can enjoy better quality and more convenient public services, injecting new impetus into improving the rural habitat, which provides experience and lessons for developing countries to address the challenges of waste classification, especially in rural areas. The authors hope that by promoting the effective operation of waste separation and management, the rural landscape can be effectively upgraded.