MRS energy & sustainability : a review journal最新文献

Abstract: Heating and cooling combined constitute the world's largest form of end-use energy and the largest source of carbon emissions. It is therefore interesting to explore heat pumps based on caloric materials, which offer promising and environmentally friendly alternatives to gas combustion and vapor compression. The possibility of replacing these traditional methods of heating and cooling motivates the current research on caloric materials and devices. Here, we report the latest developments from the second biennial Calorics conference.

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Highlights: Caloric materials offer environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional heating and cooling technologies, addressing global energy and carbon emission challenges. The latest developments on caloric measurements, materials and devices were presented at the second biennial Calorics conference in Cambridge (UK).

Discussion: How can caloric technologies be made more energy efficient to ensure they outperform traditional vapor-compression systems?What are the most significant barriers to scaling caloric materials and devices from lab-scale prototypes to commercial applications?Could integrating caloric technologies with renewable energy sources, such as solar or waste heat recovery, offer sustainable solutions for heating and cooling?

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries with high energy density are promising for next-generation energy storage but suffer from poor cycle life due to instability of the lithium anode. Commercial graphite anodes used in lithium-ion batteries could be viable for replacement of lithium metal as anode in Li-S batteries. However, graphite anodes are incompatible with the commonly used ether-based electrolytes in Li-S batteries due to the Li⁺ ion and solvent co-intercalation into graphite interlayers, which leads to exfoliation. Here, we report the stabilisation of graphite anode by in-situ formation of quasi-solid-state electrolyte (QSSE) in Li-S batteries. The QSSE is formed by the ring-opening of molecular ethers induced by metallic molybdenum disulfide sulfur cathode host to produce long-chain polymers. The resulting gel polymer matrix exhibits ionic conductivity (1.51 mS cm^-1) comparable to that of liquid electrolyte and provides sufficient redox chemistry for the sulfur cathode without co-intercalation into the graphite anode. Li-S pouch cells based on in-situ formed QSSE and graphite anode show a specific capacity of ~ 1200 mAh g^-1 and 90.3% capacity retention after 200 cycles. Our design addresses the electrolyte limitation associated with graphite anode, enabling graphite to be used in ether-based solvents for safe, cost-effective and stable Li-S batteries.

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Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1557/s43581-025-00139-0.

Over the past decade, lead halide perovskites have gained significant interest for ionizing radiation detection, owing to their exceptional performance, and cost-effective fabrication in a wide range of form factors, from thick films to large single crystals. However, the toxicity of lead, limited environmental and thermal stability of these materials, as well as dark current drift due to ionic conductivity, have prompted the development of alternative materials that can address these challenges. Bismuth-based compounds (including perovskite derivatives and nonperovskite materials) have similarly high atomic numbers, leading to strong X-ray attenuation, but have lower toxicity, tend to be more environmentally stable, and can have lower ionic conductivity, especially in low-dimensional materials. These materials are also advantageous over commercial direct X-ray detectors by being able to detect lower dose rates of X-rays than amorphous selenium by at least two orders of magnitude, are potentially more cost-effective to mass produce than cadmium zinc telluride, and can operate at room temperature (unlike high-purity Ge). Given the strong interest in this area, we here discuss recent advances in the development of bismuth-based perovskite derivatives (with 3D, 2D and 0D structural dimensionality), and other bismuth-based perovskite-inspired materials for direct X-ray detection. We discuss the critical properties of these materials that underpin the strong performances achieved, particularly the ability to detect low-dose rates of X-rays. We cover key strategies for enhancing the performance of these materials, as well as the challenges that need to be overcome to commercialize these emerging technologies.

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Abstract: Heterostructures of two-dimensional (2D) materials comprise clean van der Waals (vdW) interfaces that can facilitate charge or energy transfer. Recently, the 2D ferroelectric CuInP₂S₆ (CIPS) has been integrated with graphene and other 2D materials to realize potentially novel low energy electronic devices. However, the influence of 2D CIPS on the properties of graphene and doping across the vdW interface has not been studied in detail. Here, we study graphene field effect transistors (FETs) with CIPS as the top gate. We find that CIPS leads to modulation of the graphene Fermi level due to local doping. We also find polarization-induced hysteresis in CIPS-gated graphene FETs. Electrical transport measurements from 50 to300 K show that above 200 K, the ferroelectric response decreases. As a result, the hysteresis voltage windows in the graphene ferroelectric FETs (FeFET) transfer curves decrease above 200 K. Our results show that interfacial remote doping affects the macroscopic polarization and performance of CIPS-based graphene FeFETs.

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Highlights: This research studies the temperature-dependent local doping across a vdW ferroelectric/2D channel interface that affects the transport properties of ferroelectric field effect transistors (FeFETs).Experimental findings showed ferroelectric polarization switching-based hysteresis in CuInP₂S₆-gated graphene FeFETs.

Discussion: vdW ferroelectrics that can be scaled to atomic layer thicknesses are useful for miniaturised low energy electronics.Understanding the interface charge or energy transfer in vdW ferroelectrics is essential for their integration into current or future technologies.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1557/s43581-024-00109-y.

Abstract: Renewable sources produced close to one-third of the world's electricity in 2023. However, a limited but growing body of research suggests rapid renewable energy development is leading to conflict and resource exploitation in energy-transitioning communities. Such injustices are attributable to the extractivist nature of renewable energy development, where raw materials, also known as Clean Energy Technology Materials (CETMs), are in limited quantities and often concentrated in resource-constrained zones in the Global South. In this perspective, we call for an urgent need for energy justice considerations in CETM's supply chain. We used demand projection data from 2020 to 2040 to look into the effects of important CETMs like nickel, cobalt, and lithium on distributive justice. We also examined the potential of these effects to tackle systemic injustices such as conflict, labor exploitation, and transactional colonialism. Next, we analyzed global mining production data from the United States Geological Survey using a CETM life cycle lens and found that increasing demand for these materials is exacerbating restorative injustices, particularly in the Global South. Finally, building on the above evidence, we called for the creation of multi-stakeholder partnerships and the establishment of fair trade standards across the critical CETM supply chain.

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Highlights: Here, we analyzed the projected demand growth for selected clean energy technology materials by 2040 relative to 2020 levels using data from the International Energy Agency, visualized their global mining production using data from the United States Geological Survey, explained how the demand for these materials is exacerbating certain injustices, and recommended multi-stakeholder partnerships across the supply chain of these materials.

Discussion: The rapid growth of renewable energy technologies is creating injustices throughout the supply chain of clean energy technology materials (CETM).A lack of any energy justice framework across CETMs' extraction, processing, decommissioning, and recycling is exacerbating restorative injustices, especially in the Global South.By examining the projected demands and geospatial patterns for the extraction of minerals, metals, and other materials essential for clean energy technology development, the inequities faced by impoverished, marginalized, and Indigenous communities become apparent.We argue that if coffee can have fair trade standards across its supply chain, why can't we have similar considerations for the CETMs?There is a need to include transparency in the sustainability, ethics, and energy efficiency of CETM extraction and processing through global partnerships across its supply chain.

Highlights: The production and consumption of commodity polymers have been an indispensable part of the development of our modern society. Owing to their adjustable properties and variety of functions, polymer-based materials will continue playing important roles in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)s, defined by the United Nations, in key areas such as healthcare, transport, food preservation, construction, electronics, and water management. Considering the serious environmental crisis, generated by increasing consumption of plastics, leading-edge polymers need to incorporate two types of functions: Those that directly arise from the demands of the application (e.g. selective gas and liquid permeation, actuation or charge transport) and those that enable minimization of environmental harm, e.g., through prolongation of the functional lifetime, minimization of material usage, or through predictable disintegration into non-toxic fragments. Here, we give examples of how the incorporation of a thoughtful combination of properties/functions can enhance the sustainability of plastics ranging from material design to waste management. We focus on tools to measure and reduce the negative impacts of plastics on the environment throughout their life cycle, the use of renewable sources for their synthesis, the design of biodegradable and/or recyclable materials, and the use of biotechnological strategies for enzymatic recycling of plastics that fits into a circular bioeconomy. Finally, we discuss future applications for sustainable plastics with the aim to achieve the SDGs through international cooperation.

Abstract: Leading-edge polymer-based materials for consumer and advanced applications are necessary to achieve sustainable development at a global scale. It is essential to understand how sustainability can be incorporated in these materials via green chemistry, the integration of bio-based building blocks from biorefineries, circular bioeconomy strategies, and combined smart and functional capabilities.

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Abstract: A great number of populations of the world, primarily in developing countries, are living in rural areas and are commonly isolated from the grid connection. Unstable power supply and increasing energy prices have significant effects on developing countries, especially during this COVID-19 pandemic. Renewable energy sources can provide sustainable and efficient electricity supply. Murzuq is a rural community situated in the southern part of Libya and endowed with renewable energy resources. While there is high electricity consumption during the lockdown, health clinics also experienced higher energy consumption of longer operating hours and an increased number of electrical appliances. This study investigates the techno-economic assessment of three different hybrid energy systems for health clinics in Murzuq. HOMER (Hybrid optimization model for electric renewables) software tool was used to evaluate the feasibility of employing renewable energy, to provide sustainable energy supply to the clinic. The current unsteady energy supply comes from the national grid and the current energy supply is not sufficient for the clinic's operating hours and requires a sustainable and steady supply. Measured data collected from the health clinic and HOMER software were used to analyze and optimize the change in overall electricity demand for the health clinic before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results showed that the photovoltaic/battery hybrid energy system has a lower net present cost, compared to the Photovoltaic/Generator set/ battery hybrid energy system, but higher than the standalone generator set. However, the highest amount of carbon emission associated with the standalone generator set compared to the other two hybrid energy systems disqualifies it from being a suitable contender for the source of electricity for the health clinic. The photovoltaic/battery was deemed to be most economically beneficial in terms of emission reduction and energy price. The outcomes of this investigation will help stakeholders and designers to optimize hybrid energy systems that economically meet the health clinic energy demands, especially during this pandemic.

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Abstract: Replacement of conventional hydrometallurgical and pyrometallurgical process used in E-waste recycling to recover metals can be possible. The metallurgical industry has been considered biohydrometallurgical-based technologies for E-waste recycling. Biorecovery of critical metals from phosphor powder from spent lamps is an example of transition to a bio-based circular economy. E-waste contains economically significant levels of precious, critical metals and rare-earth elements (REE), apart from base metals and other toxic compounds. Recycling and recovery of critical elements from E-waste using a cost-effective technology are now among the top priorities in metallurgy due to the rapid depletion of their natural resources. This paper focuses on the perceptions of recovery of REE from phosphor powder from spent fluorescent lamps regarding a possible transition toward a bio-based economy. An overview of the worldwide E-waste and REE is also demonstrated to reinforce the arguments for the importance of E-waste as a secondary source of some critical metals. Based on the use of bioprocesses, we argue that the replacement of conventional steps used in E-waste recycling by bio-based technological processes can be possible. The bio-recycling of E-waste follows a typical sequence of industrial processes intensely used in classic pyro- and hydrometallurgy with the addition of bio-hydrometallurgical processes such as bioleaching and biosorption. We use the case study of REE biosorption as a new technology based on biological principles to exemplify the potential of urban biomining. The perspective of transition between conventional processes for the recovery of valuable metals for biohydrometallurgy defines which issues related to urban mining can influence the mineral bioeconomy. This assessment is necessary to outline future directions for sustainable recycling development to achieve United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

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Highlights: DAC can help deal with difficult to avoid emissions. Large-scale deployment of DAC requires serious government, private, and corporate support and investment particularly to offset the capital cost as well as operational costs. Further optimizations to the costs can be found in choice of energy source as well as advances in CO₂ capture technology such as high capacity and selectivity materials, faster reaction kinetics, and ease of reusability.

Abstract: Direct air capture (DAC) technologies are receiving increasing attention from the scientific community, commercial enterprises, policymakers and governments. While deep decarbonization of all sectors is required to meet the Paris Agreement target, DAC can help deal with difficult to avoid emissions (aviation, ocean-shipping, iron-steel, cement, mining, plastics, fertilizers, pulp and paper). While large-scale deployment of DAC discussions continues, a closer look to the capital and operational costs, different capture technologies, the choice of energy source, land and water requirements, and other environmental impacts of DAC are reviewed and examined. Cost per ton of CO₂ captured discussions of leading industrial DAC developers with their carbon capture technologies are presented, and their detailed cost comparisons are evaluated based on the choice of energy operation together with process energy requirements. Validation of two active plants' net negative emission contributions after reducing their own carbon footprint is presented. Future directions and recommendations to lower the current capital and operational costs of DAC are given. In view of large-scale deployment of DAC, and the considerations of high capital costs, private investments, government initiatives, net zero commitments of corporations, and support from the oil companies combined will help increase carbon capture capacity by building more DAC plants worldwide.

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