EcoMat最新文献

The growing global population, coupled with increasing food demand and water scarcity, has intensified the need for advancements in modern agriculture. As an emerging class of materials featured by intensively tunable properties, smart hydrogels offer innovative solutions to challenges associated with conventional agricultural practices, such as excessive agrochemical and water use and inefficiencies that contribute to environmental degradation. Additionally, hydrogel-based sensors can monitor environmental conditions and crop health, enabling precise adjustments to optimize growth and resource use. By serving as platforms for the slow and controlled delivery of agrochemicals and smart sensors, hydrogel systems can enhance resource efficiency, reduce labor demands, and improve crop yields in an environmentally sustainable manner. This Perspective article summarizes recent advancements in hydrogel-based materials, highlights existing challenges, and proposes potential research directions, with a focus on developing advanced hydrogel systems to transform agricultural practices.

The increasing emergence of antimicrobial resistance and the development of new infective viral strains represent a constantly growing threat. Metal-based nanomaterials have emerged as promising tools in the fight against bacterial and viral infections; however, the release of metal nanoparticles/ions in clinical applications may cause undesired side effects (allergies, systemic toxicity), reducing their practical use in antimicrobial treatment. Moreover, the metal-based nanoparticles possess predominantly antibacterial effects, while their antiviral efficiency remains controversial. Thus, the development of metal-free strategies enabling combined antibacterial/antiviral properties is a significant challenge. Here, we report a strategy based on light irradiation of nitrogen-doped graphene acid (NGA) possessing dual photothermal and photodynamic modes of action. The antimicrobial activity is activated through a clinically approved near-infrared (NIR) light source, and both viral and bacterial spreading can be hampered on the coating irradiation on a scale of minutes (5 to 10 min). The developed metal-free strategy reduced 90.9% and 99.99% for S. aureus and P. aeruginosa, respectively, as well as 99.97% for murine hepatitis virus. Importantly, this research represents a significant advancement in the development of safe, metal-free, and effective antimicrobial treatments. NGA coatings are safe for skin, showing no sensitization or irritation, and offer significant potential for advanced antimicrobial treatments.

Carbon-interstitial compounds of precious metal alloys (C_i-PMA) have attracted increased attention as effective catalytic materials, but their precise and controllable synthesis remains significant challenges. Herein, we have established a universal approach for the straightforward synthesis of supported C_i-platinum group metal-indium alloys (M₃InCx, M = Pt, Pd, Ni, x = 0.5 or 1). The control experiment results indicate that the C atoms in Pt₃InC_0.5 come from the solvent. Furthermore, 0.2 wt.% Pt₃InC_0.5/SiO₂ exhibits excellent catalytic performance for aqueous phase reforming (APR) of methanol (CH₃OH) to produce hydrogen, with productivity and turnover frequency of 310.0 ⁻¹mol·kgcat·h⁻¹ and 30 126 h⁻¹ at 200°C, which are 1.7 times greater than those of Pt₃In/SiO₂. The infrared results of CH₃OH adsorption reveal that the substantially better performance for APR of CH₃OH of Pt₃InC_0.5/SiO₂ than Pt₃In/SiO₂ is due to its significantly enhanced CH bond dissociation ability. This study not only provides a straightforward and universal approach for the controlled synthesis of C_i-PMA but also stimulates fundamental research into C_i-PMA for catalysis and other applications.

Solid oxide cells (SOCs) are promising energy conversion devices capable of efficiently converting electrical energy to chemical energy and vice versa. Enhancing efficiency and durability in SOCs necessitates a thorough understanding of the electrode's gas/solid interface, which is often hindered by the intricate structures of actual cells. Consequently, researchers have turned to thin-film-based model systems with well-defined structures to advance this understanding. This review delves into the fundamental studies conducted using these systems to investigate phenomena at the electrode interfaces of SOCs. It systematically addresses how model electrodes are fabricated and assessed, along with the various phenomena that have been studied through these systems. Moreover, this review explores research areas within SOCs that require more in-depth study, which can be facilitated by the use of thin-film-based model systems. In this review, we aim to underscore how simplified models can yield crucial insights into the interface dynamics of SOC electrodes, potentially steering the development of more efficient and stable SOCs.

Silicon-based anodes are considered a promising alternative for next-generation lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) due to their high theoretical capacity, which is significantly greater than that of traditional graphite anodes. However, the inherent challenge of the associated low initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE) due to irreversible lithium consumption limits their practical applications. Prelithiation techniques have emerged as a solution to compensate for this initial lithium loss, but current methods often face challenges such as high costs, incomplete lithiation, and complex setups. In this study, we present a novel modified direct contact prelithiation method utilizing a Li-ion-free biphenyl solution. This innovative approach integrates the advantages of both direct contact and wet chemical prelithiation, achieving fast, uniform, and cost-effective prelithiation of Si-based anodes. Electrochemical characterizations demonstrate that the method significantly enhances ICE, reaching from 66.7% to 115.4% after 10 min of prelithiation for SiO_x anodes and from 91.4% to 100.5% after just 90 s of prelithiation for Si anodes, while also stabilizing open-circuit voltage. Furthermore, microstructural analyses reveal the formation of a distinct solid electrolyte interphase layer after prelithiation. XPS depth profiling confirms the progressive lithiation of Si-based anodes, highlighting the formation of lithium oxide and lithium silicate compounds at varying depths with extended prelithiation times. These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed integrated prelithiation method in enhancing the electrochemical performance of Si-based anodes, paving the way for the development of high-energy-density LIBs.

Flexible phase change composites (FPCCs) have garnered significant attention for their ability to combine high latent heat capacity with mechanical flexibility. This combination enables advanced thermal management in emerging fields such as flexible electronics, soft robotics, and wearable technologies. Traditional phase change materials (PCMs) excel in energy absorption and release. However, their rigidity limits their applicability in the sectors above. Existing reviews largely focus on encapsulation methods and traditional PCM applications, leaving a gap in the literature concerning flexibility enhancement strategies and FPCC-specific applications. This review seeks to address this gap by presenting a comprehensive timeline of FPCC development, elucidating the principles of latent heat capacity, and systematically reviewing recent advancements in the field. Emphasis is placed on design strategies at both the structural level, such as fiber and foam configurations, and materials level, including physical blending and molecular engineering. Performance comparisons are provided, evaluating FPCCs in terms of both latent heat storage and mechanical flexibility. Furthermore, the review explores diverse applications of FPCCs in thermal energy storage, transfer, conversion, and release, underscoring their potential in cutting-edge sectors. By highlighting FPCCs' versatility and interdisciplinary applications, this review aims to inspire further research and integration of FPCCs into domains requiring both mechanical flexibility and thermal energy management solutions.

Although Mg metal offers advantages such as a high strength-to-weight ratio, biocompatibility, low cost, and nontoxicity, fabricating coated Mg with high chemical stability and antibacterial activity remains a formidable challenge. To date, the problems of continuous corrosion caused by uncontrolled Mg electrodeposition and serious interfacial side reactions in aqueous solutions have remarkably slowed down the practical application of metallic Mg. To address these issues, we proposed a combination approach of interface–plasma electrolysis (I-PE) and layer-by-layer (LbL) deposition to fabricate a tannic acid (TA)–MgO hybrid coating on an Mg anode, in which the TA layer served as the blocking layer and porous MgO films had microdefects that triggered physical locking. LbL formation was initiated through the charge-transfer phenomenon between the defective porous surface and TA molecules in the presence of cross-linkers, such as 2,5-diamino-1,3,4-thiadiazole (DAT) and 2-amino-5-mercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole (AMT), to induce LbL deposition, that is, the consecutive growth of multilayer molecular structures on 2D hybrid organic–inorganic materials. The prepared coating surprisingly exhibited highly exceptional anticorrosion properties (inhibition efficiency ~82% and corrosion rate ~1610 nA/cm²) and excellent antibacterial activity, which are attributed to the optimized crosslinking degree and compactness due to the interaction between the TA–AMT composite and the porous MgO film. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed to understand the reaction process between the organic AMT layers and the porous inorganic surface by bonding, adsorption behavior, and energy.

Solid-state batteries based on versatile halide solid electrolytes with outstanding ionic conductivity, electrode compatibility, and stability are attracting significant research attention. Recent experimental studies have illustrated the outstanding performance of LaCl₃ as a solid electrolyte capable of conducting Li ions through its one-dimensional channels that can be interconnected into a three-dimensional network through the creation of La vacancies. In this work, we present a composition optimization strategy for maximizing the Li-ion conductivity in LaCl_3−xBr_x solid electrolytes based on density functional theory and ab initio molecular dynamics simulations. Our simulations show LaCl_2.5Br_0.5 to have a remarkable Li-ion conductivity of 66 mS cm⁻¹ at 300 K and the lowest activation energy of 0.10 eV, followed by LaCl_0.5Br_2.5 with values of 14 mS cm⁻¹ and 0.13 eV, respectively. Both these compositions are predicted to be easily synthesizable, have large band gaps, and are likely to be of experimental interest given their outstanding Li-ion transport properties. Our results highlight the potential for enhanced Li-ion conductivity in LaCl_3−xBr_x solid electrolytes that can be achieved through anion mixing.

The growing utilization of the Ocean Internet of Things (Ocean IoT) has a significant impact on human society. Recent advances in nanotechnology in terms of developing unprecedented structural, mechanical, electrical, chemical, and photonic properties have led to devices that are expected to promote the sustainable growth of the emerging Ocean IoT. This review provides a system-level analysis of nanotechnology-enabled sensors, actuators, energy harvesting, antifouling coatings, and environmental remediation that have been developed, with a focus on their materials, structures, and manufacturing technologies, as well as their merits and drawbacks. The challenges associated with the ecotoxicity of nanotechnology-derived pollutants in marine ecosystems are also discussed. Finally, potential future research directions are presented for this emerging field.

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have attracted considerable attention in the field of photovoltaics owing to their high power conversion efficiency (PCE), cost-effective production methods, and versatile applications. However, the widespread use of lead (Pb)-based materials in PSCs poses challenges related to their toxicity and environmental sustainability. This review explores recent advances in the development of Pb-free perovskite materials, such as tin (Sn)-based, germanium (Ge)-based, and other B(IV) and B(III) cation alternatives, while assessing their electronic properties, stability, and performance-enhancing strategies. Additionally, we discuss the use of green solvents and fabrication techniques to minimize their environmental impact. This review aims to guide future research toward safe, efficient, and environmentally sustainable PSC technologies, ensuring that the benefits of solar energy can be harnessed without compromising human health or the environment.