EcoMat最新文献

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), as a non-invasive and non-destructive diagnostic technique, has shown unique advantages and significant potential in lithium-ion battery state monitoring. However, its traditional steady-state methods face substantial limitations under the non-stationary operating conditions commonly encountered in practical applications. To overcome these challenges, dynamic electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (DEIS) has emerged as a critical tool due to its real-time monitoring capabilities. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in DEIS for lithium-ion battery state monitoring, starting with an in-depth explanation of its working principles and a comparison with conventional EIS to highlight their respective advantages. Analytical methodologies for EIS are then introduced to establish a theoretical foundation for the discussion of subsequent findings. The review emphasizes recent breakthroughs achieved using DEIS, particularly in elucidating charge transfer dynamics during charge–discharge cycles, detecting lithium plating at the anode, and monitoring internal temperature variations within batteries. It further explores the potential of DEIS in battery health prediction, demonstrating its role in enhancing the accuracy and reliability of battery management systems. Finally, the review concludes with a forward-looking perspective on the future development of DEIS, underscoring its transformative potential in advancing battery diagnostics and management technologies.

Transparent solar heat control (TSHC) coatings for windows have garnered significant attention as a key technology for passive cooling in green buildings to reduce energy consumption. However, many studies have focused only on TSHC coatings composed of single functional nanoparticles, and the development of these coatings traditionally relied on trial-and-error methods. Herein, we propose a real experimental data-driven tandem neural networks (NNs) model, comprising spectrum NNs and inverse design NNs, for the combinatorial innovation, development, and optimization of TSHC coatings. Attributed to the high quality of the data, the resulting well-trained tandem NNs with an R² value above 0.95 facilitate the rapid development and precise inverse design of TSHC coatings with multiple functional nanoparticles. The developed coating, composed of cesium tungsten oxide (CWO), antimony tin oxide (ATO), and indium tin oxide (ITO) nanoparticles, achieves a luminous transmittance of 69%, UV transmittance of 0.1%, and NIR transmittance of 4%. The calculated solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) and light-to-solar gain (LSG) ratio are 0.49 and 1.41, respectively. Temperature reduction tests using a house simulant revealed that the developed TSHC coating can reduce indoor temperatures by up to 8°C. Furthermore, innovative application methods, including spray coating and solution-processed film techniques, have been explored to apply the TSHC coating to large glass surfaces. Our work provides a novel strategy to efficiently develop and optimize the optical properties of coatings with multiple functional compositions.

Multiscale imaging and spectroscopy play a pivotal role in understanding the structural, chemical, and dynamic behavior of battery materials, providing critical insights that drive advancements in performance, longevity, and safety. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of various imaging techniques, from macroscopic tools like x-ray tomography to nanoscale methods such as atomic force microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. By categorizing these techniques based on spatial resolution, the review highlights their applications in resolving key issues like electrode degradation, dendrite formation, and phase transitions during battery operation. Moreover, the integration of machine learning accelerates data processing, enabling multiscale correlations and predictive modeling. The review underscores the necessity of multiscale approaches to optimize battery performance, safety, and lifespan, showcasing how emerging methodologies contribute to next-generation energy storage technologies.

The engineering of very effective and sustainable photocatalysts is needed to confront both environmental and energy problems. This work included the synthesis and evaluation of a range of copolymerized graphitic carbon nitride (CN)-based materials (CN-PA_x) and their heterojunction composite materials with molybdenum trioxide (MoO₃) for photocatalytic hydrogen (H₂) generation and methylene blue (MB) degradation under visible-light illumination. Pristine CN and MoO₃ had lower photocatalytic performance, but copolymerized CN materials (CN-PA₂₀₀, CN-PA₄₀₀, CN-PA₆₀₀) and their heterojunction composite materials (CN/MoO₃, CN-PA₄₀₀/MoO₃(3%), CN-PA₄₀₀/MoO₃(6%), and CN-PA₄₀₀/MoO₃(9%)) demonstrated substantial enhancements. Of them, CN-PA₄₀₀/MoO₃(6%) had the greatest H₂ production rate of 127.22 μmol/h, almost 6.8 times higher than pure CN. It attained an outstanding MB photodegradation performance of 99.3% in 1 h, demonstrating exceptional stability by maintaining over 95% effectiveness throughout four successive cycles. The exceptional efficiency of CN-PA₄₀₀/MoO₃(6%) is ascribed to its improved heterojunction design, which improves the separation of charge particles, minimizes recombination, and promotes visible-light absorption. The band alignment among CN-PA₄₀₀ and MoO₃ facilitates effective electron transport, whereas the presence of many active sites enhances the photocatalytic processes. These results present significant insights into the development of effective heterojunction photocatalysts and highlight the promise of CN-PA₄₀₀/MoO₃(6%) for renewable energy generation and environmental cleanup purposes.

The increasing accumulation of e-waste containing precious metals calls for the development of efficient recycling strategies for gold recovery from e-waste. In this study, we present scalable fabrication (up to 3600 cm²) of rGO/cellulose composite papers with a high rGO areal density of 7.5 g/m² and their use as efficient and large-area adsorbents for gold extraction. The resulting rGO@cellulose composite exhibits excellent gold extraction capacity, achieving 20 and 36.3 g/m² at 25°C and 60°C, respectively, which translates to high gravimetric capacities of 2662 mg/g and 4833 mg/g. When used for gold extraction from e-waste containing 13 types of metals, the rGO@cellulose maintains a precise selectivity for gold and achieves high extraction efficiency of 99.6%, providing a promising avenue for the sustainable recovery of gold from e-waste. Furthermore, the gold recycled by the rGO@cellulose can be reused for photothermal steam generation and catalytic degradation of environmental contaminants, demonstrating its potential for diverse environmental applications beyond gold extraction. This work provides a sustainable approach to e-waste recycling, offering a pathway to address environmental challenges while promoting the circular use of resources.

Aqueous zinc metal batteries (AZMBs) provide a safe and cost-effective solution to meet the future demand for large-scale energy storage applications. Stable cycling of the Zn metal anode (ZMA) within a wide current range from 0.2 to 10 mA cm⁻² is considered one of the most critical requirements to enable AZMBs. However, current studies show that ZMAs may cycle at either high- or low-current densities, but it is difficult to simultaneously achieve stable cycling at this wide current range. Herein, we study the current-dependent coupling interactions among plating, stripping, and corrosion of ZMAs. We reveal that low-current plating/stripping of Zn leads to unfavorable morphological and crystallographic evolution, which results in serious surface corrosion and rapid failure. In contrast, high-current plating/stripping of Zn can enrich its highly stable (002) facets and form localized high-concentration electrolyte layers with solvated aggregates, which consequently suppresses hydrogen evolution reaction, dendrite formation, and surface corrosion. By understanding these current-dependent coupling behaviors, we develop a high-current-engineered Zn anode that enables long-term cycling across a wide current range, including a record-breaking cycling of 4500 h at 0.2 mA cm⁻². This work offers new fundamental insights and a feasible engineering strategy to significantly boost the stability of ZMAs.

Textile-based structurally colored materials have emerged as a captivating field of research and innovation, presenting unparalleled prospects to revolutionize the realm of textiles and their diverse applications. This review paper provides a comprehensive overview of the progress made in the manufacturing methods and applications of structurally colored textiles. Based on the principles of Bragg diffraction and its extended theorems, the mechanisms behind the generation of structural colors in textiles are explored, revealing the underlying principles that enable coloration. The versatile and effective strategies adopted for the fabrication of textile-based structurally colored materials, such as gravity sedimentation, spray coating, vertical deposition, screen printing, shear-induced assembly, additive manufacturing or three-dimensional (3D) printing, dip coating, electrophoretic deposition, and electrospinning methods are discussed. The applications of textile-based structurally colored materials are discussed, with a specific focus on anti-counterfeiting measures, the biomedical field, and radiative cooling applications. This review aims to drive the progress of fabricating and functionalizing textile-based structurally colored materials, with the ultimate goal of expanding their applications in diverse fields.

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.