EcoMat最新文献

Interfacial solar evaporation is regarded as the promising technology to mitigate freshwater scarcity. However, when polluted water is used, toxic pollutants might accumulate in the bulk water. Herein, we report the production of Ni-MOF nanorod from waste poly(ethylene terephthalate) and fabricate bifunctional Ni-MOF-based evaporators. Owing to high light absorption and photothermal conversion, low thermal coefficient, and vaporization enthalpy, it shows an exciting evaporation rate (2.25 kg m⁻² h⁻¹) with good flexibility/durability, rated as one of most advanced evaporators. Density functional theory and COMSOL results show that the combination of nickel-sites in Ni-MOF and local heat plays a crucial role in peroxymonosulfate activation to produce reactive species. Thereby, it exhibits the high degradation activity of tetracycline. In outdoor, the freshwater production reaches 5.54 kg m⁻² per day, and the tetracycline removal efficiency is 91%. This work provides a sustainable approach to produce solar evaporators capable of freshwater production and contaminant degradation.

The transition of polymer solar cells (PSCs) from laboratory-scale unit cells to industrial-scale modules requires the development of new p-type polymers for high-performance large-area PSC modules based on environmentally friendly processes. Herein, a series of 1D/2A terpolymers (PBTPttBD) composed of benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b’]dithiophene (BDT-F), thieno[3,4-c]pyrrole-4,6(5H)-dione (TPD-TT), and benzo-[1,2-c:4,5-c’]dithiophene-4,8-dione (BDD) is synthesized for nonhalogenated solvent processed PSC submodules. The optical, electrochemical, charge-transport, and nano-morphological properties of the PBTPttBD terpolymers are modulated by adjusting the molar ratio of the TPD-TT and BDD components. PBTPttBD-75:BTP-eC11-based PSC submodules, processed with o-xylene, achieve a notable PCE of 11.57% over a 55 cm² active area. This PCE value is among the highest reported using a nonhalogenated solvent over a 55 cm² active area module. The optimized PSC submodule exhibits minimal cell-to-module loss, which can be attributed to the optimized crystallinity of the PBTPttBD-75:BTP-eC11 photoactive layer system and favorable film formation kinetics.

In light of the uprising global development on sustainability, an innovative and environmental friendly wood-based material derived from natural pinewood has been developed as a high-performance alternative to petrochemical-based materials. The wood-based functional material, named as BC-CaCl₂, is synthesized through the coordination of carboxyl groups (−COOH) present in pinewood with calcium ions (Ca²⁺), which facilitates the formation of a high-density cross-linking structure through the combined action of intermolecular hydrogen bonds. The as-prepared BC-CaCl₂ exhibits excellent tensile strength (470.5 MPa) and flexural strength (539.5 MPa), establishing a robust structural basis for the materials. Meanwhile, BC-CaCl₂ shows good water resistance, thermal conductivity, thermal stability, UV resistance, corrosion resistance, and antibacterial properties. BC-CaCl₂ represents a viable alternative to petrochemical-based materials. Its potential application areas include waterproof enclosure structure of buildings, indoor underfloor heating, outdoor UV resistant protective cover, and anti-corrosion materials for installation engineering, and so forth.

Porous metal chalcogenides have emerged as promising materials for environmental remediation and sustainable energy generation. Their tunable optical band gap (from infrared to the visible range), highly polarizable surface, chemical activity, and adjustable structure make them attractive for various applications. This review summarizes the recent developments concerning the synthesis and characterization of multifunctional porous chalcogenide materials. It explores their remarkable potential in addressing environmental and energy challenges. Moreover, we discuss the several factors that affect the performance of porous metal chalcogenides, such as their microstructure, morphology, and chemical composition, to gain deeper insights into these materials. Finally, we highlight some of the key challenges and future research directions in the development of porous metal chalcogenides as effective and efficient materials for environmental remediation and sustainable energy generation.

Structural batteries are attractive for weight reduction in electric transportation. For their practical applications excellent mechanical properties and electrochemical performance are required simultaneously, which remains a grand challenge. In this study, we present a new scalable and low-cost design, which uses a quasi-solid polymer electrolyte (QSPE) to achieve both remarkably improved flexural properties and attractive energy density. The QSPE has a high ionic conductivity of 1.2 mS cm⁻¹ and retains 91% capacity over 500 cycles in graphite/NMC532 cells. Moreover, the resulting structural batteries achieved a modulus of 21.7 GPa and a specific energy of 127 Wh kg⁻¹ based on the total cell weight, which to our knowledge is the highest reported value above 15 GPa. We further demonstrate the application of such structural batteries in a model electric car. The presented design concept enables the industrialization of structural batteries in electric transportation and further applications to improve energy efficiency and multifunctionality.

Hitherto, LiFePO₄ (LFP) is bottlenecked by inferior electronic conductivity and sluggish Li⁺ diffusion, which can be resolved by cation doping, morphological engineering, carbon coating, and so forth. Among these methodologies, morphological optimization and carbon modification can warrant a stable operating voltage and prolong the cycling lifespan, which can be accessible by utilizing metal–organic frameworks as self-sacrificing templates. Herein, we conceptualize a strategy to in-situ construct N-doped carbon-coated LFP with Prussian blue analogues as the template, after which electrochemical tests extensively exploit the lithium storage capacity with 153.2 mAh g⁻¹ after 500 cycles at 0.5 C. However, the capacity failure associated with the inevitable Li⁺ loss and destructed carbon layer provides sufficient room for the restoration of LFP after long-term cycling. Motivated by this, the cell performance of LFP/C after targeted restoration using the 3,4-dihydroxybenzonitrile dilithium salt is investigated, revealing a considerable recovered capacity due to the recuperative LFP crystal and uniform carbon layer with homogeneous N-distribution. The computational study also supports the feasibility of N-doped carbon layer in LFP modification. This study envisages a methodology for the performance improvement of LFP from directional fabrication to targeted recovery, providing insights into the manufacturing and reuse of LIB cathodes.

The lithium metal battery (LMB) is a promising energy storage platform with a distinctively high energy density in theory, outperforming even those of conventional Li-ion batteries. In practice, however, the actual achievable energy density of LMBs is significantly limited due to the Li metal anode (LMA) being too thick (50–250 μm), and there are difficulties with expanding the highly reactive Li metal into large-format cells due to safety concerns. Therefore, the recent focus of LMB research is headed toward the development of a thin and stable LMA. However, as the thickness of Li anode decreases (≤20 μm) and the absolute size of the battery cell increases, interfacial reactions on the Li surface become more active, potentially leading to fatal thermal runaway. In this regard, there is still much demand for the development of novel manufacturing technologies to overcome this issue and produce thin and stable Li metal. Considering these things, in this review, we initially examine the fundamentals regarding the deployment of LMAs using a number of essential metrics. Then, we introduce recent strategies employed for designing thin and stable Li anodes including host matrix architecturing, interface stabilization, and other advanced modifications. Finally, we propose future directions for the realization of practical LMBs and their potential applications in various battery systems, encompassing Na, K, and Zn-based batteries. We anticipate that ultra-thin and ultra-stable metal anodes would find widespread utilization in secondary battery applications with high-power requirements.

The dynamic surface reconstruction of electrodes is a legible sign to understand the deep phase-transition mechanistic and electrocatalytic origin during the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Herein, we report a dual-laser pulse-patterned heterointerface of α-Co(OH)₂ and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nanosheets via pulsed laser irradiation in liquid (PLIL) to accelerate OER kinetics. α-Co(OH)₂ was formed from the OH⁻ ions generated during the PLIL of GO at neutral pH. Co²⁺ modulation in tetrahedral coordination sites benefits as an electrophilic surface for water oxidation. Few d-vacancies in Co²⁺ increase its affinity toward oxygen, lowering the energy barrier and generating many CoOOH and CoO₂ active sites. rGO with an ordered π-conjugated system aids the surface adsorption of OOH*, O*, and OH* during OER. α-Co(OH)₂ surface phase-transition and OER mechanistic steps occurred via phase-reconstruction to CoOOH and CoO₂ reactive intermediates, uncovered using in situ electrochemical–Raman spectroscopy. Our findings in the dual-laser pulse strategy and the surface reconstruction correlation in active OER catalysts pave the path for paramount in multiple energy technologies.

In this review, p-type doping technologies for organic/polymeric semiconductors in hole transporting layer (HTL) for perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are examined. Initially, we investigate the conventional dopant systems used for HTL in terms of dopants and additives, as well as their doping principles and limitations. Second, we recapitulate the current research strategies for overcoming the limitations of conventional dopant systems: (i) dopants/additives with large cations, (ii) hydrophobic dopants/additives, (iii) locking-capable dopants/additives, (iv) rinsing or ion exchange methods, and (v) other methods. Afterwards, we provide a comprehensive analysis of alternative dopants based on ionic liquids, Lewis acids, strong acceptors, and others. In addition, the review emphasizes current achievements based on multiple research approaches to diverse hole transporting materials, surface/interfacial treatment, and architectural modification of HTL, and provides a perspective on developments of desirable HTL system for efficient and stable PSCs.