Materials Today Sustainability最新文献

{"title":"Thermal enhancement of phase change materials using nanoparticles and novel finned structures","authors":"Hassan Waqas ,&nbsp;Meraj Ali Khan ,&nbsp;Mohib Hussain ,&nbsp;Zunhua Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101222","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101222","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Phase change materials (PCMs) have proven vital in thermal energy storage systems due to their remarkable energy density and capacity to sustain a stable temperature. This study examines how adding new dendritic fin structures positioned in the lower region can improve heat transfer and melting kinetics in a molten salt-based nano-enhanced phase change material (NEPCM) with <span><math><mrow><mi>F</mi><msub><mi>e</mi><mn>3</mn></msub><msub><mi>O</mi><mn>4</mn></msub><mo>−</mo><mi>C</mi><mi>u</mi></mrow></math></span> hybrid nanoparticles inside rectangular enclosures. A baseline example without fins, a second case with dendritic fins whose branch lengths decrease toward the bottom (type 1), and a third case with dendritic fins whose branch lengths increase toward the bottom (type 2) are the three different configurations that are examined in this study. The thermal behavior was numerically modelled using the porosity-enthalpy method. We also developed an artificial neural network (ANN) model with a multilayer perceptron architecture that includes two hidden layers to predict melting characteristics and thermal performance parameters, training it on both computational and experimental datasets. When paired with hybrid nanoparticles, total melting was accomplished about 41 % faster. With correlation coefficients above 0.98 and mean relative error below 3.5 % under all test settings, the created ANN model was able to predict melting percent, average temperature, and Nusselt number. The ANN model's sensitivity analysis revealed that the two most important factors influencing thermal performance were the concentration of nanoparticles and the fin branch length ratio. For future studies, it would be beneficial to focus on optimizing the parameters of these dendritic fin structures and to investigate the ideal <span><math><mrow><mi>F</mi><msub><mi>e</mi><mn>3</mn></msub><msub><mi>O</mi><mn>4</mn></msub><mo>−</mo><mi>C</mi><mi>u</mi></mrow></math></span> ratios to achieve maximum thermal performance while ensuring colloidal stability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18322,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Sustainability","volume":"32 ","pages":"Article 101222"},"PeriodicalIF":7.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145155586","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessing the techno-sustainability of hemp-based building materials: A comparative study in the Australian context","authors":"Daniela Milagros Rivas-Aybar ,&nbsp;Ian Davies ,&nbsp;Michele John ,&nbsp;Wahidul Biswas","doi":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101218","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101218","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":18322,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Sustainability","volume":"32 ","pages":"Article 101218"},"PeriodicalIF":7.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145106893","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Recent advances in sustainable natural fiber composites: Environmental benefits, applications, and future prospects","authors":"Rasel Ahmed ,&nbsp;Kamrul Hasan Manik ,&nbsp;Antu Nath ,&nbsp;Jubayer Rahman Shohag ,&nbsp;Juhi Jannat Mim ,&nbsp;Nayem Hossain","doi":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101220","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101220","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Natural fiber composites refer to the blends of plant and animal fibers that are renewable as well as biodegradable and require low energy in their manufacturing, unlike man-made plastics. In this review, five large categories of natural fibers, jute, flax, hemp, wool, and silk, are addressed in terms of environmental production and functionality as well as industrial preparedness on the basis of carbon reduction targets and the strategies of the circular economy. NFCs are contrasted based on their cleanliness of production, robustness, and usability with a new triple-pronged analytical framework. Some of the more recent innovations are the hybrid composites, green processing, as well as using agricultural waste as raw materials. Up to 80 % carbon reduction can be achieved with NFCs, as well as reduced energy required in manufacturing and competitive performance through surface treatments, hybridization, or AI-driven design tools. Nevertheless, the deficiency in the use on a high scale is property variability and moisture sensitivity. It has potential in car interiors, panel systems in buildings, packages, and consumer products. The new technology, like the Digital Twin systems and predictive models, is promising in improved management of lifecycles. This study helps to transition the world toward green materials and less reliance on non-renewable resources by informing about the research gaps and presenting the future direction on the subject. Unlike previous reviews, this work integrates both plant- and animal-based fibers, systematically compares their mechanical and environmental performance, and highlights recent developments such as hybrid composites, waste valorization, and digital tools (AI and Digital Twin). This comprehensive scope offers a unique framework to understand current challenges, emerging solutions, and prospects of NFCs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18322,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Sustainability","volume":"32 ","pages":"Article 101220"},"PeriodicalIF":7.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145026339","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"MXene Synthesis, Surface Functionalization, and Membrane Integration for Photocatalytic Removal of Heavy Metals from Wastewater: A Comprehensive Review","authors":"Noor H. Jawad ,&nbsp;Teeba M. Darwesh ,&nbsp;Asmaa F. Abbas ,&nbsp;Ali A. Yahya ,&nbsp;Afraa H. Kamel ,&nbsp;Khalid T. Rashid ,&nbsp;Tamara W. Abood ,&nbsp;Raed A. Al-Juboori ,&nbsp;Hicham Meskher ,&nbsp;Saad Al-Saadi ,&nbsp;Qusay F. Alsalhy","doi":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101208","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101208","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The accelerating global population growth and rising living standards have intensified pressure on freshwater resources, underscoring the urgent need for efficient wastewater treatment technologies. Conventional treatment methods are often inadequate for removing persistent and toxic heavy metal contaminants. MXenes, emerging two-dimensional transition metal carbides and nitrides, have garnered significant attention due to their remarkable hydrophilicity, chemical tunability, high surface area, and superior electrochemical properties. This review critically examines the development and application of MXene-based membrane nanomaterials for the photocatalytic removal of heavy metals from wastewater. Key aspects include novel synthesis routes, such as HF-free and eco-friendly methods, advanced structural modifications, and strategic surface functionalization to enhance photocatalytic and adsorptive performance. We further dissect the fundamental separation mechanisms, exploring electron transfer dynamics, interfacial interactions, and the synergistic roles of MXene composites. This comprehensive analysis aims to guide future research towards sustainable water purification technologies leveraging the unique capabilities of MXene-based systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18322,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Sustainability","volume":"32 ","pages":"Article 101208"},"PeriodicalIF":7.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145047637","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Additive manufacturing of titanium porous transport layers for efficient PEM water electrolysis","authors":"Gerrit Ter Haar,&nbsp;Craig McGregor","doi":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101219","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101219","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigates laser powder bed fusion as a novel manufacturing method for porous transport layers in proton exchange membrane water electrolysers, addressing the limitations of traditional sintering methods in controlling structural morphology and pore distribution. The research combines comprehensive structural characterisation using micro-computed tomography, mercury intrusion porosimetry, and surface profilometry with <em>in-situ</em> performance evaluation. The additive manufactured porous transport layers demonstrated distinct structural advantages, including an anisotropic pore structure with aligned micro-channels (pore entry diameter of 10.91 μm), controlled porosity (43–49 %), and optimized surface morphology. These characteristics resulted in superior electrochemical performance, with a 21 % reduction in ohmic resistance primarily attributed to enhanced interfacial contact between the PTL and catalyst layer. This study demonstrates that laser powder bed fusion technology can not only match but exceed the performance of traditional manufacturing methods for proton exchange membrane water electrolyser components while offering greater design flexibility for future optimisation of water electrolysis cells.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18322,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Sustainability","volume":"32 ","pages":"Article 101219"},"PeriodicalIF":7.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145047636","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Enhancing solar evaporator efficiency and reducing salt fouling by separating evaporation surface and water pump","authors":"Hoyeon Kim,&nbsp;GyuHeon Im,&nbsp;Jonghwi Lee","doi":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101206","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101206","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Solar-driven evaporation has emerged as a promising approach for sustainable seawater purification. However, most reported methods often suffer from problems such as low efficiency, scaling, and fouling. To address these long-term limitations, this study presents a novel solar evaporator design that separates the evaporation surface from the water pumping column. This design allows the water pumping column to maintain the same salinity and temperature as the bulk seawater, minimizing scaling, fouling and heat loss. The system employs a temperature-responsive hydrogel with aligned pores to facilitate non-powered water transport driven by diurnal temperature fluctuations. Additionally, the design uses a floating graphene composite paper (GCP) evaporation surface that moves with the water level inside the evaporation chamber, automatically adjusting the angle between the evaporation surface and the sun to optimize energy absorption. Experimental results demonstrate that this configuration effectively prevents salt accumulation within the water channels, minimizes heat loss, and achieves enhanced evaporation rates, thereby offering a viable solution for efficient and sustainable seawater purification.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18322,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Sustainability","volume":"31 ","pages":"Article 101206"},"PeriodicalIF":7.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144932104","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Generation of isolated Ti4+ sites via one-pot synthesis of mesoporous Ti-SBA-15 catalysts for high-performance oxidative desulfurization of dibenzothiophene","authors":"Adisak Guntida ,&nbsp;Françoise Maugé ,&nbsp;Cassandre Kouvatas ,&nbsp;Luis-Jacobo Aguilera ,&nbsp;Oleg I. Lebedev ,&nbsp;Piyasan Praserthdam ,&nbsp;Supareak Praserthdam ,&nbsp;Karine Thomas","doi":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101204","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101204","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ti-incorporated SBA-15 catalysts were synthesized via a one-pot hydrothermal method and tested in the liquid-phase oxidative desulfurization (ODS) process at 80 °C and atmospheric pressure for low-sulfur fuel production. These catalysts exhibited superior ODS performance compared to conventional impregnation-based catalysts. Characterization confirmed the successful incorporation of titanium ions into the SBA-15 framework, forming Si–O–Ti bonds with tetrahedrally coordinated Ti⁴⁺ species. Two types of Ti⁴⁺ sites—crystalline and isolated—were identified, with the isolated sites contributing more significantly to catalytic activity. The high accessibility of dibenzothiophene (DBT) to isolated Ti⁴⁺ sites, along with the minimal presence of crystalline TiO₂ phases, were key factors in the enhanced performance. Quantitative analysis showed that isolated Ti⁴⁺ sites exhibited a turnover frequency (TOF) approximately 20 times higher than that of crystalline Ti⁴⁺ sites, confirming their role as the primary active sites in the ODS reaction.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18322,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Sustainability","volume":"31 ","pages":"Article 101204"},"PeriodicalIF":7.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144920061","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Design and optimization of binder-free rGO/AlO(OH)/Al2O3 aerogels for energy storage","authors":"Saira Ishaq,&nbsp;Haotian Ma,&nbsp;Yanzhuo Li,&nbsp;Georgios Nikiforidis","doi":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101217","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101217","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This work reports a facile hydrothermal synthesis of reduced graphene oxide/aluminium oxide hydroxide/aluminium oxide (rGO/AlO(OH)/Al₂O₃) hydrogels without the use of external reducing agents. The resulting hydrogels were transformed into stable, binder-free aerogels via freeze-drying, yielding compact, porous materials with enhanced physicochemical and electrochemical properties. The incorporation of aluminium-based compounds boosted surface reactivity, mechanical stability, and electrolyte interaction of the composite. The aerogels exhibited a high surface area (261 m² g⁻¹) and a permeable microstructure, ideal for supercapacitor (SC) electrodes. Among various compositions, the sample with a 1:1 wt ratio of graphene oxide to Al(NO₃)₃·9H₂O (SAlGH-2) delivered the best electrochemical performance, achieving in a symmetric two-electrode SC a specific capacitance of 131.5 F g⁻¹, an energy density of 36.5 Wh kg⁻¹, and a power density of 328.8 W kg⁻¹ at a scan rate of 5 mV s⁻¹. In parallel, a COMSOL Multiphysics model incorporating pseudocapacitive and electrochemical double-layer capacitance (EDLC) processes provided insights into ion diffusion and interfacial charge storage behaviour during cyclic voltammetry. This performance stems from the synergistic effect of rGO's electric double-layer capacitance, the conductivity and pseudocapacitance of AlO(OH)/Al₂O₃, and the aerogel's hierarchical porous structure. The SC demonstrated excellent durability, with 95.5 % coulombic efficiency and 76 % specific capacitance retention after 10,000 cycles. Structural, spectroscopic, and morphological analyses further validated the aerogel's integrity, underscoring its potential as a high-performance electrode material for advanced energy storage systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18322,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Sustainability","volume":"31 ","pages":"Article 101217"},"PeriodicalIF":7.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144922060","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"6-amino-2-mercaptobenzothiazole complexes as photocatalyst in tandem with TiO2 for CO2 reduction to alcohols","authors":"Julen Beitia ,&nbsp;Jon Napal ,&nbsp;Fernando Aguilar-Galindo ,&nbsp;Eider Goikolea ,&nbsp;Oscar Castillo","doi":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101207","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101207","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Metal-organic materials containing 6-amino-2-mercaptobenzothiazole with Co²⁺, Ni²⁺ and Cu²⁺ cations have been tested as cocatalyst alongside TiO₂ for CO₂ photoreduction. The 6-amino-2-mercaptobenzothiazole molecule has many coordination positions and a deprotonable thiol group that facilitates the anchoring of metal centers. Cobalt(II) and nickel(II) compounds (<strong>CoAMBTZ</strong> and <strong>NiAMBTZ</strong>) present a crystal structure based on 1D-[M(μ-AMBTZ-к<em>N</em>1,к<em>S</em>1:к<em>N</em>2)]_n coordination polymers. Zinc(II) compound comprises [Zn₄(μ₄-O)(μ-AMBTZ-к<em>N</em>1:к<em>S</em>1)₆] discrete entities. The ligand amine groups facilitate the adsorption of CO₂, and both the metal center and sulfur atoms provide rich redox chemistries. Although neither of these coordination polymers do work alone in the photoreduction of CO₂, <strong>NiAMBTZ</strong> achieves high alcohol production rates when mixed with nanometric TiO₂. The ratio between the two components of the catalytic system can be tuned to maximize alcohol production, with methanol produced selectively at rates of 790–800 μg g⁻¹ h⁻¹. This is almost four times the value of benchmark photocatalyst TiO₂(3 %CuO) under the same experimental conditions (208 μg g⁻¹ h⁻¹). Studies using XPS to measure the low binding energy region and DRS to estimate the band gap have shown that the VBE and CBE energy values of TiO₂ and <strong>NiAMBTZ</strong> are appropriate for the photoelectron transfer that activates the CO₂ reduction mechanism. DFT calculations reveal that these transferred photoelectrons are primarily located at the Ni-S bond.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18322,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Sustainability","volume":"31 ","pages":"Article 101207"},"PeriodicalIF":7.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144932105","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bimetallic AgNi co-catalyst modified g-C3N4 nanosheets for highly efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution","authors":"Li-Juan Sun,&nbsp;Yan-Ming Jia,&nbsp;Fu Yang,&nbsp;Zhi-Yan Bai,&nbsp;Yu-Long Xie","doi":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101205","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101205","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In this study, AgNi/g-C₃N₄ (AgNi/CN) composite were prepared by chemical reduction method to investigate their performance in photocatalytic water separation for hydrogen production. The research demonstrates that the bimetallic AgNi system exhibits mutual synergy, significantly enhancing the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution performance in aqueous solutions. Among them, the AgNi/g-C₃N₄ photocatalyst can broaden the light absorption range, enable faster charge transfer and transport, and effectively inhibit the fast photogenerated electron-hole complexation. Notably, the hydrogen production rate of 5 % AgNi/CN sample was as high as 20891.14 μmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹. Characterization techniques showed that this composite had enhanced light harvesting ability as well as efficient photogenerated charge carrier separation. In addition, density-functional theory (DFT) simulations show that the AgNi/CN system has an optimal reaction energy barrier, while also elucidating potential charge transfer pathways in the photocatalytic process. These findings highlight the promising applications of bimetallic co-catalysts and provide new strategies for designing high-performance photocatalytic systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18322,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Sustainability","volume":"31 ","pages":"Article 101205"},"PeriodicalIF":7.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144922063","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}