Materials Today Sustainability最新文献

{"title":"Agro-food waste upcycling into mycelium insulation: Linking structure with mechanical and fire performance","authors":"Maryam Nejati ,&nbsp;Li Zha ,&nbsp;Rhoda Afriyie Mensah ,&nbsp;Oisik Das ,&nbsp;Antonio J. Capezza ,&nbsp;Amparo Jiménez-Quero","doi":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101295","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101295","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study presents a multiscale investigation of mycelium-based biocomposites produced via solid-state cultivation of <em>Ganoderma lucidum</em> on agro-food sidestreams. Three lignocellulosic residues, wheat bran (in two particle sizes), rice straw, and spent coffee grounds, were selected based on global availability and chemical diversity. The biocomposites were characterized to investigate how substrate composition and mycelial growth influence microstructure and macroscopic performance.</div><div>Monosaccharide analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that wheat bran supported enhanced mycelial growth. Fine wheat bran-based composites exhibited compressive strengths up to 449 kPa at 30 % strain and tensile moduli of 15–25 MPa, significantly higher than expanded polystyrene (EPS), a conventional insulator. All biocomposites showed intrinsic surface hydrophobicity (water contact angles of 106–120°). Thermal analyses, including thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and hot-plate conductivity measurement, confirmed their suitability as porous insulation. Cone calorimetry demonstrated improved fire safety in wheat bran-based composites, with reduced peak heat release rates (112–115 kW/m²).</div><div>Embodied energy and carbon footprint assessments indicated up to 89 % lower energy demand and 72 % lower CO₂ emissions compared with EPS. Through multiscale characterization and direct benchmarking, this study shows how substrate selection and fungal-substrate interactions can be utilized to tailor performance. The findings provide insights into converting low-value biomass into scalable, fire-safer, and environmentally responsible insulation materials.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18322,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Sustainability","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 101295"},"PeriodicalIF":7.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145925809","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":"The use of biobased polymeric materials as membrane technologies for CO2 capture and separation: a review","authors":"Zahra Maghazeh,&nbsp;Virginia Signorini,&nbsp;Marco Giacinti Baschetti","doi":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101279","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101279","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Bio-based polymers have recently emerged as a promising alternative to conventional materials for carbon dioxide (CO₂) separation, offering a sustainable and environmentally friendly approach to mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. This review explores recent advancements in the design and application of bio-based polymeric membranes for CO₂ capture, focusing on their structural properties, separation performance, and scalability. The unique characteristics of bio-based polymers, including tunable functional groups, high processability, and biocompatibility, make them highly suitable for selective CO₂ separation in various industrial applications, provided that key challenges such as improving permeability-selectivity trade-off and enhancing chemical stability under harsh conditions, are properly addressed. Additionally, the integration of bio-based polymers with other advanced materials, including nanocomposites and hybrid membranes, is examined as a strategy to further enhance separation efficiency. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of bio-based polymers in membrane technologies for CO₂ separation, highlighting both their potential and the technical challenges that need to be addressed for large-scale implementation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18322,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Sustainability","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 101279"},"PeriodicalIF":7.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145925810","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":"Clay nanostructures in geotechnical engineering: A critical review of mechanisms, performance, and sustainable soil stabilization","authors":"Amira S. Diab ,&nbsp;Ahmed A. Allam ,&nbsp;Hassan A. Rudayni ,&nbsp;Khaled M. Abdelfadil ,&nbsp;Hasan Arman ,&nbsp;Wail Al Zoubi ,&nbsp;Mostafa R. Abukhadra","doi":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101284","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101284","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The growing demand for resilient and low-carbon geotechnical infrastructure has intensified interest in clay-based nanostructures as next-generation soil stabilizers. Although many studies have examined individual nanoclays or specific stabilization outcomes, a unified multi-scale synthesis linking nanostructure geometry (0D, 1D, 2D), micro-mechanisms, and engineering performance remains largely absent. This review addresses this gap by evaluating allophane-type 0D nanoparticles, halloysite nanotubes and fibrous silicates (1D), and layered nanosheets of kaolinite, illite, and smectite (2D), emphasizing how their morphologies govern pozzolanic activity, electrostatic flocculation, double-layer modification, and microstructural densification. Microstructural evidence (SEM/TEM, XRD, MIP) shows that 0D nanoclays accelerate nucleation, 1D nanotubes enhance crack-bridging and fabric interlocking, and 2D nanosheets yield the strongest improvements in stiffness, compressibility, and hydraulic resistance. Hybrid nanoclay–SCM–polymer systems exhibit strong synergistic effects, enabling superior performance at low dosages (0.1–2 %) and reducing cement demand and carbon emissions, though nanoclay-specific LCAs and long-term field validations remain limited. Despite promising results, challenges persist regarding dispersion quality, natural compositional variability, and the lack of standardized mix-design or quantitative dispersion metrics. Advancing this field requires improved dispersion strategies, multi-scale mechanistic modeling, environmental durability assessments, and comprehensive LCAs to translate laboratory findings into reliable field solutions. Overall, 0D–2D clay nanostructures offer a robust and sustainable platform for next-generation soil stabilization, bridging nano-engineering mechanisms with durable, low-carbon geotechnical practices.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18322,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Sustainability","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 101284"},"PeriodicalIF":7.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145976976","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":"Evaluation of mycelium-based composites grown on sunflower seed shell and oat husk substrates inoculated with Trametes versicolor and Pleurotus ostreatus","authors":"A. Bayomei,&nbsp;M.T. Bassuoni,&nbsp;A. Shalaby","doi":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2026.101319","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2026.101319","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Conventional synthetic insulation materials are predominantly petrochemical-based, non-biodegradable and contribute significantly to carbon emissions, thereby increasing the environmental footprint of the construction sector. Accordingly, mycelium-based composites (MBCs) have emerged as a sustainable alternative. Mycelium, the root-like network of fungal hyphae, acts as a natural binder when cultivated on lignocellulosic agricultural residues, forming lightweight, biodegradable composites. This study explored the potential of two agricultural by-products abundantly available in many regions worldwide, namely sunflower seed shells (SF) and oat husks (OH), as substrates for MBCs production. SF was investigated for the first time as a new primary substrate, while OH-based composites underwent detailed characterization due to limited existing research on cold climate agro-residues. Three substrate formulations were prepared: 100 % SF, 50 % SF–50 % OH, and 100 % OH. Also, two selective white-rot fungal species, <em>Trametes versicolor</em> and <em>Pleurotus ostreatus</em>, were used for inoculation. The combination of <em>T. versicolor</em> with these substrates was also studied for the first time, potentially enabling optimization of the mechanical and physical properties of the resulting MBCs. Key performance indicators included mechanical strength, thermal conductivity, water absorption, and dimensional stability under both dry and wet conditions. SF-based composites demonstrated superior mechanical and thermal performance, with a density of 173 kg/m³, thermal conductivity of 0.05 W/mK at a mean temperature of 4.5 °C, and flexural strength of 221 kPa. In contrast, OH-based composites exhibited lower water absorption and improved dimensional stability in humid conditions, with minimal volumetric swelling. The overall performance of the 50 mm thick composites met the requirements of ASTM C578 for expanded polystyrene (EPS), highlighting their potential as viable, bio-based thermal insulation materials.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18322,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Sustainability","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 101319"},"PeriodicalIF":7.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146170008","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":"Effects of corrosion rate, mechanical properties, toxicity, and bone healing towards different surface modification of biodegradable metallic: A systematic review","authors":"Siti Adawiyah Zulkefli ,&nbsp;Nurin Tihani Nazemi ,&nbsp;Zatul Faqihah Mohd Salaha ,&nbsp;Gan Hong Seng ,&nbsp;Mohammed Rafiq Abdul Kadir ,&nbsp;Muhammad Hanif Ramlee","doi":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2026.101307","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2026.101307","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Magnesium and its alloys are promising biodegradable implant materials for developing orthopaedic implants. However, the drawback of pure Mg and Mg alloys is their high degradation rate in a biological environment. Thus, several strategies are implemented to enhance corrosion resistance and biocompatibility and achieve a controlled degradation rate for these implants by using surface modification. This systematic review addressed the importance of corrosion rate, mechanical properties, toxicity, and bone healing of the biodegradable metallic implant coated with other materials. From the review, the study indicates that chemical and physical coatings are among the most extensively studied strategies for enhancing the performance of orthopaedic implants. For example, a composite coating made of polycaprolactone (PCL), and amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) particles has shown improved corrosion resistance when tested in simulated body fluid (SBF). Furthermore, bioactivity osteointegration could be enhanced by calcium phosphate (CaP) coating, such as brushite, β-tricalcium phosphate, and hydroxyapatite. Several studies have shown that a compact HA coating has excellent corrosion resistance and good biocompatibility, which are suitable for biodegradable metal orthopaedic implants. These findings highlight the various successful surface modification methods that could enhance the biodegradable metal implants.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18322,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Sustainability","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 101307"},"PeriodicalIF":7.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146022706","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":"Graphene and its derivatives based polymer nanocomposites for electromagnetic interference shielding applications: A comprehensive review","authors":"Kalim Deshmukh ,&nbsp;Tomáš Kovářík ,&nbsp;Mayank Pandey ,&nbsp;Priyanka Rani ,&nbsp;Vinay Deep Punetha ,&nbsp;S.K. Khadheer Pasha ,&nbsp;Kishor Kumar Sadasivuni","doi":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101256","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101256","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Over the last two decades, graphene and its derivatives based fascinating materials have been exploited in the synthesis of multifunctional polymer nanocomposites (PNCs) derived from various polymer matrices including elastomers, thermoplastics, thermosets, biopolymers, and conducting polymers have been extensively demonstrated. This review provides an in-depth discussion of the recent developments and perspectives of graphene-derived multifunctional PNCs for application in electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding devices. In the first part of the review, the synthesis routes of graphene and its derivatives have been discussed in detail. Later, different processing methods of graphene-derived PNCs have also been discussed. Furthermore, the review discusses the primary EMI shielding mechanism and key parameters that define the EMI shielding effectiveness (SE) of graphene-based PNCs. Besides, the review also highlights key parameters such as the type of polymer matrix, nanofiller type and concentration, sample thickness, and grain size that need to be considered for advancing the EMI shielding properties of PNCs. Finally, the review provides insight into the factors influencing the EMI SE values of PNCs and discusses the challenges and future perspectives for developing a new generation of shielding materials.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18322,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Sustainability","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 101256"},"PeriodicalIF":7.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145645676","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":"Corrigendum to ‘A study of the mechanism of the hydrogen evolution reaction catalysed by molybdenum phosphide in different media’ [Mater. Today Sustain. 31 (2025) 101141]","authors":"N. Podrojková ,&nbsp;A. Gubóová ,&nbsp;M. Streckova ,&nbsp;R. Oriňaková","doi":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2026.101314","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2026.101314","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":18322,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Sustainability","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 101314"},"PeriodicalIF":7.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147385163","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":"Low-temperature synthesis of a multifunctional NiO/Ni(OH)2 decorated sulfonated bentonite for sustainable and enhanced visible-light-driven degradation and mineralization of bisphenol-A in water","authors":"Zeinab M. Ahmed ,&nbsp;Ahmed A. Allam ,&nbsp;Mohamed I. El-Sayed ,&nbsp;Zakaria Abdullah ,&nbsp;Yasser Salama ,&nbsp;Hassan A. Rudayni ,&nbsp;Wail Al Zoubi ,&nbsp;Mostafa R. Abukhadra","doi":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2026.101301","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2026.101301","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The persistence of endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) such as bisphenol A (BPA) in aquatic environments necessitates the development of efficient, sustainable, and cost-effective treatment strategies. In this study, a multifunctional photocatalyst composed of nickel oxide (NiO), nickel hydroxide [Ni(OH)₂], and metallic nickel (Ni⁰) supported on sulfonated carbon-rich bentonite (SB) was synthesized via a low-temperature, calcination-free route. The fabrication process—comprising acid activation, ion exchange, and mild chemical reduction—preserves hydroxide-layered structures while integrating redox-active and light-responsive phases within a hierarchically porous clay matrix. The resulting NiO/Ni(OH)₂@SB composite demonstrated outstanding photocatalytic performance under visible light. Complete degradation and mineralization of BPA (5 mg/L) were achieved within 20 and 60 min, respectively using 0.5 g/L catalyst. Kinetic modeling confirmed pseudo-first-order behavior (k₁ = 0.2177 min⁻¹), while quantum yield analysis indicated high photon-to-reactivity efficiency (Φ = 3.32 × 10⁻⁷). Mechanistic studies revealed that photogenerated •OH and •O₂⁻ radicals—amplified by Ni²⁺/Ni³⁺ redox cycling and Ni⁰/NiO Schottky junctions—drive the oxidative degradation pathway. The sulfonated bentonite support enhances pollutant adsorption, interfacial contact, and dispersion of the active phases. The catalyst exhibited remarkable structural integrity and reusability, maintaining &gt;90 % of its initial activity after six consecutive cycles, with negligible Ni leaching (&lt;0.001 mg/L). This work offers a scalable and environmentally benign strategy for solar-assisted remediation of phenolic micropollutants. The design principles established herein provide a blueprint for developing next-generation clay-supported photocatalysts targeting a wide range of emerging contaminants in real-world wastewater matrices.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18322,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Sustainability","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 101301"},"PeriodicalIF":7.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145976911","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":"Tuning overall water dissociation performance in Fe–Ni–Co layered hydroxides via S, P, and B doping: Experimental and theoretical study","authors":"Mohsen Saeidi ,&nbsp;Amir Hossein Aghaii ,&nbsp;Kaivan Mohammadi ,&nbsp;Farzaneh Shayeganfar ,&nbsp;Jing Bai ,&nbsp;Abdolreza Simchi","doi":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101280","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101280","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Alkaline water electrolysis (AWE) remains limited by sluggish reaction kinetics, high overpotentials, and insufficient catalyst stability. Here, we introduce an engineered hierarchical electrocatalyst in which (B, P, S)-modulated Fe–Ni–Co layered double hydroxides (LDHs) are grown on 3D-printed 316L stainless-steel microarrays with an interface of nickel nanocones (NC) to maximize active surface area and enhance mass transport. Density functional theory indicates that boron substitution at Fe sites balances oxygen-evolution reaction (OER) intermediate binding energies, creating a fully downhill free-energy profile and reducing the OER barrier. Phosphorus incorporation on Ni sites tunes the hydrogen adsorption energy toward near-thermoneutral values, optimizing hydrogen-evolution reaction (HER) kinetics. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirms strong interfacial interactions, reduced oxygen vacancies, and optimized metal–anion bonding, facilitating enhanced charge transfer. The optimized asymmetric electrolyzer delivers 500 mA cm⁻² at 1.93 V with Faradaic efficiencies exceeding 79 %, demonstrating a scalable route to efficient and durable AWE.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18322,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Sustainability","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 101280"},"PeriodicalIF":7.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145925693","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 sustainability potential of circular geopolymer concrete: A life cycle assessment and multi-criteria decision making approach","authors":"Omid Bamshad,&nbsp;Amir Mohammad Ramezanianpour","doi":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101297","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101297","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In the life cycle assessment (LCA) of concrete, it is essential to consider the service life, mechanical properties, and end-of-life scenarios to obtain accurate results, especially in the case of comparing geopolymer concretes with ordinary concrete. In this study, a conceptual framework was designed to produce circular concretes based on the main principals of circular economy. Then, a comparative economic and environmental life cycle assessment (LCA) was performed to evaluate the sustainability potential of circular geopolymer concrete (CGPC), geopolymer concrete (GPC), and circular ordinary concrete (COC), as alternatives to Portland cement concrete (PCC), using analytical hierarchy process (AHP). The results showed that using GPC and CGPC significantly alleviated the environmental impacts of cement production, such that they reduced the global warming potential (GWP) by about 69 %. The environmental burdens of CGPC were slightly higher than GPC in all midpoint (&lt;5 %) and endpoint (&lt;2 %) levels. The minimum life cycle cost was related to PCC, and then GPC, CGPC, and COC had higher life cycle costs than PCC with relative total cost of 1.08, 1.14, and 1.18, respectively. According to the multi-criteria decision making and final scores from AHP model, GPC and CGPC performed the best in the sustainability assessment, respectively, with a marginal difference, whereas COC performed the worst.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18322,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Sustainability","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 101297"},"PeriodicalIF":7.9,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145925700","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}