Hui Cheng, Lingkai Zhang, Zhenjie Yang, Peipei Fan
{"title":"Investigation of mechanical behavior and constitutive modeling of silty sand under DWFT cycles","authors":"Hui Cheng, Lingkai Zhang, Zhenjie Yang, Peipei Fan","doi":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101177","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101177","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The first phase of the North Xinjiang Water Supply Project is a seasonal water supply project. Owing to the impacts of climate and the environment, the slope of the open channel section of expansive soil has repeatedly experienced sliding damage. After silty sand was used as a replacement material for treatment, the slope still experienced sliding damage after a period of operation. Therefore, this study systematically explored the mechanical properties and physical mechanisms of silty sand under dry-wet-freeze-thaw (DWFT) cycles through direct shear, compression, SEM, electron microscopy, and triaxial tests. The research results show that: (1) As the number of DWFT cycles increases, the cohesion and internal friction angle of silty sand decrease exponentially, with maximum deterioration degrees of 4.61 % and 2.52 %, respectively, while the compression coefficient increases slightly. The influence of cycling on the shear and compression characteristics of silty sand is limited, and it still exhibits low compressibility. (2) Microscopic analysis indicates that the skeleton of silty sand is mainly composed of sand grains, with fine particles and clay mineral aggregates filling the pores. Cycling leads to an increase in internal pores within weakly cemented aggregates and fluctuations in microscopic porosity, but the particle skeleton remains relatively stable. (3) Macro- and micro-scale tests reveal that DWFT cycles have a minor impact on the mechanical properties of silty sand, thus it suffices to study the stress-strain relationship of uncycled samples. Triaxial tests show that silty sand exhibits a hardening stress-strain relationship with only shear contraction at low compaction degrees. As compaction increases, softening intensifies, and volumetric deformation initially involves shear contraction followed by shear dilation. With increasing confining pressure, softening diminishes, and shear contraction enhances. (4) Model validation: Parameters for the model are derived from the triaxial test results, with the stress-strain-bulk strain relationship of silty sand predicted through substitution into the model. A comparison between experimental values and model predictions indicates that the constitutive model related to sandy soil effectively simulates the stress-strain and bulk strain relationships of silty sand, adequately reflecting the variations in mechanical properties. However, several issues remain that require improvement. The research outcomes provide a scientific basis for practical engineering applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18322,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Sustainability","volume":"31 ","pages":"Article 101177"},"PeriodicalIF":7.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144655149","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}
Zhile Wang , Guifang Zhang , Zequan Xu , Wei Zhou , Xiang Lu , Shiyuan Li
{"title":"A targeted biomineralization strategy for sustainable reinforcement of loess: Waste carbon fiber-guided enzyme-induced carbonate precipitation","authors":"Zhile Wang , Guifang Zhang , Zequan Xu , Wei Zhou , Xiang Lu , Shiyuan Li","doi":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101179","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101179","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Loess is prone to erosion and structural failure due to weak cementation and low strength. This study investigates a novel reinforcement method combining enzyme-induced carbonate precipitation (EICP) with recycled carbon fiber. Direct shear tests and disintegration experiments were conducted to evaluate the mechanical strength and water stability of modified loess. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and mercury intrusion pore measurement (MIP) were employed to explore the reinforcement mechanism at the microscale. Results showed that EICP and carbon fibers synergistically enhanced loess shear strength, with optimal cohesion achieved at 0.1 % fiber content and 1.5 mol/L cementation concentration. The combined treatment significantly improved water stability under prolonged immersion. At the microscopic scale, carbon fibers provided heterogeneous nucleation sites for CaCO<sub>3</sub>, promoting the formation of a “fiber–CaCO<sub>3</sub>–soil” composite network. Furthermore, carbon fibers mainly contribute to the macro-pore filling, and EICP mainly functions for filling smaller pores. This study offers a sustainable solution for loess stabilization and expands the reuse of carbon fiber waste in geotechnical engineering.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18322,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Sustainability","volume":"31 ","pages":"Article 101179"},"PeriodicalIF":7.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144631361","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}
Haifeng Xing , Xiangyu Liu , Shuangshuang Zhang , Minghai Wang , Liying Yang , Wenbo Wang
{"title":"Superabsorbent composites based on layered clays and mica: Synthesis, performance modulation and future challenges","authors":"Haifeng Xing , Xiangyu Liu , Shuangshuang Zhang , Minghai Wang , Liying Yang , Wenbo Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101178","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101178","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Superabsorbent materials (SAMs), three-dimensional (3D) hydrophilic polymer networks capable of absorbing and retaining hundreds of times their weight in water, demonstrate superior performance compared to conventional absorbents (e.g., cotton or cellulose sponges) in both water absorbency and retention efficiency. These exceptional properties render SAMs indispensable for critical applications ranging from personal hygiene products to precision agricultural water management. The absorption characteristics of SAMs are governed by three fundamental parameters: the chemical nature of hydrophilic functional groups, the 3D network architecture, and the cross-linking density. While the selection of monomeric units primarily determines the hydrophilic group composition—a key factor influencing production costs—contemporary research strategies emphasize performance enhancement anc cost reduction through structural modifications of the polymer network while maintaining existing monomer systems. The incorporation of nanoscale additives, particularly 2D nanoclay materials, has emerged as a transformative approach, enabling the fabrication of optimized network structures with enhanced cost-effectiveness. Among these, layered silicate clays represent an ideal class of fillers due to their natural abundance, high aspect ratio, and surface reactivity. The presence of reactive silanol (-SiOH) groups on clay surfaces facilitates the formation of robust hydrogen-bonding networks with polymer matrices, significantly improving both structural integrity and absorption performance. Various phyllosilicate minerals including montmorillonite (MMT), kaolinite, bentonite (BT), vermiculite (VMT), and rectorite (REC), have been successfully incorporated into superabsorbent composites (SACs), demonstrating their effectiveness as functional fillers. This comprehensive review systematically examines: (i) the structural design principles of clay-based SACs, (ii) their structure-property relationships, (iii) underlying absorption mechanisms, and performance optimization strategies. Furthermore, we critically discuss future research directions to fully exploit the potential of these advanced functional materials in next-generation applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18322,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Sustainability","volume":"31 ","pages":"Article 101178"},"PeriodicalIF":7.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144680394","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}
Shafidah Shafian , Mohd Nizam Husen , Lin Xie , Kyungkon Kim
{"title":"Predicting high-performance perovskite solar cells using AI-based machine learning models","authors":"Shafidah Shafian , Mohd Nizam Husen , Lin Xie , Kyungkon Kim","doi":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101176","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101176","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have garnered significant attention in the photovoltaic field due to their remarkable power conversion efficiencies (PCEs), with the certified PCE reaching 27.0% for single-junction cells and 30.1% for tandem perovskite/perovskite multijunction cells over the past decade. However, challenges remain including material instability, compositional inconsistency, and limited long-term performance. Machine learning (ML) has emerged as a transformative tool to address these challenges by accelerating material discovery, optimizing device design, and enabling data-driven insights from large and complex datasets. This review presents a comprehensive analysis of how ML is being applied to advance PSCs technologies. It begins with an overview of perovskite structures, device architectures, and performance parameters relevant to ML modelling. A structured ML workflow is introduced, covering data acquisition, feature selection, model development, performance evaluation, and model interpretability through explainable AI (XAI) techniques. Recent studies are examined across two major domains: material discovery and device performance optimization. Unlike previous reviews, this work emphasis on quantitative comparisons of ML algorithms by systematically assessing models reported in recent literature to identify the most effective predictors across various tasks. Furthermore, it discusses the strengths and limitations of current datasets and modelling strategies. The review concludes with insights into existing challenges and outlines future directions to support the efficient, interpretable, and scalable application of ML in PSCs research.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18322,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Sustainability","volume":"31 ","pages":"Article 101176"},"PeriodicalIF":7.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144631741","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}
Maha Awjan Alreshidi , Krishna Kumar Yadav , Shoba Gunasekaran , Amel Gacem , Padmanabhan Sambandam , Ganesan Subbiah , Javed Khan Bhutto , Saravanan Palanivel , Ahmed M. Fallatah , Muhammad A. Abo El-Khair , Jawaher Faisal Almalawi , Mir Waqas Alam , Tamizhdurai Perumal , Subramani Annadurai
{"title":"A review on the evolution of ionic liquids: Sustainable synthesis, applications, and future prospects","authors":"Maha Awjan Alreshidi , Krishna Kumar Yadav , Shoba Gunasekaran , Amel Gacem , Padmanabhan Sambandam , Ganesan Subbiah , Javed Khan Bhutto , Saravanan Palanivel , Ahmed M. Fallatah , Muhammad A. Abo El-Khair , Jawaher Faisal Almalawi , Mir Waqas Alam , Tamizhdurai Perumal , Subramani Annadurai","doi":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101160","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101160","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ionic liquids (ILs) have emerged as a transformative class of materials, offering unique physicochemical properties such as low volatility, high thermal stability, and tunable solubility. Their evolution is categorized into four generations: first-generation ILs, primarily used as green solvents; second-generation ILs, designed for specific applications in catalysis and electrochemical systems; third-generation ILs, incorporating bio-derived and task-specific functionalities for biomedical and environmental applications; and fourth-generation ILs, focusing on sustainability, biodegradability, and multifunctionality. This review explores the synthesis, applications, and future scope of ILs across various domains, including biomedicine, renewable energy, industrial processes, and current industry applications. In biomedical sciences, ILs enhance drug solubility, improve targeted drug delivery, and serve as antimicrobial agents, offering novel solutions to pharmaceutical challenges. In the energy sector, ILs play a critical role as electrolytes in fuel cells, supercapacitors, and advanced battery technologies, facilitating efficient energy conversion and storage. Additionally, ILs contribute to CO<sub>2</sub> capture and utilization, addressing global environmental concerns. Current industrial applications of ILs include their use as solvents and catalysts in petrochemical processing, biodiesel production, pharmaceutical synthesis, and metal extraction in mining industries. ILs are also employed in gas separation, electroplating, cellulose processing, and as lubricants in high-performance machinery due to their thermal and chemical stability. Their role in improving battery efficiency, polymer processing, and corrosion protection further highlights their industrial significance. The future of ILs lies in the development of smart, biodegradable, and recyclable materials with tailored functionalities for next-generation applications. Innovations in IL-based energy storage, precision medicine, and sustainable industrial processes will further expand their potential. As research progresses, ILs are expected to drive advancements in green chemistry, renewable energy, and biocompatible technologies, positioning them as key enablers of a sustainable and technologically advanced future.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18322,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Sustainability","volume":"31 ","pages":"Article 101160"},"PeriodicalIF":7.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144579381","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}
Loredana-Vasilica Postolache , Gabriela Soreanu , Igor Cretescu , Nita Tudorachi , Ion Anghel , Dana Maria Preda , Daniela Rusu , Mirela-Fernanda Zaltariov , Jose Luis Valverde , Gabriela Lisa
{"title":"Alternative energy sources from wastes and microalgae Chlorella vulgaris used for the capture of atmospheric CO2 in the production of cement","authors":"Loredana-Vasilica Postolache , Gabriela Soreanu , Igor Cretescu , Nita Tudorachi , Ion Anghel , Dana Maria Preda , Daniela Rusu , Mirela-Fernanda Zaltariov , Jose Luis Valverde , Gabriela Lisa","doi":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101175","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101175","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study explores the potential of using alternative energy sources as plastics (P), textiles (T), tires (A), cardboard (C), and used railway sleepers (G), combined with microalgae <em>Chlorella vulgaris</em> (Cho) residue in the cement production, which is one of the most energy-intensive industries globally. The algae were obtained from a photobioreactor designed for atmospheric CO<sub>2</sub> capture. Several analytical methods were employed for the characterization of these sources, including thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) in air and nitrogen, microscale combustion calorimetry (MCC), and a combined thermogravimetric analysis with mass spectrometry (MS) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The waste morphology and composition were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and attenuated total reflectance Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). Thermogravimetric results indicated that adding Cho to railway sleeper waste improved combustibility, with the most favorable outcomes at a 15 % Cho mixture. MCC analysis revealed that the most efficient energy-recovery mixtures were 30Cho-P, 30Cho-T, 15Cho-G, 30Cho-C, and 45Cho-A. Furthermore, TG-MS-FTIR analysis showed that CO<sub>2</sub> was the dominant emission, with SO<sub>2</sub> present in tire-based mixtures and NO/NO<sub>2</sub> in textiles ones. FTIR spectra confirmed the identification of ionic fragments in the decomposition gases, further supporting the findings on gaseous emissions from the binary waste mixtures.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18322,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Sustainability","volume":"31 ","pages":"Article 101175"},"PeriodicalIF":7.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144563928","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":"Unlocking improved hydrogen storage: Thermodynamic tuning and ionic conductivity boost in Fe-doped Mg2NiH4","authors":"Ikram Belkoufa , Abdelmajid Assila , Seddiq Sebbahi , Amine Alaoui-Belghiti , Said Laasri , Mouhaydine Tlemçani , El Kebir Hlil , Abdelowahed Hajjaji","doi":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101172","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101172","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Mg<sub>2</sub>Ni is considered a promising candidate for hydrogen storage materials due to its reasonable hydrogenation and dehydrogenation kinetics and cost-effectiveness. However, the high thermodynamic stability of Mg<sub>2</sub>NiH<sub>4</sub> poses a significant challenge in terms of the operating temperature required for hydrogen release. This study investigates the crystal and electronic structure, and thermodynamic stability of Iron-doped Mg<sub>2</sub>NiH<sub>4</sub> and their alloys using first-principles calculations based on density functional theory. The results demonstrate that by replacing one in sixteen Mg atoms and one in eight Ni atoms with Fe, the enthalpy of hydrogen desorption can be reduced from 65.173 to 57.58 and 50.72 kJ/mol H<sub>2</sub>, respectively. Furthermore, the study clarifies the crystal structure and electron properties of Fe-doped Mg<sub>2</sub>Ni and Mg<sub>2</sub>NiH<sub>4</sub>, highlighting the significant role of weakened covalent interactions in the H–Ni bonding that contribute to the reduced thermodynamic stability of the hydrides. This study demonstrates that ionic conductivity improves with the destabilization of Mg<sub>2</sub>NiH<sub>4</sub>, achieving up to 5 <span><math><mrow><mo>×</mo></mrow></math></span> 91.10<sup>−1</sup> S/cm for Mg<sub>15</sub>FeNi<sub>8</sub>H<sub>32</sub> at 400 K. Substituting magnesium (Mg) with iron (Fe) significantly impacts the electronic structure of the material. The additional d-electrons from Fe enhance the density of electronic states near the Fermi level, leading to increased charge carrier mobility and, consequently, higher conductivity. In contrast, replacing nickel (Ni) with Fe has a less pronounced effect, as both Ni and Fe are transition metals with similar electronic configurations and d-electrons near the Fermi level. This results in fewer new electronic states and a smaller increase in conductivity compared to Mg substitution.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18322,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Sustainability","volume":"31 ","pages":"Article 101172"},"PeriodicalIF":7.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144549633","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":"Exploring the impact of MXene-based materials on hydrogen storage performance: Experimental insights, applications, and challenges","authors":"Turkan Kopac","doi":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101173","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101173","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The hydrogen storage potential of 2D transition metal carbides and nitrides, called MXenes, has attracted interest due to their compositional variability, tunability, compatibility, and reversibility, making them promising hydrogen storage candidates. This study aims to comprehensively review recent experimental publications on MXene-based hydrogen storage, providing a global overview of advancements and experimental evidence. A thorough review has underscored MXenes' potential as catalysts for enhancing metal hydride-based hydrogen storage and elucidates the mechanisms underlying their performance improvement. This research provides a framework for designing high-performance composite catalysts with MXenes, optimizing metal hydrides for high storage capacity, rapid kinetics, and low operating temperatures. The findings elucidate the enhancement of hydrides with MXenes, facilitating the development of effective hydrogen storage materials. Furthermore, this research delineates prospects, obstacles, and potential developments for advancing hydrogen storage and utilizing MXenes as catalysts, with the objective of creating sustainable hydrogen storage systems contributing to clean energy technologies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18322,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Sustainability","volume":"31 ","pages":"Article 101173"},"PeriodicalIF":7.1,"publicationDate":"2025-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144563929","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}
K. Aravinthkumar , Shuchen Hsieh , A. Santhana Krishna Kumar , C. Raja Mohan
{"title":"Metal‐organic framework templated CoNi2S4 anchored MWCNT: A multifunctional application for photocatalysis, water splitting, and dye-sensitized solar cells","authors":"K. Aravinthkumar , Shuchen Hsieh , A. Santhana Krishna Kumar , C. Raja Mohan","doi":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101174","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101174","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The escalating energy crisis, dependence on non-renewable energy sources, and the need for efficient elimination of hazardous chemical compounds from water underscore the pressing demand for alternative renewable energy solutions and environmental protection techniques. Solar energy has developed as a feasible clean energy source, with electrochemical water splitting and photocatalytic water purification offering promising techniques for creating clean energy and tackling environmental challenges. This research presents an innovative hybrid catalyst, designated as ZIF-67-NC@CNS/MWCNT, which consists of N-doped Zeolite Imidazolate Framework-67 (ZIF-67) derived carbon and CoNi<sub>2</sub>S<sub>4</sub> with Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNT), utilizing a Metal-Organic Framework (MOF) as a template. This distinctive structure demonstrates exceptional multifunctional electrochemical performance in many applications, including Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs), Oxygen Evolution Reactions (OER), Hydrogen Evolution Reactions (HER), and photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline (TC). This composite, used as a counter electrode in DSSCs, attained a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 6.35 %, a short-circuit current density (J<sub>SC</sub>) of 12.54 mA cm<sup>−2</sup> and an open-circuit voltage (V<sub>OC</sub>) of 0.8 V. The observed increases may be ascribed to reduced peak-to-peak separation, lowered charge transfer resistance, shorter electron lifetimes, and greater exchange current density. The ZIF-67-NC@CNS/MWCNT composite exhibited remarkable bifunctional electrocatalytic activity, with overpotentials of 144 mV and 178 mV at 10 mA cm<sup>−2</sup> for the OER and HER, respectively. Interestingly, the hybrid composite achieved the highest degradation efficiency of 97.56 % against TC under white light irradiation. The synergistic effect of metal sulfides and carbon materials can provide additional electron transmission paths and contact areas, leading to effective I<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup> reduction, reduced overpotential, and enhanced degradation efficiency. Consequently, the ZIF-67-NC@CNS/MWCNT hybrid functions as a proficient multifunctional electrocatalyst for many energy and environmental applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18322,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Sustainability","volume":"31 ","pages":"Article 101174"},"PeriodicalIF":7.1,"publicationDate":"2025-06-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144522922","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}
Federica Florio , Roberto Fiorenza , Angelo Ferlazzo, Maria Elena Fragalà, Matteo Barcellona, Antonino Gulino
{"title":"Boosting photocatalytic hydrogen evolution via synergistic effects between 4H–SiC and tetrapyridylporphyrin","authors":"Federica Florio , Roberto Fiorenza , Angelo Ferlazzo, Maria Elena Fragalà, Matteo Barcellona, Antonino Gulino","doi":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101171","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.mtsust.2025.101171","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The pursuit for sustainable and clean energy sources has conveyed into hydrogen production as a viable alternative to fossil fuels. Hydrogen plays a crucial role in the sustainable energy future. Photocatalytic water splitting and the photoreforming reactions, which use sunlight to produce hydrogen, are emerging and promising methodologies for green hydrogen production. Among the materials investigated for this purpose, silicon carbide-based semiconductors have recently attracted considerable attention due to their exceptional thermal stability, chemical inertness and suitable bandgap for solar/visible light absorption. In this field, the present study explores an innovative system which combines 4H–SiC with 5,10,15,20-tetra(4-pyridyl)-21H,23H-porphine to enhance the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. By integrating the robust structural and optical properties of SiC with the superior catalytic properties of porphyrins, we propose a synergistic approach with improved efficiency of hydrogen production thanks to the increased absorptivity of the SiC-porphyrin system.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18322,"journal":{"name":"Materials Today Sustainability","volume":"31 ","pages":"Article 101171"},"PeriodicalIF":7.1,"publicationDate":"2025-06-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144549632","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}