Peter Cornelius Gantz, Charlize Alexia Senkyr, Rüdiger Kilian, Maximilian Korges, Hans Roggendorf, Ralf Wehrspohn, Stefan Stöber, Christiane Stephan-Scherb
{"title":"Comparative Insights Into the Accuracy of Quantitative Phase Analysis of Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling Slags","authors":"Peter Cornelius Gantz, Charlize Alexia Senkyr, Rüdiger Kilian, Maximilian Korges, Hans Roggendorf, Ralf Wehrspohn, Stefan Stöber, Christiane Stephan-Scherb","doi":"10.1002/aesr.70289","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/aesr.70289","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Slags from pyrometallurgical lithium-ion battery (LIB) recycling can be thermochemically conditioned to form lithium-bearing engineered artificial minerals (EnAM), increasing recyclability. Accurate quantification of the lithium-bearing EnAM is crucial to evaluate the results of the conditioning and assess valorization. However, reliably quantifying the phase assemblage in slag remains challenging due to its chemical and microstructural properties. Here, a conditioned LIB-recycling slag is investigated using complementary bulk, local, and structural analytical methods. Rietveld analysis-based phase quantification, employing internal standard method, spiking, and micronizing, is directly compared with quantitative image analysis of backscattered electron images. The bulk and local chemical composition of the slag is investigated by wavelength-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy, and electron probe microanalysis. The slag exhibits an average Li<sub>2</sub>O content of 3.33 mass%. Rietveld quantification yields 26.2 mass% of β-eucryptite, the present lithium-bearing EnAM, with a low random error, calculated using standard addition. However, quantitative image analysis returned 20.8 mass% ±2.5 mass% (2σ) β-eucryptite. The overestimation by Rietveld method may be attributed to microabsorption effects caused by differences in X-ray attenuation between phases. These findings highlight the importance of cross-validating quantification results particularly in systems with highly varying mass attenuation coefficients.</p>","PeriodicalId":29794,"journal":{"name":"Advanced Energy and Sustainability Research","volume":"7 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-10-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/aesr.70289","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149206040","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ravi Teja Ganti, Thomas A. Zevaco, Ulrich Arnold, Jörg Sauer
{"title":"Influence of Nickel-Loaded Catalysts on the Production of Aviation Fuel Blendstocks by Co-Oligomerization of C2–C4 Olefins","authors":"Ravi Teja Ganti, Thomas A. Zevaco, Ulrich Arnold, Jörg Sauer","doi":"10.1002/aesr.70286","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/aesr.70286","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Light olefins (C<sub>2–</sub>C<sub>4</sub>) produced via the Methanol-to-Olefins (MtO) process can be transformed via co-oligomerization into aviation fuels employing metal-loaded solid acid catalysts. In this study, the influence of nickel-loaded silica-alumina (Siralox-40 HPV) on the production of jet fuel and the resulting fuel properties is evaluated. The feedstock is a typical MtO surrogate comprising ethylene, propylene, and 1-butylene in a ratio of 40:40:20 mol%. The nickel loading is varied from 0 to 4 wt% at 160 °C, 40 bar pressure, a WHSV of 4 h<sup>−1</sup> and 75 h time on stream. After distillation and hydrogenation, the share of kerosene is 54 wt% for all catalysts and fuel properties can be influenced by nickel loading. Several important fuel properties are determined, and many of them are within the specifications of ASTM D7566-22a Annex 5, so that the synthesized kerosene could be implemented in fuel blends. The fuels are also characterized by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to complement the fuel properties. The influence of nickel on product formation is discussed, and a nickel loading of 2 wt% is advantageous in terms of highest and stable ethylene and propylene conversion as well as linearity of the products.</p>","PeriodicalId":29794,"journal":{"name":"Advanced Energy and Sustainability Research","volume":"7 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-10-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/aesr.70286","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149205802","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Gwibakazi A. Feleni, Miranda M. Ndipingwi, Meleskow Cox, Nelia A. Sanga, Precious I. Ekwere, Xinwen Peng, Emmanuel I. Iwuoha
{"title":"Cover Feature: MXene-Powered Batteries: Advances and Challenges (Adv. Energy Sustainability Res. 10/2026)","authors":"Gwibakazi A. Feleni, Miranda M. Ndipingwi, Meleskow Cox, Nelia A. Sanga, Precious I. Ekwere, Xinwen Peng, Emmanuel I. Iwuoha","doi":"10.1002/aesr.70291","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/aesr.70291","url":null,"abstract":"<p><b>Toward Next-Generation Energy Storage</b></p><p>The cover image illustrates MXene-powered rechargeable batteries as a platform for next-generation energy storage. Layered MXene architectures enable the transport and storage of Li<sup>+</sup>, Na<sup>+</sup>, and Zn<sup>2+</sup> ions, highlighting their versatility across diverse battery chemistries and advanced energy technologies. More details can be found in the Review by Gwibakazi A. Feleni Emmanuel I. Iwuoha, and co-workers (DOI: 10.1002/aesr.70266).\u0000 <figure>\u0000 <div><picture>\u0000 <source></source></picture><p></p>\u0000 </div>\u0000 </figure></p>","PeriodicalId":29794,"journal":{"name":"Advanced Energy and Sustainability Research","volume":"7 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/aesr.70291","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149146466","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Silver Juvanen, Ave Sarapuu, Maike Käärik, Arvo Kikas, Jekaterina Kozlova, Markus Kõiv, Alexey Treshchalov, Jaan Aruväli, Jaan Leis, Vambola Kisand, Kaupo Kukli, Kaido Tammeveski
{"title":"Biomass-Derived Catalyst Materials Prepared via Ionothermal Synthesis for Oxygen Reduction Reaction in Anion-Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells","authors":"Silver Juvanen, Ave Sarapuu, Maike Käärik, Arvo Kikas, Jekaterina Kozlova, Markus Kõiv, Alexey Treshchalov, Jaan Aruväli, Jaan Leis, Vambola Kisand, Kaupo Kukli, Kaido Tammeveski","doi":"10.1002/aesr.70288","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/aesr.70288","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The development of inexpensive platinum-group-metal (PGM)-free electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is essential for advancing anion‑exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFCs) toward cost‑effective and sustainable energy conversion. Herein, highly active iron- and manganese-containing catalysts are synthesized using ionothermally derived carbon prepared from rapeseed press cake, a byproduct of rapeseed oil production. The bimetallic iron- and manganese-containing catalyst is shown to exhibit increased durability during short-term stability tests in rotating disk electrode (RDE) mode compared to monometallic materials. Gas diffusion electrode measurements were employed to further characterize the ORR performance of the catalyst materials under conditions more relevant to fuel cell operation, revealing differences in ORR activity compared with RDE results. When used as cathode catalysts in AEMFCs, the materials demonstrate competitive performance, achieving a maximum power density of 289 mW cm<sup>−2</sup>. These results highlight the potential of biomass‑derived PGM-free electrocatalysts as cost-effective alternatives for AEMFC applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":29794,"journal":{"name":"Advanced Energy and Sustainability Research","volume":"7 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/aesr.70288","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149146118","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Simon Albers, Jens Timmermann, Marcel Heidbuechel, Stephen L. Dorn, Stefan van Wickeren, Julius Buchmann, Ardavan Makvandi, Martin Peterlechner, Gerhard Wilde, Anna I. Gerlitz, Dominik Voigt, Martin Winter, Johannes Kasnatscheew
{"title":"Front Cover: Aqueous Processing of Ni-Rich Layered Oxides: Impact of Native Surface Layer on Crystal Water and Feasible Sulfate-Based Processing Additive Strategies (Adv. Energy Sustainability Res. 10/2026)","authors":"Simon Albers, Jens Timmermann, Marcel Heidbuechel, Stephen L. Dorn, Stefan van Wickeren, Julius Buchmann, Ardavan Makvandi, Martin Peterlechner, Gerhard Wilde, Anna I. Gerlitz, Dominik Voigt, Martin Winter, Johannes Kasnatscheew","doi":"10.1002/aesr.70290","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/aesr.70290","url":null,"abstract":"<p><b>Aqueous Processing of Ni-Rich Layered Oxides</b></p><p>Ni-rich layered oxides, as state-of-the-art cathodes for Li ion batteries, are processed with toxic solvents and F-based binders. The aqueous processing with F-free binders would be more sustainable, but it damages the cathode <i>via</i> remaining water after drying. In the Research Article by Johannes Kasnatscheew and co-workers (10.1002/aesr.70269), it is shown that LiOH – a native surface layer – increases crystal water due to inhomogeneous re-crystallization in course of drying process.\u0000 <figure>\u0000 <div><picture>\u0000 <source></source></picture><p></p>\u0000 </div>\u0000 </figure></p>","PeriodicalId":29794,"journal":{"name":"Advanced Energy and Sustainability Research","volume":"7 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/aesr.70290","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149146465","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Temperature-Tuned Barley-Husk Hard Carbon for Sodium-Ion Batteries: Linking Porosity, Turbostratic Order, and Na Storage Kinetics","authors":"Alireza Fereydooni, Chenghao Yue, Yimin Chao","doi":"10.1002/aesr.70284","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/aesr.70284","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Hard carbon-based anodes were prepared from barley husk, an abundant agricultural residue containing carbonaceous matter and naturally occurring silica, and assessed for Na-ion storage as a function of carbonization temperature. A broad temperature series (450–1150 °C) was used to establish the evolution of bonding-scale order, turbostratic stacking, and pore architecture, while Na half-cell testing was performed for representative anodes carbonized at 550, 750, 950, and 1150 °C using 1 M NaPF<sub>6</sub> in diglyme. Characterization confirmed progressive structural consolidation with increasing temperature, accompanied by marked changes in accessible porosity. Electrochemical behaviour showed a non-monotonic dependence on temperature, with an intermediate carbonization temperature providing the most favourable balance between reversible capacity and interfacial/transport limitations. In particular, BH-T750 delivered the highest sustained capacity (≈230 mAh g<sup>−1</sup> at C/5) with stable cycling and strong rate response compared with lower- and higher-temperature carbons. Differential capacity and impedance analyses support a mechanism combining intermediate-potential adsorption-type storage with low-potential storage in confined domains, with the relative contribution governed by the interplay between turbostratic ordering and pore accessibility. These results identify a practical processing window for sustainable Na-ion anodes derived from barley husk.</p>","PeriodicalId":29794,"journal":{"name":"Advanced Energy and Sustainability Research","volume":"7 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/aesr.70284","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149146467","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sadeeda, Benjamin W. Schick, Matthias Uhl, Tim D. Beuter, Philipp A. Schuster, Mohamed M. Elnagar, Alexander J. C. Kuehne, Timo Jacob
{"title":"Eutectic Engineering of Ionic-Liquid Electrolytes for Enhanced Organic Battery Performance","authors":"Sadeeda, Benjamin W. Schick, Matthias Uhl, Tim D. Beuter, Philipp A. Schuster, Mohamed M. Elnagar, Alexander J. C. Kuehne, Timo Jacob","doi":"10.1002/aesr.70283","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/aesr.70283","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Ionic liquids are attractive electrolytes for organic batteries because of their excellent electrochemical and thermal stability, yet their high viscosity severely limits ionic transport and rate capability. Existing approaches mainly rely on dilution or additives but do not provide a general strategy for simultaneously improving conductivity while preserving electrolyte stability. Here, we demonstrate that the design principles of deep eutectic solvents can be transferred to ionic-liquid electrolytes to rationally tailor their physicochemical and electrochemical properties. By introducing the hydrogen-bond donor <i>N</i>-methylacetamide (NMA) into the ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([EMIm][TFSI]), a eutectic composition was identified through differential scanning calorimetry. After optimization, the electrolyte exhibits a 45% reduction in viscosity at room temperature while maintaining a wide electrochemical stability window of 4.18 V and increasing the ionic conductivity at 25 °C from 0.38 to 0.88 S · m<sup>−1</sup>. When employed in PTMA polymer-based half cells, the eutectic electrolyte enables faster electrochemical activation, enhanced specific currents, improved capacity retention, and stable operation over 500 cycles. These findings establish deep eutectic interactions as an effective molecular engineering strategy for tailoring ionic-liquid electrolytes and provide a versatile platform for developing safer and higher-performance electrolytes for next-generation organic batteries.</p>","PeriodicalId":29794,"journal":{"name":"Advanced Energy and Sustainability Research","volume":"7 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-10-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/aesr.70283","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149145785","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"From Spent Graphite to Battery-Grade Anode Material Through High-Temperature Regeneration","authors":"Felix Frobart, Peter Michalowski, Arno Kwade","doi":"10.1002/aesr.70285","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/aesr.70285","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The recovery of graphite from end-of-life lithium-ion batteries is essential for establishing circular battery value chains, yet graphite contained in industrial black mass streams remains largely underutilized due to contamination and structural degradation. This study demonstrates the direct regeneration of high-performance graphite from realistic recycling feedstocks without dedicated purification steps. High-temperature treatment under an inert atmosphere (2000–3000 °C) increases graphite purity from 92.0% to 99.9%, while simultaneously inducing defect healing and restoring graphitic order. Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, specific surface area, and chemical analysis reveal that impurity removal and structural reconstruction are temperature-dependent processes that emerge only above 2000 °C. In contrast, lower treatment temperatures (≤1500 °C) result in neither effective purification nor significant structural recovery. A treatment temperature of 2700 °C provides an effective balance between material quality and energy demand. The regenerated graphites deliver reversible capacities of up to 350 mAh g<sup>−1</sup> and initial Coulombic efficiencies of 94.0%, while an additional amorphous carbon coating further enhances rate performance. These results establish a mechanistic link between impurity removal, graphitic reconstruction, and electrochemical behavior, demonstrating a practical route for converting highly contaminated graphite waste into high-performance anode materials and opening a pathway toward industrial-scale graphite circularity.</p>","PeriodicalId":29794,"journal":{"name":"Advanced Energy and Sustainability Research","volume":"7 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-10-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/aesr.70285","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149146005","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Engineering Hierarchical Graphene Hydrogels for Microbial Fuel Cells","authors":"Shengli Zhai, Zeyang Zhao, Fei Liu, Li Wei","doi":"10.1002/aesr.70282","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/aesr.70282","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Extracellular electron transfer (EET) at the interface between microorganisms and their environment plays a crucial role in bioelectrochemical systems, such as microbial fuel cells (MFCs). Graphene hydrogels (GHs) are promising electrode materials for MFCs, but the relationship between their properties and EET efficiency remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the effects of two key interrelated properties, namely conductivity and biocompatibility, on the EET efficiency and MFC performance of GHs. We observed opposing trends in conductivity and biocompatibility across different GHs, which were prepared by varying the hydrothermal synthesis conditions. Therefore, a trade-off between these two factors must be considered when designing GHs with high EET efficiency and MFC performance. The optimal synthesis temperature of 180 °C produced GHs that balanced conductivity and biocompatibility, resulting in a maximum power density of 137.67 W m<sup>–3</sup>. This study highlights the interaction between GH materials and microorganisms, which depends on the materials’ conductivity and biocompatibility, offering new insights into the design and optimization of materials for bioelectrochemical applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":29794,"journal":{"name":"Advanced Energy and Sustainability Research","volume":"7 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-10-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/aesr.70282","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149145725","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Rosemary M. Thompson, Reilly Seban, Natalia Maahs, John S. Mangum, Bertrand J. Tremolet de Villers, James B. Whitaker, Bryon W. Larson
{"title":"High-Throughput Optimization of Organic Photovoltaics for Performance and Stability","authors":"Rosemary M. Thompson, Reilly Seban, Natalia Maahs, John S. Mangum, Bertrand J. Tremolet de Villers, James B. Whitaker, Bryon W. Larson","doi":"10.1002/aesr.70280","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/aesr.70280","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Organic photovoltaics (OPVs) demonstrate great potential for low-cost and low-energy intensity electricity production. Progress in OPVs historically arises from discovery of new organic semiconductors. However, the molecular and polymeric organic semiconductor design space is vast and performance evaluation in new materials is slow. Adding to the challenge, device optimization has been overly focused only on highest efficiency, generally incorporating processes at odds with scale-up and durability efforts that precede commercialization. We have developed a framework to address this problem, named HOOPS (high-throughput optimization of OPVs for performance and stability), where device fabrication variables that affect both performance and stability are equally weighted in an iterative feedback loop while optimizing device fabrication processes. Applicable to all layers of the OPV, PTQ-10:Y6-BO, and ZnO are used as an exemplary materials in an inverted architecture OPV where HOOPS reveals that a performance and stability optimum is not always achieved by the same fabrication methods used to achieve exclusively top initial performance. The results underscore the importance of both high-throughput methods as well as an equal focus on performance and stability, especially early in research as OPVs continue to transition from lab to market.</p>","PeriodicalId":29794,"journal":{"name":"Advanced Energy and Sustainability Research","volume":"7 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/aesr.70280","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149145672","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}