Synthesis, Characterization and Performance of Materials for a Sustainable Future, 2nd Volume

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Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to invite you, along with the members of your research group, to contribute to the forthcoming MDPI Topic, entitled “Synthesis, Characterization and Performance of Materials for a Sustainable Future, 2nd Volume”. This Topic is a continuation of the previous successful work on the "Synthesis, Characterization and Performance of Materials for a Sustainable Future". Today, sustainability represents the key factor for economic progress which is in compliance with social advancement and environmental protection, driving innovation in materials, processes and technologies. Therefore, proceeding from the need for innovative chemical formulations for advanced (nano)materials, inorganic/organic/coordination compounds, porous composites, hybrid/multifunctional or nanostructured supported systems, this Topic aims to present recent advances in, challenges of and opportunities for the application of functional materials in different fields, including catalysis, photocatalysis, electronics, optics, energy and environment, according to green chemistry and green engineering concepts and eco-efficiency, industrial ecology and sustainable processes from an environment and economic point of view. In this respect, a more rational use of natural sources and solid wastes must be addressed, as well as the application of novel synthetic procedures for energy saving. Specific attention should also to be paid to the potential of modeling as an analytical tool for matching the peculiar structure–reactivity relationships of materials, highlighting mechanistic clues to controlling their behavior in processes of industrial interest. Relevant subject areas to be covered in this Topic span from material-to-application including:

• Production of green hydrogen;
• Purification of gaseous streams from industrial processes;
• Power-to-gas approaches;
• CCUS strategies to reach net zero or negative GHG emissions;
• Synthesis of sustainable chemicals and fuels;
• Conversion of biomass and wastes to added value products;
• Treatment of air, water and soil pollution.

Review articles surveying recent research trends, original research articles, high-quality research notes or short communications are to be preferentially delivered to the following journals: Catalysts, Materials, Nanomaterials, Polymers and Sustainability. We hope that you will be able to accept this invitation and contribute to the ongoing success of this outstanding Topic.

Dr. John Vakros
Dr. Evroula Hapeshi
Dr. Catia Cannilla
Dr. Giuseppe Bonura
Prof. Dr. George Z. Kyzas
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Catalysts catalysts	3.8	6.8	2011	12.9 Days	CHF 2200
Materials materials	3.1	5.8	2008	15.5 Days	CHF 2600
Nanomaterials nanomaterials	4.4	8.5	2010	13.8 Days	CHF 2900
Polymers polymers	4.7	8.0	2009	14.5 Days	CHF 2700
Sustainability sustainability	3.3	6.8	2009	20 Days	CHF 2400

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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All Catalysts Materials Nanomaterials Polymers Sustainability

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21 pages, 5503 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Harnessing the Potential of Hollow Graphitic Carbon Nanocages for Enhanced Methanol Oxidation Using PtRu Nanoparticles

by Zatil Amali Che Ramli, Jagadeesh Pasupuleti, Siti Kartom Kamarudin, Azran Mohd Zainoodin, Wan Nor Roslam Wan Isahak, S. P. Koh and Sieh Tiong Kiong

Polymers 2024, 16(19), 2684; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16192684 - 24 Sep 2024

Viewed by 674

Abstract

Direct Methanol Fuel Cell (DMFC) is a powerful system for generating electrical energy for various applications. However, there are several limitations that hinder the commercialization of DMFCs, such as the expense of platinum (Pt) at market price, sluggish methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) due [...] Read more.

Direct Methanol Fuel Cell (DMFC) is a powerful system for generating electrical energy for various applications. However, there are several limitations that hinder the commercialization of DMFCs, such as the expense of platinum (Pt) at market price, sluggish methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) due to carbon monoxide (CO) formation, and slow electrooxidation kinetics. This work introduces carbon nanocages (CNCs) that were obtained through the pyrolysis of polypyrrole (Ppy) as the carbon source. The CNCs were characterized using BET, XRD, HRTEM, TEM, SEM, and FTIR techniques. The CNCs derived from the Ppy source, pyrolyzed at 750 °C, exhibited the best morphologies with a high specific surface area of 416 m²g⁻¹, allowing for good metal dispersion. Subsequently, PtRu catalyst was doped onto the CNC-Ppy750 support using chemical reduction and microwave-assisted methods. In electrochemical tests, the PtRu/CNC-Ppy750 electrocatalyst demonstrated improved CO tolerance and higher performance in MOR compared to PtRu-supported commercial carbon black (CB), with values of 427 mA mg⁻¹ and 248 mA mg⁻¹, respectively. The superior MOR performance of PtRu/CNC-Ppy750 was attributed to its high surface area of CNC support, uniform dispersion of PtRu catalyst, and small PtRu nanoparticles on the CNC. In DMFC single-cell tests, the PtRu/CNC-Ppy750 exhibited higher performance, approximately 1.7 times higher than PtRu/CB. In conclusion, the PtRu/CNC-PPy750 represents a promising electrocatalyst candidate for MOR and anodic DMFC applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Synthesis, Characterization and Performance of Materials for a Sustainable Future, 2nd Volume)

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15 pages, 3638 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Phosphate Removal from Polluted Water via Lanthanum-Modified Sludge Biochar

by Yufan Jiang, Xiaojie Sun, Hongxia Zhang, Qian Li, Jingjing Mo, Meiyan Xing, Bin Dong and Hongxiang Zhu

Sustainability 2024, 16(13), 5667; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16135667 - 3 Jul 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1270

Abstract

Biochar has attracted attention for its capability to remove phosphorus (P) from wastewater. However, the poor dispersion and limited adsorption capacity of unmodified biochar prevent its wide usage in water remediation. Herein, sludge biochar was modified using lanthanum nitrate to improve the removal [...] Read more.

Biochar has attracted attention for its capability to remove phosphorus (P) from wastewater. However, the poor dispersion and limited adsorption capacity of unmodified biochar prevent its wide usage in water remediation. Herein, sludge biochar was modified using lanthanum nitrate to improve the removal of P from aqueous solutions. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to elucidate the modification and adsorption mechanisms of biochar. Furthermore, the adsorption performance of the modified biochar was determined through adsorption kinetics and isotherm model fitting. The results showed that the modification process successfully introduced lanthanum-containing functional groups into biochar and considerably improved the complexation performance and ion-exchange capacity. The maximum experimental adsorption capacity for phosphate was 140.237 mg/g at pH 3.0. The adsorption processes of the modified biochar accorded with the Freundlich adsorption isotherm model, which indicates the successful adsorption of phosphate onto the modified biochar via multilayer adsorption. The adsorption mechanism was dominated by chemisorption, which mainly involved inner-sphere complexation, precipitation, and electrostatic attraction. Meanwhile, the adsorption and desorption experiments demonstrated the satisfying recycling performance of the modified biochar and the 72.3% adsorption capacity retention after the sixth desorption cycle. The dynamic adsorption study revealed that the modified biochar had long sustainable treatment durations of 7.58 and 9.08 h at adsorbent dosages of 1 and 2 g, respectively, which proves the feasibility of using biochar as a cost-effective and efficient adsorbent for phosphate-polluted water. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Synthesis, Characterization and Performance of Materials for a Sustainable Future, 2nd Volume)

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13 pages, 1570 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Synthesis of Soluble High Molar Mass Poly(Phenylene Methylene)-Based Polymers

by Marco F. D’Elia, Yingying Yu, Melvin Renggli, Madeleine A. Ehweiner, Carina Vidovic, Nadia C. Mösch-Zanetti, Markus Niederberger and Walter Caseri

Polymers 2024, 16(7), 967; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16070967 - 2 Apr 2024

Viewed by 1056

Abstract

Poly(phenylene methylene) (PPM) is a multifunctional polymer that is also active as an anticorrosion fluorescent coating material. Although this polymer was synthesized already more than 100 years ago, a versatile synthetic route to obtain soluble high molar mass polymers based on PPM has [...] Read more.

Poly(phenylene methylene) (PPM) is a multifunctional polymer that is also active as an anticorrosion fluorescent coating material. Although this polymer was synthesized already more than 100 years ago, a versatile synthetic route to obtain soluble high molar mass polymers based on PPM has yet to be achieved. In this article, the influence of bifunctional bis-chloromethyl durene (BCMD) as a branching agent in the synthesis of PPM is reported. The progress of the reaction was followed by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and NMR analysis. PPM-based copolymers with the highest molar mass reported so far for this class of materials (up to M_n of 205,300 g mol⁻¹) were isolated. The versatile approach of using BCMD was confirmed by employing different catalysts. Interestingly, thermal and optical characterization established that the branching process does not affect the thermoplastic behavior and the fluorescence of the material, thus opening up PPM-based compounds with high molar mass for applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Synthesis, Characterization and Performance of Materials for a Sustainable Future, 2nd Volume)

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13 pages, 6667 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Precipitation Stripping of V(V) as a Novel Approach for the Preparation of Two-Dimensional Transition Metal Vanadates

by María Guadalupe Sánchez-Loredo, Paul Chekhonin, Doreen Ebert, Ulrike Fischer, Xu Liu, Robert Möckel, Gladis Judith Labrada-Delgado, Stefano Passerini and Norman Kelly

Nanomaterials 2024, 14(1), 38; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano14010038 - 22 Dec 2023

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Abstract

Cobalt, nickel, manganese and zinc vanadates were synthesized by a hydrometallurgical two-phase method. The extraction of vanadium (V) ions from alkaline solution using Aliquat^® 336 was followed by the production of metal vanadates through precipitation stripping. Precipitation stripping was carried out using [...] Read more.

Cobalt, nickel, manganese and zinc vanadates were synthesized by a hydrometallurgical two-phase method. The extraction of vanadium (V) ions from alkaline solution using Aliquat^® 336 was followed by the production of metal vanadates through precipitation stripping. Precipitation stripping was carried out using solutions of the corresponding metal ions (Ni (II), Co (II), Mn (II) and Zn (II), 0.05 mol/L in 4 mol/L NaCl), and the addition time of the strip solution was varied (0, 1 and 2 h). The time-dependent experiments showed a notable influence on the composition, structure, morphology and crystallinity of the two-dimensional vanadate products. Inspired by these findings, we selected two metallic vanadate products and studied their properties as alternative cathode materials for nonaqueous sodium and lithium metal batteries. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Synthesis, Characterization and Performance of Materials for a Sustainable Future, 2nd Volume)

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16 pages, 7959 KiB  

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Self-Standing Hierarchical Porous Nickel-Iron Phosphide/Nickel Foam for Long-Term Overall Water Splitting

by Qixian Han, Hongmei Wu, Feng Li, Jing Liu, Liping Zhao, Peng Zhang and Lian Gao

Catalysts 2023, 13(9), 1242; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal13091242 - 26 Aug 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1608

Abstract

Electrolytic water splitting is a promising path for the production of clean hydrogen when combined with green electric power, such as photovoltaic and wind power; however, the high current water electrolysis is mainly dependent on the utilization of Pt, Ru, and other expensive [...] Read more.

Electrolytic water splitting is a promising path for the production of clean hydrogen when combined with green electric power, such as photovoltaic and wind power; however, the high current water electrolysis is mainly dependent on the utilization of Pt, Ru, and other expensive materials, while the transition metal-based catalysts still need improvement in electrocatalytic activity and stability. Here, we present the preparation of economic and scalable electrode materials, Nickel-Iron phosphide/Nickel foam (NiFeP/NF), with a hierarchical porous structure for overall water splitting as both the anode and cathode. An overall potential of 1.85 V for the current density of 100 mA cm⁻², and a long lifetime of 700 h, were achieved by using NiFeP/NF as both the anode and cathode. The nanostructures of the composite phosphides were investigated and the spent electrode after long-term electrolysis was characterized to investigate the long-term failure mechanism of the phosphides. Surface shedding and reconstruction theories were proposed for the failure of the NiFeP/NF cathode and anode in long-term electrolysis, respectively. Furthermore, TiO₂ coating was proved to be an efficient strategy to elongate the lifetime of the phosphide electrodes, which shows a slow current decline rate of 0.49 mA·cm⁻² h⁻¹. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Synthesis, Characterization and Performance of Materials for a Sustainable Future, 2nd Volume)

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13 pages, 3380 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Geopolymers Based on a Mixture of Steel Slag and Fly Ash, Activated with Rice Husks and Reinforced with Guadua angustifolia Fibers

by Willian Aperador, Jorge Bautista-Ruiz and Jorge Sánchez-Molina

Sustainability 2023, 15(16), 12404; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151612404 - 15 Aug 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1595

Abstract

At present, the conservation of the environment represents an objective that everyone wants to achieve. The construction industry has influenced the advancement of alternative materials that comply with sustainable development. In this article, reinforced concrete was obtained by mixing 80% blast furnace slag [...] Read more.

At present, the conservation of the environment represents an objective that everyone wants to achieve. The construction industry has influenced the advancement of alternative materials that comply with sustainable development. In this article, reinforced concrete was obtained by mixing 80% blast furnace slag and 20% fly ash. These concentrations were chosen because they provide the lowest porosity in the cementitious matrix. Rice husk ash was used as an activator. Guadua angustifolia fibers were used to evaluate the mechanical performance of the concrete. The composition of the raw material was determined by X-ray fluorescence, the microstructure of the fibers by AFM, and the SEM technique was used to determine the surface characteristics of guadua fibers and concrete mixes. The structural characterization using XRD, the structure of the molecules of the guadua fiber, and the composition of the mixture’s molecular mixtures were determined by FTIR spectroscopy. Its properties, such as tensile strength and flexural strength, were analyzed. The results indicated that the concrete with the addition of Guadua angustifolia fibers. The results indicated that the concrete with the addition of guadua angustifolia fibers showed the best mechanical behavior. Tensile strength was optimized, establishing values of 2.68 MPa for unreinforced concrete and up to 3.12 MPa for fiber-reinforced concrete. The flexural strength values increase at ages after 28 days due to the pozzolanic reaction generated. Values of 2.8 MPa were obtained for concrete without fiber and 3.5 MPa for concrete reinforced with guadua angustifolia fiber. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Synthesis, Characterization and Performance of Materials for a Sustainable Future, 2nd Volume)

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