Research

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15 pages, 2626 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Cu and Ni Co-Doped Porous Si Nanowire Networks as High-Performance Anode Materials for Lithium-Ion Batteries

by Can Mi, Chang Luo, Zigang Wang, Yongguang Zhang, Shenbo Yang and Zhifeng Wang

Materials 2023, 16(21), 6980; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16216980 - 31 Oct 2023

Viewed by 828

Due to its extremely high theoretical mass specific capacity, silicon is considered to be the most promising anode material for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, serious volume expansion and poor conductivity limit its commercial application. Herein, dealloying treatments of spray dryed Al-Si-Cu-Ni particles are [...] Read more.

Due to its extremely high theoretical mass specific capacity, silicon is considered to be the most promising anode material for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, serious volume expansion and poor conductivity limit its commercial application. Herein, dealloying treatments of spray dryed Al-Si-Cu-Ni particles are performed to obtain a Cu/Ni co-doped Si-based anode material with a porous nanowire network structure. The porous structure enables the material to adapt to the volume changes in the cycle process. Moreover, the density functional theory (DFT) calculations show that the co-doping of Cu and Ni can improve the capture ability towards Li, which can accelerate the electron migration rate of the material. Based on the above advantages, the as-prepared material presents excellent electrochemical performance, delivering a reversible capacity of 1092.4 mAh g⁻¹ after 100 cycles at 100 mA g⁻¹. Even after 500 cycles, it still retains 818.7 mAh g⁻¹ at 500 mA g⁻¹. This study is expected to provide ideas for the preparation and optimization of Si-based anodes with good electrochemical performance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Porous Materials: Synthesis, Characterisations and Applications)

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16 pages, 4703 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Experimental and Computational Study of Optimized Gas Diffusion Layer for Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Electrolyzer

by Javid Hussain, Dae-Kyeom Kim, Sangmin Park, Muhammad Waqas Khalid, Sayed-Sajid Hussain, Ammad Ali, Bin Lee, Myungsuk Song and Taek-Soo Kim

Materials 2023, 16(13), 4554; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16134554 - 23 Jun 2023

Viewed by 1364

Abstract

Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) and PEM electrolyzer are emerging technologies that produce energy with zero carbon emissions. However, the commercial feasibility of these technologies mostly relies on their efficiency, which is determined by individual parts, including the gas diffusion layer (GDL). [...] Read more.

Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) and PEM electrolyzer are emerging technologies that produce energy with zero carbon emissions. However, the commercial feasibility of these technologies mostly relies on their efficiency, which is determined by individual parts, including the gas diffusion layer (GDL). GDL transfers fluid and charges while protecting other components form flooding and corrosion. As there is a very limited attention toward the simulation work, in this work, a novel approach was utilized that combines simulation and experimental techniques to optimize the sintering temperature of GDL. Ti₆₄ GDL was produced through tape casting, a commercial method famous for producing precise thickness, uniform, and high-quality films and parameters such as slurry composition and rheology, casting parameters, drying, and debinding were optimized. The porosity and mechanical properties of the samples were tested experimentally at various sintering temperatures. The experimental results were compared with the simulated results achieved from the GeoDict simulation tool, showing around 96% accuracy, indicating that employing GeoDict to optimize the properties of Ti₆₄ GDL produced via tape casting is a critical step towards the commercial feasibility of PEMFCs and electrolyzer. These findings significantly contribute to the development of sustainable energy solutions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Porous Materials: Synthesis, Characterisations and Applications)

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10 pages, 4077 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Towards High Surface Area α-Al₂O₃–Mn-Assisted Low Temperature Transformation

by Tim Jähnichen, Simon Carstens, Maximilian Franz, Otto Laufer, Marianne Wenzel, Jörg Matysik and Dirk Enke

Materials 2023, 16(8), 3047; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16083047 - 12 Apr 2023

Viewed by 1366

Abstract

When impregnated with manganiferous precursors, γ-Al₂O₃ may be converted into α-Al₂O₃ under relatively mild and energy-saving conditions. In this work, a manganese assisted conversion to corundum at temperatures as low as 800 °C is investigated. To observe [...] Read more.

When impregnated with manganiferous precursors, γ-Al₂O₃ may be converted into α-Al₂O₃ under relatively mild and energy-saving conditions. In this work, a manganese assisted conversion to corundum at temperatures as low as 800 °C is investigated. To observe the alumina phase transition, XRD and solid-state ²⁷Al-MAS-NMR are applied. By post-synthetical treatment in concentrated HCl, residual manganese is removed up to 3 wt.-%. Thereby, α-Al₂O₃ with a high specific surface area of 56 m² g⁻¹ is obtained after complete conversion. Just as for transition alumina, thermal stability is an important issue for corundum. Long-term stability tests were performed at 750 °C for 7 days. Although highly porous corundum was synthesized, the porosity decreased with time at common process temperatures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Porous Materials: Synthesis, Characterisations and Applications)

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17 pages, 5070 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Synthesis of Coal-Fly-Ash-Based Ordered Mesoporous Materials and Their Adsorption Application

by Miaomiao Tan, Dahai Pan, Shuwei Chen, Xiaoliang Yan, Lina Han, Ruifeng Li and Jiancheng Wang

Materials 2023, 16(7), 2868; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16072868 - 04 Apr 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1230

Abstract

A feasible approach was developed for the synthesis of ordered mesoporous SBA-15-type materials using coal fly ash (CFA) as raw material. In the proposed approach, CFA was, firstly, activated by subcritical water with the addition of NaOH, which allowed an efficient extraction of [...] Read more.

A feasible approach was developed for the synthesis of ordered mesoporous SBA-15-type materials using coal fly ash (CFA) as raw material. In the proposed approach, CFA was, firstly, activated by subcritical water with the addition of NaOH, which allowed an efficient extraction of silicon species from CFA under strong acidic conditions at near room temperature. Subsequently, in the synthesis system, using silicon extraction solution as the silicon precursor, the introduction of anhydrous ethanol as a co-solvent effectively inhibited the polymerization of silanol species and promoted their collaborative self-assembly with surfactant molecules by enhancing the hydrogen bond interactions. The resultant SBA-15 material had a high purity, high specific surface area (1014 m²/g) and pore volume (1.08 cm³/g), and a highly ordered mesostructure, and, therefore, exhibited an excellent removal efficiency (90.5%) and adsorption capacity (160.8 mg/g) for methylene blue (MB) from simulated wastewater. Additionally, the generation of surface acid sites from the homogenous incorporation of Al atoms onto the mesoporous walls of SBA-15 combined with the perfect retention of the ordered mesostructure endowed the obtained Al-SBA-15 material with a further boost in the removal performance of MB. The MB removal efficiency can reach ~100%, along with a maximum adsorption capacity of 190.1 mg/g. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Porous Materials: Synthesis, Characterisations and Applications)

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20 pages, 7909 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Spherical Attapulgite/Silica Aerogels Fabricated via Different Drying Methods with Excellent Adsorption Performance

by Zhixiang Zhu, Shengyuan Wang, Ya Zhong, Qi You, Jun Gao, Sheng Cui and Xiaodong Shen

Materials 2023, 16(6), 2292; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16062292 - 13 Mar 2023

Viewed by 1818

Abstract

Dye wastewater has caused great harm to the environment, which is an urgent problem to be solved. As typical three-dimensional porous materials, aerogels have attracted great interest in dye wastewater treatment. In this work, spherical attapulgite/silica (ATP/SiO₂) gels were initially prepared [...] Read more.

Dye wastewater has caused great harm to the environment, which is an urgent problem to be solved. As typical three-dimensional porous materials, aerogels have attracted great interest in dye wastewater treatment. In this work, spherical attapulgite/silica (ATP/SiO₂) gels were initially prepared by easily scalable sol-gel dripping methods and then dried to aerogels with three drying techniques, namely, supercritical CO₂ drying (SCD), freeze-drying (FD), and ambient pressure drying (APD). The effect of the drying techniques and heat-treated temperature on the physical characteristic, morphological properties, microstructure, and chemical structure of the spherical ATP/SiO₂ aerogels were investigated. The macroscopic morphology of the spherical ATP/SiO₂ aerogels was homogeneous and integrated without local cracking. The average pore diameter and specific surface area of the spherical ATP/SiO₂ aerogels prepared by the three drying techniques were in the range of 6.8–8.6 nm and 218.5–267.4 m²/g, respectively. The heat treatment temperature had a significant effect on the pore structure and the wetting properties of the aerogels. The 600 °C heat-treated aerogels were subjected to adsorption tests in methylene blue (MB) solution (60 mg/g, 100 mL), which exhibited a great adsorption capacity of 102.50 mg/g. Therefore, the resulting spherical ATP/SiO₂ aerogels possessed multipath preparation and exhibited an efficient adsorption performance, with the potential to be applied as an adsorbent for dye wastewater. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Porous Materials: Synthesis, Characterisations and Applications)

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22 pages, 4995 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Porous Structural Properties of K or Na-Co Hexacyanoferrates as Efficient Materials for CO₂ Capture

by Paloma M. Frías-Ureña, Maximiliano Bárcena-Soto, Eulogio Orozco-Guareño, Alberto Gutiérrez-Becerra, Josué D. Mota-Morales, Karina Chavez, Víctor Soto, José A. Rivera-Mayorga, José I. Escalante-Vazquez and Sergio Gómez-Salazar

Materials 2023, 16(2), 608; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16020608 - 08 Jan 2023

Viewed by 1375

Abstract

The stoichiometry of the components of hexacyanoferrate materials affecting their final porosity properties and applications in CO₂ capture is an issue that is rarely studied. In this work, the effect that stoichiometry of all element components and oxidation states of transition metals [...] Read more.

The stoichiometry of the components of hexacyanoferrate materials affecting their final porosity properties and applications in CO₂ capture is an issue that is rarely studied. In this work, the effect that stoichiometry of all element components and oxidation states of transition metals has on the structures of mesoporous K or Na-cobalt hexacyanoferrates (CoHCFs) and CO₂ removal is reported. A series of CoHCFs model systems are synthesized using the co-precipitation method with varying amounts of Co ions. CoHCFs are characterized by N₂ adsorption, TGA, FTIR-ATR, XRD, and XPS. N₂ adsorption results reveal a more developed external surface area (72.69–172.18 m²/g) generated in samples containing mixtures of K⁺/Fe²⁺/Fe³⁺ ions (system III) compared to samples with Na⁺/Fe²⁺ ions (systems I, II). TGA results show that the porous structure of CoHCFs is affected by Fe and Co ions oxidation states, the number of water molecules, and alkali ions. The formation of two crystalline cells (FCC and triclinic) is confirmed by XRD results. Fe and Co oxidation states are authenticated by XPS and allow for the confirmation of charges involved in the stabilization of CoCHFs. CO₂ removal capacities (3.04 mmol/g) are comparable with other materials reported. CO₂ adsorption kinetics is fast (3–6 s), making CoHCFs attractive for continuous operations. Q_st (24.3 kJ/mol) reveals a physical adsorption process. Regeneration effectiveness for adsorption/desorption cycles indicates ~1.6% loss and selectivity (~47) for gas mixtures (CO₂:N₂ = 15:85). The results of this study demonstrate that the CoHCFs have practical implications in the potential use of CO₂ capture and flue gas separations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Porous Materials: Synthesis, Characterisations and Applications)

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9 pages, 3300 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Porous Carbon Sponge from White-Rot Fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium for the Removal of Oils and Organic Solvents

by Yue Gong, Lejie Pan, Huahui Yuan, Juncheng Li, Xin Li, Qian Chen, Yue Yuan, Xian Wu and Sheng-Tao Yang

Materials 2023, 16(2), 534; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16020534 - 05 Jan 2023

Viewed by 1298

Abstract

Oil leakage incidentally occurs and leads to environmental disasters. Because of their porous and hydrophobic characteristics, graphene sponges are often studied as an oil adsorbent to repair oil spills at sea. Graphene materials are very expensive, and their biological toxicity has been given [...] Read more.

Oil leakage incidentally occurs and leads to environmental disasters. Because of their porous and hydrophobic characteristics, graphene sponges are often studied as an oil adsorbent to repair oil spills at sea. Graphene materials are very expensive, and their biological toxicity has been given serious concerns; however, the easier preparation and eco-friendly, biomass-derived porous carbon materials can be used as an alternative to graphene materials. In this study, we prepared a porous carbon sponge (PCS) for oil and organic solvent removal by carbonizing white-rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium, a fast-growing microorganism for the production of lignin-degrading enzymes and the environmental remediation. P. chrysosporium fungus balls were converted into black PCS by carbonization at high temperatures, where PCS was light (density of 56 g/L), hydrophobic (contact angle of 115°) and porous. According to the results of BET and XPS analysis, the surface area of PCS was 14.43 m²/g, and the carbon in PCS is mainly sp² carbon. PCS could adsorb pure oils and organic solvents within seconds. The adsorption capacities of PCS were 20.7 g/g for gasoline, 30.1 g/g for peanut oil, 27.7 g/g for toluene, 18.5 g/g for dodecane, 32.5 g/g for chloroform, 27.1 g/g for tetrahydrofuran, 23.7 g/g for acetone and 13.7 g/g for ethanol. According to the reusability study, there was no obvious capacity loss after recycling up to 10 cycles. Our results indicated that white-rot fungi could be adopted as a cheap carbon resource for oil and organic solvent removal. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Porous Materials: Synthesis, Characterisations and Applications)

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Graphical abstract

11 pages, 3215 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Study of Electric and Magnetic Properties of Iron-Modified MFI Zeolite Prepared by a Mechanochemical Method

by Fabian N. Murrieta-Rico, Joel Antúnez-García, Rosario I. Yocupicio-Gaxiola, Jonathan Zamora, Armando Reyes-Serrato, Alexey Pestryakov and Vitalii Petranovskii

Materials 2022, 15(22), 7968; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15227968 - 11 Nov 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1417

Abstract

Zeolites are materials of undeniable importance for science and technology. Since the properties of zeolites can be tuned after the inclusion of additional chemical species into the zeolitic framework, it is necessary to study the nature of zeolites after modification with transition metals [...] Read more.

Zeolites are materials of undeniable importance for science and technology. Since the properties of zeolites can be tuned after the inclusion of additional chemical species into the zeolitic framework, it is necessary to study the nature of zeolites after modification with transition metals to understand the new properties that were obtained, and with this information, novel applications can be proposed. This paper reports a solvent-free approach for the rapid synthesis of zeolites modified with iron and/or iron oxide particles. The samples were characterized, and their electrical and magnetic properties were investigated. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Porous Materials: Synthesis, Characterisations and Applications)

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18 pages, 5315 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Thermal Properties of Porous Mullite Ceramics Modified with Microsized ZrO₂ and WO₃

by Ludmila Mahnicka-Goremikina, Ruta Svinka, Visvaldis Svinka, Liga Grase, Inna Juhnevica, Maris Rundans, Vadims Goremikins, Sanat Tolendiuly and Sergey Fomenko

Materials 2022, 15(22), 7935; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15227935 - 10 Nov 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1904

Abstract

Mullite ceramics are well known as materials with a high temperature stability, strength and creep resistance. In this research, the effect of a modification with magnesia-stabilized zirconia and yttria-stabilized zirconia, separately, as well as in a mixture with WO₃, in 1:1 [...] Read more.

Mullite ceramics are well known as materials with a high temperature stability, strength and creep resistance. In this research, the effect of a modification with magnesia-stabilized zirconia and yttria-stabilized zirconia, separately, as well as in a mixture with WO₃, in 1:1 and 1:2 ratios on the thermal properties of porous mullite ceramics was investigated. The porous mullite-containing ceramics were prepared by a slip casting of the concentrated slurry of raw materials with the addition of a suspension of Al paste for the pore formation due to the H₂ evolution as a result of the reaction of Al with water. The formed samples were sintered at 1600 °C and the holding time was 1 h. The materials were characterized using X-ray diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy, mercury porosimetry, the laser flash contactless method, thermal shock resistance testing and the non-destructive impulse excitation method for determining the elasticity modulus. The modification of the porous mullite ceramic with a mixture of ZrO₂ and WO₃ oxides had a positive effect by decreasing the thermal conductivity, due to the increased porosity, in comparison to the undoped samples and samples with only ZrO₂. The doubling of the WO₃ amount in the modifying oxide mixtures improved the ceramic thermal shock resistance. The porous mullite ceramics which were modified with magnesia-stabilized zirconia (2.8 mol% MgO) and WO₃ had a lower thermal conductivity and improved thermal shock resistance than the samples with yttria-stabilized zirconia (8 mol% Y₂O₃) and WO₃. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Porous Materials: Synthesis, Characterisations and Applications)

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Review

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16 pages, 1572 KiB

Open AccessReview

Piezoelectric Applications of Low-Dimensional Composites and Porous Materials

by Xiaoqiang Luo, Qingbin Li and Yichao Wang

Materials 2024, 17(4), 844; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17040844 - 09 Feb 2024

Viewed by 740

Abstract

Low-dimensional (LD) materials, with atomically thin anisotropic structures, exhibit remarkable physical and chemical properties, prominently featuring piezoelectricity resulting from the absence of centrosymmetry. This characteristic has led to diverse applications, including sensors, actuators, and micro- and nanoelectromechanical systems. While piezoelectric effects are observed [...] Read more.

Low-dimensional (LD) materials, with atomically thin anisotropic structures, exhibit remarkable physical and chemical properties, prominently featuring piezoelectricity resulting from the absence of centrosymmetry. This characteristic has led to diverse applications, including sensors, actuators, and micro- and nanoelectromechanical systems. While piezoelectric effects are observed across zero-dimensional (0D), one-dimensional (1D), and two-dimensional (2D) LD materials, challenges such as effective charge separation and crystal structure imperfections limit their full potential. Addressing these issues requires innovative solutions, with the integration of LD materials with polymers, ceramics, metals, and other porous materials proving a key strategy to significantly enhance piezoelectric properties. This review comprehensively covers recent advances in synthesizing and characterizing piezoelectric composites based on LD materials and porous materials. The synergistic combination of LD materials with other substances, especially porous materials, demonstrates notable performance improvements, addressing inherent challenges. The review also explores future directions and challenges in developing these composite materials, highlighting potential applications across various technological domains. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Porous Materials: Synthesis, Characterisations and Applications)

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16 pages, 4952 KiB

Open AccessReview

Recent Advances in Electrospun Membranes for Radiative Cooling

by Dongxue Zhang, Haiyan Zhang, Zhiguang Xu and Yan Zhao

Materials 2023, 16(10), 3677; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16103677 - 11 May 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1827

Abstract

Radiative cooling is an approach that maximizes the thermal emission through the atmospheric window in order to dissipate heat, while minimizing the absorption of incoming atmospheric radiation, to realize a net cooling effect without consuming energy. Electrospun membranes are made of ultra-thin fibers [...] Read more.

Radiative cooling is an approach that maximizes the thermal emission through the atmospheric window in order to dissipate heat, while minimizing the absorption of incoming atmospheric radiation, to realize a net cooling effect without consuming energy. Electrospun membranes are made of ultra-thin fibers with high porosity and surface area, which makes them suitable for radiative cooling applications. Many studies have investigated the use of electrospun membranes for radiative cooling, but a comprehensive review that summarizes the research progress in this area is still lacking. In this review, we first summarize the basic principles of radiative cooling and its significance in achieving sustainable cooling. We then introduce the concept of radiative cooling of electrospun membranes and discuss the selection criteria for materials. Furthermore, we examine recent advancements in the structural design of electrospun membranes for improved cooling performance, including optimization of geometric parameters, incorporation of highly reflective nanoparticles, and designing multilayer structure. Additionally, we discuss dual-mode temperature regulation, which aims to adapt to a wider range of temperature conditions. Finally, we provide perspectives for the development of electrospun membranes for efficient radiative cooling. This review will provide a valuable resource for researchers working in the field of radiative cooling, as well as for engineers and designers interested in commercializing and developing new applications for these materials. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Porous Materials: Synthesis, Characterisations and Applications)

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