BET Specific Surface Area Research Articles

Modulating charge separation of Ce–TiO2 aerogel supported on chitosan derived ordered porous carbonaceous frameworks for promoting CO2 photoreduction activity

Developing efficient photocatalysts with low cost, high performance, and high selectivity is essential and imperative for CO2 conversion and utilization, yet it remains a big challenge. Herein, a novel Ce-doped TiO2 aerogel with oxygen vacancy anchored on the oriented carbonaceous (Ce–TiO2@CS) is synthesized by the sol-gel technique, combined with the freeze casting, supercritical drying technique, and heat treatment processes. The Ce–TiO2@CS aerogel has a typical aerogel-like structure, with the Ce–TiO2 aerogel anchored on the oriented porous carbon, rendering a large BET-specific surface area of 124 m2/g, which leads to enhanced photocatalytic activity. The Ce-doping into the pristine TiO2 results in impurity levels within the band gap, which extends the light response range to the visible light region. In addition, the rapid combination of electrons and holes is prevented via the two-phase microstructures and rapid transfer rate of electrons within the oriented porous carbon. The yields of CH4 and CO are as high as 9.45 μmol h−1 g−1 and 42.26 μmol h−1 g−1, respectively, which are 28.6 and 2.46 times higher than those of pristine TiO2 aerogel under simulated solar spectrum conditions without any sacrificial agents or co-catalysts, The density functional theory (DFT) calculation shows that larger C–O bonds of CO2 molecule and more negative adsorption energy have occurred on the Ce–TiO2@CS aerogel, indicating that the CO2 activation has been enhanced, which greatly improves the CO2 photoreduction activity. This work may guide the designing of aerogel-based photocatalysts for CO2 photocatalytic reduction.

Fabrication of the SiC/HfC Composite Aerogel with Ultra-Low Thermal Conductivity and Excellent Compressive Strength.

Aerogels, as a new type of high-temperature-resistant insulation material, find extensive application in aerospace, high-temperature industrial furnaces, new energy batteries, and various other domains, yet still face some limitations such as inadequate temperature resistance and pronounced brittleness. In this work, SiC/HfC composite aerogels were prepared through a combination of sol-gel method, atmospheric pressure drying technique, and carbothermal reduction reaction. The effects of different molar ratios, calcination time, and temperatures on the microstructural features and physicochemical properties of the resulting SiC/HfC composite aerogels were investigated. The aerogel exhibited an elevated BET-specific surface area of 279.75 m2/g, while the sample displayed an extraordinarily low thermal conductivity of 0.052 W/(m·K). Most notably, the compressive strength reached an outstanding 5.93 MPa after a carbonization temperature of 1500 °C, far exceeding the values reported in prior aerogel studies. This research provided an innovative approach for advancing the development of carbide aerogels in the realm of high-temperature applications.

Ultra-small nano CeO2/CuO doped carboxylated chitosan fibers for high-performance oxidase-mimic visual monitoring of S2− and Fe2+ in agricultural products

To improve the sensitivity and selectivity for S2− and Fe2+ detection in complex agricultural products, ultra-small nano CeO2/CuO doped carboxylated chitosan fibers (CeO2/CuO CCF) was constructed under microwave-assisted conditions. Not only did CeO2/CuO CCF possess suitable BET specific surface area, superior stability and synergistic-enhancement oxidase-like activity, trace S2− or Fe2+ could selectively change its oxidase-like activity accompanying with visible color changes. Under the optimized conditions, there express specific double ratiometric colorimetric linear relationships between lg(A729/A343)/lg(A415/A343) and cS2− or cFe2+ with large linear ranges. When applied for visual monitoring of S2− and Fe2+ in real agricultural products, the detection limits were low to 3.5 × 10−9 mol·L−1 and 9.4 × 10−8 mol·L−1 respectively, far below the permitted values in drinking water by World Health Organization. The mechanisms for synergistic-enhancement oxidase-like activity for CeO2/CuO CCF to selectively recognize S2− and Fe2+ were proposed. This work will provide an efficient way for visual monitoring of multiple analytes in complex agricultural products.

Enhanced catalytic degradation of organic dye by Sn1-xLaxO2 nanoparticles under UV light for wastewater treatment

Effectively eliminating dyes and heavy metals from wastewater, without secondary contamination and with easy recovery, is a significant challenge. To address this, SnO2-based photocatalysts were fabricated using a straightforward sol–gel method, aiming to achieve high-value reutilization and environmental protection. Utilizing XRD, FTIR, and HRTEM, the investigation has conclusively confirmed the emergence of nanoparticles (NPs) through rigorous analysis and observation techniques. Raman, XPS, and PL spectroscopy probed electronic, optical properties, and lattice defects, offering comprehensive insights into material characteristics. Specific BET surface areas were observed to be 17.72 and 39.64 m2/g for 0 % and 5 % La samples. The introduction of dopant La to the SnO2 lattice resulted in enhanced optical properties, demonstrated by a significant red shift. La-SnO2 nanoparticles demonstrated remarkable catalytic efficacy, degrading 94 % of RB dye solution under 60 min of UV light exposure. Even after four cycles, the catalytic degradation activity remained high at 87 %, showcasing excellent structural stability. Enhanced adsorption capacity and effective separation of electron-hole pairs under light contribute to this improvement. Moreover, the study delved into defect-based room temperature ferromagnetism (RTFM) by examining the formation of a novel network, such as La3+-O-Sn4+. The results highlight the potential of these composites doped photocatalysts as effective materials for degrading harmful organic pollutants in wastewater treatment and for their application in spintronic devices. The present study aims to characterize the structural, magnetic, and optical attributes of La-doped SnO2 nanoparticles.

Enhanced biobased carbon materials made from softwood bark via a steam explosion preprocessing step for reactive orange 16 dye adsorption

The growing textile industry produces large volumes of hazardous wastewater containing dyes, which stresses the need for cheap, efficient adsorbing technologies. This study investigates a novel preprocessing method for producing activated carbons from abundantly available softwood bark. The preprocessing involved a continuous steam explosion preconditioning step, chemical activation with ZnCl2, pyrolysis at 600 and 800 °C, and washing. The activated carbons were subsequently characterized by SEM, XPS, Raman and FTIR prior to evaluation for their effectiveness in adsorbing reactive orange 16 and two synthetic dyehouse effluents. Results showed that the steam-exploded carbon, pyrolyzed at 600 °C, obtained the highest BET specific surface area (1308 m2/g), the best Langmuir maximum adsorption of reactive orange 16 (218 mg g−1) and synthetic dyehouse effluents (>70 % removal) of the tested carbons. Finally, steam explosion preconditioning could open up new and potentially more sustainable process routes for producing functionalized active carbons.

Low energy synthesis of crystalline mesoporous aluminosilicate consisting of Na-P1 zeolite derived from coal fly ash

Worldwide every year massive amount of coal fly ash is being generated as by product in the power plants which creates economic, environmental and most importantly health problems. Usually coal fly ash is used in cement production worldwide. At present, in Bangladesh, about 95 % of fly ash remains still unutilized. The alkali activation of fly ash has become a top research topic as it is possible to synthesize low cost and ecologically sound mesoporous zeolite type materials. In the present work, to the best of our knowledge, for the first time in Bangladesh, synthesis and characterization of crystalline mesoporous (H3 type hysteresis) aluminosilicate consisting of Na-P1 zeolite with a high BET specific surface area and a high pore volume from coal fly ash based on hydrothermal alkali activation technique have been successfully done. This product has versatile applications like catalysis, gas separation, water softening, water purification, gas sensing etc. The variable of alkali concentration was studied which has the notable influence on the development of the framework of the pores. The untreated coal fly ash (CFA) and the synthesized modified fly ashes (MFAs) were tested by WDS-XRF, XRD, N2 physisorption, FE-SEM, FT-IR, XPS, EDAX-mapping, particle size analysis and other technologies. The BET specific surface area, total pore volume and average pore diameter of the CFA were only 3 m2/g, 0.01 cc/g and 6.3 nm respectively based on nitrogen gas physisorption technique, whereas, after alkali activation at a specific temperature and time, and then curing, significant and promising increased values of the said parameters of 45 m2/g, 0.11 cc/g and 9.8 nm were obtained respectively. In methylene blue dye adsorption experiment, MFA showed higher adsorption capacity (23.87 mg/g).

Significantly enhanced low-temperature activity and SO2/H2O tolerance of Mn–Ce-Ox/TiO2 catalyst prepared by a facile citric acid assisted impregnation method

Two different Mn–Ce-Ox/TiO2 catalysts were prepared by ordinary impregnation (denoted as MCT) and citric acid assisted impregnation (denoted as MCT-CA) methods, respectively. Excellent NOx removal is achieved over MCT-CA for selective catalytic reduction with NH3 (NH3-SCR), and 100% NOx conversion is obtained at 125 °C under weight hour space velocity (WHSV) of 80000 mL/(gcat·h). Particularly, 100% NOx is converted on MCT-CA in the presence of 10 vol% H2O at 175 °C. As H2O and SO2 coexist in the reaction system for 9 h, NOx conversion can still be maintained >90%, much higher than that (22%) of MCT. A series of characterization results indicates that MCT-CA exhibits a larger BET specific surface area, pore volume, and pore size, which enhances the dispersion of Mn and Ce oxides and promotes the rapid adsorption of reactants and desorption of products. Additionally, MCT-CA possesses more Mn4+, Ce3+, chemisorbed oxygen species, and stronger reducibility, facilitating the conversion of NO to NO2. Specially, the amount of active NH3 species and active nitrate species on MCT-CA is much more than that over MCT. The combined effect of the aforementioned factors devotes to the excellent low-temperature SCR performance and tolerance to H2O/SO2 over MCT-CA.

Three-dimensional Electrocoagulation Process Optimization Employing Response Surface Methodology that Operated at Batch Recirculation Mode for Treatment Refinery Wastewaters

The performance of a three-dimensional electrocoagulation process operated at a batch recirculation mode for treating petroleum refinery wastewater using aluminium as a sacrificial anode, stainless steel as a cathode, and granular activated carbon with metal impregnated carbon (GACMI (Al: Fe)) with mass ratio (2:1) as a third particle electrode was investigated. Effects of operating factors such as the applied voltage (15-30 v), flow rate (50-175 mL/min), pH (4-10), and GACMI dosage (5-10) g/L on the chemical oxygen demand removal were investigated. Using Box-Behnken design (BBD), a mathematical model relating the essential operational parameters to chemical oxygen demand (COD) reduction was constructed. Results showed that the effect of GACMI dosage on the efficiency of COD removal was the major one, where COD removal increased as GACMI dosage increased. However, increasing applied voltage would enhance the performance of the electrocoagulation reaction. Experimental chemical oxygen demand removal of 96.25 % was attained at the optimized conditions (applied voltage=27.7 v, flow rate=128 mL/min, pH=5.6, GACMI dosage= 8.7 g/L). BET-specific surface area, total pore volume, X-ray fluorescence (XRF), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were employed for the characterization of GACMI particle electrodes.

In-situ assembly of Cu-BTC nanoparticles onto pollen template with enhanced hydrolytic stability and mechanical performance

Herein, a green and facile method is introduced to simultaneously enhance the hydrolytic stability, mechanical performance, and catalytic activity of Cu-BTC nanoparticles, by utilizing pollen as the biotemplate for self-assembling Cu-BTC nanoparticles. The resulting A-bio-Cu-BTC composite retains its original morphology after soaking in water at 60 °C for 24 h, experiencing only 8.9 % decrease in the specific BET surface area, which is more stable than the pristine Cu-BTC (a sharp decrease of 94.4 %). For the monoliths fabricated by the 3D printing technique, the A-bio-Cu-BTC grids exhibit superior mechanical properties compared to Cu-BTC girds (tensile strength of 0.45 vs. 0.09 MPa), thereby ensuring good long-term applications. It is found that the organic dye degradation performance of A-bio-Cu-BTC powder and 3D-printed grids is superior to the Cu-BTC samples without biotemplates. Moreover, the incorporation of pollen also facilitates the generation of abundant Cu(Ⅰ) species on the surface of Cu-BTC (the ratio of Cu(Ⅰ)/Cu(Ⅱ) increased from 0.80 to 1.67), which enhances the degradation performance of organic dyes.

Ru-Ce0.7Zr0.3O2-δ as an Anode Catalyst for the Internal Reforming of Dimethyl Ether in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells.

The development of direct dimethyl ether (DME) solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) has several drawbacks, due to the low catalytic activity and carbon deposition of conventional Ni-zirconia-based anodes. In the present study, the insertion of 2.0 wt.% Ru-Ce0.7Zr0.3O2-δ (ruthenium-zirconium-doped ceria, Ru-CZO) as an anode catalyst layer (ACL) is proposed to be a promising solution. For this purpose, the CZO powder was prepared by the sol-gel synthesis method, and subsequently, nanoparticles of Ru (1.0-2.0 wt.%) were synthesized by the impregnation method and calcination. The catalyst powder was characterized by BET-specific surface area, X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy with an energy-dispersive spectroscopy detector (FESEM-EDS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. Afterward, the catalytic activity of Ru-CZO catalyst was studied using DME partial oxidation. Finally, button anode-supported SOFCs with Ru-CZO ACL were prepared, depositing Ru-CZO onto the anode support and using an annealing process. The effect of ACL on the electrochemical performance of cells was investigated under a DME and air mixture at 750 °C. The results showed a high dispersion of Ru in the CZO solid solution, which provided a complete DME conversion and high yields of H2 and CO at 750 °C. As a result, 2.0 wt.% Ru-CZO ACL enhanced the cell performance by more than 20% at 750 °C. The post-test analysis of cells with ACL proved a remarkable resistance of Ru-CZO ACL to carbon deposition compared to the reference cell, evidencing the potential application of Ru-CZO as a catalyst as well as an ACL for direct DME SOFCs.

Preparation of formic acid-modified zirconium based metal organic frameworks for toluene absorption

UiO-66 is a widely used metal-organic frameworks in air pollution control. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are the important atmosphere pollutants that damage atmospheric environment and people health. UiO-66 was prepared by solvothermal method and modified with formic acid. All the materials were successfully prepared and characterized by XRD, BET, SEM, TG and FTIR, and the adsorption ability of UiO-66 was tested by toluene. The results showed that the BET specific surface area of UiO-66 synthesized by formic acid doping was enhanced, and the adsorption capacity of the doped adsorbent was significantly higher than that of UiO-66, which could reach up to 424.9 mg/g when the doping amount of formic acid was 20 mmol. The addition of acid during the reaction process could inhibit the recrystallization of H2BDC, which was beneficial for the pore structure construction of the material. Meanwhile, the material was subjected to static and dynamic adsorption, as well as adsorption-desorption continuous cycle experiments, which showed that the material has high thermal stability, and the desorption efficiency was 90.8% after five cycle experiments. The addition of formic acid can improve the adsorption performance of the specific surface area of UiO-66.

Carbon-doped Bi2MoO6 nanosheet self-assembled microspheres for photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes

Abstract In this paper, carbon-doped Bi2MoO6 (C-Bi2MoO6) nanosheet self-assembled microspheres were prepared by using the solvothermal-calcination route to improve the photocatalytic activity of Bi2MoO6. The characterization results of x-ray diffractometry, Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, Raman scattering, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, BET specific surface area test, and x-ray photoelectron spectrometry indicated that C replaced the O2− anion in the Bi2MoO6 lattice, thinning the nanosheets, decreasing the size of the microspheres, and increasing the specific surface area of the Bi2MoO6. Ultraviolet–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, photoluminescence, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, transient photocurrent, and linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) spectroscopy demonstrated that the carbon doping reduced the band gap energy, raised the conduction band, and enhanced the photogenerated electron–hole pairs separation efficiency of Bi2MoO6. Benefiting from these favorable changes, the C-Bi2MoO6 microspheres prepared at a molar ratio of C to Bi of 4 (4C-Bi2MoO6) exhibited the highest photocatalytic activity, and the photocatalytic degradation rate constant of rhodamine B by 4C-Bi2MoO6 microspheres was almost 2.26 times that by pristine Bi2MoO6 under simulated solar light. 4C-Bi2MoO6 microspheres (0.2 g/L) presented excellent photocatalytic performance toward RhB (20 mg/L) at pH value 1 and could remove 98.31% of the RhB within 120 min. In addition, 4C-Bi2MoO6 microspheres also possessed a high photocatalytic activity toward methylene blue and tetracycline. 4C-Bi2MoO6 microspheres assembled from thin nanosheets can be used as effective photocatalysts to degrade toxic organic molecules from wastewater.

Low‐Carbon‐Footprint Plasma‐Functionalized Coconut‐Coir‐Based Porous Carbon as an Efficient and Sustainable Adsorbent

AbstractHerein, the surface of pyrolyzed coconut coir (PCC) dust has been functionalized using atmospheric plasma under non‐equilibrium conditions without utilizing vacuum chambers. The reactive species present in the plasma such as, molecular ions, electrons, and radicals interact with PCC's surface, leading to the introduction of epoxy, carbonyl and amino functional groups on carbon surface. The resulting plasma functionalized carbon (PFC) material was characterized using several advanced material characterization techniques, including PXRD, FTIR, XPS, N2 BET specific surface area, SEM and TEM imaging techniques, etc. Moreover, it has been used in diverse applications in toxic gas removal (CO2, CO, NOx), fluoride (F−) removal from drinking water and cationic organic dye (methylene blue–MB) removal. The reported method for synthesis of functional carbon introduces a platform technology for low carbon footprint, green synthesis of advanced functional materials.

Novel ceramic supports for catalyst with hierarchical pore structures fabricated via additive manufacturing-direct ink writing

The use of direct ink writing technology, combined with in-situ grown whiskers, has facilitated the development of 3D-printed ceramic catalyst supports-aluminum borate porous ceramics (ABPCs) with hierarchical pore structures. The optimal slurry consists of 0.2 wt% polycarboxylate, 19 wt% water addition, and 1.2 wt% sodium alginate. The most effective printing parameters are determined to be a 1.0 mm nozzle diameter, 10 mm/s printing speed, 4.0 kPa air pressure, and 0.4 mm layer height. After sintering at 1100 ℃, pure-phase aluminum borate (Al18B4O33) ceramics are achieved, leading to the formation of needle-like aluminum borate whiskers. The aspect ratio of whiskers, flexural strength, BET-specific surface area, and photocatalytic activity of ABPCs increase initially and then decrease with increasing sintering temperature. The ABPCs coated with a titanium oxide layer display a photocatalytic degradation rate of 83.92% for methyl orange solution. These results underscore the immense potential of ABPCs in high-temperature catalyst support applications.

Controlled Synthesis of Mg-MOF-74 and Its CO2 Adsorption in Flue Gas

Yellow nanorod Mg-MOF-74 was obtained through a solvothermal synthesis method. The XRD, N2 adsorption–desorption isotherms, SEM, and TGA results suggest that the particle size of Mg-MOF-74 reaches 400 nm after the introduction of sodium acetate in the precursor of Mg-MOF-74. Furthermore, the morphology of Mg-MOF-74 changed from cauliflower- to rod-shaped particles. At the same time, the BET specific surface area and pore volume of Mg-MOF-74 also increased a lot. Then, the CO2 dynamic adsorption capacity of Mg-MOF-74 was measured with a self-made fixed bed at 30 °C and a 0.1 bar CO2 partial pressure. The results show that the CO2 adsorption capacity of Mg-MOF-74-N2 reaches 3.67 mmol/g, and its CO2 adsorption capacity remains unchanged after 10 CO2 adsorption–desorption cycles.

Sm2O3 micron plates/B4C/HDPE composites containing high specific surface area fillers for neutron and gamma-ray complex radiation shielding

In this study, a series of Sm2O3 micron plates/B4C/HDPE composites composed of synthesized Sm2O3 fillers (Sm2O3 micron plates) are prepared for shielding neutron and gamma radiation. The influence of micromorphology of Sm2O3 fillers on neutron and gamma radiation shielding properties of composites is investigated in detail. The XRD pattern reveals that the phase of synthetic Sm2O3 is cubic crystal systems, body-centered cubic lattices, and its space group is Ia 3‾ (206). SEM images and BET analyses reveal that the micromorphology of synthesized Sm2O3 is micron plates. The BET-specific surface area of the Sm2O3 fillers is increased with addition of urea content. The differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) curves reveal that Sm2O3 fillers increase the melting temperature of the composites, which is up to 138.6 °C. The thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) results reveal that the initial thermal degradation temperatures of the composites are all above 440 °C. The neutron and gamma radiation shielding tests show that Sm2O3 fillers with high BET-specific surface area (8.20 m2/g) and uniform size improve the neutron and gamma shielding rate of composites. A superior composite containing 10 wt% Sm2O3 (R = 1:25, R value represents the molar ratio of rare earth elements to urea)/20 wt% B4C/70 wt% HDPE has a neutron radiation shielding rate of 98.7% with a thickness of 15 cm under the 252Cf neutron source and a gamma radiation shielding rate of 72.1% with a thickness of 15 cm under 137Cs gamma source. And these lead-free and environment-friendly composites can be widely used in the neutron and gamma complex radiation fields.

Origin and nature of pores in the Toolebuc Formation, a potential unconventional target in Australia

The Toolebuc Formation of Australia, a potential unconventional hydrocarbon resource, has limited studies on its pore structure and sorption characteristics. In this study, shale samples covering the lower mixed argillaceous mudstone (MAM) lithofacies, the middle interbedded calcareous mudstone and shelly thin beds (CM-STB) lithofacies, and the upper interbedded calcareous mudstone and shelly horizons (CM-SH) lithofacies of the Toolebuc Formation were collected. These samples were analysed for pore structure using a combination of scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, helium pycnometry, mercury intrusion porosimetry, and N2 physisorption techniques. Additionally, methane sorption isotherms were measured under in-situ conditions. The results reveal that most pores are mineral-related intraparticle (intraP) and interparticle pores, with slit, equant and elongated shapes. Organic matter (OM) pores are rare. Porosity, total pore volume and BET specific surface area (SSA) are 3.25–8.26%, 1.32–3.55 cm3/100 g, and 1.26–9.65 m2/g, respectively. Pore volume is dominated by mesopores and macropores while specific surface area is dominated by fine mesopores and micropores. The porosity of the organic matter is significantly low due to the rarity of OM pores in the stage of early oil-window thermal maturity; organic matter consequently occludes pore space and also negatively impacts the average porosity. Clay by contrast is positively correlated to the average porosity. Carbonate provides intraP pores in fecal pellets, but also fills in other pore spaces as occlusion. Methane isotherms exhibit linear shapes, suggesting that a portion of the gas is stored in solution. The lower MAM lithofacies, characterised by rich clay, high porosity and BET SSA, was measured to have an in-situ methane sorption capacity of 4.32 cm3/g; the middle CM-STB lithofacies has intermediate porosity, but exhibits excellent gas generation potential and high in-situ methane sorption capacity (4.12–5.5 cm3/g). Within the CM-STB lithofacies, porosity declines with depth. The upper CM-SH lithofacies is carbonate-rich, exhibiting the lowest porosity and in-situ methane sorption capacity (2.56 cm3/g), but may act as an intraformational seal. The combination and vertical stacking pattern of the three lithofacies provided a favourable setting for gas storage.

From abandoned mines to carbon sinks: Assessing the CO2 storage capacity of Austrian low-rank coal deposits

This study represents the first assessment of CO2 storage potential in Austrian coal seams. Coal samples were taken from Fohnsdorf and Leoben abandoned coal mines, with particular emphasis on the Fohnsdorf coal since Leoben coal reserves were largely mined during previous coal production. Several methods were used to compare coal characteristics, including Rock-Eval pyrolysis (RE), organic petrography, and low-pressure N2 and CO2 sorption measurements. Both Fohnsdorf and Leoben coal samples show low sulfur and ash yields, as well as correspondingly high total organic carbon (TOC) contents. The pyrolysis Tmax and vitrinite reflectance values agree with a low coal rank for both sites. According to the N2 adsorption measurements at 77 K, low-lying mire coals from Fohnsdorf show a higher BET-specific surface area (BET-SSA) and BJH pore volume compared to raised-mire coals from Leoben. However, sapropelic shales and high-ash coals from Leoben show the highest BET-SSA and BJH pore volumes of all investigated samples and considerably exceed the N2 adsorption volumes of pure coals from both locations (N2 uptake up to 16 cm3/g; avg. for all samples 5.4 cm3/g). In contrast, the mean adsorbed CO2 uptake measured at 273 K and ∼ 1 bar followed the order of Fohnsdorf low-lying mire coals > Leoben raised-mire coals > Leoben sapropelic coals and shales, ranging at ∼0.8 mmol/g, ∼0.7 mmol/g, and ∼ 0.2 mmol/g, respectively. This shows that BET-SSA and BJH equations did not allow for adequate estimation of CO2 adsorption capacity trends in the investigated sample set. Furthermore, based on the existence of a hysteresis loop between CO2 adsorption and desorption branches for all investigated samples, the occurrence of weak chemisorption phenomena during CO2 adsorption is indicated. This effect helps to increase CO2 uptake and storage safety since the chemisorption process is not fully reversible upon pressure decrease. Ultimately, the theoretical CO2 sequestration potential of the remaining unmined Fohnsdorf coal reserves was estimated at 4.65 million tons, with an additional potential for enhanced coal bed methane production due to the gas-rich nature of Fohnsdorf coals with an estimated 1.2 billion m3 of CH4 in place.

Preparation and characterization of palmitic acid/polymer composite phase change materials supported with cross-linked poly(limonene-co-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) copolymers for low-temperature thermal applications

Limonene-based polymers have a growing interest as being renewable source-derived materials. Here, highly cross-linked porous polymers were synthesized by free radical copolymerization of water-in-oil (w/o) high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs) of limonene and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA). The bio-derived monomer content in the total monomer composition was set to 50 vol%. To vary the openness and permeability of the resulting porous copolymers, synthesized poly(limonene-co-EGDMA) (PLE-x) copolymers were processed via two different approaches as extraction (E) and lyophilization (L). Ultimately, the ring-porous PLE-E or PLE-L copolymers with different degrees of permeability were used as supporting matrices for the development of form-stable palmitic acid@poly(limonene-co-EGDMA) (PA@PLE-E and PA@PLE-L) composite phase change materials (PCMs). The chemical structure, pore morphology, specific surface area, and thermal properties of the PLE based supports and PA@PLE-E / PA@PLE-L composite PCMs were explored. BET specific surface areas of the ring-porous PLE-E and PLE-L frameworks were measured to be 20.5 m2.g−1 and 4.8 m2.g−1. In addition to that, the latent heats of the resulting composite PCMs were found to be 77.4 J.g−1 and 64.1 J.g−1, while the peak melting temperatures were 63.4 °C and 60.7 °C, for PA@PLE-E and PA@PLE-L, respectively. The bio-derived matrices based thermally stable leak-proof PA@PLE-x composite PCMs with proper latent heat storage (LHS) characteristics are ideal candidates as energy materials for passive solar heating applications due to their favorable phase change temperatures.

Fine‐tuning electronic structure of N‐doped graphitic carbon‐supported Co‐ and Fe‐incorporated Mo2C to achieve ultrahigh electrochemical water oxidation activity

AbstractMo2C is an excellent electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). However, Mo2C is a poor electrocatalyst for oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Herein, two different elements, namely Co and Fe, are incorporated in Mo2C that, therefore, has a finely tuned electronic structure, which is not achievable by incorporation of any one of the metals. Consequently, the resulting electrocatalyst Co0.8Fe0.2–Mo2C‐80 displayed excellent OER catalytic performance, which is evidenced by a low overpotential of 214.0 (and 246.5) mV to attain a current density of 10 (and 50) mA cm−2, an ultralow Tafel slope of 38.4 mV dec−1, and long‐term stability in alkaline medium. Theoretical data demonstrates that Co0.8Fe0.2–Mo2C‐80 requires the lowest overpotential (1.00 V) for OER and Co centers to be the active sites. The ultrahigh catalytic performance of the electrocatalyst is attributed to the excellent intrinsic catalytic activity due to high Brunauer–Emmett–Teller specific surface area, large electrochemically active surface area, small Tafel slope, and low charge‐transfer resistance.