Clean Utilization Research Articles

Operation characteristics analysis and optimal dispatch of solar thermal-photovoltaic hybrid microgrid for building

The optimal dispatch for hybrid microgrids is the crucial approach to decrease maintenance costs and enhance operational reliability. This paper aims to provide a feasible solution for the optimal dispatch of a solar thermal-photovoltaic hybrid microgrid. A distributed energy system of a building is established and the power load is analyzed. Operation parameters are optimized for hybrid microgrid in isolated operation mode and grid-connected operation mode. The operation performance with adequate and inadequate solar irradiation is evaluated by using fixed dispatch and optimal dispatch strategy. In addition, the performance of hybrid microgrid under power selling and purchasing conditions are analyzed. Results show that the operation mode of building hybrid microgrid can be adjusted to isolated/grid-connection modes based on actual power requirements. The optimal dispatch strategy shows great advantages on both solar adequate and inadequate conditions under isolated operation mode for hybrid microgrid, at most 14.3 % lower for maintenance than that of fixed strategy. In addition, the power selling to the external power grid can significantly improve the profit of the hybrid microgrid and generate earnings of $6102.1 per year under optimal dispatch. The research can offer an analysis approach for hybrid microgrid, and further increase clean energy utilization efficiency.

Study on detonation characteristics of pulverized coal and evolution law of detonation residue

This study explores the detonation characteristics and compositional changes of pulverized coal, focusing on its use in Rotary Detonation Wave (RDW) technologies. While pulverized coal has shown high fuel efficiency in RDW settings, transitioning from theory to practical detonation engineering presents substantial scientific and technical hurdles. A key issue is the reprocessing of detonation byproducts for in-situ coal mine gob filling, a topic that has received little attention. Utilizing advanced methods like X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), this paper investigates the micro-morphology, composition, and aromatic structures of gas–solid products pre and post-detonation at the Tashan Coal Mine's 2305 working face. Results indicate that coal dust from the underground mining face has enhanced detonation characteristics, with the addition of coal powder fuel extending the gas detonation limits. This benefits economic aspects by reducing reliance on gas fuel and lowering detonation fuel costs. The highest recorded detonation wave velocity was 2450 m/s, 14.8% greater than that of coal dust from external sources, suggesting more effective energy release and pressure gain. Furthermore, the study links detonation combustion intensity to coal's aromatic properties, noting a post-detonation aromaticity index (I) of 0.4941. This indicates an improvement in the aromatic structure under high-temperature conditions, vital for coal's reactivity and energy efficiency in RDW applications. This research not only deepens the understanding of coal dust combustion mechanisms but also advances clean coal utilization and deep coal fluidization mining, addressing significant RDW technological challenges.

A study on composite carbonaceous reducing agent pellets based on low-order unbonded coal

To minimize the cost of carbon-reducing agents and reduce the waste of powder in production, a novel composite carbonaceous reducing agent pellet was prepared through cold pressing, utilizing low-rank unbonded coal (NC) as the primary raw material and incorporating petroleum coke (PC) and high-bonding coal (HVC). This study investigated the influence of different material composition ratios, the addition of organic binder (OBD) and inorganic binder (IBD) (water glass solution), forming moisture ranging from 2 to 12 %, holding temperatures of 60 to 100 ℃, holding times of 2 to 6 h, and material particle sizes ranging from 40 to 250 mesh (0.063–0.420 mm). Additionally, forming pressures of 5 to 30 MPa were analyzed concerning their impact on the cold consolidation strength (CCS) of the resulting pellets. The primary and secondary effects of forming pressure, forming moisture, binder content, and raw material size on pellet strength were examined. According to the actual production situation, the optimum technological conditions were determined. The primary and secondary effects on CCS were ranked as follows: forming pressure > particle size of raw material > binder ratio of 4 % content > forming moisture. External morphology and internal structures of different carbon materials were characterized via FESEM, BET, FTIR, XRD, and XPS. Mechanisms affecting the pellet strength were analyzed. The newly developed composite carbon-reducing agent pellets were suitable for industrial silicon production. This study presented a pathway for the clean and efficient utilization of low-rank unbonded coal and low-viscosity coal, offering substantial economic and social benefits.

New Advances in Materials, Applications, and Design Optimization of Thermocline Heat Storage: Comprehensive Review

To achieve sustainable development goals and meet the demand for clean and efficient energy utilization, it is imperative to advance the penetration of renewable energy in various sectors. Energy storage systems can mitigate the intermittent issues of renewable energy and enhance the efficiency and economic viability of existing energy facilities. Among various energy storage technologies, thermocline heat storage (THS) has garnered widespread attention from researchers due to its stability and economic advantages. Currently, there are only a few review articles focusing on THS, and there is a gap in the literature regarding the optimization design of THS systems. Therefore, this paper provides a comprehensive review of the recent research progress in THS, elucidating its principles, thermal storage materials, applications, and optimization designs. The novelty of this work lies in the detailed classification and analysis of various optimization designs for THS, including tank shape, aspect ratio, inlet/outlet configuration, thermal energy storage materials arrangement, operating strategies, and numerical model optimization approaches. The limitations of existing research are also identified, and future perspectives are proposed, aiming to provide recommendations for THS research and contribute to the development and promotion of THS technology.

Hierarchical-hollow architecture NiSe2 nanosheets for overall water splitting

Electrolytic water splitting (EWS), regarded as a sustainable and promising strategy for hydrogen production, has received huge attention in recent years. However, the practical application of EWS is greatly hindered by the sluggish kinetics of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Herein, we proposed an efficient strategy for the synthesis of hierarchical hollow nickel selenide with significant HER and OER electrocatalytic activity. The as-synthesized NiSe2 possesses low overpotential of ∼85 mV at the current density of 10 mA/cm2 for the HER in 0.5 M H2SO4 and ∼270 mV for OER in 1 M KOH. Importantly, when employed into full water splitting on membrane electrode assembly, it merely requires an ultralow voltage of 1.73 V to achieve the current density of 1 A/cm2, outperforming most of the reported other Ni/Ni-Se based structures. Density Functional Theory (DFT) simulations confirm that the hierarchical hollow NiSe2 structure facilitates the reduction of the Gibbs free energy change of H- and O-containing intermediates in the HER/OER process, which promotes the formation of intermediates and thus accelerates the catalytic kinetics. This work offers an important structure engineering route to develop high catalytic performance materials and sheds light on the promotion of electrocatalytic activity for clean energy utilization.

An Extensive Review on Gas Hydrates: Recent Patents, Properties, Formation, Detection, Production, Importance, and Challenges

Introduction:: Gas Hydrates, or Clathrate Hydrates, have been the subject of increasing scientific and industrial attention due to their potential as an alternative energy source, their role in climate change, and their association with geohazards. The growth of new indigenous gas supply sources could impart a significant positive ripple effect on a country's economy, ecological balance, and energy landscape. This burgeoning interest has led to a surge in research and development, resulting in numerous patents related to the extraction, processing, and utilization of gas Hydrates. Objectives:: This review paper aims to provide an up-to-date, comprehensive overview of the properties, formation, detection, production, importance, challenges, and patent landscape of Gas hydrates. The integration of patented technologies into the field underscores the importance of intellectual property in shaping the future of energy, environment, and economic development. Methods:: Patented technologies in this field are contributing to making this resource more accessible and commercially viable. Moreover, the development of gas hydrates as an energy source could act as a safeguard for manufacturing jobs that are sensitive to gas prices, with proprietary technologies enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of the production process. Results:: On the environmental front, an uptick in the consumption of natural gas, known for its cleaner combustion, could herald positive change. Patented innovations in clean and efficient extraction and utilization methods for Gas Hydrates are instrumental in reducing the environmental impact. From the standpoint of energy security, a larger domestic slice of the energy pie, complemented by an extensive array of gas supply alternatives, could equip the nation to better navigate the unpredictable terrain of future energy scenarios. Conclusion:: The strategic patenting of key technologies in the exploration, production, and application of Gas Hydrates ensures competitive advantage and fosters innovation, driving forward the energy industry's evolution.

A novel coal purification-combustion system: Product and efficiency of coal purification process

A novel coal purification-combustion technology is presented to realize the efficient and clean utilization of coal under carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals. Central to this technology is the implementation of a purification process, the product characteristics, and energy properties of which are the focus of this study. An experimental test of coal purification was conducted using Shenmu coal. The results demonstrate increased coal reactivity following the moderate temperature activation (MTA) process. The high temperature reduction (HTR) phase promotes the production of higher amounts of amorphous carbon, reduces aromatic carbon content, and further decreases fuel particle size. The composite combustion characteristic index(S) of the purified fuel reaches its peak when the excess air coefficient of secondary air (λ2) is 0.36. As λ2 increases from 0.1 to 0.36, the energy in the gas product of the purification system increases from 13700 kJ/kg coal to 25351 kJ/kg coal, while exergy increases from 6530 kJ/kg coal to 11030 kJ/kg coal. The energy efficiency of the purification process ranges from 74.74 % to 80.88 %, with exergy efficiency varying between 60.51 % and 70 %. These findings offer significant insights into refining the coal purification process, ultimately contributing towards maximizing the utility of coal resources.

Investigation on storage stability, H2S emission and rheological properties of modified asphalt with different pretreated waste rubber powder

The use of waste rubber powder (WRP) to produce WRP modified asphalt (WRMA) has been proved to have wide application prospects, however, WRMA has poor storage stability and is prone to release H2S and other toxic fumes. Therefore, the one-step method to ameliorate these two problems through pretreating WRP was proposed, and the microwave activation, waste cooking oil (WCO) swelling and acid or alkali solution soaking were applied to pretreat WRP in this study, respectively. The scanning electron microscope and infrared spectroscopy were selected to analyze the microstructures and functional groups of different pretreated WRP. The fluorescence microscopy and hot tube test were employed to evaluate the compatibility of pretreated WRP with asphalt. The H2S gas detector and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry were introduced to research the flue gas emissions of pretreated WRP and prepared WRMA. The experimental results show that the microstructure and functional groups of the pretreated WRP are greatly changed and its surface activity is increased. The storage stability of WRMA prepared with pretreated WRP is obviously improved, and the optimized result is obtained with the microwave/WCO composite treatment, with a segregation index reduction of 40.91%. Also, the pretreatment of WRP does reduce H2S and flue gas emissions. The cumulative H2S concentration reduction of WRP after NaOH solution soaked reaches 32.14% at 30 min, and the total flue gas concentration reduction of the prepared WRMA reaches 21.54%. The results could offer guidance for the clean utilization of WRP, the efficient storage of WRMA and the effective suppression of its flue gas.

Catalytic upgrading of Naomaohu coal pyrolysis volatiles over NiAl and NiLiAl oxides

Catalytic upgrading of volatiles is an essential technology to improve the product distribution of pyrolysis for the clean and efficient utilization of low-rank coals. In this work, novel acid-base bifunctional catalysts composed of Ni/Li/Al oxides were designed and prepared using LDH precursors with tunable chemical composition and structural properties. The catalysts were systematically characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), physisorption, NH3-temperature programmed desorption (NH3-TPD), CO2-temperature programmed desorption (CO2-TPD), H2-temperature programmed reduction (H2-TPR), and scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). A two-stage fixed bed reactor was employed to evaluate the performance of the catalysts. Characterization results suggest that the crystal size of NiO and the surface area of the catalyst decreased with increasing Li content and decreasing Ni content in the catalyst, while the pore volume and pore diameter were positively correlated with Li content. Moreover, the addition of Li reduced the amount of weak acid sites and raised the amount of total basic sites. Consequently, the bifunctional catalysts boosted the yield of light tar and the contents of aromatics and phenols in tar. Specifically, with the highest total acid sites (569 μmol/g) promoting the cracking of heavy pitch components, Ni2.5Li0.5Al1 decreased the content of pitch in tar to 23.8 wt%, representing a 42.7 % drop from the corresponding non-catalytic pyrolysis. Accordingly, it improved the light tar yield to 7.2 wt%, which was 18 % higher than non-catalytic pyrolysis. 450 °C is identified as a suitable temperature for the catalytic upgrading of volatiles from Naomaohu coal; higher catalysis temperatures at 500 °C and 550 °C led to lower tar yield and lower phenols content, along with higher gas yield and more carbon deposition.

Preparation of porous materials by ultrasound-intensified acid leaching of high-carbon component in coal gasification fine slag

Coal gasification fine slag is one of the by-products from clean and efficient utilization of coal, and its resource utilization is extremely urgent. In this work, a high carbon fraction with a fixed carbon content higher than 60% was obtained by simple sieving of gasification fine slag, from which a porous material was prepared by ultrasonic acid leaching method. The adsorption performance of porous materials, being used as treatment of radioactive iodine in nuclear wastewater, is characterized by iodine adsorption value. The effects of ultrasound time, ultrasound power, acid concentration, and temperature on the iodine adsorption performance and compositional structure of the porous materials were systematically investigated by combining the results of SEM, BET, XRD, and FT-IR. The mechanisms of ultrasound-enhanced acid leaching on compositional structure of residual carbon and migration and transformation laws of the ash constituents were explored and summarized. The results show that the porous material prepared under conditions of acid concentration of 4 mol/L, acid immersion temperature of 50 °C, ultrasonic power of 210 W, and ultrasonic time of 1.5 h has the best iodine adsorption performance of 468.53 mg/g, with a specific surface area of 474.97 m2/g, and possesses a rich pore structure with predominant mesopores. The order of each factor on the iodine adsorption performance is: sonication time > acid concentration > sonication power > acid immersion temperature. The mechanism of ultrasonic enhanced acid leaching is that ultrasonic cavitation and mechanical wave action firstly enhance dissociation of carbon-ash adherent particles, thus making desorption of ash particles blocked in pore channels of the gasification slag to increase its connectivity; secondly, lead to generation of cracks on surface of the carbon and ash particles to enhance accessibility of inorganic components inside the carbon particles; and thirdly, enhance the acid leaching process by increasing mass transfer rate to strengthen leaching effect of inorganic components in the gasification slag.

Study on gasification reaction and energy conversion characteristics of the entrained flow coal gasification based on chemical kinetics simulation

Coal gasification that converts coal into syngas is a promising technology for efficient and clean utilization of coal. Current simulations of coal gasification are mostly based on equilibrium reactions, which cannot reflect the residence time and carbon conversion rate. In this paper, the reliable chemical kinetics simulation of the coal gasification is carried out considering the solid residence time and the effects of the main parameters on the gasification performance are analyzed. The results show that the higher the O2/coal ratio, the higher the carbon conversion rate until it reaches 100 %. However, an excessively high O2/coal ratio will reduce the cold gas efficiency. Therefore, the ideal cold gas efficiency is further proposed, revealing the energy saving potential of the system by reusing the ungasified coal. Based on this, the energy conversion characteristics of the combined cycle system were analyzed, showing that the effective conversion of coal to synthetic gas is the key to improving efficiency.

Suggestions on the Development and Utilization of Clean Energy in Xizang

The 14th Five Year Plan of the country clearly points out the need to promote the energy revolution, accelerate energy technology innovation, and build a clean, low-carbon, safe, and efficient modern energy system. Therefore, the development and utilization of clean energy is of great practical significance in the context of the national scientific outlook on development. As an important ecological protection area in China, it is an inevitable trend for Xizang's future economic and social development to use clean energy as energy support. Therefore, accelerating the development and utilization of clean energy in Xizang is of great significance to respond to the national energy strategy, the economic development of the autonomous region, ecological environment protection, and regional stability and prosperity. In view of the problems in the development and utilization of clean energy in Xizang, this paper puts forward suggestions to help achieve the dual carbon goal, so as to promote the rapid development of clean energy development and utilization industry in Xizang.

Efficient and clean treatment of indium-bearing zinc ferrite: A new approach using a water-regulated deep eutectic solvent

Indium, a strategic key metal, is mainly recovered from zinc leaching residue. However, a challenging problem in the treatment of zinc leaching residue is how to efficiently and cleanly treat the poorly soluble phase, the indium-bearing zinc ferrite (IBZF). Here, we propose a novel strategy for the selective extraction of indium, zinc and iron from IBZF. By introducing water to regulate the coordination environment of a choline chloride-anhydrous oxalic acid based deep eutectic solvent (ChCl-Oxa based DES), efficient leaching and deep separation of indium, zinc and iron were achieved. Water, acting as both co-solvent and diluent, played a critical role in the whole process. The addition of a little water reduces the viscosity of the DES, thereby improving the leaching of indium, zinc and iron. Under specific leaching conditions (leaching temperature of 90 °C, liquid/solid ratio of 20:1 ml/g, molar ratio of ChCl:Oxa = 1:1, molar ratio of DES:H2O = 1:3 and reaction time of 3.5 h), the leaching efficiencies of indium, zinc and iron were 96.27 %, 95.55 % and 96.33 %, respectively. The subsequent addition of large amounts of water dilutes and dissociates the structure of the DES, facilitating the stepwise precipitation and deep separation of metal ions. The precipitation efficiency of zinc and iron reached 93.06 % and 98.07 %, respectively. Residual indium ions in the solution were effectively adsorbed by activated carbon, with a recovery efficiency of 75.7 % after five cycles of adsorption. The solution separated from the metal ions was well regenerated by evaporation and addition of Oxa. Our work represents a novel approach for the recycling and clean utilization of zinc leaching residue. And the regulation of the coordination environment of metal ions in DES is proved to have great potential in metal recycling.

Is South Korea's 2050 Carbon-Neutral scenario sufficient for meeting greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal?

In line with Global Climate Change Alliance initiated in 2007 by the European Commission, the South Korean government announced the “2050 Carbon-Neutral Strategy” in October 2020. The 2050 Carbon-Neutral Scenario was announced in October 2021, with the aim of reducing the country's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 40 % by 2030 compared to those in 2018. The primary objective of this study is to conduct a scenario-based comparative analysis focusing on the forecast of greenhouse gas emissions and the potential for reduction within the building sector. The methodology employed in this study utilizes the greenhouse gas emission calculation methods outlined in the IPCC Guidelines of 1996 and 2006. Based on the national building energy and statistics database for the years 2015 to 2019, the study analyzes building types, building energy intensity, and floor areas to calculate emissions and energy consumption within the sector. The results indicate that the emissions will increase continuously from 2020 (156.9 million tons of CO2 equivalent) to 2050 (217.8 million tons of CO2 equivalent). We have considered the four scenarios outlined in the ‘2050 Carbon Neutrality Scenario’ as the most effective strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the building sector. These include: (1) Mandatory implementation of Zero-Energy Buildings (ZEB) for new buildings by 2050, (2) 100 % execution of green remodeling for existing buildings, (3) Promotion of high-efficiency devices to achieve a 25–30 % improvement in energy consumption efficiency compared to 2018 and an enhancement of device energy use per unit, and (4) Expansion of clean heat utilization such as fuel cells and waste heat utilization in district heating. Thus, the possibility of South Korea achieving the 2050 carbon-neutrality target in the building sector is low. Therefore, it is important to develop effective emissions reduction policies and plans for the building sector.

Formation behavior of PCDD/Fs during waste pyrolysis and incineration: Effect of temperature, calcium oxide addition, and redox atmosphere

The clean and efficient utilization of municipal solid waste (MSW) has attracted increasing concerns in recent years. Pyrolysis of MSW is one of the promising options due to the production of high-value intermediates and the inhibition of pollutants at reducing atmosphere. Herein, the formation behavior of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) during MSW pyrolysis and incineration was experimentally investigated and compared. The influence of reaction temperature, CaO addition, and redox atmosphere on PCDD/Fs formation were compared and discussed. The results showed as the pyrolysis temperature increased, the mass concentration and international toxicity equivalence quantity of PCDD/Fs initially peaked at ∼750 °C before declining. Most of the generated PCDD/Fs were concentrated in the liquid and gaseous products, accounting for ∼90% of the total. Among liquid products, octachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (O8CDD), 2,3,4,7,8-pentachlorodibenzofuran and 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-heptachlorodibenzofuran (H7CDF) were the most crucial mass concentration contributors, while in gas products, high-chlorinated PCDD/Fs, such as O8CDD, octachlorodibenzofuran (O8CDF) and 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-H7CDF were predominant. Compared to incineration, the formation of PCDD/Fs was 7–20 times greater than that from pyrolysis. This discrepancy can be attributed to the hydrogen-rich and oxygen-deficient atmosphere during pyrolysis, which effectively inhibited the Deacon reaction and the formation of C–Cl bonds, thereby reducing the active chlorine in the system. The addition of in-situ CaO additives also decreased the active chlorine content in the system, bolstering the inhibiting of PCDD/Fs formation during MSW pyrolysis.

Comparative study on the molecular evolution of changqing petroleum coke during air and pure oxygen combustion: A ReaxFF method analysis

Based on reactive force field (ReaxFF) simulation, the molecular evolution mechanism of air combustion simulation and pure oxygen combustion simulation of Changqing petroleum coke was studied. On the basis of the original petroleum coke molecular model, N2 and O2 molecules were added to construct the air combustion simulation model and the pure oxygen combustion simulation model respectively. The number of molecules, main products, and typical hydrocarbon gases in the two simulation results were analyzed by setting up the LAMMPS in. file. Finally, the molecular changes of pyrrole and pyridine were described. The results show that the main reaction interval of pure oxygen combustion is earlier than that of air combustion. In the main reaction temperature range, the reaction rate of pure oxygen combustion is higher than that of simulated air combustion. At 170 ps, the two simulations reaction speed is the fastest time point; Pyridine is more stable than pyrrole. The research on the distinction and comparison of two kinds of simulation has certain guiding significance for the clean utilization of petroleum coke combustion process in industry.

Theoretical Calculation of Different Side-Chain Lengths [Cnmim]FeCl4 and Factors Influencing Coal Pyrolysis Swelling Modification.

With the increasing requirements for clean and effective utilization, coal swelling pretreatment provides a good theoretical basis for coal molecular structure, application in coal pyrolysis, and liquefaction. Ionic liquids containing magnetic anionic groups were designed, synthesized, and used as solvents to study the effect on swelling pyrolysis performance. Studies have shown magnetism enhancement with the growth of alkyl chains. The growth of the MIL alkyl side chain made the modification effect of coal more obvious, and the swelling degree showed a trend of first increasing and then decreasing with the increase of temperature and time, and at the temperature of 35 °C, the swelling degree is the largest when the modification time is 8 h. Pyrolysis experiments show that magnetic ionic liquid (MIL) pretreatment can significantly reduce the temperature at the maximum weight loss of coal and increase the tar content of pyrolysis, indicating that MIL plays a catalytic cracking role in coal pyrolysis.

B-COPNA resin formation from ethylene tar light fractions: Process development and mechanical exploration by molecular simulation

Efficient utilization strategy of ethylene tar (ET), the main by-product of ethylene cracking unit, is urgently required to meet demands for modern petrochemical industry. On the other hand, condensed polynuclear aromatic resin of moderate condensation degree (B-COPNA) is a widely used carbon material due to its superb processability, the production of which is however seriously limited by high cost of raw materials. Under such context, an interesting strategy was proposed in this study for producing B-COPNA resin using crosslinked light fractions of ethylene tar (ETLF, boiling point < 260 °C) facilitated by molecular simulation. 1,4-Benzenedimethanol (PXG) was first selected as the crosslinking agent according to the findings of molecular simulation. The effects of operating conditions, including reaction temperature, crosslinking agent and catalyst content, on the softening point and yield of B-COPNA resin products were then investigated to optimize the process. The reaction mechanism of resin production was studied by analyzing the molecular structure and transition state of ETLF and crosslinking agent. It was shown that PXG exhibited a superior capacity of withdrawing electrons and higher electrophilic reactivity than other crosslinking agents. In addition to the highest yield and greatest heat properties, PXG-prepared resin contained most condensed aromatics. The corresponding optimized conditions of resin preparation were 180 °C, 1:1.9 (PXG:ETLF) and 3% (mass) of catalyst content with a resin yield of 78.57%. It was the electrophilic substitution reaction occurred between the ETLF and crosslinking agent molecules that was responsible for the resin formation according to the experimental characterization and molecular simulation. Hence, it was confirmed that the proposed strategy and demonstrated process can achieve a clean and high value-added utilization of ETLF via B-COPNA resin preparation, bringing huge economic value to the current petrochemical industry.

Dual-functional silicon nanowire arrays-based photocatalytic fuel cell for solar-to-electricity conversion and self-powered glucose detection

Developing a dual-functional photocatalytic fuel cell (PFC) with improved solar-to-electricity energy conversion efficiency and renewable biomass sensitivity performance is of great significance for clean energy conservation and utilization. Herein, a novel PFC device with stable signal output and glucose sensing performance is fabricated, of which polyaniline (PANI) functionalized p-type silicon nanowire arrays (SiNWs) and In2S3 modified n-type SiNWs are utilized as the photocathode and photoanode, respectively. The optimal PFC exhibits excellent cell performance under AM 1.5G illumination with an open circuit voltage of 0.83 V and a high-power density of 163.010 μW cm−2. The PFC also achieves effective glucose detection performance with a low detection limit of 0.998 μM and a broad linear range of 0∼50 mM, as well as excellent selectivity and stability. The enhanced performance is attributed to the efficient carrier separation and charge transfer rate at the interface of the heterojunctions, which is facilitated by the high conductivity of uniform PANI film on the p-SiNWs and S-scheme band alignment formed in the photoanodes. This work opens a new path for improving the energy conversion efficiency in traditional PFCs and offers guidance for sensing strategies toward renewable biomass using PFCs.

Current situation and prospects for the clean utilization of gold tailings

Gold tailings are characterized by low-grade, complex composition, fine embedded particle size, environmental pollution, and large land occupation. This paper describes the mineralogical properties of gold tailings, including chemical composition, phase composition, particle size distribution, and microstructure; summarizes the recycling and utilization of components such as mica, feldspar, and valuable metals in gold tailings; reviews harmless treatment measures for harmful elements in gold tailings; and adumbrated the research progress of gold tailings in the application fields of building materials, ceramics, and glass materials. Based on these discussions, a new technology roadmap that combines multistage magnetic separation and cemented filling is proposed for the clean utilization of all components of gold tailings.