CO2 Environment Research Articles

Protective effect of bone-marrow stromal cells on injured cortical neurons subjected to hemostimulation in vitro

Objective: Bone-marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) are a subpopulation of cells found in the bone marrow stromal of mammals that have the potential to differentiate and form bone, cartilage, adipose, neural, and muscle cells, with strong proliferative ability, multidirectional differentiation potential, immunomodulatory function. Here, we reported the novel findings on the effect of BMSC in protecting injured cortical neurons induced by hemostimulation. Methods: Cortical neurons harvested from the neonatal rat and were isolated and incubated at 37°C in a 5% CO2 environment. During this process, part of cells was subjected to hemostimulation, and BMSC derived supernatant addition was performed to observe its effect on neuroprotection. Hoechst 33342/PI co-staining and CCK-8 cell viability assays were utilized to evaluate the effects of BMSC supernatant administration on primary cortical neurons. Results: BMSC derived supernatant administration effectively protects hemoglobin-induced neuronal damage, indicating by cell viability-detection. In addition, BMSCs exert optimal effect by inhibiting neuronal cell apoptosis. Conclusions: BMSC derived supernatant treatment effectively ameliorates hemoglobin-induced neuronal damage and attenuates neuronal apoptosis.

An active and Cr-tolerant high-entropy La0.7Sr0.3FeO3-δ based cathode for solid oxide fuel cells

The development of high active and stable cathode materials is one of the main challenges of intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). Herein, a high-entropy Fe-based perovskite oxide La0.7Sr0.3Fe0.3Ni0.3Co0.3Mo0.1O3-δ (LSFNCM) is synthesized by self-propagation combustion based on La0.7Sr0.3FeO3-δ (LSF) and the electrochemical properties are systematically tested. The symmetric half-cell with the LSFNCM cathode has a high catalytic activity with a polarization impedance of 0.12 Ω·cm2 at 800 °C, and also shows outstanding CO2 resistance and chromium resistance owing to the entropy stabilization strategy. After 50h of treatment in a 10% CO2 environment, the polarization impedance of the LSF electrode increases by 8.89 Ω·cm2, while that of the LSFNCM electrode only increases by 1.81 Ω·cm2. Additionally, after being treated for 24h in a chromium vapor environment, the polarization impedance of the LSF electrode increases by 5.95 Ω·cm2, whereas that of the LSFNCM electrode only increases by 0.44 Ω·cm2. Moreover, the single cell with LSFNCM cathode exhibits the maximum power density of 932.82 mW/cm2 and the polarization impedance of 0.34 Ω·cm2 at 800 °C with humidify hydrogen as fuel. Our results indicate that high-entropy perovskite oxide LSFNCM is an active and Cr-tolerant promising cathode for SOFCs.

Atomistic insight into the interfacial reaction and evolution between FeCr alloys and supercritical CO2 with impurities

The supercritical CO2 cycle offers high thermal efficiency and flexibility, enhancing energy conversion efficiency and utilization. As the commercialization of supercritical CO2 cycles advances, the stability of the metal-CO2 interface is the key to ensure the safety of this power cycle. In this paper the interfacial reactions between FeCr alloys and CO2 with impurities were investigated using the oxidation thermodynamics and molecular dynamics. With the increase of Cr content in FeCr alloy, the adsorption stability of SO2 and CO2 molecules on the surface of FeCr alloy became stronger, in which CO2 molecules were adsorbed and decomposed in two ways. When the C-O bond was broken, the detached O atom was in a free state or reorganized into O2 molecule, while the CO molecule would be separated from the CO2 molecule. In the initial oxidation stage, adding appropriate amount of H2S in CO2 environment could reduce the diffusion of O atoms from the CO2 molecule to Fe20Cr alloy, and the stress in the oxide film would not increase. The early oxidation behavior of Fe20Cr alloy in CO2 with H2S impurity gas may prove to be an effective method for enhancing its oxidation resistance of Fe20Cr alloy.

The influence of pseudo-tetrahedral coordination environment of Co2+ ion in polymeric dimethylmalonates on the magnetic anisotropy and slow magnetic relaxation

The interaction of Co(NO3)2·6H2O and MI2CO3 (MI = Rb or Cs) with dimethylmalonic acid (H2Me2mal) leads to the formation of 3D polymeric compounds: {[Co4Rb8(Me2mal)8(H2O)8]·5H2O}n (1) and {[CoCs2(Me2mal)2(H2O)4]·H2O}n, respectively. The structures of 1 and 2 were characterized using X-ray diffraction analysis and IR spectroscopy. Each complex contains CoII atoms arranged in four vertex polyhedra. Both compounds exhibit field-induced slow magnetic relaxation. The dc-magnetic measurements and ab initio calculation results show that 1 has “easy plane” type of magnetization, where the axial parameter D of both crystallographicaly independent Co2+ ions is positive. In contrast, parameter D of 2 is negative, which corresponds to “easy axis” type. For 2 the relaxation process includes the Orbach mechanism, which corresponds to the quantum chemical calculation.

Unraveling the corrosion behavior and corrosion scale evolution of N80 steel in high-temperature CO2 environment: The role of flow regimes

During CO2 transportation and storage, metal equipment such as oilfield pipelines suffers from severe CO2 corrosion, especially in harsh downhole injection equipment. In this study, we investigated the corrosion behavior of oil well tubing in a high-temperature, high-pressure (HTHP) CO2-containing environment. The evolution of the corrosion scale was also examined under different flow regimes. The results reveal a lower corrosion rate at 150 °C compared to 80 °C under different flow regimes, with localized corrosion intensifying as temperature and rotational speeds (vrs) increase. The temperature also induces the corrosion scale conversion of aragonite-type CaCO3 (80 °C) to calcite-type CaCO3 (150 °C). Specifically, the variation of the corrosion rate and the corrosion scale evolution can be attributed to the vortices within the reactor. The intact vortex cells enhance mass transfer while also promoting nucleation and growth of CaCO3. However, when vrs exceeds the critical Reynolds number, the vortex cells are disrupted, resulting in viscous dissipation and a reduced corrosion rate.

Enhanced Olivine Reactivity in Wet Supercritical CO2 for Engineered Mineral Carbon Sequestration.

The success of CO2 mineralization as a potential solution for reducing carbon emissions hinges on understanding chemical interactions between basaltic minerals and CO2-charged fluids. This study provides a detailed analysis of olivine dissolution in CO2-water mixtures at 90 and 150 °C, 2-9 MPa, and for 8 and 24 h, in both water- and CO2-dominant conditions. By using olivine crystal sections instead of powders, surface agitation is prevented, closing the gap between laboratory studies and natural settings. Surface chemistry, texture, and cross-sectional properties were examined pre- and postreaction using a multiscale approach combining spectroscopic and imaging techniques. Results show that wet supercritical CO2 environments lead to significant olivine dissolution, forming Mg-depleted, Si-enriched etched surfaces, and under certain conditions, the formation of passivating silica precipitates. In contrast, reactions in aqueous fluids caused minimal changes in surface chemistry and texture with no silica precipitation. These observations indicate that reaction extent in the CO2-rich phase is greater relative to water-rich mixtures at equivalent temperature, pressure, and reaction duration. The presence of silica precipitates incorporating leached metals indicates limited transport of reactant away from reaction sites in a CO2-rich medium. This study semi-quantitatively evaluates reaction extents in both CO2-rich and aqueous systems across a wide range of parameters, demonstrating faster mineralization in CO2-rich environments and highlighting their potential for enhancing the CO2 storage efficiency.

The crop mined phosphorus nutrition via modifying root traits and rhizosphere micro‐food web to meet the increased growth demand under elevated CO2

AbstractElevated CO2 (eCO2) stimulates productivity and nutrient demand of crops. Thus, comprehensively understanding the crop phosphorus (P) acquisition strategy is critical for sustaining agriculture to combat climate changes. Here, wheat (Triticum aestivum L) was planted in field in the eCO2 (550 µmol mol−1) and ambient CO2 (aCO2, 415 µmol mol−1) environments. We assessed the soil P fractions, root morphological and physiological traits and multitrophic microbiota [including arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), alkaline phosphomonoesterase (ALP)‐producing bacteria, protozoa, and bacterivorous and fungivorous nematodes] in the rhizosphere and their trophic interactions at jointing stage of wheat. Compared with aCO2, significant 20.2% higher shoot biomass and 26.8% total P accumulation of wheat occurred under eCO2. The eCO2 promoted wheat root length and AMF hyphal biomass, and increased the concentration of organic acid anions and the ALP activity, which was accompanied by significant decreases in calcium‐bound inorganic P (Ca‐Pi) (by 16.7%) and moderately labile organic P (by 26.5%) and an increase in available P (by 14.4%) in the rhizosphere soil. The eCO2 also increased the growth of ALP‐producing bacteria, protozoa, and bacterivorous and fungivorous nematodes in the rhizosphere, governed their diversity and community composition. In addition, the eCO2 strengthened the trophic interactions of microbiota in rhizosphere; specifically, the eCO2 promoted the associations between protozoa and ALP‐producing bacteria, between protozoa and AMF, whereas decreased the associations between ALP‐producing bacteria and nematodes. Our findings highlighted the important role of root traits and multitrophic interactions among microbiota in modulating crop P‐acquisition strategies, which could advance our understanding about optimal P management in agriculture systems under global climate changes.

Research on Wellbore Integrity Evaluation Model of CO2 Enhanced Composite Fracturing

CO2 injection composite fracturing is an effective method for shale oil and gas well development. The downhole casing is prone to uniform corrosion, pitting, perforation, and even corrosion fracture in the CO2 environment. Therefore, it is particularly important to reveal the physical characteristics of CO2 under actual geological conditions and the impact of CO2 corrosion on the performance of casing. A mathematical model for the temperature and pressure field of CO2 in the wellbore under fracturing conditions is established in this paper, and the temperature and pressure distribution along the depth of the well is calculated. By optimizing the CO2 state equation and using the S-W equation, Lee model, and RK model to calculate the CO2 density, viscosity and compression factor, respectively, the phase distribution pattern of CO2 along the actual wellbore is obtained. Through CO2 corrosion tests on the casing, the influence of temperature and CO2 concentration on the corrosion rate of the casing is clarified. The peak corrosion rate of Q125 steel corresponds to 80 °C, and the corrosion rate increases with the increase in CO2 concentration. Finally, a prediction model for the uniform corrosion rate of casing under different temperatures and CO2 concentration conditions is obtained, which can provide technical support for the design of CO2-enhanced fracturing technology.

Mineralization reaction between CO2 and coal ash produced from underground coal gasification: Implication for in situ carbon sequestration

Underground coal gasification (UCG) represents a promising clean and low-carbon energy technology, which could create a suitable cavity for in situ carbon sequestration by mineralization reaction between CO2 and coal ash produced from UCG. This may assist in achieving a net-zero carbon emission goal for UCG projects. To determine the carbonation efficiency and mineralization potential of CO2 mineral sequestration in abandoned UCG cavity, coal ash produced from the gasification of three different low-rank coal samples was used in this study. A comparative experiment was conducted using a group of high-calcium fly ash from a coal-fired power plant. All mineralization reaction experiments were performed in a high-temperature and high-pressure reactor, with CO2 pressures ranging from 2 to 8 MPa and temperatures ranging from 40 to 80°C. These conditions were selected to simulate the sequestration conditions in the UCG cavity. Real-time monitoring of CO2 pressure in the reactor was used to assess the impact of solid-to-water ratio, temperature, and pressure on the CO2 mineralization. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy were employed to identify the presence of newly formed carbonate minerals associated with mineralization reaction. The results indicated that the coal ash produced by gasification pretreatment at 900°C contains a substantial quantity of alkaline-earth oxides, such as calcium oxide (CaO), with a relative mass fraction reaching 25.9%. It provided an adequate supply of alkali metal ions for the mineralization reaction, which exhibited comparable efficacy in mineralizing CO2 to that observed in high-calcium fly ash. Without stirring, at lower solid-to-water ratio, the maximum amount of CO2 consumed through mineralization was increased by up to 74.12%. Carbonation efficiency decreased with rising temperatures below 70°C due to the limited dissolution of CO2 in water, it increased with elevated pressure but decreased in the supercritical state, potentially attributable to the dissolution of carbonate minerals in a supercritical CO2 environment. The process of mineralization reaction between CO2 and coal ash aligned well with the Surface Coverage Model (R2 values ranging from 0.92 to 0.99). A preliminary estimation based on Chinese coal reserves revealed that the potential of CO2 sequestration capacity in UCG cavities by mineralization ranging from 29 to 102 Gt, an additional 517 Gt CO2 may be stored when filled with fly ash. This paper provides theoretical bases for predicting the maximum carbonation efficiency under high-pressure and high-temperature conditions in UCG cavities, and research directions for achieving a net-zero carbon emission goal for UCG projects.

Electrochemical reduction of nitrate to ammonia using Fe-based catalyst: Insights into N2, CO2, and CO environments

Electrochemical (EC) reduction of nitrate/nitrite for ammonia production is a key area of research in the realm of nitrogen pollutant treatment and recycling efforts. In this study, we utilized a commercial Fe(Mn) alloy to investigate EC reductions of nitrate/nitrite ions under N2, CO, and CO2-saturated conditions, shedding light on the influences of different feeding gases. Under N2 conditions, the ammonia production Faradaic efficiency (FE) reached 60 %; however, it significantly decreased under CO2 conditions. The presence of CO as a feeding gas proved detrimental, resulting in no ammonia production. Surprisingly, the Fe(Mn) alloy demonstrated superior EC Fischer-Tropsch (F-T) synthesis chemistry under CO conditions, generating CH4 and long-chain hydrocarbons (CnH2n+2 and CnH2n, where n=2–7). This contrasts with existing literature, where such alloys typically perform better under CO2 conditions. Notably, alkanes were found to be more predominant than their corresponding alkenes. The Anderson-Schulz-Flory equation plots exhibited significant linearity, resembling the traditional Fischer-Tropsch chain growth mechanism. This original discovery introduces new possibilities for employing commercial-grade Fe alloy in the direct EC F-T synthesis using CO, facilitating the production of long-chain hydrocarbons. Moreover, it paves the way for nitrate/nitrite ion treatments in analogous processes within diverse gas environments.

Mechanochemical processing of landfilled coal fly ash for enhanced CO₂ sequestration and heavy metal immobilization in sustainable hydraulic cements

ABSTRACT This study developed an energy-efficient, sustainable, and economical method for capturing carbon dioxide using landfilled coal fly ash. The innovative approach processes captured carbon dioxide with supplementary additives and alkali activators to produce a new class of hydraulic cement. A total of eight cement formulations incorporating varying proportions of landfilled coal fly ash, calcium-containing industrial byproducts, and alkali activators were produced and experimentally tested. The study achieved significant CO₂ uptakes, reaching up to 8.35% by weight of the raw materials. Up to 99.98% immobilization efficiency of heavy metal (copper) was recorded along with a significant increase in the total dissolved solids and conductivity. FTIR spectroscopy confirmed CO₂ incorporation with notable peaks at 1400 cm− 1 and 1063 cm− 1, indicating carbonate species. SEM and EDS analyses revealed varied morphologies, with dense, interconnected particle networks in some of the cement formulations. Compressive strength tests showed all formulations exceeded the EPA’s minimum requirement of 0.34 MPa, with the highest strength reaching 38 MPa at 28 days. The findings of this study point to the viability of the production of mechanochemically processed hydraulic cements in CO₂ environment with effective carbon sequestration capability, marked heavy metals immobilization characteristics, and enhanced physical and mechanical attributes.

Changes in composition and concentration of differential metabolites in root exudates are associated with aluminum-tolerance of Ricinus communis under a high CO2 environment

Root exudates are the most direct performance for plants responding to adverse environments, and are also important media for materials exchange, energy transmission and information communication between the roots and rhizosphere. However, how plant roots and exudates respond to aluminum (Al) stress under elevated CO2 concentration (eCO2) is still unclear. Ricinus communis is a famous oilseed crop throughout the world, which has strong tolerance to metal contaminated soil. In the present study, root physiological changes and the exudates of this species under aluminum stress and eCO2 based on metabolomic were investigated. The results showed that high Al concentration stress significantly increased aluminum, MDA, proline, and soluble sugar contents, and decreased the dry weights and soluble protein concentration. Furthermore, eCO2 alleviated the inhibition of root growth under high Al stress by increasing the dry weights, antioxidant enzyme activities and decreasing the MDA content. Collectively, a total of 511 metabolites were detected in the castor exudates of which lipids, organic acids, and organic oxygen compounds occupied 40.82%, 17.78% and 12.54%, respectively. There were 83, 15, and 100 differential metabolites for high Al stress, eCO2 and the interaction of the two factors compared with the control. 12 differential metabolites were found under eCO2 and Al stress compared with Al stress alone. Under Al stress, TCA cycle, organic acids, and lipids metabolisms were inhibited; coumarins and carbohydrates conjugates were significantly up-regulated, which may help castor adapt to aluminum-contaminated conditions. Moreover, eCO2 increased the secretion of organic acids, fatty acyls, and carbohydrates to enhance the antioxidant capacity and root growth of castor under Al stress; eCO2 enhanced the TCA cycle, organic acids accumulation, lipids metabolism, biosynthesis of amino acids, pentose and glucuronate interconversions, and inhibited DNA oxidative stress of castor roots under Al stress. The present study provides new insights into the crucial role of root exudates in improving Al-tolerance of castor under eCO2.

Significant Links Between Photosynthetic Capacity, Atmospheric CO2 and the Diversification of C3 Plants During the Last 80 Million Years.

Changing CO2 concentrations will continue to affect plant growth with consequences for ecosystem functioning. The adaptive capacity of C3 photosynthesis to changing CO2 concentrations is, however, insufficiently investigated so far. Here, we focused on the phylogenetic dynamics of maximum carboxylation rate (Vcmax) and maximum electron transport rate (Jmax)-two key determinants of photosynthetic capacity in C3 plants-and their relation to deep-time dynamics in species diversification, speciation and atmospheric CO2 concentrations during the last 80 million years. We observed positive relationships between photosynthetic capacity and species diversification as well as speciation rates. We furthermore observed a shift in the relationships between photosynthetic capacity, evolutionary dynamics and prehistoric CO2 fluctuations about 30 million years ago. From this, we deduce strong links between photosynthetic capacity and evolutionary dynamics in C3 plants. We furthermore conclude that low CO2 environments in prehistory might have changed adaptive processes within the C3 photosynthetic pathway.

Upgrading vacuum residue in a supercritical CO2 environment with polypropylene and steam: Insights into products distribution and characterization of liquid products

The pyrolysis of vacuum residue (VR) using polypropylene (PP) under supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) conditions represents a novel approach to converting this abundant and difficult-to-process feedstock into lighter liquid products. In this paper, a set of experiments was performed to analyze the impact of scCO2, PP and steam on the yields of pyrolysis products (i.e., liquid, gas and coke) and characteristics of the liquid fractions. The findings indicated notable improvements when scCO2 was used instead of subcritical CO2 in the pyrolysis of VR with PP. These included decreased viscosity and improved API gravity, alongside increased maltene yield and reduced coke yield. Furthermore, the inclusion of PP markedly elevated the quality of the obtained liquid, whereas steam + scCO2 primarily affected the product distribution by raising the yield of coke and gas fractions. VR pyrolysis under scCO2 conditions at 380 °C, 8 MPa, PP/VR ratio of 0.23 for 60 min in a batch system, without the use of catalyst, resulted in the highest liquid yield of 83.7 ± 1.9 wt%, and minimum coke yield of 9.8 ± 1.3 wt%. Under these conditions, the upgraded liquid consisted of 75.2 wt% light and middle distillates with boiling points below 350 °C. Additionally, the proportion of oxygenates in the pyrolysis oil reduced by 60.5 %, improving its heating value. Moreover, adding PP to the upgrading process resulted in a higher proportion of isoparaffins, cycloparaffins, and aromatics, coupled with a decrease in olefins, aligning the liquid specifications more closely with fuel standards.

Hardening of Mortars from Blended Cement with Opoka Additive in CO2 Environment

The influence of the parameters of accelerated carbonization in a 99.9% CO2 environment on the hardening kinetics of blended cement with 15 wt% opoka additive, the physical and mechanical properties of the resulting products, the mineralogical composition, and the amount of absorbed CO2 were investigated. Sedimentary rock opoka was found to have opal silica and calcite as its predominant constituent parts. Therefore, these properties determine that it serves as an extremely suitable raw material and a source of both SiO2 and CaO. The strength properties of the mortars (blended cement/standard sand = 1:3) were similar or even better than those of samples based on Ordinary Portland cement (OPC): the compressive strength exceeded 50 MPa under optimal conditions. In blended cement, some of the pores are filled with fine-dispersed opoka, which can lead to an increase in strength. By reducing the amount of OPC in mixtures, the negative impact of its production on the environment is reduced accordingly. Using XRD, DSC, and TG methods, it was determined that replacing 15 wt% of OPC clinker with opoka does not affect the mineralogy of the crystalline phases as the same compounds are obtained. After determining the optimal parameters for sample preparation and hardening, in accordance with the obtained numbers, concrete pavers of industrial dimensions (100 × 100 × 50 mm) were produced. Their strength indicators were even ~10% better.

Effect of CO2 Concentration on the Performance of Polymer-Enhanced Foam at the Steam Front.

This study examines the impact of CO2 concentration on the stability and plugging performance of polymer-enhanced foam (PEF) under high-temperature and high-pressure conditions representative of the steam front in heavy oil reservoirs. Bulk foam experiments were conducted to analyze the foam performance, interfacial properties, and rheological behavior of CHSB surfactant and Z364 polymer in different CO2 and N2 gas environments. Additionally, core flooding experiments were performed to investigate the plugging performance of PEF in porous media and the factors influencing it. The results indicate that a reduction in CO2 concentration in the foam, due to the lower solubility of N2 in water and the reduced permeability of the liquid film, enhances foam stability and flow resistance in porous media. The addition of polymers was found to significantly improve the stability of the liquid film and the flow viscosity of the foam, particularly under high-temperature conditions, effectively mitigating the foam strength degradation caused by CO2 dissolution. However, at 200 °C, a notable decrease in foam stability and a sharp reduction in the resistance factor were observed. Overall, the study elucidates the effects of gas type, temperature, and polymer concentration on the flow and plugging performance of PEF in porous media, providing reference for fluid mobility control at the steam front in heavy oil recovery.

Mechanical degradations of Fe–C alloys induced by stress corrosion in supercritical CO2 environments: a study based on molecular dynamics simulation and machine learning

Mechanical degradations of Fe–C alloys induced by stress corrosion in supercritical CO2 environments: a study based on molecular dynamics simulation and machine learning

Response to the CO2 concentrating mechanisms and transcriptional time series analysis of Ulva prolifera under inorganic carbon limitation

Ulva prolifera is a dominant species in green tides and has been affecting marine ecosystem for many years. Due to the low availability of CO2 in the environment, U. prolifera utilizes the CO2 concentrating mechanisms (CCMs) to increase intracellular inorganic carbon concentration. However, the transcriptional response mechanism and temporal changes of U. prolifera CCMs based on transcriptomics have not been thoroughly described. Therefore, we induced U. prolifera CCMs in a low CO2 environment to explore the dynamic regulation of CCMs expression under inadequate inorganic carbon supply. The results showed that inorganic carbon limitation increased the inorganic carbon affinity of U. prolifera, upregulating CCMs. The first 24 h of inorganic carbon environmental changes were the most active period for U. prolifera's expression regulation. U. prolifera gradually achieved a new steady state by regulating metabolic processes such as nucleic acids, energy, and ethylene-activated signaling pathways. In the carbon fixation system of U. prolifera, there are characteristics of both biophysical and biochemical CCMs. After 24 h of inorganic carbon limitation, the biophysical CCMs becomes more effective under conditions of inorganic carbon depletion. This study aids in exploring the CCMs of U. prolifera and their evolution in response to environmental changes.

Electrochemical and corrosion behavior of steel rebars in concrete exposed to industrial SO2 and CO2 environment

Investigation into the corrosion mechanism of steel rebars in concrete under the combined influence of SO2 and CO2 is crucial for addressing the corrosion issues in reinforced concrete structures exposed to industrial environments. This study investigated the electrochemical and corrosion behavior of steel rebars in concrete under the combined influence of SO2 and CO2 using electrochemical methods, pH and SO42- concentration tests at the concrete/steel matrix interface, and surface analysis. During the corrosion process, a competitive chemical reaction between SO2 and CO2 occurs. The electrical resistance (Rc) of the concrete cover layer undergoes initial rapid growth, followed by slower increments, and then another period of rapid growth before eventually stabilizing. However, Rc sharply decreases over time, corrosion-induced damage in the concrete cover layer. CO2 diffuses to the vicinity of the rebar before SO2, inducing rebar depassivation. As rust severity increases, significant changes in the rust products are observed, with Fe(III) compounds transforming into Fe(II) compounds, and FeSO4·4H2O and FeSO4·7 H2O are prevalent in the rust products. Furthermore, the formation of ferrous sulfate compounds can lead to local acidification, thereby accelerating the corrosion rate, and hastening the aging and deterioration of the structure, posing a serious threat to the safety of the building structure.

In situ ambient pressure x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy study on O2/H2O-assisted Na–CO2 batteries

Na–CO2 battery is considered a high-energy-density storage system with the ability to utilize CO2. However, unlike its Li counterpart, it suffers from an unclear reaction mechanism and poor battery performance. CO2 is an inert species and requires high activation energy. Moreover, the understanding of how additives such as O2 and H2O aid the cathode reaction remains lacking. Herein, the mechanism of the CO2 reduction reaction is unraveled through in situ ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (APXPS). The oxidation states of the discharged products can be well revealed to understand the reactions. Unlike previous studies, a pure CO2 environment was found to have poor electrochemical activity. When additives, such as O2 and H2O, were introduced to the system, some Csp2 was formed. We propose that Csp2 should be attributed to the alkene formation as the decomposition product of ionic liquid, which serves as the electrolyte. The formation of elemental carbon as the discharge product is unlikely, which is in stark contrast to previous studies. As a result, the poor electrochemical activity of the pure CO2 system leads to the formation of CO, which escapes from the electrode surface and results in poor reversibility. Additives such as O2 and H2O are electrochemically active themselves, while CO2 participated in the reaction chemically, reducing the chemical reversibility. Therefore, a system without CO2 is more beneficial to the Na–air batteries.