High Capacity Research Articles

Polypyrrole functionalized cellulose/polypropylene composite membrane with zinc inducing and dendrite resistance for robust zinc-ion batteries

Dendrite growth and subsequent membrane puncture stemming from uneven deposition of zinc ions pose a significant challenge for aqueous zinc ion batteries (AZIBs). Herein a polypyrrole functionalized cellulose/polypropylene (PPy-cellulose/PP) composite membrane with promising zinc inducing and dendrite resistance was rationally designed through an in-situ polymerization strategy to enable robust zinc-ion batteries. Experimental data and theoretical simulations reveal that a continuous conducting network, constructed by PPy nanoparticles, could homogenize the electric field and reduce the interfacial resistance of zinc anode. Moreover, the zincophilic nitrogen-containing functional groups in PPy induced the migration and deposition of zinc ions uniformly. The combination of polypropylene laminate enhanced the puncture resistance and mechanical strength of the composite membranes. Consequently, Zn||Zn symmetric cell assembled with the PPy-cellulose/PP composite membrane exhibited stable cycling performance over 2000 h at 0.5 mA cm−2/0.5 mAh cm−2. Further verification was conducted on the practical application of PPy-cellulose/PP membranes in Zn||MnO2 full cells and Zn||AC capacitors. Notably, a high capacity retention of 89.6 % was achieved for the Zn||AC capacitor after 10,000 cycles at 1 A g−1. The new design of PPy functionalized cellulose/polypropylene membranes provides a valuable protocol to stabilize zinc anodes for zinc-ion batteries.

Anion vacancy engineering in carbon coating VS4 microspheres assembled by nanorod arrays for high-performance rechargeable Mg-Li hybrid batteries

Transition metal sulfides (TMSs) stand out as promising cathodes for rechargeable Mg-Li hybrid ion batteries (MLIBs) owing to their high theoretical capacity and rich redox chemistry. Nevertheless, it still faces great challenges involving the sluggish reaction kinetics and insufficient active sites, resulting in unsatisfactory stability and limited rate capability. And the role of anion vacancies on improving electrochemical properties of TMSs is still unclear. Herein, we have successfully designed an anion defect engineering strategy for the construction of carbon coating VS4 microspheres assembled by nanorod arrays (Sv-VS4@C-300) as the high-performance cathode for MLIBs. The systematic electrochemical tests together with theoretical calculations reveal that the sulfur vacancies simultaneously improve ion adsorption ability, facilitate charge transfer rate and boost reaction kinetics. Additionally, the open microsphere structure together with rich sulfur vacancies cooperatively provide more active sites and release the internal stress during cycling, thereby realizing the enhancement of capacity and structural stability. Consequently, these features enable Sv-VS4@C-300 with impressively high reversible capacity (485.1 mAh/g at 50 mA g−1) and exceptional long cycle lifespan (128.3 mAh/g at 2000 mA g−1 after 5000 cycles). This work implements an innovative strategy represented by anion vacancy engineering in the design of high-performance TMSs-based cathodes for rechargeable batteries.

FeF3·0.33H2O nanoparticles decorated Ti3C2 MXene as high-performance bifunctional sulfur host for lithium‑sulfur batteries

Lithium‑sulfur batteries are deemed as a potential next-generation energy storage system, but their development is hindered by the shuttle effect of lithium polysulfides. Design and synthesis of multifunctional sulfur host materials are expected to adsorb lithium polysulfides and catalyze their conversion during the lithiation process, thereby suppressing the shuttle effect. In this work, FeF3·0.33H2O nanoparticles is in situ grown on the surface of Ti3C2 nanosheets (FeF3@Ti3C2) and used as the bifunctional sulfur host for lithium‑sulfur batteries. Ti3C2 nanosheets not only provide two-dimensional (2D) conductive substrate for sulfur, but also strongly adsorb lithium polysulfides and suppress the shuttle effect. Meanwhile, FeF3 nanoparticles can accelerate the conversion reaction of lithium polysulfides, which also contributes to inhibiting the shuttle of lithium polysulfides. In addition, decorating Ti3C2 nanosheets with FeF3 nanoparticles can prevent the stacking of Ti3C2 nanosheets and enhance the interaction between Ti3C2 and lithium polysulfides. Therefore, sulfur-loaded FeF3@Ti3C2 (FeF3@Ti3C2@S) displays excellent electrochemical performance, such as a high reversible capacity of 687 mAh g−1 at 2C after 1000 cycles, and the capacity decay rate is only 0.023 %. This work paves a simple way for improving the performance of Ti3C2 as the sulfur host and expanding its application in lithium‑sulfur batteries.

Preparation of silver-based metal-organic framework and chitosan hybrid material for removing drug and dye

Pharmaceuticals and personal care products and dyes have low biodegradability and high toxicity, seriously threaten the human health and ecological environment. Therefore, seeking effective removal methods has become the focus of research. In this study, silver-based metal-organic framework (Ag-MOF) and chitosan (CS) hybrid adsorbent (Ag-MOF-CS) was synthesized via solvothermal one-pot synthesis to remove diclofenac sodium (DCF) and acid Red 1 (AR1) from water for the first time. The morphology and structure of Ag-MOF-CS were confirmed by various characterizations. The effect on adsorption was investigated by changing the adsorbent dosage, pH and other conditions. The adsorption kinetics, adsorption isotherms and thermodynamics were analyzed. Ag-MOF-CS showed a high adsorption capacity. And the maximum adsorption capacity of Ag-MOF-CS for DCF and AR1 was 351.75 mg/g and 678.83 mg/g, respectively. The adsorbent bound to DCF and AR1 may via electrostatic forces, π-π interactions, hydrogen bonding. Even after four cycles of Ag-MOF-CS, the DCF removal can still be higher than 80 %. The eco-friendly Ag-MOF-CS demonstrated significant potential for utilization in treating wastewater.

Synthesis of hydroxyapatite (HAp) from eggshells via thermal decomposition method for the application of dye adsorption

The study aims to synthesize hydroxyapatite (HAp) from eggshells and explore its potential for dye removal from wastewater streams. Calcium was derived from the disposed eggshells, through which CaO was acquired using the thermal decomposition technique. HAp synthesis was conducted via the direct precipitation method with the addition of diammonium hydrogen phosphate as the phosphorus source. The synthesized HAp was characterized using various techniques including XRD, SEM, FTIR, BET and UV–Vis Analysis. HAp appeared to be in a large form with tightly agglomerated rod-like nanometric particles with a surface area of 16.700 m2/g and pore volume of approximately 0.137 cm³/g, from which HAp was confirmed to have a porous structure. The synthesized hydroxyapatite showed a pure crystalline phase with a particle size in the nanometer range, according to the test results. The effectiveness of hydroxyapatite (HAp) in adsorbing methylene blue dye from wastewater was assessed using methylene blue as a representative dye. The results demonstrated that HAp exhibited a high adsorption capacity for methylene blue, indicating that the synthesized HAp was an effective adsorbent. Based on the studies conducted, it is evident that the hydroxyapatite synthesized from eggshells exhibits great potential as a cost-effective and efficient adsorbent for removing dyes from wastewater.

Phosphate ions functionalized metal-organic framework-derived cobalt oxide with improved redox reactivity for high-performance alkaline aqueous Zn-ion batteries

Alkaline aqueous Zn/Co3O4 batteries (AZCBs) have captured significant attention within the field of scalable grid energy storage due to their high output voltage (>1.8 V), superior safety profile, and low manufacturing cost. Nevertheless, the intrinsic Co3O4 material experiences limitations in terms of low electronic conductivity and insufficient active sites, consequently constraining its electrochemical performance in AZCBs. To address this challenge, this investigation focuses on the use of phosphate ions functionalized Co3O4 (referred to as PCO) material derived from cobalt-based metal-organic frameworks (Co-MOFs) as a cathode electrode in AZCBs. Both theory calculations and experimental verification illustrate that the functionalization with phosphate ion enhances the active sites for electrochemical redox reactions and increases the electrical conductivity of intrinsic Co3O4. Consequently, a pouch cell configuration of PCO-2||Zn with the optimized PCO-2 sample as cathode exhibits a high capacity of 162.0 mAh g−1, a maximum energy density of 265.7 Wh kg−1, a maximum power density of 16.39 kW kg−1. Furthermore, excellent long-term stability is observed, with the capacity retention rate reaching 92.3 % over 5000 cycles at a high current density of 5 A g−1. Additionally, the constructed fibrous flexible solid-state device also demonstrates notable long-term stability, with a capacity retention of 96 % after 2000 cycles under a high current density of 10 mA cm−2, and performs well under different deformation statuses. This successful approach may hold potential for the exploration of other cathode materials, such as Mn or V-based compounds, which may exhibit high performance in aqueous zinc-based batteries.

Chemically Bonded Biphase Coating of Ni-Rich Layered Oxides with Enhanced High-Voltage Tolerance and Long-Cycle Stability.

Stabilizing the crystalline structure and surface chemistry of Ni-rich layered oxides is critical for enhancing their capacity output and cycle life at a high cutoff voltage. Herein, we adopted a simple one-step solid-state method by directly sintering the Ni0.9Co0.1(OH)2 precursor with LiOH and Ta2O5, to simultaneously achieve the bulk material synthesis of LiNi0.9Co0.1O2 and in situ construction of a rock-salt Ta-doped interphase and an amorphous LiTaO3 outer layer, forming a chemically bonded surface biphase coating on LiNi0.9Co0.1O2. Such a cathode architectural design has been demonstrated with superior advantages: (1) eliminating surface residual alkali, (2) strengthening the layered oxygen lattice, (3) suppressing bulk-phase transformation, and (4) facilitating Li-ion transport. The obtained cathode exhibits excellent electrochemical performance, including a high initial reversible capacity of 180.3 mAh g-1 at 1.0 C with 85.5% retention after 300 cycles (2.8-4.35 V) and a high initial reversible capacity of 182.5 mAh g-1 at 0.2 C with 87.6% retention after 100 cycles (2.8-4.5 V). Notably, this facile and scalable electrode engineering makes Ni-rich layered oxides promising for practical applications.

High load-bearing metastructure for controlling surface Rayleigh waves

Artificial metamaterials for controlling surface Rayleigh waves have been extensively studied in recent years. However, practical engineering applications of metamaterials are still limited when they lack high load-bearing capacity. For this reason, a new metamaterial called a high-load-bearing metastructure is presented, which is designed by generalized Snell’s law. The wide-bandgap performance for surface Rayleigh waves and the high load-bearing capacity of the proposed metastructure are realized by using traditional engineering materials, which provide a more flexible reference in practical engineering applications. This work can open new avenues for controlling the propagation of surface Rayleigh waves.

Investigating the Electrochemical Performance of MnFe2O4@xC Nanocomposites as Anode Materials for Sodium-Ion Batteries.

Transition metal oxides (TMOs) are important anode materials in sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) due to their high theoretical capacities, abundant resources, and cost-effectiveness. However, issues such as the low conductivity and large volume variation of TMO bulk materials during the cycling process result in poor electrochemical performance. Nanosizing and compositing with carbon materials are two effective strategies to overcome these issues. In this study, spherical MnFe2O4@xC nanocomposites composed of MnFe2O4 inner cores and tunable carbon shell thicknesses were successfully prepared and utilized as anode materials for SIBs. It was found that the property of the carbon shell plays a crucial role in tuning the electrochemical performance of MnFe2O4@xC nanocomposites and an appropriate carbon shell thickness (content) leads to the optimal battery performance. Thus, compared to MnFe2O4@1C and MnFe2O4@8C, MnFe2O4@4C nanocomposite exhibits optimal electrochemical performance by releasing a reversible specific capacity of around 308 mAh·g-1 at 0.1 A·g-1 with 93% capacity retention after 100 cycles, 250 mAh·g-1 at 1.0 A g-1 with 73% capacity retention after 300 cycles in a half cell, and around 111 mAh·g-1 at 1.0 C when coupled with a Na3V2(PO4)3 (NVP) cathode in a full SIB cell.

The investigation of mechanism isoniazid adsorption onto cassia fistula-based activated carbon

The utilization of activated carbon as an efficient adsorbent is well-established, driven by its porous structure and expansive surface area. This study investigates the potential of Cassia fistula (Golden shower) as a precursor for activated carbon synthesis using K2CO3 activation, leveraging its organic properties known for high porosity and adsorption capacity. This research aims to investigate the feasibility of utilizing Cassia fistula-derived activated carbon (GSAC) for isoniazid removal from water. The study encompasses a two-step activation process—chemical and physical—with varying parameters to optimize surface area and porosity. The carbonization process involves hydrothermal and pyrolysis techniques with controlled conditions. The temperature used in this study is based on the TGA analysis to examine its thermal stability. Batch experiments examine the adsorption equilibrium and kinetics of isoniazid onto GSAC samples, revealing high adsorption capacity and rapid equilibrium attainment by GSAC 1:1 (700°C). The study culminates in the identification of a strong chemical bond between GSAC and isoniazid, implying efficient adsorption potential as confirmed by FTIR and SEM analysis before and after adsorption. The adsorption characteristic is examined with an isotherm and kinetic model. The highest predicted GSAC capacity reaches 219,807 mg/g, emphasizing its promising adsorption capabilities. This work underscores Cassia fistula-based activated carbon as a viable, cost-effective, and eco-friendly adsorbent for isoniazid removal, with implications for diverse applications. The synthesis process parameters, activation methods, and insights into the adsorption mechanism contribute to the understanding of effective adsorbent production and enhance the potential of activated carbon for various industrial contexts.

BIO-NANOTECHNOLOGY-BASED SOLUTIONS FOR SUSTAINABLE WASTE MANAGEMENT AND POLLUTION

Waste management and pollution reduction are critical global challenges that demand innovative and sustainable solutions. Traditional methods often fall short in terms of efficiency and environmental impact. Biological nanotechnology, particularly the use of biosurfactants and nanoenzymes, offers promising alternatives for addressing environmental pollutants such as hydrocarbons, textile dyes, and heavy metals. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of bio-nanotechnology-based solutions, specifically biosurfactants and nanoenzymes, in waste management and pollution reduction, focusing on sustainability and environmental impact. Methods: A quantitative research approach was employed to assess the efficacy of bio-nanotechnology in waste treatment and pollution reduction. Laboratory experiments were conducted to explore the degradation capacity of biosurfactants and nanoenzymes on various pollutants. The study also involved a survey of 167 industry professionals to evaluate the potential of bio-nanotechnology in enhancing waste treatment efficiency and environmental sustainability. Data on pollutant elimination efficacy, degradation rates, soil health, metal contaminant levels, and CO2 emissions were collected. Statistical analysis was performed to compare the outcomes of nano-bioremediation with traditional methods. Results: The laboratory experiments demonstrated a high treatment capacity, with pollutant elimination efficacy exceeding 86% and degradation rates significantly faster than conventional treatments. The survey results indicated that bio-nanotechnology could enhance waste treatment efficiency and environmental friendliness by 20-40%. Nano-bioremediation led to a 23% improvement in soil health, a 32% reduction in metal contaminants, and a 14-19% decrease in CO2 emissions from waste processing compared to conventional methods. Conclusion: The study's findings suggest that bio-nanotechnology presents a novel, sustainable solution for waste management and pollution reduction. The significant improvements in pollutant elimination, soil health, and reduction of metal contaminants and CO2 emissions highlight the potential of this approach to address global environmental challenges more effectively than traditional methods. Further research and development are recommended to optimize and scale up these technologies for broader application.

Dietary Intervention of Benzoic Acid for Intestinal Health and Growth of Nursery Pigs.

The objectives of this review are to investigate how benzoic acid can mitigate the negative effects of weaning stress, improve the intestinal microbiota, intestinal health, and growth of nursery pigs, determine the optimal dose level of benzoic acid for the growth rate in nursery pigs, and compare the efficacy of benzoic acid and other acids in pig feeds. After weaning, pigs are exposed to less lactose and solid feed with high acid-binding capacity at infrequent intervals, causing an increase in digesta pH, reducing protein digestion, and increasing ammonia-producing bacteria in the stomach. Benzoic acid supplementation has improved the intestinal health and growth of nursery pigs through its antimicrobial properties and pH reduction in the digesta. The positive modulation of luminal microbiota in the small intestine of pigs by benzoic acid improves intestinal morphology and enhances nutrient utilization, especially nitrogen, of nursery pigs. Benzoic acid supplementation of up to 1% in feeds also increases hippuric acid contents in the urine of nursery pigs, decreasing urinary pH, which is related to ammonia emission and barn conditions in intensive pig production. Supported by the beneficial impacts of benzoic acid, the growth performance of nursery pigs was also improved. However, excessive benzoic acid (over 2.5% up to 5%) in feeds reduces the growth performance of nursery pigs. Thus, this review conducted a meta-analysis of the results from 16 papers to determine the optimal dose level of benzoic acid for body weight gain of nursery pigs, which was found to be 0.60%. The efficacy of benzoic acid was similar to that of other organic acids, including citric acid, fumaric acid, formic acid, and formate salts. Collectively, benzoic acid supplementation can positively modulate the luminal and mucosal microbiota in the small intestine, increase nutrient utilization and intestinal health, decrease urinary pH, and improve the growth performance of nursery pigs.

Adsorption of diclofenac by a novel H2SO4-CTAB co-modified granular spent bleaching earth carbon: Preparation, performance and mechanism

Diclofenac (DCF), a widely used pharmaceutical ingredient, exhibits long-lasting properties and significant ecotoxicity in aquatic ecosystems. In this study, a new granular adsorbent, GSBE@CH-CTAB, was synthesized to remove DCF by initially granulating powder spent bleaching earth carbon (SBE@C) with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) emulsion as a binding agent, followed by a co-modification process involving H2SO4 and cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB). The adsorption capacity of the prepared adsorbent for DCF under the best conditions was 4.26 mg/g. In a wide pH range, GSBE@CH-CTAB could maintain a high adsorption capacity and show a good reusability. The presence of the three cations inhibited the adsorption of DCF (inhibition effect: Mg2+>Al3+>Na+). The adsorption process conformed to the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Langmuir isotherm model. From the theoretical evaluation results, it could be inferred that DCF molecules were adsorbed on GSBE@CH-CTAB surface in both horizontal and non-horizontal directions at all operating temperatures. The main mechanisms of adsorption included electrostatic interaction, pore filling interaction, π-π interaction and H bond interaction. The granular adsorbent GSBE@CH-CTAB prepared in this study could effectively remove DCF, treat waste with waste, and solve the problem that powder adsorbent was easy to lose and difficult to recover, which was of great significance for the remediation of polluted water.

Entropy-induced high-density grain boundaries in Co-free high-entropy spinel oxides for highly reversible lithium storage

Transition metal oxides (TMOs) with high discharge capacity are considered as one of the most promising anodes for lithium-ion batteries. However, the practical utilization of TMOs is largely limited by cycling stability issues arising from volume expansion, structural collapse. In this study, we synthesized a high-entropy spinel oxide material (FeCrNiMnZn)3O4 using a solution combustion method. With the implementation of five cations through high-entropy engineering, the agglomeration and expansion of the electrode materials during charging and discharging are suppressed, and the cycling stability is enhanced. The results demonstrate that entropy-induced high-density grain boundaries and the reversibility of spinel structure contribute to improved capacity and cycling stability. Herein, (FeCrNiMnZn)3O4 provides a high capacity (1374 mAh g−1) at 0.1 A g−1 and superior cycling stability (almost 100 %) during 200 cycles with a current density of 0.5 A g−1. The study provides valuable understanding for designing the high entropy oxides anode electrodes.

Se-vacancy porous ultrathin ZnSe nanosheet/carbon composite for sodium storage via electron beam irradiation strategy

Zinc selenide (ZnSe) is a next-generation anode material due to its high sodium storage capacity. However, the poor conductivity and volume expansion lead to its capacity attenuation and short cycle life. Herein, Se-vacancy porous ultrathin ZnSe nanosheet/carbon composite (ZnSe@NC/N-GQD) is reported as a high-performance anode material for sodium-ion batteries. Organic-inorganic hybrid ZnSe(en)0.5 ultrathin nanosheets with abundant Se vacancies are rapidly prepared by electron beam irradiation for the first time. Using it as a precursor, Se-vacancy carbon-coated porous ultrathin ZnSe nanosheets loaded with nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dots (N-GQDs) are synthesized via carbonization and electrodeposition process. Through the design of ZnSe@NC/N-GQD, the sodium storage performance can be effectively improved by implementing nanostructure engineering (porous ultrathin nanosheet) via organic–inorganic hybrid, defect engineering (Se vacancy) via electron beam irradiation, and carbon composite (amorphous carbon and N-GQD). Consequently, ZnSe@NC/N-GQD delivers a high capacity of 483 mA h g−1 after 200 cycles at 0.5 A g−1, shows an outstanding rate capability of 381 mA h g−1 at 10.0 A g−1, and exhibits an excellent cycling stability of 86 % retention after 2800 cycles at 5.0 A g−1. This work develops a new method to rapidly prepare organic–inorganic nanohybrids, and proposes an innovative design of high-performance ZnSe-based anodes.

A simple approach through reduction of Na2SO4 to prepare high-purity Na2S for sulfide electrolytes toward all-solid-state sodium batteries

Development of sulfide solid-state electrolytes (SSEs) with high ionic conductivity plays a leading role in achieving all-solid-state sodium batteries (ASSSBs). As an important raw material for synthesizing sulfide SSEs, the purity of Na2S significantly affects the ionic conductivity and electrochemical properties of sulfide SSEs. In order to obtain high-purity and low-cost Na2S, a hydrogen reduction of industrial grade Na2SO4 followed by ethanol purification has been successfully employed to synthesize and purify Na2S, which possesses a high purity of 98 %. Na3SbS4 has been synthesized by as-synthesized Na2S (A-Na2S) and commercial Na2S (C–Na2S) by liquid-phase synthesis and solid-state reaction methods, respectively. The electrochemical properties indicate that Na3SbS4 samples synthesized by A-Na2S possess higher ionic conductivity and lower Ea, and the assembled ASSSBs exhibit higher specific capacities, superior cycle and rate performance. At 0.5C, the assembled TiS2/Na3SbS4/NaSn ASSSB exhibits a high initial capacity of 211.4 mAh g−1 with capacity retention of 96.2 % after 360 cycles at room temperature. This work provides a simple approach for synthesizing high-purity Na2S at low cost, enabling the large-scale application of sulfide SSEs for ASSSBs.

3D-printed MOF/MoS2 aerogel for dye adsorption and photocatalytic degradation

The escalating challenge of water resources contamination, attributed to toxic pollutants, requires urgent attention from both governments and society. Furthermore, the inefficacy of conventional water treatment methods emphasizes the critical necessity for exploring the development of affordable, renewable, and high-performance materials, which should, for instance, enable the mutual adsorption and photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants. Here we employed the 3D printing technique to manufacture an aerogel based on alginate, gelatin, and carboxymethylcellulose incorporated with 5 and 7.5 wt % of MOF/MoS2. FTIR spectra and EDS analysis evidenced the presence of MOF/MoS2 in the structure of the aerogels, while Helium pycnometer analysis and SEM micrographs demonstrated that the aerogels presented low density and a porous structure with porosity above 80 %. The swelling test showed that the aerogels displayed a high water absorption capacity (1400 %) after 70 h of immersion. The rheology test demonstrated that elastic behavior prevails over viscous behavior (G' > G″) and the incorporation of 7.5 wt % MOF/MoS2 favored shear thinning and viscosity recovery in the hydrogel. Adsorption tests to methylene blue (employed as a model) showed that the aerogel (HD) without the presence of MOF/MoS2 and the aerogels HD/MOF/MoS2 5 % and MOF/MoS2 7.5 % showed removal efficiencies of 16.77 %, 28.66 %, and 95.86 %, respectively. Conversely, the photodegradation test showed that HD/MOF/MoS2 5 % and HD/MOF/MoS2 7.5 % had an efficiency of 89 % and HD of 80 %. Therefore, our results demonstrate that the developed aerogels are promising candidates for the adsorption and photodegradation of dye while being low-cost, environmentally friendly, and easy to manufacture.

Copper substituted manganese Prussian blue analogue composite nanostructures for efficient aqueous zinc-ion batteries

Aqueous zinc (Zn)-ion batteries (AZIBs) are considered a promising green energy storage alternative due to their large capacity, low cost, and exceptional safety. Prussian blue analogues (PBAs) with a robust three-dimensional structure and extensive ion channels are highly favorable for Zn2+ insertion/extraction, surpassing manganese (Mn) and vanadium oxides. Herein, copper (Cu) substituted Mn PBA (CuMn PBA) composite nanostructures are synthesized via a simple water-based co-precipitation technique using different concentrations of Cu and Mn sources. The partial substitution of Cu and the formation of Mn vacancies prevent Jahn-Teller distortions of MnN6 octahedra, extending the lifespan. The CuMn PBA-2 electrode exhibits a high discharge capacity of 175.14 mA h g−1 at 0.5 A g−1, superior rate capability of 89.08 mA h g−1 at 2.4 A g−1, and robust cycling stability, maintaining 73.15 mA h g−1 over 2000 cycles at 3 A g−1. Furthermore, the distinct structure provides numerous active sites and reduces volume volatility during cycling. The presence of Cu enhances electrode conductivity, thereby promoting a higher rate of Zn-ion diffusion between electrodes. The reversible intercalation and deintercalation of Zn2+ ions in the CuMn PBA-2 cathode are substantiated by ex-situ analysis methods. This work presents a novel approach for producing high-performance and stable PBA cathode materials for AZIBs.

Highly selective magnetic molecularly imprinted polymer for preconcentration and determination of atorvastatin in human urine samples

To determine the presence of atorvastatin (AT) in urine samples, a cost-effective and environmentally responsible technique has been developed combining magnetic molecularly imprinted polymer-based dispersive solid-phase microextraction and HPLC with UV detection. FESEM and TEM have been used to appropriately produce and analyze a magnetic molecularly imprinted polymer (MMIP), which has shown good selectivity and a high absorption capacity. Central composite design (CCD) optimized the factors influencing the suggested method’s extraction performance. The outcomes indicated that the proposed approach had a strong correlation (R2 > 0.99) within the linear range of 0.5–900 ng mL−1. With a high enrichment factor, the LOD and LOQ were 0.15 and 0.5 ng mL−1, respectively. For inter-day and intra-day experiments, the precisions expressed in terms of relative standard deviations were 2.51 % and 1.94 %, respectively. Urine samples were examined to evaluate the effectiveness of the suggested method, and extraction recoveries ranging from 90.5-97.7 % were found. These outcomes demonstrated how well the approach performed while analyzing AT in actual samples.

Microencapsulation of Zn-10 mass% Al alloy phase change material via dry synthesis method

Thermal energy storage (TES) via latent heat storage (LHS) using metal alloy phase change material (PCM) offers advantages in medium-to-high temperature operation around 400 °C and high heat storage capacity. Microencapsulation of alloys as PCMs can mitigate issues of reactivity and improve handling properties of PCM. This research presents the novel development of microencapsulated PCM (MEPCM) with a core of Zn–10 mass% Al that operates around 400 °C. The MEPCMs were synthesized using high-speed impact blending (HIB), where fine AlOOH particles mechanically coat the surface of Zn–10 mass% Al alloy microspheres, resulting in robust surface modification. Subsequent heat-oxidation treatment at 800 °C was performed to obtain stable oxide coating. The HIB treatment resulted in an AlOOH coating containing Zn nanoparticles, which the heat-oxidation process transformed into α-Al2O3 and ZnO nanoparticles. The MEPCMs exhibited heat storage densities, including latent and sensible heat (ΔT=200 °C), that were 1.9 times higher than the capacity of solar salt, which is commonly used as a sensible heat storage material. Furthermore, the MEPCMs maintained their shape and latent heat capacity after 300 and 1000 cyclic tests. These superior MEPCM characteristics hold the potential to significantly advance the development of LHS-based TES systems operating around 400 °C, with applications in energy generation and industrial processes.