High-performance Composite Materials Research Articles

Roller Compacted Concrete for Road Base Layer with RAP and Steel Fibers: Viscous Properties and Description of Experimental Sites

A high-performance composite material consisting of reinforced compacted cement concrete including Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP) has been investigated. This composite material is used as a base layer in combination with an asphalt overlay for heavy traffic roads. Steel fibers are used to minimize crack opening. RAP is added to preserve raw material and to comply with sustainable development, especially in the case of in-situ treatments. Composites with different RAP and fiber content and cement content were studied both in laboratory and on site. The laboratory study is divided into two parts. First, classical standard tests for road concrete were carried out: compressive strength, compressive modulus and tensile splitting strength, with a view to the design of pavement structures to be used on site. Secondly, more comprehensive rheological tests, such as complex modulus and fatigue tests, were performed to obtain a better knowledge of material behavior. Then, on-site behavior was studied from two experimental sites. The presence of bitumen in cement-treated composites induces an increase of viscous properties, observed mainly on the phase angle. These composites respect the time-temperature superposition principle and can be fitted by a visco-elastic rheological model.

Recyclable PVA/starch/Ti3C2Tx MXene nanocomposite films with superior mechanical and barrier properties.

The fabrication of eco-friendly and high-performance composite materials has gained significant attention for multifunctional applications. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/starch composite films containing varying amounts of Ti3C2Tx MXene (2.5-10wt%) were produced using a simple casting method. The impact of MXene nanoplatelets on the films' chemical structure and physical properties were thoroughly analysed. It was revealed that MXene formed hydrogen bonding with the polymer matrix and tended to align in the plane of the films. The mechanical properties of the PVA/starch blend were significantly improved with increasing MXene loading. With 10wt% MXene, the Young's modulus (YM) and tensile strength (TS) increased by 669% (from 255.7 to 1965.3MPa) and 292% (from 9.2 to 36.1MPa), respectively. Additionally, the presence of MXene greatly improved the films' water and oxygen barrier properties, reducing water vapor permeability (WVP) by 91% and oxygen permeability (OP) by 79%. These improvements are attributed to the homogeneous dispersion of MXene within the blend and the interfacial interactions between the components. Furthermore, the PVA/starch/MXene composite films exhibited excellent recyclability, maintaining their mechanical and barrier properties even after recycling, demonstrating their potential for repeated use without performance loss. Overall, the developed composite films present a promising sustainable solution for applications in materials requiring advanced mechanical and barrier performance.

Study of Flexural Strength of Epoxy Composites Reinforced with Opuntia Ficus Indica Fibers

This study investigates the potential of Opuntia ficus indica (cactus) fiber as a reinforcing material in composite applications, particularly in combination with an epoxy matrix. Despite being a naturally abundant resource, cactus fiber remains underutilized in engineering. The research focuses on evaluating the flexural strength of cactus fiber-reinforced composites, with particular attention to how variations in fiber volume fraction influence bending strength. As a member of the Cactaceae family, which includes over 130 genera and nearly 1,500 species, cactus fiber offers a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative to conventional materials. With the growing demand for high-performance composite materials, this study underscores the potential of cactus fiber to enhance the mechanical properties and environmental sustainability of composite materials. Composites are prepared using cactus fibers of two lengths (8 mm and 10 mm) and varying weight fractions (20%, 25%, and 30%). The fibers are treated with a 5% Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) solution by soaking it for 24 hours. The study investigates how fiber treatment, length, and loading affects the flexural strength or bending strength of cactus fibers. Results indicate that alkali-treated cactus fiber composites exhibit superior mechanical properties compared to untreated composites. Composites reinforced with 10 mm fibers show improved mechanical behavior over those reinforced with shorter fibers.

Constructing High-Performance Composite Epoxy Resins: Interfacial π-π Stacking Interactions-Driven Physical Rolling Behavior of Silica Microspheres.

The intrinsic compromise between strength and toughness in composite epoxy resins significantly constrains their practical applications. In this study, a novel strategy is introduced, leveraging interfacial π-π stacking interactions to induce the "rolling behavior" of microsphere fillers, thereby facilitating efficient energy dissipation. This approach is corroborated through theoretical simulations and experimental validation. The resulting composite epoxy resin demonstrates an impressive 49.8% enhancement in strength and a remarkable 358.9% improvement in toughness compared to conventional epoxy resins, accompanied by substantially reduced hysteresis. Moreover, this system achieves reversible closed-loop recyclability and rapid repair capabilities. The preliminary demonstration of "force-temperature equivalence" further establishes a novel pathway for the design of high-performance composite epoxy materials.

Study on the Curing Behaviors of Benzoxazine Nitrile-Based Resin Featuring Fluorene Structures and the Excellent Properties of Their Glass Fiber-Reinforced Laminates.

Benzoxazine and o-phthalonitrile resin are two of the most eminent polymer matrices within high-performance fiber-reinforced resin-based composite materials. Studying the influence modalities of their structures and forming processes on performance can furnish a theoretical basis for the design and manufacturing of superior performance composite materials. In this study, we initially incorporated a fluorene structure into the molecular main chain through molecular design to prepare a fluorene-containing benzoxazine nitrile-based resin. The polymerization reaction behavior and process of this resin were monitored meticulously using differential scanning calorimetry and infrared spectroscopy. Meanwhile, by manipulating the pre-polymerization reaction conditions, the impact of the pre-polymerization reaction on the polymerization behavior of the resin monomer was investigated, respectively. Subsequently, diverse glass fiber-reinforced resin-based composite materials were fabricated via hot-pressing in combination with a programmed temperature rise process. Through the characterization of structural strength and thermomechanical properties, it was found that the composite laminates all manifested outstanding bending strength (~600 MPa) and modulus (>30 GPa). Nevertheless, with the elevation of the post-curing temperature, the structural strength and modulus of the composite materials displayed distinct variation laws. This study also discussed the variation laws of the thermal properties of the composite materials by analyzing the glass transition temperature and crosslinking density. Additionally, the interface bonding effect between the glass fiber and the resin matrix was deliberated through the analysis of the cross-sectional morphology of the composite laminates. The results demonstrated that this work proposes an improved matrix resin system with outstanding thermal stability and mechanical properties that broadens the foundation and ideas for subsequent research.

Influence of Lignin Type on the Properties of Hemp Fiber-Reinforced Polypropylene Composites.

Increasing environmental awareness has boosted interest in sustainable alternatives for binding natural reinforcing fibers in composites. Utilizing lignin, a biorenewable polymer byproduct from several industries, as a component in polymer matrices can lead to the development of more eco-friendly and high-performance composite materials. This research work aimed to investigate the effect of two types of lignin (lignosulfonate and soda lignin) on the properties of hemp fiber-reinforced polypropylene composites for furniture applications. The composites were produced by thermoforming six overlapping layers of nonwoven material. A 20% addition of soda lignin or lignosulfonate (relative to the nonwoven mass) was incorporated between the nonwoven layers made of 80% hemp and 20% polypropylene (PP). The addition of both types of lignin resulted in an increase in the tensile and bending strength of lignin-based composites, as well as a decrease in the absorbed water percentage. Compared to oriented strand board (OSB), lignin-based composites exhibited better properties. Regarding the two types of lignin used, the addition of lignosulfonate resulted in better composite properties than those containing soda lignin. Thermal analysis revealed that the thermal degradation of soda lignin begins long before the melting temperature of polypropylene. This early degradation explains the inferior properties of the composites containing soda lignin compared to those with lignosulfonate.

Electrochemical performance of a high-performance SiO composite anode material for Li-ion battery enhanced by piezoelectric effect

Electrochemical performance of a high-performance SiO composite anode material for Li-ion battery enhanced by piezoelectric effect

High-temperature (800 °C) performance of spodumene slag-based ternary sulphate composite phase change materials with improved mechanical property

The large deployment of electric vehicles leads to decarbonised road transport. However, the mining and smelting of lithium resources will continue to increase, which generates lithium slag and urgently needs to be recycled. The integration of spodumene slag with ternary sulphate presents a green and promising approach to achieve resource recycling and high-performance composite phase change material (CPCM). Herein, toughened and strengthened CPCMs are prepared by the hybrid sintering method with mechanical properties better than reinterned glass, even after high-temperature thermal cycling. After the cold compression and hot sintering process, the production of colloidal sodium silicate bonds the ternary sulphate with the spodumene slag skeleton, which greatly enhances the strength of the CPCM for efficient and durable thermal energy storage (TES). The Hydroxyl polar group of sodium silicate interacts with the skeleton and leads to a record-breaking compressive strength of 155.23 MPa, and the CPCM can support its stacking of 23.6 m and 15 kg loading test at 700 °C. A negligible mass loss of 0.26 wt% was observed after 50 thermal cycles at 800 °C. Moreover, the CPCMs exhibit a high TES density of up to 873.0 J/g in the temperature range of 100–800 °C. High charging and round-trip efficiency in the heat recovery process from spodumene roasting is also achieved, as it is 5 % and 19 % higher than the common magnesium bricks, respectively. The CPCM achieves high thermal efficiency TES, and it is the effective resource recycling of lithium slag with simple material preparation, which, from two angles at once, attacks the carbon emission from the life cycle of the lithium-ion battery.

Amino-acid surface modulation of cobalt-tin sulfide and band broadening in cobalt-iron selenide heterostructure for high-performing asymmetric supercapacitor

Controlled synthesis of hierarchical flowerlike cobalt tin sulfide (SnCoSx) is successfully obtained using the chelation of the biomolecule l-asparagine with cobalt-tin metal cations by a hydrothermal technique. l-asparagine plays a crucial role as an inducer and a good structure-directing activity. Subsequently, pine needle-shaped cobalt iron selenium (FeCoSey) is tightly deposited on the SnCoSx surface to construct cobalt tin sulfide coated with cobalt iron selenide (FeCoSey@SnCoSx) heterostructure, which has exposed more active sites and the most abundant channels for electron/ion transfer. Among all prepared electrodes, the optimized FeCoSey@SnCoSx demonstrates the highest energy storage capacity (1754.65 F/g at 1 A g−1) and excellent cycling steadiness (86.71 % after 10,000 cycles at 15 A g−1). The heterogeneous interface engineering of FeCoSey and SnCoSx enables the FeCoSey@SnCoSx composite to generate outstanding electrochemical performance for supercapacitor devices. As expected, an asymmetric hybrid supercapacitor (AHSC) based on FeCoSey@SnCoSx cathode and nitrogen-doped hierarchy porous activated carbon (NHPC) derived from soybeans anode displays a high energy density of 59.44 Wh kg−1 at 402.09 W kg−1 and a super-long steady presentation with a preliminary capacitance holding ratio of 92.2 % following 10,000 cycles with an 8 A g−1 voltage density. This strategy provides a new approach for the controllable preparation of electrode material morphology, opens up new methods for high-performance heterogeneous interface composite electrode materials, and guides the designing of low-cost energy storage devices.

Preparation of MWCNT/Fe3O4/Si3N4 ternary composite material and microwave absorption properties

MWCNT/Fe3O4/Si3N4 composite was synthesized via hydrothermal synthesis. The morphology and structure of MWCNT/Fe3O4/Si3N4 were investigated by means of SEM, XPS, XRD, and FT-IR. Their electromagnetic parameters were measured by a vector network analyzer. The microwave attenuation properties of as-synthesized composite could be modulated by regulating the feed ratio of MWCNT, Fe3O4, and Si3N4. According to the different amounts of modified nano Fe3O4 added, they are labelled as S1-S3. When the feed ratio is 3:15:20, the maximum reflection loss value of the sample is −23.3 dB at 14.4 GHz, the corresponding thickness is 2.5 mm, and the corresponding effective absorption bandwidth is 5.36 GHz. Moreover, the test results of the thermogravimetric analyzer show that the composite material has excellent heat resistance. Our research results provide a reference value for the development of excellent heat resistance and high-performance MWCNT-based microwave absorption composite materials.

MoS2 loaded cotton stalk based porous carbon with high N content improves the electrochemical performance of Li[sbnd]S batteries

The high-performance composite material of C/S with N-doping and MoS2 loaded is prepared using cotton stalks as precursors. The intrinsic mechanism of N doping and loaded MoS2 for improving battery performance was investigated. Both addition of N and MoS2 can increase the graphitization degree, reducing the specific surface area and pore volume of porous carbon. The combination of both has a synergistic effect on enhancing the graphitization degree and increasing the content of N and MoS2 in porous carbon. However, it also demonstrates a stronger inhibition for the specific surface area and pore volume by limiting the development of pore structure below 10 nm. In terms of electrochemical performance, co-addition of N and MoS2 can better improve the electrochemical performance, which further reduce the internal polarization and increase the diffusion rate of lithium ions. The specific capacity was retained of 694.8 mAhg−1 after 100 cycles at 0.5C, which increase 43.08 % and 27.60 % compared with single N doping and loaded MoS2, respectively. Even at a high current of 2C, it still shows a high specific capacity of 719.6 mAhg−1. By characterization the cathode after the cycle test completed, the porous carbon prepared by co-addition of N and MoS2 has higher catalytic activity for the conversion of polysulfide. Higher content of N and MoS2 and excellent degree of graphitization in porous carbon after co-addition are key factors for improved performance.

Optimized few-layer MoS2 confined in carbon bowls via pore filling and chemical bond enabling fast kinetics for high-rate potassium storage

Molybdenum sulfide (MoS2) is a prospective anode material for potassium-ion batteries, owing to its large interlayer spacing and superior theoretical capacity. Nevertheless, its practical application is hindered by sluggish kinetics and inferior structural stability, which limit its potassium storage performance. Herein, we employ hollow hard-soft carbon bowls (HSCB), consisting of soft carbon uniformly coated on hard carbon bowls, as nanoreactors to confine few-layered MoS2 nanosheets. The mesoporous carbon shells of HSCB enhance electrolyte penetration and enable rapid charge transfer and robust structural protection, while the mechanical coupling induced by pore filling, alongside the exist of CSMo chemical bonds, further reinforces the structural integrity of MoS2. Additionally, the creation of few-layered MoS2 structures and MoS2/carbon heterostructures promotes efficient K-ion adsorption and diffusion. Notably, there is a strong linear relationship between MoS2 content and electrochemical performance, including initial Coulomb efficiency, rate performance, and reaction kinetics. Consequently, the optimized MoS2/HSCB anode demonstrating a superior reversible capacity of 630 mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g−1, an exceptional rate capacity of 251 mAh g−1 at 10 A g−1, and excellent cycling stability, retaining 369 mAh g−1 at 0.5 A g−1 after 700 cycles. Remarkably, a potassium-ion hybrid capacitor assembled with MoS2/HSCB anode achieves superior energy/power densities of 122 Wh kg−1/11266 W kg−1, along with splendid capacity retention of 89.5 % after 5000 cycles. This work not only offers an innovative approach for the structural engineering of high-performance sulfide-based composite materials but also elucidates the impact of sulfide content on electrochemical performance.

Optimizing superelastic shape-memory alloy fibers for enhancing the pullout performance in engineered cementitious composites

Abstract This study explores the effect of integrated superelastic shape-memory alloy fibers (SMAFs) on the mechanical performance of engineered cementitious composites (ECCs). Various SMAF configurations – linear-shaped SMAFs (LS-SMAFs), hook-shaped SMAFs (HS-SMAFs), and indented-shaped SMAFs (IS-SMAFs) – with diameters of 0.8 and 1.0 mm were incorporated into ECC matrices, and surface texturization was achieved through abrasive paper treatment. Their mechanical properties were assessed through single fiber pullout tests on ECC mixtures containing 1.5 and 2.0% polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), subjected to both monotonic and cyclic loading conditions. Qualitative analysis, employing scanning electron microscopy, demonstrated that the IS-SMAF configuration provided superior mechanical interlocking and fiber–matrix adhesion, with a distinct flag shape observed during tensile testing. Quantitative data indicated that IS-SMAFs significantly improved the tensile strength and pullout resistance, with slip distances of ≥5 mm and average pullout loads ranging from 263 to 403 N. LS-SMAFs demonstrated better performance compared to HS-SMAFs and LS-SMAFs in terms of tensile and pullout characteristics. Additionally, ECCs with increased PVA content exhibited enhanced withdrawal performance. Thermogravimetry analysis and X-ray diffraction provided insights into the high-temperature stability and crystalline structure of the composites. These results underscore the effectiveness of IS-SMAFs in enhancing ECC properties, offering significant implications for the development and optimization of high-performance composite materials in civil engineering applications.

Broadband Response Diaphragm Materials for Human Acoustics Engineering.

High-performance fiber-reinforced composite materials demonstrate great potential for manufacturing diaphragms in human-engineered acoustic loudspeakers. However, the notable scarcity of high-quality fibers and the uncontrollable nature of the diaphragm structure limit the production of high-quality sound that conforms to human hearing. In this study, a novel composite diaphragm material is devloped by integrating the swelling carboxymethyl cellulose microfiber (CMF) with the hot-melted sheath-core fiber (SCF) based on the "interpenetrating polymeric network" ("IPN") strategy. Simulation methods and Flory-Huggins theory are applied to explain the mechanism of fiber-structure-property interaction in composite diaphragm materials. Owing to the distinct microstructure, this bio-based diaphragm material shows superior mechanical characteristics, including low density (≈0.92gcm- 3), high tensile strength (≈235MPa), and high modulus (≈9.73GPa). Moreover, the loudspeaker mounted with bio-based diaphragm material exhibits enhanced sensitivity (≈82.6dB) and stable performance across a broad frequency spectrum. This study not only elucidates the multiphysics working principles of loudspeakers but also establishes a crucial connection between the physical properties of diaphragms and loudspeaker performance. It opens up new avenues for the design of high-performance bio-based loudspeaker diaphragms in high-fidelity (Hi-Fi) acoustic devices.

Enhanced Thermal and Flexural Properties of Alkalized Date Palm/Kenaf Fiber-Reinforced Epoxy Hybrid Composites: A Comparative Study of Untreated and Treated Fibers

ABSTRACT This study evaluates the thermal and mechanical behavior of hybrid composites made from date palm (DP) and kenaf fibers (KF) in an epoxy thermoset matrix. Both DP and KF fibers are abundant and renewable, reducing environmental impact. KF offers high tensile strength and stiffness, improving composite strength and rigidity, while DP fibers offer toughness and impact resistance, enhancing durability. The composites were developed in 30%, 50%, and 70% DP-KF compositions using layup and hot-pressing methods. Fiber treatment through alkalization was analyzed for its impact on mechanical and thermal properties to find the optimal fiber ratio. The hybrid composites were subjected to DMA, TGA, and flexural tests. The treated composites exhibited fewer impurities and increased cellulose content, resulting in enhanced flexural performance. This improvement was evident through higher storage modulus, lower loss modulus, and reduced tan δ when exposed to thermal stress. The 30% DP and 70% KF composites exhibited best performance. The treated 30DP-70KF exhibited improvement in the flexural strength and modulus by 13.8% and 2.7%, respectively. TGA demonstrated that treated 30DP-70KF composites had a higher glass transition temperature (Tg) and better thermal degradation resistance. These findings highlight the potential of natural fiber hybrids in creating sustainable, high-performance composite materials for construction and industrial applications.

Forming limit and failure behavior of fiber metal laminates under low-constraint conditions

Fiber Metal Laminates (FMLs), as high-performance composite materials, demonstrate exceptional potential in a wide range of applications, such as aeronautical and astronautical industries. However, the traditional cured FMLs possess complex interlayer stresses and low forming limits, restricting further promotion and application of FMLs. Low-constraint FMLs exhibit a lower forming resistance and better formability due to no curing during the forming process; however, the formation mechanism and response are not clear. This paper presents the Forming Limit Diagram (FLD) of low-constraint GLARE (glass fiber reinforced aluminum laminates) based on the forming limit test, and compares it with the conventionally cured laminates to evaluate the differences in the forming limit. In addition, combined with the analysis of failure mechanism and micro-deformation mechanism of specimens, the influence of different temperatures (20–80 °C) and forming states (width) on the deformation performance of laminates is further explored. The results reveal that the forming limit curve of low-constraint laminates shifts up with the increase of temperature, the forming limit initially increases with the increase of width, then followed by a gradual decrease, and the maximum principal strain of low-constraint laminates is increased by 29% at 80 °C compared to 20 °C. The cured laminate has a principal strain range of 0–0.02, while the low-constraint laminates have a principal strain range of 0.03–0.14. Compared with cured laminates, low-constraint laminates possess a higher forming limit due to the improvement in deformable degree between layers by resin flow and fiber slippage, which enhances their formability. This study is expected to serve as a reference for establishing forming limit criteria and optimizing forming schemes for low-constraint laminates.

Stretchable carbon nanotube/Ecoflex conductive elastomer films toward multifunctional wearable electronics

Conductive elastomer films (CEFs) have found widespread applications toward flexible electronics and wearable devices. Silicones are particularly advantageous for fabricating high-performance CEFs. However, processing silicone/conductive filler composite prepolymers is challenging because of their high viscosity, especially when incorporating nanofillers like carbon nanotubes (CNTs) that can greatly increase the viscosity of silicone prepolymers. Herein, we present a simple, facile and versatile hexane-assisted air-spraying method for fabricating silicone-based CEFs from Ecoflex and CNTs. This method allows for processing CNT/Ecoflex prepolymers with CNT concentrations of 0.5 ∼ 5 wt%, resulting in stretchable CEFs with controllable structural, mechanical and electrical properties. We leveraged the distinct advantages of CNT/Ecoflex CEFs, including the excellent mechanoelectrical sensitivity, workable strain range and elasticity of the CNT1/Ecoflex group, and the high conductivity and low mechanoelectrical sensitivity of the CNT5/Ecoflex group. These properties enable their multifunctional applications as wearable and waterproof resistive strain sensors, multilayered capacitive pressure sensors, and wearable electric heaters. This work provides valuable insights into the development of high-performance and multifunctional silicone-based composite materials for advanced wearable electronics.

Advancements in Biofiller-Reinforced PLA Composites for 3D Printing: A Review

Additive manufacturing is key in realizing highly complex and high-performance composite materials. Among all the various kinds of functionality that could be added to a composite component, continuous fiber-reinforced composites have been drawing much attention because of their attractive combination of properties. The comprehensive spectrum of knowledge that ranges from the basics concerned with structure, morphology, synthesis, physical, and chemical properties finally reaches to this analytical study of advanced composites. Most generally, such a composite is structured on a thermoplastic or thermoset polymer matrix that embeds the load-carrying reinforcing fibers; probably best known are carbon, glass, and aramid fibers. These composites, which involve fibers continuously reinforcing, have high strength relative to their weight. They are also anisotropic, meaning they have qualities that vary from one direction to another – something which might be customisable for specific load cases. They warp and shrink less during their life in an outside environment than conventionally made bioplastics due to a fact that short fibers can provide reinforcement to them. This 3-D printing object is manufactured by special additive manufacture technology during the manufacturing process after compounding and extruding the fiber-reinforced composite filament. The final properties of 3D printed parts could be tailorable through changing variables such a fiber type, fiber length, volume fraction, polymer matrix material, orientation of fibers, and printing process parameters. These continuous fiber-reinforced 3D printed composites could achieve tensile strengths up to one GPa, have stiffness values reaching even a rating of countless Gpa, and have ad thicknesses in the range from about 1.4–1.8 g/cm³. This finding could be applied in basically all major industries, from aerospace and the automotive industry to sports gear. Such conclusions from the analysis may be useful in the selection of appropriate materials and techniques while even guiding the development of new applications with respect to such advanced composite materials.

Valorization of plant waste for sustainable and ecological insulation in construction: Characterization of thermal and acoustic properties

This study explores the utilization of plant fibers from date palms and indigenous plants in the Drâa Tafilalet region as reinforcements in composite materials for thermal and acoustic insulation in buildings. The primary aim is to assess the fibers' capacity to enhance composite materials' insulation performance. Advanced techniques including scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy are employed to thoroughly characterize the fibers in terms of morphology, structure, chemistry, thermal properties, and acoustic attributes. Results reveal significant porosity in the fibers, positively impacting their thermal properties, along with variations in crystallinity indexes among different fiber types. Notably, alfa plant fibers exhibit the highest index at 51.76 %. Chemical composition analyses underscore distinctions in oxygen-to-carbon ratios, highlighting each fiber's unique attributes. Thermal properties are evaluated within the required density range for effective insulation, with thermal conductivities ranging from 0.065 to 0.091 W/m.K. Acoustic assessments underscore certain fibers' effectiveness, such as petiole and alfa fibers, in sound absorption, indicating potential applications in acoustic insulation. The broader significance lies in the eco-friendly and cost-effective potential of these plant fibers, offering a sustainable alternative for high-performance composite materials in the construction industry. The findings contribute valuable insights for advancing sustainable solutions in building insulation applications, promoting eco-friendly practices, and supporting ongoing efforts in green construction. In summary, this research defines the investigation's purpose, methodology, and significance, presenting compelling results that position plant fibers from the Drâa Tafilalet region as promising materials for enhancing composite materials in thermal and acoustic insulation applications within the construction sector.

Sustainable Synthesis of a Carbon-Supported Magnetite Nanocomposite Anode Material for Lithium-Ion Batteries

Transition metal oxide magnetite (Fe3O4) is recognized as a potential anode material for lithium-ion batteries owing to its high theoretical specific capacity, modest voltage output, and eco-friendly character. It is a challenging task to engineer high-performance composite materials by effectively dispersing Fe3O4 crystals with limited sizes in a well-designed supporting framework following sustainable approaches. In this work, the naturally abundant plant products sodium lignosulfonate (Lig) and sodium cellulose (CMC) were selected to coprecipitate with Fe3+ ions under mild hydrothermal conditions. The Fe-Lig/CMC intermediate sediment with an optimized microstructure can be directly converted to the Lig/CMC-derived carbon matrix-supported Fe3O4 nanocomposite sample (Fe3O4@LigC/CC). Compared with the controlled Fe3O4@LigC material, the Fe3O4@LigC/CC nanocomposite provides superior electrochemical performance in the anode, which has inspiring specific capacities of 820.6 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles under a current rate of 100 mA·g−1 and 750.5 mAh g−1 after 250 cycles, as well as more exciting rate capabilities. The biomimetic sample design and synthesis protocol closely follow the criteria of green chemistry and can be further developed in wider scenarios.