Renewable Fuels Research Articles (Page 1)

Built-in Interface electric field microenvironment in covalent organic framework modified heterojunction guiding Electron transfer for effective photocatalytic CO2 reduction.

Engineered dual-interface MXene-integrated CoAlLa-LDH/TiO₂ ternary heterojunctions for highly selective photoreduction of CO₂ into renewable fuels

Abstract In recent decades, China's environmental problems and rapid urbanization redirected the course of its tourism industry. Against the backdrop of increasing alarm on climate change, air quality pollution, and energy resources sustainability, it is now imperative to understand their collective impact on tourism. The adoption of green energy, environmental pollution, and tourist arrivals are interrelated in this study, centering on China's dynamic tourism environment. Spanning from 1975 to 2022, the study employs the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) estimator for parameter estimates. The findings reveal a negative relationship between international visitor arrivals and factors such as renewable energy consumption, economic development, and transit services. Conversely, the average temperature emerges as a significant factor that positively influences the potential for international tourism. Granger causality estimates support several hypotheses, including the notion that tourism drives carbon emissions and economic development, tourism propels transport services, renewable energy fuels economic growth, emissions drive economic growth, and temperature influences emissions within a nation. The results can foster the development of environmentally conscious and economically resilient tourist sectors.

Renewable fuels and sustainable technologies can potentially help to mitigate pollution from marine transportation. Solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC), an electrochemical energy conversion device, may potentially help in cleaner power generation, when operated with renewable fuels. SOFC may present the advantages of high efficiency electricity production, along with heat generation, fuel flexibility and lower emissions. The current study focuses on the use of various fuels for on-board hydrogen generation for utilization in high efficiency SOFCs, for ship power systems. The economic and environmental impacts of SOFCs are modelled and analyzed, considering fuels like diesel, natural gas, hydrogen, and methanol. While fossil-derived diesel and natural gas are common fuels, methanol and hydrogen can be generated from renewable sources, making them possible future options as fuels for a sustainable shipping industry. Compressed Biogas (CBG) also can be a cleaner fuel for replacing fossil-derived natural gas. In the current work, an optimization model is developed to study the cost-effectiveness and environment-friendliness of the pathways, considering capital costs, operation and maintenance costs, and the social costs of emissions. The model also considers the volume required to load different fuels in the ship. In addition, the trade-off between the volume required to load fuels, compared to the volume lost for cargo space, is also captured. While the fossil-derived fuels may be less expensive, the consideration of social costs of emissions helps to understand the impact of the fossil-derived fuels, in comparison to the renewable fuels. The study yields valuable insights pertaining to the total costs, when considering social costs along with the capital costs, operation and maintenance costs, for the various fuels.

Keywords: Solid Oxide Technologies, Fuel Cells, SOFC, Pre-reforming catalyst, internal reforming Background and motivation Since last few decades, fuel cells play a significant role in a future sustainable energy system, due to their high energy efficiency and the possibility for them to use renewable fuels [1]. Among various types of fuel cells, the solid oxide fuel cells are gaining significant interest due to its high efficiency and low exhaust emissions, particularly in stationary and constant load operation[2]. Development of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFCs) technologies has demonstrated exemplary performance when fueled with a wide range of hydrocarbon fuels.The most interesting fuel for SOFC systems used for stationary applications is natural gas, consisting mainly of methane [3]. Due to the presence of higher hydrocarbons in natural gas and several problems related to complete internal reforming, a pre-reformer concept has been developed for SOFCs. Results and discussion The focus of the present work targets the performance of Rh based catalysts, with different preparative routes, for pre-reformer applications under different gas compositions and at different space velocities. The operation is near isothermal, but at higher temperatures, the endothermic heat load of the methane conversion lowers the outlet temperature.As seen in figure 1, the catalyst is active for the higher hydrocarbon conversion at low temperatures and different space velocities. The novelty of the present work lies in extracting the unique catalytic properties of the washcoat materials resulting in the optimal CH4 conversion and >90% conversion efficiency for aliphatic hydrocarbons. We show that Rh catalysts can be specifically tailored to maintain a high conversion of higher hydrocarbons while allowing either for a higher or lower conversion of methane, tailored to the needs of the SOFC or downstream application.

Current PtCo proton-exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) cathode catalysts typically fall short of the durability requirements for long duration applications. Recently developed intermetallic Pt and PtCo catalysts supported on a zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF)-derived carbon (Pt/CZIF-8 and PtCo/CZIF-8) shows significantly improved performance and stability under intermittent power demand conditions [1–4].This presentation will discuss an in-depth investigation using in-situ and ex-situ ultra-small angle X-ray scattering (USAXS) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) to monitor the structural evolution of cathode catalyst layers as a function of operating conditions and time. The study focuses on how ink formulation variables, including ionomer content and solvent type, influence the breakup of carbon agglomerates during the catalyst-ionomer-solvent preparation process. Comparative studies between Pt and PtCo/CZIF-8 catalysts were conducted to evaluate the effects of ink composition on performance and durability. High-throughput screening using a 25-electrode test fixture enabled the rapid evaluation of catalyst performance in the membrane-electrode assembly environment, including both kinetic activity and high current density performance in air [5]. Operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy were also employed to understand the degradation mechanisms of commercial Pt and PtCo catalysts in comparison with the PtCo/CZIF-8 system. Together, these results offer a pathway to optimize membrane-electrode assembly design for long-duration, demanding applications.[1] C. Wang et al., Current Opinion in Electrochemistry 2021, 28:100715[2] X. X. Wang et al., Nano Lett, 2018, 18, 4163−4171[3] Kate Chen et al 2024 Meet. Abstr. MA2024-02 2712[4] https://www.hydrogen.energy.gov/docs/hydrogenprogramlibraries/pdfs/review24/fc339_borup_weber_2024_o.pdf[5] J. Park et al., Journal of Power Sources 480 (2020) 228801 Acknowledgments This work was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office under the M2FCT Consortium. This work was authored in Argonne National Laboratory, a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science laboratory operated for DOE by UChicago Argonne, LLC under contract no. DE-AC02-06CH11357. This research used the resources of the Advanced Photon Source (APS), a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science User Facility operated for the DOE Office of Science by Argonne National Laboratory under Contract No. DE-AC02-06CH11357. This work was performed, in part, at the Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies, an Office of Science User Facility operated for the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science by Los Alamos National Laboratory (Contract 89233218CNA000001)

Advancing next-generation electrochemical systems for energy conversion requires a comprehensive understanding of the coupled processes of charge carrier generation, electron and ion transport, and interfacial electrochemical reactions. In this work, we integrate ab initio and machine learning-enhanced molecular dynamics simulations to investigate electrocatalytic water oxidation and selective species transport in photoelectrochemical and photocatalytic systems. For halide perovskite photoabsorbers with long carrier lifetimes, we demonstrate that spontaneous polarization domains and lattice dynamics govern charge separation and carrier dynamics. In colloidal suspension-type photocatalytic systems, we examine how the chemistry and geometry of protective oxide coatings influence the transport of reactants and redox shuttles through nanopores, revealing mechanisms of selective permeation that are potentially critical to Z-scheme photocatalysis. Furthermore, grand-canonical DFT simulations on IrO₂ surfaces under varying potentials reveal that surface hydrogen coverage directly modulates oxygen evolution reaction (OER) barriers and Tafel behavior. A continuum microkinetic model incorporating voltage-dependent surface coverage and active site accessibility successfully reproduces experimental current-voltage characteristics. Together, these findings highlight the synergistic effects of electrostatics, solvation, and surface chemistry on electrocatalytic performance, providing a rational framework for catalyst–overlayer interface design in water splitting and related reactions.This work was partially performed under the auspices of the U.S. DOE by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under contract DE-AC52-07NA27344 and supported by the U.S. DOE, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office as well as Office of Science, Basic Energy Science Program.

Improvements in the chemical durability of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) via the addition of cerium-based (Ce) chemical stabilizers are essential to maximize operational membrane lifetimes in heavy duty transportation. Chemical stability of a state-of-the-art mechanically supported, perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA), thin (12 µm) membrane with an antioxidant (9.7 µg/cm2 Ce loading) is investigated by analyzing fluoride emission rates (FER) measured in in-cell and ex-situ hydrogen peroxide tests.1,2 Separate correlations are developed for anode FER in terms of the selectivity (moles of fluoride released per mole of crossover oxygen) and for cathode FER in terms of cathode potential. Both also depend strongly on temperature, water activity in membrane, and Ce loading.Transport models defined in physics-based modeling software are developed to determine gradients in water activity and Ce segregation in the membrane in operating differential cells. Greater water production at high current density is found to increase water activity at cathode and anode interfaces of the membrane. Diffusion limits Ce retention in the membrane to <72% near open-circuit voltage (OCV); electromigration further lowers it to <5% at 1.5-2.5 A/cm2 (0.6 V). For the same current density, retention is smaller under drier conditions. Ce migrates from the membrane to the cathode electrode under applied potential, segregating at the cathode interface at low current density before depleting with further increase in current density. Ce depletes faster at the anode interface, especially under drier conditions. Ce segregation and water gradient in the membrane enhance FER at low relative humidity and high operating pressure, temperature, or cell voltage; the enhancement is more pronounced for low Ce loading in the membrane. Under baseline conditions (2.5 bar, 90°C, 21 mol% O2, 9.7 µg/cm2 Ce), FER is higher at the anode interface for cell voltages below 0.9 V and at the cathode interface for cell voltages above 0.9 V. FER is comparable at the two interfaces at 0.9 V, albeit higher at the cathode for operating pressure below 2 bar and at the anode for pressure above 2 bar.The combined transport and FER model is used to construct operating maps for 25,000-h membrane lifetime in differential cells as limited by chemical degradation. These maps are derived from parametric studies which define the combinations of cell voltage, gas relative humidity, and temperature at 2.5-bar operating pressure that lead to membrane failure in different scenarios. This model enables predictive analysis and design optimization of membrane applications in PEMFCs. The actual lifetime may be further limited by contaminants, synergistic mechanical stresses and manufacturing defects. Additional work is underway to extend these results to drive cycles for Class-8 heavy duty trucks and to refine the model based on the inclusion of experimental FER measurements under varying operational parameters. Acknowledgements This work was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office (HFTO) through the Million Mile Fuel Cell Truck (M2FCT) Consortium. Argonne National Laboratory is managed for the U.S. Department of Energy by the University of Chicago Argonne, LLC, under contract DE-AC-02-06CH11357. References Coms, F. D., Liu, H. & Owejan, J. E. Mitigation of Perfluorosulfonic Acid Membrane Chemical Degradation Using Cerium and Manganese Ions. ECS Meet. Abstr. MA2008-02, 1057–1057 (2008).Xu, H., Mittelsteadt, C. K., McCallum, T. & Coms, F. Novel H2O2 Vapor-Based System for Proton Exchange Membrane Degradation. ECS Meet. Abstr. MA2011-02, 1144–1144 (2011).

Reversible solid oxide cells have emerged as promising devices capable of converting electricity into useful chemical fuels, and vice versa. Despite extensive research, the mechanisms underlying their electrochemical processes remain partially elucidated, with much of the focus on new electrode material development without fully addressing the complex oxygen reduction and evolution reaction dynamics at the involved interfaces. In this study, sol-gel infiltration will be employed as a surface modification technique to introduce La2Ni1-xMxO4 (LNM), a highly active catalyst, into state-of-the-art BaCoO3 based air electrode. In situ/operando observations of surface chemistry using Raman Spectroscopy, along with insights from density functional theory (DFT)-based calculations and electrode surface microstructures will be utilized to link with electrochemical response, providing fundamental understanding on the ORR/OER kinetics.The introduction of catalysts significantly reduces the polarization resistance (Rp), dropping from 0.32Ωcm2 in the bare electrode to 0.21 Ωcm2in the catalyst modified electrode at 550°C with 3% steam in air for symmetrical cells. The full cell assembled with Ni-BaSn0.1Ce0.7Yb0.2O3- δ fuel electrode, BaSn0.1Ce0.7Yb0.2O3- δ electrolyte, and the catalyst modified air electrode achieves a peak power density (PPD) of 1.34W/cm2 in fuel cell mode and reaches 1.63 A/cm2 at 1.3V applied voltage at 550oC in electrolysis mode, representing performance improvements of 15% in fuel cell mode and an impressive 50% in electrolysis mode. Additionally, cells with catalyst demonstrate enhanced durability, maintaining stable operation in both fuel cell and electrolysis modes for over 500 hours. Rietveld refinement of catalyst powder XRD spectra reveals a multiphase structure with a catalytically active perovskite phase and a stable oxide phase. Operando surface enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS), distribution of relaxation times analysis (DRT), and DFT analysis elucidate the mechanism behind the improved performance and stability, revealing the improved oxygen adsorption kinetics and hydration behavior of the catalyst modified air electrode. This study proves the versatility and effectiveness of the catalyst material, showing substantial improvements in electrochemical performance and stability on conventional state-of-the-art air electrode materials such as La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3- δ (LSCF) and PrBa0.8Ca0.2Co2O6 (PBCC). By using surface modification, we establish a clear correlation between enhanced electrochemical properties and in situ/operando surface observations, thereby advancing our understanding of ORR/OER mechanisms and guiding future electrode and catalyst design.This work was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Hydrogen and Fuel Cell R&D Program under award number DE-EE0011333.

High-throughput experimentation is a powerful tool for accelerating the discovery and optimization of high-performance PGM-free oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts for anion-exchange membrane water electrolysis. The sluggish OER kinetics limit several critically important sustainable energy technologies, including water electrolysis, metal-air batteries, and the electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR). While platinum group metal (PGM) catalysts like IrO2 and RuO2 exhibit high OER activity in proton exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE), their scarcity and cost hinder widespread deployment. Anion exchange membrane water electrolysis (AEMWE) emerges as a promising technology with the potential to be both cost-effective and sustainable for hydrogen production. It relies on PGM-free OER catalysts, merging the strengths of PEM and traditional alkaline electrolysis systems. Transition metal (TM) oxides, layered double hydroxides, and oxyphosphides, particularly in alkaline media, have emerged as promising OER catalysts due to their high activity and durability. However, their vast compositional and synthetic parameter space necessitates efficient exploration strategies. Traditional trial-and-error approaches are time-consuming and resource-intensive. This work integrates high-throughput experimentation with adaptive machine learning to address this challenge. High-throughput synthesis and characterization techniques enable the rapid generation of experimental data on a diverse library of oxyphosphide catalysts. This data can then be used to train computational models that surrogate structure-property relationships. By coupling these models with Bayesian optimization strategies, one can then intelligently and optimally select subsequent experiments based on predicted performance and associated uncertainty, iteratively refining the model and guiding the exploration towards optimal catalyst compositions. This closed-loop approach minimizes the number of experiments required to identify promising candidates, significantly accelerating the materials discovery process.This presentation will summarize high-throughput experimentation for optimizing the parameters for synthesis of OER activity in alkaline media. At different stages the high-throughput methodology has been guided by adaptive learning. The key parameters undergoing optimization have been the metal ratios and annealing conditions. In this presentation, we will also introduce a newly proposed activity descriptor for nickel-based PGM-free catalysts for alkaline OER. This approach promises to expedite the development of cost-effective and efficient PGM-free OER catalysts for sustainable hydrogen production via alkaline water electrolysis. Acknowledgments This work was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office (HFTO) under the auspices of the Electrocatalysis Consortium (ElectroCat 2.0). Argonne is managed for the U.S Department of Energy by the University of Chicago Argonne, LLC, under Contract DE-AC-02-06CH11357.This work was authored in part by Los Alamos National Laboratory operated by Triad National Security, LLC, for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) under 89233218CNA000001.This work was authored in part by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, operated by Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC, for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) under Contract No. DE-AC36–08GO28308. References Kort-Kamp WJ, Ferrandon M, Wang X, Park JH, Malla RK, Ahmed T, Holby EF, Myers DJ, Zelenay P. Adaptive learning-driven high-throughput synthesis of oxygen reduction reaction Fe–N–C electrocatalysts. Journal of Power Sources. 2023; 559, 232583.Farghaly AA, Myers DJ, UCHICAGO ARGONNE LLC. Nano-Engineered Catalyst For Improving The Faradaic Efficiency Of Energy Conversion And Electrolysis Systems. United States patent application US 18/653,725. 2024 Nov 21.Onajah S, Sarkar R, Islam MS, Lalley M, Khan K, Demir M, Abdelhamid HN, Farghaly AA. Silica‐Derived Nanostructured Electrode Materials for ORR, OER, HER, CO2RR Electrocatalysis, and Energy Storage Applications: A Review. The Chemical Record. 2024, 24(4), e202300234.

Protonic-conducting solid oxide fuel cells (H-SOFCs) promise reliable and efficient electricity generation from renewable carbon-containing fuels due in part to their demonstrated resistance to coking and sulfur poisoning. Synthesis gas fuels, containing CO, H2 and trace sulfur among other components, are particularly attractive when sourced from biofuels such as biomass and biogas. However, the potential deleterious effects of CO upon the performance of operating cells have been underexplored, as well as approaches to mitigate these effects. To provide new insights, this study examines the influence of electrolyte composition, CO content, and temperature on performance losses during H-SOFC operation. Membrane electrode assemblies containing a Ni/yttrium-doped barium zirconate (Ni/BZY) anode, an electrolyte support made of either BZY, yttria- and ceria-doped barium zirconate (BCZY), or BZY/BCZY (bilayer), and a BCZY/LSCF (lanthanum strontium cobalt ferrite) cathode were operated galvanically at constant current for multiple hours to compare changes in voltage and the underlying chemistry. Devices operated at 600 ˚C with 1:1 CO:H2 mixtures showed significant impedance increases associated with carbon accumulation, assessed using a combination of Raman spectroscopy and electron dispersion spectroscopy (EDS). Subtle differences in degradation rates at this temperature are shown to depend on electrolyte composition, which influences carbon accumulation and other chemical changes at the anode and anode-electrolyte interface. In contrast, cells operated at 700 ˚C showed minimal degradation from CO/H2, and this result was associated with less carbon accumulation.

Electrocatalysis presents a challenging frontier for our physico-chemical understanding of the surface morphology and catalytic properties of a material: synthesis methods eschew the typical thermodynamically stable facets of (111) in metals and (110) in rutile MO2, often featuring a mixture of facet families and core-shell architectures; in addition, reactions are mediated by surface environments related to the varying potentials of OER, pH, and electrolyte ions.1-4Catalysts expose a range of surface, heterogeneous morphologies due to the experimental processes of dissolution in the electrolyte, synthesis techniques, and passivation at higher potentials leading to a corresponding need to understand the catalytic changes at atomic and electronic levels of theory. Here, we show-case how understanding of the mechanisms available to pure materials e.g. Pt, IrO2, NiO can inform our manipulation of mixed-metal, -metal oxide materials to activate specific steps of electrolysis (hydrogen evolution, oxygen evolution).5-7 Catalyst architectures such as core-shell and doped-surfaces will be considered with particular attention paid to how different mechanisms and binding trends may change due to the complex, heterogeneous interface as compared to a pure material. In reality, electrolysis may involve many different pathways and a consideration of low-coverage and higher-coverage pathways involving adsorbate-adsorbate interactions may empower theoretical predictions to discover more active catalysts. Acknowledgments This work was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office (HFTO) under the auspices of the Electrocatalysis Consortium (ElectroCat 2.0). Argonne is managed for the U.S Department of Energy by the University of Chicago Argonne, LLC, under Contract DE-AC-02-06CH11357. This work was authored in part by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, operated by Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC, for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) under Contract No. DE-AC36–08GO28308.(1) Stamenkovic, V. R.; Fowler, B.; Mun, B. S.; Wang, G.; Ross, P. N.; Lucas, C. A.; Marković, N. M. Improved Oxygen Reduction Activity on Pt₃Ni(111) via Increased Surface Site Availability. Science 2007, 315 (5811), 493-497. DOI: doi:10.1126/science.1135941.(2) Stamenkovic, V. R.; Mun, B. S.; Arenz, M.; Mayrhofer, K. J. J.; Lucas, C. A.; Wang, G.; Ross, P. N.; Markovic, N. M. Trends in electrocatalysis on extended and nanoscale Pt-bimetallic alloy surfaces. Nature Materials 2007, 6 (3), 241-247. DOI: 10.1038/nmat1840.(3) Alia, S. M.; Anderson, G. C. Iridium Oxygen Evolution Activity and Durability Baselines in Rotating Disk Electrode Half-Cells. Journal of The Electrochemical Society 2019, 166 (4), F282-F294.(4) Alia, S. M.; Ha, M.-A.; Anderson, G. C.; Ngo, C.; Pylypenko, S.; Larsen, R. E. The Roles of Oxide Growth and Sub-Surface Facets in Oxygen Evolution Activity of Iridium and Its Impact on Electrolysis. Journal of The Electrochemical Society 2019, 166 (15), F1243-F1252. DOI: 10.1149/2.0771915jes.(5) Ha, M.-A.; Alia, S. M.; Norman, A. G.; Miller, E. M. Fe-Doped Ni-Based Catalysts Surpass Ir-Baselines for Oxygen Evolution Due to Optimal Charge-Transfer Characteristics. ACS Cat. 2024, 17347-17359. DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.4c04489.(6) Ha, M.-A.; Larsen, R. E. Multiple Reaction Pathways for the Oxygen Evolution Reaction May Contribute to IrO2 (110)’s High Activity. Journal of The Electrochemical Society 2021, 168 (2), 024506.(7) Alia, S. M.; Ha, M.-A.; Ngo, C.; Anderson, G. C.; Ghoshal, S.; Pylypenko, S. Platinum–Nickel Nanowires with Improved Hydrogen Evolution Performance in Anion Exchange Membrane-Based Electrolysis. ACS Cat. 2020, 10 (17), 9953-9966. DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.0c01568. Figure 1. Schematic of the multitude of reaction networks that may be available to a system moving from a pure metal or oxide to a mixed-metal, -metal oxide interface. Figure 1

Understanding the fundamental insights of electrochemical reactions, particularly the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in low-temperature proton-exchange membrane water electrolyzers (PEMWE), is crucial for enhancing corresponding overall cell performance, including both activity and stability.1 Iridium oxide (IrOx) is the standard OER electrocatalysts for electrochemical water splitting in the acidic environment of PEMWE due to its sustained OER activity over time versus more active, but less durable alternatives such as RuOx.2,3 Within the IrOx class of OER catalysts, there are three broad classes categorized by their atomic structure and crystallinity: rutile, amorphous, and hydrous. Understanding the impact of the physicochemical properties on the electrochemical performance and durability of IrOx-based catalysts within these classes is essential for developing strategies to maximize the efficiency and durability of PEMWE systems.This presentation explores six commercial IrOx catalysts with varying morphologies (e.g., particle size and surface area) and atomic structures (e.g., amorphous hydrous and rutile forms) to examine how these factors influence OER behavior. The activity and stability of these catalysts are evaluated using rotating disk electrode techniques, which involve analyzing their redox features and estimating OER activity based on variations in electrochemical capacitance, phase composition, and morphology. The identified most active and the most stable IrOx-based catalysts are further investigated to design a promising OER anode with a unique gradient electrode architecture for PEMWE applications. This study provides insights into the relationship between morphology, atomic structure, and OER mechanisms in commercial IrOx catalysts, paving the way for the development of more efficient and durable electrocatalysts for water splitting.AcknowledgementsThis research is supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office under the auspices of the H2NEW Consortium. Argonne National Laboratory is managed by the U.S Department of Energy by the University of Chicago Argonne, LLC, also under contract DE-AC-02-06CH11357.Reference "Technical Targets for Proton Exchange Membrane Electrolysis", https://www.energy.gov/eere/fuelcells/technical-targets-proton-exchange-membrane-electrolysisGao, G. et al. Recent advances in Ru/Ir-based electrocatalysts for acidic oxygen evolution reaction. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental 343, 123584 (2024).Xu, J. et al. IrOx·nH2O with lattice water–assisted oxygen exchange for high-performance proton exchange membrane water electrolyzers. Science Advances 9, eadh1718 (2023).

ICP-MS (Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry) is an analytical technique used to detect and quantify trace elements and isotopes in various samples. It combines a high-temperature plasma to ionize the sample with a mass spectrometer to separate and measure ions based on their mass-to-charge ratio. It is highly sensitive and capable of detecting elements at trace levels parts-per-trillion (ppt), ex-situ dissolution rates, particle size determination and special usage such as in-situ dissolution rates. It can analyze multiple elements simultaneously with precision and speed. The study of the structure-activity-stability relationship has become very crucial in fundamental interfacial studies of materials to unlock key degradation mechanisms and help improve performance, mitigate degradation and inform on modeling approach. In situ dissolution monitoring reveals dynamics of surface stability in real-time and even at sub-monolayer levels, making it possible for continuous real-time monitoring of species generated at electrode surfaces. Here, we utilize the power of ICP-MS coupled with a stationary probe rotating disk electrode (SPRDE) to measure simultaneously the dissolution rates of surface atoms of electrodes in ng cm-2 s-1 during electrochemicalexperiments. This technique has been instrumental in evaluating the activity and stability of electrodes, including Nickel (Ni) and various grades of stainless steel (SS), across a range of applied potentials in highly alkaline environments, specifically in 7 M potassium hydroxide (KOH. The findings provide concrete data on the performance and degradation behavior of these materials, directly addressing operational and durability challenges in liquid alkaline water electrolyzers. Additionally, this work lays the foundation for uncovering fundamental mechanisms that govern the structure-function stability of electrode materials under harsh chemical conditions. Acknowledgements: The research was conducted at Argonne National Laboratory, a U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science laboratory, operated by UChicago Argonne, LLC under Contract no. DE-AC02-06CH11357. The authors acknowledge the support from the Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office, H2NEW Consortia. The submitted abstract has been created by UChicago Argonne, LLC, Operator of Argonne National Laboratory (“Argonne”). Argonne, a U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science laboratory, is operated under Contract No. DE-AC02-06CH11357. The U.S. Government retains for itself, and others acting on its behalf, a paid-up nonexclusive, irrevocable worldwide license in said article to reproduce, prepare derivative works, distribute copies to the public, and perform publicly and display publicly, by or on behalf of the Government. The Department of Energy will provide public access to these results of federally sponsored research in accordance with the DOE Public Access Plan. http://energy.gov/downloads/doe-public-access-plan

Seed oils, stored predominantly as triacylglycerols (TAGs), are essential energy reserves for plants and provide critical resources for human nutrition, renewable fuels, and industrial applications. Over the past few decades, substantial progress has been made in elucidating the enzyme pathways of fatty acid (FA) and TAG biosynthesis as well as the transcriptional networks that control seed oil accumulation. Classical regulators, including the LAFL transcription factors (LEC1, LEC2, ABI3, FUS3) and WRINKLED1 (WRI1), form the central framework linking seed development with oil biosynthesis. However, emerging evidence highlights additional layers of regulation that fine-tune oil biosynthesis. These include cross-family transcription factor interactions, post-transcriptional and post-translational modifications (e.g., phosphorylation and sumoylation), protein structural determinants of WRI1 function. Notably, recent discoveries such as the role of MYB56 upstream of LEC1-WRI1 regulatory module in Brassica napus, the phase separation-mediated repression of oil biosynthesis by MYB73, the bHLH7-PDF2 repression module, and ZFP2-dependent regulation of funiculus secondary cell wall lignification and seed loading, have reshaped our understanding of how seed oil biosynthesis is integrated with developmental and environmental signals. In this review, we highlight these recent advances which reveal new regulatory modules and mechanisms governing seed oil biosynthesis in plants. Furthermore, we provide perspectives on how integrating transcriptional, post-transcriptional, post-translational, structural, and phase separation-based regulation can open new opportunities for engineering seed oil content and composition.

The growing global demand for clean energy and sustainability has increased interest in lignocellulosic biomass as a viable alternative to conventional fossil fuels. Among the various biomass resources, sugarcane bagasse, an abundant agro-industrial by-product, has emerged as a promising feedstock to produce renewable fuels and value-added chemicals. Its high carbohydrate content offers significant potential for bioconversion. However, its complex and recalcitrant lignocellulosic matrix presents significant challenges that necessitate advanced pretreatment techniques to improve enzymatic digestibility and fermentation efficiency. This review consolidates recent developments in the valorization of sugarcane bagasse focusing on innovative pretreatment and fermentation strategies for sustainable bioethanol production. It emphasizes the synergistic benefits of integrating various pretreatment and fermentation methods to improve bioethanol yields, reduce processing costs and enhance overall process sustainability. This review further explores recent technological advancements, the impact of fermentation inhibitor, and emerging strategies to overcome these challenges through microbial strains and innovative fermentation methods. Additionally, it highlights the multi-faceted advantages of bagasse valorization, including waste minimization, renewable energy production and the promotion of sustainable agricultural practices. By evaluating the current state of research and outlining future perspectives, this paper serves as a comprehensive guide to advancing the valorization of sugarcane bagasse in the transition towards a low-carbon economy. The novelty of this review lies in its holistic integration of technological, economic, and policy perspectives, uniquely addressing the scalability of integrated pretreatment and fermentation processes for sugarcane bagasse, and outlining practical pathways for their translation from laboratory to sustainable industrial biorefineries within the circular bioeconomy framework.

To address the dual challenges of fossil fuel depletion and environmental pollution, developing clean, renewable alternative fuels is an urgent need. Biomass gas, including biomass syngas and biogas, offers significant potential as an internal combustion engine alternative fuel due to its widespread availability and carbon-neutral properties. This review summarizes research on biomass gas application in dual-fuel diesel engines. Firstly, biosyngas and biogas production methods, characteristics, and purification needs are detailed, highlighting gas composition variability as a key factor impacting engine performance. Secondly, dual-fuel diesel engine operating modes and their integration with advanced low-temperature combustion technologies are analyzed. The review focuses on how biomass gas affects combustion characteristics, engine performance, and emissions. Results indicate dual-fuel mode effectively reduces diesel consumption, emissions, while its carbon-neutrality lowers life-cycle CO2 emissions and generally suppresses NOx formation. However, challenges include potential BTE reduction and increased CO and HC emissions at low loads. Future research should prioritize gas quality standardization, intelligent combustion system optimization, and full-chain techno-economic evaluation to advance this technology. Overall, this review concludes that dual-fuel operation with biomass gases can achieve high diesel substitution rates, significantly reducing NOx and particulate matter emissions. However, challenges such as decreased brake thermal efficiency and increased CO and HC emissions under low-load conditions remain. Future efforts should focus on gas composition standardization, intelligent combustion control, and system-level optimization.

The maritime transportation and fisheries sectors play a crucial role in national food security and economic stability; however, they face significant sustainability challenges due to climate change and carbon emissions. This study investigates mitigation scenarios for achieving carbon neutrality in the sector by 2050, addressing both energy demand and emissions mitigation in accordance with the IMO 2023 decarbonization targets. Quantitative modeling using the Low Emissions Analysis Platform system, combined with multiple linear regression analysis, is utilized to simulate long-term energy demand, fuel substitution, and emissions across fisheries and navigation sub-sectors. The analysis compares the baseline scenario of continued fossil fuel reliance with an alternative decarbonization scenario. Under the baseline scenario, energy demand and emissions rise sharply, while the alternative scenario projects a 71.1% reduction in fisheries-related emissions and a 76.4% reduction in the navigation sector by 2050. Fossil fuel dependency declines from full reliance in 2025 to 5% in 2050, replaced by a diversified mix of renewable fuels. Total energy demand stabilizes at 0.723 TWh under the decarbonization pathway compared to 0.980 TWh under baseline conditions. Projected hydrogen adoption grows from 10% in 2030 to 30% in 2050, while biodiesel follows a comparable growth curve. Anticipated mitigation of 1.473 MtCO₂eq underscores the sector’s potential to meet national climate targets when underpinned by regulatory support mechanisms and targeted investments. This study underscores the potential for Albania’s maritime sector to lead decarbonization efforts in the Mediterranean region through an integrated strategy combining policy reform, technology adoption, and regional cooperation.

Valorization of food waste into renewable fuels via anaerobic digestion and inline CO2 reforming over Ni-based catalysts

MOF-based heterojunction nanocatalysts for selective CO₂ photoreduction: Chemical engineering approaches to renewable fuels