Environmental Science Research Articles

Mother and child environmental carcinogens exposure history: a tool to bridge environmental health and clinical sciences

Mother and child environmental carcinogens exposure history: a tool to bridge environmental health and clinical sciences

Ultra-sensitive DNA detection with single-base mismatch resolution using a tapered thin-diameter photonic crystal fiber interferometer

A tapered thin-diameter photonic crystal fiber interferometer (TTD-PCFI) biosensor is proposed and demonstrated for DNA hybridization detection with an ultra-low limit of detection (LoD) and high specificity. The TTD-PCFI is fabricated by arc-discharged melting and adiabatic tapering, with a lower loss and stronger evanescent optical field. The fabricated TTD-PCFI with a diameter of 8.63 µm achieves a high refractive index sensitivity of 3842.5 nm/RIU. DNA hybridization detection of concentration ranging from 1 fM to 1 pM is achieved, with a sensitivity of 632 pm/lg(fM). The measured LoD is as low as 410 aM. Single-base mismatch detection of 25-base target single-stranded DNA is also achieved. The proposed label-free DNA biosensor has the advantages of the ultra-low LoD, high specificity, and real-time detection, which has great application prospects in the fields of disease diagnosis, microbial detection, and environmental science.

Don Quixote and the Green Army: Lessons from Australian Environmental Workfare

AbstractAustralia’s unique history of national environmental youth workfare programs over three decades offers insight into youth work responses to climate change. Drawing upon Bourdieu’s use of ‘hysteresis’ and the ‘Don Quixote Effect’, this paper presents three key findings from research conducted in the wake of the most recent incarnation of these programs, the Australian Government’s Green Army. As the final Green Army projects were being delivered, interviews and focus groups were independently conducted with former team members and supervisors who had exited the program and its predecessors. The Green Army was presented for political purposes as action against climate change despite no specific climate mitigation outcomes being identified. Supervisors, predominantly trained in the environmental sciences, given charge of teams of young workers, reported the double binds from the competing fields of ecological work and social work. Team members, faced with resistance to their efforts, reconciled their situation with a ‘double language of disinterest’. The analysis of their accounts illuminates potential challenges facing the future for young people and for youth work.

Salvaging Empire: Sovereignty, Natural Resources, and Environmental Science in the South Atlantic. By James J. A. Blair

Salvaging Empire: Sovereignty, Natural Resources, and Environmental Science in the South Atlantic. By James J. A. Blair

Unveiling the Reaction Mechanism of the N(2D) + Pyridine Reaction: Ring-Contraction versus 7-Membered-Ring Formation Channels.

Despite the relevance of the reactions of the prototypical nitrogen-containing six-membered aromatic molecule (N-heterocyclic) of pyridine (C6H5N) in environmental science, astrochemistry, planetary science, prebiotic chemistry, and materials science, few experimental/theoretical studies exist on the bimolecular reactions involving pyridine and neutral atomic/molecular radicals. We report a combined experimental and theoretical study on the elementary reaction of pyridine with excited nitrogen atoms, N(2D), aimed at providing information about the primary reaction products and their branching fractions (BFs). From previous crossed molecular beam (CMB) experiments with mass-spectrometric detection and present synergistic calculations of the reactive potential energy surface (PES) and product BFs we have unveiled the reaction mechanism. It is found that the reaction proceeds via N(2D) barrierless addition to pyridine that, via bridged intermediates followed by N atom "sliding" into the ring, leads to 7-membered-ring structures. They further evolve, mainly via ring-contraction mechanisms toward 5-membered-ring radical products and, to a smaller extent, via H-displacement mechanisms toward 7-membered-ring isomeric products and their isomers. Using the theoretical statistical estimates, an improved fit of the experimental data previously reported has been obtained, leading to the following results for the dominant product channels: C4H4N (pyrrolyl) + HCN (BF = 0.61 ± 0.20), C3H3N2 (1H-imidazolyl/1H-pyrazolyl) + C2H2 (BF = 0.11 ± 0.06), and C5H4N2 (7-membered-ring molecules or pyrrole carbonitriles) + H (BF = 0.28 ± 0.10). The ring-contraction product channels C4H4N (pyrrolyl) + HCN, C3H3N2 (1H-imidazolyl) + C2H2, C3H3N2 (1H-pyrazolyl) + C2H2, and C5H5 (cyclopentadienyl) + N2 have statistical BFs of 0.54, 0.09, 0.11, and 0.07, respectively. Among the H-displacement channels, the cyclic-CHCHCHCHNCN + H channel and cyclic-CHCHCHCHCN2 + H are theoretically predicted to have a comparable BF (0.07 and 0.06, respectively), while the other isomeric 7-membered-ring molecule + H channel has a BF of 0.03. Pyrrole-carbonitriles and 1H-ethynyl-1H-imidazole (+ H) isomeric channels have an overall BF of 0.03. Implications for the chemistry of Saturn's moon Titan and prebiotic chemistry, as well as for understanding the N-doping of graphene or carbon nanotubes, are noted.

Anorexia nervosa: Disease process, challenges and hope

Anorexia nervosa, as a psychiatric disorder with a progressively high prevalence, is characterized by the following features: high mortality rate, serious harm, long-lasting effects, difficult to cure and easy to relapse. In recent years, Awareness of anorexia nervosa is different than in the past, going deeper: it is a complex disorder involving multiple systems. Many disciplines are also actively exploring it. However, there are still problems such as Pathologic mechanism unclear, no clear indicators of disease, no targeted drugs, and insufficient public awareness. This article analyses research in the fields of social environment, immunology and brain science in the order of disease onset, evolution and treatment (including difficulties in the treatment process, such as in Refeeding syndrome), and puts forward some recommendations for earlier intervention, comprehensive treatment, and optimization and maintenance of therapeutic efficacy in anorexia nervosa. It is also hoped that public awareness and attention will be raised. There are still many gaps in the road to overcoming anorexia nervosa, which has a large research space and is also not less challenging. Future research could focus on finding objective indicators for diagnosing anorexia nervosa or suggesting recovery, and finding targeted drugs from the perspective of multi-system interactions.

Fields of Interdisciplinarity

This paper provides an empirical account of the problem of interdisciplinarity in the field sciences, considering it as a driver of ontological change. Our case study is an ongoing interdisciplinary research project in environmental science. Its objective is to trace the long-term histories of European old-growth forests. To account for the mechanisms involved when researchers seek to do interdisciplinary science in the field, we describe 1/ four research practices that take advantage of the spatial order of the study site in order to make forests temporal processes knowable, thereby producing a field site crisscrossed by multiple spatiotemporal orders; 2/ those practices geared towards articulating these spatiotemporal orders and the limits faced by the consortium towards their complete integration; 3/ how such articulation transforms the conception of old-growth forests as spaces shaped by historical processes integrating human activities and valued ecological processes. We argue that interdisciplinary research practice in environmental field sciences does not lead to a synthesis of pre-existing domains of knowledge production. Rather, it does tend to transform both the object of study and the disciplines involved. The field, as both an object of study and a research place, becomes a broker toward ontological changes.

Designing for Critical Science Agency in a Community-Based Science Curriculum

Much of the literature that examines critical science agency (CSA) focuses on how students enact their CSA to support knowledge construction and agentic action. Few studies, however, address how science curricula can be specifically designed to support students in exercising their CSA. In this study, I examine features of a community-based science (CBS) curricular design that engages students in justice-oriented science learning to advance their CSA. More specifically, I analyze the design and structure of an environmental science elective course to investigate features of CBS curricular design that support students in exercising their CSA, including: (1) leveraging learning goals to create community change, (2) developing students’ toolkits, (3) cultivating spaces for advocacy and critical hope, and (4) critical and ongoing reflection. The findings suggest that science curriculum can be purposefully designed to assist students in exercising their CSA through generative learning experiences that empower them as community change agents. As we move toward more equity and justice-centered science learning, I recommend that future science curricula take community-based science approaches to design, structuring learning around students’ CSA by attending to how formal science learning can be used as an avenue to support community change.

Low ethnic diversity among university applicants in marine and environmental science in the United Kingdom

The planet faces a triple crisis from climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. Like any country, the UK needs to attract the best available talent to become thought leaders to overcome these global challenges. Several Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths subjects in the UK face challenges with attracting ethnic minority students. As part of a wider project on diversity in UK environmental/marine science, we analysed university applications amongst 180 environmental and 88 marine science degrees in the UK between 2019–2021. We found them to be the least diverse degree subjects for ethnic minority students and Asian students were less likely to be accepted than white students on environmental science degrees. A survey of UK marine science course leaders highlights the belief that these issues impact the pipeline of diversity from higher education institutions to marine/environmental science careers. In this paper, we discuss the impacts of these findings and develop a roadmap to change.

Exploring Sustainable Strategies for Oceanic Development: A Blue Growth Perspective

The European Union is leading the Blue Growth initiative as a strategic approach to increasing economic prosperity in Europe's seas despite today's challenges. Drawing on the EU's Green Growth initiative, Blue Growth extends sustainability principles to marine areas, solidifying commitments to the sustainable management of marine ecosystems and the promotion of technological innovations. This initiative focuses on sectors such as energy, aquaculture, tourism and biotechnology in coastal and offshore environments. Blue Growth has increased in importance following major events such as Rio+20 and has had a significant impact on ocean and marine resource management practices. In this study, we conduct a comprehensive bibliometric analysis to trace the trajectory of global research on blue growth across science, policy, and the blue economy over the 17-year period since the term's inception in 2007. We analyze blue growth using bibliometric techniques. Examining the blue growth literature, identifying key contributors, collaborations, research trends and gaps. Our analysis covers publication outputs, institutional affiliations, author collaborations, research themes, and alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Our findings reveal a significant increase in blue growth publications, especially after 2013, highlighting its increasing importance. Environmental Science and Ecology are emerging as primary research areas reflecting a focus on sustainability. We observe intense collaborations between countries and institutions, with significant contributions from the UK, USA, Germany, Italy and Spain. Blue growth research is aligned with several Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 14 (Life Below Water) and SDG 15 (Life on Land), highlighting marine conservation and land-sea ecosystem connectivity. Keyword analysis underlines the interdisciplinary nature of blue growth research, highlighting key themes such as the blue economy, aquaculture and sustainable development. Institutional analysis identifies the University of Exeter and CNR as key contributors, while country-level analysis highlights global collaboration networks. Citation analysis reveals the intellectual structure of blue growth research, with marine biology, oceanography, sustainability science, and climate change among the prominent themes.

Ecological Crises and Ecopolitics Research in Australia

It is difficult to exaggerate the scale of contemporary ecological crises. These challenges, particularly climate change, necessitate new modes of politics and policy, even potentially new institutions, that seem anathema to the emphases of traditional accounts of environmental political science. In this paper, we explore contemporary ecopolitics research in Australia that is attempting to come to terms with the reality of ecological crises and the geological epoch of the Anthropocene. Showcasing a range of scholarship in this area, we argue that contemporary Australian ecopolitics research identifies and engages with a wide range of sites of politics and a significant number of (consequential) political actors. It recognises the need to engage directly with key institutions while also extending our gaze to the environment movement, community groups, financial institutions, local governments, and consumers. It acknowledges that sites of politics extend from the way ecological crises are framed in public debate to policy management, practices of private corporations and even to individual patterns of consumption. And it argues for an expansive conception of ethics beyond currently living human communities, a vision which arguably better meets the reality of ecological crises and the Anthropocene epoch.

Comparison of the rate of healthcare encounters for influenza from source-specific PM2.5 before and after tier 3 vehicle standards in New York state.

Influenza healthcare encounters in adults associated with specific sources of PM2.5 is an area of active research. Following 2017 legislation requiring reductions in emissions from light-duty vehicles, we hypothesized a reduced rate of influenza healthcare encounters would be associated with concentrations of PM2.5 from traffic sources in the early implementation period of this regulation (2017-2019). We used the Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System (SPARCS) to study adult patients hospitalized (N = 5328) or treated in the emergency department (N = 18,247) for influenza in New York State. Using a modified case-crossover design, we estimated the excess rate (ER) of influenza hospitalizations and emergency department visits associated with interquartile range increases in source-specific PM2.5 concentrations (e.g., spark-ignition emissions [GAS], biomass burning [BB], diesel [DIE]) in lag day(s) 0, 0-3 and 0-6. We then evaluated whether ERs differed after Tier 3 implementation (2017-2019) compared to the period prior to implementation (2014-2016). Each interquartile range increase in DIE in lag days 0-6 was associated with a 21.3% increased rate of influenza hospitalization (95% CI: 6.9, 37.6) in the 2014-2016 period, and a 6.3% decreased rate (95% CI: -12.7, 0.5) in the 2017-2019 period. The GAS/influenza excess rates were larger in the 2017-2019 period than the 2014-2016 period for emergency department visits. We also observed a larger ER associated with increased BB in the 2017-2019 period compared to the 2014-2016 period. We present an accountability study on the impact of the early implementation period of the Tier 3 vehicle emission standards on the association between specific sources of PM2.5 air pollution on influenza healthcare encounters in New York State. We found that the association between gasoline emissions and influenza healthcare encounters did not lessen in magnitude between periods, possibly because the emissions standards were not yet fully implemented. The reduction in the rates of influenza healthcare encounters associated with diesel emissions may be reflective of past policies to reduce the toxicity of diesel emissions. Accountability studies can help policy makers and environmental scientists better understand the timing of pollution changes and associated health effects.

Covariate-dependent spatio-temporal covariance models

Geostatistical regression models are widely used in environmental and geophysical sciences to characterize the mean and dependence structures for spatio-temporal data. Traditionally, these models account for covariates solely in the mean structure, neglecting their potential impact on the spatio-temporal covariance structure. This paper addresses a significant gap in the literature by proposing a novel covariate-dependent covariance model within the spatio-temporal random-effects model framework. Our approach integrates covariates into the covariance function through a Cholesky-type decomposition, ensuring compliance with the positive-definite condition. We employ maximum likelihood for parameter estimation, complemented by an efficient expectation conditional maximization algorithm. Simulation studies demonstrate the superior performance of our method compared to conventional techniques that ignore covariates in spatial covariances. We further apply our model to a PM2.5 dataset from Taiwan, highlighting wind speed’s pivotal role in influencing the spatio-temporal covariance structure. Additionally, we incorporate wind speed and sunshine duration into the covariance function for analyzing Taiwan ozone data, revealing a more intricate relationship between covariance and these meteorological variables.

Sonochemical deposition of gold nano-shells on suspended polymeric spheres

Metal nanoparticles have drawn great interest due to their unique properties for applications in the fields of catalysis, biomedicine and environmental science depending on the architecture of the metal nanoparticle composites. Amongst different designing routes, the chemical template deposition offers great flexibility in terms of the template selection and interfacial interactions, giving rise to controllable designs. In order to control over nanoparticle size distribution and deposition efficiency, a sonochemical approach has been systematically followed in this study. Key parameters of the ultrasound-assisted deposition procedures during the seeding step to synthesise gold nanoparticle-coated poly(styrene) beads were investigated. The impact of the solution pH and the ultrasonic frequency on the template deposition was examined at 139, 300, 500 and 1000 kHz. The results, monitored by transmission electron spectroscopic imaging, show that the highest gold deposition was achieved at 300 kHz, revealing the mechanistic details of the nucleation-crystal growth behaviour as a function of ultrasonic frequency and reaction time. In addition, the concentration ratio between gold ions and poly(styrene) beads was varied. The highest deposition coverage and smallest particle size were reached at 0.05 mM and 2.5 mg, respectively. The proposed mechanism of the MNPs formation and deposition behaviour were then discussed based on the tested parameters.

(Battery Student Slam 8 Award Winner) A Simple and Fast Method to Assemble Flexible and Stable Quasi-Solid-State Zn Ion Pouch Cell

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) have been investigated intensively as effective energy storage devices that are environmentally friendly, safe, and have a lower cost than current Li-ion batteries.[1-5] Being outstandingly safe due to usage of non-organic electrolyte, AZIBs could also be used as power supply for wearable electronics. This also put high standard requirements in terms of flexibility, stability and electrochemical performance to AZIBs. On the other hand, the general challenges, such as the formation of the dendrites on the Zn anodes, hydrogen evolution and side reactions, have been obstructing the practical application of AZIBs. In this presentation, a simple method to assemble quasi-solid-state Zn ion pouch cell with excellent mechanical performance, flexibility and electrochemical performance was developed, combining in-situ electrodeposition of MnO2 cathode and aramid nano fiber-based hydrogel with Zn plate as anode. In-situ and cycling measurements of the electrodeposition of MnO2 on carbon nanotube mat shows excellent capacitance and superior cycling stability. In addition, Kevlar derivatized aramid nanofiber-based hydrogel shows extremely strong strength when combined with polyvinyl alcohol, which prolonged the lifetime of the cell by preventing Zn dendrite growth largely.[5,6] Moreover, the method to assemble the AZIBs pouch cell enables us to optimize the process, decrease the steps, and save time effectively by taking advantage of hydrogel formation stage and avoiding conventional verbose slurry-casting-drying steps. This work paves an efficient path to assemble flexible and stable AZIBs pouch cells with high capacity and cycling stability.[1] Tang, Boya, et al. "Issues and opportunities facing aqueous zinc-ion batteries." Energy & Environmental Science 12.11 (2019): 3288-3304.[2] Li, Chang, et al. "Toward practical aqueous zinc-ion batteries for electrochemical energy storage." Joule 6.8 (2022): 1733-1738.[3] Yu, Feng, et al. "An aqueous rechargeable zinc-ion battery on basis of an organic pigment." Rare Metals 41.7 (2022): 2230-2236.[4] Lin, Yuexing, et al. "Dendrite-free Zn anode enabled by anionic surfactant-induced horizontal growth for highly-stable aqueous Zn-ion pouch cells." Energy & Environmental Science 16.2 (2023): 687-697.[5] Wang, Peng, and Petru Andrei. "High Performance Separator and Hydrogel Based on Aramid Fibers for Zn Ion Batteries." Electrochemical Society Meeting s 242. No. 4. The Electrochemical Society, Inc., 2022.[6] Xu, Lizhi, et al. "Water‐rich biomimetic composites with abiotic self‐organizing nanofiber network." Advanced Materials 30.1 (2018): 1703343.

Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Jet Synthesis and Characterization of Copper-Silver Bimetallic Materials as Electrocatalysts for CO2 Reduction

Copper-silver (Cu-Ag) bimetallics and alloys are attractive due to their enhanced performance compared to their parent metals in various fields including electronics, batteries, biomedicine, solar technology, energy storage, and catalysis.[1] Existing methods for synthesizing Cu-Ag bimetallics suffer from major drawbacks such as intense temperature and pressure conditions, pre and post-treatment processes, and multiple time-consuming steps.[2, 3]In this work, Cu-Ag bimetallic films were synthesized under various ratios for the first time using a newly developed Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Jet (APPJ) system. Synthesis was done in a single step, in under 15 minutes. The samples exhibited strong adhesion onto various substrates such as glass and glassy carbon. This direct-deposition technique requires low power input (<50 W) without the need for any pre- or post-treatment processes and with little to no waste. This contrasts with wet chemistry, where deposition normally takes 12-24 hours followed by thermal processes that produce several waste products.[4] Considering the high melting points (MP) of pure Cu and Ag (MP of Cu is ca. 1,085 °C and MP of Ag is ca. 962 °C), and the fact that they are immiscible, the formation of Cu-Ag alloys usually requires a high amount of energy under intense conditions.[5]These Cu-Ag films were characterized via cyclic voltammetry (CV), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Here, we demonstrate that by only mixing low-concentration metal salt solutions and using a neutral gas (helium), we can readily synthesize metal alloys while controlling their thickness, shape, composition, and metal ratios. From an electrochemical point of view, APPJ drives the reduction of metal cations from the presence of free electrons. This suggests the presence of a medium that is considered either as an electrode, due to the presence of electrons, or as an electrolyte, due to their electrical conduction.[6]These plasma-synthesized materials were tested as electrocatalysts for reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) under various potentials. The performance of these catalysts was assessed via electrochemical surface area (ECSA), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and pulse voltammetry techniques. Copper is the only heterogeneous catalyst that converts CO2 into valuable chemicals, such as hydrocarbons, aldehydes, and alcohols.[7] Interestingly, we illustrate that the addition of silver improves the catalytic activity of copper toward CO2 reduction under low potentials. This is a desirable property given the anticipated transition to green energy. References Tantawy, H.R., et al., Novel synthesis of bimetallic Ag-Cu nanocatalysts for rapid oxidative and reductive degradation of anionic and cationic dyes. Applied Surface Science Advances, 2021. 3: p. 100056. Zhang, X., et al., Microstructures and properties of 40Cu/Ag (Invar) composites fabricated by powder metallurgy and subsequent thermo-mechanical treatment. Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A, 2018. 49: p. 1869-1878. Rajashekhar, B., et al., Electro co-deposition of copper-silver nanocrystallite alloy cluster: A way for tunable SERS substrate development. Materials Letters: X, 2022. 15: p. 100157. Jie, S., et al., Preparation of copper–silver alloy with different morphologies by a electrodeposition method in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ionic liquid. Bulletin of Materials Science, 2019. 42: p. 1-4. Banhart, J., et al., Electronic properties of single-phased metastable Ag-Cu alloys. Physical Review B, 1992. 46(16): p. 9968. Rumbach, P., et al., The solvation of electrons by an atmospheric-pressure plasma. Nature communications, 2015. 6(1): p. 7248. Kuhl, K.P., et al., New insights into the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide on metallic copper surfaces. Energy & Environmental Science, 2012. 5(5): p. 7050-7059.

The removal of elemental aluminium and its ions using some heteroatom-decorated graphitic carbonitride nanosheets: a DFT study

ABSTRACT In this work, we have investigated the possibility of adsorption and removal of both metallic aluminium (Al (0)) and Al (III) ions from the environment by applying some heteroatom-doped graphitic carbonitrides (g-C3N4). Due to the recent reports about the toxicity of Al atom and its intervention in a wide range of diseases like Alzheimer’s and multiple sclerosis (MS), removal of this element from the environment is crucial both because of health and environmental sciences. Therefore, this work focuses on the investigation of the potentials of g-C3N4 and its derivatives for the elimination of Al ions from the environment. According to the results, the considerable difference between the values of ΔEg of g-C3N4O-Al (0) (ΔEg = −3.16534 eV) and g-C3N4O-Al (III) (ΔEg = −0.40407 eV) could lead this nanosheet to be able to recognise the Al (0) from Al (III) ion. Thus, opposite to the pristine nanosheet, the g-C3N4O segment could be a suitable sensor for the detection of elemental and ionic Al. The same results have been observed for g-C3N4S.

(Invited) Atomically Dispersed Metal Electrocatalysts for CO2 to CO Conversion: From Single to Dual Metal Sites

Carbon-supported nitrogen-coordinated single-metal site catalysts (i.e., M−N−C, M: Fe, Co, or Ni) are active for the electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) to CO.(1) We comprehensively engineered FeN4 and NiNx sites for electrochemical CO2 reduction to CO considering the particle sizes of the catalysts, metal content, and the M−N (M: Fe or Ni) bond structures.(2, 3)The unique M-N-C model allows us to elucidate each factor′s role exclusively regarding the promotion of CO2 reduction.(4)Optimal particle sizes and Fe content provide favorable external factors to improve mass activity. Structural changes of M−N bonds controlled by thermal activation temperatures can intrinsically enhance CO selectivity and kinetic activity. Notably, the NiN3 active sites with optimal local structures formed at higher temperatures (e.g., 1200 °C) are intrinsically more active and CO-selective than NiN4, providing a new opportunity to design a highly active catalyst via populating NiN3 sites with increased density. Further improving their intrinsic activity and selectivity by tuning their N−M bond structures and coordination is limited. We further expand the coordination environments of M−N−C catalysts by designing dual-metal active sites.(5)The Ni-Fe catalyst exhibited the most efficient CO2RR activity and promising stability compared to other combinations. Advanced structural characterization and theoretical prediction suggest that the most active N-coordinated dual-metal site configurations are 2N-bridged (Fe-Ni)N6, in which FeN4 and NiN4 moieties are shared with two N atoms. Two metals (i.e., Fe and Ni) in the dual-metal site likely generate a synergy to enable more optimal *COOH adsorption and *CO desorption than single-metal sites (FeN4 or NiN4) with improved intrinsic catalytic activity and selectivity.References Pan F, Zhang H, Liu K, Cullen D, More K, Wang M, et al. Unveiling Active Sites of CO2 Reduction on Nitrogen-Coordinated and Atomically Dispersed Iron and Cobalt Catalysts. ACS Catalysis. 2018;8(4):3116-22.Li Y, Adli NM, Shan W, Wang M, Zachman MJ, Hwang S, et al. Atomically dispersed single Ni site catalysts for high-efficiency CO2 electroreduction at industrial-level current densities. Energy & Environmental Science. 2022;15(5):2108-19.Mohd Adli N, Shan W, Hwang S, Samarakoon W, Karakalos S, Li Y, et al. Engineering Atomically Dispersed FeN4 Active Sites for CO2 Electroreduction. Angewandte Chemie International Edition. 2021;60(2):1022-32.Li J, Zhang H, Samarakoon W, Shan W, Cullen DA, Karakalos S, et al. Thermally Driven Structure and Performance Evolution of Atomically Dispersed FeN4 Sites for Oxygen Reduction. Angewandte Chemie International Edition. 2019;58(52):18971-80.Li Y, Shan W, Zachman MJ, Wang M, Hwang S, Tabassum H, et al. Atomically Dispersed Dual-Metal Site Catalysts for Enhanced CO2 Reduction: Mechanistic Insight into Active Site Structures. Angewandte Chemie International Edition. 2022;61(28):e202205632.

Rational Comparison of Anode Material Properties for Anion Exchange Membrane Water Electrolysis

Due to the increasing need for sustainable energy, the hydrogen (H2) economy is a topic of interest where H2 is used for energy storage and as a fuel [1]. In this regard, the utilization of hydrogen as a promising energy source for achieving global decarbonization goals has led to the exploration of water electrolysis (WE) as a viable route for producing green hydrogen [2,3]. Although proton exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE) is established, they suffer from the reliance on expensive noble metals as catalysts. In contrast, recently, anion exchange membrane water electrolysis (AEMWE) is emerging as a low-cost alternative solution that combines the strengths of both alkaline, WE (low capital cost and use of liquid electrolyte), and PEMWE (low ohmic resistance and high gas purity) where cost-effective transition metal oxides can be used [4-5].Among various materials that are being investigated as AEM anodes, Ni-based systems show high promises. However, a rational comparison between different Ni-based benchmarks as AEM anodes under different stages of electrode production is still lacking. Such a comparison would provide insight into the material properties that are relevant for optimization in each stage thereby producing highly performing catalysts. To achieve this, these materials have to be processed under comparable conditions during the electrode fabrication to draw meaningful correlations between the performance and influencing parameters.Herein, we developed a protocol for rationally comparing different commercial benchmark anode materials in AEMWE. The aim is to understand material properties that influence the final catalyst performance and further enhance their catalytic activity by fine-tuning pivotal material properties. We selected Ni-Co-O, Ni-Fe-O, and Ni-Co-O doped by Fe as potential anode materials for AEMWE and performed a systematic evaluation and comparison of the properties in powder, ink, and electrode layer stages.After the initial characterization of the powders by complimentary techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), we developed ink formulations from each material. The stability of dispersions in various solvents was assessed using Hanson Solubility Parameters extracted from Analytical Centrifugation (AC) data [6]. AC in conjunction with own developed algorithms were then used to represent long-term stability data as transmittograms. During the ink development, particular care was taken to use solvent matrices that lead to comparable particle size distributions within the materials library together with constant catalyst to binder ratio and ink processing (e.g., ultrasonication) to assure the properties of each material to be the only free parameter in both ink formulation and electrode development. In the subsequent step, electrode layers from each material were obtained by spray deposition with defined deposition parameters (substrate temperature, ink flow and nozzle to substrate distance) that enabled the achievement of comparable electrode layers. These layers were characterized by atomic force microscopy and N2 sorption for understanding the microstructure and specific surface area of each electrode which was used for normalizing the electrochemical data. Specifically, an own developed AFM-based multi-stage data quantification was applied for evaluating the microstructure on larger scales [7]. Finally, the electrochemical performance of these materials as anodes in AEMWE were tested and correlated with the inherent material properties as well as ink and electrode layer characteristics.This work sheds light on a systematic workflow for characterizing AEMWE anode materials at different stages which provides a comprehensive picture about the underlying property-performance relationship. The developed coherent workflow can be expanded to other materials in AEMWE. Staffell, Iain, et al. "The role of hydrogen and fuel cells in the global energy system." Energy & Environmental Science 12.2 (2019): 463-491.Kusoglu, A., Chalkboard 1-the many colors of hydrogen. The Electrochemical Society Interface, 2021. 30(4): p. 44.Harkema, D., G. Palasantzas, and J. Miocic, Hydorgen in the European energy transition: Where will it come from? 2022.Miller, H.A., et al., Green hydrogen from anion exchange membrane water electrolysis: a review of recent developments in critical materials and operating conditions. Sustainable Energy & Fuels, 2020. 4(5): p. 2114-2133.Santoro, C., et al., What is Next in Anion‐Exchange Membrane Water Electrolyzers? Bottlenecks, Benefits, and Future. ChemSusChem, 2022. 15(8): p. e202200027.Bapat, S., et al., Towards a framework for evaluating and reporting Hansen solubility parameters: applications to particle dispersions. Nanoscale Advances, 2021. 3(15): p.4400-4410.Jain, A., et al., "Small-Area Observations to Insight: Surface-Feature-Extrapolation of Anodes via Multistage Data Quantification. " Under review, ChemCatChem

Electrocatalytic Upgrading of Biomass-Derived Compounds for Biofuel Production

Biomass fast pyrolysis liquid (also known as bio-oil) is considered to be one of the most promising renewable carbon feedstocks. However, fresh pyrolyzed bio-oil is acidic and corrosive and contains large amounts of carbonyl and phenolic compounds produced by polymerization under acidic conditions. This work primarily utilizes an electrochemical conversion strategy using only earth-abundant metal catalysts to achieve the carbonyl hydrogenation process. The results show that upgrading this process produces biofuels with greater stability and higher specific energy. In addition to analyzing the chemical implications of this conversion strategy, this work will also discuss why electrocatalytic conversion is a promising technology path for biofuels and fine chemicals. Reference Huang, S., Lam, C. H.* et al. (2022). "The Structural Phase Effect of MoS2 in Controlling the Reaction Selectivity between Electrocatalytic Hydrogenation and Dimerization of Furfural." ACS Catalysis 12(18): 11340-11354.Huang, S., Lam, C. H.* et al. (2022). "MoS2-Catalyzed Selective Electrocatalytic Hydrogenation of Aromatic Aldehydes in an Aqueous Environment." Green Chemistry.Tu, Q., Lam, C. H.* et al. (2021). "Electrocatalysis for Chemical and Fuel Production: Investigating Climate Change Mitigation Potential and Economic Feasibility." Environmental Science & Technology 55(5): 3240-3249.Garedew, M., Lam, C. H.* et al. (2020). "Greener Routes to Biomass Waste Valorization: Lignin Transformation Through Electrocatalysis for Renewable Chemicals and Fuels Production." ChemSusChem 13(17): 4214-4237. Lam, C. H., et al. (2017). "Towards sustainable hydrocarbon fuels with biomass fast pyrolysis oil and electrocatalytic upgrading." Sustainable Energy & Fuels 1(2): 258-266. Figure 1