Significant Emission Reductions Research Articles

Comparative analysis of Indonesia’s energy system scenarios: Assessing emissions reduction strategies and cost-effectiveness

Abstract This research conducts a comprehensive comparative analysis of energy system scenarios in Indonesia, examining their emissions reduction strategies and cost-effectiveness. The study utilizes the least-cost optimization approach using LEAP (Long-range Energy Alternatives Planning System) and NEMO (Next Energy Modeling system for Optimization). Four distinct scenarios are evaluated: Business as Usual (BAU), Zero Emissions (ZER), Demand Reduction (DMR), and Net Zero Emission (NZE). The findings suggest that while the ZER scenario may achieve significant emission reductions compared to BAU, with an average of 382.9 million tons CO2e/year, it comes at a higher cost per unit of emission mitigated by the average of 170.8 USD/tons CO2e. On the other hand, the DMR scenario, with its focus on demand-side management, offers a more cost-effective approach to emission mitigation, reaching 81.0 USD/tons CO2e. Combining both strategies, the NZE scenario proves to be the most effective in emission mitigation and cost, with 693.7 million tons CO2e/year and 54.0 USD/tons CO2e, respectively. This research seeks to inform Indonesian policymakers, energy planners, and stakeholders in developing sustainable energy systems that effectively reduce emissions while considering economic feasibility.

Regional-Scale Assessment of the Potential for Shallow Geothermal Energy Development Using Vertical Ground Source Heat Pumps

Shallow geothermal energy (SGE) is a widely prevalent geological resource underground, and its utilization offer significant energy conservation and emission reduction benefits, contributing to the achievement of carbon neutrality goals. Assessing the development potential of regional SGE can ensure sustainable development of these resources and prevent adverse effects induced by overexploitation. Jiangsu Province, a developed region in the eastern coastal area of China, has a strong demand for cooling and heating in urban buildings. The primary form of utilizing SGE in this area is through vertical ground source heat pumps (VGSHP). Based on the analysis of the impact of regional geological conditions on the development of SGE, this study specifically evaluated the suitability of developing SGE through VGSHP. After excluding areas unsuitable for development, the heat exchange capacity, heating or cooling area per unit area, and energy conservation and emission reduction benefits of VGSHP were calculated. The results indicate that the area suitable and moderately suitable for developing SGE through VGSHP in Jiangsu Province amounts to 76,453 km2. The total heat exchange capacity for summer is 1.21 × 109 kW, which can provide cooling for an area of 1.21 × 1010 m2. The total heat exchange capacity for winter is 8.70 × 108 kW, which can provide heating for an area of 1.09 × 1010 m2. The annual available resource amount is 2.68 × 1012 kWh, equivalent to 3.30 × 108 tons of standard coal, and a CO2 reduction of 7.86 × 108 tons.

Digital economy spillover on energy saving and emission reduction: Evidence from China

Digital economy spillover (DES) measures the real impact of the digital economy. This study analyzes the theoretical mechanism of DES affecting energy saving and emission reduction. Selecting balanced panel data of 30 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government) in China from 2003 to 2022, we constructed a comprehensive DES index and empirically analyzed its impact on energy saving and emission reduction and the mechanism of this impact by fixed effect model. Our results suggest that DES has a significant emission reduction and energy-saving effect. The results of mechanism analysis show that DES can result in energy saving and emission reduction by promoting industrial structure optimization and enhancing technological innovation capacity. In addition, the impact of DES on energy saving and emission reduction is influenced by various factors, such as geographical conditions, the level of economic development, and performance assessment, exhibiting evident heterogeneity.

Perspectives and Energy Applications of Magnetocaloric, Pyromagnetic, Electrocaloric, and Pyroelectric Materials

AbstractThis perspective provides an overview of the state of research and innovation in the areas of magnetocaloric and pyromagnetic materials, and electrocaloric and pyroelectric materials, including the overlapping sub‐areas of multicaloric and multipyro materials that can operate simultaneously under the application of magnetic and electric fields. These materials are critically examined for their potential to revolutionize cooling, heating, and energy‐harvesting applications. This perspective first summarizes the state‐of‐the‐art advancements and highlights recent significant developments. Then, it is identified and discussed that the prevailing challenges hindering the widespread adoption of technologies based on these materials. In this context, after consulting with members of the caloric and pyro communities, a technology roadmap is outlined to guide research efforts in overcoming current barriers to applications, with the goal of achieving impactful results by 2040. This roadmap emphasizes the importance of focusing on under‐researched materials, novel devices, and application spaces, paving the way for interdisciplinary efforts that can lead to significant reductions in carbon dioxide emissions.

Optimizing and Exploring Untapped Micro-Hydro Hybrid Systems: a Multi-Objective Approach for Crystal Lake as a Large-Scale Energy Storage Solution

Increasing electricity demand and concerns about climate change and fossil fuel consumption have highlighted the importance of renewable energy resources and storage systems. This paper proposes a method for exploring untapped pumped hydro storage potentials to accommodate intermittent renewable energy generation profiles. Hourly measured data from 2022 in Benzie County, Michigan, United States, were gathered for system sizing and a thorough, realistic analysis. By employing the multi-objective grey wolf optimization algorithm, we formulated optimal sizing and energy-management strategies for three different scenarios. Unlike similar studies, the 3rd with triple objective functions (OFs) scenario aims to maximize both reliability and ecological OFs while minimizing the cost OF. It has shown promising results with multiple solutions, considering economic, environmental, and reliability factors. A case study conducted in Crystal Lake, Michigan, revealed that although Crystal Lake would function only as a micro-hydro power facility, it is a promising and huge storage unit with a substantial storage capacity of around 14.9734GWh. The system investigated is significant in the USA due to its rapid deployment capabilities, minimal construction requirements, and ease of integration with the distribution grid. The fuzzy logic method was employed to identify the best non-dominant solution among the other solutions. These outcomes include a notably low levelized cost of energy at 0.046147$/kWh, a robust index of reliability of 99.705%, and a significant reduction in CO2 emissions amounting to 7.9142×103 tons/year, when considering the triple OFs. The paper’s methodology provides valuable insights for regions aiming to utilize renewable energy from untapped storage sources.

Research on the energy transition pathways of the transportation sector in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area, China

Energy transitions is an effective way to achieve sustainable development in the transportation sector. To explore the pathways to energy transitions in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) transportation sector, the article evaluated the potential of energy savings and CO2 emission reduction of different measures in a quantitative way, based on the long-range energy alternatives planning (LEAP) platform. The marginal abatement cost curves are used to visually reflect the cost–benefit of these measures, and to develop cost-effective pathways to energy transitions. The results show that the measures of transportation modes adjustment and private cars regulating should be prioritized due to the potential of significant emission reduction with good cost-effectiveness. The measures of promoting electricity and hydrogen energy have large emission reduction potential, but only those for road traffic are cost-effective, and should be treated with a lower priority. Considering the high cost, the measures of promoting biofuel should be implemented as least priority. Moreover, the measures of liquefied natural gas (LNG) application have good cost-effectiveness, as opposed to limited CO2 emission reduction potential. It can only be used as a transitional fuel for the energy transitions. The findings and research methodology will provide theoretical support for the formulation of transportation energy transition pathways in the GBA and other regions.

Realization of Bio-Coal Injection into the Blast Furnace

The steel industry accounts, according to the International Energy Agency, for ~6.7% of global CO2 emissions, and the major portion of its contribution is from steelmaking via the blast furnace (BF) route. In the short term, a significant reduction in fossil CO2 emissions can be achieved through the introduction of bio-coal into the BF as part of cold bonded briquettes, by injection, or as part of coke. The use of bio-coal-containing residue briquettes was previously demonstrated in industrial trials in Sweden, whereas bio-coal injection was only tested on a pilot scale or in one-tuyere tests. Therefore, industrial trials replacing part of the pulverized coal (PC) were conducted. It was concluded that the grinding, conveying, and injection of up to 10% of charcoal (CC) with PC can be safely achieved without negative impacts on PC injection plant or BF operational conditions and without losses of CC with the dust. From a process point of view, higher addition is possible, but it must be verified that grinding and conveying is feasible. Through an experimentally validated computational fluid flow model, it was shown that a high moisture content and the presence of oversized particles delay devolatilization and ignition, lowering the combustion efficiency. By using CC with similar heating value to PC, compositional variations in the injected blend are not critical.

Optimization of Material Utilization by Developing a Reliable Design Criterion for Tool Construction in Cross-Wedge Rolling

The massive forming industry in Germany produces around 1.4 million parts every year, which are mainly used in safety-relevant areas such as the automotive industry. The production of these parts requires a considerable amount of energy, much of which remains unused and causes high CO2 emissions. An efficient approach to reduce these emissions and improve material utilization is cross-wedge rolling, which enables efficient material utilization but is limited by the so-called Mannesmann effect, which leads to unwanted material defects. This paper describes the development and validation of a safe design criterion for cross-wedge rolling tools in order to avoid material damage caused by the Mannesmann effect and thus increase resource efficiency in forging. Based on simulation-supported investigations and experimental tests, process maps are created for various materials. The validation is carried out both in an experimental test facility with real tools and in an industrial production facility, which leads to a significant reduction in excess material and CO2 emissions. The results show that the full resource potential of cross-wedge rolling can be exploited by optimizing process parameters and tool geometries.

THE IMPACT OF DIGITALIZATION ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF CARBON-FREE ECONOMY PRINCIPLES IN UKRAINE

This study explores the role of digitalization in implementing carbon-free economy principles in Ukraine, with a particular focus on how digital technologies contribute to enhancing energy efficiency and reducing CO2 emissions. Digitalization serves as a critical enabler of sustainable development by providing tools for optimizing energy consumption, improving resource management, and minimizing the environmental footprint of economic activities. Through correlation and regression analyses, the research investigates the relationship between investments in digital technologies, environmental protection measures, and CO2 emissions for the period from 2007 to 2020. The results reveal that while digitalization has the potential to improve energy efficiency, its current impact on reducing CO2 emissions remains limited. The findings indicate that increased investments in renewable energy sources and more comprehensive integration of digital technologies into the energy sector are essential to achieve significant reductions in emissions. Additionally, the study highlights the positive effect of innovation-driven activities on energy efficiency but points to the need for further development and deployment of environmentally friendly digital solutions. The research also underscores the importance of continued financial support for green technologies and emphasizes the necessity of improving greenhouse gas monitoring systems. Practical recommendations include increasing investment in renewable energy, expanding the use of smart technologies across industries, and promoting long-term innovation strategies aimed at achieving carbon neutrality. Overall, the research concludes that digital innovation plays a supporting role in achieving energy efficiency but requires stronger policy frameworks, investment, and coordination to realize its full potential in contributing to environmental sustainability.

Enhancing the performance of microalgal-bacterial systems with sodium bicarbonate: A step forward to carbon neutrality of municipal wastewater treatment

The microalgal-bacterial granular sludge (MBGS) process, enhanced with sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3), offers a sustainable alternative for wastewater treatment aiming for carbon neutrality. This study demonstrates that NaHCO3, which can be derived from the flue gases and alkaline textile wastewater, significantly enhances pollutant removal and biomass production. Optimal addition of NaHCO3 was found to achieve an inorganic-to-organic carbon ratio of 1.0 and a total carbon-to-nitrogen ratio of 5.0. Metagenomic analysis and structural equation modeling showed that NaHCO3 addition increased dissolved oxygen concentrations and pH levels, creating a more favorable environment for key microbial communities, including Proteobacteria, Chloroflexi, and Cyanobacteria. Confocal laser scanning microscopy further confirmed enhanced interactions between Cyanobacteria and Proteobacteria/Chloroflexi, facilitating the MBGS process. These microbes harbored functional genes (gap2, GLU, and ppk) critical for removing organics, nitrogen, and phosphorus. Carbon footprint analysis revealed significant reductions in CO2 emissions by the NaHCO3-added MBGS process in representative countries (China, Australia, Canada, Germany, and Morocco), compared to the conventional activated sludge process. These findings highlight the effectiveness of NaHCO3 in optimizing MBGS process, establishing it as a key strategy in achieving carbon-neutral wastewater treatment globally.

Supplying the ethanol demand for 2030 in Brazil as a land-based climate change mitigation alternative: Implications on greenhouse gases emissions

Transitioning from a fossil-based to a bio-based economy is crucial to climate action and achieving neutrality in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Biofuel production is an essential land-based GHG mitigation alternative. However, it raises concerns about biodiversity conservation, competition with food production, and net GHG emissions associated with direct land-use change (dLUC). This study aims to assess how the location and conversion routes influence GHG emissions for sugarcane expansion in Brazil to supply ethanol demand projections for 2030. A consistent and significant reduction in GHG emissions is achievable by implementing a strategy that prioritizes the spatial distribution for ethanol biorefinery expansions based on georeferenced life cycle emissions, including dLUC emissions associated with sugarcane production. Because of conservative zoning for sugarcane expansion, dLUC emissions are not an overriding factor, representing less than 9.1 % of the total GHG mitigation potential. Despite that, accounting for georeferenced dLUC emissions when prioritizing expansion facilities leads to spatial differences. Regarding conversion routes and land requirements, using cellulosic biorefineries could meet future projected demand based on sugarcane production from 3.1 million hectares, mostly in currently degraded pastureland. Conventional refineries would require 5.5 million hectares to meet the same demand of 71 billion liters. Despite the 77 % higher land demand to produce the same volume of ethanol, conventional refineries with straw recovery could be considered if electricity generation is a priority. This study illustrates how Brazil can achieve GHG mitigation targets while attending to future energy demand and protecting areas with high biodiversity.

Comprehensive assessment of potential forestation land in China considering factors of vegetation resilience and top vegetation succession

China is currently the world’s largest carbon emitter and has pledged to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, which requires significant reductions in emissions and the removal of carbon dioxide removal. Precise and efficient forestation has become a key strategy to increase carbon sequestration and mitigate the effects of climate change. In order to obtain a high-accuracy distribution area of potential forestation land, a variety of influencing factors on potential forestation land were selected in this study, including vegetation factors and environmental factors. Combining the two models “law of the minimum factors (LMF)” and “equal weight classification (EWC)” predicts the spatial distribution pattern of potential forestation land in China. And, we calculated the available forestation area in each province and predicted future forest coverage. The results showed that the potential forestation area using the LMF method reached approximately 5.65 × 105 km2, and the potential forestation area using the EMC method reached approximately 4.95 × 105 km2. Combining the two models, the final potential forestation area in China was approximately 6.29 × 105 km2, of which approximately 1.02 × 105 km2 was evaluated as a high-confidence area. If all potential forestation land obtained from the two models was successfully planted, China’s forest coverage rate would reach nearly 26 %. Two newly introduced vegetation factors, namely vegetation resilience and top vegetation succession, were considered in this study to make the prediction results of potential forestation distribution more accurate and reasonable. In addition, the results obtained in this study can provide certain assistance for the specific implementation of national forestation policies, and can provide a reference for promoting forestation actions and achieving the goal of carbon neutrality.

Enhancing reactivity-controlled compression ignition engine performance: A response surface methodology approach with ammonium hydroxide-waste cooking oil biodiesel optimization

The focus on ammonium hydroxide, biodiesels and their combustion technology has garnered significant attention in pursuing carbon-neutral and carbon-free fuels to address greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and mitigate global warming. Low-temperature combustion (LTC) has been introduced as an alternative method to conventional compression ignition (CI) combustion. Reactivity controlled compression ignition (RCCI) can be achieved by introducing highly reactive waste cooking oil methyl ester (WCOME) oil directly into the manifold in intervals of 10% energy and injecting low-reactive ammonium hydroxide at 20%–50%. Utilizing the response surface methodology (RSM) approach, it was determined that for optimal operation in RCCI mode, an ideal ammonium hydroxide energy sharing (AHES) of 43% would account for the varying parameters and their effects on emissions and performance. The results of the experiments predicted a brake thermal efficiency (BTHE) of 34.85% and a brake specific energy consumption (BSEC) of 10.69 MJ/kWh. Meanwhile, a notable decrease in exhaust emissions was observed for HC, CO, CO2, NO x and smoke by 41.54%, 38.89%, 48.89%, 51.27% and 65.80% respectively when compared to conventional biodiesel combustion (CBC). The experimental result at maximum load operation with an AHES of 50% indicates that RCCI combustion led to an increase in thermal efficiency from 30.36% to 35.42%, and the in-cylinder pressure and heat release rate dropped from 83.42 bar to 59.64 bar and 78.68 kJ to 60.92 kJ, respectively. There was a significant reduction in HC, CO, CO2, NO x and smoke emissions recorded as 58.76 ppm, 0.11%v, 1.61%v, 442 ppm and 6.64 N, respectively, compared to CBC.

Evaluating Methanol and Liquid CO2 Recovery from Waste-to-Energy Facilities: A Life Cycle Assessment Perspective

This study investigates an integrated approach in which CO2 captured from waste-to-energy (WtE) facility flue gases is exploited to produce methanol (CH3OH), via a catalytic reaction with H2, and liquid CO2 for industrial applications. The integrated system is fully powered by energy from WtE, including the facility for alkaline electrolysis for hydrogen production. The amount of energy necessary for producing 1 tonne of CH3OH was 10.2 MWh, which can be generated by the combustion of approximately 25 tonne of waste in a typical European WtE. Under these conditions, 18.1 tonnes of liquid CO2 can also be recovered. Compared to the conventional production of CH3OH, the proposed system achieves a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, about 492.3 kg CO2eq per tonne of CH3OH. Other environmental impacts, such as particulate matter, acidification, and freshwater ecotoxicity, were found to be quite similar between the two scenarios. Furthermore, the EU27 WtE systems have the potential to meet about 22 % of the current methanol demand in the area significantly contributing to the EU’s goals for a circular and carbon–neutral economy.

Sustainable Carbon Utilization for a Climate-Neutral Economy–Framework Necessities and Assessment Criteria

The need to limit anthropogenic climate change to 1.5–2 °C, as agreed in the Paris Agreement, requires a significant reduction of CO2 emissions resulting from the use of fossil carbon. However, based on current knowledge, carbon is expected to remain crucial in certain industrial sectors, e.g., the chemical industry. Consequently, it is essential to identify and utilize sustainable carbon sources in the future. In this context, various carbon sources were examined and classified in terms of their disruption of the Earth’s (fast) carbon cycle. Furthermore, the examined carbon sources were qualitatively analyzed with regard to their technical readiness level, their energy expenditure, and their current and future availability, as well as legal regulation within the European Union. As a result, only biogenic and mixed carbon from the ambient air can be considered genuinely sustainable within the Earth’s (fast) carbon cycle. Mixed carbon streams, e.g., from waste recycling, fall into a gray area. The same applies to certain process-related emissions that originally descend from fossil fuel energy. In terms of energy considerations, technical maturity, and exploitable potentials, prioritizing the utilization of biogenic carbon sources is advisable for the time being, especially for CO2 produced as a by-product originating from biogenic carbon carriers.

Does income inequality undermine the carbon abatement benefits of artificial intelligence?

Artificial intelligence (AI) has great potential to address the carbon crisis, but unlocking its environmental benefits faces challenges. Income inequality, a key constraining factor, has received insufficient research attention. This study innovatively incorporates income inequality into the AI-carbon emissions relationship research framework. Using 2002–2019 panel data from 50 countries, we employ empirical methods to analyze how income inequality moderates the impact of AI technology on carbon emissions. Additionally, we utilize a panel threshold model to explore the nonlinear effects and heterogeneity of this moderating influence. Results show: (1) Overall, AI has a significant emission reduction effect; (2) Income inequality undermines the abatement benefits of AI, and when the income gap exceeds a threshold, the emission reduction effect of AI will be reversed; (3) The moderating effect exhibits heterogeneity across countries with different income levels, with the abatement efficacy of AI in low- and middle-income countries being more affected by inequality. The study reveals income disparity's constraint on AI's emission reduction potential, highlights the importance of considering social equity in AI development, provides a basis for designing fair and effective environmental policies, and offers insights into synergistically resolving the climate and inequality crises.

Influence of Chinese herbal plants on greenhouse gas emissions from pig manure composting and fermentation

To reduce greenhouse gas emissions during the composting of animal manure and promote the resource utilization of Chinese herbal plants, experiments on pig manure composting were conducted in a plastic greenhouse. A mixture of herbal powders (Radix isatidis and Radix Polygoni Multiflori, mixed in a 1:1 ratio) was added to the pig manure at concentrations of 0.05%, 0.1%, and 0.5% (w/w), respectively. The results showed that the emission peaks of greenhouse gases occurred in the early stages of composting. The addition of 0.5% of a mixture of Chinese herbal plant powders resulted in a significant reduction in cumulative emissions of CO2 (45.0%) and N2O (60.0%) compared to the control. This treatment also resulted in the lowest global warming potential, measured at 91.3 g kg−1, and significantly increased the germination index. The study concluded that adding 0.5% Chinese herbal plant powder to compost effectively mitigated greenhouse gas emissions during the composting process.

Reducing Methane, Carbon Dioxide, and Ammonia Emissions from Stored Pig Slurry Using Bacillus-Biological Additives and Aeration

This study delves into the innovative application of a novel bacterial and enzyme mixture alone or combined with aeration in mitigating emissions from pig slurry storage and explores their impacts on the methane (CH4), carbon dioxide (CO2), and ammonia (NH3) emissions from stored pig slurry. A dynamic chamber was used in this research to assess the efficacy of the treatments. Biological additives (HIPO-PURÍN) of specific microbial strains were tested (a mixture ofof Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus amyloliquefacien, and Bacillus thuringiensis) alone and combined with an aeration system (OXI-FUCH). Controlled experiments simulated storage conditions, where emissions of ammonia, methane, and carbon dioxide were measured. By analyzing the results statistically, the treatment with HIPO-PURÍN demonstrated a significant reduction in CH4 emissions by 67% and CO2 emissions by 60% with the use of biological additives, which was increased to 99% and 87%, respectively, when combined with OXI-FUCH aeration, compared to untreated slurry. Ammonia emissions were substantially reduced by 90% with biological additives alone and by 76% when combined with aeration. The study was driven by the need to develop sustainable solutions for livestock waste management, particularly in reducing emissions from pig slurry. It introduces techniques that significantly lower greenhouse gases, aligning with circular economy goals and setting a new standard for sustainable agriculture. Furthermore, there is a need to validate that farmers can independently manage pig slurry using simple and effective treatments techniques with profound environmental benefits, encouraging broader adoption of climate-conscious practices.

Enhancing energy efficiency of the utility system through R-curve analysis by integrating absorption cooling systems

This paper presents a novel approach for upgrading utility systems by integrating absorption cooling systems using R-curve analysis. The key contributions include a comprehensive methodology for drawing the R-curve, determining priority paths, and optimizing the system without additional capital costs; a step-by-step case study illustrating the process of integrating two absorption chillers and analyzing their impact on cogeneration efficiency and the R-curve; equations for calculating cogeneration efficiency and power efficiency for different turbine paths to prioritize the most efficient paths; and findings revealing that integrating absorption chillers can significantly impact system performance, potentially increasing or decreasing cogeneration efficiency depending on the specific system. The proposed approach enables engineers to optimize utility systems by leveraging existing equipment and integrating absorption cooling efficiently, with the R-curve analysis providing a powerful tool for visualizing and optimizing the system to achieve the best balance of power, cooling, and heating. The findings demonstrate that careful analysis and optimization of the utility system using R-curve techniques can unlock significant energy savings and emissions reductions by prioritizing the most efficient turbine paths and integrating absorption cooling optimally.

Constructing highly fluorescent temperature-sensitive materials in polymer dots/water-processable polymeric matrixes composite systems

Fluorescent temperature sensing (FTS) is an important optical property for fluorescent conjugated polymer (FCPs) based composites. Most FCPs-FTS composite films are processed using an organic phase. And the severe aggregation effects of FCPs in the solid state can lead to a significant reduction in fluorescence emission, which results in a substantial decrease in FTS sensitivity. To address the bottleneck issues, a new synergistic molecular mechanism based on hydrogen bonding and aggregation-induced emission luminogens (AIEgen) motion in the polymer dots (Pdots)/water-processable substrates composite system has been implemented to enhance the sensitivity of FTS composite films. The distyreneanthracene (DSA) groups, as a typical AIEgen, have been introduced into the main chain of FCPs. These are co-assembled with polystyrene-b-poly (acrylic acid) (PS-b-PAA) to obtain Pdots in aqueous processing systems. After aqueous processing, waterborne polyurethane (WPU) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) can interact with Pdots, resulting in FTS composites with high sensitivity. The new synthetic strategy for preparing FTS composites is promising and deserves to be promoted for applications in optical sensing.