Storage Sites Research Articles

A bio‐reactive transport model for biomethanation in hydrogen underground storage sites

AbstractUnderground biomethanation, which relies on the subsurface microbial activity to convert hydrogen and carbon dioxide into methane, is a promising approach to support carbon capture, utilization, and storage technology. The process involves injecting hydrogen with captured CO2 into depleted oil and gas reservoirs or aquifers colonized by hydrogenotrophic methanogens that can convert these two substrates into methane. Despite the attractiveness of this technology, there are still uncertainties about the efficiency of the conversion process, particularly the impact of microbial parameters. To investigate the efficiency of the hydrogen conversion process, we relied on a bio‐reactive transport model that can mimic microbial growth and decay, consumption of substrates, and transport of reactants and products. It was found that the methane concentration peaks near the injection well when the hydrogen fraction is in the range of 75% to 80% of the injected gas composition. In addition, a noticeable hydrogen sulfide concentration can be produced due to sulfide ions in the brine. Using the Kozeny‐Carman relation, an attempt was made to correlate microbial growth with reduced porosity and permeability. It was then revealed that substrate consumption by microbes leads to a drastic increase in the microbial population in the subsurface, which can reduce the petrophysical properties of the reservoir, especially in the near wellbore area. The results obtained from a series of parametric analyses showed that the hydrogen concentration in the injected gas, pressure, well spacing, and injection rate are some of the most important parameters contributing to the biomethanation process. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A Leakage Safety Discrimination Model and Method for Saline Aquifer CCS Based on Pressure Dynamics

The saline aquifer CCS is a crucial site for carbon storage. Safety monitoring is a key technology for saline aquifer CCS. Current CO2 leakage detection methods include microseismic, electromagnetic, and well-logging techniques. However, these methods face challenges, such as difficulties in determining CO2 migration fronts and predicting potential leakage events; as a result, the formulation of test timing and methods for these safety monitoring techniques are somewhat arbitrary. This study establishes a gas–water two-phase seepage model and solves it using a semi-analytical method to obtain the injection pressure and the derivative curve characteristics of the injection well. The pressure derivative curve can reflect the physical properties of the reservoir through which CO2 flows underground, and it can also be used to determine whether CO2 leakage has occurred, as well as the timing and amount of leakage, based on boundary responses. This study conducted sensitivity analyses on eight parameters to determine the impact of each parameter on the bottom-hole pressure and its derivatives, thereby obtaining the influence of its parameters on different flow stages. The research indicates that, when a steady-state flow characteristic appears at the outer boundary, CO2 leakage will occur. Additionally, the leakage location can be determined by calculating the distance from the injection well. This can guide the placement and measurement of safety monitoring methods for saline aquifer CCS. The method proposed in this paper can effectively monitor the timing, location, and amount of leakage, providing a technical safeguard for promoting CCS technology.

Synthesis and properties of flexible supercapacitor based on zinc-aluminum layered doubled hydroxide

A flexible, effective supercapacitor using zinc-aluminum-layered double hydroxides (Zn-Al LDHs) as an electrode material is reported. Nanosheets of Zn-Al LDHs were synthesized using a chemical bath deposition method, and they were present in a well-standing shape covering the complete area of the Al foil. The imaging of these nanosheets showed that their average thickness is between 60 and 80 nm, with a width and length average of 1.3 and 0.6 μm, respectively. These dimensions help to create the connection arrangements of sheets with a high specific surface area of 88 m2/g which increased electrochemical active sites for charge storage. The X-ray diffraction further approves the structural properties of the prepared material. The flexibility of the supercapacitor was examined by bending and folding up the device to 180° with little mechanical deformation. The highest capacitance value is found to be ∼597F/g in the case of the flat condition. The capacitance value decreased to ∼387F/g after folding the device 30°, and these values drooped slightly after more increasing the folding angle. The energy density (ED) remains nearly constant at any folding angle (ED=3.39Wh/kg at 30° and ED=3.7Wh/kg at 135°), and similarly, the power density (PD) remains nearly constant (PD=27 kW/kg at 30° and 135°). The aforementioned approves the flexibility of the Zn-Al LHD because it provides lifelong stability (87 % retaining after 2000 charge/discharge cycles) and stable efficiency after different bending and twisting conditions. The impedance measurements along with the obtained equivalent circuits confirm the electrical characteristics of the as-prepared electrodes with low equivalent series resistances, ensuing the promising conductive path in the supercapacitor device.

Ecological risk assessment of heavy metals contaminated mining sites of eastern india using soil and moss.

The blooming industrialization and urbanization is leading to increased mining operations. These intensified mining activities emit heavy metals into the environment, posing serious threats to ecosystems. Hence, this study focused on assessing heavy metal pollution in mining soil, utilizing mosses as bioindicators. The ecological risk, geo-accumulation factor, and contamination factor have been calculated to know the harmful effect of heavy metals on ecosystem. The study covered three distinct mining sites of eastern India within Odisha: Jajpur's Sukinda Valley (SP1, Cr), Keonjhar's Joda-Barbil (SP2, Fe and Mn), and Sundargarh's Koira-Joda (SP3, Fe). The collection of 48 soil samples through random sampling revealed significant variations in heavy metal concentrations. SP1 recorded Cr concentration of 6572 ± 445mg/kg and Ni of 8042.47 ± 501.38mg/kg, surpassing eco-toxicological levels. The storage site in SP2 exhibited the highest Fe concentration at 9872 ± 502mg/kg, and Mn levels in SP3 were at 7884 ± 432mg/kg. Storage areas in all three regions held the highest concentrations of heavy metals. Mosses in studied area demonstrated as potential bioindicators for monitoring heavy metal pollution. EF and Igeo assessments showed Cd, Pb, Hg, and other heavy metal contamination compared to earlier investigations. This study indicated higher ecological risks for Pb, As, Cu, Ni, and Zn. The Hyophila involuta accumulates Mn, Cr, Cd, Pb, Fe, and Hg, while Barbula arcuata accumulates Mn, As, and Cu in SP1. Hyophila involuta and Trematodon longicollis accumulate Mn, Cr, Cd, Pb, Fe, Hg, and Zn in SP2. Trematodon ambiguous accumulates Cd, Fe, and Ni, while Fissidens diversifolius accumulates Mn, Cr, Hg, As, Cu, and Zn in SP3. These findings emphasize the necessity of monitoring heavy metal pollution in contaminated zones using moss as a potential bioindicator.

Numerical investigations into the comparison of hydrogen and gas mixtures storage within salt caverns

Salt caverns, long used for natural gas storage to manage peak loads, are being considered for hydrogen storage as part of the shift towards greener fuels. This transition necessitates re-evaluating heat and fluid transport to ensure the suitability of storage sites. A comparative analysis between current (natural gas and compressed air) and prospective (hydrogen and gas mixtures) storage systems was conducted using a standardized historical cycle over thirty days to identify trends. Hydrogen exhibited the lowest cumulative temperature and pressure increase (17 °C, 0.40 MPa), but the greatest variability per cycle, with an average range of 26 °C and 1.6 MPa. This higher fluctuation could potentially limit its use in short-term cycles compared to natural gas. Moreover, hydrogen's storage capacity was found to be a third of natural gas's, at only 6.6 GWh for the cavern design and specified pressure limits. These findings indicate that while hydrogen presents a greener alternative, its high variability and lower storage capacity pose challenges for its use in existing infrastructure, highlighting the need for further research to optimize its storage and utilisation in energy systems.

8159 Single Nuclei RNA-Sequencing Reveals Novel Cellular Diversity in Human Neck Adipose Tissue

Abstract Disclosure: H. Camara: None. S.D. Kodani: Employee; Self; Hoxton Farm. S. Yang: None. V. Efthymiou: None. K. An: None. A. Gupta: None. F. Shamsi: None. A. Streets: None. M.E. Patti: Advisory Board Member; Self; Fractyl Laboratories. Consulting Fee; Self; AstraZeneca, Hamni, MBX Biosciences. Grant Recipient; Self; Dexcom. Y. Tseng: Consulting Fee; Self; LyGenesis. Other; Self; BioHaven. Adipose tissue plays a crucial role in maintaining metabolic health. It fulfills distinct functions through two types of fat: white adipose tissue (WAT), the primary site of triglyceride storage, and brown adipose tissue (BAT) along with related beige fat, specializing in thermogenic energy expenditure. Despite the scarcity of BAT in humans, these thermogenic adipocytes efficiently utilize glucose and triglycerides and act as an endocrine organ by secreting batokines. Hence, increased BAT activity is associated with improved metabolic health in humans. In adults, thermogenic adipose tissue is localized in deep neck planes, exhibiting a gradient from white to beige/brown from superficial to deep layers. Mounting evidence suggests the diverse cell types within the adipose tissue and their dynamic interactions play an important role in its versatile functions. To understand the cellular compositions of human adipose tissue and directly compare the differences between human BAT vs. WAT, we collected 30 paired samples of superficial, intermediate and deep human neck adipose tissue from 15 participants who underwent anterior cervical discectomy fusion or thyroid surgery and subjected the frozen tissues to single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq). The integration of the samples yielded 41,337 good-quality nuclei. As expected, white adipocytes (WAd) were the dominant cell type, comprising 38% of the total cells captured. Further analysis of the WAd cluster revealed increased expression of brown adipocyte-associated genes, such as EBF2 and COBL, and enrichment of oxidative phosphorylation pathway score in cells from deep neck samples, indicating increased thermogenic potential. Bona fide brown adipocytes (BAds), marked by the expression of PPARGC1A, were predominantly located in the deep neck samples (>80%) but comprised less than 2% of the dataset. Despite their low numbers, cell-cell communication analysis by CellChat predicted that BAds account for most of the communication events within this niche, highlighting their endocrine importance. snRNA-seq also captured non-adipocyte cells, including adipocyte progenitors, smooth muscle, immune, Schwann and neuron-associated cells. Among these, a novel Neuron-Associated Cell-1, marked by the expression of CNTNAP2, emerged as the second most abundant in the dataset (∼10% of total). Another neuron-associated cell population marked by expression of DNAH11, though less abundant (∼1%), was enriched in deep neck samples, potentially regulating the high levels of thermogenic potential in this region. Taken together, the identified subpopulations and their gene expression profiles offer new insights into the tissue's role in metabolic regulation. This knowledge could be pivotal for developing targeted therapies for obesity and related disorders. Presentation: 6/1/2024

Structural and Reservoir Characteristics of Potential Carbon Dioxide Storage Sites in the Northern South Yellow Sea Basin, Offshore Eastern China

The geological storage of carbon dioxide (CO2) in offshore saline aquifers stands as a primary option for reducing CO2 emissions in coastal regions. China’s coastal regions, particularly Shandong and Jiangsu provinces, face significant challenges in CO2 reduction. Therefore, evaluating the feasibility of CO2 geological storage in the adjacent seas is critical. To assess the suitability of a CO2 storage site, understanding its structural and reservoir characteristics is essential to mitigate injection and storage risks. In this study, we analyzed the structural characteristics and potential traps of the Yantai Depression in the South Yellow Sea Basin based on seismic data interpretation. We further conducted well logging analysis and post-stack seismic inversion to obtain lithological data, including acoustic impedance and sandstone content percentages from the Cenozoic Funing Formation, Dainan–Sanduo Formation, and Yancheng Formation. Our findings highlight that the Yantai Depression in the South Yellow Sea Basin exhibits diverse structural traps and favorable reservoir–caprock combinations, suggesting promising geological conditions for CO2 storage. This area emerges as a suitable candidate for implementing CO2 geological storage initiatives.

Bioaccumulation and toxicological effects of dietborne arsenic exposure on the apple snail (Pomacea canaliculata)

An eight-compartment physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model was used to simulate the bioaccumulation and distribution of arsenic (As) within the apple snail (Pomacea canaliculata) following the ingestion of As-contaminated lettuce. The bioaccumulation results revealed that the shell contained the majority (67.21 %) of the total As content, with the liver and the head-foot containing approximately 11.14 % and 10.45 % of the total As content in the snail, respectively. Modeling quantified the process of intestine-stomach absorption of dietborne As and revealed its crucial role in the subsequent distribution of As within the body. The liver is the primary metabolic site, whereas the shell is the primary storage site. Exposure to dietborne As leads to pronounced physiological and biochemical alterations in apple snails. Total protein levels decreased by 24.06 %, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity decreased by 24.43 %, malondialdehyde (MDA) content increased by 47.51 %, glutathione (GSH) content decreased by 46.99 %, and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity decreased by 42.22 %. Furthermore, the subcellular-level results indicated that dietborne As exposure altered subcellular distribution in the liver. Additionally, dietborne As exposure significantly reduced the abundance of gut microbiota in apple snails.

Unveiling the Microscopic Origin of Ultrahigh Initial Coulombic Efficiency of High-Entropy Metal-Organic Frameworks for Sodium Storage.

The initial irreversible capacity loss during the first charging process largely reduces the affordable energy and power density of sodium storage devices, and developing advanced materials is the efficient way to solve this problem, which is fraught with challenges. Herein, inspired by theoretical calculations and the high-entropy concept, a series of fewer layers of high-entropy metal-organic frameworks (FLHE-MOFs) are successfully fabricated, delivering an ultrahigh initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE) of 86.1% and excellent cycling performance, which is far more than that of the other electrode materials (generally <70%). Greatly, the storage behavior of high-, medium-, and low-entropy MOFs is clarified by theoretical calculations and in-/ex-situ characterization, revealing that Co and Fe species can provide substantial sodium storage sites and largely enhance the charge transfer rate, whereas high-entropy effect can enable structural reversibility. Sodium ion capacitors constructed with FLHE-MOFs as the anode can provide an ultrahigh energy density of 121.8 W h kg-1 (200 W kg-1) and an extremely long-term cycle lifespan. This work not only breaks the limitation of MOF materials with poor performance for sodium storage but also provides an effective strategy for the fabrication and application of high-performance MOF-based anode materials with high ICE, in which this idea may also be applied in other fields.

CO2 and CH4 Concentrations in Headwater Wetlands Influenced by Morphology and Changing Hydro-Biogeochemical Conditions

Headwater wetlands are important sites for carbon storage and emissions. While local- and landscape-scale factors are known to influence wetland carbon biogeochemistry, the spatial and temporal heterogeneity of these factors limits our predictive understanding of wetland carbon dynamics. To address this issue, we examined relationships between carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) concentrations with wetland hydrogeomorphology, water level, and biogeochemical conditions. We sampled water chemistry and dissolved gases (CO2 and CH4) and monitored continuous water level at 20 wetlands and co-located upland wells in the Delmarva Peninsula, Maryland, every 1–3 months for 2 years. We also obtained wetland hydrogeomorphologic metrics at maximum inundation (area, perimeter, and volume). Wetlands in our study were supersaturated with CO2 (mean = 315 μM) and CH4 (mean = 15 μM), highlighting their potential role as carbon sources to the atmosphere. Spatial and temporal variability in CO2 and CH4 concentrations was high, particularly for CH4, and both gases were more spatially variable than temporally. We found that groundwater is a potential source of CO2 in wetlands and CO2 decreases with increased water level. In contrast, CH4 concentrations appear to be related to substrate and nutrient availability and to drying patterns over a longer temporal scale. At the landscape scale, wetlands with higher perimeter:area ratios and wetlands with higher height above the nearest drainage had higher CO2 and CH4 concentrations. Understanding the variability of CO2 and CH4 in wetlands, and how these might change with changing environmental conditions and across different wetland types, is critical to understanding the current and future role of wetlands in the global carbon cycle.

Transboundary transportation of CO2 streams by ships: regulatory barriers for scaling up carbon capture and sub-seabed storage

Over the years, Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS) has been recognized as a crucial element in the toolkit of measures to combat climate change. At the European Union (EU) level, CCS plays a vital role in climate policy, particularly in reducing CO2 emissions from hard-to-abate industries. However, no comprehensive legal framework covers all stages of CCS. These stages include carbon capture techniques, transportation by ships or pipelines, injection, site closure, and post-closure management. Each of these stages is regulated by different legal frameworks that address various topics such as geoengineering, climate change, industrial activities, property, transportation, port operations, waste management, dumping, health, and the environment. Critical legal questions remain unanswered, such as who is liable for discharges in the marine environment during the transportation of CO2 by ships and for the long-term management of sub-seabed storage sites. As the transportation of CO2 by ships will likely have transboundary implications, we explore the legal possibilities, limitations and risks associated with exporting CO2 streams for sequestration under the sub-seabed.

The potassium storage performance of carbon nanosheets derived from heavy oils

As by-products of petroleum refining, heavy oils are characterized by a high carbon content, low cost and great variability, making them competitive precursors for the anodes of potassium ion batteries (PIBs). However, the relationship between heavy oil composition and potassium storage performance remains unclear. Using heavy oils containing distinct chemical groups as the carbon source, namely fluid catalytic cracking slurry (FCCS), petroleum asphalt (PA) and deoiled asphalt (DOA), three carbon nanosheets (CNS) were prepared through a molten salt method, and used as the anodes for PIBs. The composition of the heavy oil determines the lamellar thicknesses, sp3-C/sp2-C ratio and defect concentration, thereby affecting the potassium storage performance. The high content of aromatic hydrocarbons and moderate amount of heavy component moieties in FCCS produce carbon nanosheets (CNS-FCCS) that have a smaller layer thickness, larger interlayer spacing (0.372 nm), and increased number of folds than in CNS derived from the other three precursors. These features give it faster charge/ion transfer, more potassium storage sites and better reaction kinetics. CNS-FCCS has a remarkable K+ storage capacity (248.7 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles at 0.1 A g−1), long cycle lifespan (190.8 mAh g−1 after 800 cycles at 1.0 A g−1) and excellent rate capability, ranking it among the best materials for this application. This work sheds light on the influence of heavy oil composition on carbon structure and electrochemical performance, and provides guidance for the design and development of advanced heavy oil-derived carbon electrodes for PIBs.

Novel Intercalation Approach in MXene Using Modified Silica Nanospheres to Enhance the Surface Charge Density for Superior Triboelectric Performance

AbstractThis paper proposes a novel intercalation approach to address the challenges of surface triboelectric charge dissipation and self‐restacking of MXene layers in triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs). The proposed strategy significantly improves the performance of TENGs, as it prevents the loss of surface charges and enhances the structural stability of MXene. First, the modified silica nanospheres (MSNs) of specific dimensions are synthesized, followed by their intercalation between MXene layers. This not only resolves the restacking issue but also dramatically increases the interlayer distance and MXene's surface area. The MSNs, acting as effective charge storage sites, significantly enhance surface charge density, whereas their high dielectric permittivity generates a synergistic effect that modulates the dielectric constant via polarization. Ultimately, the proposed MSN‐intercalated MXene‐based TENG demonstrates outstanding output performance (output voltage of ≈461 V, output current of ≈19 µA, and maximum peak power density of ≈691.2 µW cm−2) at a 2 wt.% MSN‐intercalated MXene concentration. This study paves a new pathway for the structural design of tribonegative and charge storage layers in TENGs for energy harvesting.

Site characterization of the Endurance CO 2 store, Southern North Sea, UK

The Endurance saline aquifer CO 2 store in the UK North Sea is the planned storage site for CO 2 emissions that will be captured from the East Coast Cluster. The site has been characterized to assess its suitability for injectivity, containment and capacity. The injection target is the Early Triassic Bunter Sandstone Formation, consisting of fine-grained sandstones deposited in fluvial, lacustrine and playa lake environments that were subject to repeated aeolian and fluvial reworking. The sandstones have excellent reservoir quality and are likely to be well connected due to the lack of preserved heterolithic layers. The trap is a large, four-way dip-closed anticline, sealed by mudstones and evaporites of the Middle Triassic Dowsing Formation. The top seal sediments are laterally extensive and geomechanically strong, and faulting observed in the overburden does not appear to connect to the reservoir, providing confidence that CO 2 containment will be secure. The risk of leakage through existing legacy wells is assessed as low. The maximum effective CO 2 storage capacity is c . 450 Mt: Phase 1 development of 100 Mt is equivalent to a storage efficiency factor of 3%, which is achievable without the need for brine production. First injection is planned from 2027.

Unraveling the enhanced sodium-storage mechanism in a strongly bonded 2D honeycomb borophene/boron phosphide heterostructure

The growing modern demand for battery capacity is driving the development of high-capacity metal-ion battery anodes for future energy storage. Two-dimensional (2D) material-based heterostructures have shown advantages as alternative anodes due to their enhanced adsorption capacity. The lightweight nature of honeycomb borophene (HB) is beneficial for serving as a high-capacity anode but is constrained by structural instability arising from electron deficiency. In this study, using first-principles calculations, we propose a HB/boron phosphide (BP) heterostructure as an anode for both lithium-ion batteries and sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). The heterostructure engineering not only stabilizes the HB structure but also leads to a bonding heterostructure instead of common van der Walls type. The HB/BP demonstrates robust structural stability and reversibility when multiple ions are stored. In addition, the HB/BP offers stable storage sites and low diffusion barriers for lithium (0.31 eV) and sodium (0.28 eV), indicating rapid charging–discharging performance. Notably, the predicted maximum sodium storage capacity reaches 2402 mAh/g, surpassing that of the constituent monolayers and most 2D heterostructures. The underlying mechanism for high storage capacity is elucidated through detailed charge image model analysis, offering atomistic-scale insights for constructing high-capacity anodes. All results suggest that the presented HB/BP is a promising anode candidate for SIBs and opens an avenue for stabilizing HB in energy storage.

N/O-functionalized ultrathin carbon nanosheets for zinc-ion hybrid capacitors

2D carbon materials have outstanding electrical properties and rich anchoring sites, and can be used as zinc ion storage electrodes. However, it remains a formidable challenge to fabricate these materials with tunable composition by a simple synthesis strategy. Herein, folic acid-derived N/O-functionalized ultrathin carbon nanosheets are synthesized via the activation effect of nano-ZnO template. The as-fabricated FACN-800 exhibits extremely thin thickness (∼1.6 nm), hierarchically porous structure and rich N/O heteroatoms (14.9 at.% of N and 8.4 at.% of O), which is conducive to accelerate ion transport and provide additional active sites for Zn-ion storage. Thus, the optimized FACN-800 based aqueous zinc-ion hybrid capacitor delivers excellent zinc-ion storage capabilities with high specific capacity (163.6 mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g−1), admirable energy density (130.8 Wh kg−1) and ultralong cycle stability (90.3 % capacity retention over 40,000 cycles) and FACN-800 has a specific surface area of 554.3 m2 g−1. Moreover, a series of ex-situ measurements and DFT theoretical calculations further elucidate the electrochemical mechanism between zinc ion storage and N/O dopants.

Multidisciplinary assessment of seasonal ground displacements at the Hatfield Moors gas storage site in a peat bog landscape

The study aims to analyse ground displacement conditions observed over an Underground Gas Storage (UGS) site located at Hatfield Moors (United Kingdom), with a focus on understanding its implications for decarbonization efforts. The location serves as an active onshore storage site and was used as an analogy to assess ground motion implications around Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) by the British Geological Survey (BGS) as part of the SENSE (Assuring integrity of CO2 storage sites through ground surface monitoring) project. Given the value of continuous and real-time monitoring of ground movements induced by gas storage activities, the study leverages satellite Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) data to assess the environmental impact of UGS operations. Using free and open-source Sentinel-1 satellite data, ground motion patterns over Hatfield Moors are analysed, highlighting displacements ranging from − 5.0 to -10.0 mm/year within the peat bog. In addition, the Time Series (TS) of ground displacement from January 2018 to December 2022 reveals a seasonality in ground motion, with uplift observed in late winter and subsidence in late summer, showing a periodicity of approximately 1 year and a magnitude of +/-10.0 mm. Through in-depth analysis, the study highlights the need to understand the underlying causes of ground fluctuations at gas storage sites. This paper shows that InSAR has the versatility to integrate seamlessly with different monitoring tools and methodologies, opening avenues for comprehensive and holistic analyses. Cross-correlation analyses further elucidate temporal relationships between different datasets by evaluating InSAR time series, UGS injection/withdrawal data and piezometric data. This involves decomposing the TS into distinct components, including trend, seasonality and residuals. The case of Hatfield Moors shows a significant discrepancy between the UGS data and the InSAR TS, while also demonstrating a clear correlation between the groundwater data and the InSAR TS. By integrating insights from geology, hydrology and remote sensing technologies, the study navigates the complexities inherent in areas of overlapping phenomena. Accurate interpretation is essential for informed decision making, particularly at sites such as Hatfield Moors, where the convergence of natural peat motion and storage operations highlights the need for interdisciplinary analysis to understand the underlying causes of ground fluctuation.

A high-capacity and stable dual-ion battery based on an ultra-large lattice-spacing amorphous carbon anode

Compared with traditional lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), dual-ion batteries (DIBs) offer advantages such as high operating voltage, good safety performance, and low cost. However, DIBs often suffer from challenges such as low specific capacity and poor cycling performance in practical applications. Here, a layered nitrogen-doped carbon anode has been prepared using a one-step pyrolysis method with excellent Li+ storage sites. The large lattice spacing of 0.55 nm provides more space for the storage and migration of active ions. Concurrently, the utilization of concentrated electrolyte facilitated the electrochemical window and the restrained solvation of ions, which helps to boost ion transport and improve the stability of the electrolyte and the operating voltage of DIBs. The assembled DIBs exhibit a high specific discharge capacity of 179.27 mA h g−1, within a 2.5–4.8 V voltage range, and excellent cycling stability of 3500 cycles without degradation. Specifically, the structural evolution of the electrodes during charging and discharging and the working mechanism of the DIBs are also explored. The DIBs system designed in this paper provides a facile and scalable approach to promote the development of DIBs with low-cost and high-performance.

Optimizing large-scale CO2 pipeline networks using a geospatial splitting approach

CO2 transport infrastructure is the backbone of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology for the mitigation of carbon emissions and project deployment viability. In conventional large-scale CO2 pipeline network designs, the storage sites are generally assumed as the centroids of the major geologic basins, however, this approach might provide suboptimal solutions since the large extension of some storage formations significantly increases the length of the CO2 transportation networks. To address this situation and obtain optimal pipeline routes, we present a novel geospatial splitting framework that partitions large basins into multiple sub-sinks. In our approach, we used a large number of reservoir models varying petrophysical properties and CO2 injection rates to compute pressure plumes through numerical simulations, leading to the calculation of the number of subregions for each basin as a function of the extension of pressure interference areas and boundaries. Finally, we applied K-means clustering and Voronoi polygon algorithms to partition large basins into subregions and obtain their sink coordinates. To demonstrate the capability of the developed workflow, we investigated two CO2 pipeline network modeling case studies using our splitting approach: one regional case study focusing on the Intermountain West (I-West) region and one nationwide case study covering the lower 48 states in the U.S. In both case studies, we compared the optimal pipeline routes using the original and new storage locations and examined the major differences. The use of the developed geospatial approach resulted in both cases in a shortening of the total pipeline network length by 13% and 10%, compared to the pipeline modeling with the original basins, leading to cost reductions of 25% and 17%, respectively, demonstrating that the location of point sinks has a critical impact on the length and expenses of pipelines to efficiently transport CO2 to distant storage sites. Therefore, the workflow presented here contributes to the proper and realistic modeling of case studies that support decision-making in CCS deployment.

Three-dimensional porous structure CoP/N-doped carbon nanospheres as anode for enhanced lithium storage performance

Transition metal phosphides (TMPs) with high theoretical capacities and safe operating voltage are recognized as prospective anode materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). While, the huge volume expansion and low conductivity of TMPs still restrict their applications. Engineering nanostructured composites consisting of TMPs and conductive carbon-based materials is of great importance to improve electrochemical performance. Herein, a novel and facile pyrolysis-oxidation-phosphidation approach is designed to fabricate porous nanospheres composing of CoP nanoparticles and N-doped carbon substrate. The abundant pores in CoP/N-C provide ample active sites for lithium storage and facilitate Li+ transport. The introduction of N-doped carbon substrate enhances the electrical conductivity, allowing CoP to maintain its structure during cycling. The CoP/N-C anode achieves remarkable cycle performance, maintaining an extremely stable cycle life over 2000 cycles at 5 A g−1. More importantly, the full cell consisting of CoP/N-C and LiFePO4 also exhibits a prominent cycling durability with a capacity retention of 96.5 % at 0.1 A g−1 after 150 cycles. This work proposes a simple and feasible structural engineering strategy, which can provide a new way for optimizing the electrochemical performance of conversion-type anode materials.