Ten major challenges for sustainable lithium-ion batteries

Lithium-ion batteries offer a contemporary solution to curb greenhouse gas emissions and combat the climate crisis driven by gasoline usage. Consequently, rigorous research is currently underway to improve the performance and sustainability of current lithium-ion batteries or to develop newer battery chemistry. However, as an industrial product, batteries follow a linear route of waste-intensive production, use, and disposal; therefore, greater circularity would elevate them as sustainable energizers. This article outlines principles of sustainability and circularity of secondary batteries considering the life cycle of lithium-ion batteries as well as material recovery, component reuse, recycling efficiency, environmental impact, and economic viability. By addressing the issues outlined in these principles through cutting-edge research and development, it is anticipated that battery sustainability, safety, and efficiency can be improved, thereby enabling stable grid-scale operations for stationary storage and efficient, safe operation of electric vehicles, including end-of-life management and second-life applications

Functionalized Graphene-Incorporated Cupric Oxide Charge-Transport Layer for Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Performance and Hydrogen Evolution

The production of hydrogen (H2) through photoelectrochemical water splitting (PEC-WS) using renewable energy sources, particularly solar light, has been considered a promising solution for global energy and environmental challenges. In the field of hydrogen-scarce regions, metal oxide semiconductors have been extensively researched as photocathodes. For UV-visible light-driven PEC-WS, cupric oxide (CuO) has emerged as a suitable photocathode. However, the stability of the photocathode (CuO) against photo-corrosion is crucial in developing CuO-based PEC cells. This study reports a stable and effective CuO and graphene-incorporated (Gra-COOH) CuO nanocomposite photocathode through a sol-gel solution-based technique via spin coating. Incorporating graphene into the CuO nanocomposite photocathode resulted in higher stability and an increase in photocurrent compared to bare CuO photocathode electrodes. Compared to cuprous oxide (Cu2O), the CuO photocathode was more identical and thermally stable during PEC-WS due to its high oxidation number. Additionally, the CuO:Gra-COOH nanocomposite photocathode exhibited a H2 evolution of approximately 9.3 µmol, indicating its potential as a stable and effective photocathode for PEC-WS. The enhanced electrical properties of the CuO:Gra-COOH nanocomposite exemplify its potential for use as a charge-transport layer

Emerging Materials, Wearables, and Diagnostic Advancements in Therapeutic Treatment of Brain Diseases

Among the most critical health issues, brain illnesses, such as neurodegenerative conditions and tumors, lower quality of life and have a significant economic impact. Implantable technology and nano-drug carriers have enormous promise for cerebral brain activity sensing and regulated therapeutic application in the treatment and detection of brain illnesses. Flexible materials are chosen for implantable devices because they help reduce biomechanical mismatch between the implanted device and brain tissue. Additionally, implanted biodegradable devices might lessen any autoimmune negative effects. The onerous subsequent operation for removing the implanted device is further lessened with biodegradability. This review expands on current developments in diagnostic technologies such as magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, mass spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, angiography, and electroencephalogram while providing an overview of prevalent brain diseases. As far as we are aware, there hasn’t been a single review article that addresses all the prevalent brain illnesses. The reviewer also looks into the prospects for the future and offers suggestions for the direction of future developments in the treatment of brain diseases

Towards Sustainable Fuel Cells and Batteries with an AI Perspective

With growing environmental and ecological concerns, innovative energy storage systems are urgently required to develop smart grids and electric vehicles (EVs). Since their invention in the 1970s, rechargeable lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have risen as a revolutionary innovation due to their superior benefits of high operating potential and energy density. Similarly, fuel cells, especially Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFC) and Solid-Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC), have been developed as an energy storage system for EVs due to their compactness and high-temperature stability, respectively. Various attempts have been made to explore novel materials to enhance existing energy storage technologies. Materials design and development are significantly based on trial-and-error techniques and require substantial human effort and time. Additionally, researchers work on individual materials for specific applications. As a viewpoint, we present the available sustainable routes for electrochemical energy storage, highlighting the use of (i) green materials and processes, (ii) renewables, (iii) the circular economy approach, (iv) regulatory policies, and (v) the data driven approach to find the best materials from several databases with minimal human involvement and time. Finally, we provide an example of a high throughput and machine learning assisted approach for optimizing the properties of several sustainable carbon materials and applying them to energy storage devices. This study can prompt researchers to think, advance, and develop opportunities for future sustainable materials selection, optimization, and application in various electrochemical energy devices utilizing ML

Enhancing Occupants’ Thermal Comfort in Buildings by Applying Solar-Powered Techniques

As most people spend their days indoors, it is indeed important that buildings provide residents with a higher standard of health, convenience, and safety. As a result, many practices are implemented into buildings to improve the comfort of occupants, particularly thermal comfort; nevertheless, the energy required to run and maintain these applications is a significant constraint. Renewable energy sources offer alternative solutions to energy demand problems, and selecting the best renewable energy sources is crucial. In this article, we examine the health and well-being advantages to the occupants, as well as the surrounding environment, of a variety of novel strategies that may be integrated into buildings to increase occupants’ thermal comfort for conventional practices using solar power. The key discoveries explored in this article include daylighting, passive ventilation, thermal applications, cooling applications, and power generation. For this, the information was gathered by a systematic review of the relevant prior literature. In addition, the detrimental effects of existing practices on the health and well-being of residents and the environment are included. While there are still some practical obstacles to overcome in the extraction of solar energy, the technology exists. Potential future obstacles to the broad acceptance and usage of solar energy systems in buildings are highlighted, as well as possible solutions

Growth mechanism of micro/nano metal dendrites and cumulative strategies for countering its impacts in metal ion batteries: A review†

10.3390/nano11102476Nanomaterials1110247

Advances in Electrospun Materials and Methods for Li-Ion Batteries

Electronic devices commonly use rechargeable Li-ion batteries due to their potency, manufacturing effectiveness, and affordability. Electrospinning technology offers nanofibers with improved mechanical strength, quick ion transport, and ease of production, which makes it an attractive alternative to traditional methods. This review covers recent morphology-varied nanofibers and examines emerging nanofiber manufacturing methods and materials for battery tech advancement. The electrospinning technique can be used to generate nanofibers for battery separators, the electrodes with the advent of flame-resistant core-shell nanofibers. This review also identifies potential applications for recycled waste and biomass materials to increase the sustainability of the electrospinning process. Overall, this review provides insights into current developments in electrospinning for batteries and highlights the commercialization potential of the field

Recent Development in Carbon-LiFePO₄ Cathodes for Lithium-Ion Batteries: A Mini Review

Li-ion batteries are in demand due to technological advancements in the electronics industry; thus, expanding the battery supply chain and improving its electrochemical performance is crucial. Carbon materials are used to increase the cyclic stability and specific capacity of cathode materials, which are essential to batteries. LiFePO4 (LFP) cathodes are generally safe and have a long cycle life. However, the common LFP cathode has a low inherent conductivity, and adding a carbon nanomaterial significantly influences how well it performs electrochemically. Therefore, the major focus of this review is on the importance, current developments, and future possibilities of carbon-LFP (C-LFP) cathodes in LIBs. Recent research on the impacts of different carbon sizes, LFP’s shape, diffusion, bonding, additives, dopants, and surface functionalization was reviewed. Overall, with suitable modifications, C-LFP cathodes are expected to bring many benefits to the energy storage sector in the forthcoming years

A novel defect fluorite type high-entropy (Dy0.2Ho0.2Er0.2Tm0.2Lu0.2)2Hf2O7 ceramic with low thermal conductivity and CTE: a mechanism study

The “seesaw relationship” between thermal conductivity and thermal expansion coefficient (CTE) in most high temperature ceramics has become an obstacle to the design of long-life multilayer thermal/environmental barrier coatings (T/EBC). Due to low thermal conductivity and CTE, defect fluorite type high-entropy rare earth (RE) hafnates have drawn a lot of interest for potential application in T/EBC systems. This work designs and synthesizes the (Dy0.2Ho0.2Er0.2Tm0.2Lu0.2)2Hf2O7 with comprehensive thermal performance and investigates the thermophysical mechanism from the phonon scale. In addition to the lattice distortion effect caused by the point defects of multicomponent substitutional atoms in (Dy0.2Ho0.2Er0.2Tm0.2Lu0.2)2Hf2O7, the oxygen vacancies in the defect fluorite lattice also play a critical role in reducing the thermal conductivity. From microscopic thermal expansion behavior, the low-frequency optic phonons originated from the vibration of RE atoms are the key factors in altering CTE for hafnates. And doping smaller RE ions is beneficial for enhancing the RE–O bond strength and further reducing CTE. The results contribute to the understanding of high-entropy strategic design and suggest that (Dy0.2Ho0.2Er0.2Tm0.2Lu0.2)2Hf2O7 is a promising top layer material in the implementation of T/EBC

Sputter grown CuO thin films: Impact of growth pressure and annealing temperature on their microstructural architectures

High-quality copper oxide (CuO) thin films were deposited on the silicon (Si) substrate at the room temperature using the physical vapour deposition (PVD) technique named radio frequency (RF) sputtering. The copper-oxide thin-films were single crystalline and of uniform thickness. Subsequently, the influence of growth pressure (low gas pressure - 3 mTorr and high gas pressure - 100 mTorr) and post growth annealing at different temperatures (300 °C to 700 °C) were investigated to understand the microstructural and morphological changes of the thin film. With the influence of growth pressure and post thermal annealing temperature, significant changes in crystallinity, surface roughness, and surface oxidation rate of the CuO thin film were detected, which were adequately analyzed via several characterization techniques. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns revealed the phase formation with good crystallinity of the film, which is substantiated by Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) characterization. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) images disclosed that the surface roughness of the film and grain size. By gaining insights into the structural and surface properties of CuO/Si thin films, this research presents new prospects for tuning of CuO phases, structures, and compositions for multifunctional applications