Bottom-up mechanochemical synthesis (BUMS) has been demonstrated to be an efficient approach for the preparation of metal nanoparticles (NPs), protected by surface agents or anchored on solid supports. However, there are limitations, such as precise size and morphological control, due to a lack of knowledge about the mechanically induced processes of NP formation under milling. In this article, we further investigate the BUMS of AuNPs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPolystyrene (PS) is one of the main synthetic polymers produced around the world, and it is present in the composition of a wide variety of single-use objects. When released into the environment, these materials are degraded by environmental factors, resulting in microplastics. We investigated the ability of (Diptera, Chironomidae) to promote the fragmentation of PS microspheres (24.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMicroplastics are widespread pollutants in the environment and are considered a global pollution problem. Microplastics mostly originate from larger plastics and due to environmental conditions are undergoing constant fragmentation processes. It is important to understand the fragmentation pathways, since they play a key role in the fate of the particles, and also directly influence toxicity.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2019 recognized the importance of Li-ion batteries and the revolution they allowed to happen during the past three decades. They are part of a broader class of electrochemical energy storage devices, which are employed where electrical energy is needed on demand and so, the electrochemical energy is converted into electrical energy as required by the application. This opens a variety of possibilities on the utilization of energy storage devices, beyond the well-known mobile applications, assisting on the decarbonization of energy production and distribution.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn the second part of the review on electrochemical energy storage, the devolvement of batteries is explored. First, fundamental aspects of battery operation will be given, then, different materials and chemistry of rechargeable batteries will be explored, including each component of the cell. In negative electrodes, metallic, intercalation and transformation materials will be addressed.
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