Aligned Ion Conduction Pathway of Polyrotaxane-Based Electrolyte with Dispersed Hydrophobic Chains for Solid-State Lithium-Oxygen Batteries.

A critical challenge hindering the practical application of lithium-oxygen batteries (LOBs) is the inevitable problems associated with liquid electrolytes, such as evaporation and safety problems. Our study addresses these problems by proposing a modified polyrotaxane (mPR)-based solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) design that simultaneously mitigates solvent-related problems and improves conductivity. mPR-SPE exhibits high ion conductivity (2.

The long-term transformation of Fe-As coprecipitates at room temperature under oxic conditions: New insights for the fate and the speciation of As.

The long-term stability of Fe-As coprecipitates, a typically hydrometallurgical or naturally produced As-bearing wastes in tailings or in other environments, is critical to evaluating the As risk caused by them. A wide pH range, different Fe/As molar ratios, reaction media, and neutralization reagents were considered in order to find the mechanisms controlling the fate of As during the 1640 days of transformation at 25 °C. The results indicated that at pH 4 and 12, As continuously released from the solid phase.

Electrochemical on-surface synthesis of a strong electron-donating graphene nanoribbon catalyst.

On-surface synthesis of edge-functionalized graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) has attracted much attention. However, producing such GNRs on a large scale through on-surface synthesis under ultra-high vacuum on thermally activated metal surfaces has been challenging. This is mainly due to the decomposition of functional groups at temperatures of 300 to 500 °C and limited monolayer GNR growth based on the metal catalysis.

An event triggered control scheme for enhanced production of Escherichia coli and biomass concentration during fed-batch cultivation.

Control of a bioprocess is a challenging task mainly due to the nonlinearity of the process, the complex nature of microorganisms, and variations in critical parameters such as temperature, pH, and agitator speed. Generally, the optimum values chosen for critical parameters during Escherichia coli (E.coli) K-12fed-batch fermentation are37 C for temperature, 7 for pH, and 35 % for Dissolved Oxygen (DO).

Bioinspired Integrated Auxetic Elastomers Constructed by a Dual Dynamic Interfacial Healing Strategy.

Auxetic materials are appealing due to their unique characteristics of transverse expansion while being axially stretched. Nevertheless, current auxetic materials are often produced by the introduction of diverse geometric structures through cutting or other pore-making processes, which heavily weaken their mechanical performance. Inspired by the skeleton-matrix structures in natural organisms, this study reports an integrated auxetic elastomer (IAE) composed of high-modulus cross-linked poly(urethane-urea) as a skeleton and low-modulus non-cross-linked poly(urethane-urea) as a complementary-shape matrix.

Beneficiation and classification of ITO concentrate from waste LCD panel for industrial-scale indium extraction.

Currently, more than 55% of global indium production is consumed for indium tin oxide (ITO) production because of its excellent display properties mainly driven by demand for flat panel displays (FPDs) or LCDs. At the end of life, the waste LCD flows to the e-waste stream, accounts for 12.5% of the global e-waste, and is forecasted to be increasing progressively.

Challenges and opportunities for sustainable valorization of rare earth metals from anthropogenic waste.

Progressively and projected integration of rare earth metals (REMs) in modern technologies, especially in the clean energy, consumer electronics, aerospace, automotive, and defense sectors, place REMs as critical raw materials in the supply chain and strategic metal from the fourth industrial revolution perspective. Current REM production from the primary mineral resources in the supply chain versus industrial demand is at a bottleneck. Alternatively, REM-bearing anthropogenic wastes are pertinent and potent to addressing the critical supply chain bottleneck.

Highly efficient screening and optimal combination of functional isolates for bioremediation of hydrocarbon-polluted soil.

The key to enhancing the efficacy of bioremediation of hydrocarbon-contaminated soil is the precise and highly efficient screening of functional isolates. Low screening effectiveness, narrow screening range and an unstable structure of the constructed microflora during bioremediation are the shortcomings of the traditional shaking culture (TSC) method. To improve the secondary screening of isolates and microflora implemented for alkane degradation, this work evaluated the characterization relationship between bacterial function and enzyme activity and devised an enzyme activity assay (EAA) method.

Unveiling Interstitial Anionic Electron-Driven Ultrahigh K-Ion Storage Capacity in a Novel Two-Dimensional Electride Exemplified by ScSi.

Two-dimensional (2D) electrides, characterized by excess interstitial anionic electron (IAE) in a crystalline 2D material, offer promising opportunities for the development of electrode materials, in particular in rechargeable metal-ion batteries applications. Although a few such potential electride materials have been reported, they generally show low metal-ion storage capacity, and the effect of IAE on the ion storage performance remains elusive so far. Here we report a novel 2D electride, [ScSi]·1e, with fascinating IAE-driven high alkali metal-ion storage capacity.

Sustainable valorization of semiconductor industry tantalum scrap using non-hazardous HF substitute lixiviant.

Global tantalum production from mines averages 1800 tons per year and hardly increases, but demand for tantalum in the electronics industry consistently increasing. Globally, 50% of total tantalum produced is being used for tantalum capacitors manufacturing, almost all demand from various industries is mainly met by primary resources only. Tantalum production and supply predominantly dominated by Congo and Rwanda which accounts for > 50%, add disadvantages for the strategic and economic competitiveness of other nations.

Nitrogen-doped biochar as peroxymonosulfate activator to degrade 2,4-dichlorophenol: Preparation, properties and structure-activity relationship.

Nitrogen-doped biochar (NCMs) has shown great potential as metal-free catalysts for persulfates. To understand the evolution law of properties of NCMs with preparation conditions, eleven NCMs were prepared and characterized by EA, BET, Raman, XPS, and conductivity. Surface area and conductivity can be improved by higher pyrolysis temperature and longer retention time.

A flexible and salt-rejecting electrospun film-based solar evaporator for economic, stable and efficient solar desalination and wastewater treatment.

Recently, interfacial solar evaporation has been developed for water treatment. However, the high cost and low stability of solar evaporators significantly hinder their practical applications. In this study, layered graphene and polymethylmethacrylate were used to fabricate a composited film (GF) by electrospinning, which acted as a solar absorber.

Valorization of waste NiMH battery through recovery of critical rare earth metal: A simple recycling process for the circular economy.

The process flowsheet consists of three main circuits, i.e., metal extraction by acid leaching, critical rare earth metal (REM) recovery from leach liquor and pure Co/Ni recovery by solvent extraction.

Zinc Recovery through Electrolytic Refinement Using Insoluble Ir + Sn + Ta + PdOx/Ti Cathode to Reduce Electrical Energy Use.

In this study, an alumina (Al) anode, a lead cathode, and insoluble catalytic cathodes (IrOx, PdOx, TaOx, and SnOx) were used as electrodes to enhance zinc recovery. The traditionally used iron electrode and insoluble catalytic electrodes were also used to compare the recovery yield when different types of electrodes were subjected to the same amount of energy. The lead electrode showed over 5000 Ω higher electrode resistance than did the insoluble catalytic electrode, leading to overpotential requiring higher electrical energy.

Strength of carbon nanotubes depends on their chemical structures.

Single-walled carbon nanotubes theoretically possess ultimate intrinsic tensile strengths in the 100-200 GPa range, among the highest in existing materials. However, all of the experimentally reported values are considerably lower and exhibit a considerable degree of scatter, with the lack of structural information inhibiting constraints on their associated mechanisms. Here, we report the first experimental measurements of the ultimate tensile strengths of individual structure-defined, single-walled carbon nanotubes.

Commercial indium recovery processes development from various e-(industry) waste through the insightful integration of valorization processes: A perspective.

Recycling of the waste LCD and recovery of indium which is an important classified critical raw material rarely have been industrially valorized for the circular economy due to lack of technology. Waste specific technology development is a cost-intensive and time-consuming process for the recycling industry. Hence, integrating existing technology for the purpose can address the e-waste issue in general and waste LCD in particular.

A Novel Synthetic Method for N Doped TiO Nanoparticles Through Plasma-Assisted Electrolysis and Photocatalytic Activity in the Visible Region.

Nitrogen doped TiO (N-TiO) nanoparticles were synthesized via a novel plasma enhanced electrolysis method using bulk titanium (Ti) as a source material and nitric acid as the nitrogen dopant. This method possesses remarkable merits with regard to the direct-metal synthesis of nanoparticles with its one-step process, eco-friendliness, and its ability to be mass produced. The nanoparticles were synthesized from bulk Ti metal and dipped in 5-15 mmol of a nitric acid electrolyte under the application of AC 500 V, the minimum range of voltage to generate plasma.

Ultra-narrow-band near-infrared thermal exciton radiation in intrinsic one-dimensional semiconductors.

Thermal radiation is the most primitive light emission phenomenon of materials. Broadband radiation from red-hot materials is well known as the kick-starter phenomenon of modern quantum physics in the early twentieth century; even nowadays, its artificial control plays a central role in modern science and technology. Herein, we report the fundamental thermal radiation properties of intrinsic one-dimensional semiconductors and metals, which have not been elucidated because of significant technical challenges.

Evidence for line width and carrier screening effects on excitonic valley relaxation in 2D semiconductors.

Monolayers of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDC) have recently emerged as excellent platforms for exploiting new physics and applications relying on electronic valley degrees of freedom in two-dimensional (2D) systems. Here, we demonstrate that Coulomb screening by 2D carriers plays a critical role in excitonic valley pseudospin relaxation processes in naturally carrier-doped WSe monolayers (1L-WSe). The exciton valley relaxation times were examined using polarization- and time-resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy at temperatures ranging from 10 to 160 K.

Nano-Sized Fume Biogas Production from Food Waster Using Semi-Continuous Anaerobic Digester.

In this study, the nano-sized fume biogas production from food waste was investigated using lab scale semi-continuous stirred tank reactor (SCSTR) at 35 °C with 30d HRT and 30L working volume. The mesophilic digestion test was performed with three different feed materials (food waste) and food to microorganism (F/M) ratios (0.13, 0.

Synthesis of submicron silver powder from scrap low-temperature co-fired ceramic an e-waste: Understanding the leaching kinetics and wet chemistry.

The current study focuses on the understanding of leaching kinetics of metal in the LTCC in general and silver leaching in particular along with wet chemical reduction involving silver nanoparticle synthesis. Followed by metal leaching, the silver was selectively precipitated using HCl as AgCl. The precipitated AgCl was dissolved in ammonium hydroxide and reduced to pure silver metal nanopowder (NPs) using hydrazine as a reductant.

Selective recovery of silver from waste low-temperature co-fired ceramic and valorization through silver nanoparticle synthesis.

Considering the value of silver metal and silver nanoparticles, the waste generated during manufacturing of low temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) were recycled through the simple yet cost effective process by chemical-metallurgy. Followed by leaching optimization, silver was selectively recovered through precipitation. The precipitated silver chloride was valorized though silver nanoparticle synthesis by a simple one-pot greener synthesis route.

Beneficiation and recovery of indium from liquid-crystal-display glass by hydrometallurgy.

Considering indium scarcity, the end-of-life (EOL) LCD, which accounts for up to 90% of market share can be a feasible secondary resource upon successful recycling. In the preferred hydrometallurgical process of such critical metals, leaching is the essential primary and essential phase has been investigated. In this process, LCD was mechanically separated along with other parts from EOL TVs through a smartly engineered process developed at our institute, Institute for Advanced Engineering (IAE), the Republic of Korea.

Selective recovery of pure copper nanopowder from indium-tin-oxide etching wastewater by various wet chemical reduction process: Understanding their chemistry and comparisons of sustainable valorization processes.

Sustainable valorization processes for selective recovery of pure copper nanopowder from Indium-Tin-Oxide (ITO) etching wastewater by various wet chemical reduction processes, their chemistry has been investigated and compared. After the indium recovery by solvent extraction from ITO etching wastewater, the same is also an environmental challenge, needs to be treated before disposal. After the indium recovery, ITO etching wastewater contains 6.