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The use of graphene as an additive in materials is often challenging due to the agglomeration of the two-dimensional graphene sheets. An alternative additive is graphene oxide (GO), an oxidized form of graphene, which is easily dispersed in water. In this thesis, a method based on electrostatic interactions has been developed to coat powder particles with GO. The GO surface has a negative charge at most pH values, while most inorganic materials form a thin oxide surface layer with a pH-dependent surface charge. Below a certain pH, a powder surface can have a positively charged surface oxide, which can interact with the negatively charged GO sheets and form a coated particle. The pH range for a successful coating process can be predicted based on the ionic potential (z/r) of the surface oxides and the oxide stability regions seen in Pourbaix diagrams. In the thesis, GO-coatings were obtained on powders of Cu, Fe, 316L stainless steel, MnAl(C) and AlSi7Mg. The coated powders showed reduced reflectance, long-term oxidation stability and in most cases improved flowability. The effect of the GO-coating on the processability of Cu, MnAl(C), 316L stainless steel and AlSi7Mg in laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) was also investigated. For Cu, the reduced reflectance at the wavelength of the laser led to printing of fully dense parts compared to a 10 % porosity of the printed uncoated Cu powder using the same printing parameters. L-PBF printing of MnAl(C) has a problem with cracking but printing with the GO-coated powder resulted in a 35 % crack reduction. Fully dense parts could also be printed with GO-coated AlSi7Mg and 316L stainless steel powders. Significant changes in texture compared to the uncoated reference as well as moderately improved mechanical properties were observed. TiB2-SiC composites can be formed by reactive hot pressing of a TiC-Si-B4C powder mixture. In agreement with predictions, it was very difficult to coat powders of Si and B4C due to their acidic surf

Lithium-ion batteries constitute a leading technology that plays a major role in the transition towards sustainable transportation and power generation. The stability of modern batteries relies on a passivation layer formed on the negative electrode known as the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI). Despite concerted efforts to comprehend the various processes taking place during SEI formation, monitoring the reaction pathways in real-time is still very challenging. This is due to the complex interactions within the multicomponent electrochemical system, aggravated by the wide range of electrolyte compositions, electrode materials, and operating conditions. In this thesis, operando surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy is explored to elucidate the progressive formation of the SEI on the negative electrode surface when the electrode is negatively polarised in a spectro-electrochemical cell. Complementary online-electrochemical mass spectrometry is employed to identify the associated gaseous products formed during the process. The work illustrates that the electrolyte as well as contaminants, such as O2, CO2, and H2O, contribute in electro-/chemical processes that build up the SEI. The thesis then explores reaction pathways involving a SEI-forming electrolyte additive, namely vinylene carbonate (VC), emphasizing its role as a H2O scavenging agent. In comparison to the conventional electrolyte solvent ethylene carbonate, VC exhibits a faster reaction with water impurities, particularly in presence of hydroxide ions. This results in the formation of products that are less likely to impact cell performance. In the later part, the thesis delves into understanding the stability of electrolyte in an environment of Lewis bases (LB) typically found in the SEI. For that, individual LB (e.g., OH- and OCH3-) are mixed with typical carbonate-based solvents and the products formed as a result of the reaction are analysed. Furthermore, tris(trimethylsilyl)phosphate (TMSPa), a represent

The reliance on Li-ion batteries is increasing as we transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. Despite their widespread use, a gap remains in understanding certain processes within these batteries, especially regarding the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) and the impact of side reactions on Li-ion batteries. A custom-made Online Electrochemical Mass Spectrometry (OEMS) instrument was designed to explore these aspects. The OEMS instrument was validated through the study of gas-evolving reactions in the classic LiCoO2 | Graphite system. In-depth studies focusing on the reaction pathways of ethylene carbonate, the archetype Li-ion battery electrolyte solvent, identified the specific reaction pathways contributing to SEI formation. Moreover, ethylene carbonate’s interaction with residual contaminants like OH– from H2O reduction was explored. It was revealed that the integrity of the SEI can be compromised by minor amounts of contaminants, establishing a competitive dynamic at the negative electrode surface between ethylene carbonate and residual contaminants such as H2O and HF. Additionally, the roles of additives like vinylene carbonate and lithium bis(oxolato) borate in SEI formation were explored. Vinylene carbonate was shown to form a layer on the negative electrode, but also scavenge protons and H2O, revealing that it is a multi-functional additive. Lithium bis(oxolato) borate on the other hand formed an SEI layer before H2O reduction, blocking the residual contaminant and ethylene carbonate from reaching the electrode surface. By providing insights into the negative electrode’s interphase and SEI formation through a custom-made OEMS instrument, this research underscores the complexity of reaction pathways and the necessity of considering both major and minor, as well as, primary and secondary reactions for a holistic understanding of Li-ion batteries.

The surface of SBA-15 mesoporous silica was modified by N-hydroxyphthalimide (NHPI) moieties acting as immobilized active species for aerobic oxidation of alkylaromatic hydrocarbons. The incorporation was carried out by four original approaches: the grafting-from and grafting-onto techniques, using the presence of surface silanols enabling the formation of particularly stable O−Si−C bonds between the silica support and the organic modifier. The strategies involving the Heck coupling led to the formation of NHPI groups separated from the SiO2 surface by a vinyl linker, while one of the developed modification paths based on the grafting of an appropriate organosilane coupling agent resulted in the active phase devoid of this structural element. The successful course of the synthesis was verified by FTIR and 1H NMR measurements. Furthermore, the formed materials were examined in terms of their chemical composition (elemental analysis, thermal analysis), structure of surface groups (13C NMR, XPS), porosity (low-temperature N2 adsorption), and tested as catalysts in the aerobic oxidation of p-xylene at atmospheric pressure. The highest conversion and selectivity to p-toluic acid were achieved using the catalyst with enhanced availability of non-hydrolyzed NHPI groups in the pore system. The catalytic stability of the material was additionally confirmed in several subsequent reaction cycles.

Understanding the reconstruction of surface sites is crucial for gaining insights into the true active sites and catalytic mechanisms. While extensive research has been conducted on reconstruction behaviors of atomically dispersed metallic catalytic sites, limited attention has been paid to non-metallic ones despite their potential catalytic activity comparable or even superior to their noble-metal counterpart. Herein, we report a carbonaceous, atomically dispersed non-metallic selenium catalyst that displayed exceptional catalytic activity in the hydrazine oxidation reaction (HzOR) in alkaline media, outperforming the noble-metal Pt catalysts. In situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed that the pristine SeC4 site pre-adsorbs an ∗OH ligand, followed by HzOR occurring on the other side of the OH–SeC4. Theoretical calculations proposed that the pre-adsorbed ∗OH group pulls electrons from the Se site, resulting in a more positively charged Se and a higher polarity of Se–C bonds, thereby enhancing surface reactivity toward HzO/R.

Oxide-derived metals are produced by reducing an oxide precursor. These materials, including gold, have shown improved catalytic performance over many native metals. The origin of this improvement for gold is not yet understood. In this study, operando non-resonant sum frequency generation (SFG) and ex situ high-pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (HP-XPS) have been employed to investigate electrochemically-formed oxide-derived gold (OD-Au) from polycrystalline gold surfaces. A range of different oxidizing conditions were used to form OD-Au in acidic aqueous medium (H3PO4, pH = 1). Our electrochemical data after OD-Au is generated suggest that the surface is metallic gold, however SFG signal variations indicate the presence of subsurface gold oxide remnants between the metallic gold surface layer and bulk gold. The HP-XPS results suggest that this subsurface gold oxide could be in the form of Au2O3 or Au(OH)3. Furthermore, the SFG measurements show that with reducing electrochemical treatments the original gold metallic state can be restored, meaning the subsurface gold oxide is released. This work demonstrates that remnants of gold oxide persist beneath the topmost gold layer when the OD-Au is created, potentially facilitating the understanding of the improved catalytic properties of OD-Au.

Lignin nanoparticles (LNPs) are promising components for various materials, given their controllable particle size and spherical shape. However, their origin from supramolecular aggregation has limited the applicability of LNPs as recoverable templates for immobilization of enzymes. In this study, we show that stabilized LNPs are highly promising for the immobilization of phospholipase D (PLD), the enzyme involved in the biocatalytic production of high-value polar head modified phospholipids of commercial interest, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylethanolamine. Starting from hydroxymethylated lignin, LNPs were prepared and successively hydrothermally treated to obtain c-HLNPs with high resistance to organic solvents and a wide range of pH values, covering the conditions for enzymatic reactions and enzyme recovery. The immobilization of PLD on c-HLNPs (PLD-c-HLNPs) was achieved through direct adsorption. We then successfully exploited this new enzymatic preparation in the preparation of pure polar head modified phospholipids with high yields (60–90 %). Furthermore, the high stability of PLD-c-HLNPs allows recycling for a number of reactions with appreciable maintenance of its catalytic activity. Thus, PLD-c-HLNPs can be regarded as a new, chemically stable, recyclable and user-friendly biocatalyst, based on a biobased inexpensive scaffold, to be employed in sustainable chemical processes for synthesis of value-added phospholipids.

Commercial (protiated) samples of the green and biodegradable bioester 2-ethylhexyl laurate (2-EHL) were mixed with D-2-EHL synthesized by hydrothermal deuteration, with the mixtures demonstrating bulk structuring in small-angle neutron scattering measurements. Analysis in a polymer scattering framework yielded a radius of gyration (R (g)) of 6.5 angstrom and a Kuhn length (alternatively described as the persistence length or average segment length) of 11.2 angstrom. Samples of 2-EHL dispersed in acetonitrile formed self-assembled structures exceeding the molecular dimensions of the 2-EHL, with a mean aggregation number (N-agg) of 3.5 +/- 0.2 molecules across the tested concentrations. We therefore present structural evidence that this ester can function as a nonionic (co)-surfactant. The available surfactant-like conformations appear to enable performance beyond the low calculated hydrophilic-lipophilic balance value of 2.9. Overall, our data offer an explanation for 2-EHL's interfacial adsorption properties via self-assembly, resulting in strong emolliency and lubricity for this sustainable ester-based bio-oil.

When electrocatalysts are prepared, modification of the morphology is a common strategy to enhance their electrocatalytic performance. In this work, we have examined and characterized nanorods (3D) and nanosheets (2D) of nickel molybdate hydrates, which previously have been treated as the same material with just a variation in morphology. We thoroughly investigated the materials and report that they contain fundamentally different compounds with different crystal structures, chemical compositions, and chemical stabilities. The 3D nanorod structure exhibits the chemical formula NiMoO40.6H(2)O and crystallizes in a triclinic system, whereas the 2D nanosheet structures can be rationalized with Ni3MoO5-0.5x(OH)(x)(2.3 - 0.5x)H2O, with a mixed valence of both Ni and Mo, which enables a layered crystal structure. The difference in structure and composition is supported by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, ion beam analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction, electron diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and magnetic measurements. The previously proposed crystal structure for the nickel molybdate hydrate nanorods from the literature needs to be reconsidered and is here refined by ab initio molecular dynamics on a quantum mechanical level using density functional theory calculations to reproduce the experimental findings. Because the material is frequently studied as an electrocatalyst or catalyst precursor and both structures can appear in the same synthesis, a clear distinction between the two compounds is necessary to assess the underlying structure-to-function relationship and targeted electrocatalytic properties.

The true promise of MXene as a practical supercapacitor electrode hinges on the simultaneous advancement of its three-dimensional (3D) assembly and the engineering of its nanoscopic architecture, two critical factors for facilitating mass transport and enhancing an electrode’s charge-storage performance. Herein, we present a straightforward strategy to engineer robust 3D freestanding MXene (Ti3C2Tx) hydrogels with hierarchically porous structures. The tetraamminezinc(II) complex cation ([Zn(NH3)4]2+) is selected to electrostatically assemble colloidal MXene nanosheets into a 3D interconnected hydrogel framework, followed by a mild oxidative acid-etching process to create nanoholes on the MXene surface. These hierarchically porous, conductive holey-MXene frameworks facilitate 3D transport of both electrons and electrolyte ions to deliver an excellent specific capacitance of 359.2 F g–1 at 10 mV s–1 and superb capacitance retention of 79% at 5000 mV s–1, representing a 42.2% and 15.3% improvement over pristine MXene hydrogel, respectively. Even at a commercial-standard mass loading of 10.1 mg cm–2, it maintains an impressive capacitance retention of 52% at 1000 mV s–1. This rational design of an electrode by engineering nanoholes on MXene nanosheets within a 3D porous framework dictates a significant step forward toward the practical use of MXene and other 2D materials in electrochemical energy storage systems.

Organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) are promising devices for bioelectronics, such as biosensors. However, current cleanroom-based microfabrication of OECTs hinders fast prototyping and widespread adoption of this technology for low-volume, low-cost applications. To address this limitation, a versatile and scalable approach for ultrafast laser microfabrication of OECTs is herein reported, where a femtosecond laser to pattern insulating polymers (such as parylene C or polyimide) is first used, exposing the underlying metal electrodes serving as transistor terminals (source, drain, or gate). After the first patterning step, conducting polymers, such as poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS), or semiconducting polymers, are spin-coated on the device surface. Another femtosecond laser patterning step subsequently defines the active polymer area contributing to the OECT performance by disconnecting the channel and gate from the surrounding spin-coated film. The effective OECT width can be defined with high resolution (down to 2 µm) in less than a second of exposure. Micropatterning the OECT channel area significantly improved the transistor switching performance in the case of PEDOT:PSS-based transistors, speeding up the devices by two orders of magnitude. The utility of this OECT manufacturing approach is demonstrated by fabricating complementary logic (inverters) and glucose biosensors, thereby showing its potential to accelerate OECT research.

In a typical heterogeneous electrocatalytic reaction, for the given active sites, the electronic structure plays a determining role in electron transfer between the active sites and reactant molecules, which impacts the reaction efficiency. Besides the electronic properties of the electrocatalysts, the reaction interface at which the charge transfer occurs plays an important role in the reaction kinetics. Moreover, the accessibility of the active sites to the reactant molecules also affects the reaction efficiency. However, a well-balanced effective strategy for electronic structure optimization that improves not only the activity but also stability and cost-effectiveness is needed. Besides, a robust model specifically tailored to investigate the kinetics of the electrocatalytic reaction is required to exclude the interference of thermodynamic factors. A feasible characterization technique for probing the complex interfacial process is also required. To address these remaining challenges in the three aspects above, this thesis proposed the strategies to optimize the electrocatalytic reaction processes as follows: (1) Tuning the electronic structure of the active sites by engineering coordination environment and introducing strain effect. Specifically, Ni single atom was constructed to engineer the coordination environment, and the electrocatalytic performance with the tuned electronic structure was examined towards hydrazine oxidation reaction. The strain effect was created by introducing Cu single atom to BiOCl substrate, and the optimized electronic structure was investigated; (2) Optimizing the interfacial HER kinetics targeted by proposing a specific Pt model catalyst with a channel-opening modifier. The interfacial water structure was studied by in situ surface-enhanced Raman technique, and the role of this promoting modifier was elucidated by ab initio molecular dynamic simulation; (3) Improving the local concentration of CO2 for electrochemical CO2 reduct

Oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is of critical significance in the advancement of fuel cells and zinc-air batteries. The iron-nitrogen (Fe−Nx) sites exhibited exceptional reactivity towards ORR. However, the task of designing and controlling the local structure of Fe species for high ORR activity and stability remains a challenge. Herein, we have achieved successful immobilization of Fe species onto the highly curved surface of S, N co-doped carbonaceous nanosprings (denoted as FeNS/Fe3C@CNS). The induction of this twisted configuration within FeNS/Fe3C@CNS arose from the assembly of chiral templates. For electrocatalytic ORR tests, FeNS/Fe3C@CNS exhibits a half-wave potential (E1/2) of 0.91 V in alkaline medium and a E1/2 of 0.78 V in acidic medium. The Fe single atoms and Fe3C nanoparticles are coexistent and play as active centers within FeNS/Fe3C@CNS. The highly curved surface, coupled with S substitution in the coordination layer, served to reduce the energy barrier for ORR, thereby enhancing the intrinsic catalytic activity of the Fe single-atom sites. We also assembled a wearable flexible Zn-air battery using FeNS/Fe3C@CNS as electrocatalysts. This work provides new insights into the construction of highly curved surfaces within carbon materials, offering high electrocatalytic efficacy and remarkable performance for flexible energy conversion devices.

Gradients play a pivotal role in membrane technologies, e.g., osmotic energy conversion, desalination, biomimetic actuation, selective separation, and more. In these applications, the compositional gradients are of great relevance for successful function implementation, ranging from solvent separation to smart devices; However, the construction of functional gradient in membranes is still challenging both in scale and directions. Inspired by the specific function-related, graded porous structures in glomerular filtration membranes, a general approach for constructing gradient covalent organic framework membranes (GCOMx) applying poly (ionic liquid)s (PILs) as template is reported here. With graded distribution of highly porous covalent organic framework (COF) crystals along the membrane, GCOMx exhibts an unprecedented asymmetric solvent transport when applying different membrane sides as the solvent feed surface during filtration, leading to a much-enhanced flux (10–18 times) of the “large-to-small” pore flow comparing to the reverse direction, verified by hydromechanical theoretical calculations. Upon systematic experiments, GCOMx achieves superior permeance in nonpolar (hexane ≈260.45 LMH bar−1) and polar (methanol ≈175.93 LMH bar−1) solvents, together with narrow molecular weight cut-off (MWCO, 472 g mol−1) and molecular weight retention onset (MWRO, <182 g mol−1). Interestingly, GCOMx shows significant filtration performance in simulated kidney dialysis, revealing great potential of GCOMx in bionic applications.

In the past decade, there has been significant interest in heteroatom-doped porous carbons, driven by the distinctive and adjustable physical and chemical properties that they exhibit across scales, from the atomic to the macroscopic level. Particularly, attributes such as conductivity, electron density, high specific surface area, hierarchical pore structure, and oxidation resistance offer a wide range of characteristics for diverse applications. The development of multimodal, hierarchical pore sizes, ranging from micropores to macropores, ensures balanced diffusion resistance and a high surface area for active site accommodation. However, their synthesis usually involves multiple steps or complicated processing to incorporate both hierarchically porous structures and heteroatoms in carbon materials. This PhD thesis explores poly(ionic liquid)s (PILs) for preparation of heteroatom-doped porous carbon materials, driven by the growing demand for functional carbons in industry and academia. The aim of this thesis is to develop straightforward synthetic approaches to introduce various heteroatoms and different pore sizes in the carbonous structure and study their diverse functions. Here, we propose and explore fabrication methods based on two precursors. First, PILs were examined as both the carbon and heteroatom source, serving as a sacrificial template for porous carbons. Second, the delicate structure of wood was employed as a carbon source to generate macropores, while being coated with PILs to introduce heteroatoms or iron-based nanoparticles and create additional micropores. Moreover, the application of these carbonaceous materials was studied in two areas, i.e., batteries and artificial enzymes. This research is likely to contribute to a deeper understanding of synthetic methodologies of heteroatom-doped porous carbon materials and their physiochemical properties for various applications.

The solid-state field-effect transistor, FET, and its theories were paramount in the discovery and studies of graphene. In the past two decades another transistor based on conducting polymers, called organic electrochemical transistor (ECT), has been developed and largely studied. The main difference between organic ECTs and FETs is the mode and extent of channel doping; while in FETs the channel only has surface doping through dipoles, the mixed ionic-electronic conductivity of the channel material in organic ECTs enables bulk electrochemical doping. As a result, organic ECTs maximize conductance modulation at the expense of speed. To date ECTs have been based on conducting polymers, but here we show that MXenes, a class of 2D materials beyond graphene, enable the realization of electrochemical transistors (ECTs). We show that the formulas for organic ECTs can be applied to these 2D ECTs and used to extract parameters like mobility. These MXene ECTs have high transconductance values but low on-off ratios. We further show that conductance switching data measured using ECT, in combination with other in situ-ex situ electrochemical measurements, is a powerful tool for correlating the change in conductance to that of the redox state, to our knowledge, this is the first report of this important correlation for MXene films. 2D ECTs can draw great inspiration and theoretical tools from the field of organic ECTs and have the potential to considerably extend the capabilities of transistors beyond those of conducting polymer ECTs, with added properties such as extreme heat resistance, tolerance for solvents, and higher conductivity for both electrons and ions than conducting polymers. Here we show that not only conducting polymers, but also 2D MXenes can be used as materials for electrochemical transistors ECTs. MXene extend the capabilities of ECTs with properties such as extreme heat resistance, and higher conductivity/speeds.

A growth strategy is described where a multidimensional P(Ni, Fe) nanoarray electrode is fabricated by phosphiding NiMoO4 nanoflakes modified with a Ni-based Prussian blue analogue induced by in situ self-sacrificial formation. The generated electrode exhibits a specific capacity of 501.8 mAh g–1 at 1 A g–1, owing to the unique overlapping cross-stacked network structure with increased surface- and interface-active sites and enhanced conductivity. This is about 2 times larger than those of the NiMoO4 (200.2 mAh g–1) and NiMoO4/Ni-Prussian blue analogue (NiMoO4/Ni-PBA) (217.3 mAh g–1) electrodes. The battery cell assembled with the obtained P(Ni, Fe) nanoarray electrode and a Zn plate as the counter electrode shows a high energy density of 962.6 Wh kg–1 at a power density of 870 W kg–1. This demonstrates the potential of NiMoO4-based materials for NiZn battery applications and gives insight into the design of electrode materials by controlling the surface/interface in next-generation high-performing NiZn batteries.

The development of sustainable materials from biobased resources is essential due to environmental concerns posed by fossil-based materials. Lignin is a chemically complex biopolymer that exists in woody tissues of vascular plants. Lignin has many useful properties such as antioxidant activity, thermal stability, UV-absorbance, rigidity and so on. However, an inherent challenge of lignin relates to its complex molecular structures and poor solubility in water and common solvents. One strategy to utilize lignin is to fabricate lignin nanoparticles (LNP) that produce colloidally stable dispersions in water. This thesis aims to develop LNP-based materials which can be used in photonic crystals and photothermal films towards energy-efficient functional materials. The first part of the thesis focused on elucidation of the phenomena occurring during centrifugation-assisted assembly of LNP-photonic crystal (L-PC). L-PC with rainbow coloration or separate colors were produced by controlling the polydispersity index (PDI), particle size (150 to 240 nm), and assembly of LNPs. In a follow-up work, an improved method was developed to increase the yield of L-PCs. The effects of factors such as initial lignin concentration, and dilution time on the particle size and PDI of formed LNPs were studied. Empirical models were established to predict the size of LNPs and successfully used to control the resulting color of L-PCs. Moreover, the nanostructure of L-PCs was investigated. To harness lignin’s ability to absorb solar energy (light wavelength: 250–2500 nm), LNP-based composite films and coatings with photothermal performance were developed in the second part of the thesis. LNP-chitosan films and coatings were prepared and applied to indoor heat management. The LNPs content was adjusted from 10 to 40 wt%. By incorporating LNPs, the mechanical strength and photothermal properties of the films were improved compared to the pure chitosan film. Moreover, LNP-silver-chitosan (CC-Ag@LN

Infectious diseases caused by waterborne viruses have attracted researchers’ great attention. To ensure a safe water environment, it is important to advance water treatment and disinfection technology. Photocatalytic technology offers an efficient and practical approach for achieving this goal. This paper reviews the latest studies on visible-light composite catalysts for bacteriophage inactivation, with a main focus on three distinct categories: modified UV materials, direct visible-light materials and carbon-based materials. This review gives an insight into the progress in photocatalytic material development and offers a promising solution for bacteriophage inactivation.

Cellulose, being a renewable and abundant biopolymer, has garnered significant attention for its unique properties and potential applications in hybrid materials. Understanding the hierarchical arrangement of cellulose nanofibers is crucial for developing cellulose-based materials with enhanced mechanical properties. In this study, the use of Scanning Electron Diffraction (SED) is presented to map the nanoscale orientation of cellulose fibers in a bio-composite material with a preserved wood cell structure. The SED data provides detailed insights into the ordering of cellulose with an extraordinary resolution of approximate to 15 nm. It enables a quantitative analysis of the fiber orientation over regions as large as entire cells. A highly organized arrangement of cellulose fibers within the secondary cell wall is observed, with a gradient of orientations toward the outer part of the wall. The in-plane fiber rotation is quantified, revealing a uniform orientation close to the middle lamella. Transversely sectioned material exhibits similar trends, suggesting a layered cell wall structure. Based on the SED data, a 3D model depicting the complex helical alignment of fibers throughout the cell wall is constructed. This study demonstrates the unique opportunities SED provides for characterizing the nanoscale hierarchical arrangement of cellulose nanofibers, empowering further research on a range of hybrid materials. Fundamental knowledge about the hierarchical arrangement of cellulose nanofiber is of great importance in developing new cellulose-based hybrid materials. Scanning electron diffraction is employed to map the cellulose nanofiber orientations throughout a wood-derived bio-based material. SED data reveals insights into cellulose alignment and enables precise quantitative fiber orientation analysis with a nanoscale spatial resolution.image

This thesis presents a comprehensive study on stimuli-responsive materials derived from cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs), focusing on their synthesis, characterization, and performance evaluation in various applications. Renowned for their biodegradability, renewability, and robust mechanical properties, CNFs are explored in three primary contexts: moisture-responsive actuators, voltage-responsive actuators, and CO2-responsive sensors. The unique properties of CNFs, such as high tensile strength and surface area, are leveraged to achieve effective motion in response to moisture exposure. Specifically, CNFs are utilized to create bilayer, torsional, and tensile actuators. These actuators exhibit controllable and dynamic responses, making them suitable for applications in soft robotics and wearable technology. In the realm of voltage-responsive actuators, this study investigates the impact of various electrolytes and counteranions on positively charged CNFs. It uncovers the critical role of electrolyte choice, ion migration and the plasticization effect within the CNFs matrix, resulting in volumetric expansion, which is pivotal to the actuation mechanism. These insights pave the way for CNFs applications requiring precise control of motion and flexibility in shape, such as in soft robotics. The third area of application involves the development of a capacitive CO2 sensor using CNFs-based foams functionalized with primary amines to enhance CO2 capture through chemisorption. This functionalization turns the CNFs-based foam into an efficient dielectric layer (DE) for sensor applications. The addition of 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) to the DE further expands the scope of sensor's capacitance change in response to CO2 exposure, underscoring its potential in environmental monitoring and CO2 detection. Overall, this thesis emphasizes the versatility and adaptability of CNFs as a sustainable biomaterial for developing stimuli-responsive devices. The insights gained fr

We report, for the first time, the thorough electrochemical characterization of zinc aluminate spinel. Four different stoichiometric composition of zinc aluminate (ZnAl1.5O3.25, ZnAl2O4, ZnAl2.87O5.30, and ZnAl4O7) were prepared by solution combustion method. The obtained powders after calcination at 1000 °C were characterized through scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and x-ray diffraction to analyze the morphology, elemental composition and structure, respectively, of the zinc aluminate compositions. The electrodes were prepared by coating slurry of zinc aluminate, carbon black and polyvinylidene fluoride on nickel foam in a ratio of 8:1:1. The electrochemical characterization was carried out by cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge discharge (GCD) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). ZnAl1.5O3.25 exhibited the highest specific capacity of 546 C/g at 1 mV/s and 336 C/g at 1 A/g, as appraised by CV and GCD analysis, respectively. EIS test revealed that ZnAl1.5O3.25 had the modest impedance value. The energy density value for ZnAl1.5O3.25 sample was 16.79 Wh/kg at 1 A/g with a power density of 179.9 W/kg. The as developed electrodes showed predominantly pseudo-capacitive charge storage mechanism.

This study explores the possibility of using various silsesquioxane precursors such as (3-aminopropyl) triethoxysilane (APTES), methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS), and tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) to produce silsesquioxane-bacterial cellulose nanofibre (bCNF) aerogels. Each precursor allowed to customize the aerogel properties, leading to unique properties suitable for various applications requiring lightweight insulative materials. When utilizing APTES as the silsesquioxane precursor, an aerogel capable of over 90% recovery after compression was formed, making them suitable for flexible applications. When MTMS was used as the precursor, the aerogel retained some compression recovery (80%) but had the added property of superhydrophobicity with a contact angle over 160° due to the presence of CH3 functional groups, enabling water-repellence. Finally, TEOS allowed for excellent thermal insulative properties with a low Peak Heat Release Rate (PHRR), making it a promising candidate for fire-resistant applications. The customization of these aerogel materials was attributed to a combination of the chemical composition of the silsesquioxane precursors and the morphology of the coated bacterial cellulose nanofibres (bCNF), such as CH3 groups found in MTMS enabled for superhydrophobicity. Differences in morphology, such as uniform and smooth silsesquioxane coatings when using APTES or a “pearl-necklace” morphology using TEOS, enabled either compression recovery and flexibility or low thermal conduction. This investigation of silsesquioxane-bCNF provides a good understanding of the importance of the choice of precursor effect on insulating aerogel properties., Validerad;2024;Nivå 1;2024-06-26 (hanlid);Funder: Swedish Research Council (VR 2019-05650);Full text license: CC BY

This thesis focuses on boron-based materials, notable for their structural complexity and unique combination of ceramic and metallic properties. These properties typically result in materials with high mechanical strength, electrical conductivity, and melting points. Among these materials are MAB phases, a family of layered materials comprised of a transition metal (M), an A-element (typically an element from Group 13-14), and boron (B). The layered nature of these materials provides a pathway towards the realization of 2D materials, coined MBenes (or boridene), through chemical exfoliation. While the potential for discovering novel materials is immense, their realization often demands extensive experimental efforts. Theoretical models may here be used as a filter by guiding experimental endeavours. The work presented herein aims to leverage theoretical models and to develop frameworks suitable for reliable thermodynamical predictions in hope of the discovery of additional boron-based materials. First-principles calculations, particularly density functional theory (DFT), have extensively been employed in this thesis to determine the ground state energy of materials and predict their stability or tendency to decompose. However, first-principles calculations typically rely on a pre-defined crystal structure which may be constructed through a priori information or obtained through the use of crystal structure prediction (CSP) frameworks. We herein explore both of these approaches by i) systematically substituting elements in known low-energy structures, and ii) deriving novel low-energy structures by combining CSP with cluster expansion (CE) models. The first approach is herein exemplified when considering the low-energy structures of V3B2 (P4/mbm) and Cr5B3 (I4/mbm). These structures are comprised of two M-sites in addition to boron and thus form the general compositions M’2M’’B2 and M’4M’’B3, respectively. In a follow-up project, this approach was refined by probing, Funding agencies: The Swedish Research Council (grant numbers 2019-05047, 2022-06099, 2022-06725 and 2018-05973) and the Knut and Alice Wallenberg (KAW) foundation (grant number KAW 2020.0033)

The electrification and digitalization of our society has propelled the demand for energy storage solutions. High-end technologies have been developed to satisfy the requirements of demanding applications, such as electromobility and portable consumer electronics, which also increasingly find markets for less demanding applications. These markets include grid and domestic energy storage, as well as Internet of Things (IoT). However, using high-end technologies for low-end applications is a waste of resources that puts unnecessary stress on the supply lines. Thus, more low-cost cost and environmentally friendly alternative technologies are sought, among which renewable biobased materials derived from agriculture and forestry play a prominent role. The dominant chemical constituents in plants, cellulose and lignin, exhibit some intriguing electrochemical and colloidal properties. Cellulose has been found to efficiently stabilize various electronic materials, whereas lignin can be used as an electronic material itself. Lignocellulosic materials also open for papermaking as an alternative manufacturing approach. Taking the step to using papermaking methods is, however, a bit far from the technology readiness level, as the vast majority of the research on paper electrodes is based on nanocellulose. The material properties of such nanopapers are indeed extraordinary, but the lack of large-scale production methods for nanopapers is a serious challenge. To circumvent this obstacle and find a shortcut to the realization of paper electrodes, this thesis has turned to conventional papermaking techniques. Fibres are essentially different to nanofibrils by their difference in size, and the papermaking process requires careful composition of the formulations. Thus, as the research on nanopaper electrodes cannot be directly translated into conventional papermaking techniques, this calls for separate studies on fibre-based systems. This thesis is based on four separate works carrie

In this study, we investigated the self-ordering process in Langmuir films of polydisperse iron oxide nanoparticles on a water surface, employing in situ x-ray scattering, surface pressure-area isotherm analysis, and Brewster angle microscopy. X-ray reflectometry confirmed the formation of a monolayer, while grazing incidence small-angle x-ray scattering revealed short-range lateral correlations with a characteristic length equal to the mean particle size. Remarkably, our findings indicated that at zero surface pressure, the particles organized into submicrometer clusters, merging upon compression to form a homogeneous layer. These layers were subsequently transferred to a solid substrate using the Langmuir-Schaefer technique and further characterized via scanning electron microscopy and polarized neutron reflectometry. Notably, our measurements revealed a second characteristic length in the lateral correlations, orders of magnitude longer than the mean particle diameter, with polydisperse particles forming circular clusters densely packed in a hexagonal lattice. Furthermore, our evidence suggests that the lattice constant of this mesocrystal depends on the characteristics of the particle size distribution, specifically the mean particle size and the width of the size distribution. In addition, we observed internal size separation within these clusters, where larger particles were positioned closer to the center of the cluster. Finally, polarized neutron reflectometry measurements provided valuable insights into the magnetization profile across the layer.

One of the emerging directions that has greatly advanced the fields of photovoltaics and optoelectronics is the development of lead-free inorganic halide perovskites. In this study, ab-initio methods were employed to forecast the structural, electronic, and optical behavior of the perovskite materials Cs2Cu+Al3+X6 (where X represents Cl or Br). The analyses conducted have revealed the exceptional structural characteristics of these compounds. The electronic band structure and density of states were computed using the PBE method with the mBJ potential. The direct bandgaps of Cs2CuAlCl6 and Cs(2)CuAlBr(6 )were determined to be 1.35 eV and 0.93 eV, respectively. This suitable electrical bandgap results in high visible-light absorption. As a result, the optical characteristics exhibit a significant absorption coefficient (alpha(omega) approximate to 1.1 x 10(5) cm(-1) for Cs2CuAlBr6 and 0.77 x10(5) cm(-1) for Cs2CuAlCl6), substantial conductivity, and negligible reflectivity (R(omega) < 10%). These attributes render Cs(2)CuAlCl(6 )and Cs2CuAlBr6 semiconductors highly appealing for optoelectronic applications. The maximum spectral light conversion efficiency under AM1.5G solar irradiation was assessed by altering the thickness of the structures. The results reveal that the chlorinated perovskite achieves a slightly higher efficiency of 32.72%, whereas the brominated perovskite reaches an efficiency of 29.31%. Despite their remarkably advantageous bandgaps, limited reflectivity, and impressive efficiency, environmentally friendly halide perovskite compounds hold promise as renewable energy conversion materials. This suggests the potential for substantial enhancements in solar cell performance. Furthermore, employing the finite element (FE) method, we performed calculations to assess carrier generation within a specially engineered solar cell structure comprising an environmentally friendly multilayer (CH3NH3SnI3 and Cs2CuAlX6). Our discoveries unveiled an exceptionally

Ni-rich cathode materials exhibit superior energy densities and have attracted interest among both research and industrial fields; whereas, their practical application is hindered by the intrinsic drawbacks brought by the high nickel content such as structural instability and rapid capacity fading. Herein, in situ formation of a LiBO2 coating layer and spinel phase layer is achieved on the surface of a Ni-rich cathode material via a boric acid etching method at the precursor state. The spinel phase is considered to have a 3D lithium diffusion tunnel and hence faster diffusion kinetics. Moreover, the LiBO2 layer possesses excellent (electro)-chemical inertness and can suppress electrolyte decomposition, resulting in a more inorganic and stable cathode-electrolyte interface. The surface reconstructed sample exhibits better cyclic stability (93.3% capacity retention vs 85.3% for the pristine sample at 1 C for 100 cycles) and rate performance. The superiority of this surface reconstruction is demonstrated by a series of electrochemical techniques and characterization methods including high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM), post-mortem X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations.

A tin oxide (SnO2) nanostructure was prepared using Matricaria recutita leaf extract to investigate its anticancer activity against SK-MEL-28 cells. The tetragonal crystal structure of tin oxide nanoparticles with an average crystal size of 27 nm was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The tetragonal crystal structure of the tin oxide nanoparticles, with an average crystallite size of 27 nm, was confirmed by XRD an absorbance peak at 365 nm was identified by UV-visible spectroscopy analysis as belonging to the bio-mediated synthesis of SnO2 nanoparticles. The SnO2 NPs are capped and stabilized with diverse functional groups derived from bioactive molecules, including aldehydes, benzene rings, amines, alcohols, and carbonyl stretch protein molecules. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis validated the presence of these capping and stabilizing chemical bonds. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies revealed the cauliflower-shaped morphology of the SnO2 nanoparticles with an average particle size of 28 nm. The antimicrobial activity of both prepared and encapsulated samples confirmed their biological activities. Furthermore, both prepared and encapsulated tin oxide samples exhibited excellent anticancer activity against SK-MEL-28 human cancer cells. The present study introduces a reliable and uncomplicated approach to produce SnO2 nanoparticles and demonstrates their effectiveness in various applications, including cancer therapy, drug administration, and disinfectant.

Ethylene carbonate (EC) and vinylene carbonate (VC) are the archetypical electrolyte solvent and additive in Li-ion batteries (LIBs), respectively. However, our understanding of their reaction pathways remains incomplete. Herein, the reaction pathways of EC and VC are explored by using online electrochemical mass spectrometry complemented by nuclear magnetic resonance analysis. For EC, reduction occurs through two distinct pathways <0.8 V vs Li+/Li, one yielding C2H4 and the other yielding CO, depending on the electrode potential and the EC concentration. The CO-releasing pathway does not contribute to the solid electrolyte interphase formation. For VC, reduction commences at <1.9 V, but CO2 gas evolution proceeds through a chemical step via a nucleophilic attack and VC ring opening. Additionally, VC scavenges H2O and reduced protons via hydrolysis and via proton abstraction from the carbon electrode to form EC. Our study uncovers further reaction pathways and underscores the unique properties of EC and VC, both individually and in combination, and elucidates their roles in influencing the formation process in Li-ion batteries.

The potential of two-dimensional MXenes as electrodes in supercapacitor applications has been studied extensively. However, the role of chemical and magnetic disorder in their electrochemical parameters, e.g., capacitance, has not been explored yet. In this work, we have systematically addressed this for V2−xMnxCO2 MXene solid solutions with an analysis based upon the results from first-principles electronic structure calculations. We find that the variations in the total capacitance over a voltage window depend on the degree of chemical and magnetic disorder. In the course of our investigation, it was also found that the magnetic structure on the surface can substantially influence the redox charge transfer, an as yet unexplored phenomenon. A significantly large charge transfer and thus a large capacitance can be obtained by manipulating the chemical composition and the magnetic order of the surfaces. These findings can be useful in designing operational supercapacitor electrodes with magnetic constituents.

Chemodynamic therapy (CDT) is an emerging treatment strategy that inhibits tumor growth by catalyzing the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as hydroxyl radicals (center dot OH), using specific nanomaterials. Herein, we have developed a new class of iron-based nanomaterials, i.e., iron-based borides (FeB), using the superchaotropic effect of a boron cluster (closo-[B12H1212-) and organic ligands, followed by high-temperature calcination. Experimental data and theoretical calculations revealed that FeB nanoparticles exhibit a Fentonlike effect, efficiently decomposing hydrogen peroxide into center dot OH and thus increasing the concentration of ROS. FeB nanomaterials demonstrate excellent catalytic performance, efficiently generate ROS, and exert significant antitumor effects in cell experiments and animal models. Therefore, FeB nanomaterials have

Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) of carbohydrates and biomass is a straightforward method for preparing hydrochars at low temperatures of 180-250 °C. Hydrochars are more carbonized than their precursors. Increasing the carbonization degree of hydrochars at hydrothermal temperatures is a scientific quest that is addressed in this thesis. Hydrochars are known to have a spherical or irregular morphology. Here we address thin film hydrochars for the first time. Hydrochars themselves are carbon precursors for preparing activated carbons. Activated carbons are porous materials that can be used for gas adsorption applications. In this thesis, enhanced adsorption of VOCs at low pressures is addressed by using iron phosphate impregnated activated carbons. Finaly, any chemical process or product including those in this thesis such as HTC, activation, hydrochar and activated carbons may contribute to the issue of environmental degradation positively or negatively. Such environmental impacts are addressed by life cycle assessment of processes of HTC and activation and their related products in the last paper of this thesis. Briefly mentioned, in my first study (Paper I), I focused on the HTC of glucose in the presence of iron (II) sulfate. By changing the concentration of iron (II) sulfate, with a catalytic amount, blue hydrochars were formed at the bottom of the autoclave. The blueness was related to thin film interference. The thin film hydrochars were more carbonized than spherical hydrochars and the yield of HTC has increased in the presence of iron (II) sulfate. The second study (Paper II) is focused on the activation of hydrochars with H3PO4 and H3PO4+FeCl3. We showed that ultramicroporosity and impregnated iron phosphate species enhance the adsorption of VOCs at low pressure. The ACs were impregnated with Fe (PO3)2 and it was shown that Fe (PO3)2 acts as an activation agent which opens up for future studies. In the third study (Paper III), H3PO4-activated carbons were p

Lignin, a natural polyphenolic compound of wood, holds promise as a green alternative to fossil resources given the current environmental concerns. However, its complex structure and limited usability have impeded widespread use of lignin in biobased materials. This thesis is focused on employing a series of chemistries and techniques that facilitate lignin utilization in a variety of applications ranging from bulk materials to colloidal particles. Lignin-based vitrimers, developed by a one pot, catalyst-free click addition of poly(ethylene glycol) divinyl ether to softwood kraft lignin and formation of dynamic acetal exchange network showed excellent performance as recoverable adhesives, reaching lab shear strengths of 2.6 MPa and 6.0 MPa for wood and aluminum substrates, respectively. Stabilized lignin nanoparticles synthesized by hydrothermal crosslinking of hydroxymethylated lignin nanoparticles showed an excellent colloidal stability in organic solvents such as ethanol, acetone, dimethylformamide, and tetrahydrofuran, and aqueous media (3 < pH < 12). These stabilized lignin nanoparticles were subjected to direct surface modification in colloidal state to develop aminated pH-responsive particles. Stabilized lignin nanoparticles, preserving redox activity, showed a capacity in reducing silver ions, forming hybrid lignin-silver nanoparticles for applications such as hydrogen peroxide colloidal sensors. Interaction of silver ions and stabilized lignin nanoparticles contributed to the emergence of discrete patterns of silver in lignin nanoparticle embedded hydrogels. The location and distance of the discrete patterns can be modified by altering the particle size and concentration. Furthermore, redox activity of stabilized lignin nanoparticles, hydroxymethylated lignin nanoparticles and unmodified lignin nanoparticles with different particle sizes (90 nm, 150 nm, 640 nm) were studied in charge storage applications in organic poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) pol

Nanoparticles extracted from plants or textile waste are promising candidates for the design of sustainable materials. In this thesis, I explored how nanoparticles extracted from trees and from Kevlar and cotton textile wastes can be processed to form lightweight composite foams. The heat transfer and other functional properties such as electromagnetic shielding have been related to the structure, composition, and processing of the composite foams. Specifically, upcycled aramid nanofibers (upANFA) with a small diameter were derived from Kevlar yarn. The upANFA could be combined with wood-based cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) to produce moisture-resilient anisotropic foams with a very low thermal conductivity perpendicular to the aligned nanofibrils. The very low radial thermal conductivity was related to the strong interfacial phonon scattering between the very thin upANFA and CNF in the hybrid foam walls. Aqueous dispersions of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) and cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) were used to form anisotropic foams with an anisotropic heat transport and orientation-dependent electromagnetic interference shielding efficiency (EMI-SE). The low-density (31 kg m–3) CNC-MWCNT hybrid foams with 22 wt% MWCNT were mechanically robust along the axial direction (Young’s Modulus of 1200 kPa). The foams displayed an absorption-dominated EMI-SE of up to 41–48 dB and transferred heat favorably along the axial direction compared to the radial, meaning that this material could be useful in devices that require directional heat management and electromagnetic shielding. A novel wet-foaming with subsequent freeze-casting process was developed to produce air- and ice-templated foams based on methylcellulose, CNF, and tannic acid. The air- and ice-templated foams displayed a high specific compression stiffness compared with other CNF-based materials while maintaining good insulation properties. Hybrid foams based on CNC extruded from cotton textile waste and wood-based

This study investigated growth of carbon nanofibers (CNF) using hydrogen (H2) gas on a porous titanium substrate. The target is uniform coverage of vertically aligned CNFs on the substrate, with length of a few micrometers, to produce a surface area enhancement – the intended application of this structure is as a catalyst support. CNFs were synthesized in a plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) reactor using acetylene (C2H2) and H2. The impact of the gas ratio and temperature was studied for two catalysts, Ni and Fe. Initially, vertically aligned CNF growth using the Fe catalyst was observed with high density of CNFs (1.6·1010 fibers/cm2), average length of around 146 nm and uniform coverage over the substrate after a 15 minute growth process. However, later the reproducibility came into question with the observation of a different growth regime, distinguished by the presence of film growth on the samples and significantly lower density. A few observations possibly related to the governing dynamics behind these two growth regimes are discussed. The CNF morphology was elucidated, and it was found that the fibers grown appear to have a core-shell Fe/carbon nanotube (CNT) morphology with an elongated catalyst particle core. The Ni-catalyzed growth was unsuccessful while Fe-catalyzed growth shows promise, with some remaining issues regarding reproducibility and growth rate. This study has provided a basis to suggest a few reasonable routes towards improving these issues. These include studying the plasma parameters and the catalyst particle adhesion to the substrate., Det här projektet har handlat om att utveckla ett sett att använda vätgas i ”receptet” för att tillverka kolnanofibrer. Dessa kan sedan användas för att effektivisera framställningen av grön vätgas. Grön vätgas är centralt när det kommer till hållbar omställning inom flera olika industrier. De stora satsningarna på grönt stål i Sverige är till exempel beroende av grön vätgas, likaså behövs den gröna vätgasen inom områden som bränsle för långväga transporter, hållbart konstgödsel med flera. En lovande metod för att tillverka grön vätgas är protonutbytesmembran-elektrolys, denna metod står inför en stor utmaning då den sällsynta metallen iridium är central i tekniken. Den är så pass sällsynt att utan mer effektiv användning kommer dagens fyndigheter inte att räcka till. Här kan kolnanofibrerna komma till nytta. Samma mängd vätgas kan produceras med en mindre mängd iridium genom att placera metallen på en nanostruktur som ökar kontakten med nästa lager i elektrolysören. Vad är en kolnanofiber då? Tanken går lätt till kolfibrer som används i många lättviktsmaterial, till exempel sport-cyklar. Skillnaden är att kolnanofibrer är betydligt mindre och består av en mer ordnad struktur. Kolatomerna som bygger upp fibrerna binder alla till tre grannar och bildar lager av kol - ett sådant isolerat lager är vad som kallas grafen, ett material som fått mycket uppmärksamhet för sina unika egenskaper. I en kolnanofiber är flera lager i stället ordnade som, till exempel, många i varandra staplade koner eller flera ihoprullade lager. Dessa fibrer är ofta några tiotals nanometer i diameter och några mikrometer långa. Som jämförelse är de ca 50 000 gånger smalare än ett hårstrå. För att få kolnanofibrer att växa används ofta en process med två gaser, en kolbärande gas och en gas vars syfte är att hindra konkurrerande processer genom att etsa bort mindre välordnade kolstrukturer - denna roll fyller typiskt ammoniak och mitt projekt har handlat om att visa att användning av vätgas kan va

Super-oxidized porous carbons produced from reduced graphene oxide have been demonstrated recently to show unique sorption properties. Here we report experiments with identical oxidative treatment applied to four very different types of porous carbon materials with extremely broad range of specific surface area (SSA) ∼350–3400 m2g−1. It is demonstrated that KOH-activated carbons can be oxidized to the same degree as graphene oxide (GO) while preserving a larger part of SSA. Prolonged oxidation with ammonium persulfate resulted in extraordinary high degree of oxidation with C/O ratio reaching 2.1. Precursor carbons with largest share of micropores are found to be more stable against oxidative treatment, while single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT's) are oxidized to much less extent. While mesopores collapse, micropores survive strong oxidation treatment providing materials with rather narrow pore size distribution and high (for given oxidation degree) BET SSA up to ∼1150 m2g−1. Super-oxidized porous carbons (SOPC's) show a high abundance of hydroxyl, epoxide, carbonyl, and carboxyl functional groups (similar to GO). As a result of oxidation, the hydrophobic carbons are converted into hydrophilic materials. Characterization shows that many properties of SOPC (e.g. degree of oxidation, type of functional groups, thermal stability etc.) are rather similar to GO, except for three-dimensional porous structure which can be considered an advantage for sorbent applications. SOPC's demonstrate superior sorption capacity for Cu(II) (up to ∼105 mgg−1), which is 8-fold higher than the value for non-oxidized precursor.

Synchrotron radiation X-ray diffraction (XRD) with nanoscale beam size was used here for in situ and in operando study of micro-supercapacitors (MSC) with gel electrolyte and MXene Ti3C2Tx electrodes. The electrode structure was characterized as a function of applied voltage and distance from the gap separating electrodes using microscopic cells with cylindrical shape designed for transmission mode XRD. The devices with gel electrolytes based on H2SO4 (with H2O/PVA and DMSO/PVA) showed stable performance with no changes in MXene structure under voltage swaps between positive and negative values. Experiments with KI-based electrolytes demonstrated changes of MXene structure correlated with decrease of energy storage parameters under conditions of increased operation voltage starting from 0.8 V. The optimal performance of the MSCs was observed when the MXene structure remained unchanged upon switching the applied voltage polarity. The changes of inter-layer distance of MXene upon swap of applied voltage correlate with decrease of device performance and are undesirable for stable operation of MSC's. We also tested feasibility of X-ray fluorescence (XRF) for characterization of electrolyte ion migration in MSCs using 2D element mapping. Irreversible sorption of iodine by MXene was found using XRF mapping of charged electrodes using standard in-plane MSC device and KI electrolyte.

Carbon dots (CDs) are an emerging class of nanomaterials with attractive optical properties, which promise to enable a variety of applications. An important and timely question is whether CDs can become a functional and sustainable alternative to incumbent optical nanomaterials, notably inorganic quantum dots. Herein, the current CD literature is comprehensively reviewed as regards to their synthesis and function, with a focus on sustainability aspects. The study quantifies why it is attractive that CDs can be synthesized with biomass as the sole starting material and be free from toxic and precious metals and critical raw materials. It further describes and analyzes employed pretreatment, chemical-conversion, purification, and processing procedures, and highlights current issues with the usage of solvents, the energy and material efficiency, and the safety and waste management. It is specially shown that many reported synthesis and processing methods are concerningly wasteful with the utilization of non-sustainable solvents and energy. It is finally recommended that future studies should explicitly consider and discuss the environmental influence of the selected starting material, solvents, and generated byproducts, and that quantitative information on the required amounts of solvents, consumables, and energy should be provided to enable an evaluation of the presented methods in an upscaled sustainability context., This article also appears in:Hot Topic: Biomass UpgradingHot Topic: Carbon, Graphite, and Graphene

Electrochemical water splitting powered by renewable energy sources hold potential for clean hydrogen production. However, there is still persistent challenges such as low solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency and sluggish oxygen evolution reactions. Here, we address the poor kinetics by studying and strengthening the coupling between Ce and W, and concurrently establishing Ce-W bi-atomic clusters on P,N-doped carbon (WN/WC-CeO2−x@PNC) with a “treasure-bowl” style. The bifunctional active sites are established using a novel and effective self-sacrificial strategy involving in situ induced defect formation. In addition, by altering the coupling of the W(d)-N(p) and W(d)-Ce(f) orbitals in the WN/WC-CeO2−x supramolecular clusters, we are able to disrupt the linear relationship between the binding energies of reaction intermediates, a key to obtain high catalytic performance for transition metals. Through the confinement of the WN/WC-CeO2−x composite hetero-clusters within the sub-nanometre spaces of hollow nano-bowl-shaped carbon reactors, a stable and efficient hydrogen production via water electrolysis could be achieved. When assembled together with a solar GaAs triple junction solar cell, a solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency of 18.92% in alkaline media could be realized. We show that the key to establish noble metal free catalysts with high efficiency lies in the fine-tuning of the metal-metal interface, forming regions with near optimal adsorption energies for the reaction intermediates participating in water electrolysis.

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), in which lithium ions function as charge carriers, are considered the most competitive energy storage devices due to their high energy and power density. However, battery materials, especially with high capacity undergo side reactions and changes that result in capacity decay and safety issues. A deep understanding of the reactions that cause changes in the battery's internal components and the mechanisms of those reactions is needed to build safer and better batteries. This review focuses on the processes of battery failures, with voltage and temperature as the underlying factors. Voltage-induced failures result from anode interfacial reactions, current collector corrosion, cathode interfacial reactions, overcharge, and overdischarge, while temperature-induced failure mechanisms include SEI decomposition, separator damage, and interfacial reactions between electrodes and electrolytes. The review also presents protective strategies for controlling these reactions. As a result, the reader is offered a comprehensive overview of the safety features and failure mechanisms of various LIB components.

Metal-assisted chemical etching (MACE) is a cheap and scalable method that is commonly used to obtain silicon nano- or microwires but lacks spatial control. Herein, we present a synthesis method for producing vertical and highly periodic silicon microwires, using displacement Talbot lithography before wet etching with MACE. The functionalized periodic silicon microwires show 65% higher PEC performance and 2.3 mA/cm2 higher net photocurrent at 0 V compared to functionalized, randomly distributed microwires obtained by conventional MACE at the same potentials.

The commercialization of lithium -sulfur (Li -S) batteries faces several challenges, including poor conductivity, unexpected volume expansion, and continuous sulfur loss from the cathode due to redox shuttling. In this study, we introduce a novel polymer via a simple cross -linking between poly(ether-thioureas) (PETU) and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)- poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) as a bifunctional binder for Li -S batteries (devotes as "PPTU"). Compared to polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), as -prepared PPTU exhibits significantly higher electrical conductivity, facilitating electrochemical reactions. Additionally, PPTU demonstrates effective adsorption of lithium polysulfides, leading to improved cycling stability by suppressing the shuttling effect. We investigate this behavior by monitoring morphological changes at the cell interface using synchrotron X-ray tomography. Cells with PPTU binders exhibit remarkable rate performance, desired reversibility, and excellent cycling stability even under stringent bending and twisting conditions. Our work represents promising progress in functional polymer binder development for Li -S batteries. (c) 2024 Science Press and Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Published by ELSEVIER B.V. and Science Press. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

Hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (HAXPES) was used to perform a non-destructive depth profile of AlCrNbYZrNx (x = 0 to ∼50 at.%) thin films. The outermost native oxide of the pristine thin films contained the highest coordination oxides of every metal. Substoichiometric oxides or oxynitrides were found underneath. After exposure to 1.0 M HCl, increases in the most highly coordinated oxides of Cr, Nb, and Al in films with up to 37 at.% N were observed, suggesting that the low coordination oxides and oxynitrides in the subsurface had been further oxidised and were intermediary compounds in the passivation process. Al and Y oxides were lost to the HCl electrolyte, in agreement with their respective Pourbaix diagrams. The film with 49 at.% N showed little to no change in the data due to its high porosity which led to the oxide being detected at all probed depths. The metal core level spectra revealed a preferential order in which nitrogen bonded with the different metals. Nitrogen interacted first with Y, then Zr, then Al and Nb, and lastly Cr as the nitrogen content was increased.

The thermal stability of stoichiometric Ti0.12Al0.21B0.67 thin films synthesized by magnetron sputtering was investigated by vacuum annealing at 1000°C for 1 and 3 h. The as-deposited and post-annealed films were compared regarding changes in chemical composition, phase formation, and morphology. X-ray diffraction (XRD) data indicate the formation of a single-phase solid solution in the as-deposited Ti0.12Al0.21B0.67 thin film. After annealing for 1 h, scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), energy-dispersive X-ray mapping (EDX), and atom probe tomography (APT) investigations reveal segregation into Al- and Ti-rich (Ti,Al)B2 domains, consistent with spinodal decomposition. Furthermore, the formation of AlB12 with a concomitant reduction in Al concentration from 20.9 to 16.8 at. %, likely by evaporation, indicate the decomposition of Al-rich (Ti,Al)B2 domains during annealing for 1 h. Analysis of the film after annealing for 3 h shows evidence for continued spinodal decomposition as well as for further decomposition of Al-rich (Ti,Al)B2 domains, leading besides the formation of AlB12 to a reduction in Al concentration to 12.5 at. % by Al evaporation. The observed phase formation trend during in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies at 1100 degrees C is consistent with the above discussed decomposition processes. The here identified thermal stability limit, revealed with spatially resolved structure and composition probes, confines the application temperature range of Ti0.12Al0.21B0.67 in vacuum to temperatures <1000°C and underlines that thermal stability investigations solely based on XRD data result in an overestimated thermal stability.

Refractory high-entropy alloys (HEAs) show promise for novel hydrogen storage technology, but addressing their limited gravimetric hydrogen storage capacity necessitates exploration of light alloying elements including Mg and Al. Here, we employ density-functional theory to investigate the hydrogen desorption energetics of Ti0.325V0.275Zr0.125Nb0.275 alloy and the impact of doping with Mg and Al. Our analysis reveals that Mg and Al addition thermodynamically destabilize the Ti0.325V0.275Zr0.125Nb0.275-hydride and lower its storage capacity. The observed destabilization is attributed to reduced chemical contributions to the desorption enthalpy in the Mg and Al-doped hydrides. Detailed examination of the electronic density of states, electron localization function, and crystal orbital Hamilton population analysis unveils fundamental features of chemical bonding in these hydrides. Notably, H-H antibonding states occur for hydrogen atoms located in the nearest-neighbor interstices of Mg and Al atoms. Charge transfer facilitates formation of these antibonding states. This comprehensive analysis enhances our understanding of the intricate interplay between electronic structure, hydrogen desorption energetics, and chemical bonding in HEA hydrides, offering valuable insights for the design and optimization of advanced hydrogen storage materials.

The construction of a thin, uniform, and robust solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) film on the surface of active materials is pivotal for enhancing the overall performance of lithium-ion batteries (LiBs). However, conventional electrolytes often fail to achieve the desired SEI characteristics. In this work, we introduced 1,3,6-hexanetrinitrile (HTCN) in the baseline electrolyte (BE) of 1.0 M LiPF6 in Ethylene Carbonate/Dimethyl Carbonate (EC/DMC) (3:7 by volume) with 5 wt.% fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC), denoted as BE-FH. By systematically investigating the influence of FEC: HTCN weight ratios on the electrochemical performance of graphite anodes, we identified an optimal composition (FEC:HTCN = 5:4 by weight, denoted as BE-FH54) that demonstrated greatly improved initial Coulombic efficiency, rate capability, and cycling stability compared with the baseline electrolyte. Deviations from the optimal FEC:HTCN ratio resulted in the formation of either small cracks or excessively thick SEI layers. The enhanced performance of BE-FH54-based LiB is mainly ascribed to the synergistic effect of FEC and HTCN in forming a robust, thin, homogeneous, and ion-conducting SEI. This research highlights the importance of rational electrolyte design in enhancing the electrochemical performance of graphite anodes in LiBs and provides insights into the role of nitrile-based additives in modulating the SEI properties.

We present an in-situ, depth-resolved and non-destructive approach to assess the chemical composition of titanium nitride (TiN) thin films during synthesis and controlled oxidation. Ion beam assisted deposition was used to deposit a TiN sample of approximately 120 nm thickness. The chemical composition was characterized in the deposition environment using non-destructive Rutherford/Elastic Backscattering Spectrometry (RBS/EBS), with a depth resolution of ca. 25 nm. The high sensitivity of the measurements to the non-metallic species was ensured by the use of elastic resonances. Analysis revealed a few percent oxygen incorporated in the films due to residual gases during growth. After deposition, the TiN film was exposed to oxygen at step-wise increasing temperatures, and the composition of the film was analyzed after every annealing step. The measurements provide a direct proof of inward oxidation with associated concentration gradients, starting with oxygen absorption without significant nitrogen release when using moderate annealing temperatures (250 -310 degrees C), where the oxygen content tends to saturation. At 710 degrees C, above the oxidation onset temperature, atomic composition data indicate N loss parallel to the O uptake. However, ex-situ transmission electron microscopy showed no evidence of any oxide phase, implying that oxidation starts without crystallite formation.

Implementation of fluorine-free electrolytes that are safer and more sustainable than the state-of-the-art highly fluorinated electrolytes requires a thorough understanding of the interphase formation process. This work investigates the effects of LiPF6- and lithium bis(oxalato)borate (LiBOB)-based electrolytes on the electrochemical performance and surface chemistry of graphite, silicon, and silicon-graphite composite electrodes. The LiBOB-based electrolyte degrades more with the presence of silicon in the electrode, and tends to form a thicker solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer compared to the LiPF6-based electrolyte. Different degradation distributions were also found in the graphite-silicon composite electrode: The LiPF6 degradation products tend to form on silicon, while the LiBOB degradation products preferentially form on carbon species. These results provide insights into the relationship between electrolytes and electrodes in terms of electrochemical performance, as well as SEI composition and morphology.

The Ti–B–N system offers a wide range of possible meta(stable) phases, making it interesting for science and industry. However, the solubility for B within the face-centered cubic (fcc)-TiN lattice is rather limited and less studied, especially without forming B-rich phases. Therefore, we address how chemistries along the TiN–TiB2 or TiN–TiB tie-line influence this B-solubility. The variation between these two tie-lines is realized through non-reactive co-sputtering of a TiN, TiB2, and Ti target. We show that for variations along the TiN–TiB tie-line, even 8.9 at.% B (equivalent to 19.3 at.% non-metal fractions) can fully be incorporated into the fcc-TiNy lattice without forming other B-containing phases. The combination of detailed microstructural characterization through X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy with ab initio calculations of fcc-Ti1-xNBx, fcc-TiN1-xBx, and fcc-TiN1-2xBx solid solutions indicates that B essentially substitutes N. The single-phase fcc-TiB0.17N0.69 (the highest B-containing sample along the TiN–TiB tie-line studied) exhibits the highest hardness H of 37.1±1.9 GPa combined with the highest fracture toughness KIC of 3.0±0.2 MPa·m1/2 among the samples studied. These are markedly above those of B-free TiN0.87 having H = 29.2±2.1 GPa and KIC = 2.7±<0.1 MPa·m1/2.