Because plastics are cheap and light, their use is indispensable in our daily lives. However, the extensive use of plastics causes the disposal issue. Among various disposal processes, plastic recycling is of great attention because of minimizing waste and harmful byproducts. Herein, we recycle the most popular thermoplastic materials, high-density and low-density polyethylene, producing the anode materials for the Li-ion batteries. The electrochemical properties of the as-recycled soft carbon are investigated to study the energy storage capability as the anode of Li-ion batteries. Our work demonstrates the soft carbon recycled from plastic wastes is a promising anode material.
In this study, an evaluation system that can be used to evaluate the feasibility of developing and supplying hydrothermal energy for the operation of large-scale complex facilities was developed. To this end, this study derived factors to be considered when selecting a location for the use of hydrothermal energy using raw water from multi-purpose dams and regional water supply systems through literature survey and expert interviews. The evaluation indicators derived from this study are divided into four sectors: hydrothermal energy utilization factors, location factors, planning factors, and disaster safety factors, and are composed of 10 mid-level indicators and 34 detailed planning indicators. The relative importance of all factors was derived using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) technique, and the developed evaluation indicators and relative importance were applied to four multi-purpose dam regions in the country. As a result, it was found that in the development and use of hydrothermal energy utilizing regional raw water supply line the urban planning conditions of the supply site can have a greater impact on the location selection results than the hydrothermal energy development itself. Due to the characteristics of the evaluation indicators developed in this study and their nature as comprehensive indicators, it is believed that the results should be applied to determine the overall adequacy of site selection in the early stages of hydrothermal energy development. In the future, it is believed that it will be necessary to analyze the problems in supplying and operating hydrothermal energy using raw water from multi-purpose dams and regional water resources. Based on the analysis the evaluation system developed in this study is expected to be improved and supplemented.
Porous graphene oxide (P-GO) was successfully synthesized by using a simple glucose mediated hydrothermal method form prepared graphene oxide (GO). Then the P-GO was characterized by X-ray Powder Diffraction (XRD), Fourier-Transform Infrared (FITR), Raman, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) analysis to determine the crystallinity, surface functionality, surface defect, surface area and porous nature of the material. For the comparative properties studies with P-GO, the synthesised GO was also characterised using the aforementioned analytical techniques. The formation of macroporous 2D sheet-like structure of P-GO with pore size diameters of 0.2–0.5 μm was confirmed by FESEM and TEM images. The surface area of P-GO was found to be 1272 m2/ g which is much higher compare to GO (i.e., 172 m2/ g) because of porous structure. P-GO was used for the adsorptive removal of F− ions from water using batch adsorption method. The highest adsorption occurs in the pH range of 5–7 with maximum adsorption capacity of 1272 mg/g. The experimental data revealed that the adsorption process obeys Langmuir monolayer isotherm model. The kinetic analysis revealed that the adsorption procedure is extremely rapid and mainly fit to the Pseudo-second-order (PSO) model. The effect of co-existing ions on fluoride adsorption capacity by P-GO decreases in the following order: PO4 3− > CO3 2− > SO4 2− > HCO3 − > NO3 − > Cl−. The mechanism of adsorption of fluoride onto the P-GO surface includes electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bonding.
A thermochemical conversion method known as hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) is appealing, because it may convert wet biomass directly into energy and chemicals without the need for pre-drying. The hydrochar solid product’s capacity to prepare precursors of activated carbon has attracted attention. HTC has been utilized to solve practical issues and produce desired carbonaceous products on a variety of generated wastes, including municipal solid waste, algae, and sludge in addition to the typically lignocellulose biomass used as sustainable feedstock. This study aims to assess the in-depth description of hydrothermal carbonization, highlighting the most recent findings with regard to the technological mechanisms and practical advantages. The process parameters, which include temperature, water content, pH, and retention time, determine the characteristics of the final products. The right setting of parameters is crucial, since it significantly affects the characteristics of hydrothermal products and opens up a range of opportunities for their use in multiple sectors. Findings reveal that the type of precursor, retention time, and temperature at which the reaction is processed were discovered to be the main determinants of the HTC process. Lower solid products are produced at higher temperatures; the carbon concentration rises, while the hydrogen and oxygen content declines. Current knowledge gaps, fresh views, and associated recommendations were offered to fully use the HTC technique's enormous potential and to provide hydrochar with additional useful applications in the future.
Biomass carbon materials with high rate capacity have great potential to boost supercapacitors with cost effective, fast charging– discharging performance and high safety requirements, yet currently suffers from a lack of targeted preparation methods. Here we propose a facile FeCl3 assisted hydrothermal carbonization strategy to prepare ultra-high rate biomass carbon from apple residues (ARs). In the preparation process, ARs were first hydrothermally carbonized into a porous precursor which embedded by Fe species, and then synchronously graphitized and activated to form biocarbon with a large special surface area (2159.3 m2 g− 1) and high degree of graphitization. The material exhibited a considerable specific capacitance of 297.5 F g− 1 at 0.5 A g− 1 and outstanding capacitance retention of 85.7% at 10 A g− 1 in 6 M KOH, and moreover, achieved an energy density of 16.2 Wh kg− 1 with the power density of 350.3 W kg− 1. After 8000 cycles, an initial capacitance of 95.2% was maintained. Our findings provide a new idea for boosting the rate capacity of carbon-based electrode materials.
Combination of liquid-phase exfoliation and hydrothermal method has progressed in recent years mainly on production of 2D materials. In this study, graphene was successfully synthesized via combinatorial of liquid-phase exfoliation and hydrothermal method with the aid of various conductive surfactants perylene-3, 4, 9, 10-tetracarboxylate (PTCA), lithium perylene-3, 4, 9, 10-tetracarboxylate (LiPTCA) and sodium perylene-3, 4, 9, 10-tetracarboxylate (NaPTCA). The effect of the lithium ( Li+) and sodium ( Na+) cations toward the efficiency of the graphene exfoliation process and its electrical properties was thoroughly investigated. Based on the characterization techniques, it is revealed that NaPTCA is the ideal conductive surfactant to exfoliate graphene sheets. X-ray diffraction spectra verified that the Na+ cation certainly can enhance the exfoliation process by expanding the interlayer spacing. The lateral size of the graphene sheets with Na-PTCA surfactant was the smallest (4.17 μm) as observed from SEM micrograph. The maximum concentration of the graphene yield was achieved up to 0.151 mgmL− 1 in NaPTCA surfactant alongside with excellent electrical conductivity of 746.27 Sm− 1 and relevant specific capacitance of 129 Fg− 1.
Tin-antimony sulfide nanocomposites were prepared via hydrothermal synthesis and a N2 reduction process for use as a negative electrode in a sodium ion battery. The electrochemical energy storage performance of the battery was analyzed according to the tin-antimony composition. The optimized sulfides exhibited superior charge/discharge capacity (770 mAh g-1 at a current density of 100 mA g-1) and stable lifespan characteristics (71.2 % after 200 cycles at a current density of 500 mA g-1). It exhibited a reversible characteristic, continuously participating in the charge-discharge process. The improved electrochemical energy storage performance and cycle stability was attributed to the small particle size, by controlling the composition of the tin-antimony sulfide. By optimizing the tin-antimony ratio during the synthesis process, it did not deviate from the solubility limit. Graphene oxide also acts to suppress volume expansion during reversible electrochemical reaction. Based on these results, tin-antimony sulfide is considered a promising anode material for a sodium ion battery used as a medium-to-large energy storage source.
One-dimensional (1D) piezoelectric nanostructures are attractive candidates for energy generation because of their excellent piezoelectric properties attributed to their high aspect ratios and large surface areas. Vertically grown BaTiO3 nanotube (NT) arrays on conducting substrates are intensively studied because they can be easily synthesized with excellent uniformity and anisotropic orientation. In this study, we demonstrate the synthesis of 1D BaTiO3 NT arrays on a conductive Ti substrate by electrochemical anodization and sequential hydrothermal reactions. Subsequently, we explore the effect of hydrothermal reaction conditions on the piezoelectric energy conversion efficiency of the BaTiO3 NT arrays. Vertically aligned TiO2 NT arrays, which act as the initial template, are converted into BaTiO3 NT arrays using hydrothermal reaction with various concentrations of the Ba source and reaction times. To validate the electrical output performance of the BaTiO3 NT arrays, we measure the electricity generated from each NT array packaged with a conductive metal foil and epoxy under mechanical pushings. The generated output voltage signals from the BaTiO3 NT arrays increase with increasing concentration of the Ba source and reaction time. These results provide a new strategy for fabricating advanced 1D piezoelectric nanostructures by demonstrating the correlation between hydrothermal reaction conditions and piezoelectric output performance.
Magnesium hydroxide sulfate hydrate (MHSH) whiskers were synthesized via a hydrothermal reaction by using MgO as the reactant as well as the acid solution. The effects of the H2SO4 amount and reaction time at the same temperature were studied. In general, MHSH whiskers were prepared using MgSO4 in aqueous ammonia. In this work, to reduce the formation of impurities and increase the purity of MHSH, we employed a synthesis technique that did not require the addition of a basic solution. Furthermore, the pH value, which was controlled by the H2SO4 amount, acted as an important factor for the formation of high-purity MHSH. MgO was used as the raw material because it easily reacts in water and forms Mg+ and MgOH+ ions that bind with SO4 2- ions to produce MHSH. Their morphologies and structures were determined using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
In the present investigation we show the effect of Al doping on the length, size, shape, morphology, and sensing property of ZnO nanorods. Effect of Al doping ultimately leads to tuning of electrical and optical properties of ZnO nanorods. Undoped and Al-doped well aligned ZnO nanorods are grown on sputtered ZnO/SiO2/Si (100) pre-grown seed layer substrates by hydrothermal method. The molar ratio of dopant (aluminium nitrate) in the solution, [Al/Zn], is varied from 0.1 % to 3 %. To extract structural and microstructural information we employ field emission scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction techniques. The prepared ZnO nanorods show preferred orientation of ZnO <0001> and are well aligned vertically. The effects of Al doping on the electrical and optical properties are observed by Hall measurement and photoluminescence spectroscopy, respectively, at room temperature. We observe that the diameter and resistivity of the nanorods reach their lowest levels, the carrier concentration becomes high, and emission peak tends to approach the band edge emission of ZnO around 0.5% of Al doping. Sensing behavior of the grown ZnO nanorod samples is tested for H2 gas. The 0.5 mol% Al-doped sample shows highest sensitivity values of ~ 60 % at 250 ˚C and ~ 50 % at 220 ˚C.
MoO3 metal oxide nanostructure was formed by hydrothermal synthesis, and a perovskite solar cell with an MoO3 hole transfer layer was fabricated and evaluated. The characteristics of the MoO3 thin film were analyzed according to the change of hydrothermal synthesis temperature in the range of 100 ℃ to 200 ℃ and mass ratio of AMT : nitric acid of 1 : 3 ~ 15 wt%. The influence on the photoelectric conversion efficiency of the solar cell was evaluated. Nanorod-shaped MoO3 thin films were formed in the temperature range of 150 ℃ to 200 ℃, and the chemical bonding and crystal structure of the thin films were analyzed. As the amount of nitric acid added increased, the thickness of the thin film decreased. As the thickness of the hole transfer layer decreased, the photoelectric conversion efficiency of the perovskite solar cell improved. The maximum photoelectric conversion efficiency of the perovskite solar cell having an MoO3 thin film was 4.69 % when the conditions of hydrothermal synthesis were 150 ℃ and mass ratio of AMT : nitric acid of 1 : 12 wt%.
Iron oxides currently attract considerable attention due to their potential applications in the fields of lithiumion batteries, bio-medical sensors, and hyperthermia therapy materials. Magnetite (Fe3O4) is a particularly interesting research target due to its low cost, good biocompatibility, outstanding stability in physiological conditions. Hydrothermal synthesis is one of several liquid-phase synthesis methods with water or an aqueous solution under high pressure and high temperature. This paper reports the growth of magnetic Fe3O4 particles from iron powder (spherical, <10 μm) through an alkaline hydrothermal process under the following conditions: (1) Different KOH molar concentrations and (2) different synthesis time for each KOH molar concentrations. The optimal condition for the synthesis of Fe3O4 using Fe powders is hydrothermal oxidation with 6.25 M KOH for 48 h, resulting in 89.2 emu/g of saturation magnetization at room temperature. The structure and morphologies of the synthesized particles are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD, 2θ = 20°–80°) with Cu-kα radiation and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), respectively. The magnetic properties of magnetite samples are investigated using a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The role of KOH in the formation of magnetite octahedron is observed.
Spherical Li3V2(PO4)3 (LVP) and carbon-coated LVP with a monoclinic phase for the cathode materials are synthesized by a hydrothermal method using N2H4 as the reducing agent and saccharose as the carbon source. The results show that single phase monoclinic LVP without impurity phases such as LiV(P2O7), Li(VO)(PO4) and Li3(PO4) can be obtained after calcination at 800 oC for 4 h. SEM and TEM images show that the particle sizes are 0.5~2 μm and the thickness of the amorphous carbon layer is approximately 3~4 nm. CV curves for the test cell are recorded in the potential ranges of 3.0~4.3 V and 3.0~4.8 V at a scan rate of 0.01 mV s–1 and at room temperature. At potentials between 3.0 and 4.8 V, the third Li+ ions from the carbon-coated LVP can be completely extracted, at voltages close to 4.51 V. The carbon-coated LVP exhibits an initial specific discharge capacity of 118 mAh g–1 in the voltage region of 3.0 to 4.3 V at a current rate of 0.2 C. The results indicate that the reducing agent and carbon source can affect the crystal structure and electrochemical properties of the cathode materials.