Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
3.6
2.7
Journals
Crystals
Special Issues
Macromolecular Crystalline Materials (MCMs) for Clean Energy and Green Environment
share announcement

Macromolecular Crystalline Materials (MCMs) for Clean Energy and Green Environment

A special issue of Crystals (ISSN 2073-4352). This special issue belongs to the section "Macromolecular Crystals".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2022) | Viewed by 11832

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Avishek Karmakar

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Drexel University, 19104 Philadelphia, USA
Interests: crystalline materials; metal–organic frameworks; supramolecular chemistry; structure–property correlation; host–guest chemistry; crystallography; energy; environment; sustainability
Dr. Samrat Ghosh

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Inorganic & Physical Chemistry, CSIR-CLRI, Chennai 600 020, India
Interests: covalent organic frameworks; hybrid framework materials; organic semiconductors; energy harvesting and storage materials

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Macromolecular crystalline materials (MCMs) have been at the forefront of chemistry and material science due to several advantages, such as structure–property correlation, intricate design, and tunable architectures. The synthesis and characterization of such inorganic, organic, and hybrid macromolecular crystalline materials prompts scientists to explore target-specific applications which could be useful from both an energy and environmental standpoint. Given the high energy demand and the impacts it has globally, routes for the quest for novel materials which could address this escalating issue are currently very significant. Additionally, several environmental issues such as air and water pollution, which includes wastewater treatment, air purification, etc., also need to be addressed for a sustainable future. In this regard, crystalline materials have emerged as one of the leading candidates in material science which have shown significant potential in tackling several key energy and environmental problems. Given their structural facets, scientists have the scope to design suitable crystalline materials which can then be used for multiple applications.

In this Special Issue we look at the progress of several inorganic, organic and hybrid MCMs, roads to the design and synthesis of unique materials, and finally their applications toward clean energy and a green environment.

Dr. Avishek Karmakar
Dr. Samrat Ghosh
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Crystals is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • crystalline materials
  • synthesis
  • structure–property correlation
  • energy-based application
  • environment

Published Papers (6 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

17 pages, 7474 KiB  
Article
Low-Cost Graphene-Based Composite Electrodes for Electrochemical Oxidation of Phenolic Dyes
by Marija Ječmenica Dučić, Aleksandar Krstić, Nikola Zdolšek, Danka Aćimović, Branislava Savić, Tanja Brdarić and Dragana Vasić Anićijević
Crystals 2023, 13(1), 125; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/cryst13010125 - 10 Jan 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1762
Abstract
Electrochemical removal of organic pollutants represents an attractive methodology in water depollution. The key challenges for researchers comprise finding simple, affordable electrode materials with satisfactory efficiency in all ranges of pollutant concentration. Electrochemical oxidation of a mixture of phenol-based dyes: bromocresol green (BCG), [...] Read more.
Electrochemical removal of organic pollutants represents an attractive methodology in water depollution. The key challenges for researchers comprise finding simple, affordable electrode materials with satisfactory efficiency in all ranges of pollutant concentration. Electrochemical oxidation of a mixture of phenol-based dyes: bromocresol green (BCG), cresol red (CR), and thymol blue (TB), in sulphate medium, at total concentration not exceeding 15 ppm, has been performed using simply prepared, low-cost composite electrodes, based on graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) and metallic oxides (TiO2 and SnO2) loaded on stainless steel substrate: GNP@SS, SnO2/GNP@SS, and TiO2/GNP@SS. Electrodes were characterised by XRD, FTIR, and electrochemical techniques. The degradation kinetics of initial dyes was tracked with UPLC and GC-MS chromatography for 6 h, at a current density of 10 mA/cm2. GC-MS analysis of the degradation products revealed oxidised aromatic compounds as the main products, while TOC analysis confirmed a total mineralisation extent in the range of 30–35%. The proposed degradation mechanism involves the attack of OH-radical, as the main oxidising agent, to the hydroxyl oxygens of dye phenolic rings. Obtained results provide useful information for the further development of affordable laboratory-scale and industrial systems for the complete removal of phenol-based compounds. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Macromolecular Crystalline Materials (MCMs) for Clean Energy and Green Environment)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 4988 KiB  
Article
Development and Testing of Zinc Oxide Embedded Sulfonated Poly (Vinyl Alcohol) Nanocomposite Membranes for Fuel Cells
by Ahmed Al Otaibi, Mallikarjunagouda B. Patil, Shwetarani B. Rajamani, Shridhar N. Mathad, Arun Y. Patil, M. K. Amshumali, Jilani Purusottapatnam Shaik, Abdullah M. Asiri and Anish Khan
Crystals 2022, 12(12), 1739; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/cryst12121739 - 01 Dec 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1764
Abstract
The sol-gel technique was adopted to synthesize the zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles. Nano-sized ZnO particles are embedded in-situ to the poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) matrix to form the nanocomposite polymeric membranes. The nanocomposite membranes were fabricated by varying concentration of ZnO nanoparticles of 2.5, [...] Read more.
The sol-gel technique was adopted to synthesize the zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles. Nano-sized ZnO particles are embedded in-situ to the poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) matrix to form the nanocomposite polymeric membranes. The nanocomposite membranes were fabricated by varying concentration of ZnO nanoparticles of 2.5, 5, and 10 wt.% in the base PVA membrane matrix. The membranes were crosslinked using tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) followed by hydrolysis and co-condensation. Immersion in a 2 molar sulphuric acid (H2SO4) bath produced sulfonated membranes. The membranes were characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The fabricated nano-composite membranes are being evaluated for proton exchange membrane fuel cell research (PEMFC). The computed test results demonstrate that increasing the concentration of ZnO in the membrane increased the ionic exchange capacity and proton conductivity efficiency of the nano-composite membranes. The incorporation of a quantum quantity of ZnO particles in the membrane improved the presentation in terms of proton conductivity characteristics. Membranes demonstrated excellent proton conductivity (10−2 S cm−1 range) while consuming less hydrogen gas. The highest measured proton conductivity is observed for 10 wt.% ZnO embedded PVA membrane and the value is 15.321 × 10−2 S cm−1 for 100% RH. The combination of ZnO and PVA nanocomposite membrane is a novel, next-generation eco-friendly method that is economical and convenient for large-scale commercial production in fuel cell applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Macromolecular Crystalline Materials (MCMs) for Clean Energy and Green Environment)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 2109 KiB  
Article
Method for the Determination of Solvent Sorption of Polylactic Acid and the Effect of Essential Oils on the Sorption Properties
by Lilla Virág, Róbert Bocsi and Dóra Pethő
Crystals 2022, 12(11), 1525; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/cryst12111525 - 27 Oct 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1080
Abstract
The investigation of the adsorption and diffusion properties of polylactic acid (PLA) is very important, because during the application of the polymer, interactions can occur between the polymer and its environment that can affect its properties and application. The aim of [...] Read more.
The investigation of the adsorption and diffusion properties of polylactic acid (PLA) is very important, because during the application of the polymer, interactions can occur between the polymer and its environment that can affect its properties and application. The aim of our work was to investigate a method for determining the solvent sorption capacity of PLA and to investigate how different additives, such as essential oils, affect the solvent sorption properties of the polymer. Experiments were carried out to explore the correlation between the solvent uptake of two different types of PLA granules and the solubility parameter of the selected 5 essential oils (Melissa officinalis, Mentha piperita, Foeniculum vulgare, Majorana hortensi, Thymus vulgaris) for 3 solvents. It was observed, that application of essential oils was changed the solvent uptake of the granules differently. While one granule solvent uptake decreased on average by 2–3 wt.%, the other increased by a similar amount. The difference of sorption capacity of pure and essential oil containing solvent were between 20–190%. The specific essential oil uptake was highest in solutions with a concentration of 2.00 mg/mL, about 2.00 mg EO/g PLA. In alcoholic solutions we observed a relation between the solvent uptake of PLA and the solubility parameter of the relevant essential oil. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Macromolecular Crystalline Materials (MCMs) for Clean Energy and Green Environment)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 5427 KiB  
Article
Optimal Polyethyleneimine Molecular Weight and Arrangement for Modification of γ-Cyclodextrin Metal Organic Frameworks (γ-CD-MOFs) for Post-Combustion CO2 Capture
by Corinne Watson, Dustin Lee, Amro El Badawy, Mohsen B. Kivy and Ajay Kathuria
Crystals 2022, 12(10), 1445; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/cryst12101445 - 13 Oct 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1982
Abstract
Modified γ-cyclodextrin metal organic frameworks (γ-CD-MOFs) are a promising eco-friendly sorbents for post-combustion CO2 capture. Polyethyleneimine (PEI) has been widely used for modifying MOFs to enhance their CO2 sorption capacity and selectivity through the introduction of CO2 selective amine groups. [...] Read more.
Modified γ-cyclodextrin metal organic frameworks (γ-CD-MOFs) are a promising eco-friendly sorbents for post-combustion CO2 capture. Polyethyleneimine (PEI) has been widely used for modifying MOFs to enhance their CO2 sorption capacity and selectivity through the introduction of CO2 selective amine groups. The main objective of this study was to determine the optimal PEI molecular weight and arrangement (linear or branched) to enhance γ-CD-MOF’s CO2 sorption capacity. γ-CD-MOFs were impregnated with linear as well as branched PEI with molecular weights of 600, 1200 or 10,000. The CO2 sorption capacity of the PEI-impregnated γ-CD-MOFs was determined using a quartz crystal microbalance assembly at CO2 partial pressures from 0.35–1.0 atm. Impregnation with 600 g/mole branched PEI achieved the highest CO2 sorption capacity of 0.9 mmole/g CO2 at 1 atm, followed by the linear PEI (0.12 mmol/g). Modification with the other branched PEI molecular weights did not achieve detectable CO2 sorption, likely because of pore blockage with the relatively larger PEI molecular weights, as demonstrated by molecular docking simulations. Furthermore, the control γ-CD-MOFs did not sorb CO2, likely because of the lower attraction forces between CO2 and the large pore volume of the unmodified MOFs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Macromolecular Crystalline Materials (MCMs) for Clean Energy and Green Environment)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 5632 KiB  
Article
Nanocrystalline Surface Layer of WO3 for Enhanced Proton Transport during Fuel Cell Operation
by Xiang Song, Weiqing Guo, Yuhong Guo, Naveed Mushtaq, M. A. K. Yousaf Shah, Muhammad Sultan Irshad, Peter D. Lund and Muhammad Imran Asghar
Crystals 2021, 11(12), 1595; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/cryst11121595 - 20 Dec 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2448
Abstract
High ionic conductivity in low-cost semiconductor oxides is essential to develop electrochemical energy devices for practical applications. These materials exhibit fast protonic or oxygen-ion transport in oxide materials by structural doping, but their application to solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) has remained a [...] Read more.
High ionic conductivity in low-cost semiconductor oxides is essential to develop electrochemical energy devices for practical applications. These materials exhibit fast protonic or oxygen-ion transport in oxide materials by structural doping, but their application to solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) has remained a significant challenge. In this work, we have successfully synthesized nanostructured monoclinic WO3 through three steps: co-precipitation, hydrothermal, and dry freezing methods. The resulting WO3 exhibited good ionic conductivity of 6.12 × 10−2 S cm−1 and reached an excellent power density of 418 mW cm−2 at 550 °C using as an electrolyte in SOFC. To achieve such a high ionic conductivity and fuel cell performance without any doping contents was surprising, as there should not be any possibility of oxygen vacancies through the bulk structure for the ionic transport. Therefore, laterally we found that the surface layer of WO3 is reduced to oxygen-deficient when exposed to a reducing atmosphere and form WO3−δ/WO3 heterostructure, which reveals a unique ionic transport mechanism. Different microscopic and spectroscopic methods such as HR-TEM, SEM, EIS, Raman, UV-visible, XPS, and ESR spectroscopy were applied to investigate the structural, morphological, and electrochemical properties of WO3 electrolyte. The structural stability of the WO3 is explained by less dispersion between the valence and conduction bands of WO3−δ/WO3, which in turn could prevent current leakage in the fuel cell that is essential to reach high performance. This work provides some new insights for designing high-ion conducting electrolyte materials for energy storage and conversion devices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Macromolecular Crystalline Materials (MCMs) for Clean Energy and Green Environment)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 2694 KiB  
Article
A Scalable Prototype by In Situ Polymerization of Biodegradables, Cross-Linked Molecular Mode of Vapor Transport, and Metal Ion Rejection for Solar-Driven Seawater Desalination
by Zhou Wei, Naila Arshad, Muhammad Sultan Irshad, Muhammad Idrees, Iftikhar Ahmed, Hongrong Li, Hummad Habib Qazi, Muhammad Yousaf, Lina Abdullah Alshahrani and Yuzheng Lu
Crystals 2021, 11(12), 1489; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/cryst11121489 - 01 Dec 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1815
Abstract
Water scarcity in mass populated areas has become a major global threat to the survival and sustainability of community life on earth, which needs the prompt attention of technological leadership. Solar evaporation has emerged as a renewable energy resource and a novel technique [...] Read more.
Water scarcity in mass populated areas has become a major global threat to the survival and sustainability of community life on earth, which needs the prompt attention of technological leadership. Solar evaporation has emerged as a renewable energy resource and a novel technique for clean water production and wastewater treatment. Indeed, mounting a scalable solar evaporator including high evaporation efficiency and thermal management remains a significant challenge. Herein, we demonstrate a self-floatable, ecofriendly polypyrrole/wood sponge-based (PPy@WS) steam generator. The low-cost and easy to fabricate evaporator system consists of a single-step in situ polymerization of a 2-D (two-dimensional) hydrophilic wood sponge abundantly available for commercialization. The as-prepared PPy@WS solar evaporator exhibits excellent wettability and is super hydrophilic (contact angle ∼ 0), salt-resistant, and has an excellent light absorption of ∼94% due to omnidirectional diffusion reflection in PPy Nanoparticles (NPs). The capacity of the PPy@WS evaporator to absorb broadband solar radiation and convert it into thermal energy has enabled it to achieve excellent surface temperature (38.6 °C). The accumulated heat can generate vapors at the rate of 1.62 kg·m−2·h−1 along with 93% photothermal conversion efficiency under one sun (1 kW·m−2). Moreover, the presented prototype possesses the capability to be installed directly without the use of any complex protocol to purify seawater or sewage with an efficient rejection ratio of primary metal ions present in seawater (approximately 100%). This simple fabrication process with renewable polymer resources and photothermal materials can serve as a practical model towards high-performance solar evaporation technology for water-stressed communities in remote areas. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Macromolecular Crystalline Materials (MCMs) for Clean Energy and Green Environment)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-6
Back to TopTop