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Porous Materials for Energy and Environment

A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 December 2021) | Viewed by 18189

Special Issue Editors

ACLabs—Applied Chemistry Labs, Department of Chemical, Materials and Industrial Production Engineering, University of Naples Federico II, P.le V. Tecchio 80, 80125 Naples, Italy
Interests: materials engineering; porous materials; zeolites; construction materials; hybrid foams; geopolymers; sustainable building materials; material recycling
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Department of Chemical, Material and Industrial Production Engineering, Naples, Italy
Interests: materials engineering, nanoporous materials, zeolites, MOFs, adsorption, ion exchange, energy storage, environmental sustainability

Special Issue Information

Dear colleagues,

The use of porous materials is deeply rooted in the history of humanity. Since ancient times, pumices, tuff, natural sponges, cork, and many other porous materials of different natures have been extensively used as building blocks, insulators, and absorbents. As a matter of fact, porosity, either closed or open, is a characteristic that strongly defines the properties of a given material, such as its density, specific surface, specific mechanical properties, thermal conductivity, acoustic impedance, and even its permeability to gases and liquids. A properly engineered porous material, for instance, can provide the same performance as its bulk counterpart, but for a fraction of the weight, which is crucial for its application in automotive aerospace fields.

Moreover, peculiar classes of intrinsically microporous materials, such as zeolites, discovered by Cronsted in the XVIII century, have been pivotal in the development of many modern technologies, including oil refining, and environmental remediation. Their highly specific surface, together with their functional properties as adsorbents, ion exchangers, and catalysts, makes them an ideal candidate to perform numerous tasks otherwise very difficult to accomplish.

Nowadays, there are several suitable methods either to induce tunable porosity with the desired size and topology in bulk materials or to synthesize novel porous materials (like MOFs) with huge specific surfaces. These materials could potentially solve some of the most urgent technological challenges of the modern world, such as energy storage and environmental remediation.

In summary, porosity can be regarded as a very interesting way to make the most out of the bulk of matter: this Special Issue will therefore focus on the many applications where porous materials, either structural or functional, have good performance, with special attention paid to the role they could play in preserving and restoring our environment.

We invite you to submit your contribution for this Special Issue. Full papers, communications, and reviews are all welcome. Papers reporting about novel characterization techniques will be also considered for publication.

Dr. Barbara Liguori
Dr. Paolo Aprea
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. Materials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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

  • Porous materials
  • Characterization techniques
  • Sustainable construction materials
  • Foams and foaming
  • Functional porous materials
  • Energy harvesting and storage
  • Environmental remediation
  • Zeolites
  • MOFs

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

11 pages, 6224 KiB  
Article
Improving the Conductivity of the PEDOT:PSS Layers in Photovoltaic Cells Based on Organometallic Halide Perovskites
by Yuliya Spivak, Ekaterina Muratova, Vyacheslav Moshnikov, Alexander Tuchkovsky, Igor Vrublevsky and Nikita Lushpa
Materials 2022, 15(3), 990; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma15030990 - 27 Jan 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2383
Abstract
Among conductive polymers, PEDOT films find the widest application in electronics. For photovoltaic applications, studies of their optical properties, stability, and electrical conductivity are of greatest interest. However, the PEDOT:PSS transport layers, when used in photovoltaic cells, have a high electrical resistance, which [...] Read more.
Among conductive polymers, PEDOT films find the widest application in electronics. For photovoltaic applications, studies of their optical properties, stability, and electrical conductivity are of greatest interest. However, the PEDOT:PSS transport layers, when used in photovoltaic cells, have a high electrical resistance, which prevents solar cells from increasing their efficiency. One of the promising ways to improve their electrical properties is the use of composite materials based on them, in which the conductivity can be increased by introducing various additives. In this work, conductive polymer films PEDOT:PSS (poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate acid) doped with a number of amines (Pentylamine, Octylamine, Diethylamine, Aniline with carbon nanotubes) were obtained and studied. It is shown that, depending on the concentration of dopants, the electrical conductivity of PEDOT:PSS films can be significantly improved. In this case, the light transmission of the films practically does not change. The process of improving the conductivity by treating the surface of the finished film with amines, followed by heat treatment, was studied. It is assumed that the improvement in conductivity is the result of the self-assembly of monolayers of organic molecules on the surface of the PEDOT:PSS film leading to its p-doping due to intermolecular interaction. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Porous Materials for Energy and Environment)
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11 pages, 3396 KiB  
Article
Fabrication of Green Diatomite/Chitosan-Based Hybrid Foams with Dye Sorption Capacity
by Barbara Galzerano, Carmen I. Cabello, Mercedes Muñoz, Giovanna G. Buonocore, Paolo Aprea, Barbara Liguori and Letizia Verdolotti
Materials 2020, 13(17), 3760; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma13173760 - 25 Aug 2020
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2110
Abstract
The latest tendency of the scientific community regards the development of different classes of green materials able to solve pollution problems caused by industrial and human activity. In this paper, chitosan and diatomite were used to produce a broad-spectrum hybrid adsorbent, either in [...] Read more.
The latest tendency of the scientific community regards the development of different classes of green materials able to solve pollution problems caused by industrial and human activity. In this paper, chitosan and diatomite were used to produce a broad-spectrum hybrid adsorbent, either in powder or in monolithic form for environmental pollutant removal. Diatomite–chitosan-based powders and porous diatomite–chitosan hybrids were prepared and characterized by chemical-physical, thermal and morphological analysis. Moreover, their adsorbent capacity towards anionic dye (Indigo Carmine) was also evaluated. Obtained data showed that chitosan improves the adsorption capacity of both systems, increasing the uptake of dye in both diatomite–chitosan systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Porous Materials for Energy and Environment)
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13 pages, 4383 KiB  
Article
Multi-Metals CaMgAl Metal-Organic Framework as CaO-based Sorbent to Achieve Highly CO2 Capture Capacity and Cyclic Performance
by Szu-Chen Wu, Po-Hsueh Chang, Chieh-Yen Lin and Cheng-Hsiung Peng
Materials 2020, 13(10), 2220; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma13102220 - 12 May 2020
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3449
Abstract
In this study, Ca-based multi-metals metal-organic framework (CaMgAl-MOF) has been designed as precursor material for carbon dioxide (CO2) capture to enhance the CO2 capture capacity and stability during multiple carbonation-calcination cycles. The CaMgAl-MOFs were constructed from self-assembly of metal ions [...] Read more.
In this study, Ca-based multi-metals metal-organic framework (CaMgAl-MOF) has been designed as precursor material for carbon dioxide (CO2) capture to enhance the CO2 capture capacity and stability during multiple carbonation-calcination cycles. The CaMgAl-MOFs were constructed from self-assembly of metal ions and organic ligands through hydrothermal process to make metal ions uniformly distributed through the whole structure. Upon heat treatment at 600 °C, the Ca-based multi-metals CaMgAl-MOF would gradually transform to CaO and MgO nanoparticles along with the amorphous aluminum oxide distributed in the CaO matrix. XRD, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and SEM were used to identify the structure and characterize the morphology. The CO2 capture capacity and multiple carbonation-calcination cyclic tests of calcined Ca-based metal-organic framework (MOF) (attached with O and indicated as Ca-MOF-O) were performed by thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). The single metal component calcined Ca-MOF sorbent have the highest CO2 capture capacity up to 72 wt.%, but a lower stability of 61% due to severe particle aggregation. In contrast, a higher Ca-rich MOF oxide sorbent with tailoring the Mg/Al ratios, Ca0.97Mg0.025Al0.005-MOF-O, showed the best performance, not only having the high stability of ~97%, but also maintaining the highest capacity of 71 wt.%. The concept of using Ca-based MOF materials combined with mixed-metal ions for CO2 capture showed a potential route for achieving efficient multiple carbonation-calcination CO2 cycles. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Porous Materials for Energy and Environment)
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17 pages, 3796 KiB  
Article
Greener Nanocomposite Polyurethane Foam Based on Sustainable Polyol and Natural Fillers: Investigation of Chemico-Physical and Mechanical Properties
by Ferdinando De Luca Bossa, Chiara Santillo, Letizia Verdolotti, Pietro Campaner, Andrea Minigher, Laura Boggioni, Simona Losio, Francesca Coccia, Salvatore Iannace and Giuseppe C. Lama
Materials 2020, 13(1), 211; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma13010211 - 04 Jan 2020
Cited by 45 | Viewed by 4539
Abstract
Nowadays, the chemical industry is looking for sustainable chemicals to synthesize nanocomposite bio-based polyurethane foams, PUs, with the aim to replace the conventional petrochemical precursors. Some possibilities to increase the environmental sustainability in the synthesis of nanocomposite PUs include the use of chemicals [...] Read more.
Nowadays, the chemical industry is looking for sustainable chemicals to synthesize nanocomposite bio-based polyurethane foams, PUs, with the aim to replace the conventional petrochemical precursors. Some possibilities to increase the environmental sustainability in the synthesis of nanocomposite PUs include the use of chemicals and additives derived from renewable sources (such as vegetable oils or biomass wastes), which comprise increasingly wider base raw materials. Generally, sustainable PUs exhibit chemico-physical, mechanical and functional properties, which are not comparable with those of PUs produced from petrochemical precursors. In order to enhance the performances, as well as the bio-based aspect, the addition in the polyurethane formulation of renewable or natural fillers can be considered. Among these, walnut shells and cellulose are very popular wood-based waste, and due to their chemical composition, carbohydrate, protein and/or fatty acid, can be used as reactive fillers in the synthesis of Pus. Diatomite, as a natural inorganic nanoporous filler, can also be evaluated to improve mechanical and thermal insulation properties of rigid PUs. In this respect, sustainable nanocomposite rigid PU foams are synthesized by using a cardanol-based Mannich polyol, MDI (Methylene diphenyl isocyanate) as an isocyanate source, catalysts and surfactant to regulate the polymerization and blowing reactions, H2O as a sustainable blowing agent and a suitable amount (5 wt%) of ultramilled walnut shell, cellulose and diatomite as filler. The effect of these fillers on the chemico-physical, morphological, mechanical and functional performances on PU foams has been analyzed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Porous Materials for Energy and Environment)
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18 pages, 4248 KiB  
Article
Hybrid Geopolymeric Foams for the Removal of Metallic Ions from Aqueous Waste Solutions
by Giuseppina Roviello, Elena Chianese, Claudio Ferone, Laura Ricciotti, Valentina Roviello, Raffaele Cioffi and Oreste Tarallo
Materials 2019, 12(24), 4091; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma12244091 - 07 Dec 2019
Cited by 20 | Viewed by 2358
Abstract
For the first time, hybrid organic–inorganic geopolymeric foams were successfully used as monolithic adsorbents for the removal of metallic ions pollutants from wastewaters. The foams were realized by the in situ foaming of a hybrid geopolymer obtained by a reaction of metakaolin and [...] Read more.
For the first time, hybrid organic–inorganic geopolymeric foams were successfully used as monolithic adsorbents for the removal of metallic ions pollutants from wastewaters. The foams were realized by the in situ foaming of a hybrid geopolymer obtained by a reaction of metakaolin and polysiloxane oligomers under strong alkaline conditions and then cured at room temperature. In this way, porous materials with densities ranging from 0.4 to 0.7 g/cm3 and showing good mechanical properties were produced. With the aim of producing self-standing monolithic adsorbents for the removal of metallic ions pollutants from wastewaters, these porous hybrid geopolymers were subjected to a washing pretreatment with ultrapure water, dried, and then used for absorption tests by dipping them into an aqueous solution with an initial concentration of 20 ppm of Pb2+, Cd2+, Cu2+, and Zn2+ ions. Preliminary results indicated that all the tested materials are effective in the adsorption of the tested metal ions and do not release the removed metal ions upon sinking in ultrapure water, even for a very long time. Interestingly, compressive strength tests performed before and after the washing treatments show that the foamed samples remain intact and maintain their physical–mechanical characteristics, suggesting that these kinds of materials are promising candidates for the production of self-standing, monolithic adsorbent substrates that can be easily collected when exhausted, which is a major advantage in comparison with the use of powdered adsorbents. Moreover, since these materials can be obtained by a simple and versatile experimental procedure, they could be easily shaped or directly foamed into precast molds to be used in packed beds as membranes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Porous Materials for Energy and Environment)
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10 pages, 3746 KiB  
Article
Olive Pomace-Derived Carbon Materials—Effect of Carbonization Pressure under CO2 Atmosphere
by Natalia Howaniec
Materials 2019, 12(18), 2872; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma12182872 - 05 Sep 2019
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2101
Abstract
The valorization of waste and by-products from various industrial activities is a must in our world of depleting natural resources and increasing volume of environmentally negative waste materials. The economic utilization of solid biowaste involves predominantly its use as a carbon-neutral energy resource [...] Read more.
The valorization of waste and by-products from various industrial activities is a must in our world of depleting natural resources and increasing volume of environmentally negative waste materials. The economic utilization of solid biowaste involves predominantly its use as a carbon-neutral energy resource or a precursor of porous carbon materials, with a potential application range including sorption processes, energy storage, and electric engineering. With the considerable number of lignocellulosic residues tested and applied as the most suitable porous material precursors, such as woods, shells, stones, peels, husks, and stalks of various crop plants, there is still space and need for further developments in the valorization of high amounts of other types of biowaste. Here, the olive pomace was considered because of both the vast volume and the environmentally undesired (when stored) phytotoxic effect of its components. While the literature on chemical (acidic and alkali treatment) and physical activation (temperature, carbon dioxide, and/or steam) of various biowaste precursors is considerable, the effects of pressure in the carbonization step are reported rarely, although the results observed are promising. The same applies to reports on the application of olive pomace for porous materials production, which indicate that olive pomace currently seems to be underestimated as a carbon materials precursor. In the study presented, the combined effects of pressure (0.1–3 MPa), temperature (800 °C), and carbon dioxide atmosphere in the carbonization of olive pomace were assessed on the basis of qualitative and quantitative data on micro- and mesoporosity of the carbon materials produced. The results showed the positive effect of increasing the process pressure on the development of a porous structure, and particularly, on the development of supermicropores and ultramicropores under the carbonization conditions applied. Carbon material with the most developed porous structure and the highest share of micropores was obtained under the maximum pressure tested. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Porous Materials for Energy and Environment)
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