Graphene, an innovative nanocarbon, has been discovered as a significant technological material. Increasing utilization of graphene has moved research towards the development of sustainable green techniques to synthesize graphene and related nanomaterials. This review article is basically designed to highlight the significant sustainability aspects of graphene. Consequently, the sustainability vision is presented for graphene and graphene nanocomposites. Environmentally sustainable production of graphene and ensuing nanomaterials has been studied. The formation of graphene, graphene oxide, reduced graphene oxide, and other derivatives has been synthesized using ecological carbon and green sources, green solvents, non-toxic reagents, and green routes. Furthermore, the utilization of graphene for the conversion of industrial polymers to sustainable recycled polymers has been studied. In addition, the recycled polymers have also been used to form graphene as a sustainable method. The implication of graphene in the sustainable energy systems has been investigated. Specifically, high specific capacitance and capacitance retention were observed for graphene-based supercapacitor systems. Subsequently, graphene may act as a multi-functional, high performance, green nanomaterial with low weight, low price, and environmental friendliness for sustainable engineering and green energy storage applications. However, existing challenges regarding advanced material design, processing, recyclability, and commercial scale production need to be overcome to unveil the true sustainability aspects of graphene in the environmental and energy sectors.
In this paper, a series of Li3V2(PO4)3/C composite nanofibers is prepared by a facile and environmentally friendly electrospinning method and calcined under different temperatures. The LVP nanofiber calcined under 900 ℃ exhibits the best electrochemical performance. The bicontinuous morphologies of LVP/CNF are the fibers shrunk and the LVP crystals simultaneously grown. At the range of 3.0–4.3 V, LVP/CNF obtained under 900 ℃ delivers the initial capacity of 135 mAh/g, close to the theoretical capacity of LVP. Even at high current density, the sample of LVP/CNF still presents good electrochemical performance.
In this study, the influence of sewage sludge ash (SSA) waste particle contents on the mechanical properties and interlaminar fracture toughness for mode I and mode II delamination of S-glass fiber-reinforced epoxy composites was investigated. Composite laminate specimens for tensile, flexural double-cantilever beam (DCB), and end-notched fracture (ENF) tests were prepared and tested according to ASTM standards with 5, 10, 15, and 20 wt% SSA-filled S-glass/epoxy composites. Property improvement reasons were explained based on optical and scanning electron microscopy. The highest improvement in tensile and flexural strength was obtained with a 10 wt% content of SSA. The highest mode I and mode II interlaminar fracture toughness’s were obtained with 15 wt% content of SSA. The mode I and mode II interlaminar fracture toughness improved by 33% and 63.6%, respectively, compared to the composite without SSA.
In order to replace conventional materials in the existing composite world, there has been a focus on adopting coir fibres, which are lightweight, adaptable, efficient, and have great mechanical qualities. This study describes the creation of environmentally responsible bio-composites with good mechanical characteristics that employ coir powder as a reinforcement, which has good interfacial integrity with an epoxy matrix. And these epoxy-coir composites supplemented with coir particles are predicted to function as a reliable substitute for traditional materials used in industrial applications. Here, untreated and alkali-treated coir fibres powder were employed as reinforcement, with epoxy resin serving as a matrix. An experimental investigation has been carried out to study the effect of coir powder reinforcement at different weight percentages (5 wt%, 10 wt%, 15 wt%, 20 wt%, 25 wt%, and 30 wt%). The morphological study, followed by a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and an optical microscope (OM), demonstrated that the powder and matrix had the strongest adhesion at 20 wt% coir powder-reinforced composite, with no voids, bubbles, or cracks. Based on the entire investigation, the polymer composite with 20 wt% reinforcement exhibited better mechanical qualities than the other combinations.
Cobalt-ion batteries are considered a promising battery chemistry for renewable energy storage. However, there are indeed challenges associated with co-ion batteries that demonstrate undesirable side reactions due to hydrogen gas production. This study demonstrates the use of a nanocomposite electrolyte that provides stable performance cycling and high Co2+ conductivity (approximately 24 mS cm−1). The desirable properties of the nanocomposite material can be attributed to its mechanical strength, which remains at nearly 68 MPa, and its ability to form bonds with H2O. These findings offer potential solutions to address the challenges of co-dendrite, contributing to the advancement of co-ion batteries as a promising battery chemistry. The exceptional cycling stability of the co-metal anode, even at ultra-high rates, is a significant achievement demonstrated in the study using the nanocomposite electrolyte. The co-metal anode has a 3500-cycle current density of 80 mA cm−2, which indicates excellent stability and durability. Moreover, the cumulative capacity of 15.6 Ah cm−2 at a current density of 40 mA cm−2 highlights the better energy storage capability. This performance is particularly noteworthy for energy storage applications where high capacity and long cycle life are crucial. The H2O bonding capacity of the component in the nanocomposite electrolyte plays a vital role in reducing surface passivation and hydrogen evolution reactions. By forming strong bonds with H2O molecules, the polyethyne helps prevent unwanted reactions that can deteriorate battery performance and efficiency. This mitigates issues typically associated with excess H2O and ion presence in aqueous Co-ion batteries. Furthermore, the high-rate performance with excellent stability and cycling stability performance (>500 cycles at 8 C) of full Co||MnO2 batteries fabricated with this electrolyte further validates its effectiveness in practical battery configurations. These results indicate the potential of the nanocomposite electrolyte as a valuable and sustainable option, simplifying the development of reliable and efficient energy storage systems and renewable energy applications.
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