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Published Research PapersFiltered: Year 2026 • 41 • 2

Showing 10 of 35 peer-reviewed papers with full Graphical Abstracts.

Original ResearchVol. 41, Issue 2 • pp. 100-112DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5805(26)61065-7• Jan 15, 2026

Carbon nanotube-based materials as capacitive deionization electrodes

Authors: WANG Xiaomei

Capacitive deionization (CDI) is an emerging desalination technology that removes dissolved salts from brackish water via ion electrosorption at electrically charged electrode interfaces. It has gained recognition as a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to conventional methods such as reverse osmosis, electrodialysis, and thermal distillation, which often suffer from high energy consumption and environmental impact. Among electrode materials, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are particularly attractive due to their high specific surface area, superior electrical conductivity, and excellent electrochemical stability. This review comprehensively analyzes recent advances in performance optimization strategies for CNT-based CDI electrodes, including material engineering and structural design. Key strategies include hybridization with activated carbon, graphene, metal oxides, and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), as well as surface functionalization and three-dimensional architecture construction. These approaches enhance salt adsorption capacity, charge efficiency, and cycling stability. For instance, dispersing CNTs in activated carbon electrodes improves conductivity and ion transport, while MOF-derived nitrogen-doped carbon/CNT heterostructures exhibit high desalination performance. The review also evaluates the pivotal role of CNT-based electrodes in driving technological progress in CDI and discusses persistent challenges such as electrode fouling, scalability, and cost-effectiveness. Promising research directions, including flow-electrode systems and selective ion removal, are highlighted to overcome current limitations. Overall, CNT-based materials hold significant promise for advancing CDI as a viable water purification technology.

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Carbon nanotube-based materials as capacitive deionization electrodes

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Original ResearchVol. 41, Issue 2 • pp. 100-112DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5805(26)61071-2• Jan 15, 2026

Boron and Nitrogen Co-Doped Coal-Based Activated Carbon as Cathode Material for High-Performance Aqueous Zinc-Ion Hybrid Capacitors

Authors: LIU Shuyuan, TIAN Zhen, WANG Yanzhong, ZHOU Rui, ZHENG Zhichao

Aqueous zinc-ion capacitors (ZICs) are promising energy storage systems due to their high specific capacity and superior reliability. Heteroatom-doped carbon materials have been shown to substantially increase the capacitance of ZICs, yet the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. In this work, coal-based activated carbon was functionalized with both boron (B) and nitrogen (N) to serve as the cathode material in ZICs. The optimized material, designated CAC-120, exhibits a high specific capacity of 371.4 mAh g−1 at 1 A g−1 and retains 74% of its initial capacity after 10,000 cycles. Electrochemical analysis and density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that pyridinic N plays a crucial role in enhancing Zn2+ storage, demonstrating superior electrochemical reversibility. Furthermore, an assembled aqueous ZIC using the CAC-120 cathode achieves a high reversible capacity of 90.8 mAh g−1 at 0.2 A g−1 and exceptional long-term stability over 17,000 cycles. This work provides valuable insight into the design of high-capacity and ultrafast pseudocapacitive carbon cathodes for ZICs, highlighting the synergistic effects of pore structure engineering and heteroatom doping.

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Boron and Nitrogen Co-Doped Coal-Based Activated Carbon as Cathode Material for High-Performance Aqueous Zinc-Ion Hybrid Capacitors

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Original ResearchVol. 41, Issue 2 • pp. 100-112DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5805(26)61070-0• Jan 15, 2026

Recent advances in the characterization and applications of biochar and hydrochar

Authors: Bruna Rijo, Ana Paula Soares Dias

The conversion of biomass into carbon-rich materials, biochar and hydrochar, has emerged as a promising strategy to address pressing environmental challenges while supporting sustainable industrial development. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of recent advances in the characterization and application of these materials, emphasizing their distinct production methods, physicochemical properties, and functional versatility. Biochar, typically obtained by pyrolysis at high temperatures (>400 °C), exhibits high porosity, aromaticity, and thermal stability, making it well-suited for applications such as CO2 capture, electrochemical energy storage, catalysis, and soil improvement. In contrast, hydrochar, produced by hydrothermal carbonization in aqueous media at moderate temperatures, retains a higher number of surface functional groups and heteroatoms, offering advantages in aqueous-phase catalysis, pollutant adsorption, and bioremediation. The critical role of physicochemical characterization in optimizing material performance is outlined, and analytical techniques including liquid nitrogen adsorption, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, Boehm titration, and thermogravimetric analysis are discussed. These techniques reveal how physical-chemical characteristics such as surface area, functional group chemistry, and degree of graphitization govern the materials’ suitability for specific applications. Emerging uses in wastewater treatment, biofuel production, animal feed, and advanced oxidation processes are examined, alongside their relevance to multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly climate action, clean energy, and responsible production. The materials are versatile and can be produced on a large scale. Their performance can be fine-tuned using different production and post-treatment processes, making them key enablers in the transition to a circular, carbon-conscious economy.

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Recent advances in the characterization and applications of biochar and hydrochar

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Original ResearchVol. 41, Issue 2 • pp. 100-112DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5805(25)61036-5• Jan 15, 2026

Low-cost synthesis of large graphene oxide flakes by the total oxidation of large natural graphite flakes

Authors: ZHANG Yuanyuan, MAI Jianbin, CHEN Wei, ZHANG Wenlong, LIU Jing, LIAO Huaping, AN Junwei, WANG Jionghui, HUANG Dongmei, LV Wei, DU Hongda, KANG Feiyu

Large graphene oxide (LGO) sheets offer significant advantages over smaller ones in various applications, yet their production via Hummers-type oxidation of large natural graphite flakes remains challenging due to difficulties in achieving full oxidation and avoiding fragmentation. This study provides the first direct evidence that large graphite flakes (up to 1 mm) can be completely oxidized without fragmentation under static conditions, as revealed by in-situ monitoring. The oxidation process is governed by diffusion of the oxidizer between layers, described by Fick's law, where a high oxidizer concentration gradient increases the diffusion rate. By minimizing the amount of concentrated H2SO4 solvent, we achieved a semi-solid state that elevates oxidizer concentration, facilitating Mn(VII) diffusion and enabling complete oxidation of gram-scale large flakes with significantly reduced reagent consumption. Reaction temperature was optimized to balance graphite oxidation and Mn(VII) self-decomposition. Using this approach, 200-, 100-, and 50-mesh natural graphite were fully oxidized with reduced H2SO4 and KMnO4 usage. After exfoliation, LGO with average lateral sizes of 27.3, 58.7, and 116.2 μm were obtained, respectively, with 100% conversion and yield over 165%. This work not only provides a scalable, cost-effective strategy for LGO production but also advances the fundamental understanding of Hummers-type oxidation.

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Low-cost synthesis of large graphene oxide flakes by the total oxidation of large natural graphite flakes

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Original ResearchVol. 41, Issue 2 • pp. 100-112DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5805(26)61068-2• Jan 15, 2026

Laser-Synthesized Metastable Bismuth Nanocrystals Chemically Bonded to Reduced Graphene Oxide for Excellent Lithium Storage

Authors: Su Yanxia, Zhang Xiuhai, Qiu Yuqian, Ban Miaohan, Zhang Jinbo, Li Chong, Xu Fei, Wang Hongqiang

The poor interface contact between bismuth (Bi) nanoparticles and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) impedes ion/electron transfer in lithium-ion battery anodes. We report an innovative fabrication of ultrafine Bi nanocrystals chemically bonded to rGO (Bi-rGO) via liquid-phase pulsed laser irradiation followed by solvothermal reaction with graphene oxide. Metastable Bi nanocrystals synthesized by laser (5.5 nm) undergo lattice restructuring and shrink to a record-small size of 2 nm during solvothermal combination, the smallest reported for Bi/C composites. The Bi nanocrystals are uniformly anchored onto rGO nanosheets via strong Bi–O–C bonds, which suppress particle aggregation, establish efficient ion/electron transport channels, and alleviate volume expansion during lithiation. The Bi-rGO-2 anode, comprising 2 nm Bi nanocrystals, delivers an exceptional reversible capacity of 586.7 mAh g−1 over 500 cycles at 100 mA g−1, nearly doubling that of a Bulk Bi/rGO composite anode (318 mAh g−1). Theoretical calculations confirm higher binding energy between Bi and rGO at smaller particle sizes, while kinetic analysis reveals accelerated Li+ diffusion. This work provides a scalable route to high-performance alloy anodes through metastable nanocrystal engineering and covalent interface coupling.

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Laser-Synthesized Metastable Bismuth Nanocrystals Chemically Bonded to Reduced Graphene Oxide for Excellent Lithium Storage

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Original ResearchVol. 41, Issue 2 • pp. 100-112DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5805(26)61074-8• Jan 15, 2026

Functionalized Carbon Dots from Natural Precursors for Environmental Remediation and Renewable Energy Technologies

Authors: Habtamu F Etefa, Francis B. Dejene

The green synthesis of functionalized carbon dots (C-dots) from natural precursors is reviewed, providing a sustainable and versatile platform for environmental remediation and renewable energy technologies. The focus is on methods such as hydrothermal, microwave-assisted, pyrolytic, solvent-based, and ultrasonic routes, with an emphasis on biomass-derived precursors and green solvents. Strategies are given for surface passivation, hybridization, and composite formation to tailor their optical properties and their applications in sustainable technologies are examined. In environmental remediation, they act as efficient photocatalysts for degrading organic pollutants and reducing carbon dioxide (CO2). For renewable energy, they improve light-harvesting in solar cells and dye-sensitized solar cells. Their notable stability and efficiency are highlighted, alongside persistent challenges in controlling their size, uniformity, and scalability of quantum yield. Future work must clarify the structure-activity relationships for multifunctional compounds, facilitating commercial deployment.

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Functionalized Carbon Dots from Natural Precursors for Environmental Remediation and Renewable Energy Technologies

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Original ResearchVol. 41, Issue 2 • pp. 100-112DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5805(26)61066-9• Jan 15, 2026

Fe3C-Coated Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Nanotube/Cattail-Derived Carbon Microtube Composites for Efficient Microwave Absorption

Authors: Huang Fei, Wu Peikun, Wang Chang, Zhang Min, Wang Zhongliao, Liu Qiangchun, Kong Xiangkai

Carbon materials suffer from limited dielectric loss, resulting in poor impedance matching and inadequate microwave attenuation. To address this, hierarchical structures with synergistic loss mechanisms are sought. Here, biomass cattail serves as a sustainable precursor for nitrogen-doped carbon nanotube arrays decorated with Fe3C nanoparticles via chemical vapor deposition, yielding Fe3C@NCNTs/CMTs composites. The crystallinity, tuned by calcination temperature, critically influences microwave absorption. At 800 °C, the composite achieves a minimum reflection loss of –35.8 dB and an effective absorption bandwidth of 7.02 GHz at a thickness of only 1.7 mm, with an ultralow filler loading of 10 wt%, covering the entire Ku band and part of the X band. This performance stems from enhanced magnetic loss and multiple dielectric polarization mechanisms. The study demonstrates a promising strategy for designing biomass-derived carbon-based broadband microwave absorbers.

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Fe3C-Coated Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Nanotube/Cattail-Derived Carbon Microtube Composites for Efficient Microwave Absorption

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Original ResearchVol. 41, Issue 2 • pp. 100-112DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5805(26)61073-6• Jan 15, 2026

Ketjenblack-Reinforced Chloroprene Rubber / Brominated Butyl Rubber Blends: Enhanced Ozone and UV Stability, Air Permeability, and Tribological Performance

Authors: Rakesh Reghunath, Dileep P, Mehar Al Minnath, Unnikrishnan T G, Soney C George, Nandakumar Kalarikkal, Murali K P, Jinu Paul

Elastomers are widely used in engineering but suffer degradation when exposed to heat, ozone, UV radiation, and chemicals. To enhance performance for specific industrial applications, blending with other materials is common. In this study, chloroprene rubber (CR) was blended with brominated butyl rubber (BIIR) and reinforced with Ketjenblack (KB) at concentrations up to 20%. KB exhibits a porous, fluffy morphology with a high specific surface area of 1347 m²/g. Tensile tests were conducted before and after exposure to UV, ozone, saline, petrol, and diesel environments, and retention capacity was evaluated per ASTM standards. Transmission electron microscopy confirmed uniform dispersion of KB filler. Tribological and barrier property studies identified 10% KB as optimal due to uniform dispersion. Thermal degradation kinetics were analyzed using Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose modeling to determine activation energy. Dynamic mechanical analysis indicated a 5 °C reduction in glass transition temperature for the 20% composite. These elastomeric blends demonstrate potential as advanced materials for harsh industrial applications.

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Ketjenblack-Reinforced Chloroprene Rubber / Brominated Butyl Rubber Blends: Enhanced Ozone and UV Stability, Air Permeability, and Tribological Performance

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Original ResearchVol. 41, Issue 2 • pp. 100-112DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5805(26)61072-4• Jan 15, 2026

A fast bismuth-carbon composite anode for achieving kinetic matching between the anode and cathode of sodium-ion capacitors

Authors: Man Xiaoge, Huang Xinli, Min Xinyue, Yan Yijie, Shi Yuanchang, Li Tao, Wang Chengxiang, Zhang Zhiwei, Yin Longwei, Wang Rutao

Sodium-ion capacitors (SICs) typically feature a hybrid design, incorporating a battery-type anode that operates by faradaic redox reactions and an activated carbon cathode that functions through electrical double-layer (EDL) adsorption/desorption. However, the kinetics of faradaic processes are inherently slower than those of EDL processes, leading to a fundamental problem known as kinetic imbalance between the electrodes, which hinders the development of high-performance SICs. To address this, we synthesized composites of bismuth nanoparticles in N-doped carbon (Bi@NC) by a high-temperature sintering method. The resulting Bi@NC anode has a specific capacity of 300 mAh g−1 at 0.5 A g−1, an exceptional rate capability (maintaining performance at currents exceeding 75 A g−1), and outstanding cycling stability over 12,000 cycles. Three-electrode Swagelok cell tests revealed that this high-rate Bi@NC composite effectively decreases the kinetic gap with the activated carbon cathode, as shown by an analysis of their respective potential swing windows (vs. Na/Na+). This enables the fabricated SIC to achieve a maximum energy density of 115 Wh kg−1, a peak power density of 45,535 W kg−1, and a long cycle life exceeding 8,000 cycles.

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A fast bismuth-carbon composite anode for achieving kinetic matching between the anode and cathode of sodium-ion capacitors

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Original ResearchVol. 41, Issue 2 • pp. 100-112DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5805(26)61067-0• Jan 15, 2026

Loading of Nano-Bimetallic Catalysts onto Coal Tar Pitch-Based Activated Carbon Fibers for Efficient Reduction of p-Nitrophenol

Authors: Li Fuhu, You Jing, Zhang Qianyu, Zhang Ye, Rong Junfeng

The reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) to 4-aminophenol (4-AP) in wastewater faces challenges in conversion rate and stability. We used coal tar pitch-based activated carbon fibers (ACFs) as a support material for loading transition metal catalysts to catalyze the reaction. Fe–Ni nanoparticles were loaded onto the coal tar pitch-based ACF through a simple hydrothermal–calcination method. The results showed that the coal tar pitch-based ACFs had a high specific surface area (1847 m2/g) and a unique microporous structure, and the metals were loaded onto them. The average diameter of the nanoparticles formed was approximately 100 nm. By changing the metal loading it was shown that the performance was best when the reaction temperature was 45 °C, the 4-NP concentration was 2.5 mmol L−1, and the molar concentration ratio of Fe3+ to Ni2+ was 1∶2 (total 7.5 mmol L−1). Under these conditions the conversion efficiency reached 99.88%. Fe2.5/Ni5–ACF exhibited excellent catalytic activity and recyclability for 4-NP after five cycles. The inherent advantages of nanomaterials increase the catalytic efficiency of 4-NP, which expands the use of coal tar pitch-based ACFs as supporting materials in the field of catalysis.

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Loading of Nano-Bimetallic Catalysts onto Coal Tar Pitch-Based Activated Carbon Fibers for Efficient Reduction of p-Nitrophenol

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