Thiol-Functionalized Covalent Organic Frameworks as Thermal History Indictor for Temperature and Time History Monitoring

Various products, including foods and pharmaceuticals, are sensitive to temperature fluctuations. Thus, temperature monitoring during production, transportation, and storage is critical. Facile indicators are required to monitor temperature conditions via color changes in real time. This study aimed to prepare and apply thiol-functionalized covalent organic frameworks (COFs) as a novel indicator for monitoring thermal history and temperature abuse. The COFs underwent obvious color changes from bright yellow to purple after exposure to different temperatures for varying durations. The reaction kinetics are analyzed under isothermal conditions, which reveal that the order of reaction rates is k_−20°C < k_4°C < k_20°C < k_35°C < k_55°C. The activation energy (E_a) of the COFs is calculated using the Arrhenius equation as 50.71 kJ moL⁻¹. The COFs are capable of sensitive color changes and offer a broad temperature tracking range, thereby demonstrating their application potential for the monitoring of temperature and time exposure history during production, transportation, and storage. This excellent performance thermal history indicator also shows promise for expanding the application field of COFs.     

Anaerobic co-digestion of food waste and FOG with sewage sludge – realising its potential in Ireland

The severe environmental pollution in many countries is caused by indiscriminate discharge of large quantities of food waste (FW), fat oil and grease (FOG) and sewage sludge (SS) to the environment. There are many possible treatment routes, but anaerobic digestion (AD) is now well accepted for treating several kinds of organic wastes. But AD of FW alone presents some operational challenges because of substrates and variability. Anaerobic co-digestion of two or more substrates is better than single substrate digestion. This can use a plant’s unused capacity, in line with the trend to renewable energy. Co-digestion technology, although well established in many European countries, is still in its infancy in Ireland. There are problems with different regulatory arrangements. They should be resolved. The paper reviews anaerobic co-digestion technology is reviewed, with special focus on possible application in Ireland.     

Highly active sites of low spin FeⅡN4species:The identification and the ORR performance

Over recent years,catalytic materials of Fe-N-C species have been recognized being active for oxygen reduction reaction(ORR).However,the identification of active site remains challenging as it generally involves a pyrolysis process and mixed components being obtained.Herein Fe₃C/C and Fe₂N/C samples were synthesized by temperature programmed reduction of Fe precursors in 15%CH₄/H₂and pure NH₃,respectively.By acid leaching of Fe₂N/C sample,only single sites of FeN₄species were presented,providing an ideal model for identification of catalytic functions of the single sites of FeN₄in ORR.A correlation was conducted between the concentration of Fe^ⅡN₄in low spin state by Mossbauer spectra and the kinetic current density at 0.8 V in alkaline media,and such a structure-performance correlation assures the catalytic roles of low spin Fe^ⅡN₄ species as highly active sites for the ORR.     

Enhanced photo-electrochemical activity of ZnO/Cu2S nanotube arrays photocathodes

ZnO/Cu₂S nanotube arrays are fabricated firstly by a facile and capping-agent-free method, and the photo-electrochemical performance has been studied systematically. The results show that ZnO/Cu₂S nanotube arrays achieve enhanced photo-electrochemical water splitting performance and the photocurrent densities of ZnO/Cu₂S are 7.9 times than that of ZnO at 0 V versus Ag/AgCl. The performance of the ZnO/Cu₂S nanotube arrays can be adjusted by changing the amount of Cu₂S microcrystals. The results confirm that the enhanced photo-electrochemical performance of ZnO/Cu₂S is due to the significantly improved visible light absorption, effective separation of photo-induced carriers due to the well band energy match and the formed p-n junction between ZnO and Cu₂S.     

In situ Raman spectroscopic study towards the growth and excellent HER catalysis of Ni/Ni(OH)2 heterostructure

The electrochemical water splitting to produce H₂ in high efficiency with earth-abundant-metal catalysts remains a challenge. Here, we describe a simple “cyclic voltammetry + ageing” protocol at room temperature to activate Ni electrode (AC-Ni/NF) for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), by which Ni/Ni(OH)₂ heterostructure is formed at the surface. In situ Raman spectroscopy reveals the gradual growth of Ni/Ni(OH)₂ heterostructure during the first 30 min of the aging treatment and combined with polarization measurements, it suggests a positive relation between the Ni/Ni(OH)₂ amount and HER performance of the electrode. The obtained AC-Ni/NF catalyst, with plentiful Ni–Ni(OH)₂ interfaces, exhibits remarkable performance towards HER, with the low overpotential of only 30 mV at a H₂-evolving current density of 10 mA/cm² and 153 mV at 100 mA/cm², as well as a small Tafel slope of 46.8 mV/dec in 1 M KOH electrolyte at ambient temperature. The excellent HER performance of the AC-Ni/NF could be maintained for at least 24 h without obvious decay. Ex situ experiments and in situ electrochemical-Raman spectroscopy along with density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that Ni/Ni(OH)₂ heterostructure, although partially reduced, can still persist during HER catalysis and it is the Ni–Ni(OH)₂ interface reducing the energy barrier of H1 adsorption thus promoting the HER performance.