Preferentially selective extraction of lithium from spent LiCoO_(2)cathodes by medium-temperature carbon reduction roasting

Lithium recovery from spent lithium-ion batteries(LIBs)have attracted extensive attention due to the skyrocketing price of lithium.The medium-temperature carbon reduction roasting was proposed to preferential selective extraction of lithium from spent Li-CoO_(2)(LCO)cathodes to overcome the incomplete recovery and loss of lithium during the recycling process.The LCO layered structure was destroyed and lithium was completely converted into water-soluble Li2CO_(3)under a suitable temperature to control the reduced state of the cobalt oxide.The Co metal agglomerates generated during medium-temperature carbon reduction roasting were broken by wet grinding and ultrasonic crushing to release the entrained lithium.The results showed that 99.10%of the whole lithium could be recovered as Li2CO_(3)with a purity of 99.55%.This work provided a new perspective on the preferentially selective extraction of lithium from spent lithium batteries.

An Integrated Analysis on the Synergistic Reduction of Carbon and Pollution Emissions from China’s Iron and Steel Industry

Decarbonization and decontamination of the iron and steel industry(ISI),which contributes up to 15%to anthropogenic CO_(2) emissions(or carbon emissions)and significant proportions of air and water pollutant emissions in China,are challenged by the huge demand for steel.Carbon and pollutants often share common emission sources,indicating that emission reduction could be achieved synergistically.Here,we explored the inherent potential of measures to adjust feedstock composition and technological structure and to control the size of the ISI to achieve carbon emission reduction(CER)and pollution emission reduction(PER).We investigated five typical pollutants in this study,namely,petroleum hydrocarbon pollutants and chemical oxygen demand in wastewater,particulate matter,SO_(2),and NO_(x) in off gases,and examined synergies between CER and PER by employing cross elasticity for the period between 2022 and 2035.The results suggest that a reduction of 8.7%-11.7%in carbon emissions and 20%-31%in pollution emissions(except for particulate matter emissions)could be achieved by 2025 under a high steel scrap ratio(SSR)scenario.Here,the SSR and electric arc furnace(EAF)ratio serve critical roles in enhancing synergies between CER and PER(which vary with the type of pollutant).However,subject to a limited volume of steel scrap,a focused increase in the EAF ratio with neglection of the available supply of steel scrap to EAF facilities would lead to an increase carbon and pollution emissions.Although CER can be achieved through SSR and EAF ratio optimization,only when the crude steel production growth rate remains below 2.2%can these optimization measures maintain the emissions in 2030 at a similar level to that in 2021.Therefore,the synergistic effects between PER and CER should be considered when formulating a development route for the ISI in the future.

Intrinsic pentagon defect engineering in multiple spatial-scale carbon frameworks for efficient triiodide reduction

Intrinsic topological defect engineering has been proven as a promising strategy to elevate the electrocatalytic activity of carbon materials.However,the controllable construction of high-density and specific topological defects in carbon frameworks to reveal the relationship between reactivity and defect structure remains a challenging task.Herein,the intrinsic pentagon carbon sites that can favor electron overflow and enhance their binding affinity towards the intermediates of catalytic reaction are firstly presented by the work function and the p-band center calculations.To experimentally verify this,the cage-opening reaction of fullerene is proposed and utilized for synthesizing carbon quantum dots with specific pentagon configuration(CQDs-P),subsequently utilizing CQDs-P to modulate the micro-scale defect density of three-dimensional reduced graphene oxide(rGO)viaπ-πinteractions.The multiple spatial-scale rGO-conjugated CQDs-P structure simultaneously possesses abundant pentagon and edge defects as catalytic active sites and long-range-orderedπelectron delocalization system as conductive network.The defects-rich CQDs-P/rGO-4 all-carbon-based catalyst exhibits superb catalytic activity for triiodide reduction reaction with a high photoelectric conversion efficiency of 8.40%,superior to the Pt reference(7.97%).Theoretical calculations suggest that pentagon defects in the carbon frameworks can promote charge transfer and modulate the adsorption/dissociation behavior of the reaction intermediates,thus enhancing the electrocatalytic activity of the catalyst.This work confirms the role of intrinsic pentagon defects in catalytic reactions and provides a new insight into the synthesis of defects-rich carbon catalysts.

Investigation into the Methodology and Implementation of Life Cycle Engineering under China’s Carbon Reduction Target in the Process Industry

The industrial sector is the primary source of carbon emissions in China.In pursuit of meeting its carbon reduction targets,China aims to promote resource consumption sustainability,reduce energy consumption,and achieve carbon neutrality within its processing industries.An effective strategy to promote energy savings and carbon reduction throughout the life cycle of materials is by applying life cycle engineering technology.This strategy aims to attain an optimal solution for material performance,resource consumption,and environmental impact.In this study,five types of technologies were considered:raw material replacement,process reengineering,fuel replacement,energy recycling and reutilization,and material recycling and reutilization.The meaning,methodology,and development status of life cycle engineering technology abroad and domestically are discussed in detail.A multidimensional analysis of ecological design was conducted from the perspectives of resource and energy consumption,carbon emissions,product performance,and recycling of secondary resources in a manufacturing process.This coupled with an integrated method to analyze carbon emissions in the entire life cycle of a material process industry was applied to the nonferrous industry,as an example.The results provide effective ideas and solutions for achieving low or zero carbon emission production in the Chinese industry as recycled aluminum and primary aluminum based on advanced technologies had reduced resource consumption and emissions as compared to primary aluminum production.

Oxidation Evolution and Activity Origin of N-Doped Carbon in the Oxygen Reduction Reaction

N-doped carbon materials,with their applications as electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction(ORR),have been extensively studied.However,a negletcted fact is that the operating potential of the ORR is higher than the theoretical oxida-tion potential of carbon,possibly leading to the oxidation of carbon materials.Consequently,the infl uence of the structural oxidation evolution on ORR performance and the real active sites are not clear.In this study,we discover a two-step oxida-tion process of N-doped carbon during the ORR.The fi rst oxidation process is caused by the applied potential and bubbling oxygen during the ORR,leading to the oxidative dissolution of N and the formation of abundant oxygen-containing functional groups.This oxidation process also converts the reaction path from the four-electron(4e)ORR to the two-electron(2e)ORR.Subsequently,the enhanced 2e ORR generates oxidative H_(2)O_(2),which initiates the second stage of oxidation to some newly formed oxygen-containing functional groups,such as quinones to dicarboxyls,further diversifying the oxygen-containing functional groups and making carboxyl groups as the dominant species.We also reveal the synergistic eff ect of multiple oxygen-containing functional groups by providing additional opportunities to access active sites with optimized adsorption of OOH*,thus leading to high effi ciency and durability in electrocatalytic H_(2)O_(2) production.

Tin-mediated carbon-confined Pt_(3)Co ordered intermetallic nanoparticles as highly efficient and durable oxygen reduction electrocatalysts for rechargeable zinc-air batteries

The development of electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction(ORR) that bears high selectivity,exceptional activity,and long-term stability is crucial for advancing various green energy technologies.Intermetallics composed of platinum and transition metals are considered to be promising candidates for this purpose.However,they typically face challenges such as unfavorable intrinsic activity and a propensity for particle aggregation,diminishing their ORR performance.Against this backdrop,we present our findings on a N-doped carbon confined Pt_(3)Co intermetallic doped with p-block metal tin(Pt_(3)Co_(x)Sn_(1-x)/NC).The introduction of Sn induces lattice strain due to its larger atomic size,which leads to the distortion of the Pt_(3)Co lattice structure,while the coupling of carbon polyhedra inhibits the particle aggregation.The optimized Pt_(3)Co_(0.8)Sn_(0.2)/NC catalyst demonstrates an impressive half-wave potential of 0.86 V versus RHE,surpassing both Pt_(3)Co/NC and Pt_(3)Sn/NC catalysts.Moreover,the Pt_(3)Co_(0.8)Sn_(0.2)/NC exhibits a mass-specific activity as high as 1.4 A mg_(Pt)^(-1),ranking it in the top level among the intermetallicsbased ORR electrocatalysts.When further employed as a cathode material in a self-assembled zinc-air battery,it shows stable operation for over 80 h.These results underscore the significant impact of lattice strain engineering through the strategic doping of p-block metal in the carbon-confined Pt_(3)Co intermetallic,thereby enhancing the catalytic efficiency for the ORR.

A carbon material doped with both porous FeO_(x) and N as an efficient catalyst for oxygen reduction reactions

To replace precious metal oxygen reduction reaction(ORR)electrocatalysts,many transition metals and N-doped car-bon composites have been proposed in the last decade resulting in their rapid development as promising non-precious metal catalysts.We used Ketjenblack carbon as the precursor and mixed it with a polymeric ionic liquid(PIL)of[Hvim]NO_(3) and Fe(NO_(3))_(3),which was thermally calcined at 900℃ to produce a porous FeO_(x),N co-doped carbon material denoted FeO_(x)-N/C.Because the PIL of[Hvim]NO_(3) strongly combines with and disperses Fe^(3+)ions,and NO_(3)−is thermally pyrolyzed to form the porous structure,the FeO_(x)-N/C catalyst has a high electrocatalytic activity for the ORR in both 0.1 mol L^(−1) KOH and 0.5 mol L^(−1) H_(2)SO_(4) electrolytes.It was used as the catalyst to assemble a zinc-air battery,which had a peak power density of 185 mW·cm^(−2).Its superior electrocatalytic activity,wide pH range,and easy preparation make FeO_(x)-N/C a promising electrocatalyst for fuel cells and metal-air batteries.

Digital intelligence and synergy of pollution reduction and carbon reduction:“Dividend”or“gap”?

At the intersection of the“dual carbon”goal and the era of digital intelligence(DI),exploring the synergy between pollution and carbon reduction(SPCR)within the context of DI is important for promoting a comprehensive green transformation of economic and social development.This study,based on urban panel data from 281 prefecture-level cities in China's Mainland from 2010 to 2020,developed a DI indicator system for these cities and employed a double machine learning algorithm for the first time to investigate the intrinsic mechanisms and incentivizing effects of DI on SPCR.The results showed that:①DI significantly promotes SPCR.②Mechanism tests demonstrated that DI can indirectly enhance SPCR by optimizing resource allocation and reinforcing government interventions.③Further analysis showed that the impact of DI on SPCR was more substantial in regions with lower levels of economic and environmental competition.Moreover,the SPCR driven by DI exhibited heterogeneity,characterized by stronger effects in“resource-based cities>non resource-based cities”and“non-capital economic zones>capital economic zones”.The conclusions of this study hold significant implications for fully harnessing the synergy between digitization and intelligence to empower SPCR.In addition,the findings are valuable for the government’s integrated promotion of the“dual carbon”goal and the“digital China”strategy.

Central environmental protection inspection and carbon emission reduction: A tripartite evolutionary game model from the perspective of carbon neutrality

Since the carbon neutrality target was proposed,many countries have been facing severe challenges to carbon emission reduction sustainably.This study is conducted using a tripartite evolutionary game model to explore the impact of the central environmental protection inspection(CEPI)on driving carbon emission reduction,and to study what factors influence the strategic choices of each party and how they interact with each other.The research results suggest that local governments and manufacturing enterprises would choose strategies that are beneficial to carbon reduction when CEPI increases.When the initial willingness of all parties increases 20%,50%—80%,the time spent for the whole system to achieve stability decreases from 100%,60%—30%.The evolutionary result of“thorough inspection,regulation implementation,low-carbon management”is the best strategy for the tripartite evolutionary game.Moreover,the smaller the cost and the larger the benefit,the greater the likelihood of the three-party game stability strategy appears.This study has important guiding significance for other developing countries to promote carbon emission reduction by environmental policy.

Advances in Polymeric Carbon Nitride Photocatalysts for Enhanced CO_(2)Reduction

Photocatalysis has emerged as a promising alternative for converting and utilizing CO_(2).Polymeric carbon nitride(PCN),typically synthesized through the one-step thermal polycondensation of nitrogen-rich precursors,has shown considerable promise due to its adjustable band structure and inherent safety.Over the past five years,significant literature in this field has identified five primary methods for modifying PCN:morphology modulation,element doping,defect induction,co-catalyst loading,and heterojunction construction.A detailed discussion on how each modification method influences light absorption,charge separation,and surface reaction efficiencies in photocatalysis is provided.Based on these findings,several future directions for the development of PCN-based materials are proposed,such as designing tailored PCN structures for specific photocatalytic reactions and using theoretical calculations to verify and correct results from current characterization methods.Despite the challenges associated with the large-scale synthesis of PCN materials with controllable structures and satisfactory performance,this work offers valuable insights for advancing photocatalytic PCN-based systems for large-scale solar fuel production.

Poly(ethylenimine)-assisted synthesis of hollow carbon spheres comprising multi-sized Ni species for CO_(2) electroreduction

Electrochemical CO_(2) reduction to produce value-added chemicals and fuels is one of the research hotspots in the field of energy conversion.The development of efficient catalysts with high conductivity and readily accessible active sites for CO_(2) electroreduction remains challenging yet indispensable.In this work,a reliable poly(ethyleneimine)(PEI)-assisted strategy is developed to prepare a hollow carbon nanocomposite comprising a single-site Ni-modified carbon shell and confined Ni nanoparticles(NPs)(denoted as Ni@NHCS),where PEI not only functions as a mediator to induce the highly dispersed growth of Ni NPs within hollow carbon spheres,but also as a nitrogen precursor to construct highly active atomically-dispersed Ni-Nx sites.Benefiting from the unique structural properties of Ni@NHCS,the aggregation and exposure of Ni NPs can be effectively prevented,while the accessibility of abundant catalytically active Ni-Nx sites can be ensured.As a result,Ni@NHCS exhibits a high CO partial current density of 26.9 mA cm^(-2) and a Faradaic efficiency of 93.0% at-1.0 V vs.RHE,outperforming those of its PEI-free analog.Apart from the excellent activity and selectivity,the shell confinement effect of the hollow carbon sphere endows this catalyst with long-term stability.The findings here are anticipated to help understand the structure-activity relationship in Ni-based carbon catalyst systems for electrocatalytic CO_(2) reduction.Furthermore,the PEI-assisted synthetic concept is potentially applicable to the preparation of high-performance metal-based nanoconfined materials tailored for diverse energy conversion applications and beyond.

A thermodynamic view on the in-situ carbon dioxide reduction by biomass-derived hydrogen during calcium carbonate decomposition

In the carbonate industry,deep decarbonization strategies are necessary to effectively remediate CO_(2).These strategies mainly include both sustainable energy supplies and the conversion of CO_(2)in downstream processes.This study developed a coupled process of biomass chemical looping H2 production and reductive calcination of CaCO_(3).Firstly,a mass and energy balance of the coupled process was established in Aspen Plus.Following this,process optimization and energy integration were implemented to provide optimized operation conditions.Lastly,a life cycle assessment was carried out to assess the carbon footprint of the coupled process.Results reveal that the decomposition temperature of CaCO_(3)in an H_(2)atmosphere can be reduced to 780℃(generally around 900℃),and the conversion of CO_(2)from CaCO_(3)decomposition reached 81.33%with an H2:CO ratio of 2.49 in gaseous products.By optimizing systemic energy through heat integration,an energy efficiency of 86.30%was achieved.Additionally,the carbon footprint analysis revealed that the process with energy integration had a low global warming potential(GWP)of-2.624 kg·kg^(-1)(CO_(2)/CaO).Conclusively,this work performed a systematic analysis of introducing biomass-derived H_(2)into CaCO_(3)calcination and demonstrated the positive role of reductive calcination using green H_(2)in mitigating CO_(2)emissions within the carbonate industry.

Sulfur doped iron-nitrogen-hard carbon nanosheets as efficient and robust noble metal-free catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction in PEMFC

Transition metal-nitrogen-carbon(M-N-C)as a promising substitute for the conventional noble metalbased catalyst still suffers from low activity and durability for oxygen reduction reaction(ORR)in proton exchange membrane fuel cells(PEMFCs).To tackle the issue,herein,a new type of sulfur-doped ironnitrogen-hard carbon(S-Fe-N-HC)nanosheets with high activity and durability in acid media were developed by using a newly synthesized precursor of amide-based polymer with Fe ions based on copolymerizing two monomers of 2,5-thiophene dicarboxylic acid(TDA)as S source and 1,8-diaminonaphthalene(DAN)as N source via an amination reaction.The as-synthesized S-Fe-N-HC features highly dispersed atomic Fe Nxmoieties embedded into rich thiophene-S doped hard carbon nanosheets filled with highly twisted graphite-like microcrystals,which is distinguished from the majority of M-N-C with soft or graphitic carbon structures.These unique characteristics endow S-Fe-N-HC with high ORR activity and outstanding durability in 0.5 M H_(2)SO_(4).Its initial half-wave potential is 0.80 V and the corresponding loss is only 21 m V after 30,000 cycles.Meanwhile,its practical PEMFC performance is a maximum power output of 628.0 mW cm^(-2)and a slight power density loss is 83.0 m W cm^(-2)after 200-cycle practical operation.Additionally,theoretical calculation shows that the activity of Fe Nxmoieties on ORR can be further enhanced by sulfur doping at meta-site near FeN_(4)C.These results evidently demonstrate that the dual effect of hard carbon substrate and S doping derived from the precursor platform of amid-polymers can effectively enhance the activity and durability of Fe-N-C catalysts,providing a new guidance for developing advanced M-N-C catalysts for ORR.

MOF‐derived 1D/3D N‐doped porous carbon for spatially confined electrochemical CO_(2) reduction to adjustable syngas

Electrochemical reduction of CO_(2) to syngas(CO and H_(2))offers an efficient way to mitigate carbon emissions and store intermittent renewable energy in chemicals.Herein,the hierarchical one‐dimensional/three‐dimensional nitrogen‐doped porous carbon(1D/3D NPC)is prepared by carbonizing the composite of Zn‐MOF‐74 crystals in situ grown on a commercial melamine sponge(MS),for electrochemical CO_(2) reduction reaction(CO_(2)RR).The 1D/3D NPC exhibits a high CO/H_(2) ratio(5.06)and CO yield(31 mmol g^(−1)h^(−1))at−0.55 V,which are 13.7 times and 21.4 times those of 1D porous carbon(derived from Zn‐MOF‐74)and N‐doped carbon(carbonized by MS),respectively.This is attributed to the unique spatial environment of 1D/3D NPC,which increases the adsorption capacity of CO_(2) and promotes electron transfer from the 3D N‐doped carbon framework to 1D carbon,improving the reaction kinetics of CO_(2)RR.Experimental results and charge density difference plots indicate that the active site of CO_(2)RR is the positively charged carbon atom adjacent to graphitic N on 1D carbon and the active site of HER is the pyridinic N on 1D carbon.The presence of pyridinic N and pyrrolic N reduces the number of electron transfer,decreasing the reaction kinetics and the activity of CO_(2)RR.The CO/H_(2) ratio is related to the distribution of N species and the specific surface area,which are determined by the degree of spatial confinement effect.The CO/H_(2) ratios can be regulated by adjusting the carbonization temperature to adjust the degree of spatial confinement effect.Given the low cost of feedstock and easy strategy,1D/3D NPC catalysts have great potential for industrial application.

Urban Landscaping Design and Carbon Reduction Planning Countermeasures

As the most significant green ecological resource in densely populated and economically developed areas,urban landscaping plays a pivotal role in carbon sink value and multiple ecosystem service functions.It is a crucial element in the advancement of green and low-carbon initiatives in China’s major cities and the realization of a carbon-neutral vision.By analyzing the relationship between carbon emission reduction and urban landscaping,the paper sorts out and summarizes the basic principles of urban landscaping design,proposes the role of landscape design in urban landscaping,and plans countermeasures for carbon reduction in urban landscaping,with a view to optimizing the construction and management of urban landscaping.

Spatial network characteristics and drivers of carbon emission reduction capability in urban agglomerations:A case study of Shandong Province

Synergistic carbon emission reduction at the urban scale is an inherent requirement for China to realize its carbon emission reduction commitments and promote sustainable and regional synergistic development.Using 16 prefectural cities in Shandong Province as an example,this study defines and quantifies the regional carbon emission reduction capacity(CERC)based on the synergistic development of carbon emission reduction,environmental protection,and economic growth objectives.The spatial network characteristics of the(CERC)and its drivers were analyzed using social network analysis and quadratic assignment procedure regression methods.The results revealed that the spatial correlation of the CERC among prefectural cities has been increasing over the years.Jinan−Zibo−Qingdao is the center of the network,while the spatial linkage strength in the southwest and northeast of Shandong Province is weak.Geospatial distance and scientific development differences have a significant negative effect on the intensity of spatial association,while differences in economic and informatization developments have a considerable positive impact.Environmental regulatory differences and transportation differences are not significant.This study offers a methodological reference for similar studies in other countries or regions.At the same time,the findings provide a scientific basis for the government to rationally allocate urban resources and promote regional synergistic carbon emission reduction.

Reduction effect of carbon emission and optimisation path of green finance

Under the background of"dual-carbon",green finance is an important way to promote carbon emission reduction and realize the development of a low-carbon economy.Using provincial panel data from 2000 to 2020,this paper constructs a basic regression model to study the"carbon reduction"effect,mechanism of action,and heterogeneity of green finance.The study finds that:the development of green finance significantly inhibits carbon emissions and has an obvious"carbon reduction"effect;green technology innovation has a mediating effect on the carbon emission reduction effect of green finance;in regions with a high level of economic development or a high degree of marketization,the"carbon reduction"effect of green finance is significant.

Mesoporous Carbon Nanofibers Loaded with Ordered PtFe Alloy Nanoparticles for Electrocatalytic Nitrate Reduction to Ammonia

Highly dispersed bimetallic alloy nanoparticle electrocatalysts have been demonstrated to exhibit exceptional performance in driving the nitrate reduction reaction(NO_(3)RR)to generate ammonia(NH_(3)).In this study,we prepared mesoporous carbon nanofibers(mCNFs)functionalized with ordered PtFe alloys(O-PtFe-mCNFs)by a composite micelle interface-induced co-assembly method using poly(ethylene oxide)-block-polystyrene(PEO-b-PS)as a template.When employed as electrocatalysts,O-PtFe-mCNFs exhibited superior electrocatalytic performance for the NO_(3RR)compared to the mCNFs functionalized with disordered PtFe alloys(D-PtFe-mCNFs).Notably,the NH_(3)production performance was particularly outstanding,with a maximum NH_(3)yield of up to 959.6μmol/(h·cm~2).Furthermore,the Faraday efficiency(FE)was even 88.0%at-0.4 V vs.reversible hydrogen electrode(RHE).This finding provides compelling evidence of the potential of ordered PtFe alloy catalysts for the electrocatalytic NO_(3)RR.

Non-isothermal reduction kinetics of Fe_2O_3-NiO composites for formation of Fe-Ni alloy using carbon monoxide

The non-isothermal reduction kinetics and mechanism of Fe2O3-NiO composites with different Fe2O3-NiO compacts using carbon monoxide as reductant were investigated. The results show that the reduction degree increases rapidly with increasing the content of NiO, and the presence of NiO also improves the reduction rate of iron oxides. It is found that NiO is preferentially reduced at the beginning of the reactions, and then the metallic Ni acts as a catalyst promoting the reduction rate of iron oxides. It is also observed that the increase of the Ni O content enhances the formation of awaruite(FeNi3) but decreases the percentage of kamacite(Fe,Ni) and taenite(Fe,Ni). The particle size of the materials tends to be uniform during the reduction process due to the presence of metallic nickel, metallic iron and the formation of Fe-Ni alloy. The concentration of CO in the product gas is greater than that of CO2 at the beginning of the reaction and then slows down. The fastest reduction rate of Fe2O3-NiO composites with CO appears at 400-500 °C, and nucleation growth model can be used to elucidate the reduction mechanism. Nucleation growth process is found to be the rate controlling step when the temperature is lower than 1000 °C.

Ambient electrical conductivity of carbon cathode materials for aluminum reduction cells

The ambient electrical conductivity (AEC) of carbon cathode materials was investigated in respect to their open porosity, crystal structure and graphite content using hydrostatic method, four-probe technique and X-ray diffraction (XRD), respectively. The AEC is proportional to the specific conductivity (σ0) and the exponential of (1?ε) (ε is porosity) by a quasi-uniform formula based on the percolation theory. Theσ0 can reflect the intrinsic conductivity of the carbon cathodes free of pores, and it depends on the mean crystallite size parallel to the layer (002). The exponentn is dependent on the materials nature of the cathode aggregates, while an averaged value, 4.65, can practically work well with 5 types of cathode materials. The calculation ofσ0 can be extended to the graphitic cathodes containing different aggregates using the simple rule of mixture.