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Inorganics
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Feature Papers in Inorganic Materials 2024
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Feature Papers in Inorganic Materials 2024

A special issue of Inorganics (ISSN 2304-6740). This special issue belongs to the section "Inorganic Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 February 2025 | Viewed by 8492

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Roberto Nisticò

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Materials Science, University of Milano-Bicocca, INSTM, Via R. Cozzi 55, 20125 Milano, Italy
Interests: biomaterials; catalysis; cement and concrete; ceramics; composites; coatings; copper; energy; iron oxides; magnetic materials; nanomaterials; photocatalysis; porous materials; sol-gel; surface functionalization; templating
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Torben R. Jensen

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center and Department of Chemistry, Aarhus University, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
Interests: synthesis and characterization of inorganic materials; structural, chemical and physical properties; energy storage as hydrogen or electricity in novel types of batteries; multivalent solid state batteries
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Our previous Special Issue “10th Anniversary of Inorganics: Inorganic Materials”, published in 2023, received a great attention, collecting 25 interesting papers (21 articles and 4 reviews) and becoming the second highest number of published contributions to the journal Inorganics. This Special Issue is the first in our section Inorganic Materials and has attracted many potential authors and readers with more than 20,000 views (for details, please visit the Special Issue 10th Anniversary of Inorganics: Inorganic Materials). Due to the success of this Special Issue and the high level of interest in this topic, we decided to launch the Special Issue "Feature Papers in Inorganic Materials 2024" as a complementary Special Issue, with the aim of continuing the discussion on the recent advancements in the field of functional inorganic materials for a 'green' and sustainable future.

Therefore, it is with great pleasure that we are cordially inviting colleagues and experts in the field of inorganic materials to submit original articles and critical reviews describing the production of inorganic materials following alternative ecofriendly methods, new protocols and strategies for the reuse of inorganic materials, and newly emerging areas of interest involving the sustainable use of inorganic materials.

We look forward to receiving your valued contributions.

Dr. Roberto Nisticò
Prof. Dr. Torben R. Jensen
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. Inorganics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 2700 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

  • adsorption
  • advanced (green) synthesis
  • batteries
  • bio-inspired materials
  • catalysis
  • carbon dioxide storage and conversion
  • electrochemistry
  • energy storage devices
  • environmental remediation
  • fuel cells
  • hybrid materials
  • hydrogen storage
  • nano-composites
  • nanomaterials
  • photo(electro)catalysis
  • photovoltaics
  • renewable energy
  • sensing
  • smart materials
  • stimuli-responsive materials
  • surface modification
  • sustainable materials and technologies
  • technologies for (clean) energy production
  • thin films
  • water splitting
  • energy and materials recovery from industrial waste
  • energy production
  • recycling
  • value-added inorganic materials from waste
  • water treatment technologies

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 1640 KiB  
Article
Thermoelectric Characteristics of β-Ag2Se1+x Prepared via a Combined Rapid Mechano-Thermal Approach
by Katarína Gáborová, Michal Hegedüs, Petr Levinský, František Mihok, Miloš Matvija, Karel Knížek, Ondrej Milkovič, Dagmara Vatraľová, Jiří Hejtmánek and Karel Saksl
Inorganics 2024, 12(12), 334; https://doi.org/10.3390/inorganics12120334 (registering DOI) - 21 Dec 2024
Abstract
This study investigates the thermoelectric properties of Se-rich β-Ag2Se synthesized via a mechanochemical method followed by spark plasma sintering (SPS) in less than 30 min of the total reaction time. Importantly, only a short 10 min milling process followed by appropriate [...] Read more.
This study investigates the thermoelectric properties of Se-rich β-Ag2Se synthesized via a mechanochemical method followed by spark plasma sintering (SPS) in less than 30 min of the total reaction time. Importantly, only a short 10 min milling process followed by appropriate SPS was enough to produce single-phase Ag2Se1+x samples with varying selenium content (where x = 0, 0.01, 0.02, 0.04). The introduction of excess selenium significantly influenced the thermoelectric performance, optimizing the carrier concentration during synthesis and resulting in substantial thermoelectric improvements. The sample with nominal composition Ag2Se1.01 exhibited a high dimensionless figure-of-merit (ZT) >0.9 at 385 K, which is nearly six times higher than the reference sample (β-Ag2Se). Our findings bring valuable insight into the technology of optimization of thermoelectric characteristics of Se-rich β-Ag2Se, highlighting its potential for applications in thermoelectric devices. The study demonstrates the energetically efficient and environmental advantage of our mechanochemical route to produce Se-rich β-Ag2Se, providing a solvent-free and commercially viable alternative synthesis for energy (thermoelectric and solar energy). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Inorganic Materials 2024)
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8 pages, 5101 KiB  
Article
A Study on the Volume Expansion of Vanadium-Based Alloy Powders and Compacts During Hydrogen Sorption
by Mojia Li, Yunfeng Hu, Hanyang Kong, Qiuwei Huang, Yusong Chen and Yigang Yan
Inorganics 2024, 12(12), 318; https://doi.org/10.3390/inorganics12120318 - 8 Dec 2024
Viewed by 596
Abstract
Storing hydrogen in solid metal hydrides provides a safe and efficient storage approach. However, the large volume expansion of metal hydrides during hydrogen absorption imposes substantial stresses on the wall of a hydrogen storage tank. In this study, volume expansion behavior of a [...] Read more.
Storing hydrogen in solid metal hydrides provides a safe and efficient storage approach. However, the large volume expansion of metal hydrides during hydrogen absorption imposes substantial stresses on the wall of a hydrogen storage tank. In this study, volume expansion behavior of a V-based hydrogen storage alloy, V61Cr24Ti12Ce3, with body-centered-cubic, was investigated using a self-developed in situ expansion testing device. The lattice expansion of the V61Cr24Ti12Ce3 alloy after full hydrogenation was determined to be 37.85% using X-ray diffraction(XRD). The powder bed, composed of alloy powder with an average size of 3.35 mm in diameter, displays a large volume expansion ratio of 131% at the first hydrogen absorption cycle and 40–45% in the following four cycles. The stable compact bed, made of alloy powders, organic silicone gel, and graphite flakes, shows significantly smaller volume expansion ratio, which is 97% at the first cycle and 21% at the second cycle, and stabilizes at 13% in the following cycles. Also, the compact bed shows similar hydrogen absorption capacity, but faster absorption kinetics compared to the powder bed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Inorganic Materials 2024)
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25 pages, 15721 KiB  
Article
Studies of Various Batch Adsorption Parameters for the Removal of Trypan Blue Using Ni-Zn-Bi-Layered Triple Hydroxide and Their Isotherm, Kinetics, and Removal Mechanism
by Ganesan Sriram, Nimisha Baby, Karmegam Dhanabalan, Muthuraj Arunpandian, Karuppaiah Selvakumar, Thangarasu Sadhasivam and Tae Hwan Oh
Inorganics 2024, 12(11), 296; https://doi.org/10.3390/inorganics12110296 - 19 Nov 2024
Viewed by 590
Abstract
The present study addressed the removal of Trypan blue (TB) from water using a novel Ni-Zn-Bi-layered triple hydroxide (NZB LTH or NZB) synthesized through the co-precipitation technique. The physiochemical properties of NZB were analyzed before and after TB adsorption using XRD, BET, FESEM, [...] Read more.
The present study addressed the removal of Trypan blue (TB) from water using a novel Ni-Zn-Bi-layered triple hydroxide (NZB LTH or NZB) synthesized through the co-precipitation technique. The physiochemical properties of NZB were analyzed before and after TB adsorption using XRD, BET, FESEM, FTIR-ATR, Raman, and XPS. Studies on adsorption indicate that 80 mg of NZB has a maximum TB removal effectiveness of around 96.7% at natural pH (~4.5–5.0). This study found that NZB has a maximum adsorption capacity (qmax) of 5.3 mg·g−1 at dye concentrations ranging from 5 to 30 mg·L−1. When combined with various anionic dye mixtures, NZB’s selectivity studies showed that it is highly selective for the removal of TB and is also effective at removing cationic dyes. When compared to Na2SO4 and NaCl salts, NZB had a lower dye removal percentage for TB removal in the presence of Na2SO3. In an adsorption process, the interaction between the TB and NZB in an aqueous solution is caused by hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions, which are investigated in the adsorption mechanism. In comparison with ethanol and methanol, the recyclability investigation of NZB revealed the notable removal of TB using 0.1 M NaOH for the desorption. Therefore, the present investigation suggests that NZB is an appropriate adsorbent for the removal of TB from an aqueous solution. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Inorganic Materials 2024)
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13 pages, 8864 KiB  
Article
Nickel Foam-Supported FeP Encapsulated in N, P Co-Doped Carbon Matrix for Efficient Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution
by Jianguo Zhong, Ting Zhang, Jianqiang Tian, Wei Gao and Yuxin Wang
Inorganics 2024, 12(11), 291; https://doi.org/10.3390/inorganics12110291 - 7 Nov 2024
Viewed by 1606
Abstract
Transition metal phosphides (TMPs) show great potential as catalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). FeP stands out as an efficient and cost-effective non-noble metal-based HER catalyst. However, FeP tends to aggregate and suffer from instability during the reaction. To tackle these challenges, [...] Read more.
Transition metal phosphides (TMPs) show great potential as catalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). FeP stands out as an efficient and cost-effective non-noble metal-based HER catalyst. However, FeP tends to aggregate and suffer from instability during the reaction. To tackle these challenges, we developed an efficient and straightforward approach to load metal-organic framework-derived N/P co-doped carbon-encapsulated FeP nanoparticles onto a nickel foam substrate (FeP@NPC/NF-450). This catalyst exhibits exceptional HER activity in 0.5 M H2SO4 and 1.0 M KOH solutions, with overpotentials of 68.3 mV and 106.1 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm−2, respectively. Furthermore, it demonstrates excellent stability with negligible decay over 48 h in both acidic and alkaline solutions. The outstanding hydrogen evolution catalytic performance of FeP@NPC/NF-450 is mainly due to the N, P co-doped carbon matrix, which safeguards the FeP nanoparticles from aggregation and surface oxidation. Consequently, this enhances the availability of active sites during the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), leading to improved stability. Moreover, introducing nickel foam offers a larger specific surface area and enhances charge transfer rates. This study provides a reference method for preparing stable and highly active electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Inorganic Materials 2024)
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12 pages, 24978 KiB  
Article
Enhancements in Hydrogen Storage Properties of Magnesium Hydride Supported by Carbon Fiber: Effect of C–H Interactions
by Quan Yang, Xiansong Jia, Zhikang Qin, Xiaoli Ding and Yongtao Li
Inorganics 2024, 12(11), 273; https://doi.org/10.3390/inorganics12110273 - 23 Oct 2024
Viewed by 656
Abstract
Carbon-based materials with excellent catalytic activity provide new ideas for the development of magnesium-based hydrogen storage. C-H bonding interactions may play a key role in performance improvement. In this work, we comprehensively compare the magnesium-carbon cloth composites (CC) prepared by method of dry [...] Read more.
Carbon-based materials with excellent catalytic activity provide new ideas for the development of magnesium-based hydrogen storage. C-H bonding interactions may play a key role in performance improvement. In this work, we comprehensively compare the magnesium-carbon cloth composites (CC) prepared by method of dry ball milling and wet impregnation. The results were that the hydrogen release activation energy (Ea) of MgH2@CC composites prepared by wet immersion method was 175.1 ± 19.5 kJ·mol−1, which was lower than that of pure MgH2 (Ea = 213.9 ± 6.4 kJ·mol−1), and the activation energy of MgH2-CC composites prepared by ball milling method was 137.3 ± 8.7 kJ·mol−1, which provided better results. The kinetic enhancement should be attributed to C-H interactions. The presence of carbon carriers and electron transfer to reduce the activation energy of Mg-H bond fracture. These results will provide further insights into the promotion of hydrogen ab-/desorption from metal hydrides. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Inorganic Materials 2024)
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12 pages, 2675 KiB  
Article
Thermal Shock Resistance of Commercial Oxide-Bonded Silicon Carbide Reticulated Foams under Concentrated Solar Radiation at PSA: A Feasibility Study
by Fernando de Almeida Costa Oliveira, José Galindo, José Rodríguez, Inmaculada Cañadas and Jorge Cruz Fernandes
Inorganics 2024, 12(9), 246; https://doi.org/10.3390/inorganics12090246 - 11 Sep 2024
Viewed by 697
Abstract
Volumetric ceramic receivers can be regarded as a promising technology to heat air above 1000 °C for solar thermal electricity production. In this study, the thermal shock behavior of commercial 10 ppi (A) and 20 ppi (B) oxide-bonded silicon carbide (ob-SiC) reticulated porous [...] Read more.
Volumetric ceramic receivers can be regarded as a promising technology to heat air above 1000 °C for solar thermal electricity production. In this study, the thermal shock behavior of commercial 10 ppi (A) and 20 ppi (B) oxide-bonded silicon carbide (ob-SiC) reticulated porous ceramic (RPC) foams was evaluated using the SF60 solar furnace at Plataforma Solar de Almería. The foams were subjected to well-controlled temperature cycles ranging from 800 to 1000, 1200, 1300 or 1400 °C, for 25, 100, and 150 cycles. The extent of the damage after thermal shock was determined by crushing tests. The damage was found to be critically dependent on both the bulk density and cell size. Decreasing both the bulk density and cell size resulted in better thermal shock resistance. The B foam exhibited approximately half the stress degradation compared to the A foam when exposed to a temperature difference of 600 K (in the range of 800 to 1400 °C) and subjected to 150 cycles. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Inorganic Materials 2024)
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12 pages, 3850 KiB  
Article
Cu-Doped TiO2 Thin Films by Spin Coating: Investigation of Structural and Optical Properties
by Syrine Sassi, Amal Bouich, Anouar Hajjaji, Lotfi Khezami, Brahim Bessais and Bernabé Mari Soucase
Inorganics 2024, 12(7), 188; https://doi.org/10.3390/inorganics12070188 - 8 Jul 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1164
Abstract
Cu-doped TiO2 films were synthesized directly on FTO glass with a spin coating method. With a variation in copper amount, samples were prepared with 0%, 1%, 2%, 4% and 8% of dopant concentrations. Morphological and structural characterization of undoped and Cu-doped TiO [...] Read more.
Cu-doped TiO2 films were synthesized directly on FTO glass with a spin coating method. With a variation in copper amount, samples were prepared with 0%, 1%, 2%, 4% and 8% of dopant concentrations. Morphological and structural characterization of undoped and Cu-doped TiO2 samples were investigated and the obtained results showed the small, spherical shapes of the nanoparticles forming a thin film on top of FTO glass and their preferred orientation of TiO2 anatase (101), which is the same for each sample. However, this peak exhibited a slight shift for the 2% sample, related to the inflation of the microstrain compared to the other samples. For the optical properties, the 4% sample displayed the highest transmittance whereas the 2% sample exhibited the lowest band gap energy of 2.96 eV. Moreover, the PL intensity seems to be at its highest for the 2% sample due to the present peaking defects in the structure, whereas the 8% sample shows a whole new signal that is related to copper oxide. These properties make this material a potential candidate to perform as an electron transport layer (ETL) in solar cells and enhance their power conversion efficiency. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Inorganic Materials 2024)
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19 pages, 5723 KiB  
Article
Synthesis of TiO2/SBA-15 Nanocomposites by Hydrolysis of Organometallic Ti Precursors for Photocatalytic NO Abatement
by Ons El Atti, Julie Hot, Katia Fajerwerg, Christian Lorber, Bénédicte Lebeau, Andrey Ryzhikov, Myrtil Kahn, Vincent Collière, Yannick Coppel, Nicolas Ratel-Ramond, Philippe Ménini and Pierre Fau
Inorganics 2024, 12(7), 183; https://doi.org/10.3390/inorganics12070183 - 29 Jun 2024
Viewed by 1067
Abstract
The development of advanced photocatalysts for air pollution removal is essential to improve indoor air quality. TiO2/mesoporous silica SBA-15 nanocomposites were synthesized using an organometallic decoration method, which leverages the high reactivity of Ti precursors to be hydrolyzed on the surface [...] Read more.
The development of advanced photocatalysts for air pollution removal is essential to improve indoor air quality. TiO2/mesoporous silica SBA-15 nanocomposites were synthesized using an organometallic decoration method, which leverages the high reactivity of Ti precursors to be hydrolyzed on the surface water groups of silica supports. Both lab-made Ti(III) amidinate and commercial Ti(IV) amino precursors were utilized to react with water-rich SBA-15, obtained through a hydration process. The hydrated SBA-15 and the TiO2/SBA-15 nanocomposites were characterized using TGA, FTIR, 1H and 29Si NMR, TEM, SEM, N2 physisorption, XRD, and WAXS. This one-step TiO2 decoration method achieved a loading of up to 51.5 wt.% of approximately 9 nm anatase particles on the SBA-15 surface. This structuring provided excellent accessibility of TiO2 particles for photocatalytic applications under pollutant gas and UV-A light exposure. The combination with the high specific surface area of SBA-15 resulted in the efficient degradation of 400 ppb of NO pollutant gas. Due to synergistic effects, the best nanocomposite in this study demonstrated a NO abatement performance of 4.0% per used mg of TiO2, which is 40% more efficient than the reference photocatalytic material TiO2 P-25. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Inorganic Materials 2024)
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Review

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56 pages, 7554 KiB  
Review
The Integration of Thermal Energy Storage Within Metal Hydride Systems: A Comprehensive Review
by Matias Davis Cortina, Manuel Romero de Terreros Aramburu, Andre Martins Neves, Lourdes Hurtado, Julian Jepsen and Ulrich Ulmer
Inorganics 2024, 12(12), 313; https://doi.org/10.3390/inorganics12120313 - 3 Dec 2024
Viewed by 1124
Abstract
Hydrogen storage technologies are key enablers for the development of low-emission, sustainable energy supply chains, primarily due to the versatility of hydrogen as a clean energy carrier. Hydrogen can be utilized in both stationary and mobile power applications, and as a low-environmental-impact energy [...] Read more.
Hydrogen storage technologies are key enablers for the development of low-emission, sustainable energy supply chains, primarily due to the versatility of hydrogen as a clean energy carrier. Hydrogen can be utilized in both stationary and mobile power applications, and as a low-environmental-impact energy source for various industrial sectors, provided it is produced from renewable resources. However, efficient hydrogen storage remains a significant technical challenge. Conventional storage methods, such as compressed and liquefied hydrogen, suffer from energy losses and limited gravimetric and volumetric energy densities, highlighting the need for innovative storage solutions. One promising approach is hydrogen storage in metal hydrides, which offers advantages such as high storage capacities and flexibility in the temperature and pressure conditions required for hydrogen uptake and release, depending on the chosen material. However, these systems necessitate the careful management of the heat generated and absorbed during hydrogen absorption and desorption processes. Thermal energy storage (TES) systems provide a means to enhance the energy efficiency and cost-effectiveness of metal hydride-based storage by effectively coupling thermal management with hydrogen storage processes. This review introduces metal hydride materials for hydrogen storage, focusing on their thermophysical, thermodynamic, and kinetic properties. Additionally, it explores TES materials, including sensible, latent, and thermochemical energy storage options, with emphasis on those that operate at temperatures compatible with widely studied hydride systems. A detailed analysis of notable metal hydride–TES coupled systems from the literature is provided. Finally, the review assesses potential future developments in the field, offering guidance for researchers and engineers in advancing innovative and efficient hydrogen energy systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Inorganic Materials 2024)
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