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Environmentally Friendly Materials

A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Green Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 November 2024 | Viewed by 9794

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Faculty of Materials and Manufacture, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
Interests: refractory metals; thermal cathode; powder metallurgy; photocatalysis; photochemistry

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Environmentally friendly materials are very important for the sustainable development of the industry. The substitution of hazardous elements, green synthesis, low-cost manufacturing methods, and related fundamental studies are the main concerns in this research area.

Therefore, in this Special Issue, we would like to invite researchers to contribute original research works as well as review articles that involve (but are not limited to) the fundamental theory of environmentally friendly materials; material synthesis, fabrication, manufacturing, and processing; structure and property adjustment; and applications of materials in various fields. We are particularly interested in work that can provide new insights or stimulate novel ideas to develop research in this field to a further extent.

Prof. Dr. Jinshu Wang
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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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. Materials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2600 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

  • theoretical calculation
  • material synthesis
  • mechanical properties
  • battery
  • photocatalysis
  • photochemistry
  • water splitting

Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

Jump to: Review

9 pages, 5489 KiB  
Article
High Performance Mg Alloy with Designed Microstructure and Phases
by Zhao Yang, Chao Xu, Shengnan Song, Taiki Nakata and Shigeharu Kamado
Materials 2024, 17(11), 2734; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17112734 - 4 Jun 2024
Viewed by 439
Abstract
A high strength and ductile Mg-Gd-Y-Zn-Zr alloy was designed and fabricated. The local strain evolution of the alloys during plastic deformation was analyzed using high-resolution digital image correlation (DIC). The results showed that the β particles, nano-sized γ’ phases, and LPSO phases were [...] Read more.
A high strength and ductile Mg-Gd-Y-Zn-Zr alloy was designed and fabricated. The local strain evolution of the alloys during plastic deformation was analyzed using high-resolution digital image correlation (DIC). The results showed that the β particles, nano-sized γ’ phases, and LPSO phases were distributed in the as-extruded alloy and a bimodal microstructure was exhibited, including elongated un-dynamic recrystallized grains and fine dynamic recrystallized grains. With increasing extrusion ratio, the grain size remained, with the volume fraction of dynamic recrystallization of the as-extruded alloy increasing from 30% to 75%, and the as-extruded alloy exhibited a high strength-ductility synergy, which is attributed to the grain refinement, extensive β particles, and elongated block-shaped LPSO phases. The strain evolution analysis showed that a strain-transfer from un-DRXed regions to adjacent DRXed regions and LPSO phases can promote uniform plastic deformation, which tends to improve the ductility of the alloy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmentally Friendly Materials)
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13 pages, 3339 KiB  
Article
Intrinsic Properties Affecting the Catalytic Activity toward Oxygen Reduction Reaction of Nanostructured Transition Metal Nitrides as Catalysts for Hybrid Na-Air Batteries
by Da Zhang, Kaiwen Zhang, Zhipeng Xie, Bowen Xu, Minjie Hou, Yong Lei, Takayuki Watanabe, Bin Yang and Feng Liang
Materials 2023, 16(23), 7469; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16237469 - 1 Dec 2023
Viewed by 1225
Abstract
Nanostructured transition metal nitrides (TMNs) have been considered as a promising substitute for precious metal catalysts toward ORR due to their multi-electron orbitals, metallic properties, and low cost. To design TMN catalysts with high catalytic activity toward ORR, the intrinsic features of the [...] Read more.
Nanostructured transition metal nitrides (TMNs) have been considered as a promising substitute for precious metal catalysts toward ORR due to their multi-electron orbitals, metallic properties, and low cost. To design TMN catalysts with high catalytic activity toward ORR, the intrinsic features of the influencing factor on the catalytic activity toward ORR of nanostructured TMNs need to be investigated. In this paper, titanium nitride (TiN), zirconium nitride (ZrN), and hafnium nitride (HfN) nanoparticles (NPs) are highly efficient and synthesized in one step by the direct current arc plasma. TiN, ZrN, and HfN NPs with an oxidation layer are applied as the catalysts of hybrid sodium–air batteries (HSABs). The effect of the composition and structural attributes of TMNs on ORR catalysis is defined as follows: (i) composition effect. With the increase in the oxygen content, the catalytic ORR capability of TMNs decreases progressively due to the reduction in oxygen adsorption capacity; (ii) structure effect. The redistribution of the density of states (DOS) of ZrN indicates higher ORR activity than TiN and HfN. HSABs with ZrN exhibit an excellent cyclic stability up to 137 cycles (about 140 h), an outstanding rate performance, and a specific capacity of 2817 mAh·g−1 at 1.0 mA·cm−2. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmentally Friendly Materials)
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12 pages, 20018 KiB  
Article
In Situ Observation the Effect of Y on the Solidification Process of 7Mo-SASS under a Low Cooling Rate
by Wenqiang Liu, Lijun Wang and Qi Wang
Materials 2023, 16(21), 6846; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16216846 - 25 Oct 2023
Viewed by 1068
Abstract
The effects of Y on the solidification process of 7Mo super austenitic stainless steel (7MoSASS) under low cooling rate conditions (10 °C/min) were investigated using high-temperature confocal laser scanning microscopy (HT-CLSM). The in situ observation results indicate that Y samples promote an increase [...] Read more.
The effects of Y on the solidification process of 7Mo super austenitic stainless steel (7MoSASS) under low cooling rate conditions (10 °C/min) were investigated using high-temperature confocal laser scanning microscopy (HT-CLSM). The in situ observation results indicate that Y samples promote an increase in austenite nucleation density. After 10 s of nucleation, the nucleation density increased by 149.53/mm2 for the Y sample. Furthermore, variance analysis indicated that Y addition improved the uniformity of the 7MoSASS solidification microstructure under low cooling rate conditions. The Johnson–Mehl–Avrami–Kolmogorov (JMAK) theory results showed that when the solid phase ratio was 0.5, the nucleation mode of the Y sample transitioned from saturation site nucleation to saturation site nucleation + Avrami nucleation. YAlO3 has a low lattice disregistry value with austenite, making it a suitable heterogeneous nucleation core for promoting the early nucleation of austenite. During the late stages of solidification, Y accumulates in the residual liquid phase, providing a greater degree of compositional undercooling. SEM-EDS analysis showed that Y contributed to the refinement of the 7MoSASS solidification microstructure, with the proportion of precipitated phases decreasing by approximately 7.5%. Cr and Mo were the main elements exhibiting positive segregation in 7MoSASS, and the Cr segregation ratio increased in the Y sample, while the Mo segregation ratio decreased. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmentally Friendly Materials)
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15 pages, 9892 KiB  
Article
High-Modulus Laminated SiC/AZ91 Material with Adjustable Microstructure and Mechanical Properties Based on the Adjustment of the Densities of the Ceramic Layers
by Zeqi Du, Kunkun Deng, Kaibo Nie, Cuiju Wang, Chao Xu and Quanxin Shi
Materials 2023, 16(18), 6168; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16186168 - 12 Sep 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 879
Abstract
To address the issue of inadequate strength and plasticity in magnesium matrix composites, SiC preforms were prepared using the freeze-casting process. The effects of sintering temperature on the microstructure, mechanical properties, and fracture behavior of SiCp/AZ91 magnesium matrix composites were studied by controlling [...] Read more.
To address the issue of inadequate strength and plasticity in magnesium matrix composites, SiC preforms were prepared using the freeze-casting process. The effects of sintering temperature on the microstructure, mechanical properties, and fracture behavior of SiCp/AZ91 magnesium matrix composites were studied by controlling the density of SiC preforms through low-temperature sintering. The results indicate that as the sintering temperature decreases, the reaction products in the SiC layer decrease, resulting in lower SiC preform density and increased content of AZ91 alloy filling in the layer. The increased alloy content in the ceramic layer not only inhibits crack initiation but also hinders crack propagation, thereby endowing the SiCp/AZ91 laminated material with excellent compressive strength and compressive strain. At the sintering temperature of 900 °C, the SiCp/AZ91 laminated material exhibits impressive compressive strength and strain values of 623 MPa and 8.77%, respectively, which demonstrates an excellent combination of strength and toughness. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmentally Friendly Materials)
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11 pages, 2401 KiB  
Article
Improved Electrochemical Performance of Li-Rich Cathode Materials via Spinel Li2MoO4 Coating
by Shuhao Zhang, Yun Ye, Zhaoxiong Chen, Qinghao Lai, Tie Liu, Qiang Wang and Shuang Yuan
Materials 2023, 16(16), 5655; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16165655 - 17 Aug 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1061
Abstract
Li-rich manganese-based cathode materials (LRMs) are considered one of the most promising cathode materials for the next generation of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) because of their high energy density. However, there are problems such as a capacity decay, poor rate performance, and continuous voltage [...] Read more.
Li-rich manganese-based cathode materials (LRMs) are considered one of the most promising cathode materials for the next generation of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) because of their high energy density. However, there are problems such as a capacity decay, poor rate performance, and continuous voltage drop, which seriously limit their large-scale commercial applications. In this work, Li1.2Mn0.54Co0.13Ni0.13O2 coated with Li2MoO4 with a unique spinel structure was prepared with the wet chemistry method and the subsequent calcination process. The Li2MoO4 coating layer with a spinel structure could provide a 3D Li+ transport channel, which is beneficial for improving rate performance, while protecting LRMs from electrolyte corrosion, suppressing interface side reactions, and improving cycling stability. The capacity retention rate of LRMs coated with 3 wt% Li2MoO4 increased from 69.25% to 81.85% after 100 cycles at 1 C, and the voltage attenuation decreased from 7.06 to 4.98 mV per cycle. The lower Rct also exhibited an improved rate performance. The results indicate that the Li2MoO4 coating effectively improves the cyclic stability and electrochemical performance of LRMs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmentally Friendly Materials)
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14 pages, 8325 KiB  
Article
Microstructure Characteristics, Mechanical Properties and Strain Hardening Behavior of B2 Intermetallic Compound-Strengthening Fe-16Mn-9Al-0.8C-3Ni Steel Fabricated by Twin-Roll Strip Casting, Cold Rolling and Annealing
by Baoguang Zhang, Kun Yang, Xiaoming Zhang, Haitao Liu, Weina Zhang and Jian Wang
Materials 2023, 16(15), 5417; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16155417 - 2 Aug 2023
Viewed by 1145
Abstract
In this study, the Fe-16Mn-9Al-0.8C-3Ni (wt.%) lightweight steel was fabricated by novel twin-roll strip casting technology. The microstructure, tensile properties and strain-hardening behavior of the present steel have been investigated and compared to those of conventionally processed steels with similar chemical compositions. After [...] Read more.
In this study, the Fe-16Mn-9Al-0.8C-3Ni (wt.%) lightweight steel was fabricated by novel twin-roll strip casting technology. The microstructure, tensile properties and strain-hardening behavior of the present steel have been investigated and compared to those of conventionally processed steels with similar chemical compositions. After annealing, a unique gradient microstructure of intermetallic compound (B2)-austenite was obtained along the thickness direction, consisting of granular B2 (average: 430 nm) and fine austenite (average: 1.82 μm) at the surface layer, blocky B2 (average: 1.03 μm) and medium austenite (average: 3.98 μm) at the quarter layer and polygonal B2 (average: 1.94 μm) and coarse austenite (average: 6.13 μm) at the center layer. The cooperative action of B2 pinning dislocation, plane slip and back stress led to stronger strain hardening, among which the strong back stress effect originated from the multistage discontinuous austenite deformation and the mechanical incompatibility between austenite and B2 is believed to be the most important reason, thereby achieving an excellent balance of strength (ultimate tensile strength: 1147 MPa) and ductility (total elongation: 43.2%). This work not only developed a new processing way to fabricate Ni-containing Fe-Mn-Al-C lightweight steel with outstanding mechanical properties, but also provided a potential solution for manufacturing some other metallic materials accompanied by brittle B2 intermetallic. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmentally Friendly Materials)
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21 pages, 4400 KiB  
Article
Fabrication of Nitrogen-Doped Carbon@Magnesium Silicate Composite by One-Step Hydrothermal Method and Its High-Efficiency Adsorption of As(V) and Tetracycline
by Xuekai Wang, Jinshu Wang, Jianjun Li, Yucheng Du, Junshu Wu and Heng He
Materials 2023, 16(15), 5338; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16155338 - 29 Jul 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 711
Abstract
Tetracycline (TC) and arsenic contaminants are two main pollutants in aquaculture and livestock husbandry, and they have drawn worldwide attention. To address this issue, a novel N-doped carbon@magnesium silicate (CMS) was fabricated via a facile and low-cost hydrothermal route, adopting glucose and ammonia [...] Read more.
Tetracycline (TC) and arsenic contaminants are two main pollutants in aquaculture and livestock husbandry, and they have drawn worldwide attention. To address this issue, a novel N-doped carbon@magnesium silicate (CMS) was fabricated via a facile and low-cost hydrothermal route, adopting glucose and ammonia as C and N sources, respectively. The synergetic combination of carbon and magnesium silicate makes CMS possess a high surface area of 201 m2/g and abundant functional groups. Due to the abundant C- and N-containing functional groups and Mg-containing adsorptive sites, the maximum adsorption capacity values of CMS towards As(V) and TC are 498.75 mg/g and 1228.5 mg/g, respectively. The type of adsorption of As(V) and TC onto CMS is monolayer adsorption. An adsorption kinetic study revealed that the mass transfer and intraparticle process dominates the sorption rate of As(V) and TC adsorption onto CMS, respectively. Various functional groups synthetically participate in the adsorption process through complexion, π–π EDA interactions, and hydrogen bonds. This work provides a one-step, low-cost route to fabricate a N-doped carbonaceous adsorbent with a high surface area and abundant functional groups, which has great potential in the application of practical sewage treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmentally Friendly Materials)
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Review

Jump to: Research

30 pages, 8975 KiB  
Review
Recent Advances in Metal–Organic Framework (MOF)-Based Composites for Organic Effluent Remediation
by Shuxian Tang, Yuxuan Wang, Peng He, Yan Wang and Gang Wei
Materials 2024, 17(11), 2660; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17112660 - 1 Jun 2024
Viewed by 640
Abstract
Environmental pollution caused by organic effluents emitted by industry has become a worldwide issue and poses a serious threat to the public and the ecosystem. Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), comprising metal-containing clusters and organic bridging ligands, are porous and crystalline materials, possessing fascinating shape [...] Read more.
Environmental pollution caused by organic effluents emitted by industry has become a worldwide issue and poses a serious threat to the public and the ecosystem. Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), comprising metal-containing clusters and organic bridging ligands, are porous and crystalline materials, possessing fascinating shape and size-dependent properties such as high surface area, abundant active sites, well-defined crystal morphologies, and huge potential for surface functionalization. To date, numerous well designated MOFs have emerged as critical functional materials to solve the growing challenges associated with water environmental issues. Here we present the recent progress of MOF-based materials and their applications in the treatment of organic effluents. Firstly, several traditional and emerging synthesis strategies for MOF composites are introduced. Then, the structural and functional regulations of MOF composites are presented and analyzed. Finally, typical applications of MOF-based materials in treating organic effluents, including chemical, pharmaceutical, textile, and agricultural wastewaters are summarized. Overall, this review is anticipated to tailor design and regulation of MOF-based functional materials for boosting the performance of organic effluent remediation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmentally Friendly Materials)
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27 pages, 3433 KiB  
Review
Transformation and Detoxification of Typical Metallurgical Hazardous Waste into a Resource: A Review of the Development of Harmless Treatment and Utilization in China
by Yuanhang Wang, Haiquan Zhao, Xinyu Wang, Junkai Chong, Xiangtao Huo, Min Guo and Mei Zhang
Materials 2024, 17(4), 931; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17040931 - 17 Feb 2024
Viewed by 881
Abstract
The production process of the metallurgical industry generates a significant quantity of hazardous waste. At present, the common disposal method for metallurgical hazardous waste is landfilling, which synchronously leads to the leaching of toxic elements and the loss of valuable metals. This paper [...] Read more.
The production process of the metallurgical industry generates a significant quantity of hazardous waste. At present, the common disposal method for metallurgical hazardous waste is landfilling, which synchronously leads to the leaching of toxic elements and the loss of valuable metals. This paper presents a comprehensive review of the research progress in the harmless treatment and resource utilization of stainless steel dust/sludge (including stainless steel dust and stainless steel pickling sludge) and aluminum ash (including primary aluminum ash and secondary aluminum dross), which serve as representative hazardous wastes in ferrous metallurgy and nonferrous metallurgy, respectively. Additionally, the general steps involved in the comprehensive utilization of metallurgical hazardous waste are summarized. Finally, this paper provides a prospective analysis on the future development and research trends of comprehensive utilization for metallurgical hazardous waste, aiming to offer a basis for the future harmless, high-value, resource-based treatment of metallurgical hazardous waste and the realization of industrial applications in China. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmentally Friendly Materials)
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19 pages, 8772 KiB  
Review
Preparation, Mechanical Properties and Strengthening Mechanism of W-Re Alloys: A Review
by Zhenghui Zheng, Chen Lai, Wenyuan Zhou, Ying Wang, Yingxiao Zhang and Jinshu Wang
Materials 2024, 17(1), 102; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17010102 - 24 Dec 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1272
Abstract
W-Re alloys are one of the most important refractory materials with excellent high-temperature performance that were developed to improve the brittleness of tungsten. In the present work, we firstly summarized the research progress on the preparation and strengthening methods of a W-Re alloy. [...] Read more.
W-Re alloys are one of the most important refractory materials with excellent high-temperature performance that were developed to improve the brittleness of tungsten. In the present work, we firstly summarized the research progress on the preparation and strengthening methods of a W-Re alloy. Then, the strengthening mechanisms of the W-Re alloy were discussed, including the influence of Re, solid solution strengthening, second-phase reinforcement and fine-grain strengthening. The results showed that the softening effect of Re was mainly related to the transformation of the preferred slip plane and the introduction of additional d-valence electrons. Some transition elements and refractory metal elements effectively strengthened the W-Re alloy. Carbides can significantly enhance the high-temperature mechanical properties of W-Re alloys, and the reasons are twofold: one is the interaction between carbides and dislocations, and the other is the synergistic strengthening effect between carbides and Re. The objective of this work was to enhance the comprehension on W-Re alloys and provide future research directions for W-Re alloys. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmentally Friendly Materials)
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Planned Papers

The below list represents only planned manuscripts. Some of these manuscripts have not been received by the Editorial Office yet. Papers submitted to MDPI journals are subject to peer-review.

Title: High Performance Mg Alloy with Designed Microstructure and Phases
Authors: Zhao Yang; Chao Xu; Shengnan Song; Taiki Nakata; Shigeharu Kamado
Affiliation: School of Materials Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China
Abstract: A high strength and ductile Mg-8.2Gd-3.8Y-1Zn-0.4Zr (wt. %) alloy was designed and fabricated by hot extrusion with different extrusion ratio and ageing treatment. The local strain evolution of the alloys during plastic deformation were analyzed by high resolution digital image correlation (DIC). The as-extruded alloy showed bimodal microstructure, consisting of elongated un-dynamic recrystallized (un-DRXed) grains and fine dynamic recrystallized (DRXed) grains, with β particles, nano-sized γ’ phases, and LPSO phases existing in alloys. With increasing extrusion ratio, the volume fraction of dynamic recrystallization of as-extruded alloy was increased from 30% to 75% with stable grain size. The as-extruded alloy with extrusion ratio of 10 exhibits a high strength-ductility synergy with a tensile yield strength of 374 MPa, an ultimate tensile strength of 440 MPa and elongation to failure of 13.0%, which is attributed to the combined effects of grain refinement, extensive β particles, and elongated block-shaped LPSO phases. The strain evolution analysis showed that a strain-transfer from un-DRXed regions to adjacent DRXed regions and LPSO phases can promote uniformity plastic deformation, which tends to improve the ductility of alloy.

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