Search Results (5,526)

Persistent misconceptions about the alleged presence of bisphenol A (BPA) in major commodity plastics continue to distort public perception and, in some cases, regulatory discourse. This occurs despite scientific evidence showing that these polymers are synthesized without BPA. This review examines five widely used plastics—PET, PE, PP, PS, and PVC—focusing on their synthesis, structure–property relationships, and technological changes affecting the sector. We highlight recent innovations in green catalysis, bio-based feedstocks, polymer redesign, and advanced recycling. These advances are speeding the shift to efficient, sustainable processes and a circular polymer economy. We discuss market trends and regulatory frameworks to explain their global and Brazilian relevance, showing how communication gaps can lead to misinformation. By uniting chemical, technological, and regulatory views, this review supports public understanding, evidence-based policy, and the development of safer, high-performance, sustainable polymers. Full article

Nanophotonics, an interdisciplinary field merging nanotechnology and photonics, has enabled transformative advancements across diverse sectors, including green energy, biomedicine, and optical computing. This review comprehensively examines recent progress in nanophotonic principles and applications, highlighting key innovations in material design, device engineering, and system integration. In renewable energy, nanophotonics allows the use of light-trapping nanostructures and spectral control in perovskite solar cells, concentrating solar power systems, and thermophotovoltaics. This has significantly enhanced solar conversion efficiencies, approaching theoretical limits. In biosensing, nanophotonic platforms achieve unprecedented sensitivity in detecting biomolecules, pathogens, and pollutants, enabling real-time diagnostics and environmental monitoring. Medical applications leverage tailored light–matter interactions for precision photothermal therapy, image-guided surgery, and early disease detection. Furthermore, nanophotonics underpins next-generation optical neural networks and neuromorphic computing, offering ultrafast, energy-efficient alternatives to von Neumann architectures. Despite rapid growth, challenges in scalability, fabrication costs, and material stability persist. Future advancements will rely on novel materials, AI-driven design optimization, and multidisciplinary approaches to enable scalable, low-cost deployment. This review summarizes recent progress and highlights future trends, including novel material systems, multidisciplinary approaches, and enhanced computational capabilities, paving the way for transformative applications in this rapidly evolving field. Full article

Spent coffee grounds (SCGs) are one of the most abundant agro-industrial by-products worldwide, with 650 kg generated per ton of green coffee processed, corresponding to an estimated global production of 6.7 million tons in 2022/2023. Improper disposal of SCG raises environmental concerns, while their reuse offers opportunities for sustainable resource management and circular economy strategies. This review examines SCG valorization by addressing their chemical composition, functional properties, and key applications in sectors such as food, agriculture, environmental remediation, bioenergy, and selected industrial fields, including pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, construction materials, and functional devices. In this context, it discusses technological approaches, performance outcomes, and implementation considerations, emphasizing the multifunctional potential of SCGs as a renewable feedstock capable of reducing waste, improving resource efficiency, and generating economic value. By consolidating the current state of knowledge and exploring diverse valorization pathways, this work frames SCG utilization within a circular bioeconomy framework and highlights how innovative applications can transform this widely available waste into sustainable and economically valuable products. Full article

Under the dual carbon goals, green innovation acts as a key driver for the transformation and upgrading of China’s energy-intensive enterprises, and stands as an inevitable choice to propel China’s shift from a major energy-consuming nation to a powerful scientific and technological nation. To explore the driving mechanism of digital transformation on the green innovation efficiency of energy-intensive enterprises, this paper takes such enterprises from 2011 to 2022 as the research subject, designs three distinct scenarios (environmental protection, enterprise innovation and scientific research innovation), simulates heterogeneous development paths, and forecasts trends to 2030. The results show that green innovation efficiency rises steadily across all scenarios, with the strongest improvement under the scientific research scenario. By 2030, efficiency under this scenario is expected to reach 1.77 times that of the baseline scenario, while the other two scenarios also perform significantly better. These findings confirm the positive role of multi-dimensional policy interventions in strengthening digital-enabled green innovation efficiency. Accordingly, practical recommendations are put forward regarding how digital transformation can effectively drive the improvement of green innovation efficiency of energy-intensive enterprises from the aspects of policy formulation, enterprise management and innovation investment. Full article

With the increase in the demand for electronic-grade high-purity silane in the semiconductor chip industry, it is of great significance to develop a green and economical method for silane production. Therefore, a novel energy-saving fixed-bed process was proposed innovatively. In this paper, the thermodynamics and kinetics of the trichlorosilane disproportionation system were studied, and the optimal reaction conditions for the resin catalyst were determined, which were used for the subsequent simulation. Based on the conventional DR1 + DR2 process (which includes one trichlorosilane disproportionation reactor (DR1) and one dichlorosilane disproportionation reactor (DR2)), by adding an additional disproportionation reactor to the TCS recycle loop and/or DCS recycle loop, three improved process configurations were designed, including 2DR1 + DR2, DR1 + 2DR2, and 2DR1 + 2DR2 processes. Then, combined with four-column heat integration, the HI + 2DR1 + 2DR2 process was proposed to solve the bottleneck problems of high energy consumption and large circulation flow rate. The results show that the HI + 2DR1 + 2DR2 process achieved the best energy-saving effect. The TCS recycle loop flow rate reduced by 36.87%, the DCS recycle loop flow rate reduced by 12.41%, total energy consumption decreased by 62.8%, and CO₂ emissions decreased by 56.72%. The unit energy consumption is 13.8 kg steam/kg SiH₄, and the silane purity is greater than 99.9999%. This design can be easily applied to the existing production process of the silane plant, achieving energy-saving and low-cost production of silane. Full article

Due to the recent rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) and its expanding impact on the planet, green and sustainable AI research has increasingly gained attention. This systematic literature review searches main databases, including Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, using an organized methodological approach. Following a thorough screening process, 49 final studies published between 2016 and 2026 are selected from an initial identification of 325 original records. We identify and analyze four key categories of sustainable AI practices: (1) model-level algorithmic efficiency, (2) hardware- and system-level optimization, (3) lifecycle- and data-centric approaches, and (4) operational and policy-level sustainability. We also highlight and explain four dimensions at the intersection of AI and environmentally responsible behavior: AI for sustainable applications’ development in industries, ethical considerations and accountability in using AI, and opportunities enabled by generative AI. We then combine existing taxonomies, evaluation metrics, and challenges to identify areas for improvement and suggest future research directions. Based on our analysis, we emphasize the need for interdisciplinary cooperation to facilitate responsible AI innovation and match it with global sustainable development goals (SDGs). We also highlight the importance of developing adequate frameworks along with precisely defined and standardized metrics to assess the environmental impact of AI. This review aims to encourage more responsible and environmentally friendly AI practices by providing a structured framework for researchers, educators, and professionals engaged in sustainable AI. Full article

The strain on the global food sector to reconcile environmental sustainability with operational efficiency has been intensifying. In a growing economy, this study investigates the revolutionary potential of integrated digital ecosystems that include blockchain, big data analytics, and IoT-enabled real-time monitoring on the performance of Green Supply Chain Management (GSCM). The research, that relies on the Technology–Organization–Environment (TOE) framework, utilizes a rigorous mixed-methods approach which utilizes Fuzzy-Set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) on data from food-processing firms in Pakistan. Green innovation is an important moderating catalyst, and SEM results confirm that digital integration significantly enhances waste reduction and energy efficiency, explaining 62% of performance variance. A further configurational analysis indicates causal equifinality and reveals 3 distinct paths to superior sustainability, from “Innovation-Driven Institutionalization” to “Government-Supported Scaling.” It demonstrates that various combinations of external support and internal readiness may ultimately contribute to success. The findings are supported by post-implementation evaluations, which show a 29% decrease in energy consumption and a 55% reduction in cold-chain losses. These findings offer novel insights for practitioners and policymakers, validating that environmental stewardship and commercial profitability are mutually reinforcing objectives in the digital age. Full article

This paper examines whether Open Government Data (OGD) can improve urban air quality in China. Using the staggered rollout of city-level OGD platforms as a quasi-natural experiment, it estimates the effect of platform launches on annual average PM_2.5 concentration at the prefecture-city level. The results show that OGD significantly reduces PM_2.5 concentration. This finding remains robust after replacing the dependent variable, conducting event-study tests, applying the Goodman–Bacon decomposition, using a heterogeneity-robust estimator, and carrying out a placebo test. The analysis also shows that controlling for the prior influence of provincial platforms is important, because ignoring this factor may lead to an underestimation of the city-level policy effect. Further analysis suggests that OGD may improve air quality by promoting green innovation, strengthening the government’s orientation toward high-quality development, and increasing public environmental attention. The effect is stronger in cities with better digital infrastructure and stronger government governance capacity, and is generally more pronounced in major urban agglomerations. Overall, the findings suggest that OGD is not only a tool for information disclosure, but also a policy instrument with broader value for environmental governance. Full article

The sponge city pilot policy (SCP) is a green infrastructure initiative that integrates ecological stormwater management, land-use planning, and urban sustainability goals. This study employs the super-efficiency slack-based measure (SBM) model to evaluate the green total factor productivity (GFP) of 278 prefecture-level and above cities in China from 2010 to 2022. It then applies a difference-in-differences (DID) model to identify the causal effect of the SCP on urban GFP while further examining transmission mechanisms and heterogeneous policy effects. The empirical findings show that: (1) the SCP significantly enhances urban GFP, with pilot cities exhibiting an average increase of approximately 6.08% relative to non-pilot cities, indicating broader medium- to long-term ecological–economic co-benefits beyond the policy’s immediate hydrological objectives; (2) the policy effect is more pronounced in cities with stronger economic foundations, larger urban scales, greater environmental governance pressure, weaker resource dependence, and more favorable locational conditions; and (3) the SCP promotes industrial structure transformation (IST) and green technological innovation (GTI), which jointly mediate the relationship between ecological infrastructure and green productivity. Drawing on ecological modernization theory and structural change theory, this study explains how ecological infrastructure, as a techno-structural reform mechanism, can internalize environmental externalities, stimulate innovation, and facilitate sustainable urban transformation. These findings provide evidence that green infrastructure policies can generate both ecological and economic co-benefits, offering useful insights for climate-resilient and sustainable urban planning. Full article

Against the backdrop of accelerating low-carbon transformation in the global energy system and decarbonization in the transportation sector, the widespread adoption of electric vehicles has intensified grid load imbalances and highlighted challenges in integrating intermittent renewable energy generation. Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology has emerged as a key solution to these challenges. This paper systematically traces the global evolution of V2G technology from conceptualization to large-scale deployment, focusing on localized practices in China’s scaled V2G applications. It dissects the logic behind policy evolution, identifies three distinct Chinese V2G models—centralized, distributed, and battery-swapping—and validates the practical outcomes of representative pilot projects. Research reveals three core constraints hindering China’s large-scale V2G adoption: the absence of battery capacity degradation management mechanisms, fragmented standardization systems, and rigid market mechanisms. Based on this, the paper proposes recommendations for scaling V2G in China across three dimensions: power battery second-life utilization, standardization system construction, and market mechanism optimization. Furthermore, aligning with the global demand for large-scale V2G implementation, this paper proactively proposes innovative market models. These include establishing a coordinated trading mechanism between green power and V2G, developing a digitally driven distributed trust and transaction system, and exploring financialization and risk hedging models for battery assets. These concepts provide theoretical foundations and decision-making references for achieving high-quality, large-scale V2G applications worldwide. Full article

Against the backdrop of China’s “dual carbon” goals and rising global uncertainties, new energy technology innovation plays a critical role in advancing low-carbon transitions and ensuring energy security. However, existing studies mainly focus on single policy instruments, with limited attention to the causal effects of comprehensive, location-based policies. This study treats the establishment of National Green Industrial Parks (GIPs) as a quasi-natural experiment and employs a multi-period difference-in-differences (DID) approach based on panel data from 289 Chinese cities over 2008–2023. The results show that GIPs significantly increase local new energy innovation by approximately 19.1%, and this effect remains robust across multiple tests. Mechanism analysis indicates that fiscal support, green innovation, and industrial agglomeration are the main driving channels. Heterogeneity analysis further reveals stronger effects in the biomass (ρ = 0.243, p < 0.01) and wind energy (ρ = 0.179, p < 0.01) sectors, as well as in cities located southeast of the Hu Huanyong Line, with higher fiscal expenditure, and in non-resource-based cities. These findings provide empirical evidence for optimizing industrial park policies and promoting energy transition through localized policy diffusion. Full article

High-sensitivity rapid detection of ammonia (NH₃) in environmental monitoring, industrial safety, early diagnosis, and other fields is of great significance. Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have shown great potential in the field of gas sensing due to their designable porous structure and active sites. However, the traditional solvothermal synthesis method of COFs has problems such as cumbersome steps, high energy consumption and serious environmental pollution. Therefore, it is of great significance to invent a new method for COF synthesis that is green and efficient and makes it easy to conduct flexible ammonia gas sensing. This study first reported a solvent-free synthesis of imine connection 1,3,5-Triformylbenzene (TFB) and p-Phenylenediamine (PDA)—a new strategy for COF. This method innovatively employs zinc trifluoromethyl sulfonate (Zn(OTf)₂) as a bifunctional catalyst. This catalyst not only efficiently catalyzes para-phenylenediamine, but its zinc ions also play a unique structural guiding role, guiding the reactants to be arranged in a directional manner, thereby constructing a highly ordered porous crystal structure. A series of characterizations confirmed that the obtained TFB-PDA-COF had good crystallinity and a high proportion of imine bonds (C=N). The powder material was coated onto a flexible polyimide (PI) substrate, successfully constructing a resistive ammonia gas sensor that operates at room temperature. The test results show that this sensor has a high response value, rapid response/recovery capability, and good selectivity for ammonia gas. More importantly, based on a flexible PI substrate, the device can maintain stable sensing performance even under repeated bending conditions, demonstrating its great potential in practical flexible electronic applications. This work not only provides a brand-new “zinc ion-guided” paradigm for the green and controllable synthesis of COF but also lays a material foundation for their application in the next-generation flexible sensing field. Full article

Against the backdrop of China’s “dual carbon” goals, investigating whether market-based environmental regulations can effectively induce technological upgrading is critical for achieving a sustainable low-carbon transition. This study adopts a staggered difference-in-differences (DID) approach within a two-way fixed-effects framework, supplemented by propensity score matching (PSM-DID), to identify the causal impact of the carbon emission trading (CET) pilot policy. The research utilizes a comprehensive panel dataset of A-share listed companies in heavy-polluting industries from 2010 to 2024, incorporating IPC-matched green patent application data to provide a granular assessment of corporate innovation performance. The empirical findings reveal a structural divergence: while the CET policy promotes green innovation in state-owned enterprises (SOEs), it exhibits a potential “crowding-out” effect on private enterprises, a relationship further explained by the mechanisms of carbon information disclosure and financing constraints. These results suggest that the “Porter Effect” in emerging markets is highly conditional on institutional resource endowments, implying that policymakers must complement market incentives with differentiated financial support and enhanced transparency standards to foster a more equitable innovation ecosystem. Full article

The rally to mitigate growing carbon emissions and climate change necessitates decarbonization strategies, with hydrogen emerging as a key candidate option across multiple sectors. This review examines the current state of the hydrogen economy, including production, implementation, and associated risks. Hydrogen’s versatility in industry, transportation, and energy storage is highlighted, alongside the challenges of transitioning from fossil fuel-based production. It explores the current state of hydrogen technologies, differentiating between green, blue, and gray hydrogen production methods, and highlights advancements in production techniques like thermochemical water splitting. Key findings show that while green hydrogen offers the cleanest pathway, high production costs and infrastructure limitations remain significant barriers to widespread adoption. This study also addresses safety concerns and public perception, emphasizing the need for robust risk assessment methodologies and management approaches. Furthermore, this paper underscores the importance of technological innovations, such as high-temperature electrolysis and synergies with renewable energy sources, to enhance efficiency and sustainability. Policy recommendations include financial incentives, regulatory frameworks, and international cooperation to accelerate hydrogen adoption and balance its development with other low-carbon solutions. Full article