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Sustainable Materials and Nanomaterials as a Promising Approach to Meet Future Challenges

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (16 February 2024) | Viewed by 15731

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Hosam Saleh

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Guest Editor

Radioisotope Department, Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority, Cairo 13759, Egypt
Interests: radioactive and hazardous waste management; application of friendly environmental agents in radioactive waste management; development of matrices for immobilization of radioactive and hazardous wastes; application of organic and inorganic materials as additives to form cement composites as immobilizing matrices for hazardous wastes
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Amal I. Hassan

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Guest Editor

Radioisotope Department, Nuclear Research Center, Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority, Cairo, Egypt
Interests: nanotechnology; green chemistry; radioprotection approaches

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nanotechnology is still in its early stages but promises a tremendous leap in all branches of science and engineering. It deals with materials at the atomic and single-molecule level, where scientists have discovered that the physical properties of matter, such as the degree of melting, electrical conductivity, and chemical activity, completely change at the nanoscale. Providing a clean and safe environment is one of the great challenges facing humanity. As a result of various human activities over thousands of years, including agriculture and industry, deforestation has skyrocketed and agricultural plots have been devastated, leading to global warming. Thus, nanotechnology has emerged as a technical application to protect the environment; its main goal is to find ways to produce technology in ways that do not harm or deplete Earth's natural resources. Recently, nanotechnologies that specialize in materials have received great attention due to the promising applications in many fields within all aspects of life. Nontechnological properties, methods, and applications are predicted to make notable contributions to environmental and climate protection by conserving raw resources, energy, and water and lowering greenhouse gas emissions and hazardous waste. As a result, using nanomaterials offers some environmental benefits and long-term effects.

Because nanotechnology is intertwined with every discipline of research, including engineering, chemistry, physics, and biology, its benefits in our day-to-day lives are considerable. Nuclear energy is considered to be one of the most promising and efficient ways to produce large amounts of electricity with zero emissions, but it also presents significant challenges in terms of safety, waste management, radiation protection, and resource sustainability. Therefore, in this proposal, we will explore the potential of nanomaterials and sustainable materials in addressing these challenges and advancing various technologies, including nuclear technology, and suggest future research directions and collaborations to further develop and implement nanomaterials and sustainable materials in nuclear technology. This Special Issue seeks contributions related to the applications of nanotechnology in fields such as medicine, agriculture, and industry to protect human health and the environment. The topics include the future of nanotechnology considering the challenges, whether at the level of industrialization or in the mechanisms used, to advance this technology and reach a reasonable level of safety. In addition, we aim to explore the future of nanotechnology applications in establishing and using alternative energies to achieve sustainable development. Additionally, we will highlight green nanotechnology to recognize the performance of technology less toxic to humans and ecosystems. Finally, we will suggest future research directions and collaborations to advance the development and implementation of nanomaterials and sustainable materials in nuclear technology. All backgrounds and references are welcome as long as they contribute to developing this sector.

Prof. Dr. Hosam M. Saleh
Prof. Dr. Amal I. Hassan
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. Sustainability 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 2400 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

nanobiotechnology
natural resource
global warming
promising application
nuclear technology
safety
radioactive waste treatment
radiation shielding materials
radiation assessment
sustainable nanotechnology
economic feasibility
alternative energies
ecosystem
pollution
green nanomaterials
climate change
protection
novel nanomaterials
conventional materials
engineered nanoparticles
environmental flora and fauna
environmental restoration
nanowastes

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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21 pages, 4225 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Synthesis and Characterization of Zinc-Lead-Phosphate Glasses Doped with Europium for Radiation Shielding

by Ahmed M. El-Khayatt, Heba A. Saudi and Norah H. AlRowis

Sustainability 2023, 15(12), 9245; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15129245 - 7 Jun 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1315

Abstract

Appropriate glass systems can provide efficient transparent radiation shielding. The current study involved the preparation of the glass system with a composition of xEu₂O₃-(15-x)ZnO-10CaO-35PbO-40P₂O₅ (where x = 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 wt.% Eu₂O₃). The formation of the glass phase was confirmed using X-ray diffraction (XRD). The study analyzed physical and structural parameters, such as optical conductivity (σ_opt), refractive index (n), and optical band gap (E_g), with the amount of Eu₂O₃. The findings indicate that the optical band gap increased as the Eu₂O₃ content increased. Additionally, a decrease in Urbach energy (E_U) was observed, suggesting an improvement in the orderliness of the glass. The study also determined various parameters for gamma-ray shielding, including mass attenuation coefficient (μ_m), effective atomic number (Z_eff), and kerma coefficient (k). For neutron shielding characteristics, the macroscopic effective removal cross-section (Σ_R) of fast neutrons was calculated. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Materials and Nanomaterials as a Promising Approach to Meet Future Challenges)

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Review

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27 pages, 6441 KiB

Open AccessReview

The Potential of Bio-Based Polylactic Acid (PLA) as an Alternative in Reusable Food Containers: A Review

by Jennie O’Loughlin, Dylan Doherty, Bevin Herward, Cormac McGleenan, Mehreen Mahmud, Purabi Bhagabati, Adam Neville Boland, Brian Freeland, Keith D. Rochfort, Susan M. Kelleher, Samantha Fahy and Jennifer Gaughran

Sustainability 2023, 15(21), 15312; https://doi.org/10.3390/su152115312 - 26 Oct 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3210

Abstract

The biodegradable biopolymer polylactic acid (PLA) has been used in the recent past in single-use packaging as a suitable replacement for non-biodegradable fossil fuel-based plastics, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Under FDA and EU regulations, lactic acid (LA), the building block of PLA, is considered safe to use as a food contact material. The mechanical, thermal, and barrier properties of PLA are, however, major challenges for this material. PLA is a brittle material with a Young’s modulus of 2996–3750 MPa and an elongation at break of 1.3–7%. PLA has a glass transition temperature (Tg) of 60 °C, exhibiting structural distortion at this temperature. The water permeability of PLA can lead to hydrolytic degradation of the material. These properties can be improved with biopolymer blending and composites. Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV), for instance, increases the thermal stability of PLA while decreasing the water permeability by up to 59%. Polypropylene (PP) is one of the most common plastics in reusable food containers. This study will compare PLA-based blends and composites to the currently used PP as a sustainable alternative to fossil fuel-based plastics. The end-of-life options for PLA-based food containers are considered, as is the commercial cost of replacing PP with PLA. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Materials and Nanomaterials as a Promising Approach to Meet Future Challenges)

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52 pages, 5955 KiB

Open AccessReview

Synthesis and Characterization of Nanomaterials for Application in Cost-Effective Electrochemical Devices

by Hosam M. Saleh and Amal I. Hassan

Sustainability 2023, 15(14), 10891; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151410891 - 11 Jul 2023

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 10638

Abstract

Nanomaterials have gained significant attention as a remarkable class of materials due to their unique properties and the fact that they encompass a wide range of samples with at least one dimension ranging from 1 to 100 nm. The deliberate design of nanoparticles enables the achievement of extremely large surface areas. In the field of cost-effective electrochemical devices for energy storage and conversion applications, nanomaterials have emerged as a key area of research. Their exceptional physical and chemical properties have led to extensive investigations aimed at improving the performance and cost-effectiveness of electrochemical devices, including batteries, supercapacitors, and fuel cells. The continuous development and enhancement of these high-performance materials are driven by the demand for enhanced productivity, connectivity, and sustainability at a reduced cost. This review focuses on the electrochemical performance of electrodes, energy storage, and electrochemical sensors (ES) based on nanotechnology. It discusses the application of nanotechnology in electrochemistry for water purification and the fate of substances in water, while also introducing green nanotechnology and cost-effective, high-fidelity product creation through electrochemical methods. The study emphasizes the synthesis of novel nanomaterials, such as metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), covalent organic frameworks (COFs), and MXenes, with applications in electrochemical devices. Furthermore, it explores the integration of nanostructures with electrochemical systems in economically significant and future applications, along with the challenges faced by nanotechnology-based industries. The paper also explores the interplay between nanomaterials and biosensors, which play a vital role in electrochemical devices. Overall, this review provides a comprehensive overview of the significance of nanomaterials in the development of cost-effective electrochemical devices for energy storage and conversion. It highlights the need for further research in this rapidly evolving field and serves as a valuable resource for researchers and engineers interested in the latest advancements in nanomaterials for electrochemical devices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Materials and Nanomaterials as a Promising Approach to Meet Future Challenges)

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