Search Results (59)

The advancement of smart packaging technology demands high-performance and sustainable sensing materials. While starch is a biodegradable natural polymer, its inherent high crystallinity restricts charge transport capability. This study developed a novel smart sensing film by incorporating ellagic acid-derived blue, fluorescent carbon dots (CDs) into phosphate starch (PS), which is rich in phosphorus. The effects of silver ions (Ag⁺), sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), and CDs on the film properties were systematically investigated. Results indicate that CDs act as flexible nano-crosslinkers, forming hydrogen bonds with PS molecular chains and effectively balancing strength and toughness—achieving a tensile strength of 5.1 MPa and an elongation at break of 24.1%. Phosphorus, in synergy with CDs, facilitates an efficient dual conduction pathway for ions and electrons: phosphate groups enable ion transport, while the conjugated carbon cores of the CDs provide electron transport channels. This synergistic effect significantly reduces the film’s electrical impedance from 6.93 × 10⁶ Ω to 1.12 × 10⁶ Ω (a reduction of 84%) and enhances thermal stability, increasing the char residue from 1.1% to 18.3%. The PS/CDs composite film exhibits a strong linear current response to pH in the range of 2–7 (R² = 0.9450), and shows enhanced discrimination between fresh orange juice (pH = 3.38) and spoiled orange juice (pH = 2.68), with a current change of 0.62 × 10⁻⁵ A. Moreover, the film exhibits strong blue fluorescence at 427 nm, with an intensity that shows a pronounced pH-dependent response. This study elucidates the mechanism by which phosphorus and CDs synergistically enhance the sensing performance of starch-based films, offering a new strategy for developing high-performance starch-based materials for smart packaging. Full article

Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) frequently cycle their internal combustion engines (ICE), potentially cooling the three-way catalyst (TWC). This challenges the use of compressed natural gas (CNG), as methane (CH₄) requires high temperatures for TWC oxidation. This study experimentally investigates the performance, engine-out emissions (CO, NO_x, CH₄, NMHC, CO₂), and catalyst temperatures of a Toyota RAV4 hybrid vehicle on gasoline (G), CNG, and dual fuel (MIX) during the WLTC. Engine-out emissions were measured upstream of the TWC. Results showed similar engine work output (~17.8 kWh/100 km), while CNG significantly reduced fuel mass consumption (−18.7%) and CO₂ emissions (−27.5%) compared to gasoline, driven by both its higher LHV and higher average BTE. CO (−32.3%) and NO_x (−34.0%) emissions were lower with CNG, linked to leaner operation and significantly retarded ignition timing for NO_x control. However, CH₄ emissions drastically increased with CNG. This study reveals a synergy between the same retarded ignition timing strategy used to successfully control engine-out NO_x (−34.0%) and created a positive secondary effect, raising pre-TWC temperatures by 4.5%. Higher thermal condition is essential for the aftertreatment of chemically stable methane, highlighting a direct link between the engine’s NO_x control logic and the potential to mitigate methane slip. Full article

The rapid advancement of technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data, and cloud computing has driven continuous expansion of global data centers, resulting in increasingly severe energy consumption and carbon emission challenges. According to projections by the International Energy Agency (IEA), the global electricity demand of data centers is expected to double by 2030. The construction of green data centers has emerged as a critical pathway for achieving carbon neutrality goals and facilitating energy structure transition. This paper presents a systematic review of the role of waste heat recovery technologies in data centers for achieving low-carbon development. Categorized by aspects of waste heat recovery technologies, power production and district heating, it focuses on assessing the applicability of heat collection technologies, such as heat pumps, thermal energy storage and absorption cooling, in different scenarios. This study examines multiple electricity generation pathways, specifically the Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC), Kalina Cycle (KC), and thermoelectric generators (TEG), with comprehensive analysis of their technical performance and economic viability. The study also assesses the feasibility and environmental advantages of using data center waste heat for district heating. This application, supported by heat pumps and thermal energy storage, could serve both residential and industrial areas. The study shows that waste heat recovery technologies can not only significantly reduce the Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) of data centers, but also deliver substantial economic returns and emission reduction potential. In the future, the integration of green computing power with renewable energy will emerge as the cornerstone of sustainable data center development. Through intelligent energy management systems, cascaded energy utilization and regional energy synergy, data centers are poised to transition from traditional “energy-intensive facilities” to proactive “clean energy collaborators” within the smart grid ecosystem. Full article

To enhance the thermo-mechanical coupling performance of heavy-duty bearings with smart sensing capability in electric shovel applications, this study proposes a multi-objective optimization methodology for sensor-embedded bearing rings incorporating smart sensor-embedded grooves. Driven by multi-physics coupling analysis and experimental validation, a coupled thermal–mechanical model integrating frictional heat generation, heat transfer, and stress response was established. Parametric finite element simulations were conducted, with varying groove depths and axial positions. A comprehensive performance index combining three metrics—maximum temperature, equivalent stress, and principal strain—was formulated to evaluate design efficacy. Experimental tests on thermal and strain responses were employed to validate the simulation model confirming its predictive ability. Among the 21 parameter combinations, the configuration featuring an 8 mm groove depth located 20 mm from the large end face exhibited relatively optimal synergy across thermal dissipation, structural strength, and strain sensitivity. The proposed framework provides a certain theoretical and practical guidance for the design and optimization of the sensor-embedded groove structure in intelligent heavy-duty bearings. Full article

The paper presents a linear optimisation model aimed at improving the design and operational efficiency of home energy systems (HESs). It focuses on integrating photovoltaic (PV) installations, hybrid heating systems, and emerging energy storage systems (ESSs). Driven by the EU climate policy and the evolution of the Polish electricity market, which have caused price volatility, the model examines the economic and technical feasibility of shifting detached and semi-detached houses towards low-emission or zero-emission energy self-sufficiency. The model simultaneously optimises the sizing and hourly operation of electricity and heat storage systems, using real-world data from PV output, electricity and gas consumption, and weather conditions. The key contributions include optimisation based on large data samples, evaluation of the synergy between a hybrid heating system with a gas boiler (GB) and a heat pump (HP), analysis of the impact of demand-side management (DSM), storage capacity decline, and comparison of commercial and emerging storage technologies such as lithium-ion batteries, redox flow batteries, and high-temperature thermal storage (HTS). Analysis of multiple scenarios based on three consecutive heating seasons and projected future conditions demonstrates that integrated PV and storage systems, when properly designed and optimally controlled, significantly lower energy costs for prosumers, enhance energy autonomy, and decrease CO₂ emissions. The results indicate that under current market conditions, Li-ion batteries and HTS provide the most economically viable storage options. Full article

The valorization of wine lees, a major by-product of winemaking, is gaining attention as part of broader initiatives to promote circular economy and sustainable resource use in the agri-food sector. This study assessed ultrasound (US), pulsed electric fields (PEF), and their combination (PEF + US) as non-thermal technologies for promoting yeast autolysis and recovering intracellular proteins from wine lees. All treatments effectively reduced yeast viability, with populations decreasing from ~7.0 to ~4.7 log CFU/mL within 5 min. PEF alone achieved this microbial inactivation with a low energy input of 25–100 kJ/kg. In contrast, US yielded the highest protein release (~5700 μg/mL after 20 min), although it required a substantial energy input (~19,800 kJ/kg). The combined PEF + US method provided comparable protein yields (~5400 μg/mL) while reducing energy consumption by more than 50%. These results demonstrate that PEF is the optimal method for low-energy microbial inactivation, whereas US and PEF + US are more effective for protein recovery. The synergy of the combined approach offers a balanced and scalable solution for sustainable bioprocessing, reinforcing the potential of hybrid technologies in the green extraction of wine industry by-products and their integration into circular bioeconomy strategies. Full article

In the context of the global response to climate change and the active promotion of energy transformation, a number of low-carbon policies coupled with the development of synergies to help power system transformation is an important initiative. However, the insufficient articulation of the green power market, tradable green certificate (TGC) market, and carbon emission trading (CET) mechanism, and the ambiguous policy boundaries affect the trading decisions made by its market participants. Therefore, this paper systematically analyses the composition of the main players in the electricity-CET-TGC markets and their relationship with each other, and designs the synergistic mechanism of the electricity-CET-TGC markets, based on which, it constructs the optimal profit model of the thermal power plant operators, renewable energy manufacturers, power grid enterprises, power users and load aggregators under the electricity-CET-TGC markets synergy, and analyses the behavioural decision-making of the main players in the electricity-CET-TGC markets as well as the electric power system to optimise the trading strategy of each player. The results of the study show that: (1) The synergistic mechanism of electricity-CET-TGC markets can increase the proportion of green power grid-connected in the new type of power system. (2) In the selection of different environmental rights and benefits products, the direct participation of green power in the market-oriented trading is the main way, followed by applying for conversion of green power into China certified emission reduction (CCER). (3) The development of independent energy storage technology can produce greater economic and environmental benefits. This study provides policy support to promote the synergistic development of the electricity-CET-TGC markets and assist the low-carbon transformation of the power industry. Full article

Secondary hypereutectic Al-Si alloys are attractive for sustainable manufacturing, yet their application is often limited by low strength and electrical conductivity due to impurity-induced microstructural defects. Achieving a balance between mechanical and conductive performance remains a significant challenge. In this work, nickel-coated carbon nanotubes (Ni-CNTs) were introduced into secondary Al-20Si alloys to tailor the microstructure and enhance properties through interfacial engineering. Composites containing 0 to 0.4 wt.% Ni-CNTs were fabricated by conventional casting and systematically characterized. The addition of 0.1 wt.% Ni-CNTs resulted in the best combination of properties, with a tensile strength of 170.13 MPa and electrical conductivity of 27.60% IACS. These improvements stem from refined α-Al dendrites, uniform eutectic Si distribution, and strong interfacial bonding. Strengthening was achieved through grain refinement, Orowan looping, dislocation generation from thermal mismatch, and the formation of reinforcing interfacial phases such as AlNi₃C₀.₉ and Al₄SiC₄. At higher Ni-CNT contents, property degradation occurred due to agglomeration and phase coarsening. This study presents an effective and scalable strategy for achieving strength–conductivity synergy in secondary aluminum alloys via nanoscale interfacial design, offering guidance for the development of multifunctional lightweight materials. Full article

In the context of urban decarbonization, multi-energy microgrids (MEMGs) are gaining increasing relevance due to their ability to enhance synergies across multiple energy vectors. This study presents a block-based MILP framework developed to optimize the operations of a real MEMG, with a particular focus on accurately modeling the structure of electricity and natural gas bills. The objective is to assess the added economic value of integrating a battery energy storage system (BESS) under the assumption it is employed to provide implicit flexibility—namely, bill management, energy arbitrage, and peak shaving. Results show that under assumed market conditions, tariff schemes, and BESS costs, none of the analyzed BESS configurations achieve a positive net present value. However, a 2 MW/4 MWh BESS yields a 3.8% reduction in annual operating costs compared to the base case without storage, driven by increased self-consumption (+2.8%), reduced thermal energy waste (–6.4%), and a substantial decrease in power-based electricity charges (–77.9%). The performed sensitivity analyses indicate that even with a significantly higher day-ahead market price spread, the BESS is not sufficiently incentivized to perform pure energy arbitrage and that the effectiveness of a time-of-use power-based tariff depends not only on the level of price differentiation but also on the BESS size. Overall, this study provides insights into the role of BESS in MEMGs and highlights the need for electricity bill designs that better reward the provision of implicit flexibility by storage systems. Full article

Colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM) poses a significant challenge in oncology due to its high incidence and poor prognosis in unresectable cases. Current treatments, including surgical resection, systemic chemotherapy, and liver-directed therapies, often fail to effectively target hypoxic tumor regions, which are inherently more resistant to these interventions. This review examines the potential of a novel therapeutic strategy combining irreversible electroporation (IRE) ablation and Clostridium novyi-nontoxic (C. novyi-NT) bacterial therapy. IRE is a non-thermal tumor ablation technique that uses high-voltage electric pulses to create permanent nanopores in cell membranes, leading to cell death while preserving surrounding structures, and is often associated with temporary tumor hypoxia due to disrupted perfusion. C. novyi-NT is an attenuated, anaerobic bacterium engineered to selectively germinate and proliferate in hypoxic tumor regions, resulting in localized tumor cell lysis while sparing healthy, oxygenated tissue. The synergy between IRE-induced hypoxia and hypoxia-sensitive C. novyi-NT may enhance tumor destruction and stimulate systemic antitumor immunity. Furthermore, the integration of advanced imaging and artificial intelligence can support precise treatment planning and real-time monitoring. This integrated approach holds promise for improving outcomes in patients with CRLM, though further preclinical and clinical validation is needed. Full article

In this study, we selected the production processes and main products of three typical chemical enterprises in Shanghai, namely SH Petrochemical (part of the oil-refining sector), SK Ethylene, and HS Chlor-Alkali, to quantitatively assess the synergistic effects across technology, policy, and emission mechanisms. The localized air pollutant levels and greenhouse gas emissions of the three enterprises were calculated. The synergistic effects between the end-of-pipe emission reductions for air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions were analyzed using the pollutant reduction synergistic and cross-elasticity coefficients, including technology comparisons (e.g., acrylonitrile gas incineration (AOGI) technology vs. traditional flare). Based on these data, we used the SimaPro software and the CML-IA model to conduct a life cycle environmental impact assessment regarding the production and upstream processes of their unit products. By combining the life cycle method and the scenario simulation method, we predicted the trends in the environmental impacts of the three chemical enterprises after the implementation of low-carbon development policies in the chemical industry in 2030. We also quantified the synergistic effects of localized air pollutant and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions within the low-carbon development scenario by using cross-elasticity coefficients based on life cycle environmental impacts. The research results show that, for every ton of air pollutant reduced through end-of-pipe treatment measures, the HS Chlor-Alkali enterprise would increase its maximum CO₂ emissions, amounting to about 80 tons. For SK Ethylene, the synergistic coefficient for VOC reduction and CO₂ emissions when using AOGI thermal incineration technology is superior to that for traditional flare thermal incineration. The activities of the three enterprises had an impact on several environmental indicators, particularly the fossil fuel resource depletion potential, accounting for 69.48%, 53.94%, and 34.23% of their total environmental impact loads, respectively. The scenario simulations indicate that, in a low-carbon development scenario, the overall environmental impact loads of SH Petrochemical (refining sector), SK Ethylene, and HS Chlor-Alkali would decrease by 3~5%. This result suggests that optimizing the upstream power structure, using “green hydrogen” instead of “grey hydrogen” in hydrogenation units within refining enterprises, and reducing the consumption of electricity and steam in the production processes of ethylene and chlor-alkali are effective measures in reducing carbon emissions in the chemical industry. The quantification of the synergies based on life cycle environmental impacts revealed that there are relatively strong synergies for air pollutant and GHG emission reductions in the oil-refining industry, while the chlor-alkali industry has the weakest synergies. Full article

Under the accelerating global energy restructuring and the deepening carbon neutrality strategy, hydrogen energy has emerged with increasing strategic value as a zero-carbon secondary energy carrier. Water electrolysis technology based on renewable energy is regarded as an ideal pathway for large-scale green hydrogen production. However, polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) conventional water electrolysis faces dual constraints in economic feasibility and scalability due to its high electrical energy consumption and reliance on noble metal catalysts. The mixed ionic-electronic conducting oxygen transport membrane (MIEC–OTM) reactor technology offers an innovative solution to this energy efficiency-cost paradox due to its thermo-electrochemical synergistic energy conversion mechanism and process integration. This not only overcomes the thermodynamic equilibrium limitations in traditional electrolysis but also reduces electrical energy demand by effectively coupling with medium- to high-temperature heat sources such as industrial waste heat and solar thermal energy. Therefore, this review, grounded in the physicochemical mechanisms of oxygen transport membrane reactors, systematically examines the influence of key factors, including membrane material design, catalytic interface optimization, and parameter synergy, on hydrogen production efficiency. Furthermore, it proposes a roadmap and breakthrough directions for industrial applications, focusing on enhancing intrinsic material stability, designing multi-field coupled reactors, and optimizing system energy efficiency. Full article

To achieve low-carbon economic dispatch and collaborative optimization of carbon capture efficiency in power systems, this paper proposes a flexible carbon capture power plant and generalized energy storage collaborative operation model under a dynamic carbon quota mechanism. First, adjustable carbon capture devices are integrated into high-emission thermal power units to construct carbon–electricity coupled operation modules, enabling a dynamic reduction of carbon emission intensity and enhancing low-carbon performance. Second, a time-varying carbon quota allocation mechanism and a dynamic correction model for carbon emission factors are designed to improve the regulation capability of carbon capture units during peak demand periods. Furthermore, pumped storage systems and price-guided demand response are integrated to form a generalized energy storage system, establishing a “source–load–storage” coordinated peak-shaving framework that alleviates the regulation burden on carbon capture units. Finally, a multi-timescale optimization scheduling model is developed and solved using the GUROBI algorithm to ensure the economic efficiency and operational synergy of system resources. Simulation results demonstrate that, compared with the traditional static quota mode, the proposed dynamic carbon quota mechanism reduces wind curtailment cost by 9.6%, the loss of load cost by 48.8%, and carbon emission cost by 15%. Moreover, the inclusion of generalized energy storage—including pumped storage and demand response—further decreases coal consumption cost by 9% and carbon emission cost by 17%, validating the effectiveness of the proposed approach in achieving both economic and environmental benefits. Full article

The global transition toward low-carbon energy systems necessitates fundamental innovations in demand-side flexibility, particularly in industrial load regulation. This study presents a systematic review and critical analysis of 90 key research works (2015–2025) to establish a comprehensive framework for industrial load flexibility enhancement. We rigorously examined the tripartite interdependencies among the following: (1) Multi-energy flow physical coupling, addressing temporal-scale disparities in electricity-thermal-gas coordination under renewable penetration; (2) Uncertainty quantification, integrating data-driven and physics-informed modeling for robust decision-making; (3) Market mechanism synergy, analyzing demand response, carbon-P2P hybrid markets, and regulatory policy impacts. Our analysis reveals three fundamental challenges: the accuracy-stability trade-off in cross-timescale optimization, the policy-model disconnect in carbon-aware scheduling, and the computational complexity barrier for real-time industrial applications. The paper further proposes a roadmap for next-generation industrial load regulation systems, emphasizing co-optimization of technical feasibility, economic viability, and policy compliance. These findings advance both academic research and practical implementations for carbon-neutral power systems. Full article

A “thermal-annealing vacancy-filling” synthesis strategy was developed to engineer cobalt single-atom catalysts (Co-MoS₂/RGO) for exceptional hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) performance. By anchoring atomic Co onto Frenkel defect-engineered MoS₂ nanosheets supported by reduced graphene oxide (RGO), we achieved simultaneous optimization of catalytic stability, electrical conductivity, and active site accessibility. The optimized Co₃-MoS₂/RGO hybrid demonstrates remarkable alkaline HER activity, requiring only 94.0 mV overpotential to achieve 10 mA cm⁻² current density while maintaining excellent durability over extended operation. The atomically dispersed Co promoted HER kinetics through electronic structure modulation of MoS₂ basal planes, creation of catalytic active centers, and defect-mediated synergies. The RGO further contributed to performance enhancement by preventing nanosheet aggregation, facilitating charge transfer, and exposing active sites. This defect engineering strategy provides a facile method for developing cost-effective, stable, and high-performance electrocatalysts for sustainable hydrogen production. Full article