Topic Review Peer Reviewed
Optimizing Graphene Oxide Content in Cellulose Matrices: A Comprehensive Review on Enhancing the Structural and Functional Performance of Composites
The incorporation of graphene into cellulose matrices has emerged as a promising strategy for enhancing the structural and functional properties of composite materials. This comprehensive review provides a critical analysis of recent advances in optimizing graphene content in cellulose matrices and its impact on composite performance. Various optimization techniques, including response surface methodology, particle swarm optimization, and artificial neural networks, have been employed to identify optimal graphene concentrations and processing conditions. Quantitative analyses demonstrate significant improvements in mechanical properties, with notable increases in tensile strength and Young’s modulus reported for graphene/microfibrillated cellulose composites. Substantial enhancements in thermal stability have been observed in lysozyme-modified graphene nanoplatelet–cellulose composites. Electrical conductivity has been achieved at low graphene loading levels. Additionally, barrier properties, biocompatibility, and functionality for applications such as energy storage and environmental remediation have been substantially improved. This review explores case studies encompassing the optimization of thermal conductivity, viscosity, durability behaviors, pollutant removal, and various other properties. Despite promising results, challenges remain, including uniform dispersion, scalability, cost-effectiveness, and long-term stability. Strategies such as surface functionalization, solvent selection, and protective coatings are discussed. Future research directions, including novel processing techniques like 3D printing and electrospinning, as well as the incorporation of additional functional materials, are outlined. This review synthesizes current knowledge, identifies emerging trends, and provides a roadmap for future research in the rapidly evolving field of graphene–cellulose composites.
  • 42
  • 02 Dec 2024
Topic Review
The Psychology Behind Online Casinos
Psychology is the main reason for the growth of online casinos, and much of this has to do with player engagement. Online casinos masterfully bind and keep the player's attention by tapping into well-known behavioral principles. As long as the thrill of uncertainty is kept alive, traditional gambling has always played on psychology.
  • 136
  • 31 Oct 2024
Topic Review
Chemistry in Health Care
The importance of chemistry in nursing is evident in every aspect of patient care. From understanding drug interactions and diagnostic tools to interpreting biochemical data and embracing innovative technologies.
  • 220
  • 31 Oct 2024
Topic Review Peer Reviewed
Synthetic Fuels for Decarbonising UK Rural Transport
Decarbonising transport is a crucial element of the UK’s strategy to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, as the transport sector is currently the largest contributor to the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions. Rural communities face distinct challenges in this effort due to their reliance on internal combustion engines (ICEs) across vehicles and machinery essential for daily life, including farming equipment and private transport. While the upcoming ban on new petrol and diesel vehicles paves the way for the adoption of Electric Vehicles (EVs), this solution may not fully address the unique needs of rural areas where infrastructure limitations and specific mobility requirements pose significant barriers. In this context, synthetic fuels, produced using renewable energy sources, offer a potential alternative. These fuels can be used directly in existing internal combustion engines without requiring major modifications and have the added benefit of reducing overall greenhouse gas emissions by capturing CO2 during production. This entry explores the potential advantages of adopting synthetic fuels, particularly in rural areas, and examines how community-based buying cooperatives could support their wider use through bulk purchasing, cost reduction, and community empowerment.
  • 394
  • 18 Oct 2024
Topic Review Peer Reviewed
Biorefinery Based on Multiple Raw Materials and Wastes for the Production of Energy: A Proposal Tailored to Southwestern Europe
In this entry, the possibility of the implementation of a biorefinery based on multiple raw materials (from agricultural wastes, vegetable oils, etc.) is covered, pointing out the available technology to interconnect different processes so that the atom economy of the process is as high as possible, reducing the environmental impact and improving the efficiency of the energy or products obtained. For this purpose, this model is based on previous works published in the literature. The role of biorefineries is becoming more and more important in the current environmental scenario, as there is a global concern about different environmental issues such as climate change due to GHG emissions, among others. In this sense, a biorefinery presents several advantages such as the use of natural raw materials or wastes, with high atom economy values (that is, all the products are valorized and not released to the environment). As a consequence, the concept of a biorefinery perfectly fits with the Sustainable Development Goals, contributing to the sustainable growth of different regions or countries, regardless of their stage of development. The aim of this entry is the proposal of a biorefinery based on multiple raw materials, using different technologies such as transesterification to produce both biodiesel and biolubricants, steam reforming to produce hydrogen from glycerol or biogas, hydrothermal carbonization of sewage sludge to produce hydrochar, etc. As a result, these technologies have potential for the possible implementation of this biorefinery at the industrial scale, with high conversion and efficiency for most processes included in this biorefinery. However, there are some challenges like the requirement of the further technological development of certain processes. In conclusion, the proposed biorefinery offers a wide range of possibilities to enhance the production of energy and materials (hydrogen, biodiesel, biolubricants, different biofuels, hydrochar, etc.) through green technologies, being an alternative for petrol-based refineries.
  • 1.1K
  • 30 Sep 2024
Topic Review
Humic Substances
Humic substances are a very important part of our soil.  The topic is description of the structure of humic substances using NMR.  The NMR part is divided into two parts, liquid and solid state NMR.  The assignment of NMR spectra are discussed and the structural elements that can be deduced from the spectral information.  Principal Component Analysis is used as a tool to categorize the information.  Structural models are discussed.
  • 3.5K
  • 16 Jul 2024
Topic Review
DFT Calculations of XH Stretching Frequencies
X in the title can be either O or N.  Hydrogen bond potentials can be either symmetric or unsymmetric.  The former is the case for CH bonds, whereas for hydrogen bonded systems the potential can be more or less asymmetric depending on the strength of the hydrogen bond. DFT is an abbrviation for Density Functional Theory; CPMD = Car-Parinello Molecular Dynamics and VPT2  = Vibrational Second Order Pertubation Theory.  RAHB = Resonace Assisted Hydrogen Bonding.
  • 1.0K
  • 13 Jul 2024
Topic Review
NTC-Properties of a Geomorphic Clinoptilolite Sample
Negative temperature coefficient (NTC) materials are usually based on ceramic semiconductors, and electrons are involved in their transport mechanism. A new type of NTC material, adequate for alternating current (AC) applications, is represented by zeolites. Indeed, zeolites are single charge carrier ionic conductors with a temperature-dependent electrical conductivity. In particular, electrical transport in zeolites is due to the monovalent charge-balancing cations, like K+, capable of hopping between negatively charged sites in the aluminosilicate framework. Owing to the highly non-linear electrical behavior of the traditional electronic NTC materials, the possibility to have alternative types of materials, showing linearity in their electrical behavior, is very desirable. Among different zeolites, natural clinoptilolite has been selected for investigating NTC behavior since it is characterized by high zeolite content, a convenient Si/Al atomic ratio, good mechanical strength due to its compact microstructure, and low toxicity. Clinoptilolite has shown a rapid and quite reversible impedance change under heating, characterized by a linear dependence on temperature.
  • 4.2K
  • 11 Jul 2024
Topic Review
Synergistic Effect of Nanoparticles
The synergistic impact of nanomaterials is critical for novel intracellular and/or subcellular drug delivery systems of minimal toxicity. This synergism results in a fundamental bio/nano interface interaction, which is discussed in terms of nanoparticle translocation, outer wrapping, embedding, and interior cellular attachment. The morphology, size, surface area, ligand chemistry and charge of nanoparticles all play a role in translocation.
  • 234
  • 14 Jun 2024
Topic Review
CO2 Hydroboration
The use of CO2 as C1 building block for chemical synthesis is receiving growing attention, due to the potential of this simple molecule as abundant and cheap renewable feedstock. Among the possible reductants used in the literature to bring about CO2 reduction to C1 derivatives, hydroboranes have found various applications, in the presence of suitable homogenous catalysts. The main results obtained since 2016 in the synthetic design of main group, first and second row transition metals for use as catalysts for CO2 hydroboration are summarized.
  • 2.0K
  • 04 Jun 2024
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