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For the first time, the hydrophilicity of hemp shiv was modified without the compromise of its hygroscopic properties. This research focused on the use of sol–gel method in preparation of coatings on the natural plant material, hemp shiv, that has growing potential in the construction industry as a thermal insulator. The sol–gel coatings were produced by cohydrolysis and polycondensation of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) using an acidic catalyst. Methyltriethoxysilane (MTES) was added as the hydrophobic precursor to provide water resistance to the bio-based material. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and focused ion beam (FIB) have been used to determine the morphological changes on the surface as well as within the hemp shiv. It was found that the sol–gel coatings caused a reduction in water uptake but did not strongly influence the moisture sorption behaviour of hemp shiv. Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy shows that the coating layer on hemp shiv acts a shield, thereby lowering peak intensity in the wavelength range 1200–1800 cm −1 . The sol–gel coating affected pore size distribution and cumulative pore volume of the shiv resulting in tailored porosity. The overall porosity of shiv decreased with a refinement in diameter of the larger pores. Thermal analysis was performed using TGA and stability of coated and uncoated hemp shiv have been evaluated. Hemp shiv modified with sol–gel coating can potentially develop sustainable heat insulating composites with better hygrothermal properties.

In present study, nanospheres of CeO 2 are fabricated via utilizing a solvothermal mixed solvent technique at a low temperature. Using a three-electrode set up, the electrochemical activity of CeO 2 nanospheres in 2.0 M alkaline medium was evaluated. At a scan range of 5 mV s −1 , the material displayed large stability, the ability to work at high rates, and columbic efficiency, like specific capacitance value of 1435 F g −1 with specific energy of 87.89 Whkg −1 as well the power density of 1.0986 Wkg −1 . The outstanding outcome of the CeO 2 nanosphere is due to its mesoporous structure and high electrical double-layer capacitance of 6.35 mF. The nanospheres morphology of CeO 2 was responsible for increased conductivity that allows ions to pass easily, and the improved findings show that the procedure employed to make the oxides, which is beneficial for future generations and may be used to produce a variety of oxides that will resolve the energy issues. Graphical Abstract Highlights Controlled morphology of CeO 2 nanoballs was fabricated with efficient and economical solvothermal method. The capacitive properties of the CeO 2 nanoball were determined with three-electrode system under 2 M KOH. The electrochemical result of CeO 2 displays a high specific capacitance value of 1435 F g −1 , specific energy of 87.89 Wh kg −1 , and specific power of 1.0986 Wkg −1 . The enhanced supercapacitive property of CeO 2 was attributed to diverse morphology, larger surface area, and small crystallite size that permits faster ionic transport.

Background: Although many works focus on increasing the energy efficiency of buildings, there are still a number of problems that need to be solved, such as reducing heat losses at the window-to-wall interface, especially since the requirements for saving energy used for heating/cooling rooms are constantly increasing. This paper analyses the impact of the material parameters of the external wall and the window installation in the insulation layer on the size of thermal bridges around the window. Purpose: The aim of the work is to demonstrate the benefits resulting from the correct installation of the window, the appropriate location of the window in relation to the face of the external wall, as well as the correct selection of construction materials. Methodology: In order to show the improvement in the energy efficiency of buildings, an analysis of the heating/cooling energy consumption was carried out for the selected buildings. The thermal and humidity analyses were carried out using TRISCO program, while the economic analysis was performed using the Audytor OZC program. Results: It was found that the proposed system of window installation in the thermal insulation layer reduced the annual heating demand by at least 10% on average. Conclusions: It has been shown that the method of window installation and the type of the wall structural materials are interrelated and therefore should be considered simultaneously. Their proper selection allows for a reduction in the amount of energy needed for heating and cooling buildings, and thus a reduction of heating/cooling costs, as well as limiting greenhouse gas emissions.

As a typical metal–organic framework material, UiO-66 has good potential for removing pharmaceuticals and personal care products from water. However, the application of this powdery adsorbent has been limited by the difficult recovery from the liquid. To overcome this weakness, we prepared composite beads constituted by sodium alginate and UiO-66 by solidification in CaCl 2 solution. The material was characterized by SEM, FTIR, XRD, BET, and TGA methods. These composite beads were applied to remove a common antibiotic Levofloxacin (LOFX) from water, and the experimental parameters (i.e., initial LOFX concentration, adsorption time, pH, and adsorbent dose) were optimized. The adsorption data could be satisfactorily fitted to the Langmuir isotherm model ( R 2  = 0.9871) and the pseudo-second-order kinetic model ( R 2  = 0.9990). The regeneration experiment of the composite beads revealed that the adsorption efficiency of levofloxacin was higher than 70% even after 5 cycles. Scheme 1 Synthesis route of UiO-66/CA

Due to their unique properties, hydrogels can be used in many areas of life and science. The main purpose of this work was to present the possibility of using hydrogels as a kind of fire retardant material itself and as a medium in fire retardant materials used, among others, as the extinguishing agents for fires and the suppression agents for the self-ignition of coal in mines (where their low viscosity and high ability to penetration of the protected material is used), protective layers in fabrics and the so-called robot skin (most often applied in the layer-by-layer system), filling in the fire retardant window panels (mostly hybrid hydrogels or hydrogel copolymers are used) and protective emulsions of the wooden elements used in construction and furniture joinery (mainly in combination with silicate and phosphate derivatives). In the presented applications, hydrogels can be used alone, e.g. due to the large water capacity and at the same time the possibility of dilution, or in combination with fire retardants, what very often allows for the multiplication of the extinguishing or fire retardant effect. Due to the multitude of available studies and the speed of scientific development, this review is focused mainly on publications written after 2015. Graphical abstract

The management of energy consumption in the building sector is of crucial concern for modern societies. Fossil fuels’ reduced availability, along with the environmental implications they cause, emphasize the necessity for the development of new technologies using renewable energy resources. Taking into account the growing resource shortages, as well as the ongoing deterioration of the environment, the building energy performance improvement using phase change materials (PCMs) is considered as a solution that could balance the energy supply together with the corresponding demand. Thermal energy storage systems with PCMs have been investigated for several building applications as they constitute a promising and sustainable method for reduction of fuel and electrical energy consumption, while maintaining a comfortable environment in the building envelope. These compounds can be incorporated into building construction materials and provide passive thermal sufficiency, or they can be used in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, domestic hot water applications, etc. This study presents the principles of latent heat thermal energy storage systems with PCMs. Furthermore, the materials that can be used as PCMs, together with the most effective methods for improving their thermal performance, as well as various passive applications in the building sector, are also highlighted. Finally, special attention is given to the encapsulated PCMs that are composed of the core material, which is the PCM, and the shell material, which can be inorganic or organic, and their utilization inside constructional materials.

Paraffin-based phase change materials (PCMs) have emerged as promising candidates for thermal energy storage (TES) applications due to their high latent heat, chemical stability, and low cost. However, their inherently low thermal conductivity and the risk of leakage during melting–solidification cycles significantly limit their practical performance. To address these limitations, numerous studies have investigated composite PCMs in which paraffin is incorporated into porous supporting matrices. Among these, diatomite has garnered particular attention due to its high porosity, large specific surface area, and chemical compatibility with organic materials. Serving as both a carrier and stabilizing shell, diatomite effectively suppresses leakage and enhances thermal conductivity, thereby improving the overall efficiency and reliability of the PCM. This review synthesizes recent research on paraffin–diatomite composites, with a focus on impregnation methods, surface modification techniques, and the influence of synthesis parameters on thermal performance and cyclic stability. The mechanisms of heat and mass transport within the composite structure are examined, alongside comparative analyses of paraffin–diatomite systems and other inorganic or polymeric supports. Particular emphasis is placed on applications in energy-efficient buildings, passive heating and cooling, and hybrid thermal storage systems. The review concludes that paraffin–diatomite composites present a promising avenue for stable, efficient, and sustainable phase change materials (PCMs). However, challenges such as the optimization of pore structure, long-term durability, and large-scale manufacturing must be addressed to facilitate their broader implementation in next-generation energy storage technologies.

Hydrogen storage and release using a solid-state material e.g., sodium borohydride (NaBH 4 ) may fulfill the requirements for the ‘Hydrogen Economy’. This study reported ZnO-based materials for hydrogen release via the hydrolysis of NaBH 4 . Two different metal oxides e.g. CeO 2 and TiO 2 with different weight loading (5 wt.% and 10 wt.%) were used during the synthesis via a simple combustion method. The synthesis procedure offered nanocomposites consisting of ZnO-xTiO 2 , and ZnO-xCeO 2 (x = 5 wt.% or 10 wt.%). Diffraction techniques (X-ray (XRD) and electron diffraction (ED)) confirm the phase purity of the material. Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) and photoluminescence spectroscopy characterized the optical properties of the materials. The materials displayed a hydrogen generation rate (HGR) of 3000 mL·min −1 ·g cat −1 . Thermodynamic analysis revealed that ZnO, ZnO-10TiO 2 , and ZnO-10CeO 2 catalysts have activation energies of 59.8, 36.8, and 27.5 kJ·mol −1 , respectively. Graphical Abstract A sol-gel method was used for the synthesis of ZnO nanocomposite with TiO 2 and CeO 2 . The composites were used as an effective catalysts for hydrogen production via the hydrolysis of NaBH 4 . The materials were easily synthesized and exhibit high hydrogen generation rates. Highlights Synthesis of ZnO-based nanocomposites; ZnO/CeO 2 , and ZnO/TiO 2 . Report a facile and simple preparation procedure for nanocomposite. Investigate the hydrogen generation via hydride hydrolysis. Achieve a high hydrogen generation rate.

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have attained considerable success within just a few recent years. This accomplishment is critically based on compositional modifications and morphology engineering of perovskite material or dependent upon prepared mesoporous-titanium dioxide (mp-TiO 2 ). However, no analysis of the antisolvent role used for crystallization of perovskite has been undertaken. Herein, we investigated the role of the antisolvent in the performance of hole transport layer (HTL)-free PSC (HTL-free PSC) based on the following sandwich structure: glass/fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO)/compact-TiO 2 (c-TiO 2) /mp-TiO 2 /Perovskite (MAPI)/gold (Au). We studied perovskite layers with various porosities and layer thicknesses, and revealed that the generated pinholes had a major effect on the HTL-free PSC performance. A possible reason for this is that the pinhole in the MAPI layer does not allow the MAPI crystals to generate charge pathways to the TiO 2 layer. The MAPI layer prepared by chlorobenzene demonstrated a compact and pinhole-free highly crystalline MAPI layer with enhanced optical and electrical characteristics. However, the MAPI layers prepared by toluene and diethyl ether suffered from severe recombination issues at the MAPI/TiO 2 interconnect. The dark current/voltage ( J – V ) curve of the HTL-free PSC prepared using chlorobenzene shifted to higher voltage, suggesting a reduction of the backflow of charges at the interface. The J – V characteristics under illumination proved that the HTL-free PSC fabricated by chlorobenzene using as antisolvent in this study, had the best power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 5.65% along with open circuit voltage ( V oc ), short circuit current ( J sc ), and fill factor (FF) values of 0.8335 V, 11.964 mA/cm 2 , and 0.56, respectively. The enhancement in the performance of PSCs originates from improved perovskite film formation, more efficient electron charge extraction and reduced recombination process. Highlights The impact of antisolvent on properties of HTL-free PSC has been investigated. The HTL-free PSC fabricated by toluene suffered from severe carrier recombination. The HTL-free PSC fabricated by chlorobenzene has been showed a dense and pinhole-free perovskite that exhibits reduced carrier recombination and enhanced PCE.

This study investigates improvements in low-cost latent heat storage material calcium chloride hexahydrate (CaCl2.6H2O). Its melting point is between 25 and 28 °C, with relatively high enthalpy (170–190 J/g); however, this phase change material (PCM) shows supercooling and phase separation. In CaCl2.6H2O incongruent melting causes lower hydrates of CaCl2 to form, which affects the overall energy storage capacity and long-term durability. In this work, PCM performance enhancement was achieved by adding SrCl2.6H2O as a nucleating agent and NaCl/KCl as a stabilizer to prevent supercooling and phase separation, respectively. We investigated the PCM preparation method and optimized the proportions of SrCl2.6H2O and NaCl/KCl. Thermal testing for 25 cycles combined with DSC and T-history testing was performed to observe changes in enthalpy, phase transitions and supercooling over the extended period of usage. X-ray diffraction was used to verify crystalline structure in the compounds. It was found that the addition of 2 wt.% of SrCl2.6H2O reduced supercooling from 12 °C to 0 °C compared to unmodified CaCl2.6H2O. The addition of 5 wt.% NaCl or KCl proved to effectively suppress separation and the melting enthalpy achieved was 169 J/g–178 J/g with congruent melting over 25 cycles, with no supercooling and almost no reduction in the latent heat.