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This study systematically explored the effect of the conditions adopted for the preparation of biochar on its adsorption performance. Palm tree fibre, sesame stalk and Platanus bark were chosen as raw materials and converted to biochar using a temperature-controlled vacuum carbonization method. This was then modified using KOH across various alkali–carbon ratios, activation temperatures and activation times, and the adsorption performance of the resulting samples was analyzed. Characterization analyses based on scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Brunner Emmet Teller (BET) measurements, Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR) revealed that after KOH activation, the biochar samples exhibited numerous defects and cross-sections, huge specific surface areas and abundant pore structures, all of which serve as adsorption sites. Characteristic functional groups(For example –OH and NH–), which significantly enhance adsorption, also increased. The iodine adsorption values of all three types of biochar initially increased and then decreased with the increase in pyrolysis temperature. An orthogonal test showed that the order, based on adsorption performance, of the three types of biochar prepared and modified under optimal conditions was palm tree fibre biochar (1628.55 mg.g−1) > sesame stalk biochar (1485.23 mg.g−1) > Platanus bark biochar (1360.43 mg.g−1). Their adsorption performances exceeded the national first-class product limit standard, implying that they exhibited good usability. This indicates that a lower alkali–carbon ratio can be used to obtain near-optimal results, thereby reducing corrosion and saving on production costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a renewable new material with high void ratio, large adsorption surface area, and high adsorption rate, biomass carbon (BC) is a promising adsorbent, which has received wide attention for the degradation of dyes. However, physical adsorption cannot completely remove dyes, and there is also the risk of secondary pollution. ZnAl‐layered double hydroxide (ZnAl‐LDH) is a semiconductor photocatalyst with abundant active sites and excellent degradation efficiency. In this paper, we have designed a ZnAl‐layered double oxide@biomass carbon (ZnAl‐LDO@BC) formed by in situ grown LDH on the waste poplar wood as a synergistic adsorption and photocatalytic system. BC as a support could enhance the dispersity of layered double oxide (LDO), whereas LDO could provide photodegradation function to BC. Our studies indicate that the prepared ZnAl‐LDO@BC presents lower bandgap energy, higher surface area, and lower complexation efficiency of holes and electrons than delignified biomass (DB). As a result, ZnAl‐LDO@BC increased the removal rate of malachite green (MG) to 85.8%, which is 3.5 times higher than DB. The maximum removal rate was close to 98%, and the removal capacity was 1954 mg g−1 under an initial concentration of 200 mg L−1 of MG dye, and the possible mechanism of MG degradation was also investigated. In this study, the conversion of agroforestry wastes into high‐value materials applied to dye degradation provides a new pathway for the production of stable, sustainable, and superior photocatalytic material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Rare Metals is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Developing biochar with large specific surface area (SSA), heteroatom doping, and porous structure is attracting substantial attention to absorb electromagnetic wave (EMW) in recent. Herein, a novel method of ethanol and KOH co‐treatment is used to produce the biomass carbon deriving from pitaya peels. The obtained carbon possesses the high SSA of 1580 m2/g, successful N/O atoms co‐doping, and massive pores with different size. The results of EMW absorption measurement show that the prepared biochar could achieve over 99 % absorpition to EMW, which the highest reflection loss is of ca. −45.25 dB at 7.54 GHz with an effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) of ca. 4.87 GHz. The execellent microwave absorption property is caused by the surface defects, dipole and interface polarizations of the synthesized biochar owning unique microstructure and N/O atoms co‐doping. Hence, this avenue provides a new reference for fabricating low‐cost and eco‐friendly biochar as a microwave absorber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, biomass-based carbon was prepared by simple heat treatment from biowaste of the Nerium oleander flower. The scanning electron microscopy image depicts the porous-structure of biomass-derived carbon. The prepared bio-mass carbon delivers a surface area of 420.42 m2/g with mesoporous nature. The prepared material has been inspected as an active electrode for both lithium-ion capacitor (LIC) and lithium-ion battery (LIB). In LIC, the as-prepared carbon displays outstanding electrochemical performance with a capacitance of 300.28 F/g at 0.1 A/g. The capacitance is maintained at 84.1% after 8000 cycles of charge/discharge at a current density of 3 A g−1 showing excellent cycle stability. Transitioning to LIB, the NO anode showed a remarkable capacitance of 705 mAh/g at 0.1 C rate, and it continued to shine with enhanced cyclic stability over 1000 cycles. This study not only introduces exciting possibilities for the future development of metal-ion capacitors and battery electrode materials but also contributes to the advancement of sustainable biomass energy. This research embodies the commitment to nature-inspired innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Purposes] Electrocatalytic technology for converting CO2 into high-value-added fuels and chemicals has promising applications. However, developing electrocatalysts with superior performance still faces significant challenges. [Methods] In this study, wheat bran was used as the precursor of biomass carbon and the pyrolysis method was used to prepare nitrogen-doped biomass carbon materials (NC). By further coupling with CuO via a hydrothermal method, a series of CuO@NC composite materials were costructed. The crystalline phase, microscopic morphology, structure, and elemental valence states were analyzed by multiple characterization techniques. The electrocatalytic performance was investigated towards the electrocatalytic reduction of CO2. [Findings] Results indicate that the composite catalyst synthesized at 160 ℃ (CuO@NC-160) exhibits high selectivity towards ethylene, with a maximum faradaic efficiency of 26.85% at -1.18 V vs. RHE. This study presents a feasible pathway for fabricating low-cost and efficient CuO-based electrocatalysts.

Addressing the imbalance of the livestock–forage–environment system on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP), the extensive replacement of natural grasslands with artificial grasslands has been pursued to enhance forage yield and quality. Recognizing their pivotal role in soil ecology, soil nematodes serve as sensitive indicators of the soil ecosystem structure and function. In this context, we embarked on a field investigation aimed at discerning the impact of varying artificial grasslands on soil nematode communities and food webs, with the intent of identifying an optimal forage species through the lens of soil nematode dynamics in the temperate steppe of the QTP. Our findings indicate that artificial grasslands, on the whole, tend to augment the soil nematode diversity—as reflected in the increased Margalef richness—and modify the community structure. Notable enhancements were observed in the abundance of bacterivores and omnivores, the fungivore and omnivore biomass carbon, and the connectance within fungal and bacterial channels. Specific insights reveal that grasslands established with Elymus nutans and Elymus sinosubmuticus notably boost the Margalef richness, omnivore biomass carbon, and both functional and structural metabolic footprints, with E. sinosubmuticus grasslands uniquely elevating the fungal channel connectivity. Elymus sibiricus grasslands, in particular, were associated with increased fungivore biomass carbon and metabolic footprints, as well as increased connectance in fungal and omnivore–predator channels. In summation, E. sibiricus, E. nutans, and E. sinosubmuticus emerge as superior choices for artificial grassland cultivation on the QTP, as suggested by soil nematode indicators. The adoption of mixed-species sowing incorporating these three candidates potentially offers enhanced benefits to the soil food web, although this hypothesis warrants further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractIn recent years, biomass carbon materials have received widespread attention in the field of electrochemical sensors. As a new type of renewable green energy, biomass carbon has the advantages of low cost and abundant resources. After special treatment, it can be used as an ideal electrode material. Since biomass carbon materials have diverse sources and their morphology is difficult to control, researchers have conducted in-depth research on their preparation process, morphology regulation and application. This review summarizes different biomass carbon structures and their preparation methods and explores the applications of these materials in electrochemical sensors. Modification of biomass carbon materials through pretreatment, physical and chemical activation, heteroatom doping, metal compound composite and other methods can make up for the deficiencies in its pore structure, electrical conductivity and surface wettability, thereby improving its electrochemical performance. The effects of different biomass sources, functional groups, constituent elements and modification methods on the morphology, structure and electrochemical properties of biomass carbon materials are discussed, and the applications of this type of material in biological molecules, heavy metal ions and pesticide residues are reviewed. Biomass carbon-based materials show great application potential and development prospects in the field of electrochemical sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Creating an innovative and environmentally friendly energy storage system is of vital importance due to the growing number of environmental problems and the fast exhaustion of fossil fuels. Energy storage using porous carbon composites generated from biomass has attracted a lot of attention in the research community. This is primarily due to the environmentally friendly nature, abundant availability in nature, accessibility, affordability, and long‐term viability of macro/meso/microporous carbon sourced from a variety of biological materials. Extensive information on the design and the building of an energy storage device that uses supercapacitors was a part of this research. This study examines both porous carbon electrodes (ranging from 44 to 1050 F/g) and biomasses with a large surface area (between 215 and 3532 m2/g). Supposedly, these electrodes have a capacitive retention performance of about 99.7 percent after 1000 cycles. The energy density of symmetric supercapacitors is also considered, with values between 5.1 and 138.4 Wh/kg. In this review, we look at the basic structures of biomass and how they affect porous carbon synthesis. It also discusses the effects of different structured porous carbon materials on electrochemical performance and analyzes them. In recent developments, significant steps have been made across various fields including fuel cells, carbon capture, and the utilization of biomass‐derived carbonaceous nanoparticles. Notably, our study delves into the innovative energy conversion and storage potentials inherent in these materials. This comprehensive investigation seeks to lay the foundation for forthcoming energy storage research endeavors by delineating the current advancements and anticipating potential challenges in fabricating porous carbon composites sourced from biomass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Climate dynamics management plays a crucial role in safeguarding the environment from a global to local scale. Land degradation poses a significant threat to the livelihoods of millions of people living in drylands. Arid regions are particularly vulnerable when it comes to finding suitable habitats for ecological processes. Various global initiatives have been developed to restore degraded drylands. In addition, exclosures have important implications in arid areas for regulating environmental services. However, there is a lack of systematic studies on the biomass improvement and climate change mitigation effects of exclosures. A study was carried out in the Sekota district of northern Ethiopia to evaluate the impact of exclosures on biomass production and carbon stock. Three sites—Gateno, Jinqaba, and Mildam—were chosen for the pilot study. Data was collected from 27 quadrats, with different sizes used for sampling saplings, seedlings, litter, and soil. Soil samples were taken at depths of 0–20 cm and 0–40 cm. The data was analyzed using Excel and R Studio, and a linear mixed-effect model was used to determine the differences between land uses. The results indicated significant variations in above-ground biomass carbon, soil organic carbon, and total carbon stock between the two land uses. Furthermore, the observational perspective of exclosures in the Sekota district reveals a sustainable and suitable environment for interested parties. Exclosures prove to be effective in the restoration of degraded lands, as well as in enhancing biomass accumulation and carbon sequestration.

Recently, the challenges pertaining to the recycling of metal-based electrode materials and the resulting environmental pollution have impeded the advancement of battery technology. Consequently, biomass-derived carbon materials, distinguished by their eco-friendliness and consistent performance, stand as a pivotal solution to this predicament. Researchers have made significant strides in the integration of porous carbon materials derived from biomass into battery systems. Nevertheless, these materials face issues such as limited efficiency, modest yields, and a complex fabrication process. This paper endeavors to summarize the recent advancements in the utilization of biomass-derived carbon materials within the realm of batteries, offering a comprehensive examination of their battery performance from three distinct perspectives: synthesis, structure, and application. We posit that composite materials composed of biomass-derived carbon align with the trajectory of future development and present extensive potential for application. Ultimately, we will expound upon our profound outlook regarding the furtherance of biomass-derived carbon materials.

Highly active B atom dopants were successfully introduced into a biomass carbon matrix as promising electrocatalysts for the two-electron oxygen reduction reaction (2e– ORR) to synthesize hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) by decomposing boron nanosheets with flash Joule heating (FJH) progress. Moreover, the FJH process can greatly improve the graphitization of biomass carbon leading to rapid electron transfer during electrocatalysis. The as-prepared B atom–doped carbon nanomaterial (f-Bs-C) showed greatly enhanced 2e– ORR performance with outstanding H2O2 selectivity (91–94%) at 0.25–0.6 V vs reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) measured via a rotating ring-disk electrode (RRDE) in an alkaline electrolyte, and the Faradaic efficiency was still greater than 80% during 11 h with a mass activity of 798 mmol gcatalyst–1 h–1 in an actual three-electrode flow cell setup. The overall catalytic performance is preferable to the majority of reported carbon-based catalysts. Density functional theory showed that the O atom connected with B atoms can induce charge density deficiency on the B site acting as high catalytic sites. This research provides an exploration to fabricate heteroatom dopants to enhance the catalytic capability of biomass-based carbon catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biomass carbon has the advantage of a wide spectral absorption range, which makes it great potential for solar thermal utilization. In this study, porous skeleton support materials of sugarcane-derived carbon were prepared by freeze-drying-high-temperature carbonization method using natural sugarcane as raw material, and the characterization results demonstrate that the porous skeleton of sugarcane-derived carbon has outstanding porous support properties. By combining CuS with sugarcane-derived carbon, a porous material with outstanding photo-thermal conversion performance was synthesized. Four photo-thermal composite phase change materials (CPCMs) were prepared, the maximum loading mass of the support material C600 to the phase change materials (PCMs) reached 79.77 ​%. The C600-CuS-OC had excellent thermal storage properties with an enthalpy of melting of 276.3 ​J/g and a thermal conductivity of 0.61 ​W·m−1·K−1. The photo-thermal conversion efficiency of C600-CuS-OC was 83.2 ​%. Sugarcane carbon-based CPCMs are a low-cost and high-efficiency solar thermal storage material, which has great potential for applications in solar thermal storage, biomass utilization, and thermal management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advancement of the voltage window with stringent safety concerns is an imperative strategy to enhance the energy densities and output power delivery of electrical double‐layer capacitors (EDLCs). Solid‐state, water‐in‐salt (WIS), and ionic liquid‐based electrolytes are attractive and ideal choices for high‐voltage EDLCs due to their superior voltage window, electrochemical performance, and predominant safety aspects. Mindful of this, the current report demonstrates the electrochemical performance of new nanoporous carbon electrodes derived from waste dry leaves of Swietenia macrophylla with a high specific surface area (SSA) (1834 m2 g−1) in polymer–gel, WIS, and ionic liquids‐based electrolytes. Symmetric EDLC devices are fabricated using polymer gel solid‐state (PVA–Na2SO4), ionic liquids (EMIMBF4), and WIS (21 m LiTFSI) electrolytes with the electrochemical stability windows of (ESW) 2, 2.5, and 2 V, respectively. The assembled devices with Na2SO4/PVA, EMIMBF4, and 21 m LiTFSI (WIS) electrolytes‐based devices exhibit high energy densities of 40, 31, and 25 Wh kg−1 at 0.5 A g−1 and good output power delivery of 5, 6.23, and 3 kW kg−1 at 5 A g−1 with better cyclability features. Self‐discharging studies and systematic evaluation of high‐voltage EDLCs offer a sustainable method to develop high‐performance aqueous and diverse electrolyte‐based supercapacitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although photothermal materials (PMs) are widely utilized in pure water and seawater, there is less research on the design and preparation of multifunctional photothermal materials with organic dye adsorption and oil displacement properties. In this study, biomass carbon aerogel (BC) was prepared through a simple Ca2+ cross-linking and freeze-drying process. To enhance the antifouling performance of BC, hydrophilic and oleophobic chemical modification was conducted to obtain BC-SP. The contact angle of n-hexadecane can reach to 141.8°, which enable the extensive application of BC-SP in oil-bearing wastewater treatment. Notably, BC-SP exhibited exceptional light absorption efficiency (approximately 95%), excellent heat insulation performance (thermal conductivity 0.0650 W m− 1 K− 1), and rapid water transport capability. Under the irradiation of 1 kW m− 2, the solar energy conversion efficiency can reach to 86.8%. After tested eight cycles, the evaporation efficiency remained relatively stable and can adsorb most organic dyes in dye wastewater. Therefore, the study of BC-SP in this paper may has broad practical application prospects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate dynamics management plays a crucial role in safeguarding the environment from a global to local scale. Land degradation poses a significant threat to the livelihoods of millions of people living in drylands. Arid regions are particularly vulnerable when it comes to finding suitable habitats for ecological processes. Various global initiatives have been developed to restore degraded drylands. In addition, exclosures have important implications in arid areas for regulating environmental services. However, there is a lack of systematic studies on the biomass improvement and climate change mitigation effects of exclosures. A study was carried out in the Sekota district of northern Ethiopia to evaluate the impact of exclosures on biomass production and carbon stock. Three sites—Gateno, Jinqaba, and Mildam—were chosen for the pilot study. Data was collected from 27 quadrats, with different sizes used for sampling saplings, seedlings, litter, and soil. Soil samples were taken at depths of 0–20 cm and 0–40 cm. The data was analyzed using Excel and R Studio, and a linear mixed-effect model was used to determine the differences between land uses. The results indicated significant variations in above-ground biomass carbon, soil organic carbon, and total carbon stock between the two land uses. Furthermore, the observational perspective of exclosures in the Sekota district reveals a sustainable and suitable environment for interested parties. Exclosures prove to be effective in the restoration of degraded lands, as well as in enhancing biomass accumulation and carbon sequestration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to prepare high-performance and low-cost electrode materials, nickel ion-doped polyANI-coated biomass carbon composite materials (Ni@ PANI/BC) were synthesized by chemical oxidation polymerization using August melon peel biomass carbon (BC) as the matrix, and nickel nitrate and aniline as raw materials. The structures of the Ni@ PANI/BC composites were characterized by SEM, EDS, X-ray photoelectron energy spectrum (XPS), thermal weight analysis (TG) and specific surface area test (BET), and the electrochemical properties of the composites were measured by cyclic voltammetry (CV), constant current charge and discharge (GCD) test and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The effects of nickel ion doping on the structure and electrochemical properties of Ni@ PANI/BC were investigated. It is shown that nickel ion doped BC forms a porous cross-linked mesh porous structure with large specific surface area and good electrical conductivity. When the mass ratio of nickel hydrate nitrate, aniline and BC is 1. 5∶5∶3, the obtained electrode material has the best electrochemical performance. At 1 A/g current density, Ni@ PANI/BC mass capacitance is up to 608. 4 F/g, 5 000 cycles with a capacity retention rate of 85. 4%, which demonstrates Ni@ PANI/BC materials have electrochemical properties comparable to the relevant materials reported in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various biomass materials have been developed as precursor materials to fabricate carbon-based anodes for Li-ion battery (LIB) applications due to their inherent sustainability and low cost. However, the low theoretical specific capacity of carbon materials (273 mAh g−1) restricts their further application as an anode for LIBs. Herein, silicon/reed catkin composites (Si/RC) and silicon/apricot shell-derived carbon (Si/AC) are successfully fabricated, and their performances are evaluated as anode materials for LIBs. The Si/RC anode displays a reversible capacity of 318.4 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles at 200 mA g−1 and remains 229.3 mAh g−1 after 1000 cycles at 1 A g−1. This work discloses the feasibility and promising prospects of utilizing biomass reed catkins to prepare low-cost, porous, carbon-based materials for energy storage applications.

A long‐term experiment (1995–2021) was conducted on litchi (Litchi chinensis L.) with and without conservation practices, that is, litchi under clean cultivation (LCC) (recommended doses of fertilizers without intercrops and mulch) and litchi with conservation practice (LCP) (micro‐site improvement, intercrops, and organic mulching) on degraded lands. The study aimed to evaluate the long‐term impact of litchi‐based land uses on vegetative growth (plant height, canopy volume, fruit yield, and litter production), soil moisture, biomass production, carbon stocks (CS), and soil qualities (enzyme activities, microbial counts, and soil fertility). The results revealed that LCP improved vegetative growth, yields, and soil moisture over LCC. The total dry biomass was observed 91.6–103.9, stored CS; 43.6–49.4, emitted CS; 7.04–9.40, mitigated CS; 30.1–30.5, soil CS; 35.7–39.9, total CS (soil + vegetation); 65.9–70.5 Mg ha−1 and carbon dioxide mitigation; 88.3–112.1 Mg ha−1 in LCC and LCP land uses, respectively. Further, in LCP, beta‐glucosidase, acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, and dehydrogenase activities increased by 17.2%, 20.4%, 19.8%, and 24.8%, respectively, in surface soil compared with LCC in 2021. Likewise, the microbial density of bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes was also observed to be 20.2%, 41.4%, and 19.5% higher, respectively, in LCP land use in 2021 over 2015. Similarly, available N, P, and K increased by 19.9%, 75.3%, and 36.8% under LCP from 1997 to 2021. Hence, litchi‐based land use with conservation practices can be advocated to rehabilitate and improve the soil health of degraded lands and enhance ecosystem services in similar edaphoclimatic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to maintain a healthy soil, organic farming (OF) and natural farming (NF) should be practiced in addition to conventional farming. In order to evaluate soil fertility and productivity, a field experiment was conducted to study the microbial populations, dehydrogenase activities and biomass carbon in rhizosphere soils of cabbage under different farming systems over two years. Generally, microbial populations are expressed as colony forming units (CFU). Significantly higher microbial populations such as bacteria (34.15 × 106 CFU g−1of soil), fungi (19.08 × 103 CFU g−1of soil), actinomycetes (20.18 × 104 CFU g−1of soil), phosphate solubilizing microorganisms (11.45 × 104 CFU g−1of soil) and nitrogen fixers (14.78 × 104 CFU g−1of soil) were observed in rhizosphere soils after harvest of cabbage in organic farming followed by natural farming treatment. Dehydrogenase activity and microbial biomass carbon were significantly higher under organic farming. Lower microbial populations, dehydrogenase activity and microbial biomass carbon were found in conventional farming practices. It is concluded that application of organic farming inputs farm yard manure (FYM) and natural farming inputs, i.e. liquid organic manure (jeevamrutha), solid organic manure (ghanajeevamrutha) enhanced the soil microflora, dehydrogenase activity and microbial biomass carbon activities when compared to the conventional farming system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of China Pulp & Paper is the property of China Pulp & Paper Magazines Publisher and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Forest thinning is a widely used silvicultural method in forest management and has complex effects on carbon sequestration in different types of forest ecosystems. The present study examined the short-term effects of different thinning intensities on carbon storage in an 11-year-old mixed broadleaved plantation. The results partially supported that different thinning intensities have varying impacts on carbon storage in different parts of forest ecosystems. The main results were as follows: (1) The effect of thinning on promoting the growth of fast-growing tree species (Michelia macclurei Dandy and Schima superba Gardn. et Champ.) was earlier than that of slow-growing tree species (Castanopsis hystrix Miq.). (2) A greater thinning intensity conferred greater effects on promoting the tree biomass carbon growth, litter carbon storage, and understory plant diversity, in the order of 41%~50% > 31%~40% > 20%~30%, but these values were lower than those for the unthinned plots. (3) The soil carbon storage declined most in the 41%~50% thinned plots, due to the reduced carbon storage in the humus layer. (4) The 20%~30% thinning intensity promoted carbon sequestration in the short term in the mixed broadleaved plantation. The results suggested that a lower thinning intensity promoted carbon sequestration in the short term, a greater thinning intensity reduced carbon storage at first, but the negative effect on carbon storage exhibited trade-offs later by the growth of tree and understory plant biomass carbon and the accumulation of litter layer carbon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Chinese Journal of Inorganic Analytical Chemistry / Zhongguo Wuji Fenxi Huaxue is the property of Beijing Research Institute of Mining & Metallurgy Technology Group and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In recent years, notable headway has been made in augmenting supercapacitor functioning through employment of pioneering components, exceptional nanostructures and additional investigation of electrolytes. Nonetheless, achieving superior performance with straightforward techniques remains a significant hurdle. In order to surmount this, an experimental three-dimensional nanospherical pore structure (TPB-20@Ni(OH)2) was designed and prepared. TPB-1 was obtained through carbonisation and activation. TPB-20@Ni(OH)2 nanoparticles were synthesized using TPB-1 as the carbon source and nickel chloride hexahydrate as the nickel source. Furthermore, the TPB-20@Ni(OH)2//AC supercapacitor displayed an impressive energy density of 22.1 Wh kg−1. The TPB-20@Ni(OH)2 composites exhibited a specific capacity of 978 F−1, which is noteworthy. The exceptional output exhibited by the TPB-20@Ni(OH)2 composite derives from its innovative structure, presenting an extensive specific surface area of 237.4 m2 g−1 and porosity of roughly 4.0 nm. Following 20 000 cycles (at a current density of 1 A g−1), asymmetric supercapacitors assembled from TPB-20@Ni(OH)2//AC retained 80.0% of its initial specific electrostatic capacity, indicating superior electrochemical stability and high electrochemical reversibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Community Forestry (CF) is recognized globally as a forest management regime with the potential to address deforestation and forest degradation, provide forest goods and services to local communities and contribute to climate change mitigation. Around 4% of Bhutan's forests are currently under CF management and these forests provide essential goods and services for local communities. However, the potential of CF in Bhutan to contribute to climate change mitigation is not well understood and has not been researched.In this study, we estimated the carbon stock and carbon sequestration of community forests in Bhutan by using data from the 2015 National Forest Inventory (NFI). The total biomass carbon in community forests was 130.3 Mg ha−1 (107.3–153.2) and the soil organic carbon was 52.8 Mg ha−1 (30.4–75.1). Carbon sequestration was 0.7 Mg ha−1 yr⁻¹. Other attributes: basal area, stem density and tree height, were also determined to assess forest condition and the potential to increase carbon sequestration.The values for biomass carbon in Bhutan's community forests as well as the non-community forests (all other forests) were similar to those reported from Forest Resource Assessment and NFI for forests in Nepal and the Indian Himalayan states respectively. Disaggregation of data from 38 research studies across the Himalayan region indicated that biomass carbon in Bhutan's forests was significantly lower than that in well-stocked (non-degraded) forests in the Indian and Nepal Himalayas. It was also much lower than that in Bhutan's Forest Management Units, which were used as an indicator of the potential upper limit of biomass carbon in Bhutan's forest environment. Similarly, basal area, stem density and mean tree height were also lower in Bhutan's community forests than in well-stocked forests in other Himalayan countries.The Bhutan Government is currently exploring the potential to generate revenue from the sale of carbon sequestered in its forests. This study confirms that there is potential to increase carbon sequestration by improving management of existing forests. Currently, the 107,866 ha of community forests in Bhutan store about 19 million Mg of carbon. With improved management by Community Forest Management Groups, which have the institutional capacity to control local management outcomes, the carbon stock could likely be doubled (to 40 million Mg of carbon), thereby demonstrating the potential of Community Forestry to play an important role in climate change mitigation, while not jeopardizing the provision of day-to-day goods and services to local communities.

Recently, biomass carbon has been widely used in the field of micro wave absorption due to its low cost, easy preparation, excellent physical and chemical properties, and porous structure. However, its microwave absorption performance is still limited by poor impedance caused by high conductivity. Here, nickel (Ni) is used to modify kapok fibers, and then the nickel/carbon derived form kapok fiber (Ni/C) composites are obtained at different carbonization temperatures. The scanning electron microscopy results indicate that the size of Ni particles increases, and more defect structures appear on the surface of kapok fibers with the increase of carbonization temperature. The XRT) and XPS results confirmed the successful combination of Ni and carbon derived from kapok fiber. The Raman results indicate that the increase in carbonization temperature results in more graphite structures, enriching the conductive loss ability of the composites. Finally, we mixed the composite with paraffin at an ultra-low filling ratio of 5; 95, and the Ni/C-800 showed a reflection loss value of --52. 6 dB and an effective absorption bandwidth of 8.32 GHz. The excellent absorption performance of composites depends on the synergistic effect of attenuation ability and impedance matching, the combined effect of dielectric and magnetic losses, and the enhancement of multiple scattering ability caused by large specific surface area and hollow porous structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, exploitation of biomass as an economical and environmentally friendly source for the production of energy to power supercapacitor devices has gained momentum. It is a viable alternative to current methods of energy consumption and chemical production, offering a more cost-effective and sustainable solution. Additionally, biomass has an inherently high energy capacity, making it a promising source of energy for the production of supercapacitor devices. The current investigation utilizes Spathodea campanulata leaves and flowers to synthesize KOH-activated carbon (AC) through microwave approach. In this study, two types of biomass-derived materials, AC-SPL and AC-SPF, were evaluated for their suitability as electrode materials for supercapacitors. FTIR results suggested the presence of O- and N- functionalities in the synthesized carbon materials. XRD results reflected an amorphous structure with an increased crystalline size due to KOH activation. The specific capacitance values of AC-SPF were found to be 9.2F/g while for AC-SPL 6.03 F/g. The investigated samples were found to possess good physicochemical properties and promising electrochemical performance, making them suitable for use in the development of an inexpensive and eco-friendly electrode material for supercapacitor applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]