Earth and environmental sciences articles within Communications Materials

Featured

• Article
  25 January 2024 | Open Access

  Transient co-tuning of atomic Fe and nanoparticle facets for self-relaying Fenton-like catalysis

  Fenton-like catalysts are used for degrading refractory organic pollutants but the synthesis of dual active sites is difficult to control. Here, carbon-assisted flash Joule heating synthesis results in a structure with single atoms and high-index facets for antibiotic and medical micropollutant removal from water.

  • Jiewen Luo
  • , Xiangdong Zhu
  •  & Fengchang Wu

• Article
  19 April 2022 | Open Access

  Identifying chemically similar multiphase nanoprecipitates in compositionally complex non-equilibrium oxides via machine learning

  Characterizing fission products in uranium dioxide nuclear fuel is important for predicting its long-term properties. Here, machine learning is used to mine microscopy images of precipitates and nanoscale gas bubbles in high-burn-up fuels, providing detailed structural insight of nanoscale fission products.

  • Keyou S. Mao
  • , Tyler J. Gerczak
  •  & Philip D. Edmondson

• Matters Arising
  06 April 2022 | Open Access

  Reply to: Concerns about global phosphorus demand for lithium-iron-phosphate batteries in the light electric vehicle sector

  • Chengjian Xu
  • , Qiang Dai
  •  & Bernhard Steubing

• Matters Arising
  06 April 2022 | Open Access

  Concerns about global phosphorus demand for lithium-iron-phosphate batteries in the light electric vehicle sector

  • Bryan M. Spears
  • , Will J. Brownlie
  •  & José M. Mogollón

• Article
  10 June 2021 | Open Access

  X-ray free electron laser heating of water and gold at high static pressure

  The study of water at high pressure and temperature is essential for understanding planetary interiors but is hampered by the high reactivity of water at extreme conditions. Here, indirect X-ray laser heating of water in a diamond anvil cell is realized via a gold absorber, showing no evidence of reactivity.

  • Rachel J. Husband
  • , R. Stewart McWilliams
  •  & Hanns-Peter Liermann

• Article
  03 June 2021 | Open Access

  Atomistic insight into lithospheric conductivity revealed by phonon–electron excitations in hydrous iron-bearing silicates

  Amphiboles are hydrous silicates occurring in many rock types in the continental crust and subduction zones. Here, in situ Raman spectroscopy of grunerite reveals temperature-activated electron-phonon excitations that provide an atomistic insight into the role of amphiboles in the anisotropic lithospheric conductivity.

  • Boriana Mihailova
  • , Giancarlo Della Ventura
  •  & Roberta Oberti

• Article
  24 May 2021 | Open Access

  Fast in-situ X-ray scattering reveals stress sensitivity of gypsum dehydration kinetics

  Understanding the dehydration of gypsum is important for fluid-triggered earthquakes, and for its use in the construction industry. Here, x-ray scattering reveals that a small elastic load substantially accelerates dehydration kinetics, and is far more effective than applying heat.

  • Christoph Eckart Schrank
  • , Oliver Gaede
  •  & Andrzej P. Radliński

• Article
  18 December 2020 | Open Access

  Soil microbiomes mediate degradation of vinyl ester-based polymer composites

  The effect of microbial communities on the degradation of polymer composites has not been widely studied. Here, a multi-omics and materials characterization approach reveals the time-dependent effect of naturally occurring microbes on the degradation of vinyl ester composites.

  • Adam M. Breister
  • , Muhammad A. Imam
  •  & Pavana Prabhakar

• Article
  09 December 2020 | Open Access

  Future material demand for automotive lithium-based batteries

  Lithium-ion-based batteries are a key enabler for the global shift towards electric vehicles. Here, considering developments in battery chemistry and number of electric vehicles, analysis reveals the increasing amounts of lithium, cobalt and nickel that could be needed.

  • Chengjian Xu
  • , Qiang Dai
  •  & Bernhard Steubing

• Article
  04 December 2020 | Open Access

  Synthesis of ¹⁴C-labelled polystyrene nanoplastics for environmental studies

  Nanoplastics are a substantial environmental risk, and it is important to understanding where and how they are released into the environment. Here, a simple methodology is reported for the one-step synthesis of radiolabelled nanopolystyrene that can be used in environmental studies.

  • Maya Al-Sid-Cheikh
  • , Steven J. Rowland
  •  & Richard C. Thompson

• Article
  05 November 2020 | Open Access

  Redox-structure dependence of molten iron oxides

  Knowing the atomic structure of liquid iron oxide is key to understanding steelmaking processes and magma flows. Here, Fe-O atomic coordination numbers are determined during levitation melting at a range of temperatures and oxygen partial pressures, revealing low coordination numbers.

  • Caijuan Shi
  • , Oliver L. G. Alderman
  •  & Chris J. Benmore

• Article
  14 July 2020 | Open Access

  Interfacial assembly of self-healing and mechanically stable hydrogels for degradation of organic dyes in water

  Hydrogels are attractive for the treatment of waste water, but their mechanical properties are typically reduced when underwater. Here, a synthesis strategy is reported for a graphene oxide-coated hydrogel which can catalyze organic dye degradation in water over multiple cycles.

  • Guihua Yan
  • , Yunchao Feng
  •  & Lu Lin

• Article
  05 June 2020 | Open Access

  Crystallisation control of drop-cast quasi-2D/3D perovskite layers for efficient solar cells

  Perovskite solar cells have substantial potential for solar conversion, but developing simple and scalable fabrication processes is challenging. Here, a drop-casting process compatible with roll-to-roll production of quasi-2D/3D perovskite layers is developed, with a conversion efficiency of up to 16%.

  • Chuantian Zuo
  • , Andrew D. Scully
  •  & Mei Gao