Articles publicats en revistes (Ciència dels Materials i Química Física)
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ArticleEnhancing reactivity in muscovitic clays: Mechanical activation as a sustainable alternative to thermal activation for cement production(Elsevier B.V., 2024-01-24) Mañosa Bover, Jofre; Alvarez-Coscojuela, Adrian; Marco-Gibert. Josep; Maldonado Alameda, Alex; Chimenos Ribera, Josep Ma.The use of calcined clays in the construction industry is thriving. However, muscovitic or illitic clays, which constitute a large portion of the available clay resources, are hardly activated by thermal processes. This work aims to enhance the reactivity of raw muscovitic clay through mechanical activation. Various combinations of milling time and rotation speed were evaluated. The results confirmed that a highly amorphous material was obtained through mechanical activation, while thermal activation led to muscovite dehydroxylation without inducing amorphisation, resulting in the formation of crystalline dehydroxylated muscovite. The reactivity of the activated clays as a potential precursor for cement production was assessed through pozzolanic activity measurements and Si and Al potential availability. Both confirmed that mechanically activated muscovitic clay presented significantly higher reactivity than calcined muscovitic clay, obtaining an excellent pozzolanic material or an alternative cement precursor. Accordingly, mechanical activation of muscovitic clays could effectively introduce these types of clay in the cement industry.- ArticleThermal evaluation of polymorphic transitions in layered hybrid organic-inorganic perovskites for energy storage applications(Elsevier, 2024-10-15) Salgado Pizarro, Rebeca; Navarro-Rivero, M. E.; Ding, Y.; Barreneche, Camila; Fernández Renna, Ana InésLayered hybrid organic-inorganic perovskites (LHOIPs) have gained specific attention in applications such as optoelectronics. However, from the thermal perspective, these materials present a high potential for thermal energy storage applications in solid-state due to their heat storage capacity during their phase transitions. Here, we evaluate the first-order transition of these materials from the molecular point of view and make a relation with organic size, which is responsible for the ordering-disordering transition. Six LHOIPs have been synthesised, (C12H25N)2CuCl4, (C14H29N)2CuCl4, (C16H33N)2CuCl4, (C12H24N)2MnCl4, (C14H29N)2MnCl4 and (C16H33N)2MnCl4, where the crystal transformation has been evaluated under X-ray diffraction and Raman, and thermal conductivity as well as the thermal expansion have been studied. This work provides a comprehensive evaluation of the disordering phenomenon that is produced during phase transitions
- ArticleLife cycle assessment of the climate change impact of magnesium phosphate cements formulated with tundish deskulling waste compared to conventional cement(Elsevier B.V., 2024-12-01) Alfocea Roig, Anna; Müller, Amelie; Steubing, Bernhard; Huete-Hernández, Sergio; Giró Paloma, Jessica; Formosa Mitjans, JoanOrdinary Portland cement (OPC) production significantly contributes to greenhouse gas emissions due to high resource consumption and CO2 output. It is therefore imperative to investigate alternative cements, such as magnesium phosphate cement (MPC), as a potential solution. This study is based on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology, comparing OPC with alternative magnesium phosphate cements (MPC) developed at the laboratory scale. The novelty of this study considers two types of alternative cements that use two different sources of MgO: MPC-MgO, developed with pure MgO, and MPC-TUN, formulated using tundish deskulling waste from steelmaking industry. The evaluated functional units are 1 tonne of cement, 1 m3 of cement paste, and 1 m3 of mortar, all of them are designed for the same function, which is as non-structural precast elements. The study assesses climate change impacts under two future scenarios: 1) electricity decarbonisation in the background economy using projections from Integrated Assessment Models and 2) electricity decarbonisation and a fuel switch in the cement kilns. The results indicate that MPC-TUN exhibits a lower impact of climate change in terms of CO2 emissions across all functional units and scenarios compared to the other materials. In the most ambitious climate scenario, MPC-TUN mortar exhibits 42% and 56% lower climate change impacts than OPC-CEM I and MPC-MgO mortars, respectively, demonstrating its potential as a more sustainable construction material. Although further research is needed on the applicability of MPC-TUN in construction, regulatory frameworks are advised to simplify barriers to expedite the adoption of sustainable alternative cements.
- ArticleNew database of sustainable solid particle materials to perform a material-based design for a thermal energy storage in concentrating solar power(Elsevier B.V., 2024-11-25) Majó, Marc; Calderón Díaz, Alejandro; Svobodova Sedlackova, Adela; Segarra Rubí, Mercè; Fernández Renna, Ana Inés; Barreneche, CamilaRenewable energies have surged worldwide, aiming to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. Concentrated solar power (CSP) with thermal energy storage (TES) emerges as a viable alternative to bridge the gap between renewable energy generation and consumption. However, existing CSP plants face a significant challenge in optimizing performance due to the operational temperature limitations of solar salt. While alternative materials, such as solid particles for sensible heat storage in solar towers exceeding 600 °C, have been proposed, the crucial aspect revolves around selecting a new alternative sustainable low-cost material for use as a TES media. This article investigates the optimization of CSP-TES systems by evaluating alternative sustainable low-cost materials sourced from several sectors such as the mining or metallurgical industry, municipal solid wastes, or demolition wastes. The materials, either used in their original form or formulated into aggregates for mortars, underwent thorough a property comparison focused on thermal, physical properties, and cost. With this data, a database was created using the Constructor software from ANSYS and integrated with the Selector software from the same company that provides instrumental for the creation of a comprehensive repository of sustainable materials, providing a database that serves as a practical reference guide for optimizing the selection of sustainable materials as TES in CSP plants. Then, a baseline could be established for selecting a sustainable material for a specific design, considering the properties of the materials. This methodology consists of redesigning and adapting the system according to the material, and it is known as the Materials-Based Design (MBD) process.
- ArticleSynthesis of Bis(dodecylammonium) Tetrachlorocuprate Using Ball Milling for Thermal Energy Storage(American Chemical Society, 2025-03-26) Salgado Pizarro, Rebeca; Mañosa Bover, Jofre; Barreneche, Camila; Fernández Renna, Ana InésLayered hybrid halometallates are highlighted for their adaptable thermal, electrical, and optical properties by modifying the alkylammonium or metal constituents. However, the conventional synthesis procedures of these materials present some sustainability and scalability issues. To tackle these issues, mechanochemistry is a promising alternative synthesis which uses mechanical energy and can reduce the solvent content required. Mechanochemical synthesis has proven to be an effective synthesis route for various perovskite structures, but research on bis(alkylammonium) tetrahalometallates is limited. Here, we explore the feasibility of synthesizing bis(alkylammonium) tetrahalometallates through ball milling and reducing solvent usage. Crystal and molecular results confirmed the successful synthesis with minimal impurities, <5 wt %. The bis(alkylammonium) tetrahalometallates obtained through ball milling presented comparable enthalpy and specific heat values to those obtained through traditional synthesis routes. Moreover, the ball milling synthesis consumed significantly less energy and solvent and led to higher reaction yield than the traditional synthesis methods, thereby enhancing the sustainability of the process. Overall, the results validate the synthesis through ball milling as a viable and environmentally efficient method for bis(alkylammonium) tetrahalometallates.
- ArticleTuning electronic levels in photoactive hydroxylated titania nanosystems: combining the ligand dipole effect and quantum confinement(Royal Society of Chemistry, 2024-12-01) Recio-Poo, Miguel; Morales García, Ángel; Illas i Riera, Francesc; Bromley, Stefan ThomasReducing the size of titania (TiO2) to the nanoscale promotes the photoactive anatase phase for use in a range of applications from industrial catalysis to environment remediation. The nanoscale dimensions of these systems affect the magnitude of the electronic energy gap by quantum confinement. Upon interaction with aqueous environments or water vapour, the surfaces of these systems will also be hydroxylated to some degree. In turn, this affects the electronic energy levels due to the cumulative electrostatic effect of the dipolar hydroxyl (–OH) ligands (i.e. the ligand dipole effect). Using accurate density functional calculations, we investigate the combined effects of quantum confinement and the hydration-induced ligand dipole effect on a set of realistic titania nanosystems over a wide range of hydroxylation. Our detailed investigation reveals that, contrary to previous models, the ligand dipole effect does not-linearly depend on the ligand coverage due to the formation of inter-ligand OH⋯OH hydrogen bonds. To account for the resulting effects, we propose a refined model, which describes the ligand dipole effect more accurately in our systems. We show that both hydroxylation (by the ligand dipole effect) and size (by quantum confinement) have significant but distinct impacts on the electronic energy levels in nanotitania. As an example, we discuss how variations in these effects can be used to tune the highest unoccupied energy level in nanotitania for enhancing the efficiency of the hydrogen evolution reaction. Overall, we show that any specific energy shift can be achieved by a range of different combinations of nanosystem size and degree of hydroxylation, thus providing options for energy-level tuning while also allowing consideration of practical constraints (e.g. synthetic limitations, operating conditions) for photochemical applications.
- ArticleMicrocapsules with thermal, mechanical, and chemical stability from polystyrene waste to contain phase change materials(Elsevier, 2026-01-20) Vera-Rivera, David; Neira-Viñas, Marc; Freixa Arumí, Núria; Formosa Mitjans, Joan; Giró Paloma, JessicaPhase change materials (PCM) are compounds which at specific temperature suffer a reversible phase transition, being solid-liquid the most used. These materials are widely used for thermal energy storage (TES), which is a potential method to combat the increase of energy consumption for thermal conditioning. Microencapsulation of PCM is a powerful technique to preserve it and avoid possible leakage. This research aims to address the environmental issues caused by plastic waste by developing sustainable recycled microencapsulated phase change materials (r-MPCM). A solvent evaporation method was used to microencapsulate a commercial PCM within a polystyrene (PS) waste as shell. Microcapsules with different core/shell (c/s) mass ratios were produced to be thermal, chemical, and mechanical evaluated. The characterization of r-MPCM produced was conducted using several techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and atomic force microscope (AFM). SEM images confirm that r-MPCM were successfully produced, with spherical shape, and were thermal and chemical resistant for the evaluated conditions. The data obtained from DSC demonstrates that the sample with higher TES performance was r-MPCM with 3:1 c/s mass ratio, with a latent heat of 63.7 J·g−1.
- ArticleSustained, Reversible, and Adaptive Non-Equilibrium Steady States of a Dissipative DNA-Based System(Wiley-VCH, 2025-10-20) Nicholas, James D.; Grosso, Erica del; deMello, Andrew J.; Puigmartí-Luis, Josep; Ricci, Francesco, 1977-; Sorrenti, AlessandroInspired by nature, researchers have developed several chemical fuel-driven supramolecular systems aimed at achieving improved kinetic control over their formation and functions. Alongside, DNA-based systems regulated by energy-dissipating mechanisms have been reported. However, the majority of these systems rely on batchwise additions of chemical fuels to closed reactors, resulting in transient non-equilibrium states that differ fundamentally from the sustained and highly adaptable non-equilibrium steady states (NESS) maintained by living systems through continuous energy dissipation. Here, we demonstrate sustained NESS of a dissipative DNA strand-displacement reaction achieved through the continuous supply of an RNA fuel to an open semi-batch reactor, using a custom automated setup that enables tunable fuel infusion rates and in situ analysis. Similar to biological NESS, our system dynamically adapts in real-time to subtle variations in fuel supply, achieving different steady-state levels of the strand-displacement reaction. Our approach demonstrates remarkable on-the-fly control over a dissipative DNA nanosystem, unachievable when working under batch conditions. Importantly, by fitting the experimental data to a kinetic model of the reaction network, we were able to confirm that the observed steady states correspond to true non-equilibrium compositions of the system.
- ArticleHighly efficient singlet oxygen production in a cascade photoelectrocatalytic system for water decontamination(Wiley-VCH, 2025-05-28) Liang, Ruiheng; Li, Shuaishuai; Zhang, Xiuwu; Hu, Zhongzheng; Wu, Huizhong; Sun, Jiangli; Song, Ge; Liu, Jingyang; Chai, Yandong; Sirés Sadornil, Ignacio; Zhou, MinghuaSinglet oxygen (¹O₂) demonstrates great potential for selective wastewater detoxification, which raises the appeal to achieve a controllable, mild, and efficient generation of this reactive species for water decontamination. Herein, we present a novel cascade photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) system operated via the interaction between the photoanodic and cathodic reactions without the addition of chemical precursors, realizing highly efficient ¹O₂ production (79.7 µmol L-1 min-1) and low energy consumption (0.052 kWh m-3 -log) for antibiotic degradation. The enhanced 1O2 production is proven to benefit from the synergistic effect of multiple activation pathways under PEC excitation. With the combined action of both the built-in electric field and external electric field, the holes in the Z-scheme heterojunction photoanode are maximally retained, and electrons are transferred to cathode to undergo the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), leading to the production of the crucial reactive oxygen species as intermediates. The occurrence of a cascade reaction is initiated by electrocatalytic 2e- ORR on the cathode and terminated by superoxide species oxidation by holes on the photoanode. The hole-involved 1O2 generation pathway circumvents the thermodynamically unfavorable process of traditional 1O2 generation. This work highlights a new PEC route for highly efficient 1O2 generation, making it a potential application in more effective environmental remediation.
- Article2D MoS2/Cu2O on 3D mesoporous silica as visible-NIR nanophotocatalysts for environmental and biomedical applications(Royal Society of Chemistry, 2025-07-28) Sepulveda, Borja; Esplandiu, María J.; Shahnazarova, Gubakhanim; Ramírez, Jessica C.; Al Bast, Nour A.H.; Fraxedas, Jordi; Lafuente, Aritz; Vaca, Cristina; Sledzinska, Marianna; Novikov, Valentin; Nogues, Carme; Nogues, Josep; Serrà i Ramos, AlbertNanostructures based on transition metal dichalcogenides have attracted considerable attention due to their tunable optoelectronic properties and large surface areas, showing a great potential as photocatalysts. Here, a novel supported structure based on 2D-MoS2/Cu2O nanoflakes grown on 3D mesoporous silica templates fabricated by a combination of solvothermal synthesis and e-beam deposition methods is presented. The synthesized MoS2 nanoflakes exhibited a combination of trigonal-prismatic 2H and distorted-trigonal 1T′ phases, which contributed to a high density of active catalytic sites, facilitating efficient photogenerated charge transfer to analytes at the liquid interface. The deposition of Cu on the MoS2 nanoflakes enabled the formation of a semiconducting MoS2/Cu2O heterostructure with greatly enhanced photocatalytic activity. The supported MoS2/Cu2O nanoflakes showed excellent stability and an efficient generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) with white and near infrared (NIR) light. The photocatalytic potential of the MoS2/Cu2O nanoflakes was established by the nearly complete degradation and mineralization of two organic pollutants (the antibiotic tetracycline and the biotoxin anatoxin-A) under low intensity white light, using ultralow catalyst concentration (ca. 4 μg mL−1). In addition, the use of MoS2/Cu2O nanostructures as photodynamic agents under low intensity NIR light was demonstrated. The NIR illuminated MoS2/Cu2O nanoflakes, placed at a distance of 120 μm from cultured cancer cells, enabled the complete elimination of cells via apoptosis, despite the large separation between them. These results underline the high photocatalytic activity of the supported MoS2/Cu2O nanoflakes to produce ROS with visible and NIR light, thus highlighting their suitability for environmental remediation and biomedical applications.
- ArticleH2O2 electrosynthesis in a reactor without forced aeration for the complete degradation of antibiotics by photoelectro-Fenton-like process at neutral pH(Elsevier B.V., 2025-10-15) Cornejo, Oscar M.; Ornelas Dávila, O.; Dávila-Jiménez, Martín M.; Sirés Sadornil, IgnacioInnovative systems for H2O2-based advanced wastewater treatment avoiding the need of external aeration are pursued with great interest, since they allow decreasing the capital expenses significantly. This work shows the good performance of a rotating cylinder electrode (RCE) reactor for continuous H2O2 electrosynthesis sustained by anodic oxygen, and its use in the degradation of the antibiotic enrofloxacin (ENR) by photoelectro-Fenton (PEF) process at pH 7 using Fe(III)-ethylenediamine-N,N´-disuccinic (EDDS) acid complex as catalyst. For H2O2 accumulation in different aqueous matrices, each peripheral velocity (U) was linked to a specific limiting current (IL) using a mass transport correlation. H2O2 concentrations in the range of 2.4–3.7 mM were attained after 60 min of electrolysis at U = 198.9 cm s−1 (1000 rpm, IL = 0.31 A). At that rotation rate, the elimination of 5 mg L−1 ENR was 100 % after 30 min in a 50 mM Na2SO4 + 0.1 mM Fe(III)-EDDS. Moreover, ENR removal over 95 % was reached at 60 min in actual urban wastewater. The main by-products were oxalic and oxamic acid, accompanied by nitrate, ammonium, and fluoride ions. The superiority of PEF process as decontamination process was verified from the lower toxicity of the treated ENR solutions.
- ArticleUnlocking flooded domains in air-breathing cathodes with edge-located asymmetric CoN2O2 sites for robust H2O2 electrosynthesis(Elsevier B.V., 2025-10-19) Xia, Pan; He, Tianwei; Xu, Tong; Zhu, Zhong-Shuai; Sun, Yu; Duan, Xiaoguang; Wang, Chao; He, Qiang; Sirés Sadornil, Ignacio; Ye, ZhihongAir-breathing gas-diffusion electrodes (GDEs) eliminating energy-intensive aeration hold great promise for industrial-scale hydrogen peroxide electrosynthesis. However, this configuration suffers from limited O2 mass transport and easy flooding. Herein, the active region of GDEs was extended beyond the three-phase boundary into the flooded domain by designing an alveolate carbon-supported Co single-atom electrocatalyst featuring abundant edge-located asymmetric CoN2O2 sites (eCoN2O2) to modulate the catalytic layer. The porous framework facilitates O2 mass transport, while the eCoN2O2 sites enable efficient O2 activation, sustaining fast ORR thanks to rational electrode design across the scales. Moreover, the superior O2 enrichment capability of eCoN2O2 allows efficient utilization of dissolved O2. Notably, the eCoN2O2-based GDE delivers a high H2O2 yield of 738.5 mg L−1 after 6 h at 25 mA cm−2, showing a 3.8-fold increase over basal-plane CoN4 moiety and even outperforming many aeration-driven systems. This work paves the way for integrated design of electrocatalysts and GDE architectures.
- ArticleRemoval of amoxicillin and ketorolac combining an IrO2-Ta2O5|Ti anode with a carbon paper cathode(Elsevier Ltd., 2025-10-13) Yáñez-Ángeles, M.J.; Sirés Sadornil, Ignacio; Bacame-Valenzuela, F.J.; Reyes-Vidal, Y.; Bustos, E.Contaminants in water resources are known to cause serious environmental and health issues. Despite using different methods to eliminate such chemicals, emerging contaminants are usually persistent, especially in conventional water treatment technologies. Electro-oxidation (EO) is a straightforward technique that has been proven effective for degrading pharmaceuticals in water. In this work, the performance of EO has been investigated using an IrO2-Ta2O5|Ti anode containing 18.79 % Ti, 58.09 % O, 7.06 % Ir, and 2.36 % Ta, with a roughness of 252.6 μm, a surface area of 0.0667 cm2, and a roughness factor of 0.07575, in different setups by combining it with either a titanium mesh or carbon paper (CP) as a cathode, with or without a constant air flow rate. The accumulation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), hydroxyl radical (•OH), and active chlorine was monitored to evaluate the performance of each setup in two different media (0.1 M NaCl and 0.1 M Na2SO4). The EO process was conducted at a cell potential of 2.5 V for 120 min, and the removal of amoxicillin (AMX) and ketorolac (KET) was assessed by Ultraperformance Liquid Chromatography coupled to UV–Vis Spectrometry (UPLC-UV/Vis). In this sense, using the IrO2-Ta2O5|Ti||CP system, 10 mg l-1 AMX showed a removal efficiency of 100 % after 6 min in 0.1 M NaCl and after 30 min in 0.1 M Na2SO4. In comparison, 10 mg l-1 KET showed a removal efficiency of 100 % after 5 min in 0.1 M NaCl and 82.5 % after 120 min in 0.1 M Na2SO4, with a corresponding decrease in toxicity within <10 min. The mineralization of AMX and KET solutions was determined using total organic carbon (TOC) analysis. Our results showed that higher H2O2 and •OH radicals were produced in a 0.1 M Na2SO4 medium. Moreover, in aerated systems, the 2e- oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) at CP contributed to the faster degradation of the drugs. The chlorine production accelerated the disappearance of both drugs in the NaCl medium. Finally, reaction routes for the AMX degradation in Na2SO4 and KET degradation in NaCl are proposed, considering the interfacial oxidants generated (H2O2, •OH, Cl2/HClO) and the corresponding by-products identified by High Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled to tandem Mass Spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). The decrease in toxicity was observed within <10 min.
- ArticleSynergistic enhancement of Raney-Ni catalyst for methane dry reforming viaelectrochemically e ngineered CoNi co-catalyst(Elsevier B.V., 2025-09-29) Lloreda Rodes, Judit; Serrano, Isabel; Llorca, Jordi, 1966-; Abad, Vanessa; Gómez, Elvira; Serrà i Ramos, AlbertDry reforming of methane (DRM) offers a promising route to convert biogas into syngas while capturing CO₂.However, the harsh reaction conditions (≥700 ◦C) lead to rapid deactivation of conventional Ni-based catalystsdue to carbon deposition and sintering. In this work, we explore the catalytic behavior of commercial Raney-Nifor DRM and introduce electrochemically synthesized CoNi microparticles as co-catalysts to enhance stabilityand performance. Catalyst screening was performed in a fixed-bed reactor using a CH₄:CO₂:N₂ = 3:2:10 feedmixture under atmospheric pressure. Raney-Ni showed high activity (CH₄ conversion >92 % at 700 ◦C), butsuffered from coke accumulation and deactivation after 5 h of continuous operation. CoNi–Raney-Ni compositeswere prepared via physical blending of CoNi and Raney-Ni powders, and tested at various compositions. Thebest-performing among the tested compositions (25 wt% CoNi) maintained high conversion (>90 %) and stablesyngas production (H₂/CO ≈ 1.0) over extended periods. Post-reaction analysis revealed extensive filamentouscarbon on pure Raney-Ni, while CoNi-containing catalysts exhibited smoother surfaces and suppressed graphiticcarbon, as confirmed by FE-SEM and Raman spectroscopy. Notably, CoNi alone showed minimal CH₄ activationbut enhanced CO₂ dissociation and limited carbon formation. These results demonstrate a synergistic effect,where CoNi promotes carbon gasification while Raney-Ni provides high CH₄ reactivity. This composite approachenables scalable, low-cost catalysts with improved coke tolerance for biogas reforming applications.
- ArticleDevelopment of ternary blended cements (LC3) to be applied as thermal energy storage material in concentrated solar power plants(Elsevier, 2025-08-15) Betancor-Cazorla, L.; Vielma Leal, Carlos A.; Mañosa Bover, Jofre; Dosta Parras, Sergi; Chimenos Ribera, Josep Ma.; Barreneche, CamilaCurrently, there is great awareness of the increase in energy consumption, dependence on fossil fuels, and greenhouse gas emissions, particularly CO2. One of the largest sources of carbon dioxide emissions is the cement and concrete industry, which has been growing in recent years. Therefore, it is necessary to implement measures to limit the global pollution caused by this sector. Furthermore, with the development of renewable energies, there is a growing need to develop batteries and materials that allow to store this energy for later use. Therefore, the main objective of this study is the development of ternary blended cements (LC3), in which clinker is partially replaced by thermally and mechanically activated kaolinitic clay, to be implemented as a thermal storage material in CSP plants. The development of the alternative cements was carried out in the laboratory and a full characterization was performed to evaluate their physical, mechanical, and thermal properties. In addition, a comparison of these properties with Portland cements was performed, to evaluate whether the characteristics presented met the required needs. Therefore, LC3 cements have affordable energy storage capacity to be implemented as TES media. In addition, LC3 cements have the same storage capacity as OPC, and it is maintained after aging test. Finally, an LCA was performed to quantify and evaluate the reductions provided by LC3 in terms sustainability reduction impact in the environment to be using this alternative cement in comparison with the common one. The results showed that both the mechanical and thermal properties of the cements are in line with the expected values and allow their use as TES materials regarding the energy storage capacity, energy density and energy performance by achieving and environmental impact reduction up to 22,6 %. Therefore, this study confirms that LC3 cement is more sustainable cements that significantly reduce CO2 eq. emissions (up to 24 % reduction).
- ArticleInsights into mechanothermal activation of kaolinite: A novel multistep process for cement precursors(Elsevier, 2025-07-28) Alvarez-Coscojuela, Adrian; Mañosa Bover, Jofre; Marco-Gibert, Josep; Córdoba, Javier C.; Chimenos Ribera, Josep Ma.This study introduces a novel method for activating kaolinitic clays through mechanothermal activation (MTA), combining mechanical activation (MA) and thermal treatment to enhance kaolin’s pozzolanic reactivity at lower temperatures than traditional thermal activation (TA). MA effectively lowers kaolin’s dehydroxylation temperature, releasing significant hydroxyl groups at just 300 ◦C. Thermogravimetric analysis data confirms that implementing MTA unlocks the kaolinite dehydroxylation at 300 ◦C and 400 ◦C to a great extent and allows almost complete dehydroxylation at 500 ◦C. X-ray diffraction, surface area analysis, and particle size measurements revealed kaolin’s structural changes under MA, TA, and MTA treatments. The pozzolanic values achieved through MTA are significantly higher than those obtained with MA and TA at 300 ◦C, 400 ◦C, and 500 ◦C, as evidenced by reactivity tests. By enabling kaolinite activation at lower temperatures, MTA fosters a promising approach for developing sustainable building materials with a reduced carbon footprint.
- ArticleDevelopment of Alternative Porous Magnesium Potassium Phosphate Cements as Thermal Insulating Materials(MDPI, 2025-08-22) Giró Paloma, Jessica; Mañosa Bover, Jofre; Maldonado-Alameda, Alex; Alfocea Roig, Anna; Huete-Hernández, Sergio; Chimenos Ribera, Josep Ma.; Formosa Mitjans, JoanMagnesium potassium phosphate cement (MKPC), a type of chemically bonded phosphate ceramic (CBPC), presents a promising alternative to ordinary Portland cement (OPC). This study focuses on developing sustainable MKPC (sust-MKPC) as a thermally passive material for building applications. A low-grade magnesium oxide (LG-MgO) industrial by-product was utilized to formulate sust-MKPC, with hydrogen peroxide employed as an air-entraining agent (AEA) to induce high porosity and enhance thermal insulation while supporting sustainability goals by reducing energy consumption in climate control systems. Seven formulations incorporating varying hydrogen peroxide contents (0, 1, 2, 3, 5, 7.5, and 10 wt.%) were prepared to evaluate the impact of AEA on the thermal and physicomechanical properties. Comprehensive characterization, including porosity and thermal conductivity measurements, revealed that increasing the AEA content significantly improved thermal inertia and lowered thermal conductivity due to porosity. However, this enhancement was accompanied by a marked reduction in mechanical strength and density, highlighting the trade-off between thermal performance and structural integrity in porous sust-MKPC formulations.
- ArticleUnlocking Alternative Cement Solutions: Utilizing Wastes and By-Products for Magnesium Phosphate Cement Development(MDPI, 2025-09-03) Alfocea Roig, Anna; Giró Paloma, Jessica; Huete Hernández, Sergio; Formosa Mitjans, JoanConcrete is the most used material worldwide, with cement as its essential component. Cement production, however, has a considerable environmental footprint contributing nearly 8% of global CO2 emissions, largely from clinker calcination. This review aims to examine strategies for reducing these emissions, with a particular focus on alternative materials for producing magnesium phosphate cements (MPCs). Specifically, the objectives are first to summarize mitigation pathways, such as CO2 capture, energy efficiency, and alternative raw materials, and second evaluate the feasibility of using industrial wastes and by-products, including low-grade MgO, tundish deskulling waste (TUN), boron-MgO (B-MgO), and magnesia refractory brick waste (MRB), as MgO sources for MPC. The review highlights that these materials represent a promising route to reduce the environmental impact of cement production and support the transition toward carbon neutrality by 2050.
- ArticleCorrigendum to “Degradation of antibiotics and profiling of transformation products upon peracetic acid–mediated treatment of electrochlorinated groundwater in a flow–through reactor” [Water Research 284 (2025) 124013](Elsevier Ltd., 2025-07-07) Lu, Wang; Chen, Nan; Feng, Chuanping; Zhang, Gong; Sirés Sadornil, IgnacioThe authors regret that the horizonal axis of Fig. 1c, d was missing. The corrigendum figure is presented as follows:
- ArticleA Human-Scale Clinically-Ready Electromagnetic Navigation System for Magnetically-Responsive Biomaterials and Medical Devices(Wiley-VCH, 2024-04-11) Gervasoni, Simone; Pedrini, Norman; Rifai, Tarik; Fischer, Cedric; Landers, Fabian C.; Mattmann, Michael; Dreyfus, Roland; Viviani, Silvia; Veciana, Andrea; Masina, Enea; Aktas, Buse; Puigmartí-Luis, Josep; Chautems, Christophe; Pané, Salvador; Boehler, Quentin; Gruber, Philip; Nelson, Bradley J.Magnetic navigation systems are used to precisely manipulate magnetically responsive materials enabling the realization of new minimally invasive procedures using magnetic medical devices. Their widespread applicability has been constrained by high infrastructure demands and costs. The study reports on a portable electromagnetic navigation system, the Navion, which is capable of generating a large magnetic field over a large workspace. The system is easy to install in hospital operating rooms and transportable through health care facilities, aiding in the widespread adoption of magnetically responsive medical devices. First, the design and implementation approach for the system are introduced and its performance is characterized. Next, in vitro navigation of different microrobot structures is demonstrated using magnetic field gradients and rotating magnetic fields. Spherical permanent magnets, electroplated cylindrical microrobots, microparticle swarms, and magnetic composite bacteria-inspired helical structures are investigated. The navigation of magnetic catheters is also demonstrated in two challenging endovascular tasks: 1) an angiography procedure and 2) deep navigation within the circle of Willis. Catheter navigation is demonstrated in a porcine model in vivo to perform an angiography under magnetic guidance.