B.S. Abdur Rahman Crescent Institute of Science and Technology

The development of high-performance, multi-functional next-generation energy storage systems depends on electrode materials. Herein, we report synthesis of cobalt-nickel molybdate nanocomposite (CNM) through a simple hydrothermal technique used by controlled annealing, designed to serve as a bifunctional electrode for each of supercapacitors and lithium-ion batteries. The electrochemical behaviour of CNM is studied in three-electrode system using an aqueous electrolyte, demonstrating highest specific capacitance of 844 F/g at 1 A/g. Further assessment in asymmetric two-electrode supercapacitor with organic electrolyte (1 M TEABF4) and ionic liquid (EMIM.BF4) electrolytes yielded specific capacitance of 46 F/g and 144 F/g at 1 A/g. The ionic-liquid based system achieved an extended operating voltage of 2.7 V, resulting in high specific energy (300–800 Wh/kg and 103-104 W/kg) and power (103-104 W/Kg). When deployed as an anode for LIB, CNM delivered the first discharge capacity of 1330 mAh/g at 0.1 C and 95

Microplastics (MPs) have become an urgent analytical challenge due to their minute size, persistence, and capacity to adsorb and transport pollutants across environmental matrices. This review critically examines current advances and persistent challenges in the detection, isolation, and analysis of MPs. It identifies key methodological limitations that hinder reproducibility and cross-comparison among studies. In detection, visual and spectroscopic techniques such as optical microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy offer robust polymer identification; however, the detection of particles below 20 μm remains constrained by optical resolution and spectral interference from pigments and organic matter. Isolation approaches, including sieving, filtration, and density separation, exhibit varying recovery efficiencies depending on the matrix complexity and polymer density, whereas chemical and enzymatic digestion often compromise smaller or more sensitive polymers. Analytical tools such as scanning electron microscopy–energy dispersive X-ray and pyrolysis–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry enable morphological and compositional insights but are limited by high cost and sample destructiveness. The review also highlights contamination control as a critical concern, emphasizing the necessity of rigorous quality assurance and quality control practices, including procedural blanks and the use of non-plastic materials. Emerging innovations, including semi-automated Raman mapping and portable FTIR systems, demonstrate potential to enhance analytical throughput and field applicability. Overall, the synthesis emphasizes the pressing need for standardized protocols, improved reference libraries, and integrated multi-technique workflows. Future research should prioritize automation, miniaturization, and real-time monitoring strategies to advance microplastic science toward consistent, scalable, and environmentally meaningful assessments.

Addressing the persistent challenges of CO₂ emissions and fossil fuel dependency is imperative for India to achieve its renewable energy transition goals and 2070 climate neutrality target. Hence, this study examines the drivers of India’s energy transition from 2010 to 2023, focusing on green finance, CO₂ emissions, economic growth, population, and trade openness. Using an autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model, the results show that green finance, CO₂ emissions, and trade openness significantly promote renewable energy adoption, while economic and population growth have posed obstacles to seamless transition. Wavelet causality analysis supports these findings, identifying green finance as a catalyst for clean energy. Robustness is confirmed through dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS). The study highlights green finance as a key enabler of India’s net-zero pathway, underscoring the need for integrated policies that align growth with sustainable investment.

This study aims to use biowaste materials such as custard apple seeds (CAS), which are subjected to carbonisation in a muffle furnace to enhance their absorption capacity and surface area. The prepared material is utilised in the tubular solar still (TSS) system to improve the modified structure's water production and thermal and exergy conditions. This research further discusses the impact of carbonised material on economic, environmental, exergo-economic, exergo-environmental, and sustainability assessments in the Modified Tubular Solar Still (MTSS) which is compared with the conventional tubular solar still (CTSS) system. The experimental work revealed that using carbonised CAS in the TSS system, yielded a freshwater generation of 4.88 kg/m2. In contrast, the same for the CTSS system is measured to be 2.27 kg/m2, resulting in an augmentation of 115.5% in the MTSS model over the CTSS model. The mean daily energy efficiency for the MTSS system was 41.2%, while for CTSS it was 18.8%. Similarly, exergy efficiencies of 3.95% and 1.34% were achieved for the MTSS model with carbonised material and the CTSS structure, respectively.

The development of supercapacitors with improved stability, high capacitance and strong power and energy densities is bridging the gap between conventional and cutting-edge electrochemical energy storage devices. For fabricating high-performance supercapacitors, ternary metal oxide composites serve as promising electrode materials because of their abundant redox-active sites, tunable oxidation states, and excellent electrical conductivity. Here, we have prepared the CoMoO4/MnCo2O4 (CMO/MCO) ternary metal oxide nanocomposite directly grown on Ni-foam through MOF mediated calcination approach. Structural, morphological and chemical states of CMO/MCO modified Ni-foam were analysed by Field Emission Scanning Electron microscopy (FE-SEM), High Resolution Transmission Electron microscopy (HR-TEM), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) techniques. The CMO/MCO-coated Ni-foam displays densely packed nanoneedle morphology with a rough, porous surface, as confirmed by FESEM and HR-TEM analyses. The prepared ternary metal oxide exhibits high specific capacitance of 1782 F/g at 1 A/g and 95.4 % of capacitance retention after 5000 charging/discharging cycles with 100 % of columbic efficiency. Further, the asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC) was fabricated by activated carbon (AC) as the negative electrode and CMO/MCO modified Ni-foam as the positive electrode. The prepared ASC device shows high specific capacitance, excellent energy density and power density values of 331 F/g, 90 Wh/kg and 2800 W/kg at 1 A/g, respectively. These electrochemical results confirm the effectiveness of the ternary metal oxide-coated electrode for ASC applications.