Institute of Engineering and Technology, DAVV

Photothermal catalysis has gained significant attention as a research hotspot area in recent years. Cu/ZnO/Al2O3, an important industrial catalyst for the water-gas shift reaction and methanol synthesis, has been extensively studied for decades. Considering the localized surface plasmon resonance characteristic inherent to Cu species within this catalyst, it is anticipated to display favorable photothermal catalytic performance. However, no relevant experimental reports have been published to date. Herein, we investigated a commercial Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 catalyst for the photothermal CO2 hydrogenation reaction. Unexpectedly, and yet reasonably, the catalyst achieved 100% CO selectivity with a CO production rate of 471.4 mmol g(cat)(-1) h(-1) under 1.5 W cm(-2) light irradiation, which is 3.2 times higher than that obtained in the dark at the same catalyst surface temperature of 342.9 degrees C. The enhanced performance can be attributed to the synergistic effect of Cu and Zn that promotes photothermal conversion, facilitates the separation of photogenerated carriers, accelerates reactant activation, and thus drives the reaction forward. In situ/operando spectroscopies confirm that the RWGS reaction over Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 follows a redox mechanism, in which Cu species act as the active sites for CO2 conversion, with the redox transformation being Cu2+ <-> Cu-0/Cu+. This study provides a comprehensive evaluation of the photothermal CO2 hydrogenation performance of a commercial Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 catalyst, offering valuable mechanistic insights into the photothermal CO2 hydrogenation process within the Cu/Zn/Al systems.

Increasing global demand for energy, together with the gradual depletion of fossil fuel resources, highlights the need for sustainable hydrogen production technologies such as electrocatalytic water splitting. In this study, a MnCo2O4@MoS2 composite nanohybrid was synthesized via hydrothermal method followed by calcination approach under an argon atmosphere to enhance its oxygen and hydrogen evolution reaction (OER& HER) performance. Detailed analysis showed that combining MoS2 with the spinel MnCo2O4 substantially enhanced the composite's electrocatalytic properties. OER composite exhibits low Tafel slope of 53 mV/dec and a low overpotential of 307 mV to achieve 30 mA/cm2 current density in 1 M KOH alkaline medium, whereas, for HER the composite electrocatalyst deliver -392 mV overpotential and low overpotential of 89 mV/dec and these values are much lower than that of compared pristine materials making the composite more efficient. Additionally, the MnCo2O4@MoS2 catalyst demonstrated outstanding long-term durability for OER and HER respectively of continuous operation, underscoring its resilience in alkaline and acidic conditions. The study offers an effective and stable catalyst for renewable energy. These results highlight the promise of such composites in helping to solve the energy challenge and progress clean electrolysis technologies.

This study experimentally investigates the performance of a solar still using bitumen combined with metallic filings, including iron, copper, aluminum, as well as black-painted aluminum coatings. The aim is to develop a low cost, thermally efficient desalination system by integrating six novel material configurations into a modified solar still (MSS), which is benchmarked against a conventional solar still (CSS). Both systems were fabricated with identical geometries and tested under natural conditions in Mansoura, Egypt from September to November 2022, with a fixed water depth of 4 cm. The MSS configurations included bitumen alone and bitumen mixed with iron or copper filings, with and without black painted aluminum coatings. Key performance parameters include temperature distribution, water productivity, energy and exergy efficiencies, and economic analysis. The bestperforming configuration was bitumen with copper filings and aluminum coating, which achieved a daily productivity of 2.48 L/m2, representing a 76.16 % increase over the CSS. Thermal and exergy efficiencies enhanced from 21.2 % to 30.19 % and from 1.39 % to 2.42 %, respectively. The cost per liter dropped from $0.081 for CSS to $0.051 for MSS. The modified system can produce up to 841.5 L of distilled water annually compared to 477.7 L for the conventional system. The findings highlight the significant impact of thermal additives and coatings on improving solar still performance, offering a promising approach to low-cost freshwater production in arid regions.

Many real estate projects prioritize minimizing initial development costs while often overlooking the long-term financial implications of their decisions. This short-term focus frequently leads to increased operational, maintenance, and renewal expenses, ultimately reducing overall profitability. Life Cycle Costing (LCC) provides a comprehensive approach to evaluating total project costs over time; however, its adoption remains limited due to challenges such as data constraints, uncertainty about future cost savings, and the lack of standardized performance measurement tools. To tackle these issues, this paper proposes a structured LCC reliability assessment model designed for real estate decision-makers. The model systematically identifies and analyzes key cost factors across all project phases, including construction, operation, renewal, maintenance, and end-of-life, while integrating technical, economic, environmental, and social dimensions. A structured survey was employed to quantify and prioritize these cost factors, facilitating the development of category-specific LCC models and a standardized evaluation framework. Additionally, a benchmarking scale was created to measure the reliability of input factors. Although this study emphasizes the reliability dimension, it establishes a foundation for the future integration of an optimization module to enhance decision-making and maximize life cycle cost efficiency. The proposed model has been automated to improve usability and accessibility, allowing stakeholders to make informed investment decisions that promote long-term financial sustainability in real estate development.

The aim of the research is to determine how well a single-cylinder, four-stroke (SCFS) dieselengine performs when combining Mahua oil methyl ester (MOME) with diesel. Utilizing B20 (a 4:1 ratioof diesel to MOME by volume), the analysis of energy, energy, and emissions was performed. Accordingto research, diesel produced 5.99% and 10.87% more fuel energy intake and energy that was forciblyevacuated by exhaust gases than B20. The unanticipated losses in the diesel scenario were 9.25% higherthan in the B20 scenario. Although the energy efficiency for diesel was 27.22%, the overall losses were71.95%. B20’s efficiency was 64.47% more than that of diesel. Diesel oil is 1.33% more readily availableas an input than B20, according to the exergy research. Comparing diesel to B20, the former had 5.33times more exhaust pollutants and 31.12% less braking power availability. Diesel’s destruction rate is0.96% lower than B20’s. In terms of energy, energy expenditure, and emissions, B20 is found to be quitecomparable to diesel.