Density functional theory (DFT) has been used to calculate electrical and photovoltaic properties of diaminonaphthalene and its derivatives, and optimize them. Findings demonstrated that time-dependent DFT investigations employing Coulomb-attenuated hybrid method with polarized split-valence 6-311G (d,p) basis sets and polarizable continuum model were able to predict excitation energies and spectra of the compounds in a reasonable manner. Levels of Energy of Highest Occupied and Lowest Unoccupied Molecular Orbitals from these compounds can have a positive effect on electron injection and dye renewal processes. Energy gap, short-circuit current density, light-harvesting efficiency, thermodynamic injection driving force and open-circuit photovoltage allowed for qualitative predictions about the reactivity of the different dyes.
To review the current advances, persistent challenges, and future prospects of methanol fuel cell technologies, thereby supporting the transition toward low-carbon energy systems. This is a comprehensive review that analyzes recent global progress across key aspects of methanol fuel cell technology. The focus areas include catalyst development, membrane innovation, performance optimization, and system integration. Recent advances in electrocatalysts, nanostructured membranes, and hybrid system designs have substantially enhanced the efficiency, durability, and operational flexibility of methanol fuel cells. This progress has enabled their expansion in transportation, portable electronics, stationary power, and industrial energy generation. This review offers a holistic overview of the current state-of-the-art and identifies critical limiting factors, such as methanol crossover, limited long-term durability, and high production costs, that continue to constrain commercialization. It emphasizes the need for coordinated, multidisciplinary efforts in materials science and system engineering, alongside favorable policies, to accelerate adoption and position methanol fuel cells as an integral component of the future renewable-energy landscape.
Biopolymers are essential materials sourced from biomass. In response to the increasing demand for sustainable materials, research in biopolymers is rapidly growing. Biopolymers are biodegradable materials that can offer measurable environmental benefits over synthetic alternatives. Life-cycle assessments show that biopolymers such as polylactic acid (PLA) can produce 20–50
Geographers continue to analyze the politics of forest carbon offset projects, often emphasizing local-global and global North-Global South spatialities. Regional spatiality of the forest carbon economy remains largely unexplored, despite the analytical opportunities it offers. Drawing on analysis of data from ten (10) carbon offset registries, we map the uneven regional geographies of forest carbon offset projects (or REDD+ type projects) in West Africa. We found that private actors dominate West African carbon forestry projects, and more than half of the project proponents are based or headquartered outside Africa. The majority of carbon offset buyers are based in Europe, where companies in the Engineering, Manufacturing, and Construction sectors top the list. In addition to the much-analyzed Global North-South and local-global spatialities underpinning forest carbon offset projects, our study highlights the regional histories, politics, and socioecologies that also shape the dynamics of these projects in West Africa. We demonstrate that carbon forestry initiatives should be understood as space-making relations and processes that are reconstituting the West African region through the uneven distribution of influence over carbon, forests and land. Spatially explicit regional analyses of REDD+ are crucial for deepening our understanding of forest carbon politics as actors pursue net-zero agendas globally.
Transformer oil degradation from partial electrical discharge produces toxic gases like acetylene (C2H2), ethylene (C2H4), hydrogen (H2), and carbon monoxide (CO), posing environmental hazards. Early detection is vital to prevent disasters. The study investigates the adsorption potential of a novel nickel-encapsulated germanium-doped porphyrin (Ni-Ge@PPR) for detecting these harmful gases. Using density functional theory (DFT) calculations with the TPSSh functional and 6-311 + + G(d, p) basis set, the adsorption energies ranged from 0.0951 to 3.6573 eV, indicating weak to moderate physisorption. The NBO analysis revealed that the stability of the complexes followed the order: H2 > C2H2 > CO > C2H4. The strongest interaction was observed in the H2-Ni-Ge@PPR complex, driven by a σ* to σ* charge transition. Energy gap analysis indicated that C2H2-Ni-Ge@PPR and H2-Ni-Ge@PPR were the most reactive, while C2H4-Ni-Ge@PPR and CO-Ni-Ge@PPR showed greater stability. Non-covalent forces dominated the gas-Ni-Ge@PPR interactions, making Ni-Ge@PPR a promising material for gas sensor applications.
