It is my great pleasure to write this Editorial and introduce the June 2023 issue of Emerging Materials Research. The issue addresses in a multidisciplinary way various properties of materials used for sustainable applications. A lot of research has been conducted over recent years in order to develop materials that can be more durable, help consume less energy or can be used to reduce water or air pollution. One scope of the journal is to contribute to that trend in a large way. The papers presented in this issue fulfill this particular goal, as the majority of them deal with emerging materials that do address strategies towards the development of more sustainable technological solutions.
Regarding the recycling of materials, two papers present strategies to optimise the use of extracted ground material in the mining and tunnel industry. The first paper focuses on issues related to the creation of subterraneous stable and solid tunnels by using extracted clay-based materials for grouting purposes.1 It presents a novel strategy to consolidate the tunnel with natural material during the digging process. Ground-extracted material recycling is also considered in the next paper,2 which investigates how composite materials obtained from coal mine waste materials can improve ground stabilization of haul roads, low-traffic roads or pavements. The authors show how the proportion of inseam parting, fly ash and cement can be adjusted in order to optimize the mechanical properties of the final material.
Readers will also find three papers presenting strategies to remove pollutants from water – a major issue for the coming century. Photocatalytic properties of materials are studied in the next two papers. In the paper by Shi et al.,3 neodymium (Nd)–titanium dioxide (TiO2) coatings were formed in a phosphate (PO4 3−)-based electrolyte with the addition of neodymium (III) oxide (Nd2O3) by using micro-arc oxidation technology on pure titanium (Ti) with different voltages and frequencies. Results show how the photocatalytic activity is enhanced with the addition of neodymium when the used frequency and voltage are set in an adequate way. The following paper4 shows how ferrite semiconductor nanoparticles can be successfully employed as a photocatalytic material for the treatment of dye-contaminated wastewater. In particular, the enhanced photocatalytic activity under ultraviolet and visible light has proven to be efficient regarding the degradation of the dye malachite green in an aqueous medium. Finally on this topic, the next paper by Alsukaibi et al.5 focuses on how the Fenton process combined with zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles as catalysts can be considered as an efficient water pollutant remover, and can lead to successful abatement of auramine O dye, for example, in an aqueous system by up to 97%.
The next four papers give an insight into light and heat energy harvesting or sustainable energy transformation. The paper by Mahesh et al.6 shows how the embedding of graphene/silicon carbide over a random photonic structure can improve the light harvesting of the graphene crystal. The approach opens the way to the development of optimized efficient light absorbers. The next paper7 demonstrates how low-pressure cold cathode plasma surface irradiation can help with adjusting the wettability properties of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) surfaces with low instrumentation and maintenance requirement. This strategy can help improve the properties of PET, which is frequently used in optoelectronic applications like light conversion systems. In the next paper8, the reader will get knowledge about thermoelectric materials, which are among the emerging materials for renewable energy sources, because of their ability to convert waste heat into electricity. The paper shows how the addition of zinc (Zn) to Cu12Sb4S13 compound can enhance its thermoelectric properties and how the Seebeck coefficient can be increased. Next, the results presented by Sharma et al.9 underline how the sintering temperature of PLT–BNCFO composite materials can influence the magnetic properties and how the magneto-dielectric coefficient can be enhanced if the appropriate temperature is applied. The results show that these materials present a potential for usage in a variety of applications, including sensors, spintronics, transducers and information storage.
The potential of bio-sourced fibers is discussed in the next two papers. Pujari et al.10 focus on how magnetite reinforcement can improve the physical and magnetic properties of kenaf biofibers. In particular, magnetic absorption can be greatly increased by increasing the magnetite proportion in the material. Kolte and Shivankar11 investigate the potential of okra fiber. Characteristics are assessed and compared to other bio-sourced fibers, proving the commercial potential of it. One application could be the fabrication of lightweight bio-composite materials.
Finally, the last two papers explore strategies to save material involved in welding processes. Zhang et al.12 show how the uniformity of the extremities of a welded joint using a hollow stud can be enhanced by combining the welding process with the application of a longitudinal magnetic field. With hollow studs, both material and welding energy is saved. Prabhakaran et al.13 investigate the failure mechanisms induced in dissimilar AISI 347 and DSS 2205 welded joints, in order to better control the assembly. These results open the door to the potential of hybrid assemblies combining high-tech metals with more standard steels in order to better adjust the material to the need and limit the potential waste of unnecessary high-cost parts.
I hope you’ll enjoy the content of this issue, and you’ll find the scientific and technical information that you need to make your research go forward.
