Open Access

Review

Article ID: 2305

Preparation of nascent disentangled ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene based on Ziegler-Natta catalyst

by Lei Li, Fanmin Kong, Ang Xiao, Ziling Zhang, Hao Su, Xiaolian Wu, Yutian Duan

Materials Technology Reports, Vol.3, No.1, 2025;

Ziegler-Natta (Z-N) catalysts hold great significance in the industrial production of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), given that their outstanding efficacy, profound impact on the molecular weight (MW) of UHMWPE, and extensive industrial applications are highly conspicuous. However, the UHMWPE prepared by Z-N catalyst is usually highly entangled. Considering chain entanglement is essential for altering the processability and mechanical characteristics of nascent UHMWPE, the synthesis of disentangled UHMWPE (dis-UHMWPE) is essential for industrial scalability, therefore holding considerable practical importance. This review summarized recent progress in optimizing Z-N catalysts for the synthesis of dis-UHMWPE, providing a comprehensive overview of research advancements, clarifying polymerization settings, linking polymer structure and activity, and introducing design principles for polymerization techniques. Moreover, the overarching objective is to reveal the principles behind material preparation methods and potentiate the application prospects of UHMWPE materials, therein propelling the advancement of related fields.

Open Access

Review

Article ID: 2325

A study of the underlying dynamics of phase-space projection of microwave-assisted synthesis of transition metal nanostructures

by Victor J. Law, Denis P. Dowling

Materials Technology Reports, Vol.3, No.1, 2025;

The study brings together in a single publication the phase-space projection analysis of microwave-assisted synthesis of transition monometallic (palladium, silver, platinum, and gold), binary zinc oxide, and metals supported on carbon framework nanostructures. It is shown for a database of fifty microwave-assisted syntheses, a two-variable power-law signature (y = cxn) over four orders of magnitude. The purpose of this study is therefore to identify the underlying dynamics of the power-law signature. A dual allometry test is used to discriminate between transition metal period and row, and between recommended Green Chemistry, problematic Green Chemistry, and non-Green Chemistry hazardous solvents. Typically, recommended Green Chemistry exhibits a broad y-axis distribution within an upper exponent = 1 and lower exponent = 0.5. Problematic Green Chemistry exhibits a y-axes narrower distribution with an upper exponent = 0.94 and a lower exponent = 0.64. Non-Green Chemistry hazardous data shows a further narrowing of the y-axis distribution within upper exponent = 0.87 and lower exponent = 0.66. Mass-based environmental factor is used to calculate the ‘Greenness’ of single-step (facile) transition metal synthesis. The power-law signature also exhibits phase transitions associated with microwave applicator type.

Open Access

Perspective

Article ID: 2007

Graphene—A hello and goodbye

by Ayesha Kausar

Materials Technology Reports, Vol.3, No.1, 2025;

After years of research, it can be stated that graphene was an initial game changer and jack of all trades in the world of nanotechnology, owing to innumerable structural/physical characteristics and mammoth range of hi-tech applications. Undoubtedly, since the discovery of graphene, it almost ruled all possible nanotechnological fields, from electronics/energy—to—defense/transportation/civil—to—biomedical. Nevertheless, this statement remained no longer valid after the discovery of more erudite nanostructures, like fullerene, quantum dots, and similar nanoparticles. Reasons for today’s technology turns towards tiny symmetrical nanoparticles seem to be the limitations/hinderance for integrating graphene into energy/semiconducting/photonic devices, and subsequent commercialization over past two decades. In this novel perspective report, therefore, we first time critically analyzed the nanotechnological shifts from graphene, yet despite its early promises, towards proficient zero dimensional entities.

Open Access

Review

Article ID: 2136

Thermoelectric materials—Challenges, approaches and classes

by N. Karthikeyan, C. Prabhakaran, R. Akilan

Materials Technology Reports, Vol.2, No.2, 2024;

Thermoelectric (TE) materials have gained significant attention in recent days for their ability to convert waste heat energy into electrical energy. Numerous advances in new and a unique thermoelectric materials have been developed during the last decades due to their ease of device fabrication technique and technology. Thermoelectric research has become a hotspot in materials science over the recent years due to its promising global necessity in energy generation, energy conservation and subsequent utilization. Here this article seeks to highlight some of the recent advances in thermoelectric research such as criteria for ideal TE materials, various strategies that are in practice to improve TE performance and different methodologies adopted in the preparation of TE-based materials. This article also highlights some of the explored state-of-art materials in thermoelectric research to layout a grid for future purposes.

Open Access

Article

Article ID: 1762

Potentiality of alginate-yeast biosorbent for biogas purification

by Norli Ismail, Bilhate Chala, Joachim Mueller, Hans Oechsner

Materials Technology Reports, Vol.2, No.2, 2024;

The paper discussed the current research on the applicability of biosorbents for the purification of biogas, particularly the decrease of H₂S by using encapsulated or embedded biological biomass. This study investigated the potential of alginate-yeast biosorbent (AlgY) for biogas purification, focusing on hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) removal. A biogas column test was conducted to compare the biosorption efficiency of AlgY and pure alginate beads. Using Response Surface Methodology (RSM), the effects of column length, acquisition time, and biosorbent type were evaluated for CH₄, CO₂, and H₂S removal. Results depicted significant H₂S reduction, with AlgY achieving a p-value of < 0.0001 and a high correlation coefficient (R² = 0.9518). The relatively high correlation coefficient (R²) of the tested quadratic model of all the responses were recorded (R²; 0.5560, 0.5048, and 0.9518 for CH₄, CO₂, and H₂S respectively). According to the studies’ preliminary findings, the type of biosorbent has a significant role in determining the biosorption effectiveness. The ANOVA of model terms depicted a significant p-value (p < 0.05) indicated a potential alginate-yeast (AlgY) biosorbent for H₂S purification or reduction.

Open Access

Article

Article ID: 1699

Preparation and characterization of CuBO₂-based photocatalysts and doped variants

by Soheila Azordeh, Mehdi Asadi, Abdolali Alemi

Materials Technology Reports, Vol.2, No.2, 2024;

An eco-friendly CuBO₂-based photocatalyst has been doped by a lanthanide for the first time. Gd³⁺ and Gd³⁺/Bi³⁺-doped CuBO₂ are synthesized by the hydrothermal method to study their magnetic properties. Then they are analyzed by XRD, UV-Vis, SEM, and VSM. The maximum amount of doping is x= 0 − 1.5% in Cu₁–_3xGd_3xBO₂ and Cu₁–_3xBi_3x/2Gd_3x/2BO₂ formulas as they are analyzed in XRD. For concentrations higher than x = 2%, the additional peak indicates that doping is incomplete. The XRD pattern of CuBO2 confirms that its crystal structure is a hexagonal one with the R3 ̅m space group. According to UV-Vis analysis, the bandgap energies are 2.711, 2.753, and 2.765 for CuBO₂ and doped systems. Additionally, the morphology of particle sizes is confirmed according to SEM images. Meanwhile, the magnetic properties of synthesized material are studied by VSM, and the doped compound exhibited higher magnetic properties than CuBO₂, which is associated with the exchange interaction of electron and d spins in Gd³⁺ and Bi³⁺. The study aims to provide insights into the magnetic properties of lanthanide-doped CuBO₂-based photocatalysts, potentially paving the way for developing improved magnetic materials for various applications.