Global Climate News

India is aiming to produce 5 million metric tonnes of green hydrogen annually by 2030, and potentially 10 million tons by the same year. The country's National Green Hydrogen Mission, supported by industrial clusters like Mundra Port, focuses on reducing production costs to less than $2 per kilogram by leveraging renewable energy and optimizing energy demand. Mundra Port, near the world’s largest renewable energy park (30 gigawatt Khavda facility), integrates hydrogen production with industries such as chemicals, cement, and fertilizers, facilitating both domestic use and export.

Switzerland-based ETH Zurich has made several breakthrough developments in climate and sustainability technologies in 2024. These include a new light-based CO2 capture solution, improved lithium metal batteries for EVs, a solar thermal trap for high-temperature industrial processes, efficient rare earth metal recovery from e-waste, and an iron-ore based hydrogen storage system. The university has also found that direct air carbon capture remains twice as expensive as previously estimated.

Researchers have synthesized and characterized a new iron(III)-hydroperoxo complex that shows promise for developing novel catalysts. The complex demonstrates both electrophilic and nucleophilic reactivity without cleaving the O-O bond, offering potential applications in sustainable catalysis and biomimetic systems.

Researchers have developed enhanced Fe-based catalysts through transition metal doping (Mn, Co, Cu, Zn) for photothermal CO2 hydrogenation. The study demonstrated improved catalyst performance, with CoFe achieving C2+ yield of 1.73 mmol·h-1·g-1 and ZnFe doubling CO2 conversion under irradiation conditions. The research provides new insights into using transition metal promoters for CO2 conversion applications.

A scientific review has examined the synthesis process of single-atom catalysis (SACs), focusing on substance migration's role in metal loading and electronic structure manipulation. The research provides insights into thermodynamics and kinetic processes, outlining the migration behavior of metal and nonmetal species to guide future catalyst design.

Researchers have developed a novel Z-scheme 2D/3D heterojunction photocatalyst (g-C3N4/Bi2WO6 OVs) that achieves over 90% degradation rate of tetracycline in water treatment applications. The new material demonstrates enhanced photocatalytic activity and presents an effective method for solar fuel conversion and water treatment.

Researchers have developed a new anti-crude oil-fouling coating technology that combines both superoleophobic and superhydrophilic properties. The coating, created through a simple spraying method, uses cross-linking bonding of inorganic binders and nanoparticles to protect against oil pollution and enable efficient oil-water separation. The technology shows promise for crude oil pipeline protection, transport efficiency, and oilfield dewatering applications.

A research study has investigated the toxicological impacts of Graphene Oxide (GO) nano-sheets and Polystyrene (PS) hybrid on environmental and human health using zebrafish embryos. The study revealed potential environmental hazards of microplastics and nanomaterials, demonstrating toxic effects at cellular and molecular levels.

Researchers have developed a new catalyst using Palladium nanoparticles loaded on CoNi-hydroxides nanosheets for efficient CO2 methanation. The catalyst achieved a methane production rate of 2255 μmol per gram catalyst per hour at 573K, doubling the performance of pristine CoNi-hydroxides catalyst. The innovation represents advancement in CO2 conversion technology for carbon cycling.