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Effect of hydrogen leakage on the life cycle climate impacts of hydrogen supply chains

Hydrogen is of interest for decarbonizing hard-to-abate sectors because it does not produce carbon dioxide when combusted. However, hydrogen has indirect warming effects. Here we conducted a life cycle assessment of electrolysis and steam methane reforming to assess their emissions while considering hydrogen’s indirect warming effects. We find that the primary factors influencing life cycle climate impacts are the production method and related feedstock emissions rather than the hydrogen leakage and indirect warming potential. A comparison between fossil fuel-based and hydrogen-based steel production and heavy-duty transportation showed a reduction in emissions of 800 to more than 1400 kg carbon dioxide equivalent per tonne of steel and 0.1 to 0.17 kg carbon dioxide equivalent per tonne-km of cargo. While any hydrogen production pathway reduces greenhouse gas emissions for steel, this is not the case for heavy-duty transportation. Therefore, we recommend a sector-specific approach in prioritizing application areas for hydrogen.

Synergistic proton conduction via Ca-vacancy coupled with Li+-bridge in Ca5(PO4)3OH

Proton conductivity plays a crucial role in the advancement of materials for proton ceramic fuel cells (PCFCs) and a variety of electrochemical devices. Traditional approaches to enhancing proton conductivity in perovskites have largely relied on doping strategies to induce structural oxygen vacancies. However, these methods have yet to overcome the challenges associated with achieving desired proton conductivity. Here, we introduce an approach wherein intermediate Li+ ions act as a bridge linked to Ca vacancies, fostering a mechanism for accelerated proton transport. Utilizing protonated Ca5(PO4)3OH-H(Li) as an electrolyte, we achieve a proton conductivity of 0.1 S cm−1 and a fuel cell performance of 661 mW cm−2 at an operational temperature of 550 °C for realizing low temperature PCFCs. This proton transport synergy overcomes traditional doping limitations, enabling the advancement of proton-conducting electrolytes and enhancing the efficiency of proton conducting electrolyte fuel cells, with implications in energy conversion and storage technologies.

Dendritic phytic acid as a proton-conducting crosslinker for improved thermal stability and proton conductivity

There is growing interest in materials that exhibit enhanced proton conductivity at elevated temperatures without the need for humidification. Here, we develop a dendritic proton-conducting dopant for proton exchange membranes based on phytic acid (PhA) salts. PhA, which contains six phosphate groups capable of facilitating proton exchange, interacts with 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP). DMAP serves as a strong electron donor, making it highly reactive with PhA. In this endeavor, cellulose sulfonic acid was selected as the base proton exchange membrane. Notably, the dimethylamino group of DMAP on the surface of DMAP-PhA acts as a basic site, enabling acid-base interactions with the sulfonic acid groups of cellulose sulfonic acid. As a result, DMAP-PhA functions as a proton-conducting crosslinker, significantly improving the thermal stability of the composites and increasing proton conductivity by enhancing the degree of proton dissociation at each interaction site.

High-temperature proton exchange membranes with tunable acidity of phosphonic acid groups by incorporating zwitterionic aromatic moieties

The electrochemical performance and durability of high-temperature proton exchange membranes (HT-PEMs) are critically influenced by the effective distribution of proton conductors, electrolyte retention, and interfacial compatibility. Here we present three acidic types of proton conductors (covalently bonded PA, ion-pair bonded PA, and free PA) within phosphonated zwitterionic aromatic polymer structure, allowing for the precise regulation of proton conductors distribution to satisfy the performance of HT-PEMs. Covalently bonded PA groups and ion-pair bonded PA function as fixed proton sources, anhydride inhibitors, and free radical scavengers, effectively mitigating the dependence of proton conductivity on free PA. Furthermore, the incorporation of ion pair coordination significantly reduces the proton conductors leaching during operation. By optimizing the ratio of these proton conductors, polyelectrolytes maintain excellent proton conductivity stability and outstanding fuel cell performance. The resulting membrane, with high proton conductivity of 183 mS cm−1 and outstanding peak power densities of 728 mW cm−2, delivers a low voltage decay rate of only 0.367 mV h−1 over 140 h period at 140 °C, opening up route for high-performance HT-PEM with low PA adsorption (105%) and high PA retention (68%).

Real-time tracking of the Bragg peak during proton therapy via 3D protoacoustic Imaging in a clinical scenario

Proton radiotherapy favored over X-ray photon therapy due to its reduced radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissues, is highly dependent on the accurate positioning of the Bragg peak. Existing methods like PET and prompt gamma imaging to localize Bragg peak face challenges of low precision and high complexity. Here we introduce a 3D protoacoustic imaging with a 2D matrix array of 256 ultrasound transducers compatible with 256 parallel data acquisition channels provides real-time imaging capability (up to 75 frames per second with 10 averages), achieving high precision (5 mm/5% Gamma index shows accuracy better than 95.73%) at depths of tens of centimeters. We have successfully implemented this method in liver treatment with 5 pencil beam scanning and in prostate cancer treatment on a human torso phantom using a clinical proton machine. This demonstrates its capability to accurately identify the Bragg peak in practical clinical scenarios. It paves the way for adaptive radiotherapy with real-time feedback, potentially revolutionizing radiotherapy by enabling closed-loop treatment for improved patient outcomes.

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