Maria Krystyna Rybarczyk

This research introduces an innovative approach to energy management by integrating auditing, modeling, and assessing energy infrastructure with digital twins and virtual reality technologies. The project focuses on a solar energy system installed in a rural ethno-educational school, demonstrating how sustainable energy solutions can be evaluated and optimized to address environmental challenges. At the heart of the project is an educational video game, developed through gamification techniques, which simulates a working solar energy system. Students are tasked with identifying key technological components to install and optimize energy efficiency, enhancing both technical and environmental literacy. This multi- and interdisciplinary approach not only improves learning outcomes but also provides a practical platform to study and refine energy management strategies. The game is linked to real-time data from IoT devices installed on the solar panels, ensuring accurate simulation results. Through continuous feedback, the prototype is refined and tested in controlled environments to assess how closely virtual data aligns with real-world energy performance. The project’s results have the potential to be incorporated into broader educational curricula, promoting the application of sustainable energy practices in rural and underserved communities. This initiative contributes to sustainable development goals (SDGs) while enhancing students’ understanding of renewable energy technologies in real-world settings.

Metal halide perovskites (MHPs) have emerged as cutting-edge materials in the field of energy storage, extending their impact beyond photovoltaics to revolutionize technologies such as lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), supercapacitors (SCs), and photo-induced energy storage systems. Initially renowned for their role in solar cells, MHPs are now gaining attention in energy storage devices for their exceptional properties such as high ionic conductivity (10^-3 to 10^-4 S/cm), long charge carrier diffusion lengths, tuneable bandgaps, large surface areas, and structurally flexible lattices. Both lead-based and lead-free perovskites have demonstrated significant potential, particularly as electrode materials and in forming stable artificial solid electrolyte interphases (ASEIs). Their strong light absorption capabilities have also paved the way for the development of photo-rechargeable devices, where perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are integrated with energy storage systems to enable direct photo-charging offering a sustainable and efficient energy solution. This review explores recent advancements in the application of MHPs in energy storage devices, emphasizing how compositional tuning influences their electrochemical performance. It also highlights the growing interest in integrating PSCs with storage systems as a novel direction for next-generation energy technologies. Finally, the review discusses the future prospects and challenges of MHPs in driving the development of high-performance, multifunctional energy storage systems.

The application of alkali metal-based coordination polymers as precursors to novel porous materials for energy storage appears as a very promising, but yet essentially unexplored approach. We provide comprehensive investigations of the alkali metal (Li, Na, K)-based coordination polymers with 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylate as an organic linker, which revealed a variety of 2D and 3D coordination networks accessible in mild conditions and aqueous environment. The resulting coordination polymers were applied as self-templating precursors to porous carbon materials with hierarchical porosity, which exhibited BET areas up to 1871 m2/g. Furthermore, the developed porous carbons were applied as supercapacitors and aqueous Zn-ion capacitors (AZICs), which showed promising capacity, as well as high cyclic stability and rate capability. In particular, the top-performing device, prepared using the carbon material developed from the K-based coordination polymer, achieved one of the highest performances reported for AZICs, exhibiting a remarkable specific capacity of 754.7 F g-1 at 0.1 A g-1.

The one-step carbonization of low cost and abundant chitosan biopolymer in the presence of salt eutectics ZnCl₂/NaCl results in nitrogen-doped carbon nanostructures (8.5 wt.% total nitrogen content). NaCl yields the spacious 3D structure, which allows external oxygen to easily reach the active sites for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) distinguished by their high onset potential and the maximum turnover frequency of 0.132 e site⁻¹ s⁻¹. Data show that the presence of NaCl during the synthesis exhibits the formation of pores having large specific volumes and surface (specific surface area of 1217 m² g⁻¹), and holds advantage by their pores characteristics such as their micro-size part, which provides a platform for mass transport distribution in three-dimensional N-doped catalysts for ORR. It holds benefit over sample pre-treated with LiCl in terms of the micropores specific volume and area, seen as their percentage rate, measured in the BET. Therefore, the average concentration of the active site on the surface is larger.

Fly ashes as a residue from combustion processes of coal in coal-fired power stations can be applied for zeolite formation. The zeolite synthesis has considerable effect on their structure following further catalytic use. The formation of analcime is guided by the operation of the silicate framework in the company of Na⁺, [Al(OH)4]⁻, [H2SiO4]²⁻ species, coming from fly ash processing. Here, we have highlighted the importance of conducting the coal fly ash waste management towards monomineralic zeolite synthesis, in the form of powder analcime. It is the first report on powder analcime production without fly ash residues, confirmed by SEM and XRD analysis. The obtained analcime-zeolite was further explored as biodiesel catalyst based on base-catalyzed transesterification process. The effect of analcime catalyst usage on the biodiesel yield was determined with observed 97.2 % conversion efficiency under the concentration of 4%wt at 230 °C, with three times reusable analcime catalysts. Coal fly ash-derived monominerals on a large scale can significantly contribute to the sustainability goals and efficient waste management.

The one-step carbonization of low cost and abundant chitosan biopolymer in the presence of salt eutectics ZnCl₂/NaCl results in nitrogen-doped carbon nanostructures (8.5% total nitrogen content). NaCl yields the spacious 3D structure, which allows external oxygen to easily reach the active sites for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) distinguished by their high onset potential and the maximum turnover frequency of 0.132 e site⁻¹ s⁻¹. Data clearly show that the presence of NaCl during the synthesis exhibits the formation of pores having large specific volumes and surface (specific surface area of 1217.4 m² g^− 1), and holds advantage by their pores characteristics like their micro size part which provides platform for mass transport distribution in three-dimensional N-doped catalysts for ORR. It holds advantage over sample pre-treated with LiCl in terms of the micropores specific volume and area, seen as their percentage rate, measured in the BET. Thus, the average concentration of the active site on the surface is larger.

Coffee, as one of the most consumed beverages, generates a wide variety of waste materials that can be used as biofuels and bio-products. Conventional pyrolysis can be used in rural areas, improving the circular bioeconomy of these places. In this work, the characterization and slow pyrolysis of specialty coffee residues, coffee silverskin (CSS), and spent coffee (SC) were conducted at temperatures from 300 to 600 °C. Physico-chemical and thermal analysis were carried out. In addition, the quantification of individual compounds as acetic, formic, and levulinic acids, caffeine, and other minor compounds was performed. The results indicate the differences between both waste materials in the obtained pyrolysis fractions. The biochar fraction for SC is lower at all temperatures and the liquid fraction higher, reaching maximum values of 62 wt.% in the liquid at 600 °C compared to 47% in CSS. The higher yield in the liquid fraction of SC corresponds to the higher contents of hemicellulose and extractives and the lower ash content. The calculated calorific value for the pyrolysis solid fractions reaches 21.93 MJ/kg in CSS and 26.45 MJ/kg in SC. Finally, biorefinery options of major components of the liquid fraction were also presented.

Beyond liquid electrolytes, the development of other electrolyte systems is needed to cover all needs for novel batteries suited for detailed usage. Lithium polymer electrolytes for next-generation batteries cover a broad range of emerging energy applications, including their further investigation of solid polymer ionic conductors. Possibility of transferring Li⁺ cations through the unique polymer structure forces modifications of a solid polymer electrolyte. The host matrix is immobile, while long-range cation transport must involve dissociative steps where solvated cations are transferred between neighboring coordination sites, in combination with migration and diffusion of ion aggregates weakly coordinated to the polymer solvent. Most of the current models can be successfully applied to amorphous monophase systems. There are many concepts leading to the increase in flexibility, conductivity performance, and extended storage time for several months, which might be useful for even very demanding battery applications. This review provides readers with a comprehensive background for understanding current knowledge and opportunities for lithium polymer electrolytes.

The direct carbonization of low-cost and abundant chitosan biopolymer in the presence of salt eutectics leads to highly microporous, N-doped nanostructures. The microporous structure is easily manufactured using eutectic mixture (ZnCl₂-KCl) and chitosan. Potassium ions here can act as an intercalating agent, leading to the formation of lamellar carbon sheets, whereas zinc chloride generates significant porosity. Here, we present an efficient synthetic way for microporous carbon nanostructures production with a total nitrogen content of 8.7%. Preliminary studies were performed to show the possibility of the use of such material as a catalyst for supercapacitor and ORR. The textural properties enhanced capacitance, which stem from improved accessibility of previously blocked or inactive pores in the carbon structure, leading to the conclusion that porogen salts and molten salt strategies produce materials with tailor-made morphologies. The synergistic effect of the eutectic salt is seen in controlled porous structures and pore size, and the micropores boosting adsorption ability.

Seawater desalination is a worldwide concern for the sustainable production of drinking water. In this regard, membrane distillation (MD) has shown the potential for effective brine treatment. However, the lack of appropriate MD membranes limits its industrial expansion since they experience fouling and wetting issues. Therefore, hydrophobic membranes are promising candidates to successfully deal with such phenomena that are typical for commercially available membranes. Here, several graphene/polyvinylidene (PVDF_G) membranes with different graphene loading (0–10 wt%) were prepared through a phase inversion method. After full characterization of the resulting membranes, the surface revealed that the well-dispersed graphene in the polymer matrix (0.33 and 0.5 wt% graphene loading) led to excellent water repellence together with a rough structure, and a large effective surface area. Importantly, antifungal activity tests of films indicated an increase in the inhibition percentage for PVDF_G membranes against the Curvularia sp. fungal strain. However, the antifungal surface properties were found to be the synergistic result of graphene toxicity and surface topography.