Alaa A. Sery

Nanostructured Co₃O₄ was synthesized via a sol–gel approach employing the ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium trifluoromethylsulfonate ([EMIm]TfO) and subsequently evaluated as a high-performance anode material for lithium-ion batteries. Ionic liquids, distinguished by their low volatility, high thermal stability, and tunable chemical properties, represent a greener alternative to conventional organic solvents for the synthesis of functional nanomaterials. The electrochemical performance of the as-prepared material was systematically assessed through galvanostatic charge–discharge cycling, cyclic voltammetry, and rate capability tests. The Co₃O₄ electrode exhibited a high reversible capacity of approximately 1100 mAh g⁻¹ after 50 cycles at a current density of 200 mA g⁻¹, along with excellent coulombic efficiency approaching ~100% after the initial cycles. Furthermore, the material demonstrated strong rate capability, delivering about 600 mAh g⁻¹ at 1 C, and recovering its capacity upon returning to lower current densities. The improved electrochemical performance is primarily attributed to the nanoscale architecture induced by the ionic liquid-assisted synthesis, which facilitates rapid lithium-ion transport and effectively buffers volume variations during repeated cycling. Notably, the ionic liquid serves a dual function as both a green reaction medium and a structure-directing agent, enabling precise control over the material’s morphology and properties. This study demonstrates a versatile strategy for the rational design of potential transition-metal oxide anodes, paving the way for high-performance electrode materials. The findings contribute to the development of next-generation lithium-ion batteries tailored for clean and sustainable energy storage applications.

Tailoring highly efficient adsorbents for environmental remediation is a great challenge key. This paper reports the synthesis of nanostructured pure hydroxylapatite and hydroxyapatite coupled with copper ferrite CuFe₂O₄@HAp by simple routes for utilizing in the capture of some heavy metal ions like Fe(II) and Al(III) ions. The prepared CuFe₂O₄@HAp has the advantage of the feasible removal of the adsorbent materials after the treatment process by just exposing them to an external magnetic field. The obtained adsorbent has been characterized by several techniques; XRD patterns showed the high purity of the materials. Moreover, the morphological study by TEM revealed the size of the nanoparticles with a needlelike shape that had a length of 21.9 to 44.04 nm and a cross-sectional dimension of 7.15 to 7.83 nm. Factors like contact time, pH, and the initial concentration have been investigated. Furthermore, different isothermic and kinetic models have been also simulated to study the adsorption performance of CuFe₂O₄@HAp. The obtained results revealed that this adsorbent could be a promising, safe, and sustainable inexpensive material for the wastewater treatment processes.