• Energy Research

AbstractRegulations currently in force enable to claim that the lead content in perovskite solar cells is low enough to be safe, or no more dangerous, than other electronics also containing lead. However, the actual environmental impact of lead from perovskite is unknown. Here we show that the lead from perovskite leaking into the ground can enter plants, and consequently the food cycle, ten times more effectively than other lead contaminants already present as the result of the human activities. We further demonstrate that replacing lead with tin represents an environmentally-safer option. Our data suggest that we need to treat the lead from perovskite with exceptional care. In particular, we point out that the safety level for lead content in perovskite-based needs to be lower than other lead-containing electronics. We encourage replacing lead completely with more inert metals to deliver safe perovskite technologies.

AbstractRegulations currently in force enable to claim that the lead content in perovskite solar cells is low enough to be safe, or no more dangerous, than other electronics also containing lead. However, the actual environmental impact of lead from perovskite is unknown. Here we show that the lead from perovskite leaking into the ground can enter plants, and consequently the food cycle, ten times more effectively than other lead contaminants already present as the result of the human activities. We further demonstrate that replacing lead with tin represents an environmentally-safer option. Our data suggest that we need to treat the lead from perovskite with exceptional care. In particular, we point out that the safety level for lead content in perovskite-based needs to be lower than other lead-containing electronics. We encourage replacing lead completely with more inert metals to deliver safe perovskite technologies.

In view of the increasing concerns in antibiotics contamination, advanced technologies for antibiotics removal have been receiving widespread research attention in the fields of environmental sciences. This work has developed a series of amino-functionalized porous carbon materials (NH2-BPCs), via a facile chemical modification method, which have been found efficient for the removal of sulfonamide antibiotics from simulated wastewater. Studies on adsorption kinetics and isotherms of antibiotics in simulated aqueous phases indicated that the adsorption capacity of sulfadiazine (SDZ) by NH2-BPCs showed a large value under acidic conditions (pH < 5). Moreover, the adsorption rate constant of NH2-BPCs was greatly enhanced upon amino modification, which demonstrated faster and more effective adsorption efficiency for antibiotics removal. These results suggested that surface amino modification of porous carbons might be a viable pathway to increase the adsorption affinity and efficiency of antibiotics with great potentials for water remediation.

In view of the increasing concerns in antibiotics contamination, advanced technologies for antibiotics removal have been receiving widespread research attention in the fields of environmental sciences. This work has developed a series of amino-functionalized porous carbon materials (NH2-BPCs), via a facile chemical modification method, which have been found efficient for the removal of sulfonamide antibiotics from simulated wastewater. Studies on adsorption kinetics and isotherms of antibiotics in simulated aqueous phases indicated that the adsorption capacity of sulfadiazine (SDZ) by NH2-BPCs showed a large value under acidic conditions (pH < 5). Moreover, the adsorption rate constant of NH2-BPCs was greatly enhanced upon amino modification, which demonstrated faster and more effective adsorption efficiency for antibiotics removal. These results suggested that surface amino modification of porous carbons might be a viable pathway to increase the adsorption affinity and efficiency of antibiotics with great potentials for water remediation.