All Publications

Publications

Publications

  • 1. An overview on novel CsPbBr3-based perovskite photocatalyst for environmental and energy applications: Synthesis and enhancement strategy

    Chauhan R., Sambyal S., Kumar R., Raizada P., Parwaz Khan A.A., Selvasembian R., Ahamad T., Hussain C.M., Singh P.

    Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, 2026, DOI Link, View abstract ⏷

    CsPbBr3, an all-inorganic halide perovskite, has garnered attention as a highly promising material for advanced photocatalysis due to its exceptional optoelectronic properties, including photoluminescence quantum yields, high absorption coefficients, and outstanding charge carrier mobility. Notably, compared to organic–inorganic hybrids, CsPbBr3 exhibits enhanced photocatalytic applications. The innovations of this review lie in its comprehensive analysis of recent breakthroughs in heterojunction engineering, especially on the novel S-scheme heterojunction tailored to boost charge separation and redox ability in CsPbBr3 materials. The material’s performance has been further strengthened by recent developments in bandgap engineering, surface defects, and heterojunction formation, enhancing photocatalytic applications. In this review, the structural properties, synthesis techniques, and optimization strategies for CsPbBr3 photocatalytic materials are examined. Further, particular attention was paid to doping, surface defects, type-II, Z-scheme, and S-scheme heterojunctions. Also, different photocatalytic applications, like pollutant degradation, H2 evolution, and CO2 reduction, are the main objectives. Emphasis is placed on advanced characterization techniques and performance benchmarks to support the material formation, charge migration, and applications. Finally, the review highlights the challenges and prospects of CsPbBr3-based photocatalysts for environmental applications, aiming to achieve high catalytic efficiency. It offers valuable insights into the use of CsPbBr3-based catalysts in photocatalysis applications.
  • 2. Pyrolytic conversion of agro-residues into functionalized biochar towards eutrophication management

    Paul S., Selvasembian R.

    Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis, 2026, DOI Link, View abstract ⏷

    Eutrophication, primarily driven by excessive ammonium nitrate and phosphate loading into aquatic ecosystems, poses a serious threat to water quality and biodiversity. In recent years, the valorization of agro-residues via pyrolysis to produce biochar has emerged as a sustainable and low-cost strategy for nutrient pollution control. This review explores the potential of biochar derived from agricultural waste as an efficient adsorbent for excess nutrient remediation from aqueous environments. The study highlights the physicochemical properties of biochar that influence its adsorption performance, such as surface area, porosity, functional groups, and inherent mineral content. Unmodified biochars generally exhibit limited nutrient removal efficiency; however, their adsorption performance can be significantly enhanced through surface modifications. These modifications include physical and chemical treatments, incorporation of metals and metal hydroxides, as well as the development of mineral/clay-based and other composite biochars, all of which improve surface functionality and affinity toward target nutrients. Exceptional adsorption capacity was recorded for PO₄³ ⁻ with lanthanum-loaded tobacco biochar (666.67 mg/g), outperforming other reported agro-residue-based derived biochars. Most systems followed pseudo-second-order kinetics and Langmuir isotherms, confirming chemisorption with monolayer coverage. Thermodynamic analysis revealed predominantly spontaneous adsorption, with both exothermic and endothermic processes, and regeneration tests showed stability for up to six cycles without significant performance loss. This review underscores the dual environmental benefit of converting agro-residue into value-added adsorbents while simultaneously addressing eutrophication, advocating for a circular and sustainable approach to water pollution management.
  • 3. Strong interfacial coupling activates lattice oxygen of heterogeneous cerium hydroxide/nickel ferrite catalyst for robust oxygen evolution reaction performance

    Peng K., Bhuvanendran N., Zhang W., Pasupathi S., Su H.

    Composites Part B: Engineering, 2026, DOI Link, View abstract ⏷

    The intrinsically sluggish kinetics of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) remains a critical bottleneck for efficiently electrochemical water splitting, demanding catalysts that are both highly active and robust. Herein, this work overcomes this challenge through a heterostructure engineering strategy, fabricating a strongly coupled Ce(OH)3/NiFe2O4 heterogeneous interface on nickel foam (NF). This unique configuration is shown to critically modulate the catalyst's electronic structure and electrochemical reconstruction, unlocking substantial gains in OER performance. The optimized Ce(OH)3/NiFe2O4/NF catalyst exhibits exceptional OER performance, requiring a low overpotential of only 192 mV to achieve a current density of 10 mA‧cm−2 and a small Tafel slope of 40.7 mV‧dec−1, and demonstrating outstanding long-term stability for 400 h at 400 mA‧cm−2 in 1 M KOH. Mechanistic studies, including pH-dependent kinetics and molecular probe experiments, reveal that the OER process predominantly follows the lattice oxygen-mediated mechanism (LOM) of Ce(OH)3/NiFe2O4/NF, bypassing the scaling relations limitations of the conventional adsorbate evolution mechanism (AEM). Moreover, the in-situ Raman spectroscopy studies reveal a substantially decreased formation potential of the active NiOOH phase, while density functional theory (DFT) computations demonstrate that the interfacial coupling optimizes electronic structure via weakened metal-oxygen bonds and a modulated O-p band center in Ce(OH)3/NiFe2O4/NF. Besides, the integrated Pt/C||Ce(OH)3/NiFe2O4/NF electrolyzer exhibits excellent overall water splitting activity, demanding exceptionally low cell voltages of only 1.44 V and 1.58 V to achieve 10 and 100 mA‧cm−2, respectively. This work highlights the efficacy of rare-earth-based interface engineering in activating the LOM pathway and provides a valuable strategy for designing high-performance OER electrocatalysts.
  • 4. Durable hydrophobic multifunctional nanocoating for long-term protection of stone built heritage

    Peddinti P.R.T., Puppala H., Kim B., Karmakar S., Syed V., Selvasembian R., Kwon Y.-N., Ray S.S.

    Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, 2026, DOI Link, View abstract ⏷

    Preserving stone-built cultural heritage from environmental degradation poses significant challenges, as moisture ingress and extreme weather accelerate weathering, leading to structural damage and escalating maintenance costs worldwide. While hydrophobic coatings show promise for protection, achieving long-term durability under harsh conditions remains elusive. The present research demonstrates a robust hydrophobic nanocomposite coating based on silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) functionalized with 1 H,1 H,2 H,2H-perfluorodecyltriethoxysilane (PFDTS), synthesized via alkaline hydrolysis of tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) and applied by spray coating to diverse heritage stones including sandstone, granite, and marble. The coatings achieve water contact angles of 130°–137° and sliding angles of 9°–10°, conferring exceptional self-cleaning properties that endure after saline exposure, wet-dry cycles, and marine simulations. Additionally, various water absorption tests, including the Karsten tube, ASTM D6489 surface uptake, ASTM C642 immersion tests, and droplet impact tests, showed a significant decrease in water absorption compared to uncoated stones. The overall results suggest that the water penetration at the coated surface was reduced by a factor of about 80–100 for the stone samples. This research study offers a scalable, cost-effective approach to enhance the longevity of cultural monuments, minimising preservation expenses and safeguarding irreplaceable historical assets for future generations.
  • 5. Source attribution and health risk assessment of potentially toxic elements in the vicinity of coal-fired thermal power plants: an extensive study to comprehend the pollution load on lentic and lotic ecosystems

    Mandal R.R., Raj D.

    Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 2026, DOI Link, View abstract ⏷

    Coal-fired thermal power plant operations significantly impact aquatic environments by releasing fly ash leachate, untreated effluents, and airborne pollutants, thereby deteriorating surface water quality. This study assesses the spatial distribution, pollution load, and ecological risk of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in surface water collected from the surroundings of coal-based thermal power plant (TPP) in Andhra Pradesh, India. Jupudi Reservoir (JR) showed relatively lower pH levels, indicating mildly acidic conditions possibly resulting from ash pond leachate influence, while the other water bodies maintained a more alkaline nature. The mean concentrations of Chromium (406 µg/L) and Arsenic (214 µg/L) were highest at JR and comparatively elevated relative to other water bodies. Furthermore, the total metal load was significantly higher in JR, TPP, and RC across water, sediment, and plant samples, reflecting the significant influence of coal-based thermal power plant activities on these aquatic ecosystems. Geospatial distribution using ArcGIS-IDW interpolation revealed contamination hotspots near coal ash discharge zones, especially at JR and TPP canal sites. Pollution indices highlighted severe pollution and ecological threats at JR and TPP, with ERI values indicating high ecological risk (> 400). Health risk assessments showed that children are particularly at risk, with elevated non-carcinogenic hazard index (HI > 1) and incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR > 1 × 10⁻4) through both ingestion and dermal pathways. Among the studied sites, JR and TPP canal exhibited the highest PTE concentrations, whereas RC served as the least contaminated reference site. statistical analyses, including Pearson correlation and Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF), identified coal combustion by-products, atmospheric deposition, and ash leachate as the dominant sources of contamination, with minor contributions from domestic and agricultural runoff. The findings underscore the urgent need for pollution control, regular monitoring, and site-specific remediation strategies to protect both ecological and human health in coal-affected aquatic systems.
  • 6. Biotransformation pathway, growth inhibition, and biochemical response of Scenedesmus obliquus to brilliant green dye: Implications for bioremediation

    Rajamanickam R., Selvasembian R.

    Biochemical Engineering Journal, 2026, DOI Link, View abstract ⏷

    The potential of live microalgae Scenedesmus obliquus was tested for removing Brilliant green dye (BGD). BGD is a cationic dye that has been widely used as a colouring agent in various sectors, but this dye has been reported in wastewater due to its high solubility in water. Scenedesmus obliquus is one of the most widely employed microalgae species with good bioremediation potential and biochemical composition. This study reports growth inhibition of Scenedesmus obliquus in test runs 5 mg/L (17 %), 10 mg/L (31 %), 25 mg/L (42 %), and 50 mg/L (57 %), and the EC50 value was predicted to be 33.7 mg/L using probit statistical analysis. The removal efficiency decreased from 99 % to 87 % as the BGD concentration increased, and the removal mechanism was reported in the order of biodegradation > bioaccumulation > bioadsorption. The biodegradation potential decreased from 97 % to 84 % at the BGD concentration of 50 mg/L, and the Monod kinetic study revealed that the half-saturation constant increased when the BGD concentration crossed the EC50 value. Protein (498 mg/L) and lipid (728 mg/L) accumulation was highest at 5 mg/L of BDG, implying growth-stimulating effects on microalgae as the growth inhibition is less. These findings highlight Scenedesmus obliquus potential for effective BGD removal below EC50 concentrations with identification of 6 biotransformed products and simultaneous production of value-added biomass.
  • 7. Factors affecting student diversity in higher education institutions: a data-driven case study from India

    Jain G., Haroon A.P., Ganeshan P., Rajendran K.

    Discover Education, 2025, DOI Link, View abstract ⏷

    Student diversity plays a crucial role in fostering inclusive education, which enhances innovation, creativity, and problem-solving. In India, while the student mobility is increasing, disparities across regions and institutions continue to influence students’ decision in choosing an institution. Understanding student’s decision making will enhance equal opportunity for quality education. This study aims to identify the factors affecting interstate student diversity in Indian higher education. Secondary data from a national ranking body were analysed using statistical techniques and supervised machine learning algorithms using tool OriginPro 2024 and MATLAB’s R2024a respectively. Statistical analyses, including Pearson correlation, Spearman correlation, and Kruskal–Wallis tests, were employed to analyse relationships among factors, while machine learning models such as Gaussian Process Regression, Ensemble methods, Support Vector Machines, and Kernel-based approaches were used to assess feature importance. The findings show that the factors of student diversity vary across institution types. In Central Government Funded Institutions (CGFIs), location (23%) and course offerings (9%), while in State Government Funded Institutions (SGFIs), international student proportion (17%), were significant factors. For Self-Financed Institutions (SFIs), institutional rank (13%) and placement opportunities (10%) were key factors. These insights can guide policies and strategies to enhance student diversity and promote inclusive education in alignment with National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and quality education Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 4.
  • 8. Green ammonia as hydrogen carrier: current status, barriers, and strategies to achieve sustainable development goals

    Vigneswaran V.S., Gowd S.C., Ravichandran V., Karthikeyan M., Ganeshan P., Kandasamy S., Lee J., Barathi S., Rajendran K.

    Science of the Total Environment, 2025, DOI Link, View abstract ⏷

    Hydrogen, a carbon-free fuel, has the potential to aid global nations in achieving eight of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). The shortcomings associated with H2 transportation and storage can be mitigated by using NH3 as hydrogen carrier because of its better safety, physical, and environmental properties. However, to achieve the global climate target, green ammonia production must be incremented by four times (688 MT) from the current level. Hence, understanding of advanced green NH3 production and storage technologies, along with the factors that influence them becomes necessary. It also aids in identifying the factors hindering green H2 and NH3 production, which can be resolved by promoting research. At the same time, drafting policies that encourage green H2 and NH3 production can abet in overcoming the bottleneck faced by the industry. Presently, green ammonia production can be made feasible only when the renewable electricity cost is less than $20/MWh and carbon price of $150/t of CO2 emissions is levied. Approximately 80 % of the energy consumed during NH3 is spent on H2 generation; therefore, it is necessary to enact policies that promote green H2 production globally. Producing green H2 can aid in mitigating ∼90 % of the greenhouse gases emitted during NH3 manufacturing thereby facilitating to reduce the carbon footprint of H2 carrier and decarbonize NH3 industry.
  • 9. Time series forecasting of microalgae cultivation for a sustainable wastewater treatment

    Meenatchi Sundaram K., Kumar D., Lee J., Barathi S., Rajendran K.

    Process Safety and Environmental Protection, 2025, DOI Link, View abstract ⏷

    The use of micro-algae for wastewater treatment is a promising technique that contributes to CO2 capture and nutrient recovery. However, the lack of effective forecasting models limits the scalability of this technique. This study aims to develop a time-series-based forecasting model to predict the growth curve of microalgal biomass under environmental conditions similar to those found in wastewater. Data collected on microalgal growth was used to train six time-series models: Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), Auto-Regressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA), Random vector functional link (RVFL), Physics-informed neural networks (PINN) and Prophet. The model performance metrics were compared, and the best model was identified. The results demonstrated that the RVFL was the most accurate model, with minimal prediction errors ( < 0.01). Residual analysis confirmed a normal distribution of errors without outliers, supporting the model's reliability. These findings suggest that the proposed RVFL model can effectively forecast microalgal growth, potentially reducing the need for costly and labour-intensive laboratory trials and advancing microalgae-based wastewater treatment.
  • 10. Sustainability performance of microalgae as a negative emission technology for wastewater treatment

    Gowd S.C., Barathi S., Lee J., Rajendran K.

    Journal of Water Process Engineering, 2025, DOI Link, View abstract ⏷

    Microalgae cultivation is gaining interest as a sustainable alternative to the conventional wastewater (WW) treatment and nutrient recovery. Current study presents a comprehensive life cycle assessment (LCA) of microalgae cultivation in distinct wastewaters. Two different microalgae species in three different wastewaters were compared for sustainability performance in six scenarios. LCA was conducted using SimaPro (v9.3.0.3) and ReCiPe 2016 Midpoint method. The findings of the study reveal that global warming potential ranged between −678 and − 1357 g CO2eq./m3. Chlorella sp. cultivated in dairy WW shown higher environmental performance across the scenarios with GWP of −1357 g CO2eq./m3. The average global warming potential (GWP) of single-pot microalgae-based wastewater treatment got reduced by 240 %. The key inference of this study is that cultivation of the microalgae as single-pot treatment system not only helps in environmental sustainability but also holds significant promise for combating climate change as negative emission technology (NET).
  • 11. Machine Learning Assisted Image Analysis for Microalgae Prediction

    Meenatchi Sundaram K., Sravan Kumar S., Deshpande A., Chinnadurai S., Rajendran K.

    ACS ES and T Engineering, 2025, DOI Link, View abstract ⏷

    Microalgae-based wastewater treatment has resulted in a paradigm shift toward nutrient removal and simultaneous resource recovery. However, traditionally used microalgal biomass quantification methods are time-consuming and costly, limiting their large-scale use. The aim of this study is to develop a simple and cost-effective image-based method for microalgae quantification, replacing cumbersome traditional techniques. In this study, preprocessed microalgae images and associated optical density data were utilized as inputs. Three feature extraction methods were compared alongside eight machine learning (ML) models, including linear regression (LR), random forest (RF), AdaBoost, gradient boosting (GB), and various neural networks. Among these algorithms, LR with principal component analysis achieved an R2 value of 0.97 with the lowest error of 0.039. Combining image analysis and ML removes the need for expensive equipment in microalgae quantification. Sensitivity analysis was performed by varying the train-test splitting ratio. Training time was included in the evaluation, and accounting for energy consumption in the study leads to the achievement of high model performance and energy-efficient ML model utilization.
  • 12. Anaerobic digestion in global bio-energy production for sustainable bioeconomy: Potential and research challenges

    Duan Y., Wang Z., Ganeshan P., Sar T., Xu S., Rajendran K., Sindhu R., Binod P., Pandey A., Zhang Z., Taherzadeh M.J., Awasthi M.K.

    Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2025, DOI Link, View abstract ⏷

    Wastes are unceasingly generated in the world, and most of them can be recycled, reused, or recovered to promote a circular economy. Among waste treatment approaches, the anaerobic digestion (AD) process has been considered as an ideal process due to its ecological benefits (reduction of unpleasant odor, pathogens accumulation, or greenhouse gas emission), social and economic advantages, and energy saving. In addition to biogas production, this process can be used to produce various bioproducts, such as biopolymers, bioplastics, biomass, biofertilizers, and biolipids. Interestingly, the AD process residue or digestate is a nutrient-rich by-product that can be used as a biofertilizer for agronomical purposes to balance N-P cycle in the soils. Despite of numerous benefits of AD, less than 1 % of waste is treated by this process. This process has the potential to be integrated with other waste treatment approaches to increase waste treatment efficiency. Therefore, it is essential to focus on each advantage and clarify ambiguity in order to satisfy more countries for employing AD for waste treatment. In this review, various benefits of AD are evaluated; and its potential impacts on particularly agriculture are examined in detail. Additionally, potential biomass and wastes that can be used for anaerobic digestion worldwide are deliberated. Besides, a critical perspective has been developed on the economic, environmental, and social evaluation of the benefits of AD and, as a final point, focused on an integrated circular cascading approach.
  • 13. Life cycle assessment of insulated fish transport systems in India

    Harini R., Natarajan V., Rajendran K., Ganeshan P.

    Journal of Industrial Ecology, 2025, DOI Link, View abstract ⏷

    The fish transport sector plays a crucial role in both domestic and export markets in India, with insulated vehicles accounting for approximately 60% of fish transit immediately after landing. These insulated vehicles, although essential for maintaining fish quality and minimizing spoilage, contribute significantly to environmental concerns, including increased greenhouse gas emissions, energy consumption, and material use, particularly given their reliance on fossil fuels. This study assessed the environmental impact of using insulated vehicles to transport 1 tonne of fish over a distance of 200 km. Using SimaPro (V9.3) for a life cycle assessment, a landing-to-consumer approach was adopted, incorporating questionnaire-based and secondary data collection. The results revealed significant impacts on human health, with vehicle operations posing high risks (1.13E-05 disability-adjusted life years) due to diesel engine emissions. The long-term global warming potential from vehicle operations was higher than that from depreciated vehicle construction, with emissions measured at 4.44 kg CO2 equivalent per tonne per trip over 100 years. The findings indicated that emissions from insulated vehicles during fish supply contributed approximately 0.4% of global emissions, underscoring the need for environmentally sustainable transportation practices in the fish transport system. Adopting electric vehicles, hybrids, biofuels, and emission controls can enhance sustainability in fish transport. Policies like the National Green Hydrogen Mission, carbon-neutral practices, and green exports support this transition in the fish transport system.
  • 14. Reprint of “Optimizing aeration efficiency and forecasting dissolved oxygen in brackish water aquaculture: Insights from paddle wheel aerator”

    Ramesh P., Jasmin A., Tanveer M., U R.R., Ganeshan P., Rajendran K., Roy S.M., Kumar D., Chinnathambi A., Brindhadevi K.

    Journal of the Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers, 2025, DOI Link, View abstract ⏷

    Background: Aquaculture relies significantly on effective aeration systems to ensure optimal conditions for aquatic organisms. This 96-day study investigates the dynamic relationship between Oxygen Transfer Rates (OTR) and seasonal variations, with a specific focus on the impact of seasonal dynamics and the placement of paddle wheel aerators. The study recognizes the pivotal role of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) and Total Suspended Solids (TSS) as key water quality parameters influencing aeration efficiency. Methodology: A series of water circulation experiments were conducted at regular intervals to assess mixing rates, revealing a nuanced trajectory ranging from 27.05 to 14.22 m³/kWh. The study scrutinized the influence of TDS and TSS on these rates. Additionally, water velocity variations, ranging from 0.45 to 1.67 m/s, were examined, highlighting density-dependent changes, particularly evident post four weeks of operation. Oxygen stratification analysis provided insights into deviations in Dissolved Oxygen (DO) concentrations, with particular attention to climatic aberrations. Rigorous statistical analyses, including chi-squared, Pearson correlation, Gaussian distribution checks, and student's t-tests, validated the methodological robustness and data reliability. Significant findings: Employing a Seasonal Auto Regressive Integrated Moving Average (SARIMA) model, the study achieved a remarkable 97 % accuracy in forecasting DO levels for the subsequent 96 days. Real-time validation, complemented by a Chi-square goodness of fit test, reaffirmed the model's reliability, establishing congruence between observed and forecasted values. This research underscores the critical roles of strategic aerator placement and seasonal considerations in optimizing pond aeration efficiency, providing substantive insights for the sustainable management of aquaculture ecosystems.
  • 15. Partitioning, bioaccumulation, and sources of parent and halogenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Sri Lankan aquatic environments: Ecological and human health implications

    Wickrama-Arachchige A.U.-K., Guruge K.S., Hirabayashi T., Subasinghe S., Chandrajith R., Wijesekara R.G.S., Warnasuriya T.W.S., Goswami P., Dharmaratne T.S., Ohura T.

    Science of the Total Environment, 2025, DOI Link, View abstract ⏷

    Halogenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (HPAHs) including chlorinated (ClPAHs) and brominated (BrPAHs) variants, are emerging contaminants that are considered the next-generation candidates of persistent organic pollutants. Since there was a significant gap exists in understanding of partitioning dynamics of HPAHs between the particulate phase (PP) and dissolved phase (DP) considering many congeners, this study analyzed 75 congeners of parent PAHs and HPAHs (p/HPAHs) in the samples collected from 27 sites from 20 water bodies in Sri Lanka. The results revealed that the mean of the total concentrations of PAHs, ClPAHs, and BrPAHs in the aqueous phase (PP + DP) were 55.79, 1.89, and 0.49 ng/L, respectively. Partition coefficients of HPAHs increased with molecular weight, and pyrene and its halogenated derivatives dominated both phases. A predominance of HPAHs in the DP suggested that their distribution was more influenced by source characteristics than by phase partitioning processes. Most p/HPAHs originated from mixed petroleum and combustion sources, with additional input from decaying contaminated biota. The risk quotients determined via the acute and chronic ecological risk assessment indicated many waterbodies had medium to high risks to fish and daphnids, whereas the consumption of well water for drinking purposes did not pose a risk to humans. This study provides the first comprehensive phase-specific evaluation of HPAHs in a tropical aquatic environment and calls for targeted monitoring strategies, effective management plans, and public awareness to mitigate future contamination.
  • 16. Microplastics under siege: Biofilm-forming marine bacteria from the microplastisphere and their role in plastic degradation

    Joshi G., Goswami P., Jha D.K., Vinithkumar N.V., Dharani G.

    Science of the Total Environment, 2025, DOI Link, View abstract ⏷

    Microplastics, a complex category of pollutants containing microorganisms and toxins, pose a significant threat to ecosystems, affecting both biotic and abiotic elements. The plastisphere's bacterial community differs significantly from nearby habitats, suggesting they may significantly contribute to the degradation of plastic waste in the ocean. This study evaluated the diversity of culturable bacterial populations attached to the microplastics in the coastal zones of the A&N Islands and their potential for plastic degradation. Three A&N Islands beaches were surveyed for microplastics. Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) was the most abundant polymer found, followed by Acryl fibre, polyisoprene etc. A total of 24 bacterial isolates were chosen based on their morphological traits and underwent the initial screening processes. With the highest degrading activity (10.79 %), NIOT-MP-52 produced noteworthy results. NIOT-MP-25 (5.07 %), NIOT-MP-43 (3.78 %), NIOT-MP-61 (3.51 %), and NIOT-MP-82 (3.36 %) were the next most active strains. Strain NIOT-MP-52, selected for its superior degradation efficiency, underwent further screening and analysis using FT-IR, SEM, AFM, and DSC. Variations in infrared spectra indicated the breakdown of LDPE while SEM and AFM analyses showed bacterial attachment, roughness, grooves, holes, and pits on the LDPE surface. DSC provided thermal analysis based on the biodegradation potential of the bacterial strain targeting LDPE sheets. These findings highlight the ability of marine bacteria to efficiently degrade microplastics and utilize plastics as an energy source, emphasizing their importance in future plastic waste management.
  • 17. Microplastics: Hidden drivers of antimicrobial resistance in aquatic systems

    Goswami P., Kanda K., Tamamura-Andoh Y., Watanabe M., Guruge K.S.

    NanoImpact, 2025, DOI Link, View abstract ⏷

    Microplastics (MPs) in aquatic ecosystems readily promote biofilm formation, creating the plastisphere, a dynamic interface that interacts with environmental pollutants and acts as a reservoir for microorganisms. Recent studies emphasize the plastisphere's contribution to the spread of pathogens, antibiotic-resistant genes (ARGs), and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) within aquatic organisms and across diverse environments, a phenomenon collectively called the ‘Plastiome’. Although the prevalence and effects of the plastisphere have been studied extensively, a systematic synthesis of updated insights into the behavior of the plastiome is urgently needed. This review explores the development and behavior of plastics, focusing on its interactions with ARGs and pathogens within aquatic ecosystems. Microplastics selectively enrich ARGs and pathogenic microorganisms, fostering unique microbial communities distinct from those in surrounding waters. The plastiome facilitates horizontal ARG propagation, increasing the quantity of antibiotic-resistant pathogens and presenting substantial risks to the hydrosphere and public health. Additionally, key research opportunities are identified and strategies are recommended to advance our understanding of plastiome-driven antibiotic resistance in aquatic environments.
  • 18. Catalytic synergy of PtCo alloy nanoparticles anchored on S, P-doped hierarchical carbon nitrides for efficient and durable oxygen reduction in high-temperature PEMFCs

    Ravichandran B., Narayanan N., Liu H., Zhang W., Bhuvanendran N., Su H.

    Fuel, 2025, DOI Link, View abstract ⏷

    Intensified electrochemical corrosion under high-temperature and phosphoric acid conditions poses a significant challenge to the catalysts in high-temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells (HT-PEMFCs). Herein, a S, P-doped hierarchical porous carbon nitride (S, P-HCN) supported PtCo alloy catalyst was developed to address this issue. The multilayered porous structure of S, P-HCN ensures high metal dispersion, a large specific surface area, and enhanced mass transfer. The PtCo/S, P-HCN catalyst exhibits remarkable performance, with specific activity (1.27 mA cmPt-2 at 0.80 V), mass activity (0.51 mA µgPt-1 at 0.80 V), and electrochemical active surface area (ECSA) (39.9 m2 g-1Pt), surpassing commercial 20 % Pt/C by 2–3 times. Durability tests over 5000 potential cycles reveal excellent retention of mass activity (84 %) and specific activity (83.2 %) at 0.80 V, with only a minor 14 mV shift in half-wave potential. This enhancement stems from the synergistic effects between PtCo alloy nanoparticles and S, P-HCN, which modulate Pt- electronic structure, strengthen metal-support interactions, and boost catalytic efficiency. Single-cell HT-PEMFC studies demonstrate a peak power density of 377.4 mW cm−2 for PtCo/S, P-HCN, comparable to commercial Pt/C (398 mW cm−2), with reduced voltage degradation at low current densities. This work presents a promising approach for improving cathode materials and advancing HT-PEMFC performance.
  • 19. Biomass-derived carbon catalysts revolutionizing sustainable hydrogen production via water electrolysis: A review

    Tian Z., Bhuvanendran N., Liu H., Zhang W., Xu Q., Su H.

    International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2025, DOI Link, View abstract ⏷

    The escalating demand for sustainable hydrogen production has driven the exploration of biomass-derived carbon materials as cost-effective and eco-friendly alternatives to noble metal-based catalysts for water electrolysis. This review comprehensively examines recent advancements in synthesizing and optimizing biomass-derived carbon materials, including pyrolysis, hydrothermal carbonization, and microwave-assisted methods, alongside activation strategies such as physical, chemical, and templating techniques. These materials exhibit tunable porosity, heteroatom doping, and high surface area, enabling elevated catalytic performance toward both oxygen evolution (OER) and hydrogen evolution (HER) reactions. By integrating transition metals or heteroatoms (e.g., N, P, S), biomass-derived carbons achieve performance comparable to conventional Pt- or IrO2-based catalysts. Furthermore, bifunctional catalysts and hybrid electrolysis systems demonstrate synergistic efficiency, reducing overall energy consumption. Despite progress, challenges persist in pore structure regulation, conductivity enhancement, scalability, and long-term stability. This review underscores the potential of biomass-derived carbons to advance green hydrogen technologies while advocating for interdisciplinary efforts to address existing limitations and accelerate industrial adoption.
  • 20. Lattice-engineered PdCu bimetallene for superior electrocatalytic water splitting via electrochemical dealloying

    Bhuvanendran N., Dharmaraj V., Su H., Lee S.Y.

    Electrochimica Acta, 2025, DOI Link, View abstract ⏷

    Achieving efficient electrocatalysis for sustainably converting energy demands precise tuning of the structure-activity relationship of catalysts. Herein, we introduce a novel strategy for optimizing 2D PdCu bimetallene layers (BMLs) via an electrochemical dealloying (DA) process, modulating the electronic structures via lattice strain distortion. This boosts heterojunction surface activity and accelerates reaction kinetics, establishing DA PdCu BMLs as potential electrocatalyst for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in alkaline media. At 10 mA cm−2, the DA PdCu BMLs achieve low overpotentials of 301 (OER) and 221 mV (HER) on a glassy carbon disc electrode. On carbon cloth electrodes in 1 M KOH, the DA PdCu BMLs achieve overpotentials of 177 (OER) and 127 mV (HER), outperforming the untreated PdCu BMLs that achieve 237 and 245 mV, respectively. Stability tests over 10,000 cycles reveal minimal degradation, with only a 3-mV shift in the OER overpotential, unlike the 22 and 54 mV for the PdCu BMLs and Pd/C, respectively. The PdCu and DA PdCu BMLs require 189 and only 161 mV to reach 10 mA cm−2 for the HER, respectively. Theoretical calculations show that electronic modulation alters OER and HER intermediate adsorption on PdCu and DA PdCu BMLs, which is in line with experimental observation. This study underscores the importance of electronic modulation and defect engineering in optimizing catalytic performance and stability for water splitting.