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One-dimensional noble metal nanostructures are important components in modern nanoscience and nanotechnology due to their unique optical, electrical, mechanical, and thermal properties. However, their cost and scalability may become a major bottleneck for real-world applications. Copper, being an earth-abundant metallic element, is an ideal candidate for commercial applications. It is critical to develop technologies to produce 1D copper nanostructures with high monodispersity, stability and oxygen-resistance for future low-cost nano-enabled materials and devices. This article covers comprehensively the current progress in 1D copper nanostructures, most predominantly nanorods and nanowires. First, various synthetic methodologies developed so far to generate 1D copper nanostructures are thoroughly described; the methodologies are in conjunction with the discussion of microscopic, spectrophotometric, crystallographic and morphological characterizations. Next, striking electrical, optical, mechanical and thermal properties of 1D copper nanostructures are highlighted. Additionally, the emerging applications of 1D copper nanostructures in flexible electronics, transparent electrodes, low cost solar cells, field emission devices are covered, amongst others. Finally, there is a brief discussion of the remaining challenges and opportunities.

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Ammonia production has traditionally been based on large-scale plants. The thrust toward large-scale production to gain economic advantages has overshadowed the benefits that could be derived from small-scale production plants. Additionally, the ammonia industry consumes a major chunk of global fossil fuels, which also burdens the planet with greenhouse gases. To effectively counter these issues, this study investigates the production of ammonia from biomass. Processes based on biomass plants are usually small-scale and are limited by biomass supply. To ensure sustainable ammonia production, this study tries to highlight the techno-economic advantages that result from small-scale ammonia plants based on biomass feedstock. This paper proposes a new process that takes inputs from a relatively old, natural gas based process (leading concept ammonia) specifically designed for small-scale ammonia manufacture and couples it with a recently developed dual fluidized bed technology for biomass feedstock. Two different flowsheet configurations are simulated rigorously and compared to gain a better understanding of the process. The flowsheets are optimized, and energy integration is performed to provide a wider insight. The life cycle assessment calculations that are carried out using ASPEN Plus simulation results and ecoinvent databases predict a CO 2 emissions reduction of 54−68% when compared to conventional ammonia plants.

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