Diatoms are unicellular organisms, and their cell walls (diatom frustules) composed of hydrated amorphous silica have the characteristic of a delicate porous structure. Herein, we explore the applicability of utilizing industrial-scale artificially cultured diatoms (mainly three genera of Chaetoceros, Navicula, and Nitzschia) for the advanced anode of lithium ion batteries (LIBs) by preserving the original structure and making full use of the biomass in the cell as silicon and carbon sources. After facile physicochemical treatment processes, the obtained diatom-based carbon-accreted silica maintains a hierarchical porous structure of the original biomass and possesses an amorphous carbonaceous component homogeneously. The composite anode exhibits superior battery performance including high initial Coulomb efficiency, excellent rate capability, and outstanding reversible capacity. This study provides an opportunity for renewable natural resources to develop advanced active materials for LIBs of the future.
Organophosphate esters (OPEs) are increasingly used as flame retardants and plasticizers in various products. Most of them are physically mixed rather than chemical bonded to the polymeric products, leading to OPEs being readily released into the surrounding environment. Due to their relatively high solubility and mobility, OPEs are ubiquitous in the aquatic environment and may pose potential hazards to human health and aquatic organisms. This review systematically summarized the fate and distribution of OPEs in the aquatic environment and the potential effects of OPEs on humans. Data analysis shows that the concentrations of OPEs vary widely in various types of aquatic environments, including surface water (range: 25–3671 ng/L), drinking water (4–719 ng/L), and wastewater (104–29,800 ng/L). The results of human exposure assessments via aquatic products and drinking water ingestion indicate that all OPEs pose low, but not negligible, risks to human health. In addition, the limitations of previous studies are summarized, and the outlook is provided. This review provides valuable information on the occurrence and distribution of OPEs in the aquatic environment.
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