Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute

Hydrogen energy is at the forefront of the global green energy transition, offering a clean, sustainable alternative to conventional fuels. Efficient water splitting is pivotal for large-scale hydrogen production, yet it demands highly active and durable electrocatalysts. Transition metal selenides have emerged as promising materials due to their superior electrical conductivity, tunable electronic structures, and abundant active sites. A series of CrSe-based catalysts was systematically engineered through controlled Fe incorporation and defect modulation, yielding a CrSe@FeSe2 heterostructure that synergistically enhances intrinsic catalytic activity and interfacial charge transfer. Due to the electronic coupling and the abundance of active sites introduced by vacancy engineering, it exhibited remarkable electrochemical performance in both the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The catalyst required an ∼220 mV overpotential to deliver a current density of 20 mA cm–2 for the OER, and 147 mV for HER in an alkaline medium to achieve the same current density. Furthermore, the material demonstrated excellent long-term durability for 40 h, delivering high current densities of 600 mA cm–2 (OER) and 1A cm–2 (HER) in chronoamperometric tests. When used as both an anode and cathode in a two-electrode configuration, the CrSe@FeSe2-based electrolyzer achieved sustained water-splitting performance at 100 mA cm–2 for 40 h with negligible potential degradation. This work highlights the efficacy of vacancy engineering and heterostructure design in optimizing selenium-based transition-metal catalysts for high-performance, durable electrochemical water splitting.

Raising black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) on organic streams is gaining popularity among small‐scale farmers, especially in middle‐income nations. Proper drying of BSFL is essential to prevent microbial spoilage and the degradation of proteins and fats, while also ensuring a long service life of the dryer, minimal material usage, and reduced overall costs. Microwave drying has uneven heat distribution, while oven drying causes quality loss due to long drying times. To address these challenges, customized banded heaters on the rotary dryer were used to maintain a uniform temperature distribution in the drying zone, thereby improving the quality of the dried larvae. A slip ring transmitted power to these heaters. A finite element model was developed in ANSYS to carry out thermomechanical analysis, optimizing the thickness of the stainless steel dryer to withstand more than 10 6 operating cycles. A prototype was developed and underwent thermal validation. The prototype was tested and evaluated for the maximum throughput for the indirect rotary dryer, demonstrating a 46% improvement in throughput over microwave drying and a 10% improvement over hot air oven drying. Additionally, the results indicated superior quality for the dried BSFL compared to conventional drying methods, which offered a promising solution for small‐scale farmers.

The ongoing shift toward energy efficiency and sustainable transportation has intensified the demand for advanced lubrication technologies capable of reducing frictional losses and enhancing mechanical durability. In this context, lubricant additives have emerged as critical components for improving the performance of base oils under extreme operating conditions. Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs), with its crystalline porous architecture and tunable physicochemical properties, offer a novel class of additives with significant potential in tribological applications. Their high surface area, structural versatility, and thermal stability enable them to form robust protective films, minimize wear, and provide long-term performance even in demanding environments. MOFs also exhibit low electrical and high thermal conductivity, which makes them especially well-suited for modern lubrication challenges, including those posed by electric vehicle (EV) systems. This review presents an in-depth exploration of MOF-based lubricant additives and their composites, focusing on their tribological behaviors, interaction mechanisms, and potential for achieving superlubricity. It also examines the evolving role of MOFs in addressing lubrication requirements specific to EVs, such as thermal management and material compatibility. By highlighting recent advancements and future prospects, this review underscores the promise of MOF-based materials as next-generation additives for efficient, environmentally friendly lubrication strategies.