The Liquid Metal Age: A Transition From Hg to Ga.

This review offers an illuminating journey through the historical evolution and modern-day applications of liquid metals, presenting a comprehensive view of their significance in diverse fields. Tracing the trajectory from mercury applications to contemporary innovations, the paper explores their pivotal role in industry and research. The analysis spans electrical switches, mechanical applications, electrodes, chemical synthesis, energy storage, thermal transport, electronics, and biomedicine.

Synthesis of CaCO supported nano zero-valent iron-nickel nanocomposite (nZVI-Ni@CaCO) and its application for trichloroethylene removal in persulfate activated system.

Nano zero-valent (nZVI) based composite have been widely utilized in environmental remediation. However, the rapid agglomeration and quick deactivation of nZVI limited its application on large scale. In this work, CaCO supported nZVI-Ni catalyst, namely nZVI-Ni@CaCO was prepared and used for the efficient removal of trichloroethylene (TCE) in PS oxidation process.

Rapid self-assembly of self-healable and transferable liquid metal epidermis.

Healable electronic skins, an essential component for future soft robotics, implantable bioelectronics, and smart wearable systems, necessitate self-healable and pliable materials that exhibit functionality at intricate interfaces. Although a plethora of self-healable materials have been developed, the fabrication of highly conformal biocompatible functional materials on complex biological surfaces remains a formidable challenge. Inspired by regenerative properties of skin, we present the self-assembled transfer-printable liquid metal epidermis (SALME), which possesses autonomous self-healing capabilities at the oil-water interface.

Synthesizing pectin-crosslinked gum ghatti hydrogel for efficient adsorptive removal of malachite green.

Pectin-crosslinked gum ghatti hydrogel (PGH) has been synthesized utilizing pectin and gum ghatti through an uncomplicated and inexpensive copolymerization method. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM-elemental mapping), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) characterization techniques have been employed to determine various structural, chemical and compositional characteristics of fabricated PGH. Three different weight ratios (1:1, 2:1, or 1:2 for pectin and gum ghatti, respectively) were employed to synthesize three distinct types of PGH.

ISX9 loaded thermoresponsive nanoparticles for hair follicle regrowth.

There is a high demand for an optimal drug delivery system to treat androgenetic alopecia. Topical application of ISX9, which is a neurogenesis inducer, has been found to stimulate hair follicle (HF) regrowth by upregulating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, an essential pathway involved in initiating HF growth and development. In the present study, a temperature-sensitive, biopolymer-based, biocompatible, and eco-friendly drug-delivery system was synthesized.

Tailoring Homogeneous Hydrogel Nanospheres by Facile Ultra-Sonication Assisted Cross-Linked Copolymerization for Rhodamine B Dye Adsorption.

The present paper describes the design of shape-oriented hydrogel nanospheres using a facile ultrasonication-supported crosslinked copolymerization technique. The effect of variable monomer concentration on the homogeneity of hydrogel nanospheres was investigated. The chitosan--poly(MMA) hydrogel nanospheres were well characterized using various techniques such as FTIR, XRD, TGA, SEM, and TEM.

Recent advances in perovskite-based Z-scheme and S-scheme heterojunctions for photocatalytic CO reduction.

The dramatic rise in carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere caused by the continuous use of carbon fuels continues to have a significant impact on environmental degradation and the disappearance of energy reserves. Past few years have seen a significant increase in the interest in photocatalytic carbon dioxide reduction because of its ability to lower CO releases from the burning of fossil fuels while also producing fuels and important chemical products. Because of their excellent catalytic efficiency, great uniformity, lengthy charge diffusion layers and texture flexibility that enable accurate band gap and band line optimization, perovskite-based nanomaterials are perhaps the most advantageous among the numerous semiconductors proficient in accelerating CO conversion under visible light.

Understanding Gel-Powers: Exploring Rheological Marvels of Acrylamide/Sodium Alginate Double-Network Hydrogels.

This study investigates the rheological properties of dual-network hydrogels based on acrylamide and sodium alginate under large deformations. The concentration of calcium ions affects the nonlinear behavior, and all gel samples exhibit strain hardening, shear thickening, and shear densification. The paper focuses on systematic variation of the alginate concentration-which serves as second network building blocks-and the Ca-concentration-which shows how strongly they are connected.

Rheology of graphene oxide stabilized Pickering emulsions.

Pickering emulgels stabilized by graphene oxide (GO) with didodecyldimethylammonium bromide (DDAB) as an auxiliary surfactant and liquid paraffin as the oil phase have proved to be an excellent 3D printable ink. This paper elucidates the structure of such emulgels by a combination of microscopy before and after intensive shear as well as broadband dielectric spectroscopy and rheology in the linear and nonlinear regime. An increase of the DDAB surfactant and GO-contents leads to a systematic increase of modulus and viscosity, a reduction of the limits of the nonlinear regime and a more complicated variation of the normal forces, with negative normal forces at high shear rate for low GO-contents and positive normal forces at high GO-contents.

High Dielectric Poly(vinylidene fluoride)-Based Polymer Enables Uniform Lithium-Ion Transport in Solid-State Ionogel Electrolytes.

Ionic liquids (ILs)-incorporated solid-state polymer electrolytes (iono-SPEs) have high ionic conductivities but show non-uniform Li transport in different phases. This work greatly promotes Li transport in polymer phases by employing a poly (vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene-chlorotrifluoroethylene) [P(VDF-TrFE-CTFE), PTC] as the framework of ILs to prepare iono-SPEs. Unlike PVDF, PTC with suitable polarity shows weaker adsorption energy on IL cations, reducing their possibility of occupying Li -hopping sites.

Study of the synergistic influence of zwitterionic interactions and graphene oxide on water diffusion mechanism and mechanical properties in hybrid hydrogel network.

Hybrid hydrogels based on n-isopropylacrylamide, zwitterionic comonomer, and graphene oxide were synthesized to study their physical and mechanical properties. The compositional variation largely influenced the swelling characteristics of the hybrid hydrogels compared to mechanical properties, i.e.

Dynamically bonded, tough, and conductive MXene@oxidized sodium alginate: chitosan based multi-networked elastomeric hydrogels for physical motion detection.

Biopolymer-based conductive hydrogels (HGs) are promising candidates for preparing environmentally friendly flexible electronics. However, it is still a great challenge to synthesize biopolymer-based tough, self-healable, and fast strain recoverable HGs. Herein, a facile strategy is demonstrated to synthesize stretchable, self-recoverable, conductive, and tough HGs strain sensors through the formation of multi-dynamic interactions (i.

Mussel-inspired biomaterials: From chemistry to clinic.

After several billions of years, nature still makes decisions on its own to identify, develop, and direct the most effective material for phenomena/challenges faced. Likewise, and inspired by the nature, we learned how to take steps in developing new technologies and materials innovations. Wet and strong adhesion by mussels (among which -blue mussel and -California mussel are the most well-known species) has been an inspiration in developing advanced adhesives for the moist condition.

Water-Soluble and -Insoluble Polymers and Biopolymers for Biomedical, Environmental, and Biological Applications.

In this Special Issue, several papers dedicated to biomedical, environmental, and biological applications have been assembled, representing different aspects of the field [...

Visible-light driven dual heterojunction formed between g-CN/BiOCl@MXene-TiC for the effective degradation of tetracycline.

In the present study, we have successfully formulated a dual heterojunction of g-CN/BiOCl@MXene-TiC (GCBM) which was found to be highly active in the visible region. GCBM was found to be highly efficient for the degradation of an antibiotic, tetracycline (TC) as compared to the individual constituting units; g-CN and BiOCl. Maximum of 97% TC degradation rate was obtained within 90 min of visible light irradiation for initial concentration of 10 mg/L of TC.

Gum Acacia-Crosslinked-Poly(Acrylamide) Hydrogel Supported CN/BiOI Heterostructure for Remediation of Noxious Crystal Violet Dye.

Herein, we report the designing of a CN/BiOI heterostructure that is supported on gum acacia-crosslinked-poly(acrylamide) hydrogel to fabricate a novel nanocomposite hydrogel. The potential application of the obtained nanocomposite hydrogel to remediate crystal violet dye (CVD) in an aqueous solution was explored. The structural and functional analysis of the nanocomposite hydrogel was performed by FTIR (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

Chitosan as a Tool for Sustainable Development: A Mini Review.

New developments require innovative ecofriendly materials defined by their biocompatibility, biodegradability, and versatility. For that reason, the scientific society is focused on biopolymers such as chitosan, which is the second most abundant in the world after cellulose. These new materials should show good properties in terms of sustainability, circularity, and energy consumption during industrial applications.

Fabrication and Characterization of Xanthan Gum-cl-poly(acrylamide-co-alginic acid) Hydrogel for Adsorption of Cadmium Ions from Aqueous Medium.

The present research demonstrates the facile fabrication of xanthan gum-cl-poly(acrylamide-co-alginic acid) (XG-cl-poly(AAm-co-AA)) hydrogel by employing microwave-assisted copolymerization. Simultaneous copolymerization of acrylamide (AAm) and alginic acid (AA) onto xanthan gum (XG) was carried out. Different samples were fabricated by changing the concentrations of AAm and AA.

A comprehensive review on the removal of noxious pollutants using carrageenan based advanced adsorbents.

Rapid industrial development is associated with high discharge of toxic pollutants into the environment. The industries discharge their wastewater containing organic pollutants directly into the water system without treating them that has posed many serious threats to environmental protection. The use of bioadsorbents for the removal of such toxic pollutants from the waste water due to its simple synthesis, easy operation, effectiveness, and economic viability have emerged a new dimension in the wastewater treatment approaches.

Human Organs-on-Chips: A Review of the State-of-the-Art, Current Prospects, and Future Challenges.

New emerging technologies, remarkably miniaturized 3D organ models and microfluidics, enable simulation of the real in vitro microenvironment ex vivo more closely. There are many fascinating features of innovative organ-on-a-chip (OOC) technology, including the possibility of integrating semipermeable and/or stretchable membranes, creating continuous perfusion of fluids into microchannels and chambers (while maintaining laminar flow regime), embedding microdevices like microsensors, microstimulators, micro heaters, or different cell lines, along with other 3D cell culture technologies. OOC systems are designed to imitate the structure and function of human organs, ranging from breathing lungs to beating hearts.

Concentration Effect over Thermoresponse Derived from Organometallic Compounds of Functionalized Poly(-isopropylacrylamide--dopamine Methacrylamide).

The functionalization of smart polymers is opening a new perspective in catalysis, drug carriers and biosensors, due to the fact that they can modulate the response regarding conventional devices. This smart response could be affected by the presence of organometallic complexes in terms of interactions which could affect the physical chemical properties. In this sense, the thermoresponsive behavior of copolymers based on -isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) could be affected due to the presence of hydrophobic groups and concentration effect.

Accelerated charge transfer in well-designed S-scheme Fe@TiO/Boron carbon nitride heterostructures for high performance tetracycline removal and selective photo-reduction of CO greenhouse gas into CH fuel.

Designing and fabrication of smart hybrid multifunctional materials for energy/fuel production and environmental detoxification is indeed of great significance for sustainable development. Herein, we synthesized a new well-structured S-scheme heterostructure Fe@TiO/Boron Carbon nitride (FT/BCN) with high performance tetracycline degradation and selective CO photo-reduction to CH. Under visible light irradiation, 96.