Characterization of microplastics found in mosquito oviposition habitats.

This study examined the presence and characteristics of microplastics (MPs) in water collected from potential mosquito oviposition habitats in Lubbock, TX. Water samples ranging from 10 to 1000 mL were collected from 36 suspected artificial and natural oviposition habitats, and sites were categorized as artificial containers, tires, or natural sites. Samples were filtered through a series of stainless-steel sieves and isopore membrane filters, and MPs were imaged and counted using a stereo microscope.

Microplastic ingestion perturbs the microbiome of Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) and Aedes aegypti.

Microplastics (MPs) are common environmental pollutants; however, little is known about their effects after ingestion by insects. Here we fed Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti (L.) and Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus (Skuse) mosquito larvae 1 µm polystyrene MPs and examined the impacts of ingestion on adult emergence rates, gut damage, and fungal and bacterial microbiota.

Synthesis and Electronic Applications of Particle-Templated TiCT MXene-Polymer Films via Pickering Emulsion Polymerization.

MXene/polymer composites have gained widespread attention due to their high electrical conductivity and extensive applications, including electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding, energy storage, and catalysis. However, due to the difficulty of dispersing MXenes in common polymers, the fabrication of MXene/polymer composites with high electrical conductivity and satisfactory EMI shielding properties is challenging, especially at low MXene loadings. Here, we report the fabrication of MXene-armored polymer particles using dispersion polymerization in Pickering emulsions and demonstrate that these composite powders can be used as feedstocks for MXene/polymer composite films with excellent EMI shielding performance.

Flocculation of MXenes and Their Use as 2D Particle Surfactants for Capsule Formation.

MXenes, transition metal carbides or nitrides, have gained great attention in recent years due to their high electrical conductivity and catalytic activity, hydrophilicity, and diverse surface chemistry. However, high hydrophilicity and negative ζ potential of the MXene nanosheets limit their processability and interfacial assembly. Previous examples for modifying the dispersibility and wettability of MXenes have focused on the use of organic ligands, such as alkyl amines, or covalent modification with triethoxysilanes.