Lightweight 3D-printed chitosan/MXene aerogels for advanced electromagnetic shielding, energy harvesting, and thermal management.

This study focuses on the fabrication of 3D-printed chitosan/TiCT-MXene aerogels with varying MXene concentrations (1, 2, 5, and 10 wt%) using the direct ink writing (DIW) method. The inks were freeze-dried to form aerogels, and FTIR and XRD analyses confirmed interactions between chitosan and MXene molecules, leading to increased spacing between MXene nanosheets. Rheological testing showed improved shear-thinning behavior, enhancing printability.

In-situ restructuring of Ni-based metal organic frameworks for photocatalytic CO hydrogenation.

As the global quest for sustainable energy keeps rising, exploring novel efficient and practical photocatalysts remains a research and industrial urge. Particularly, metal organic frameworks were proven to contribute to various stages of the carbon cycle, from CO capture to its conversion. Herein, we report the photo-methanation activity of three isostructural, nickel-based metal organic frameworks incorporating additional niobium, iron, and aluminum sites, having demonstrated exceptional CO capture abilities from thin air in previous reports.

Rational design of dual-ion doped cobalt-free Li-rich cathode materials for enhanced cycle stability of lithium-ion pouch cell batteries.

The synergistic effect of single-crystal structure and dual doping in Li-rich cobalt-free cathode materials was thoroughly investigated. Lithium-ion pouch cells employing Sb/Sn doped LiMnNiO and graphite exhibited a specific capacity of 191.01 mA h g at 1C rate and exceptionally stable performance upon cycling, with capacity retention of 87.

A new design of colorimetric films using bacterial cellulose nanocrystals derived from nata de coco for sensing volatile organic compounds.

In this work, bacterial cellulose (BC) derived from Nata de Coco is a polysaccharide material, and it is further processed into bacterial cellulose nanocrystal (BCNC) via acid hydrolysis. Then BCNC is doped with transition metals to enhance its amine/hydrogen sulfide response. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the use of transition metals as indicators to detect amine and hydrogen sulfide gas for efficiently monitoring food spoilage.

Advancing lithium-sulfur battery efficiency: utilizing a 2D/2D g-CN@MXene heterostructure to enhance sulfur evolution reactions and regulate polysulfides under lean electrolyte conditions.

Lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs) show promise for achieving a high energy density of 500 W h kg, despite challenges such as poor cycle life and low energy efficiency due to sluggish redox kinetics of lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) and sulfur's electronic insulating nature. We present a novel 2D TiC Mxene on a 2D graphitic carbon nitride (g-CN) heterostructure designed to enhance LiPS conversion kinetics and adsorption capacity. In a pouch cell configuration with lean electrolyte conditions (∼5 μL mg), the g-CN-Mx/S cathode exhibited excellent rate performance, delivering ∼1061 mA h g at C/8 and retaining ∼773 mA h g after 190 cycles with a Coulombic efficiency (CE) of 92.

Ratiometric electrochemical lateral flow immunoassay for the detection of Streptococcus suis serotype 2.

An electrochemical lateral flow immunoassay (eLFIA) strip with high reproducibility was developed to rapidly and accurately detect Streptococcus suis serotype 2. This proposed strip was fabricated by integrating ratiometric electrochemical detection and LFIA (R-eLFIA). The R-eLFIA exhibited excellent reproducibility, which was improved by 3.

Fabrication of a colorimetric film based on bacterial cellulose/metal coordination framework composite for monitoring food spoilage gas.

A newly designed colorimetric sensing film has been developed to determine the spoilage gas from food deterioration. The fabrication of sensing film used for food labels based on bacterial cellulose and carboxymethyl cellulose composite film (BC/CMC) incorporated with Bis(imidazolium) tetrachlorocuprate, HImCuCl was focused. The BC/CMC composite films were prepared by vacuum filtration and then dipped into the (5-20 % w/w) HImCuCl solution.

Is it possible to 3D bioprint load-bearing bone implants? A critical review.

Rehabilitative capabilities of any tissue engineered scaffold rely primarily on the triad of (i) biomechanical properties such as mechanical properties and architecture, (ii) chemical behavior such as regulation of cytokine expression, and (iii) cellular response modulation (including their recruitment and differentiation). The closer the implant can mimic the native tissue, the better it can rehabilitate the damage therein. Among the available fabrication techniques, only 3D bioprinting (3DBP) can satisfactorily replicate the inherent heterogeneity of the host tissue.

Electrochemical capillary-driven microfluidic DNA sensor for HIV-1 and HCV coinfection analysis.

Electrochemical DNA sensors can be operated in either static or flow-based detection schemes. In static schemes, manual washing steps are still necessary, resulting in a tedious and time-consuming process. In contrast, in flow-based electrochemical sensors, the current response is collected when the solution flows through the electrode continuously.

Formulation and Performance of NBR/CR-Based High-Damping Rubber Composites for Soundproof Using Orthogonal Test.

Multiple functional-material-filled nitrile butadiene rubber/chloroprene rubber (NBR/CR) acoustic composites were extensively studied and prepared. According to the orthogonal test table L25 (5), 25 groups of samples were prepared by using a low-temperature one-time rubber mixing process. With tensile strength, average transmission loss, and damping peak as indexes, the influence degree of different factors and levels on the properties of acoustic composites was quantitatively discussed and analyzed.

Enhanced hybrid photocatalytic dry reforming using a phosphated Ni-CeO nanorod heterostructure.

Operating the dry reforming reaction photocatalytically presents an opportunity to produce commodity chemicals from two greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide and methane, however, the top-performing photocatalysts presented in the academic literature invariably rely on the use of precious metals. In this work, we demonstrate enhanced photocatalytic dry reforming performance through surface basicity modulation of a Ni-CeO photocatalyst by selectively phosphating the surface of the CeO nanorod support. An optimum phosphate content is observed, which leads to little photoactivity loss and carbon deposition over a 50-hour reaction period.

Sustainable Carbon Derived from Sulfur-Free Lignins for Functional Electrical and Electrochemical Devices.

Technical lignins, kraft, soda, lignoboost, and hydrolysis lignins were used for the production of carbon particles at different carbonization temperatures, 1000 °C and 1400 °C. The results showed that the lignin source and carbonization temperature significantly influenced the carbon quality and microstructure of the carbon particles. Soda lignin carbonized up to 1400 °C showed higher degree of graphitization and exhibited the highest electrical conductivity of 335 S·m, which makes it suitable for applications, such as electromagnetic interference shielding and conductive composite based structural energy storage devices.

Regioselective Protection and Deprotection of Nanocellulose Molecular Design Architecture: Robust Platform for Multifunctional Applications.

Regioselectively substituted nanocellulose was synthesized by protecting the primary hydroxyl group. Herein, we took advantage of the different reactivities of primary and secondary hydroxyl groups to graft large capping structures. This study mainly focuses on regioselective installation of trityl protecting groups on nanocellulose chains.

Efficacy of Biopolymer/Starch Based Antimicrobial Packaging for Chicken Breast Fillets.

Food contamination leading to the spoilage and growth of undesirable bacteria, which can occur at any stage along the food chain, is a significant problem in the food industry. In the present work, biopolymer polybutylene succinate (PBS) and polybutylene succinate/tapioca starch (PBS/TPS) films incorporating Biomaster-silver (BM) and SANAFOR (SAN) were prepared and tested as food packaging to improve the lifespan of fresh chicken breast fillets when kept in a chiller for seven days. The incorporation of BM and SAN into both films demonstrated antimicrobial activity and could prolong the storability of chicken breast fillets until day 7.

A Single Crystal Hybrid Ligand Framework of Copper(II) with Stable Intrinsic Blue-Light Luminescence in Aqueous Solution.

Single-crystal solid-liquid dual-phase hybrid organic-inorganic ligand frameworks with reversible sensing response facilitated by external stimuli have received significant attention in recent years. This report presents a significant leap in designing electronic structures that display reversible dual-phase photoluminescence properties from single-crystal hybrid ligand frameworks. Three-dimensional Cu(CNH)Cl complex frameworks were formed through the intermolecular hydrogen bonding and π⋯π stacking supramolecular interactions.

Design and Ductile Behavior of Torsion Configurations in Material Extrusion to Enhance Plasticizing and Melting.

In the present work, the ductile formation mechanism of a newly proposed torsion configuration has been investigated. One of the unique attributes of this paper is the first-time disclosure of the design and fabrication of a novel prototype screw with torsional flow character validating the orthogonal test model experimentally. The torsional spiral flow patterns that occurred in the torsion channel cause a ductile deformation of polymer in the form of a spiral, which in turn enhances the radial convection, achieving an effective mass transfer of material from the top region to the bottom region and vice versa.

Nanocrystalline Cellulose from Microcrystalline Cellulose of Date Palm Fibers as a Promising Candidate for Bio-Nanocomposites: Isolation and Characterization.

Date palm fiber ( L.) is a natural biopolymer rich in lignocellulosic components. Its high cellulose content lends them to the extraction of tiny particles like microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC).

Thermoconformational Behavior of Cellulose Nanofiber Films as a Device Substrate and Their Superior Flexibility and Durability to Glass.

The design and high-throughput manufacturing of thin renewable energy devices with high structural and atomic configurational stability are crucial for the fabrication of green electronics. Yet, this concept is still in its infancy. In this work, we report the extraordinary durability of thin molecular interlayered organic flexible energy devices based on chemically tuned cellulose nanofiber transparent films that outperform glass by decreasing the substrate weight by 50%.

One-pot fabrication of flexible and luminescent nanofilm by in-situ radical polymerization of vinyl carbazole on nanofibrillated cellulose.

Photoresponsive functionalized nanofilms were prepared via radical polymerization of carbazole units on a nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) backbone via one-pot procedure. Herein, NFC was functionalized with active carbazole units as pendant organic moieties. The nanofilms were characterized by UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopy, Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy, C NMR and proton NMR spectra, contact angle analysis, mechanical testing, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

Hetero-Porous, High-Surface Area Green Carbon Aerogels for the Next-Generation Energy Storage Applications.

Various carbon materials have been developed for energy storage applications to address the increasing energy demand in the world. However, the environmentally friendly, renewable, and nontoxic bio-based carbon resources have not been extensively investigated towards high-performance energy storage materials. Here, we report an anisotropic, hetero-porous, high-surface area carbon aerogel prepared from renewable resources achieving an excellent electrical double-layer capacitance.

High quantum yield photoluminescent N-doped carbon dots for switch sensing and imaging.

Stable blue fluorescent nitrogen doped carbon dots (N-CDs) with a very high quantum yield up to 81% has been reported for the first time. Novel N-CDs were synthesized through an efficient and rapid one-step hydrothermal synthesis process from diethylenetriamine as nitrogen source and a novel carbon source trans-aconitic acid. The nanosized particles of N-CDs were in the range of 2-8 nm and uniformly distributed in molecular level.

Non-Isothermal Crystallization Behavior and Thermal Properties of Polyethylene Tuned by Polypropylene and Reinforced with Reduced Graphene Oxide.

This research work is the first to report thermal stability, heat deformation resistance, and crystallization behavior of a Polyethylene (PE)-based biphasic polyolefin system reinforced with Reduced Graphene Oxide (RGO), which was obtained through Graphene Oxide (GO) chemical reduction. Polypropylene (PP) represented the polymeric dispersed phase. A strategic PE/PP/RGO manufacturing procedure was employed to thermodynamically localize RGO at the PE/PP interface, as confirmed by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), bringing a uniform micro phase dispersion into the macro phase.

High Efficiency Solar Membranes Structurally Designed with 3D Core-2D Shell SiO@Amino-Carbon Hybrid Advanced Composite for Facile Steam Generation.

Steam generation through efficient utilization of solar energy is a promising technology in addressing the challenge of global freshwater shortage and water pollution. One of the biggest hurdles for traditional photothermal membranes to function continuously in a high temperature, high salt, and corrosive environment has been attributed to their rapid decline of mechanical properties. In this work, a highly efficient solar-driven interfacial water evaporation system has been developed via a polydopamine/carbon/silicon (PCS) composite membrane supported by a floating insulation foam substrate.

Hybrid Photo- and Thermal Catalyst System for Continuous CO Reduction.

Heterogeneous thermal catalytic processes are vital for industrial production of fuels, fertilizers, and other chemicals necessary for sustaining human life. However, these processes are highly energy-intensive, requiring a vast consumption of fossil fuels. An emerging class of heterogeneous catalysts that are thermally driven but also exhibit a photochemically enhanced rate can potentially reduce process energy intensity by partially substituting conventional heat (where fossil fuels are needed) with solar energy.