Preparation of PBAT microplastics and their potential toxicity to zebrafish embryos and juveniles.

The extensive use of traditional non-biodegradable plastics results in the generation of microplastics (MPs), forming a new pollutant that can pose significant environmental risks. Biodegradable plastics (BP) possess degradation properties and can partially replace conventional plastics, thereby reducing pollution. However, further investigation is needed into the toxicity of biodegradable microplastics (BMPs) on aquatic organisms.

Novel Retroreflective Structural Color Films Based on Total Internal Reflection Interference.

Structural color materials have tremendous applications and been extensively investigated in the past decades. Most of them involve either nanoscale periodic photonic crystal structure or film interference mechanisms. Herein, we report a novel retroreflective structural color film (RSCF) based on a combined effect of interference and total internal reflection (TIR).

Robust porous organosilica monoliths via a surfactant-free high internal phase emulsion process for efficient oil-water separation.

Elastic porous organosilica monoliths (POMs) are successfully prepared by water in oil (w/o) high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs) with a novel silica precursor named polyethoxysiloxane (PEOS) as sole stabilizer. The stability of the HIPEs and the mechanical strength of the POMs are investigated as functions of PEOS and crosslinker contents in the oil phase. FESEM reveals that PEOS molecules play a significant role of in-situ growth into silica particles to strengthen the POMs, which enables the successful preparation of elastic POMs.

Stable Perovskite Quantum Dots Coated with Superhydrophobic Organosilica Shells for White Light-Emitting Diodes.

Metalammonium lead perovskite (MAPbX , MA=CH NH ; X=Cl, Br, I) quantum dots (QDs) have attracted tremendous attention due to their outstanding optical properties. However, they usually suffer from poor stability towards water or moisture, which seriously limits their practical applications. Here, we report a simple and effective approach to improve the stability of MAPbBr QDs by encapsulating them with superhydrophobic fluorinated organosilica (FSiO ) shells.

Novel Polymeric Organosilica Precursor and Emulsion Stabilizer: Toward Highly Elastic Hollow Organosilica Nanospheres.

The fabrication of hollow organosilica nanoparticles with high elasticity is greatly desirable but still challenging. Herein, we present a new and simple strategy to prepare such nanoparticles by using hyperbranched polyvinylpolytrimethoxysilane (PVPMS) via a soap-free oil in water (O/W) emulsion system. PVPMS was synthesized through the radical polymerization of vinyltrimethoxysilane (VMS) followed by the acid-catalyzed hydrolytic polycondensation of trimethoxysilyl groups, which works not only as an organosilica precursor but also as a sole emulsion stabilizer due to its hydrolysis-induced amphiphilicity at the oil/water interface.

Ultralight Silica Foams with a Hierarchical Pore Structure via a Surfactant-Free High Internal Phase Emulsion Process.

An ultralight silica aerogel is among the most versatile materials available for technical applications; however, it remains a huge challenge to reduce its manufacturing cost. Here, we report on a simple approach for the preparation of silica foam monoliths with ultrahigh porosity up to 99.5% and specific surface area as high as 755 m g, which are similar to those of an aerogel.

A simple and environment-friendly approach for synthesizing macroporous polymers from aqueous foams.

We propose a facile and environment-friendly approach for the preparation of macroporous polyacrylamide (PAM) via thermal-initiated polymerization of aqueous foams that are stabilized by surface-modified silica nanoparticles. Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) is used to delicately adjust the surface amphiphilicity of silica to stabilize aqueous foams. The air bubble size and size distribution is affected by the wettability of silica particles, solid content and air volume fraction in the foams.

Pore Structure of Macroporous Polymers Using Polystyrene/Silica Composite Particles as Pickering Stabilizers.

A novel approach for the preparation of interconnected macroporous polymers with a controllable pore structure was reported. The method was based on the polymerization of water-in-oil Pickering high internal phase emulsion (HIPE) stabilized by polystyrene (PS)/silica composite particles. The composite Pickering stabilizers were facilely obtained by mixing positively charged PS microspheres and negatively charged silica nanoparticles, and their amphiphilicity could be delicately tailored by varying the ratio of PS and silica.