Synergistically piezocatalytic and Fenton-like activation of HO by a ferroelectric Bi(BiFe)O catalyst to boost degradation of polyethylene terephthalate microplastic (PET-MPs).

Pollution of microplastics (MPs) has been drastically threating human health, however, whose elimination from the environment by current approaches is inefficient due to their high molecular weight, stronghydrophobicity and stable covalent bonds. Herein, we report a novel and highly-efficient route to degrade MPs contaminants through synergistically piezocatalytic and Fenton-like activation of HO by a ferroelectric Bi(BiFe)O catalyst under ultrasound treatment. For 10 g/L polyethylene terephthalate microplastics (PET-MPs), the synergistic strategy reached a 28.

A Facile Strategy for In Situ Fabrication of Covalent Triazine Framework Aerogel with Thermal Insulation Property.

Covalent triazine frameworks (CTFs) have attracted tremendous attention with respect to their rich nitrogen content, functional triazine units, and high porosity. However, efficient and simple preparation of CTF monoliths is still a challenge. Here, we propose a novel and facile approach for the in situ preparation of CTF aerogels.

Metalloporphyrin- and Phosphonium-Bifunctionalized Porous Organic Polymers for Efficient Synergistic Catalysis of CO Conversion under Mild Conditions.

Functional porous organic polymers (POPs) have been widely developed as heterogeneous catalysts for carbon dioxide (CO) conversion. However, the integration of multifunctional active sites into POPs remains a major challenge. Herein, a facile postsynthesis modification strategy was explored to fabricate metalloporphyrin- and phosphonium-bifunctionalized POPs (TAPPM-PTBAR) as the heterogeneous catalysts for CO conversion.

pH-Regulated reversible phase inversion of poly(ionic liquid) aqueous two-phase systems.

Smart aqueous two-phase systems (ATPSs) were fabricated using ferrocenyl and benzyl-modified poly(ionic liquid)s for the first time. The novel ATPSs were found to be pH-sensitive. The upper phase and lower phase could be inverted reversibly by adjusting the pH value of the ATPSs.

Giant gateable thermoelectric conversion by tuning the ion linkage interactions in covalent organic framework membranes.

Efficient energy conversion using ions as carriers necessitates membranes that sustain high permselectivity in high salinity conditions, which presents a significant challenge. This study addresses the issue by manipulating the linkages in covalent-organic-framework membranes, altering the distribution of electrostatic potentials and thereby influencing the short-range interactions between ions and membranes. We show that a charge-neutral covalent-organic-framework membrane with β-ketoenamine linkages achieves record permselectivity in high salinity environments.

Covalent organic framework membrane reactor for boosting catalytic performance.

Membrane reactors are known for their efficiency and superior operability compared to traditional batch processes, but their limited diversity poses challenges in meeting various reaction requirements. Herein, we leverage the molecular tunability of covalent organic frameworks (COFs) to broaden their applicability in membrane reactors. Our COF membrane demonstrates an exceptional ability to achieve complete conversion in just 0.

Ionic liquids with reversible photo-induced conductivity regulation in aqueous solution.

Stimulus-responsive ionic liquids have gained significant attention for their applications in various areas. Herein, three kinds of azobenzimidazole ionic liquids with reversible photo-induced conductivity regulation were designed and synthesized. The change of electrical conductivity under UV/visible light irradiation in aqueous solution was studied, and the effect of chemical structure and concentration of ionic liquids containing azobenzene to the regulation of photoresponse conductivity were discussed.

Up/Down Tuning of Poly(ionic liquid)s in Aqueous Two-Phase Systems.

Thermally induced reversible up/down migration of poly(ionic liquid)s (PILs) in aqueous two-phase systems (ATPSs) was achieved for the first time in this study. Novel ATPSs were fabricated using azobenzene (Azo)- and benzyl (Bn)-modified PILs, and their upper and lower phases could be easily tuned using the grafting degree (GD) of the Azo and Bn groups. Bn-PIL with higher GD could go up into the upper phase and Azo-PIL come down to the lower phase when the temperature increased (>65 °C); this behavior was reversed at lower temperatures.

Stable Porous Organic Polymers Used for Reversible Adsorption and Efficient Separation of Trace SO.

The development of porous solid adsorbents for selective adsorption and separation of SO has attracted much attention recently. Herein, we design porous organic polymers (POPs) decorated with pyridine ligands as building units (POP-Py) through a radical polymerization of the 2,5-divinylpyridine (v-Py) monomer. Due to its high BET surface area, nanoporosity, and excellent stability, the prepared POP-Py can be used for reversible adsorption and efficient separation of SO.

Functional Porous Ionic Polymers as Efficient Heterogeneous Catalysts for the Chemical Fixation of CO under Mild Conditions.

The development of efficient and metal-free heterogeneous catalysts for the chemical fixation of CO into value-added products is still a challenge. Herein, we reported two kinds of polar group (-COOH, -OH)-functionalized porous ionic polymers (PIPs) that were constructed from the corresponding phosphonium salt monomers (v-PBC and v-PBH) using a solvothermal radical polymerization method. The resulting PIPs (POP-PBC and POP-PBH) can be used as efficient bifunctional heterogeneous catalysts in the cycloaddition reaction of CO with epoxides under relatively low temperature, ambient pressure, and metal-free conditions without any additives.

Different functional groups modified porous organic polymers used for low concentration CO fixation.

Through a facile post-synthetic method, different kinds of polar group-functionalized ionic liquid porous organic polymers (POP-PA-COOH, POP-PA-OH, and POP-PA-NH) were obtained. The materials can be used as efficient heterogeneous catalysts in the cycloaddition reaction of CO with epoxides under mild and co-catalyst-free conditions. It is demonstrated that POP-PA-NH possesses much higher catalytic activity than POP-PA-OH and POP-PA-COOH.

Nitrogen and sulfur-codoped porous carbon derived from a BSA/ionic liquid polymer complex: multifunctional electrode materials for water splitting and supercapacitors.

Bovine serum albumin (BSA) was complexed with a hydrophobic ionic liquid polymer (PIL) electrostatic interaction to fabricate a carbon precursor. Then, a novel nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) codoped micro-/mesoporous carbon (NSPC) was obtained direct carbonization of the interpolyelectrolyte BSA@PIL complex. The newly developed NSPC materials exhibited excellent HER/OER electrocatalytic activity and stability, as well as outstanding capacitance performance.

Reutilization of discarded biomass for preparing functional polymer materials.

Biomass is abundant and recyclable on the earth, which has been assigned numerous roles to human beings. However, over the past decades, accompanying with the rapid expansion of man-made materials, such as alloy, plastic, synthetic rubber and fiber, a great number of natural materials had been neglected and abandoned, such as straw, which cause a waste of resource and environmental pollution. In this review, based on introducing sources of discarded biomass, the main composition and polymer chains in discarded biomass materials, the traditional treatment and novel approach for reutilization of discarded biomass were summarized.

An autonomic self-healing organogel with a photo-mediated modulus.

A new method is described for fabricating autonomic, self-healing, deformable organogels. We combined imidazolium-based poly(ionic liquid) (PIL) and azobenzene-grafted poly(carboxylic acid) (PAA-Azo) in N,N-dimethyl formamide. Further, complexing PIL with unirradiated (trans) or irradiated (cis) PAA-Azo tuned the elastic modulus of the organogel.

Manipulating pH using near-infrared light assisted by upconverting nanoparticles.

Near-infrared light can be used to manipulate the pH of aqueous solutions by using upconverting nanoparticle-assisted photocleavage of a ruthenium complex photobase. Upconverting nanoparticles and the photobase were also introduced into a pH-responsive hydrogel, in which near-infrared irradiation induced swelling of the hydrogel.

Fabrication of dual-sensitive keratin-based polymer hydrogels and their controllable release behaviors.

Using feather keratin (FK) as a biocompatible and inexpensive biopolymer, a kind of dual-sensitive keratin-based polymer hydrogel (FK/PNiPA/PIAc-Gel) with interpenetrating network structure was prepared by two-step polymerization of N-isopropyl acrylamide (NiPA) and itaconic acid (IAc) in presence of crosslinker. After being characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and scanning electron microscopy, its swelling behaviors and environmental sensitivity were investigated. The obtained biopolymer based hydrogel has good swelling and deswelling performance, and it is sensitive to pH value, temperature and salts of environment.

Preparation of Thermo-Responsive Poly(ionic liquid)s-Based Nanogels via One-Step Cross-Linking Copolymerization.

In this study, thermo-responsive polymeric nanogels were facilely prepared via one-step cross-linking copolymerization of ethylene glycol dimethacrylate/divinylbenzene and ionic liquid (IL)-based monomers, 1,n-dialkyl-3,3'-bis-1-vinyl imidazolium bromides ([CnVIm]Br; n = 6, 8, 12) in selective solvents. The results revealed that stable and blue opalescent biimidazolium (BIm)-based nanogel solutions could be obtained without any precipitation when the copolymerizations were conducted in methanol. Most importantly, these novel nanogels were thermo-response, and could reversibly transform to precipitation in methanol with temperature changes.

One-step synthesis of thermosensitive nanogels based on highly cross-linked poly(ionic liquid)s.

A gel for all seasons: Thermosensitive nanogels based on highly cross-linked poly(ionic liquid)s (CLPNs) were prepared in one step by the copolymerization of imidazolium-based monomers with cross-linkers in selective solvents. Reversible nanogel-macrogel transitions of CLPNs in methanol could be achieved by changing the temperature.

Amphiphilic cholic-acid-modified dextran sulfate and its application for the controlled delivery of superoxide dismutase.

A novel amphiphilic and biodegradable polyelectrolyte DS-CA is prepared by the esterification of DS with CA. DS-CA can self-assemble into stable nanoparticles in water. SOD can effectively associate with DS-CA at pH = 5.

A facile one-step synthesis to cross-linked polymeric nanoparticles as highly active and selective catalysts for cycloaddition of CO2 to epoxides.

A very convenient one-step synthesis to cross-linked polymeric nanoparticles by conventional radical copolymerization without the addition of stabilizers or surfactants was explored. Moreover, these nanoparticles exhibited excellent stability, activity and selectivity in the cycloaddition reaction of CO(2) to epoxides and could be separated from the products easily and reused.