Novel functional hydrogels based on lignin‑silver nanoparticles with adhesion, antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-freezing properties for wound dressings and pressure strain sensors.

As wound dressings and wearable electronics advance, it is critical to develop an efficacious strategy for integrating a variety of powerful functions into hydrogels. In this work, sodium lignosulfonate‑silver nanoparticles and the functional [2-(methacryloyloxy) ethyl] dimethyl-(3-sulfopropyl) ammonium hydroxide structure (SBMA) are introduced into the multifunctional lignin-based hydrogel system. The sodium lignosulfonate‑silver nanoparticles, by catalyzing multiple redox reactions, facilitate the swift curing of hydrogels at room temperature.

Ultrahard and Ultraflexible Supramolecular Hydrogel with Superenergy Dissipating Structure for Biomimetic Skin.

How to integrate the "soft" (flexibility and self-healing properties) and "hard" (shape retention) into the supramolecular hydrogel system is an attractive challenge. In this work, a supramolecular hydrogel with an energy dissipation structure is designed and prepared for intelligent biomimetic skin. Lignin molecules with disulfide bonds of fracture and healing activities are introduced into the hydrogel system through covalent bonds.

Spatially selective catalysis of OSA starch for preparation of Pickering emulsions with high emulsification properties.

The traditional strategies of chemical catalysis and biocatalysis for producing octenyl succinic anhydride modified starch can only randomly graft hydrophobic groups on the surface of starch, resulting in unsatisfactory emulsification performance. In this work, a lipase-inorganic hybrid catalytic system with multi-scale flower like structure is designed and applied to spatially selective catalytic preparation of ocenyl succinic anhydride modified starch. With the appropriate floral morphology and petal density, lipases distributed in the "flower center" can selectively catalyze the grafting of hydrophobic groups in a spatial manner, the hydrophobic groups are concentrated on one side of starch particles.

Biomass-derived multifunctional nanoscale carbon fibers toward fire warning sensors, supercapacitors and moist-electric generators.

Nowadays, great effort has been devoted to designing biomass-derived nanoscale carbon fibers with controllable fibrous morphology, high conductivity, big specific surface area and multifunctional characteristics. Herein, a green and renewable strategy is performed to prepare the biomass-based nanoscale carbon fibers for fire warning sensor, supercapacitor and moist-electric generator. This preparation strategy thoroughly gets over the dependence of petroleum-based polymeride, and effectually improves the energy storage capacity, sensing sensitivity, humidity power generation efficiency of the obtaining biomass-based carbon nanofibers.