In this study, the sustainable and economically viable synthesis of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), a key bio-based platform chemical, from fructose using commercial acidic ion-exchange resins as heterogeneous catalysts was investigated. The investigation evaluated four commercial resins (Amberlite 120, Amberlyst 16, Amberlite 748 and Lewatit K2629) for their potential in developing a scalable process, leveraging their proven industrial robustness. Lewatit K2629 was identified as the superior catalyst in the initial screening in DMSO, achieving an exceptional HMF yield. Detailed characterization confirmed the catalyst’s thermal stability, spherical porous morphology and the presence of sulfonic acid (–SO3H) functional groups. The optimal reaction conditions were determined using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) as 120 °C, 125 min, and 28 wt
The recovery of precious metals (PMs) from secondary resources has become increasingly crucial due to their resource scarcity, economic value, and the growing environmental concerns associated with electronic waste (e-waste). This review provides an overview of the latest research advancements in the application of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), covalent-organic frameworks (COFs), and porous organic polymers (POPs), adsorbents for PM recovery from secondary resources such as e-waste leachate and industrial effluents. These materials have garnered significant attention due to their large surface areas, tunable pore structures, and diverse functionalization capabilities. This review delves into the structural characteristics, adsorption performance, selectivity, and regeneration capabilities of these materials for extracting PMs such as gold, silver, palladium, and platinum. Furthermore, key adsorption mechanisms are explored. Finally, current challenges in the field are discussed, and future research directions are highlighted, emphasizing the need to develop more selective, stable, and reusable sorbents, as well as exploring hybrid technologies and machine learning approaches. By summarizing current research trends and identifying knowledge gaps, this article aims to guide the development of more efficient porous adsorbents and promote sustainable resource management within the circular economy framework.
The distinct electrical and magnetic characteristics of its lanthanide (Ln3+) ions have made lanthanide-based Metal-Organic Frameworks (Ln-MOFs) an important family of materials. This paper offers a thorough summary of how these ions' unique f-orbitals allow for a variety of innovative applications, especially in the areas of energy storage, corrosion prevention, and smart sensing. After providing an overview of the synthesis processes of Ln-MOFs, which frequently involve solvothermal or hydrothermal methods, the paper provides a detailed account of their complex structures, emphasizing their large surface areas, high porosity, and adjustable frameworks. The coordination chemistry basics of these MOFs are covered in considerable detail, highlighting the vital function of the f-orbitals, which are protected from outside ligands and environments and maintain the inherent characteristics of the lanthanide ions. Their multifunctional capabilities are largely due to the persistent magnetic moments and bright, distinctive luminescence spectra that result from this shielding. The review's main focus is on the various uses of MOFs based on lanthanides. Since their porous nature allows them to incorporate corrosion inhibitors for on-demand release, lanthanide structures are being considered as possible protective coatings or self-healing systems for corrosion protection. The article looks at how they are used in energy storage in supercapacitors and batteries, where their large surface area and structural stability allow for dependable cycling performance and quick ion diffusion. Lastly, the paper explores their application in smart sensing, where Ln-MOFs' special luminescence characteristics, specifically, their long luminescence lifetimes and narrow emission bands, make them perfect for highly sensitive and selective analyte detection. The purpose of this review is to provide insights for future materials science research and development by relating the advanced functionalities of Ln-MOFs to the basic coordination chemistry of lanthanides.
Polymers with electric, dielectric, and ferroelectric properties have become essential materials in a wide range of modern technologies, from flexible electronics and energy storage systems to biomedical devices and smart sensors. Their inherent mechanical flexibility, chemical tunability, lightweight nature, and processability enable their integration into advanced functional materials with tailored performance. In particular, dielectric polymers are widely used in capacitors and insulation layers, ferroelectric polymers provide spontaneous polarization for memory and sensing applications, and conductive polymers serve as flexible alternatives to metallic conductors. This review presents a comprehensive overview of the recent advances and emerging trends in the field of electric, dielectric, and ferroelectric polymeric materials. It discusses the fundamental principles and structural considerations that define their performance, followed by an exploration of their role in six critical application areas: energy storage, wearable electronics, piezoelectric sensors, capacitors, flexible displays, and biomedical systems. Through the integration of recent studies and technological breakthroughs, this review aims to bridge the gap between materials science and device engineering, while highlighting key challenges, current limitations, and promising strategies for future development. The paper concludes with forward‐looking perspectives on how next‐generation polymer systems can be designed to address pressing societal and industrial needs.
MXenes are an emerging family of two-dimensional transition metal carbides and nitrides that have attracted considerable attention due to their exceptional electrical conductivity, surface chemistry tunability, and layered architecture. Despite rapid progress, the rational design of porous MXene-based composites remains fragmented, with limited cross-cutting analyses that connect porous-host selection, structure–property relationships, scalability, and data-driven optimization. In this review, building upon and extending our prior contributions, we present a comprehensive and critical synthesis of organic and inorganic porous materials integrated with MXenes, including metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), covalent organic frameworks (COFs), zeolites, porous polymers, and carbon-based hosts. Beyond a descriptive survey, this work introduces a unified comparative framework that quantitatively contrasts porous hosts in terms of conductivity enhancement, mechanical robustness, manufacturability, and compatibility with machine-learning-assisted optimization. One of the key innovations of this review is the explicit integration of artificial intelligence into porous MXene materials design: we systematically analyze AI-assisted and non-AI design paradigms, propose a closed-loop AI–experiment workflow, and introduce a figure of merit (FoM_AI design) to benchmark predictive reliability, data efficiency, and resource utilization across different AI strategies. By linking hierarchical porosity, MXene electronic structure, and data-centric intelligence, this review moves beyond conventional trial-and-error approaches and establishes a conceptual roadmap for predictive, scalable, and application-oriented porous MXene composites. The insights provided here define clear short-, mid-, and long-term research directions for next-generation materials targeting energy storage, electrocatalysis, sensing, electromagnetic interference shielding, and environmental remediation.
