The production of advanced 3D engineering materials relies on energy-intensive moldable materials such as metals and plastics, making it difficult to cope with the increasingly severe global energy crisis. Wood, as a sustainable material, can be molded through hydrothermal treatment, but the limited plasticity hinders its ability to manufacture precision devices. Herein, the process of hydrogen-bond domain reorganization is used in the manufacture of highly moldable wood to enhance the plasticity of wood and ensure the stability of the cellulose structure. The native hydrogen-bond network in the wood cell wall is disrupted and liberated the cellulose fibril matrix through delignification. Subsequent epoxidized soybean oil acrylate (AESO) plasticization enables significantly enhanced plasticity. Hydrogen-bond domains between fibers are reconstructed through moisture variation. Meanwhile, AESO forms a protective layer on the surface of the fibers, preventing excessive moisture from entering and causing the collapse of the fiber framework. This process allows the material to be shaped into complex 3D geometries, including origami cranes or honeycombs, through low-energy hydrothermal processing. This strategy addresses both dimensional stability challenges and environmental instability associated with wood composite materials and offers an eco-friendly alternative to functionalized structures in aviation and transportation.

Advanced sound absorbing, compression resistant, and flame retardant materials show significant potential for applications in construction, transportation, and aerospace engineering. However, conventional reinforcing and flame-retardant additives often disrupt the open-pore networks required for efficient acoustic dissipation, limiting their applications. To address the flammability and poor mechanical strength of bio-based materials, we developed a robust, hierarchically porous alginate-enabled biomass network via a facile mechanical frothing and ionic crosslinking strategy. This process integrates soy protein isolate (SPI), balsa wood powder (BWP), and sodium alginate (SA) to construct a novel "rigid-flexible" synergistic rigid BWP skeleton and flexible Ca2+-alginate network. BWP acts as a rigid skeleton with natural hollow lumens, while the Ca2+-crosslinked SA network interpenetrates the SPI matrix, serving as a toughening agent to stabilize the cell walls. The composite achieved superior broadband sound absorption, with a peak absorption coefficient of 0.98 at 1650 Hz. It also attained an enhanced Young's modulus of 22.6 MPa and excellent flame retardancy together with a UL-94 V-0 rating. This work provides a new structure–property design strategy for biomass composite foams and offers a promising materials platform for high-strength acoustic and fire-safe applications.

Global urbanization has exacerbated noise pollution, driving a surging demand for acoustically efficient green buildings. Conventional porous absorbers face inherent trade-offs between thickness, broadband efficiency, and environmental impact, hindering their retrofitting applications in space-constrained built environments. To address this challenge, this study develops thin (10 mm) wood-based acoustic panels with a hierarchical porous structure, leveraging the inherent porosity and transverse layered morphology of natural balsa wood. The material, with an ultralow density of 0.040 g/cm3, exhibits a stable broadband sound absorption (NRC = 0.377) across 200-64000 Hz and concurrently possesses thermal insulation, with a thermal conductivity of 0.048 W/(m·K), demonstrating good heat preservation and insulation performance. A facile fabrication process is achieved through direct utilization of raw wood avoiding complex chemical treatments. This study meets critical demands for space-efficient, eco-friendly sound control in green buildings, offering a promising solution for retrofitting applications where wall thickness constraints are paramount.

ABSTRACT Ionic thermoelectric hydrogels show great potential for wearable electronics and low‐power energy harvesting. Achieving high ionic conductivity, large Seebeck effect, mechanical robustness, and environmental stability simultaneously remains challenging. Inspired by natural wood mass transport, we fabricated a wood‐based ionic thermoelectric hydrogel (WPCH) retaining its skeleton structure. The vertically aligned anisotropic wood channels offer mechanical stability and oriented ion transport pathways. The rigid skeleton overcomes the low compression resistance of cellulose‐based counterparts, well balancing thermoelectric performance, mechanics, and environmental stability. Benefiting from oriented, continuous ion transport channels formed by the wood–poly(vinyl alcohol) network, WPCH exhibits a high ionic conductivity of 39.94 mS cm −1 . Strong solvation/coordination interactions between Li + ions and the hydroxyl‐rich cellulose/PVA network retard cation thermodiffusion relative to Cl − , as revealed by molecular dynamics simulations, producing a high n‐type ionic Seebeck coefficient of −2.06 mV K −1 . WPCH also delivers a compressive strength of 890 kPa, enabling applications that require rigid, compressive‐supporting materials. High‐concentration electrolyte impregnation further improves water retention and environmental stability, ensuring durability under practical conditions. Demonstrations in LED powering, fire‐warning systems, and ambient thermal energy harvesting highlight wood‐skeleton engineering as a sustainable route to mechanically robust and environmentally stable ionic thermoelectric devices.

Conductive hydrogels have promising applications for flexible strain sensors. However, most hydrogels have poor tensile strength and are susceptible to damage, significantly impeding their potential for further application. Wood has been used to reinforce hydrogels, significantly enhancing their strength and dimensional stability. However, wood-based hydrogels generally lack adhesive properties or exhibit low self-adhesion. To address this issue, we introduced acryloyloxyethyltrimethyl ammonium chloride (DAC) into the hydrogel network through graft aggregation. The resulting electrostatic interactions significantly enhanced the adhesion of the wood-based hydrogel up to 270 kPa (for glass) and concurrently strengthened its cohesion. The prepared novel wood-based hydrogel (WDDH) exhibited high tensile strength (3.38 MPa), low-swelling ratio (only 2 % longitudinal), and high tensile strain (274.40 %). When WDDH was used as the wearable strain sensor, it showed a gauge factor of approximately 4.94. The device effectively captured and detected human movements, including finger and joint flexion, walking patterns, and hydration habits. The objective of this research is to develop a wood-based hydrogel with enhanced mechanical strength, adhesive properties, and flexibility for use in wearable sensors. This study provides insight into the development of flexible sensor hydrogels with improved adhesion properties using biomass materials.

Wood has been one of the most widely used sustainable materials for millennia, but its limited mechanical properties and formability have restricted its application in diverse structural contexts. In this study, we elucidate the mechanisms governing the micromechanical behaviors of wood and the strengthening effects achieved through room-temperature hydroplasticization. This process transforms wood into ultra-strong, self-densified structures with customizable shapes, driven by system deformation and energy dissipation. These effects are governed by the interplay between polymer matrix elasticity and interfacial sliding response. Notably, the hydroplasticization method enables the attainment of a high flexural strength (483 MPa), surpassing that of mechanically compressed wood and traditional materials like steel and aluminum alloys. These findings introduce new possibilities for developing complex load-bearing structures that are previously unachievable with conventional wood.

In this study, a cooperative system involving ammonium dihydrogen phosphate (MAP) and a binary deep eutectic solvent (DES) was designed, achieving dual functionalization (phosphorylation and sulfonation) of straw fibers through an innovative combined pretreatment scheme. The incorporation of sulfonic acid and phosphate groups facilitated the nanofibrillation of straw fibers, markedly decreasing their diameter. When coupled with brief ultrasonic treatment, cellulose nanofibers were effectively prepared. The introduction of sulfonic acid and phosphate groups enhanced hydrogen bonding interactions between the cellulose nanofibers, enabling selfadhesive straw cellulose nanofiber laminates to be produced. These laminates exhibited excellent flame retardancy and mechanical properties. Due to their low energy consumption, simple process, and readily available raw materials, cellulose nanofiber laminates have broad application potential in industries such as construction, design, and automotive interiors. Characterization revealed that the tensile strength increased more than threefold, thermal stability was enhanced, the limiting oxygen index (LOI) reached 74.9 %, and the heat release rate dropped by 74.3 %, indicating significant self-extinguishing capability. These findings suggest that the MAP-based DES system shows great promise for fabricating highly flame-retardant materials.

The development of sustainable biomaterials has recently attracted great interest in the fields of flexible electronics and biosensing hydrogels. Hydrogels are a class of three-dimensional spatial network structure, and their structure and shape can exhibit reversible or noticeable responses to various stimuli, making them a popular choice for flexible electronic materials in recent years. Acrylic hydrogels, which possess a rich carboxylate network, can provide significant sensing and actuation properties to the hydrogels. They are often synthesized through the co-polymerization of their monomers and cross-linking agents, and they can be combined with naturally occurring biopolymers such as cellulose and chitosan to enhance biocompatibility. In this paper, we review the compounding methods and preparation process technologies of functionalized acrylic hydrogels and the application of polyacrylic acid (PAA) bioproducts in various fields. Finally, we review the current challenges and future directions for acrylic hydrogel prepared sensors and their applications.

Solar-driven interfacial evaporation (SDIE) is now widely recognized as a promising solution to the global freshwater crisis. This recognition stems from its low energy consumption and environmentally friendly characteristics. However, the performance is hampered by variations in solar intensity due to daily cycles and weather changes, significantly affecting evaporation rates and freshwater yield. One of the most effective strategies for addressing this issue is to integrate solar energy storage materials with SDIE. In this study, we integrated a phase change energy storage material (Na2SO4 & sdot;10H2O) into a solar evaporator encapsulated within a dual-network hydrogel composed of sodium alginate and polyacrylamide. Additionally, Chinese ink was utilized as a light absorber to improve the efficiency of photo-thermal conversion. This hydrogel-based evaporator effectively stores surplus solar energy and releases latent heat, enabling continuous and efficient seawater desalination even under low-light conditions. Experimental findings indicate that the evaporation rate was highly 2.72 kg & sdot;m-2 & sdot;h-1 under 1 sun, and the evaporation efficiency was 92.8 %. Notably, the phase change material exhibits significant heat storage capacity, with a phase change latent heat of 181.42 J & sdot;g- 1. Consequently, In the absence of solar radiation, the evaporation rate remains sustained at 1.25 kg & sdot;m- 2 & sdot;h-1, representing a 16.8 % increase in freshwater production compared to hydrogels lacking phase change materials. Moreover, the hydrogel-based evaporator demonstrates robust performance in purifying total dissolved solids (TDS) and major salt ions from seawater, showcasing exceptional durability under high acid-base and salinity conditions. This study underscores a promising pathway towards sustainable and efficient desalination processes utilizing intermittent renewable solar energy.

Due to increasing economic and environmental constraints, the development of renewable-source polymers as alternatives to conventional petroleum-based polymers has become a critical challenge in materials science. Vegetable oils, particularly soybean oil (SO), have emerged as promising renewable resources owing to their abundance, cost-effectiveness, and ease of chemical modification. In this study, a novel polyurethane was synthesized through the combination of SO, diethanolamine (DEA), dicyclohexylmethane 4,4′-diisocyanate (HMDI), and bis(2-hydroxyethyl) disulfide (HEDS). The incorporation of HEDS as a cross-linking agent facilitated the formation of a cross-linked network structure during the chemical cross-linking pre-polymerization reaction of the polyurethane main chain. The resulting polyurethane adhesive demonstrated remarkable rebonding capability, maintaining good bond strength through up to nine rebonding cycles, and exhibited exceptional shear strength of 7 MPa. Furthermore, the adhesive-coated substrates maintained substantial shear strength after 24-h immersion in various pH solutions, indicating excellent chemical stability. The integration of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with the block copolymer using ultrasonic cell disruption techniques enhanced the material’s electrical conductivity, thereby expanding its potential applications in non-destructive testing of adhesive sizing processes, particularly in aerospace applications. This innovative material offers a supplementary approach to the existing methodologies for detecting adhesive sizing conformance, potentially enhancing quality control in advanced manufacturing processes. The development of this soybean oil-based polyurethane represents a significant advancement in sustainable adhesive technology, offering both environmental benefits and superior mechanical properties compared to traditional petroleum-based adhesives. The incorporation of CNTs not only improves electrical conductivity but also potentially enhances the mechanical strength and thermal stability of the composite material, making it suitable for demanding industrial applications. The polyurethane adhesive presented in this paper is an adhesive prepared from soybean oil by ammonolysis, esterification and other steps, and heat curing, and the self-repairing and repeat bonding properties of the adhesive are improved by changing the type of chain extender. This bi-dynamic polyurethane adhesive has good water and acid resistance and can be recycled. Shear strength of up to 7 Mpa allows this adhesive to be used in extreme environments for glues, such as humid, acidic and alkaline environments. The carbon nanotube composite adhesive also showed good adhesive and conductive properties, and two methods for testing the conformity of the adhesive sizing process (i.e., non-destructive testing) are presented. In conclusion, this study provides a reference for the development of soybean oil-derived multifunctional adhesives, which is of great significance in promoting the practical application of novel bio-based adhesives.

The diaphragm plays a crucial role in loudspeakers as it is responsible for converting electrical signals into mechanical vibrations and producing sound output. In order to ensure exceptional sound quality performance, the development of an ideal speaker diaphragm requires appropriate damping characteristics and a natural resonance frequency. However, achieving these properties in biomass fiber diaphragm materials derived from pure biomass feedstock while mitigating their inherent dimensional instability presents a significant challenge. In this study, a device was developed to verify the vibration attenuation characteristics of the diaphragm. In the free-layer damping (FLD) structure, the ultrathin wood diaphragm exhibited exceptional acoustic performance with the highest system loss factor (xi= 17.22). The ultrathin wood diaphragm demonstrated a maximum resonant frequency of 4880 Hz, which was 2.5 times higher than that of commercially available carbon nanotube (CNT) diaphragms [1]. It is noteworthy that in this study, the challenge was addressed by incorporating hydroxyl and sulfonic acid groups into lignosulfonic acid (LA) to establish strong hydrogen bonding interactions with the active groups on the gelatin side chain, resulting in a cross-linked network structure formed through bonding with wood. A gelatin-LA wood composite ultrathin diaphragm with strong interface interactions was successfully prepared. The resulting ultrathin wood diaphragm demonstrated improved tensile strength (up to 116.02 MPa) and enhanced elastic modulus (up to 14.75 GPa) due to the formation of intermolecular hydrogen bonds. By replacing traditional market diaphragms with high-quality pure biomass diaphragms manufactured using low energy consumption and high-performance methods, resource waste was reduced, and environmental sustain- ability was promoted. The developed biomass diaphragms were considered as an appealing alternative to traditional polymer diaphragms for high-performance loudspeakers, showcasing strong application potential.

Most electronic product packaging materials are made of plastic, a petroleum‐based material with limited heat dissipation capabilities, restricting its suitability for heat‐intensive electronic products. Wood‐based composites have gained widespread usage due to their environmental friendliness and cost‐effectiveness. However, the low thermal conductivity restricts their application in electronic product packaging requiring efficient heat dissipation. Here, a high‐strength wood‐based composite with excellent thermal conductivity and antibacterial property (WBC/ZIF‐67/8) is constructed through self‐bonding technology. The WBC/ZIF‐67/8 composite demonstrates exceptional mechanical properties with tensile and flexural strengths of 66.87 and 86.33 MPa, respectively. Importantly, it exhibits efficient thermal conductivity of 1.01 W mK −1 , significantly surpassing that of densified wood. This superior performance is attributed to the core‐shell structure formed through the in situ growth of ZIF‐67/8 crystals on wood fibers. Although wood fibers themselves exhibit relatively low thermal conductivity, this structure enables effective conduction and diffusion of heat at the interface between ZIF‐67/8 crystals with high thermal conductivity and wood fibers. Simultaneously, the introduction of ZIF‐67/8 crystals enhanced antibacterial and anti‐mildew properties of composite. These improvements in thermal conductivity and heat dissipation capability pave the way for the application of wood‐based composites in durable and sustainable electronic product packaging.

The structural diversity and complex chemical nature of antibiotics present significant challenges for their effective removal using conventional wastewater treatment processes. Traditional methods for removing antibiotics from water bodies are often limited by low efficiency and high energy consumption. Leveraging the distinct structural and functional properties of both wood and plant polyphenols, composite materials for water treatment can be developed through their synergistic integration. This approach not only provides a versatile substrate but also enhances interfacial functionalization via metal-polyphenolic mediated self-assembly of nanomaterials. Here, the nanomaterials (TiO2 and Fe3O4) are encapsulated onto the surface of wood sawdust to fabricate a functionalized, wood-based composite material (FeTi-bioCap) for high-efficiency antibiotic flowthrough removal. FeTi-bioCap presents an excellent adsorption performance for ciprofloxacin (186.21 mg g-1), meanwhile demonstrating efficient removal. As the size of the separation column increases, the contact time between the adsorption sites on FeTi-bioCap and the antibiotic increases, thereby significantly enhancing the removal efficiency of the antibiotic. This provides the possibility of extending FeTi-bioCap to economic efficiency, stable/reliable, and scale-up industrial integration. Importantly, this strategy not only efficiently removes antibiotics from flowing water but also is conducive to the high-value utilization of biomass resources.

Natural biomass resources are highly valued for their high biodegradability, high sustainability, and easy modification. However, their large-scale application is limited by their flammability. Numerous flame-retardant modification methods have been developed. However, they are limited by low performance and poor mechanical properties. In this study, a novel method was proposed for preparing flame-retardant cellulose nanofiber laminates, focusing on raw material selection, modification method, and laminated structure. The silica in natural straw was retained, and the fibers were swollen using the green and environmentally friendly deep eutectic solvent, resulting in the partial dissolution of cellulose. This process reduced the energy consumption of mechanical treatment during the preparation of straw cellulose nanofibers. Sulfonic acid groups were grafted onto the straw cellulose to impart flame-retardant properties to the material. By leveraging the laminated structure to block heat transfer between layers, the material achieved excellent flame-retardant performance and mechanical properties. The flame-retardant straw cellulose nanofiber laminate achieved an LOI of 61.9 %. The results of thermogravimetric analysis showed that the residual carbon content can reach 37.6 %, which is 40.3 % higher than that of the CNFL. This study presents a novel approach to developing flame-retardant biomass boards.

Wood-derived hydrogels possess satisfactory longitudinal strength but lack excellent swelling resistance and dry shrinkage resistance when achieving high anisotropy. In this study, we displayed the preparation of highly dimensional stable wood/polyacrylamide hydrogels (wood/PAM-Al3+). The alkali-treated wood retains lignin as the skeleton of the hydrogel. Second, Al ions were added to the metal coordination with lignin. Finally, by employing free radical polymerization, we construct a conductive electronic network using polyaniline within the wood/PAM-Al3+ matrix to create the flexible sensor. This approach leverages lignin's integrated structure within the middle lamella to provide enhanced swelling resistance and stronger binding strength in the transverse direction. Furthermore, coordination between lignin and Al ions improves the mechanical strength of the wood hydrogel. Polyaniline provides stable linear pressure and temperature responses. The wood/PAM-Al3+ exhibits a transverse swelling ratio of 3.90% while achieving a longitudinal tensile strength of 20.5 MPa. This high-strength and high-stability sensor is capable of monitoring macroscale human behavior. Therefore, this study presents a simple yet innovative strategy for constructing tough hydrogels while also establishing an alternative pathway for exploring lignin networks in new functional materials development.

To address the growing problem of dye wastewater pollution, a novel MOFs adsorbent calcium alginate/polyvinyl alcohol@UiO-66 was developed using environmentally friendly polymers, sodium alginate and polyvinyl alcohol creating gel spheres with a double-network structure through cross-linking. UiO-66 metal-organic frameworks are then grown onto the gel spheres, resulting in the final CA/PVA@UiO-66 adsorbent. This adsorbent boasts a high surface area (17.4 m2/g) and a mesoporous-nested microporous structure. It effectively removes MB from water, the actual maximum adsorption capacity was measured at 275.8 mg/g, which surpasses most existing adsorbents. Remarkably, the adsorbent retains 93.9 % of its initial capacity even after 10 reuse cycles. The adsorption process adhered to the Redlich-Peterson model and the PFO model. The N2-Sorption isotherm, actual Methylene blue (MB) adsorption experiments, and model analysis further suggest that the adsorption process is a complex heterogeneous diffusion process involving simultaneous chemical and physical adsorption. Additionally, the adsorption process is endothermic, indicating that it can occur spontaneously at 298 K. Increasing the temperature promotes the forward progress of the adsorption reaction, thereby enhancing the adsorption capacity. The gel adsorbent exhibited excellent dye wastewater purification capabilities, coupled with commendable reusability.

Microcellular polyurethane foam (MPUF) is extensively utilized as a vibration dampening material. However, its long chain and porous composition render it highly susceptible to combustion. Herein, we grafted the flame retardant 9,10-dihydro-9-oxa-10-phospha-phenanthrene-10-oxide (DOPO) onto the castor oil by a simple method to obtain a bio-based flame-retardant polyester polyol (COBH). Then, a bio-based flame-retardant MPUF was synthesized by one-pot synthesis of COBH, polyether polyol, and isocyanate. The target MPUF exhibits excellent flame retardancy, with the limiting oxygen index (LOI) sharply increasing from 19.3 % to 27.6 % and the peak of heat release rate (PHRR) decreasing significantly by 60.1 % as compared to MPUF prepared using unmodified castor oil. In addition, the MPUF shows good vibration dampening performance with a maximum loss factor of 5.2 and a maximum Sc-factor of 250. Moreover, the MPUF can be processed into MPU film by compression molding. The MPU film has adjustable mechanical properties and reusability. This study provides a feasible method for the preparation of flame-retardant, recyclable, bio-based MPUF with good vibration damping properties, thus expanding the practical applications of MPUF in the automotive, aerospace, and packaging and transportation industries.

Underwater adhesives hold significant relevance in daily life and applications. Despite great efforts, the development of high-performance underwater adhesives through a simple and effective method remains a difficult challenge. Herein, a high adhesion and environmentally stable polyurethane underwater adhesive (DAP-PU) was developed based on rosin with a hydrogenated phenanthrene ring skeleton to design hydrophobic domains, and combined with multi-strength hydrogen bonding interactions to construct "polar hydrophobic domains". DAP-PU exhibits a strong underwater bonding and adhesion performance on various substrates (steel, aluminum, PMMA and glass) in harsh aqueous conditions (1 M NaCl, pH 5 and seawater), with the highest peel and shear strengths on stainless steel substrates reaching 12.88 N cm-1 and 1.7 MPa, respectively. In addition, DAP-PU can be used in various fields such as underwater sand consolidation, underwater sealing and repair.

Hydrogels are extensively utilized in the fields of electronic skin, environmental monitoring, biological dressings due to their excellent flexibility and conductivity. However, traditional hydrogel materials possess drawbacks such as environmental toxicity, low strength, poor stability, and water loss deactivation, which limited its frequent applications. Here, a flexible conductive hydrogel called wood-based DES hydrogel (WDH) with high strength, high adhesion, high stability, and high sensitivity was successfully synthesized by using environmentally friendly lignocellulose as skeleton and deep eutectic solvent as matrix. The strength of WDH prepared from lignocellulose framework is approximately 50 times higher than poly deep eutectic solvent hydrogel, and about 4.5 times higher than that prepared from cellulose skeleton. The WDH exhibits stable adhesion to most common materials and demonstrates exceptional dimensional stability. Its conductivity remains unaffected by water, even after prolonged exposure to air, maintaining a value of 0.0245 S/m. The anisotropy inherent in the system results in three distinct linear sensing intervals for WDH, exhibiting a maximum sensitivity of 5.45. This paper verified the advantages of lignocellulose framework in improving the strength and stability of hydrogels, which provided a new strategy for the development of sensor materials.