Natural wood, as a widely available biomass, has garnered significant attention due to its unique hierarchical structure and intrinsic advantages. With the continued growth in energy demand and the emphasis on green development, there is an urgent need for sustainable electrically conductive materials. While natural wood inherently lacks electrical conductivity, recent advances in manufacturing have created opportunities to convert it into electrically conductive wood-based materials. These materials enable a wide range of applications including, but not limited to, electrochemical energy storage, environmental remediation, electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding, sensing, and thermal management. In this review, we provide comprehensive insights into the modification strategies and principles for fabricating electrically conductive wood-based materials, as well as their derived properties, functions, applications, and environmental impact. To fully leverage the potential of these materials, we also highlight the current existing challenges they face and discuss the opportunities for next-generation electrically conductive wood-based materials. This review aims to serve as a guide to further promote the use of renewable wood-sourced biomass and the development of wood-based materials, supporting global efforts toward a more sustainable future.

Increasing environmental concerns highlight the need to transition from petroleum to renewable, sustainable resources for the fabrication of carbon-neutral products. Cellulose, the most abundant natural polysaccharide on Earth, serves as a fundamental structural component in plants and offers immense potential for a wide range of human applications. Moving beyond conventional dissolution-regeneration processes, the ionic modification of cellulose has emerged as a key strategy to enhance its functionality. This approach yields derivatives that can be categorized into anionic, cationic, and zwitterionic/amphoteric types, many of which are already widely commercialized. Beyond differences in the polarity of the charged groups, variations in their interactions with ions and molecules confer distinct functionalities. Therefore, this review systematically summarizes the types and structures of various ionic cellulose derivatives (including nanocellulose), outlining typical ionic modification routes including oxidation, esterification, etherification, and grafting reactions that target hydroxyl groups on the cellulose backbone. We further examine the charge-governed properties of these materials, such as biological activity, surface wettability, stimulus responsiveness, ion exchange capacity, ion regulation, and energy dissipation. Notably, this review places emphasis on analyzing how these properties determine performance across diverse applications, including biomedical engineering, energy storage/conversion, environmental remediation, sensors, and actuators. Finally, we identify current challenges in the field and outline future opportunities for the rational design and advanced application of ionic cellulose derivatives. We hope this review will bridge the gap between ionic cellulose derivatives and their practical applications.

We report a homogeneous electrochemiluminescence (ECL) immunoassay for alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in which signal attenuation is driven by immunocomplex-induced steric hindrance rather than charge neutralization.A magnetic core-shell nanoprobe, Fe3O4@SiO2(Ru(bpy)32+)-Ab, is synthesized via solvothermal and sol-gel methods. The resulting probe carries a net negative charge, whereas a polyallylamine hydrochloride (PAH)-modified indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode provides a stable positively charged interface. In the absence of AFP, strong electrostatic attraction facilitates probe enrichment at the electrode surface, producing a high ECL signal. Upon AFP introduction, specific antigen-antibody binding forms an immune complex, which increases steric hindrance and alters the net surface potential, thereby restricting probe access to the electrode and leading to a concentration-dependent signal attenuation (signal-off mode). Under optimized conditions, the ECL intensity correlates logarithmically with AFP concentration from 1.00 pg/mL to 100 ng/mL, with a detection limit of 0.54 pg/mL (S/N = 3). The sensor exhibits outstanding selectivity and reproducibility, yielding a relative standard deviation of 2.3% for ECL responses, and the scanning stability was confirmed by consecutive CV measurements with an RSD of 2.6%. Recovery rates in human serum samples ranged from 94.9% to 105.7%, confirming the method's robust analytical performance and practical utility in complex biological matrices. As an immobilization-free, one-step homogeneous ECL assay, it eliminates washing steps entirely, greatly streamlining the workflow and offering a promising platform for point-of-care detection of tumor biomarkers.

Blood glucose monitoring has great importance and regularity for diabetics, yet quantitative on-site monitoring with high accuracy and visual capability still remains challenging. Here, we report a novel sensing system based on the glucose oxidase-catalyzed oxidation of glucose to generate H2O2 as an intermediate. The internal filtering effect (IFE) between sulfur quantum dots (SQDs) and small molecule of 2,3-diaminophenazine (DAP) caused variations of two fluorescence intensity ratios (I580/I425) and visual output under UV lamp illumination. Concurrently, a color transition from white to yellow was visually discernible on the filter paper within the sensing system. This sensing system with dual-mode visual readouts exhibited good selectivity when used for glucose analysis under optimized conditions, and its practicability has been verified in real samples of urine and serum. Furthermore, a point-of-care testing platform was developed for glucose analysis by integrating this filter paper-based sensing system with a smartphone and achieved a LOD of 11.9 mu M and 32.9 mu M by fluorometry and colorimetry, respectively, indicating the great potential of this platform for on-site glucose analysis.

Reversible metal electrodeposition has attracted extensive attention for its ability to achieve color–neutral switching between transparent and black states; however, its color expression remains relatively limited, making it difficult to meet the demand for versatile color modulation. This work proposes a hybrid deposition strategy that combines metal and nonmetal redox processes in a single electrochromic device. The metal component involves codeposition of Cu 2+ and Bi 3+ ions for high‐contrast black‐state formation, while the nonmetal component utilizes reversible Br − /Br 3 − conversion. Br 3 − is further stabilized via complexation with 1‐methyl‐3‐propylimidazolium ion (MPI + ) to form yellow MPIBr 3 , enabling a transparent‐to‐yellow transition. These two processes are synergistically driven and precisely controlled by applied voltages, allowing reversible switching among transparent, black, and yellow within a single device. The device exhibits a high optical modulation of up to 60.8% in the yellow state, and the transmittance can be modulated below 1% in the black state, demonstrating excellent color neutrality and privacy protection. Moreover, after 24 h of resting, the transmittance increases by only 1.3%, indicating outstanding open‐circuit stability. This multicolor dynamic switching capability not only fulfills the functional requirements of smart windows for privacy and light regulation but also offers enriched color expression of aesthetic value.

The development of sustainable plastic alternatives derived from natural components, such as biopolymers and minerals, represents a promising strategy to mitigate the escalating problem of plastic pollution. Here, by employing a nonsolvent induced phase separation (NIPS) strategy, a hydro-processable mineral-dominated structural material, called “mineral hydroplastic” (M-Hydroplastic), is developed. High-mineral-content (up to 75 wt%) hydrogels are fabricated through in-situ polymerization of specific monomers and shaped under mild conditions through polymer chain rearrangement triggered by nonsolvent exposure. Further pressing-assisted desolvation optimizes the orientation of mineral sheets, yielding hydro-processable high-mineral-content plastics with combined features of mineral (flexural strength: 90.6 MPa, hardness: 0.23 GPa, and flame retardancy) and plastic (low density of ∼1.5 g cm−3 and facile moldability). Combined experimental and computational analyses reveal that strong intercomponent hydrogen bonding and “nacre-like” micro-structure underpin the material’s exceptional mechanical performance. This versatile strategy is applicable to various minerals, producing a family of robust hydroplastics with tunable optical, thermal, and radiative properties. Such adaptability enables the design of multifunctional, flame-retardant materials for multi-scenario energy-efficient building applications. This work reconciles ceramic-like mechanical properties with polymer-like processability, providing crucial insights into designing next-generation plastic alternatives for engineering applications.

Extreme aerospace environments demand ultralight materials capable of simultaneously withstanding rapid thermal fluctuations, intense mechanical shocks, and strong electromagnetic radiation. However, integrating thermal stability, mechanical resilience, and multifunctionality within a single ceramic aerogel remains challenging due to the intrinsic brittleness and structural instability of conventional systems. Here, we report a scalable powder-to-fiber transformation strategy to construct hierarchical ceramic aerogels reinforced with cellulose-derived topological microscrolls. This process converts particle-based networks into entangled fibrous frameworks, enabling cooperative deformation and structural robustness. As a result, the aerogels exhibit near-temperature-invariant superelasticity (up to 95% strain recovery), negative thermal expansion, and ultralow thermal conductivity (3.6 mW m- 1 K- 1 in vacuum). They maintain structural integrity under extreme conditions, including direct flame exposure and rapid thermal cycling from -196°C to 1300°C, while delivering high electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness (above 56 dB across 8.2-40 GHz). These integrated properties establish a robust strategy for designing multifunctional ceramic aerogels for aerospace structures, thermal protection, and other extreme-environment applications.

Complementary electrochromic devices can enhance optical modulation and cyclic stability. However, the optical modulation of complementary electrochromic devices based on WO3, one of the most outstanding inorganic electrochromic materials, remains limited and does not meet the standards for color neutrality. This study innovatively proposes a complementary electrochromic device that utilizes nonmetal iodine electrodeposition, eliminating the need for specifically prepared anodic electrochromic electrodes. In this device, I- is dissolved in the ZnCl2 water-in-salt electrolyte. During the coloring process of WO3, the I- in the solution can be oxidized to I2, which stably adheres to FTO glass and contributes to the coloring function. This allows the I2 to overlay with the color of WO3, achieving an almost completely opaque state and neutral color modulation. During the bleaching process, I2 is reduced back to I- and re-dissolved in the electrolyte. By eliminating the optical obstruction caused by the anodic electrochromic material, the device achieves an average optical modulation of 70.7 % in the visible range, with an optical stability of 88.5 % after 100 coloring/bleaching cycles. This work combines nonmetal electrodeposition with traditional electrochromic materials, providing a new option for constructing high-performance complementary electrochromic devices.

This study explores the potential of Cr3+-doped ZnGa2O4 phosphor as a high-resolution medium for optical information storage via visible laser irradiation. Utilizing an upconversion charging (UCC) mechanism, this phosphor surpasses the limitations of traditional ultraviolet charging methods, offering improved resolution in photo-stimulated luminescence and afterglow imaging. The nonlinear excitation properties of UCC enable the creation of sharper and more precise luminescence patterns, thereby significantly enhancing the accuracy of data writing and retrieval. Our results highlight ZnGa2O4:Cr3+ as a promising platform for next-generation highdensity optical storage technologies.

Aqueous zinc‐ion batteries (AZIBs) based on hydrogel electrolytes are considered promising flexible power supplies owing to their intrinsic safety, competent volumetric energy density, and eco‐friendliness. However, severe mechanical deterioration of the hydrogel electrolytes caused by insufficient inter‐component contact, zinc (Zn) dendrites, and freezing prevents their commercialization. Herein, it is found that, by doping a trace of Fe 3+ ions to afford Fe 3+ ‐carboxylate supramolecular interaction, the practicality of an archetypal cellulose nanofiber‐reinforced hydrogel electrolyte is significantly improved in a couple of aspects, including three and eight times increase in tensile strength and toughness without loss of ion conducting ability (up to 32 mS cm −1 ) and being room‐temperature self‐healable and strongly adhesive to various battery components. Together with the use of an anti‐freezing mixed Zn salt, the resulting hydrogel electrolyte is able to deliver ultrahigh Zn cycling reversibility (averaging 99.4%), the great cyclability of AZIBs (a high specific capacity of 180 mAh g −1 and capacity retention of 81%), and render the batteries operable under severe abuse conditions of 180° folding, exposure to liquid nitrogen, and cutting–rehealing cycles. This work unlocks the enormous potential of Fe 3+ ‐carboxylate chemistry in the development of self‐healable, anti‐freezing, and extreme‐environment‐adaptable gel electrolytes for flexible energy storage devices.

In the plastic industry, replacing petrochemical‐based polymers with naturally occurring bio‐polymers (represented by cellulose), is a very promising route to circumvent the plastic pollution issue. However, the implementation of this is severely hindered by the high water affinity and flammability of such materials. Here, a verstile non‐isocyanate polyurethane (NIPU) formulation composed of a CO 2 ‐based cyclic carbonate compound, a reactive amino‐functionalized silicone oil concurrently capable of providing water‐resistance and a flame‐retardant moiety is designed. Compositing it with conventional cellulose paper (cellulose macrofiber network, CMN), a nonflammable and mechanically strong cellulose macrofiber network‐based biocomposite (CMN‐Biocomposite) can be easily obtained via transcarbamoylation reaction. Other than hydrogen bonding interaction among various components of CMN‐Biocomposite, the intermolecular bond exchange mechanism between the dynamic carbamate moiety and hydroxyl of the cellulose is also experimentally and computationally determined as the governing factor for the high tensile strength of up to 57.9 MPa. Additionally, benefiting from the dynamic nature of the carbamate bond, the CMN‐Biocomposite's processability and biodegradability outperform most petrochemical‐based plastics. The superiority of the proposed synthetic strategy in achieving the long‐term carbon neutrality goal by CO 2 fixation and excellent performance for plastic applications make the CMN‐Biocomposite a very promising alternative to conventional plastics.

Single-signal based sensors generally suffer from the influence of operation condition fluctuation and environmental change, resulting in reduced accuracy. Herein a novel ratiometric electrochemical sensor based on polydopamine and ZnMn2O4/carbon nanotube (ZMO/MWCNTs) for the detection of antipsychotic drug chlorpromazine (CPZ) was presented. The ZMO/MWCNTs composite was employed as substrate for electrode modification, which not only facilitated electron transfer but also provided a large surface for loading molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP). Dopamine coordinated with copper ions served as the monomer, and the MIP film was prepared on the electrode surface through electropolymerization. While acting as a molecularly imprinted polymer, the polydopamine also functioned as an internal reference probe to correct the influence of condition fluctuations and enhance measurement reliability. Furthermore, the introduction of copper ions improved imprinting efficiency and reduced charge transfer resistance. Under optimized conditions, the developed CuMIP/ZMO/MWCNTs/GCE sensor enabled CPZ quantification over a wide linear range (1 nM-10 mu M) with a detection limit of 0.42 nM. Recovery tests in human serum and lake water samples showed satisfactory results (85.0 %-116.0 %), with no significant difference compared to the results obtained using high-performance liquid chromatography.

Achieving a synergy of biocompatibility and extreme environmental adaptability with excellent mechanical property remains challenging in the development of synthetic materials. Herein, a “bottom-up” solution-interface-induced self-assembly strategy is adopted to develop a compressible, anti-fatigue, extreme environment adaptable, biocompatible, and recyclable organohydrogel composed of chitosan-lignosulfonate-gelatin by constructing noncovalent bonded conjoined network. The ethylene glycol/water solvent induced lignosulfonate nanoparticles function as bridge in chitosan/gelation network, forming multiple interfacial interactions that can effectively dissipate energy. The organohydrogel exhibits high compressive strength (54 MPa) and toughness (3.54 MJ/m3), 100 and 70 times higher than those of pure chitosan/gelatin hydrogel, meanwhile, excellent self-recovery and fatigue resistance properties. Even when subjected to severe compression up to a strain of 0.5 for 500,000 cycles, the organohydrogel still remains intact. This organohydrogel also demonstrates notable biocompatibility both in vivo and vitro, environment adaptability at low temperature, as well as recyclability. Such all natural organohydrogel provides a promising route towards the development of high-performance load-bearing materials. Development of synthetic load bearing materials is important, but it can be challenging to achieve all the required properties. Here, the authors report the development of an organohydrogel from biobased materials, with favourable compressive strength and toughness.

Increasing environmental concerns demand the replacement of petroleum with renewable, sustainable resources to produce biodegradable and carbon-neutral products. As a natural, abundant and versatile biopolymer, cellulose has long been used in traditional applications such as paper and textiles and is now emerging in advanced fields including energy storage, healthcare, food, cosmetics, and paints and emulsions. Supramolecular chemistry offers a powerful strategy for engineering cellulose nanocomposites through specific, directional, tunable and reversible non-covalent interactions between nanocellulose and matrix components to achieve certain mechanical, chemical and biological properties. In this Review, we present the multiscale supramolecular engineering of cellulose nanocomposites and their fabrication and processing into materials. We provide a material and structural perspective of how the mechanical, ionic, optical and thermal properties and the environmental degradability of these nanocomposites can be regulated through supramolecular chemistry. Finally, we discuss how these approaches might address circularity and environmental sustainability goals, and we highlight major challenges and future prospects in the field, calling for further attention on supramolecular chemistry engineering to maximize the potential of these materials. Cellulose, a renewable and biodegradable biopolymer, is gaining momentum as a sustainable alternative to fossil-based materials. This Review explores how supramolecular chemistry enables the design, processing and function of cellulose nanocomposites for circular and high-performance applications.

The functionalization of textiles, which typically involves multiple chemical treatments and the application of various finishing agents, often compromises fabric wearability and raises environmental concerns. Herein, a green redox-triggered dynamic covalent self-assembly strategy is developed to assemble multifunctional networks on wool fibers, offering an eco-friendly alternative to conventional finishing processes. Specifically, under ascorbic acid-mediated conditions, the dynamic disulfide bonds in wool scales and in alpha-lipoic acid-modified polyethyleneimine (mPEI) undergo simultaneous cleavage. Subsequently, exposure to ambient air drives the assembly of polysulfide networks on fiber surface, accompanied by the deposition of selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) via multiple binding modes. The resulting chain-to-network cross-linking ensures stable anchoring of nanospheres, endowing the fabric with efficient and sustainable antimicrobial properties. Through a synergistic photothermal-photodynamic mechanism, the SeNP-deposited wool composite demonstrated complete microbial inactivation within 20 min under irradiation at 100 mW/cm2, maintaining over 99.99 % antimicrobial efficacy against bacteria and fungi even after 50 washing cycles. Notably, the treatment significantly improves dimensional stability, reducing felting shrinkage from 14.39 % to 2.49 %. Additionally, in situ coloration of the fabric was achieved without compromising inherent wearing comfort, with negligible cytotoxicity and hemolytic activity. This crosslinker-free strategy presents a green and sustainable approach for developing eco-friendly, highperformance textile materials.

The discontinuous fiber reinforced hydrogels are easy to fail due to the fracture of the fiber matrix during load-bearing. Here, we propose a novel strategy based on the synergistic reinforcement of interconnected natural fiber networks at multiple scales to fabricate hydrogels with extraordinary mechanical properties. Specifically, the P(AA-AM)/Cel (P(AA-AM), poly(acrylic acid-acrylamide); Cel, cellulose) hydrogel is synthesized by copolymerizing AA and AM on a substrate of paper with an interconnected hollow cellulose microfiber network. This innovative design achieves a collaborative improvement of mechanical properties, including a 253-times increase in strength (27.8 vs. 0.11 MPa), 137-times increase in work of fracture (3.59 vs. 0.026 MJ m 3), and 235-times increase in fracture energy (16.48 vs. 0.07 kJ m 2). These outstanding mechanical properties benefit from the P(AA-AM) network formed by the copolymerization, which fills both the inside and outside of the hollow cellulose fibers, thus establishing abundant strong hydrogen bonds with the fibers and welding the fiber junctions. Consequently, the hydrogel exhibits enhanced resistance to the slippage and fracture of fibers. This strategy demonstrates the mechanical strengthening effectiveness of a variety of hydrogels by regulating the water-cellulose-copolymer interplay, representing a practical and universal route for designing super-strong hydrogels. (c) 2025 Science China Press. Published by Elsevier B.V. and Science China Press. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.

In response to the looming concerns of plastic pollution, replacing plastic with paper is a very promising way, but its realization seems a long way off due to the poor water resistance and unsatisfied mechanical strength of cellulose fibril-based materials. Herein, we develop a versatile functionalizing material consisting of mainly biobased cyclic carbonate-bearing compounds and amine compound, which can enable the rapid transformation (within 2 min under microwave radiation) of the cellulose paper into plastic-like material (named paper plastic) having an unprecedently high tensile strength of ~126 MPa. Through a systematic experimental and theoretical study, the paper plastic's combination of excellent mechanical properties and water/solvent resistance is attributed to the easy formation of carbamate abundant non-isocyanate polyurethane cooperated with the intermolecular bond exchange mechanism between the dynamic carbamate moiety and hydroxyl of the cellulose. Also, benefiting from the high content (>80%) and natural advantages of biobased materials, the paper plastic shows significant thermal stability, processability, and biodegradability than most petrochemical-based plastics, promising the great potential of dynamic carbamate chemistry toward high-performing paper plastic composites.

Progesterone is an important hormone, and its concentration level is associated with many symptoms of women, so its detection is meaningful in clinic. In this work, Fmoc-glycine (FG) and phenothiazine (PTZ) were used as organic electron donor and acceptor unit respectively, and a progesterone imprinted poly(FG-co-PTZ) composite photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensor was prepared by electropolymerization on gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) modified glassy carbon electrode. Under illumination, the photo-generated electrons migrated from the donor to the acceptor within the film, thus the electron transfer path effectively shortened and energy loss decreased, resulting in a significant increase in cathodic photocurrent compared to single polymers. In addition, the surface imprinted cavities endowed the composite film recognition capability for progesterone. Hence, the created PEC sensor exhibited highly sensitive and selective response. Under the selected conditions, a good linear relationship between the response photocurrent and the logarithm of progesterone concentration was observed in the range of 0.010 -10 mu mol L-1 , with a detection limit of 6.6 nmol L-1 (S/N = 3). It also had good anti-interference performance and long-term stability. Consequently, the sensor was promising for progesterone detection. Additionally, in this work, the microstructure, elemental composition, and optoelectronic characteristics of the composite were explored by various techniques, and a possible mechanism for carrier separation and transmission was proposed.

The poor biodegradability of industrial wastewater hinders the conversion of refractory organonitrogen into ammonia nitrogen in anaerobic biological treatment. This limitation consequently obstructs the subsequent carbon-nitrogen conversion process, highlighting the urgent need for effective treatment strategies. In this study, we developed a novel electro-mediated biological system (EMBS) coupled with an arrayed tubular electrode module (ATEM) at pilot-scale for the first time, which utilizes electromotive force to stimulate microbial metabolism to treat pharmaceutical wastewater through carbon and refractory organonitrogen conversion. The application of an electrically-driven process in EMBS significantly reduces aromatic organics and transforms toxic heterocyclic compounds into less toxic small-molecule amines. This led to a 107.5% increase in chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency and a 14.2% higher organonitrogen conversion. The up-regulation of the tricarboxylic acid cycle and riboflavin metabolism resulted in the generation of NADH and flavin adenine dinucleotide, which promoted oxidative N-dealkylation of amine and sulfhydryl oxidation of heterocyclic compounds. Electro-stimulation up-regulated the expression of cytochrome c, thereby enhancing extracellular electron transfer, and increased the production of protein-rich extracellular polymeric substances, which supported microbial growth and adhesion. Finally, EMBS removed 44.04% COD and 48.5% organonitrogen while facilitating EMBS-A/O/A-membrane bioreactor pilot-scale process, ultimately reducing effluent COD and TN to 40.2 ± 22.3 mg/L and 52.3 ± 5.2 mg/L, respectively, demonstrating notable improvements in water quality and meet the discharge standard. The scalable ATEM provides a promising approach for full-scale EMBS applications that aims to optimize industrial wastewater treatment strategies, and address critical challenges in excessive carbon and nitrogen emissions.

Molecular glue degraders (MGDs) represent a promising strategy for targeted protein degradation within cells. While chemoproteomics has unveiled hundreds of potential MGD targets, very few proteins are degraded by highly selective and potent MGDs. Here, we developed a novel glutarimide analog with a tetrahydroimidazo[1,2-a]pyrazine scaffold that exhibited strong NIMA-related kinase 7 (NEK7) degradation potential. Further optimization led to the identification of LC-04-045 as a leading NEK7 MGD candidate, demonstrating potent activity with a half-maximal degradation (DC50) of 7 nM and a maximum degradation (Dmax) of 90 % in MOLT-4 cells. Notably, LC-04-045 displayed high selectivity for NEK7 across the proteome. Mechanistic studies indicated that the degradation was mediated by the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) and relied on the glycine 57 (G57)-containing degron motif in NEK7. Additionally, two amino acids adjacent to the degron motif were found to be crucial for modulating the compound's selectivity and potency, underscoring the significance of neighbouring residues in MGD design. Moreover, LC-04-045 effectively inhibited secretion of the downstream cytokines, including IL-1β and IL-18, highlighting the potential therapeutic applications of NEK7 MGDs in treating inflammatory diseases.