An environmentally friendly plant polyphenol, catechin, was applied in Fe( iii )-mediated activation of persulfate for chloramphenicol degradation in Cu-contaminated soil. The CAP degradation was efficient, and the reaction mechanism was proposed.

Abstract Colloidal nanocrystals serve as a versatile platform for solution-processed electronics, optoelectronics, and photonics. While early efforts centered on two-dimensional (2D) patterned films for planar devices, increasing demands for integration density and multifunctionality are driving a transition toward three-dimensional (3D) nanocrystal architectures. Light-driven assembly has emerged as a powerful, noninvasive approach, enabling remote activation, high spatial selectivity, and broad compatibility across nanocrystal compositions and surface chemistries. Recent advances in photolithography and laser-based fabrication have bridged planar patterning and volumetric construction. Here, we present a unified framework for light-driven nanocrystal assembly based on fundamental energy-transduction pathways, including photopolymerization, photoreduction, and photoinduced interparticle coupling. We discuss how these mechanisms govern high-fidelity 2D patterning and enable emerging strategies for 3D structuring and manufacturing. Finally, we highlight key challenges and opportunities in achieving structural precision, functional integrity, multimaterial integration, and device-level implementation, and outline future directions toward programmable nanocrystal-based manufacturing.

The rapid growth of end-of-life photovoltaic (PV) modules raises critical resource and environmental concerns, particularly due to the loss of high-purity silicon and PVDF backsheets that can release hazardous fluorinated species. Here, we propose a recycling-upcycling strategy that directly reuses Si residues and PVDF-rich backsheets to fabricate Ag-F co-engineered Si/C nanofibers (AF-SCNF) via electrospinning and carbonization. This integrated route avoids chemical fluorination, reduces reagent consumption, and prevents secondary fluorinated emissions. The resulting AF-SCNF exhibit uniformly distributed Si, F, and Ag within a robust carbon network and deliver 457.2 mAh g-1 after 100 cycles at 1 A g-1 with enhanced rate performance. Density functional theory analyses reveal that Ag-F synergy strengthens Li adsorption and promotes interfacial charge redistribution. From a circular-resource perspective, the process substitutes virgin Si and PVDF production while avoiding backsheet incineration. This work demonstrates a scalable pathway that transforms PV waste into high-value battery materials.

Achieving highly efficient and environmentally friendly recycling of spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is crucial for addressing the growing demand for environmental and resource sustainability challenges. In this study, a win-win recycling strategy for spent LIBs is proposed, involving selective high-yield Li extraction from spent ternary cathode materials (NCM, LiNixCoyMnzO2), followed by the activation of intrinsic catalytic properties for the degradation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Treatment of NCM111 (LiNixCoyMnzO2, x,y,z=1/3) via copper sulfate-assisted thermal reconstruction enabled selective Li extraction through water leaching, achieving a Li recovery rate of 98.03%; and subsequent purification and precipitation processes yielded Li2CO3. The intrinsic catalytic activity of the leaching residue, activated after selective Li recovery through aqueous leaching, was subsequently utilized as a catalyst (NCM-Cu/13X) for the efficient oxidative degradation of gaseous toluene, achieving a removal efficiency exceeding 99.5%. This mutually beneficial strategy enhances atom economy through the incorporation of copper sulfate, which not only facilitates Li extraction but also promotes structural and surface modifications of the catalyst. Experimental characterizations combined with density functional theory (DFT) calculations demonstrate the enhanced formation of oxygen vacancies (OV) and surface-adsorbed oxygen (Oads) on the catalyst surface, thereby promoting the catalytic degradation of toluene. Life cycle assessment (LCA) demonstrates that this technology entails manageable ecological impacts while providing net environmental benefits, underscoring its potential as a sustainable solution for LIBs recycling.

We investigate optically induced phase transitions in the two-dimensional (2D) ferroelectric (FE) material Nb2O2I4 using real-time time-dependent density functional theory (rt-TDDFT). Our results demonstrate that tailored laser pulses can activate specific coherent phonon modes. Specifically, the anharmonic atomic distortions of the A1-1 and A1-2 modes at the Γ-point facilitate the reversal of in-plane polarization. By fine-tuning laser parameters, additional phonon modes at both the Y and Γ points are excited. The resulting nonequilibrium atomic dynamics enable the formation of previously unreported ferroic phases, including three antiferroelectric (AFE) phases and one ferrielectric (FiE) phase. Notably, these optically induced phases can be reverted to the initial FE state using appropriate techniques. This controllable reversibility among multiple ferroic phases positions 2D Nb2O2I4 as a highly promising candidate for next-generation electronic storage applications.

Annually accumulating decommissioned Photovoltaic modules pose severe environmental risks. Pyrolysis is key for resource recovery via disassembly, but conventional 500 degrees C pyrolysis produces hazardous fluorinated pollution. This study analyzed pyrolysis mechanisms for EVA encapsulant and fluorinated KPK backsheets (PVDF/PET/PVDF) using thermal, IR, and MS techniques. Key findings: (1) EVA pyrolyzes in two stages: dominant deacetylation (300-400 degrees C), then chain scission (400-500 degrees C); (2) PVDF decomposition (300-600 degrees C) releases most fluorine as gaseous pollutants (e.g., 1,2,4-trifluorobenzene, SiF4), leaving fluoride-containing solid residues; (3) The major KPK weight loss peak (350-500 degrees C) stems primarily from PET. Exploiting these thermal properties, a novel two-stage, fluorine-controlled process is proposed: First, heat to 350 degrees C to trigger intense EVA deacetylation and adhesion loss before significant PVDF cracking, allowing non-polluting backsheet removal. Then, raise temperature to 500 degrees C to fully pyrolyze residual EVA. This clarifies fluoride pathways and offers a practical emission-mitigation solution for thermal dismantling.

Building upon the foundation of dual carbon, the rapid growth of the new energy vehicle industry has resulted in a significant surge in both production and disposal of nickel–cobalt-manganese(NCM) lithium batteries. Simultaneously, addressing environmental concerns arising from waste polyvinyl chloride (PVC) during industrial manufacturing is imperative. In this study, an innovative PVC-NCM synergistic pyrolysis approach was investigated for recovering valuable metals. The findings demonstrated that NCM completely decomposed into metal chlorides within 60 min at 550 °C with an NCM/PVC mass ratio of 1:3. The recovery rates through water leaching were determined as follows: Ni—94.38

With the global surge in solar energy adoption, the accumulation of end-of-life photovoltaic (PV) modules presented both a recycling challenge and a resource opportunity. In this study, a sustainable strategy was presented for repurposing waste PV modules soldering strips to synthesize efficient catalyst for the degradation of the persistent antibiotic ofloxacin (OFX) in Fenton-like system. The copper extracted from discarded PV modules was successfully anchored onto EG via deposition-reduction and chemical reduction. Expanded graphite (EG) was introduced into the catalyst (Cu0-CuO@EG) to increase the specific surface area and promote electronic transfer for improving catalytic efficiency. The experiment results achieved 90.8 % OFX removal under a mild and minimal dosage conditions (pH = 6.5, 0.5 mM H2O2, 0.5 g/L catalyst), following pseudo-first-order kinetics. Characterization confirmed the formation of Cu0/Cu(I)/Cu(II) redox valence state and C-Cu interfaces, enabling effective electronic conduction and H2O2 activation. Radical quenching and EPR analysis identified hydroxyl radicals (center dot OH) as the dominant reactive oxidative species (ROS), followed by superoxide radicals (O2 center dot-). Twelve degradation byproducts were identified, with toxicity prediction (ECOSAR) showing most products had reduced or negligible ecological risk. Importantly, the catalyst retained over 83 % activity after five cycles with low Cu leaching, highlighting its stability and reusability. This work not only demonstrated a sustainable route for PV waste valorization, but also offered a green and circular pathway for mitigating pharmaceutical pollution in aquatic systems.

Regulating the selectivity of single-atom nanozymes (SAzymes) is highly significant yet challenging, especially for heme-like M–N 4 structured SAzymes, which exhibit powerful enzyme-like catalytic efficiency and broad applicability. Inspired by the axial-ligand-regulated, Fe=O-axis-oriented local electric fields in natural heme metalloenzymes, which switches selectivity within a shared metal–oxo manifold, we synthesized FeNSC–O SAzymes featuring axial oxygen coordination stabilized by planar sulfur doping, achieving a catalase/peroxidase–like selectivity up to 7.4 times greater than that of planar oxygen-doped FeNC–O SAzymes. Low-temperature EPR, magnetic susceptibility measurements, and further DFT analyses revealed that axial oxygen coordination simultaneously withdraws electrons from Fe and stabilizes an intermediate-spin Fe center, thereby reducing spin polarization and weakening Fe–O orbital overlap with oxygen-containing intermediates, which suppresses the peroxide pathway and enhances catalase-like selectivity. Furthermore, encapsulating FeNSC–O within asymmetric hollow nanoreactors enabled the successful construction of H 2 O 2 -responsive, bubble-propelled nanomotors capable of efficient oxygen generation for active inflammatory-cell penetration and intracellular ROS scavenging, demonstrating promising potential for targeted therapy and precision medicine.

Cellulose biochar was prepared via microwave-assisted pyrolysis at 500 degrees C and subsequently composited with sepiolite through ball milling to fabricate a sepiolite-biochar adsorbent for efficient tetracycline (TC) removal from water. The influence of the sepiolite-to-biochar mass ratio on the structure, composition, porosity, and adsorption performance was systematically investigated. Among biochars prepared at different pyrolysis temperatures, BC500 exhibited the highest TC adsorption capacity and was therefore selected as the precursor for composite preparation. The 1:1 sepiolite-biochar composite achieved 92.8% removal of 20 mg L-1 TC within 65 min at pH 5 using 1 g L-1 adsorbent. Adsorption kinetics followed a pseudo-second-order model, and equilibrium data were well described by the Langmuir isotherm, indicating monolayer chemisorption. Mechanistic analyses suggested that adsorption was dominated by pore filling and pi-pi interactions, supplemented by hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interactions, and cation exchange. The composite demonstrated excellent cyclic stability, retaining over 86% of its initial TC removal efficiency after three adsorption-desorption cycles. These findings highlight the potential of sepiolite-biochar composites as cost-effective, efficient, and reusable adsorbents for antibiotic-contaminated water, providing guidance for the design of mineral-biochar composites with enhanced adsorption performance.

Regarded as a core strategic resource for the energy transition, lithium recovery from ores and brines suffers from high energy intensity and environmental costs. This study presents a sustainable “waste-to-treasure” paradigm by repairing structural defects in spent LiFePO4 (LFP) to resynthesize high-performance electrodes for selective lithium extraction by means of hybrid capacitive deionization (HCDI). High-purity Li+ and Fe3+, selectively recovered through a green sodium persulfate system, were utilized to resynthesize LFP, effectively remediating Li-Fe anti-site defects while restoring structural integrity. The regenerated LFP electrode demonstrated superior Li+adsorption capacity (66.94 mg g−1) and retained 98% capacity retention over 50 cycles, while maintaining good Li+/Mg2+ selectivity even in high-impurity simulated brines (α = 4.48 for Mg2+/Li+ at a molar ratio of 10). Density functional theory (DFT) and life cycle assessment (LCA) further confirmed the selective electroadsorption mechanism and the economic-environmental viability of this approach. This work establishes a closed-loop paradigm for regenerative of battery materials and critical lithium resource recovery.

Solar-driven photothermal catalytic conversion of renewable biomass to chemical fuels plays an important role in promoting the realization of a carbon-neutral society, but the development of an effective conversion system under mild conditions remains an enormous challenge. Herein, oxygen vacancy-rich MoO2 grown on graphite carbon (MoO2@GC) was designed as an efficient photothermal catalyst to achieve biomass-to-H2 conversion under mild conditions in a neutral solution. Under 300 W Xe lamp irradiation, the optimized MoO2@GC catalyst achieves rapid H2 generation from an α-cellulose aqueous solution with a H2 generation rate of 29 μmol·h-1·g-1. Meanwhile, common biomass types including rape straw, rice hull, corn straw, bamboo, wheat straw, wood chip, rice straw, corn cob, and soybean straw were successfully converted to H2 by the MoO2@GC catalyst with the maximum H2 evolution rate of 22 μmol·h-1·g-1 in a wheat straw system. Experimental and theoretical calculations reveal that the successful photothermal catalytic conversion of biomass to H2 by MoO2@GC under neutral condition is related to the existence of oxygen vacancy, which induces the formation of coordination unsaturated Mo ions and thus provides efficient active sites for biomass oxidation. This study opens a new opportunity for realizing H2 production from biomass under mild condition in a neutral solution.

The precise modulation of the thickness of two-dimensional (2D) semiconductor transition metal disulfides (TMDs) by laser thinning techniques to tailor their electronic properties is recognized as a promising approach. However, achieving sub-diffractive patterning during layer-by-layer modulation is crucial for junction fabrication and device engineering. Herein, we report atomic nanoribbon generation in single-layer tungsten disulfide (WS2), namely, the atomic laser-induced periodic surface structure (atomic-LIPSS) effect, achieved by tuning the laser pulse width, energy and other processing parameters. We explore the structural evolution of WS2 during laser processing for monolayer and multilayer films and compare it with another more commonly encountered 2D material, MoS2. It is verified experimentally and by molecular dynamics simulations (MD) that such atomic nanoribbons can only be formed under the action of short-pulse (<ns) lasers.

Biological trickling filters (BTFs) are established sustainable technologies for volatile organic compound (VOC) abatement, yet their performance is often constrained by complex, non-linear interactions among operational parameters. This study proposes a robust and interpretable machine learning (ML) framework to accurately predict and optimize toluene removal efficiency (RE) in BTFs. A comprehensive dataset was systematically acquired from long-term, phased experiments (189 days) by systematically manipulating empty bed residence time (EBRT), nutrient spraying velocity (NSV), and inlet gas concentration (IGC). Among six evaluated models, the Back-Propagation/Multi-Layer Perceptron (BP/MLP) model, optimized via the Sparrow Search Algorithm (SSA), demonstrated superior predictive accuracy and generalization capability. SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanations) analysis identified EBRT as the dominant factor, followed by IGC, while revealing the nuanced, non-monotonic impact of NSV. To quantify model certainty, predictions were augmented with 95

The recycling of valuable metals from spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is essential for resource recovery and environmental sustainability. A sustainable approach, i.e. activated carbon-assisted mechanochemical pretreatment, for the recycling of spent lithium cobalt oxide cathodes was explored. The leaching efficiencies of cobalt (Co) and lithium (Li) increased remarkably with extended ball milling time and higher rotational speed. The recovery of Co and Li improved as the concentration of leachates increased. However, the leaching efficiencies of metals decreased significantly due to the reduced available surface area per unit volume of solution when the solid-to-liquid (S/L) ratio was increased. Furthermore, the leaching efficiencies of Co and Li were notably higher in the activated samples compared to the non-activated ones, suggesting that the mechanical activation process enhances metal recovery. Moreover, the kinetic analysis of leaching demonstrated that the mechanical activation process significantly modified the leaching behavior of valuable metals. Mechanically induced lattice distortion, defect formation, and bond activation promote the transfer of electrons from AC (serving as both electron donor and electron-conducting medium) to Co(III) species in LiCoO2, facilitating the mechanochemical reduction of Co(III) to more soluble Co(II). Moreover, particle refinement shortens the diffusion pathways for protons and dissolved metal species, thereby accelerating the transfer of Li and Co(II) into the liquid phase and further enhancing the overall leaching efficiency. This efficient AC-assisted mechanochemical reduction process achieves high recovery of critical metals from spent LIBs under mild ambient conditions, eliminating external heating and liquid reductants and demonstrating great industrial application potential.

The reuse of end-of-life (EOL) photovoltaic (PV) panels, which had become a prevalent renewable energy technology worldwide over recent decades, posed significant challenges. This study started the research with 7 different organic solvent, including trichloroethylene (TCE), toluene (TOL), D-limonene, isopropanol (IPA), ethyl acetate (EAC), ethanol and methanol, to create an innovative swelling-dissolution process and aim at facilitating the directional separation of EOL-PV components and reusing them. D-limonene showed the best efficiency and most environmental-friendly. Experimental findings revealed that with the solid-liquid ratio of 1:15 and the ultrasonic power setting of 200 W for 40 min, D-limonene achieved an ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) dissolution rate of 96.2 %. Characterization of the recovered materials showed that the glass, solar cell and backsheet maintained high physicochemical integrity, indicating significant potential for reuse. The byproducts of Dlimonene and TCE systems were analyzed by GC-MS. Toxicity evaluation showed the byproducts of D-limonene system were less toxic than TCE system. Life cycle assessment (LCA) indicated its environmental superiority across multiple impact categories, highlighting the considerable environmental advantages of D-limonene. This research presented an effective and environmentally sustainable solution for EOL-PV recycling, offering a highly efficient approach for directional separation of EOL-PV panels.

This study investigated the self-ignition characteristics of coal-based activated carbon prepared from bituminous coal through phosphoric acid/potassium acetate co-activation. Synchronous thermal analysis in dry air revealed four distinct reaction stages: oxidative heat accumulation (room temperature to T-1), oxidative pyrolysis (T-1 to T-2), combustion (T-2 to T-3), and burnout (>T-3). Results demonstrated that increasing the activator impregnation ratio elevated pyrolysis temperatures from 235 degrees C to 280 degrees C while initially reducing ignition temperature by approximately 20 degrees C, followed by a rebound at higher ratios (1:4) due to pore collapse. Reducing raw coal particle size enhanced specific surface area and oxygen adsorption capacity, lowering ignition temperature to around 230 degrees C and increasing exothermic heat release. Higher impregnation ratios extended the oxidative pyrolysis duration and weight loss, though excessive ratios (1:4) increased sustained temperatures through pore deterioration. Concurrently, the study revealed that all coal-based activated carbons exhibited a Type I isotherm dominated by micropores, characterized by a high specific surface area (up to 860.44 m(2)/g) and a substantial pore volume (maximum 0.487 cm(3)/g). Reducing the raw coal particle size significantly optimized the pore structure, enhancing both the specific surface area and adsorption capacity. Increasing the activator impregnation ratio promoted pore development within a certain range; however, excessive ratios led to pore collapse and a consequent decline in adsorption performance. The apparent activation energies, calculated using Flynn-Wall-Ozawa and Madhusudanan-Krishnan-Ninan methods, progressively increased from 24-78 kJ/mol (heat accumulation) to 112-190 kJ/mol (pyrolysis) and 330-445.2 kJ/mol (combustion). Kinetic analysis showed that while increased impregnation ratios enhanced surface active sites (raising heat accumulation activation energy), excessive impregnation increased combustion activation energy due to pore damage. Particle size reduction improved oxygen diffusion, decreasing combustion activation energy from 380 kJ/mol to 330 kJ/mol. The study demonstrates that surface activation pretreatment critically governs self-ignition behavior through its modulation of pore structure and adsorption characteristics, providing fundamental insights into the thermal stability of coal-based activated carbons.

The photocatalysts have been well explored due to their eco-friendly nature. The distance between water and catalyst is crucial for water splitting. However, the distance between water and catalyst active sites for hydrogen evolution has not yet been investigated due to identification challenges. Fullerene C60 has a highly symmetric structure, allowing the distance between water and active site to be identified. Herein, water-C60 distance was tuned from 3.55/3.56 & Aring; to 3.07 & Aring; to trigger hydrogen photo-evolution. The C60@(H2O)60 were created by bringing water to within approximately 3.07 & Aring; of C60 using a simple sonication method. The structure was determined by atomic pair distribution function analysis and density functional theory to be a highly symmetric core-shell structure with conduction band minimum of -4.27 eV and valence band maximum of -5.82 eV to favor hydrogen photo-evolution. An excellent hydrogen evolution rate of 5.7 mmol h- 1 g- 1 was obtained from C60@(H2O)60. Only the water in C60@(H2O)60 was found to be involved in hydrogen production from its hydrogen production yield. The fullerene has for the first time been demonstrated to be efficient to obtain hydrogen just by manipulating the water-C60 distance under irradiation. This work provides another side to understand the effectiveness of hydrogen photo-evolution.

Photothermal reforming of biomass to H2 has emerged as a promising strategy for biomass utilization but remains an enormous challenge to construct an efficient conversion system under mild conductions. Here, Ni-coated Mo2C microsphere (Ni/Mo2C) composites with an electron-depletion Ni (Niδ+) region and an electron-accumulation Mo2C (Mo2Cδ-) region were developed as efficient catalysts for photothermal reforming of biomass to H2 in neutral aqueous solution. In Ni/Mo2C catalysts, the Niδ+ region acted as efficient Lewis acidic sites to be used as active sites for biomass oxidation, while Mo2Cδ- can be used as active sites for the H2 generation reaction, which enhances the photothermal catalytic activity of Ni/Mo2C catalysts for biomass-to-H2 conversion. As a result, common plant biomass was successfully converted to H2 by Ni/Mo2C catalysts in neutral aqueous solution with the maximum H2 evolution rate of 117 μmol g-1 h-1 in the wheat straw system under 300 W Xe lamp irradiation.

The integrated circuit (IC) industry is a cornerstone of technological progress but is also characterized by intensive chemical usage and complex waste streams that pose serious environmental risks. This study assesses hazardous waste (HW) generation and management in Shanghai's IC sector by integrating multi-source enterprise surveys, grey prediction modeling, and a Delphi-Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) risk evaluation framework. Results show that waste generation is highly concentrated in a few large-scale facilities, dominated by acids and organic solvents, with forecasts projecting a sharp increase by 2030. Delphi-AHP analysis identifies hazard characteristics and physical state as the most influential risk drivers, followed by annual HW generation scale, storage facility standardization rate, and classification and storage compliance. Risk scores range from 1.11 to 2.81 (mean 1.81), with 27.3 % of firms exceeding 2.0. Sectoral stratification is evident: manufacturing firms cluster at the high-risk end with low dispersion; design firms remain consistently low; while equipment, materials, packaging, and testing enterprises occupy mid-range values with greater heterogeneity. These findings suggest that procedural compliance alone improves baseline performance but cannot fully mitigate process-embedded risks in high-throughput production. Accordingly, a portfolio of measures is recommended, including source minimization, closed-loop chemistry recycling, engineered safeguards at storage and transfer nodes, differentiated subsector guidance, park-level recovery infrastructure, and digital traceability with risk-proportional supervision. Collectively, these measures provide a feasible pathway to reconcile rising HW generation with environmental protection goals in one of the world's leading semiconductor hubs.