This study addresses the sluggish self-hydrolysis of sodium borohydride (NaBH4) by developing ZIF-67-derived catalysts. Pristine ZIF-67 was synthesized at room temperature and subsequently calcined in air at temperatures ranging from 200 °C to 500 °C. Among the as-synthesized and thermally treated samples, the catalyst calcined at 400 °C (ZIF-67@400) exhibited the highest performance, a hydrogen generation rate (HGR) of approximately 1,212 mL min.-1. g-1 under a catalyst loading of 10 mg with 52.87 mM NaBH4 at room temperature. Under optimized conditions ZIF-67@400, 20 mg of ZIF-67@400 loading, 264 mM NaBH4 and a reaction temperature of 313 K (40 °C), the HGR increased to 9,516 mL min-1. g.-1. The activation energy (Ea) was calculated to be 65.76 kJ mol-1, which is consistent with values reported in the literature. These findings demonstrate that precise thermal treatment of MOF precursors can substantially enhance catalytic performance, offering an efficient strategy for hydrogen generation.

The development of sustainable biomass-derived porous carbon materials for electrochemical energy-storage applications has attracted considerable attention owing to their tunable pore structures and surface functionalities. In this work, an azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN)-assisted nitrogen-doping approach was employed to convert onion peel waste into nitrogen-enriched porous biocarbon through co-pyrolysis followed by KOH activation. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the structural characteristics and electrochemical charge-storage behavior of the prepared biocarbon materials as supercapacitor electrodes. Among the prepared samples, OA-650 exhibited a high specific surface area of 2650 m² g−1 and well-developed porosity. Morphology analyses revealed porous layered carbon structures with partially graphitized domains, while Raman analysis indicated defect-rich carbon frameworks with partial graphitic ordering influenced by activation temperature. XPS analysis further confirmed the coexistence of graphitic-N, pyridinic-N, and pyrrolic-N species together with oxygen-containing functional groups, which may contribute to favorable electrochemical charge-storage behavior. As a result, OA-650 delivered a specific capacitance of 551.6 ± 7.8 Fg−1 at 1 A g−1 in 1 M KOH electrolyte with 89% capacitance retention after 5000 charge–discharge cycles. Furthermore, the symmetric two-electrode configuration delivered an energy density of 5.22 Wh kg−1 at a power density of 199.9 W kg−1. First-principles calculations suggested that nitrogen incorporation and oxygen functionalization influences the electronic structure and charge-storage characteristics of the carbon framework. Overall, the combined structural, surface, electrochemical, and computational results demonstrate that AIBN-assisted nitrogen doping can serve as an effective approach for preparing biomass-derived porous carbon materials for supercapacitor applications.

Developing highly efficient polymeric binder-free electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is essential for sustainable green hydrogen production but remains challenging due to sluggish OER kinetics. Herein, a morphology-engineered and electronic-structure-tuned Co(OH)2/Co3O4/C nanocomposite was synthesized via a biomass-derived carbon nanodot (CND)-assisted hydrothermal strategy followed by controlled air annealing. The CNDs served as in-situ structural modulators and conductive carbon sources, eliminating polymeric binders while enhancing charge transport and active-site exposure. The optimized Co/CND-200 catalyst exhibited outstanding OER performance, delivering a low overpotential of 180 mV at 10 mA cm-2, a Tafel slope of 24.8 mV dec-1, and a high turnover frequency of 20.3 s-1. Moreover, it maintained remarkable long-term durability over 144 h at 60 mA cm-2, surpassing many reported cobalt-and noble-metal-based catalysts for efficient water oxidation. This work provides novel insights into establishing a scalable and sustainable strategy for OER electrocatalysts toward efficient green hydrogen production.

Rigid coordination in single-atom catalysts (SACs) hampers the balanced adsorption-desorption of oxygen intermediates, constraining catalytic performance. Although conventional N-coordinated graphene-based systems exhibit strong ORR activity, their limited orbital flexibility suppresses OER kinetics and overall bifunctional efficiency. Rh-based SACs achieve exceptional bifunctional activity but remain impractical due to their high cost and scarcity, emphasizing the need for earth-abundant SACs with coordination-engineered transition-metal centers. Herein, density functional theory (DFT) calculations, combined with machine learning (ML), are employed to explore how second-shell heteroatom doping with boron (B) and phosphorus (P) can reconfigure orbital interactions in edge-anchored TM-N4 graphene nanoribbons (EN4G). Seventy-five SACs, comprising 26 transition metals (3d-5d) in pristine, B-doped, and P-doped environments, were systematically evaluated. B doping exerts only a minor electronic influence, resulting in marginal changes in both ORR and OER overpotentials and offering limited catalytic improvement over the pristine systems. In contrast, P doped FeEN4G, ZnEN4G, and CdEN4G exhibit improved ORR activity but suffer from poor OER performance, reflecting their single-functional nature. Meanwhile, P-CoEN4G and P-RhEN4G emerge as the most effective bifunctional catalysts with balanced overpotentials (eta ORR: 0.58 V and eta OER: 0.41 V and eta ORR: 0.65 V and eta OER: 0.30 V, respectively). Cumulative ICOHP analysis reveals that P doping weakens both TM-O and N-TM interactions (Fe, Co, and Rh), underscoring its role in tuning the local electronic environment. Electronic structure analysis reveals that P dopants reduce sigma (dz2-pz) overlap that stabilizes TM-OH bonding and enhances ORR activity and the pi* (dxz and dyz) orbital shifts below the Fermi level, limiting pi*-backdonation for the OER. Furthermore, ML analysis of DFT-derived features identified dxz orbital occupancy and Bader charge (qTM) as dominant descriptors (approximate to 80% cumulative importance). The random forest regression model (R2 = 0.91) confirms that frontier-orbital occupation and charge redistribution dictate catalytic activity, offering a data-guided route for rational SAC design.

The direct conversion of carbon dioxide (CO2) and propylene oxide (PO) into propylene carbonate (PC) offers a green way to utilize anthropogenic CO2. However, this reaction is limited by low conversion of PO and harsh reaction conditions. In this study, we solve this problem using ionic liquids (ILs)/metal oxide composites (ILs@MAO). The catalytic activity of MAO-500 (500 = annealing temperature) is poor evidenced by its low conversion of PO (24.94%). However, ILs@MAO-500 has a high conversion of PO (97.54%) under similar reaction conditions (2 h at 1.5 MPa CO2 pressure, 90 degrees C, and 0.85 g catalyst). The ILs consist of imidazolium cation with weak coordinated [NTf2]- anion leading to outward movement of anion resulting in the formation of "heterodinuclear complex". This complex generates an amorphous-crystalline intermediate with balanced acid-base sites that activate PO and stabilize the catalytic intermediate. In large part, the high PO conversion is theorized to be primarily due to the abundant reactive sites in the ILs that are covalently immobilized on the MAO-500 carrier. Furthermore, even after multiple recycling, ILs@MAO-500 remains stable and exhibits high yield and selectivity. The proposed solvent-free catalytic system is mild, kinetically fast, and naturally safe for coupling CO2 and PO into PC synthesis.

The direct utilization of solar energy to convert contaminated water into clean, potable water presents a sustainable and eco-friendly solution to global water scarcity. However, this process is often limited by low evaporation rates and the use of expensive photothermal materials. In this study, we address these challenges by developing a novel polypyrrole (PPy)-coated cellulose aerogel (WP@PPy) using waste paper (WP) as a low-cost, cellulose-rich precursor. The engineered aerogel exhibits tunable porosity, low density, mechanical flexibility, and strong hydrophilicity, with a PPy coating that significantly enhances light absorption and photothermal conversion. Under standard conditions (2 x 2 aerogel, 50 mL tap water, room temperature, 60 min, and 1 sun illumination), WP@PPy aerogel achieves a high solar-driven evaporation rate with an energy conversion efficiency of 91.53 %, compared to only 47.83 % for uncoated WP aerogel. Moreover, WP@PPy aerogel demonstrates excellent long-term durability, sustaining performance over 28 h of operation across 7 days. Importantly, it effectively removes a wide range of contaminants including dye, heavy metals, oil-water mixture, saline water, and real seawater, highlighting its potential for practical wastewater treatment and desalination. This work provides a promising route for environmentally friendly, multifunctional water purification using readily available materials.

Zinc sulfide (ZnS) is a semiconductor with a tunable bandgap and strong surface interactions, making it a promising candidate for optical and photonic applications. However, its use in electrochemical sensing remains limited due to its poor electron transport and insufficient affinity for redox-active analytes. To address these limitations, S-doped ZnS/ZnO carbon nanocomposite was synthesized via zinc chloride (ZnCl2) activation of alkali lignin and subsequent hydrothermal sulfidation to enable the electrochemical detection of toxic 4-Nitrophenol (4-NP). During this process, the in-situ formation of ZnS and partial conversion of zinc oxide (ZnO) generated a strong interfacial coupling between ZnS and ZnO, leading to enhanced electron transport, while sulfur incorporation into the carbon framework not only facilitated 4-NP adsorption but also induced oxygen vacancies in ZnO, enhancing active sites and surface energy and ultimately reducing the charge transfer resistance. Owing to these outstanding properties, the sensor exhibited a low limit of detection, excellent selectivity against various interferences, and long-term stability. The practical applicability of S-doped ZnS/ZnO carbon nanocomposite was also evaluated, where it showed reliable detection of 4-NP concentrations in river water samples. Overall, the in-situ formation of S-doped ZnS/ZnO nanocomposites leverages the synergy between ZnS and ZnO nanoparticles, effectively integrates oxygen-vacancy-rich ZnO with a sulfur-doped carbon network, providing valuable insights for designing efficient electrocatalysts for multiple analyte-sensing applications.

Hydrogels are widely utilized in flexible, wearable, and self-powered electronic devices such as triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs). However, conventional hydrogels suffer from dehydration and ice crystallization at subzero temperatures, leading to poor ionic conductivity and mechanical fragility. Here, we report an anti-freezing, non-drying, and mechanically robust graphene/gelatin-based supramolecular organohydrogel prepared via solvent exchange in a citrate (Cit) water/glycerol medium. The prepared graphene/gelatin organohydrogel simultaneously achieves mechanical robustness, stable conductivity, and antifreezing performance down to-30 degrees C. Mechanical reinforcement arises from synergistic hydrophobic, ionic (gelatin-citrate), and glycerol-assisted hydrogen-bond interactions, while water-glycerol solvent exchange enables antifreezing stability. To enhance the electrical properties, graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) were incorporated to form a conductive network that facilitates charge transport. By tuning the GNP concentration, the electrical conductivity and output of the organohydrogel-TENG were precisely controlled. The optimized device achieved a high-power density of 4.5 W m-2 and maintained stable performance under stretching, bending, and folding. Beyond energy harvesting, the conductive organohydrogel functions as a wearable biomotion sensor with high sensitivity to physiological signals and body movements. Its durability, antifreezing capability, and tunable conductivity make it a promising platform for smart tactile interfaces and energy-efficient sensing systems.

The direct utilization of solar energy to convert saline and contaminated water into freshwater represents a sustainable and environmentally benign approach to addressing the escalating global water crisis. However, practical deployment of solar steam generation (SSG) remains limited by inefficient water transport, salt accumulation, structural instability, and the high cost of photothermal materials. Herein, we report a salt-resistant polypyrrole (PPy)-sodium alginate (SA) hybrid aerogel, ionically crosslinked with calcium (Ca2+) and integrated onto a waste-derived poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) nanofiber scaffold (PMS@PPy), for efficient solar-driven desalination and wastewater purification. The Ca2+-mediated egg-box crosslinking construct a mechanically reinforced and highly hydrophilic three-dimensional network that is strongly anchored to the ester-rich PET nanofibers through hydrogen bonding and interfacial entanglement, enabling rapid capillary-driven water replenishment and long-term structural robustness. Uniformly immobilized PPy coating provides broadband solar absorption and efficient photothermal conversion with effective heat localization at the evaporation interface. Under 1 sun illumination, the PMS@PPy aerogel achieves a high evaporation rate (similar to 2.58 kg m(-2) h(-1)) with an energy conversion efficiency of 97.10%, while exhibiting excellent resistance to salt accumulation and stable performance during prolonged operation (10-days). Importantly, the system effectively purifies dye-contaminated water, heavy-metal-laden wastewater, hypersaline solutions, extreme acid and alkaline media, and real seawater. This work demonstrates a low-cost, waste-derived, and chemically resilient SSG platform, offering a scalable pathway for sustainable solar-driven desalination and advanced wastewater treatment.

ABSTRACT In this study, graphene oxide (GO)‐modified poly (phenylene oxide, PPO) anion exchange membranes (F/GO) were developed for application in anion exchange membrane electrolyzers (AEMELs). The incorporation of GO enhanced membrane hydration, ion‐exchange capacity, and hydroxide‐ion conductivity, resulting in an ~15% increase in current density at 2.0 V and 80°C (0.551 A/cm2) compared with the pristine membrane (0.480 A/cm−2). The F/GO membranes also showed enhanced hydrogen production rates and an HHV‐based energy efficiency of 76% at 0.5 A/cm2 and 80°C. These results underscore the potential for F/GO membranes in scalable AEMEL applications. Mechanical and alkaline stability tests confirmed robustness under harsh conditions. These findings demonstrate that the incorporation of GO provides a simple, scalable, and potentially lower‐cost modification strategy compared with highly engineered polymer architectures, while also improving overall electrolyzer performance, highlighting the potential of GO‐modified membranes for practical hydrogen production in AEMEL systems.

Sodium borohydride (NaBH4) methanolysis offers a sustainable route for hydrogen generation but is often limited by costly noble-metal catalysts and complex synthesis procedures. This study introduces a ZnO/ Fe2O3-X@C nanocomposite as an efficient and low-cost catalyst for rapid NaBH4 methanolysis. The catalyst was prepared via a one-pot hydrothermal method followed by annealing under N2, using biomass-derived carbon nanodots (CNDs), FeCl2, and ZnCl2 as precursors. Optimal performance was achieved with 0.75 g Fe2+ loading in ZnO/Fe2O3-X@C nanocomposite (ZnO/Fe2O3-0.75@C), which promoted a balanced Fe2O3/ZnO ratio and the formation of ZnO nanorods. The ZnO/Fe2O3-0.75@C catalyst exhibited an excellent hydrogen generation rate (HGR) of 63.43 L g-1 & sdot;min-1 within 3 min and a low activation energy of 16.1 kJ mol-1. It maintained 90.1 % of its activity after five cycles, revealing noble-metal catalysts and surpassing state-of-the-art metal-based catalyst. These findings demonstrate that the synergistic effect of Fe2+ ions and CNDs significantly boost the electrochemically active surface area (ECSA), promotes efficient charge transfer, and improves the electrical conductivity of the nanocomposite. As a result, a highly effective ZnO/Fe2O3-X@C heterostructure was developed for sustainable hydrogen generation via NaBH4 methanolysis.

Water pollution has emerged as a major global environmental challenge, largely due to the discharge of untreated wastewater containing a wide range of contaminants such as heavy metals, dyes, pharmaceuticals, oils, and minerals into natural water bodies. To mitigate this issue, various treatment techniques have been explored, with adsorption standing out as one of the most effective and economically feasible approaches for wastewater remediation. Although numerous adsorbents have been developed for pollutant removal, the search for materials that are not only highly efficient but also reusable and environmentally friendly remains a central research focus. In this context, nanomaterials with tunable physicochemical properties offer significant potential, enabling the design of adsorbents with high selectivity and performance. Among various advanced materials, ZSM-5 a high-silica zeolite, have attracted considerable attention due to their high surface area, adjustable porosity, chemical and thermal stability, ease of functionalization, and excellent regeneration capabilities. However, comprehensive reviews detailing recent advances in ZSM-5-based adsorbents for wastewater treatment are still scarce. This review aims to fill that gap by presenting recent developments in ZSM-5 zeolite-based composites for water treatment. It focuses on various modification strategies aimed at enhancing adsorption performance and assesses their effectiveness in removing a broad spectrum of pollutants, including dyes, heavy metals, herbicides, and pharmaceuticals. By consolidating recent advancements, it offers a comprehensive overview of the emerging role of ZSM-5 composites in advancing wastewater treatment technologies.

Carbon dots (CDs) have demonstrated outstanding capability in enhancing redox reactions as both electrode and electrolyte modifiers in electrochromic devices (ECDs). However, although biomass-derived carbon dots provide low toxicity, low cost, intrinsic doping, and high stability, they remain insufficiently explored despite the existence of various synthesis methods and sources. Herein, we report the excellent electrolytic activity of carbon dots from coffee waste (CWCD), orange peel (ORCD), spent hibiscus flower (HICD), and red onion peel (ROCD) prepared via a simple bottom-up method. Rich surface functional sites and well-balanced sp2-carbon domains enabled excellent ionic conductivity in the ECDs, resulting in impressive color switching performance. The carbon dot derived from orange peels (ORCD) exhibited the highest performance among all samples. A high optical contrast (Delta T) of 94.9 % and 92.6 % was obtained under 6 s in the visible and near infrared (NIR) region, respectively. In addition, it exhibits a high coloration efficiency (CE) of 150 cm2C-1, which is comparable to and even higher than other reported electrolyte materials. Cyclic voltammetry confirmed complete and reversible redox activity of the viologen species, while electrochemical impedance spectroscopy revealed that ORCD had the lowest charge transfer resistance. Additionally, all devices demonstrated robust cyclic stability over 500 cycles. These results highlight the potential of biomass-derived CDs, particularly ORCD, as efficient electrolyte materials for high-performance and sustainable electrochromic applications.

Precise control over nitrogen (N) content and bonding configurations in N-doped carbon materials has been shown to significantly improve catalytic performance. However, existing synthesis strategies often suffer from uncontrolled defect formation and fail to produce well-defined carbon architectures comparable to graphene oxide (GO) or carbon nanotubes (CNTs). This study presents a strategy that exploits the restructuring behavior of polyethylene glycol (PEG) to simultaneously modulate both N configuration and carbon morphology. By fine-tuning the molecular weight and amount of PEG, pyridinic-, pyrrolic-, and graphitic-N species can be selectively tuned into well-defined carbon frameworks. Comprehensive analyses using X-ray photo-electron spectroscopy, Scanning electron microscopy, and Transmission electron microscopy confirm the regulation of N bonding configurations and the preservation of ordered carbon nanostructures. The optimized catalyst, N900PC4-0.5, exhibits a hollow nanotube/sheet hybrid morphology enriched with graphitic-N for efficient electron transfer, while pyrrolic-N, pyridinic-N, and C & boxH;O functionalities enhance peroxymonosulfate (PMS) adsorption. This configuration and architecture facilitate efficient electron transfer and promote PMS activation via O-1(2)-mediated nonradical pathway, achieving 99.6% removal of methyl paraben within 10 min (k = 0.1 min(-1)). These findings highlight the role of urea-PEG interactions on the configuration and morphology of N-doped carbon materials, offering a strategic approach to tailor their functionality.

The rapid search for advanced functional materials is increasingly essential to meet the rising global energy demands, secure long-term energy solutions, and achieve a sustainable future. In this work, we systematically investigate the structural, thermoelectric, and photovoltaic properties of quasi-one-dimensional selenohalides XSeHa (X = Sb, Bi; Ha = Cl, Br) using density functional theory. The unique chemical environments, consisting of 1D layers stacked via weak van der Waals interactions, give rise to pronounced anisotropic electron and phonon transport properties alongside nearly isotropic optical behavior. The synergistic combination of favorable electronic features and lone-pair electrons yields a high-power factor (1.74 mW m-1 K-2) and a low lattice thermal conductivity (0.31 W m-1 K-1), resulting in a remarkable thermoelectric figure of merit of up to 0.81 at 600 K for BiSeBr. Additionally, strong optical absorption driven by the imaginary dielectric function and favorable excitonic properties achieves a spectroscopic limited maximum efficiency of 31.13% for SbSeBr. Based on these results, BiSeBr and SbSeBr are suggested as promising candidates for experimental exploration in thermoelectric and photovoltaic applications, respectively. This study not only demonstrates the potential of selenohalides but also provides a thorough assessment of their stability and synthesizability to guide future investigations.

Electrolyte innovation is central to advancing electrochemical sources, yet conventional gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs) rely on inorganic salts for ion transport, compromising sustainability and stability. Here, we report a biohybrid, salt-free hydrogel electrolyte (PAV-Hy) integrated via a one-pot assembly of pre-polymerized polyacrylamide (PAAm), phytic acid (PA), and chromogenic viologen (EV). PA functions as an intrinsic proton source, where its phosphate groups establish an extended hydrogen-bonded network with PAAm, enabling fast proton conduction through a Grotthuss hopping mechanism. This eliminates reliance on external salts while maintaining high ionic mobility and redox stability. Mechanistic studies reveal PA disrupts intra-chain hydrogen bonding in PAAm, fostering a highly ordered, hydrogen-bonded matrix that combines structural robustness with rapid ion transport. Demonstrated in an electrochromic window, PAV-Hy achieves dual-band (Vis/NIR) solar modulation, fast switching (<10 s), and durable cyclic stability (>1000 cycles), while overcoming leakage and rigidity typical of conventional GPEs. Although showcased here in an electrochromic platform, the eco-compatible design and unique ion-transport properties of PAV-Hy suggest broad potential across multifunctional electrochemical systems. This work highlights how molecular engineering of hydrogen-bonded networks can inspire sustainable, salt-free electrolytes for next-generation devices.

Counter-anions in viologen-based photochromic materials are conventionally regarded as passive spectators. Here, we demonstrate that halide counter-anion identity (Cl−, Br−, and I−) systematically governs solid-state photochromic kinetics in supramolecular viologen–β-cyclodextrin host–guest complexes prepared under identical conditions. Despite identical processing, distinct photoresponses are observed. The chloride complex exhibits rapid dark blue coloration within 1 min, whereas the bromide complex shows slower, light blue color development over 15 min, indicating intermediate photochromic kinetics. In contrast, the iodide complex exhibits strongly suppressed photochromic behavior with negligible visible coloration. This clear and reproducible kinetic hierarchy (Cl− > Br− > I−) is consistent with halide-dependent differences in ion-pairing interactions, polarizability, and radical stabilization behavior within the confined supramolecular environment. By maintaining identical host and guest components and varying only the counter-anion, this work establishes halide selection as a simple and synthetically accessible strategy for tuning solid-state photochromic response without structural redesign, with potential applications in anti-counterfeiting, rewritable inkless printing, and light-responsive information-display technologies.

Water contamination presents serious environmental challenges, demanding sustainable remediation solutions. Developing eco-friendly adsorbents from waste tissue paper (WT) offers a promising approach. However, traditional waste-based adsorbents often rely on metals, metal oxides, graphene, and metal-derived carbon, which can cause secondary pollution through leaching. Herein, we synthesized a flexible and durable WT/poly [DMAEMA-c-DVB] hybrid adsorbent [WT-g-P(DD)] through solvothermal copolymerization of N,N-dimethylaminomethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) and divinylbenzene (DVB) in the presence of WT in an autoclave, offering a sustainable solution to environmental challenges. The WT-g-P(DD) achieved maximum removal efficiencies for MeB and MB dyes, reaching 96.6 % and 94.6 %, respectively, under optimal conditions (initial dye concentration: 10 mg/L, contact time: 120/180 min, adsorbent dosage: 15 mg/L, pH 10/6 for MeB and MB at 25 degrees C, respectively). Kinetic studies showed that adsorption follows pseudo-second-order kinetics and fits well with the Langmuir isotherm model for both MeB and MB. WT-g-P(DD) exhibited an outstanding adsorption capability of 395.7 mg/g for MeB and 182.6 mg/g for MB. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) analysis indicated that the presence of -OH, and -P(DD) segments within the WT-g-P(DD) hybrid plays a crucial role in facilitating dye adsorption. This is achieved through mechanisms such as hydrogen bonding, it-it stacking interactions, electrostatic interactions, and acid-base interactions. Notably, WT-g-P(DD) maintained its effectiveness over three reuse cycles, highlighting its potential as a sustainable, cost-effective water treatment solution. This makes WT-g-P(DD) a strong candidate for use in continuous flow systems, contributing to environmental protection and resource sustainability.

Liquid metals (LMs), i.e., metals and alloys that exist in a liquid state at room temperature, have recently attracted considerable attention owing to their electronic and rheological properties useful in various cutting-edge technologies. In this study, eutectic Ga-In (EGaIn), one of the most studied LMs, in its microdroplet form was engineered to produce a novel droplet-type surfactant that can stabilize a liquid-in-liquid emulsion with unique functionality and processability. Dual-engineered LM droplets with a robust SiO2 encapsulation shell and adsorbed amphiphilic cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) exhibited high chemical stability against water-mediated oxidation while possessing excellent oil-water interfacial activity. These engineered droplet-type surfactants densely adsorb at microscale water-oil interfaces and prevent coalescence of the dispersed oil droplets in the liquid continuous phase, thereby producing long-term stable oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions─these droplet-type surfactants were named as "mutant" Pickering emulsifiers, indicating particle emulsifiers (different from molecular surfactants) that are similar to conventional Pickering emulsifiers, but consisting of the liquid core instead of the solid. The resulting emulsions exhibited enhanced yield stresses with viscoelastic properties, even at a minimal LM load, and showed remarkable sedimentation stability, indicating significant implications in terms of processability in versatile applications. The "structured" nature of such emulsions combined with the excellent photothermal conversion ability of LM droplets adsorbed at O/W interfaces resulted in the extremely localized photothermal heating effect. Furthermore, photothermally responsive phase-change oil droplets were produced using engineered LM droplets, which can be used for the on-demand release of valuable oil-soluble cargo as a potential application. We expect that engineered LM droplets as novel droplet-type emulsifiers of immiscible liquids in colloidal multidisperse systems will provide unique opportunities for various applications.

High-performance waterproof and breathable membranes (WBMs) are crucial for wearable electronics, protective clothing, and smart textiles. However, their fabrication often depends on fluorinated polymers or surface-functionalized particles, which involves complex processing and suffers from durability issues under repeated mechanical stress. Herein, we present a one-step electrospinning strategy to fabricate nanofibrous membranes based on polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and a natural rosin additive, resulting in high waterproofness, breathability, and mechanical performance. By fine-tuning electrospinning parameters and solution composition, the resulting PAN@rosin membranes exhibit a water contact angle of 138.3 degrees, a water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) of 638.78 g/m(2)day, air permeability of similar to 0.25 mm/s, and tensile strength exceeding 7 MPa. The incorporation of rosin, a plant-derived biodegradable resin, amplifies the nanofiber hydrophobicity and mechanical strength, while eliminating the need for post-processing or fluorinated compounds. Moreover, the membranes exhibited excellent triboelectric output performance, demonstrating their potential for integration into future self-powered wearable devices. This eco-conscious approach offers a scalable and sustainable route to multifunctional WBMs for next-generation wearable and protective systems.