Petroleum-derived barrier coatings widely adopted for food packaging paper exhibit poor biodegradability. After disposal, these coatings gradually release micro-pollutants under natural conditions, causing persistent contamination to soil and water ecosystems. Therefore, sustainable bio-based barrier coatings are highly demanded to replace traditional non-degradable coatings. Inspired by the layered structure of plant cell walls, this work fabricated eco-friendly fully biodegradable barrier coatings on food packaging paper, with chitosan (CHI) as the bio-matrix, genipin (GNP) as the natural crosslinker, and organically silane modified montmorillonite (oMMT) as inorganic nanofiller to construct biomimetic layered organic-inorganic hybrid network. At the molecular scale, GNP crosslinks amino groups of CHI via dual reactive sites to form dense 3D networks and improve coating oil resistance. Uniformly dispersed oMMT nanosheets extend the diffusion path of penetrants through the tortuous path effect. Meanwhile, oMMT regulates the surface microscale roughness of coatings. Combined with reduced surface energy and enhanced organic-inorganic interfacial compatibility via hydrogen bonding, these factors synergistically strengthen the water and oil barrier performances. The optimal coating formula was screened via orthogonal experiments, achieving a Cobb 60 water absorption of 24.3 g/m² and the maximum Kit oil resistance grade of 12; the coating also exhibits favorable mechanical properties and thermal stability. This biomimetic cell wall-like biodegradable barrier coating offers a facile and scalable strategy for high-performance, heat-resistant, environmentally benign food packaging paper.

Round-the-clock photocatalytic hydrogen production is essential for overcoming theintermittency of solar energy and achieving continuous solar-to-hydrogen conversion.However, the development of efficient round-the-clock photocatalysts remains aconsiderable challenge due to limited light availability and inefficient charge utilization inthe dark. In this work, a long-afterglow-based S-scheme heterojunction photocatalyst,Sr2MgSi2O7:(Eu,Dy)/CdS (referred to as SMSED/CdS), is constructed via a ball-millingstrategy. The luminescence from Sr2MgSi2O7:(Eu,Dy) (referred to as SMSED) is efficientlycaptured by CdS, thus serving as a built-in light source to drive dark catalytic reactions.Meanwhile, the unique electron transfer pathway in SMSED provides sufficiently long-livedelectrons for the SMSED/CdS system. The S-scheme heterojunction formed betweenSMSED and CdS directs the photogenerated charge transfer, while maintaining the strongredox capability of SMSED/CdS. Consequently, the SMSED/CdS exhibits hydrogenproduction of 45.20 mmol g(-1) under ultraviolet-visible light within 1 h and a dark activity of 4.37 mmol g(-1) sustained over 3 h. The corresponding mechanism was comprehensively studied via analysis ofphysicochemical properties, band structure, ex-situ and in-situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and densityfunctional theory calculations. This study provides a significant breakthrough in developing round-the-clockphotocatalysts.

Bacterial infection remains a major clinical challenge, particularly in the context of antimicrobial resistance and biofilm-associated recalcitrance. Here, we repurposed a previously developed Fe/ppy nanocomposite as a near-infrared (NIR)-responsive antibacterial platform and evaluated its activity against the clinical Gram-negative isolate Escherichia coli ( E. coli) T2-39 and the clinical Gram-positive isolate Staphylococcus aureus ( S. aureus) ZE-29. Fe/ppy exhibited strong photothermal performance under 1064 nm irradiation and, upon NIR activation, markedly enhanced iron-dependent oxidative damage, disrupted bacterial membrane integrity, inhibited biofilm formation, and promoted bacterial death. In vitro, Fe/ppy combined with NIR almost completely abolished colony formation and sharply reduced bacterial growth, whereas either treatment alone showed only limited activity. Mechanistically, the combined treatment increased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and lipid peroxidation, and these effects were partially attenuated by deferoxamine (DFO), supporting an iron-dependent antibacterial mechanism. In vivo, oral administration of Fe/ppy followed by 1064 nm irradiation significantly reduced intestinal colonization, while biosafety analyses showed minimal hematological, biochemical, or histopathological toxicity. Together, these findings identify Fe/ppy plus NIR irradiation as a promising non-antibiotic strategy for the control of refractory bacterial infection and intestinal bacterial decolonization.

A curvature-regulated nanoscale curved-interface enzyme-like catalytic membrane (FePc@CNT-His/PVDF) was designed for the catalytic degradation and simultaneous separation of octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine (HMX). The membrane integrates carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with different diameters, iron phthalocyanine (FePc) as the catalytic center, and histidine (His) as an axial ligand. By tuning CNT curvature, the local coordination environment of the Fe center was optimized. XPS and DFT results show that the 1.22 nm CNT system provides the highest FeN coordination content (67.80%) and an Fe d-band center of −1.08 eV, indicating favorable electronic modulation for PMS activation. Under the optimized conditions, HMX removal reached 99.19% within 120 min, and the apparent rate constant was 10.7 times higher than that of the control system without His modification. Mechanistic evidence from EPR spin-trapping, ROS-scavenging experiments, DFT transition-state calculations, and LC-MS/MS/Fukui-function analysis indicates that ·O2− and 1O2 are the dominant reactive oxygen species and that HMX degradation proceeds mainly through denitration, ring opening, and further mineralization. After 24 h of continuous operation, the HMX removal rate remained 94.9%, and the reconstructed ecological safety assessment indicated that the overall ecological risk decreased from a high-risk level to below the acceptable-risk threshold. This study provides a biomimetic strategy for treating energetic-compound wastewater and clarifies the curvature-dependent structure-activity relationship of nanoscale curved-interface catalytic systems.

WS 2 /MoS 2 -based SAs are prepared using the S-vacancy regulation method. The nonlinear optical properties of WS 2 /MoS 2 -based SAs are investigated through first-principles calculations and Z-scan experiments.

Ceramic membranes have emerged as promising candidates for desalination owing to their superior thermal and chemical stability. Among various fabrication techniques, the sol-gel method offers unique advantages in tailoring pore structure, surface charge, and wettability, thereby enabling high selectivity and strong resistance to fouling. This review summarizes recent progress in sol-gel-derived ceramic membranes, with particular emphasis on microstructural engineering, strategies for stability enhancement, and surface property modification. Key challenges are also discussed, including the hydrothermal instability of amorphous phases, the limited scalability of sol-gel processing, and the high energy requirements of sintering. Future perspectives highlight the urgent need to address the high cost associated with defect control and the limited reproducibility of membrane materials in the sol-gel fabrication of ceramic membranes. Efforts should focus on developing low-energy-consumption and high-efficiency production technologies for ceramic membranes, as well as integrating simulation and modeling strategies to guide the design of multifunctional membrane materials and enable predictive optimization of ceramic membrane performance. These advances will establish a flexible and efficient technological pathway for translating sol-gel-derived ceramic membranes from laboratory-scale research to industrial applications in seawater desalination, thereby playing a crucial role in promoting sustainable water treatment and resource recovery.

ABSTRACT Renewable electricity‐driven electroreduction of CO 2 into formate represents one of the most commercially attractive routes for carbon valorization, yet Bi‐based catalysts often suffer from unstable surface states under reaction conditions. Here, we exploit this intrinsic instability to construct an interfacial Cs/Cl dual‐modified Bi nanoflower catalyst via an in situ electrochemical surface reconstruction strategy, which delivers high formate selectivity across a broad pH window, including acidic, neutral, and alkaline media. In situ spectroscopic analysis and theoretical calculations reveal that Cs/Cl dual‐modification fundamentally serves as synergistic sites by reconfiguring the interfacial electronic environment, accelerating water dissociation, and stabilizing *OCHO intermediates, thereby steering the reaction pathway toward formate. Furthermore, pairing CO 2 reduction with methanol oxidation in a two‐electrode configuration enables the simultaneous electrosynthesis of formate at both electrodes under low cell voltages, offering a dual‐value coproduction strategy for carbon utilization and biomass upgrading. This work establishes interfacial water activation via reconstruction‐induced dual‐sites as a powerful design principle for next‐generation CO 2 reduction electrocatalysts.

The photocatalytic CO2 reduction (PCR) technology mimics the energy conversion process of natural photosynthesis. PCR is an important strategy to help achieve the future “dual carbon” goals due to its significant advantages of being green, clean, and sustainable. However, the current PCR technology still has a large gap from practical industrial application owing to key problems such as low CO2 conversion efficiency, poor product selectivity, and insufficient photocatalyst stability. The fundamental reason is the low charge separation efficiency, which is also the core bottleneck restricting performance improvement. This review first outlines the basic mechanism of PCR and systematically analyzes the physical essence of charge separation processes at spatial scales. It further sorts out the internal and external factors that limit the charge separation efficiency, as well as the common techniques and evaluation standards for characterizing charge behavior. It also highlights representative progress in boosting charge separation efficiency through such strategies as heterojunction construction, defect engineering, catalyst regulation, and morphology optimization. This review provides references and inspiration for the rational design of high-performance PCR catalysts.

The development of carbon nanotubes with controllable structures is of great significance for their application as multifunctional components to address challenges associated with electromagnetic radiation, interference and thermal management in humid environments. However, achieving precise structural control of carbon nanotubes remains challenging, which hinders the integration of excellent microwave absorption with multifunctional performance, primarily due to the lack of compatible fabrication strategies capable of regulating their intrinsic growth behavior. To overcome these challenges, a series of nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes (NCNTs) with controllable structures embedded with magnetic nanoparticles were synthesized as fillers via floating-catalyst chemical vapor deposition. These structurally controllable NCNTs embedded with magnetic nanoparticles exhibit tunable electromagnetic response characteristics. The cup-stacked NCNTs (CSNCNTs) embedded with Fe/ Fe3C nanoparticles demonstrate excellent microwave absorption, when incorporated into polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) films, simultaneously provide thermal management capability and hydrophobicity. Needle-like CSNCNTs with thin and thick end diameters of approximately 50 nm and 150 nm, respectively, and lengths exceeding 1.48 mu m exhibit a broadband electromagnetic response, achieving an effective absorption bandwidth of 6.0 GHz at a thickness of 1.63 mm. Horn-like CSNCNTs with thin and thick end diameters of approximately 140 nm and 375 nm, respectively, and a length of 1.84 mu m display exceptionally strong microwave absorption with a minimum reflection loss of -84.4 dB. The structural controllability and tunable electromagnetic response of these nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes embedded with magnetic nanoparticles open up new opportunities for the development of advanced electromagnetic materials capable of mitigating heat accumulation in humid environments.

Developing highly efficient catalysts to activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS) via non-radical pathways for water decontamination is desirable, yet achieving this via green and scalable methods remains challenging. Herein, we report highly dispersed CoFe2O4 nanoparticles anchored on N and S co-doped commercial-grade carbon nanotubes (CoFe2O4-N/S-CNT; abbreviated as CFO-N/S-CNT), prepared by a simple, solvent-free route involving mechanical grinding and low-temperature calcination, for tetracycline (TC) degradation. Under optimal conditions, the CFO-N/S-CNT/PMS system achieves 96% TC removal with an observed rate constant (kobs) of 2.03 min-1, corresponding to 35.6-, 27.4-, and 2.78-fold enhancements relative to CFO/PMS (0.057 min-1), N/S-CNT/PMS (0.074 min-1), and CFO-CNT/PMS (0.73 min-1), respectively. Quenching tests, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), and electrochemical measurements reveal that PMS activation over CFO-N/S-CNT proceeds primarily via non-radical pathways, involving singlet oxygen (1O2) generation and an electron-transfer pathway (ETP). Density functional theory (DFT) calculations indicate that a moderate PMS adsorption strength on CFO-N/S-CNT enables efficient electron withdrawal from TC, thereby promoting the ETP, while adsorption-induced O-H bond elongation in PMS lowers the barrier for 1O2 generation. In line with the non-radical regime, CFO-N/S-CNT delivers consistently high TC removal in diverse and chemically complex water matrices. This work offers mechanistic insights for the design of non-radical PMS catalysts and demonstrates a practical, scalable strategy based on commercial nanomaterials.

Solid electrolytes are regarded as one of the important materials for solving the problems of lithium dendrite growth and safety hazards in lithium metal batteries (LMBs) because of their excellent chemical and electrochemical stability as well as outstanding flame resistance. However, the application of solid electrolytes in LMBs still faces key challenges such as high interfacial resistance, poor mechanical properties, high cost, and difficulties in mass production. In this regard, a natural and renewable nanomaterial-bacterial cellulose (BC) has received considerable attention in recent years, as its specific advantages can offer solutions to these challenges: its tunable molecular structure enables customized ion transport and enhanced interfacial compatibility, effectively reducing interfacial resistance; its inherent mechanical robustness helps improve the structural stability of the electrolyte; meanwhile, the abundance, environmental friendliness, and cost-effectiveness of BC also provide a feasible foundation for large-scale production and application. This review focuses on the emerging role of BC with its unique three-dimensional nanofibrillar network as a versatile platform for engineering advanced solid electrolytes. We begin by outlining the structural characteristics and intrinsic properties of BC that underpin its functionality in electrochemical systems, including its high crystallinity, exceptional mechanical robustness, and tunable surface chemistry. Subsequently, we systematically explore how BC serves as a multifunctional platform in composite solid-state electrolytes, reinforcing mechanical strength to suppress lithium dendrites, ensuring continuous ion conduction, and enhancing interfacial stability through strategies like chemical modification and hybridization. Finally, we provide perspectives on the current challenges and future research directions necessary to translate BC-based electrolytes from promising laboratory prototypes to commercially viable components in next-generation, high-performance, and safe LMBs.

Solid electrolyte is an effective way to address the safety concerns associated with liquid electrolytes based-rechargeable Li-ion batteries (LIBs), making the improvement of their electrochemical performance particularly significant. In this work, a poly(vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoro propylene) (PVDF-HFP) membrane was successfully modified with lithium hexacyanoferrate(II) (Li-4[Fe(CN)(6)]), the resulting bonding interactions enabled the formation of a gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) with high ionic conductivity, making it highly suitable for applications in SSLBs applications. Impressively, the obtained GPE with a three-dimensional (3D) porous network exhibited a wide electrochemical window of similar to 5.0 V, a high lithium transference number of 0.42, and an enhanced ionic conductivity of 2.63 x 10(-4) Scm(-1). These improvements can be attributed to the dual functional Li-4[Fe(CN)(6)], which not only serves as a lithium ion source but also effectively reduces the crystallization of PVDF-HFP. Additionally, the assembled SSLB with this GPE exhibited excellent cycling stability, achieving a high initial capacity of 119.1 mAhg(-1) and a high initial Coulombic efficiency of 97.24% at 1C. This PVDF-HFP-Li-4[Fe(CN)(6)] GPE is therefore expected to be an effective electrolyte for next-generation SSLBs with high cycling stability.

ABSTRACT Lithium metal anode and zinc metal anode have attracted considerable attention owing to their high theoretical capacity, low electrochemical potential, and superior electronic conductivity. However, their practical applications are greatly hindered by inherent issues such as uncontrollable dendritic growth and interfacial instability, resulting in inferior Coulombic efficiency and rapid capacity fading. As one of the most promising strategies to surmount the aforementioned challenges, polymer‐in‐salt (PIS) solid electrolytes have received considerable attention in recent years because they could effectively inhibit dendrite growth and facilitate ion transport through the formation of ion clusters. Considering the rapid development of this emerging field, herein, we summarize the recent progress in the design and fabrication of PIS solid electrolytes for high‐performance Li metal batteries and Zn metal batteries. The challenges of Li metal anode and Zn metal anode are first emphasized, and the structural characteristics and ion conduction mechanisms of PIS solid electrolytes are clarified by analyzing the interactions between the salt and the polymer matrix. Furthermore, the applications of PIS solid electrolytes in lithium metal batteries and zinc metal batteries for the addition of different functional filler materials and modifications of derivatives/chain segments are systematically elucidated and discussed to explore the design concept, methods, and working mechanisms. In addition, the advanced in situ characterization techniques for understanding structural evolution and molecular interactions of metal batteries with PIS solid electrolytes are summarized. Finally, the prevailing challenges and promising directions for PIS solid electrolytes in batteries are also proposed, aiming to provide both theoretical insights and practical guidance for the advancement of electrochemical energy storage technologies.

Inspired by natural photosynthesis, artificial photocatalysis approaches that rely on nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) and its analogues have attracted extensive attention, but face significant challenges including the over-reliance on precious-metal electron mediators for NADH regeneration and diffusion-limited charge transfer dynamics. Herein, we report the first instance of intramolecular electron transfer coupled with a pseudo-intramolecular hydride transfer mechanism through covalent grafting of the triphenylamine group and an NADH mimic into one coordination capsule, enabling enhanced cofactor regeneration and biomimetic hydrogenation in the absence of noble metals. The presence of the photosensitive triphenylamine moiety triggered a directional intramolecular electron transfer pathway induced by visible light, thereby promoting highly effective and selective NADH mimic regeneration without any assistance from a noble metal complex. Furthermore, spatial constraints within the coordination capsule ensured the regeneration selectivity of the active NADH mimic by suppressing aggregation and diffusion. Subsequently, the active NADH mimic-decorated capsule facilitates the biomimetic reduction of benzoxazinones via a pseudo-intramolecular hydride transfer, with the enhancement of hydrogenation efficiency exceeding 240% over the benchmark system based on intermolecular electron transfer. This renewable vessel-mediated photosynthesis platform exhibited enzymatic kinetics following the Michaelis-Menten mechanism, expanding new horizons for the development of a novel noble metal-free artificial catalytic system.

This study aimed to prepare and characterize a chitosan (CS)-based composite film incorporating indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) via a solution casting method, and to evaluate its efficacy in controlling Fusarium oxysporum-induced dry rot in postharvest potatoes. Microstructural analysis revealed uniformly dispersed AgNPs and a compact network, with FTIR and XRD confirming that hydrogen bonding dominates CS and IAA interactions while coordination interactions govern CS and AgNP associations. This compact network significantly enhanced tensile strength (40.09% increase) and barrier properties (12.57% reduction in WVP). The film also exhibited improved hydrophobicity (WCA = 75.09°), thermal stability, and antioxidant activity. Notably, it showed significant inhibitory effects against F. oxysporum (30.04 mm inhibition zone), reducing decay rate to 6.17% (70.56% reduction) in storage trials. These findings suggest that the CS/IAA/AgNPs film represents an effective approach for managing postharvest potato dry rot, demonstrating great potential for practical application.

Round-the-clock photocatalytic hydrogen production is essential for overcoming the intermittency of solar energy and achieving continuous solar-to-hydrogen conversion. However, the development of efficient round-the-clock photocatalysts remains a considerable challenge due to limited light availability and inefficient charge utilization in the dark. In this work, a long-afterglow-based S-scheme heterojunction photocatalyst, Sr2MgSi2O7:(Eu,Dy)/CdS (referred to as SMSED/CdS), is constructed via a ball-milling strategy. The luminescence from Sr2MgSi2O7:(Eu,Dy) (referred to as SMSED) is efficiently captured by CdS, thus serving as a built-in light source to drive dark catalytic reactions. Meanwhile, the unique electron transfer pathway in SMSED provides sufficiently long-lived electrons for the SMSED/CdS system. The S-scheme heterojunction formed between SMSED and CdS directs the photogenerated charge transfer, while maintaining the strong redox capability of SMSED/CdS. Consequently, the SMSED/CdS exhibits hydrogen production of 45.20 mmol g-1 under ultraviolet-visible light within 1 h and a dark activity of 4.37 mmol g-1 sustained over 3 h. The corresponding mechanism was comprehensively studied via analysis of physicochemical properties, band structure, ex-situ and in-situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and density functional theory calculations. This study provides a significant breakthrough in developing round-the-clock photocatalysts.

Industrial synthesis generates large amounts of waste liquid containing unreacted precursors and nanoscale fragments, posing environmental disposal challenges. However, research on the direct reutilization of raw industrial waste liquids remains limited. Here we develop a direct recycling strategy in which the waste liquid from zeolite synthesis is employed as the solvent for aqueous zinc (Zn)-ion battery electrolytes. During Zn deposition, the negatively charged zeolite fragments in the waste liquid can form a nanoscale interfacial layer. These zeolite fragments exhibit a charge gradient, generating a local electric field that facilitates the migration of Zn ions and enables uniform Zn metal deposition. The waste-derived electrolyte endows batteries with highly enhanced cycling stability, lower voltage polarization and improved Coulombic efficiency compared with those using conventional electrolytes prepared with deionized water. Importantly, this strategy offers a potential route to reduce deionized water use and alleviate waste-treatment demands while improving battery performance. This study upcycles industrial zeolite-washing supernatants as aqueous Zn-battery electrolyte solvents, leveraging charge-heterogeneous zeolite fragments that self-assemble on the Zn surface to form a gradient interphase with a local electric field that guides Zn2+ flux, stabilizes Zn deposition and couples waste valorization with improved energy-storage performance.

In recent years, Molybdenum sulfide (MoS2) has been extensively used in rechargeable batteries and supercapacitors owing to its high theoretical capacity and large interlayer distance. Nevertheless, its practical application is limited by low electronic conductivity and serious restacking. Considering the unique layered structure, abundant surface functional groups, and excellent electrical conductivity of MXenes, the construction of MoS2/MXene composites has emerged as an effective strategy to address these issues. Herein, we review the synthesis approaches and applications of MoS2/MXene composites in electrochemical energy storage, including lithium-ion batteries, sodium-ion batteries, lithium‑sulfur batteries, and supercapacitors. Furthermore, the merits and limitations of various methods are comprehensively presented, and the electrochemical performance of various MoS2/MXene composites are systematically summarized and discussed. More importantly, we systematically analyze heteroatom doping and the strategy of combining with functional materials, establish the structure-performance relationship of MoS2/MXene composites, and further reveal the intrinsic mechanisms behind their enhanced electrochemical performance. Finally, the challenges and future prospects for the future study and application of different MoS2/MXene composites in electrochemical energy storage applications are proposed.

Nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) driven electrochemical ammonia synthesis via utilizing an inexpensive and efficient electrocatalyst has been confirmed as a potential alternative approach for industrially applied Haber-Bosch process. Chromium nitride-based nanocomposite (CrN@NC) has been synthesized by a one-pot pyrolysis and nitriding strategy with tetradecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (TTAB) as carbon and nitrogen source. In this nanocomposite, CrN nanoparticles are highly dispersed in hierarchical porous nitrogen-doped carbon matrix. CrN@NC features rich active sites, increased surface area, and enhanced conductivity. Benefitting from its desirable structure, as an inexpensive electrocatalyst for nitrogen fixation, CrN@NC catalyst exhibits an obviously enhanced NRR performance in comparison to the bare CrN. CrN@NC can present a maximal NH3 production rate about 24.99 mu g mg(cat)(-1) h(-1) at a low overpotential of -0.2 V versus RHE in Na2SO4 solution, followed by a Faradic efficiency (FE) of 13.53%. Moreover, CrN@NC also exhibits a satisfactory selectivity because of the absence of the detectable hydrazine byproduct.

The development of high-performance functional materials via rational design is essential for detecting toxic gases and environmental pollutants. In this study, leveraging the comparable ionic radii of Zn2+ and Sn4+, the SnS2/ZnS/ZnO composite with partially in-situ derived heterostructure was successfully synthesized using a facile solvothermal approach. The material was further modified with Ag nanoparticles through photodeposition method, which enabled uniform surface decoration while maintaining structural integrity. Gas-sensing tests revealed that the synergistic effect of heterojunction formation and the catalytic spillover of Ag nanoparticles significantly enhanced the NO2 sensing performance. The optimized Ag@SnS2/ZnS/ZnO sensor exhibited high response of 50.1 to 10 ppm NO2 at low operating temperature of 70 degrees C, along with theoretical detection limit of 1.1 ppb, rapid response time of 8 s, and satisfactory humidity resistance. This study provides a reliable material strategy for highly sensitive and practical NO2 detection, contributing to environmental monitoring and safety assurance.