Search Results (9,709)

This study presents the rational design of a visible-light-responsive TiO₂/polyaniline (PANI) nanofiber heterostructure via in situ oxidative polymerization to overcome the limited visible-light absorption and rapid charge recombination of TiO₂. Comprehensive characterization using XRD, FT-IR, XPS, SEM, UV–Vis DRS, and EIS confirmed the successful integration of TiO₂ nanoparticles within a conductive polyaniline nanofiber network, enabling efficient interfacial charge transfer. The optimized TiO₂/PANI-30 composite exhibited outstanding photocatalytic performance, achieving ~99% degradation of Basic Fuchsin dye within 40 min under visible light, significantly outperforming pristine TiO₂. The enhanced activity is attributed to improved visible-light absorption, reduced bandgap energy, and suppressed electron–hole recombination, supported by optical and electrochemical analyses. Kinetic studies indicated pseudo-first-order behavior, with TiO₂/PANI-30 showing the highest rate constant. Radical trapping experiments identified superoxide and hydroxyl radicals as the main active species, with •OH playing a dominant role. A direct Z-scheme charge transfer mechanism was suggested, preserving strong redox potentials and promoting reactive oxygen species generation. Additionally, the photocatalyst demonstrated excellent stability and reusability. These findings highlight the suggested potential of TiO₂/PANI systems as efficient and sustainable photocatalysts for wastewater treatment. Full article

Thermal runaway (TR) remains a critical bottleneck for the safe application of lithium-ion battery (LIB) in large-scale energy storage systems, arising from the instability of battery materials under high temperatures. This review systematically summarizes materials design strategies to suppress TR, focusing on modifications of cathodes, anodes, separators, and electrolytes. For cathodes, surface coating and bulk doping enhance the structural stability and thermal decomposition temperature of high-Ni materials, while nanoscale engineering and carbon networks improve the electronic conductivity and interfacial stability of LiFePO₄ (LFP). For anodes, surface modification of graphite suppresses solid-electrolyte interphase degradation, and nanostructured silicon-based composites mitigate thermal failure caused by volume expansion. Separator functionalization, including ceramic coating, inorganic separators, and thermal shutdown separators, enhances thermo-mechanical stability and enables thermally triggered ion blocking. Flame-retardant electrolytes incorporate phosphorus-based, organosilicon, and halogenated additives that act through combined gas- and condensed-phase mechanisms. The review further discusses challenges in interfacial compatibility, system integration, and trade-offs among multiple performance metrics. Future efforts should focus on integrating intrinsic thermal stability with smart safety functions to achieve both high energy density and inherent safety. This review provides a systematic reference for the design and industrialization of high-safety materials for LIBs. Full article

The growing penetration of renewable energy sources has intensified the demand for safe, sustainable, and cost-effective energy-storage technologies. Aqueous lithium-ion batteries are promising candidates because of their intrinsic safety and high ionic conductivity, though their deployment is limited by narrow electrochemical stability window of water. Lithium titanate oxide (LTO) has emerged as an ideal anode material for aqueous systems because of its exceptional structural stability, negligible volume change during lithiation/delithiation, and relatively high operating potential that suppresses hydrogen evolution. This review examines the peer-reviewed literature (2010–2026) on LTO-based aqueous lithium-ion batteries, focusing on the interdependence between material synthesis, electrode fabrication, electrolyte engineering, and electrochemical performance. Scalable fabrication techniques, such as spray deposition and tape casting, are discussed alongside their pact on electrode quality. Attention is given to water-in-salt, gel-polymer, and localized high-concentration electrolytes that expand the stability window and improve interfacial behavior. Overall, the review highlights how electrolyte design, electrode architecture, and processing methods can be jointly tailored to support stable and scalable LTO-based aqueous lithium-ion batteries systems. Full article

Few-layer hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) is a promising two-dimensional dielectric for electronic and neuromorphic devices. However, its practical deployment is often hindered by the thickness nonuniformity of as-grown samples and by defects introduced during the transfer-stacking process of assembled samples. In particular, the influence of the initial hBN quality on the final stacked-film quality remains insufficiently understood. Here, we report a wafer-scale strategy for fabricating high-quality few-layer hBN based on ultraflat single-crystal hBN (USC-hBN) monolayers. Compared with transfer-stacked hBN grown on Cu foil (rough hBN), stacked few-layer USC-hBN shows a much lower surface roughness and a drastically reduced wrinkle density, indicating superior flatness and interfacial cleanliness. Furthermore, memristors fabricated from six-layer USC-hBN exhibit clearer resistive-switching behavior and a higher ON/OFF ratio than those based on rough hBN, owing to the more uniform surface/interface. These results demonstrate that source-material flatness is a critical determinant of transfer-stacked hBN quality and device performance. This work provides an effective route toward reliable integration of high-quality two-dimensional dielectric films. Full article

The functional performance and structural integrity of natural rock materials under fluctuating environmental stressors are pivotal for their advanced applications. As a non-ionizing and radiation-free technology, terahertz (THz) spectroscopy offers a safe and promising alternative for non-destructive testing (NDT), uniquely capable of being deployed in open and unshielded environments. However, limited penetration depth, exacerbated by both the dense geological matrix and the extreme sensitivity of THz waves to moisture states, has long hindered its widespread application in rock characterization. This study establishes a quantitative Terahertz Time-Domain Spectroscopy (THz-TDS) framework to characterize four lithologies under drying–wetting cycles. Exponential signal attenuation across thicknesses was quantified based on the Beer–Lambert law, with attenuation coefficients ranging from 0.15 to 0.74 per millimeter. Planar transmission imaging successfully visualizes lithologic and moisture-dependent heterogeneity: limestone exhibits a dense, homogeneous structure with stable amplitude distribution; sandstone and purple sandstone show parallel statistical trends, reflecting uniform pore networks; and granite demonstrates the most pronounced imaging contrast under varying moisture states, driven by complex grain-boundary scattering. The findings reveal that THz transmission is dictated by the synergistic effects of mineral compositions and pore structures: scattering at grain boundaries and fractures leads to significant energy dissipation, whereas clay-rich lithologies exhibit the highest sensitivity to moisture variations due to water adsorption and interfacial polarization effects. As an exploration of THz technology in the non-destructive evaluation of rock materials, these findings establish an analytical framework for the quantitative assessment of microstructure evolution. Full article

Coal gasification fine ash (CGFA) is a carbon–mineral composite solid waste whose valorization is severely hindered by poor interfacial compatibility with organic media due to its highly polar surface. Here, we report a surface alkylation strategy using haloalkanes with variable chain lengths to systematically tune the surface chemistry and thermo-oxidative behavior of CGFA. Comprehensive spectroscopic characterizations (XPS, FTIR, and ¹³C NMR) confirm successful grafting of alkyl chains, which increases aliphatic C-H content from 24.8% to 43.9% while reducing polar carboxyl groups from 7.9% to 1.6%, with the mineral framework remaining intact. Thermogravimetric analysis reveals that alkylation lowers the onset decomposition temperature from 358 °C to 295 °C and enhances the maximum mass-loss rate. Kinetic analysis shows that grafted alkyl chains act as low-energy initiation sites, reducing the initial activation energy to 95 kJ/mol, while the later-stage oxidation becomes diffusion-limited. Notably, long straight-chain alkylation achieves the best performance, whereas branched chains are less effective due to steric hindrance and pore blockage. This work establishes a clear chain-length-dependent structure–thermal response relationship, positioning alkylated CGFA as a designable precursor for functional carbon materials, intelligent char-forming agents, and tunable components for energy or responsive material systems. Full article

Silk fibroin (SF)–polyphenol systems have emerged as a versatile class of gels and hydrogels in which supramolecular interactions and dynamic crosslinking regulate network formation, responsiveness, and multifunctional performance. Polyphenols interact with SF through hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic interactions, π–π stacking, metal coordination, and covalent crosslinking, thereby modulating conformational transitions, gelation behavior, structural stability, and interfacial functionality. These interaction mechanisms enable the development of SF–polyphenol gel systems with tunable mechanical properties, wet adhesion, antioxidant activity, self-healing capability, and stimuli responsiveness. This review summarizes recent advances in SF–polyphenol gels and hydrogels, with particular emphasis on molecular interaction mechanisms, gelation and fabrication strategies, responsive behaviors, and structure–property relationships. Representative preparation approaches, including solution blending, electrospinning, impregnation–adsorption, enzymatic crosslinking, metal–phenolic coordination, and photo-initiated processing, are systematically discussed in relation to their effects on network architecture and functional output. The responsive behaviors of these systems under pH, redox, electrical, thermal, and optical stimuli are also analyzed from the perspective of dynamic gel networks and adaptive material design. Emerging applications of SF–polyphenol gels in bioadhesives, delivery platforms, flexible bioelectronics, wound-related materials, and sustainable functional systems are highlighted. Current limitations associated with polyphenol instability, formulation sensitivity, reproducibility, and scale-up are critically discussed, together with future opportunities for predictive design of gel-based natural polymer systems. This review provides a comprehensive framework for understanding SF–polyphenol gelation and for guiding the development of next-generation multifunctional gels and hydrogels. Full article

Electrochemical water splitting for hydrogen production is a key technological route toward the large-scale generation of green hydrogen. However, the anodic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) suffers from sluggish kinetics and high overpotential, necessitating the development of non-noble metal catalysts that simultaneously possess low cost, high activity, and excellent stability. In this work, a nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dots@nickel–iron layered double hydroxide (N-GQDs@NiFe-LDH) composite catalyst was in situ constructed via a facile hydrothermal strategy. Benefiting from the electronic modulation and structural confinement effects of N-GQDs, the intrinsic catalytic activity and structural stability of the catalyst were simultaneously enhanced. The as-prepared catalyst requires an overpotential of only 320 mV to deliver a current density of 500 mA cm⁻² and maintains 98% of its initial activity after 100 h of chronoamperometric stability testing, demonstrating promising potential for practical applications. Multiscale characterizations revealed that N-GQDs formed strong electronic interactions with Ni/Fe active sites at the interface, significantly enhanced interfacial electron transport, and accelerated the OER kinetics. This study demonstrates that the N-GQDs@NiFe-LDH catalytic system constructed via an interfacial heterostructure engineering strategy provides a new insight for the rational design and development of efficient non-noble-metal OER electrocatalysts. Full article

Geothermal energy extraction, hydrocarbon recovery, and CO₂ geological sequestration are frequently hindered by interfacial barriers and slow mass transfer. While high-power ultrasound offers a sustainable, purely physical method for reservoir stimulation, its field effectiveness remains debated because traditional macroscopic experiments fail to isolate mechanisms like acoustic streaming and cavitation. This review systematically examines acoustic mechanisms in porous media via microfluidic visualization, focusing on pore-scale fluid dynamics during enhanced oil recovery, hydrate dissociation, and CO₂ sequestration. Microscopic evidence reveals that fluid transport mechanisms depend heavily on pore geometry and local acoustic intensity. In wider channels, nonlinear acoustic flow provides sustained, directed convection to strip away concentration boundary layers; in narrow throats, microjets and pulsed stresses generated by transient cavitation are responsible for physically breaking capillary barriers. The spatiotemporal synergy of these mechanisms is critical for multiphase fluid transport in tight porous networks. Pore geometry serves not only as the application context but also as a core physical variable. To translate microfluidic results into reservoir-scale applications, future research must address two-dimensional simplifications, thermodynamic discrepancies under high-temperature and high-pressure conditions, and bubble cluster interactions, alongside the development of adaptive frequency-modulated control and multiscale computational models. Full article

Recycled aggregates (RAs) from construction and demolition waste (CDW) provide substantial circular-economy benefits, yet their elevated porosity, adhered mortar, and heterogeneity typically impair the mechanical performance and durability of recycled aggregate concrete (RAC). This PRISMA 2020-compliant systematic review synthesises 2180 records (2015–2026) to evaluate advanced strategies for enhancing RA quality prior to structural use. This paper critically compares removal-based treatments (mechanical, thermal, acid cleaning) with strengthening and densification approaches, including accelerated carbonation, pozzolanic and nano-silica coatings, polymer impregnation, microbial-induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP), and modified mixing methods such as triple-stage mixing (TSMA). Evidence shows that while all RA types (including recycled fine aggregate (RFA), recycled coarse aggregate (RCA), and their combination (RFCA)) can slightly reduce compressive strength and 30% replacement serves as a critical threshold, beyond this, strength loss accelerates, particularly in RCA and RFCA mixes. However, accelerated carbonation and TSMA consistently refine the interfacial transition zone, reduce water absorption by 17–30%, and recover 85–94% of natural aggregate concrete strength. Bio-deposition reduces water absorption by 13–21%, while acid/silica fume treatments improve late-age strength but carry environmental trade-offs. This review formulates a practice-oriented implementation framework for structural-grade RAC. Sustainability analyses indicate that carbonated RA can achieve net-positive CO₂ abatement when under low-carbon energy supply. A mechanistic schematic is presented to synthesise treatment-to-pore-structure/durability pathways across the four principal treatment routes, and a quantitative synthesis plot compares water absorption reductions across all treatment types using 13 data points drawn from included studies. A structured treatment comparison evaluates the energy intensity, industrial scalability, CO₂ footprint, and technology readiness level for each strategy. The remaining challenges include a lack of hybrid treatment studies, limited real-scale durability data, and insufficient mechanistic models linking treatment to pore structure evolution. This review recommends harmonised durability-based criteria and updates to standards (e.g., BS 8500, EN 12620) to support the scalable deployment of treated RA. Full article

In oil and gas development, the oil displacement efficiency of single surfactants is inherently constrained. While synergistic interactions between salt ions and surfactants can enhance displacement performance by modulating interfacial properties and wettability, the underlying mechanisms remain insufficiently understood. This study systematically investigated the synergistic effects of two monovalent salts (NaCl, KCl) and four surfactants through macroscopic characterization of interfacial property and microfluidic displacement experiments using microfluidic device with dead-end structures. The results show that salt type and concentration significantly influence interfacial dynamics. The four selected surfactants exhibit gel-like behavior through molecular self-assembly in aqueous solutions, and their synergistic interaction with salt ions enhances oil displacement efficiency by modulating interfacial characteristics. High-salinity solutions reduce interfacial tension, with CTAB exhibiting a concentration-dependent decrease, while NP-10 behavior is governed by both surfactant and salt concentrations. The presence of Na⁺ generally resulted in lower IFT, improved interfacial viscoelasticity, and more favorable wettability alteration compared to K⁺. One-way analysis of variance confirmed that salt type is the main factor affecting recovery rate (p < 0.05). Notably, 0.2% CTAB+50,000 mg/L NaCl combination achieved the highest recovery rate owing to an optimal balance between interfacial adsorption, film viscoelasticity, and wettability alteration. This investigation elucidates the mechanisms driving surfactant–salt synergism and proposes an optimized surfactant and salt formulation to enhance oil recovery through tailored interfacial properties. Full article

Coal mine methane (CMM) separation faces significant challenges due to high humidity and multicomponent conditions, under which the selective adsorption performance of CH₄ is substantially degraded compared with idealized laboratory scenarios. This review systematically analyzes the fundamental causes of this discrepancy by integrating water vapor occupation, competitive adsorption, and structural constraints into a unified framework. Water molecules preferentially occupy high-energy adsorption sites and reconstruct the interfacial energy landscape, while strongly adsorbing components such as CO₂ further suppress CH₄ uptake through competitive displacement. These coupled effects lead to a pronounced deviation between theoretical adsorption capacity and actual separation performance. To address this issue, this work proposes an evaluation paradigm centered on effective working capacity, which reflects the practically recoverable CH₄ under cyclic operation rather than equilibrium limits. The applicability of this framework is demonstrated through comparative analysis across different adsorbent systems, highlighting the critical roles of moisture resistance, structural stability, and competitive resilience. Finally, key material design strategies and process-level optimization approaches are discussed to enhance sustainable CH₄ separation under realistic conditions. This review provides a process-oriented perspective for bridging the gap between material performance and engineering application in CMM utilization. Full article

The durable enzyme functionalisation of cellulosic fibres is often limited by enzyme deactivation under alkaline processing and insufficient wash resistance. Here, a cold pad–batch (CPB)-compatible route integrates reactive dyeing and lysozyme anchoring by using the commercial bifunctional dye C.I. Reactive Red 195 (MCT/VS) as an interfacial mediator to build a cellulose–dye–lysozyme ternary layer. The dye is first fixed on cotton, and residual electrophilic motifs are proposed to facilitate subsequent coupling with nucleophilic residues in lysozyme. A nine-run, four-factor/three-level orthogonal design was used to identify a practical processing window; under the selected condition, an ELISA-equivalent releasable lysozyme level of 53.8 U/L was achieved together with moderate colour strength (K/S = 6.5). The treated fabrics exhibited 96.5% inhibition against Escherichia coli and >99.9% against Staphylococcus aureus and retained antibacterial functionality after five ISO 105-C06 laundering cycles. Textile-relevant properties were preserved, including colour fastness (Grade 4–5), tensile strength retention (~86%), and capillary wicking close to pristine cotton. This dye-mediated strategy offers a practical route to wash-resistant bioactive interfaces on cellulose fibres and is extendable to regenerated cellulose and wood-pulp-derived cellulosics. Full article

Chinese Traditional Concrete (CTC), known as “San-he-tu,” has ensured the long-term durability of ancient coastal structures, yet its underlying material design logic remains insufficiently understood. This study investigates the Chongwu Ancient City Wall (Quanzhou, China), a Ming Dynasty granite fortification exposed to over 600 years of marine weathering, to elucidate the structure–property–function relationships of CTC across three functional layers: the horse-track surface, wall core backfill, and masonry bonding layer. A multi-technique analytical framework (XRF, XRD, TG, and SEM) was employed to characterize chemical composition, mineral phases, thermal behavior, and microstructure. Results reveal a deliberate “functional adaptability” material design. The surface layer adopts a rigid protective formulation with high quartz (76.9%) and CaO (17.06%), forming a dense, low-porosity matrix resistant to abrasion and weathering. The wall core exhibits a flexible filling strategy with high porosity (35.44%), enabling moisture dissipation and deformation accommodation. The bonding layer, enriched in kaolinite (~29.8%) and reactive Al–Fe components, promotes pozzolanic reactions that generate hydraulic gels, ensuring durable interfacial adhesion under humid coastal conditions. These findings demonstrate that ancient builders engineered zone-specific material compositions to meet distinct structural and environmental demands, forming a functionally graded system analogous to modern material design concepts. This study provides a scientific basis for adopting partitioned, differentiated restoration strategies in coastal heritage conservation. Full article

This study aims to improve the utilization of Idesia polycarpa crude oil (IPCO) in the food industry by developing high-internal-phase emulsions (HIPEs) stabilized through ternary complexes (ovalbumin (OVA), xanthan gum (XG), and tannic acid (TA)). IPCO is highly prone to oxidation due to its polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) content. Optimal formulations were obtained by varying the component concentrations and assessing the structure, stability, and fat-substitution potential. Under conditions of 0.6% w/v XG and 2.5% w/v OVA-TA, HIPEs exhibited a smaller particle size (3.31 μm), high centrifugal oil retention (99.29%), strong emulsifying activity (49.91 m²/g), and excellent stability (99.69%). Additionally, a formulation with 1.5% w/v OVA-TA and 0.8% w/v XG showed good wettability, particle size, and stability, possibly due to excessive self-aggregation of XG, which caused a decrease in emulsion stability and wettability. Structural analysis (FTIR, XRD, SEM, CLSM) revealed that the stability of the emulsions was mainly attributed to strong non-covalent interactions and a dense interfacial adsorption layer. In cookie applications, substituting 25% w/w butter or 50% w/w shortening with HIPEs resulted in comparable texture to the control group. GC–MS analysis of relative fatty acid composition showed that partial replacement with IPCO-based HIPEs shifted the final biscuits toward a lower relative proportion of palmitic acid (C16:0) and a higher relative proportion of linoleic acid (C18:2n6c). Overall, OVA–TA–XG-stabilized HIPEs effectively delayed the oxidation of IPCO and enabled partial replacement of conventional solid fats in biscuits, thereby shifting the relative fatty acid composition of the final products toward a higher proportion of unsaturated fatty acids. Full article