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[Display omitted] • Core-shell mesoporous silica-coated VO 2 (M) nanomaterials (VO 2 @m-SiO 2, VmS) were prepared for the first time. • VmS pore size 3.1769–12.8257 nm, thickness 13–58 nm and structurally controllable. • T c and ΔT c of VmS decrease with increasing mesoporous pore size at suitable thicknesses. • The VmS5/PVB composite film A-T lum up to 62.24%, ΔT sol reach 5.16%. • VmS effectively improves the Mie scattering effect of feedstock VO 2 (M). In this study, a hybrid approach using the Stöber and solvent extraction techniques was employed to synthesize mesoporous silicon-coated VO 2 nanomaterials (VO 2 @m-SiO 2 , VmS) with controllable pore sizes and shell thicknesses. This synthesis was aimed at elucidating the influence of mesoporous silicon coatings on the thermochromic effect and optical properties of VO 2. Experimental findings reveal that the mesoporous silica architecture markedly improve the phase-transition hysteresis of VO 2 while mitigating the Mie effects attributable to particle coarsening, under the appropriate shell thickness. Furthermore, concomitant with the enlargement of the mesoporous aperture, the T lum and ΔT sol of the VmS/PVB films also exhibit upward trends. T lum reaches 73.33% and 62.24% in VmS3/PVB and VmS5/PVB, peak ΔT sol reaches 5.16% in VmS5/PVB. The facile synthesis procedure of VmS, in conjunction with its superior performance across phase transition, optics, and thermal insulation metrics, offers a viable pathway for industrial-scale deployment of VO 2 (M) in smart window applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metal pollution can significantly harm water systems and human health. Combining photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) and nanofiltration (NF) membrane separation technologies can effectively remove heavy metal ions from wastewater. In this study, a water bath method was used to form SrF 2 /Ti 3 C 2 T x (ST) nanoparticles on the surface of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membranes and an additional polyamide (PA) functional layer was formed at the interface by crosslinking. ST@PA composite NF membranes (STPP) with good photocatalytic performance were obtained. The separation and catalytic properties of the STPP membranes were controlled by the ST content, which modifies the surface structure and properties of the membranes. The membrane with optimal ST crosslinking exhibited a water contact angle of 50.8°, pure water flux of 24.6 L·m−2·h−1·bar−1, and rejection rates of Mn2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, and Zn2+ of 98.8%, 95.3%, 95.7%, and 97.3%, respectively, under PEC-assisted separation with visible light illumination from a Xe lamp (300 W) and an applied voltage (2 V). The STPP membranes showed improved rejection rates of heavy metal ions under PEC-assisted operation. The mechanism for the improved membrane performance under PEC conditions was preliminarily clarified considering the relationship between the photocatalytic and filtration properties of STPP membranes along with the influence of light irradiation and an external voltage on the heavy metal ions. The generation of electrons, holes, superoxide radicals, and hydroxyl radicals during membrane operation enhances the rejection rates of heavy metal ions. Based on these results, STPP membranes are considered a promising technology for industrial applications in heavy metal removal. [Display omitted] • Photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) SrF 2 /Ti 3 C 2 T x synergistically removes heavy metals. • Under PEC conditions internal/external electric fields promote carrier separation. • PEC-assisted membranes exhibit high water flux and efficient heavy metals removal. • The Mn2+ removal mechanism of the membranes in aqueous solutions is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construction of a binary heterojunction is a crucial method for solving the low separation efficiency and photon utilization of BiOBr (BOB) photogeneration carriers. In this study, magnetic recyclable ZnFe 2 O 4 /BiOBr (ZFB) heterojunction microspheres containing oxygen vacancies were prepared using a two-step solvothermal method. The results of X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller analysis show that ZnFe 2 O 4 (ZFO) induces the growth of a nanolayer structure on the surface of BOB, the diffraction peak intensity ratio of I (102) /I (110) increases, and the specific surface area increases significantly. The analysis of photoelectric characteristics indicates that compared with BOB, ZFB has a smaller bandgap, a larger visible response range, and a higher photogenerated carrier migration and separation efficiency. ZFB can significantly degrade the activated benzene ring in organic molecules, with the degradation efficiency of Rhodamine B (RhB), norfloxacin (NOR), and sulfadiazine (SDZ) reaching 99.04 %, 91.70 %, and 86.64 %, respectively. Under the magnetic recovery, the five-cycle degradation performance retention rate reaches more than 92 %. Holes and superoxide radicals are the main active substances of ZFB photocatalytic materials for degradation of micropollutants. This research provides an idea for the preparation of a green and efficient photocatalytic material with high recyclable efficiency, which can simultaneously degrade various micropollutants in organic wastewater. [Display omitted] • Magnetic ZnFe2O4/BiOBr (ZFB) flower-like microspheres containing oxygen vacancies were prepared • ZnFe2O4 induced the growth and development of BiOBr surface nanosheets • ZnFe2O4 enhanced the photogeneration carrier migration and separation efficiency of BiOBr • ZFB can degrade the activated aromatic ring under visible light catalysis [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]