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[Display omitted] • Design advanced ultra-transparent coating for conservation of cultural heritage. • Confined-immigration enhances water resistance and high transparency of coating. • The confinement of fluoride can refine the size of phase separation. • Refining imparts coating to keep high-transparent even if phase separation occurs. • The coating is removable for safe and reversible treatment of cultural heritage. Ultra-transparent polyacrylic (PA) coatings are widely used in cultural heritage conservation but often face issues like whitening from phase separation due to poor water resistance and weatherability. This leads to frequent need for replacement, complicating the preservation of cultural artifacts. In this study, we propose a core/shell polyacrylic emulsion coating (PA-DFMA) with enhanced water resistance and weatherability by confining fluorinated polymers within the shell section. The core/shell structure of PA-DFMA is designed to prevent phase-separation-induced whitening and improve transparency, thanks to the strategic confinement of fluorinated polymers which also mitigates fluorine aggregation and enhances film formation at low temperatures. On the other hand, the introduction of fluorine refines the phase domains during the aging process, further ensuring the transparency of coating and greatly prolonging its durability. Chemically, the strong C-F bonds in the coating offer excellent UV aging resistance, and the lack of a chemical bonding network structure allows for the easy and safe removal of the coating, facilitating reversible treatment of artifacts. The performance test showed that PA-DFMA coatings outperform traditional cultural heritage protection products such as Golden and Rustins in transparency, weatherability, hardness, and reversibility. This eco-friendly coating is proven to offer substantial potential for the preservation of cultural heritage and maintenance of archaeological objects, providing new insights into the design of materials for this purpose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Phenolic aerogel composites by ambient pressure drying are enabled by copolymerization with 4-hydroxybenzenesulfonic acid. • 4-hydroxybenzenesulfonic acid serves as catalyst to promote carbocation formation and decrease curing activation energy. • PFS exhibits remarkable reduction in synthesizing temperature and gel time. • PFS aerogel composites show excellent mechanical properties, thermal insulation performance and fire safety. Phenolic aerogel composites, as an excellent thermal insulation material, have been used in aerospace to resist extreme working conditions of severe heating and intense mechanical stress. However, the high cost and lengthy preparation process seriously restricts their more extensive application. Herein, a novel strategy for rapid preparation of aerogel composites by ambient pressure drying is enabled by copolymerization with 4-hydroxybenzenesulfonic acid. That is, the reactive 4-hydroxybenzenesulfonic acid can serve as the acid catalyst to accelerate both the protonation step and the gelation step during the preparation process of phenolic aerogel. After copolymerization with 4-hydroxybenzenesulfonic acid, these sulfonic acid groups significantly accelerate the protonation of benzoxazine intermediates, leading to more carbocation formation. The activation energy of curing reaction is significant decreased from 300 kJ∙mol−1 to 90 kJ∙mol−1. Thus, 4-hydroxybenzenesulfonic acid containing phenol formaldehyde resin (PFS) aerogel precursors exhibit much faster gelation reaction (within 4 h) than phenol formaldehyde resin (PF) aerogel precursor (12 h), which further facilitates the preparation of phenolic aerogel composites with needled quartz fiber felt by ambient pressure drying. Importantly, the PFS aerogel composites exhibit excellent thermal insulation performance under low heat flux and good fire safety under high heat flux. Rapid gelation of PFS triggered by 4-hydroxybenzenesulfonic acid provides a new approach to develop phenolic aerogel composites with low energy consumption, low cost and short preparation cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A morph-genetic biomimetic concept for fabricating zwitterionic hydrogels was proposed. • Macro-porous structures inside CTDPH matrix avoid the formation of salt crystallization. • The seawater evaporating rate of CTDPH increases to 3.11 kg m-2h−1 under 1-sun irradiation. • The CTDPH maintains 91.6% of its original solar evaporation rate even after 10 cycles. Huge seawater resources are of utmost importance in addressing the increasing and severe water shortage worldwide. However, high-efficiently and sustainably extracting fresh water from seawater through solar evaporation remains a challenging task. Herein, we propose a novel approach based on the morph-genetic biomimetic concept, utilizing a cuttlebone-templated directional porous hydrogel (CTDPH). By etching away the cuttlebone (CaCO 3) in the hydrogel network, we have developed a zwitterionic material that exhibits high-efficiency photo-thermal conversion, resistance to salt deposition, and super hydrophilicity, enabling high-efficiency solar evaporation. The resultant CTDPH demonstrates a high level of photo-thermal conversion efficiency, thanks to the incorporation of MXene (Ti 3 C 2 T x) 2D nanosheets. By introducing polyzwitterions into the hydrogel matrix, the CTDPH achieves superhydrophilicity, greatly enhancing the transport of seawater. More importantly, the CTDPH possesses a penetrating oriented macro-porous structure, enabling rapid seawater transportation while effectively preventing salt crystallization. This prevents salt deposition on the surface of the hydrogel even during continuous 12-hour 1.0 sun irradiation. As a result, compared with the MXene-free gels and cuttlebone-reserved gels, this CTDPH can largely increase the seawater evaporating rate from 0.73 or 1.75 to 3.11 kg m-2h−1 under 1.0 sun irradiation. Furthermore, even after undergoing 10 cycles of seawater evaporation, the CTDPH still maintains 91.6% of its original solar evaporation rate (2.85 kg m-2h−1). The CTDPH emerges as a promising contender, offering both high efficiency and sustainability for solar evaporation from seawater, while simultaneously paving the way for innovative approaches to explore other materials and systems in the realm of solar evaporation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Edge-N-rich carbon nanosheet @ porous biochar (NCN@PB) was synthesized from waste biomass by self-assembly. • Hybrid structure and rich Edge-N contents led to the high exposure of "active sites" for H 2 S catalytic oxidation. • H 2 S molecule transfer and electron transfer were improved by the hybrid structure and active sites of NCN@PB. • H 2 S dissociation and O 2 activation were enhanced by Edge-N according to DFT and In-situ DRFITS. In this study, Edge-N-rich carbon nanosheet @ porous biochar (NCN@PB) was synthesized successfully from waste biomass self-assembly in a simple and green approach. The accessible and efficient utilization of edge-N enriched on the surface, together with the hybrid structure of NCN@PB improved the H 2 S oxidation capacity up to 390.1 mg/g at room temperature, reflecting an 8-fold enhancement compared with the blank biochar. The Density functional theory calculation, in-situ DRIFTS, and the characterization results further uncovered the desulfurization mechanism of active sites. Edge-N species decreased the barriers in critical steps governing H 2 S catalytic oxidation, i.e., H 2 S dissociation and O 2 activation, especially the pyrrolic N. This strategy is beneficial for the development of surface engineering on metal-free catalysts and provides a new idea for improving the catalytic combustion activity of N-doped biochar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bonding aryl groups with carbon-nitrogen double bond is a critical structural factor for the self-crosslinking of Schiff bases at high temperature. In this study, a novel aromatic Schiff base “5-(benzylidene-amino)-isophthalic acid dimethyl ester (BA)” has been designed as a self-crosslinking monomer for poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) based copolyesters (BA n PETs). The cross-linking behaviors, flame retardancy and non-dripping performance of BA n PETs have been investigated by simultaneous thermal analysis (TG-DSC), dynamic rheology, limiting oxygen index (LOI), UL-94 vertical burning and cone calorimetry tests. It is found that BA units can cross-link during combustion resulting in high melting viscosity and enhance char forming for BA n PETs, which endows the copolyesters with excellent flame retardancy and non-dripping behavior. Incorporating of BA with a low content (only 7.7 mol%), the LOI value of copolyester increases from 22.0% to 31.0%, and at the same time it achieves V-0 rating in the UL-94 vertical burning test. The mode action of Schiff bases on flame retardation and anti-dripping of copolyesters also has been investigated, and the results show that the aromatic Schiff base groups can lead copolyesters to form nitrogen-containing cross-linkable networks and further transform into compact char layer during combustion. The char layer which acts as an effective barrier, cuts off oxygen, hinders the volatilization of combustible gas and isolates unburned polymer from fire resource. This work suggests that using Schiff base as a self-crosslinkable monomer is a new and effective way for fire-safe polymeric materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • An Efficient and value-added flowsheet for recycling rare earth polishing powder waste is proposed. • Coordination enhanced led to high leaching ratios in mild acidic conditions. • The coordination stability constant of Ce3+-ascorbic acid was determined. • High-purity mesoporous Ce-La oxide cube was synthesized by a facile chemical precipitation method. Efficient and environmental-friendly recycling of rare earth polishing powder waste (REPPW) is imperative not only to ecological well-being but also to sustainability of critical rare earth resources. However, the low leaching efficiency of rare earth elements in mild acidic conditions and complicated synthesis procedure of high-end products hindered industrial recycling of REPPW. Herein, an ascorbic acid-H 2 SO 4 system with mild conditions, i.e., ascorbic acid concentration = 0.042 mol/dm3, H 2 SO 4 concentration = 1 mol/dm3, liquid to solid ratio = 20 cm3/g and temperature = 353 K, is proposed for leaching REPPW, in which the leaching ratios of Ce and La reached 96.79 % and 93.81 %, respectively. The coordination stability constants of Ce3+-ascorbic acid, i.e., β 1 = 106.88 and β 2 = 1013.03, were determined by pH-potentiometry, which revealed that the enhanced Ce3+ dissolution in this mild leaching system was attributed to Ce3+-ascorbic acid coordination. Subsequently, a high-purity, mesoporous Ce-La oxide cube was synthesized from the leaching solution by a facile chemical precipitation method at atmospheric pressure and temperature. The product had a composition of 78.07 wt% CeO 2 and 21.93 wt% La 2 O 3 , and its average pore diameter was 7.30 nm. Its reducibility was 1.52 times higher than the theoretical value, suggesting a high potential for catalyzing redox reactions. This work proposes an efficient and value-added process for recycling REPPW, which helps to enlighten the sustainable utilization of secondary rare earth resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Arylamine-DOPO-bearing polyphosphoester (PPDSP) has been designed and used as a green macromolecular flame-retardant. • Hydrogen bond between PPDSP and UP matrix significantly improves thermal properties. • PPDSP exerts synergistic charring effect and greatly increases the fire safety of UP. • Modified-UP exhibits superior flame-retardant durability and water resistance. Frequent fire accidents and increasing environmental/health issues call for more durable and safer firefighting strategy for polymeric materials. Widely used small-molecule flame retardants are limited for their damage to thermal/mechanical properties, poor durability, undesirable persistence, bio-accumulation and toxicity (PBT). Herein, a novel macromolecular flame retardant, arylamine-DOPO-bearing polyphosphoester (PPDSP) has been synthesized and added to the unsaturated polyester (UP). On the one hand, hydrogen bond between arylamine group of PPDSP and UP network enhances the interchain interaction and compatibility. On the other hand, the phosphoester and DOPO groups can generate high-oxidized phosphorus-containing acids at high temperature, which further catalyze the dehydration reaction of arylamine and UP matrix into dense char-layers and exert the synergistic charring effect. By integrating the hydrogen bond and synergistic charring effects into PPDSP macromolecule, the obtained UP/PPDSP resins exhibit excellent fire safety, flame-retardant durability, heat-resistance and impact strength. Compared with UP, the T g and T 5% of UP/PPDSP20 are increased by 11 °C and 20 °C, respectively. The LOI value reaches 27.3%, the UL-94 rating is V-0 and the peak heat release rate is reduced by 58%. Even after one year of normal storage or one week of water soaking, the original flame retardant performance is maintained. Hence, this macromolecular firefighting strategy provides an efficient, durable and green pathway for improving the fire safety of polymers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • An ion-sieving layer was introduced into the MD system for anti-wetting. • Swelling of ion-sieving layer was mitigated by intercalating Ca2+ ions. • The trade-off between wetting resistance and water permeance was overcome. • Mass transport in janus, omniphobic and ion-sieving membrane was discussed. The conventional hydrophobic membranes in membrane distillation system are prone to be wetted by surfactants. Meanwhile, there is a trade-off between wetting resistance and water permeance on advanced membrane materials, such as Janus membrane and omniphobic membrane. To overcome this dilemma, a composite membrane with ion-sieving layer was fabricated by self-assembling MXene nanosheets on the commercial PTFE membrane. The coating layer exhibited ordered subnanometer channels, and the stability can be further enhanced by intercalating Ca2+ ions between the two-dimensional MXene pieces. The experiments using SDS-NaCl solution and realistic wastewater demonstrated that such modification can provide an excellent anti-wetting property without sacrificing the permeate flux. The anti-wetting property can be attributed to the ion-sieving effect, which created an energy barrier by the partial dehydration of ions. Simultaneously, the ion-sieving layer has a much lower water transfer resistance than the coating layer on conventional Janus membrane due to its ordered nanostructure, and the hydrophobic substrate can provide a larger effective evaporation interface compared with the omniphobic membrane. This article attempts to provide an insight into the novel membrane distillation system coupled with ion-sieving effect, and paves the way for developing advanced membranes for treating wastewater with low surface tension contaminants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Mercerization successfully controlled the dimensions of native BNC conduits. • Superior mechanical properties of BNC conduits were achieved via mercerization. • Mercerized BNC (MBNC) conduits exhibited nice hemocompatibility in absence of bioactive compounds. • MBNC conduits satisfied a long-term patency over 16 weeks in a rat abdominal aorta model. Bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) is a natural polysaccharide synthesized principally by Komagataeibatacter xylinus which can be formed into tubes and other shapes through the use of special bioreactors. Although tubular BNC has considerable potential as a small-caliber vascular graft (<6 mm), its poor mechanical properties in its hydrogel form, lack of compliance, and its thick walls that do not match natural vessels limit their potential clinical use and long-term patency rate after implantation. Mercerization is an approach in which an alkaline treatment changes the chemistry of BNC products. Following mercerization, tubular BNC grafts exhibited greater mechanical strength combined with thinner walls. Volumetric reduction of the tubular BNC was effective (by nearly 90%) when using a NaOH concentration greater than 10% (w/v), which caused fewer platelets to adhere to the luminal surface. Mercerized tubular BNC (MBNC) promoted the proliferation of endothelial cells in vitro. The MBNC obtained using 20% NaOH was selected for transplantation within a rat abdominal aorta model. Normal blood flow was observed for 16 weeks, indicating that the MBNC conduit maintained long-term patency. The results indicate that mercerization can control the size of tubular BNC and thus the MBNC conduit is a promising candidate for blood vessel replacement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A series of stirred dead-end filtration tests were conducted to investigate the fouling potential of BAP (biomass-associated products) and UAP (utilization-associated products), showing that UAP had higher modified fouling index with a value of 1.63×104 s/L2. Proteins were mainly accumulated in UAP and accounted for 45.3%, while the proportion of proteins in BAP was only 12.1%. Due to the membrane interception, the permeate concentrations of UAP and BAP decreased largely: proteins decreased to near zero and polysaccharides were effectively retained ranging from 26.6% to 46.8%. Excitation–emission matrix analysis showed that humic-like and fulvic-like compounds had lower retention than proteins. The observation of fouled membrane by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy demonstrated that membrane foulants were dominated by proteins and polysaccharides. Modeling work well indicated that the main fouling mechanisms for BAP and UAP filtration were cake filtration and complete blockage, respectively, further confirming that UAP had higher fouling potential than BAP. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A novel flame-retardant gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) with a three-dimensional interconnected network is prepared by means of structural modification. Credited to the synergistic flame retardancy of P-Si and the speedy conduction of Li+ ions, the GPE possesses superior safety and excellent electrochemical performance, fully catering to the demands for high stable and energy density in power batteries. [Display omitted] • A nonflammable GPE is synthesized by in-situ copolymerization on cathode electrode. • The star-shape interpenetration network bestowed on GPE a rapid Li+ conductivity. • A P-Si synergic flame retardancy imparts a safety reliability for battery system. • The advantages and mechanisms of Li+ transport are elucidated by MD calculation. Concurrently attaining elevated safety and electrochemical performance in the realm of high-energy–density batteries represents a considerable challenge. Drawing inspiration from the synergistic flame-retardant concept of the P-Si element, a reactive phosphorus-containing flame retardant was meticulously devised that in conjunction with a nano octa-arm crosslinker featuring Si-O-Si and vinyl groups, collectively establishing a star-shaped crosslinked framework to resolve the issue of matrix compatibility and achieving the polymer matrix with intrinsic flame retardancy. Hence, a non-flammable composite gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) was fabricated. The composite GPE-based batteries, encompassing LiFePO 4 ||Li, NCM523||Li and LiFePO 4 ||Graphite, all exhibit commendable cyclic stability under 1C. Furthermore, deriving from the collaborative flame retardant characteristic, pouch cells incorporating the composite GPE displayed remarkable non-flammability and safety characteristics in various tests such as nail penetration, mechanical abuse and ignition scenarios, showcasing a notable 63.3 % reduction in maximum surface temperature. Intriguingly, the insights arising from Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations indicate the migration mechanism for Li+ within a three-dimensional interpenetrating network, hence unmasking that feasible intra-chain hops of Li+ play a pivotal role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A bionic peanut-leaf structure is constructed on the surface of APP. • Bionic peanut-leaf structure on APP cause a high interfacial adhesion with PLA. • Bionic peanut-leaf structure enhance the flame-retardant efficiency of APP. • Modified APP endow PLA with improved toughness. To suppress the fire hazards caused by polymer materials and at the same time keep or improve the properties of polymer materials, the exploration of high-efficiency flame retardants with property enhancement function is quite urgent. Inspired by the high adhesion result from the hierarchical micro-nanostructures of peanut leaves, herein, a bionic peanut-leaf structure is constructed on the surface of widely used flame retardant, ammonium polyphosphate (APP) to improve the compatibility with polymers. To test the validity of this modification method, poly(lactic acid) (PLA) with poor toughness and high fire risk is selected as a model polymer and blended with modified APP (MAPP). The high interfacial adhesion caused by the hierarchical micro-nanostructures of MAPP enhance the compatibility with PLA resulting in the toughness enhancement of materials. Owing to unique microstructure, 5 wt% addition of MAPP not only endow material with good flame retardancy but also enhance the elongation at break and notched Izod impact strength to 21 and 3 times of pure PLA. The biomimetic strategy outlined here can be extended to other flame retardant and may provide us a new method to balance the flame retardancy and mechanical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 3D hierarchical gel polymer electrolyte is fabricated via in situ thermal solidification on the cathode coating, demonstrating synergistic P-N flame retardancy and dual-enhanced Li+ conduction effect. This electrolyte showcases remarkable safety characteristics and stable electrochemical performance, rendering it highly suitable for high-energy–density rechargeable batteries. It represents a valuable avenue for the design of advanced electrolyte materials. [Display omitted] • A flame-retardant GPE is prepared via in-situ thermal copolymerization on cathode. • The 3D hierarchy network enabled GPE with dual acceleration effect on Li+ transport. • A P-N synergistic fire-resistant effect to endow high safety for whole batteries. • The interaction mechanism between Li+ and polymer segments is revealed through DFT. Gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) stands as an extensively investigated solid-state electrolytes for next-generation lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Nonetheless, their inherent flammability necessitates the addition of flame retardants, which adversely impact LIBs' electrochemical performance. Herein, we propose a groundbreaking conceive of a fireproof cross-linking composite GPE that united phosphene and a P-N synergistic flame retardant (DPM), equipping a dual-enhanced conduction effect on Li+ ions and a cooperative P-N flame-retardant effect. By strategically manipulating the polymer segments hierarchy and incorporating efficient function groups from DPM, freely Li+ mobility has been propelled, thereby delivering satisfactory ionic conductivity (1.263 mS cm−1, 20 ℃), elevated oxidative stability (5.42 V vs. Li+/Li) and improved Li+ transference number (0.53). The composite GPE-based batteries (LFP||Li, NCM523||Li and LFP||Graphite) indicate acceptable specific capacities at 1 C, together with good reversible capacity retention rate and stable coulombic efficiency after 200 cycles. Noticeably, the pouch cells (LFP||Graphite) assembled with composite GPE demonstrate superior safety robustness and fire-resistance under mechanical mishandling and ignition situations. Finally, the elucidation of Li+ ions interaction mechanism with polymer matrix is unraveled through molecular orbital energy levels and density function theory (DFT) calculation. This study offers valuable insights for harnessing novel electrolyte materials in high-safety LIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel benzimidazole monomer was incorporated into the chain structure of PET. • Physical networks are formed in the copolyesters via H-bonding and π-π stacking. • Physical networks improve the melt strength and retard the melt-dripping greatly. • Copolyesters with no-dripping and low smoke release show excellent fire safety. • Copolyesters exhibit high T g , high tensile strength and good processability. Currently, it is still a huge challenge to prepare flame-retardant polymeric materials with excellent fire safety, high strength, good durability and processability. We here propose a H-bonding cross-linking strategy that can simultaneously endow polymers with excellent flame retardancy, non-dripping behavior and enhanced strength. In this work, a novel benzimidazole monomer, 2-(4-methoxycarbonyl-phenyl)-1H-benzimidazole-5-carboxylic acid methyl ester (PBM) has been designed as a H-bonding cross-linking monomer to prepare poly(ethylene terephthalate)-based copolyesters (PET- co -PBMs). Interestingly, along with the hydrogen bonding, the π-π stacking interactions from the benzimidazole groups also exist. Due to the formation of physical crosslinking network via hydrogen bonding and π-π stacking, the melt strength of copolyesters are greatly improved. Combining with char forming ability of benzimidazole, PET- co -PBMs display excellent fire safety. Moreover, PET- co -PBMs also exhibit higher glass transition temperature, higher mechanical strength and good processability. This work provides a promising strategy to design polymers with high strength, good processability, excellent flame retardance and anti-dripping performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Cu, N-CDs are synthesized by Cu, N co-doping method showing dual emission centers. • Tunable afterglow modes property of Cu, N-CDs@BA is realized by matrix-assisted method. • Afterglow enhancement and tuning mechanism of Cu, N-CDs@BA are revealed. Carbon dots (CDs) based afterglow materials have attracted much attention owing to their low toxicity, environmental protection, stable luminescence, abundant raw materials, and low cost. However, CD-based afterglow materials with both room temperature phosphorescence (RTP) and thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) characteristics are rarely reported, which greatly limits their in-depth application in advanced anti-counterfeiting, intelligent sensing, and other fields. In this paper, Cu, N co-doped CDs (Cu, N-CDs) with dual emission centers were synthesized via a simple solvothermal method by heteroatom doping to enhance the spin–orbit coupling of CDs and regulate the luminescence properties of CDs. Then, boric acid (BA) was used as the matrix to synthesize Cu, N-CDs@BA composites by matrix-assisted method, and the electron transfer enhancement afterglow was realized by the inorganic electronic defects of the matrix. Cu, N-CDs@BA can realize the mutual conversion of TADF and RTP by changing the excitation wavelength or increasing the temperature. At the excitation of 285 nm, the room temperature afterglow of Cu, N-CDs@BA exhibit TADF, and the average afterglow lifetime is 94.21 ms. At the excitation of 365 nm, they exhibit RTP, and the average afterglow lifetime is 347.96 ms. Based on three different emission properties (fluorescence, RTP, and TADF), Cu, N-CDs@BA was applied in anti-counterfeiting and encryption, which shows good application potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] A) The rhythmic mPTT not only significantly increases the killing of tumor cells, but also enhances tumor cell ICD, effectively realizing immune activation. B) Synthesis of the photosensitizer Y8 NPs. C) Schematic illustration of the rhythmic mPTT achieves efficient tumor killing and immune activation by applying multiple mild treatments to reverse "cold" tumors and upregulate PD-L1 expression in tumor cells, simultaneously combining with immunotherapy to enhance the efficacy of "immune cold tumor" photoimmunotherapy. • Mild thermotherapy up-regulates PD-L1 expression in OSCC cells, increasing ICB sensitivity. • Y8 Nanoparticles have an excellent photothermal ability and photothermal stability. • Rhythmic mPTT enhances tumor cell ablation and intense immunogenic cancer cell death. • Rhythmic mPTT-induced photoimmunotherapy enhanced tumor inhibition by reversing "cold" tumor. The therapeutic efficacy of immune-blockade therapies is limited by low T-cell infiltration and PD-L1 expression in tumor tissue. Activating the body to generate tumor-specific immune responses, either actively or passively, can efficiently inhibit and kill tumors, which has promising research prospects. Here, we propose a therapeutic model that combines rhythmic mild photothermal therapy with immunotherapy to enhance the photothermal killing effect and reverse the immunosuppressive microenvironment, resulting in beneficial tumor therapeutic effects. We synthesized Y8 nanoparticles that are highly effective for photothermal therapy due to their excellent biosafety, photothermal properties, and controllability. Creatively, by converting continuous laser irradiation into an orchestrated rhythmic treatment, we have designed the photothermal treatment mode to mitigate the side effects of conventional photothermal treatment while enhancing the photothermal killing effect. At the same time, mild photothermal therapy can upregulate the expression of PD-L1 in tumors, and transform previously immune-insensitive "cold tumors" into immune-sensitive "hot tumors", thereby significantly improving the efficacy of immunotherapy for oral cancer. This study confirms that the combination of rhythmic mPTT and immunotherapy can effectively achieve tumor ablation and synergistically enhance the efficacy of immunotherapy, providing a new strategy for the treatment of oral squamous cell carcinoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The first study on boosting solubility of PYF-T in toluene by PZT doping. • A top PCE of 16.37% was obtained for toluene-processed all-PSCs. • PZT doping significantly improved the stability of toluene-processed all-PSCs. The development of polymerized small molecule acceptors (PSMA) has pushed all-polymer solar cells (all-PSCs) to break through power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 16–17%. However, these PCEs are obtained by halogenated solvents processing, which will cause serious harm to the environment and human health. To make the PSMA-based all-PSCs suitable for non-halogenated solvent processing, we introduced PZT into a typical high-efficiency all-PSCs system based on PBDB-T:PYF-T, to improve the solubility of PYF-T in non-halogenated solvent toluene (TL). PZT and PYF-T worked in an alloy-like model due to excellent miscibility induced by the similar molecular structure. A top PCE of 16.37% was obtained for TL-processed all-PSCs based on PBDB-T:PYF-T:PZT, which represented the highest PCE value for all-PSCs processed by non-halogenated solvents. In addition, the doping of PZT can significantly improve the ambient processing stability, photo-stability and thermal-stability of TL-processed all-PSCs, proving that polymer doping strategy enables all-PSCs compatible for practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we have successfully constructed multifunctional GSH-responsive H 2 S nanogenerators (BDMA NGs), achieving activable precise second near-infrared fluorescence (NIR-II FL)/photoacoustic (PA) bimodal imaging-guided gas/chemotherapy synergistic therapy in rheumatoid arthritis. [Display omitted] • In-situ GSH-responsive gas nanogenerators for active NIR-II FL/PA imaging. • Multifunctional nanogenerators for integrating localization and therapy monitoring. • Clarifying the anti-RA intricate mechanism by macrophage reprogramming. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is currently one of the most common systemic autoimmune disorders, with no clinically effective theranostics. Therapeutic manipulation of the gasotransmitter hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) has exhibited promising potential as an innovative strategy in RA, whereas limited with non-targeting, low solubility, and systemic toxicity. In this work, based on the physicochemical and structural advantages of stimulus-responsive nanotechnology, we develop multifunctional glutathione (GSH)-responsive H 2 S nanogenerators (BDMA NGs), achieving activatable precise second near-infrared fluorescence (NIR-II FL)/photoacoustic (PA) bimodal imaging-guided gas/chemotherapy synergistic therapy. Contributed to the suitable size and excellent biocompatibility, the BDMA NGs accumulate passively in the RA region and then feature a responsive deformation reaction with GSH to release functional small molecules: H 2 S and methotrexate (MTX). The H 2 S undergoes a mineralization process with Ag+ ions in situ, resulting in the rapid formation of Ag 2 S to "turn on" the NIR-II FL/PA signals. Remarkably, the effective generation of H 2 S downregulates hypoxia-inducible factor-1 α (HIF-1 α) and promotes nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) nuclear translocation, thereby restoring homeostasis in the RA microenvironment and facilitating the reprogramming of pro-inflammatory macrophages (M1) into anti-inflammatory phenotype (M2). Moreover, the controlled release of MTX, clinically approved drug for RA, synergistically promotes repolarization to further suppress local inflammation. Overall, the H 2 S-based nanogenerators BDMA NGs present a sophisticated and versatile strategy for implementing stimuli-responsive imaging and M1-to-M2 repolarization, demonstrating significant potential in the theranostics of RA and clinical transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Ni/Co c-MOFs decoration with Au and Co 3 O 4 NPs were synthesized by a facile method. • The Au 3 @Co 3 O 4 NPs/Ni 1 Co 2 (HITP) immunosensor was optimized toward HBsAg detection. • High-performance of immunosensor can be ascribed to the synergistic effect. • The optimum immunosensor exhibits a low detection limit of 15 fg mL−1 for HBsAg. Herein, highly sensitive electrochemical immunosensor based on noble metal and metal oxide nanoparticles functionalized bimetal conductive metal–organic frameworks (c-MOFs) was proposed toward HBsAg detection. The nanorod-like architecture of Ni 3 (HITP) 2 c-MOFs was synthesised via a simple and facile route, followed by dopant coble ions formation cobaltosic oxide (Co 3 O 4) nanoparticles decorated bimetal NiCo(HITP) c-MOFs nanocomposites. Benefiting from large specific surface area, high electrical conductivity and abundant active sites of desirable nanostructures, the resultant Co 3 O 4 NPS/NiCo(HITP) bimetal c-MOFs nanostructure exhibits fast electron transfer capability and effective specific binding between antigen and antibody. Meanwhile, different amounts of Au nanoparticles were further functionalized on Co 3 O 4 NPS/NiCo(HITP) nanocomposites to further improve the electrochemical properties. Under optimum condition, the as-proposed Au@Co 3 O 4 NPS/NiCo(HITP) electrochemical immunosensor exhibits superior sensing performances toward HBsAg including wide linear response range from 1 pg mL−1 to 100 ng mL−1 and low detection limit of 15 fg mL−1 (S/N = 3). Meanwhile, the as-fabricated electrochemical immunosensors also displays outstanding selectivity, repeatability and stability. Besides, quantitative detection of HBsAg also achieves satisfactory results in real sample detection. Thereby, our work not only provides a promising strategy to construct highly sensitive electrochemical immunosensor using hybrid c-MOFs nanomaterials but also presents a potential application in the early diagnosis of hepatitis B-related diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Methodology to speed up turbulent reactive flow simulation by ANN is demonstrated. • High model accuracy is obtained by optimization of the ANN architecture. • An average speedup factor of 14 is achieved compared to the Lagrangian PDF method. Turbulent reactive flow simulation often requires accounting for turbulence-chemistry interactions and the sub-grid phenomena. Their complexity leads to a trade-off between computational efficiency on one hand and computational accuracy on the other. We attempt to bridge this gap by coupling the power of machine learning with the turbulent reactive flow simulation, specifically in the form of a deep artificial neural network. The Lagrangian Monte Carlo method is chosen as a demonstration case as it is one of the most accurate models for turbulent reactive flow simulation, but also one of the most time-consuming. The workflow consists of training data generation, deep neural network construction, and implementation in ANSYS-Fluent, followed by an evaluation of model accuracy and efficiency, which results in an order of magnitude faster simulation without loss of accuracy thanks to our data-driven deep neural network. This approach can be of universal relevance in speeding up time-consuming models in the field of reactive flow simulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • MS-K containing potassium sulfonate and benzimidozale groups was synthesized. • Incorporation of MS-K into the backbone of PET the migration of IRF is eliminated. • PET copolymer exhibits enhanced self-intumescent carbonization behavior. • Fire hazards of PET copolymer is significantly suppressed. Additive-type Intumescent flame retardants (IFRs) are widely used in many polymeric materials to reduce fire hazards. However, the migration behavior of IFRs in the long-term use process leads to poor flame retardance durability and undesirable health issue. To address these problems, a novel reactive monomer (MS-K) containing potassium sulfonate and benzimidozale groups was synthesized and chemically linked into the backbones of model polymer (Polyethylene terephthalate, PET). When the PET-copolymer burnt, the sulfonate group worked as acid and gas sources, and the benzimidozale group acted as carbon source. The trinity effect (acid, gas and carbon sources) of benzimidozale-potassium sulfonate structure gave rise to the self-intumescent carbonization behavior of PET matrix. As a result, the formed intumescent char-layer exerted a significant condensed-phase flame retardant effect that can hinder the oxygen exchange, isolate from the heat source and suppress the volatilization of combustible small molecules. Thus, the corresponding PET-copolymer exhibited extremely low fire hazards with UL-94 V-0 rating, a high limiting oxygen index of 32.5 vol%, greatly decreased peak heat release rate (decreased by 58%) and total smoke production (decreased by 39%). The strategy of reactive trinity-macromolecule not only exhibits excellent intumescent flame-retardant effect, but also completely eliminates the migration issue, which represents a promising way to replace the traditional additive-type IFRs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Bi 2 Te 3 +1 wt% Ru bulk sample was prepared by hand milling and SPS using commercial Bi 2 Te 3 ingot. • A ZT peak reaches 0.93 at 150 °C for Bi 2 Te 3 +1 wt% Ru sample which is 45.3% higher than that of pristine. • Vickers hardness reaches 2.38 GPa for Bi 2 Te 3 +1 wt% Ru sample which is the highest in Bi 2 Te 3 system. Recently, researchers have been exploring the optimization of the thermoelectric properties of composite materials. Composite technology with many successful cases of enhancement in thermoelectric properties have been confirming effectively to optimize thermoelectric materials. In this study, Ru nano-micro composite particles were successfully introduced in commercial bismuth telluride (Bi 2 Te 3) as second phase to simultaneously optimize the thermoelectric and mechanical properties. In a Bi 2 Te 3 sample containing 1 wt% Ru (+1 wt% Ru), the ZT peak was measured to be 0.93 (at 150 °C) and the maximum Vickers hardness was measured to be 2.38 GPa. These values exceeded the values of a pure sample by 45.3% and 36%, respectively. The average ZT of the +1 wt% Ru sample at 50–200 °C was 0.86, which is comparable with the Bi 2 Te 3-x Se x system. By varying the Ru content, the components, microstructure, thermoelectric and mechanical properties of Bi 2 Te 3 were manipulated and their interdependence demonstrated. The extent to which the thermoelectric and mechanical properties of Bi 2 Te 3 can be optimized, via Ru compositing and nano-Bi 2 Te 3 producing, is related by the complex nano-micro composite structure. The superior thermoelectric properties of composite materials hold great the commercial value and may reduce the input of raw materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A novel natural polyphenol-inspired polymer was successfully prepared. • Tunable multifunction and high performances were simultaneously realized. • UV-A and short-wavelength blue light were totally shielded at a low polyphenol content. • Mechanical strength was improved by 90% due to the formation of hydrogen bonds. • The unique functions of polyphenols endowed the polymer with high flame retardancy. Multifunctional and high-performance polymers have long been the pursuit of materials scientists, but are seldom reported or require complex preparation. Herein, inspired by the multiple functions of natural polyphenols, we report a synthetic polymer called PIP (polyphenol-inspired polymer) with facile bulk preparation process aiming for multiple application scenarios. With tunable polyphenol content from 1 to 40 mol%, PIP exhibited adjustable performances. At low polyphenol content, PIP possesses excellent full-band ultraviolet shielding performance and 1.9-fold mechanical strength compared with a typical commercial competitor, due to the abundant hydrogen bonds. Based on the radical-scavenging and char-forming ability of polyphenols, PIP realizes high fire safety at high polyphenol content. Notably, PIP can be easily processed into films and fibers, enabling its wide potential application fields. In sight of these findings, this work provides a new strategy for the design and synthesis of high-performance and multifunctional polymers with broader applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Cultivation conditions highly influence transfer and growth behavior of biofilms. • Light penetrates only less than 70 um depth, DIC slowly declines opposite light. • Dual-side carbon supplementation elevates DIC and enhances biofilm growth. • Biofilm is partitioned as "growing regime" and "resting regime". • Proliferated algal cells lift "growing regime" and thicken the biofilm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aiming at treatment of wastewaters with low C/N ratio, a novel fe rrous iron-based c hemo a utotrophic d enitrification (Fe-CAD) reactor was developed with inoculum sludge from a municipal sewage plant in Hangzhou, China. The efficiency of the Fe-CAD reactor was remarkable. The v olumetric l oading r ate (VLR) and v olumetric r emoval r ate (VRR) of NO 3 − were 0.26 ± 0.01 kg-N/(m 3 ·d) and 0.09 ± 0.03 kg-N/(m 3 ·d), while the VLR and VRR of Fe 2+ were 3.10 ± 0.24 kg-Fe/(m 3 ·d) and 1.69 ± 0.26 kg-Fe/(m 3 ·d), respectively. By means of next generation sequencing, the Fe-CAD sludge was found to be rich in ferrous iron-oxidizing nitrate-reducing bacteria including Rhodanobacter , Mizugakiibacter , Sulfuricella , Comamonas and Gallionella . Reaction dynamics of the Fe-CAD sludge were determined by batch experiments. After fitted by Haldane Model, the maximum specific activity ( μ max ), the saturation concentration ( K i ) and the half inhibition concentration ( K s ) of NO 3 − to the Fe-CAD sludge were calculated as 0.24 mg-N/(h·gVSS), 72.82 mg-N/L and 2722.97 mg-N/L, while the μ max , K i , K s of Fe 2+ were 2.28 mg-Fe/(h·gVSS), 203.09 mg-Fe/L and 229159.38 mg-Fe/L, respectively. The produced ferric iron formed an brilliant yellow iron-encrustation with irregular shape around the functional microorganisms, and the iron-encrustation resulted in a dropped specific activity of the Fe-CAD sludge. Removal or prevention of the iron-encrustation around microbial cells were suggested to be the key to improve the performance of the Fe-CAD reactor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A cyclic freezing-thawing approach to layered Janus hydrogel tapes with single-sided adhesiveness is developed. • The interfacial peeling force of the Janus hydrogel tapes reaches 114.6 N/m. • Strain sensors of Janus hydrogel tapes achieve a GF of 3.4. • Wireless wearable sensors based on Bluetooth signal transmission system are demonstrated. Hydrogel strain sensors, which have potential applications in wearable devices, soft robots and human–machine interfaces, etc., are increasingly investigated. But it remains challenging to fabricate hydrogel strain sensors with integrated wearability and high sensing performances. To address this issue, we herein propose a cyclic freezing-thawing approach to layered Janus hydrogel tapes for wearable strain sensors. The hydrogel tapes are composed of an adhesive poly(vinyl alcohol)/phytic acid (PVA/PA) layer and a non-adhesive poly(vinyl alcohol)/polyaniline (PVA/PANI) layer and exhibit controllable flexibility and approximate elastic modulus to soft tissues. A robust interface forms between the two layers and the interfacial peeling force reaches 114.6 N/m. Strain sensors assembled from the Janus hydrogel tapes achieve low response time (loading: 60 ms, unloading: 62 ms), reversible response and high sensitivity (gauge factor: 3.4). Interestingly, such strain sensors can be further integrated with a Bluetooth system to fabricate wireless wearable sensors for convenient monitoring of physiological activities such as walking, squatting, stair climbing, etc. Overall, this work will provide not only a new approach to Janus hydrogels, but also a new clue for developing functional flexible devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • An interconnected LIS hydrogel with self-tunable nanopore structure and flexibility is prepared. • LIS nanoparticles adjust the pore size and flexibility of the hybrid hydrogel. • The LIS porous hydrogel shows a super-high Li adsorption capacity in a marine environment. • The LIS porous hydrogel exhibits super-stable cyclic Li extraction performance. Li+ ion-sieve (LIS) films, foams, or granules have been fabricated to immobilize LIS to overcome powder loss for Li extraction from seawater. However, the practical application is still restricted by their low swelling ability and poor flexibility to withstand harsh marine environment for a long time. Here, a highly elastic interconnected porous LIS nanocomposite hydrogel with tunable pore structure and flexibility, as well as good swelling property, is prepared by using LIS (viz. λ-MnO 2) as a pore self-modifier during the in-situ fabrication of polypyrrole (PPy) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) interpenetrating hydrogel (denoted as λ-MnO 2 @IG). In addition to physical confinement interactions, the strong coordination/chelation and electrostatic interactions between λ-MnO 2 nanoparticles and polymer chains enable well-dispersed λ-MnO 2 nanoparticles to be confined in a rich network structure. Even at a marine environment (pH 8.3), the λ-MnO 2 @IG hydrogel exhibits superior Li+ adsorption performance (20.6 mg g−1 HMO), outperforming most adsorbents containing LIS. Specially, the porous hydrogel is easily recyclable and exhibits super-stable cyclic Li extraction performance, which are directly attributable to the further-improved pore structure in continuous regeneration process. This study provides a self-regulating strategy to design LIS porous hydrogels with controllable porosity, high flexibility, good swelling ability, and excellent cycle stability to address the growing Li+ demanding challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MgO is a promising adsorbent for CO 2 capture. While, its adsorption kinetics under different conditions is not sufficiently investigated. Furthermore, the rate-limiting step in CO 2 adsorption of MgO cannot be found according to previous study. In this work, the CO 2 adsorption kinetics of porous MgO was investigated under wide range of CO 2 partial pressure and adsorption temperature. Different adsorption models were used to investigate the adsorption mechanism of porous MgO. It was found that porous MgO showed obvious two-stage adsorption process with a rapid initial CO 2 uptake and a subsequent slow adsorption process under wide range of CO 2 partial pressure and adsorption temperature. Pseudo-second order model accurately predicted the CO 2 adsorption behaviors of porous MgO in all employed adsorption conditions, which indicated the validity of pseudo-second order model in the prediction of chemisorption behavior. The two-stage adsorption process of porous MgO was not caused by the adsorption product generated on the exterior of adsorbent particle. According to the rate-limiting models, the CO 2 adsorption process of MgO was controlled by film diffusion and intraparticle diffusion. At the initial adsorption process, film diffusion resistance governed the adsorption rate. The intraparticle diffusion resistance became a primary factor in the later adsorption step. The narrow pore of porous MgO hindered the diffusion of CO 2 molecule and led to a long time to adsorption equilibrium. This study suggests that porous MgO should be prepared with large pore so as to minimize the intraparticle diffusion resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Self-assembling peptide tagged AFP specific affibody (Z AFP D2) 2 were produced. • The (Z AFP D2) 2 -ELK16 showed higher and more specific binding affinity to AFP. • A sensitive (Z AFP D2) 2 -ELK16 based ELISA for detection of AFP was developed. Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is one of the most important biomarkers associated with primary liver cancer and the development of accurate and sensitive methods for detecting the serum level of AFP is of great importance in cancer diagnosis. In this study, three self-assembling peptides (SAPs) tagged AFP specific affibody dimer (Z AFP D2) 2 recombinant protein, (Z AFP D2) 2 -ELK16, (Z AFP D2) 2 -L6KD and (Z AFP D2) 2 -R18A were successfully produced and characterized. The (Z AFP D2) 2 -ELK16 affibody aggregates showed higher and more specific binding affinity to AFP compared to (Z AFP D2) 2 and other two SAP-tagged (Z AFP D2) 2 and in addition displayed enhanced AFP-detection sensitivity and improved stability. A sensitive two-site enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for AFP using (Z AFP D2) 2 -ELK16 as the detection reagent was also established. The AFP detection limit and linear range using (Z AFP D2) 2 -ELK16 based two-site ELISA were 9.7 ng mL−1 and 20–600 ng mL−1, which were significantly improved compared to those of the (Z AFP D2) 2 based two-site ELISA for AFP. To detect AFP in serum samples, the average recovery ranged from 95.02% to 110.41% and the relative standard deviation was in the range of 2.45%-3.97%, which meet the standard clinical testing requirements. This proposed strategy provides a high yield, easy purification and green biosynthesis method to prepare SAP-based affibody aggregates for enhanced detection sensitivity by improving the immunoassay signal amplification activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The co-doping of Co and Ti in the ZFO leads to its lattice expansion. • LB-CoTiZFO film shows higher PEC activities than LB-ZFO film in TC degradation. • Surface rearrangement occurs in the LB-CoTiZFO film under the PEC circumstances. • Fe-O bond breakage caused by the covalency competition leads to boosted PEC activity. For efficient removal of the residual tetracycline (TC) in the aquatic environment, a novel cobalt (Co) and titanium (Ti) co-doped zinc ferrite (CoTiZFO) film was prepared via the Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) method in this study. With the co-doping of Co and Ti, the interfacial photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) activities for degradation of TC by the LB-assembled CoTiZFO (LB-CoTiZFO) films were significantly improved. As the applied voltage was 0.6 V in a two-electrode system, the five-layered LB-CoTiZFO (LB-CoTiZFO-5) films exhibited the optimal TC degradation rate and mineralization rate, which were accordingly 92.85% ± 1.45% and 81.92% ± 0.26%. In the same case, the kinetic rate constant (k) for PEC degradation of TC by the LB-CoTiZFO-5 films is equivalent to 3.3-fold of that by the films without the co-doping of Co and Ti. Under the PEC circumstances, the Co3+ and Ti4+ in the LB-CoTiZFO-5 film would be reduced to Co2+ and Ti3+, while the Fe2+ was oxidized to Fe3+, which results in the surface rearrangement of the LB-CoTiZFO-5 film. In addition, the Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculation results manifest the covalency competition in the Zn-O-Fe backbone can lead to the Fe-O bond breakage, the bare Fe metals with unpaired valence electrons will diffuse to the Helmholtz layer and serve as active sites, which endows the LB-CoTiZFO-5 films with boosted interfacial PEC activities. Therefore, the LB-CoTiZFO-5 film photoanode shows great prospective in efficient PEC degradation of TC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• CoFe nanoneedles with rich oxygen vacancies were synthesised by CaH 2 reduction method. • The CoFe-250 exhibits an high OER activity with an overpotential of 230 mV at 10 mA cm−2 in 1 M KOH. • An extremely attractive cell voltage of 1.47 V was achieved for 10 mA cm−2 for overall water splitting. • The overall energy consumption was decreased by 12.2 % compared to water splitting. Developing highly efficient electrocatalysts for overall water splitting and urea oxidation reaction (UOR) is of significant importance to achieve hydrogen production. Herein, CoFe nanoneedles with abundant oxygen vacancies were prepared on Ni foam by hydrothermal method and CaH 2 reduction method at different temperature in an evacuated (≈10−2 Pa) pyrex tube. The CoFe-250 exhibits an excellent OER activity with an overpotential of 230 mV at 10 mA cm−2 in 1 M KOH and the symmetrical overall splitting electrolyzer using CoFe-250 as both anode and cathode dilivers 10 mA cm−2 at the voltage of 1.47 V in 1 M KOH. More impressively, the overall water-urea electrolysis only requires 1.6 V to deliver 100 mA cm−2 and reduces the overall energy consumption by 12.2 % in 1 M KOH with a 0.33 M urea. This work provides a highly active overall water splitting and UOR electrocatalysts for hydrogen production in an economic way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Addition of 2,6-DCP to a SBR resulted in remarkable reduction of sludge production. [•] Significant nitrification inhibition was observed on the initial addition of 2,6-DCP. [•] EPS matrix functioned as a protective barrier for the bacteria inside sludge flocs to 2,6-DCP. [•] DGGE analysis showed the communities continued to evolve on the sludge biomass over 60days. [•] Addition of 2,6-DCP increased sludge activity and enhanced the dewatering ability of sludge. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Cu x Ce1−x O y (x =0.06, 0.13, and 0.23) were prepared by a solution combustion route using glycine as the fuel and tested for the catalytic combustion of dilute acetone in air. The structural characteristics of the catalysts were investigated by specific surface area, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and temperature-programmed reduction (TPR) techniques. The results reveal that the state of the CuO depends on the Cu/Ce molar ratio in the catalyst, which strongly influences the redox behavior and the catalytic activity of the sample. Among the three catalysts, Cu0.13Ce0.87O y was found to be the most active in the catalytic combustion of acetone. The pulse reaction of pure acetone in the absence of O2 over the Cu0.13Ce0.87O y catalyst indicated the participation of lattice oxygen from the catalyst in the acetone combustion. Furthermore, the effect of the acetone concentration and the gas hourly space velocity (GHSV) on the catalytic behavior of the catalyst was examined. The stability of the Cu0.13Ce0.87O y catalyst for acetone combustion was also investigated and an obvious deactivation was observed under the reactant stream for 35h at 260°C. XRD analysis of the deactivated catalyst showed that the formation of bulk CuO was responsible for the deactivation of the catalyst. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• A new double-network hydrogel is explored for uranium recovery from seawater. • U-adsorption capacity of the hydrogel is greatly enhanced by added nanoclay. • Mechanical property of the hydrogel is largely improved by th double-network. • Used materials are lowcost and the hydrogel owns good U-adsorption reusability. Massive uranium recovery from seawater is a key project to provide the long-time consumption of global nuclear power, while it is still greatly difficult to achieve high-efficient adsorbents with high mechanical property. In this work, a new nanoclay-poly(amidoxime) (NC-PAO) high-strength double-network (DN) composite hydrogel adsorbent with high-efficient and fast uranium extraction capacity has been explored. The uranium adsorbing performance can be significantly enhanced by the small content of added super-hydrophilic NC (Laponite RDS sheets), because of the largely improved hydrophilicity of the hydrogel. Compared with the blank PAO DN hydrogel without nanoclay, the uranium adsorbing capacity of this NC-PAO DN hydrogel can largely increase 73.4% from 4.97 mg/g to 8.62 mg/g, after in seawater only 25 days. The uranium adsorption rate of this hydrogel from natural seawater, can reached 0.345 mg/(g∙day), which is excellent among existing uranium adsorbents. Furthermore, this hydrogel has high mechanical performance with 2.42 MPa of tensile strength and 16.13 MPa of compressive strength, which can be used in seawater for relatively longer time than traditional low-strength single-network hydrogel, owing to its double network (DN) structure (the weakly crosslinked gelatin soft network and the strongly crosslinked cellulose nanofiber (CNF) hard network). This NC-PAO DN hydrogel adsorbent will be an excellent candidate for fast uranium recovery from seawater in largescale. Most importantly, this work will inspire the development of new hydrogel-based adsorbents and even other type of adsorbents for high-efficient uranium extraction, through compositing various low-cost and super-hydrophilic nanomaterials to significantly improve the hydrophilicity of the adsorbent and designing double-network structure to largely enhance the mechanical property. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• PO 4 -biochars (PBs) were prepared by pretreating bamboo sawdust with phytic acid. • High surface areas, large pore volumes, abundant P contents were achieved compatibly. • The PBs exhibited excellent sorption capacities and favorable selectivity for U(VI). • The PBs could be well regenerated by Na 2 CO 3 and reused after six recycles. Properly engineering of surface functionality and structural porosity is critical to improve the sorption performance of biochars. Herein, we report a facile one-pot preparation of phosphate group-functionalized biochars (PBs) derived from bamboo sawdust by engineering with phytic acid prior to pyrolysis. High specific surface areas (629, 1298 and 1109 m2·g−1), large pore volumes (0.332, 0.919 and 0.789 cm3·g−1), and abundant phosphorous contents (1.14, 3.32 and 1.53 at.%) are achieved compatibly for the PBs pyrolyzed at given temperatures (i.e., 300, 450 and 600 °C) which are significantly higher than those of pristine biochars. Phytic acid not only releases hydrogen protons to tailor biochar matrixes to make micropores created and further developed, but also provides organic phosphorous-containing moiety to guarantee the surface phosphate functionality. PBs extract U(VI) from aqueous media efficiently, i.e., equilibrium achieved within 8 h, high sorption capacity of 229.2 mg·g−1 (at pH 4.0, T 298 K), and favorable selectivity towards U(VI) against the interference of coexisting metal ions. PBs can be regenerated by 0.1 mol·L−1 Na 2 CO 3 and reused well after six recycles. This present work provides a path for the design and synthesis of advanced biochars with favorable potentials in the extraction of U(VI)-containing effluents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]