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[Display omitted] • Pretreatment is a critical process for biohydrogen production from biomass. • A distinction should be made between the initial pH and the pH of the process. • Dissolved bio-H 2 concentrations are not always in equilibrium with the gas phase. • The combined fermentation methods offer advantages compared to dark fermentation. • Iron catalysts are attractive due to high abundance and relatively low toxicity. Biohydrogen is a green energy carrier with the potential to reduce our dependency on fossil fuels. The production of biohydrogen from lignocellulosic materials may be low cost, but commercial production has not been realized. The issues to be addressed include screening and construction of microorganisms that meet industrial requirements, optimization of bioreactor designs, and novel hybrid fermentation systems such as combining dark fermentation (DF) with methanogenic systems and doping nanomaterials to increase biohydrogen yield. This paper focuses on the biohydrogen production, highlighting various fermentative bioreactor types, influential factors in dark fermentation, and pretreatment techniques. Besides, current strategies to produce biohydrogen, including synthetic biology approaches and metabolic engineering, are assessed for their potential to contribute to net zero carbon emission. Pretreatment of biomass using dilute acids is the most common technique to destroy the complicated structure of lignocellulosic biomass. Mesophilic temperatures (37 °C), HRT of 72 h, and pH near 7.0, are recurrent parameters of biomass fermentation. The combined approach of electro-fermentation and dark fermentation produces a higher yield of biohydrogen compared to the single dark fermentation. Furthermore, additives (mainly iron-based materials) have been investigated to improve the efficiency of biomass pretreatment as well as biohydrogen production. Finally, this paper points out that the vigorous development of novel engineered strains is an important part of achieving commercial-scale production of biohydrogen. Overall, considerable efforts are needed from both technical and managing aspects to achieve a full-scale application of biohydrogen production to make this technology economical, efficient and sustainable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The removal of actinide (An) and lanthanide (Ln) elements from aqueous solution is a significant strategy for the safe disposal of radioactive wastes. Herein we presented a 5-methylbenzotriazole modified graphene oxide (MBTA-GO) as a novel adsorbent, in which benzotriazole group was used as targeted sorption site bearing strong affinity toward An-Ln (An and Ln) ions for the first time. MBTA-GO was characterized by Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The effect of pH and initial concentration on combined adsorption of An-Ln were examined, and the results showed that the adsorption of metal ions on MBTA-GO was strongly dependent on pH in multi-cation solution, and MBTA-GO exhibited excellent An-Ln selectivity (selectivity coefficients are more than 99%), overwhelming majority of other reported adsorbents. The cycle experiments revealed that the MBTA-GO exhibited good reusability and structural stability. By density functional theory (DFT) calculation, the binding energy of Cation-MBTA-GO followed the order of Th(IV) > U(VI) > Eu(III) > La(III) > Sr(II) > Cs(I), suggesting that the benzotriazole groups were preferentially responsible for An-Ln ions on MBTA-GO, which is in well agreement with the experimental results. Finally, the mechanism of selective coadsorption was revealed, which is the synergistic effect of chemical complexation and electrostatic interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a superhydrophilic surface imprinting composite resin was constructed for selective enrichment of triazines, which was first fabricated by one-pot condensation of formaldehyde, resorcinol and melamine on the surface of the magnetic multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs@Fe 3 O 4 ). The effect of the amount of template (ametryn) on the imprinting performance was investigated. The FT-IR, VSM, XRD, SEM and water contact test indicated that the magnetic multi-walled carbon nanotubes imprinting resin (MWNTs@Fe 3 O 4 @MIR) was successfully prepared and exhibited superhydrophilic and excellent magnetic separation characteristics. The isothermal adsorption, selectivity and adsorption kinetics tests indicated that the prepared MWNTs@Fe 3 O 4 @MIR had better specific recognition for triazines. The adsorption isotherm obeyed Freundlich isotherm model and adsorption kinetic matched pseudo-second-order kinetic model well. Under the optimized conditions, the MWNTs@Fe 3 O 4 @MIR was successfully applied as selective adsorbent for the direct enrichment and determination of triazines in environmental water samples combined with HPLC-MS/MS. The established method exhibited good linearity ( R 2  ≥ 0.9987), lower limit of detection (0.007–0.068 μg L −1 ), and excellent precision (RSD < 9%). The surface imprinted strategy based on MWNTs@Fe 3 O 4 developed a new way for the preparation of superhydrophilic magnet imprinting nanocomposites, which exhibited a perspective in the determination of triazines in water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Magnetic hydrophilic imprinted polymers (Cu-CMMIPs) were prepared with enhanced recognition ability for tetracycline (TC). • Physical cross-linking process of polymer gels was integrated with imprinting technology. • Cu-CMMIPs were applied for enrichment of TC in environmental water samples with excellent recoveries. While a number of methods towards water-compatible molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) have been reported, new strategies affording simple preparation process and enhanced adsorption selectivity towards templates are needed to promote the further development of MIPs. Herein, we propose a novel method for preparing water-compatible MIPs (Cu-CMMIPs) with enhanced selectivity for tetracycline (TC) based on the dynamic physically cross-linking. The as-synthesized styrene-methacrylic acid copolymer was introduced as hydrophilic cross-linking functional monomers instead of conventional functional monomers and cross-linkers, thus eliminating the need of optimizing the cross-linkers/functional monomers ratio. The copper ions served as cross-linker, and in view of increased adsorption capacity and enhanced selectivity of the prepared MIPs, it was hypothesized that the introduction of copper ions would result in the strong interaction between the polymer network and TC. The imprinting process of TC is carried out by direct physical cross-linking of active groups of TC with functional groups of the polymeric network. The resultant Cu-CMMIPs exhibited excellent hydrophilicity, outstanding adsorption capacity and selectivity towards TC in water. Finally, the developed Cu-CMMIPs were applied as magnetic solid phase extraction adsorbents for the specific recognition of TC in environmental water combined with HPLC-DAD detection (LOD is 3.75 μg/L and the recoveries ranging from 91.2 % to 101.3 %). The proposed concept in this work for fabrication of MIPs with facile preparation process, enhanced selectivity and satisfactory hydrophilicity would inspire more ideas to implement in cost-effective adsorbents construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • More efficient Joule heating production were obtained at higher voltage. • Nearly 100% Benzoic acid (BA) was desorpted from CNTs film at an optimium voltage. • Electrothermal regeneration has extremely lower energy consumption. Thermal-desorption has been considered as an environmentally friendly approach to regenerate the exhausted adsorbents to achieve a sustainable adsorption process. However, the traditional thermal desorption method suffers from the demanding contradiction between the desorption efficiency and energy consumption. Herein, we developed an efficient and economical thermal-desorption strategy based on the Joule heating by employing a three-dimensional carbon nanotubes (CNTs) film as the model adsorbent. The features of CNTs film with negative temperature coefficient endow the impressive heat production for the electrical resistance decreased from 341.0 Ω at 25.7 °C to 36.7 Ω at 76.5 °C. The desorption ratio of target pollutant (i.e., benzoic acid) in the continuous Joule heat induced thermal desorption process could be reached to 93.2% with the energy consumption of 0.25 kW h, which is two orders of magnitude lower than that in the indirect thermal desorption process for one ton of wastewater at the specified scale. This study proposed a green and energy-efficient strategy for thermal regeneration, and provide a method guidance for the development of green regeneration technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanostructured cerium and titanium mixed oxides (CeTi) as well as fluoride (F − ) doped one (CeTiF) prepared by coprecipitation method were tested as ozonation catalysts for the low-temperature NO x ( x = 1, 2) removal. The CeTiF exhibits higher catalytic activities than CeTi, which are found to present linear relationship with the OH radical concentration. The F − is for the first time to be doped into CeTi as the ozonation catalyst. The doping of F − does not increase the density of surface –OH or surface areas, whereas it lowers the binding energies of surface –OH, promoting its reaction activities and thus the production of OH radicals. More importantly, the F − mainly substitutes the O 2− in Ce–O–Ti linkage bonds (Ce–F − –Ti formation) rather than Ti–O–Ti or Ce–O–Ce, producing oxygen vacancies in the neighboring Ce–O–Ti. These vacancies benefit the adsorption of sufficient H 2 O to yield active surface –OH in the reaction process, promoting the adsorption of O 3 and thus the production of OH radicals. The isotopic method is utilized to elaborate the catalytic mechanisms. The results show that the adsorption of H 2 O on oxygen vacancies plays a more critical role in the OH production, thus NO x ( x = 1, 2) removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A ROS-scavenging and O 2 -generating hydrogel (RCGel) is used for cell delivery. • Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) encapsulated in RCGel (MSC/RCGel) can resist ROS. • MSC/RCGel rescues cardiomyocytes both in oxidative stress and hypoxia conditions. • RCGel encapsulating boosts the engraftment of MSCs in infarcted rat hearts. • MSC/RCGel injected to infarcted rat hearts greatly improves the cardiac function. Stem cell especially mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) transplantation is a promising therapeutic strategy for myocardial infarction (MI) repair. However, major obstacles remain due to the poor retention and survival rate of transplanted MSCs in the harmful MI microenvironment (e.g., oxidative stress and hypoxia). Here, a novel injectable hydrogel (RCGel) with dual functions of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-scavenging and O 2 -generating was employed to encapsulate MSCs for MI treatment. The RCGel encapsulating exhibited anti-ROS protection through inhibiting JNK/p38 apoptosis signaling pathway to improve the viability of MSCs under oxidative stress conditions in vitro. The survival of cardiomyocytes was also improved both in the oxidative stress and hypoxia environments when being co-cultured with MSCs-encapsulated RCGel (MSC/RCGel). The RCGel encapsulating boosted the engraftment of transplanted MSCs in vivo. More viable MSCs endowed with regenerative abilities in the infarcted rat heart along with the ameliorated MI microenvironment (decreased oxidative stress and hypoxia) by the RCGel substantially inhibited cardiac apoptosis, enhanced cardiomyocyte viability, promoted angiogenesis and reduced fibrosis to improve the cardiac functions. The encapsulation of MSCs in RCGel, which exhibits beneficial effects in resisting harsh environments, provides a new way in MI repair and stem cell delivery, and has great potential in cell-based regenerative medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] A novel catalytic oxidation-removal technology is proposed to simultaneously removal of SO2 and NOX. [•] The oxidation removal of OH radicals is the main reaction. [•] The NOX removal efficiency reaches the maximum value of 80%, and the SO2 is about 99% with this process. [•] Material balances indicate that no other byproducts except , and were produced in this process. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Simultaneous removal of Cr(VI) and MB was achieved even in high saline medium. • The synergistic removal of Cr(VI) and MB was realized in coexisting system. • Cr(VI) and MB was classifiably recovered via electrochemically assisted desorption. Heavy metal ions, dyes and high concentrations of salt are three kinds of representative compounds in the wastewater produced from dyeing processes. An integrated technical process with multifunctional adsorbents for the simultaneous removal of pollutants, e.g., inorganic heavy metal ions and organic dyes, is highly desired. Moreover, classification of the recycled adsorbates on the exhausted adsorbents is also important and necessary. Herein, we have developed a new strategy to synergistically remove and electrochemically classify the recycled Cr(VI) and dyes from synthetic dyeing wastewater. First, polyaniline (PANI) was used to decorate the spherical resin (PS) by one-step in situ polymerization, and the as-synthesized composite (PANI@PS) was used as an adsorbent for simultaneous removal of Cr(VI) and methylene blue (MB) in high saline medium mainly based on PANI and PS, respectively. The synergistic adsorption removal capacities of Cr(VI) and MB on PANI@PS reached 183.0 mg Cr(VI) g−1 PANI and 40.3 mg MB g−1 PANI@PS in a coexisting system, in contrast to 94.0 mg Cr(VI) g−1 PANI and 27.5 mg MB g−1 PANI@PS in a single-component system. These increases are attributed to the additional adsorption sites and electrostatic attractions between the adsorbed Cr(VI)(−) and MB(+). Noticeably, the adsorbed Cr(VI)(−) and MB(+) can be recovered and classified via electrochemically assisted desorption, with a maximum recovery ratio of 90.3% (Cr(VI)(−)) and 91.9% (MB(+)). This study is of great significance for introducing novel adsorbent composites for the simultaneous removal and classified recovery of specific coexisting pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Mesoporous Si 3 N 4 aerogel is firstly synthesized via the urea assisted sol-gel technique. • Si 3 N 4 aerogel possesses a tremendously large BET specific surface area. • Si 3 N 4 aerogel has an excellent thermal insulation property. • Formation mechanism of Si 3 N 4 aerogel is revealed. Si 3 N 4 aerogel, which is one of the most promising materials for application as high-temperature thermal insulation, is synthesized by the urea-assisted sol-gel technique, followed by the supercritical drying, carbonization, carbothermal reduction and carbon combustion processes. The effects of heat treatment temperatures on the physicochemical and textural evolution of mesoporous Si 3 N 4 aerogel are investigated. Si 3 N 4 aerogel is formed when the heat treatment temperature increases to 1500 °C, whereas it transforms into SiC phase with a further higher temperature of 1600 °C. The SEM analysis confirms the existence of Si 3 N 4 nanoparticles, and the particle size of Si 3 N 4 nanoparticles is around 20–40 nm, with pore size around 20–40 nm. The XPS measurement reveals that Si 3 N 4 aerogel is composed of 74.4% Si 3 N 4 phase, with lower content of 25.6% SiO 2. Si 3 N 4 aerogel possesses a large BET specific surface area of 519.6 m2/g, which results from the mesoporous pores left after carbon combustion. This value is much larger than that of the conventional Si 3 N 4 porous ceramics and Si 3 N 4 nano materials ever reported. The BJH adsorption average pore diameter of Si 3 N 4 aerogel is around 11.8 nm, with a large pore volume of 3.5 cm3/g. Si 3 N 4 oxidation with forming amorphous SiO 2 layer on the surface is observed by the TG measurement. Moreover, the resulting Si 3 N 4 aerogel shows low bulk density of 0.075 g/cm3, as well as low thermal conductivity of 0.045 W/(m·K) at room temperature. The mechanism of Si 3 N 4 formation is based on the VS growth between C, SiO 2 and N 2. The structures evolution and formation mechanism of Si 3 N 4 aerogel are also investigated in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Encapsulation of anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic At in QA was close to 100%. • The At@NQA inhibited the production of excess ROS by cardiomyocytes. • The At@NQA achieved the active targeting of ischemia–reperfusion myocardium. • The intravenously injected NPs can reduce oxidative stress in the short term. • The therapy improved the long-term cardiac function of I/R myocardium. The clinically restored blood supply post myocardial infarction (MI) will break the physiological and metabolic balance of the ischemic myocardial region, leading to a new injury known as myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Abundant oxygen brought by the fresh blood would trigger the damaged myocardium to produce excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) and thereby inflammation along with the recruitment and infiltration of activated neutrophils and macrophages. Inspired by the active targeting process of inflammatory cells, a novel "neutrophil-like" nanoassembly (At@NQA) was prepared by modifying neutrophil membrane fragments onto At@QA NPs containing 1:1 (molar ratio) calixarene molecule (QA) and anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic atorvastatin calcium (At). Tail vein injection of the At@NQA could efficiently target the damaged myocardium, inhibit oxidative damage and inflammation, reduce myocardial fibrosis, increase myocardial troponin T (cTnT) and connexin 43 (Cx43) expression, and thus improve cardiac functions effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Developing a family of brain-mimicking hydrogels with tunable viscoelasticity. • The viscoelastic matrix increased motor-clutch pairs via filopodia dynamics. • The viscoelastic matrix promoted stem cell migration and neuronal differentiation. • The cell-free viscoelastic hydrogel induced brain tissue regeneration in vivo. • The biomimetic viscoelastic matrix facilitated TBI recovery in vivo. The concept of tissue-inducing biomaterials, such as osteoinductive biomaterials, has inspired the design of regenerative material with biomimetic cues to manipulate cell/tissue responses but has been little applied for neuroinduction in traumatic brain injury (TBI) treatment. Meanwhile, material design has typically focused on elasticity without viscoelasticity taken into consideration. Here, guided by the intrinsic viscoelasticity of brain tissue and the decisive role of viscoelasticity in cell-matrix interactions, we developed a family of brain-mimicking hydrogels, in which the viscoelasticity can be tuned over a wide range under the premise that hydrogels have a low modulus comparable to that of brain tissue. Then, we revealed the promoted migration of stem cells on the viscoelastic hydrogel resulted from the increased number of motor − clutch pairs and filopodia protrusions, as well as their enhanced neuronal differentiation. In a rat TBI model, the cell-free viscoelastic hydrogel successfully induced endogenous stem cells to migrate into lesions and differentiate into neurons, contributing to brain tissue regeneration and neurological function restoration. This study reveals the great promise of biomimetic viscoelastic matrices for TBI treatment, and simultaneously, provides intriguing insights for the design of tissue-inducing biomaterials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photogenerated electrons and holes are transferred to g-C 3 N 4 and h-BN, respectively. Biochar acts as an electron transmitter to accelerate electron transport in the heterojunction. Biochar as an electron reservoir and the heterojunction together inhibit the recombination of photogenerated carriers. ·O 2 – and h+ jointly attack the dye azo dye molecules to degrade them. [Display omitted] • BC/h-BN/g-C 3 N 4 with spherical lamellar cluster morphology was synthesized. • Biochar is the excellent electron transfer and storage in BNC. • Biochar made the photoresponse range of photocatalyst appear obvious redshift. • LVRPA, TRPA and τ app of photocatalyst were calculated by SFM model. • Electrons and holes migrated and separated efficiently in BNC. The biochar/h-BN/g-C 3 N 4 (BNC) composite photocatalyst with a spherical sheet cluster structure, was successfully synthesized. Under simulated solar light irradiation, the photocatalytic degradation rate of reactive red 120 by BNC was 87.94 % within 90 min, corresponding to a 3.57-fold higher kinetic constant than that of g-C 3 N 4. The band structure and electron transfer path in BNC were determined using characterizations and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, confirming a type II heterojunction forming. The attraction of h-BN to h+ by electrostatic interaction and biochar's capacity for both electron transfer and storage were confirmed. Doping of biochar was also found to enhance light absorption and provide O vacancy. The existence of piezoelectric effect assisted the movement of photogenerated carriers to the material surface. In the system, the main active oxidation species were h+ and ·O 2 –. By calculating optical characteristics, the practical activity of photocatalysts is evaluated. Results indicated that the optimal dosage of BNC was 0.5 g/L in the planar reactor, corresponding to an optical thickness of 2.61 calculated by the six-flux radiation absorption–scattering model (SFM). Biochar doping was found to enhance light absorption. A novel photocatalytic mechanism was proposed for promising matel-free BNC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • TZ-PAF with diamond-like topology has outstanding thermal stability and acid resistance. • TZ-PAF presented excellent sorption capacity for ReO 4 −/TcO 4 −. • TZ-PAF could capture TcO 4 −/ReO 4 − from a highly acidic solution and a simulated nuclear wastewater. • The mechanism of TcO 4 −/ReO 4 − capture was an ion-exchanged process. Efficient removal of 99TcO 4 − from nuclear wastewater is of great significance for the safe development of nuclear energy. In this work, a viologen-based cationic porous aromatic framework (TZ-PAF) was prepared as a novel sorbent for TcO 4 −. With 4,4′-bipyridine as the linker units, tetraphenylmethane was selected as the knot units to construct the diamond-like topology structure of TZ-PAF, which was benefit to its outstanding structural stability (thermal stability and acid resistance). The batch sorption experiments showed that TZ-PAF possessed fast sorption kinetics, higher sorption capacity (982 mg g−1 for ReO 4 −) and a highest removal depth (K d for TcO 4 − was 5.02 × 106 mL g−1), which could be attributed to the low-density skeleton of TZ-PAF resulting in the high density of sorption sites. XPS and SEM analyses revealed that the mechanism of TcO 4 −/ReO 4 − capture was attributed to an anion-exchanged process in which Cl− of TZ-PAF was replaced by ReO 4 −. And more, the excellent reusability to capture ReO 4 − from a highly acidic solution (64.6%) and a simulated nuclear wastewater (77.6%) were obtained. In general, this work exhibited a new sorbent for the highly efficient and deep removal of TcO 4 − form nuclear wastewater, and would provide a valuable insight into designing novel high-stability sorbents for wastewater treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The solvent effects during the synthesis of a NO oxidation catalyst, Cr/Ce 0.2 Zr 0.8 O 2 were evaluated with four solvents of the precursor solution (H 2 O, ethanol, ethylene glycol and isopropanol). The physicochemical characteristics were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area analysis, high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HR-TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and NO(O 2 ) temperature-programmed desorption (NO(O 2 )-TPD). The results indicate that the structural properties of Cr/Ce 0.2 Zr 0.8 O 2 are determined by the Ce 0.2 Zr 0.8 O 2 support, and the solvents have impact on the surface properties. The adoption of ethylene glycol in the preparation of Ce 0.2 Zr 0.8 O 2 support leads to the reduce of particles sizes, the increase of surface area and the generation of surface Ce 3+ , which is due to the appropriate polarity and the slow drying condition. Moreover, the present of H 2 O in the impregnation process could increase the dispersion of Cr species. The activity test confirms that the surface Ce 3+ and Cr 6+ ratios are the key factors in NO oxidation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Developing a magnetic-manipulative hydrogel platform to regulate matrix resistance. • Using remote magnetic on–off manipulation to control matrix's modulus. • Promoting clutches-reinforced actin self-assembly and TRPV4 evoked Ca2+ influx. • Facilitating neural differentiation of BMSCs in vitro and TBI repair in vivo. Considering the feasibility of remote on–off control and deep tissue penetration, magnetic-manipulation is highly desirable to provide on-demand extracellular matrix (ECM) signaling. On the other hand, matrix dynamic mechanics can bias neural differentiation and are thus vital for neural regeneration, inspiring new strategies for ECM dynamic manipulation and a comprehensive understanding of mechanotransduction mechanisms. Herein, we developed a magnetic-manipulated platform of Fe 3 O 4 magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs)-integrated bioactive hydrogel. MNPs respond to the magnetic field (MF) to produce strains on hydrogel networks, leading to a vibration of matrix stiffness in brain tissue-relevant range. By low-pulsed MF (0.1 T) loading, the promotion of mechanotransduction involving cell elongation, Ca2+ influx, and neural differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) was realized. Furthermore, we revealed that mechanic vibration triggered matrix resistance to cell clutches-reinforcement, which activated the TRPV4 channel to induce Ca2+ influx, finally promoting subsequent neural differentiation via PI3K-AKT and calcium signaling pathways. By remote MF on–off, the magnetic-manipulated hydrogel was applied in traumatic brain injury (TBI) repair, realizing satisfactory brain tissue regeneration and neurological functional recovery. This magnetic-manipulated hydrogel platform opens new avenues to investigate cell-matrix interactions, shedding light on new biomaterials and clinical therapy strategies for tissue regeneration and trauma treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Immobilized AQS on BC was manufactured as a solid-phase RM in anaerobic bioreactor. • XPS and FTIR analyses proved BC550-AQS contained more redox moieties (quinone/C = O). • Synergy of BC550-AQS + AGS achieved the highest decolorization efficiency and rate. • DFT revealed RR2 biodegradation pathway of electron attract and azo bond cleavage. • Highest absolute value of ETC proved BC550-AQS had a stronger electron affinity. In this study, a novel solid-phase redox mediator (RM) was manufactured via immobilizing anthraquinone-2-sulfonate (AQS) onto modified biochar (BC). The RM was used to enhance the anaerobic granular sludge (AGS) driven anaerobic biodegradation of azo dyes. Prepared at the optimal pyrolysis temperature of 550 ℃, the AQS modified BC550 exhibits a higher adsorption capacity of about 12.81% toward AQS compared to that of commercial granular activated carbon (GAC). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analyses showed that BC550-AQS contained more redox moieties (quinone and C = O) than GAC-AQS, indicating that the BC550 is suitable as a carrier of immobilized AQS. During the 36-h reaction, incubation of BC550-AQS as the solid-phase RM obviously enhanced the capacity of AGS (BC550-AQS + AGS), evidenced by the maximum percentage of Reactive Red 2 (RR2) decolorization (92.27%), which increased up by 80.55% and 14.48% compared to the controls (BC550-AQS, 17.95%) and (GAC-AQS + AGS, 78.61%). Besides, BC550-AQS exhibits good reusability and a higher RR2 decolorization rate (per AQS dosage) over 15 consecutive cycles. The mechanism of biodegradation pathway of RR2 initiated by BC550-AQS was studied using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and chemical computation. Density-functional theory calculations successfully predict that the RR2 biodegradation pathway mainly includes azo bond cleavage and electron attraction with a stronger electron affinity. This work not only proposes a deep insight into the biodegradation pathway of RR2 by employing BC550-AQS in an anaerobic biological system but also develops effective solid-phase RMs for efficient removal of contaminants from wastewaters by biological treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A synergy of the D-A effect and Au nanoclusters was carried out. • Degradation of benzotriazole in river water using MT-COF-Au was promising. • The degradation rate of benzotriazole at 10 mg/L was 93 % in 110 min. • Benzotriazole was gradually transformed into ketones, imidazole, acetamide, and N 2. • This photocatalyst was found to be stable and efficient for 5 repeated cycles. Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have attracted great attention in photocatalysis, but the high recombination rate of photo-induced electron − hole pairs limits their photocatalytic performance. We report a synergy strategy based on the donor − acceptor (D-A) effect and Au clusters to enable the effective transfer and separation of photogenerated electrons to rationally fabricate visible light driven photocatalyst (MT-COF-Au) for the degradation of benzotriazole (BTA). MT-COF-Au displayed superior photocatalytic activity. The degradation efficiency of BTA was 93 % within 110 min, which was significantly improved 6.7 times than COF. For BTA degradation, O 2 − played a prominent role based on reactive species trapping experiments. The products of the last stage of the reaction were ketone, imidazole, acetamide, and nitrogen, which were formed via ring opening and isomerization reactions. MT-COF-Au could be reused for at least 5 cycles without significantly deteriorating its catalytic activity. Experiments and theory calculations confirmed the electron transfer mode and photocatalytic mechanism. This work provides new prospects for the design and synthesis of high-efficiency photocatalyst photocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The degradation of HRAs was structural dependent. • Carbonate species promoted the generation of ·NO in UV/NH 2 Cl system. • The sensitive reactions for ·NO promotion was proposed. • Hydroxylation, nitrosation, Cl substitution and O transfer were the primary pathways. • NDMA formation potential is dependent on the types of amine groups in HRAs. Histamine H 2 -receptor antagonists (HRAs) are a group of widely used gastrointestinal drugs that have been frequently detected in natural environments. UV/chloramine (NH 2 Cl) is a widely used disinfection process in water treatment, while the performance of HRAs degradation by UV/NH 2 Cl is still unclear. In this work, the degradation kinetics, mechanism and disinfection byproducts formation of HRAs by UV/NH 2 Cl were studied. The degradation of HRAs, including ranitidine (RNTD), nizatidine (NZTD), roxatidine (RXTD), cimetidine (CMTD) and famotidine (FMTD) was fast in the UV/NH 2 Cl process, and ·OH, Cl· and ·NO contributed to their degradation. CMTD had the highest rate constants with ·OH, Cl· and ·NO. RXTD, NZTD and FMTD were more reactive with ·OH, while RNTD was more selective towards Cl·. The contribution of ·OH, Cl· and reactive nitrogen species to HRAs degradation in water matrices was further quantified by kinetic modeling. Interestingly, carbonate species were found to promote the yield of ·NO. Further investigation through sensitivity analysis of the modeling reactions concluded the sensitive reactions for ·NO promotion. The structure–activity assessment domenstrated that the reactivity of thioether sulfur, CMTD-C 3 and RXTD-N 48 and piperidine rings resulted in the difference of degradation rates. Hydroxylation, nitrosation, chlorine substitution and oxygen atom transfer were the primary pathways for HRAs degradation. The formation of NDMA might be a prevalent problem along HRAs' degradation in the UV/NH 2 Cl process, and the formation potential of NDMA is dependent on the types of amine groups in HRAs. This work provides an effective strategy to eliminate HRAs, revealed the NDMA formation potential in HRAs, and emphasized the role of carbonate species in ·NO generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Fulvic acid could cause the collapse of octahedral structure of iron minerals. • Van der Waals forces dominated fulvic acid and iron mineral interaction. • Fulvic acid could enhance the adsorption capacity of Fe minerals for Cu(II). • Hydrated Cu(II) was more inclined to coordination with –OH of fulvic acid. The dynamic interactions among iron (Fe) oxides and organic matter (OM) play vital roles in controlling the geochemical cycling of carbon (C) and toxic trace metals. Although the effects of OM on the Fe oxides transformation, and dynamic with toxic trace metals have been studied previously, it is still poor to understand the mechanistic and quantitative on the C sequestration during the Fe(III) mineralization process, and kinetics with hydrated Cu(II) in the acid drainage. In this study, Mössbauer spectroscopy, X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and density functional theory (DFT) were used to elucidate the underlying mechanism for the fine structure of iron minerals, fulvic acid (FA) sequestration and hydrated Cu(II) coordination on Fe oxides. FA dosages played an essential role in the formation of Fe oxides, which can inhibit the formation of Fe-O octahedrons and benefit to the Fe-O tetrahedron. FA molecules were mainly sequestrated on the surfaces of Fe oxides and van der Waals forces were the main interaction between FA and Fe oxides. The hydrated Cu(II) oxides mainly distributed on the surface of iron oxides as divalent oxidation states, and feasible coordinated with phenolic hydroxyl group of FA and Fe oxides. The knowledge of the dynamic coupling between Fe oxide transformation under the effect of FA and the fate of hydrated Cu(II) on Fe oxides provided the basis for predicting the geochemical process of Fe, C and toxic trace metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • An efficient tri-functional Ru-RuO 2 /Mn-MoO 2 electrocatalyst was prepared through a redox solid phase reaction strategy. • Synergistic effect between Ru, RuO 2 and Mn-MoO 2 makes it excellent HER, OER, and ORR performance. • Assembled Zn–air battery and water splitting devices also exhibit superior performance and strong durability. Preparation of highly efficient multi-functional electrocatalyst is extremely useful for application but quite challengeable. Herein, a new tri-functional Ru-RuO 2 /Mn-doped MoO 2 (RRMM) electrocatalyst was successfully prepared through a facile solid phase reaction strategy. RRMM catalyst exhibits the small overpotential of 15 and 260 mV for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) at a current density of 10 mA cm−2, respectively. A low cell voltage of 1.53 V is required to achieve a current density of 10 mA cm−2 for overall water splitting. Meanwhile, a half-wave potential of 0.83 V was needed for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and assembled Zn–air battery exhibits an excellent stability. Density functional theoretical calculations also revealed that Ru-RuO 2 active units facilitated reaction kinetics of HER and OER, while the synergistic effect of Ru and Mn-doped MoO 2 endowed RRMM catalyst with excellent ORR activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A general ionic-assisted microwave-ultrasonic combined synthetic strategy was developed to fabricate Bi 2 E 3 (E = S, Se, and Te) hierarchitectures. To understand the crystal phase transformation and morphological evolution of Bi 2 S 3 hierarchical nanostructures, the fabrication of Bi 2 S 3 hierarchitectures was investigated by varying sulfidation time and chlorination time. A topotactic transformation from BiOCl microsphere to Bi 2 S 3 hierarchitectures was proposed. It was found that the structure, size, and morphology of Bi 2 S 3 hierarchitectures could be delicately engineered by varying chlorination time, alkyl chain length, and concentration of ionic liquid. Moreover, the as-prepared Bi 2 S 3 hierarchitectures displayed superior capacity of Cr(VI) photoreduction to P25 and irregular Bi 2 S 3 nanostructures under visible light irradiation. Effects of morphology, pH value of reaction system, Cr(VI) concentration, and catalyst dosage on the Cr(VI) photoreduction capacity of Bi 2 S 3 hierarchitectures were also discussed. The enhancement of photoreduction capacity is not only attributed to the intrinsic good electron transfer ability of Bi 2 S 3 , but also to synergetic effects of special architectures, wide photoresponse range, high light photoadsorption, high BET surface area and good electron-hole separation performance. The systematic condition experiments and Cr(VI) photoreduction in electroplating and tannery wastewater experiments further demonstrated that the hierarchical Bi 2 S 3 nanospheres can be used in the actual Cr(VI)-containing wastewater treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Highly selective CO 2 photoreduction to methanol. • Design of precision loading of Pd on Cu species. • Efficient charge transfer pathway was constructed. • Unveiling pathway of CO 2 evolution to methanol by in-situ study. Photocatalytic reduction of CO 2 to yield methanol is a promising strategy for CO 2 conversion and utilization. This work combines the designs of both efficient charge transfer pathway and precision loading to construct a novel Pd-Cu/TiO 2 photocatalyst with high selectivity toward methanol. Accordingly, the optimal methanol (CH 3 OH) production rate and selectivity of 2 % Pd-Cu/TiO 2 at relatively mild conditions (0.5 MPa, 50 °C) by using ion exchange method can reach to 71.84 μmol g−1h−1 and 91.71 %, respectively. Precisely loading Pd on Cu species instead of TiO 2 facilitates the concentration of electrons on Cu species. Moreover, loading Pd via ion exchange method constructs more oxygen vacancies (OVs), thus improving the visible light absorption and charge separation of catalysts. Additionally, in situ FT-IR testing results unveils the evolution from CO 2 to CH 3 OH, including the critical intermediates of HCOO* and H 3 CO*. This work deeply studies the precision loading of Pd and provides a novel design of phothcatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A heterojunction was constructed by nanosize 2D g-C 3 N 4 decorating 3D LDH. • A comprehensive band structure analysis by ISI-XPS and UPS was processed. • The prolonged lifetime and accelerated separation of carries was achieved. • Double mechanism driven CO 2 photoconversion process was proposed. • An enhanced CRR performance was achieved. Herein, an ACNNSLDH composite was rationally designed and successfully synthesized by decorating of 3D hierarchical architecture LDH with ultrathin nanoscale g-C 3 N 4 , which demonstrated an excellent efficiency in photoreduction of CO 2 reaction under pure H 2 O media. The well-designed heterostructure was fully confirmed by XPS, UPS, in-situ XPS characterizations, which pronouncedly resulted in prolonged lifetime and accelerated separation/transport kinetics of photo-induced carries. Supported by in-situ DRIFTS, the photoreaction process was synergistically driven by two mechanisms, we called •CO 2 − pathway and COOH* mechanism. In darkness, multiple carbonate species with activated O-C-O bonds were bound upon surface of ACNNSLDH profited from LDH, whilst ACNNS mainly played the pivotal role in light reaction process on account of the great virtue in the conversion of solar energy. The synergistic enhancement effect stimulative ability to bind and activate CO 2 molecule as well as to balance light utilization simultaneously, eventually turning out to boost the reactivity toward CO 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • An antibacterial ROS-scavenging hydrogel is developed to treat skin infected wounds. • The hyper-branched poly-L-lysine (HBPL) is a kind of antimicrobial peptides. • The HBPL blocks quorum sensing and interferes with bacterial metabolism. • The HBPL reduces bacterial virulence and inhibits biofilm formation. • The hydrogel suppresses inflammation, promotes scarless healing of skin wounds. Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is the most common pathogen causing skin and soft tissue infections. The emergence and spread of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) pose a major challenge for the treatment of infected wounds because of its high resistance and enhanced virulence. The overexpression of reactive oxygen species (ROS) at the site of skin wounds also exacerbates inflammation, leading to slower healing and severe scarring. Therefore, comprehensive strategy against MRSA-infected wounds is needed in clinical practice. Interference with quorum sensing (QS), a process of bacterial cell-to-cell chemical communication, has been considered a promising strategy to reduce the virulence and pathogenicity of MRSA. Herein, we designed a ROS-scavenging hydrogel loaded with a type of bacterial QS inhibitor, hyper-branched poly-L-lysine (HBPL), which has efficient bactericidal ability against planktonic and biofilm-embedded MRSA. We found that this multifunction hydrogel showed excellent anti-oxidative effects against different types of ROS, and it could inhibit the QS system, metabolic activity, and bacterial virulence. In vivo, the ROS-scavenging HBPL hydrogel efficiently accelerated the healing of MRSA-infected full-thickness skin defect by blocking QS, killing bacteria, suppressing inflammation, and promoting angiogenesis. Together, our results offer a new insight for scarless healing of MRSA-infected cutaneous wounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Monolayer NiAl-LDH was prepared by a facile two-step process. • Carrier density and carrier separation abilities were improved. • The possible reaction mechanism on LDHs surface was proposed. • HCO 3 – and c-CO 3 2- were key intermediates to transform to •CO 2 – active species. • More active species were more competitive to adsorb onto NiAl-UT. CO 2 conversion into valuable products by utilizing solar energy is one of the most sustainable approaches to simultaneously address looming energy and environmental issues. Herein, through a facile two-step process, including in-situ inhibiting layer growth and the following 10-min exfoliation process, monolayer NiAl-LDH nanosheet was successfully prepared, which demonstrated electron yield of 18.32 μmol g-1h−1 and quantum efficiency of 0.09 % in absence of sacrificial agent. The atomic-level dispersed nanosheets enabled the significantly increased carrier density and accelerated carrier separation abilities. In-situ DRIFTS characterization affirmed that the thickness regulation strategy had not only promoted the CO 2 adsorption and activation capacity but also altered the adsorption and activation modes of CO 2 upon photocatalysts. The ultrathin sample exposed more active sites that were available for binding and activating reactant molecules. More HCO 3 – and c-CO 3 2- species, the key intermediates to transform into •CO 2 – active species, were more competitively adsorbed on the ultrathin nanosheets, thus more markedly enhanced photoactivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Magnetic multifunctional nanocomposites as catalysts were developed. • Synergy of adsorption, photodegradation and Fenton oxidation were carried out. • Degradation of PCBs in wastewater using Fe 3 O 4 @β-CD/g-C 3 N 4 was promising. • Degradation efficiency of six PCBs has been achieved to 77–98% in 55 min. • This catalyst is found to be stable and efficient for several repeated cycles. Herein, a multifunctional magnetic β-cyclodextrin/graphitic carbon nitride catalyst (Fe 3 O 4 @β-CD/g-C 3 N 4) was fabricated for PCBs degradation in wastewater. The catalysts were investigated using various characterization methods including X-ray diffractometry, field emission scanning electron microscopy, vibrating sample magnetometry and UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy et al. As-synthesized Fe 3 O 4 @β-CD/g-C 3 N 4 displayed the superior catalytic activity, and the degradation efficiency of six PCBs was 77%–98% at 55 min, with pseudo-first order reaction rate constants were in the range of 0.027–0.065 min−1. The super synergy of photodegradation and heterogeneous Fenton oxidation was 2.1–4.6 times more efficient than that photodegradation or heterogeneous Fenton oxidation alone. Fe 3 O 4 @β-CD/g-C 3 N 4 could be reused for at least 6 cycles without significant deterioration to its catalytic activity. Several reaction intermediates were identified using GC-MS/MS. The products of the last stage of the reaction were alkanes, aldehyde, ketone and ester, which were formed via ring opening, dechlorinating and isomerization reactions. For PCBs degradation, •OH played a major role, •O 2 − played a secondary role, 1O 2 , h± and e− played minor roles based on reactive species trapping experiments. The catalytic performance of the Fe 3 O 4 @β-CD/g-C 3 N 4 − H 2 O 2 − visible light system towards degradation of PCBs in river water and municipal wastewater was 89–100% and 69–92%, respectively, which means the Fe 3 O 4 @β-CD/g-C 3 N 4 has great potential for environmental remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • MAl-LDHs (M = Mg, Ni, Cu, Zn) were prepared for solar-driven CO 2 conversion. • The effects of d orbitals structure of M2+ on activity and stability were inspected. • The possible reaction mechanism on LDHs surface was proposed. • The relevance between d-band center and photocatalytic activity was established. • Hard and soft acid base theory was used to explain the stability distinction. By varying divalent-metal cations (M = Mg2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, Zn2+) with different d-bands classification, MAl-LDHs were prepared and inspected for solar-driven CO 2 conversion. The CO and CH 4 yields over these LDHs followed an order of: NiAl-LDHs > CuAl-LDHs > ZnAl-LDHs > MgAl-LDHs. Coupled with multiple characterizations, the activity distinction was revealed from three crucial perspectives: (i) light harvesting, (ii) charge separation and transfer, (iii) surface reactions. The results affirmed that when d orbital was partially occupied with active electrons, both activation of CO 2 and excitation of electrons were much easier to achieve. In-situ DRIFTS manifested that NiAl-LDHs and CuAl-LDHs exhibited more active reaction with CO 2 , which may be related to the upward shifts of the d-band center determined by Valence-band XPS. Particularly, these LDHs exhibited various catalytic stabilities, which was explained by Pearson׳s hard and soft acid–base (HSAB) principle for the first time in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A novel iron phosphate (Fe y P z -10) was synthesized by a two-step approach. • The synthesized method of Fe y P z -10 was simple and repeatable. • Fe y P z -10 exhibited the superior U(VI) adsorption capacity than Fe 3 O 4 and FePO 4 ٠2H 2 O. • The adsorption mechanism of Fe y P z -10 for U(VI) uptake was proposed. By combining phosphoric acid precursor synthesis and co-precipitation method, we developed a facile approach for synthesizing iron phosphate (Fe y P z) with repeatable technique and low economic cost. The procedure begins with synthesis of P-doped carbon dot (pCD), followed by introducing the pCD in the preparation condition of Fe 3 O 4. Interesting, the uranium(U(VI)) adsorption capacity of Fe y P z is significantly influenced by the synthesis conditions of Fe y P z and the optimized performance can be achieved by tuning the functional groups and structure of Fe y P z. Compared to the FePO 4 ٠2H 2 O and Fe 3 O 4 , the Fe y P z -10 showed 3561% and 684.5% enhanced performance in U(VI) uptake, respectively. The maximum adsorption capacity of Fe y P z -10 based on Langmuir model could reach up to 1.22 mmol g−1 at pH 4.5, which was comparable with the saturated adsorption capacity based on Thomas model with its value of 0.87 mmol g−1, that was higher than some of adsorbents reported previously. In addition, the adsorbent had a superior reusability and still kept up high adsorption capacity for U(VI) after 5th cycle. Moreover, an adsorption-reduction mechanism was proposed and XPS analysis confirmed the outstanding adsorption capacity for U(VI) on the adsorbent was mainly ascribed to the transformation of Fe2+ to Fe3+ on Fe y P z -10 that results in U(VI) reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Syntrophic interactions enhance H 2 -ethanol co-production by MECs and fermentation. • The defined co-cultures enhanced substrate conversion efficiency for H 2 production. • Co-cultures interactions include cross-feeding and interspecies electron transfer. • Geobacter regulates metabolic intermediates of Ethanoligenens in co-cultures. • Co-cultures forms dense constructions with intercellular pili-like nanowires. Microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) provide effective approaches for hydrogen production from wastewater and renewable biomass. Improving the efficiency of energy recovery from wastes remains a challenge. Here we report the cross-feeding interactions between the hydrogen-producing Ethanoligenens harbinense and electroactive Geobacter sulfurreducens in MECs and anaerobic fermentation using glucose as electron donor. Results showed that G. sulfurreducens could oxidize acetate produced by E. harbinense and transfer electrons extracellularly to the electrode of MECs, which also enhanced hydrogen production by E. harbinense via mitigation of metabolic feedback inhibition and enhancement of interspecies electron transfer. The defined co-cultures showed 2.5–2.9 times higher hydrogen production rates compared to the mono-cultures, while the MECs further enhanced the substrate conversion efficiency and converted electrical energy into hydrogen energy. The molar ratio of ethanol to acetic acid in co-cultured MECs doubled compared to mono-cultures, indicating that G. sulfurreducens steered the fermentation products of E. harbinense towards ethanol. The co-cultures formed dense aggregates or biofilms, in which close physical interactions by intercellular pili-like nanowire structures were observed between E. harbinense and G. sulfurreducens in the co-culture biofilms of both anode and cathode. These findings provide new insight into syntrophic interactions, beyond that previously reported on fermentative hydrogen-producing bacteria with electroactive bacteria or methanogens, and offer an effective strategy to enhance H 2 production and steer metabolic products of fermentative bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • NiTiO 3 /g-C 3 N 4 Z-scheme heterojunction was successfully prepared by a facile calcination method. • The formed Z-scheme heterojunction improved the charge transfer and separation efficiency. • The Z-scheme photocatalysts exhibited excellent photoactivity for CO 2 reduction. • The Z-scheme mechanism of as-prepared photocatalyst was revealed in detail. • NiTiO 3 /g-C 3 N 4 exhibited excellent stability and recyclability. Photocatalytic CO 2 reduction to fuels is recognized as a favorable solution to solve the energy crisis and greenhouse effect simultaneously. Herein, to improve the photoreduction efficiency of CO 2 , a direct Z-scheme NiTiO 3 /g-C 3 N 4 (NT/GCN) photocatalyst is constructed by a facile calcination method. The highest yield of CH 3 OH (13.74 μmol∙g−1∙h−1) can be obtained at the optimized NT/GCN40 without any sacrificial agent and cocatalyst, almost 3.29 times higher compared with g-C 3 N 4. Simultaneously, mechanism study by the band potential estimation and electron spin resonance (ESR) analysis provide evidences that the enhanced photoactivity is ascribed to the Z-scheme. This unique structure can enhance the spatial separation of hole-electron pairs, suppress the recombination of charge carriers and remain the strong redox ability. Moreover, this direct Z-scheme NT/GCN40 composite shows good reusability. This work may present a novel way for the design and manufacture of Z-scheme photocatalysts for energy conversion and environmental remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Superior W rec of 4.03 J/cm3 accompany with record η of 96.2% are realized in BT-based ceramic. • The 0.65BT-0.35(SBT-BMZ) ceramic shows outstanding stability of temperature, frequency and cycle. • The 0.65BT-0.35(SBT-BMZ) ceramic exhibits ultrafast discharge rate of 62 ns. High-temperature lead-free dielectric ceramic capacitors are urgently needed in modern advanced power electronics systems. However, it is still a great challenge to realize both ultrahigh energy density (W rec) and efficiency (η) under the harsh environment. In this work, the innovative 0.9(Sr 0.7 Bi 0.2)TiO 3 -0.1Bi(Mg 0.5 Zr 0.5)O 3 (SBT-BMZ)-modified BaTiO 3 (BT) relaxor ferroelectric ceramics are ingeniously designed and synthesized via a solid-state reaction route. Optimal energy storage performances are attained in 0.65BT-0.35(SBT-BMZ) ceramic with an excellent W rec of 4.03 J/cm3, couple with an ultrahigh η of 96.2% at 370 kV/cm, which are superior to other lead-free BT-based ceramics. The energy storage performances of the 0.65BT-0.35(SBT-BMZ) ceramic also display superior thermal stability (20 ~ 180 °C) with a subtle change of W rec (±8%) and η (±1%), frequency stability (1 ~ 500 Hz) and cycle stability (1 ~ 106 cycles) at 200 kV/cm. Moreover, the charge and discharge experiments indicate that the outstanding power density (P D ~ 62.6 MW/cm3) and ultrafast discharge time (t 0.9 ~ 62 ns) are also achieved. All these features demonstrate that the 0.65BT-0.35(SBT-BMZ) ceramic is expected to be widely used in next-generation of wide-temperature dielectric capacitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Novel charged membranes were firstly proposed based on spontaneous polarization of ferroelectric BaTiO 3. • Ferroelectric membrane was featured with high surface charge and well antifouling performance. • Ferroelectric membrane showed excellent permeability and As(V) rejection. Membrane filtration is widely applied, but often subject to a trade-off between permeability and selectivity, an inherent challenge in membrane processes. Charged membranes are a promising alternative to address this challenge. Here, ferroelectric BaTiO 3 nanoparticles, with a spontaneous electric polarization, were assembled into the traditional polyamide nanofiltration membranes by interfacial polymerization then charged by corona poling. Importantly, charges of ferroelectric BaTiO 3 nanoparticles sealed in polymers were hardly affected by ambient aqueous environment. The polarized ferroelectric membrane (TFN-mBTO-E) showed higher permeability (2.4 and 1.5 times) and favorable rejection ratio about 97% for arsenic removal, a strictly controlled contaminant, compared with common membranes and unpolarized TFN-mBTO membranes, due to strong hydrophilicity and increased surface potential derived from ferroelectric charges. Thereby, it could provide new insight into charged membrane, laying a foundation for the application of ferroelectric materials in membrane filtration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A viologen-based cationic polymer containing tetraaza macrocycles (VBCOP) was prepared. • VBCOP presented excellent adsorption capacity for Re(VII) through ion-exchange. • XPS and EXAFS spectra indicated that VBCOP0 could bind to the low-valent Re. 99Tc is a β-emitting radionuclide with high fission yield, long half-time and it is urgent to remove Tc from liquid radioactive waste due to its potential toxicity for human. Herein, we presented a viologen-based cationic organic polymer (VBCOP) as a novel adsorbent with cationic sites and functional groups for efficient capture of Re/Tc(VII, IV) from aqueous medium. The results showed that this material could rapidly remove TcO 4 −/ReO 4 − from aqueous solution within 5 min and the maximum sorption capacity for Re(VII) could reach up to 444 mg g−1, and the distribution coefficient (K d) towards Re(VII) and Tc(VII) reached 4.0 × 105 and 7.2 × 105 mL g−1, respectively. And more, the adsorption mechanism was also studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) mapping and Ion chromatography (IC), the results suggested an ion-exchange process in which the Cl− in this material was replaced by ReO 4 −. Additionally, we investigated its adsorption mechanism towards low-valent Re which was prepared by reducing ReO 4 − with NaBH 4 , and the flexible tetraaza macrocycle introduced in the material chelated with Re(IV) was confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) analysis. In general, the research exhibits a new sorbent material that can remove both TcO 4 −/ReO 4 − and the low-valent Tc/Re, and provide a new strategy to treat radioactive waste containing Tc with different valences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]