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[Display omitted] • The physical and chemical properties of PS and PC were studied systematically. • The reactivity of PC combustion reaction was significantly affected by PS. • PC:PS = 4:1 has the lowest combustion activation energy. • The Kissinger Akahira Sunose model shows a good fitting effect. The co-combustion reactivity and kinetics of petroleum coke (PC) and paper sludge-derived hydrochar (PS) were investigated via thermogravimetric analysis. The physical and chemical structure features were also systematically tested. The results show that the combustion process of PS could be divided into three stages, while for PC only one stage could be clarified. Due to high volatile content, developed pore structure and low carbon-order degree, the combustion reactivity of PS was higher than that of PC. Although the ignition property of the blends could be significantly improved by addition of PS, it changed little for the burnout temperature and as a result the combustion intensity was deteriorated. For the samples with addition of PS from 20 % to 80 %, the comprehensive combustion index decreased from 3.69 × 10-15 to 2.12 × 10-15. The Kissinger AkahiraSunose model-free method was used in the co-combustion reaction of PC and PS, and good fitting results were obtained. For different samples with varying addition of PS, the activation energies were in the range of 107.51–198.44 kJ/mol, with the lowest value obtained at 20 % of PS, which was also the optimum proportion for co-combustion of PC and PS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ageing of paper is a complex process of great relevance for application purposes because of its widespread use as support for information storage in books and documents, and as common low-cost and green packaging material, to name a few. A key factor in paper ageing is the oxidation of cellulose, a macromolecule of natural origin that constitutes the main chemical component of paper. Such a complex process results in changes in the cellulose polymeric chains in chemical and structural properties. The scope of this work is to explore the effects of oxidation of cellulose as one of the principal mechanisms of ageing of paper using a fluorescence-based approach. To this aim, fluorescence-lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) measurements on pure cellulose samples stained using Carbotrace 680 dye were performed, and data were analyzed by phasor approach. The comparison with results from conventional techniques allowed to map paper microstructure as a function of the sample oxidation degree correlating the fluorescence-lifetime changes to cellulose oxidation. A two-step oxidation kinetics that produced specific modification in paper organization was highlighted indicating that FLIM measurements using Carbotrace 680 dye may provide a simple tool to obtain information on the oxidation process also adding spatial information at sub-micrometric scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Nanocellulose production from Recycled Paper Sludge (RPS). • Ozonation was applied to RPS as a pretreatment, followed by maleic acid hydrolysis. • Ozonation affected the RPS fibers, as analyzed by various methods. • NC production improved with higher ozone doses, up to 0.8% (w/w) maxima. • Maleic acid was recyclable, thus contributing to the "green-industry" concept. Nanocellulose (NC) have garnered much interest worldwide due to its physical and chemical properties. Nanocellulose is produced from biomass materials by bleaching pretreatment, followed by acid hydrolysis. This work demonstrated the production of NC from recycled paper sludge (RPS), a crystalline cellulose rich waste, by ozonation pretreatment, followed by maleic acid hydrolysis. Ozonation resulted in removal of lignin (as evident by TGA analysis), negative zeta potential of RPS and enhanced NC production, from 60 mg/L to over 80 mg/L after 60–120 min of ozone treatment. Maleic acid was successfully recovered, although longer ozonation times reduced the amount of acid available for recovery. These results demonstrate that ozonation can be used as an effective pretreatment for NC production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Oil palm waste cellulose has a better drainability for paper-based applications. • Cellulose fibre length and diameter are 1.2–1.5 mm and 17–20 µm, respectively. • The fibres aging process of cellulose from oil palm waste is extremely slow. • Water retention value influences paper-based products qualities and properties. • Conversion of paracrystalline region to amorphous increase viscoelastic properties. Cellulose is the major component of pulp. The quality, physical and chemical properties of paper and paper-based products depends on the amount and structural network bonding of cellulose fibres. This study assessed cellulose from oil palm waste for paper-based applications. Characterization revealed that cellulose from oil palm waste is crystalline, thermally stable, and possessed excellent swelling properties with fibre length and fibre diameter 1.2–1.5 mm and 17–20 µm, respectively. The fiber morphology, fibre lengths and diameters, and resistance to early degradation of cellulose from oil palm waste revealed its suitability for paper-based products applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The preparation and application of heteroatom doped carbons have attracted lots of attention in the past years. In the current work, a facile synthesis of nitrogen doped carbon with filter paper as the carbon source and urea as the nitrogen source was presented. Filter paper was first impregnated with urea solution, and was then carbonized and activated. The carbons' physical and chemical properties were studied. For the application in CO 2 adsorption, impacts from porous characteristics and nitrogen doping were discussed and differentiated. The results suggested that nitrogen doping was beneficial to the improvement of CO 2 uptake, but suitable porous properties were the most important factors. Nitrogen doping showed more significant effects on enhancing the adsorption heat and selectivity. The research of carbonaceous CO 2 adsorbent should focus on nitrogen doped carbons with high porosity. • Urea loaded filter paper is used as starting material for nitrogen doped carbon. • Effects of nitrogen doping and porous structure on CO 2 adsorption are studied. • CO 2 uptake at 273 K and 1 bar reaches 5.12 mmol/g. • Nitrogen doping has obvious effects on CO 2 adsorption heat and selectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lignocellulose based processes consist of technology platforms for production of materials and products for developing a bio-based, sustainable economy. Production of sugar streams and ethanol from cellulose is a mature technology, and its deployment results in increased lignin availability. Although lignin is used for low-value applications, its high-value utilization needs to be explored and developed. The aromatic intermediates from lignin can be transformed into high-value products. The unique structural/chemical properties of lignin offer possibilities for valorization, which can be achieved through thermochemical or biological transformation platforms, each route having its pros and cons. Lignin degrading oragnisms hold promise for biovalorization. In this work, different categories of organisms (fungi and bacteria) capable of degrading lignin, possessing unique repertoires of enzymes have been discussed. Under natural niches consortium of organisms decay lignin as a single organism does not possess all the activities. The constraints in biological processing can be addressed by using a combination of processes for lignin depolymerization to aromatic intermediates, followed by their conversion to target products. The recent devised metabolic engineering strategies to tackle these challenges are reviewed. Ultimately, the success of biorefineries will be dictated by the technical feasibility of bioconversions, robustness of engineered organisms, and their ability to produce the desired products in high titers with relatively high purity, scalability, and overall economics. [Display omitted] • Lignin, a byproduct from biorefineries, still underutilized. • High value application entailed depolymerization. • Chemical/catalytic/biological platforms for depolymerization entail challenges. • Biological valorization through ligninolytic organisms and enzymes has potential. • Metabolic engineering to get robust organisms and pure products in high titer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Utilizing solar energy to power semiconductors for water splitting and hydrogen production is an effective method for clean energy generation. This study presents a new S-scheme heterojunction catalyst, constructed via electrostatic self-assembly of CuBr and Co 3 O 4 quantum dots. The band gap-matching positions and energy band structures of CuBr and Co 3 O 4 quantum dots are well-suited for this purpose. The hydrogen precipitation performance of the resulting CQCB2 catalyst is approximately four times higher than that of a single catalyst. Additionally, CQCB2 exhibits good stability, with an 80% hydrogen precipitation efficiency after four consecutive cycles. The study demonstrates that CQCB2 exhibits a high absorbance intensity, efficient charge separation, low electron transport resistance, and low photogenerated carrier recombination rate. This is further validated by XPS and UPS experiments, which support the S-scheme heterojunction charge transfer mechanism. Overall, this paper provides a unique insight into the study of S-scheme heterojunction catalysts. • A heterojunction in an S-scheme configuration was established by amalgamating CuBr and Co 3 O 4 quantum dots. • The recombination of photoinduced electron-hole pairs was suppressed. • Significantly enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity was achieved. • The hydrogen precipitation performance of CQCB2 surpasses that of a single catalyst by approximately fourfold. • The chemical properties remain stable even after 8 h of uninterrupted reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crude oil droplets in oilfield-produced water are highly emulsified, and the poor attachment between gas bubbles and oil droplets limits the effectiveness of oil-water separation during flotation processes. This paper proposes a new surface-functionalized bubble called a condensate bubble and evaluates its flotation performance based on surface properties and adhesion theory mechanism to address this issue. The surface chemical properties of the oil droplets were characterized using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), contact angle measurement, and zeta potential. Induction time and flotation tests were conducted to compare the attachment effects between air or condensate bubbles and emulsified oil droplets. The interaction forces were calculated using DLVO and extended DLVO theory. The experimental results showed that crude oil contains functional compounds containing oxygen that make it tough to float. However, the contact angle between the oil surface and condensate bubble was greater than 150°, demonstrating that the condensate liquid bubbles have better hydrophobicity than air bubbles. The micro-flotation experiments indicated that condensate bubbles have a strong collection capacity for emulsified oil droplets, which was confirmed by induction time tests. In 70 mM NaCl brine, the oil removal efficiency of condensate bubble flotation could reach 82%, which was a 30% improvement compared to air bubble flotation. However, DLVO theory failed to predict the flotation with a concentration higher than 10 mM NaCl. The extended DLVO theory accounted for hydrophobic interactions, which were observed due to similar solvent extraction and hydrophobicity of the condensate liquid film. As a result, the condensate bubble-oil droplet system exhibited stronger hydrophobic attraction, successfully confirming and illustrating the superiority of the condensate bubble in flotation. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) is a kind of functional ceramic material with excellent physical and chemical properties. This paper analyzes it from the aspects of mechanical, thermal, electrical and wetting properties. However, the high melting point of hexagonal boron nitride makes it difficult to prepare coating materials by traditional sintering process. This paper summarizes several processes for preparing h-BN composite coatings. Then, several application forms of h-BN composite coatings are reviewed according to the characteristics of h-BN composite coatings, and the future application prospects of h-BN coatings are forecasted in view of the existing problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a first effort at converting propylene glycol to hydroxyacetone using a continuous reactor was made. The method for creating copper-infused sulfated zirconium oxide heterogeneous bimetallic nanoparticles supported on reduced graphene oxide as the catalyst is described in the paper. The synthesized rGO/ZrO 2 (10%)/SO 4 2−(4%)/Cu (5–20%) nano-catalyst, possessing various active Brønsted and Lewis acid sites were employed for the selective oxidation of the propylene glycol reaction. Utilizing affordable, easily accessible ingredients and a simple, straightforward synthesis process, the catalyst was created. XRD, FT-IR, BET, HR-SEM, HR-TEM, TGA, and temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) characterization techniques were employed to determine the stability, morphology, textural characteristics, and chemical properties of catalysts. The experiment involved the selective oxidation of propylene glycol (PG) in a continuous reactor at 90 °C, a WHSV of 1.0 h−1, a pressure of 10 bar, and an O 2 flow rate of 1.0 mol h−1. Tert -butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) was used as the solvent. Hydroxyacetone (HA) was the primary oxidation product, whereas methylglyoxal (MGO) was obtained as the secondary product. The study's findings show that rGO-supported sulfated zirconium oxide with 15% copper displayed outstanding catalytic activity and stability, outperforming the other studied catalysts in conversion (97.6%) and selectivity (99.4%). Further, excellent reusability with a negligible drop in HA selectivity was achieved even after seven consecutive runs in the presence of the rGO/ZrO 2 /SO 4 /Cu(15%). A successful copper impregnation into sulfated zirconia supported by rGO produced a long-lasting, stable hybrid nanostructure that had good stability and no metal leaching feature. The advantages and features of the current synthesis protocol are its efficiency, cost-effectiveness, eco-friendliness, and ease of preparation with readily available materials. High effective reduced Graphene oxide supported on ZrO 2 /SO 4 /Cu nano-catalyst for selective oxidation of Propylene glycol (PG). [Display omitted] • The first attempt to transform propylene glycol into hydroxyacetone using a continuous reactor. • A brand-new catalyst was developed using rGO-ZrO 2 /SO 4 /Cu (5–20%). • Achieved the highest selectivity and conversion, with values of 99.4% and 97.6%, respectively. • Even after 7 consecutive reactions, the technique still produced a similar yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The CO-SCR technology based on transition metal is of great significance for NO x removal in large-scale industrial production. However, excess oxygen usually hinders the deNO x reaction in the actual industrial process. In this paper, a series of Mn-based catalysts modified by transition metals (Fe, Ni, Cu) were prepared using the co-precipitation method, which aimed to obtain good CO-SCR performance under O 2 -rich condition. The results showed that the Cu-Mn 2 sample exhibited excellent deNO x performance. Regardless of the presence or absence of oxygen, the NO conversion of Cu-Mn 2 catalyst was remain about 60% and 95% at 350 and 400 ℃, respectively. Differently, the NO conversion of Fe-Mn 2 catalyst significantly increased from approximately 10% to 61% at 400 ℃ after introducing oxygen, which proved that excess oxygen could promote the CO-SCR process over Fe-Mn 2 sample. The varied physical and chemical properties of the prepared materials were thoroughly evaluated through BET, SEM, XRD, XPS and in situ DRIFTS technologies. The results demonstrated that perovskite α-Mn 2 O 3 , decahedral Mn 5 O 8 , Fe 2 O 3 and Fe 3 O 4 crystals were the dominant structures promoting deNO x reaction on the Fe-Mn 2 catalyst. The oxidation of low valence nitrogen oxides by decahedral Mn 5 O 8 on Fe-Mn 2 catalyst was an important factor for oxygen resistance. And the various spinel structures over Ni-Mn 2 , and Cu-Mn 2 indicated strong synergistic effects. For the Cu-Mn 2 catalyst, the strong synergistic effect of Cu-□-Mn species could promote the dissociation of intermediate -NONO. O 2 tended to occupy the surface synergetic oxygen vacancies in Cu-□-Mn species at high temperatures, which could inhibit the dissociation of -NONO and enhance the CO oxidation reaction. The possible reaction mechanisms for CO-SCR over Mn-based catalysts were discussed specifically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The concept of the SC in buildings coupling PCRs for atmosphere CH 4 removal was quantitively verified. • The effects of CH 4 degradation and indoor ventilation by the system were analyzed. • The photocatalytic efficiency, purification rate, and fresh air rate were analyzed. • The new system could degrade 57.27 μg/s of atmospheric CH 4 under optimal conditions. The techniques for the removal of methane from the atmosphere are highly challenging due to its stable chemical properties, dispersed sources, and low concentrations. This paper proposes a practical small-scale solar chimney (SC) in buildings with photocatalytic reactors (PCRs) for atmospheric methane removal. Two comprehensive numerical models on photocatalytic reaction and indoor ventilation are developed. The numerical simulation considers the performance of methane removal and indoor air ventilation of the proposed system, as well as its specific crucial parameters such as the type of PCRs, solar radiation, and flow channel width. The obtained results show that the SC with honeycomb photocatalytic reactor (HPCR) is more able to remove atmospheric methane than SC with plate photocatalytic reactor (PPCR) under the premise of meeting the ventilation standards. In addition, there is a maximum methane purification rate of 57.27 μg/s under the condition that the air gap width is 0.3 m, the length of the HPCR is 1.5 m, and the porosity is 0.85. It is then proved that the SC in buildings with PCRs can allow small-scale, zero-energy consumption, continuable, and decentralized low-concentration atmospheric methane removal while improving the indoor ventilation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transmembrane ion transportation in the nanofluidic salinity gradient energy conversion process is significantly regulated by the ion characteristics and concentration-depended physical and chemical properties of the electrolyte solution. In this paper, considering the Born and dielectrophoretic forces and nonhomogeneous electrolyte solution, impacts of various electrolytes on the nanofluidic energy conversion performance are systematically investigated under various solution pHs. When the solution pH is less than the isoelectric point (IEP), with BeCl 2 solution employed, where the anion diffusion and concentration coefficient are much larger than those of the anion, significant transmembrane anion diffusion exists, leading to the highest osmotic current and maximum power output, even when the solution pH > IEP where the nanochannel is negatively charged, the ion selectivity is still not altered. At pH < IEP, 2:1 electrolytes, where the cation has small ion diffusion coefficient and the anion has larger diffusion coefficient and hydrated radius could result in upgraded energy conversion performance; At pH > IEP, 1:1 electrolytes where the cation has large ion diffusion coefficient and the anion has small diffusion coefficient and large hydrated radius are more appealing. In addition, the relationships between ion characteristics, power extracted, and energy conversion efficiency are further obtained via machine learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dust control is of great significance to industrial process safety and environmental protection. Wet dust reduction is the most commonly used dust control technology, and the physical and chemical properties of water are closely related to its dust reduction ability. In order to improve dust reduction efficiency, scholars have done much fruitful work in the physical and chemical modification of water. It is essential to summarize the progress of this research direction and shows what is lacking at present in recent years. This paper reviews the research progress on improving the performance of water for dust reduction by physical and chemical methods in the past ten years. The physical methods are mainly adopted to improve dust reduction performance in spray technologies, which include air atomization, ultrasonic atomization, magnetized water and water mist charging. And the chemical methods are mainly used to prepare dust suppression materials, which can be distinguished by single-phase dust suppressants and gas-liquid two-phase dust suppression foam. In this paper, we analyze the advantages as well as disadvantages of various methods and point out the unresolved issues. Furthermore, the development directions are proposed to provide meaningful guidance for wet dust reduction technologies. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microscopic particles of transparent colourless silicate glass have been found in numerous oil paintings dating from the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. The widespread occurrence of such powdered glass has been demonstrated in combination with various pigments and within different pictorial layers in works by artists belonging to the Italian, German, Netherlandish, French, Spanish and Portuguese schools. The aims of this paper are to evaluate the multiple current hypotheses for its use, which include modification of transparency, siccative effects and rheology, and through reconstruction experiments, to gain a better understanding of the modifications of the physical and chemical properties of the paint induced by the addition of glass powder. Experimental works have been carried out using lead white based oil paint mixtures, since this pigment is one of those most frequently mixed with crushed glass in Italian paintings. Optical (reflectance and transmittance), rheological and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy measurements were carried out on pure lead white paint as well as on paint mixtures containing varying amounts of crushed glass. These experiments indicated that the addition of crushed glass increases the transparency and siccative effect of paint films, without significantly altering rheological properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The engineering properties of marine clays are closely related to its depositional environment. However, the correlation between the chemical properties and depositional environment and their effect on engineering properties of upper Shanghai marine clay are still pending. The sedimentary processes of upper Shanghai marine clays from the Quaternary transgression, the correlation between the chemical properties and its depositional history are investigated in this study based on a series of laboratory experiments. The distribution of chemical indicators (e.g., pH value, oxidation-reduction potential and salt content) with depth showed that the depositional environment directly affected the chemical properties of the soil layer. The correlation of salt content with sensitivity, liquid limit and liquidity index in upper Shanghai layers represents a unique two-stage distribution, with the boundary at the bottom of the Layer-4 clay. The two-stage distribution is caused by the Quaternary transgression and regression, which is confirmed to have different effects on the salt content, sensitivity, liquid limit and liquidity index. The quantitative approaches used to evaluate the correlation between depositional environment, chemical and mechanical properties can provide valuable references for investigating the engineering properties of soft clays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, polydopamine (PDA) has attracted extensive attention of researchers due to its unique chemical structure and functional groups. However, a comprehensive review of PDA-based materials in electrocatalysis and photocatalysis is still lacking. The aim of this review is to summarize recent progress and development of PDA-assisted electrocatalytic and photocatalytic reactions. Owing to its unique advantages in surface modification, it has been a good platform for the construction of electrocatalytic and photocatalytic materials. With the development of biological sources, PDA has been increasingly applied in the field of materials science. However, it is still lacking of a comprehensive review which focuses on PDA surface modification strategies and its derivative function for electrocatalysis and photocatalysis applications. Here in this article the preparation and polymerization mechanism of PDA and its derivatives has been firstly reviewed. Then their physical and chemical properties have been introduced, including chemical reactivity, optical property, conductivity, and cohesiveness. Thirdly, the electrocatalytic and photocatalytic activities of PDA and its derivatives have been demonstrated. Finally, the advances of their electrocatalytic and photocatalytic applications have been summarized including hydrogen production, pollutant degradation, and CO 2 reduction. We believe this synthetic study can provide critical information for mussel-inspired chemistry, which will be of great interest for researchers from chemistry, materials, biology, medicine, and interdisciplinary. This paper can provide readers with a general framework of PDA and its derivatives in the field of photocatalysis and electrocatalysis including hydrogen production, pollutant degradation, and CO 2 reduction. [Display omitted] • Bioinspired polydopamine for electrocatalysis and photocatalysis are overviewed. • The mechanism of polydopamine derivatives assisted electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction is classified and discussed. • The design and fabrication of polydopamine and photoresponsive semiconductor for photocatalytic reaction. • This review bodes well for the development of electrocatalysis and photocatalysis field founded on multifunctional polydopamine. • The advances of electrocatalytic and photocatalytic applications of polydopamine have been summarized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The photo and electro catalytic activity of graphic carbon nitride (g-C 3 N 4) depended strongly on the component, band gap, and thickness. In this paper, superior thin g-C 3 N 4 composition homojunctions were created via a seed growth process by controlling precursor components. The result exhibited the change of microstructure, band gap, and photo and electro chemical properties of samples. Photocatalytic H 2 generation and the photodegradation of rhodamine B (Rh B) were carried out to test photocatalytic activities. g-C 3 N 4 seeds were fabricated using melamine and dicyandiamide named as MCN and DCN, respectively. The homojunctions were fabricated by the thermal polymerization of dicyandiamide using MCN as seeds. Because of a type II structure and high stability, sample 600MCN@720DCN10% revealed the best H 2 generation which was ∼20 times of that of g-C 3 N 4 nanosheets. The photocatalytic degradation of Rh B was completed within 15 min using this homojunction sample. In contrast, the homojunctions fabricated by the thermal polymerization of melamine using DCN as seeds revealed enhanced electrochemical performance. Sample 600DCN@720MCN exhibited the lowest overpotential and the best H 2 evolution reaction performance. The result suggested the formation of homojunction improves photo and electrocatalytic activities. • Superior thin g-C 3 N 4 composition homojunctions were created via a seed growth by controlling precursor components. • Photocatalytic H 2 generation and the photodegradation of rhodamine B were tested for photocatalytic activities. • Sample 600MCN@720DCN10% revealed the best H 2 generation which was ∼20 times of that of g-C 3 N 4 nanosheets. • The homojunctions also revealed enhanced electrochemical HER activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atmospheric nanoparticles are crucial components contributing to fine particulate matter (PM 2.5), and therefore have significant effects on visibility, climate, and human health. Due to the unique role of atmospheric nanoparticles during the evolution process from gas-phase molecules to larger particles, a number of sophisticated experimental techniques have been developed and employed for online monitoring and characterization of the physical and chemical properties of atmospheric nanoparticles, helping us to better understand the formation and growth of new particles. In this paper, we firstly review these state-of-the-art techniques for investigating the formation and growth of atmospheric nanoparticles (e.g., the gas-phase precursor species, molecular clusters, physicochemical properties, and chemical composition). Secondly, we present findings from recent field studies on the formation and growth of atmospheric nanoparticles, utilizing several advanced techniques. Furthermore, perspectives are proposed for technique development and improvements in measuring atmospheric nanoparticles. [Display omitted]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] With growing interest, in the industry of carbon nanomaterials, carbon nanodots (CNDs) have massively been explored. It is a potential approach for immense areas of biomedical usage including therapy, imaging, and drug delivery, where CNDs may act as contrast agents, to assess biodistribution and biocompatibility before clinical setting. CNDs offer several advantages over other carbon nanomaterials including better biocompatibility, less toxicity, environment-friendly and many others, also photophysical and chemical properties of CNDs could be altered including their size and shape making them more desirable, furnishing with enhanced biocompatibility and targeting potency for the improvisation of selectivity and sensitivity which may lead to expansion of applications. Besides, carbon nanomaterials could be designed to approach therapeutics innovations and to help or target drugs effectively. This paper addresses carbon nanodots along with its types, properties, different methods of preparation, and treatment of diseases. This review has also highlighted the cutting-edge progress of CNDs in drug delivery as well as its emerging applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the research and development of nanomaterials, one-dimensional (1D) nanowire structures have received a lot of attention due to their unique physical and chemical properties. Among them, silicon carbide nanowires (SiC NWs) have low density, excellent oxidation resistance, dielectric properties, and electromagnetic (EM) wave absorption properties, which can well meet the development needs of civilian equipment and military weaponry. SiC NWs have outstanding research and application potential in the field of EM wave absorption. However, comprehensive summaries of SiC NWs have not been available so far. Based on this, this paper reviews the research progress of SiC NWs microwave absorbing materials, various micro-morphologies of SiC NWs are introduced in detail, as well as diverse preparation strategies and multiple growth mechanisms are also stated. Ultimately, recent advances in research progress of SiC NWs and their composites in EM wave absorption are elaborated, along with the future research directions of SiC NWs in the field of EM wave absorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable materials are attracting a lot of attention since they will be critical in the creation of the next generation of products and devices. In this study, hydrogels were effectively synthesized utilizing lignin, a non-valorised biopolymer from the paper industry. This study proposes a method based on utilizing lignin to create highly swollen hydrogels using poly(ethylene) glycol diglycidyl ether (PEGDGE) as a crosslinking agent. The influence of different crosslinker ratios on the structural and chemical properties of the resultant hydrogels was investigated. Pore size was observed to be lowered when the amount of crosslinker was increased. The inclusion of additional hydrophilic groups in the hydrogel network decreased the swelling capacity of the hydrogels as the crosslinking density increases. These precursor materials were carbonised and electrochemically tested for application as electrodes for supercapacitors with capacitance characterized as a function of crosslinker ratio. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The design of porous structures to meet specific applications is a potential direction for geopolymers to achieve high value-added development of applications, and the use of solid waste such as slag as a raw material for geopolymer preparation is also conducive to the realization of green and sustainable development of resources. This paper presents the study on application of the ice-templating method as an innovative approach for the synthesis of porous slag-based geopolymers, water was used as the pore forming agent and utilizing the inherent chemical consolidation properties of geopolymers to achieve self-curing. This process achieved the reinitiation of geopolymerization within freeze-dried samples, avoiding the necessity for high-temperature sintering and the use of organic dispersants and binders. In this study, the optimal parameters for producing porous geopolymers by the ice-templating method were systematically investigated. To achieve customizable pore structures, it was found that the viscosity of the slurry should remain below 4 mPa·s. The duration of the mixing process was established at 5 minutes, accounting for the influence of viscosity and its subsequent effect on the geopolymerization process. In terms of the comprehensive analysis by some characterization methods, the steam curing was selected as the ideal method for reinitiating geopolymerization. In this research, the porous geopolymers exhibited a trimodal distribution of pores spanning 2 nm to 0.5 μm, 0.5 μm to 5 μm and 5 μm to 300 μm, respectively. It wconcluded that slag-based porous geopolymers with highly connected aligned hierarchical pore structures can be tailored by the ice-templating method. • Using the ice-templating method to synthesize porous geopolymers by a green way. • The key parameters for ice-templating are investigated in the geopolymer system. • The porous geopolymers with a hierarchical pore structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • This is the first review on the application of modified hollow glass microspheres as adsorbents in wastewater treatment. • The modification of adsorbent by various functional groups and the potential mechanisms for pollutant removal are reviewed. • The regeneration performance of self-floating adsorbents is reviewed. • The adsorption performance and related influencing factors of self-floating adsorbents are summarized. The adsorption method is widely used in wastewater treatment because of its advantages of simple operation, high efficiency, no secondary pollution, and reusability. In the process of adsorption, the recovery of adsorbents determines their economic feasibility and suitability for large-scale practical applications, so it is of great significance to develop new functional adsorbents with self-floating separation characteristics to replace traditional adsorbents. Hollow glass microsphere (HGM) is a kind of hollow closed sphere, which has the advantages of low density, stable chemical properties, reusable, excellent compression resistance, etc. Due to the unique structure and chemical properties of HGM, it has extremely high potential value in the field of wastewater treatment, and is an ideal carrier for preparing adsorbents with self-floating adsorbents. In this paper, the modification of HGM, the regeneration of adsorbents, the factors affecting the adsorption performance and challenges are reviewed. It is found that most of the existing modification methods of HGM are surface chemical modification, and the adsorption effect and regeneration are significant, but the adsorption effect is greatly affected by the change of pH. This review aims to provide a theoretical basis for the application of HGM in wastewater treatment, and for relevant researchers to develop adsorbent with HGM as the main body, clarify ideas, and explore the potential of developing HGM into practice for large-scale wastewater treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The FSW welding process is monitored based on multi-sensor fusion. • Wigner-Ville distribution algorithm is optimized by smooth pseudo for SPWVD. • The smooth function in SPWVD is fine-tuned by wavelet window function. • ResNet is improved by 1D-conv and SE modules to learn components in the spectrum. As one of the important development directions in modern railway and automobile, lightweight requires reliable connection technology of dissimilar materials. Thermal-assisted friction stir lap welding (TA-FSLW) is an available welding technology for the joining of dissimilar materials, which can solve the problems of physical and chemical properties in the welding process of dissimilar materials. Unfortunately, defects may occur during the welding process. This paper proposes a defect diagnosis method based on smooth pseudo Wigner-Ville distribution (SPWVD) and ResNet18 for Al-CFRTP TA-FSLW. Firstly, the acoustic emission (AE) signal and the temperature of the weld nugget are acquired by the AE sensor and thermography camera in the FSLW process. Then, the time–frequency domain features of AE signal are extracted by SPWVD, and the maximum temperature of the weld nugget is extracted by exponential moving average (EMA) from thermography. Moreover, the dataset is established by SPWVD features, maximum temperature of welding nugget, and several time–frequency features. Finally, the ResNet18-attention network is employed to classify welding defects and stages. The Al-CFRTP TA-FSLW experiments are carried out based on the proposed method. Experimental result indicates that the SPWVD spectrum can effectively extract the feature frequency of deep and shallow hole defects in the welding process. In the section of classification, the accuracy of the dataset with SPWVD features is improved by 2% to 4% compared to other methods, which demonstrates that the SPWVD feature is superior in defect feature extraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copper-based catalysts have demonstrated notable efficacy in facilitating methanol conversion and hydrogen yield at low temperatures. Given the straightforward and cost-effective nature of the process, further investigation into this area is merited. This article provides a summary of the progress made in the development of copper-based catalysts for hydrogen production through methanol steam reforming. The catalytic performance of conventional Cu/ZnO/Al 2 O 3 catalysts can be exceeded by utilizing specific catalyst formulations and preparation procedures, which are characterized by their intricate structural and chemical properties. The studies about MSR mechanism have also been integrated. The realm of DFT research encompasses an examination of the monatomic systems, which have garnered significant attention in contemporary times. Furthermore, this paper presented potential avenues for future research on copper-based catalysts in the context of MSR. We believe that the forthcoming research will concentrate on the design, preparation, and molecular mechanism of copper-based catalysts that exhibit high stability, high activity, and low CO selectivity. [Display omitted] • Various copper-based catalysts for MSR are reviewed. • Research hotspots are given via disassembling the components of catalysts. • Synthesis processes for outstanding catalytic performances are underlined. • The MSR mechanisms are reviewed in detail. • DFT Studies considering experimental results are emphasized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In contemporary studies, the predominant utilization of C 60 derivatives pertains to their role as photosensitizers or agents that scavenge free radicals. The intriguing coexistence of these divergent functionalities has prompted extensive investigation into water-soluble fullerenes. The photodynamic properties of these compounds find practical applications in DNA cleavage, antitumor interventions, and antibacterial endeavors. Consequently, photodynamic therapy is progressively emerging as a pivotal therapeutic modality within the biomedical domain, owing to its notable levels of safety and efficacy. The essential components of photodynamic therapy encompass light of the suitable wavelength, oxygen, and a photosensitizer, wherein the reactive oxygen species generated by the photosensitizer play a pivotal role in the therapeutic mechanism. The remarkable ability of fullerenes to generate singlet oxygen has garnered significant attention from scholars worldwide. Nevertheless, the limited permeability of fullerenes across cell membranes owing to their low water solubility necessitates their modification to enhance their efficacy and utilization. This paper reviews the applications of fullerene derivatives as photosensitizers in antitumor and antibacterial fields for the recent years. [Display omitted] • We introduce the physical and chemical properties of C 60 and common chemical modification methods. • We have conducted a detailed comparison between traditional photosensitizers and new fullerene photosensitizers. • The classification and application of fullerene PDT derivatives are introduced in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Mg-doped SnO 2 (MTO) with different Mg concentration can be obtained using a single tin target through varying Mg shaving amount on it. • Proposed MTO deposition technique has the advantage to be low cost and accessible compared with common Sputtering processes that use predefined targets with different SnO 2 and MgO stoichiometries to obtain MTO thin films. • The amount of doping varying shavings amount is closely related to MTO properties, resulting in a highly controlled process. • MTO thin films show appropriate optical properties for window layer applications. • MTO/CdTe solar cells eliminate high resistivity transparent (HRT) layer necessity commonly used as a barrier to prevent materials diffusion between front contact and window layer. • In this paper an efficiency of 8.23% in all-sputtered MTO/CdTe solar cells was achieved. Mg-doped SnO 2 (MTO) is a material with optical, electrical, morphological, structural and chemical properties that are modulated as a function of the doping level. This quality makes it an optimal material for different applications such as sensors or photovoltaic devices. In this work a complete and extensive range of MTO thin films doping levels was studied, obtaining Mg atomic concentration from 0 to 23 %, band gap from 3.2 to 3.8 eV, and transmittance of ∼ 96 %. Furthermore, RF-sputtering technique with a single Tin target and Mg shavings was used to obtain MTO thin films with modulable doping and parameters, a novel process to reduce costs versus other techniques. MTO was applied as a window layer in thin film solar cells, obtaining a maximum power conversion efficiency of 8.23 % for CdTe all-sputtered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechanical activation is a solution to the problem of low reactivity of ferrous extraction tailing of nickel slag (FETNS). In this paper, FETNS was treated with different ball milling times (5 min, 10 min, 20 min). The effects of mechanical ball milling on the microstructure, mineral phase composition, and particle size distribution of FETNS were analyzed. The effects of mechanical ball milling on the properties, reaction products, and pore structure of the FETNS-OPC composite cementitious system were studied. The experimental results show that mechanical ball milling increases the fineness of FETNS and the amorphous phase content. The compressive strength of the composite cementitious system increases with the increase of ball milling time. The compressive strength of 3d, 7d, 28d, 60d, and 90d increases by 65.96%, 22.3%, 14.97%, 23.43%, and 9.12%, respectively. X-ray diffraction test and simultaneous thermal analysis show that the increase in ball milling time promotes the formation of reaction products. The hydration heat test shows that the increase in ball milling time increases the heat release rate of the early hydration reaction. N 2 adsorption-desorption experiments show that the increase in ball milling time increases the number of fine pores in the slurry, reduces the number of coarse pores, and improves the compactness of the internal structure. Mechanical activation can stimulate the reactivity of FETNS, which is conducive to the application of FETNS in building materials. • The effect of ball milling on the physical properties of FETNS was studied. • The effect of ball milling on the reactivity of FETNS was investigated. • The effect of ball milling on the properties of cementitious system was studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Nitriding reaction and combustion of Al-Li alloy with tiny Li contents in N 2 was investigated. • Nitriding reaction temperature decreased from 853 °C for Al to 245 °C for Al-2.5Li alloy. • Intermediate nitriding products of Al-Li revealed key cracks and loose "island" structures. • Thermal nitriding reaction of Al-Li alloy was significantly faster than that of pure Al. • Metal Li can significantly improve the ignition and combustion performance of Al in N 2. • Combustion mechanism of Al-Li alloy and pure Al in N 2 were discussed and compared. For aluminum-based alloy particles, the addition of alloying element lithium (Li) with the properties of a high chemical activity and a low melting/boiling point can significantly improve the thermo-reactive properties of aluminum (Al) particles. To further reveal the combustion mechanism, this paper presents the nitriding reaction and combustion characteristics of Al-Li alloy in nitrogen (N 2) through thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC) analysis at a low heating rate and laser-induced ignition experiments at a high heating rate, considering the influences of two kinds of Li contents (1.0 wt% @ Al-1.0Li and 2.5 wt% @ Al-2.5Li) on these characteristics and making a comparison to the counterpart Al. Al-Li alloy powders as-prepared by gas atomization method showed the texture of the Li-rich eutectic phase compounds on the surface by scanning electron microscope (SEM) characterization. The TG-DSC results demonstrated that the thermal nitriding reaction of Al-Li alloy in N 2 was significantly faster than that of pure Al. The nitriding reaction temperature decreased from 853 °C for pure Al to 245 °C for Al-2.5Li alloy with a reduction of 71 %. The final weight gain of Al-2.5Li alloy was almost three times higher than that of pure Al in N 2. The SEM photograph of intermediate nitriding products revealed that the cracks and loose "island" structures in the Li-rich zone on the Al-Li surface were the key to preventing the formation of a "passivation effect" into Al and promoting N 2 uptake during melting. In addition, Li also acts as a catalytic carrier and "oxygen absorber" to enhance the Al-N reaction. The combustion of single Al-Li alloy microparticles induced by laser showed two stages: preheating and rapid nitriding. Al-Li alloy particles were ignited more rapidly and showed typical gas-phase / surface combustion modes different from pure Al. According to these findings, the combustion mechanism was proposed to help guide the development of Al-based solid propellants containing Li and the synthesis of AlN/Al composites in nitrogen-rich environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human diseases often correlate with changes in protein glycosylation, which can be observed in serum or plasma samples. N-glycosylation, the most common form, can provide potential biomarkers for disease prognosis and diagnosis. However, glycoproteins constitute a relatively small proportion of the total proteins in human serum and plasma compared to the non-glycosylated protein albumin, which constitutes the majority. The detection of microheterogeneity and low glycan abundance presents a challenge. Mass spectrometry facilitates glycoproteomics research, yet it faces challenges due to interference from abundant plasma proteins. Therefore, methods have emerged to enrich N-glycans and N-linked glycopeptides using glycan affinity, chemical properties, stationary phase chemical coupling, bioorthogonal techniques, and other alternatives. This review focuses on N-glycans and N-glycopeptides enrichment in human serum or plasma, emphasizing methods and applications. Although not exhaustive, it aims to elucidate principles and showcase the utility and limitations of glycoproteome characterization. [Display omitted] • This paper reviews enrichment methods for N-glycans/glycopeptides, providing insights/case studies. • Comprehensive review of current methods for enriching N-glycopeptides from human serum or plasma. • Human serum/plasma holds rich glycoproteomic data, including N-linked glycans/glycopeptides. • Identifying suitable enrichment methods is vital, yet lacks systematic categorization in academia. • Understanding N-glycans in human serum and plasma can guide the discovery of potential cancer biomarkers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the rapid advances in treatment technologies for per-fluoroalkyl and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) removal, the efficiency and practicality of these technologies would be either questionable or not cost-competitive sometimes. Several studies have successfully removed or destroyed PFAS from aqueous solutions but only to a limited level. Nevertheless, the treatment technologies are still evolving, and thus, long-term strategies should be implemented with caution. In this study, the physical and chemical properties of PFAS were provided. The emerging treatment technologies for PFAS removal, such as ion exchange resins, adsorption, advanced oxidation process, and membrane-based separation, are briefly reviewed in this paper. The treatment's mechanisms and future research trends are covered to provide insight into the technologies above. The study covered the treatment technologies for PFAS removal systematically and hierarchically and delivered a guideline for creating efficient and robust treatment technology for PFAS treatment. [Display omitted] • Ion exchange Resins is more efficient than adsorption processes for short-chain PFAS removal. • Zwitterionic PFASs received lower attention than anionic, cationic, and non-ionic PFASs. • Integrating treatment technologies would be a viable option for a sustainable solution. • Membrane rejection to PFOS increases with increasing the ionic solution of feed solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing expansion of China's coal mine production leads to the increased storage pressure in current coal silos. Most of these coals are stored in open-air coal pile. Therefore, those coal piles have caused a series of environmental pollution problems, which includes endangering workers' health and aggravating air pollution in the surrounding natural environment. Based on a single chemical dust suppressant, this paper optimizes a new type of composite binder. The Composite binder has advantages of forming the crust on surface of coal pile. The artificial wind erosion simulation method is used to test the dust solidifying characteristics of the composite binder with different physical and chemical properties and the optimal application range of the composite binder is selected. Finally, the composite binder developed is applied in an open-air coal pile and the results show that the composite binder studied in this paper has a good effect of dust solidifying. Unlabelled Image • Wind erosion simulator is designed. • Effect of dust carbon content on dust consolidation is studied. • Effect of Binder Adhesion on Consolidation of Dust is studied. • Stability Analyses of Dust Consolidation have been done. • The composite binder has a good effect of dust suppression and dust solidifying. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, phospho-silicate glasses with SiO 2 –P 2 O 5 –Na 2 O–F-MO (M = Ca, Sr, Zn) composition were prepared by using the conventional melt quenching technology. Structural, physical, and chemical property tests were used to analyze the effects of different SrO and ZnO content on the structure and properties of the glasses. The results showed that the glass stability varied nonlinearly as CaO was replaced by SrO, which was mainly related to the different positions of Sr2+ and Ca2+ ions breaking the network connection in the network structure, and the substitution of ZnO for CaO led to a continuous decrease in the stability of the glasses. The immersion experiment showed that SrO doping was more feasible than ZnO doping to improve the biological activity of the glasses, and the doping of ZnO promoted the dissolution of ions in the glasses. The obtained results indicated that the glass samples prepared in this paper have potential biological activity, which has potential applications in dental treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nano-zirconia has been widely applied due to its excellent physical and chemical properties (e.g., high strength, corrosion resistance, oxygen ion conductivity). Existing preparation methods of nano-zirconia tend to require long reaction time, and the sizes of final particles are large with uneven distributions. Sub-/supercritical hydrothermal synthesis of nanoparticles is favored by researchers owing to controllable reaction process, uniform particle size distribution, good reproducibility, short reaction time, high conversion rate and harmlessness to environment. In this paper, the characteristics and mechanisms of dissolution, crystallization and growth of nano-zirconia during sub-/supercritical hydrothermal synthesis are systematically reviewed. The influences of process and material parameters on the size and purity of particles are analyzed. Then, the reaction mechanism and product phase transition mechanism during hydrothermal synthesis of zirconia are summarized to provide a theoretical reference for the oriented preparation. Finally, the improvement and commercialization of sub-/supercritical hydrothermal synthesis technology are evaluated, and the future research topics are proposed. [Display omitted] • Process and factors influencing the hydrothermal synthesis of zirconia are reviewed. • Mechanisms of in-situ surface modification and doping are explored. • The crystallization mechanism and phase stability and transformation are discussed. • Reactors, challenges and prospects in hydrothermal synthesis are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Auricularia mushrooms are known for their bioactive compounds, mostly polysaccharides, which have numerous biological activities, such as antioxidant, antitumor, immunomodulatory, hyperlipidemic, antidiabetic, anticoagulant and hepatoprotective effects. Over the past decades, there has been a consistent focus on the isolation, chemical properties and bioactivities of polysaccharides from Auricularia. This review will cover what is known about Auricularia polysaccharides (AP) especially for several common species, including A. auricula - judae , A. auricula , A. polytricha , and A. cornea var. Li. The isolation and purifications, structural characterizations, chemical modifications, and biological activities of these AP and their derivatives will be discussed, thus to provide a foundation for the further investigation, production, and application of AP as functional foods and therapeutic agents. • The paper summarizes extraction and purification, modifications, structural characteristics, and biological activities of AP. • The paper gives a comprehensive insight into extraction and purification, chemical structures and biological activities of AP. • The paper provides knowledge that will lead to more development and applications of AP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen is increasingly being positioned as an essential part of low-carbon transitions. While the role of hydrogen in decarbonising industrial processes and transportation has received growing attention in recent years, very little research has focused on hydrogen as a fuel for homes. This paper uses theories of social practice to illustrate how the physical and chemical properties of hydrogen may disrupt domestic practices of cooking and heating. It focuses on one specific characteristic of hydrogen, that it burns with a near-invisible flame, and reports on a research project that investigated how one hundred people in the North East of England believed this would change their sensorially mediated social practices of heating and cooking. Participants imagined their practices of cooking would be severely disrupted while their practices of heating would be largely unaffected. The paper concludes by summarising the implications of the research for policy, industry, and researchers interested in hydrogen transitions; that these two key home domestic practices have potentially different transition pathways. • Utilises social practice theory to conceptualise how hydrogen transitions will take place in homes. • Focuses on the use of hydrogen for cooking and heating, and how gas-energised practices are sensorially mediated. • Finds that the near-invisibility of hydrogen's flame may be a disruption to cooking, but not heating. • Develops implications for policy, industry, and social science researchers interested in hydrogen transitions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to enhance the effect of acidizing coal seam with the compound solution, in this paper, the chemical characteristics of treated coal samples were analyzed, including proximate analysis, functional groups, mineral components and microcrystalline structures. The results show that acidification synergism of SDS reduces the ash content in the coal, and significantly increases the volatile component, fixed carbon content and low calorific value. The addition of SDS increases the content of hydrogen groups and hydroxyl groups. Acidification synergism of SDS reduces the degree of fatty chain length and the degree of branching (d fc-b) in the coal samples. Besides, in terms of microcrystalline structure, addition of the SDS has a large influence on the parameters the average diameter of the aromatic layer(L a) and the stacking height of the aromatic layer (L c). The results of this paper are great significance for studying the mechanism of chemical properties of acidified coal. Unlabelled Image • The acidification synergism of SDS can reduce ash in coal, increase volatile matter. • Adding SDS to the treating acid can exacerbates an "ion exchange". • Adding SDS to the treating acid can causes a significant decrease in the burnout temperature of coal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphene has attracted various academic and industrial interest due to its unique electrical, mechanical, chemical and thermal properties. The exceptional lamellar structure of graphene and its derivatives have been identified as anti-corrosive additives in the formulation of polymeric coatings. Graphene can prevent the diffusion of oxygen and water molecules to the surface of meta-based materials by creating highly tortuous pathways, thereby protecting the metal from oxidation-corrosion. In this paper, the utilization of graphene and its derivatives in the formulation of various polymer matrices as barrier coatings was explored. This review paper introduces the fundamentals and the current progress of anti-corrosive coating technology. The most commonly used synthesis methods of graphene-based polymer composites (GPC) such as solution and melt mixing, and in-situ polymerization are compiled. An emphasis is given to the mechanism of barrier properties provided by GPC's in terms of their state of dispersion and the intrinsic properties. The advantages and limitations are also discussed to address the challenges for future research and potential applications of graphene-based polymer composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interactions between water and multiscale pores affect significantly most of the physical and chemical properties of cementitious materials such as cement mortar, paste, and concrete. In this paper, molecular mechanism of multilayer water adsorption and condensation in micropores of typical cementitious minerals, the dicalcium silicate (C 2 S) and calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H), were investigated by molecular simulations. Classical adsorption isotherm models were examined for their applicability to describe the adsorption law in molecular scales. Besides, the Kelvin equation was modified to satisfy the description of condensation at the microscale. Calculation results show that the most commonly used Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) model can only describe the isotherms within a limited range of low water vapor pressures. In comparison, the modified Brunauer-Emmett-Teller-Pickett (BETP) model can describe the adsorption of water molecular on the surface of C 2 S and C-S-H more precisely, due to considering the adsorption layers as finite at saturation pressure and the reduced escape probability of the outermost layer of adsorbed water molecules. As for the condensation of water molecules in C 2 S and C-S-H slits, the traditional Kelvin equation is not applicable. Therefore, a refined Kelvin equation was proposed to describe the relationship between pore size and the pressure required for condensation accurately by considering the critical pore size, adsorption thickness, and decay rate of adsorption potential energy. Further analysis suggests that C 2 S releases more first-layer adsorption heat and thus shows stronger adsorption of water molecules compared to C-S-H. • The water adsorption isotherms of C 2 S and C-S-H are calculated by GCMC simulations. • The applicability of adsorption isotherm models are examined for cement materials. • The Kelvin equation was refined to describe condensation of water in micropores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ionic liquids (ILs) are a class of liquid salts with characteristics such as a low melting point, an ionic nature, non-volatility, and tunable properties. Because of their adaptability, they have a significant influence in the field of fluorescence. This paper reviews the primary literature on the use of ILs in fluorescence sensing technologies. The kind of target material is utilized to classify the fluorescence sensors made with the use of ILs. They include using ILs as probes for metals, nitro explosives, small organic compounds, anions, and gases. The efficacy of an IL-based fluorescence sensor depends on the precise design to guarantee specificity, sensitivity, and a consistent reaction to the desired analyte. The precise method can differ depending on the chemical properties of the IL, the choice of fluorophore, and the interactions with the analyte. Overall, the viability of the aforementioned materials for chemical analysis is evaluated, and prospective possibilities for further development are identified. [Display omitted] • Ionic liquids as fluorescence sensors showcase versatility by detecting a broad spectrum of analytes, from metal ions to gases. • IL fluorescents offer high performance with easily modulated structures, and flexibility in sensing objectives. • It's important to develop new ILs, and uncover principles, for measuring analytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Study of the interacting mechanism of curcumin in the NADES comprising Menthol, Myristic acid using DFT method. • Validation of the data using experimental techniques (FTIR, Raman and SERS) • and computational methods. • UV–vis spectral analysis is performed to assess the stability of the NADES complex. • Slow degradation of the curcumin is observed in Men-Myr-Cur solvent. • Men-Myr-Cur solvent can extract more curcumin from the raw turmeric rhizome. The present work is aimed at analyzing the structural and chemical properties of Natural Deep Eutectic Solvent (NADES) comprising Menthol, Myristic Acid, and Curcumin, employing both computational and experimental methods. The enchanting pursuit of this theoretical study is to unravel the amicable interacting sites of these compounds using Density Functional Theory (DFT) at B3-LYP/6–31 + G (d,p) basis set. The intramolecular and intermolecular charge transfer between the hydrogen bond acceptors (HBAs) and hydrogen bond donors (HBDs) are affirmed by the NBO (natural bond orbital) study and AIM (atoms in molecules) analysis of the titled compounds. Through first-order hyperpolarizability parameters, the application of NLO onto the molecules supports the enhancement of the electron transfer. This paper also accounts for the interacting nature of C O, O–H, and C–H vibrational modes of the Men-Myr-Cur compound (Menthol + MyristicAcid + Curcumin) using Raman Spectroscopic and Infrared techniques. The theoretically computed Raman and IR vibrational wavenumbers are found to be in good agreement with the experimentally obtained values of the Raman, SERS, and FTIR. Moreover, the molecular docking analysis against the 7U5B receptor yields a remarkable binding energy of −6.15 kcal/mol, indicating the significant bioactive nature of the complex. Solubility and stability of Curcumin, both extract and standard samples in NADES are tested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focusses on the fabrication of a thin film nanocomposite forward osmosis (FO) membrane using PA support. This was done through interfacial polymerization with MOF MIL-101(Cr). There are various methods which are used for the purification of water such as ion-exchange method; reverse osmosis, adsorption, solvent extraction but these are expensive, old and timing consuming. So there is need of a unique and reliable method which is cheap, easy, less time consuming, pollution free and can give better results. For this purpose, I have worked on FO membranes with the incorporation of novel MOF MIL-101(Cr). By using different characterization methods, the surface properties, chemical composition and structure of FO membranes based on MOF MIL-101(Cr) were studied. This coating has done by layer by method therefore has larger pores to higher selective layer roughness. It also enhanced the membrane permeability and heavy metal rejection because MOF MIL-101(Cr) has unique structures and desirable mechanical and chemical properties. This MOF has high thermal stability, greater surface area and high porosity. It was observed that TNF membranes provide ultrafast nano-channels for water transport, higher water flux and lower the solute reverse flux as compared to TFC membranes without MIL-101(Cr). The results of FO thin film nanocomposite membranes based on MOF MIL-101(Cr) have shown the 81 % heavy metal rejection than simple polyamide membranes. This FO method will offer further promising applications, opportunities and excellent separation performances to produce composite membranes with thin films on microfiltration substrates to mitigate concentration polarization. [Display omitted] • MIL-101(Cr) was characterized using FTIR, XRD and adsorption desorption isotherms. • Fabricated MOF was incorporated in TFN membranes as a filler to enhance the crystallinity. • MIL-101(Cr) has enhanced the water flux by reduction in reverse solute flux. • MIL-101(Cr) incorporated membranes are highly selective adsorbent for As and Cr metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Great concern has been focused on the particle size distribution (PSD) of soot as a crucial factor of the physical and chemical properties. Optical methods are widely used to analyze the PSD of soot due to their non-invasive and real-time measurement, where the morphology parameters are essential for retrieving the PSD from optical signals. However, these parameters are difficult to obtain in field measurement. In this work, we propose a new PSD sensing method for soot without prior knowledge of the morphology parameters based on the light-scattering angular spectrum using a hybrid inverse algorithm. The light scattering angular spectrum is the intensity distribution of scattering light at different observation angles for simultaneously characterizing the PSD and the morphological parameters, which are decoupled by a hybrid inverse algorithm consisting of Tikhonov regularization and adaptive weighted particle swarm optimization (AW-PSO). A compacted and lens-free prototype sensor is designed to verify our method. The calibration experiments by spherical aerosols show that our prototype sensor provides high-precision light scattering angular spectrum measurement with maximum relative error (RE) of 14.78 %. In the tests of soot, the maximum Kullback-Leibler Divergence (D KL) of PSD is 0.28 in comparison with the reference volume equivalent PSD. The sensing method proposed in this paper provides volume equivalent PSD measurement for soot without requirement of the morphology parameters, and our prototype sensor shows great potential for soot and other non-spherical aerosol analysis in routine field measurements outside the laboratory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decreased coagulation bath concentration and difficult recovery are classical issues observed during the wet spinning of fibers. In this paper, a novel method was presented for preparing environment-friendly agar fibers using deionized water as the coagulation and stretch baths. The addition of Ba2+ into the spinning solution increased the crosslinking time and improved the performance of spinning solution. The results showed that the introduction of Ba2+ in the spinning solution increased the viscosity of the spinning solution. Particularly, when the concentration of BaCl 2 in the spinning solution was 7 wt%, the viscosity increased to 39.29 Pa·s, which made the molecular chain arrangement of agar more compact and ordered and promoted the gelation transformation of the spinning solution, resulting in an increase in the gel temperature from 0.2 °C (Ba-0/agar) to 5.4 °C (Ba-7/agar). The spinning solution was more conducive to the formation of fibers in deionized water. In addition, the physical and chemical properties of agar fibers were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, tensile testing, and scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that the use of deionized water as the coagulation bath can improve the color of fiber and solve the problem of fiber adhesion, whereas the mechanical strength of agar fibers with pre-cross-linking metal ions was also improved. For example, the breaking strength of Ba-7/agar/DIW was 0.73 cN/dtex while the breaking strength of Ba-0/agar/DIW was only 0.62 cN/dtex. [Display omitted] • Agar fibers prepared by the Ba 2+ ion pre-crosslinking spinning solution method. • Deionized water was used as a coagulation bath to improved the wet spinning process. • Optimal Ba2+ addition (7 wt%) improved fiber shape and tensile properties. • Mechanism of gel-sol transition in agar spinning solutions with Ba2+ ion elucidated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reserve of lignin in the biological world is the second largest biomass resource after cellulose. Lignin has the characteristics of wide sources, low cost, and rich active components. Due to environmental pollution and energy scarcity, lignin is often used as a substitute good for petrochemical products. Lignin-based functional materials can be prepared by chemical modification or compounding, which are widely used in the fields of energy storage, chemical industry, and medicine. Among them, lignin-based carbon materials have the features of stable chemical properties, large pH application range, ideal electrical conductivity, developed pore size, and high specific surface area, which have great application prospects as supercapacitor materials. This paper mainly introduces the structural properties of lignin, the methods, and mechanisms of carbonization, pore-making, and pore-expansion, as well as the research progress of lignin-based carbon materials for supercapacitors, while looking forward to the future research direction of lignin carbon materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• DRM reaction catalyzed by Ni-Co bimetallic catalysts is reviewed. • The performance influence of physical and chemical properties of supports is summarized. • The modification method for enhanced catalyst performance is provided. • Reaction mechanism of Ni-Co catalysts in DRM reaction is discussed in detail. • There is a bright application prospect of NiCo bimetallic catalysts behavior. Dry reforming of methane (DRM) reaction provides a novel direction for fossil raw materials through a superior ratio of hydrogen and carbon monoxide. The evaluation of NiCo catalysts mightily depends on the raw materials and processes for preparation. Here, we briefly look at the correlation between the component properties and catalytic performances, the effect of preparation methods, and the mechanism of NiCo catalysts. Active components like metals ratio and the formation of alloy have an important influence on the close connection between metals. The support properties are exhibited with different situations, including physical and chemical mutual effect. Acid-base property, redox property and metal-support interaction play an important role in the chemical interaction of catalysts. However, the deactivation due to the carbon deposition and bimetallic sintering still remains a large challenge for the deployment of NiCo catalysts. The promoters have been reported especially help with these disadvantages of pure bimetallic catalysts. They are conducive to more stable activation and dispersion of metals. In addition to the above, we then move on to consider numerous preparation methods incorporating the conventional and special ones to explore the efficacy of preparing technology. The last section describes the reaction mechanisms of catalyst surface, inside with density functional theory, micro-kinetic modeling and in-situ representation. These five parts have significant implications for mass production that optimize DRM reaction yields and simultaneously saving cost. In this paper, we present a critical assessment for the relevant development and remaining limitations of NiCo bimetallic catalysts. It is hoped to not only shed light upon the development of high-performance industrial DRM catalysts, but also contribute an innovative perspective to understand anti-coking mechanism and even producing syngas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A novel strategy for preparing Janus nanosheets was presented. • TEMS as templates can provide energy for the subsequent opening of the Janus shell. • The chemical groups on the Janus nanosheets surface were controllable. • Janus nanosheets flooding can enhance the recovery of low-permeability reservoirs. Janus nanosheets can reduce the interfacial tension of oil and water and are of great significance for improving the recovery efficiency of remaining oil. A novel strategy for preparing amphiphilic Janus nanosheets is presented in this paper. Trialkoxysilane is adsorbed on the surface of thermally expandable microspheres (TEMS), and Janus spheres (TEMS@SiO 2) are obtained by sol-gel treatment. Dodecyltrimethoxysilane (DTES) is used to modify TEMS@SiO 2 , which is combined with the thermal expansion of TEMS and the breaking of the outer shell of Janus spheres to prepare amino/alkyl composite silicon-based amphiphilic Janus nanosheets (ASAJN). Characterization of ASAJN is carried out via FTIR, TG, SEM, TEM, and contact angle tester, with the results showing that ASAJN boasts amphiphilicity and two-sidedness, and a sheet structure with a thickness of 210 nm. The stability, wettability evaluation, emulsification properties, and interface properties of ASAJN nanofluids have been evaluated, with the results showing that ASAJN nanofluids boast good stability without delamination after 30 days. ASAJN nanofluid can convert oil-wet core slices into water-wettable ones. ASAJN nanofluid manifests excellent emulsification, with the 240-hour emulsification index of ASAJN nanofluid and silica fluid respectively at0.40 and 0.021 under ultra-low concentration (1000 mg/L). ASAJN is obviously able to reduce oil–water interfacial tension. At 1000 mg/L (60 ℃) concentration, the oil-water interfacial tension is reduced to 2.6 mN/m, while that of nano-silica at the same concentration is 15.1 mN/m. ASAJN flooding can significantly improve the recovery efficiency of low-permeability reservoirs, increasing the recovery efficiency by 32.8 % at a permeability of 7.5 × 10-3 μm2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Collect more than 600 known systems of MCTFCs involving 73 kinds of elements. • Build a comprehensive dataset from composition to properties. • Propose the different ways of constructing descriptors. • Find the theories for predicting the solid solution phase is limited in MCTFCs. Multi-component thin films and coatings (MCTFCs) with stable structure and excellent capability are gradually being applied to more complex extreme environment. In the review paper, we summary the recent research progress of MCTFCs and build the comprehensive datasets from composition, experiment condition, microstructure and macro-properties. By searching the keywords, more than 30,000 relevant articles are found, including at least 600 systems of MCTFCs and involving 73 elements. Statistical analysis shows that the researched system is evolving from simple 4-element to 12-element to composite materials, and the research focus are extending from mechanical properties to chemical properties to medical and industrial applications. The results of comparing with high entropy alloys show that the theories of distinguishing solid solution phase and other structure are only explicable for part MCTFCs. Further, the building multivariate datasets that takes multiple factors into consideration will facilitate the development of optimal MCTFCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studied the effect of temperature on dissolution activity of fly ash and metakaolin with different fineness. The dissolution experiment was conducted and the activation energy of Si and Al was calculated by shrinking core model. The result shows the specific surface areas of ground fly ash and metakaolin have increased by 50 % and 100 %, respectively, but their leaching ratio has only increased by less than 10 % and 30 %, respectively. The activation energies of Si and Al for fly ash are 30–34 and 49–59 kJ/mol; and those for metakaolin are 90–102 and 77–80 kJ/mol, which means the incongruent of Si and Al. Grinding will increase the activation energy of Si and Al in fly ash while reduce the activation energy of Al in metakaolin, and have little effect on the activation energy of Si in metakaolin. A method for quantitatively evaluating the effect of temperature on the dissolution activity of precursor in alkaline conditions is proposed. • The activation energies of Si and Al in FA, FAS, MKS and MK is different. • The dissolution of Si and Al of fly ash and metakaolin is incongruent. • Grinding increases the activation energy of fly ash, the increase of Si activation energy is higher than that of Al. • Inner part and outer part of fly ash particles might have different chemical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]