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Self-irradiation effect induced by Pu α decay is an important influencing factor for long-term storage of Pu-based materials. In order to reveal the collision displacement cascade for uranium recoil nucleus induced by alpha decay in delta-phase plutonium at atomic level, we review the recent progress in self-irradiation of metallic plutonium and its alloys. We perform a molecular dynamics (MD) calculation on basis of modified embedded atom (MEAM) interatomic potentials, and obtain the minimum of displacement threshold energy (MDTE) for {1 1 1} lattice direction and microscopic evolution of He self-interstitial cluster. These findings are in agreement with previous experimental and theoretical results, and can be viewed as an essential input parameter for mesoscopic simulation to obtain the evolution of microscopic configuration at longer time and space, and might be also helpful for understanding the nucleation and growth mechanisms for vacancy and/or self-interstitial and its clusters, He-vacancy cluster and He bubbles in delta-phase plutonium and its alloys.

Biofouling, as one of the membrane foulings, is the major obstacle limiting the application of polyamide (PA) thin-film composite (TFC) nanofiltration (NF) membranes in reclamation of wastewaters and treatment of industrial fluids. Herein, we introduced a facile and effective strategy for the modification of traditional PA-TFC NF membranes to improve water permeability and biofouling resistance. Specifically, three reactive guanidine molecules were successfully bonded onto the surface of PA-TFC membranes using chemical reactions between the amine groups of guanidine and the residual acyl chloride groups on the nascent PA-TFC membrane. The covalent attachment of guanidines can significantly enhance water permeability without compromising salt rejection. For instance, for 2 g L−1 Na2SO4 aqueous solution, the water flux of NFM2 increased from 25.2 L m−2 h−1 to 68.4 L m−2 h−1 at 25 °C and 0.6 MPa compared to the traditional piperazine (PIP)–trimesoyl chloride (TMC) membrane, while around 98.3%. Na2SO4 rejection was maintained. Moreover, the membranes were endowed with easy-cleaning properties, which can remarkably prevent foulant adhesion, with the water flux recovery ratio being as high as 98.9%. The developed TFC membranes also showed excellent anti-adhesive and antimicrobial activities against Gram-negative Escherichia coli K12 (E. coli), Gram-positive Bacillus pumilus LDS33 (B. pumilus) and Aspergillus parasiticus JFS (A. parasiticus). Therefore, the resultant guanidinium-functionalized NF membranes which have integrated high permselectivity and superior fouling resistance properties are promising materials for fabricating a new generation of anti-fouling/antimicrobial surfaces that are applicable to many applications such as water desalination and softening and wastewater treatment.