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[Display omitted] • Biomimetic decorated nanoporous membrane is developed for blood oxygenation. • Intrinsic porous property and asymmetric structure facilitate gas permeation. • Fe-tannic acid network boosts hemocompatibility and antiaging property. • More preferential adsorption to water than protein is critical to hemocompatibility. • Membrane shows fast exchange rates and no detectable thrombus and plasma leakage. Membrane technology holds great potential for separation applications and also finds critical needs in biomedical fields, such as blood oxygenation. However, the bottlenecks in gas permeation, plasma leakage, and especially hemocompatibility hamper the development of membrane oxygenation. It remains extremely challenging to design efficient membranes and elucidate underlying principles. In this study, we report biomimetic decoration of asymmetric nanoporous membranes by ultrathin FeIII-tannic acid metal–ligand networks to realize fast gas exchange with on plasma leakage and substantially enhance hemocompatibility. Because the intrinsic nanopores facilitate gas permeability and the FeIII-catechol layers enable superior hydrophilicity and electronegativity to original surfaces, the modified membranes exhibit high transport properties for gases and great resistances to protein adsorption, platelet activation, coagulation, thrombosis, and hemolysis. Molecular docking and density functional theory simulations indicate that more preferential adsorption of metal–ligand networks with water molecules than proteins is critical to anticoagulation. Moreover, benefiting from the better antiaging property gave by biomimetic decoration, the membranes after four-month aging present gas permeances similar to or even larger than those of pristine ones, despite the initial permeation decline. Importantly, for blood oxygenation, the designed membranes after aging show fast O 2 and CO 2 exchange processes with rates up to 28–17 and 97–47 mL m−2 min−1, respectively, accompanied with no detectable thrombus and plasma leakage. We envisage that the biomimetic decoration of nanoporous membranes provide a feasible route to achieve great biocompatibility and transport capability for various applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to improve the performance of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) ultrafiltration membrane with graphene oxide (GO) that was synthesized from the pyrolysis of polypropylene (PP) bottles. The amount of GO loading in the membrane structure was 0.05, 0.15, and 0.25 wt%. x‐ray diffractometer, FTIR, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), contact angle (CA), water content, porosity, mechanical strength were used to characterize the synthesized membranes. Cross‐sectional SEM results of membranes indicated that the modification of the membrane caused the formation of finger‐like pores in the bottom part and also these holes increased the dye rejection efficiency in the membranes of (18 wt% PVC/2 wt% PVP/0.15 wt% GO) and (14 wt% PVC/2 wt% PVP/0.25 wt% GO). The CA of the synthesized membranes were decreased from 70 in (18 wt% PVC/2 wt% PVP) to 62 in (14 wt% PVC/2 wt% PVP/0.15 wt% GO), which indicates the increase in hydrophilicity of these membranes. The results showed that the best performance is related to the membranes (18 wt% PVC/2 wt% PVP/0.15 wt% GO) and (14 wt% PVC/2 wt% PVP/0.25 wt% GO) with a rejection efficiency of 92% and 83% for 100 ppm methyl blue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Membranes offer a potentially energy‐efficient and space‐saving solution to reduce CO2 emissions and combat global warming. However, engineering membranes with advanced materials for high permeance and reasonable selectivity is a pressing need. In this context, a series of carbazole‐based conjugated microporous polymer (CMP) membranes are fabricated with thicknesses of a few hundred nanometers through in situ electropolymerization for post‐combustion carbon capture. The findings reveal that various experimental conditions, including the monomer concentration, electric potential, and cyclic voltammetry (CV) cycling number, largely impact the polymerization degree of the carbazole‐based CMP, thus influencing the mode of polymer chain packing. An optimal polymerization degree leads to a larger micropore size and a higher fractional free volume (FFV), thus allowing fast CO2 transport. The study first demonstrates the feasibility of using CMPs to fabricate thin film composite (TFC) membranes for post‐combustion carbon capture and confirms the high controllability of their micropores. These insights provide instructive guidance for the future advancement of CMP applications in membrane fabrication for gas separation and other fields that require precise micropore generation and design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mixed matrix materials (MMMs) integrating excellent processability from polymers and distinct separation properties from nanofillers are of interest for membrane gas separations, and they are often made into freestanding films (>100 µm) to demonstrate superior gas separation properties. However, they are difficult to fabricate into thin‐film nanocomposite (TFN) membranes due to interfacial incompatibility between polymers and nanofillers. Here TFN membranes based on MMMs (as thin as 200 nm) are successfully developed comprising amorphous poly(ethylene oxide) (aPEO) and UiO‐66‐NH2 enabling strong hydrogen bonds between the two matrices. Increasing the UiO‐66‐NH2 loading unexpectedly decreases CO2 permeability in freestanding films, but it surprisingly leads to the best CO2/N2 separation properties in the membranes at a loading of 10 mass% (CO2 permeance of 2900 GPU and CO2/N2 selectivity of 48). Nanoconfinement significantly influences the morphological and gas separation properties of the MMM layer. The membrane with 10 mass% UiO‐66‐NH2 demonstrates mixed‐gas CO2 permeance of 1400 GPU and CO2/N2 selectivity of 76 in the presence of 1.2 mol% water vapor at ≈23 °C, surpassing Robeson's upper bound. The membrane also demonstrates stable CO2/N2 separation performance when challenged with real flue gas for 700 h continuously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, global warming has been increasing, while conventional cooling devices remain inefficient and can emit greenhouse gases. The research and development of passive daytime radiative cooling (PDRC) are of utmost importance. Herein, a novel technique called water‐assisted thermally induced phase separation (WA‐TIPS) is employed to prepare thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) foams with a hierarchical micro/nanostructure. By adding 2 mL of deionized water, the TPU foam achieves a solar reflectance of up to 95.5% and can provide a cooling effect of up to 7 °C during daytime, showcasing its significant potential for PDRC applications. Furthermore, leveraging the WA‐TIPS technique, the cooling performance of a composite foam consisting of TPU and SiO2 nanoparticles is investigated. Remarkably, it is discovered that incorporating just 0.1 g of SiO2 nanoparticles allows the composite foam to achieve daytime cooling of up to 15 °C. In this work, not only a novel approach for constructing micro/nanostructures is introduced but also a theoretical and experimental framework for advancing the development of polymer or polymer composite PDRC devices is established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At present, research on the electrostatic separation of polymers is primarily concentrated in the WEEE field, with limited studies addressing the electrostatic separation of vehicle polymers. In this study, tribo‐charging separation of PA66/PP (modified)/PE three‐component vehicle polymer mixed particles was investigated using a spiral tube tribo‐charged separation device. Firstly, a force model of particle movement in the spiral tube was established, and the theoretical analysis determined that the critical rotational speed of particle centrifugal movement is 70 rpm. Secondly, the optimal charging parameters were determined by single‐factor experiments and orthogonal experiments, and the effect of the blanking baffle on the particle charging was also investigated. Finally, high‐voltage electrostatic separation simulations and experiments were carried out, achieving separation purities of 92.8% for PA66, 80.7% for PP (modified), and 86.6% for PE, respectively. Results provide both theoretical and experimental reference for one‐pass electrostatic separation of three kinds of plastic particles by spiral tube turbo‐charged separation device. Highlights: Separation of vehicle polymers is crucial for its high‐value‐added recycling.A spiral tube tribo‐electrostatic separation device is developed.The critical rotational speed of particle centrifugal movement is analyzed.The influence of the blanking baffle on the particle charge is investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the continuous, gas-phase synthesis of α-methylene-δ-valerolactone (MVL) from δ-valerolactone (DVL) and formaldehyde (FA) over alkaline earth oxide catalysts. MgO, CaO, and BaO supported on silica (∼5 wt%) were active for MVL production (613 K, 0.4 kPa DVL, 1.2 kPa FA, 101 kPa total pressure). CaO and BaO showed 90% and 83% selectivity to MVL at ∼60% DVL conversion, respectively. Decreasing contact times improved MVL selectivity for all three catalysts, achieving near quantitative selectivity at DVL conversions <40% with CaO. Further studies with CaO indicated that increasing the FA partial pressure for a given DVL partial pressure negligibly changed conversion while maintaining high selectivity; however, increasing the reaction temperature generally resulted in lower MVL selectivity. Deactivation and carbon loss were attributed to non-volatile compound formation from series and parallel reactions that consume MVL and DVL and poison the catalyst surface. These side reactions were more pronounced at high temperatures and higher contact times. While slow deactivation poses a challenge, the catalyst could be fully regenerated by calcining at 773 K for 4 h under flowing air. As the product mixture of MVL and DVL is difficult to separate, we developed a selective polymerization strategy to convert either one or both monomers into valuable polymeric materials, thereby achieving efficient separation and concurrent polymer production. Using a model mixture of 30 wt% of MVL in DVL, vinyl-addition polymerization converted MVL to the corresponding vinyl polymer (PMVL)VAP in 98% yield, while DVL was recovered in 96% yield by distillation. Alternatively, ring-opening polymerization of the same mixture resulted in a DVL/MVL copolyester and separatable vinyl homopolymer P(MVL)VAP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective separation of hexane (C6) isomers is critical for a variety of industrial applications but conventional distillation methods are energy‐intensive. Adsorptive separations based on porous coordination polymers (PCPs) offer a promising alternative due to their exceptional porosity and tunable properties. However, there is still an urgent need to develop PCPs with high stability and separation performance. This study investigates how substituting a methyl (−CH3) group with a trifluoromethyl (−CF3) group can regulate pores and hydrophobicity in PCPs. This precise adjustment aims to enhance stability and improve the kinetic separation performance of hydrophobic C6 isomers by considering the size and hydrophobicity of the trifluoromethyl group. Two isostructural PCPs with pcu topology, PCP‐CH3 and PCP‐CF3, were synthesized to vary pore diameters and hydrophobicity based on the presence of −CH3 or −CF3 groups. PCP‐CF3 showed greater stability in water compared to PCP‐CH3. While PCP‐CH3 had high adsorption capacities, it lacked selectivity, whereas PCP‐CF3 demonstrated improved selectivity, particularly in excluding dibranched isomers. Dynamic column separation experiments revealed that PCP‐CF3 could selectively adsorb linear and monobranched isomers over dibranched isomers at room temperature. These findings highlight the potential of fluorine‐modified PCPs for efficient isomer separation and underscore the importance of stability improvement strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The key to the modification of the properties of carbon fibers is to understand how to control the structure of polyacrylonitrile-based precursors. Results of a mesoscale modeling of the structure formation processes in a mixture of polyacrylonitrile, dimethyl sulfoxide, and water (good and poor solvents for polymers) are reported. The system′s composition is chosen using the composition of precursor fibers at the later formation stages under coagulation bath conditions. All calculations are performed using the dynamic density functional theory. The proposed model considers effects caused by changes in the system composition, carbon nanotube filler, temperature, and shear flow. It is shown that the polymer structure can be significantly changed by varying the amount of water in the system (determined by the coagulation bath composition) and by introducing a carbon filler. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of deep eutectic solvents (DESs) for the preparation of polymer membranes for environmental separation technologies is comprehensively reviewed. DESs have been divided into five categories based on the hydrogen bond donor (HBD) and acceptor (HBA) that are involved in the production of the DESs, and a wide range of DESs' physicochemical characteristics, such as density, surface tension, viscosity, and melting temperature, are initially gathered. Furthermore, the most popular techniques for creating membranes have been demonstrated and discussed, with a focus on the non-solvent induced phase separation (NIPS) method. Additionally, a number of studies have been reported in which DESs were employed as pore formers, solvents, additives, or co-solvents, among other applications. The addition of DESs to the manufacturing process increased the presence of finger-like structures and macrovoids in the cross-section and, on numerous occasions, had a substantial impact on the overall porosity and pore size. Performance data were also gathered for membranes made for various separation technologies, such as ultrafiltration (UF) and nanofiltration (NF). Lastly, DESs provide various options for the functionalization of membranes, such as the creation of various liquid membrane types, with special focus on supported liquid membranes (SLMs) for decarbonization technologies, discussed in terms of permeability and selectivity of several gases, including CO2, N2, and CH4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, we employ polymer physics models of chromatin to investigate the 3D folding of a 2 Mb wide genomic region encompassing the human LTN1 gene, a crucial DNA locus involved in key cellular functions. Through extensive Molecular Dynamics simulations, we reconstruct in silico the ensemble of single-molecule LTN1 3D structures, which we benchmark against recent in situ Hi-C 2.0 data. The model-derived single molecules are then used to predict structural folding features at the single-cell level, providing testable predictions for super-resolution microscopy experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The molecularly imprinted polymer was synthesized using 3-aminopropylthiosilane-methacrylic acid monomer (APTES-MAA) as the functional monomer and 10-hydroxycamptothecin (HCPT) as the template, based on computer simulation. The hybrid molecularly imprinted polymers (HMIPs) were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, particle size measurement, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. It has been shown that HMIPs are irregularly shaped and porous, with particle sizes ranging mainly from 130 to 211 nm. At 298 K, the HMIPs exhibit a maximum adsorption capacity of 8.35 mg·g−1 for HCPT and demonstrate good adsorption specificity (α = 5.38). The pseudo-second-order reaction mechanism suggests that the equilibrium adsorption capacity of HCPT on HMIPs is 8.11 mg·g−1. Finally, HCPT was successfully separated and enriched from the extract of Camptotheca acuminata Decne. seeds using HMIPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The amount of end-of-life electrical and electronic devices has been widely increased, globally. This emphasizes how recycling waste electric and electronic equipment (WEEE) is essential in order to reduce the amount of WEEE that is disposed of directly in the environment. Plastics account for a big percentage in WEEE, almost 20%. As a result, the application of recycling methods on plastics gathered from WEEE is of great importance since, in this way, landfill disposal can be reduced. Nevertheless, despite the advantages, there are a lot of difficulties, such as the variety of different plastics present in the plastic mix and the existence of various additives in the plastic parts, for instance, brominated flame retardants that need special attention during their treatments, which restricts their wide application. Considering all these, this review aims to provide readers with all the current techniques and perspectives that are available for both the thermal and the catalytic recycling of plastics retrieved from WEEE. Apart from the up-to-date information on the recycling methods, in this review, emphasis is also given on the advantages each method offers and also on the difficulties and the limitations that may prevent them from being applied on a large scale. Current challenges are critically examined, including the use of mechanical or thermo-chemical recycling, the treatment of individual polymers or polymer blends and the separation of harmful additives before recycling or not. Finally, emerging technologies are briefly discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physical blending is an effective strategy for tailoring polymeric materials to specific application requirements. However, physically blended mixed plastics waste adds additional barriers in mechanical or chemical recycling. This difficulty arises from the intricate requirement for meticulous sorting and separation of the various polymers in the inherent incompatibility of mixed polymers during recycling. To overcome this impediment, this work furthers the emerging single‐monomer – multiple‐materials approach through the design of a bifunctional monomer that can not only orthogonally polymerize into two different types of polymers – specifically lactone‐based polyester and CO2‐based polycarbonate – but the resultant polymers and their mixture can also be depolymerized back to the single, original monomer when facilitated by catalysis. Specifically, the lactone/epoxide hybrid bifunctional monomer (BiLO) undergoes ring‐opening polymerization through the lactone manifold to produce polyester, PE(BiLO), and is also applied to ring‐opening copolymerization with CO2, via the epoxide manifold, to yield polycarbonate, PC(BiLO). Remarkably, a one‐pot recycling process of a BiLO‐derived PE/PC blend back to the constituent monomer BiLO in >99 % selectivity was achieved with a superbase catalyst at 150 °C, thereby effectively obviating the requirement for sorting and separation typically required for recycling of mixed polymers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the advancement of organic photovoltaics (OPV) toward scale‐up production, how to mitigate the batch instability of electron‐donating polymers originated from varied molecular weights remains a great challenge. By taking into consideration the relationship between the molecular weight of electron‐donating polymers and the relevant critical concentration (c*) of the solution, herein it is demonstrated that the aggregation behavior of the electron‐donating polymers can be tailored through manipulating c* of the polymer solution. It is interesting to note that the excessive aggregation in low‐molecular‐weight fractions can be circumvented while the favorable mixing ratio can be identified. By preparing the binary bulk heterojunction film under c*‐defined conditions for mixed‐molecular‐weight polymers, a notable power conversion efficiency of 19.1% for binary devices is achieved. Of particular importance is that a linear interrelation can be established between the c* for the maximum PCE and c* for the low‐molecular‐weight fraction aggregation, validating those straightforward spectra measurements can accurately and rationally guide the molecular weight mixing of photovoltaic donor polymers, thereby fully harnessing the potent driving force and affinity inherent to the low‐molecular‐weight fractions. These findings offer a straightforward and logical framework for addressing batch variability in the large‐scale production of high‐performance OPV devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of polymers with high separation characteristics for the efficient removal of carbon dioxide from bio‐/natural gases is the key to reducing the environmental impact of CO2. In this work, preparation and gas‐separation properties of novel vinyl‐addition polynorbornenes containing oxirane‐moieties at spiro centers, which combine high CO2‐permeability with remarkable selectivities for separation of CO2 from its mixtures with nitrogen and methane are published. Gas permeability data of the epoxidized polymer based on 5‐ethylidene‐2‐norbornene exceed the Robeson upper bound of 2019 for the CO2/N2 system (CO2 permeability is 1000 Barrer, α(CO2/N2) = 67)). Separation experiments with mixtures of gases confirm the high separation performance of this polymer. In particular, the data for CO2/CH4 separation are above or close to the upper bound of 2018 for mixed gases. A similar effect of introducing oxirane moieties into spiro centers is also shown for another vinyl‐addition polymer derived from 5‐isopropylidene‐2‐norbornene and is not observed for a related polymer bearing oxirane moieties at the ends of side chains. A simple synthesis of the epoxidized polymer from available 5‐ethylidene‐2‐norbornene, combined with high CO2‐permeability and selectivities, may open a window for industrial applications of this polymer in important membrane processes, in particular, for natural/biogas upgrading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water-triggered shape memory polymers (SMPs) have been extensively studied for biomedical applications due to their advantages of non-thermal actuation capability. However, few studies have been carried out to explore the working principle of shape recovery onset, which is essentially determined by the complex reactions between polymer macromolecules and water molecules. In this study, we developed a phase separation model to describe the dynamic glass transition in water-triggered SMPs. Based on the phase transition theory, dense and dilute phase separations of polymer macromolecules can be achieved when the dynamic diffusions of water molecules in the SMPs undergo dehydration and absorption processes, respectively. Then, the dynamic glass transition is resulted from the dehydration and absorption of water molecules, leading to the dense and dilute phases in the SMPs. Therefore, a free-energy equation has been developed to characterize the recovery onset, in which the mixing free energy and elastic free energy are originated from the Flory–Huggins solution theory and phase separation model, respectively. Moreover, the glass transition and its connection to shape recovery behaviors, i.e. recovery ratio, relaxation time and dynamic mechanical modulus, have also been investigated, according to the Fick's diffusion law. Meanwhile, onset of programmable recovery has been explained by the dynamic phase separation, based on the transpiration theory and permeability model. Finally, the proposed model is verified using the experimental results reported in the literature. This study is expected to provide a fundamental approach to formulate the constitutive relationship between the dynamic phase separation and programmable recovery onset in the water-triggered SMPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, the Flory–Huggins theory is utilized to formulate two essential equations for determining the compositions of the different phases resulting from the phase separation behavior of polymer blends. The equations use a graphical approach to determine the numerical outcomes of the compositions of the different phases, serving as a universally applicable illustration. The results show that when the Flory–Huggins interaction parameter is less than the critical value, the graphs of the equations have no intersection point, indicating the absence of phase separation. Conversely, when the Flory–Huggins interaction parameter equals the critical value, the graphs of the equations display a single intersection point. Furthermore, if the parameter value exceeds the critical value, the graphs of the equations show two symmetrical intersection points, indicating that phase separation can occur. The present study also includes a discussion on the correlations between the compositions of the different phases and the Flory–Huggins interaction parameter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The study focuses on developing a stable enantioselective matrix for the efficient chiral identification and enantioresolution of l‐DOPA and (±)‐DOPA. The matrix is derived from a copolymeric material made from poly[(vinylsulfonic acid)‐co‐(4‐vinylpyridine)] crosslinked with divinylbenzene. Results: l‐DOPA‐vinylsulfonamide was synthesized and characterized. This chiral sulfonamide was copolymerized with 4‐vinylpyridine in the presence of a divinylbenzene crosslinker, using azobisisobutyronitrile as a thermal initiator. Post‐polymerization, the polymeric particles were treated with NaOH and subsequently washed with acid to remove the integrated l‐DOPA species. Scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed the imprinted l‐DOPA‐IP particles. The manufactured l‐DOPA‐IP demonstrated a tenfold greater affinity for l‐DOPA compared to d‐DOPA. Langmuir adsorption experiments at pH 6 showed a maximum capacity of 162 mg g−1. Enantiomeric excess values for l‐ and d‐DOPA, determined through optical separation using a column approach, were 94% and 82%, respectively, in the loading and recovery solutions. Conclusion: The developed copolymeric material effectively served as an enantioselective matrix, exhibiting high selectivity and capacity for l‐DOPA. The process demonstrated efficient chiral identification and separation, achieving significant enantiomeric excess values for both l‐ and d‐DOPA. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hollow-fiber membranes for nanofiltration were prepared from the blending of Poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG) with Poly (vinyl chloride) (PVC) with different PEG molecular weights (400 and 4000 g/mol) and PVC via a dry/wet spinning process. In the spinning process, the effects of air gap, wind-up speed, dope extrusion rate, and bore extrusion rate were examined. In addition, the different lengths of the center tube, which acted as the inner-side fiber diameter during the preparation of hollow-fiber membranes, were studied. This research was investigated in order to observe the morphological, dielectric, and dynamic mechanical thermal properties to identify a suitable preparation of a hollow-fiber membrane for feasible applications. The morphology of the PVC-580 blended PEG-400 5 weight percent hollow-fiber membrane was seen to have a dense skin on both the inner and outer fiber surface, along with a suitable dope viscosity. Moreover, it offered finger-like substructures that could provide a high applicable feed-stream permeability and selectivity. Finger-like substructures were present on the near inner fiber surface at the controlled center-tube length of 0.3 cm, more so than at the center tube of 1 cm. This was because the solvent and non-solvent in the lumen tube exchanged more quickly than they did in the coagulant bath. The effect of the wind-up speed during the spinning process was significantly influenced by an affordable hollow fiber that can be indicated by the drawing ratio (λ). It was found that the drawing ratio of 3.3 showed a thickness thinner than 2.6 and 2.0, respectively. In summary, a controlled wind-up speed, an acceptable dope viscosity, and—most importantly—an agglomerated time resulted in membrane preparation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crescent‐shaped hydrogel microparticles are shown to template uniform volume aqueous droplets upon simple mixing with aqueous and oil media for various bioassays. This emerging "lab on a particle" technique requires hydrogel particles with tunable material properties and dimensions. The crescent shape of the particles is attained by aqueous two‐phase separation of polymers followed by photopolymerization of the curable precursor. In this work, the phase separation of poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA, Mw 700) and dextran (Mw 40 000) for tunable manufacturing of crescent‐shaped particles is investigated. The particles' morphology is precisely tuned by following a phase diagram, varying the UV intensity, and adjusting the flow rates of various streams. The fabricated particles with variable dimensions encapsulate uniform aqueous droplets upon mixing with an oil phase. The particles are fluorescently labeled with red and blue emitting dyes at variable concentrations to produce six color‐coded particles. The blue fluorescent dye shows a moderate response to the pH change. The fluorescently labeled particles are able to tolerate an extremely acidic solution (pH 1) but disintegrate within an extremely basic solution (pH 14). The particle‐templated droplets are able to effectively retain the disintegrating particle and the fluorescent signal at pH 14. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the portfolio of technologies available for net zero-enabling solutions, such as carbon capture and low-carbon production of hydrogen, membrane-based gas separation is a sustainable alternative to energy-intensive processes, such as solvent-based absorption or cryogenic distillation. Detailed knowledge of membrane materials performance in wide operative ranges is a necessary prerequisite for the design of efficient membrane processes. With the increasing popularization of data-driven methods in natural sciences and engineering, the investigation of their potential to support materials and process design for gas separation with membranes has received increasing attention, as it can help compact the lab-to-market cycle. In this work we review several machine learning (ML) strategies for the estimation of the gas separation performance of polymer membranes. New hybrid modelling strategies, in which ML complements physics-based models and simulation methods, are also discussed. Such strategies can enable the fast screening of large databases of existing materials for a specific separation, as well as assist in de-novo materials design. We conclude by highlighting the challenges and future directions envisioned for the ML-assisted design and optimization of membrane materials and processes for traditional, as well as new, membrane separations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this research work is to establish the theory of the domain of influence of diffusion disturbance with potential-temperature disturbance under the theory of generalized thermo-elastic diffusion using Lord and Shulman model. For a finite time t > 0, it has been proved that the potential due to displacement, temperature and diffusion effect does not produce any disturbances outside a bounded domain and the domain of influence is dependent on the support of thermo-elasto-diffusive load, the thermo-elasto-diffusive coupling constant and the phase-lag parameters. It has been shown that the domain of influence of the present case reduce to the domain of influence for classical thermo-elasticity theory with or without diffusion and the thermo-elasticity theory with one relaxation parameter without diffusion. Also, the effect of diffusion on thermal wave propagation is shown. This theorem will be applicable to analyze the deformation occur in elastic solids due to internal and external loads for the thermo-elasto-diffusive models and problems based on it in the field of engineering physics like solid-state-physics, physical metallurgy (fabrication of semi-conductor devices in mixture metals and molten semi-conductor), material engineering (separation of polymers), aircraft engineering, mechanical engineering and also in the industries like oil extraction from hydrocarbon and manipulation of macro-molecules like DNA etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phenolic resins are extensively utilized in various industries, but their production using non-renewable and petroleum-based phenol and formaldehyde raise concerns over cost and adverse effects on human health and the environment. Hence, the development of alternative phenol sources is imperative to achieve sustainable production and promote environmental sustainability in the field of polymer chemistry. This study aims to investigate the feasibility of synthesizing lignin-based phenolic resin, using fractionated acetone-treated lignin extracted from sugar waste, as a substitute for toxic and non-renewable phenols. Specifically, the acetone treatment is used for fractionating lignin to select the optimal components for phenolic resin synthesis. Experimental results indicate that the lignin exhibits improved solubility in a 60% acetone solution, leading to a simplified configuration and enhanced bonding mode. The resulting phenolic resin synthesized using lignin as a phenol source demonstrates superior bonding strength (1.57 MPa) compared to industrial phenolic resins (1.14 MPa). Furthermore, the resin exhibits a negligible amount of released free phenols (0.05%), which significantly mitigates environmental concerns. To conclude, this study presents a novel approach to develop a lignin-based phenolic resin using sugar byproduct as a feasible substitute for phenols, addressing the limitations associated with their production. These findings offer promising prospects for sustainable production practices in polymer chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymer membranes are widely used for gas separation, addressing critical environmental and energy issues. Nevertheless, crafting high‐performance polymer membranes remains a challenging task, often relies on labor‐intensive trial‐and‐error experiments. Different from the traditional Edisonian approach, machine learning offers significant potential to expedite the design of new polymer membranes for gas separation, yet it faces a substantial hurdle due to limited data availability. To overcome this challenge, in this study two physics‐informed performance metrics are introduced, namely fractional free volume and average void size, to assess the separation performance of polymer membranes. By employing active learning and multi‐target screening, top‐performing polyimides with intrinsic microporosity are efficiently discovered from a pool of 155 610 candidates, through calculations of only 709 (0.45%) in the entire search space. As validated by molecular simulations, the top‐performing polyimides exhibit exceptional separation performance for CO2/N2, CO2/CH4, and O2/N2 mixtures, superior to existing polymers and surpassing the current upper bound. The utilization of physics‐informed performance metrics provides a novel strategy to advance the design and accelerate the discovery of new polymer membranes for gas separation and many other important applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing materials with dynamic room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) properties is crucial for expanding the applications of organic light-emitting materials. In this study, we designed and synthesized two novel RTP molecules by combining functional units, incorporating the folded unit thianthrene into the classic luminescent cores thioxanthone or anthraquinone to construct TASO and TA2O. In this combination, the TA unit contributes to the enhancement of spin–orbit coupling (SOC), while the luminescent core governs the triplet energy level. After the strategic manipulation of SOC using the thianthrene unit, the target molecules exhibited a remarkable enhancement in RTP performance. This strategy led to the successful development of TASO and TA2O molecules with outstanding dynamic RTP properties when exposed to continuous ultraviolet irradiation, a result that can be ascribed to their efficient RTP, improved absorption ability, and oxygen-sensitive RTP properties. Leveraging the oxygen-mediated ultraviolet-radiation-induced RTP enhancement in TASO-doped polymer films, we developed a novel time-resolved detection technique for identifying phase separation in polymers with varying oxygen permeability. This research offers a promising approach for constructing materials with dynamic RTP properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current hydrophilic modification strategies improve the antifouling ability of membranes but fail to completely eliminate the fouling of emulsified oil droplets with a wide size distribution. Constructing membranes with superior anti‐oil‐fouling ability to resist various oil droplets especially at high permeation fluxes is challenging. Here, the fabrication of a zero‐oil‐fouling membrane by grafting considerably high coverage of zwitterionic polymer and building defect‐free hydration defense barrier on the surface is reported. A uniform layer of protocatechuic acid with COOH as abundant as existing in every molecule is stably deposited on the membrane so as to provide sufficient reactive sites and achieve dense grafting of the zwitterionic polymer. The coverage of zwitterionic polymer on the membrane plays a crucial role in promoting the antifouling ability to emulsified oil droplets. The poly(vinylidene fluoride) membrane with 93% coverage of the zwitterionic polymer exhibits zero oil fouling when separating multitudinous oil‐in‐water emulsions with ≈0% flux decline, ≈100% flux recovery, and a high water flux of ≈800 L m−2 h−1 bar−1. This membrane outperforms almost all of the reported membranes in terms of the comprehensive antifouling performance. This work provides a feasible route for manufacturing super‐antifouling membranes toward oil/water separation application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review scrutinizes current research on new methods for enhancing bituminous binder performance through radiation and radical grafting of polymer modifiers of bitumen. It investigates innovative methods, including using waste polymers as modifiers and applying radiation for polymer grafting, to overcome challenges like high costs, low aging resistance, and storage stability issues, of which separation of phases polymer/bitumen is the most significant obstacle. These advanced modification techniques promise sustainability through the decrease of the carbon footprint of transportation systems by improving the properties and durability of binders. Additionally, this review discusses the parameters and mechanistic aspects from a scientific perspective, shedding light on the underlying processes that contribute to the improved performance of modified bituminous binders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The side‐outlet cyclone, featuring a novel geometric design with a lateral gas outlet, proves advantageous in space‐constrained environments compared to traditional cyclones with top gas outlets. Herein, a cyclone separator with a side‐outlet configuration was numerically investigated using the renormalization group k‐ε model and pressure drop and separation efficiency as the performance parameters. Simulation results revealed that the side‐outlet cyclone operates at a low to moderate pressure drop of 80.8412 Pa, with a removal efficiency of 45.48 %. The operating pressure drop was found to be only one‐third of the computed pressure drop from mathematical modeling, with a removal efficiency 15 % lower than the experimental value. With varying cyclone design modifications, suitable experimental procedures and measuring approaches are desirable to further accurately corroborate these results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monosaccharides are vital building blocks in bioengineering applications; however, their extraction from intricate mixtures is challenging and uses substantial amounts of energy. Polymers of intrinsic microporosity (PIMs) offer an innovative avenue for separating monosaccharides. We modified PIM‐1membranes to improve the glucose/xylose separation by incorporating polyethylene glycol monomethyl ether (mPEG). The optimal mPEG (molecular weight: 1000 Da; mass fraction: 2.5 %; solvent: methanol) delivered a xylose separation coefficient of 2.62. With the hybrid membrane of PIM‐1‐mPEG (50 w.t.%) and hydrophilic Tröger's base polymerer (DMBP‐TB, 50 w.t.%), the separation factor for xylose/glucose in an aqueous solution was 2.51 for single‐stage running and 11.32 after five‐stage running. There are large fractions of micropores for PIM‐1‐mPEG, and there is difference on solute‐membrane interactions for pentose/hexose, which are regarded to be the main driving force for the high pentose/hexose selectivity in methanol. The blending of PIM‐1‐mPEG and DMBP‐TB, integrates the microporosity and hydrophilicity, finally endues the high pentose/hexose selectivity in aqueous solution. These microporous membranes are promising materials for efficiently separating monosaccharides and jnl> small organic molecules while minimizing energy consumption. We established a solid foundation for further exploring microporous membranes for various applications, notably in bioengineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The origin of melt memory effects associated with semicrystalline polymers and the physical parameters involved in this process have been widely studied in the literature. However, a comprehensive understanding of the role of intermolecular interactions on melt memory is still being developed. For this purpose, we have considered aliphatic polyesters and we have incorporated amide and additional ester groups. Inserting these additional functional groups, the strength of the intermolecular interactions increases widening the melt memory effect. Not only the presence of the functional groups but also the position of these groups in the repeating unit plays a role in the melt memory effect as it impacts the strength of the intermolecular interactions in the crystals. The study of the effect of intermolecular interactions has been extended to successive self-nucleation and annealing thermal fractionation experiments to explore for the first time the role of intermolecular forces on the fractionation capacity of linear polymers. We demonstrated that intermolecular interactions act as intrinsic defects interrupting the crystallizable chain length, thus facilitating thermal fractionation. Overall, this work sheds light on the role of intermolecular interactions on the crystallization behavior of a series of aliphatic polyesters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural environment hosts a considerable amount of accessible energy, comprising mechanical, thermal, and chemical potentials. Environment-induced nanogenerators are nanomaterial-based electronic chips that capture environmental energy and convert it into electricity in an environmentally friendly way. Polymers, characterized by their superior flexibility, lightweight, and ease of processing, are considered viable materials. In this paper, a thorough review and comparison of various polymer-based nanogenerators were provided, focusing on their power generation principles, key materials, power density and stability, and performance modulation methods. The latest developed nanogenerators mainly include triboelectric nanogenerators (TriboENG), piezoelectric nanogenerators (PENG), thermoelectric nanogenerators (ThermoENG), osmotic power nanogenerator (OPNG), and moist-electric generators (MENG). Potential practical applications of polymer-based nanogenerator were also summarized. The review found that polymer nanogenerators can harness a variety of energy sources, with the basic power generation mechanism centered on displacement/conduction currents induced by dipole/ion polarization, due to the non-uniform distribution of physical fields within the polymers. The performance enhancement should mainly start from strengthening the ion mobility and positive/negative ion separation in polymer materials. The development of ionic hydrogel and hydrogel matrix composites is promising for future nanogenerators and can also enable multi-energy collaborative power generation. In addition, enhancing the uneven distribution of temperature, concentration, and pressure induced by surrounding environment within polymer materials can also effectively improve output performance. Finally, the challenges faced by polymer-based nanogenerators and directions for future development were prospected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flow-induced phenomena in entangled solutions of linear, monodisperse C 1000 H 2002 polyethylene dissolved in benzene were simulated under steady-state and startup uniaxial elongational flow via nonequilibrium molecular dynamics at a concentration of 13.5 c ∗ of the coil-overlap concentration, c ∗ . The simulations revealed that the solution exhibited a chemical phase separation of the polymer and solvent components when subjected to uniaxial extensional flow at extension rates faster than the inverse Rouse time of the solution, followed by flow-induced crystallization of the polymer-rich phase into fibrillar structures of roughly 50 Å in diameter. The polymer phase was generated by the migration of the polymer chains into locally concentrated domains due to the favorable energetics of the stretched polymer chains, which simultaneously resulted in the expulsion of the less energetically favorable solvent molecules, thus producing a configurationally-based flow-induced demixing effect of polymer and solvent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A high‐temperature starved‐feed semi‐batch operating policy is developed to produce p(acrylates) with high macromonomer content, taking advantage of side reactions inherent to acrylate radical polymerization. This operating strategy results in significantly higher macromonomer content for the polymerization of isobornyl acrylate (iBoA) versus n‐butyl acrylate (BA) under identical operating conditions. This is because steric hindrance favors fragmentation (i.e., terminal double bond (TDB) formation) over addition (i.e., short‐chain or long‐chain branch (LCB) formation), thus increasing the p(iBoA) TDB content and decreasing polymer dispersity. The p(iBoA) macromonomer solution serves as an excellent addition‐fragmentation agent to polymerize a second monomer in a single pot process controlled by sequential feeding, as demonstrates by the production of iBoA‐BA block and comb copolymer structures at different temperatures and macromonomer concentrations. The incorporation of the p(iBoA) macromonomer into a copolymer product is verified by various techniques, including polymer fractionation followed by TDB, composition, and molar mass analyses. Reaction temperature plays a key role in determining whether a blocky versus comb copolymer structure is produced. The ability to synthesize block and comb copolymers by radical polymerization without a mediating agent offers the potential to efficiently produce structured copolymers for industrial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three-dimensional device integration facilitates the construction of superconducting quantum information processors with more than several tens of qubits by distributing elements such as control wires, qubits, and resonators between multiple layers. The frequencies of resonators and qubits in flip-chip-bonded multi-chip modules depend on the details of their electromagnetic environment defined by the conductors and dielectrics in their vicinity. Accurate frequency targeting therefore requires precise control of the separation between chips and minimization of their relative tilt. Here, we describe a method to control the inter-chip separation by using polymer spacers. With the spacers, we measure a mean tilt of (76 ± 36) μrad, and a mean deviation of (0.4 ± 0.8) μm from the target inter-chip separation of 10 μm. We apply this process to coplanar waveguide resonator samples and observe chip-to-chip resonator frequency variations below 50 MHz (≈ 1 % ). We measure internal quality factors of 5 × 10 5 at the single-photon level, suggesting that the added spacers are compatible with low-loss device fabrication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Separation of hydrogen isotopes is an important process in materials science, biomedical research, and nuclear fields. In this study, we used a polymer electrolyte fuel cell to separate protium (H) and deuterium (D). Here a circulation system recycled hydrogen gas at the anode was used. H and D were enriched in the gas and water phases, respectively. The separation efficiency depends on the gas flow rate through the parameter λ, which describes the stoichiometric ratio of circulation gas to feed gas. H and D were simultaneously enriched in their respective phases. The circulation system prolonged the gas circulation time in the system to improve the separation efficiency. • Polymer electrolyte fuel cell was applied for deuterium separation. • Anode gas circulation promoted the protium enrichment in the fuel gas. • Gas flow and consumption rate was discussed for the optimal separation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reports the synthesis of a flexible light‐emitting polymer film by casting the solution formed by blending poly[2‐methoxy‐5‐((2‐ethylhexyl)oxy)‐1,4‐phenylenevinylene] (MEH‐PPV) with poly(styrene‐co‐butadiene‐co‐styrene) (SBS). Scanning force microscopy (SFM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) confirm that MEH‐PPV molecules are selectively positioned in the polystyrene (PS) domain of the fabricated film. As MEH‐PPV molecules are dissolved in the PS phase without aggregation, the photoluminescence (PL) spectrum of the MEH‐PPV/SBS film exhibits a nanometer‐scale bicontinuous luminescent domain with low aggregation quenching. Furthermore, the MEH‐PPV/SBS film exhibits typical elastomeric characteristics (with linear elasticity, a plateau, and densification regions in its stress–strain curves), and its tensile properties are comparable to those of neat SBS films. As MEH‐PPV molecules are almost absent in the polybutadiene (PB) phase (which influences the bulk‐film elastic properties), the concentration of MEH‐PPV shows very little effect on the elastic properties of the composite film. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to a continued rise in the production and use of plastic products, their end‐of‐life pollution has become a pressing global issue. One of the biggest challenges in plastics recycling is the separation of different polymers. Multi‐block copolymers (MBCPs) represent an efficient strategy for the upcycling of mixed plastics via induced compatibilization, but this approach is limited by difficulties associated with synthesis and structural modification. In this contribution, several synthetic strategies are explored to prepare MBCPs with tunable microstructures, which were then used as compatibilizer additives to upcycle mixtures of polyolefins with other plastics. A multi‐block+ strategy based on a reactive telechelic block copolymer platform was introduced, which enabled block extension during the in situ melt blending of mixed plastics, leading to better compatibilizing properties as well as better 3D printing capability. This strategy was also applicable to more complex ternary plastic blends. The polymer multi‐block strategy enabled by versatile MBCPs synthesis and the multi‐block+ strategy enabled by in situ block extension show exciting opportunities for the upcycling of mixed plastics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the acceleration of the global modern industrialisation process and the increasingly serious environmental problems, the development of low energy consumption, high efficiency electrochemical energy conversion equipment and separation system has become a research hotspot in the scientific and industrial circles. At present, machine learning has become an important research method to explore and expand two-dimensional material family. Traditional experimental and computational methods have low fault tolerance when studying two-dimensional materials, which requires a lot of time and research and development costs. Machine learning, due to its powerful data processing capability and flexible algorithm model, can help reduce the time and cost of discovering and understanding two-dimensional materials, and can effectively predict and expand two-dimensional material systems based on data and explore their potential for experimental synthesis and application. This paper will focus on the methods of machine learning, the exploration of machine learning in 2D material design and synthesis, and the exploration of machine learning in 2D material properties and applications. Finally, this paper uses ML algorithm to test the synthesised polymer. The experimental data points and prediction data points have relatively good consistency with each other, which indicates that ML model can be used as a prediction tool to identify the undeveloped polymer for gas separation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of the interaction strength between polymer and nanoparticles (NPs), εNP, on the glass transition temperature, Tg, and the phase separation in polymer nanocomposites (PNCs) is explored by employing molecular dynamics simulations. The variation of the Tg with respect to εNP shows interesting behaviors at low and high-volume fractions of nanoparticles (fNP). For εNP < 2, the Tg curves seem to diverge, whereas for εNP > 2, they almost coincide. Interestingly, no sign of any phase separation is witnessed in the investigated PNCs at low fNP. However, at high fNP, obvious phase separation is noticed for low εNP. For both cases, there is no phase separation for εNP > 2. The measurement of the diffusion constants also reveals that the polymer dynamics become independent of the volume fraction of NPs for εNP > 2. We strongly recommend considering this critical value of εNP to avoid phase separation and Tg instability in the case of a high-volume fraction of NPs incorporated into PNCs. Briefly, different behaviors of Tg as the interaction strength between nanoparticles and polymer is increased in relevance to different inserted volume fractions of NPs are observed. Thus, the findings of this work could yield a high impact on the experimental techniques implemented in the fabrication and characterization of NPs–Polymers nanocomposites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study describes the removal of reactive black 5 (RB5) using sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (NaCMC)-stabilized ZnO nanocomposite (ZnO-NaCMC)-incorporated polymer membranes (PMs). Herein, PMs were fabricated using six different polymers, such as cellulose triacetate (CTA), polysulfone (PSF), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polyphenylsulfone (PPSU) and polyetherimide (PEI). The permeation experiments, hydrophilicity, porosity, mechanical stability and ultrafiltration performance for RB5 dye removal and dye adsorption capacity of the membranes were tested for the as-prepared PMs. Water permeation studies revealed that ZnO-NaCMC nanocomposite-embedded PMs exhibit higher flux than all pristine polymer membranes. The incorporation of the ZnO-NaCMC nanocomposite into the dope solution increased the hydrophilicity and adsorption capacity of the PMs. In addition, the mechanical strength of the PMs was also enhanced owing to the presence of the ZnO-NaCMC nanocomposite in the membrane. PPSU/ZnO-NaCMC and PEI/ZnO-NaCMC PMs showed good colour rejection and appreciable water flux compared to pristine PMs. Moreover, the anti-fouling properties of the PMs have also been enhanced by adding ZnO-NaCMC nanocomposites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Solar-driven interfacial evaporation materials based on nanocomposite hydrogels have emerged for seawater desalination. Nevertheless, the issue of mechanical degradation derived from the swelling behavior of hydrogel is often seriously underestimated, which strongly hinders the practical application for long-term solar vapor generation, especially in high-salinity brine. Herein, a novel CNT@Gel-nacre with enhanced capillary pumping design has been proposed and fabricated for tough and durable solar-driven evaporator through uniformly doping carbon nanotubes (CNTs) into the tough gel-nacre. Particularly, the salting out process gives rise to volume shrinkage and phase separation of polymer chains, endowing the nanocomposite hydrogel with significantly enhanced mechanical properties while simultaneously rendering more compact microchannels for water transportation, boosting the capillary pumping. Based on this unique design, the gel-nacre nanocomposite exhibits outstanding mechanical performances (13.41 MPa strength, 55.60 MJ m−3 toughness), especially mechanical durability in high salinity brine for long-term service. Furthermore, excellent water evaporation rate of 1.31 kg m-2h−1 and conversion efficiency of 93.5% in 3.5 wt% sodium chloride solution, as well as stable cycling without salt accumulation can be achieved. This work demonstrates an effective strategy for achieving solar-driven evaporator with superior mechanical properties and durability even in brine environment, showing huge potentials in long-term seawater desalination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High value-added reuse of waste vehicle polymers can effectively alleviate the global resource shortage and environmental degradation. How to separate mixed polymers cleanly and efficiently is an important prerequisite for their reuse. In the paper, polyamide (PA)/ polypropylene (PP)/acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) and polyethylene (PE)/PP/polyvinylchloride (PVC) of vehicle polymer mixed particles are taken as the research objects, and the tribo-electrostatic separation of three-component mixed particles is studied using the designed double-stage device for tribo-aero-electrostatic separation. First, the optimal installation angle of the fluidized bed reflow plate is determined to be 45° by using the coupling method of computational fluid dynamics and discrete element. Second, the gas velocity for forming a fast bed and the optimal charging time for two sets of mixed particles are identified by tribo-charging experiments. The separation voltage for the two sets of mixed particles is also determined using COMSOL software. Furthermore, based on the determined parameters, two sets of tribo-electrostatic separation experiments are carried out. Results showed that the purities of PA and ABS particles are more than 91%, the purities of the PE, PP (white), and PVC particles are more than 85%. The research provides a reference for the two-stage tribo-electrostatic separation of vehicle polymer mixed particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are efficient adsorbents for the removal of hazardous materials. An MOF based on 1,3,5‐benzenetricarboxylic acid (BTC), Cu3(BTC)2, is prepared via phase separation using supercritical CO2 (scCO2) as a nonsolvent for the polymer solution. The prepared MOF is then loaded onto microporous polystyrene membranes. To evaluate the performance of Cu3(BTC)2‐loaded microporous polystyrene membranes for pollutant removal from water, they are tested for the separation of methylene blue (MB) dye from an aqueous solution. Prior to the preparation of the Cu3(BTC)2‐loaded microporous polystyrene membranes, Cu3(BTC)2 is activated with scCO2. After the activation with scCO2, the internal surface area of Cu3(BTC)2 and its MB adsorption increase. A toluene solution of polystyrene containing Cu3(BTC)2 particles is prepared, and scCO2 is introduced to induce the phase separation of the polymer solution. A Cu3(BTC)2‐loaded microporous polystyrene membrane is obtained without the collapse of the structure after the release of the CO2 pressure. MB can be readily and rapidly removed from aqueous solutions using Cu3(BTC)2‐loaded microporous polystyrene membranes. The removal efficiencies for aqueous MB solution were high, and removal efficiencies reached 92.8%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, inspired by the human‐giving goosebumps process, we demonstrated a rapid, versatile, and simple method to prepare anti‐UV microstructures polymer blend films with good morphology based on phase separation. Through the results of characterizations, it is proved that the microstructures are formed by polymer phase separation. Then the formation possibility of microstructures is proved by thermodynamic analysis. Moreover, the phase‐field model is used to simulate the formation of microstructures by the finite element method, which can illustrate the evolution process of the microstructures. Besides, the microstructures were prepared on different substrates through the simple phase separation method, which can verify the versatility of this method. In addition, the anti‐UV performance of the micro‐structure films was evaluated. This work proposed a simple and versatile route to prepare microstructures coating in different substrates, which exhibit well anti‐UV performance, and this work has the application potential for preventing material aging caused by UV radiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Computational modelling of a centrifugal technique for separating binary mixtures of thermoplastic polymers in the molten state is presented. The technique may be useful for the recycling of polymeric materials. The study investigates the physical process of component separation due to the centrifugal force in a batch process, showing the potential of using a dispersed model for describing the complex mechanism underlying the technique. Given the long time scales of change of the flow field, the polymer melts are modelled as inelastic, shear-thinning materials. The centrifugal force drives the component with the higher density to the outer region of an annular cross section occupied by the melt inside a rotating containment. The model system PET/LDPE is investigated in detail. The simulations allow to predict the process time needed for the separation. The simulations are the basis for studying a continuous process in a rotating tube. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a kind of genistein magnetic imprinted polymers (Gen‐MMIPs) was successfully synthesized via surface molecular imprinting technique, in which genistein (Gen) and Fe3O4 were used as the template molecule and the carrier, respectively. The obtained Gen‐MMIPs were characterized by TEM, VSM, FT‐IR, and XRD. The adsorption capacity of Gen‐MMIPs for Gen is 33.23 mg/g, with the kinetic adsorption of Gen‐MMIPs reaching equilibrium in 30 min. The imprinting factor (α) is 2.15, which indicated that the Gen‐MMIPs had good selectivity, high binding capacity. The Gen‐MMIPs were evaluated to separate genistein from the crude sample of Flemingia philippinensis Merr. et Rolfe, which showed that the Gen‐MMIPs can be applied to separate genistein from complicated samples of natural products. These results indicated that the Gen‐MMIPs have great potential for efficient separation and enrichment of genistein in complicated samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The non‐canonical photoisomerization‐induced phase separation of an azobenzene‐bearing polymer is found. The polymer composed of acrylate‐based azobenzene (AzoAA) and N,N‐dimethylacrylamide (DMA), namely poly(AzoAA‐r‐DMA), phase separates under visible light‐induced cis‐to‐trans isomerization at high molecular weight, whereas the phase separation is realized under UV light‐induced trans‐to‐cis isomerization at low molecular weight. Conventionally, the origin of photoisomerization‐induced phase separation is believed to arise from the difference in polarity between the apolar trans and polar cis states; thereby the direction of phase changes, either to separate or dissolute, is uniquely determined by the polarity changes during the isomerization of azobenzene. Contrary to this common perception, the poly(AzoAA‐r‐DMA) in this study phase separates through both trans and cis isomerization, depending on the molecular weight. The non‐canonical phase separation of poly(AzoAA‐r‐DMA) reported herein suggests that molecular weight plays a significant role in determining the phase behavior of azobenzene‐bearing polymers. This study provides a platform for the development of spatial‐temporally controlled delivery vehicles and microreactors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The charge parameter optimization of polymer electrostatic separation equipment developed by the research team was investigated in this study. The charge mechanism of polymer particles in the friction barrel tribocharger was preliminarily explored, and the contact model between particles and the friction barrel, including the particle charge model, were established. Factors that exert strong influences on particle charge were obtained from the charge model. Vehicle polymer particles polyamide (PA), polypropylene (PP), and polyethylene (PE) were the research objects, and the optimal level range of influencing factors was obtained through the single factor experiment. Meanwhile, response surface methodology was used to design the experiment, determine the interaction among various influencing factors, and predict the optimal operating parameters of the equipment. The correctness of the prediction model was verified through experiments. Finally, polymer particles were charged under the optimal operation parameters of the equipment and then separated in a high-voltage electrostatic field. The separation purity of PA, PP, and PE mixture particles was 96.32 %, 77.98 %, and 91.73 %, respectively. Experimental results showed that the friction barrel-type electrostatic separation equipment can separate three kinds of polymer particles at once. The findings can provide a theoretical and experimental reference for the electrostatic separation of various polymer particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Liquid-liquid phase separation at complex interfaces is a common phenomenon in biological systems and is also a fundamental basis to create synthetic materials in multicomponent mixtures. Understanding the liquid-liquid phase separation in well-defined macromolecular systems is anticipated to shed light on similar behaviors in cross-disciplinary areas. Here we study a series of immiscible polymers and reveal a generic phase diagram of liquid–liquid phase separation at double emulsion interfaces, which depicts the equilibrium structures by interfacial tension and polymer fraction. We further reveal that the interfacial tensions in various systems fall on a linear relationship with spreading coefficients. Based on this theoretical guideline, the liquid–liquid phase separation can be modulated by a low fraction of amphiphilic block copolymers, leading the double emulsion droplets configurable between compartments and anisotropic shapes. The solidified anisotropic microcapsules could provide unique orientation-sensitive optical properties and thermomechanical responses. The theoretical analysis and experimental protocol in this study yield a generalizable strategy to prepare multiphase double emulsions with controlled structures and desired properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]