Abundant Hydroxyl Research Articles

Surface Hydroxylated S/O Dual‐Vacancy S‐Scheme Hollow [In2S3‐x/In2O3‐x](OH)y Heterojunction for Photothermal‐promoted Low‐Temperature Methanol/Water Reforming into Hydrogen

To enable highly efficient in situ hydrogen release from methanol/water reforming at lower temperature, the integration of solar‐energy offers a promising approach to activate methanol/water and substantially lower the activation energy of this reaction. Herein, we present a novel dual‐vacancy defective hollow heterostructure derived from Metal‐Organic Frameworks, featuring abundant surface hydroxyl groups and S/O vacancies, for photothermal‐promoted methanol solution reforming into hydrogen. The [In2S3‐x/In2O3‐x](OH)y exhibits exceptional photothermal H2 evolution activity, achieving a production rate of 215.2 mmolgcat‐1h‐1, 16‐fold higher than its thermocatalytic activity, with an apparent quantum efficiency of 66.8% and solar‐to‐hydrogen efficiency of 6.5% at 365 nm and excellent durability over 82 h, cumulating 2.61×103 mmolgcat‐1. The synergistic effects of dual‐vacancies and the hollow heterostructure significantly enhance the photothermal effect, lowering the activation energy barrier for methanol/water, enabling H2 production at temperatures even as 80 °C under non‐alkaline conditions. Furthermore, the incorporated surface hydroxyl groups facilitate the generation of active surface hydroxyls from water, further driving activation and cleavage of C‐H bonds in methanol, thereby markedly reducing the apparent reaction activation energy by 12.5 %. This work provides a new strategy for effective H2 production from aqueous methanol reforming under mild conditions, holding great promise for energy‐demanding industrial applications.

Surface Hydroxylated S/O Dual-Vacancy S-Scheme Hollow [In2S3-x/In2O3-x](OH)y Heterojunction for Photothermal-promoted Low-Temperature Methanol/Water Reforming into Hydrogen.

To enable highly efficient in situ hydrogen release from methanol/water reforming at lower temperature, the integration of solar-energy offers a promising approach to activate methanol/water and substantially lower the activation energy of this reaction. Herein, we present a novel dual-vacancy defective hollow heterostructure derived from Metal-Organic Frameworks, featuring abundant surface hydroxyl groups and S/O vacancies, for photothermal-promoted methanol solution reforming into hydrogen. The [In2S3-x/In2O3-x](OH)y exhibits exceptional photothermal H2 evolution activity, achieving a production rate of 215.2 mmolgcat-1h-1, 16-fold higher than its thermocatalytic activity, with an apparent quantum efficiency of 66.8% and solar-to-hydrogen efficiency of 6.5% at 365 nm and excellent durability over 82 h, cumulating 2.61×103 mmolgcat-1. The synergistic effects of dual-vacancies and the hollow heterostructure significantly enhance the photothermal effect, lowering the activation energy barrier for methanol/water, enabling H2 production at temperatures even as 80 °C under non-alkaline conditions. Furthermore, the incorporated surface hydroxyl groups facilitate the generation of active surface hydroxyls from water, further driving activation and cleavage of C-H bonds in methanol, thereby markedly reducing the apparent reaction activation energy by 12.5 %. This work provides a new strategy for effective H2 production from aqueous methanol reforming under mild conditions, holding great promise for energy-demanding industrial applications.

Fabrication of Polydopamine/hemin/TiO2 Composites with Enhanced Visible Light Absorption for Efficient Photocatalytic Degradation of Methylene Blue

With the rapid progression of industrialization, water pollution has emerged as an increasingly critical issue, especially due to the release of organic dyes such as methylene blue (MB), which poses serious threats to both the environment and human health. Developing efficient photocatalysts to effectively degrade these pollutants is therefore of paramount importance. In this work, titanium dioxide (TiO2) was modified with the photosensitizer hemin and the hydroxyl-rich polymer polydopamine (PDA) to enhance its photocatalytic degradation performance. Hemin and PDA function as photosensitizers, extending the light absorption of TiO2 into the visible spectrum, reducing its bandgap energy, and effectively promoting separation of photogenerated electron–hole pairs through conjugated structures. Additionally, the strong adhesion of PDA enabled the rapid transfer and effective utilization of photogenerated electrons, while its abundant phenolic hydroxyls increased MB adsorption on the photocatalyst’s surface. Experimental results demonstrated a significant enhancement in photocatalytic activity, with the 1%PDA/3%hemin/TiO2 composite achieving degradation rates of 91.79% under UV light and 71.53% under visible light within 120 min, representing 2.22- and 2.05-fold increases compared to unmodified TiO2, respectively. This research presents an effective modification approach and provides important guidance for designing high-performance TiO2-based photocatalysts aimed at environmental remediation.

Diatomite-Based Hybrid Electrolyte for Improving Reversibility of Cathode/Anode Interface Reaction in Zn-MnO2 Batteries.

The cyclic stability of aqueous zinc-manganese batteries (ZMBs) is greatly restricted by the side reaction of the anode and the irreversibility of the cathode. In this work, a solid-liquid hybrid electrolyte mixing by traditional ZnSO4-based electrolyte and diatomite (denoted as Dtm) is proposed that exhibits good compatibility and reversibility in both the anode interface and the cathode interface. The abundant hydroxyl groups at the anode interface disturb the hydrogen bond network of water molecule, which weakens the corrosion of the active water to Zn anode. Moreover, the negatively charged surface of diatomite is able to regulate the electric field at the anode interface to promote the uniform deposition of Zn ion as well as inhibit the formation of Zn hydroxyl sulfate (ZHS) at the anode interface. As a result, Zn||Zn symmetric battery with Dtm achieves a stable cycling for 2500h at 1mA cm-2/1 mAh cm-2, while Zn||MnO2 battery can achieve a stable cycle time of 500 cycles at current densities of 0.2 and 0.5 A g-1 with capacities of 228 and 177.6 mAh g-1, respectively. The Dtm provides new ideas for electrolyte screening for high-performance aqueous ZMBs.

Elucidating molecular characteristics of organic compounds during ozone micro-bubbles treatment based on GC × GC-QTOF-MS and non-targeted analysis.

The ozone micro-bubbles (OCBs) technology is increasingly gaining traction as a promising alternative method for organic compounds removal in wastewater. Nevertheless, there is a scarcity of literature addressing the molecular-level transformation of organic compounds during OCBs treatment. In this work, the secondary effluent from a wastewater treatment plant was treated with ozone milli-bubbles (OLBs) and OCBs, and the fate of organic compounds at the molecular level was investigated using comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC×GC-QTOF-MS). The findings revealed that, compared to OLBs, OCBs increased the total mass transfer coefficient by 1.46 times and the half-life of ozone by 4 times. Consequently, OCBs enhanced the removal rates of CODcr, NH4+-N, UV254, and TOC at the 30-min mark by 8.91%, 8.65%, 10.11%, and 2.15%, respectively. In the raw water, 710 organic compounds were detected, decreasing to 668 and 478 after treatment with OLBs and OCBs, respectively. Furthermore, the organic compounds with higher molecular weight and unsaturation degree were more prone to mineralization in the OCBs process. It was also identified that OCBs exhibited nearly 100% removal of amines, unsaturated hydrocarbons, aldehydes, phenols, and aromatic amides. It is noteworthy that, among the 15 identified emerging contaminants (ECs), the removal efficiency of OCBs (53.3%) was higher than that of OLBs (33.3%), with fewer by-products. More deeply, based on 30 common reactions, the primary reactions occurring in OLBs treatment were dealkylations, whereas the abundant hydroxyl radicals in OCBs treatment facilitated the oxidation reaction (+O). This study contributes to the exploration of the potential of OCBs technology in treating secondary effluent, providing invaluable insights for its rational application in practical scenarios.

Weak H-Bond Interface Environment for Stable Aqueous Zinc Batteries.

Hydrogen evolution reaction and Zn dendrite growth, originating from high water activity and the adverse competition between the electrochemical kinetics and mass transfer, are the main constraints for the commercial applications of the aqueous zinc-based batteries. Herein, a weak H-bond interface with a suspension electrolyte is developed by adding TiO2 nanoparticles into the electrolytes. Owing to the strong polarity of Ti-O bonds in TiO2, abundant hydroxyl functional groups are formed between the TiO2[110] active surface and aqueous environment, which can produce a weak H-bond interface by disrupting the initial H-bond networks between the water molecules, thereby accelerating the mass transfer of Zn2+ and reducing the water activity. In consequence, the Zn||Zn symmetrical cells display reversible Zn plating/stripping behaviors with a high Coulombic efficiency of 99.7% over 700 cycles. Moreover, the TiO2-based suspension strategy is also applicable to other zinc salt systems and exhibits fast plating/stripping behaviors. The suspension electrolyte enables long-term full cells, including Zn||PANI hybrid capacitors and Zn||ZnVO full batteries.

Design and synthesis of Pt/TiO2 catalyst with abundant surface hydroxyl for formaldehyde oxidation.

Catalytic oxidation of formaldehyde (HCHO) is a highly effective method for indoor HCHO removal. However, many aspects of the catalytic mechanism remain unclear, making the optimization of catalysts largely empirical. Herein, we report a coupled experimental and computational study of Pt/TiO2 catalysts, with special focus on the functional roles of surface oxygen vacancies and hydroxyl groups in the catalytic oxidation of HCHO. DFT calculations combined with control experiments revealed that the formation of surface oxygen vacancies on TiO2 and their capability in facilitating H2O dissociation are strongly dependent on the exposed facets. Correlating these facet-dependent properties with the determined activity further indicated that the catalytic performance is directly related to the abundance of surface hydroxyl groups, rather than surface oxygen vacancies as commonly assumed. Guided by these insights, we employed a combination of facet-engineering and alkali metal modification strategies to design a potassium-modified Pt/TiO2 catalyst with predominantly exposed {100} facets (denoted as Pt/TiO2{100}-K). The Pt/TiO2{100}-K catalyst showed an impressively high mass-specific reaction rate of 105.7 μmol gPt-1 s-1, along with fairly good stability and moisture tolerance. Further investigations using in situ DRIFTS coupled with on-line GC provided additional insight into the reaction mechanism of HCHO oxidation over the Pt/TiO2{100}-K catalyst.

Recent Advances in Paper Conservation Using Nanocellulose and Its Composites.

Paper-based cultural relics experience aging and deterioration during their long-term preservation, which poses a serious threat to their lifetime. The development of conservation materials with high compatibility and low intervention has been expected to extend the lifetime of paper artifacts. As a new type of biological macromolecule, nanocellulose has been extensively utilized in paper conservation, attributed to its excellent paper compatibility, high optical transparency, outstanding mechanical strength, and large specific surface area with abundant hydroxyl groups. This review systematically summarizes the latest development of three kinds of nanocellulose (cellulose nanofibril, cellulose nanocrystal, and bacterial nanocellulose) and their composites used for the multifunctional conservation of paper relics. Owing to the strong hydrogen bond interactions between hydroxyls of nanocellulose and paper fibers, nanocellulose can effectively consolidate paper without adding adhesives. The composite of nanocellulose with other functional materials greatly expands its application scope, and the superior performance has been emphasized in paper deacidification, consolidation, antimicrobial effect, antioxidation, UV resistance, self-cleaning, promotion of printing property, reduction in air permeability, and flame retardancy. The application characteristics and future prospects of nanocellulose composites are highlighted in the conservation of paper-based cultural relics.

Polyhydroxy starch with abundant hydroxyls and a unique structure enables uniform Zn deposition.

Zinc metal is a promising anode material for zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs), but severe side reactions and dendrite formation hinder its commercialization. In this study, starch is introduced into the ZnSO4 electrolyte for stabilizing the Zn anode. With abundant hydroxyl groups, starch can reconstruct the H-bond system in the electrolyte, suppressing side reactions. Moreover, the unique ring and double-helix structures of starch show strong interactions with Zn2+ ions. The large molecule structure also exhibits a steric hindrance effect, regulating the diffusion and reduction of Zn2+. Additionally, starch molecules can adsorb onto the Zn anode, promoting the formation of a solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) and resulting in uniform Zn deposition along the (002) plane. Consequently, this approach enhances the stability and reversibility of the Zn anode.

Hydroxylated magnetic microporous organic network for efficient magnetic solid phase extraction of trace triazine herbicides.

Here we covalently constructed abundant long-chain hydroxyl groups-functionalized magnetic microporous organic networks (MMON-2OH) for detection of eight Triazine herbicides (THs) in honey and water samples. MMON-2OH owned a high surface area (287.86 m²/g), enhanced water compatibility, and increased exposure of long-chain hydroxyl groups, which significantly improved enrichment capacity for THs. Theoretical analyses and characterization data revealed interaction mechanisms, including hydrogen bonds (N-H···O and O-H···N), halogen bond (Cl···N) and π stackings (NH-π, CH-π and π-π). This approach was developed for the detection of THs, achieving a low detection limit 0.03∼0.6 ng⋅L-1 for water, and 0.006∼0.134 μg·kg-1 for honey. Trace concentrations of THs, ranging from 1.0∼21.2 ng⋅L-1 in surface water and 0.1∼0.9 μg·kg-1 in honey, were successfully detected. Sample spiked recovery experiments demonstrated recoveries between 72.1-116.2 %, validating accuracy and applicability of method. This study realizes a speedy and sensitive determination of THs, showcasing potential of MMON-2OH in pollutant removal and food safety maintenance.

Functionalized Polyethylene Separators with Efficient Li-Ion Transport Rate for Fast-Charging Li-Ion Batteries.

Fast-charging lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are the key to solving the range anxiety of electric vehicles. However, the lack of separators with high Li+ transportation rates has become a major bottleneck, restricting their development. In this work, the electrochemical performance of traditional polyethylene separators was enhanced by coating Al2O3 nanoparticles with a novel green binder. This binder was synthesized by grafting allyl alcohol ethoxylates (APEG) onto the backbone of poly(acrylic acid) in water solution. The presence of abundant hydroxyl and ether groups, along with a three-dimensional structure, not only ensures a homogeneous and stable physical structure for the separator but also functionalizes the separator-electrolyte interface to facilitate Li+ transport. Consequently, the separator exhibits a high electrolyte uptake of 95.16% and a good peeling strength of 1.243 N cm-1. The electrolyte in the separator has an excellent Li+ transference number of 0.69. Especially, a cell with the optimized binder (with the APEG ratio of 10%) exhibits a 34% and 40% increase in capacity at 10 C compared to cells using polyvinylidene fluoride and lithium polyacrylate (PAALi) binders, respectively. These promising results could guide the development of more advanced binder materials for fast-charging LIBs.

Strategies and Methodologies for Improving Toughness of Starch Films

Starch films have attracted increasing attention due to their biodegradability, edibility, and potential use as animal feed from post-products. Applications of starch-based films include food packaging, coating, and medicine capsules. However, a major drawback of starch-based films is their brittleness, particularly under dry conditions, caused by starch retrogradation and the instability of plasticizers. To address this challenge, various strategies and methodologies have been developed, including plasticization, chemical modification, and physical reinforcement. This review covers fundamental aspects, such as the microstructures, phase transitions, and compatibility of starch, as well as application-oriented techniques, including processing methods, plasticizer selection, and chemical modifications. Plasticizers play a crucial role in developing starch-based materials, as they mitigate brittleness and improve processability. Given the abundance of hydroxyl groups in starch, the plasticizers used must also contain hydroxyl or polar groups for compatibility. Chemical modification, such as esterification and etherification, effectively prevents starch recrystallization. Reinforcements, particularly with nanocellulose, significantly improved the mechanical properties of starch film. Drawing upon both the literature and our expertise, this review not only summarizes the advancements in this field but also identifies the limitations of current technologies and outlines promising research directions for future development.

Calcium alginate reinforced zwitterionic double network hydrogel with mechanical robustness and antimicrobial activity for freshwater shrimp spoilage detection

Hydrogel indicators promise to monitor food spoilage, but their poor mechanics can cause defects in transport. Herein, a novel zwitterionic double network (DN) hydrogel was developed by polymerizing arylamide and sulfobetaine methacrylate in an alginate-Ca2+ system. This hydrogel exhibited enhanced mechanical properties, including a maximum 2087 % breaking elongation and 135 ± 12 kJ/m3 toughness, significantly outperforming the current zwitterionic DN hydrogels, which typically exhibit less than 1800 % breaking elongation, capable of supporting 150 g—136 times its own weight. Importantly, it also demonstrated excellent anti-fatigue and tear resistance, with a tearing energy of 2200 ± 180 J/m2. The abundant zwitterionic polymers, hydroxyl groups, and amino groups within hydrogel contribute to its strong adhesiveness to various substrates. Additionally, the hydrogel exhibited antimicrobial activity against E. coli and S. aureus. Furthermore, a pH/NH3 dual-sensitive hydrogel indicator, using phenol red, bromocresol purple, and their mixtures in ratios of 1:1, 1:2, and 2:1, was developed for monitoring shrimp freshness. The results showed that the hydrogel indicator with phenol red, effective at 4 °C and 25 °C, showed clear color changes (ΔE > 80) in response to spoilage and strong correlations between ΔE and TVB-N (R2 > 0.98) and pH (R2 > 0.97), surpassing the existing hydrogel indicators used for shrimp freshness monitoring, which generally have a correlation coefficient of only 0.86. This novel dual-responsive hydrogel, with excellent mechanical performance and TVB-N sensitivity, is suitable for real-time freshness monitoring in intelligent packaging.

A New Polyvinyl Alcohol Lithium Chloride Hydrogel Electrolyte: High Ionic Conductivity and Wide Working Temperature Range

AbstractPolyvinyl alcohol/lithium chloride hydrogel (PVA/LiCl) is one of the most used electrolyte in supercapacitors. Increasing the ionic conductivity and operating temperature range of PVA/LiCl would greatly boost the electrochemical performance of supercapacitors and enhance the devices’ environmental adaptability. This is of great significance yet rarely concerned about in energy communities. In this work, SiO2 functionalized PVA/LiCl (PVA‐SiO2/LiCl) is experimentally realized with high ionic conductivity and wide operating temperature range. The spectroscopic and theoretical experiments prove that SiO2 significantly regulates cation solvation structure to promote cation‐anion pair dissociation and diminish coagulation of PVA chains, increasing ionic conductivity from 19.01 mS cm−1 of PVA/LiCl to 56.17 mS cm−1 of the new electrolyte. SiO2 can also prevent cation‐anion association as temperature decreases, and the abundant hydroxyl groups on the SiO2 and the stretched PVA chains tune hydrogen bonds among dipolar water molecules. They effectively expand the operating temperature range of PVA‐SiO2/LiCl. PVA‐SiO2/LiCl greatly boosts the electrochemical performance of MnO2‐based supercapacitor. The design concept developed here opens up a way toward high‐performance hydrogel electrolyte development.

Synergistic and simultaneous removal of heavy metal ions over waste bamboo shoot particles encapsulated carboxymethyl cellulose/gelatin composite hydrogel

Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) hydrogels are commonly used for heavy metal removal due to their abundant hydroxyl and carboxyl groups. However, pristine CMC hydrogels always suffer from low gel strength and limited adsorption properties in large-scale applications. In this study, to improve the gel strength and heavy metal ions removal capacity, fish gelatin and bamboo shoot particle (BSP) were introduced to CMC hydrogels, respectively. The formation of the composite hydrogel with enhanced gel strength was primarily driven by hydrogen bonding, which exhibited an increase strain resistance with a critical strain value up to 214.68 %. As expected, the composite hydrogel can effectively remove Cd2+, Hg2+, and Pb2+ from aqueous solutions simultaneously. The physical adsorption process of heavy metals by the composite hydrogel was well described by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model, while the Langmuir model indicated maximum adsorption capacities of 147.7 mg/g for Cd2+, 88.62 mg/g for Hg2+, and 163.89 mg/g for Pb2+. Notably, the composite hydrogel exhibited enhanced recyclability, maintaining its efficacy for up to at least five cycles. This study underscores the potential of using naturally occurring biodegradable materials for the removal of heavy metals, and paved ways for heavy metal removal at industrial levels.

Preparation of Mn-Ce oxide-loaded Al2O3 by citric acid-assisted impregnation for enhanced catalytic ozonation degradation of dye wastewater

The performance of supported catalysts is significantly affected by the dispersion degree of the active components on the support. In this study, citric acid (CA) was used as a modifier to prepare Al2O3 supported Mn-Ce oxides (Mn-Ce/CA-Al2O3) by the impregnation-calcination method. The characterization results showed that adding citric acid enhanced the dispersion of Mn-Ce oxides on the support, rendering Mn-Ce/CA-Al2O3 with a larger specific surface area and abundant surface hydroxyl groups, thereby providing more reaction sites for catalytic ozonation. The Mn-Ce/CA-Al2O3 exhibited excellent catalytic ozonation performance in degrading Reactive Black 5 (RB5) dye. It achieved nearly complete decolorization of RB5 within 60 min, with a COD removal efficiency of 60%, which was superior to the sole ozonation (30%). Furthermore, the Mn-Ce/CA-Al2O3 system demonstrated significant degradation of RB5 over a wide pH range of 3 to 11. Based on the XPS and EPR analysis results, a preliminary mechanism of catalytic ozonation over the Mn-Ce/CA-Al2O3 was proposed. The redox cycle of Mn3+/Mn4+ and Ce3+/Ce4+ effectively accelerated the electron transfer process, thus promoting the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and improving the degradation of RB5. Meanwhile, the Mn-Ce/CA-Al2O3 exhibited superior catalytic stability and effective treatment capabilities for real dye wastewater.

Gas Empowered Dual-Cascade Strategy for Augmented Single-Atom Nanotherapies.

Single-atom nanotherapies have received numerous attention in malignant oncotherapy. However, the insufficient enzyme substrate and the upregulation of heat shock proteins during therapeutic interventions are seldom concurrently noticed. Herein, a novel gas empowered dual-cascade synergistic treatment strategy is demonstrated with domino effect, which can sequentially reinforce single-atom nanozyme (SAzyme)-based enzymatic therapeutics and mild photothermal therapy (PTT) (< 45 °C). In the proof-of-concept study, Fe single atom nanozyme (Fe/SAzyme) loaded with hydrogen sulfide (H2S) donor NaHS is developed for HSPs-silencing mediated mild PTT. The generated H2S suppresses the catalase activity to achieve "intracellular H2O2 conservation", thereby furnishing the enzyme substrate to Fe/SAzyme to produce abundant cytotoxic hydroxyl radicals (·OH) for augmented enzymatic therapeutics. Then, excess ·OH induced mitochondrial dysfunction blocks adenosine triphosphate (ATP) energy supply to realize cellular energy remodeling, which hinders overexpression of HSPs and enhances mild PTT of Fe/SAzyme both in vitro and vivo. Consequently, the gas-triggered dual-cascade strategy achieves domino H2S/·OH/mitochondrial dysfunction synergistic effect, endowing SAzymes with maximum antitumor efficacy via enzymatic therapeutics combined with mild PTT. This dual-cascaded gas/enzymatic/mild PTT synergistic oncotherapy not only exhibits a new pathway for gas-facilitated mild PTT, but also offers a valuable paradigm for the application of "1+1+1>3" multimodal synergistic tumor therapy.

Cellulose nanofibrils-based packaging films synergistically reinforced by lignin and tea polyphenols for strawberry preservation

Developing biomass-based food packaging materials could alleviate resource scarcity and environmental pollution. This study successfully fabricated cellulose nanofibrils-based packaging films synergistically reinforced by lignin and tea polyphenols for fruit preservation. Thanks to the abundant carboxyl and hydroxyl groups in modified lignin and tea polyphenol, the composite film delivered the highest tensile strength and Young’s modulus of 230.7 MPa and 11.9 GPa, respectively. The water vapor permeability (WVP) and oxygen permeability (OP) of composite film were as low as 2.53 × 10−11 g m−1 s−1 Pa−1 and 1.69 × 10−16 cm m−2 s−1 Pa−1, respectively, demonstrating excellent barrier performance. Furthermore, the composite film possessed remarkable antibacterial (100 % antibacterial activity against two types of bacteria), antioxidant (DPPH free radical scavenging activity of 90 %), and UV shielding properties (impressive UV shielding rate of 99.0 %). Strawberry preservation experiments showed that these composite films could significantly extend shelf life, owing to the excellent barrier and antimicrobial properties. Our research indicated that these composite films could be promising food packaging material compared with traditional plastic and showed great application potential in fruit preservation.

Lignocellulose-Mediated Functionalization of Liquid Metals toward the Frontiers of Multifunctional Materials.

Lignocellulose-mediated liquid metal (LM) composites, as emerging functional materials, show tremendous potential for a variety of applications. The abundant hydroxyl, carboxyl, and other polar groups in lignocellulose facilitate the formation of strong chemical bonds with LM surfaces, enhancing wettability and adhesion for improved interface compatibility. Beyond serving as a supportive matrix, lignocellulose can be tailored to optimize the microstructure of the composites, adapting them for diverse applications. This review comprehensively summarizes the fundamental principles and recent advancements in lignocellulose-mediated LM composites, highlighting the advantages of lignocellulose in composite fabrication, including facile synthesis, versatile interactions, and inherent functionalities. Key modulation strategies for LMs and innovative synthesis methods for functionalized lignocellulose composites are discussed. Furthermore, the roles and structure-performance relationships of these composites in electromagnetic shielding, flexible sensors, and energy storage devices are systematically summarized. Finally, the obstacles and prospective advancements pertaining to lignocellulose-mediated LM composites are thoroughly scrutinized and deliberated upon. This review is expected to provide basic guidance for researchers to boost the popularity of LMs in diverse applications and provide useful references for design strategies of state-of-the-art LMs.

Natural-based UV-shielding additives to protect photosensitive pesticides: Production of nanoparticles from the co-self-assembly of lignin and tannin

This work explores the development of a renewable, carbon-neutral, light-colored UV-shielding film to protect photosensitive pesticides from solar radiation, as these chemicals are easily degraded under UV light, substantially reducing their efficiency and causing soil and water pollution. The abundant benzene rings in lignin and phenolic hydroxyls in tannin boosted the co-self-assembly of lignin and tannin into composite nanospheres by the simultaneous π-π stacking and H-bonding interactions between these two biopolymers. These lignin-tannin (LT) composite nanoparticles were used as natural UV-shielding additives to coat a poly-vinyl-alcohol (PVA) film, endowing the PVA-LT film with an excellent UV-shielding ability (>95 % efficiency) due to the strong π-π stacking and concentrated phenolic hydroxyls. Typical photosensitive pesticides covered with the PVA-LT film significantly increased their remaining rate by 1.5 times compared to those under the uncoated film. Besides, intensive intermolecular hydrogen bonds were generated between PVA and the abundant phenolic hydroxyl groups exposed on the hydrophilic shell of the LT coating, enhancing the mechanical properties and water vapor retention of the composite film. Our biodegradable composite film derived from natural plant extracts not only protected photosensitive pesticides from UV irradiation but also allowed the transmission of visible light to guarantee the photosynthesis process of crops.