Anionic Groups Research Articles

Quasi Solid Polyzwitterion- Polyacrylamide Electrolytes for Rechargeable Zinc-Ion Battery

Zinc-ion batteries have attracted significant attention due to their low cost, rechargeability, and superior safety features. In fact, the use of aqueous electrolytes negatively affects battery performance due to the solid electrolyte interface (SEI), creating zinc corrosion, hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), and dendrite formation. To address these challenges, quasi-solid electrolytes (QSE) based on polyacrylamide-poly (3-(1-vinyl-3-imidazolio) propanesulfonate) (PAM/PVIPS) have been developed. PAM stands out as matrix QSE due to its excellent flexibility and electrochemical stability. PVIPS offers a well-defined pathway for ion transportation caused by cationic and anionic groups in structure. Clearly, the asymmetrical zinc cell with PAM/PVIPS QSE effectively reduces the overpotential profile, prolongs the stabilized zinc plating/stripping and enhances ionic conductivity, compared to PAM QSE. Additionality, the performance of Zn||δ-MnO2 is also enhanced with PAM/PVIPS QSE, yielding the specific capacity value of 65 mAh g-1, which is superior to the pristine PAM QSE (56 mAh g-1).

Retention Mechanisms of Basic Compounds in Liquid Chromatography with Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate and 1-Hexyl-3-Methylimidazolium Chloride as Mobile Phase Reagents in Two C18 Columns

Reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) relies on a non-polar stationary phase and a more polar hydro-organic mobile phase, where compound retention is primarily governed by hydrophobicity, with more hydrophobic compounds being retained longer. The introduction of secondary equilibria in the chromatographic system through additives, such as anionic surfactants and ionic liquids (ILs), was proposed to mitigate ionic interactions between positively charged analytes and the anionic free silanol groups in non-endcapped stationary phases, thereby preventing increased retention and peak tailing. Additionally, the combined hydrophobic and ionic interactions between cationic analytes and the ions in these additives was demonstrated to create mixed retention mechanisms that influence retention and selectivity. In this regard, this study investigates aqueous chromatographic systems incorporating both the anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and the IL 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride as mobile phase reagents. This combination of reagents modulates the retention, eliminating the need for organic solvents and resulting in highly sustainable HPLC procedures. The chromatographic behavior was assessed using two different C18 columns (Zorbax Eclipse and XTerra-MS). The strength of solute interactions was estimated by calculating equilibrium parameters and the contributions of hydrophobic and ionic interactions through simple mathematical models. Focusing on the retention of six basic drugs (β-adrenoceptor antagonists), the study highlighted the significant role of ionic interactions. The results demonstrate the feasibility of using aqueous systems combining SDS and an IL for the efficient separation of moderately polar basic compounds without the use of organic solvents.

Electrostatic fence induced assembly of low-concentration colloidal nanospheres to form liquid photonic crystals

Liquid photonic crystals (LPCs) have great application potential in sensors, anti-counterfeiting materials and detection due to their sensitive dynamic responsiveness. Currently, the preparation of LPCs mainly relies on the supersaturation of colloidal nanospheres. However, the supersaturation method usually fails to obtain LPCs based on low-concentration colloidal nanospheres. In turn, the use of high-concentration colloidal nanospheres results in poor mobility of LPCs, which makes them inappropriate for subsequent utilization in responsive systems. In this study, self-assembly of LPCs with vibrant structural colors is achieved through the electrostatic fence effect by introducing an anionic carboxylate-containing polymer as an inducer into the system of low-concentration negatively charged colloidal nanospheres (≥1.25 wt%). It is shown that the anionic carboxylate groups on the inducer molecules and the appropriate molecular chain length are the decisive factors for the inducing effect. The obtained LPCs exhibit a typical non-close-packed structure with a face-centered cubic arrangement of nanospheres. The nearest inter-nanosphere surface distance is 12.10 nm, and the farthest one is as long as 40.30 nm. The LPCs possess good dynamic recovery performance and sensitive optical response characteristics, which are conducive to application in responsive optical sensors directly or after filling.

Chelation-Induced Zwitterion-like Antifouling Behavior on Anionic Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) Surfaces.

Antifouling properties are crucial for enhancing the longevity and functionality of biomedical implants, drug delivery systems, and biosensors. Zwitterionic polymers are renowned for their exceptional surface hydration and charge neutrality, which effectively resist biomolecular adsorption and protein attachment. We propose an innovative approach to develop zwitterion-like antifouling surfaces by chelating divalent cations with anionic poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) films, specifically PEDOT-PO4 and PEDOT-COOH. The chelation behavior of these films was systematically evaluated using Na+, Mg2+, and Ca2+ ions. Divalent ions, particularly Ca2+ and Mg2+, exhibit a strong affinity for the anionic groups, leading to significant antifouling properties. These modified surfaces effectively repelled both negatively charged bovine serum albumin (BSA) and positively charged lysozyme (LYZ) proteins across various pH environments. This study offers valuable insights into the antifouling characteristics of charged surfaces, enhancing our understanding of how ion-mediated surface modifications influence protein adsorption and interactions.

Boron Removal in Aqueous Solutions Using Adsorption with Sugarcane Bagasse Biochar and Ammonia Nanobubbles.

Boron is a naturally occurring trace chemical element. High concentrations of boron in nature can adversely affect biological systems and cause severe pollution to the ecological environment. We examined a method to effectively remove boron ions from water systems using sugarcane bagasse biochar from agricultural waste with NH3 nanobubbles (10% NH3 and 90% N2). We studied the effects of the boron solution concentration, pH, and adsorption time on the adsorption of boron by the modified biochar. At the same time, the possibility of using magnesium chloride and NH3 nanobubbles to enhance the adsorption capacity of the biochar was explored. The carbonization temperature of sugarcane bagasse was investigated using thermogravimetric analysis. It was characterized using XRD, SEM, and BET analysis. The boron adsorption results showed that, under alkaline conditions above pH 9, the adsorption capacity of the positively charged modified biochar was improved under the double-layer effect of magnesium ions and NH3 nanobubbles, because the boron existed in the form of negatively charged borate B(OH)4- anion groups. Moreover, cations on the NH3 nanobubble could adsorb the boron. When the NH3 nanobubbles with boron and the modified biochar with boron could coagulate each other, the boron was removed to a significant extent. Extended DLVO theory was adopted to model the interaction between the NH3 nanobubble and modified biochar. The boron adsorption capacity was 36 mg/g at room temperature according to a Langmuir adsorption isotherm. The adsorbed boron was investigated using FT-IR and XPS analysis. The ammonia could be removed using zeolite molecular sieves and heating. Boron in an aqueous solution can be removed via adsorption with modified biochar with NH3 nanobubbles and MgCl2 addition.

Removal of trace Na and K metal ions by resin-grafted crown ether for electronic-grade N-methyl pyrrolidone purification

The semiconductor industry’s rapid evolution necessitates ultra-high-purity N-methyl pyrrolidone (NMP) as an essential electronic-grade solvent. The development of an efficient coordination material to reduce trace metal ions, particularly Na and K metal ions, to below 1 ppb in NMP solution is a significant challenge. To address this, a novel coordination material, St-DVB-g-ACE, has been developed for the removal of Na and K metal ions from NMP. The material was synthesized by grafting 4′-aminobenzo-15-crown-5-ether onto a strong acid gel resin. The resulting St-DVB-g-ACE-3 exhibited excellent coordination performance for Na and K metal ions, with maximum Langmuir adsorption capacities reaching 20,000 μg/g and 33,333 μg/g, respectively. Of particular interest was the ability of St-DVB-g-ACE-3 to reduce all trace metal ions in industrial-grade NMP to below 1 ppb within a fixed bed column, achieving the stringent requirements for electronic-grade NMP at the G3 level. Additionally, the absorbent enhances the purity of NMP from 99.82 % to 99.84 %, indicating that the material is not dissolved and can exist stably in NMP. Its excellent recyclability and reproducibility make it highly practical for industrial use. Density functional theory (DFT) simulation, complemented by spectral analyses, revealed the interaction force and thermodynamic properties between Na and K metal ions and crown ether ring, and illustrated the interaction between anionic sulfonic group (−SO3−) and metal ions. The prepared resin-grafted crown ether adsorbents are highly effective in the thorough removal of trace metal ions from NMP solution, offering a novel and effective method for the production of electronic-grade NMP.

Constructing Ultraviolet Nonlinear Optical Crystals with Superior Thermal Stability Based on Organic π-Conjugated [HCOO] Groups.

In recent years, more and more organic π-conjugated moieties have been screened out to create excellent ultraviolet (UV) and deep-UV nonlinear optical (NLO) crystal materials. However, NLO crystals with organic groups usually exhibit poor thermal stability compared with those of traditional inorganic NLO materials. Herein, the organic group [HCOO], which is similar to traditional planar trigonal π-conjugated anionic groups, was employed to successfully build three UV NLO crystals RE(HCOO)3 (RE = Eu, Gd, and Dy) and two centrosymmetric compounds RE(HCOO)2(OH) (RE = Eu, and Gd) with superior thermal stability. Their structures and properties were further studied and characterized, especially the structure evolutions between noncentrosymmetric RE(HCOO)3 (RE = Eu, Gd, and Dy) and centrosymmetric RE(HCOO)2(OH) (RE = Eu, and Gd), as well as the NLO properties of the three crystals RE(HCOO)3 (RE = Eu, Gd, and Dy).

First‐Principles Molecular Dynamics Study on Reductive Stability of High Concentration Electrolyte on Zn doped Cu Current Collector Surface

In enhancing the lifespan of anode‐free Li metal batteries (AFLMBs), the current collector (CC) engineering is crucial for achieving uniform and dendrite‐free lithium deposition. The commonly used copper (Cu) CC is unsatisfactory because of its poor lithiophilicity. Here, we consider Zn doping on the Cu CC surface (Zn‐Cu) and explore the reductive stability of a high‐concentration electrolyte (HCE) consisting of 3.6 M LiPF6 salt in a mixture of EC and DEC on the Zn‐Cu (111) surface (HCE|Zn‐Cu) using DFT and AIMD simulations. The interfacial reactions on the HCE|Zn‐Cu system are compared to those on the pristine Cu (111) surface. We have also studied the effect of electron‐rich environments on the decomposition mechanism of the HCE mixture on both the CC surfaces. It is found that the HCE mixture is electrochemically stable on both Cu and Zn‐Cu surfaces in a neutral environment. However, under electron‐rich conditions, only one DEC molecule has decomposed upon contact with the Cu CC surface, while the two PF6‐ anion groups from Li salts have decomposed much faster when the HCE mixture interacts with the Zn‐Cu surface. Our results indicate that Zn doping suppresses undesirable solvent decomposition and improves quality of the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer.

Ion-Anchored Strategy for MnO2/Mn2+ Chemistry without "Dead Mn" and Corrosion.

The utilization of MnO2/Mn2+ chemistry in near-neutral pH acetate aqueous electrolytes provides an opportunity to achieve a higher energy density (theoretical capacity 616 mA h/g, discharge platform >1.5 V). However, this Zn-MnO2 aqueous battery suffers from inevitable "dead Mn" and proton corrosion. In this study, we discover that the diffusion of the cathode reaction intermediate Mn3+ is intrinsic for the generation of "dead Mn", and the accumulation of "dead Mn" increases the H+ which shuttles to the anode, inducing serious corrosion. A pH-neutral hydrogel ion-anchored strategy is proposed here not only to restrict the diffusion of Mn3+ but also to suppress the proton transference. This hydrogel ion anchor is designed by deprotonating a series of monomers undergoing in situ free radical polymerization at the cathode interface. The anionic monomer with a moderate binding energy to manganese ions is screened to anchor Mn3+, which enhances the reversibility of the MnO2/Mn2+ reaction. Simultaneously, a substantial amount of anionic groups and hydrophilic functional groups in the hydrogel effectively constrains the proton shuttle to corrode the anode. Consequently, the Zn/MnO2 battery achieves exceptional cyclic stability of the MnO2/Mn2+ reaction, sustaining 8500 cycles even at a relatively low current density and discharge current density of 1 mA/cm2. Our findings highlight the importance of anchoring Mn3+ at the cathode interface and offer valuable insights for advancing practical applications of MnO2/Mn2+ reactions.

Sulfate salt assistant fabrication of Fe-doped Ni2P modified with SO42−/carbon as highly efficient oxygen evolution reaction electrocatalyst

The incorporation of oxyanion groups offers a greater potential for enhancing the activity of oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalysts compared to traditional metal cations doping, owing to their unique configurations and high electronegativity. However, the incorporation of oxyanion groups that differ from those derived from the oxidation of anions in transition metal monoxides poses significant challenges, thereby limiting further applications of oxyanion group modification approach. Herein, we present a novel sulfate salt assistant approach to fabricate Fe-doped Ni2P modified with SO42−/carbon (Fe-Ni2P-S/C) nanofibers as highly efficient OER electrocatalyst. The optimized Fe-Ni2P-S/C nanofibers display superb OER activity, requiring low overpotentials of 266, 323, and 357 mV at 100, 500, and 1000 mA cm−2, respectively. Theoretical calculations reveal that the co-adsorption of PO43− and SO42− on the surface of reconstructed electrocatalyst can reduce the energy barrier of rate-determining step, thereby resulting in enhanced OER activity. The present study emphasizes the crucial role played by anion groups in OER activity as well as proposes a novel approach for incorporating anion groups into electrocatalysts.

Dual admixtures for cement-based composites comprising steel slag powder and residual lignin-based liquor

Steel slag is a by-product of the steel industry that can be used as an aggregate and/or mineral admixture, conferring physical and mechanical benefits to cement-based composites. In parallel, sugarcane bagasse is a by-product of the sugar/alcohol industry used in biorefineries to produce bioethanol. The delignification processes, employed as a pretreatment in biorefineries, generate residual liquors that contain lignin. Lignin is a natural polymer with plasticizing properties when incorporated into cement mixtures. Given this scenario, this work sought to produce and evaluate dual admixtures containing a residual lignin-based liquor and a steel slag powder. The proposed dual admixtures were prepared from two strategies and incorporated in cement pastes and mortars at different dosages. Mixtures containing a commercial silica suspension and a reference mixture (without admixtures) were also evaluated. The flow test showed that the dual admixtures promoted higher spreading than the silica suspension in all the proposed dosages. Also, the mortars containing the dual admixtures had significantly higher compressive strengths and more refined pore structures than the reference mortar. The residual lignin-based liquor enhanced the workability of the composites and favored the dispersion of the steel slag powder into the matrix. The liquor's plasticizing and set-retarding capacities were attributed to its anionic functional groups and sugar content, respectively. Additionally, the high-efficiency grinding of the steel slag powder contributed to improving its specific surface area and fineness parameters, justifying its performance as a filler and a supplementary cementitious material. This study presents a new route for developing more eco-efficient cement-based composites. It also complies with the principles of circular economy by offering a feasible strategy for valorizing large-scale industrial wastes in civil construction.

Highly valent cobalt-manganese spinel nanowires induced by fluorine-doping for durable acid oxygen evolution reaction

The increase in the fraction of high-valent metal cations is of significant importance for enhancing the stability of noble-metal-free catalysts in the acid oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Herein, we report the preparation of a cobalt-manganese oxide spinel nanowire catalyst, where the incorporation and stabilization of high-valent cation fractions are induced by electron-withdrawing anionic fluorine groups. By the XPS, the strongly electronegative F atoms improve the ratio of Co3+/Co2+ and Mn4+/Mn3+, thereby enhancing OER activity and stability. The hydrophilicity F-MCO nanowires have a large specific surface area and great conductivity, which expose more catalytically active sites and continuously promotes oxygen evolution. The proposed F-MCO catalyst requires only an overpotential of 210 mV at the current density of 10 mA cm−2 and can maintain stable operation for more than 100 h. And a photovoltaic-electrolysis device with the F-MCO electrocatalyst delivers a solar-to-hydrogen efficiency of 15.1 %.

Influence of imidazole-based ionic liquid surfactants on the wetting effect of long-flame coals

In order to study the wetting effect of C12MImBF4, C12MImBr and C12MImCl on long-flame coal, and their mechanism of action on coal-water bonding, physical experiments, molecular dynamics simulation and DFT theoretical calculation were combined in this work. It is confirmed that the imidazole ionic liquid surfactant optimizes the wetting effect by forming hydrogen bonds, reducing the surface tension of water, and increasing the number of free hydroxyl groups in coal. After the wettability test, the concentration of 4 g/L of the three ionic liquid surfactants had the best wetting effect on long-flame coal, and the contact angle at this concentration was reduced by more than 40 % compared with water within 0.2 s after dripping on the coal. Due to the difference in the anionic head group of the three surfactants, there are differences in the number and strength of hydrogen bonds formed between the three surfactants and water molecules, the results of wettability C12MImBF4 > C12MImCl > C12MImBr were presented. Combined with these characteristics of imidazole ionic liquids on long-flame coal, the reasonable application in the wet dust removal process of actual coal mine production can optimize the efficiency of droplet capture of coal particles, so as to effectively improve the dust removal capacity.

Rational modulation of fluorophosphate cathode by anionic groups to reduce the polarization behavior for fast-charging sodium-ion batteries

Na3V2(PO4)2O2F (VP) is recognized as a promising cathode material for sodium-ion batteries due to its stable structural framework and high specific capacity. Density functional theory (DFT) and finite element simulations show that incorporating SO42− into VP decreases its band gap, lowers the migration energy barrier, and ensures a uniform Na+ concentration gradient and stress distribution during charge and discharge cycles. Consequently, the average Na+ diffusion coefficient of Na3V2(PO4)1.95(SO4)0.05O2F (VPS-1) is roughly double that of VP, leading to enhanced rate capability (80 C, 75.5 mAh g−1) and cycling stability (111.0 mAh g−1 capacity after 1000 cycles at 10 C current density) for VPS-1. VPS-1 exhibits outstanding fast-charging capabilities, achieving an 80% state of charge in just 8.1 min. The assembled VPS-1//SbSn/NPC full cell demonstrated stable cycling over 200 cycles at a high 5 C current, maintaining an average coulombic efficiency of 95.35%.

Effect of PCE anionic charge density on fly ash cementitious system-PCE compatibility

In this study, the compatibility of polycarboxylate-based water-reducing admixtures (PCEs) with cementitious systems containing fly ash (FA) was investigated. For this purpose, PCEs with carboxylate, phosphate, and sulfonate anionic groups having different anionic charge densities were synthesized. The effects of PCEs on fresh properties and compressive strength of cementitious systems containing FA were investigated. The PCE with 9% phosphate substitution and high anionic charge density was found to be the most effective, requiring the least amount for the target flow. Similarly, in terms of the PCE requirement for the minimum Marsh funnel flow time and rheological parameters, the best performance was obtained with 5% sulfonate substituted PCE having high anionic charge density. While FA had a positive effect on the PCE requirement and consistency retention of the mixtures; it had a negative effect on Marsh funnel flow time, rheological properties, and compressive strength. However, the rheological properties of the mortar mixtures were not adversely affected by the FA substitution as much as that of the paste mixtures. Regarding the 28-day compressive strength of mortar mixtures, the optimum FA substitution ratio was 15%. Fly ash substitution above this level reduced the compressive strength at all ages including 28-day strength. Anionic charge density variation of PCE had no significant influence on the compressive strength of the mortars.

Imidazole ionic liquid effects on coal swelling behavior and pyrolysis characteristics: Experiment and molecular simulation

In view of low-rank coal conventional swelling solvent large pollution and the clean efficient utilization of coal, the effects of imidazole ionic liquid (IL) pretreatment with different anion groups as green solvent on coal thermal expansion and pyrolysis performance were investigated. IL interacts with coal molecules, destroying the hydrogen bonds, resulting coal expansion. Different anion groups have different modification effects, [Bmim]Cl has the best swelling effect, which is 17.37 % higher than raw coal, and the best modification time is 24 h. In addition, IL modification has a catalytic effect on coal pyrolysis, which can significantly reduce the maximum weight loss temperature and increase tar content. Coal solvent pretreatment provides a good theoretical basis for application of swelling and pyrolysis. The reduction of thermochemical reaction temperature not only reduces the content of heavy groups in pyrolysis products, but also provides new ideas for carbon emission reduction.

Dual-Functional Interfacial Layer Enabled by Gating-Shielding Effects for Ultra-Stable Zn Anode.

Large-scale application of low-cost, high-safety and environment-compatible aqueous Zn metal batteries (ZMBs) is hindered by Zn dendrite failure and side reactions. Herein, highly reversible ZMBs are obtained by addition of trace D-pantothenate calcium additives to engineer a dual-functional interfacial layer, which is enabled by a bioinspired gating effect for excluding competitive free water near Zn surface due to the trapping and immobilization of water by hydroxyl groups, and guiding target Zn2+ transport across interface through carboxyl groups of pantothenate anions, as well as a dynamic electrostatic shielding effect around Zn protuberances from Ca2+ cations to ensure uniform Zn2+ deposition. In consequence, interfacial side reactions are perfectly inhibited owing to reduced water molecules reaching Zn surface, and the uniform and compact deposition of Zn2+ is achieved due to promoted Zn2+ transport and deposition kinetics. The ultra-stable symmetric cells with beyond 9000h at 0.5mAcm-2 with 0.5mAhcm-2 and over 5000h at 5mAcm-2 with 1mAhcm-2, and an average Coulombic efficiency of 99.8% at 1mAcm-2 with 1mAhcm-2, are amazingly realized. The regulated-electrolyte demonstrates high compatibility with verified cathodes for stable full cells. This work opens a brand-new pathway to regulate Zn/electrolyte interface to promise reversible ZMBs.

The Electrochemistry of Nitro Compounds from a Bibliometric Approach

The heterocyclic and aromatic nitro compounds are industrially and commercially important chemicals, used in drugs, explosives, pesticides, and dyes. Despite their economic importance, the advent of these chemicals also brought serious human health and environmental problems due to their toxic characteristics as contaminants and pollutants. The nitro group is catalyzed in vivo by nitroreductases promoting a six-electron reduction to form sequentially the nitro radical anion, nitroso-, N-hydroxylamino and amino-functional groups. These reactions can be electrochemically reproduced, involving the development of analytical methods and electrochemical sensors, degradation and removal of organic compounds in effluents, corrosion studies, and studies of action mechanism of drugs on DNA bases. In this sense, a bibliometric analysis has been performed based on the Web of Science Core Collection in conjunction with VOSviewer software for generating network visualizations. This research covered the database until 2023, describing the main research areas and the annual publication trends, the collaborations and contributions among countries and research institutions, in addition to identifying the most cited articles, hotspots, and the analysis of evolution and relevance of keywords. This investigation made it possible to recognize the main research focuses and what is under development, providing a comprehensive overview on electrochemistry of nitro compounds.

Sorption interactions and behavior of bentonite-lignite based composite toward immobilization of dyes, pharmaceuticals and surfactants

The presence of dyes, pharmaceuticals, and surfactants in the environment results from extensive industrial and societal progress, prompting the need to explore efficient and safe techniques for their removal. Common concentrations in wastewater can range from micrograms to milligrams per liter, which is concerning due to their persistence and potential health impacts. The sustainable approach of using a nonconventional, eco-friendly mineral-organic composite might address this environmental issue. This study focuses on utilizing a composite of bentonite (BEN) and lignite (LIG) as a sorbent for dyes: Rhodamine b (RB), Remazol brilliant blue r (RBBR), pharmaceuticals: ibuprofen (IB), sulfamethoxazole (STX), and surfactant: sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate (SDBS) from both synthetic solutions and real wastewater. BEN was chosen for its high cation exchange capacity, while LIG was selected for its ability to adsorb both anionic and cationic formsdiverse functional groups. The composite with BEN to LIG ratio of 20:80 (BL 20:80) demonstrated superior sorption capacity. The adsorption performance is quantified, showing removal efficiencies of up to 18.9 mg RBBR/g, 22.8 mg RB/g, 1.77 mg IB/g, 1.47 mg STX/g, and 4.7 mg SDBS/g. Sorption efficiency is influenced by factors such as the initial sorbate concentration, the pH of the solution, the form of sorbates, and the adsorbents textural, physicochemical (point of zero charge pHZPC), ion-exchange capacity, hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity) properties. Generally, STX and RB is favored by slightly acidic conditions (pH 4–7), while RBBR and IB are favored by alkaline conditions (pH > 7). The complex physical sorption mechanism includes hydrogen bonding, electrostatic and dispersion forces, as well as π-π interactions. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) suggests that a significant portion of the hydrogen bonding interactions contributes to RB adsorption. The sorption results indicate that the specially-designed mineral composite can effectively remove various chemically distinct organic compounds from real wastewater. Subsequent investigations will focus on the granulated BL 20:80 composite and its applicability in dynamic column systems. This aligns with the ongoing development of purification technologies.

Mixed-charge hyperbranched polymer nanoparticles with selective antibacterial action for fighting antimicrobial resistance

The escalating menace of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) presents a profound global threat to life and assets. However, the incapacity of metal ions/reactive oxygen species (ROS) or the indiscriminate intrinsic interaction of cationic groups to distinguish between bacteria and mammalian cells undermines the essential selectivity required in these nanomaterials for an ideal antimicrobial agent. Hence, we devised and synthesized a range of biocompatible mixed-charge hyperbranched polymer nanoparticles (MCHPNs) incorporating cationic, anionic, and neutral alkyl groups to effectively combat multidrug-resistant bacteria and mitigate AMR. This outcome stemmed from the structural, antibacterial activity, and biocompatibility analysis of seven MCHPNs, among which MCHPN7, with a ratio of cationic groups, anionic groups, and long alkyl chains at 27:59:14, emerged as the lead candidate. Importantly, owing to inherent differences in membrane potential among diverse species, alongside its nano-size (6 - 15 nm) and high hydrophilicity (Kow = 0.04), MCHPN7 exhibited exceptional selective bactericidal effects over mammalian cells (selectivity index > 564) in vitro and in vivo. By inducing physical membrane disruption, MCHPN7 effectively eradicated antibiotic-resistant bacteria and significantly delayed the emergence of bacterial resistance. Utilized as a coating, MCHPN7 endowed initially inert surfaces with the ability to impede biofilm formation and mitigate infection-related immune responses in mouse models. This research heralds the advent of biocompatible polymer nanoparticles and harbors significant implications in our ongoing combat against AMR. Statement of SignificanceThe escalating prevalence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has been acknowledged as one of the most significant threats to global health.Therefore, a series of mixed-charge hyperbranched polymer nanoparticles (MCHPNs) with selective antibacterial action were designed and synthesized. Owing to inherent differences in membrane potential among diverse species and high hydrophilicity (Kow = 0.04), the optimal nanoparticles exhibited exceptional selective bactericidal effects over mammalian cells (selectivity index >564) and significantly delayed the emergence of bacterial resistance. Importantly, they endowed surfaces with the ability to impede biofilm formation and mitigate infection-related immune responses.Furthermore, the above findings focus on addressing the problem of AMR in Post-Pandemic, which will for sure attract attention from both academic and industry research.