Dual Solvent Research Articles

Ethyl levulinate regulates traditional sulfolane biphasic absorbent for energy-efficient CO2 capture

Traditional CO2 biphasic absorbents currently suffer from problems such as high initial phase separation loading, poor product distribution selectivity, and weak dynamic phase separation ability, which limit their potential for industrial applications. This study developed a biphasic absorbent regulated by dual physical solvents by introducing partial ethyl levulinate (EL) into a sulfolane biphasic system. The optimal composition of this system was 30 wt% 1-amino-2-propanol (MIPA), 20 wt% sulfolane and 30 wt% EL. Under dual physical solvent conditions, strong electrostatic attraction between MIPA and CO2 promoted generation of MIPA zwitterions and carbamate. Analysis of the interactions between different product components through electrostatic potentials and with an independent gradient model based on Hirshfeld's partitioning revealed only extremely weak van der Waals force-driven interactions between the reaction products and EL. These interactions substantially reduced the initial phase separation loading and offered precise control over phase transition behavior. Compared with MIPA/sulfolane system, the MIPA/sulfolane/EL system achieved a 48.9 % lower initial phase separation loading, an 11.6 % lower proportion of saturated rich phase volume, a 10.1 % higher CO2-rich phase loading, and a 6.7 % lower viscosity. The excellent dynamic phase separation performance was verified using a customized device and the energy consumption for CO2 regeneration decreased to 2.2 GJ/t CO2.

Ruthenium highly dispersed in low crystallinity cobalt oxide as an efficient catalyst for Li-O2 battery

The performance of Li-O2 battery can be improved by adjusting the reaction active sites of cathode catalysts. In this study, noble metal ruthenium (Ru) was successfully added to the framework of Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-67 (ZIF-67) through a dual solvent method, and prepared highly dispersed noble metal ruthenium cathode catalyst material for Li-O2 battery. At the same time, the phenomenon of aggregation of precious metal ruthenium on the catalyst surface is avoided, and the atomic utilization rate of precious metals is improved. The low crystallinity cobalt oxide (ZIF-67-280) and noble metal ruthenium act as the catalytic active center together, enriching the reaction active sites of the catalyst, further improving the performance of Li-O2 battery and reducing the reaction overpotential. Compared to commercial cobalt oxides (C-Co3O4), ruthenium doped low crystallinity cobalt oxides (Ru@ZIF-67-280) has better cycle stability (272 cycles) and higher energy efficiency.© 2023 xxxxxxxx. Hosting by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

In-situ synthesis of quaternary alkylammonium ligand capped organic-inorganic hybrid halide perovskite for high pure green luminescence in display application

This study delves into the intricate dynamics of ligand engineering for the synthesis of Methyl Ammonium Lead Bromide (MAPbBr3) nanocrystals (NCs), which exhibit immense potential in optoelectronic and photovoltaic applications. Our focus centres on the role of the quaternary ammonium molecule CTAB as a ligand in stabilizing MAPbBr3 NCs. This also addresses the challenges related to the stability and surface defects of NCs that hinder their commercial viability. Employing a modified ligand-assisted reprecipitation technique (LARP) with a dual solvent system, we optimized the CTAB concentration to 0.05 mmol, resulting in MAPbBr3 NCs with an impressive 88% quantum yield. XPS and FTIR analyses confirm the presence and binding of CTAB on the NC surface. The MAPbBr3-CTAB NCs exhibit higher exciton–phonon binding energy, enhancing their optical properties. Despite an unfavourable geometric fit, CTAB is effective in surface defect passivation due to its binding, solvation, and desorption energy during the dynamic binding process. 2D-DOSY NMR reveals approximately 66% CTAB bound to the NC surface. A comparative study involving MAPbBr3-OA, OLA, and MAPbBr3-CTAB deposited on LEDs demonstrates the superior performance of the latter, achieving a luminous efficiency of 42.18 lm W−1 at 1.2 ml deposition. These findings highlight the efficacy of CTAB in achieving high-purity green luminescence, aligning with BT.2020 display colour standards and paving the way for advanced optoelectronic applications. The successful synthesis and improved performance of MAPbBr3-CTAB NCs underscore their potential as a promising material for future optoelectronic and photovoltaic technologies.

One-pot four-step direct synthesis of 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid from 2,5-diformylfuran under oxygen-free conditions

2,5-Furanedicarboxylic acid (FDCA) is a valuable compound with the potential as a renewable and green alternative to terephthalic acid in polyester production. To address the issues of flammability, explosiveness, and product separation challenges associated with the current aerobic oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) to FDCA route, herein, for the first time, a one-pot four-step direct reaction pathway for the synthesis of FDCA from 2,5-diformylfuran (DFF) and hydroxylamine salt is proposed. Under optimized conditions of 120 ℃ for 8 h, [HSO3-b-mim]·CF3SO3 catalyst and p-xylene-water dual liquid phase solvent, 100 % DFF conversion and 91.0 % FDCA separation yield were obtained. Notably, [HSO3-b-mim]·CF3SO3 exhibited excellent stability, maintaining its activity after being recycled more than five times. Through online experimentation and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, a four-step reaction mechanism involving aldehyde oximation, oxime dehydration, nitrile hydrolysis, and amide hydrolysis was proposed. This reaction pathway offers significant industrial application value due to its high FDCA yield, simple product separation, easy recovery and recycling of ionic liquid, and elimination of the need for oxygen.

Synthesis of Ordered Mesoporous Transition Metal Dichalcogenides by Direct Organic–Inorganic Co‐Assembly

AbstractEndowing transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) with mesoporous structure can greatly enhance their porosity, accessible specific surface area, and exposed active sites, leading to better performances in applications based on interfacial reactions. Current methods including hard‐template (nanocasting) method or thermal‐assisted conversion (TAC) still suffer from drawbacks such as cumbersome and environmentally unfriendly process, humidity sensitivity, or ill‐defined mesostructures. Herein, the study reports a facile synthesis of ordered mesoporous TMDs/carbon composites by direct organic–inorganic co‐assembly in dual solvent (DMF/H2O). The amphiphilic block copolymer polyethylene oxide‐b‐polystyrene (PEO‐b‐PS) is used as the organic template, and (NH4)2MoS4 or (NH4)2WS4 as the inorganic precursor. After solvent evaporation‐induced aggregation assembly and thermal treatments, it results in highly ordered mesoporous MoS2, WS2, and MoS2/WS2 with highly crystalline framework, high specific surface area (44‐91 m2 g−1) and large pore sizes (15–21 nm). Semiconductor gas sensors based on mesoporous TMDs exhibit extraordinary sensing performances toward NO2 at room temperature, including high sensitivity and ultrahigh selectivity, benefiting from its abundant adsorption sites for gas molecules, fast diffusion rate in well‐connected mesopores, and rich edge active sites. This work paves a facile way to develop novel ordered mesoporous TMDs‐based semiconductor materials for various applications.

Efficient base- and ligand-free palladium catalysed O-arylation of phenols in choline chloride:triethanolamine as a reusable deep eutectic solvent.

In this paper, we present a novel and sustainable approach using choline chloride:triethanolamine as a green, efficient and reusable deep eutectic solvent (DES) for Pd-catalysed O-arylation reactions with Pd/BaSO4 (10%). By using the unique properties of DESs, we successfully achieved C-O bond formation without the need for additional solvents, bases and ligands. This solvent/catalyst system ([ChCl][TEA]2) functioned as a dual catalyst and solvent system, enabling fast and environmentally friendly C-O bond formation from phenol derivatives and electron-deficient aryl halides, leading to remarkable yields under mild reaction conditions. To identify and characterize this DES, we employed differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, refractive index, viscosity, the potential of hydrogen (pH) and conductivity measurements. One of the remarkable advantages of this DES system is its exceptional stability. This solvent/catalyst system exhibited high stability throughout the reaction cycles, showing no significant loss of activity. As a result, this DES and catalyst (Pd/BaSO4 (10%)) can be easily recycled and re-used for up to three consecutive cycles, making it an economically and environmentally attractive option for organic reactions. Our approach offers several key benefits, including simple catalyst preparation, quick reaction times and excellent production efficiency.

Synthesizing of cobalt oxide nanofibers and investigation of changes in synthesizing parameters on the final product

AbstractIn this study, the best conditions for synthesizing the cobalt oxide nanofibers using the electrospinning method was investigated. For this purpose, the effect of various factors such as solvent, calcination temperature, and polymer concentration on the crystal structure, morphology, and size of the synthesized samples was evaluated. An extensive characterization of the products was performed using x‐ray diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy, ultraviolet‐visible spectroscopy, and photoluminescence. X‐ray diffractometry results of fabricated samples at different temperatures confirm cobalt oxide synthesis. Scanning electron microscopy analysis shows that the best fibers are synthesized from a polymer solution prepared at room temperature with a dual solvent of deionized water and ethanol under a calcination temperature of 600 °C. Also, some shifts were observed by examining the optical properties using ultraviolet‐visible and photoluminescence spectroscopy. These results show that the proper selection of reaction conditions in the electrospinning method can be very effective for the synthesis of cobalt oxide fibers with morphology in nanometer sizes.

Simultaneous separation and determination of seven biphenyl cyclooctene lignans in Schisandra chinensis and its preparations by micellar electrokinetic chromatography with dual organic solvent system.

Gomisin is a natural dibenzo cyclooctene lignan, which is mainly derived from the family Magnoliaceae. It has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-tumor, anti-aging, and hypoglycemic effects. Gomisins play important roles as medicines, nutraceuticals, food additives, and cosmetics. The objective of this study is to establish a micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) method for simultaneous separation and determination of seven biphenyl cyclooctene lignans (Gomisin D, E, G, H, J, N, and O) in Schisandra chinensis and its preparations. The method was optimized by studying the effects of the main parameters on the separation. The method has been validated and successfully applied to the determination of seven Gomisins in S.chinensis and its preparations. In the separation system, the running buffer was composed of 20 mM Na2HPO4, 8.0 mM sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), 11% (v/v) methanol, and 6.0% (v/v) ethanol. A diode array detector was used with a detection wavelength of 230 nm, a separation voltage of 17 kV, and an operating temperature of 25°C. Under this condition, the seven analytes were separated at baseline within 20 min, and a good linear relationship was obtained with correlation coefficient ranging from 0.9919 to 0.9992. The limit of detection (LOD, S/N = 3) and the limit of quantification (LOQ, S/N = 10) ranged from 0.8 to 0.9μg/mL and from 2.6 to 3.0μg/mL, respectively. The recovery rate was between 99.1% and 102.5%. The experimental results indicated that this method is suitable for the separation and determination of seven Schisandra biphenyl cyclooctene lignan compounds in real samples. At the same time, it provides an effective reference for the quality control of S.chinensis and its preparations.

Synthesis and characterization of monodispersed uniform-size aromatic thiolate-protected cobalt nanoclusters for antibacterial and dye degradation studies

In this work, we successfully synthesized monodispersed uniform-sized nanoclusters of less than 7 nm using a dual solvent interaction effect based on nanoclusters formation and growth of thiol-protected (TP) stabilized cobalt nanoclusters (CoNCs) mechanism. The spherical morphology synthesized nanoclusters was confirmed by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) microscopy. The X-Ray diffraction analysis (XRD) and Selected area electron diffraction (SAED) pattern of the nanoclusters were confirmed the physical properties and crystallographic nature. The obtained small particles play a significant role in antibacterial studies using one gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and one gram-negative (Escherichia coli) bacteria, and sensing of methyl orange in the detection range is 9.2615 × 10−6 to 2.1760 × 10−4 M for methyl orange (MO) rapid degradation.

Direct additive-free N-formylation and N-acylation of anilines and synthesis of urea derivatives using green, efficient, and reusable deep eutectic solvent ([ChCl][ZnCl2]2)

In the current report, we introduce a simple, mild efficient and green protocol for N-formylation and N-acetylation of anilines using formamide, formic acid, and acetic acid as inexpensive, nontoxic, and easily available starting materials just with heating along stirring in [ChCl][ZnCl2]2 as a durable, reusable deep eutectic solvent (DES), which acts as a dual catalyst and solvent system to produce a wide range of formanilides and acetanilides. Also, a variety of unsymmetrical urea derivatives were synthesized by the reaction of phenyl isocyanate with a range of amine compounds using this benign DES in high to excellent yields. [ChCl][ZnCl2]2 showed good recycling and reusability up to four runs without considerable loss of its catalytic activity.

Multidimensional Biomimetic Construction of Highly Sensitive Wrinkled Gels Based on the Transformation of Multiple Supramolecular Interactions Induced by Dual‐Solvent Strategy

AbstractTraditional artificial skin gels often only focuses on a single perspective and overlooks the necessity of multidimensional synergistic design for sensitivity enhancement. To address these problems, the innovative introduction of dual solvents on the surface of polyacrylamide/sodium alginate gel induces to the transformation of supramolecular interactions including ion coordination, crystalline alcohol, and phase separation, synergistically achieving adjustable wrinkle wavelengths (304.2 ± 19.9 to 2393.5 ± 95.9 µm) and modulated chemical compositions with tunable moduli (87.5 ± 3.3 to 157.6 ± 3.7 kPa). This flexible strategy allows the construction of long‐range ordered wrinkled microstructures of three‐dimensional surfaces and complex morphologies. Meanwhile, the bridge effect induced by crystalline alcohols directs the insertion of ethanol molecules into the polymer chains, effectively reducing intramolecular friction. Benefiting from the small wavelength and low modulus dominated by crystalline alcohol, the wrinkled gel exhibits extremely high sensitivity of 164 kPa−1 (<0.5 kPa) and wide detection range (44.3 kPa). The wrinkled gel remains stable high sensitive to detect micro‐ and large stress, tactile perception, and human motion behaviors. This work proposes a new strategy for constructing highly sensitive bioinspired skin from multiple dimensions, showing broad application prospects in the fields of bioengineering and behavioral cognition.

Highly selective extraction of aromatics from diesel fuel using dual N-containing heterocyclic deep eutectic solvents

Separation of aromatics and alkanes in diesel fuel is significant for its diversified utilization. In this study, a series of dual N-containing heterocyclic deep eutectic solvents (DESs) were designed and synthesized to separate alkanes/aromatics. The optimal DES (2EmimCl:Trtz) was determined to be 1-Ethyl-3-methylimidazole chloride salt (EmimCl) and 1,2,4-triazole (Trtz) with a molar ratio of 2:1. Sulfolane (SUL) was added as a co-extractant with an optimal molar ratio of 3:1. The extractant ([2EmimCl:Trtz]3SUL) was adopted in the model oil containing dodecane and tetraline. The effects of experimental parameters on the extraction performance were studied, and under optimal conditions, the separation factor for tetraline reached 145.2 with a distribution coefficient of 0.1500. The recycling ability of [2EmimCl:Trtz]3SUL was found to be good. The mechanism of selective extraction was studied using density functional theory (DFT), which indicated that the difference in interaction forces between extractants and aromatics/alkanes is the key to achieving selective separation. Finally, multistage cross-flow extractions of [2EmimCl:Trtz]3SUL were adopted in the six-component model oil and real diesel oil to demonstrate its performance in complex and diesel oil systems.

Enhanced oxygen reduction activity and stability of double-layer nitrogen-doped carbon catalyst with abundant Fe-Co dual-atom sites

The synergistic effect between metal atoms gives dual-atom catalysts superior catalytic performance to single-atom catalysts. Herein, we report a ZIF-derived double-layer Fe-Co dual-atom catalyst (D-FeCo-DAs-N-C) for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). The formation of N3-Fe-Co-N3 Fe-Co dual-atom structure was confirmed by X-ray absorption spectroscopy. A ZIF-derived Zn/Co bimetallic double-layer structure was used as a host, and the guest Fe3+ ions were encapsulated to the cavities by dual solvent method to form the ZIF-derived Zn/Co/Fe trimetallic double-layer structure. During the pyrolysis process, part of the Fe3+ ions were reduced by the generated carbon and combined with adjacent Co atoms to form Fe-Co dual-atom catalyst. The special double-layer structure provided abundant active sites and stable coordination environment for Fe-Co dual-atom sites. The density functional theory calculation shows that Fe-Co dual-atom sites promote the accumulation of electrons, and regulate the adsorption free energy of reaction intermediates, leading to higher limit potential. The D-FeCo-DAs-N-C exhibits excellent ORR performance (E1/2 =0.927 V) and extraordinary stability in alkaline media. The ORR chronoamperometry test showed that the current maintained 94.18% of the initial value after 100 h. The catalytic activity and stability of D-FeCo-DAs-N-C are higher than those of single-atom and single-layer catalysts synthesized as control samples. In addition, the practical zinc-air battery using D-FeCo-DAs-N-C as cathodic catalyst showed a maximum power density of 259 mW cm−2, a specific capacity of 814 W h kg−1 at 10 mA cm−2, and a stability of 400 cycles without detectable attenuation for 200 h. Furthermore, this catalyst also exhibits excellent performance in flexible zinc-air battery with a maximum power density of 140.3 mW cm−2 and excellent mechanical flexibility.

Development of dual stage solvent fractionation as an approach to concentrate carotenoids from crude palm oil with high recovery: The potential use of molecular simulation as a pre‐screening tool

AbstractCrude palm oil (CPO) is highly abundant in carotenoids. Previous findings found that dry fractionation can concentrate carotenoids from CPO but resulted in a significant loss of carotenoids. Therefore, the present study aimed to utilize solvent fractionation, which offers a better separation efficiency, to concentrate carotenoids from CPO with improved recovery. Computational study revealed a high binding affinity of phytonutrient towards unsaturated triacylglycerols (TAGs) species in olein fraction due to similar polarity. This prediction was further verified with evidence showing strong, positive correlation between the iodine value and carotenoids concentrations of fractionated oil. The difference in binding affinity of saturated and unsaturated TAG towards different solvents can be used as a guide for screening and selection of solvent suitable for recovery of phytonutrient during solvent fractionation. Subsequently, a lab‐scale single‐ stage fractionation study disclosed that crystallization temperature of 15°C, oil to acetone ratio of 1:5 (w/v) for 4 h under agitation at 100 rpm produced olein with the highest carotenoid concentration (637 ppm) and recovery (94%). Subsequent double‐stage fractionation successfully concentrated the carotenoids up to 125% with a recovery of >93%. Conclusively, solvent fractionation provides an effective way to concentrate valuable carotenoids from CPO while minimizing the lost.

High performance cellulose acetate/polyamide (CA/PA) thin film composite forward osmotic (TFC‐FO) membranes from dual solvent modification processes

AbstractPolyamide (PA) based thin film composite forward osmotic (TFC‐FO) membranes were prepared through inter‐facial polymerization (IP) processes on porous cellulose acetate (CA) substrates. A dual solvent modification process of adding DMF in the aqueous phase followed by activation with methanol was found to be able to simultaneously improve the permselectivity and anti‐fouling capability of the modified membranes. On top of the acidic CA substrates, DMF could not only absorb the HCl formed in the IP processes, but also chemically bind with the PA matrix by reaction with MPD monomers, leading to formation of homogeneous thin and flat PA layers, while methanol activation further swelled the PA matrix, repaired defects and optimized water permeating channels. Using 1 M NaCl solution as the draw solution, the water flux of the CA/PA‐DMF4‐ME1 membrane was twice that of the pristine membrane, and 24% increase in Jw/Js value from 182 to 225 L·mol−1. Its Jw/Js value could be further increased 10 times to 2000 L·mol−1 using 1 M Na2SO4 solution as draw solution. RO tests for the CA/PA‐DMF4‐ME1 membranes showed 6‐fold increase in water permeance, from 1.16 to 7.02 L·m−2·h−1·bar−1, as well as increase in NaCl rejection from 94.8% to 97.7% from pristine membrane.

Centrifugally spun hybrid polyhydroxyalkanoate/dextran nanocapsule fiber matrix for the delivery of hydrophilic payloads

Biopolymeric micro- and nanofibers with active ingredients have gained significant attention for biological applications. However, the incorporation of hydrophilic compounds into hydrophobic matrices via spinning techniques remain rather unexplored. Here we report the incorporation of dextran nanocapsules (Dex-NCs) in centrifugally spun poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) (PHBHHx) fibers for the release of hydrophilic payloads. Inverse miniemulsion polymerization was employed to synthesize hydrophilic Dex-NCs with an average size of 0.25 µm. The Dex-NCs were embedded into PHBHHx via dual solvent centrifugal spinning at 0–7 wt% loading, resulting in beaded fibers with average fiber diameters of 4–6 µm. The effect of Dex-NC loading on the melting and crystallization behavior of PHBHHx was limited, while the strength and stiffness of the hybrid fibers was retained. The elongation of the hybrid fiber mats is reduced with increasing Dex-NC loading, but remains suitable for biological applications. Further, the in vitro release measurements showed a time dependent release of embedded Dex-NCs and the payload from the hybrid fibers. We anticipate this hybrid fiber matrix to be a starting point for the development of non-woven mats for slow release of hydrophilic payloads for biological applications, especially for medical wound dressings.

A Dual Organic Solvent Zn-Ion Electrolyte Enables Highly Stable Zn Metal Batteries.

Aqueous zinc (Zn) batteries have been regarded as an alternative to lithium-ion batteries due to their high abundance, low cost, and higher intrinsic safety. However, the low Zn plating/stripping reversibility, Zn dendrite growth, and continuous water consumption have hindered the practical application of aqueous Zn anodes. Herein, a hydrous organic Zn-ion electrolyte based on a dual organic solvent, namely hydrated Zn(BF4)2 zinc salt dissolved in dimethyl carbonate (DMC) and vinyl carbonate (EC) solvents [denoted as Zn(BF4)2/DMC/EC], can address these problems, which not only inhibits the side reactions but also promotes uniform Zn plating/stripping through the formation of a stable solid state interface layer and Zn2+-EC/2DMC pairs. This electrolyte enables the Zn electrode to stably undergo >700 cycles at a rate of 1 mA cm-2 with a Coulombic efficiency of 99.71%. Moreover, the full cell paired with V2O5 also demonstrates excellent cycling stability without capacity decay at 1 A g-1 after 1600 cycles.

Synergistic effect of dual hydrogen-donor deep eutectic solvent for performance improvement of fracturing-oil expulsion fluids

Petroleum remains the main source of energy consumption over the past decade. The development of rich unconventional oil reservoirs is a huge challenge. Clean fracturing fluids (CFFs) have gained considerable attention for the unconventional reservoir development, owing to their integrated capabilities of fracturing and oil expulsion. Performance of CFFs is a vital factor in enhancing oil recovery. In this work, a ternary deep eutectic solvent (DES) with dual hydrogen donors (HBDs) was developed as a novel and green medium for improving CFF performance. With the hydrogen-bonding interactions, the ternary DES enable a robust micelle network, thereby strengthening the rheological property, temperature resistance and drag reduction performance of CFFs. The salt resistance performance was improved due to the ion–dipole interaction between HBDs and salt cations, decreasing the interactions between salt cations and surfactants. The DES also increase the imbibition efficiency from 30.7 % in 98 h to 43.7 % in 62 h. Besides, the gel breaking performance and reusability of gel-breaking fluid were enhanced in the presence of DES. The ternary DES showed more effective reinforcement for CFF properties as compared with binary DES, due to the synergistic effect of dual HBDs. This work will provide a promising alternative for intensifying CFF performance.

Investigation on Centrifugally Spun Fibrous PCL/3-Methyl Mannoside Mats for Wound Healing Application

Fibrous structures, in general, have splendid advantages in different forms of micro- and nanomembranes in various fields, including tissue engineering, filtration, clothing, energy storage, etc. In the present work, we develop a fibrous mat by blending the bioactive extract of Cassia auriculata (CA) with polycaprolactone (PCL) using the centrifugal spinning (c-spinning) technique for tissue-engineered implantable material and wound dressing applications. The fibrous mats were developed at a centrifugal speed of 3500 rpm. The PCL concentration for centrifugal spinning with CA extract was optimized at 15% w/v of PCL to achieve better fiber formation. Increasing the extract concentration by more than 2% resulted in crimping of fibers with irregular morphology. The development of fibrous mats using a dual solvent combination resulted in fine pores on the fiber structure. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images showed that the surface morphology of the fibers in the produced fiber mats (PCL and PCL-CA) was highly porous. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis revealed that the CA extract contained 3-methyl mannoside as the predominant component. The in vitro cell line studies using NIH3T3 fibroblasts demonstrated that the CA-PCL nanofiber mat was highly biocompatible, supporting cell proliferation. Hence, we conclude that the c-spun, CA-incorporating nanofiber mat can be employed as a tissue-engineered construct for wound healing applications.

Dynamic co-assembly behaviors of polyoxometalates and giant surfactants in dual solvents

Inorganic-organic hybridization is a widely used method to develop new functional materials involving polyoxometalates (POMs), affording them with unique synergistic physical and chemical properties. As one of the core topics in hybrid materials, the study of their assembly structures is critical for the optimization of their performances.In the present work, dynamic co-assembly behaviors of several giant surfactants XPOSS-PS (X, POSS and PS denote different polar groups, polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane and polystyrene, respectively) and Keggin-type silicotungstic acid H4SiW12O40 (H4SiW for short) were investigated. We designed and synthesized three series of giant surfactants that possess heads bearing cationic (NPOSS-PS, N for ammonium group), neutral (DPOSS-PS, D for dihydroxyl group) and anionic charges (APOSS-PS, A for carboxylic acid group), respectively. The different charge types of POSS heads lead to different electrostatic interactions with the anionic POM clusters, resulting in different co-assembly structures in dual mixed solvents. Moreover, we found the POM's loading content and PS chain length are another two important factors that can determine the morphology of co-assembly structures. This work expands the scope of co-assembled structures of POM-based hybrid materials, and provides a platform for the study of the basic physical principles of their co-assembly behaviors.