Solvent Research Articles

Adhesive Zwitterionic Poly(ionic liquid) with Unprecedented Organic Solvent Resistance.

The resistance of adhesives to organic solvents is of paramount importance in diverse industries. Unfortunately, many currently available adhesives exhibit either weak intermolecular chain interactions, resulting in insufficient resistance to organic solvents, or possess a permanent covalent crosslinked network, impeding recyclability. This study introduces an innovative approach to address this challenge by formulating zwitterionic poly(ionic liquid) (ZPIL) derivatives with robust dipole-dipole interactions, incorporating sulfonic anions and imidazolium cations. Due to its unique dynamic and electrostatic self-crosslinking structure, the ZPIL exhibits significant adhesion to various substrates and demonstrates excellent recyclability even after multiple adhesion tests. Significantly, ZPIL exhibits exceptional adhesion stability across diverse nonpolar and polar organic solvents, including ionic liquids, distinguishing itself from nonionic polymers and conventional poly(ionic liquid)s. Its adhesive performance remains minimally affected even after prolonged exposure to soaking conditions. The study presents a promising solution for the design of highly organic solvent-resistant materials for plastics, coatings, and adhesives.

Growth of CsPbX3 nanocrystals using sol–gel SiO2 solid powders as reactors without capping agents towards anomalous stable emission membranes

To overcome the poor stability of metal halide perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) prepared in organic solvents, a solid reaction method at high temperature was developed using sol–gel porous SiO2 as a reactor. Sol-gel SiO2 powders were used to encapsulate CsPbX3 NCs at high temperatures (600–800 °C) in air to get SiO2/CsPbX3 glass by dispersing growth cites in advance and no ligands added. After NaOH etching, a thin dense SiO2 shell was remained on the surface of CsPbX3 NCs (named as CsPbX3@SiO2).The photoluminescence (PL) quantum yield of the CsPbX3@SiO2 was 86.7 %, in which their PL peak wavelengths were adjusted from 410-707 nm by changing halogen components. The dense SiO2 shell on CsPbX3 NCs blocked the connection of CsPbX3 cores with water and oxygen in the external environment, resulting in CsPbX3@SiO2 revealed extraordinary high stability. After immersing in water for half year, the PL intensity of CsPbX3@SiO2 composites was remained unchanged and the composites still revealed bright PL after heat-treating in boiling water for 14 h. These highly stable composites were used to fabricate a white light-emitting diode, in which the color coordinates are located at (0.36, 0.33), and the color temperature reaches 5169 K which belongs to the warm white light range.

Mechanism analysis and performance evaluation of clean and efficient recovery of N-heptanol/N-hexanol from wastewater via extractive distillation with green mixed entrainer

A clean and sustainable process for separating n-heptanol/n-hexanol/water industrial mixing system by extractive distillation via mixing organic solvent with ionic liquid as an entrainer was proposed. The mechanism of intermolecular microscopic interaction was explored by quantum chemistry calculation. By using multi-objective optimization, the optimal operating parameters of the process were obtained. In addition, process intensification technology was introduced, which improved the problems of high cost and high energy consumption in the conventional extractive distillation process. Finally, multiple performances were evaluated and analyzed for different processes. It was found that the coupled heat integration and heat pump technology to assist the extractive distillation process saved 10.45% in terms of economy, reduced gas emissions by 49.00%, and reduced energy consumption by 48.99% compared to the basic extractive distillation process. This confirmed the reliability and feasibility of implementing the process intensification technology. This work demonstrates the application of organic solvent mixed with ionic liquid as entrainer and process intensification technology in the extractive distillation process, providing guidance and reference for the design of the extractive distillation process.

Superhydrophobic Highly Flexible Triple-Network Polyorganosiloxane-Based Aerogels for Thermal Insulation, Oil-Water Separation, and Strain/Pressure Sensing.

Polyvinylpolymethylsiloxane (PVPMS)/polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) copolymer aerogels were synthesized via consecutive radical polymerization and cohydrolytic polycondensation of vinylmethyldimethoxysilane and dimethyldimethoxysilane, followed by supercritical drying or ambient pressure drying. The resultant PVPMS/PDMS copolymer aerogels exhibit a highly porous, tunable triple-network structure consisting of interlinked hydrocarbon polymers, PVPMS and PDMS. These aerogels display superhydrophobicity (151°), low density (109 mg cm-3), low thermal conductivity (29.8 mW m-1 K-1), and adjustable pore structure. The combination of good machinability, low thermal conductivity, excellent compressive elasticity and bending flexibility, and efficient organic solvent adsorption gives these aerogels broad application prospects in thermal insulation and oil-water separation. In addition, PVPMS/PDMS/carbon nanotube (CNT) composite aerogels were obtained by incorporating the conductive CNTs, followed by vacuum drying. The resultant PVPMS/PDMS/CNT composite aerogel exhibits high sensitivity with a broad pressure sensing range in strain and pressure sensing applications.

Enantioselective liquid-liquid extraction of 2-cyclohexylmandelic acid enantiomers using chiral ionic liquids.

Obtaining optically pure compounds in an eco-friendly and cost-efficient manner plays an important role in human health and pharmaceutical industry. Racemic separation using multistage stereoselective liquid-liquid extraction has become one of the most practical and effective approach to access homochiral enantiomers. Currently, chiral ionic liquids (CILs) with structural designability have become a promising chiral additive and enable them as adjustable candidates for racemic separation. Herein, a high-effective stereoselective liquid-liquid extraction process composed of imidazolium cations and amino acid-derived anions as the chiral additive was established for racemic 2-cyclohexylmandelic acid (CHMA) separation. We have systematically investigated the choice of organic solvent, concentration of CIL, extraction temperature, and the pH of aqueous phase. For three-stage stereoselective extraction, the maximum enantiomeric excess (e.e.) for CHMA was reached up to 40.6%. Furthermore, the mechanism of steric effect and stereoselective capacity between the CILs and racemic CHMA was discussed and simulated. We envision that the work will facilitate the development of CILs in multistage liquid-liquid extraction and promote the large-scale production of optically pure enantiomers.

Mechanism of phenols evolution during pyrolysis of Shendong coal macerals swelled with oxygen-containing organic solvents: Experimental and DFT study

Phenols are the important high value-added chemical product of coal tar, and exploring the release behavior of phenols is crucial for clarifying the coal pyrolysis mechanism and regulating the product distribution. The aim of this paper is to investigate the effects of swelling on the pyrolytic properties of de-ashed vitrinite (VD) and de-ashed inertinite (ID). VD and ID prepared by Shendong coal were characterized by 13C NMR, XPS and FTIR to explore physicochemical properties. Acetic acid (AA), ethanol (EA) and acetone (AT) were employed to prepare the swelled VD (VD-AA, VD-EA and VD-AT) and swelled ID (ID-AA, ID-EA and ID-AT). Kinetic analysis was carried out using thermogravimetry, the pyrolysis characteristics and distribution of pyrolysis products were analyzed by fast pyrolysis–gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) and fast pyrolysis fixed bed. Combining with density functional theory (DFT), the possible pyrolysis pathways of phenols generation were proposed. As a result, the macromolecular structures of VD and ID are constructed. TG and kinetic analysis exhibit that swelling promotes the pyrolysis of VD and ID, and the activation energy of the second stage is VD > VD-EA > VD-AT > VD-AA and ID > ID-EA > ID-AT > ID-AA, respectively. Py-GC/MS analysis exhibits that the selectivity of phenol, cresol, xylenol and catechol decreases to 17.53 % (VD-AA) and 12.18 % (ID-AT). By analyzing and comparing the distribution of the full component of Py-GC/MS, seven possible pathways of cresol generation are proposed. DFT calculation exhibits that Path 3 of VD-AT, which produces cresol via sequential decarboxylation, ether bond cleavage, decarbonylation, aliphatic side chain removal and dehydroxylation, demonstrates the lowest reaction energy of −148.38 kJ/mol.

Cation-Modified Poly(vinyl alcohol) Film to Optimize the Bistability of Transparent Electrophoretic Display Based on Charge Adsorption Behavior in Nonpolar Solvent.

Electrophoretic displays (EPDs) utilize the electrophoretic particles in electronic ink (e-ink) to display different color states with bistability. Bistability of EPDs is achieved by placing colloidal particles in a highly viscous solvent to keep the distribution of colloidal particles stable without sustaining the external field, so it only consumes power when updating the image. The feature of low power consumption makes it suitable for applications such as advertising boards, price tags, etc. Apart from these applications, recent research on lateral-driving EPDs extends its applications to smart windows, privacy control, and so on. However, achieving bistability by simply increasing the viscosity of solvent is inefficient in the case of lateral driving operation. Therefore, it is deserving to have intensive study on the mechanism of bistability from other aspects. Herein, we propose a mechanism to investigate the charge adsorption behavior on the electrode to affect the bistability of particles, which is based on the "Stern layer adsorption/desorption" model. Based on the above mechanism, we further fabricated a hexadecyl trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)/poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) composite film on the electrode to improve the bistability of lateral-driving EPD by reducing the diffusion current caused by unabsorbed charges. This developed lateral-driving EPD can significantly improve the bistability, which is enhanced from 40 s to 7 min, an increase by a factor of approximately 10. This work gives a way to consider the bistability of colloidal particles in nonpolar solvent.

Histone demethylase KDM4A mediating macrophage polarization: A potential mechanism of trichloroethylene induced liver injury.

Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a commonly used organic solvent in industry. Our previous studies have found that TCE can cause liver injury accompanied by macrophage polarization, but the specific mechanism is unclear. The epigenetic regulation of macrophage polarization is mainly focused on histone modification. Histone lysine demethylase 4A (KDM4A) is involved in the activation of macrophages. In this study, we used a mouse model we investigated the role of KDM4A in the livers of TCE-drinking mice and found that the expression of KDM4A, M1-type polarization indicators, and related inflammatory factors in the livers of TCE-drinking mice. In the study, BALB/c mice were randomly divided into four groups: 2.5 mg/mL TCE dose group and 5.0 mg/mL TCE dose group, the vehicle control group, and the blank control group. We found that TCE triggered M1 polarization of mouse macrophages, characterized by the expression of CD11c and robust production of inflammatory cytokines. Notably, exposure to TCE resulted in markedly increased expression of KDM4A in macrophages. Functionally, the increased expression of KDM4A significantly impaired the expression of H3K9me3 and H3K9me2 and increased the expression of H3K9me1. In addition, KDM4A potentially represents a novel epigenetic modulator, with its upregulation connected to β-catenin activation, a signal critical for the pro-inflammatory activation of macrophages. Furthermore, KDM4A inhibitor JIB-04 treatment resulted in a decrease in β-catenin expression and prevented TCE-induced M1 polarization and the expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-1β. These results suggest that the association of KDM4A and Wnt/β-catenin cooperatively establishes the activation and polarization of macrophages and global changes in H3K9me3/me2/me1. Our findings identify KDM4A as an essential regulator of the polarization of macrophages and the expression of inflammatory cytokines, which might serve as a potential target for preventing and treating liver injury caused by TCE.

Noncovalent Interaction Guided Precise Photoluminescence Regulation of Gold Nanoclusters in Both Isolate Species and Aggregate States

AbstractDesigning luminophores bright in both isolate species and aggregate states is of great importance in many emerging cutting‐edge applications. However, the conventional luminophores either emit in isolate species but quench in aggregate state or emit in aggregate state but darken in isolate species. Here we demonstrate that the precise regulation of noncovalent interactions can realize luminophores bright in both isolate species and aggregate states. It is firstly discovered that the intra‐cluster interaction enhances the emission of atomically precise Au25(pMBA)18 (pMBA=4‐mercaptobenzoic acid), a nanoscale luminophore, while the inter‐cluster interaction quenches the emission. The emission enhancing strategies are then well‐designed by both introducing exogenous substances to block inter‐cluster interaction and surface manipulation of Au25(pMBA)18 at the molecular level to enhance intra‐cluster interaction, opening new possibilities to controllably enhance the luminophore's photoluminescence in both isolate species and aggregate states in different phases including aqueous solution, solid state and organic solvents.

Noncovalent Interaction Guided Precise Photoluminescence Regulation of Gold Nanoclusters in Both Isolate Species and Aggregate States.

Designing luminophores bright in both isolate species and aggregate states is of great importance in many emerging cutting-edge applications. However, the conventional luminophores either emit in isolate species but quench in aggregate state or emit in aggregate state but darken in isolate species. Here we demonstrate that the precise regulation of noncovalent interactions can realize luminophores bright in both isolate species and aggregate states. It is firstly discovered that the intra-cluster interaction enhances the emission of atomically precise Au25(pMBA)18 (pMBA=4-mercaptobenzoic acid), a nanoscale luminophore, while the inter-cluster interaction quenches the emission. The emission enhancing strategies are then well-designed by both introducing exogenous substances to block inter-cluster interaction and surface manipulation of Au25(pMBA)18 at the molecular level to enhance intra-cluster interaction, opening new possibilities to controllably enhance the luminophore's photoluminescence in both isolate species and aggregate states in different phases including aqueous solution, solid state and organic solvents.

Low-field NMR spectroscopic study of e-cigarettes: Is determination of only nicotine and organic carrier solvents possible?

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) have become popular worldwide with the market growing exponentially in some countries. The absence of product standards and safety regulations requires urgent development of analytical methodologies for the holistic control of the growing diversity of such products. An approach based on low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR) at 80 MHz is presented for the simultaneous determination of key parameters: carrier solvents (vegetable glycerine (VG), propylene glycol (PG) and water), total nicotine as well as free-base nicotine fraction. Moreover, qualitative and quantitative determination of fourteen weak organic acids deliberately added to enhance sensory characteristics of e-cigarettes was possible. In most cases these parameters can be rapidly and conveniently determined without using any sample manipulation such as dilution, extraction or derivatization steps. The method was applied for 37 authentic e-cigarettes samples. In particular, eight different organic acids with the content up to 56 mg/mL were detected. Due to its simplicity, the method can be used in routine regulatory control as well as to study release behaviour of nicotine and other e-cigarettes constituents in different products.

Sodium Hypochlorite Pentahydrate as a Chlorinating Reagent: Application to the Tandem Conversion of β,γ-Unsaturated Carboxylic Acids to α,β-Unsaturated Lactones

Sodium hypochlorite pentahydrate (NaClO·5H2O, 1) has recently been employed in organic synthesis as an oxidant for alcohols, sulfides, glycols, etc. In most of these reactions, however, reagent 1 functions just as a simple oxidant, and the variations of the reactions have not been well explored. In this study, we report another useful and fascinating reaction, in which reagent 1 functions as a green chlorinating reagent toward β,γ-unsaturated carboxylic acid (2). When substrate 2 was stirred at room temperature with 1 (2 eq) in acetonitrile for 1 h, α,β-unsaturated lactone (3) was obtained in moderate yields (up to 62%). The same reaction proceeded in various organic and aqueous solvents as well. When excess reagent 1 was employed, lactone 3 was further oxidized to the corresponding epoxide (4) for some cases. The conversion is initiated by electrophilic attack of HOCl to the C=C bond of 2 to generate a chloronium ion intermediate, which is cyclized to β-chlorolactone (5) and then 3 through the elimination of HCl. The usefulness of 1 as a chlorinating reagent was further demonstrated in the electrophilic substitution of activated aromatic compounds.

A Kinetic and Mechanistic Study of Ir (III)-Catalyzed Oxidation of Methionine by HCF (III) in an Aqueous Alkaline Medium

Introduction: The kinetic study of Ir (III) chloride-catalyzed oxidation of methionine by hexacyanoferrate (abbreviated as HCF) III ions in aqueous alkaline medium was performed spectrophotometrically at constant ionic strength of 0.5 moldm-3 and temperature of 35±0.10C. Method: The progress of the reaction was found to be first-order rate dependence kinetics with respect to [HCF (III)], [OH-], and [IrCl3]. The rate of reaction was found to decrease with an increased concentration of methionine. The ionic strength of the reaction mixture showed a positive salt effect on the reaction rate. Different activation parameters were also evaluated by studying the reaction at four different temperatures. The stoichiometry of the reaction showed Methionine: HCF (III) = 1:4. Result: The oxidation product of the reaction was found to be methionine sulphone, which was identified by an organic solvent method and IR Spectroscopy. Further, a suitable mechanism was proposed to explain all the experimental results. Conclusion: It is assumed that the reaction proceeded through complex formation between substrate (abbreviated) and iridium trichloride. A rate law was derived, which verified the results. CH3-S-(CH2)2-CH (NH2)-COO- + 4HCF (III) Ir (III), H2O CH3-SO2-(CH2)2-CH- (NH2)-COO- + 4HCF (II) result: 1.Methionine sulphone was found to be the main product of oxidation was identified using an organic solvent method and IR Spectroscopy. A suitable mechanism has been proposed to explain all the experimental results. It is assumed that reaction proceeds through complex formation between substrate (abbreviated) and iridium trichloride. A rate law has been derived which verifies the results. CH3 –S-(CH2)2-CH (NH2) – COO- + 4HCF (III) □(→┴(Ir(III),H2O) ) CH3-SO2-(CH2)2-CH (NH2)-COO- + 4HCF (II) 2. Degradation kinetic is anticipated to follow the first order kinetics at lower concentration. 3. The catalytic system can be recycled and reused without loss of activity. 4. The anticipated easy recovery of catalyst from the reaction mixture shows another positive signigficance.

Green synthesis of N-rich carbon dot-derived crosslinked covalent organic nanomaterial for multipurpose chromatographic applications.

Carbon dots (CDs) derived crosslinked covalent organic nanomaterials (CONs) possessing high specific surface area and abundant surface functional groups are considered to be potential candidates for multimodal chromatographic separations. Typically, the synthesis of CDs and CONs requires harsh reaction conditions and toxic organic solvents, hence, the pursuit of facile and mild preparation strategies is the goal of researchers. In this work, 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane and D-glucose were used as nitrogen and carbon sources, respectively, to prepare amino-CDs (AmCDs) by rapid low-temperature polymerization rather than the common high-temperature and high-pressure reaction. Then, surface functionalization of the aminated silica gel was carried out in a deep eutectic solvent by using hydrophilic AmCDs and 1,3,5-triformylbenzene (TFB) as the functional monomers. Consequently, a novel N-rich CDs derived CON surface-functionalized silica gel (AmCDs-CON@SiO2) was obtained under mild reaction conditions. The combination of AmCDs and TFB created an ideal CON based chromatographicstationary phase. The incorporation of TFB not only contributed to the successful construction of a crosslinked CON, but also enhanced the interaction forces. The developed AmCDs-CON@SiO2 has a great potential for versatile applications in liquid chromatography. This study proposes a simple stationary phase preparation strategy by the surface modification of silica gel with CDs-based CON. Moreover, this study verified the application potential of CDs derived CON in chromatographic separation. This not only promotes the development of CDs in the field of liquid chromatographic stationary phase, but also provides some reference value for the wide application of cross-linked CON.

Solvent-Free Lignin-Silsesquioxane wood coating formulation with superhydrophobic and Flame-Retardant functionalities

There is a tremendous motivation to develop eco-friendly formulas for superhydrophobic and flame-retardant coatings. Presently used coating materials, particularly fluorinated compounds and their organic solvents, are potentially toxic. Here, we demonstrate that a silsesquioxane-grafted kraft lignin (WSL) and aluminum phosphate (AP) binder, i.e., an aqueous sustainable formula, can produce a flame retardant and superhydrophobic coating that is highly resistant to water and solvents. The chemical reaction of softwood kraft lignin (SKL) and aminopropyl/methyl silsesquioxane (WAPMSS) was studied comprehensively. NMR and XPS analyses confirmed the conversion of hydroxyl groups of SKL to Si-O-C via polycondensation. The product exhibited negligible wettability and was very hydrophobic. The dip coating of stain-grade pine wood species in the best formula containing WSL and AP dispersion (1/1 wt./wt.) rendered wood with superhydrophobic (with a water contact angle of (WCA) of 158°) and flame-retardant (with a limited oxygen index (LOI) of 27.2 %) functionalities. The exposure of coated wood to different liquids and high temperatures, as well as abrasion, touching, and knife-cutting analyses, confirmed the excellent durability of the coating formulation on wood. This paper demonstrates an eco-friendly pathway to produce a sustainable wood coating formulation with superhydrophobic and flame-retardant features.

Unveiling an electronic LogP analogue within the conceptual density functional theory framework

The partition coefficient (Log P) is a fundamental parameter in medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, and environmental science, indicating the equilibrium distribution of a compound between water (aqueous phase) and an organic solvent (lipophilic phase, typically octanol). This coefficient reflects a molecule’s affinity for water (hydrophilicity) or fats (lipophilicity), which is crucial for drug design and environmental assessments. Leveraging Conceptual Density Functional Theory (CDFT), we introduce an electronic analogue to Log P. Our analysis across diverse molecular families demonstrates strong correlations between it and Log P, highlighting its efficacy as a theoretical descriptor. The advent of the electronic partition coefficient, enriched with physical–chemical insights, is set to enhance the prediction, and understanding of partition coefficients and solubility.

Synthesis of fluorene‐flanked diketopyrrolopyrrole‐based semiconducting polymers with thermocleavable side chains and their application in organic field effect transistors

AbstractThis study introduces the first fluorene‐flanked diketopyrrolopyrrole (FDPP)‐based semiconducting polymers, named Boc‐FDPP‐CoMs (CoM = TT or BT), synthesized via copolymerization of tert‐butoxycarbonyl (t‐Boc)‐substituted FDPP as the acceptor unit with thieno[3,2‐b]thiophene (TT) or bithiophene (BT) as the donor comonomers. The incorporation of t‐Boc groups addresses challenges related to poor solubility and polymer backbone twisting associated with the FDPP building block. While Boc‐FDPP‐CoMs demonstrate solubility in common organic solvents, facilitating favourable solution‐processability for uniform film fabrication, they exhibit significant backbone twisting, leading to poor charge transport properties. Post‐deposition thermal annealing at a mild temperature as low as 170°C conveniently removes t‐Boc groups. The resulting t‐Boc‐free copolymers, NH‐FDPP‐TT and NH‐FDPP‐BT, exhibit hole mobilities up to 5.0 × 10−3 and 2.2 × 10−3 cm2 V−1 s−1 in organic field effect transistors (OFETs), respectively, representing a substantial increase compared to their counterparts with t‐Boc groups. This study underscores a meticulously designed strategy for achieving solution solubility and backbone coplanarity through side‐chain engineering for FDPP and potentially other sterically demanding building blocks to construct high‐performance semiconducting polymers for OFETs and other applications.

Green synthesis of a novel bis-Schiff base derived from 4-N, N-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde and hexamethylenediamine: DFT study

The study focuses on the green synthesis of a novel bis-Schiff base (EE) derived from 4-N, N-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde, and hexamethylenediamine. The structural properties of the bis-Schiff base were investigated using experimental methods such as IR, 1HNMR, 13CNMR, and elemental analyses (CHN). Computer simulation using Gaussian03 software at DFT/B3LYP/6–311 G (d, p) level of theory was also used to identify the structural parameters, geometrical isomers, conformational analysis, Mulliken charges, optical properties, frontier orbitals, electrostatic potential map and chemical reactivity descriptors of the bis-Schiff base. The formation mechanism of EE and its geometrical isomers were studied. The study compares theoretical and experimental IR, 1HNMR, and 13CNMR spectra, highlighting the importance of green chemistry in reducing toxic organic solvents and chemicals.

Sonoprocesses for sustainable textile processing and nanofinishing: a review

The textile sector is widely acknowledged as one of the most environmentally damaging sectors globally, primarily due to its high consumption of water and energy, utilization of chemicals, and the discharge of waste water containing a complex mixture of hazardous substances. The incorporation of nanotechnology, particularly through wet processes involving nano finishes, while enhancing textile functionality, further exacerbates these environmental concerns. Consequently, the exploration and promotion of sustainable methodologies are imperative across all wet treatments in textile processing. Among the potential solutions, sonoprocesses stand out as a promising avenue for mitigating resource consumption, and supporting environmentally friendly synthesis and application of nanomaterials to textiles. Sonoprocesses offer the advantage of carrying processes at low temperature and pressure, and the use of aqueous media instead of organic solvents. This comprehensive review delves into the multifaceted applications of sonoprocesses within the textile realm, with a specific emphasis on the synthesis and application of nanomaterials to textiles. Discussing the diverse applications of sonoprocesses, this study will pave the way for the integration of these techniques within the textile industry, ultimately aiming for widespread adoption on a commercial scale. This will help in promoting sustainable practices and reducing the ecological footprint of the textile sector.

Extraction of Dual‐Switch Fluorescent Nanosheets from Asphaltenes under Ambient Conditions

AbstractAsphaltene, often regarded as an undesirable by‐product of petroleum processing, possesses abundant reserves but limited market value. In this study, a simple and environmentally friendly solvent extraction method is conducted under ambient conditions to convert low‐value asphaltene into high‐value asphaltene‐based fluorescent carbon nanosheets (a‐FCS). This approach yields dual‐switch a‐FCS capable of emitting orange‐red fluorescence in solid‐state or water environment and exhibiting blue‐to‐yellow fluorescence in organic solvents. Moreover, the redshift observed in the fluorescence emission wavelength in the solvent is attributed to its intrinsic self‐assembly behavior, which becomes more pronounced with increasing concentration. Upon introduction to water, hydrophobic interactions induce the aggregation of a‐FCS. This aggregation triggers the orange‐red fluorescence by restricting intramolecular rotation on the surface, a phenomenon facilitated by the entanglement of aliphatic chains from asphaltene molecules. This unique property makes them applicable in anti‐counterfeiting and determination of ethanol content in aqueous solution.