Modulating crystal polymorphism via membrane-regulated supersaturation: an experimental and molecular dynamics simulation study.

Integrated piezoelectric cantilever transducer driven by self-oscillating polymer gel.

One-step melt-blending method for synchronous realization of ionic liquid-intercalated montmorillonite and modified poly(vinylidene fluoride) membrane for efficient wastewater purification

Ion transport and interfacial regulation of poly(vinylidene fluoride)-based electrolytes for solid-state lithium batteries

Toward sustainable spent battery recycling: Unveiling the impact of polyvinylidene fluoride impurities on cathode materials regeneration

Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) with reversible thermal actuation are promising platforms for multifunctional flexible electronics. Herein, we present a PVDF/LM-LCE (PVDF, polyvinylidene fluoride; LM, liquid metal) composite in which PVDF is polymerized in situ within the LCE matrix to achieve seamless mechanical coupling and efficient stress transfer. LM nanodroplets enhance mechanical robustness, charge transport, and photothermal conversion, enabling LCEs to serve as photothermally driven transducers that amplify the piezoelectric and pyroelectric outputs in these flexible systems. The optimized composite achieves a pyroelectric coefficient of -4.81 nC·cm- 2·K- 1, 1.8 times higher than conventional PVDF films. Furthermore, the composite device powers two LEDs and digital sensors using low-grade photothermal fluctuations. This LCE-based light-driven thermomechanical-to-electrical conversion strategy offers a generalizable pathway for high-performance, flexible pyroelectric and piezoelectric energy-harvesting materials.

The Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri, transmits the putative causal agent of citrus greening disease, 'Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus'. The transmission occurs in a propagative circulative manner. Specific protein-protein interactions are required for the accomplishment of the transmission process. We employed the far-Western technique, also known as protein overlay assay, and mass spectrometry, to identify D. citri proteins that specifically recognize membrane proteins of 'Ca. L. asiaticus'. Whole-body protein extracts of D. citri were separated by electrophoresis and blotted onto polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) membranes. The membranes were overlayed with sonicated leaf midrib extracts from 'Ca. L. asiaticus'-infected citrus plants. The protein complexes were detected using different antibodies against 'Ca. L. asiaticus' membrane proteins and peptidoglycans associated with lipoproteins. By comparison, spots were extracted from a polyacrylamide gel for LC-MS-MS analysis. Identified proteins included ATP synthase alpha and beta subunits, actin, alpha- and beta-tubulins, transitional endoplasmic reticulum ATPase TER94, 78 kDa glucose-regulated protein, and arginine kinase. These findings emphasized the involvement of energy machinery and muscle proteins in the 'Ca. L. asiaticus'-D. citri interactions. Understanding the pathogen-vector interactions will lead to better-designed control strategies based on the interference with specific interactions and/or blocking transmission.

The growing contamination of water resources with persistent dyes and pharmaceuticals necessitates the development of rapid and energy‐efficient remediation technologies. We present a microfluidic purification reactor that synergistically integrates piezophotocatalysis with flow‐engineered microstructures to enable rapid pollutant degradation. The microreactor, fabricated from polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) via laser micromachining, was optimized with strategically positioned micropillars to induce turbulence and enhance mass transfer, with COMSOL Multiphysics simulations validating flow behavior and vorticity patterns. Catalytic functionality was introduced through an electrospun polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) nanofiber membrane embedded with MoS2 and WS2 nanoparticles forming an active piezophotocatalytic interface within the reactor bed. Structural, compositional, and functional characterizations identified PM15 (15 wt% MoS2) and PW20 (20 wt% WS2) as optimal nanocomposites, with their electromechanical response validated by a piezoelectric nanogenerator generating ≥36 V. Under optimized operating conditions, flow rate of 50 µL/min, visible‐light irradiation, and ultrasonic excitation at 60 kHz, the integrated system achieved rapid degradation efficiencies of ≥94% for RhB and ≥90% for CIP within 252 s, outperforming conventional methods. A multiple linear regression model accurately predicted degradation efficiencies from key operational parameters, demonstrating the utility of data‐driven process optimization. Overall, the integrated microfluidic–piezophotocatalyst platform establishes a rapid, high‐throughput, and energy‐efficient approach for advanced water purification.

ABSTRACT Deep eutectic solvents (DES) are efficient for separating cathode materials and current collectors from spent lithium‐ion batteries due to their high solubility and tunable properties. However, they suffer from slow reaction kinetics (>30 min) and high‐temperature requirement (>120°C). Herein, a dual‐function DES composed of diethyl (hydroxymethyl) phosphonate (DHP) and malonic acid (MA) with low temperature and faster kinetics was designed. The nucleophilic groups (─OH and alkoxy) on DHP and MA created extensive negative electrostatic potential regions, facilitating the degradation of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) binder at low temperatures. Concurrently, the formed hydrogen‐bonding network weakened intermolecular interactions, reducing viscosity and enhancing mass transfer. For LiCoO 2 , a separation efficiency of >99% was achieved within 15 min at 60°C. Separation mechanism confirmed that PVDF degradation was triggered by the reaction of DHP–MA molecules with H‐atoms, forming solvent channels. Furthermore, with the penetration of H + and MA towards channels, the activation of the corrosion‐passivation reaction brought about the accelerated cathode material detachment. The separated material exhibited low impurity content (<0.026 wt%), minimal metal loss (<2 wt%), and a well‐preserved crystal structure, conducing to the repair of high‐performance materials. Similar results were achieved for LiFePO 4 and LiNi 0.3 Co 0.3 Mn 0.3 O 2 , offering a universal strategy for high‐quality cathode materials recycling.

Portable artificial kidneys that integrate both adsorption and dialysis functions have garnered significant attention due to their potential efficacy in removing a wide range of uremic toxins. Nevertheless, the challenge persists in the straightforward modification of ultrafiltration membrane surfaces to develop such multifunctional blood purification membranes. This study employs a one-step immersion technique, lanthanum carbonate-loaded protein/polysaccharide aggregates are attached to commercial ultrafiltration membranes via self-assembly, successfully producing dialysis membranes with a hierarchical surface structure. Owing to the surface reorganization capabilities of proteins/polysaccharides, along with the multiple active sites created upon loading with lanthanum carbonate, the membrane exhibits a high adsorption capacity and enhanced removal efficiency for phosphorus and protein-bound uremic toxins. The clearance ratio for uremic toxins is about 20%-50% higher than that of commercial polyvinylidene fluoride high-flux dialysis membrane. The observed high clearance efficiency is primarily ascribed to the precise separation of nanoscale pores and the adsorption process occurring on the membrane surface, effectively replicating the ultra-clearance effect of various uremic toxins encountered in hemoperfusion. Furthermore, the composite membrane exhibits exceptional biocompatibility and resistance to protein adsorption. This study offers an innovative and scalable methodology for the development of next-generation portable artificial kidneys, presenting extensive potential for future applications.

ABSTRACT Developing durable, high‐performance membranes remains a critical challenge in direct contact membrane distillation. This study presents an ink‐formulated hybrid membrane strategy that translates fluorinated graphene chemistry into a tunable ink formulation, enabling fine‐tuning of interfacial composition and membrane structure. The proposed strategy integrates poly(vinylidene fluoride) with amine‐functionalized fluorinated graphene (FG‐Amine) through hydrogen‐bonding uniformly anchored onto a nylon substrate. The combination of PVDF's intrinsic stability with the tailored chemical functionality of FG produces membranes with enhanced surface hydrophobicity, structural robustness, and resistance to wetting and fouling. The resultant membrane exhibited a high water flux of 58 Lm −2 h −1 with 99.9% salt rejection under standard DCMD operation, further maintaining stable flux in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate and humic acid, confirming strong wetting resistance. Remarkably, the membrane exhibited outstanding durability by maintaining stable performance for 32 h in natural seawater without any noticeable change in flux. In addition, the membrane demonstrated prolonged stability up to 125 h when treated with salinity‐enhanced seawater, confirming its excellent long‐term durability. These findings demonstrate that ink‐formulated hybrid membranes provide a tunable and effective platform for overcoming the challenges of wetting and fouling in MD, advancing the development of sustainable solutions for water purification.

Silver-based antimicrobials are used in the consumer, medical and agricultural industries. Silver salts, silver nanoparticles, and silver ions trapped in hosts are being used. In this study, we investigate nanometer sized zeolites as hosts for silver ions. However, zeolite nanoparticles are colloidal in nature and their use as solid substrates requires processing of the colloidal solutions. The most common method is drying, resulting in aggregates of varying dimensions. In this paper, we use spray drying to generate more uniform micron-sized particles from colloidal solutions of silver-zinc exchanged zeolite nanoparticles (SDZNPs). The morphologies of SDZNPs are spheres and doughnut shaped particles. The antimicrobial properties of SDZNPs are examined using E. coli and methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA). The results of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), morphological changes in bacteria upon SDZNP treatment, development of antimicrobial resistance, biofilm inhibition and ability to kill bacteria within RAW 264.7 macrophages are presented. Cytotoxicity and hemolysis assays suggest a dosage dependent effect on toxicity. To demonstrate the practical applications of SDZNPs, we incorporated these particles into electrospun fibers of polymers, namely polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). The mechanical properties of the SDZNP fibers as well as the antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity of the fibers are examined. The PMMA fibers performed significantly better than the PVDF fibers in antimicrobial tests, while both fibers were not cytotoxic at the dosages examined. We hypothesize that the difference in the antimicrobial properties is related to the zeolite particles being located more on the surface of the PMMA fibers and being more accessible.

Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) is widely used in flexible, self-powered pressure sensors due to its superior piezoelectric properties, although it necessitates the development of a ferroelectric polarized phase for such applications. In recent years, a piezoionic-electronic architecture integrating PVDF with Nafion has emerged, allowing PVDF polarization through mechanical stress alone and thereby streamlining device design and fabrication. To further boost the piezoelectric efficacy of these devices, this work introduces an MXene-based enhancement strategy. Specifically, a trilayered PVDF/Nafion-MXene/PVDF film (referred to as PNMP) was fabricated using hot-pressing, with subsequent mechanical bending to induce self-polarization in the PVDF components. Investigations reveal that the superior piezoelectric properties of the PNMP films originate from the multifunctional role of MXene: aiding Nafion's proton transport while constructing an electron transmission channel, enhancing charge accumulation at the Nafion/PVDF interface, and promoting β-phase formation in PVDF. The fabricated sensor exhibits an extensive pressure-sensing range from 4.7 to 867.0 kPa, a sensitivity of 64.5 mV/kPa, a rapid response of 0.5 ms, an elevated piezoelectric power density of 660 mW/m2, and excellent operational durability of 200,000 strikes. The PNMP film's real-world utility was demonstrated via applications like powering LEDs, kinetic energy harvesting, and tracking human movements, highlighting its potential for wearable technologies, energy harvesting, and precise mass sensing. This study provides insightful guidance for advancing next-generation piezoionic-electronic piezoelectric systems.

Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF)-based polymer dielectric films suffer intrinsic breakdown initiated by high-energy electrons. Prevailing approaches relying on passive charge confinement or physical barriers cannot prevent initial bond dissociation events. Herein, a molecular design strategy employing tailored monosubstituted naphthalene derivatives achieves active electron energy dissipation within PVDF matrices. Systematic substitution control reveals the competitive dynamics between deep electron trapping in low-lying p-π conjugated orbitals (enhanced by electron-withdrawing halogens) and sacrificial ionization promoted by electron-donating groups that reduce ionization energy. These mechanisms exhibit unexpected synergy rather than competition. The optimal system, 4-Br-1-NH2Naph/PVDF, exploits this cooperative effect: the electron-donating amino group enables preferential ionization under high fields, consuming primary electron energy to generate stable cations that recapture secondary electrons, while the bromine substituent provides supplementary deep trapping. This dual-pathway interception suppresses breakdown initiation, achieving a high discharged energy density of 29.1 J cm-3 in an all-organic PVDF composite and establishing a molecular roadmap for extreme-condition capacitive storage.

The electrochemical performance of aqueous zinc batteries (AZBs) critically relies on advanced binders to regulate the solvation structure of hydrated Zn2+ and accelerate the redox kinetics at the cathode interface. However, conventional hydrophobic polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) binders fail to achieve this goal due to their weak interactions with H2O and Zn2+. Here, we present a bioinspired sulfate-rich polysaccharide binder network derived from marine ι-carrageenan (CAG), which mimics biological ion channels to enable selective ion coordination and dynamic hydration regulation. By establishing dual ion-selective coordination sites, the zincophilic ─OSO3 - and hydrophilic ─OH groups of CAG form Zn2+─OSO3 - and H2O─OH interactions, effectively disrupting the primary solvation shell of Zn2+─H2O and accelerating Zn2+ desolvation kinetics, thereby enabling adaptive ion transport across the cathode interface. Consequently, Zn||CAG@Mn0.15V2O5·nH2O batteries deliver an ultrahigh capacity of 421 mAh g-1 at 0.6 A g-1, which is 76% higher than PVDF-based counterparts (239 mAh g-1). This water-processable binder demonstrates universal applicability across various cathode materials (e.g., MnO2, V2O5, and organics), providing a green, scalable solution for high-performance AZBs. This study establishes a biomimetic binder design paradigm, where sulfate-hydroxyl dual coordination emulates biological ion transport, enabling precise regulation of Zn2+ solvation and interfacial chemistry.

ABSTRACT This study introduces a thin‐film‐based hydrovoltaic electricity generator under ambient conditions with low mass loading. A novel design based on the development of a low‐cost, high‐performance hydrovoltaic power generator utilizing a composite material based on bio‐derived activated carbon (AC) and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) has been proposed. The PVDF was incorporated to leverage its ability to enhance the electronegativity of the material upon interaction with solvents and acts as a binder, thereby inducing a hydrovoltaic effect despite its hydrophobicity. By optimizing the weight ratio of PVDF with AC, the resulting device successfully delivered a peak output of above 1 V and an average current of 50 µA and demonstrates a maximum power output of 14 µW/cm 2 . Simultaneously, the generated power can be maintained by dropping a single drop of water on top of the device after an optimized amount of time. The device exhibited the crucial capability to resume power output after 60 days of idleness under ambient humidity and temperature conditions, underscoring its potential for practical and real‐time applications. Furthermore, the integration of a supercapacitor in the same device is also tested for obtaining an increased current output.

Enhanced antifouling performance of ultra-thin antimicrobial peptide membrane through chemical-crosslinking layer-by-layer assembly.

Lithography serves as a foundational process in semiconductor fields, enabling high-resolution patterning and transfer. Among various pattern transfer methods, the lift-off process is widely used owing to its material versatility and etch-free advantages. However, conventional lift-off faces several limitations, including solvent-related environmental concerns, low yield, and poor pattern fidelity. To overcome these challenges, we introduce a solvent-free dry lift-off method based on polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), a functional polymer with a high thermal expansion coefficient. Thermal shrinkage of PVDF under controlled heating and cooling conditions mechanically interlocks with the resist, enabling spontaneous delamination of the resist structure without the need for solvents or mechanical forces. This method achieves 100% yield and rapid fabrication of high-resolution, high-density patterns at the wafer scale. The process is compatible with both photolithography and electron-beam lithography. We further demonstrate its application in multilayer film-based Fabry-Pérot cavity devices, achieving large-area, uniform structural color patterns. This work establishes a scalable, environmentally friendly spontaneous dry lift-off strategy for next-generation sustainable micro- and nanofabrication.

The over-activation of Hippo/YAP axis was often observed in pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD), while the detailed mechanism is not totally understood. Recent studies demonstrated that the ubiquitin modification, which controlled the protein stability of YAP, played important roles in Hippo signaling and PAAD progression. In order to understand the underlying link between YAP protein stability and Hippo activity in PAAD progression, we carried out GSEA bioinformatic analysis coupled with siRNA screening and identified OTUD4 as an important effector for Hippo signaling in PAAD. OTUD4, which was highly expressed in PAAD tissue, correlated with Hippo target gene expression in PAAD tissues. Depletion of OTUD4 significantly reduced the activity of Hippo/YAP axis and hampered PAAD progression. Mechanism studies revealed that OTUD4 could interact with YAP and promote YAP K48-linked poly-ubiquitination and degradation in PAAD. In conclusion, our study identified an interesting regulation mechanism between OTUD4 and Hippo signaling in PAAD, while targeting OTUD4 could be a plausible strategy for PAAD therapy. Abbreviation: OTUD4, OTU Domain-Containing Protein 4; YAP, Yes-Associated Protein; TEAD, Transcriptional Enhanced Associate Domain transcriptional factor; TCGA, The Cancer Genome Atlas; ATCC, American Type Culture Collection; DMEM, Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium; DUB, Deubiquitinase; GSEA, Gene Set Enrichment Analysis; NES, Normalized Enrichment Score; ECL, Enhanced Chemiluminescence; PVDF, Polyvinylidene Fluoride; PMSF, Phenyl Methane Sulfonyl Fluoride; PFA, Paraformaldehyde; Co-IP, Coimmunoprecipitation; IHC, Immunohistochemistry; CHX, Cycloheximide; IF, Immunofluorescence; GEO, Gene Expression Omnibus.

Synergy of super-liquid-repellency and nanoscale sieving in a sandwich-architectured janus membrane for stable membrane distillation of hypersaline wastewater.