Separation Capacity Research Articles

Novel metal-organic framework hydrogel for enhanced selective removal of uranyl ions from nuclear wastewater

The efficient removal of uranium (U(Ⅵ)) from nuclear wastewater presents a significant challenge due to the high concentrations of uranium and various interfering ions. In this study, we developed and used metal-organic framework hydrogel (MOFH) as a highly efficient adsorbent for uranium removal. The MOFH, synthesized with ferrocyanides and functional groups (Fe(Ⅱ)-CN-Fe(Ⅲ), OH, -COOH, and -NH2), exhibited good chemical stability, large separation capacity, and high selectivity. The hydrogel's three-dimensional network, crosslinked with chitosan and alginic acid, significantly enhanced uranium removal. Even in the presence of high concentrations of coexisting cations and organic matter, the MOFH maintained a high removal rate (>95%) and distribution coefficient (Kd), and thus demonstrated strong resistance to interference from coexisting ions and showed great applicability in complex wastewater. The study also explored the MOFH's potential in treating uranium-contaminated wastewater from a smelting mine, showing effective uranium removal with minimal impact on other wastewater components. This research contributes to the development of novel adsorption materials and the understanding of their removal mechanisms, offering a comprehensive solution for the efficient removal of uranium from aqueous systems.

Scale-up synthesis of a low-cost cobalt formate framework for efficient C3H6/C2H4 separation and shaping performance study

The separation of propylene (C3H6) from ethylene (C2H4) is one of the most vital processes to obtain high-purity C2H4 in the petrochemical industry, which is commonly limited by the insufficient C3H6 uptake or poor C3H6/C2H4 selectivity due to the weak C3H6 binding affinity. Herein, a low-cost cobalt formate framework (termed as CoFA) was synthesized up to 40 g for efficient C3H6/C2H4 separation. CoFA with multiple accessible Oδ- sites and contracted zigzag pore channels provides a unique single-molecule C3H6 nanotrap with benchmark high C3H6 adsorption affinity. The C3H6 uptake at 0.01 bar reaches as high as 59.4 cm3 cm−3, ranking second among the materials in the context of C3H6/C2H4 separation. Breakthrough experiments confirm its excellent separation capacity for equimolar C3H6/C2H4 mixtures. The separation performance is retained under 5 cycles and under humid conditions. Theoretical calculations reveal that the perfectly size-matched pore cavities combined with multiple hydrogen bonding sites enable this single-molecule C3H6 nanotrap to maximize the C3H6 binding affinity. The shaping properties of CoFA were investigated by using four different binders with PES as the best one to shape CoFA with retained capacity and selectivity.

Facile Synthesis of a Micro–Nano-Structured FeOOH/BiVO4/WO3 Photoanode with Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Performance

In the realm of photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) water splitting, the BiVO4/WO3 photoanode exhibits high electron–hole pair separation and transport capacity, rendering it a promising avenue for development. However, the charge transport and reaction kinetics at the heterojunction interface are suboptimal. This study uses the hydrothermal–electrodeposition–dip coating–calcination method to prepare a microcrystalline WO3 photoanode thin film as the substrate material and combines it with nanocrystalline BiVO4 to form a micro–nano-structured heterojunction photoanode to enhance the intrinsic and surface/interface charge transport properties of the photoanode. Under the condition of 1.23 V vs. RHE, the photoelectric current density reaches 1.09 mA cm−2, which is twice that of WO3. Furthermore, by using a simple impregnation–mineralization method to load the amorphous FeOOH catalyst, a noncrystalline–crystalline composite structure is formed to increase the number of active sites on the surface and reduce the overpotential of water oxidation, lowering the onset potential from 0.8 V to 0.6 V (vs. RHE). The photoelectric current density is further increased to 2.04 mA cm−2 (at 1.23 V vs. RHE). The micro–nano-structure and noncrystalline–crystalline composite structure proposed in this study will provide valuable insights for the design and synthesis of high-efficiency photoelectrocatalysts.

Novel Anodic TiO2 Synthesis Method with Embedded Graphene Quantum Dots for Improved Photocatalytic Activity

Photocatalytic degradation of pollutants have a high potential for sustainable and renewable uses. TiO2 is a widely studied photocatalyst due to its high chemical and photochemical stability and wide range of applications. However, the wide band gap and low capacity of photo-induced charge separation provide lower catalytic activity; thus, improvement of these properties must be found. The doping of TiO2 with other elements, such as carbon nanoparticles (CNP) in a quantum dot form, offers a promising pathway to improve the aforementioned properties. In addition, in situ doping methods should be investigated for practical scalability, as they offer the advantage of integrating dopants directly during material synthesis, ensuring a more uniform distribution and better interaction between the dopant and the host material, in turn leading to more consistent photocatalytic properties. Current technologies primarily involve nanoparticle combinations. This work focuses on the development of a novel in situ synthesis methodology by the introduction of three different graphene-based quantum nanodots into anodic TiO2 and the following investigation of structural, morphological, and photocatalytic properties. Results indicate that the introduction of CNP allows for the shift of a set of parameters, such as the optical band gap, increased photo-induced charge carrier density of TiO2/CNP composite, and, most importantly, the change of crystalline phase composition depending on added CNP material. Research indicates that not only a higher concentration of added CNP enhances higher photocatalytic activity as tested by the degradation of methylene blue dye, but also the type of CNP determines final crystalline phase. For the first time brookite and rutile phases were obtained in anodic titania synthesized in inorganic electrolyte by introducing hydrothermally treated exfoliated graphene.

High adsorption separation capacity magnetic MOF-based substrate Fe3O4@ZIF-67@Ag for sensitive and recyclable SERS detection of malachite green in aquaculture

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) has been employed for rapid analysis of MG residues. However, the limited affinity of organic analytes for the noble metal nanoparticles restricts its application in detecting trace MG residues. This study developed a recyclable magnetic MOF-based SERS substrate Fe3O4@ZIF-67@Ag. It was observed that compared to Ag nanoparticles, MG has a greater propensity to spontaneously adsorb onto ZIF-67, which has a high specific surface area. The substrate exhibited an ultra-high adsorption capacity for MG (804 mg·g−1 at 20 °C). A synergistic effect arose from the electromagnetic enhancement of Ag nanoparticles and the chemical enhancement of ZIF-67, leading to an increased density of “hot spots” at their interface. The substrate demonstrated an enhancement factor (EF) of approximately 7.1 × 105. It exhibited excellent sensitivity, uniformity, and stability in detecting MG residues in fish pond water and tilapia. Under the role of the substrate, the LOD was 8.7 × 10−10 M for fish pond water and 0.17 ng·g−1 for tilapia. Satisfactory recoveries ranged from 84.0 to 96.0 % and 80.0 to 106.0 % respectively. Additionally, it can be conveniently collected from the complex matrix using a magnet and regenerated through a simple and economical ethanol-washing method, thus significantly reducing the cost of testing.

Integrating material flow analysis into hydrological model for water environment management of large-scale urban-rural mixed catchment

Simultaneous simulation of urban and rural hydrological processes is important for water environment management of mixed land-uses catchments. However, the discharge paths of pollution in the urban drainage system are not described in traditional catchment hydrological models. In this study, an urban-rural water environment (URWE) model is developed through incorporating the material flow analysis (MFA) and the soil and water assessment tool (SWAT) into a general framework. The URWE model is an advancement with respect to traditional hydrological models in terms of simultaneously simulating the urban organized and rural decentralized discharges of pollution. Due to the low data requirement and high computational efficiency of MFA, URWE model is applicable to large-scale catchment with wide urban area. The URWE model is applied to a typical urban-rural mixed catchment, the Dianchi Catchment (China), where the pollution characteristics are analyzed and the pollution control measures are investigated. Results indicate that the URWE model outperforms the conventional SWAT model for both water quantity and quality simulations, with an 8.5 % improvement in average coefficient of determination (R2) and a 67.4 % improvement in average Nash coefficient (NSE). Rural best management practice, rainwater-sewage separation, and storage capacity expansion are identified as the most cost-effective measures for COD, TN, and TP reduction, respectively. Contributions of this study are to improve the accuracy of water environment simulation in urban-rural mixed catchment, as well as to help decision-makers develop synergistic urban-rural water environment management measures.

Screening and evaluation of phase change absorbents by molecular polarity index: Experimental and quantum chemical calculation studies

Phase change absorbents have recently received increasing attention due to their potential to reduce the energy penalty of CO2 capture. However, its complex composition makes the prediction of phase separation performance difficult. Phase separation behavior and phase separation rate have been investigated for the amine-aqueous 5.0 M amine blends by experimental and quantum chemical calculations (including MPI, hydrogen bonds and Gibbs free energy). The different phase behaviors upon CO2 absorption were discussed and well explained by the polarity change of components and the reaction products. A defined MPI value of tertiary amines was recommended to predict the immiscible type (MPI > 10.55 Kcal/mol), phase separation type (9.00 Kcal/mol < MPI < 10.08 Kcal/mol), and miscible type (MPI < 6.74 Kcal/mol). The electron density at the critical point of hydrogen bonds and interaction region indicators were employed to visually evaluate the influence of intramolecular and intermolecular hydrogen bonds on phase separation behaviors. The results show that the presence of excessive hydrogen bonds decreased the phase separation capacity. Furthermore, the relationship between the MPI, the Gibbs free energy of the proton transfer process and the phase separation time were explored. The increase of MPI caused by the tertiary amines can enhance the stability of the final product, delay the appearance of the phase separation peak and reach a maximum phase separation time of 230 min. Therefore, this study is significant for the screening and evaluation of efficient phase change absorbents with good potential for industrial applications in CO2 capture.

Multifunctional aluminum 12-hydroxystearate/lignin polyurethane foam for selective gelation and efficient separation of oil and organic solvents

During frequent transportation, the marine environment is continuously exposed to significant threats from crude oil and organic solvent leakage. Non-covalent self-assembly of organogelator on the adsorbent matrix to fix non-polar solvents is an efficient and sustainable remediation method. This contribution proposes an organogelator-adsorbent composite by blending aluminum 12-hydroxystearate (Al HSA) and expanded graphite (EG) during lignin-based polyurethane foaming. Al HSA molecule synergizes with EG to modulate the shape (hexagonal), oil retention, mechanical property, and hydrophobicity (water contact angle = 151.3°) of the lignin-based polyurethane foam (LPUF) skeleton. Al HSA-LPUF (OTS-LPUF/EAH) superhydrophobic foam exhibits sorption capacity up to 13.2–53.0 g g−1 in various oils and organic solvents. From the microscopic morphology, the Al HSA on the skeleton self-assembles into spherical nanoclusters driven by hydrogen bonding, realizing the capturing of oils and organic solvents. Even after 20 cycles, the foam still has a high oil/water separation capacity and mechanical performance. OTS-LPUF/EAH also shows improved flame retardancy and a 61 % reduction in total smoke release (TSR) compared to pristine LPUF.

THE INFLUENCE OF LOW-MOLECULAR SUBSTANCES ON THE PHASE SEPARATION CAPACITY OF A TWO-PHASE PEG – SODIUM CITRATE – WATER SYSTEM

As is known, two-phase polymer-polymer-water and polymer-electrolyte-water systems (SPIS) are widely used in the separation and purification of biological objects in biotechnology and pharmacology, as well as in the quality control of medicinal products. Depending on the nature of these processes, it is important to purposefully change the separation capacity of SPIS. The aim of the presented research is to ensure that it is adapted to each application object by using different additives to separate and purify biological objects. The presented study investigated the phase diagrams of the water-polymer two-phase system PEG - sodium citrate - water in the presence of certain additives. The influence of additives on the separating ability of the two-phase system PEG - sodium citrate - water was determined. Analysis of the provided data shows that the variation in the parameters of the phase diagram and the different values of the separating ability n* of the two-phase system depending on the nature of the additives is associated with changes in the structure of water under the influence of these factors. This leads to changes in the interaction of the phase-forming components of the two-phase system with water, resulting in differences in the physicochemical properties, particularly the relative hydrophobicities of the two-phase system.

Photocatalytic fuel cell based on dual Z-scheme heterojunction photoanode InVO4/g-C3N4/Bi2WO6/Ti for efficient Rhodamine B degradation and power generation

Finding suitable semiconductor materials to construct efficient photoanode is the key to improve PFC performance. In this paper, InVO4/g-C3N4/Bi2WO6/Ti composite photoanode was prepared and assembled with Cu cathode to construct PFC for rhodamine B (RhB) degradation and power generation. The InVO4/g-C3N4/Bi2WO6/Ti photoanode was characterized by XRD, FT-IR, XPS, SEM, TEM, EDS and DRS. The electrochemical properties of the PFC including polarization curves, power density, transient photocurrent, LSV and CV curves were analyzed to explore its power generation and electron transfer mechanism. The results showed that the ternary composite photoanode had stronger light absorption, smaller Eg (1.96 eV) and Rct (0.71 Ω), and higher photocurrent current density (0.16 mA cm−2) than binary and single composite photoanodes, indicating that it had higher utilization rate of excitation light energy and carrier mobility. The RhB degradation rate, Pmax, Jsc and Voc of PFC were 93.1 % (90 min), 18.02 µW cm−2, 0.223 mA cm−2 and 0.44 V, respectively. Further mechanistic studies show that the PFC has good photoexcited carrier separation and strong redox capacity due to double Z-scheme heterojunction between Bi2WO6 and InVO4 and between Bi2WO6 and g-C3N4, so as to generate more O2− and h+ to degrade RhB through N-deethylation, dealkylation and ring opening reactions. This study provides a practical approach for the development of high-efficiency double Z-scheme composite photoanode.

Programmable adhesion through triangular and hierarchical cuts in metamaterial adhesives.

Metamaterial design approaches, which integrate structural elements into material systems, enable the control of uncommon behaviours by decoupling local and global properties. Leveraging this conceptual framework, metamaterial adhesives incorporate nonlinear cut architectures into adhesive films to achieve unique combinations of adhesion capacity, release, and spatial tunability by controlling how cracks propagate forward and in reverse directions during separation. Here, metamaterial adhesive designs are explored with triangular cut features while integrating hierarchical and secondary cut patterns among primary nonlinear cuts. Both cut geometry and secondary cut features tune adhesive force capacity and energy of separation. Importantly, the size and spacing of cut features must be designed around a critical length scale. When secondary cut features are greater than a critical length, cracks can be steered in multiple directions, going both forward and backwards within a primary attachment element. This control over crack dynamics enhances the work of separation by a factor of 1.5, while maintaining the peel force relative to a primary cut. If hierarchical cut features are too small or too compliant, they interact and do not distinctly modify crack behaviour. This work highlights the importance of adhesive length scales and stiffness for crack control and attachment characteristics in adhesive films.This article is part of the theme issue 'Origami/Kirigami-inspired structures: from fundamentals to applications'.

Graphene oxide-polydopamine loaded uniform fibrous membranes via robust multi-channel microfluidic-electrospinning method

The rapid development of modern industries has caused serious water pollution such as dyes wastewater, which brings environmental problems and threatens human health. Thus, methods allowing efficient dyes removal from wastewater are substantially desirable. In this work, we fabricated graphene oxide-polydopamine (GO-PDA) by microfluidics, which enables rapid synthesis of products with excellent uniformity due to the precise control of reaction conditions. In addition, the GO-PDA/ thermoplastic polyurethane (GO-PDA/TPU) composite fibrous membrane was prepared in a high-efficiency manner by microfluidic electrospinning with a four-channel chip. Interestingly, GO-PDA not only improves the mechanical strength and hydrophilicity of the composite fibrous membrane, but also endows the membrane with efficient dye adsorption and separation capacity both for single and mixed dyes. It has been proved that the GO-PDA/TPU composite fibrous membrane exhibits selectivity towards cationic dyes, where the removal efficiency is up to 99 wt%. Moreover, the fibrous membrane could be utilized in a continuous and cyclic manner, which still maintains a high adsorption rate (>95 wt%) after 5 recycling, illustrating outstanding durability and reusability. This work proposes an efficient GO-PDA/TPU composite fibrous membrane towards selective adsorption of cationic dyes, which is of great significance in wastewater purification.

Adsorptive separation of anthracene and carbazole by carboxyl-functionalized carbon material derived from MAF-6

Anthracene and carbazole are high-value heavy carbon resources mainly found in the anthracene oil fraction of high-temperature coal tar. Because of their similar structures, traditional solvent crystallization methods are not capable of achieving the separation of high-purity anthracene and carbazole. In this study, MAF-6, a material that can be synthesized in large quantities at room temperature, was used as a sacrificial precursor, carbonized (MC-1000), and subsequently oxidized to form carboxyl-functionalized carbon material (CMC-1000). The presence of carboxyl groups, along with lactones, hydroxyl groups, and carbonyl groups in MC-1000 and CMC-1000, was confirmed through XPS spectra and Boehm titration. CMC-1000 showed an increase of 5.7 mmol/g in oxygen-containing functional groups. The adsorption and separation capacities of MAF-6, MC-1000, and CMC-1000 for anthracene and carbazole in model oil were investigated. FT-IR analysis and DFT calculations demonstrated that the major interaction between CMC-1000 and carbazole involved hydrogen bonding (N–H···O and N–H···N). The results show that CMC-1000 has a high separation selectivity for carbazole over anthracene, with a selectivity of up to 44.4. The formation of hydrogen bonds between the N–H group of carbazole and the oxygen-containing groups on CMC-1000 plays an essential role in achieving high adsorption capacity and selectivity. In addition, CMC-1000 showed strong regenerative capacity, maintaining a selectivity above 29.7 over five cycles.

All-electrochemical-prepared, efficient and robust superhydrophilic/underwater superoleophobic meshes for synchronously achieving oil-water separation and water-soluble pollutant photodegradation

Superhydrophilic/underwater superoleophobic “water-removing” type membranes can overcome the issue of surface themselves easily fouled or even blocked by oils that seriously affects the oil-water separation capacity and limits the recycle use, and thus attract a great deal of research attention. In this work, we employed the electrochemical deposition method to fabricate Cu3(PO4)2 nanosheets (NSs) vertically grown on a copper mesh (COM) to achieve efficient oil-water separation, followed by the deposition of titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles and graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) nanosheets on the surface of Cu3(PO4)2 nanosheets-wrapped mesh (Cu3(PO4)2@COM), respectively. The composited meshes of TiO2@Cu3(PO4)2@COM and g-C3N4@Cu3(PO4)2@COM not only showed the considerable superhydrophilic/underwater superoleophobic property in the application of oil-water separation, but also simultaneously exhibited the desirable photocatalytic activity for the degradation of water-soluble pollutants as the water passed through the meshes. The oil-water separation efficiency of TiO2@Cu3(PO4)2@COM and g-C3N4@Cu3(PO4)2@COM can reach as high as 97 % and 96 % that both of meshes have the water flux of various water-oil mixtures above 3250 L/m2h, along with their degradation efficiency of 79 % and 90 % for RhB pollutant under full spectrum light irradiation, respectively. In addition, the as-prepared meshes have the robust, sustainable and stable properties through ten-cycles test of oil-water separation and photocatalytic degradation without significant performance decay. Our primary results provide a potential and simple route to construct multifunctional membrane materials for synchronously achieving water purification in oily wastewater.

Carboxy-terminal polyglutamylation regulates signaling and phase separation of the Dishevelled protein

Polyglutamylation is a reversible posttranslational modification that is catalyzed by enzymes of the tubulin tyrosine ligase-like (TTLL) family. Here, we found that TTLL11 generates a previously unknown type of polyglutamylation that is initiated by the addition of a glutamate residue to the free C-terminal carboxyl group of a substrate protein. TTLL11 efficiently polyglutamylates the Wnt signaling protein Dishevelled 3 (DVL3), thereby changing the interactome of DVL3. Polyglutamylation increases the capacity of DVL3 to get phosphorylated, to undergo phase separation, and to act in the noncanonical Wnt pathway. Both carboxy-terminal polyglutamylation and the resulting reduction in phase separation capacity of DVL3 can be reverted by the deglutamylating enzyme CCP6, demonstrating a causal relationship between TTLL11-mediated polyglutamylation and phase separation. Thus, C-terminal polyglutamylation represents a new type of posttranslational modification, broadening the range of proteins that can be modified by polyglutamylation and providing the first evidence that polyglutamylation can modulate protein phase separation.

Cellulose acetate-based composite fibrous mat with mechanically stable pore structure showing excellent hydrophobicity for effective oil spill treatment

Eco-friendly cellulose acetate (CA) based composite fibrous mat with mechanically stable pore structure and rough fibers is successfully fabricated via a simple and one-step electrospinning method. Based on the phase migration during electrospinning, the flexible polymer of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) with low surface tension tends to concentrate on the surface of the CA/TPU composite fibers, endowing the fibrous mat exhibiting hydrophobicity and super-oleophilicity. The TPU component creates the bonding among composite fibers, stabilizing the pore structure by increasing the modulus and tensile strength of the CA/TPU fibrous mat. Finally, the as-designed CA/TPU composite fibrous mat could selectively and efficiently absorb various oils from oil-water mixtures featuring high saturation absorption capacity of 28.35–64.18 gg-1 and excellent durability. Besides, the CA/TPU composite fibrous mat exhibits exceptional environmental stability and a continuous oil-water separation capacity to purify the polluted water, revealing a great potential for practical application.

Construction of a Methoxy-Functionalized Pillar-Layer Metal-Organic framework for low-concentration SO2 uptake and adsorption separation

We report the synthesis and structural characterization of a novel methoxy (–OCH3) −functionalized pillar-layer metal–organic framework (MOF), denoted as DZU-17 (DZU=Dezhou University), which is isoreticular to Co6-MOF-3. DZU-17 is constructed by integrating a –OCH3 modified bipyridine ligand, 1,4-dipyridine-2,5-dimethoxybenzene (BPB-OCH3), into the framework of Co6-MOF-3. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis confirms that the introduction of the –OCH3 groups effectively partitions the spacious channels of Co6-MOF-3 into more confined spaces within DZU-17. This structural modification results in a significant enhancement in SO2 uptake at low −pressure (P=0.1 bar, 112.7 cm3 g−1) and improved separation capacity for SO2/CO2/N2 mixture under ambient conditions. Our findings underscore the potential of functional group engineering on MOF linkers to modulate pore dimensions and chemical environments, thereby enhancing the frameworks’ performance in gas adsorption and separation processes.

Enabling highly efficient navy-blue dye degradation over the LaFeO3/B-g-C3N4/WO3 double z-scheme heterostructure

Chemical reactivity, optical and electronic features of conventional photocatalysts can be improved by chemical modification and nanocomposites fabrication techniques. Herein, a double Z-scheme LaFeO3/B-g-C3N4/WO3 (LFO/B-CN/WO) heterostructure nanocomposite has been successfully fabricated via a hydrothermal approach. XRD, FT-IR, SEM/EDS, TEM, TGA/DSC, and UV–visible spectroscopy confirmed crystallographic planes, phase purity, and heterojunction between LFO, WO and B-CN. From UV visible absorption spectroscopy, it was confirmed that optical band gap energy of CN is remarkably reduced after boron doping. The LFO/B-CN/WO photocatalyst revealed 96 % degradation performance for Navy Blue (NB) dye after visible light irradiation for 130 min under neutral pH conditions. The data were analyzed using pseudo-first and pseudo-second order kinetics models to evaluate the dye degradation kinetics. Compared to the CN, B-CN, LFO-CN and WO-CN photocatalysts, the performance of LFO/B-CN/WO was much significant. Improved light absorption capability, effective spatial separation and prolonged charge-carrying capacity of the double Z-scheme system resulted in enhanced photocatalytic performance. This study offers new insights into the design and synthesis of highly efficient Z-scheme heterojunction photocatalysts for environmental decontamination and clean energy purposes.

Highly sustainable water mist-responsive superwetting sponge (DTMO/FS-50/Hollow-CuCo-ZIF@Sponge) for speedy pollutants removal and solvent-free regeneration

Smart solvent-responsive superwetting materials are particularly favored due to their ability to handle different types of pollutants. However, most of them rely on organic solvent vapors, and neglect the desorption efficiency of pollutants, especially using the solvent-free desorption method. A responsive sponge was fabricated by coating hollow MOFs particles with different sizes, greatly enhancing roughness and porosity, and followed by modification with short-chain fluorinated surfactants, long-chain siloxanes, tannic acid, and polydopamine. There are several advantages in this paper: (I) a hollow MOFs structure was achieved, greatly enhancing specific surface area, porosity, and active sites, which acted as a superior container for responsive modifiers network. (II) the reactions among biomass dopamine hydrochloride (PDA), tannic acid (TA), long-chain siloxanes, short-chain fluorinated surfactants and PU substrate, formed smart responsive biomass macromolecular networks, not only greatly improved adhesion between hollow MOFs and sponge substrate, but also showed enhanced synergistic effects for smart wettability transition. (III) the coated sponge showed smart responsive superwetting behaviors under environmentally friendly water mist rather than organic vapors or unfriendly vapors. (IV) the coated sponge could handle various kinds of pollutants based on polarity selection, and also quickly desorb the pollutants after change the polarity under water mist activation. The intelligent sponge can quickly and selectively adsorbed various microplastics and efficiently deal with oil-in-water and oil-in-water emulsions. It has good mechanical durability, maintaining a separation capacity of more than 88 % after repeated adsorption and desorption of MPs180 times.

Construction of ZnAl LDH-Derived Sulfides with Etching Modification to Trigger Photocatalytic H2 Production and Degradation Oxidation.

Constructing novel functional photocatalysts represents a promising approach to optimize the energy band structure and facilitate the separation of photogenerated carriers. Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) exhibit notable advantages in photocatalysis due to the exceptional photoelectrochemical properties and elevated number of active surface atoms. However, an unsuitable band gap and limited carrier migration have inhibited their development in photocatalysis. Herein, we propose a novel in situ topological vulcanization strategy for optimizing the photocatalytic activity of ZnAl LDH-derived sulfides (ZnAlSx). The subsequent etching process via a 1 M NaOH solution was introduced to construct the ZnSx photocatalysts. Then, the crystallinity of the crystals was enhanced by etching to further improve the catalytic activity and stability of ZnSx. The as-synthesized ZnSx shows an excellent photocatalytic hydrogen production rate (11.89 mmol/g/h) and tetracycline degradation efficiency (91.94%) under light illumination, and its hydrogen evolution efficiency is approximately 176 and 2 times greater than that of ZnAl LDH and ZnAlSx, respectively. The characterization and density functional theory (DFT) analysis confirmed that the surface electronic properties and energy band structure of ZnAl LDH were significantly optimized after experimental treatment, resulting in enhanced carrier separation and photooxidative reduction capacity. Combining in situ topological vulcanization and etching to realize the functional conversion of ZnAl LDH provides promising insights into the construction of high-performance, low-cost photocatalysts.