A high-activity and stable bifunctional oxygen reduction reaction(ORR)and oxygen evolution reaction(OER)electrocatalyst is critical for seawater-based Zn-air batteries(ZABs).Herein,we report a wood-derived chainmail e...A high-activity and stable bifunctional oxygen reduction reaction(ORR)and oxygen evolution reaction(OER)electrocatalyst is critical for seawater-based Zn-air batteries(ZABs).Herein,we report a wood-derived chainmail electrocatalyst containing defective nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes encapsulating cobalt nanoparticles(Co@D-NCNT/CW)to enhance the ORR/OER activity and stability in seawater medium.During the preparation process,the introduction and removal of Zn increased the defect sites and pyridine N content in the carbon material,modulating charge distribution and influencing the adsorption and activation processes.The highly ordered open channels in Co@D-NCNT/CW promoted mass transfer of reactants and accelerated gas diffusion.The resultant chainmail electrocatalyst exhibited impressive bifunctional ORR and OER activities with an ultra-low gap of 0.67 V in sea water-based alkaline electrolyte.The Co@D-NCNT/CW-assembled seawater-based rechargeable liquid ZABs demonstrated a maximum power density of 245.3 mW cm^(-2)and a long-term cycling performance over 500 h.The seawater-based all-solid-state ZABs achieved the maximum power density of 48.2 mW cm^(-2)and stabilized over 30 h.Density functional theory revealed that the presence of defects and pyridine nitrogen in Co@D-NCNT/CW modulated the electronic structure of Co,optimizing the binding affinity of the Co sites with intermediates and weakening Cl^(-)adsorption.This work provides a new approach to preparing high-activity and stable ORR/OER electrocatalyst utilizing wood nanostructures,boosting the development of seawater-based ZABs.展开更多
The discontinuous fiber reinforced hydrogels are easy to fail due to the fracture of the fiber matrix during load-bearing.Here,we propose a novel strategy based on the synergistic reinforcement of interconnected natur...The discontinuous fiber reinforced hydrogels are easy to fail due to the fracture of the fiber matrix during load-bearing.Here,we propose a novel strategy based on the synergistic reinforcement of interconnected natural fiber networks at multiple scales to fabricate hydrogels with extraordinary mechanical properties.Specifically,the P(AA-AM)/Cel(P(AA-AM),poly(acrylic acid-acrylamide);Cel,cellulose)hydrogel is synthesized by copolymerizing AA and AM on a substrate of paper with an interconnected hollow cellulose microfiber network.This innovative design achieves a collaborative improvement of mechanical properties,including a 253-times increase in strength(27.8 vs.0.11 MPa),137-times increase in work of fracture(3.59 vs.0.026 MJ m^(−3)),and 235-times increase in fracture energy(16.48 vs.0.07 kJ m^(−2)).These outstanding mechanical properties benefit from the P(AA-AM)network formed by the copolymerization,which fills both the inside and outside of the hollow cellulose fibers,thus establishing abundant strong hydrogen bonds with the fibers and welding the fiber junctions.Consequently,the hydrogel exhibits enhanced resistance to the slippage and fracture of fibers.This strategy demonstrates the mechanical strengthening effectiveness of a variety of hydrogels by regulating the water-cellulose-copolymer interplay,representing a practical and universal route for designing super-strong hydrogels.展开更多
Given the global resource constraints and substantial energy consumption,the innovative development of efficient and precise thermal management materials represents a significant step forward in improving energy effic...Given the global resource constraints and substantial energy consumption,the innovative development of efficient and precise thermal management materials represents a significant step forward in improving energy efficiency and promoting ecological and environmental sustainability.The unique structure of natural wood with its porous anisotropy provides new insights and strategies for the design of advanced thermal management materials.However,present reviews often fail to provide a comprehensive and systematic analysis of the inherent structural advantages,as well as the strategies pertinent to the construction and utilization of wood-based and biomimetic materials.This review explores the evolution of wood and its biomimetic structures in the field of thermal management materials,detailing the basic structures and compositions of wood and timber,as well as explaining how these materials can be processed and constructed with physical/chemical strategies.In addition,we highlight recent advances in such materials in the fields of thermal insulation,radiative cooling,heat transfer,and thermal energy storage.Finally,we offer some unique insights on the challenges and future developments for the scale-up of the use of such materials,providing our perspectives on their potential for broader implementation.展开更多
Lithium metal is considered the ideal anode material for Li-ion-based batteries because it exhibits the highest specific capacity and lowest redox potential for this type of cells. However, growth of Li dendrites, uns...Lithium metal is considered the ideal anode material for Li-ion-based batteries because it exhibits the highest specific capacity and lowest redox potential for this type of cells. However, growth of Li dendrites, unstable solid electrolyte interphases, low Coulombic efficiencies, and safety hazards have significantly hindered the practical application of metallic Li anodes. Herein, we propose a three-dimensional （3D） carbon nanotube sponge （CNTS） as a Li deposition host. The high specific surface area of the CNTS enables homogenous charge distribution for Li nucleation and minimizes the effective current density to overcome dendrite growth. An additional conformal A1203 layer on the CNTS coated by atomic layer deposition （ALD） robustly protects the Li metal electrode/electrolyte interface due to the good chemical stability and high mechanical strength of the layer. The Li@ALD-CNTS electrode exhibits stable voltage profiles with a small overpotential ranging from 16 to 30 mV over 100 h of cycling at 1.0 mA·cm^-2. Moreover, the electrodes display a dendrite-free morphology after cycling and a Coulombic efficiency of 92.4% over 80 cycles at 1.0 mA·cm^-2 in an organic carbonate electrolyte, thus demonstrating electrochemical stability superior to that of planar current collectors. Our results provide an important strategy for the rational design of current collectors to obtain stable Li metal anodes.展开更多
Fibrous nanofluidic materials are ideal building blocks for implantable electrode,biomimetic actuator,wearable electronics due to their favorable features of intrinsic flexibility and unidirectional ion transport.Howe...Fibrous nanofluidic materials are ideal building blocks for implantable electrode,biomimetic actuator,wearable electronics due to their favorable features of intrinsic flexibility and unidirectional ion transport.However,the large-scale preparation of fibrous nanofluidic materials with desirable mechanical strength and good environment adaptability for practical use remains challenging.Herein,by fully taking advantage of the attractive mechanical,structural,chemical features of boron nitride(BN)nanosheet and nanofibrillated cellulose(NFC),a scalable and cost-effective three-dimensional(3D)printed macrofiber featuring abundant vertically aligned nanofluidic channels is demonstrated to exhibit a good combination of high tensile strength of 100 MPa,thermal stability of up to 230℃,ionic conductivity of 1.8×10^(−4)S/cm at low salt concentrations(<10^(−3)M).In addition,the versatile surface chemistry of cellulose allows us to stabilize the macrofiber at the molecular level via a facile postcross-linking method,which eventually enables the stable operation of the modified macrofiber in various extreme environments such as strong acidic,strong alkaline,high temperature.We believe this work implies a promising guideline for designing and manufacturing fibrous nanodevices towards extreme environment operations.展开更多
The world is currently grappling with many crises,including climate change,environmental pollution,resource scarcity,and rampant resource consumption.To address these issues,it is necessary to seek solutions that are ...The world is currently grappling with many crises,including climate change,environmental pollution,resource scarcity,and rampant resource consumption.To address these issues,it is necessary to seek solutions that are low-carbon,environmentally friendly,and cost-effective.One promising avenue for addressing these challenges is through the use of biomass-based materials,which have many unique advantages,including renewability,biodegradability,and abundance.展开更多
CONSPECTUS:As one of the most abundant and versatile natural materials on Earth,recently wood has attracted tremendous attention from scientists and engineers due to its outstanding advantages,including hierarchically...CONSPECTUS:As one of the most abundant and versatile natural materials on Earth,recently wood has attracted tremendous attention from scientists and engineers due to its outstanding advantages,including hierarchically porous microstructure,high mechanical strength,environmental friendliness,renewability,and biodegradability.Wood’s hierarchically porous structure and chemical components(e.g.,cellulose,hemicelluloses,and lignin)enable its mechanical,ionic,optical,and thermal properties to be tuned via physical,chemical,and/or thermal modifications.Among these various approaches,the chemical delignification of bulk wood is the most fascinating,in which the majority of lignin and hemicelluloses is removed while leaving the cellulose intact,maintaining wood’s physical integrity and hierarchical structure.This delignified structure is unique,composed of hollow,aligned channels made up of cellulose microfibrils,and particularly attractive given its origin from a sustainable and renewable resource.As a result,delignified wood has attracted increasing attention for applications that go far beyond traditional wood utilization,such as lightweight yet strong structural materials,energy storage and conversion,environmental remediation,flexible electronics,and bioengineering.This Account reviews recent developments in bulk wood delignification strategies toward the achievement of such advanced wood technologies for sustainable applications,with a focus on the research in our group.Similar to chemical pulping and bleaching,wood delignification involves a series of nucleophilic reactions based on alkaline Na2SO3 or Na2S systems(i.e.,chemical pulping)or electrophilic,radical,and oxidation reactions based on H2O2,ClO2,or NaClO systems(i.e.,chemical bleaching)to deconstruct,fragment,and promote the hydrophilicity of lignin macromolecules,which finally make lignin easier to be removed.We discuss the structure and properties of partially and near-completely delignified wood,with a focus on process-structure−property relationships.The resulting delignified wood materials,with tunable structure and properties,demonstrate various advanced functions,in a wide range of advanced applications,such as building and construction,green energy,and electronics.Finally,the potential challenges and appealing perspectives of in situ wood delignification are discussed.In situ wood delignification,as a powerful modification strategy,has speeded up the development of advanced wood technologies and wood-based functional materials and products.展开更多
Carbonaceous materials,such as graphite,carbon nanotubes(CNTs),and graphene,are in high demand for a broad range of applications,including batteries,capacitors,and composite materials.Studies on the transformation bet...Carbonaceous materials,such as graphite,carbon nanotubes(CNTs),and graphene,are in high demand for a broad range of applications,including batteries,capacitors,and composite materials.Studies on the transformation between diferent types of carbon,especially from abundant and low-cost carbon to high-end carbon allotropes,have received surging interest.Here,we report that,without a catalyst or an external carbon source,biomass-derived amorphous carbon and defective reduced graphene oxide(RGO)can be quickly transformed into CNTs in highly confned spaces by high temperature Joule heating.Combined with experimental measurements and molecular dynamics simulations,we propose that Joule heating induces a high local temperature at defect sites due to the corresponding high local resistance.Te resultant temperature gradient in amorphous carbon or RGO drives the migration of carbon atoms and promotes the growth of CNTs without using a catalyst or external carbon source.Our fndings on the growth of CNTs in confned spaces by fast high temperature Joule heating shed light on the controlled transition between diferent carbon allotropes,which can be extended to the growth of other high aspect ratio nanomaterials.展开更多
Sepsis is responsible for approximately 5.3 million deaths globally each year.Here,we constructed hierarchical chitin microspheres loaded with MOF-919(Ch/metal–organic frameworks[MOFs])for the rapid and efficient rem...Sepsis is responsible for approximately 5.3 million deaths globally each year.Here,we constructed hierarchical chitin microspheres loaded with MOF-919(Ch/metal–organic frameworks[MOFs])for the rapid and efficient removal of lipopolysaccharide(LPS)in complex blood environments.Furthermore,abun-dant active sites on MOF-919(Sc)also enable a record-high adsorption capacity of 9.56 mg/g in biomass-based adsorbents due to the coordination interactions between endotoxin and MOF-919(Sc).The LPS level of sepsis rabbits was less than 2 EU/mL(clearance rate>95%)after 90-min hemoperfusion,showing no adverse effect on the rabbit organs.Additionally,compared to the commonly used LPS scrubber Toraymyxin(polymethyl methacrylate),the chitin adsorbent is significantly more cost-effective and environmentally friendly.The prepara-tion strategy for hierarchical porous microspheres offers notable advantages in designability,recyclability,and renewability,providing a new approach to sepsis treatment and promising prospects for the biomedical application of sustainable biomass materials.展开更多
Lightweight structural materials are important for the energy efficiency of applications,particularly those in the building sector.Here,inspired by nature,we developed a strong,superhydrophobic,yet lightweight materia...Lightweight structural materials are important for the energy efficiency of applications,particularly those in the building sector.Here,inspired by nature,we developed a strong,superhydrophobic,yet lightweight material by simple in situ growth of nano-SiO2 and subsequent densification of the wood substrate.In situ generation of SiO2 nanoparticles both inside the wood channels and on the wood surfaces gives the material superhydrophobicity,with static and dynamic contact angles of 159.4°and 3°,respectively.Densification of the wood to remove most of the spaces among the lumen and cell walls results in a laminated,dense structure,with aligned cellulose nanofibers,which in turn contributes to a high mechanical strength up to 384.2 MPa(7-times higher than natural wood).Such treatment enables the strong and superhydrophobic wood(SH-Wood)to be stable and have excellent water,acid,and alkaline resistance.The high mechanical strength of SH-Wood combined with its excellent structural stability in harsh environments,as well its low density,positions the strong and superhydrophobic wood as a promising candidate for strong,lightweight,and durable structural materials that could potentially replace steel.展开更多
Micro(nano)plastics(MNPs)have become a significant environmental concern due to their widespread presence in the biosphere and potential harm to ecosystems and human health.Here,we propose for the first time a MNPs ca...Micro(nano)plastics(MNPs)have become a significant environmental concern due to their widespread presence in the biosphere and potential harm to ecosystems and human health.Here,we propose for the first time a MNPs capture,utilization,and storage(PCUS)concept to achieve MNPs remediation from water while meeting economically productive upcycling and environmentally sustainable plastic waste management.A highly efficient capturing material derived from surface-modified woody biomass waste(M-Basswood)is developed to remove a broad spectrum of multidimensional and compositional MNPs from water.The M-Basswood delivered a high and stable capture efficiency of>99.1%at different pH or salinity levels.This exceptional capture performance is driven by multiscale interactions between M-Basswood and MNPs,involving physical trapping,strong electrostatic attractions,and triggered MNPs cluster-like aggregation sedimentation.Additionally,the in vivo biodistribution of MNPs shows low ingestion and accumulation of MNPs in the mice organs.After MNPs remediation from water,the M-Basswood,together with captured MNPs,is further processed into a high-performance composite board product where MNPs serve as the glue for utilization and storage.Furthermore,the life cycle assessment(LCA)and techno-economic analysis(TEA)results demonstrate the environmental friendliness and economic viability of our proposed full-chain PCUS strategy,promising to drive positive change in plastic pollution and foster a circular economy.展开更多
Near-infrared (NIR) transparent optical filters show great promise in night vision and receiving windows. However, NIR optical filters are generally prepared by laborious, environmentally unfriendly processes that inv...Near-infrared (NIR) transparent optical filters show great promise in night vision and receiving windows. However, NIR optical filters are generally prepared by laborious, environmentally unfriendly processes that involve metal oxides or petroleum-based polymers. We propose a lignin capturing–fusing approach to manufacturing optical biofilters based on molecular collaboration between lignin and cellulose from waste agricultural biomass. In this process, lignin is captured via self-assembly in a cellulose network;then, the lignin is fused to fill gaps and hold the cellulose fibers tightly. The resulting optical biofilter featured a dense structure and smooth surface with NIR transmittance of ~90%, ultralow haze of close to 0%, strong ultraviolet-visible light blocking (~100% at 400 nm and 57.58% to 98.59% at 550 nm). Further, the optical biofilter has comprehensive stability, including water stability, solvent stability, thermal stability, and environmental stability. Because of its unique properties, the optical biofilter demonstrates potential applications in the NIR region, such as an NIR-transmitting window, NIR night vision, and privacy protection. These applications represent a promising route to produce NIR transparent optical filters starting from lignocellulose biomass waste.展开更多
基金financial support by the Excellent Youth Foundation of Shandong Province(No.ZR2022YQ22)National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.32101451)Youth Innovation Team Project of Shandong Province(No.2022KJ303)。
文摘A high-activity and stable bifunctional oxygen reduction reaction(ORR)and oxygen evolution reaction(OER)electrocatalyst is critical for seawater-based Zn-air batteries(ZABs).Herein,we report a wood-derived chainmail electrocatalyst containing defective nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes encapsulating cobalt nanoparticles(Co@D-NCNT/CW)to enhance the ORR/OER activity and stability in seawater medium.During the preparation process,the introduction and removal of Zn increased the defect sites and pyridine N content in the carbon material,modulating charge distribution and influencing the adsorption and activation processes.The highly ordered open channels in Co@D-NCNT/CW promoted mass transfer of reactants and accelerated gas diffusion.The resultant chainmail electrocatalyst exhibited impressive bifunctional ORR and OER activities with an ultra-low gap of 0.67 V in sea water-based alkaline electrolyte.The Co@D-NCNT/CW-assembled seawater-based rechargeable liquid ZABs demonstrated a maximum power density of 245.3 mW cm^(-2)and a long-term cycling performance over 500 h.The seawater-based all-solid-state ZABs achieved the maximum power density of 48.2 mW cm^(-2)and stabilized over 30 h.Density functional theory revealed that the presence of defects and pyridine nitrogen in Co@D-NCNT/CW modulated the electronic structure of Co,optimizing the binding affinity of the Co sites with intermediates and weakening Cl^(-)adsorption.This work provides a new approach to preparing high-activity and stable ORR/OER electrocatalyst utilizing wood nanostructures,boosting the development of seawater-based ZABs.
基金Chaoji Chen thanks the National Natural Science Foundation of China(52273091 and 22461142135)the Knowledge Innovation Program of Wuhan-Basi Research(2023020201010072)+2 种基金the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of Wuhan University(691000003)for the financial supportZhenqian Pang acknowledges the support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(12302143)the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2023YFC3806300).
文摘The discontinuous fiber reinforced hydrogels are easy to fail due to the fracture of the fiber matrix during load-bearing.Here,we propose a novel strategy based on the synergistic reinforcement of interconnected natural fiber networks at multiple scales to fabricate hydrogels with extraordinary mechanical properties.Specifically,the P(AA-AM)/Cel(P(AA-AM),poly(acrylic acid-acrylamide);Cel,cellulose)hydrogel is synthesized by copolymerizing AA and AM on a substrate of paper with an interconnected hollow cellulose microfiber network.This innovative design achieves a collaborative improvement of mechanical properties,including a 253-times increase in strength(27.8 vs.0.11 MPa),137-times increase in work of fracture(3.59 vs.0.026 MJ m^(−3)),and 235-times increase in fracture energy(16.48 vs.0.07 kJ m^(−2)).These outstanding mechanical properties benefit from the P(AA-AM)network formed by the copolymerization,which fills both the inside and outside of the hollow cellulose fibers,thus establishing abundant strong hydrogen bonds with the fibers and welding the fiber junctions.Consequently,the hydrogel exhibits enhanced resistance to the slippage and fracture of fibers.This strategy demonstrates the mechanical strengthening effectiveness of a variety of hydrogels by regulating the water-cellulose-copolymer interplay,representing a practical and universal route for designing super-strong hydrogels.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.52273091)for the financial support.
文摘Given the global resource constraints and substantial energy consumption,the innovative development of efficient and precise thermal management materials represents a significant step forward in improving energy efficiency and promoting ecological and environmental sustainability.The unique structure of natural wood with its porous anisotropy provides new insights and strategies for the design of advanced thermal management materials.However,present reviews often fail to provide a comprehensive and systematic analysis of the inherent structural advantages,as well as the strategies pertinent to the construction and utilization of wood-based and biomimetic materials.This review explores the evolution of wood and its biomimetic structures in the field of thermal management materials,detailing the basic structures and compositions of wood and timber,as well as explaining how these materials can be processed and constructed with physical/chemical strategies.In addition,we highlight recent advances in such materials in the fields of thermal insulation,radiative cooling,heat transfer,and thermal energy storage.Finally,we offer some unique insights on the challenges and future developments for the scale-up of the use of such materials,providing our perspectives on their potential for broader implementation.
文摘Lithium metal is considered the ideal anode material for Li-ion-based batteries because it exhibits the highest specific capacity and lowest redox potential for this type of cells. However, growth of Li dendrites, unstable solid electrolyte interphases, low Coulombic efficiencies, and safety hazards have significantly hindered the practical application of metallic Li anodes. Herein, we propose a three-dimensional （3D） carbon nanotube sponge （CNTS） as a Li deposition host. The high specific surface area of the CNTS enables homogenous charge distribution for Li nucleation and minimizes the effective current density to overcome dendrite growth. An additional conformal A1203 layer on the CNTS coated by atomic layer deposition （ALD） robustly protects the Li metal electrode/electrolyte interface due to the good chemical stability and high mechanical strength of the layer. The Li@ALD-CNTS electrode exhibits stable voltage profiles with a small overpotential ranging from 16 to 30 mV over 100 h of cycling at 1.0 mA·cm^-2. Moreover, the electrodes display a dendrite-free morphology after cycling and a Coulombic efficiency of 92.4% over 80 cycles at 1.0 mA·cm^-2 in an organic carbonate electrolyte, thus demonstrating electrochemical stability superior to that of planar current collectors. Our results provide an important strategy for the rational design of current collectors to obtain stable Li metal anodes.
文摘Fibrous nanofluidic materials are ideal building blocks for implantable electrode,biomimetic actuator,wearable electronics due to their favorable features of intrinsic flexibility and unidirectional ion transport.However,the large-scale preparation of fibrous nanofluidic materials with desirable mechanical strength and good environment adaptability for practical use remains challenging.Herein,by fully taking advantage of the attractive mechanical,structural,chemical features of boron nitride(BN)nanosheet and nanofibrillated cellulose(NFC),a scalable and cost-effective three-dimensional(3D)printed macrofiber featuring abundant vertically aligned nanofluidic channels is demonstrated to exhibit a good combination of high tensile strength of 100 MPa,thermal stability of up to 230℃,ionic conductivity of 1.8×10^(−4)S/cm at low salt concentrations(<10^(−3)M).In addition,the versatile surface chemistry of cellulose allows us to stabilize the macrofiber at the molecular level via a facile postcross-linking method,which eventually enables the stable operation of the modified macrofiber in various extreme environments such as strong acidic,strong alkaline,high temperature.We believe this work implies a promising guideline for designing and manufacturing fibrous nanodevices towards extreme environment operations.
文摘The world is currently grappling with many crises,including climate change,environmental pollution,resource scarcity,and rampant resource consumption.To address these issues,it is necessary to seek solutions that are low-carbon,environmentally friendly,and cost-effective.One promising avenue for addressing these challenges is through the use of biomass-based materials,which have many unique advantages,including renewability,biodegradability,and abundance.
文摘CONSPECTUS:As one of the most abundant and versatile natural materials on Earth,recently wood has attracted tremendous attention from scientists and engineers due to its outstanding advantages,including hierarchically porous microstructure,high mechanical strength,environmental friendliness,renewability,and biodegradability.Wood’s hierarchically porous structure and chemical components(e.g.,cellulose,hemicelluloses,and lignin)enable its mechanical,ionic,optical,and thermal properties to be tuned via physical,chemical,and/or thermal modifications.Among these various approaches,the chemical delignification of bulk wood is the most fascinating,in which the majority of lignin and hemicelluloses is removed while leaving the cellulose intact,maintaining wood’s physical integrity and hierarchical structure.This delignified structure is unique,composed of hollow,aligned channels made up of cellulose microfibrils,and particularly attractive given its origin from a sustainable and renewable resource.As a result,delignified wood has attracted increasing attention for applications that go far beyond traditional wood utilization,such as lightweight yet strong structural materials,energy storage and conversion,environmental remediation,flexible electronics,and bioengineering.This Account reviews recent developments in bulk wood delignification strategies toward the achievement of such advanced wood technologies for sustainable applications,with a focus on the research in our group.Similar to chemical pulping and bleaching,wood delignification involves a series of nucleophilic reactions based on alkaline Na2SO3 or Na2S systems(i.e.,chemical pulping)or electrophilic,radical,and oxidation reactions based on H2O2,ClO2,or NaClO systems(i.e.,chemical bleaching)to deconstruct,fragment,and promote the hydrophilicity of lignin macromolecules,which finally make lignin easier to be removed.We discuss the structure and properties of partially and near-completely delignified wood,with a focus on process-structure−property relationships.The resulting delignified wood materials,with tunable structure and properties,demonstrate various advanced functions,in a wide range of advanced applications,such as building and construction,green energy,and electronics.Finally,the potential challenges and appealing perspectives of in situ wood delignification are discussed.In situ wood delignification,as a powerful modification strategy,has speeded up the development of advanced wood technologies and wood-based functional materials and products.
基金The authors acknowledge the support of the Maryland NanoCenter and its AIMLab.
文摘Carbonaceous materials,such as graphite,carbon nanotubes(CNTs),and graphene,are in high demand for a broad range of applications,including batteries,capacitors,and composite materials.Studies on the transformation between diferent types of carbon,especially from abundant and low-cost carbon to high-end carbon allotropes,have received surging interest.Here,we report that,without a catalyst or an external carbon source,biomass-derived amorphous carbon and defective reduced graphene oxide(RGO)can be quickly transformed into CNTs in highly confned spaces by high temperature Joule heating.Combined with experimental measurements and molecular dynamics simulations,we propose that Joule heating induces a high local temperature at defect sites due to the corresponding high local resistance.Te resultant temperature gradient in amorphous carbon or RGO drives the migration of carbon atoms and promotes the growth of CNTs without using a catalyst or external carbon source.Our fndings on the growth of CNTs in confned spaces by fast high temperature Joule heating shed light on the controlled transition between diferent carbon allotropes,which can be extended to the growth of other high aspect ratio nanomaterials.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China,Grant/Award Number:22075215Key Research and Development Program of Hubei Province,Grant/Award Number:2021BCA122+1 种基金Translational Medicine and Interdisciplinary Research Joint Fund of Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University,Grant/Award Number:ZNJC202238Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities,Grant/Award Number:691000003。
文摘Sepsis is responsible for approximately 5.3 million deaths globally each year.Here,we constructed hierarchical chitin microspheres loaded with MOF-919(Ch/metal–organic frameworks[MOFs])for the rapid and efficient removal of lipopolysaccharide(LPS)in complex blood environments.Furthermore,abun-dant active sites on MOF-919(Sc)also enable a record-high adsorption capacity of 9.56 mg/g in biomass-based adsorbents due to the coordination interactions between endotoxin and MOF-919(Sc).The LPS level of sepsis rabbits was less than 2 EU/mL(clearance rate>95%)after 90-min hemoperfusion,showing no adverse effect on the rabbit organs.Additionally,compared to the commonly used LPS scrubber Toraymyxin(polymethyl methacrylate),the chitin adsorbent is significantly more cost-effective and environmentally friendly.The prepara-tion strategy for hierarchical porous microspheres offers notable advantages in designability,recyclability,and renewability,providing a new approach to sepsis treatment and promising prospects for the biomedical application of sustainable biomass materials.
文摘Lightweight structural materials are important for the energy efficiency of applications,particularly those in the building sector.Here,inspired by nature,we developed a strong,superhydrophobic,yet lightweight material by simple in situ growth of nano-SiO2 and subsequent densification of the wood substrate.In situ generation of SiO2 nanoparticles both inside the wood channels and on the wood surfaces gives the material superhydrophobicity,with static and dynamic contact angles of 159.4°and 3°,respectively.Densification of the wood to remove most of the spaces among the lumen and cell walls results in a laminated,dense structure,with aligned cellulose nanofibers,which in turn contributes to a high mechanical strength up to 384.2 MPa(7-times higher than natural wood).Such treatment enables the strong and superhydrophobic wood(SH-Wood)to be stable and have excellent water,acid,and alkaline resistance.The high mechanical strength of SH-Wood combined with its excellent structural stability in harsh environments,as well its low density,positions the strong and superhydrophobic wood as a promising candidate for strong,lightweight,and durable structural materials that could potentially replace steel.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(grant no.52273091)Knowledge Innovation Program of Wuhan-Basi Research(grant no.2023020201010072)+1 种基金the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(grant no.691000003)for the financial supportE.L.thanks the University of the Basque Country(Convocatoria de ayudas a grupos de investigación,GIU21/010)for the financial support。
文摘Micro(nano)plastics(MNPs)have become a significant environmental concern due to their widespread presence in the biosphere and potential harm to ecosystems and human health.Here,we propose for the first time a MNPs capture,utilization,and storage(PCUS)concept to achieve MNPs remediation from water while meeting economically productive upcycling and environmentally sustainable plastic waste management.A highly efficient capturing material derived from surface-modified woody biomass waste(M-Basswood)is developed to remove a broad spectrum of multidimensional and compositional MNPs from water.The M-Basswood delivered a high and stable capture efficiency of>99.1%at different pH or salinity levels.This exceptional capture performance is driven by multiscale interactions between M-Basswood and MNPs,involving physical trapping,strong electrostatic attractions,and triggered MNPs cluster-like aggregation sedimentation.Additionally,the in vivo biodistribution of MNPs shows low ingestion and accumulation of MNPs in the mice organs.After MNPs remediation from water,the M-Basswood,together with captured MNPs,is further processed into a high-performance composite board product where MNPs serve as the glue for utilization and storage.Furthermore,the life cycle assessment(LCA)and techno-economic analysis(TEA)results demonstrate the environmental friendliness and economic viability of our proposed full-chain PCUS strategy,promising to drive positive change in plastic pollution and foster a circular economy.
基金This research was undertaken with funding from Hubei Provincial Universities Outstanding Young and Middle-aged Technological Innovation Team Project (grant no. T201205)the Foundation of Key Laboratory of Pulp and Paper Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, Qilu University of Technology (grant no. KF201623)+1 种基金C.C. acknowledges the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant no. 52273091)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (grant no. 2042022kf1177)' the start-up fund from Wuhan University (grant no. 691000003).
文摘Near-infrared (NIR) transparent optical filters show great promise in night vision and receiving windows. However, NIR optical filters are generally prepared by laborious, environmentally unfriendly processes that involve metal oxides or petroleum-based polymers. We propose a lignin capturing–fusing approach to manufacturing optical biofilters based on molecular collaboration between lignin and cellulose from waste agricultural biomass. In this process, lignin is captured via self-assembly in a cellulose network;then, the lignin is fused to fill gaps and hold the cellulose fibers tightly. The resulting optical biofilter featured a dense structure and smooth surface with NIR transmittance of ~90%, ultralow haze of close to 0%, strong ultraviolet-visible light blocking (~100% at 400 nm and 57.58% to 98.59% at 550 nm). Further, the optical biofilter has comprehensive stability, including water stability, solvent stability, thermal stability, and environmental stability. Because of its unique properties, the optical biofilter demonstrates potential applications in the NIR region, such as an NIR-transmitting window, NIR night vision, and privacy protection. These applications represent a promising route to produce NIR transparent optical filters starting from lignocellulose biomass waste.
