design for recycling

Photocatalytic conversions of ethanol to valuable chemicals are significant organic synthesis reactions. Herein, we developed a CuCl2 /FeCl3 bimetallic photocatalyst for sustainable dehydration of ethanol to ethylene by recoverable redox cycles. The selectivity of ethylene was 98.3% for CuCl2 /FeCl3 , which is much higher than that of CuCl2 (34.5%) and FeCl3 (86.5%). Due to the ligand-to-metal charge transfer (LMCT) process involved in generating the liquid products, the CuCl2 /FeCl3 catalyst will be reduced to CuCl/FeCl2 ...

Hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks (HOFs) are emerging porous materials that show high structural flexibility, mild synthetic conditions, good solution processability, easy healing and regeneration, and good recyclability. Although these properties give them many potential multifunctional applications, their frameworks are unstable due to the presence of only weak and reversible hydrogen bonds. In this work, the development history and synthesis methods of HOFs are reviewed, and categorize their structural design concepts and strategies to improve their stability...

This study investigated the optimal design of a radio-frequency (RF) bone tumor ablation device to achieve uniform heating. In a previous study, we confirmed the feasibility of this device, which could heat all regions of the bone to 70 °C or higher and maintain this temperature for more than 30 min. However, the temperature in each part was non-uniform. To address this issue, the shape of the electrode must be modified to create a uniform electric field. The design of the electrode was optimized to reduce temperature deviations...

Nanozymes have been widely used in the field of biosensing owing to their high stability, low cost, adjustable catalytic activity, and convenient modification. However, achieving high selectivity and sensitivity simultaneously in nanozyme-based colorimetric sensing remains a major challenge. Nanozymes are nanomaterials with enzyme-simulating activity that are often used as solid-phase adsorbents for sample pretreatment. Our design strategy integrated sample pretreatment function into the nanozyme through separation and enrichment, thereby improving the selectivity and sensitivity of nanozyme-based colorimetric biosensing...

Peracetic acid (PAA) has emerged as a new effective oxidant for various contaminants degradation through advanced oxidation process (AOP). In this study, sulfidated nano zero-valent iron-copper (S-nZVIC) with low Cu doping and sulfidation was synthesized for PAA activation, resulting in more efficient degradation of sulfamethoxazole (SMX, 20 μM) and other contaminants using a low dose of catalyst (0.05 g/L) and oxidant (100 μM). The characterization results suggested that S-nZVIC presented a more uniform size and distribution with fewer metal oxides, as the agglomeration and oxidation were inhibited...

mRNA lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have emerged as powerful modalities for gene therapies to control cancer and infectious and immune diseases. Despite the escalating interest in mRNA-LNPs over the past few decades, endosomal entrapment of delivered mRNAs vastly impedes therapeutic developments. In addition, the molecular mechanism of LNP-mediated mRNA delivery is poorly understood to guide further improvement through rational design. To tackle these challenges, we characterized LNP-mediated mRNA delivery using a library of small molecules targeting endosomal trafficking...

A novel calcium-based metal-organic framework (CaMOF@LSB) was designed and synthesized, exhibiting dual functionality for both selective detection and removal of Cu2+ ions from aqueous solutions. The framework's stability, including solvent and pH variations, was established with notable thermal resilience. Colorimetric Cu2+ detection (≥ 5 ppm) with a high capture capacity of 484.2 mg g-1 by CaMOF@LSB places this material among the few that ensure efficient colorimetric detection and high removal capabilities of Cu2+ ions...

Organic photoelectrochemical transistor (OPECT) has shown substantial potential in the development of next-generation bioanalysis yet is limited by the either-or situation between the photoelectrode types and the channel types. Inspired by the dual-photoelectrode systems, we propose a new architecture of dual-engine OPECT for enhanced signal modulation and its biosensing application. Exemplified by incorporating the CdS/Bi2 S3 photoanode and Cu2 O photocathode within the gate-source circuit of Ag/AgCl-gated poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) channel, the device shows enhanced modulation capability and larger transconductance ( g m ) against the single-photoelectrode ones...

Plastic waste disposal has escalated into a serious global concern due to the non-biodegradable nature of plastics, which are composed of high-molecular-mass organic polymers along with other ingredients. Therefore, this study focuses on reusing and recycling LDPE plastic waste as a binding agent in paver tile production. This aligns with global sustainability goals by promoting resource efficiency and reducing waste generation. The investigation aims to address the environmental impact of plastic waste by finding sustainable solutions for its management...

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nano-sized lipid-membrane vesicles involved in intercellular communication and reflecting the physiological and pathological processes of their parental cells. Rapid isolation of EVs with low cost is an essential precondition for downstream function exploration and clinical applications. In this work, we designed a novel EVs isolation device based on the boronated organic framework (BOF) coated recyclable microfluidic chip (named EVs-BD) to separate EVs from cell culture media...

The present global environment is facing growing issues linked to production of concrete, mostly due to high consumption of concrete as the dominating construction material globally. In today's climate of environmental sustainability, recycled concrete production using RA (recycled aggregates) requires a more holistic approach. This study examined how recycled aggregate (RA), metakaolin, silica fume and fly ash affect mechanical characteristics (compressive strength, split tensile strength), and durability characteristics (acid resistance, absorption, sorptivity) of concrete...

In the smart era, big data analysis based on sensor units is important in intelligent motion. In this study, a dance sports and injury monitoring system (DIMS) based on a recyclable flexible triboelectric nanogenerator (RF-TENG) sensor module, a data processing hardware module, and an upper computer intelligent analysis module are developed to promote intelligent motion. The resultant RF-TENG exhibits an ultra-fast response time of 17 ms, coupled with robust stability demonstrated over 4200 operational cycles, with 6% variation in output voltage...

Chiral alcohols are not only important building blocks of various bioactive natural compounds and pharmaceuticals, but can serve as synthetic precursors for other valuable organic chemicals, thus the synthesis of these products is of great importance. Bio-catalysis represents one effective way to obtain these molecules, however, the weak stability and high cost of enzymes often hinder its broad application. In this work, we designed a biological nanoreactor by embedding alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and glucose dehydrogenase (GDH) in metal-organic-framework ZIF-8...

Electrochemical desalination is an effective method for recovering salts from reverse osmosis (RO) brine. However, traditional technologies like bipolar membrane technology often face challenges related to membrane blockage. To overcome this issue, a preparative vertical-flow electrophoresis (PVFE) system was used for the first time to treat RO brine of petrochemical wastewater. In order to optimize the PVFE operation and maximize acids and bases production while minimizing energy consumption, the response surface method was employed...

EDTA has been widely utilized as a chelating agent in soil heavy metal remediation, due to its strong coordination capability. Electrochemical deposition is a promising avenue to treat soil washing effluent. However, the impact of advanced electrochemical techniques on EDTA remains incompletely understood. Herein, we present a pioneering approach, utilizing a dual-chamber electrolytic cell and alternating current (AC) power supply. This approach achieves concurrent removal of M-EDTA while efficiently recovering heavy metal and recycling EDTA...

The development of robust methods for the synthesis of chemically recyclable polymers with tunable properties is necessary for the design of next-generation materials. Polyoxazolidinones (POxa), polymers with five-membered urethanes in their backbones, are an attractive target because they are strongly polar and have high thermal stability, but existing step-growth syntheses limit molar masses and methods to chemically recycle POxa to monomer are rare. Herein, we report the synthesis of high molar mass POxa via ring-opening metathesis polymerization of oxazolidinone-fused cyclooctenes...

Achieving mastery over light using thermochromic materials is crucial for energy-saving glazing. However, challenges such as high production costs, limited durability, and recyclability issues have hindered their widespread application in buildings. Herein, we develop a glass interlayer made of a polyvinyl butyral-based hydrogel swollen with LiCl solution. In addition to a fast, isochoric, and reversible transparency-to-opacity transition occurring as ambient temperatures exceed thermally comfortable levels, this hydrogel uniquely encompasses multiple features such as frost resistance, recyclability, scalability, and toughness...

Nickel stands out as one of the prevalent heavy metal ionic pollutants found in water. It is urgent to devise a simple, efficient, budget-friendly, highly-selective and proficient method for detecting Ni(II). This work reports an approach to design a nanofluidic diode for the ultrasensitive and label-free detection of nickel ions based on layer-by-layer assembly of polyarginine (PA) and polyglutamic acid (γ-PGA) on the inner surface of asymmetric nanochannels. We can tune the adsorption/desorption characteristics of the asymmetric nanochannels for Ni2+ by adjusting the pH changes, i...

Sustainability of a product or device is currently primarily related to its environmental footprint. Here, a wider concept of sustainability is introduced for medical devices and their components in healthcare provision. Such devices sustain healthcare and patient wellbeing due to their quality specifications for material composition, product design and performance. The term quality must be intended in the most comprehensive term, including purity and biocompatibility of materials, device reliability, limited number of recalls and reduced risks as well as acceptability for patients...

Nature has inspired scientists to fabricate adhesive materials for applications in many burgeoning areas. However, it is still a significant challenge to develop small-molecule adhesives with high-strength, low-temperature and recyclable properties, although these merits are of great interest in various aspects. Herein, we report a series of strong adhesives based on low-molecular-weight molecular solids driven by the terminal modification of ionic liquids (ILs) and subsequent supramolecular self-assembly. The emergence of high strength and liquid-to-solid transitions for these supramolecular aggregates relies on modifying IL with a high melting point motif and enriching the types of noncovalent interactions in the original ILs...