RSC Advances最新文献

Water resources are vital for sustainable human life and economic activities. However, the issue of water pollution has reached alarming levels. Coking wastewater, known for its high concentrations of organic matter and toxic substances, poses significant environmental hazards. In response to this challenge, we developed a novel composite flocculant called polymeric aluminum ferric chloride (PAFC)/rice straw (PAFC/RS) from fly ash (a coal waste) and rice straw (an agricultural waste). The PAFC/RS was characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transformed infrared (FT-IR). The flocculation performance of PAFC/RS was studied utilizing humic acid simulated coking wastewater as the target by measuring the chemical oxygen demand (COD), UV₂₅₄, and turbidity. A removal efficiency of 97.3% for turbidity, 79.7% for COD, and 98.2% for UV₂₅₄ was reached for the PAFC/RS with an optimal composition. It demonstrated a better flocculation effect compared to the traditional aluminum–iron-based inorganic flocculant. The PAFC/RS possesses great potential for a straightforward, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly water treatment material.

Retraction of “A novel concept and design for highly efficient photoelectrocatalytic materials with high performance, stability, and charge transport properties: development of an innovative next-generation green technology” by Abdul Qayoom Mugheri et al., RSC Adv., 2024, 14, 1581–1592, https://doi.org/10.1039/D3RA05126A.

This work successfully synthesized the Cnts/calcined Zn-Co-LDHs (xCnts@ZnC) hybrid material using the Zn-Co-LDHs precursor. Using the co-precipitation method, we synthesized Zn-Co-LDHs onto Cnts ranging in mass from 0 to 80 mg. These were subsequently calcined at 550 °C to yield xCnts@ZnC (x = 2, 4, 6, 8). Based on the results, ZnC is found on the surface of Cnts in two phases: ZnO and ZnCo₂O₄. The photocatalytic activity of xCnts@ZnC is demonstrated by its capacity to degrade ofloxacin antibiotics (OFL) in the visible region; 6Cnts@ZnC (85.8%; k = 0.0099 min⁻¹), shows the best decomposition rate constant, increasing by three times when compared to ZnC (53.3%; k = 0.0048 min⁻¹). The h⁺, O₂˙⁻, radicals are the main factors that determine of the decomposition process in the identified OFL decomposition mechanism of 6Cnts@ZnC, in which Cnts have the role of transporting and collecting electrons, minimizing the recombination between photogenerated electrons and holes. The OFL degradation pathways of 6Cnts@ZnC were also investigated and identified by the HPLC-MS spectrum and suggested the new degradation mechanism to small molecules that have nontoxic of small molecules to environment site by ADMET model. The OFL degradation obtained 96.44% and set equivalent of degradation after completing 300 min.

Aqueous Al–air batteries (AABs) are considered promising electrochemical energy devices due to their high-energy density, high-capacity density, and stable discharge voltage. However, the self-corrosion, passivation, and parasitic hydrogen precipitation side reactions in the aqueous electrolyte degrade the performance of these batteries, limiting their development. To overcome the problems related to the use of AABs, we introduce ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium salt (EDTA-2Na) as an additive to the alkaline electrolyte. EDTA-2Na adsorbs strongly to the Al anode interface creating a protective layer capable of inhibiting water-induced parasitic reactions. In fact, in the presence of the additive, the hydrogen evolution tests have shown that the hydrogen evolution rate decreased from 0.70 to 0.30 mL cm⁻² min⁻¹. In addition, the electrochemical tests indicated an inhibition efficiency of 55%, the full-cell discharge tests suggested an increase in the specific capacity density of the battery from 943.6 to 2381.7 mA h g⁻¹ and the anode utilization increased from 31.6% to 80.9%, greatly improving the performance of the battery. Surface characterization of the Al alloy surface was also carried out to investigate the adsorption of EDTA-2Na on it. This electrolyte modification strategy provides a promising option for modulating the anode/electrolyte interface chemistry to achieve high-performance AAB.

Tissue engineering is set to revolutionise regenerative medicine, drug discovery, and cancer biology. For this to succeed, improved 3D imaging methods that penetrate non-invasively into the developing tissue is fundamental to guide the design of new and improved 3D supports. In particular, it is very important to characterise the time- and space-heterogeneous pore network that continuously changes as the tissue grows, since delivery of nutrients and removal of waste is key to avoid the development of necrotic tissues. In this paper, we combine high-resolution microfocus Computed Tomography (μCT) imaging and in silico simulations to calculate the diffusion tensor of molecules diffusing in the actual pore structure of a tissue grown on 3D-printed plastic scaffolds. We use such tensors to derive information about the changing pore network and derive tortuosity, a key parameter to understand how pore interconnection changes with cell proliferation. Such information can be used to improve the design of 3D-printed supports as well as to validate and improve cell culture protocols.

Modern technological breakthroughs depend on nonlinear optical (NLO) and photovoltaic (PV) materials, essential for creating advanced photonic devices and efficient solar cells. Herein, the NLO, PV, electrical, and photophysical characteristics of proposed chromophores (WLK-1–WLK-6) designed from pyridoquinazolindone-containing triphenylamine have been systematically altered by the addition of different spacers categorized as K1, K2, K3, K4, K5, and K6 (named as i-series). This fine-tuning was accomplished using TD-DFT, DFT computations, and the Scharber model. The impact of spectrum of medium polarity, ranging from the least polar to the most polar, including water (ε = 78.36), methanol (ε = 32.61), DMSO (ε = 46.83), tetrahydrofuran (ε = 7.43), benzene (ε = 2.27) and chloroform (ε = 4.71), is explored in detail utilizing the IEFPCM model on NLO and PV properties. Moreover, the response of different analyses like DOS, NCI, NBO, FMO, dipole moments (µ), and hyperpolarizability (β) in both gas, polar and non-polar solvents was analyzed. Our structure–property relationship studies revealed that adding extra spacer groups, particularly those containing thiophene spacers, considerably impacted the lowering of the energy gap (3.853–4.190 eV). The simulated UV-Vis spectra illustrate significant π → π* transitions and lower n → π* transitions, primarily in the near-infrared (IR) range of 558.613 to 429.844 nm. Push–pull chromophores showed extraordinary frequency-dependent NLO properties, SHG β(−2ω, ω, ω), and EOPE β(−ω, ω, 0) effect computed at laser frequencies of 1064 and 532 nm. Among the proposed compounds, WLK-6 with the K6 spacer demonstrated a smaller energy gap (3.853 eV), resulting in a maximum optical absorption peak at λ_max = 558.613 nm and the maximum hyperpolarizability in benzene (9.00 × 10⁴ a.u.), methanol (1.22 × 10⁵ a.u.), THF (1.12 × 10⁵ a.u.), DMSO (1.23 × 10⁵ a.u.), and water (1.23 × 10⁵ a.u.). Our study found that WLK-6, WLK-5, and WLK-1 compounds also had good photovoltaic (PV) capabilities, reaching a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of around 5% and an injection efficiency (ΔG^inject) of 0.191. In addition to these analyses, we performed topologic studies, such as TDM, ELF, NCI, MEP, LOL, and electron–hole overlap plots to better understand both intra and intermolecular interactions. Based on these results, it is clear that modifying longer π-linker groups in A–D–π–A conjugated systems benefits the optoelectronic characteristics and NLO responses for organic PV devices.

In this work, a superhydrophobic polypropylene (PP) replica with nanowires is fabricated using an injection compression molding (ICM) process. The morphology, superhydrophobicity and fog water harvesting efficiency of the as-prepared PP replica surface are investigated. Morphological characterization indicates that the PP replica surface exhibits nanowires with intertwined tips. Compared to the untreated PP surface (referred to as the PP counterpart), the PP replica surface shows a higher contact angle (CA) and lower rolling angle (RA). Furthermore, the complete transfer of a water droplet with no volume loss from the PP replica surface to the filter paper shows that nanowires on the PP replica surface are responsible for the superhydrophobic and low-adhesive properties of the surface. The Cassie–Baxter state with a CA of ∼153°, low ice adhesion strength (13.3 kPa at −20 °C) and good fog water harvesting efficiency (∼7.26 g m⁻² s⁻¹) demonstrate that the prepared PP replica has economic potential for fog water harvesting applications.

Flat and dense perovskite films with low defect density are essential for high-performance perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Anti-solvent-assisted crystallization (ASAC) is one of the effective ways to obtain high-quality perovskite films with low cost and simple operation. However, most of the traditional anti-solvents such as chlorobenzene, toluene, and diethyl ether have strong toxicity, which would be harmful to people's physical and mental health. It can be anticipated that when these toxic anti-solvents are widely applied in the industry, they will have destructive effects on humans and the environment, which is contrary to the current promotion concepts of green environmental protection. In September 2015, the United Nations Development Program regulated the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for Mankind, which clearly emphasized the use of economically viable clean energy that was compatible with the goals for climate action, good health and well-being. So the development of non-hazardous green anti-solvents is an important direction in the research field of PSCs. In this review paper, the outstanding research achievements on green anti-solvents in recent years are summarized, including different types of perovskite films using different green anti-solvents with/without additives, the physical and chemical properties of different green anti-solvents, and their effects on the performance of perovskite films and PSCs. Moreover, five types of non-anti-solvent green preparation methods regulated by physical processes are also assessed. It provides references for the manufacturing of efficient, stable, low-cost and environmentally friendly perovskite devices.

Correction for ‘Chlorosulfonic acid coated on porous organic polymer as a bifunctional catalyst for the one-pot three-component synthesis of 1,8-naphthyridines’ by Ramin Ghiai et al., RSC Adv., 2022, 12, 27723–27735, https://doi.org/10.1039/D2RA05070F.

Magnesium batteries have emerged as one of the considerable choices for next-generation batteries. Oxide compounds have attracted great attention as cathodes for magnesium batteries because of their high output voltages and ease of synthesis. However, a majority of the reported results are based on metastable nanoscale oxide materials. This study puts forward a thermodynamically stable layer-structured oxide K_0.5MnO₂ with an enlarged lattice spacing as a model cathode material employing optimized electrolytes, enabling Mg²⁺ intercalation into the K_0.5MnO₂ framework in a real magnesium battery directly using Mg foil as the anode. First-principles calculations implied that the enlarged layer spacing could decrease the migration energy barrier of Mg²⁺ in the layered oxide. This work can pave the way to understanding the fundamental intercalation behavior of Mg²⁺ in magnesium batteries.