Pub Date : 2026-01-13DOI: 10.1016/j.cej.2026.172964
Jia-Ming Zhao, Qian Zhang, Ying-Tao Su, Xiao-Man Huang, Bing Li
{"title":"Effective elimination of malachite green from solutions by functionalized hydrochar derived from co-hydrothermal carbonization of bamboo and polyvinyl chloride with ammonium persulfate assistance","authors":"Jia-Ming Zhao, Qian Zhang, Ying-Tao Su, Xiao-Man Huang, Bing Li","doi":"10.1016/j.cej.2026.172964","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2026.172964","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":270,"journal":{"name":"Chemical Engineering Journal","volume":"82 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":15.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145962758","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-12DOI: 10.1016/j.cej.2026.172938
Junmo Jeong, Hayk Nersisyan, Hyunjoo Lee, Sin Hyong Joo, Xuan Viet Nguyen, Hoyoung Suh, Jong Hyeon Lee
Nanocrystals with well-defined exposed facets exhibit distinctive physicochemical properties that are highly beneficial for catalysis, sensing, and energy storage applications. In this study, a rapid solid-phase combustion method was developed for the scalable synthesis of facet-exposed alkaline-earth-metal hexaboride nanocubes (MB₆: M = Ca, Sr, Ba). The exothermic MO–B₂O₃–Mg reaction generates transient high temperatures and a localized molten phase, together with anisotropic growth dynamics, that drive the self-formation of uniform MB₆ nanocubes. Systematic investigations revealed that the cube edge length can be precisely tuned from 0.1 to 1.0 μm by adjusting the CaO content from 0.35 to 1.5 mol, consistent with diffusion-controlled coarsening. The dominance of low-index {100} facets markedly enhances the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) performance, delivering an overpotential of 220 mV at 10 mA cm−2 and a Tafel slope of 60 mV dec−1 in 0.5 M H₂SO₄. This impressive activity, combined with excellent cycling stability, positions the catalyst among the most competitive non–noble–metal–based HER catalysts. Density functional theory (DFT) analysis is applied to calculate hydrogen adsorption free energies (ΔG*) on Ca-terminated and B-terminated sites and to show charge-transfer properties on the CaB₆ (100) surface. Additionally, the versatility of this method was demonstrated by the successful synthesis of CaB₆-based materials integrated with rare-earth elements and high-entropy hexaborides.
具有明确的暴露面的纳米晶体表现出独特的物理化学性质，对催化，传感和能量存储应用非常有益。在本研究中，开发了一种快速固相燃烧法，用于可扩展合成面暴露的碱土金属六硼化物纳米立方（MB₆：M = Ca, Sr, Ba）。放热MO-B₂O₃-Mg反应产生瞬态高温和局部熔融相，以及各向异性生长动力学，驱动均匀的MB₆纳米立方的自形成。系统研究表明，通过将CaO含量从0.35 ~ 1.5 mol调整到0.1 ~ 1.0 μm，可以精确地调整立方体边缘长度，符合扩散控制的粗化过程。低指数{100}面的优势显著提高了析氢反应（HER）的性能，在10 mA cm−2时，过电位为220 mV，在0.5 M H₂SO₄中，Tafel斜率为60 mV dec−1。这种令人印象深刻的活性，加上出色的循环稳定性，使催化剂成为最具竞争力的非贵金属基HER催化剂之一。密度泛函理论（DFT）分析应用于计算氢在ca端和b端位点上的吸附自由能（ΔG*），并显示CaB₆（100）表面的电荷转移性质。此外，该方法的通用性还通过稀土元素和高熵六硼化物的成功合成证明了该方法的通用性。
{"title":"Nanocube-structured alkaline-earth-metal hexaborides from solid-phase combustion: Application in hydrogen evolution","authors":"Junmo Jeong, Hayk Nersisyan, Hyunjoo Lee, Sin Hyong Joo, Xuan Viet Nguyen, Hoyoung Suh, Jong Hyeon Lee","doi":"10.1016/j.cej.2026.172938","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2026.172938","url":null,"abstract":"Nanocrystals with well-defined exposed facets exhibit distinctive physicochemical properties that are highly beneficial for catalysis, sensing, and energy storage applications. In this study, a rapid solid-phase combustion method was developed for the scalable synthesis of facet-exposed alkaline-earth-metal hexaboride nanocubes (MB₆: M = Ca, Sr, Ba). The exothermic MO–B₂O₃–Mg reaction generates transient high temperatures and a localized molten phase, together with anisotropic growth dynamics, that drive the self-formation of uniform MB₆ nanocubes. Systematic investigations revealed that the cube edge length can be precisely tuned from 0.1 to 1.0 μm by adjusting the CaO content from 0.35 to 1.5 mol, consistent with diffusion-controlled coarsening. The dominance of low-index {100} facets markedly enhances the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) performance, delivering an overpotential of 220 mV at 10 mA cm<ce:sup loc=\"post\">−2</ce:sup> and a Tafel slope of 60 mV dec<ce:sup loc=\"post\">−1</ce:sup> in 0.5 M H₂SO₄. This impressive activity, combined with excellent cycling stability, positions the catalyst among the most competitive non–noble–metal–based HER catalysts. Density functional theory (DFT) analysis is applied to calculate hydrogen adsorption free energies (ΔG*) on Ca-terminated and B-terminated sites and to show charge-transfer properties on the CaB₆ (100) surface. Additionally, the versatility of this method was demonstrated by the successful synthesis of CaB₆-based materials integrated with rare-earth elements and high-entropy hexaborides.","PeriodicalId":270,"journal":{"name":"Chemical Engineering Journal","volume":"34 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":15.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145957044","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Alumina aerogels are promising candidates for high-temperature thermal insulation, yet simultaneously achieving high compressibility and high-temperature thermal stability remains challenging. In this work, phase field simulations of three representative aerogel skeletons reveal that skeleton morphology and density are the key determinants of sintering resistance. Guided by these insights, we developed a chitosan-templated synthesis route that enables the formation of a nanofibrous alumina structure. Coordination between aluminum ions and chitosan chains directs the growth of alumina along the chitosan nanofibrils, and a nanofibrous alumina (NFA) aerogel was obtained after gelation, ethanol supercritical drying, and template removal. The resulting NFA-5 aerogel exhibits a high specific surface area of 532 m2/g. After compositing with basalt fiber felt and mullite fiber felt, the resulting composites achieves maximum uniaxial compressive stresses of 5.7 MPa and 2.8 MPa at 80% strain, respectively, together with low thermal conductivities of 0.022 and 0.026 W/(m∙K). The fibrous structure effectively suppresses the high-temperature sintering of alumina, enabling the material to retain a high specific surface area of 230 m2/g and a low linear shrinkage of 11% even at 1200 °C. This strategy provides a viable route to control sintering behavior, and enhance the structural stability of alumina aerogels for high-temperature applications.
{"title":"Chitosan-templated ultrahigh temperature resistant and compressible alumina aerogels","authors":"Bowen Zhou, Xiaodong Wang, Yulin Tian, Xiaoxue Zhang, Yijun Wang, Zhihua Zhang, Jun Shen","doi":"10.1016/j.cej.2026.172930","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2026.172930","url":null,"abstract":"Alumina aerogels are promising candidates for high-temperature thermal insulation, yet simultaneously achieving high compressibility and high-temperature thermal stability remains challenging. In this work, phase field simulations of three representative aerogel skeletons reveal that skeleton morphology and density are the key determinants of sintering resistance. Guided by these insights, we developed a chitosan-templated synthesis route that enables the formation of a nanofibrous alumina structure. Coordination between aluminum ions and chitosan chains directs the growth of alumina along the chitosan nanofibrils, and a nanofibrous alumina (NFA) aerogel was obtained after gelation, ethanol supercritical drying, and template removal. The resulting NFA-5 aerogel exhibits a high specific surface area of 532 m<ce:sup loc=\"post\">2</ce:sup>/g. After compositing with basalt fiber felt and mullite fiber felt, the resulting composites achieves maximum uniaxial compressive stresses of 5.7 MPa and 2.8 MPa at 80% strain, respectively, together with low thermal conductivities of 0.022 and 0.026 W/(m∙K). The fibrous structure effectively suppresses the high-temperature sintering of alumina, enabling the material to retain a high specific surface area of 230 m<ce:sup loc=\"post\">2</ce:sup>/g and a low linear shrinkage of 11% even at 1200 °C. This strategy provides a viable route to control sintering behavior, and enhance the structural stability of alumina aerogels for high-temperature applications.","PeriodicalId":270,"journal":{"name":"Chemical Engineering Journal","volume":"50 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":15.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145957056","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Smart membranes with controlled wettability and integrated dye degradation offer a promising solution for advanced water purification. In this work, a thermo-responsive membrane (PNI-ZnO/CFM) with dye degradation capability was fabricated via electrospinning, hydrothermal synthesis, and chemical grafting. The hierarchical ZnO/CFM structure promotes the formation of a hydration layer, while grafted PNIPAm enables superhydrophilicity (~ 0°) and underwater superoleophobicity (> 150°) below the LCST, with thermally switchable wettability for on-demand separation of light/heavy oils and emulsions. The membrane achieves high flux values up to 19,000 L m−2 h−1 (25 °C) and 16,000 L m−2 h−1 (55 °C) for oil-water mixtures, with >99% separation efficiency and excellent recyclability. It also treats oil-in-water and water-in-oil emulsions at fluxes exceeding 5100 and 1600 L m−2 h−1, respectively. Moreover, the membrane simultaneously separates oil-water emulsions and degrades dyes such as methylene blue and rhodamine B. This dual functionality underscores its potential for treating complex wastewater containing multiple pollutants, highlighting a feasible route toward intelligent, on-demand purification systems.
具有可控制润湿性和集成染料降解的智能膜为高级水净化提供了一个有前途的解决方案。本文通过静电纺丝、水热合成和化学接枝制备了具有染料降解能力的热响应膜（PNI-ZnO/CFM）。层级化的ZnO/CFM结构促进了水化层的形成，而接枝的PNIPAm在lst以下具有超亲水性（~ 0°）和水下超疏油性（> 150°），具有热可切换的润湿性，可按需分离轻质/重油和乳液。膜实现高通量值高达19,000 L m−2 h−1（25 °C）和16,000 L m−2 h−1（55 °C）的油水混合物，具有>；99%的分离效率和优异的可回收性。它还处理水包油和油包水乳液的通量分别超过5100和1600 L m−2 h−1。此外，该膜同时分离油水乳液和降解染料，如亚甲基蓝和罗丹明B.这种双重功能强调了其处理含有多种污染物的复杂废水的潜力，突出了智能，按需净化系统的可行路线。
{"title":"Composite membrane with photo/thermal-induced switchable wettability for oil-water separation and dye degradation","authors":"Lanlan Zhao, Mengjiao Xu, Changyu Leng, Jiaojiao Dai, Yaxin Yang, Luxiang Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.cej.2026.172906","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2026.172906","url":null,"abstract":"Smart membranes with controlled wettability and integrated dye degradation offer a promising solution for advanced water purification. In this work, a thermo-responsive membrane (PNI-ZnO/CFM) with dye degradation capability was fabricated via electrospinning, hydrothermal synthesis, and chemical grafting. The hierarchical ZnO/CFM structure promotes the formation of a hydration layer, while grafted PNIPAm enables superhydrophilicity (~ 0°) and underwater superoleophobicity (> 150°) below the LCST, with thermally switchable wettability for on-demand separation of light/heavy oils and emulsions. The membrane achieves high flux values up to 19,000 L m<ce:sup loc=\"post\">−2</ce:sup> h<ce:sup loc=\"post\">−1</ce:sup> (25 °C) and 16,000 L m<ce:sup loc=\"post\">−2</ce:sup> h<ce:sup loc=\"post\">−1</ce:sup> (55 °C) for oil-water mixtures, with >99% separation efficiency and excellent recyclability. It also treats oil-in-water and water-in-oil emulsions at fluxes exceeding 5100 and 1600 L m<ce:sup loc=\"post\">−2</ce:sup> h<ce:sup loc=\"post\">−1</ce:sup>, respectively. Moreover, the membrane simultaneously separates oil-water emulsions and degrades dyes such as methylene blue and rhodamine B. This dual functionality underscores its potential for treating complex wastewater containing multiple pollutants, highlighting a feasible route toward intelligent, on-demand purification systems.","PeriodicalId":270,"journal":{"name":"Chemical Engineering Journal","volume":"50 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":15.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145957067","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-12DOI: 10.1016/j.cej.2026.172880
EunSuk Lee, SooBin Choi, JiEun Park, YeRin Kim, SeoYoung Choi, Tae Hoon Kim, Hwi Yeob Kim, Hang Eui Cho, Jun Pil Hwang, KyuHan Kim
Sunscreens have primarily been developed in the form of oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions to protect against ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which can cause sunburn and increase the risk of skin cancer. However, the oils used in these formulations have raised concerns due to their environmental impact and potential toxicity. In particular, concerns about the cytotoxicity and ecological effects of lipophilic UV filters have been increasingly highlighted. To address these issues, this study introduces, for the first time, an innovative sunscreen system that completely excludes oil. The proposed system is based on an aqueous biphasic water-in-water (W/W) emulsion, which eliminates oil-related issues while offering an eco-friendly and biocompatible solution. This system can incorporate water-soluble UV filters and inorganic particles, functioning as an effective sunscreen. Compared to colloidal aqueous suspension formulations, it shows excellent UV protection performance and high uniformity in application over the entire surface. In particular, W/W emulsions with 15 w/v% TiO₂ achieved an in vitro SPF of about 40, surpassing the value of about 30 observed for a commercial SPF 50 product. While suspensions became increasingly non-uniform as the TiO₂ concentration increased, reaching a standard deviation of 0.148 at 15 w/v%, the emulsions maintained a much lower deviation of 0.041, demonstrating superior film uniformity even at high particle loadings. This innovative approach significantly expands formulation options for sunscreen development and opens new avenues for aqueous-template-based sunscreen technologies.
{"title":"Water-in-water emulsions as a promising platform for UV-protective sunscreen formulations","authors":"EunSuk Lee, SooBin Choi, JiEun Park, YeRin Kim, SeoYoung Choi, Tae Hoon Kim, Hwi Yeob Kim, Hang Eui Cho, Jun Pil Hwang, KyuHan Kim","doi":"10.1016/j.cej.2026.172880","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2026.172880","url":null,"abstract":"Sunscreens have primarily been developed in the form of oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions to protect against ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which can cause sunburn and increase the risk of skin cancer. However, the oils used in these formulations have raised concerns due to their environmental impact and potential toxicity. In particular, concerns about the cytotoxicity and ecological effects of lipophilic UV filters have been increasingly highlighted. To address these issues, this study introduces, for the first time, an innovative sunscreen system that completely excludes oil. The proposed system is based on an aqueous biphasic water-in-water (<ce:italic>W</ce:italic>/W) emulsion, which eliminates oil-related issues while offering an eco-friendly and biocompatible solution. This system can incorporate water-soluble UV filters and inorganic particles, functioning as an effective sunscreen. Compared to colloidal aqueous suspension formulations, it shows excellent UV protection performance and high uniformity in application over the entire surface. In particular, <ce:italic>W</ce:italic>/W emulsions with 15 <ce:italic>w</ce:italic>/<ce:italic>v</ce:italic>% TiO₂ achieved an <ce:italic>in vitro</ce:italic> SPF of about 40, surpassing the value of about 30 observed for a commercial SPF 50 product. While suspensions became increasingly non-uniform as the TiO₂ concentration increased, reaching a standard deviation of 0.148 at 15 <ce:italic>w</ce:italic>/<ce:italic>v</ce:italic>%, the emulsions maintained a much lower deviation of 0.041, demonstrating superior film uniformity even at high particle loadings. This innovative approach significantly expands formulation options for sunscreen development and opens new avenues for aqueous-template-based sunscreen technologies.","PeriodicalId":270,"journal":{"name":"Chemical Engineering Journal","volume":"81 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":15.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145957089","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-12DOI: 10.1016/j.cej.2026.172893
Tianping Zhang, Lin Li, Xun Lu
Reversibly cross-linked elastomers often suffer from a trade-off between dynamic recyclability and mechanical robustness, while also lacking early damage-warning capability. To overcome these limitations, this work introduces a polyurethane elastomer incorporating multiple hydrogen-bonding motifs and fluorescent groups into a single network, creating synergistic physical cross-links through hydrogen bonds and π–π stacking. This design yields unprecedented mechanical performance: a tensile strength of 87.90 MPa, toughness of 173.47 MJ m−3, and a record notched fracture energy of 575.75 kJ m−2—representing the highest value reported for elastomers. These supramolecular interactions act as sacrificial bonds, dissipating energy to resist crack propagation. Moreover, the embedded fluorescent groups enable real-time damage self-reporting and visual monitoring of healing under UV light, supporting applications in information encryption. The benzene rings within the fluorophore structure further enhance π-π stacking, integrating structural reinforcement with functional expansion. This strategy successfully reconciles high strength, extreme tear resistance, and intrinsic damage warning within one material system.
{"title":"High-strength, tear-resistant, and self-damage-reporting elastomers via hydrogen bonding and π-π interactions","authors":"Tianping Zhang, Lin Li, Xun Lu","doi":"10.1016/j.cej.2026.172893","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2026.172893","url":null,"abstract":"Reversibly cross-linked elastomers often suffer from a trade-off between dynamic recyclability and mechanical robustness, while also lacking early damage-warning capability. To overcome these limitations, this work introduces a polyurethane elastomer incorporating multiple hydrogen-bonding motifs and fluorescent groups into a single network, creating synergistic physical cross-links through hydrogen bonds and π–π stacking. This design yields unprecedented mechanical performance: a tensile strength of 87.90 MPa, toughness of 173.47 MJ m<sup>−3</sup>, and a record notched fracture energy of 575.75 kJ m<sup>−2</sup>—representing the highest value reported for elastomers. These supramolecular interactions act as sacrificial bonds, dissipating energy to resist crack propagation. Moreover, the embedded fluorescent groups enable real-time damage self-reporting and visual monitoring of healing under UV light, supporting applications in information encryption. The benzene rings within the fluorophore structure further enhance π-π stacking, integrating structural reinforcement with functional expansion. This strategy successfully reconciles high strength, extreme tear resistance, and intrinsic damage warning within one material system.","PeriodicalId":270,"journal":{"name":"Chemical Engineering Journal","volume":"8 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":15.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145949967","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-12DOI: 10.1016/j.cej.2026.172933
Jin Cheng, Li Li, Naichao Chen, Hongye Wang, Xinwei Xu, Zhan Zeng, Jiufeng Dong, Liang Sun, Yani Lu, Cong Liu, Fei Jin, Hong Wang
Thermally conductive ceramics represented by boron nitride (BN) are the enabling materials for thermal management in modern electronics. However, their sintering processes are typically energy-intensive, involving ultrahigh sintering temperatures (generally >1700 °C), limiting practical applications. Herein, we introduce an energy-efficient preparation method that rapidly densifies hexagonal BN ceramics at room temperature within minutes. This approach drastically reduces energy consumption—by two orders of magnitude lower than that of traditional high temperature sintering methods, while maintaining the high density. The utilization of boric acid and water clusters facilitates plastic deformation and enhances mass transfer under hydrostatic pressure, significantly lowering the densification activation energy. Consequently, the room-temperature prepared BN ceramics achieve an exceptional thermal conductivity of 62 W m−1 K−1, outperforming current low-temperature sintered ceramics. These densified bulk BN ceramics have been prototyped in electronic devices for efficient heat conduction, demonstrating great advantages for energy saving and sustainable production in next-generation electronics.
以氮化硼（BN）为代表的导热陶瓷是现代电子学热管理的使能材料。然而，它们的烧结过程通常是能源密集型的，涉及超高的烧结温度（通常为>；1700 °C），限制了实际应用。本文介绍了一种在室温下几分钟内快速致密化六方BN陶瓷的节能制备方法。这种方法大大降低了能耗——比传统的高温烧结方法低两个数量级，同时保持了高密度。硼酸和水团簇的利用促进了静水压力下的塑性变形和传质，显著降低了致密化活化能。因此，室温制备的BN陶瓷获得了62 W m−1 K−1的优异导热系数，优于目前的低温烧结陶瓷。这些致密体BN陶瓷已在电子设备中原型化，用于高效热传导，在下一代电子产品中显示出节能和可持续生产的巨大优势。
{"title":"Room-temperature fabricated boron nitride ceramics with superior thermal conductivity","authors":"Jin Cheng, Li Li, Naichao Chen, Hongye Wang, Xinwei Xu, Zhan Zeng, Jiufeng Dong, Liang Sun, Yani Lu, Cong Liu, Fei Jin, Hong Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.cej.2026.172933","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2026.172933","url":null,"abstract":"Thermally conductive ceramics represented by boron nitride (BN) are the enabling materials for thermal management in modern electronics. However, their sintering processes are typically energy-intensive, involving ultrahigh sintering temperatures (generally >1700 °C), limiting practical applications. Herein, we introduce an energy-efficient preparation method that rapidly densifies hexagonal BN ceramics at room temperature within minutes. This approach drastically reduces energy consumption—by two orders of magnitude lower than that of traditional high temperature sintering methods, while maintaining the high density. The utilization of boric acid and water clusters facilitates plastic deformation and enhances mass transfer under hydrostatic pressure, significantly lowering the densification activation energy. Consequently, the room-temperature prepared BN ceramics achieve an exceptional thermal conductivity of 62 W m<sup>−1</sup> K<sup>−1</sup>, outperforming current low-temperature sintered ceramics. These densified bulk BN ceramics have been prototyped in electronic devices for efficient heat conduction, demonstrating great advantages for energy saving and sustainable production in next-generation electronics.","PeriodicalId":270,"journal":{"name":"Chemical Engineering Journal","volume":"81 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":15.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145949980","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-12DOI: 10.1016/j.cej.2026.172891
Xiaohui Li, Fei Zhao, Shengqiang Xu, Chunxia Ji, Zupeng Xu, Zhuoxiao Cao, Yexin Gu, Tianyi Feng, Yanbo Wang, Min Tang, Zhengyu Jiang, Yu Yao, Yan Chang
Glioblastoma (GBM) exhibits extensive inter- and intra-tumoral heterogeneity, yet current preclinical models rarely sustain long-term expansion under defined physicochemical conditions. Here, we developed the first serially passagable GBM models generated by digital light processing (DLP)-based 3D bioprinting, using a fully defined extracellular matrix-mimetic hydrogel engineered to match the biophysical range of patient GBM tissues. This platform supported continuous culture of primary GBM for more than 6 weeks and at least 5 bioprinted generations, enabling stable propagation of limited patient samples. The resulting bioprinted GBM models faithfully recapitulated the histopathologic architecture, cellular diversity, and mutational landscapes of their parental tumors over extended culture periods. Importantly, we demonstrated the first use of a passaged bioprinted GBM model for CAR-T evaluation, revealing antigen-dependent cytolysis, T-cell proliferation, and cytokine release. GBM constructs with higher EGFR expression elicited markedly stronger CAR-T activation, confirming the predictive relevance of the system. Together, these findings establish a quantitatively validated, expandable, and molecularly stable bioprinted GBM platform with clinical relevance, providing a foundation for mechanistic studies and individualized immunotherapy assessment.
{"title":"Patient-derived 3D bioprinted glioblastoma models with defined physicochemical ECM properties for long-term maintenance and CAR-T therapy evaluation","authors":"Xiaohui Li, Fei Zhao, Shengqiang Xu, Chunxia Ji, Zupeng Xu, Zhuoxiao Cao, Yexin Gu, Tianyi Feng, Yanbo Wang, Min Tang, Zhengyu Jiang, Yu Yao, Yan Chang","doi":"10.1016/j.cej.2026.172891","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2026.172891","url":null,"abstract":"Glioblastoma (GBM) exhibits extensive inter- and intra-tumoral heterogeneity, yet current preclinical models rarely sustain long-term expansion under defined physicochemical conditions. Here, we developed the first serially passagable GBM models generated by digital light processing (DLP)-based 3D bioprinting, using a fully defined extracellular matrix-mimetic hydrogel engineered to match the biophysical range of patient GBM tissues. This platform supported continuous culture of primary GBM for more than 6 weeks and at least 5 bioprinted generations, enabling stable propagation of limited patient samples. The resulting bioprinted GBM models faithfully recapitulated the histopathologic architecture, cellular diversity, and mutational landscapes of their parental tumors over extended culture periods. Importantly, we demonstrated the first use of a passaged bioprinted GBM model for CAR-T evaluation, revealing antigen-dependent cytolysis, T-cell proliferation, and cytokine release. GBM constructs with higher EGFR expression elicited markedly stronger CAR-T activation, confirming the predictive relevance of the system. Together, these findings establish a quantitatively validated, expandable, and molecularly stable bioprinted GBM platform with clinical relevance, providing a foundation for mechanistic studies and individualized immunotherapy assessment.","PeriodicalId":270,"journal":{"name":"Chemical Engineering Journal","volume":"7 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":15.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145949968","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The escalating crisis of freshwater resources due to heavy metal pollution has transitioned from a localized concern to a pressing global challenge, continuously endangering ecosystem integrity and human health. However, the common practice of discarding or landfilling spent heavy metal ion sensors fails to address the original contamination and can cause secondary pollution via metal leaching into the environment. To overcome this limitation, we present an innovative multifunctional water treatment system that synergizes environmental compatibility, cost-efficiency, and sustainability for simultaneous detection and removal of Hg2+. Specifically, xylan-derived ratiometric fluorescent carbon dots (TR-CDs) are developed for the detection of Hg2+ with a detection limit of 2.5 nM that was well below U.S. EPA safety levels. Subsequently, TR-CDs were strategically integrated into a PVDF composite membrane (TR-CDs-PVDF) to construct a portable colorimetric-fluorescent detector, enabling on-site and visual detection of Hg2+. A key innovation lies in its upgradable regeneration feature: through in-situ sulfidation, the Hg2+-saturated membrane (TR-CDs-PVDF+Hg2+) is converted into a stable HgS-based photothermal material (TR-CDs-PVDF+HgS), effectively repurposing it for solar-driven water evaporation. This transformation enables a remarkable evaporation rate of 2.33 kg·m−2·h−1 under one sun irradiation. Beyond conventional treatment paradigms, this work introduces a closed-loop “detection–conversion–utilization” strategy that elevates spent heavy metal sensors into valuable photothermal products. Our approach not only drastically improves material reusability but also establishes a resource-recirculating framework, offering a sustainable and integrated pathway for water purification and resource recovery in heavy metal-contaminated environments.
{"title":"From fluorescent detection to photothermal conversion: Heavy metal water treatment and material upcycling based on biomass ratiometric carbon dots","authors":"Yingying Zhang, Yingnan Wu, Lei Wang, Chaobo Huang, Xiaoqiang Chen, Mingle Li, Xiaojun Peng","doi":"10.1016/j.cej.2026.172920","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2026.172920","url":null,"abstract":"The escalating crisis of freshwater resources due to heavy metal pollution has transitioned from a localized concern to a pressing global challenge, continuously endangering ecosystem integrity and human health. However, the common practice of discarding or landfilling spent heavy metal ion sensors fails to address the original contamination and can cause secondary pollution via metal leaching into the environment. To overcome this limitation, we present an innovative multifunctional water treatment system that synergizes environmental compatibility, cost-efficiency, and sustainability for simultaneous detection and removal of Hg<ce:sup loc=\"post\">2+</ce:sup>. Specifically, xylan-derived ratiometric fluorescent carbon dots (TR-CDs) are developed for the detection of Hg<ce:sup loc=\"post\">2+</ce:sup> with a detection limit of 2.5 nM that was well below U.S. EPA safety levels. Subsequently, TR-CDs were strategically integrated into a PVDF composite membrane (TR-CDs-PVDF) to construct a portable colorimetric-fluorescent detector, enabling on-site and visual detection of Hg<ce:sup loc=\"post\">2+</ce:sup>. A key innovation lies in its upgradable regeneration feature: through in-situ sulfidation, the Hg<ce:sup loc=\"post\">2+</ce:sup>-saturated membrane (TR-CDs-PVDF+Hg<ce:sup loc=\"post\">2+</ce:sup>) is converted into a stable HgS-based photothermal material (TR-CDs-PVDF+HgS), effectively repurposing it for solar-driven water evaporation. This transformation enables a remarkable evaporation rate of 2.33 kg·m<ce:sup loc=\"post\">−2</ce:sup>·h<ce:sup loc=\"post\">−1</ce:sup> under one sun irradiation. Beyond conventional treatment paradigms, this work introduces a closed-loop “detection–conversion–utilization” strategy that elevates spent heavy metal sensors into valuable photothermal products. Our approach not only drastically improves material reusability but also establishes a resource-recirculating framework, offering a sustainable and integrated pathway for water purification and resource recovery in heavy metal-contaminated environments.","PeriodicalId":270,"journal":{"name":"Chemical Engineering Journal","volume":"54 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":15.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145957060","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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