Pub Date : 2026-05-20Epub Date: 2026-02-04DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2026.139835
Xinyi Pan , Wangwang Xu , Anzheng Chang , Jia Yue , Tianshuo Yang , Wuhai Yang , Dong Wang , Faming Gao
Hard carbon, one of the most commercially promising anode materials for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs), faces challenges in balancing rate performance, initial cycle charge efficiency (ICE), and reversible capacity. To enhance specific capacity and achieve high ICE, it is essential to construct hard carbon with abundant sodium-active sites and a controllable graphitization degree. This work presents a comprehensive approach to microstructural regulation of hard carbon through in situ doping and subsequent removal, which introduces active sites and optimizes the microporous structure. It overcomes the limitations of traditional templating methods, such as excessive specific surface area, which leads to low initial coulombic efficiency and poor cycling performance. This method yields high reversible capacity (419.3 mAh g−1@0.05 A g−1), excellent ICE (95.88%), and outstanding cycling stability. This study presents a viable approach to enhancing the performance of porous hard carbon. It offers a rational design strategy for optimizing HC structures, improving sodium storage performance, and facilitating their practical applications.
硬碳是钠离子电池（SIBs）最具商业前景的负极材料之一，但在平衡倍率性能、初始循环充电效率（ICE）和可逆容量方面面临挑战。为了提高比容量和实现高ICE，必须构建具有丰富钠活性位点和可控石墨化程度的硬碳。本研究提出了一种通过原位掺杂和随后的去除来调节硬碳微观结构的综合方法，该方法引入了活性位点并优化了微孔结构。它克服了传统模板方法的局限性，如比表面积过大，导致初始库仑效率低，循环性能差。该方法可获得高可逆容量（419.3 mAh g−1@0.05 A g−1），优异的ICE（95.88%）和出色的循环稳定性。本研究为提高多孔硬碳的性能提供了一条可行的途径。为优化HC结构、提高储钠性能、促进其实际应用提供了合理的设计策略。
{"title":"Tuning nanopore structure of hard carbon anodes by in situ incorporation- removal to improve Na-ion storage","authors":"Xinyi Pan , Wangwang Xu , Anzheng Chang , Jia Yue , Tianshuo Yang , Wuhai Yang , Dong Wang , Faming Gao","doi":"10.1016/j.colsurfa.2026.139835","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.colsurfa.2026.139835","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Hard carbon, one of the most commercially promising anode materials for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs), faces challenges in balancing rate performance, initial cycle charge efficiency (ICE), and reversible capacity. To enhance specific capacity and achieve high ICE, it is essential to construct hard carbon with abundant sodium-active sites and a controllable graphitization degree. This work presents a comprehensive approach to microstructural regulation of hard carbon through in situ doping and subsequent removal, which introduces active sites and optimizes the microporous structure. It overcomes the limitations of traditional templating methods, such as excessive specific surface area, which leads to low initial coulombic efficiency and poor cycling performance. This method yields high reversible capacity (419.3 mAh g<sup>−1</sup>@0.05 A g<sup>−1</sup>), excellent ICE (95.88%), and outstanding cycling stability. This study presents a viable approach to enhancing the performance of porous hard carbon. It offers a rational design strategy for optimizing HC structures, improving sodium storage performance, and facilitating their practical applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":278,"journal":{"name":"Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects","volume":"737 ","pages":"Article 139835"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146185353","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-05-20Epub Date: 2026-02-08DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2026.139898
Miao YAN , Lu REN , Leixiang LIU , Wei JIAN , Haozheng WANG , Hainan WANG
Electroless nickel-based coatings have become an established and significant technology for the corrosion protection of marine carbon steel structures, a consequence of their exceptional uniformity, density and passivation capability. However, under the demanding conditions of dynamic seawater immersion zones, the passivation film of conventional nickel-phosphorus coatings is prone to localised breakdown. Furthermore, its re-passivation capability and long-term stability prove inadequate, thereby limiting its long-term protective lifespan. The present study has found that incorporating PTFE particles into Ni-W-P coatings significantly improves both the structure of the passivation film and its corrosion resistance. The findings suggest that the incorporation of PTFE not only provides physical barrier protection through the "labyrinth effect", but more significantly modulates the composition and growth mechanism of the passivation film. In combination with dynamic potential polarisation, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and Mott-Schottky analysis, it has been confirmed that the composite coating exhibits superior repassivation capability and lower defect density. The migration and annihilation behaviour of point defects under PTFE influence was further elucidated through point defect model (PDM) theory, revealing its intrinsic mechanism in retarding coating depletion and enhancing the self-repair capability of the passivation film. This study helps to elucidate the mechanism by which PTFE-reinforced coatings enhance corrosion resistance.
{"title":"Study on the mechanism of corrosion passivation of Ni-W-P-PTFE coatings in a dynamic chloride environment based on the Point Defect Model (PDM)","authors":"Miao YAN , Lu REN , Leixiang LIU , Wei JIAN , Haozheng WANG , Hainan WANG","doi":"10.1016/j.colsurfa.2026.139898","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.colsurfa.2026.139898","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Electroless nickel-based coatings have become an established and significant technology for the corrosion protection of marine carbon steel structures, a consequence of their exceptional uniformity, density and passivation capability. However, under the demanding conditions of dynamic seawater immersion zones, the passivation film of conventional nickel-phosphorus coatings is prone to localised breakdown. Furthermore, its re-passivation capability and long-term stability prove inadequate, thereby limiting its long-term protective lifespan. The present study has found that incorporating PTFE particles into Ni-W-P coatings significantly improves both the structure of the passivation film and its corrosion resistance. The findings suggest that the incorporation of PTFE not only provides physical barrier protection through the \"labyrinth effect\", but more significantly modulates the composition and growth mechanism of the passivation film. In combination with dynamic potential polarisation, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and Mott-Schottky analysis, it has been confirmed that the composite coating exhibits superior repassivation capability and lower defect density. The migration and annihilation behaviour of point defects under PTFE influence was further elucidated through point defect model (PDM) theory, revealing its intrinsic mechanism in retarding coating depletion and enhancing the self-repair capability of the passivation film. This study helps to elucidate the mechanism by which PTFE-reinforced coatings enhance corrosion resistance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":278,"journal":{"name":"Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects","volume":"737 ","pages":"Article 139898"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146185356","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ammonium vanadate (NH4V4O10, NVO), featuring a high theoretical capacity and large interlayer spacing, is regarded as a promising cathode material in capacitive deionization (CDI) for alleviating global freshwater scarcity. However, its intrinsically low electrical conductivity, along with the structural degradation during repeated adsorption-desorption cycles, severely limits its practical application. Herein, we present an NVO nanoribbons and carbon cloth composite material (CC@NVO), as the cathode for CDI. For CC@NVO, interconnected carbon fiber conductive network not only provide uniform nucleation centers for NVO that effectively reduces its agglomeration problems, but also offer highly efficient path for electron transfer within the whole electrode. Meanwhile, such unique NVO nanoribbon architecture with high specific surface area and unobstructed 2D diffusion channels provides more active sites, shorter ion transport routes, and which promotes ion transport kinetics and enhances the specific capacitance (138.1 F·g−1 at 0.5 A·g−1). Leveraging these structural advantages, the CC@NVO electrode demonstrates exhibits a high desalination capacity (40.81 mg‧g−1), high desalination rate (2.72 mg‧g−1‧min−1), low energy consumption (0.66 Wh‧g−1), and outstanding cycling stability (91.2 % capacity retention ratio after 50 cycles). This study may provide a starting point for the development of high-performance freestanding CDI electrodes.
{"title":"Free-standing ammonium vanadate nanoribbons/carbon cloth cathode for high-performance capacitive deionization","authors":"Meng Zhang , Yaobin Wang , Xiaoyu Jin, Mingqi Fang, Yanli Gao, Xiaoyuan Lu, Wenting Hao, Weiqing Kong, Yuanyuan Feng","doi":"10.1016/j.colsurfa.2026.139925","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.colsurfa.2026.139925","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ammonium vanadate (NH<sub>4</sub>V<sub>4</sub>O<sub>10</sub>, NVO), featuring a high theoretical capacity and large interlayer spacing, is regarded as a promising cathode material in capacitive deionization (CDI) for alleviating global freshwater scarcity. However, its intrinsically low electrical conductivity, along with the structural degradation during repeated adsorption-desorption cycles, severely limits its practical application. Herein, we present an NVO nanoribbons and carbon cloth composite material (CC@NVO), as the cathode for CDI. For CC@NVO, interconnected carbon fiber conductive network not only provide uniform nucleation centers for NVO that effectively reduces its agglomeration problems, but also offer highly efficient path for electron transfer within the whole electrode. Meanwhile, such unique NVO nanoribbon architecture with high specific surface area and unobstructed 2D diffusion channels provides more active sites, shorter ion transport routes, and which promotes ion transport kinetics and enhances the specific capacitance (138.1 F·g<sup>−1</sup> at 0.5 A·g<sup>−1</sup>). Leveraging these structural advantages, the CC@NVO electrode demonstrates exhibits a high desalination capacity (40.81 mg‧g<sup>−1</sup>), high desalination rate (2.72 mg‧g<sup>−1</sup>‧min<sup>−1</sup>), low energy consumption (0.66 Wh‧g<sup>−1</sup>), and outstanding cycling stability (91.2 % capacity retention ratio after 50 cycles). This study may provide a starting point for the development of high-performance freestanding CDI electrodes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":278,"journal":{"name":"Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects","volume":"737 ","pages":"Article 139925"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146185465","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
A novel microporous layer (MPL) for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) was fabricated by compositing carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with VXC-72 carbon black. The effects of varying CNT content on the MPL and gas diffusion layer (GDL), including surface morphology, pore structure, electrical resistivity, gas permeability, and water contact angle, were systematically studied. The results show that with 25 wt% CNTs, the GDL exhibited optimal performance: the lowest in-plane MPL resistivity (47.9 mΩ·cm) and through-plane GDL resistivity (69 mΩ·cm), improved surface flatness (roughness 2.18 μm), and a high-water contact angle (137°). The CNT-25 GDL also achieved an average gas permeability of 250 L·m⁻²·s⁻¹ and a porosity of 75.81 %. Corrosion current and voltage reached minimum values of 0.44 μA·cm⁻² and 0.31 V, with an Rb value of 2574 kΩ. Meanwhile, the CNT-25 PEMFCs delivered peak power densities of 0.45, 0.48, and 0.46 W·cm⁻² under 40 %, 70 %, and 100 % relative humidity, respectively. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy further confirmed reduced ohmic resistance and enhanced water management and gas transport capabilities with the CNT-25 GDL.
{"title":"Novel carbon nanotube/VXC-72 carbon black composite microporous layer for enhanced performance of PEMFCs","authors":"Jiawen Luo , Xinyi Xiao , Yunhong Jiang , Yifei Chen , Yijie Si , Daliang Guo , Jianbin Chen , Lizheng Sha , Huifang Zhao , Jing Li , Yinchao Xu , Chengliang Duan , Xin Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.colsurfa.2026.139837","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.colsurfa.2026.139837","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A novel microporous layer (MPL) for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) was fabricated by compositing carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with VXC-72 carbon black. The effects of varying CNT content on the MPL and gas diffusion layer (GDL), including surface morphology, pore structure, electrical resistivity, gas permeability, and water contact angle, were systematically studied. The results show that with 25 wt% CNTs, the GDL exhibited optimal performance: the lowest in-plane MPL resistivity (47.9 mΩ·cm) and through-plane GDL resistivity (69 mΩ·cm), improved surface flatness (roughness 2.18 μm), and a high-water contact angle (137°). The CNT-25 GDL also achieved an average gas permeability of 250 L·m⁻²·s⁻¹ and a porosity of 75.81 %. Corrosion current and voltage reached minimum values of 0.44 μA·cm⁻² and 0.31 V, with an Rb value of 2574 kΩ. Meanwhile, the CNT-25 PEMFCs delivered peak power densities of 0.45, 0.48, and 0.46 W·cm⁻² under 40 %, 70 %, and 100 % relative humidity, respectively. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy further confirmed reduced ohmic resistance and enhanced water management and gas transport capabilities with the CNT-25 GDL.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":278,"journal":{"name":"Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects","volume":"737 ","pages":"Article 139837"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146185510","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-05-20Epub Date: 2026-02-07DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2026.139886
Jiaxin Ji , Fengming Zhu , Chen Liang , Yuhan Li , Yue Sun , Mingwei Zhao
Hydraulic fracturing significantly enhances shale oil and gas productivity by increasing formation porosity and has become a cornerstone technology for unconventional hydrocarbon development. The transport performance and distribution characteristics of proppants directly determine the effectiveness of fracture stimulation, while frictional resistance at the shale/proppant interface substantially reduces proppant transport efficiency, restricts proppant mobility toward far-field fracture regions, and ultimately compromises proppant placement quality and hydrocarbon recovery. To address these challenges, this study proposes a technical approach involving the co-injection of phosphoric acid as a lubricant additive with fracturing fluids. By simulating the interaction between phosphoric acid as a lubricant component and the shale reservoir, alumina was selected as a model proppant material (as a primary component of high-performance ceramic proppants, effectively replicating the mechanical behavior of actual proppants). The regulatory mechanism of phosphoric acid on the frictional behavior of the shale/proppant interface was systematically investigated. Experimental results demonstrate that the coefficient of friction was significantly reduced from 0.45 to 0.05 after treatment with the phosphoric acid lubricant. Molecular dynamics simulations quantified the interaction energy between phosphoric acid and the shale/ceramic proppant (respectively composed of and ) interface, along with the corresponding atomic pair radial distribution functions. Friction reduction is initially achieved through hydrogen bond-induced hydration during the run-in stage. This effect is subsequently maintained by hydrodynamic pressure enhancement resulting from surface smoothing in the stable-wear stage. Thus, the order-of-magnitude reduction in the friction coefficient at the shale/proppant interface is primarily driven by hydrodynamic pressure effects, with additional contributions from the hydrogen bonding network in hydration. These findings provide new insights for optimizing proppant transport and enhancing the commercial recovery of shale oil and gas.
{"title":"Mechanism of phosphate-induced superlubricity at the shale/proppant interface for enhanced migration efficiency","authors":"Jiaxin Ji , Fengming Zhu , Chen Liang , Yuhan Li , Yue Sun , Mingwei Zhao","doi":"10.1016/j.colsurfa.2026.139886","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.colsurfa.2026.139886","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Hydraulic fracturing significantly enhances shale oil and gas productivity by increasing formation porosity and has become a cornerstone technology for unconventional hydrocarbon development. The transport performance and distribution characteristics of proppants directly determine the effectiveness of fracture stimulation, while frictional resistance at the shale/proppant interface substantially reduces proppant transport efficiency, restricts proppant mobility toward far-field fracture regions, and ultimately compromises proppant placement quality and hydrocarbon recovery. To address these challenges, this study proposes a technical approach involving the co-injection of phosphoric acid as a lubricant additive with fracturing fluids. By simulating the interaction between phosphoric acid as a lubricant component and the shale reservoir, alumina was selected as a model proppant material (as a primary component of high-performance ceramic proppants, effectively replicating the mechanical behavior of actual proppants). The regulatory mechanism of phosphoric acid on the frictional behavior of the shale/proppant interface was systematically investigated. Experimental results demonstrate that the coefficient of friction was significantly reduced from 0.45 to 0.05 after treatment with the phosphoric acid lubricant. Molecular dynamics simulations quantified the interaction energy between phosphoric acid and the shale/ceramic proppant (respectively composed of <span><math><msub><mrow><mi>SiO</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>2</mn></mrow></msub></math></span> and <span><math><mrow><msub><mrow><mi>Al</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>2</mn></mrow></msub><msub><mrow><mi>O</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>3</mn></mrow></msub></mrow></math></span>) interface, along with the corresponding atomic pair radial distribution functions. Friction reduction is initially achieved through hydrogen bond-induced hydration during the run-in stage. This effect is subsequently maintained by hydrodynamic pressure enhancement resulting from surface smoothing in the stable-wear stage. Thus, the order-of-magnitude reduction in the friction coefficient at the shale/proppant interface is primarily driven by hydrodynamic pressure effects, with additional contributions from the hydrogen bonding network in hydration. These findings provide new insights for optimizing proppant transport and enhancing the commercial recovery of shale oil and gas.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":278,"journal":{"name":"Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects","volume":"737 ","pages":"Article 139886"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146185511","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Defect-engineered calcium-doped graphitic carbon nitride (Ca–g-C3N4) nanorods were synthesized to modulate interfacial charge transport and electronic structure for visible-light-driven photocatalysis. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations confirmed the semiconducting nature of pristine g-C3N4 and n-type degenerate behavior after Ca incorporation. Substitution of Ca into the tri-s-triazine lattice introduced lattice strain, shifted the Fermi level from –3.334 eV (g-C3N4) to –2.336 eV (Ca–g-C3N4), and generated localized electronic states within the bandgap. Density-of-states (DOS) analysis evidenced enhanced charge carrier separation and suppression of electron–hole recombination kinetics. The optimized composition (CCN0.4) exhibited superior photocatalytic activity, achieving 97 % degradation of Methylene Blue (MB) within 90 min under visible irradiation. The pseudo-first-order rate constant (0.018 min−1) was approximately 2.6-fold higher than that of pristine g-C3N4 (0.007 min−1). Bandgap narrowing from 2.57 eV to 2.36 eV increased visible-light absorption cross-section, while defect-induced surface charge redistribution enhanced electrostatic interaction and physisorption of MB (97 %). Radical scavenging experiments identified hydroxyl radicals (•OH) as the dominant reactive species, consistent with the Ca-induced shifts of conduction band minimum and valence band maximum, which optimize thermodynamic driving force for •OH generation. The CCN0.4 photocatalyst demonstrated robust stability, retaining 87 % degradation efficiency over four consecutive cycles with negligible structural degradation. Importantly, in real wastewater containing mixed cationic dyes and pharmaceutical residues (UV absorption at 200–230 nm), Ca–g-C3N4 selectively degraded MB with near-complete removal, while leaving pharmaceutical compounds largely intact. These findings establish Ca doping as an effective strategy to engineer lattice strain, electronic band alignment, and interfacial charge transport in g-C3N4, yielding twofold photocatalytic rate enhancement and selective pollutant removal in complex wastewater environments.
合成了缺陷工程掺钙石墨氮化碳纳米棒，用于调节界面电荷输运和可见光驱动光催化的电子结构。密度泛函理论（DFT）计算证实了原始g-C3N4的半导体性质和Ca掺入后的n型简并行为。Ca在三-s-三氮嘧啶晶格中的取代引入了晶格应变，将费米能级从-3.334 eV （g-C3N4）转移到-2.336 eV (Ca - g-C3N4)，并在带隙内产生局域电子态。态密度（DOS）分析证实了载流子分离的增强和电子-空穴复合动力学的抑制。优化后的组成（CCN0.4）表现出优异的光催化活性，在可见光照射下90 min内对亚甲基蓝（MB）的降解率达到97% %。伪一阶速率常数（0.018 min−1）约为原始g-C3N4（0.007 min−1）的2.6倍。带隙从2.57 eV缩小到2.36 eV增加了可见光吸收截面，而缺陷引起的表面电荷重新分配增强了MB的静电相互作用和物理吸附（97% %）。自由基清除实验发现，羟基自由基（•OH）是主要的活性物质，这与ca诱导的导带最小和价带最大的位移一致，这优化了•OH生成的热力学驱动力。CCN0.4光催化剂表现出强大的稳定性，在连续四个循环中保持87 %的降解效率，结构降解可以忽略不计。重要的是，在含有混合阳离子染料和药物残留物的实际废水中（200-230 nm的紫外线吸收），Ca-g-C3N4选择性地降解MB，几乎完全去除，同时基本保留药物化合物。这些发现表明，Ca掺杂是一种有效的策略，可以在g-C3N4中设计晶格应变、电子能带对准和界面电荷传输，从而在复杂的废水环境中产生双倍的光催化速率提高和选择性去除污染物。
{"title":"Interfacial charge transport and band structure modulation via defect engineering in calcium-doped g-C3N4 nanorods for enhanced photocatalysis and selective wastewater dye degradation","authors":"Shreya Sinha , Rahul Sharma , Saurabh Pathak , Jasvir Singh , Rahul Singh , Jasmeet Kaur , Noor Jahan","doi":"10.1016/j.colsurfa.2026.139786","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.colsurfa.2026.139786","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Defect-engineered calcium-doped graphitic carbon nitride (Ca–g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>) nanorods were synthesized to modulate interfacial charge transport and electronic structure for visible-light-driven photocatalysis. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations confirmed the semiconducting nature of pristine g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> and n-type degenerate behavior after Ca incorporation. Substitution of Ca into the tri-s-triazine lattice introduced lattice strain, shifted the Fermi level from –3.334 eV (g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>) to –2.336 eV (Ca–g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>), and generated localized electronic states within the bandgap. Density-of-states (DOS) analysis evidenced enhanced charge carrier separation and suppression of electron–hole recombination kinetics. The optimized composition (CCN0.4) exhibited superior photocatalytic activity, achieving 97 % degradation of Methylene Blue (MB) within 90 min under visible irradiation. The pseudo-first-order rate constant (0.018 min<sup>−1</sup>) was approximately 2.6-fold higher than that of pristine g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> (0.007 min<sup>−1</sup>). Bandgap narrowing from 2.57 eV to 2.36 eV increased visible-light absorption cross-section, while defect-induced surface charge redistribution enhanced electrostatic interaction and physisorption of MB (97 %). Radical scavenging experiments identified hydroxyl radicals (•OH) as the dominant reactive species, consistent with the Ca-induced shifts of conduction band minimum and valence band maximum, which optimize thermodynamic driving force for •OH generation. The CCN0.4 photocatalyst demonstrated robust stability, retaining 87 % degradation efficiency over four consecutive cycles with negligible structural degradation. Importantly, in real wastewater containing mixed cationic dyes and pharmaceutical residues (UV absorption at 200–230 nm), Ca–g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> selectively degraded MB with near-complete removal, while leaving pharmaceutical compounds largely intact. These findings establish Ca doping as an effective strategy to engineer lattice strain, electronic band alignment, and interfacial charge transport in g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>, yielding twofold photocatalytic rate enhancement and selective pollutant removal in complex wastewater environments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":278,"journal":{"name":"Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects","volume":"737 ","pages":"Article 139786"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146185571","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-05-20Epub Date: 2026-02-01DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2026.139809
Feng Zhou , Yuhan Jiang , Wei Lai , Yu Zhang , Fangji Yang
Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) have attracted fast increasing interests in the pharmaceutical and food (nano)formulations, due to their inherent sustainability and unique characteristics, but the highly hydrophilic nature greatly limits their applications. Here, we investigated the potential of CNCs to perform as (nano)carriers for curcumin (Cur), an important hydrophobic bioactive. To achieve this, two strategies were adopted: use of octenyl succinic anhydride specificly modifying CNCs (OSA-CNCs) and application of an emulsification-evaporation process. The loading amount (LA) and yield of Cur in the soluble Cur-CNC complexes, as well as their particle characteristics (including particle size and morphology), were characterized using dynamic light scattering (DLS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The results indicated that OSA-CNCs exhibited a superior loading amount (up to 7.5 g/100 g CNC) compared to unmodified CNC (1.36 g/100 g CNC). The greater LA in the OSA-CNCs case was mainly due to the formation of nanobundle-like complexes with Cur molecules as the binding cores. The Cur encapsulated in all the complexes was prominently present in the amorphous state, and exhibited an significantly improved stability. In vitro digestion experiments indicated that the encapsulated Cur molecules had a low bioaccessibility, but kept highly stable throughout the whole gastric and intestinal digestion. This research indicates that CNCs can be developed into a kind of effective carriers for improved water dispersibility, chemical stability and delayed release during GI digestion of hydrophobic bioactives. The findings would be of great interest for extending the utilization of CNCs in the pharmaceutical and food formulations, and the design of colon-targeted delivery systems.
纤维素纳米晶体（CNCs）由于其固有的可持续性和独特的特性，在制药和食品（纳米）配方中引起了越来越多的兴趣，但其高度亲水性极大地限制了其应用。在这里，我们研究了CNCs作为姜黄素（Cur）的纳米载体的潜力，姜黄素是一种重要的疏水生物活性物质。为了实现这一目标，采用了两种策略：使用辛烯基丁二酸酐特异性修饰cnc （osa - cnc）和应用乳化蒸发工艺。采用动态光散射（DLS）、原子力显微镜（AFM）、x射线衍射（XRD）和紫外可见光谱（UV-Vis）表征了可溶性cu - cnc配合物中Cur的负荷量（LA）和产率，以及它们的颗粒特征（包括粒径和形貌）。结果表明，与未改性的CNC（1.36 g/100 g CNC）相比，osa -CNC表现出更高的负载量（高达7.5 g/100 g CNC）。在osa - cnc的情况下，更大的LA主要是由于形成了以Cur分子为结合核心的纳米束状配合物。包封在所有配合物中的Cur都以非晶态显著存在，并表现出明显改善的稳定性。体外消化实验表明，包封后的Cur分子具有较低的生物可及性，但在整个胃和肠道消化过程中保持高度稳定。本研究表明，cnc可作为一种有效的载体，改善疏水生物活性在胃肠道消化过程中的水分散性、化学稳定性和延迟释放。这一发现对于扩大cnc在制药和食品配方中的应用以及结肠靶向递送系统的设计具有重要意义。
{"title":"Cellulose nanocrystals as nanocarriers for improved stability and digestion-resistant release of curcumin","authors":"Feng Zhou , Yuhan Jiang , Wei Lai , Yu Zhang , Fangji Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.colsurfa.2026.139809","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.colsurfa.2026.139809","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) have attracted fast increasing interests in the pharmaceutical and food (nano)formulations, due to their inherent sustainability and unique characteristics, but the highly hydrophilic nature greatly limits their applications. Here, we investigated the potential of CNCs to perform as (nano)carriers for curcumin (Cur), an important hydrophobic bioactive. To achieve this, two strategies were adopted: use of octenyl succinic anhydride specificly modifying CNCs (OSA-CNCs) and application of an emulsification-evaporation process. The loading amount (LA) and yield of Cur in the soluble Cur-CNC complexes, as well as their particle characteristics (including particle size and morphology), were characterized using dynamic light scattering (DLS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The results indicated that OSA-CNCs exhibited a superior loading amount (up to 7.5 g/100 g CNC) compared to unmodified CNC (1.36 g/100 g CNC). The greater LA in the OSA-CNCs case was mainly due to the formation of nanobundle-like complexes with Cur molecules as the binding cores. The Cur encapsulated in all the complexes was prominently present in the amorphous state, and exhibited an significantly improved stability. <em>In vitro</em> digestion experiments indicated that the encapsulated Cur molecules had a low bioaccessibility, but kept highly stable throughout the whole gastric and intestinal digestion. This research indicates that CNCs can be developed into a kind of effective carriers for improved water dispersibility, chemical stability and delayed release during GI digestion of hydrophobic bioactives. The findings would be of great interest for extending the utilization of CNCs in the pharmaceutical and food formulations, and the design of colon-targeted delivery systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":278,"journal":{"name":"Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects","volume":"737 ","pages":"Article 139809"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146185569","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-05-20Epub Date: 2026-02-05DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2026.139803
Hanzhi Tan, Shuai Lv, Fang Chen
Metal-phenolic network (MPN) represents a class of functional hybrid coordination materials formed through the assembly of metal ions and phenolic ligands, emerging as a novel and promising category of colloids with diverse functionalities. However, the formation mechanism and structural evolution of MPN remain insufficiently understood, limiting precise structural modulation and functional expansion. In this study, gallium-based MPN was synthesized via ultrasonication of bulk gallium in an aqueous dopamine (DA) suspension. A key novelty lies in our regulation of the phenol-quinone redox equilibrium transition within MPN through a tunable proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) pathway with coexistence of Ga-NPs@PDA and external DA, which enables controlled generation of semiquinone radicals (DA•) alongside modulated MPN size growth and colloidal stability decay. This controlled equilibrium was leveraged to develop a one-pot synthesis strategy for functional hydrogel: MPN, Ga-NPs@PDA, and external DA precursors collectively induce vinyl monomer polymerization and crosslinking, yielding functional hydrogels with low hysteresis, tunable pore size, and excellent adhesion. This work establishes a methodology for controlling the phenol-quinone equilibrium, elucidates the mechanisms underlying MPN self-assembly and DA• formation, advances the development of functional MPN nanomaterials, and expands their application potential in functional polymer composites—particularly through the innovative one-pot hydrogel synthesis approach enabled by the newly discovered MPN structural evolution mechanism.
{"title":"Regulation of phenol-quinone equilibrium in metal-phenolic network for initiating vinyl monomer polymerization","authors":"Hanzhi Tan, Shuai Lv, Fang Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.colsurfa.2026.139803","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.colsurfa.2026.139803","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Metal-phenolic network (MPN) represents a class of functional hybrid coordination materials formed through the assembly of metal ions and phenolic ligands, emerging as a novel and promising category of colloids with diverse functionalities. However, the formation mechanism and structural evolution of MPN remain insufficiently understood, limiting precise structural modulation and functional expansion. In this study, gallium-based MPN was synthesized via ultrasonication of bulk gallium in an aqueous dopamine (DA) suspension. A key novelty lies in our regulation of the phenol-quinone redox equilibrium transition within MPN through a tunable proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) pathway with coexistence of Ga-NPs@PDA and external DA, which enables controlled generation of semiquinone radicals (DA•) alongside modulated MPN size growth and colloidal stability decay. This controlled equilibrium was leveraged to develop a one-pot synthesis strategy for functional hydrogel: MPN, Ga-NPs@PDA, and external DA precursors collectively induce vinyl monomer polymerization and crosslinking, yielding functional hydrogels with low hysteresis, tunable pore size, and excellent adhesion. This work establishes a methodology for controlling the phenol-quinone equilibrium, elucidates the mechanisms underlying MPN self-assembly and DA• formation, advances the development of functional MPN nanomaterials, and expands their application potential in functional polymer composites—particularly through the innovative one-pot hydrogel synthesis approach enabled by the newly discovered MPN structural evolution mechanism.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":278,"journal":{"name":"Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects","volume":"737 ","pages":"Article 139803"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146185628","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-05-20Epub Date: 2026-02-04DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2026.139840
Xiaohong Xu , Huanhuan Li , Min Zhang , Shengke Wu , Yi Deng , Xue-Bo Yin , Qinghua Lu , Xia Zhang
Herein a hierarchical tubular Fe,Co-MoS2/Ag@NCMTs composite was engineered via a sacrificial-template strategy utilizing tubular polypyrrole (PPy) to fabricate nitrogen-doped carbon microtubes (NCMTs), which serve as supports for Fe, Co-doped MoS2/Ag nanosheets (NSs). This unique architecture synergistically integrates the advantages of Fe, Co co-doped MoS2 NSs, one-dimensional(1D) tubular geometry, and Ag nanoparticles (NPs) incorporation, resulting in enhanced electrical conductivity, structural stability, and catalytic activity. The hierarchical design effectively mitigates the aggregation of MoS2 NSs during the preparation processes, while the transition metals doping and Ag NPs facilitate efficient electron transfer and reaction kinetics. Consequently, the composite demonstrates exceptional catalytic efficiency in converting 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) to 4-aminophenol (4-AP). Furthermore, the Fe,Co-MoS2@NCMTs composites exhibit universal in-situ loading capability for noble metal NPs (e.g., Au, Pd, Ru), enabling tailored functionalities for diverse catalytic applications. This scalable platform, combining hierarchical tubular architecture with synergistic component interactions, exemplifies a versatile and high-performance catalytic system with broad applicability in environmental remediation, organic synthesis, and beyond.
{"title":"Hierarchical tubular Fe,Co-MoS₂/Ag@NCMTs composites with synergistic design for enhanced catalytic performance","authors":"Xiaohong Xu , Huanhuan Li , Min Zhang , Shengke Wu , Yi Deng , Xue-Bo Yin , Qinghua Lu , Xia Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.colsurfa.2026.139840","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.colsurfa.2026.139840","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Herein a hierarchical tubular Fe,Co-MoS<sub>2</sub>/Ag@NCMTs composite was engineered <em>via</em> a sacrificial-template strategy utilizing tubular polypyrrole (PPy) to fabricate nitrogen-doped carbon microtubes (NCMTs), which serve as supports for Fe, Co-doped MoS<sub>2</sub>/Ag nanosheets (NSs). This unique architecture synergistically integrates the advantages of Fe, Co co-doped MoS<sub>2</sub> NSs, one-dimensional(1D) tubular geometry, and Ag nanoparticles (NPs) incorporation, resulting in enhanced electrical conductivity, structural stability, and catalytic activity. The hierarchical design effectively mitigates the aggregation of MoS<sub>2</sub> NSs during the preparation processes, while the transition metals doping and Ag NPs facilitate efficient electron transfer and reaction kinetics. Consequently, the composite demonstrates exceptional catalytic efficiency in converting 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) to 4-aminophenol (4-AP). Furthermore, the Fe,Co-MoS<sub>2</sub>@NCMTs composites exhibit universal <em>in-situ</em> loading capability for noble metal NPs (e.g., Au, Pd, Ru), enabling tailored functionalities for diverse catalytic applications. This scalable platform, combining hierarchical tubular architecture with synergistic component interactions, exemplifies a versatile and high-performance catalytic system with broad applicability in environmental remediation, organic synthesis, and beyond.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":278,"journal":{"name":"Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects","volume":"737 ","pages":"Article 139840"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146185677","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-05-20Epub Date: 2026-02-06DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2026.139865
Yun-Kai Xu, Xu Zhang, Wan-Meng Song, Yan-Peng Ni, Yun Liu
Lyocell fabrics are prized for their biodegradability, breathability, and excellent wearing comfort; however, their widespread application is limited by a significant drawback: inherent high flammability. To address this issue while extending their functional performance, a bio-based phosphate ester flame retardant (TP) was synthesized through the reaction of phosphorous acid with tannic acid—a natural polyphenol. The flame-retardant Lyocell fabric (L-TP) was then prepared via a straightforward pad-dry-cure finishing process. The Fourier transform infrared spectra and scanning electron microscope results confirmed the successful deposition of TP onto the Lyocell fiber surfaces without clogging the inter-fiber gaps. Thermal analysis indicated that TP effectively promoted char formation and improved the thermal stability of Lyocell fabrics in high-temperature regions. The modified fabric exhibited outstanding flame-retardant properties: the peak heat release rate (PHRR) and total heat release (THR) were reduced by 92.1 % and 78.9 %, respectively, while the limiting oxygen index (LOI) reached 45.7 %. Notably, L-TP also demonstrated excellent ultraviolet (UV) protection performance, achieving a UV protection factor (UPF) of 100. Moreover, the breaking strength retention rates in both warp and weft directions remained around 80 %, preserving practical usability. This work presents a promising approach to developing multifunctional Lyocell fabrics with integrated flame retardancy and UV protection, suitable for a wide range of apparel and home textile applications.
{"title":"Synthesis of a novel phosphate ester flame retardant for endowing Lyocell fabrics with excellent flame-retardant and UV-resistant properties","authors":"Yun-Kai Xu, Xu Zhang, Wan-Meng Song, Yan-Peng Ni, Yun Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.colsurfa.2026.139865","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.colsurfa.2026.139865","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Lyocell fabrics are prized for their biodegradability, breathability, and excellent wearing comfort; however, their widespread application is limited by a significant drawback: inherent high flammability. To address this issue while extending their functional performance, a bio-based phosphate ester flame retardant (TP) was synthesized through the reaction of phosphorous acid with tannic acid—a natural polyphenol. The flame-retardant Lyocell fabric (<span>L</span>-TP) was then prepared via a straightforward pad-dry-cure finishing process. The Fourier transform infrared spectra and scanning electron microscope results confirmed the successful deposition of TP onto the Lyocell fiber surfaces without clogging the inter-fiber gaps. Thermal analysis indicated that TP effectively promoted char formation and improved the thermal stability of Lyocell fabrics in high-temperature regions. The modified fabric exhibited outstanding flame-retardant properties: the peak heat release rate (PHRR) and total heat release (THR) were reduced by 92.1 % and 78.9 %, respectively, while the limiting oxygen index (LOI) reached 45.7 %. Notably, <span>L</span>-TP also demonstrated excellent ultraviolet (UV) protection performance, achieving a UV protection factor (UPF) of 100. Moreover, the breaking strength retention rates in both warp and weft directions remained around 80 %, preserving practical usability. This work presents a promising approach to developing multifunctional Lyocell fabrics with integrated flame retardancy and UV protection, suitable for a wide range of apparel and home textile applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":278,"journal":{"name":"Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects","volume":"737 ","pages":"Article 139865"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146185622","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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