Frontiers of Materials Science最新文献

Herein, we report how the effective suppression of salting-out crystallization leads to the photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange as a bare dye and binary mixed form with methylene blue using the zinc ferrite/silver/silver chloride (ZF/Ag/AgCl) nanocomposite. The work presents the first-time report of photocatalytic degradation of the mixed dye, comprising both anionic and cationic species, as a model industrial discharge using the ZF/Ag/AgCl nanocomposite. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area analysis are performed to validate the characteristics and suitability of samples. This study revealed the photocatalytic degradation of binary mixed dyes exposed under solar irradiation for 3.5 h with degradation efficiencies of 97.5% and 96% against anionic and cationic dyes, respectively, without the addition of any oxidizing agents, as well as efficient magnetic retrievability, recyclability, and stability of the sample, comparable with that against single and binary mixed dyes. The evaluation of the total organic carbon was also conducted to monitor the effective mineralization of the dye. Thus, the suitability of the sample as a magnetically retrievable and visible light-active photocatalyst for the degradation of toxic mixed dyes is explored.

Nerve damage, including conditions such as traumatic brain injury, cerebral palsy, and other neurological disorders, constitutes a major clinical challenge affecting millions of people globally. Recently, magnesium-containing materials have attracted growing interest in brain research due to their notable biocompatibility, favorable degradation profile, and neuroprotective capabilities. This article provides a comprehensive overview of developments in magnesium-based materials, with a specific focus on their application in brain and neural repair. Leveraging bibliometric analysis and a comprehensive literature review, the therapeutic potential of magnesium-based compounds in neurological disorders is evaluated. These neurological conditions encompass epilepsy, Alzheimer’s disease, and depression. Notably, magnesium-based materials show distinct advantages in enhancing cognitive function and promoting neural regeneration, indicating their strong therapeutic potential. Furthermore, this review also examines key research areas and contemporary trends in brain and neural repair, assesses the current landscape, highlights persistent challenges, and identifies emerging research directions. This synthesis provides a foundation for understanding how magnesium-based materials can inform the development of novel therapeutic strategies.

We developed metal–organic framework (MOF) derivatives via rapid thermal processing (RTP) of ZIF-67, achieving synthesis in ∼30 min far faster than conventional pyrolysis. These derivatives retain the morphology of ZIF-67, integrating carbon nanotubes and nickel–cobalt nanoparticles within a porous carbon matrix. With surface areas of ∼ 208–225 m²·g⁻¹, they excel in styrene epoxidation, yielding 80% conversion and 50%–60% selectivity. This efficient RTP method enhances stability and activity, offering a scalable approach to advance MOF-based catalysis.

Two-dimensional (2D) Nb₂CT_x MXene hold great promise for biomedical applications due to their tunable surface chemistry and biocompatibility. However, their practical use requires long-term colloidal and oxidative stability. Here, we propose a tandem-type stabilization strategy combining antioxidant protection and macromolecular surface functionalization. Nb₂CT_x was first treated with L-ascorbic acid (LA) to suppress oxidation by binding to reactive edges, followed by modification with polyethylene glycol (PEG), poly-L-lysine (PLL), or polydopamine (PDA). This dual approach enhanced stability in biological media — phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle’s Medium (DMEM) — while preserving non-cytotoxicity toward A375 and HaCaT skin cell lines across 0–100 mg·L⁻¹. Among the tested systems, LA/PEG and LA/PDA-modified MXenes maintained stable zeta potentials (−15 to −12 mV) and particle sizes for 72 h, whereas LA/PLL samples showed aggregation and charge loss. This tandem stabilization effectively prevents oxidation and aggregation without compromising biocompatibility, offering a versatile route for developing oxidation-resistant MXenes for biomedical and nanomedicine applications.

Graphene has attracted significant attention for its excellent electronic, mechanical, and thermal properties. However, its quality is strongly influenced by substrate crystal structure. Preparing graphene on non-metallic substrates, especially polycrystalline ones, remains challenging due to limited understanding of growth mechanisms and crystal face effects. This work reported the efficient growth of graphene films on polycrystalline aluminum nitride (AlN) substrates using the scanning electromagnetic induction (SEMI) technology and further investigated structural characteristics of graphene on different crystal planes of the substrate. Large-area and high-coverage graphene films were directly grown on c- and m-planes of AlN. Confocal SEM–Raman analysis revealed the crystal plane-related interface coupling phenomenon: the 2D peak of graphene grown on the c-plane showed an obvious red shift to approximately 2684 cm⁻¹, indicating stronger coupling and greater compressive strain at the interface between the c-plane AlN and graphene. This work provides a reliable method to in-situ investigate behaviors of graphene on various crystal facets. The results reveal characteristics of graphene on different AlN crystal planes, which is believed to provide important information for applications on graphene–AlN devices.

A new method of incorporating nano-sized titanium dioxide (nano-TiO₂) particles onto the shell of photochromic microencapsulated phase change materials was introduced, in order to address issues of easy degradation of photochromic dyes’ core components caused by ultraviolet (UV) irradiation and residual organic emulsifiers. Using nano-TiO₂ as the Pickering emulsion stabilizer and cross-linked polyurethane as the shell material, a composite protective structure was constructed to encapsulate core materials with phase-change and photochromic properties, thereby forming photochromic phase change microcapsules (TPT-MPCMs) with UV protection and thermal insulation. Characterization results show that the core–shell structured TPT-MPCMs possessed high light transmittance, with a particle size of 5–15 µm and a latent heat of 116.2 J·g⁻¹. The highly cross-linked shell formed by xylitol and isophorone diisocyanate effectively protected the core from thermal degradation up to 180 °C, while the nano-TiO₂ shell surface allowed maintaining the UV responsiveness of microcapsules after exposure to intense UV irradiation for 5 h. This strategy significantly improves the long-term stability and service life of photochromic microcapsules under harsh environments, opening up broad prospects for their applications in fields such as outdoor anti-counterfeiting labels, intelligent temperature-controlled coatings, and multifunctional smart textiles.

Self-oscillating chemomechanical redox-responsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) gels containing terpyridine-iron complexes were developed. Two types of gels containing the complexes as pendant groups or as cross-linking agents were designed and prepared. All the obtained gels exhibited pronounced chemomechanical oscillations resulting from the Belousov–Zhabotinsky reaction within their structure. They periodically swelled and contracted upon oxidation and reduction of the terpyridine–iron complex under mild conditions and at low mineral acid concentrations. The periodic changes in linear dimensions of the gels reached 17%. It was found that the propagating chemical wave moved along the cylindrical gel causing autonomous peristaltic motion due to local swelling. Based on the obtained gel, a lever-type actuator was created demonstrating periodic lifting of the lever. The gels were characterized through scanning electron microscopy, and the dependence of their structure and chemomechanical properties on the catalyst concentration was investigated. These gels hold great promise for creating soft and self-moving muscle-like actuators, devices capable of transmitting and interpreting signals through traveling chemical waves, and sensor systems that respond to changes in oxidation-reduction states.

Silica (SiO₂) aerogels have excellent physical and thermal properties with high-performance and broad application prospects. In order to obtain SiO₂ aerogels with high thermal insulation performance and explore key process parameters of their preparation, SiO₂ aerogels were prepared via combining sol–gel and freeze-drying processes using tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) as the precursor. Effects of the pH value and the content of deionized water (DIW) on the microstructures and thermal properties of the SiO₂ aerogel were systematically investigated. Results showed that when the pH was 8.0 and the molar ratio of TEOS to DIW was 1:7, the SiO₂ aerogel had the best structure and the lowest thermal conductivity, exhibiting the best thermal insulation effect. In addition, the synthesis mechanism of such sol–gel freeze-dried SiO₂ aerogels was analyzed in depth, and the structural evolution process was also described. This study lays a theoretical foundation for the controllable preparation and process design of SiO₂ aerogels in the future, and has certain guiding significance for promoting their application in the field of efficient thermal insulation.

To address critical challenges of protein template denaturation caused by intense exothermicity and prolonged reaction time when using the traditional protein molecular imprinting technology, a novel imprinting strategy was proposed. This study successfully achieved the rapid and controllable in-situ synthesis of polyacrylamide/calcium alginate (PAM/CaAlg) hydrogel films under near-ambient temperature conditions, employing a silver ions (Ag⁺)-catalyzed ammonium persulfate–sodium bisulfite redox system with acrylamide (AM) as the monomer, N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) as the crosslinker, and bovine serum albumin (BSA) as the template. The optimized molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) films demonstrated substantial enhancement of the BSA adsorption capacity following the removal of templates, reaching a maximum equilibrium adsorption capacity (Q_e) of 50.4 mg·g⁻¹ while maintaining a stable imprinting efficiency (IE) of 2.7. Competitive adsorption experiments verified the exceptional selectivity of MIP films towards the BSA recognition. Additionally, the incorporation of Ag⁺ ions endowed both MIP and non-imprinted polymer (NIP) films with remarkable antibacterial properties. This work establishes a straightforward and effective methodology for developing advanced protein-imprinted hydrogels that simultaneously exhibit high adsorption capacity, superior selectivity, and significant antibacterial activity.

The demand for low-temperature cured conductive silver pastes increases rapidly due to the development of advanced electronic fields, such as flexible electronics. Lowering curing temperatures of conductive silver pastes is generally realized using low-boiling-point solvents. However, such solvents have a low viscosity, leading to the sedimentation of the conductive phase. Increasing the content of the highly viscous binder phase helps solve this issue, but it will lower the electric conductivity. Herein, the trade-off between curing temperature and conductivity of conductive silver pastes was overcome by applying nano-silver particles as the sedimentation inhibitor while bifunctional epoxidized cardol (E-Cardol), with flexible C₁₅ side chains that can significantly enhance the toughness, as the binder. Experiments were performed to determine chemical compositions, reveal morphologies, and measure conductive resistivity values. Conductive silver pastes with a curing temperature of 140 °C and a silver content of 65 wt.% were fabricated, exhibiting a resistivity of 3.10 × 10⁻⁵ Ω·cm, comparable to that of conventional low-temperature cured silver pastes with the silver content of 80 wt.%. Moreover, this silver paste also exhibited excellent adhesion performance and enhanced anti-folding property.