Optimizing sustainable development in arid river basins: A multi-objective approach to balancing water, energy, economy, carbon and ecology nexus.

The ongoing water crisis poses significant threats to the socioeconomic sustainability and ecological security of arid and semi-arid river basins. Achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within a complex socio-ecological nexus requires effective and balanced resource management. However, due to the intricate interactions between human societies and environmental systems, the tradeoffs and synergies of different SDGs remain unclear, posing a substantial challenge for collaborative management of natural resources. Here we introduce a gray fractional multi-objective optimization (GFMOP) model to balance multi-dimensional SDGs through a novel water-energy-economy-carbon-ecology nexus perspective. The model was applied to a typical arid river basin in Northwest China, where thirty-two scenarios were explored, considering factors such as shared socioeconomic pathways, carbon removal rates, water conveyance efficiencies, and ecological requirements. The results reveal a strong tradeoff between marginal benefit and carbon emission intensity, indicating that improving the economic efficiency of water use can simultaneously reduce emissions and protect the environment. Given the immense power generation potential, wind power development should be prioritized in the future, with its share in the energy structure projected to increase to 23.3% by 2060. Furthermore, promoting carbon capture technologies and expanding grassland coverage are recommended to achieve regional carbon neutrality, contributing 39.5% and 49.1% to carbon absorption during 2021-2060, respectively. Compared with traditional single-objective models, GFMOP demonstrates a superiority in uncovering interrelationships among multiple SDGs and identifying compromised alternatives within the compound socio-ecological nexus. The model also provides detailed strategies for resource allocation and pollutant control, offering valuable guidance to policymakers and stakeholders in pursuing sustainable and harmonious watershed management.

Up-conversion luminescence and temperature sensing properties of Ho3+-, Tm3+-, and Yb3+-codoped Bi2WO6 materials in a water environment.

A series of x%Ho3+, 5 %Tm3+, y%Yb3+:Bi2WO6 (x = 0, 0.5, 1, 3, 5; y = 0.5, 1, 3) luminescent materials was prepared using a high-temperature solid-phase method. The microstructure, up-conversion luminescence, and temperature sensing properties of the synthesized powders were analyzed. X-ray diffraction patterns revealed that doping with Ho3+, Tm3+, and Yb3+ ions at certain concentrations did not affect the orthorhombic crystal structure of the Bi2WO6 host. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the morphology of the sample consisted of lumpy particles with a particle size range of 1-5 µm and agglomeration. SEM mapping and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analyses revealed that each element was relatively uniformly distributed on the particle surface. Under 980 nm excitation (380 mW), the strongest luminescence of the sample was obtained when both Ho3+ and Yb3+ doping concentrations were 1 %. Compared with the luminescence of the 5 %Tm3+ and 1 %Yb3+:Bi2WO6 sample, with increasing Ho3+ concentrations, the luminescence intensity of Tm3+ was first enhanced and subsequently weakened, whereas the luminescence of Ho3+ was significantly weakened, which indicates the positive energy transfer from Ho3+ â†’ Tm3+. At 980 nm (80-380 mW), for the 1 %Ho3+, 5 %Tm3+, and 1 %Yb3+:Bi2WO6 sample, the 538 nm, 545 nm, 660 nm, and 804 nm emission peaks originated from the two-photon absorption. FIR660 nm/804 nm, FIR545 nm/804 nm, and FIR538 nm/804 nm were used to characterize the temperature and corresponded to temperature sensitivities Sr of 0.0046 K-1, 0.022 K-1 and 0.024 K-1 at 573 K, respectively. At 498 K, the minimum temperature resolution δT values were 0.03384 K, 0.03203 K and 0.04373 K. When the temperature increased from 298 K to 573 K, the powder sample luminescence gradually shifted from the yellow-green region to the red region. The results of environmental discoloration and thermochromic performance tests indicate that this sample has potential application in optical anti-counterfeiting. FIR804 nm /660 nm and FIR804 nm /538 nm were obtained for the 40 NTU turbidity suspension under identical excitation conditions. At 298 K, for the 40 NTU turbidity sample, the maximum Sr values were 0.0197 K-1 and 0.0405 K-1; at 340 K, the minimum temperature resolutions δT values were 0.54037 K and 0.66237 K. When the temperature decreased from 340 K to 298 K, the luminescence of the 40 NTU suspension samples gradually shifted from the yellow region to the green region.

Novel insights on the Pd speciation in Pd/SSZ-13 and on the role of H2O in the Pd reduction by CO.

Pd speciation induced by the combined effect of CO and water on Pd/SSZ-13 samples prepared by both impregnation and ion exchange was examined by FT-IR spectroscopy of CO adsorbed at room temperature and at liquid nitrogen temperature on anhydrous and hydrated samples. Starting from the literature findings related to the CO reducing effect on Pd cations, the present work gives precise spectroscopic evidences on how water is necessary in this process not only for compensating with H+ the zeolite exchange sites set free by Pd reduction, but also for mobilizing isolated Pd2+/Pd+ cations and making possible the reduction reactions. The aggregation of some Pd+ sites, just formed by the reduction and mobilized by the hydration, gives rise to the formation of Pd2O particles. Also, Pd0(100) sites are observed with CO on hydrated sample, formed by the aggregation and reduction of isolated Pd cations. Moreover, Pd0(111) sites are formed on the surface of PdOx particles during CO outgassing. The observation of the combined effect of water and CO allowed to define assignments of IR bands related to carbonyls of Pd in different oxidation states and coordination degrees.

Spectral and conductivity measurements insights on loading mechanisms of DMSO/water-kaolin complexes.

Kaolin, a naturally occurring clay mineral renowned for its distinctive properties, holds significant importance across various industries. The integration of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) into kaolin matrices, both in the presence and absence of water, has been extensively explored for its potential to enhance material characteristics. Addressing debates surrounding the proposed adsorption mechanism for the type I structure of DMSO, this study undertook a comprehensive physicochemical characterization of DMSO-kaolin complexes (DMSO-KCs) derived from untreated (UnK) and HCl-treated (HK) Egyptian ore, with a focus on elucidating the loading mechanism facilitated by water. Key insights gleaned from electrical conductivity, dielectric constant, and Fine Testing Technology - Fourier-transform infrared (FTT-FTIR) measurements, shedding light on the bonding nature of DMSO-KCs. FTT-FTIR analysis revealed two stages of water departure at 180 °C, with the final stage coinciding with the release of pyrolysis gases, confirming the catalytic degradation of DMSO. Through X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), two distinct bonding types of DMSO molecules with kaolinite were identified: amorphous adsorbed (type I) and lattice-oriented intercalated (type II). Electrical characteristic evaluations within the temperature range of room temperature (RT) to 260 °C and frequency range of 42 Hz-1 MHz revealed that DMSO intercalation enhances the electrical properties of kaolin. Hydrated DMSO-KCs exhibited higher values of σac and ɛ' compared to non-hydrated samples. The activation energy (Ea) values for HCl-treated samples were smaller than those of untreated ones. Alternating current (AC) conductivity analysis indicated predominantly ionic behavior with frequency and temperature dependency in both HCl-treated and untreated kaolin. Our findings substantiate the adsorption mechanism of Type I DMSO, highlighting its amorphous nature, instability, and catalytic degradation over time, in contrast to the intercalated type II. This elucidation is pivotal for understanding the behavior of DMSO-KCs across diverse applications, including electronics, ceramics, and materialsscience.

Metabolic and protein expression responses of Shewanella baltica in golden pomfret broths to slightly acidic electrolysed water.

Shewanella baltica is a specific spoilage organism of golden pomfret. This study aims to explore the antibacterial mechanism of slightly acidic electrolysed water (SAEW) against S. baltica (strains ABa4, ABe2 and BBe1) in golden pomfret broths by metabolomics, proteomics and bioinformatics analyses. S. baltica was decreased by at least 3.94 log CFU/mL after SAEW treatment, and strain ABa4 had the highest resistance. Under SAEW stress, amino acids and organic acids in S. baltica decreased, and nucleotide related compounds degraded. Furthermore, 100 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were identified. Most DEPs of strains ABe2 and BBe1 were down-regulated, while some DEPs of strain ABa4 were up-regulated, especially those oxidative stress related proteins. These results suggest that the modes of SAEW against S. baltica can be traced to the inhibition of amino acid, carbon, nucleotide and sulphur metabolisms, and the loss of functional proteins for temperature regulation, translation, motility and protein folding.

Encapsulation of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum with casein-gellan gum emulsions to enhance its storage, pasteurization, and gastrointestinal survival.

Probiotics serve a very important role in human health. However, probiotics have poor stability during processing, storage, and gastrointestinal digestion. The gellan gum (GG) is less susceptible to enzymatic degradation and resistant to thermal and acidic environments. This study investigated the effect of casein (CS)-GG emulsions to encapsulate Lactiplantibacillus plantarum CICC 6002 (L. plantarum CICC 6002) on its storage stability, thermal stability, and gastrointestinal digestion. L. plantarum CICC 6002 was suspended in palm oil and emulsions were prepared using CS or CS-GG complexes. We found the CS-GG emulsions improved the viability of L. plantarum CICC 6002 after storage, pasteurization, and digestion compared to the CS emulsions. In addition, we investigated the influence of the gellan gum concentration on emulsion stability, and the optimal stability was observed in the emulsion prepared by CS-0.8% GG complex. This study provided a new strategy for the protection of probiotics based on CS-GG delivery system.

Binding and distribution regularity of water molecules in high-moisture textured Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) meat.

High-moisture extrusion technique with the advantage of high efficiency and low energy consumption is a promising strategy for processing Antarctic krill meat. Consequently, this study aimed to prepare high-moisture textured Antarctic krill meat (HMTAKM) with a rich fiber structure at different water contents (53 %, 57 %, and 61 %) and to reveal the binding and distribution regularity of water molecules, which is closely related to the fiber structure of HMTAKM and has been less studied. The hydrogen-bond network results indicated the presence of at least two or more types of water molecules with different hydrogen bonds. Increasing the water content of HMTAKM promoted the formation of hydrogen bonds between the water molecules and protein molecules, leading to the transition of the ß-sheet to the α-helix. These findings offer a novel viable processing technique for Antarctic krill and a new understanding of the fiber formation of high-moisture textured proteins.

Texture of cooked germinated brown rice subjected to freeze-thaw treatment and its improvement by magnetic field treatment.

This study aimed to investigate the textural changes of cooked germinated brown rice (GBR) during freeze-thaw treatment and propose a strategy for enhancing its texture using magnetic field (MF). Seven freeze-thaw cycles exhibited more pronounced effects compared to 7 days of freezing, resulting in increases in GBR hardness by 85.59 %-164.36 % and decreases in stickiness by 10.34 %-43.55 %. Water loss, structural damage of GBR flour, and starch retrogradation contributed to the deterioration of texture. MF mitigated these effects by inhibiting the transformation of bound water into free water, reducing water loss by 0.39 %-0.57 %, and shortening the phase transition period by 2.0-21.5 min, thereby diminishing structural damage to GBR flour and hindering starch retrogradation. Following MF treatment (5 mT), GBR hardness decreased by 21.00 %, while stickiness increased by 45.71 %. This study elucidates the mechanisms through which MF enhances the texture, offering theoretical insights for the industrial production of high-quality frozen rice products.

Application of new tetra-cationic imidazolium ionic liquids for capture and conversion of CO2 to amphiphilic calcium carbonate nanoparticles as a green additive in water based drilling fluids.

Conversion and capture of carbon pollutants based on carbon dioxide to valuable green oil-field chemicals are target all over the world for controlling the global warming. The present article used new room temperature amphiphilic imidazolium ionic liquids with superior surface activity in the aqueous solutions to convert carbon dioxide gas to superior amphiphilic calcium carbonate nanoparticles. In this respect, tetra-cationic ionic liquids 2-(4-dodecyldimethylamino) phenyl)-1,3-bis (3-dodecyldimethylammnonio) propyl) bromide-1-H-imidazol-3-ium acetate and 2-(4-hexyldimethylamino) phenyl)-1,3-bis(3-hexcyldimethylammnonio) propyl) bromide-1 H-imidazol-3-ium acetate were prepared. Their chemical structures, thermal as well as their carbon dioxide absorption/ desorption characteristics were evaluated. They were used as solvent and capping agent to synthesize calcium carbonate nanoparticles with controlled crystalline lattice, sizes, thermal properties and spherical surface morphologies. The prepared calcium carbonate nanoparticles were used as additives for the commercial water based drilling mud to improve their filter lose and rheology. The data confirm that the lower concentrations of 2-(4-dodecyldimethylamino) phenyl)-1,3-bis (3-dodecyldimethylammnonio) propyl) bromide-1-H-imidazol-3-ium acetate achieved lower seawater filter lose and improved viscosities.

Different extractable pools of Cd and Pb in agricultural soil under amendments: Water-soluble concentration sensitively indicates metal availability.

Identification of the most appropriate chemically extractable pool for evaluating Cd and Pb availability remains elusive, hindering accurate assessment on environmental risks and effectiveness of remediation strategies. This study evaluated the feasibility of European Community Bureau of Reference (BCR) sequential extraction, Ca(NO3)2 extraction, and water extraction on assessing Cd and Pb availability in agricultural soil amended with slaked lime, magnesium hydroxide, corn stover biochar, and calcium dihydrogen phosphate. Moreover, the enriched isotope tracing technique (112Cd and 206Pb) was employed to evaluate the aging process of newly introduced Cd and Pb within 56 days' incubation. Results demonstrated that extractable pools by BCR and Ca(NO3)2 extraction were little impacted by amendments and showed little correlation with soil pH. This is notable because soil pH is closely linked to metal availability, indicating these extraction methods may not adequately reflect metal availability. Conversely, water-soluble concentrations of Cd and Pb were markedly influenced by amendments and exhibited strong correlations with pH (Pearson's r: -0.908 to -0.825, P < 0.001), suggesting water extraction as a more sensitive approach. Furthermore, newly introduced metals underwent a more evident aging process as demonstrated by acid-soluble and water-soluble pools. Additionally, water-soluble concentrations of essential metals were impacted by soil amendments, raising caution on their potential effects on plant growth. These findings suggest water extraction as a promising and attractive method to evaluate Cd and Pb availability, which will help provide assessment guidance for environmental risks caused by heavy metals and develop efficient remediation strategies.

Can pure cellulose nanofibril films replace polyolefins as water vapor barriers in packaging?

Despite significant research into cellulose nanofibril (CNF) films as substitutes to synthetic plastic materials, commercial applications remain very limited. One major hindrance is the poor water vapor barrier properties of CNF films compared to polyolefins, a critical property for product protection, such as food safety and preservation. To date, it is unknown whether full moisture barrier properties can be achieved with materials made by the assembly of nanofibers and fibrils. A comprehensive understanding of the effect of film structure on water vapor transport properties is required. Here, over 200 films were produced with a wide range of grammages from 30 g/m2 to 580 g/m2 by casting and spray deposition. Their structures were quantified by µCT and SEM and related to their water vapor transmission rates (WVTRs). Porosity and pore connectivity decreased with increasing film grammage, which correlates with the exponential decrease in WVTR. However, the WVTR plateaued at 30 g/m2day, indicating that the known open space and adsorption diffusion mechanisms cannot be fully eliminated by producing high grammage films. Pure cellulose nanofibril films therefore cannot replace polyolefins in packaging applications, requiring modifications such as coating and nanofillers.

Arrayed metal phosphide heterostructure by Fe doping for robust overall water splitting.

Transition metal phosphides (TMPs) show promise in water electrolysis due to their electronic structures, which activate hydrogen/oxygen reaction intermediates. However, TMPs face limitations in catalytic efficiency due to insufficient active sites, poor conductivity, and multiple intermediate steps in water electrolysis. Here, we synthesize a highly efficient bifunctional self-supported electrocatalyst, which consists of an N-doped carbon shell anchored on Fe-doped CoP/Co2P arrays on nickel foam (NC@Fe-CoxP/NF) using hydrothermal and phosphorization techniques. Experimental and theoretical results indicate that the modified morphology, with increased active site density and a tunable electronic structure induced by Fe doping in the CoP/Co2P heterostructure, leads to superior water electrolysis performance. The resulting NC@Fe0.1-CoP/Co2P/NF catalyst exhibits overpotentials of 122 mV for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and 270 mV for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) at 100 mA cm-2. Furthermore, using NC@Fe0.1-CoP/Co2P/NF as both the cathode and anode in an alkaline electrolyzer enables the cell system to achieve 100 mA cm-2 at a voltage of 1.70 V, while maintaining long-term catalytic durability. This work may pave the way for designing self-supported, highly efficient electrocatalysts for practical water electrolysis applications.

In situ fabrication of Ni3S2/Cu2S heterojunction on nickel foam as a highly efficient and durable electrocatalyst for overall water splitting.

The development of cost-efficient bifunctional electrocatalysts is significant for overall water splitting. Herein, we report the in situ fabrication of heterogeneous NF/Ni3S2/Cu2S-X (where X refers to Cu2+ concentrations of 50, 75, and 100 mM) on nickel foam (NF) using an electrodeposition-hydrothermal method. The in situ electrodeposited metallic Cu0 layers on the NF conferred higher stability to the resulting bimetallic sulfide of Ni3S2/Cu2S. In alkaline media (1 M KOH), the optimized NF/Ni3S2/Cu2S-75 exhibited ultra-low overpotentials of 108 and 166 mV during the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) at 10 mA·cm-2. For overall water splitting, the catalyst showed a significantly low cell voltage of 1.50 V and long stabilization time (≥150h)at15mA·cm-2. Density functional theory calculations revealed that the formation of Ni3S2/Cu2S heterojunction reduced the Gibbs free energy of hydrogen adsorption (ΔGH*) on the S site, thus facilitating H2 generation. This study serves as a guide for tailoring transition metal-based catalysts with enhanced activity and long-term durability, thereby contributing to highly efficient water electrolysis for large-scale hydrogen production.

Integrating NiSe2-MoSe2 heterojunctions with N-doped porous carbon substrate architecture for an enhanced electrocatalytic water splitting device.

The development of sustainable energy technologies relies on the exploitation of efficient and durable electrocatalysts for water splitting at high current densities. Our work presents a novel bifunctional catalyst, denoted as NM@NC/CC, which combines the benefits of NiSe2-MoSe2 heterojunctions with nitrogen-enriched porous carbon derived from metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). The integration of these components is designed to harness their combined advantages, which include enhanced electron transfer, improved mass and gas evolution dynamics, and an increased number of catalytically active sites. These features collectively optimize the energetics for both the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER). As a result, the catalyst facilitates rapid kinetics for the overall water-splitting process. The NM@NC/CC demonstrates low overpotentials, requiring only 91 mV for the HER and 280 mV for the OER to reach a current density of 10 mA cm-2. Even at higher current densities of 100 mA cm-2 for HER and 50 mA cm-2 for OER, the overpotentials are only 159 mV and 350 mV, respectively. Additionally, a two-electrode setup using this catalyst achieves a current density of 10 mA cm-2 with a minimal cell voltage of 1.56 V. The insights gained from this study will contribute to the advancement of electrocatalysts for energy conversion technologies.

Tuning the local electronic structure of Co15V-ZIF through bimetallic synergies as a bifunctional electrocatalyst for overall water splitting.

Co-based bimetallic zeolite imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) have been shown as promising electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction, but their electronic structure's influence on the catalytic performance for overall water splitting still needs further investigation. In this study, Co15V-ZIF, structured as two-dimensional (2D) nanosheet arrays, are grown on nickel foam using one-step co-precipitation strategy. Owing to the synergistic effects of vanadium (V) and cobalt (Co) reasonably regulating the electronic structure, the synthesized bimetallic ZIFs demonstrate superior catalytic performance, which required the overpotentials of only 227 and 68 mV to achieve a current density of 10 mA cm-2 in 1 M KOH for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), respectively. Furthermore, the water electrolyzer assembled with bimetallic ZIF as cathode and anode exhibits the capability to achieve 10 mA cm-2 at a low cell voltage of 1.57 V. In situ Raman spectroscopy reveals that the introduction of V facilitates the formation of V-CoOOH, the real active site for OER, at lower applied potentials. Besides, it induces a local acidic environment on V-Co(OH)2, the real active sites, thereby enhancing the HER performance of the sample. Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations further show that the synergistic effects of V and Co induce electron redistribution, thereby improving electrical conductivity, reducing the energy barrier for water dissociation and hydrogen adsorption, which promotes the formation of H3O+ and triggering H3O+-induced water reduction in alkaline media. This work provides new insight into tailoring electronic structures to rationally design highly efficient ZIF electrocatalysts.

Bioderived carbon aerogels loaded with g-C3N4 and their high Efficacy removing volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Indoor air pollution, predominantly caused by volatile organic compounds (VOCs), poses significant health hazards when concentrations surpass critical thresholds. Using waste corn straw as carbon source and urea as nitrogen source, straw derived carbon aerogel (CAGH) loaded with g-C3N4H2O-N2-450-3 h was successfully prepared by hydrothermal and water-assisted calcination. Following water-assisted regulation, g-C3N4H2O-N2-450-3 h on CAGH exhibited a mixed structure comprising honeycomb and two-dimensional filaments, while the growth of g-C3N4H2O-N2-450-3 h was uniformly distributed on carbon aerogel in a line-surface combination fashion. This innovative binding method not only enhanced the loading capacity of g-C3N4 and the mechanical elasticity of aerogel, but also exposed a large number of adsorption sites, resulting in a significant increase in its adsorption capacity for VOCs, exceeding that of commercial activated carbon (AC). In comparison to pure g-C3N4, CAGH exhibited an expanded photo-response range. Under the exposure of visible light, CAGH proved highly effective in eliminating 73.87 % of toluene. In addition, it has demonstrated efficient removal of formaldehyde and acetone VOCs with good cyclic stability. Therefore, this work aims to reduce the emission of pollutants at source and provide an effective and economical strategy for the preparation of clean building materials from renewable materials, with potential applications in the environmental field.

Green light all the way: Triple modification synergistic modification effect to enhance the photoelectrochemical water oxidation performance of BiVO4 photoanode.

The recombination of photogenerated electron-hole pairs of the photoanode seriously impairs the application of bismuth vanadate (BiVO4) in photoelectrochemical water splitting. To address this issue, we prepared a Yb:BiVO4/Co3O4/FeOOH composite photoanode by employing drop-casting and soaking methods to attach Co3O4/FeOOH cocatalysts to the surface of ytterbium-doped BiVO4. The prepared Yb:BiVO4/Co3O4/FeOOH photoanode demonstrates a high photocurrent density of 4.89 mA cm-2 at 1.23 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE), which is 5.1 times that of bare BiVO4 (0.95 mA cm-2). Detailed characterization and testing demonstrated that Yb doping narrows the band gap and significantly enhances the carrier density. Furthermore, Co3O4 serves as a hole transfer layer to expedite hole migration and diminish recombination, while FeOOH offers additional active sites and minimizes surface trap states, thus boosting stability. The synergistic effects of Yb doping and Co3O4/FeOOH cocatalyst significantly improved the reaction kinetics and overall performance of PEC water oxidation. This work provides a strategy for designing efficient photoanodes for PEC water oxidation.

Phosphorus and sulfur co-doped nickel molybdate with rich-oxygen vacancies for efficient water splitting.

The rational design of high-performance electrocatalysts is essential for promoting the industrialization of electrocatalytic water-splitting technology. Herein, phosphorus and sulfur co-doped nickel molybdate with rich-oxygen vacancies (P, S-NiMoO4) was prepared as an efficient bifunctional self-supporting water-splitting catalyst from the perspective of enhancing the conductivity and optimizing the electronic configurations. The incorporation of P, S and oxygen vacancies greatly enhances the conductivity and charge-transfer efficiency of NiMoO4. Additionally, P and S can serve as proton carriers and electron acceptors to enhance the catalytic activity by accelerating proton activation and high-valent metal generation in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER). As expected, P, S-NiMoO4 demonstrates efficient bifunctional catalytic activity with an overpotential of only 31/206 mV at 10 mA cm-2 for HER/OER in 1 M KOH. Meantime, the electrolyzer assembled with P, S-NiMoO4 as electrodes requires a voltage of only 1.55 V to achieve a water-splitting current density of 50 mA cm-2 along with good stability over 110 h. This work puts forward a novel approach based on elemental doping and vacancy engineering for the design of effective and enduring catalysts for water splitting.

Colloid, interface, and foam properties of water-soluble polyglycerol esters solutions.

HYPOTHESIS: Polyglycerol esters of fatty acids are generated via the esterification of a polydisperse mixture of polyglycerol with naturally derived fatty acids. The polymerization process of polyglycerol results in the production of various oligomers, ranging from di-, tri-, and higher-order forms, which contribute to the complexity of final products. The combination of complementary experimental techniques and adequate theoretical interpretations can reveal the wide variety of their physicochemical properties. EXPERIMENTS: The colloid and interface properties of polyglyceryl mono-laurate, mono-stearate, mono-oleate, and a mixture of mono-caprylate and mono-caprate esters solutions were characterized by measurements of the electrolytic conductivity, static and dynamic surface tension, aggregate and micelle sizes and distributions, thin liquid film stability and stratification, and solubility in aqueous and in oil phases. The formation, stability, and bubble size distribution of foams generated from polyglycerol esters aqueous solutions were systematically investigated. FINDINGS: The low concentrations of double-tail molecules and fatty acids in polyglycerol esters affect considerably their micellar, aggregation, and vesicle formations in aqueous solutions. The theoretical data interpretation of polyglycerol esters isotherms and thin liquid films data provide information on the adsorption energies, excluded areas per molecule, interaction parameters of molecules at interfaces, surface electrostatic potential, and the size of micelles. Polyglyceryl mono-oleate exhibits spontaneous emulsification properties. Short chain length polyglycerol esters have excellent foaming ability but relatively low foam stability. The optimal weight fractions of the short-chain polyglyceryl esters and polyglyceryl mono-stearate mixtures with respect to good foaminess and foam stability upon Ostwald ripening are obtained. The reported physicochemical characterization of the water-soluble polyglycerol esters could be of interest to increase the range of their applicability in practice.

High-barrier, flexible, hydrophobic, and biodegradable cellulose-based films prepared by ascorbic acid regeneration and low temperature plasma technologies.

Regenerated cellulose (RC) films are considered a sustainable packaging material that can replace non-degradable petroleum-based plastics. However, their susceptibility to water vapor and oxygen can limit their effectiveness in protecting products. This study introduces a novel approach for enhancing RC films to create durable, flexible, hydrophobic, high-barrier, and biodegradable packaging materials. By exploring the impact of ascorbic acid coagulation bath treatment and plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) on the properties of RC films, we found that the coagulation bath treatment facilitated the organized reconfiguration of cellulose chains, while PECVD applied a dense SiOx coating on the film surface. The results demonstrated a significant enhancement in water vapor and oxygen barrier properties of the composite film, almost reaching the level of commercial barrier films. Moreover, the composite film displayed exceptional biodegradability, fully degrading in soil within 35 days. Additionally, it showcased impressive mechanical strength, hydrophobic characteristics, and freshness preservation, positioning it as a valuable option for bio-based high-barrier packaging applications.