Lignin-rich industrial streams represent an abundant but underutilized source of renewable aromatic carbon. Efficient biological conversion requires microbial hosts capable of metabolizing chemically diverse lignin-derived aromatic compounds; however, such capabilities are typically found in environmental bacteria, which are constrained by physiological and metabolic limitations. Sphingobium lignivorans SYK-6 harbors extensive aromatic catabolic pathways, but its inability to utilize glucose and its methionine auxotrophy have limited its use as a production host. Here, we identified the metabolic basis of these constraints and systematically rewired the underlying pathways to overcome them. Introduction of a heterologous glucose transporter, reconstruction of methionine biosynthesis, chromosomal integration of pathway genes, and adaptive laboratory evolution collectively enabled robust growth on glucose while eliminating methionine auxotrophy. The engineered strain converted lignin-derived aromatics in oxygen-soda-anthraquinone pulping black liquor derived from Japanese cedar, achieving high-yield production of the polymer precursor 2-pyrone-4,6-dicarboxylic acid (PDC) (2.71 g/L and >130 mol% conversion relative to major quantified aromatics). We further show that gluconolactonase can substitute for 6-phosphogluconolactonase in the Entner-Doudoroff pathway, demonstrating that central carbon metabolism can accommodate functionally analogous enzymes. Together, these results provide a metabolically rewired SYK-6 strain as a platform for the valorization of industrial lignin streams and suggest that overcoming physiological and metabolic constraints can enable non-model aromatic-degrading bacteria to function as industrial production hosts.
Liquid metal-based thermal interface materials offer superior thermal conductivity and fluidity but are limited in practical applications by their inherently low electrical resistivity. Here, we present an interface engineering strategy that overcomes this fundamental trade-off, enabling the synthesis of GaIn-B featuring a bimodal particle size distribution. This structure simultaneously exhibits a non-contact network feature that effectively prevents electrical percolation while maintaining efficient thermal transport. GaIn-B exhibits a significant thermal conductivity of approximately 16 W m-1 K-1 and an electrical resistivity exceeding 1011 ohm cm. We developed a phenomenological model based on effective medium theory to quantitatively describe and predict the critical conditions for breaking the thermal-electrical trade-off. The simplicity and scalability of the GaIn-B synthesis process enable kilogram-scale production, making it highly suitable for industrial applications.
The shapes and material properties of cotton (Gossypium spp.) seed coat trichoblasts form the basis of a multibillion-dollar natural fiber industry. As such, these highly specialized cells are low-hanging fruit for intentional trait engineering. However, broad success will require more mechanistic knowledge of their systems-level cellular controls. This time-series study integrates daily measurements of purified fiber transcriptomes and proteomes with multiscale fiber phenotyping datasets that span the same developmental interval. Abundance profiles of the subcellular proteomes are the foundation of the analyses. This resource article provides direct information about which homoeologs operate and offers informative depictions of how compartmentalized cellular systems change during developmental transitions. Prediction accuracy was partially validated by analyzing protein expression group 11, which contained multiple known secondary cell wall (CW) cellulose synthases together with dozens of unknown proteins, and displayed an averaged expression profile that strongly correlated with a sharp state transition in cellulose microfibril alignment and increased cellulose content. The dataset as a whole can serve as a hypothesis-generating tool to guide future experiments related to CW glycome remodeling, morphogenesis, reversible tissue formation, and growth rate control. Integration of mRNA and protein abundance revealed widespread evidence of post-transcriptional control. In addition, there were hundreds of transcriptionally controlled genes with different time points of transition. This latter gene set can be used to more reliably analyze transcriptional control networks and to generate collections of gene expression drivers for cotton fiber research. The protein and transcript abundance profiles are organized into user-friendly tables and a web interface that can be searched using any plant ortholog of interest based on developmental time, abundance, annotations, or phenotypic association.
In promising rechargeable magnesium batteries (RMBs), while empirical Cl- addition to boron-based electrolytes optimizes Mg2+ solvation structure and desolvation process, the scarcity of comparative halide anion studies has hindered the development of a systematic halide chemistry theory for electrolyte design. Br- offers moderate solubility and mass efficiency comparable to Cl-, superior to F- and I-, positioning it as an ideal platform to decouple the effects of halide identity on reaction kinetics, bridging a critical gap in fundamental mechanistic insights. Herein, leveraging the magnesium phenyl fluoroborate complex (MPFBC) electrolyte, we systematically synthesize MPFBC-Cl, MPFBC-Br, and the control electrolytes to elucidate how Cl- and Br- influence Mg plating/stripping kinetics from the bulk electrolyte to the interface. Specifically, the lower charge density and larger ionic radius of Br- compared with Cl- weaken Coulombic interactions with Mg2+, thereby facilitating ionic cluster dissociation and boosting bulk conductivity. The higher polarizability and chemical softness of Br- relative to Cl- drive stronger specific adsorption at the Mg interface, thereby reconstructing the inner Helmholtz plane and reducing the nucleation overpotential. Furthermore, Br- promotes the formation of Mg-Br species in the SEI, which accelerates Mg2+ transport across the interface. Benefiting from multiscale modification, the Mg|MPFBC-Br|Mg cell demonstrates improved Mg plating/stripping kinetics, evidenced by a low overpotential (<220 mV) and stable cycling for 1000 h at 1.0 mA cm-2, outperforming MPFBC-Cl and most conventional electrolyte systems. This study unveils the halide chemistry of Br- in accelerating Mg plating/stripping kinetics, offering critical insights toward the rational electrolyte design for next-generation RMBs.
Lipid-binding domains, traditionally isolated from natural proteins, are essential tools for probing membrane lipid dynamics and specialized cellular compartments. Despite diverse applications, a general strategy for their engineering remains elusive. Here we present a robust and high-throughput method for monitoring protein-lipid interactions, named the cell surface liposome binding (CLiB) assay. Using the assay, we conducted directed evolution of the PX domain from SnxA, isolating high-affinity variants specific for phosphatidylinositol 3,5-bisphosphate (PI(3,5)P2). Combining the CLiB assay with next-generation sequencing enabled parallel analysis of >6,000 clones, comprehensively identifying key residues critical for lipid binding. An engineered variant, PX-SnxAGV, functioned as a lipid biosensor in yeast and mammalian cells, visualizing PI(3,5)P2-enriched membrane subdomains upon hyperosmotic shock and during microautophagy, thereby suggesting localized PI(3,5)P2 synthesis within spatially restricted regions. This study provides a framework for on-demand generation of lipid-binding probes, facilitating the discovery of membrane compartments characterized by unique lipid compositions.
In this work, a zinc nanoparticle-halloysite nanotube composite (Zn NP@HNT) was employed to modify a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) for nitrite sensing. The nanocomposite was prepared through a simple synthesis route and systematically analysed by XRD, SEM, and electrochemical measurements, confirming its well-defined morphology, large active surface, and superior conductivity. The Zn NP@HNT/GCE displayed remarkable electrocatalytic activity for sodium nitrite (NaNO2) detection, which can be ascribed to the cooperative effect of Zn NPs and the HNT framework that enhanced charge transfer and analyte interaction. The fabricated electrode delivered a broad linear response range with a low detection limit of 0.1888 μM, together with excellent stability, reproducibility, and resistance to interference. These attributes highlight Zn NP@HNT/GCE as a cost-efficient, robust, and reliable sensing platform with strong potential for applications in food safety, environmental monitoring, and biomedical analysis.
The quality uniformity of Chinese patent medicines is a core factor ensuring the stability of clinical efficacy and a key driver to promoting the high-quality and international development of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM). Due to the influence of multiple factors, such as geographical origin and processing methods of Chinese herbal pieces, their chemical composition inherently fluctuates. Moreover, it is difficult to control batch-to-batch variations during production, which easily leads to fluctuations in the quality of the final products. Traditional evaluation methods, primarily based on chemical components, only reflect compositional uniformity, but struggle to comprehensively assess consistency in therapeutic efficacy. Therefore, it is crucial to develop an evaluation strategy that integrates multi-dimensional indicators and strongly correlates with pharmacological outcomes. This study systematically reviewed the current landscape of quality uniformity evaluation for Chinese patent medicines, highlighting the limitations of existing systems in integrating chemical, formulation, and biological dimensions. Furthermore, it proposed the establishment of a comprehensive multi-dimensional evaluation system centered on "chemical uniformity-formulation parameter uniformity-biological uniformity-efficacy uniformity". By employing a combined weighting method integrating the Analytic Hierarchy Process(AHP) and the CRITIC method, a "Uniformity Index " was established as a comprehensive evaluation metric, facilitating the scientific transition from "compositional uniformity" to "efficacy uniformity". This work ultimately aims to provide a scientific pathway for evaluating the quality uniformity of Chinese patent medicines, thereby supporting the standardization and internationalization of the TCM industry.
Escalating regulatory pressures have accelerated the development of nature-based alternatives to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) for hydrophobic textile coatings, driven by concerns over persistence and toxicity. Despite substantial progress, research remains fragmented, with diverse methodologies and limited comparative evaluation of environmental and industrial performance. This review systematically examines wet and dry approaches for applying PFAS-free, natural-based low-surface-energy materials and inducing surface roughness, with a focus on sustainability metrics including energy and water use, solvent consumption, time efficiency, scalability, versatility, waste generation, cost, performance, and durability. Each method is additionally evaluated through an integrated sustainability assessment combining environmental impact and industrial feasibility to identify the most practical and eco-friendly strategies. By highlighting critical bottlenecks and mapping opportunities in process design for biobased chemistries, this review provides a strategic roadmap to accelerate the understanding of the current state and to take an initial step toward upscaling and industrial adoption of PFAS-free alternatives and hydrophobic finishes for natural textiles. In addition, a frequency analysis of reported techniques from 2008 to 2024 reveals temporal trends in methodological development and highlights the dominant approaches and emerging technologies driving the transition toward more sustainable hydrophobic textile engineering.
Direct air capture (DAC) represents a pivotal technology for achieving negative carbon emissions, offering the potential to extract CO2 directly from ambient air and thereby contribute to global Net Zero targets. Despite its promise, large-scale DAC deployment remains constrained by substantial energy requirements and economic challenges. This review provides a comprehensive and critical assessment of recent advances in DAC technologies, emphasizing their development from tailored chemistry to process engineering. Each capture strategy is systematically examined with particular focus on capture mechanism, energy consumption minimization, capture efficiency enhancement, and environmental impact mitigation. Special attention is given to the synergistic integration of DAC systems with renewable energy sources and industrial waste heat recovery, which offers viable pathways to lower overall energy intensity and improve scalability. Furthermore, this review compares commercialized DAC technologies with those currently under development, providing a holistic discussion of their technical progress, cost trajectories, and deployment challenges. Finally, key insights and future directions are presented to guide scientists, engineers, and policymakers in designing tailored DAC solutions, optimizing system performance, and accelerating the implementation of sustainable and economically viable carbon removal strategies.
The oil and gas sector has experienced substantial growth in recent decades, leading to a significant increase in produced water containing hazardous pollutants that frequently surpass environmental standards and regulations. This study underscores the importance of developing sustainable and cost-effective treatment methods, particularly clay-based approaches that are renowned for their availability, affordability, and environmental sustainability. A bibliometric analysis was conducted to examine global trends in clay-based wastewater treatment from 1996 to 2025, using data from Web of Science and Scopus, which identified 1022 relevant publications. Visualization tools such as VOSviewer and SciVal were employed to map research networks and identify leading authors, institutions, countries, and key themes. The results demonstrate a considerable rise in scholarly articles on the use of clay-based materials for treating produced water, with China emerging as the foremost contributor. Keyword analysis revealed primary themes including adsorption, clay-based composites, and wastewater reuse, indicating a transition toward more sustainable water management practices. This study further emphasizes the vital role of clay-based technologies in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6 by fostering water reuse and pollution reduction. It also highlights the necessity for continued research on produced water to diminish contamination levels and operational costs, offering valuable insights for researchers, policymakers, and industry stakeholders regarding material innovation, hybrid treatment systems, and techno-economic assessments to enhance scalability and efficiency.
Tritium separation from aqueous effluents is notoriously difficult due to the nearly identical physicochemical properties of tritiated and light water. Herein, we present a chemically programmable, dual-functional graphene oxide (GO) membrane for highly selective tritium removal under ambient conditions. By interfacially co-assembling carboxyl- (─COOH) and sulfonic acid-functionalized (─SO3H) GO, a mixed membrane (MIX) was constructed to synergistically regulate interfacial chemistry and nanoconfined transport. The MIX membrane delivers a single-pass tritium removal efficiency exceeding 21% and a separation factor > 1.2 $>1.2$ , while maintaining an exceptional water permeability ( > 13 L m - 2 h - 1 bar - 1 $>13\nobreakspace \text{L m}^{-2}\text{ h}^{-1}\text{ bar}^{-1}$ ), significantly outperforming single-functionalized counterparts. Mechanistic studies reveal that ─COOH domains drive the hydration-assisted interfacial enrichment of tritiated water (HTO), whereas ─SO3H sites provide strong adsorption stabilization to facilitate reversible isotope exchange. Furthermore, operation-induced interlayer expansion maximizes active site accessibility. This work demonstrates a cooperative strategy integrating interfacial chemistry and nanoconfinement engineering in 2D membranes, offering a low-energy, high-throughput platform for the remediation of tritiated radioactive wastewater.
This chapter summarizes the current knowledge on the practical, methodological, and interpretative aspects of applying metaproteomics in water biotechnology. We outline the full metaproteomic workflow-from sampling and protein extraction to LC-MS/MS acquisition, database construction, quantitative analysis, and bioinformatic interpretation-and emphasize critical considerations specific to complex matrices such as EPS-rich biofilms, granular sludge, and low-biomass drinking water. Case studies illustrate how metaproteomics can clarify mechanisms of micropollutant degradation, nitrogen-transforming pathways, biofilm functional architecture, and microbial resilience under operational stress. Recent advances in data-independent acquisition, metagenome-informed databases, and integrative multi-omics are shown to substantially improve depth, reproducibility, and functional resolution. Finally, we discuss emerging applications in wastewater-based epidemiology, where metaproteomics complement nucleic-acid-based surveillance by enabling the detection of large biomolecule biomarkers of population health and industrial activity. Although metaproteomics is already being applied across a wide range of water cycle contexts and is producing promising, robust results, several challenges, including limitations in analytical chemistry, database completeness, and bioinformatics workflows, continue to hinder its broader implementation. Continued technical research and innovation are therefore essential to fully unlock its potential in water biotechnology.
Reliable ammonia detection in the high parts-per-million range calls for low-cost, robust, and substrate-versatile sensing platforms. Despite extensive research on graphene-based sensing materials, most existing approaches rely on expensive synthesis routes, hazardous chemicals, or complex transfer procedures that limit practical deployment. This work presents a graphene-like composite film synthesised by a simple, scalable, low-temperature co-pyrolysis of graphite powder, sugar, and poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS) at 200 °C for 4 h using only water-processable, benign precursors. The film deposits as a uniform, conductive coating onto five dissimilar substrates (glass, paper, wood, rubber, and plastic), conducting ohmically on all of them. BET analysis confirms a mesoporous architecture (specific surface area 38.7 m2/g, average pore diameter 11.6 nm) that facilitates analyte diffusion. As a chemo-resistive ammonia sensor, the film responds linearly across 300-1200 ppm (R2 = 0.976), with a limit of detection of ∼60 ppm and a response time of ∼58 s and shows clear selectivity for NH3 over common volatile organic compounds. Density-functional calculations locate the origin of this selectivity at the PSS sulfonate group: NH3 undergoes proton transfer to form an ammonium ion pair (Löwdin Δq(S) = -0.106 e), while the organic interferents and water remain weakly bound spectators (|Δq(S)| ≤ 0.019 e). Ambient humidity acts as a mechanistic enabler of the proton-transfer step without generating a competing response. This single-step aqueous process offers a scalable, low-cost route to substrate-agnostic ammonia sensors for industrial and agricultural monitoring.
The rational design of highly efficient catalysts and the development of novel reaction pathways are eternal themes and central challenges in the field of chemical synthesis. Here, we design a dual-engine catalytic system for CO2 hydrogenation to aromatics via a synergistic C2+ alcohols/olefins pathway. The dual-engine catalytic system initiated by FeCo active sites and CuZnAl promoters guarantees the continuous C2+ alcohols/olefins supply, delivering a record-breaking aromatics yield (31.1%) with the aid of aromatization component H-ZSM-5. Multiple characterization and theoretical simulations reveal that C2+ alcohols trigger carbon-chain growth through oxonium-mediated rapid carbocation generation via a low-barrier "protonation-dehydration" sequence, whereas olefins serve as π-substrates to propagate carbon-chain. This synergy accelerates both oligomerization and subsequent aromatization, effectively circumventing both the sluggish initial C─C coupling of methanol-mediated pathways and the high-barrier direct protonation step in olefins-mediated pathways. Techno-economic analysis (TEA) further demonstrates the superior industrial viability of this novel process. This work establishes a new paradigm for designing efficient catalytic systems and engineering process toward sustainable CO2 valorization.
Direct compression(DC) technology has been successfully applied in the continuous manufacturing of chemical tablet owing to simplified process and low energy consumption. However, due to its complex composition, poor fluidity, poor compressibility, and strong hygroscopicity, the direct compression of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) powder faces significant challenges, which seriously restrict the industrialization of this technology and continuous manufacturing mode in the field of TCM. This study focused on the applicability of DC of TCM powder. Furthermore, the latest research progresses in improving the tableting performance through specific strategies such as single excipient modification, functional excipient co-processing development, and particle design(such as the construction of porous particles and composite particles) were systematically reviewed. Additionally, this study discussed the key technologies and compatibility requirements of its integration with the continuous manufacturing process, aiming to provide a practical theoretical basis and technical ideas for promoting the development and application of efficient and stable continuous DC technology of TCM tablet.
Metallic biopolymer-based nanomaterials have emerged as a sustainable and versatile class of hybrid nanostructures, offering environmentally benign alternatives to conventionally synthesized nanomaterials. This review provides a comprehensive and critical assessment of recent advances in metallic and metal oxide nanomaterials engineered using natural biopolymers, including polysaccharides, proteins and nucleic acid derivatives. Particular emphasis is placed on the fundamental interactions between biopolymers and metal ions or atoms, where coordination through polar functional groups governs nucleation dynamics, particle growth, morphology, crystallinity, surface chemistry and colloidal stability. The review systematically discusses the fabrication of diverse biopolymer-metal architectures, including biopolymer-mediated nanoparticles, biopolymer@MOFs, nanogels and nanotubular systems, together with widely employed synthetic approaches such as in situ polymerization, template-assisted assembly, melt intercalation and solution-phase methodologies. Structure-property relationships are critically correlated with functional performance across a broad spectrum of applications, including antimicrobial platforms, food packaging, catalysis, environmental remediation, sensing, biomedicine, drug delivery and energy-related technologies. Emerging strategies involving hierarchical nanoarchitectures, bioinorganic hybrid interfaces and stimuli-responsive biopolymer matrices are further highlighted as promising avenues for next-generation multifunctional materials. Finally, the review critically addresses the major challenges associated with scalability, reproducibility, mechanistic understanding and long-term stability, while outlining future perspectives for translating biopolymer-based metallic nanomaterials from laboratory-scale innovation to practical and industrial applications.
AA-type α,ω-dihydroxy telechelic polyolefins (tPOs) are key macromonomers for the step-growth construction of circular polyolefin(-like) materials and, in particular, block-level sequence-controlled olefin block copolymers (OBCs), yet a general route to α,ω-dihydroxy tPOs directly from commodity ethylene/α-olefins has remained inaccessible. Here, a catalyst-free tandem Zn-B exchange/oxidation enables near-quantitative conversion of CCTP-derived poly(ethylene-co-α-olefin) polymeryl-Zn intermediates into AA-type α,ω-dihydroxy tPOs with >95% difunctional ratios while preserving industrially relevant microstructures and allowing scale-up to ∼60 g per batch. These tPOs and their corresponding diester tPOs undergo polycondensation to afford alternating OBCs with controlled block lengths and tunable compositions. An architecture-controlled comparison with corresponding random analogs further shows that, although the overall composition primarily determines the total crystallinity, the alternating sequence leads to a more homogeneous nanoscale physical network, lower viscoelastic dissipation, more effective strain hardening, and improved cyclic stability with reduced stress relaxation. These results demonstrate that the AA-type telechelic platform not only expands telechelic polyolefin chemistry but also enables sequence-programmable polyolefin architectures with distinct and practically meaningful performance advantages, establishing sequence control as a powerful design lever for recyclable multiblock polyolefin materials.
The scalable production of high-performance piezoelectric fibers remains a major hurdle for smart textile applications. Here, we report an in situ polarization strategy integrated into an industrially viable melt-spinning process for the continuous fabrication of piezoelectric polypropylene/barium titanate (PP/BTO) composite fibers. This approach simultaneously induces interfacial cavitation to form electret pore structures and accomplishes rapid dipole polarization under a high electric field during fiber drawing, eliminating the need for post-processing. The optimized PP/BTO fibers exhibit a high piezoelectric coefficient (d33) of 1.8 pC/N and a surface potential of -3.4 V, achieved with an ultralow poling time of 0.3 s. The fibers demonstrate exceptional flexibility and weavability, enabling their integration into large-scale textiles. As a proof-of-concept, a sensor-woven insole is constructed for real-time gait monitoring. Combined with machine learning, the system successfully recognizes different gait patterns with over 84% accuracy, showcasing significant potential for personalized rehabilitation diagnostics. This work provides an efficient and scalable pathway for manufacturing functional fibers, bridging the gap between laboratory innovation and industrial production.
Operating LiNixCoyMn1-x-yO2 (NCM, x ≥ 0.92) cathodes at high temperature/voltages (≥4.3 V or 45°C) to achieve high capacity inevitably leads to accelerated capacity fade. Despite extensive research into cycling behaviour under various cut-off voltage and phase degradations, the fundamental mechanisms governing internal phase transformations, lattice deformations, and internal stress generation remain poorly understood. By using HAADF-STEM characterization with DFT and MD simulations, we disclose a new chemo-mechanical degradation rule: lattice bending leads to the formation of O1/LiNi2O4 (Fd-3m) and unstable intermediate transition phase Ni3O4 (Cmmm), the bending and distortion of the lattice are the direct causes of internal stress. Unlike previous findings, both RS, Ni3O4/LiNi2O4 and O1 phases were detected in various crack regions. Stress concentration from bending-induced O1-LiNi2O4 and LiNi2O4-Ni3O4-RS (Fm-3m) phase transformations leads to intracrystalline cracking, impairing capacity retention. Lattice deformation can lead to the emergence of stress and the formation of micro-cracks, even during the O3-O1 phase transition. This work confirmed the relationship between phase transformation and stress in the in cracked areas and stress. Meanwhile, this research provides new insights into the degradation mechanism for lithium-ion batteries, specifically paving the way for the design and optimization of high-energy-density.
This study explores the electrochemical reduction of H2O2 on an Au electrode containing potassium thiocyanate (KSCN) in an alkaline medium. The presence of thiocyanate (SCN-) ions in the reaction system modifies the Au electrode surface (SCN--modified Au) via self-assembled compact layer formation, confirmed by voltammetry, amperometry, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Acting as a 'gatekeeper', this adsorbed layer (abbreviated as 'adlayer') simultaneously overturns the oxidative degradation of H2O2 with dynamic adsorption-desorption behavior and significantly boosts the reduction reaction. Kinetic diagnosis reveals that the reaction is irreversible and diffusion-controlled, following first-order kinetics with a transfer coefficient (α) of 0.39 ± 0.02. Key analytical merits include a broad linear dynamic range spanning 50 to 2000 µM, a sensitive detection limit of 9.95 µM and operational stability with 97% signal retention. The practical utility of the SCN--modified Au electrode is validated through successful deployment in analyzing real industrial effluents, where it achieved high recovery rates, underscoring its potential for routine environmental and industrial analysis.