Jinwen Zeng , Minjie Qin , Mingzhe Jiang , Shaochi Wang , Xinyue Xie , Lijia Li , Wei Ren , Penghui Shao , Xiao Xiao , Xubiao Luo
{"title":"Tailor-made adsorbent materials on machine learning instructions for efficient purification of heavy metal contaminants in wastewater","authors":"Jinwen Zeng , Minjie Qin , Mingzhe Jiang , Shaochi Wang , Xinyue Xie , Lijia Li , Wei Ren , Penghui Shao , Xiao Xiao , Xubiao Luo","doi":"10.1016/j.efmat.2025.12.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.efmat.2025.12.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Heavy metal pollution is becoming an increasingly serious environmental and public health concern. As a result, developing efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable wastewater treatment technologies has become a pressing challenge. Adsorption technology has emerged as a promising solution due to its flexibility, simplicity, and economic advantages. However, conventional adsorbent design methods rely heavily on empirical approaches and trial-and-error experimentation, leading to inefficiencies and limitations. In recent years, machine learning (ML) has emerged as a powerful tool for accelerating material discovery and optimizing adsorption processes. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of ML applications in adsorbent material design, focusing on key algorithms, data-driven methodologies, and their role in improving adsorption performance. It explores innovative ML applications in developing high-performance adsorbents, emphasizing relevant data sources, feature engineering techniques, and preprocessing strategies critical for model accuracy. Additionally, we discuss the major challenges and limitations of integrating ML into adsorption studies, including data scarcity, model interpretability, and computational costs. Finally, we outline future research directions to advance the tailored design of adsorbent materials and foster the sustainable development of wastewater treatment technologies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100481,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Functional Materials","volume":"5 1","pages":"Pages 26-42"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147755767","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Rashed Mia , Mukta Banik Tuli , MD Arafat Hossen , Sayama Akter Rimi , Sadia Rahman , Md Rakib Hasan Raju , Nusrat Jahan Mithi , Khan Rajib Hossain
{"title":"Hydrogel-based nanocomposites for enhanced environmental remediation","authors":"Rashed Mia , Mukta Banik Tuli , MD Arafat Hossen , Sayama Akter Rimi , Sadia Rahman , Md Rakib Hasan Raju , Nusrat Jahan Mithi , Khan Rajib Hossain","doi":"10.1016/j.efmat.2025.12.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.efmat.2025.12.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Nanocomposites based on hydrogels have garnered significant attention as a class of advanced materials well-suited for environmental remediation applications due to their distinctive architecture, composition, and functionalities. By integrating nanoparticles into these hydrophilic three-dimensional polymer networks, mechanical strength can be enhanced to match that of composite materials, and their adsorption and catalytic properties may yield robust multifunctional products. With their high porosity, well-developed swelling capacity, and adjustable physicochemical characteristics, aqua/gels serve as an excellent means for capturing and degrading pollutants, such as heavy metals, dyes, pharmaceuticals, and microplastics, from wastewater streams. Matrices made of natural or synthetic polymers (such as chitosan, alginate, and polyacrylic acid) that incorporate nanomaterials such as TiO<sub>2</sub>, Cr<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3,</sub> ZnO, PbO, CuS, CdS, ZnS, and GO, etc., function as selective adsorbents with photocatalytic degradation capabilities. This review discusses recent progress in the design and synthesis of hydrogel-based nanocomposites for environmental remediation, focusing on ion exchange, adsorption, and redox mechanisms, while considering their sensitivity to pH, temperature, and ionic strength. The paper also addresses biodegradability and sustainability features in hydrogel systems for environmental applications. Hydrogel-based nanocomposites offer a green and effective solution to reduce environmental pollution in water treatment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100481,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Functional Materials","volume":"5 1","pages":"Pages 74-88"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147755720","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Solid-state electrolytes for CO2 electroreduction: From mechanisms to applications","authors":"Kai Zhang , Wenfu Xie , Qiang Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.efmat.2025.12.006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.efmat.2025.12.006","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Conventional liquid CO<sub>2</sub> electroreduction faces carbonate loss, flooding, and product dilution. Separation energy and stability costs remain high. Solid-state electrolytes (SSEs) offer an alternative. They separate ionic transport from bulk liquid, suppress carbonate formation and flooding, which enables high-purity and high-concentration products at relevant current densities. This review links microenvironment mechanisms factors—pH, water activity, ion speciation, and electric fields—to ionic conductivity, stability and high-frequency resistance. Moreover, this review maps the evolution and taxonomy of SSEs, including dense ionomers, inorganic solids, and porous composites. Then, this review analyzes key challenges: humidity and salt management, mechanical integrity, chemical compatibility, thermal effects, and structural changes in porous media. Next, this review summarizes device-level strategies: electrode–electrolyte interface design, thin SSEs with buffer layers, multi-chamber reactors, and tandem reactor design. Finally, it points out three potential ways to develop solid-state electrolyte systems. Overall, SSE-based CO<sub>2</sub> reduction reaction converts long-standing bottlenecks into engineered variables and enables efficient, stable, and scalable product streams.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100481,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Functional Materials","volume":"5 1","pages":"Pages 11-25"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147755722","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Graphene quantum dot-enabled dual-modal fluorescence/ colorimetry detection of formaldehyde","authors":"Shu-hui Huo, Nan Yang, Mengya Qin, Xiaonan Zhang, Junhao Liu, Penggang Lang, Xiaohui Deng, Pengxin Zhou, Zhengang Han, Yanjun Feng, Zhilan Wang, Xiaoquan Lu","doi":"10.1016/j.efmat.2025.11.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.efmat.2025.11.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>While methods for gaseous formaldehyde (HCHO) detection are well-established, rapid and sensitive sensing in aqueous matrices remains a challenge. To address this gap, we developed a dual-mode sensing platform based on a nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dots/o-phenylenediamine-Ag<sup>+</sup> (NGQD/OPD-Ag<sup>+</sup>) system for HCHO analysis in aqueous matrices. In this system, Ag<sup>+</sup> catalyzes the oxidation of OPD, whose product quenches NGQD fluorescence via a FRET mechanism. The presence of HCHO inhibits this oxidation, resulting in complementary ratiometric fluorescence and colorimetric signal changes. This method achieved high sensitivity with detection limits of 0.54 μM (fluorescence) and 1.33 μM (colorimetry), excellent selectivity, and was successfully applied for the visual detection of HCHO in real water samples using a smartphone-integrated paper sensor. This work provides a robust and practical solution for rapid on-site monitoring of HCHO in aqueous matrices.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100481,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Functional Materials","volume":"5 1","pages":"Pages 56-64"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147755769","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Chenxi Ma , Wenwen Yuan , Yu Zhang , Ping Ning , Shikun Wen , Junya Wang
{"title":"Study on the performance and mechanism of in-situ introducing secondary ligands to construct efficient CoNi-MOFs photocatalysts for CO2 reduction","authors":"Chenxi Ma , Wenwen Yuan , Yu Zhang , Ping Ning , Shikun Wen , Junya Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.efmat.2025.12.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.efmat.2025.12.004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This work demonstrates a rational ligand-tuning strategy to enhance the photocatalytic CO<sub>2</sub> reduction performance of bimetallic CoNi-MOFs. By introducing secondary organic ligands (e.g., terephthalic acid, PTA) in situ during the synthesis of the primary DOT-based framework, a series of composite-ligand MOFs were successfully fabricated. Systematic investigation revealed that the type and ratio of the secondary ligand profoundly influence the photocatalytic activity. Notably, the optimized material with a 1:1 DOT/PTA ligand ratio achieved a significant CO yield of 7589.29 μmol g<sup>−1</sup> within 5 h, significantly surpassing the performance of the single-ligand counterpart (5059.42 μmol g<sup>−1</sup> within 5 h). Characterization results attributed this enhancement to the unique porous spherical morphology of the DOT/PTA (1:1) MOF, which facilitates CO<sub>2</sub> adsorption/activation and exposes abundant active sites. Furthermore, this composite ligand system exhibits superior light-harvesting capability and more efficient separation and migration of photogenerated charge carriers compared to the parent MOF. In situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) analysis further elucidated that the CO<sub>2</sub> reduction proceeds via a reaction pathway involving the ∗COOH intermediate. This work offers deep insights into designing efficient MOF photocatalysts through precise ligand engineering.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100481,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Functional Materials","volume":"5 1","pages":"Pages 65-73"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147755770","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pei Wang , Zhongwang Ruan , Lijun Liao , Ying Xie , Zhenzi Li , Wei Zhou
{"title":"Oxygen vacancy engineered ultra-wide bandgap mesoporous Al2O3 towards optimized H2O2 photosynthesis","authors":"Pei Wang , Zhongwang Ruan , Lijun Liao , Ying Xie , Zhenzi Li , Wei Zhou","doi":"10.1016/j.efmat.2026.02.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.efmat.2026.02.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Photocatalytic hydrogen peroxide (H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>) production offers a sustainable alternative to the energy-intensive anthraquinone process. While metal oxides are promising catalysts, Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> is typically limited by its wide bandgap, insulating nature, and poor solar light absorption. This work introduces oxygen vacancies into mesoporous Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> via a facile NaBH<sub>4</sub> thermal treatment to dramatically enhance its photocatalytic performance. The defective Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> demonstrated excellent photocatalytic activity in both tetracycline degradation and H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> production. The optimized mesoporous Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>-0.2, achieves an exceptional H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> production rate of 2866 μmol g<sup>−1</sup> h<sup>−1</sup> under AM 1.5G, which is ∼2 times higher than that of pristine Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>. Comprehensive characterizations including density functional theory (DFT) calculations confirm the successful formation of oxygen vacancies, and the defect state reduces the bandgap from 5.27 to 3.49 eV, shifts the conduction band to a more negative potential (−0.81 V), and significantly improves charge separation and electron transfer efficiency. Mechanistic studies reveal that the reaction proceeds primarily via an oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) pathway, with superoxide radicals (·O<sub>2</sub><sup>−</sup>) acting as crucial intermediates. This study demonstrates that oxygen vacancy engineering is a highly effective strategy for activating wide-bandgap metal oxides like Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> for efficient solar-driven H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> photosynthesis.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100481,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Functional Materials","volume":"5 1","pages":"Pages 1-10"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147755721","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Advances in nanofiltration membrane pore size adjustment techniques: A review","authors":"Mengzhao Liu, Fengzhi Yu, Liwei Niu, Hong Chi","doi":"10.1016/j.efmat.2025.02.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.efmat.2025.02.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>With the rapid advancement of the renewable energy industry, the strategic significance of precise pore size regulation in nanofiltration membranes (NF) has become a central research focus, particularly as a critical technical pathway for ion separation challenges such as lithium extraction from salt lake brines. This review summarizes recent research progress in pore size regulation methods for NF and discusses the challenges of separating ions with similar sizes, such as magnesium and lithium. The discussion commences with an exploration of the Donnan effect and pore sieving mechanism inherent to NF. The relationship between new monomer structures, including organic framework materials and novel polymer monomers, and pore size regulation is analyzed. The significant potential of innovative monomer designs for pore size control and the critical role of organic framework materials in enhancing water permeability and retention efficiency are highlighted. Furthermore, post-treatment methods, which play a crucial role in improving NF pore properties, are emphasized for their advantages in simplicity, uniformity, and effectiveness in enhancing hydrophilicity, antifouling properties, and precise pore size regulation. This review concludes with a summary and forward-looking on the future pore size regulation techniques for NF, identifying critical challenges such as enhancing rejection performance and augmenting permeate flux. This work aims to provide valuable insights for the application of NF technology in water treatment and lithium resource recovery, thereby advancing the broader discourse on sustainable resource management and technological innovation in the renewable energy industry.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100481,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Functional Materials","volume":"4 1","pages":"Pages 65-78"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145765858","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yumeng Xu , Chuanxu Wei , Ying Xu , Hanwu Zhang , Lianghu Su , Chaoqun Tan
{"title":"Treating waste with waste: New insight into phosphorus removal by graphitic carbon nitride modified water treatment sludge-based ceramsite","authors":"Yumeng Xu , Chuanxu Wei , Ying Xu , Hanwu Zhang , Lianghu Su , Chaoqun Tan","doi":"10.1016/j.efmat.2024.11.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.efmat.2024.11.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study developed a novel ceramsite adsorbent, combining water treatment sludge (WTS) and graphite carbon nitride, which aimed at removing phosphate from wastewater to realize the sustainable development strategy of ‘treating waste with waste’. The optimal conditions for the preparation of N-modified WTS (NWTS)-based ceramsite were determined as follows: NWTS: bentonite: CaCO<sub>3</sub> = 1:0.4:0.5, preheating at 450 °C for 15 min, and calcinating at 1100 °C for 15 min. The study examined the effects of pH, ceramsite dosage, initial phosphorus concentration, and temperature on phosphate removal, and it assessed the potential risk of heavy metal release from the ceramsite during application. The result indicated that phosphorus adsorption of the ceramsite reached 0.5 mg/g at pH = 6, T = 303 K, P<sub>initial</sub> = 1 mg/L and dosage of 2 g/L, achieving 100 % removal efficiency. The adsorption process of phosphate by ceramsite followed pseudo-second order kinetic and the Sips model, suggesting that the adsorption mechanism involved multilayer chemisorption. Ligand exchange reaction was the primary driver of adsorption, with hydrogen bonding further augmenting the adsorption efficiency. Additionally, the heavy metal content released by the ceramsite was significantly below the relevant standard limits, confirming its excellent feasibility and safety. These characteristics suggested that the ceramsite adsorbent had broad application potential in actual wastewater treatment process.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100481,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Functional Materials","volume":"4 1","pages":"Pages 55-64"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145765859","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Juan Zhai , Hengyang Mao , Bin He , Tong Jia , Shouyong Zhou , Rizhi Chen , Yijiang Zhao
{"title":"A review of recent development in the enhancement mechanism of catalytic membranes for wastewater treatment","authors":"Juan Zhai , Hengyang Mao , Bin He , Tong Jia , Shouyong Zhou , Rizhi Chen , Yijiang Zhao","doi":"10.1016/j.efmat.2025.02.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.efmat.2025.02.004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The world is currently grappling with the pressing issues of water scarcity and water pollution. In this context, the rational treatment of wastewater holds immense significance for social, economic, and human development. Membrane separation technology is one of the effective methods for treating wastewater, but its efficiency is limited by membrane fouling. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) can generate reactive oxygen species (ROSs) with strong oxidizing properties to remove recalcitrant organic pollutants which are difficult to remove by traditional methods. Membrane catalysis technology is a cutting-edge technology in current wastewater treatment, which achieves efficient wastewater treatment by coupling membrane separation and catalysis dual functions. This article critically reviews the recent development in the enhancement mechanism of catalytic membranes for wastewater treatment, including the development process, achievements, challenges and shortcomings in practical applications. Focus on the catalytic mechanism, explore the roles of radicals and nonradicals in the degradation of pollutants, and systematically study the limiting mechanisms of membrane catalysis processes, such as reaction conditions, catalyst and pollutant properties. Ultimately, we proposed three strategies: combining radical and nonradical interactions, considering operating conditions, and activating the inherent inert components of membrane materials, in order to enhance mechanism of catalytic membrane wastewater treatment process. We look forward to providing theoretical and practical guidance for the design of efficient and environmentally friendly catalytic membranes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100481,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Functional Materials","volume":"4 1","pages":"Pages 79-98"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145765861","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Qianyu Pan , Chuqiao Wang , Peng Zhan , Fangfang Zhao , Hongling Dai , Yuying Hu , Fengping Hu , Xiaoming Peng
{"title":"Generation and regulation of high-valent metal species in advanced oxidation processes","authors":"Qianyu Pan , Chuqiao Wang , Peng Zhan , Fangfang Zhao , Hongling Dai , Yuying Hu , Fengping Hu , Xiaoming Peng","doi":"10.1016/j.efmat.2024.12.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.efmat.2024.12.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Emerging pollutants are highly stable, with low content but great harm, and traditional water treatment methods are difficult to completely remove them. In the actual water treatment process of advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), free radicals are consumed by co-existing substances in water such as natural organic matter and inorganic ions, resulting in a sharp decrease in oxidation efficiency. AOPs dominated by high-valent metal species have excellent selectivity and outstanding anti-interference ability, attracting extensive attention from some research. This paper reviewed the types, identification and detection, and formation mechanism of high-valent metal-oxo species in AOPs. We also proposed and summarized the future strategies for regulating the generation of high-valent metal-oxo species, providing some thoughts for research on advanced oxidation processes mainly based on high-valent metal-oxo species, which could further provide key information on the feasibility of the technology and future research directions by AOPs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100481,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Functional Materials","volume":"4 1","pages":"Pages 1-10"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145765862","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}