Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects最新文献

{"title":"Effects of mono/di-rhamnolipids on rice growth and rhizosphere microbes under salt stress","authors":"Zhen Li ,&nbsp;Liang Sun ,&nbsp;Shengze Su ,&nbsp;Rui Wang ,&nbsp;Peng Lei ,&nbsp;Yian Gu ,&nbsp;Yongting Song ,&nbsp;Jian Gao ,&nbsp;Hong Xu","doi":"10.1016/j.colsurfa.2026.139751","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.colsurfa.2026.139751","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Salt stress severely threatens crop production, and exploring safe and efficient salt tolerance regulation technologies is of great significance. As a typical biosurfactant, rhamnolipids (RLs) exist in two main forms (mono-RLs and di-RLs) with distinct structures, but the differences in their regulatory effects on plant salt tolerance remain unclear. In this study, a mono-RLs-producing knockout strain <em>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</em> ST-3Δ<em>rhlC</em>, and a di-RLs-inducible strain ST-3 (pJN105-<em>rhlC</em>) were constructed. The two types of RLs were prepared and purified, and their effects on rice seedlings under salt stress were investigated. Results indicated that 20 mg/L RLs significantly alleviated salt stress, whereas 100 mg/L RLs inhibited rice growth. Among all treatments, The optimal solution was 20 mg/L mono-RLs (Mono-20)，which increased root dry weight by 18.9 %, enhanced chlorophyll content and K⁺/Na⁺ ratio, improved antioxidant enzyme activities, and reduced membrane lipid peroxidation damage. More importantly, Mono-20 can directionally optimize the rhizosphere microbial community structure and significantly enrich beneficial bacteria. These findings confirm the effectiveness of RLs in enhancing plant salt stress tolerance and provide theoretical support for choosing appropriate RLs types in crop cultivation in saline soils.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":278,"journal":{"name":"Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects","volume":"737 ","pages":"Article 139751"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146076668","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Study on the demulsification mechanism of O/W emulsions treated by direct current electric field","authors":"Miqi Niu ,&nbsp;Yuling Lü ,&nbsp;Tingyi Wang ,&nbsp;Fuyong Huo ,&nbsp;Xiang Ma","doi":"10.1016/j.colsurfa.2026.139807","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.colsurfa.2026.139807","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Industrial production processes generate oily wastewater with complex compositions. Without effective treatment, this wastewater severely impacts the ecological environment and causes water pollution. An analysis of the crude oil's physical properties was conducted, along with an investigation into the emulsification features of oil-in-water emulsions. Subsequently, by establishing a macro-scale experimental system, the thickness of the top oil film and the oil concentration in the bottom wastewater were selected as monitoring indicators. An investigation was performed to evaluate the influence of electric field strength, initial oil concentration, and temperature on the electro-demulsification efficiency of O/W emulsions. In addition, the coalescence mechanism of oil droplets during demulsification was investigated, and insights from molecular-level simulations were provided. Results indicate that stronger electric currents, higher temperatures, and lower initial oil concentrations yield better demulsification performance, resulting in lower final wastewater oil concentrations. This occurs because oil droplets in water carry negative charges. Molecular dynamics studies further reveal that negatively charged natural surfactants present in the O/W emulsion induce directed movement of oil droplets, leading to coalescence and separation. This technology provides an effective process solution for treating oily wastewater in oilfields and offers theoretical guidance for practical applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":278,"journal":{"name":"Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects","volume":"737 ","pages":"Article 139807"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146170974","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Self-assembled cross-linking composite electrospun nanofiber membranes: Synergistic antibacterial action and enhanced wound healing performance","authors":"Wenbo Wu ,&nbsp;Zutong Cui ,&nbsp;Qing Li ,&nbsp;Dongxue Ning ,&nbsp;Xiujuan Liu ,&nbsp;Bingbing Li ,&nbsp;Zhiwei Liu ,&nbsp;Jian Li ,&nbsp;Tifeng Jiao","doi":"10.1016/j.colsurfa.2026.139832","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.colsurfa.2026.139832","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study develops a novel polyvinyl alcohol/polyethylene oxide/polyhexamethylene biguanide hydrochloride/benzalkonium chloride (PVA/PEO/PHMB/BAC, designated POBC) electrospun nanofiber membrane with dual-antimicrobial synergy for advanced wound management. To address the inherent water solubility of PVA, glutaraldehyde vapor-phase crosslinking (POBC-crossing) was employed to enhance hydrophobicity and mechanical stability. The optimized membrane exhibited uniform fiber morphology (diameter: 170 nm) and significantly improved tensile strength (6 MPa post-crossing). FTIR and XRD analyses confirmed successful chemical crosslinking and amorphous structural characteristics. The dual antibacterial system showed a synergistic effect and exhibited good antibacterial activity against both <em>Staphylococcus aureus</em> and <em>Escherichia coli.</em> Biocompatibility was validated by high cell viability (&gt;97 %) and low hemolysis rate (2.59 %). In vivo studies on full-thickness wounds in mice revealed accelerated healing, with POBC-crossing achieving near-complete closure by day 14. Histological analysis confirmed enhanced collagen deposition, granulation tissue formation, and neovascularization, coupled with reduced IL-6 expression. The multifunctional membrane integrates optimal breathability (WVTR: 1273 g·m^-²·d^-¹), antibacterial efficacy, and biocompatibility, demonstrating potential for clinical wound dressings.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":278,"journal":{"name":"Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects","volume":"737 ","pages":"Article 139832"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146171338","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Constrain nickel bicarbonate within Ni-modified graphitized carbonized wood for efficient urea electro-oxidation","authors":"Jixin Peng ,&nbsp;Can Sheng ,&nbsp;Xinya Ye ,&nbsp;Han Xu ,&nbsp;Duping Wang ,&nbsp;Kang Xu ,&nbsp;Yuanyuan Liao ,&nbsp;Yan Qing ,&nbsp;Yiqiang Wu","doi":"10.1016/j.colsurfa.2026.139889","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.colsurfa.2026.139889","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The practical implementation of urea oxidation reaction (UOR) for energy-saving hydrogen generation is hindered by the lack of efficient and robust non-precious electrocatalysts. Herein, we design a novel hybrid catalyst comprising nickel bicarbonate anchored on a Ni-modified graphitized carbonized wood substrate (Ni(HCO₃)₂-Ni/GCW). This architecture effectively overcomes the inherent kinetic limitations and stability challenges of UOR. The hierarchical porous network of the wood-derived carbon facilitates superior mass transport and exposes numerous sites for catalyst loading. Advanced characterization and density functional theory computations uncover the pivotal role of carbonate groups in Ni(HCO₃)₂, which function as non-innocent ligands to strengthen urea adsorption and ease CO₂ product release, thereby significantly elevating UOR activity. Ni(HCO₃)₂-Ni/GCW combines a low UOR potential of 1.34 V (vs. RHE at 50 mA·cm⁻²) with outstanding operational stability. When assembled for overall urea splitting, the Pt/C||Ni(HCO₃)₂-Ni/GCW electrolyzer operates at 1.59 V to deliver 50 mA·cm⁻², achieving a notable 230 mV reduction in the cell voltage relative to conventional water splitting (1.82 V). This research establishes a new paradigm for engineering stable and highly active UOR catalysts through the strategic integration of functional materials with renewable biomass-derived scaffolds.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":278,"journal":{"name":"Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects","volume":"737 ","pages":"Article 139889"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146185348","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Tuning nanopore structure of hard carbon anodes by in situ incorporation- removal to improve Na-ion storage","authors":"Xinyi Pan ,&nbsp;Wangwang Xu ,&nbsp;Anzheng Chang ,&nbsp;Jia Yue ,&nbsp;Tianshuo Yang ,&nbsp;Wuhai Yang ,&nbsp;Dong Wang ,&nbsp;Faming Gao","doi":"10.1016/j.colsurfa.2026.139835","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.colsurfa.2026.139835","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Hard carbon, one of the most commercially promising anode materials for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs), faces challenges in balancing rate performance, initial cycle charge efficiency (ICE), and reversible capacity. To enhance specific capacity and achieve high ICE, it is essential to construct hard carbon with abundant sodium-active sites and a controllable graphitization degree. This work presents a comprehensive approach to microstructural regulation of hard carbon through in situ doping and subsequent removal, which introduces active sites and optimizes the microporous structure. It overcomes the limitations of traditional templating methods, such as excessive specific surface area, which leads to low initial coulombic efficiency and poor cycling performance. This method yields high reversible capacity (419.3 mAh g⁻¹@0.05 A g⁻¹), excellent ICE (95.88%), and outstanding cycling stability. This study presents a viable approach to enhancing the performance of porous hard carbon. It offers a rational design strategy for optimizing HC structures, improving sodium storage performance, and facilitating their practical applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":278,"journal":{"name":"Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects","volume":"737 ","pages":"Article 139835"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146185353","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Study on the mechanism of corrosion passivation of Ni-W-P-PTFE coatings in a dynamic chloride environment based on the Point Defect Model (PDM)","authors":"Miao YAN ,&nbsp;Lu REN ,&nbsp;Leixiang LIU ,&nbsp;Wei JIAN ,&nbsp;Haozheng WANG ,&nbsp;Hainan WANG","doi":"10.1016/j.colsurfa.2026.139898","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.colsurfa.2026.139898","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Electroless nickel-based coatings have become an established and significant technology for the corrosion protection of marine carbon steel structures, a consequence of their exceptional uniformity, density and passivation capability. However, under the demanding conditions of dynamic seawater immersion zones, the passivation film of conventional nickel-phosphorus coatings is prone to localised breakdown. Furthermore, its re-passivation capability and long-term stability prove inadequate, thereby limiting its long-term protective lifespan. The present study has found that incorporating PTFE particles into Ni-W-P coatings significantly improves both the structure of the passivation film and its corrosion resistance. The findings suggest that the incorporation of PTFE not only provides physical barrier protection through the \"labyrinth effect\", but more significantly modulates the composition and growth mechanism of the passivation film. In combination with dynamic potential polarisation, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and Mott-Schottky analysis, it has been confirmed that the composite coating exhibits superior repassivation capability and lower defect density. The migration and annihilation behaviour of point defects under PTFE influence was further elucidated through point defect model (PDM) theory, revealing its intrinsic mechanism in retarding coating depletion and enhancing the self-repair capability of the passivation film. This study helps to elucidate the mechanism by which PTFE-reinforced coatings enhance corrosion resistance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":278,"journal":{"name":"Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects","volume":"737 ","pages":"Article 139898"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146185356","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Free-standing ammonium vanadate nanoribbons/carbon cloth cathode for high-performance capacitive deionization","authors":"Meng Zhang ,&nbsp;Yaobin Wang ,&nbsp;Xiaoyu Jin,&nbsp;Mingqi Fang,&nbsp;Yanli Gao,&nbsp;Xiaoyuan Lu,&nbsp;Wenting Hao,&nbsp;Weiqing Kong,&nbsp;Yuanyuan Feng","doi":"10.1016/j.colsurfa.2026.139925","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.colsurfa.2026.139925","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ammonium vanadate (NH₄V₄O₁₀, NVO), featuring a high theoretical capacity and large interlayer spacing, is regarded as a promising cathode material in capacitive deionization (CDI) for alleviating global freshwater scarcity. However, its intrinsically low electrical conductivity, along with the structural degradation during repeated adsorption-desorption cycles, severely limits its practical application. Herein, we present an NVO nanoribbons and carbon cloth composite material (CC@NVO), as the cathode for CDI. For CC@NVO, interconnected carbon fiber conductive network not only provide uniform nucleation centers for NVO that effectively reduces its agglomeration problems, but also offer highly efficient path for electron transfer within the whole electrode. Meanwhile, such unique NVO nanoribbon architecture with high specific surface area and unobstructed 2D diffusion channels provides more active sites, shorter ion transport routes, and which promotes ion transport kinetics and enhances the specific capacitance (138.1 F·g⁻¹ at 0.5 A·g⁻¹). Leveraging these structural advantages, the CC@NVO electrode demonstrates exhibits a high desalination capacity (40.81 mg‧g⁻¹), high desalination rate (2.72 mg‧g⁻¹‧min⁻¹), low energy consumption (0.66 Wh‧g⁻¹), and outstanding cycling stability (91.2 % capacity retention ratio after 50 cycles). This study may provide a starting point for the development of high-performance freestanding CDI electrodes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":278,"journal":{"name":"Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects","volume":"737 ","pages":"Article 139925"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146185465","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Novel carbon nanotube/VXC-72 carbon black composite microporous layer for enhanced performance of PEMFCs","authors":"Jiawen Luo ,&nbsp;Xinyi Xiao ,&nbsp;Yunhong Jiang ,&nbsp;Yifei Chen ,&nbsp;Yijie Si ,&nbsp;Daliang Guo ,&nbsp;Jianbin Chen ,&nbsp;Lizheng Sha ,&nbsp;Huifang Zhao ,&nbsp;Jing Li ,&nbsp;Yinchao Xu ,&nbsp;Chengliang Duan ,&nbsp;Xin Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.colsurfa.2026.139837","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.colsurfa.2026.139837","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A novel microporous layer (MPL) for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) was fabricated by compositing carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with VXC-72 carbon black. The effects of varying CNT content on the MPL and gas diffusion layer (GDL), including surface morphology, pore structure, electrical resistivity, gas permeability, and water contact angle, were systematically studied. The results show that with 25 wt% CNTs, the GDL exhibited optimal performance: the lowest in-plane MPL resistivity (47.9 mΩ·cm) and through-plane GDL resistivity (69 mΩ·cm), improved surface flatness (roughness 2.18 μm), and a high-water contact angle (137°). The CNT-25 GDL also achieved an average gas permeability of 250 L·m⁻²·s⁻¹ and a porosity of 75.81 %. Corrosion current and voltage reached minimum values of 0.44 μA·cm⁻² and 0.31 V, with an Rb value of 2574 kΩ. Meanwhile, the CNT-25 PEMFCs delivered peak power densities of 0.45, 0.48, and 0.46 W·cm⁻² under 40 %, 70 %, and 100 % relative humidity, respectively. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy further confirmed reduced ohmic resistance and enhanced water management and gas transport capabilities with the CNT-25 GDL.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":278,"journal":{"name":"Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects","volume":"737 ","pages":"Article 139837"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146185510","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mechanism of phosphate-induced superlubricity at the shale/proppant interface for enhanced migration efficiency","authors":"Jiaxin Ji ,&nbsp;Fengming Zhu ,&nbsp;Chen Liang ,&nbsp;Yuhan Li ,&nbsp;Yue Sun ,&nbsp;Mingwei Zhao","doi":"10.1016/j.colsurfa.2026.139886","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.colsurfa.2026.139886","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Hydraulic fracturing significantly enhances shale oil and gas productivity by increasing formation porosity and has become a cornerstone technology for unconventional hydrocarbon development. The transport performance and distribution characteristics of proppants directly determine the effectiveness of fracture stimulation, while frictional resistance at the shale/proppant interface substantially reduces proppant transport efficiency, restricts proppant mobility toward far-field fracture regions, and ultimately compromises proppant placement quality and hydrocarbon recovery. To address these challenges, this study proposes a technical approach involving the co-injection of phosphoric acid as a lubricant additive with fracturing fluids. By simulating the interaction between phosphoric acid as a lubricant component and the shale reservoir, alumina was selected as a model proppant material (as a primary component of high-performance ceramic proppants, effectively replicating the mechanical behavior of actual proppants). The regulatory mechanism of phosphoric acid on the frictional behavior of the shale/proppant interface was systematically investigated. Experimental results demonstrate that the coefficient of friction was significantly reduced from 0.45 to 0.05 after treatment with the phosphoric acid lubricant. Molecular dynamics simulations quantified the interaction energy between phosphoric acid and the shale/ceramic proppant (respectively composed of <span><math><msub><mrow><mi>SiO</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>2</mn></mrow></msub></math></span> and <span><math><mrow><msub><mrow><mi>Al</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>2</mn></mrow></msub><msub><mrow><mi>O</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>3</mn></mrow></msub></mrow></math></span>) interface, along with the corresponding atomic pair radial distribution functions. Friction reduction is initially achieved through hydrogen bond-induced hydration during the run-in stage. This effect is subsequently maintained by hydrodynamic pressure enhancement resulting from surface smoothing in the stable-wear stage. Thus, the order-of-magnitude reduction in the friction coefficient at the shale/proppant interface is primarily driven by hydrodynamic pressure effects, with additional contributions from the hydrogen bonding network in hydration. These findings provide new insights for optimizing proppant transport and enhancing the commercial recovery of shale oil and gas.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":278,"journal":{"name":"Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects","volume":"737 ","pages":"Article 139886"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146185511","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Interfacial charge transport and band structure modulation via defect engineering in calcium-doped g-C3N4 nanorods for enhanced photocatalysis and selective wastewater dye degradation","authors":"Shreya Sinha ,&nbsp;Rahul Sharma ,&nbsp;Saurabh Pathak ,&nbsp;Jasvir Singh ,&nbsp;Rahul Singh ,&nbsp;Jasmeet Kaur ,&nbsp;Noor Jahan","doi":"10.1016/j.colsurfa.2026.139786","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.colsurfa.2026.139786","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Defect-engineered calcium-doped graphitic carbon nitride (Ca–g-C₃N₄) nanorods were synthesized to modulate interfacial charge transport and electronic structure for visible-light-driven photocatalysis. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations confirmed the semiconducting nature of pristine g-C₃N₄ and n-type degenerate behavior after Ca incorporation. Substitution of Ca into the tri-s-triazine lattice introduced lattice strain, shifted the Fermi level from –3.334 eV (g-C₃N₄) to –2.336 eV (Ca–g-C₃N₄), and generated localized electronic states within the bandgap. Density-of-states (DOS) analysis evidenced enhanced charge carrier separation and suppression of electron–hole recombination kinetics. The optimized composition (CCN0.4) exhibited superior photocatalytic activity, achieving 97 % degradation of Methylene Blue (MB) within 90 min under visible irradiation. The pseudo-first-order rate constant (0.018 min⁻¹) was approximately 2.6-fold higher than that of pristine g-C₃N₄ (0.007 min⁻¹). Bandgap narrowing from 2.57 eV to 2.36 eV increased visible-light absorption cross-section, while defect-induced surface charge redistribution enhanced electrostatic interaction and physisorption of MB (97 %). Radical scavenging experiments identified hydroxyl radicals (•OH) as the dominant reactive species, consistent with the Ca-induced shifts of conduction band minimum and valence band maximum, which optimize thermodynamic driving force for •OH generation. The CCN0.4 photocatalyst demonstrated robust stability, retaining 87 % degradation efficiency over four consecutive cycles with negligible structural degradation. Importantly, in real wastewater containing mixed cationic dyes and pharmaceutical residues (UV absorption at 200–230 nm), Ca–g-C₃N₄ selectively degraded MB with near-complete removal, while leaving pharmaceutical compounds largely intact. These findings establish Ca doping as an effective strategy to engineer lattice strain, electronic band alignment, and interfacial charge transport in g-C₃N₄, yielding twofold photocatalytic rate enhancement and selective pollutant removal in complex wastewater environments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":278,"journal":{"name":"Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects","volume":"737 ","pages":"Article 139786"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2026-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146185571","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}