{"title":"Cellulose nanofiber-enhanced MXene screen-printing inks: optimizing printability and coating mechanical properties","authors":"Genrui Xu, Shiyi Feng, Ye Feng, Binxia Chen, Zhenming Chen, Peng Li, Canhui Lu, Zehang Zhou","doi":"10.1007/s11705-025-2612-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11705-025-2612-8","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The rapid advancement of flexible electronics creates an urgent demand for high-performance printed electronic materials. MXene-based inks have been widely studied and used for screen-printing electronics, while they usually suffer from poor screen-printability and inadequate mechanical properties of the printed coatings. Therefore, we incorporate 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinooxy oxidized cellulose nanofibers into MXene ink to regulate its rheology and enhance printability on both porous A4 paper and compact polyethylene terephthalate substrates. The introduction of cellulose enables precise control over the rheology and microstructure of the resultant MXene coatings. Critically, the strong interfacial hydrogen bonding and physical entanglement between cellulose and MXene contribute to the substantial enhancements of the mechanical properties and structural stability of the resultant composite coatings, where a remarkable 9.04-fold increase of hardness and a 1.74-fold increase of Young’s modulus are achieved. The interfacial binding strength between the coating and substrate is also well enhanced with the anchoring of cellulose. This work thereby presents a promising strategy for the design and fabrication of flexible screen-printed electronics.\u0000</p><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":571,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers of Chemical Science and Engineering","volume":"19 11","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145165832","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Coordination crosslinking engineering of alkynyl-based polyimide membranes for H2/CO2 separation","authors":"Bingbing Gao, Qi Zhang, Wei Zhang, Yunxiang Bai, Chunfang Zhang, Yang Liu, Lijun Liang, Liangliang Dong","doi":"10.1007/s11705-025-2611-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11705-025-2611-9","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Polyimide membranes, owing to their robust polymer backbone and facile structural tunability, are extensively used for H<sub>2</sub>/CO<sub>2</sub> separation. However, efficient H<sub>2</sub> separation remains challenging because of the wide pore size distribution within the chain-packed structure of conventional polyimides. Here, we propose a coordination crosslinking engineering strategy, where Pd<sup>2+</sup> is incorporated into an alkynyl-based polyimide containing carboxyl groups to generate coordination cross-linked networks <i>in situ</i>. The formed coordination bonds significantly reduce the interchain <i>d</i>-spacing and restrict the mobility of the polymer chains, thereby enhancing size-sieving ability. Additionally, the presence of Pd<sup>2+</sup> significantly increases the affinity of membrane for H<sub>2</sub>. Based on their synergistic effect, the optimized EBPA-TB-COOH@Pd<sup>2+</sup>-6 membrane (EBPA: 4,4′-(ethyne-1,2-diyl) diphthalic anhydride; EBPA-TB-COOH: alkynyl-based polyimide polymer) exhibits an unprecedented combination of high H<sub>2</sub> permeability (512.5 bar) and excellent H<sub>2</sub>/CO<sub>2</sub> selectivity (30.4), surpassing most polyimide membranes reported to date. Furthermore, the coordination crosslinking networks endow the membranes with high and stable H<sub>2</sub>/CO<sub>2</sub> separation performance under a wide operating pressure range (1 to 6 bar). This coordination crosslinking engineering strategy offers an effective approach for designing next-generation polyimide membranes for hydrogen recovery and purification.\u0000</p><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":571,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers of Chemical Science and Engineering","volume":"19 11","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145079051","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Fractional and simultaneous precipitation: recovering critical metals from multicomponent solutions","authors":"Andressa Mazur, Frederico Marques Penha","doi":"10.1007/s11705-025-2610-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11705-025-2610-x","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This study explores fractional and simultaneous precipitation methods to recover metals from a synthetic solution containing the major components from lithium-ion battery recycling leachates: Co, Ni, Mn, Li, and H<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub>. Thermodynamic simulations analyzed the behavior of the metal-bearing solutions during hydroxide precipitation to guide process design. The fractional precipitation process was divided into three steps: pH-adjustment (D1), Co and Ni recovery (D2), and Mn recovery (D3). D2 achieved 89.7% Ni and 76.8% Co recovery; alongside Mn and Li were also removed (15% and 25% respectively). D3 showed mainly Mn recovery (68%) along with 18.7% Co and 7.3% Ni. Simultaneous precipitation resulted in over 99.7% recovery of Co, Ni, and Mn, with a small amount of Li (15%) being recovered from the solution. Na removal from the solution was observed across all experiments. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that the phases formed were distinct from the predictions. Regardless of the presence of NH<sub>4</sub>OH as a chelating agent in solution, a mixed nickel-cobalt-manganese oxide could be obtained after calcination. This approach offers a potentially less laborious method for recovering metals in products relevant to cathode precursors in a single step from recycling leachate.</p><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":571,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers of Chemical Science and Engineering","volume":"19 11","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s11705-025-2610-x.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145037326","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Xuan Xiang, Yuyin Mao, Minghui Zhang, Hanxiao Wang, Xiangdong Xue, Jian Tian, Jian Liu
{"title":"Local hydrophobicity enhanced hydrogen evolution over NiCo2O4/CdS photocatalyst","authors":"Xuan Xiang, Yuyin Mao, Minghui Zhang, Hanxiao Wang, Xiangdong Xue, Jian Tian, Jian Liu","doi":"10.1007/s11705-025-2609-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11705-025-2609-3","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Addressing electron and gas transfer dynamics is pivotal for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. In this work, a hydrophilic NiCo<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub>/CdS heterojunction was incorporated with hydrophobic SiO<sub>2</sub> to enhance photocatalytic hydrogen evolution performance. The hydrophilic/hydrophobic NiCo<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub>/CdS/SiO<sub>2</sub> photocatalyst exhibited a hydrogen production rate of 11.78 mmol·g<sup>-1</sup>·h<sup>-1</sup>, outperforming the 8.15 mmol·g<sup>-1</sup>·h<sup>-1</sup> of NiCo<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub>/CdS heterojunction. The heterojunction significantly enhances photogenerated charge-carrier separation efficiency, while the hydrophobic SiO<sub>2</sub> facilitates gas evolution by mitigating surface bubble aggregation. The work here provides a facile route for developing photocatalysts toward practical hydrogen evolution.\u0000</p><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":571,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers of Chemical Science and Engineering","volume":"19 11","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145037195","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Research progress on crystal structure regulation strategies for two-electron oxygen reduction of transition metal compounds","authors":"Hang Feng, Shiyu Yu, Chengxu Zhang, Jue Hu","doi":"10.1007/s11705-025-2605-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11705-025-2605-7","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Currently, the electrocatalytic two-electron oxygen reduction reaction for the production of H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> presents a promising alternative to the energy-intensive anthraquinone process. Enhancing the selectivity and activity of the catalyst is crucial for achieving efficient electrosynthesis of H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>. Transition metal compound catalysts are considered ideal electrocatalysts due to their advantages, including simple preparation, low cost, diverse crystal structures, abundant availability, environmental friendliness, and the synergistic effects between coupled metals. This paper systematically reviews the latest research advancements regarding transition metal compounds used in oxygen reduction reactions to generate H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>. It begins by elaborating on the fundamental concepts related to oxygen reduction reactions and subsequently discusses various methods for regulating transition metal compound catalysts, including element doping, defect generation, heterogeneous structure construction, crystal design, and polycrystalline transformation. The activities, selectivity, and stability of different transition metal compounds in the electrocatalytic synthesis of H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> are summarized, and the future development directions for transition metal compound catalysts are explored, providing valuable insights for the large-scale and efficient electrosynthesis of H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> in the future.</p><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":571,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers of Chemical Science and Engineering","volume":"19 11","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145037183","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Preparation of carbon nanotubes by catalytic pyrolysis of waste plastic: a mini review","authors":"Siqian Jia, Ning Cai, Chuanwen Zhao, Haiping Yang","doi":"10.1007/s11705-025-2604-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11705-025-2604-8","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Catalytic pyrolysis technology, particularly using polyolefin plastic waste as feedstock, has emerged as a promising approach for transforming waste plastics into carbon nanotubes, not only reducing their production cost but also achieving efficient disposal and high-value utilization of plastic waste. This work reviews the research on the preparation of carbon nanotubes from various waste plastics and summarizes the influence of metals and support on catalysts. The design of reactors and the optimization of process conditions are also critical factors influencing the yield and quality of carbon nanotubes. The growth mechanism of carbon nanotubes is systematically elucidated, encompassing radical reactions during pyrolysis, carbon dissolution-precipitation dynamics on catalytic surfaces, and subsequent structural evolution. Collectively, this review underscores the significant potential of catalytic pyrolysis in advancing sustainable plastic waste management and high-value resource recovery.\u0000</p><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":571,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers of Chemical Science and Engineering","volume":"19 11","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145011550","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Zhijian Li, Deqing Kong, Yu Sun, Yifan Shao, Xi Wang
{"title":"Mechanism-tailored two-dimensional metal nanosheets for advanced electrocatalytic CO2 reduction: from structural design to practical application","authors":"Zhijian Li, Deqing Kong, Yu Sun, Yifan Shao, Xi Wang","doi":"10.1007/s11705-025-2608-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11705-025-2608-4","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO<sub>2</sub>RR) represents a pivotal strategy for sustainable carbon cycling and chemical synthesis. This review comprehensively analyzes the burgeoning field of two-dimensional (2D) metal nanosheets (e.g., Bi, Ag, Co, Pd, Cu) as high-performance electrocatalysts for CO<sub>2</sub>RR. We delve into the fundamental catalytic mechanisms underpinning their activity across both gas-phase (e.g., CO, CH<sub>4</sub>, C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>4</sub>) and liquid-phase (e.g., HCOOH, CH<sub>3</sub>OH, C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>5</sub>OH) product formation pathways, with a particular focus on deciphering critical structure-activity relationships. Key intrinsic properties: composition, exposed crystal facets, and defect engineering, are systematically examined to elucidate their profound influence on catalytic activity, selectivity, and product distribution. Beyond mechanistic insights, the review critically assesses the practical utility of these 2D metal catalysts, highlighting emerging applications, persistent challenges (e.g., scalability, long-term stability, competitive reactions, C<sub>2+</sub> selectivity control), and promising future research trajectories. By bridging fundamental catalytic principles with applied materials design, this work provides novel perspectives for advancing efficient and selective CO<sub>2</sub>RR technologies crucial for achieving carbon neutrality goals.\u0000</p><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":571,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers of Chemical Science and Engineering","volume":"19 11","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145021501","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nili Mastura Munir, Ebrahim Mahmoudi, Siew Fen Chua, Nur Ameera Rosli, Alireza Nouri, Mohsen Mesbahi Babaei, Amir Mohammad Najafi, Hasan Nikkhah, Ng law Yong, Ang Wei Lun, Abdul Wahab Mohammad
{"title":"Advancement in membrane spacer technology: emerging trend and modification of three-dimensional printed membrane spacers for fouling mitigation","authors":"Nili Mastura Munir, Ebrahim Mahmoudi, Siew Fen Chua, Nur Ameera Rosli, Alireza Nouri, Mohsen Mesbahi Babaei, Amir Mohammad Najafi, Hasan Nikkhah, Ng law Yong, Ang Wei Lun, Abdul Wahab Mohammad","doi":"10.1007/s11705-025-2606-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11705-025-2606-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Aside from being essential for human needs, water resources are also in demand by various industries to ensure the sustainability of economic development in countries. However, the supply of clean and affordable water is slowly depleting to the point where it becomes a major issue that requires significant attention. The membrane filtration system is an effective method for purifying water, with a high potential to provide clean water with minimal energy. The membrane spacer is a significant component in the membrane filtration system that considerably influences its performance. The dominant challenge in membrane spacers is fouling, mainly biofouling, which leads to unwanted consequences that drastically decrease the system’s performance. This review focuses on the advancements in membrane spacer technology through the modification of geometric design, selection of materials, and evaluation of their impact on fluid dynamics and biofouling. Additionally, the review provides insight into the utilization of three-dimensional printing methods and three-dimensional simulations in advancing membrane spacer technology.\u0000</p><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":571,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers of Chemical Science and Engineering","volume":"19 11","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s11705-025-2606-6.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145021502","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Azeotropic distillation process for methanol-ethyl acetate-water separation: design and control","authors":"Prakhar Srivastava, Prit Dadhania, Aayush Gupta, Nitin Kaistha","doi":"10.1007/s11705-025-2607-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11705-025-2607-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This study proposes the synthesis, design, and control of a separation process for a concentrated ternary mixture of methanol, ethyl acetate, and water, which exhibits two minimum boiling azeotropes, to separate it into constituent nearly pure components. The proposed flowsheet leverages the presence of a liquid-liquid envelope by using a liquid-liquid extractor with recycled water as a solvent to strategically bring the initial feed point into the liquid-liquid split region, facilitating energyefficient separation. The design consists of a liquid-liquid extractor followed by a triple-column distillation sequence. Compared to the existing extractive heterogeneous azeotropic distillation process, the proposed process achieves savings of 36.9% in total annualized cost, 46.1% in reduced energy consumption, and CO<sub>2</sub> emission. Additionally, a regulatory plant-wide decentralized control structure has been developed through rigorous dynamic simulations, demonstrating its effectiveness in rejecting principal disturbances in throughput and feed composition.\u0000</p><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":571,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers of Chemical Science and Engineering","volume":"19 11","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145028239","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Fei Jiang, Jiaye Li, Yingying Liu, Kun Hu, Yan Lin, Chao Feng, Yuan Pan
{"title":"Long-range electron-rich optimization of Cl doped LaCoO3 catalyst for efficient electrocatalytic water oxidation","authors":"Fei Jiang, Jiaye Li, Yingying Liu, Kun Hu, Yan Lin, Chao Feng, Yuan Pan","doi":"10.1007/s11705-025-2603-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11705-025-2603-9","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Doped perovskite oxides are efficient electrocatalysts for water oxidation; however, the mechanism of O-site doping remains unclear. This study proposes a long-range electron-rich optimization mechanism for Cl doped LaCoO<sub>3</sub>, involving the formation of ultra-long Co–Cl bonds as a result of lattice distortion induced by Cl doping at the O site. This catalyst exhibited excellent oxygen evolution reaction activity and stability. Theoretical calculations revealed that the ultra-long Co–Cl bond enables an electron-rich state at the Co sites, weakening the Co–O lattice bonding and facilitating the conversion of lattice O into bulk-phase O species, thus enhancing the performance of oxygen evolution reaction. This study introduces a novel regulatory mechanism for doped perovskite oxide catalysts to enhance water oxidation.</p><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":571,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers of Chemical Science and Engineering","volume":"19 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2025-08-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144909806","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}