Article
Polymer Science
Xiaolong Wang, Jingna Zhang, Yiding Wang, Shengxue Qin, Yamin Pan, Yongqiang Tu, Xianhu Liu
Summary: Oil spills and oily wastewater have caused significant ecological damage, while superhydrophobic polymer foam has the potential for efficient oil-water separation. This study proposes a method that combines phase separation and silica coating to produce superhydrophobic TPU foam. The TPU foam exhibits superhydrophobicity and a high saturated adsorption capacity, making it an effective filter for oil-water separation even after multiple filtration cycles.
MACROMOLECULAR RAPID COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Yulei Li, Baoying Shi, Xiayu Luan, Zhanhua Hao, Yufeng Wang
Summary: In this study, a superhydrophobic filter paper was developed for oil-water separation, showing a high contact angle and fast absorption of oil droplets. The filter paper can efficiently separate various immiscible oil-water emulsions, and even after multiple cycles, the separation efficiency remains high.
ACS APPLIED NANO MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jialong Wu, Xiaozhen Ma, Pitchaimari Gnanasekar, Fan Wang, Jin Zhu, Ning Yan, Jing Chen
Summary: In this study, a superhydrophobic lignin-based polyurethane foam was developed by incorporating 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorododecyl trichlorosilane modified SiO2 (F-SiO2) into the foam matrix. The foam exhibited excellent oil-water separation efficiency, self-cleaning properties, and degradation in alcoholic alkali solution within 2 hours.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Qingzhen He, Zhibiao Guo, Shiyu Ma, Zhiwei He
Summary: This mini-review summarizes recent advances in superhydrophobic papers (SPs) for efficient oil/water separation, highlighting their excellent properties and promising applications.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yao Pang, Zongxue Yu, Haidong Chen, Qingcan Xiang, Qiuxiang Wang, Chunxia Xie, Yucheng Liu
Summary: In this study, micro-nan silica grown from the surface of fibrous sepiolite was organically modified and combined with oily epoxy resin to prepare a superhydrophobic polyurethane sponge. The sponge exhibited excellent oil-water separation performance, strong resistance to corrosion, and good mechanical stability.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Shifeng Zhang, Shupin Chen, Hongqiang Li, Xuejun Lai, Xingrong Zeng
Summary: A facile method to prepare superhydrophobic, flame-retardant and magnetic polyurethane sponge (SFRM-PUS) for oil-water separation was proposed. The SFRM-PUS exhibited excellent oil-water separation efficiency, flame-retardant performance and magnetic property, providing a new strategy for the treatment of oil spill accidents and industrial sewage emissions.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Haifeng Niu, Jianbo Li, Xuefang Wang, Fuhong Luo, Zhe Qiang, Jie Ren
Summary: The study presents a facile method for preparing a superhydrophobic and photothermal PDMS/CuS/PDA@MF sponge, which exhibits high oil absorption capacity, robust recycling, and excellent photothermal performance under sunlight irradiation.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Libin Wang, Linlin Zang, Shaochun Zhang, Jinhui Chang, Fengtong Shen, Yanhong Zhang, Liguo Sun
Summary: In recent years, frequent oil spills and industrial organic pollutant discharges have caused long-term damage to the ecological environment and human safety. This study developed silica-based fibers with superhydrophobicity and petal effect through self-assembly and hydrophobic modification. These fibers have great potential in oil/water separation.
JOURNAL OF THE TAIWAN INSTITUTE OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Xiaoyue Ren, Heng Li, Hao-Yang Mi, Yahao Guo, Xin Jing, Binbin Dong, Chuntai Liu, Changyu Shen
Summary: In this study, superhydrophobic nanocomposite foams were developed using melt blending and supercritical CO2 foaming techniques. The foam exhibited stable high performance in removing oil from water.
APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Xin Li, Xiaodong Chen, Cailing Zhao, Xiaoming Luo, Yan Jiang, Jianglin Zhu, Hongwen Zhang
Summary: In this study, a facile and effective strategy was developed to fabricate superhydrophobic paper using micro nano structure and the breath figure method. Amphiphilic copolymer of Poly(St-co-HEMA), nano silica particles (SiO2), and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) were in-situ self-assembled and integrated. The most effective system had a St to HEMA molar ratio of 15:1 and a SiO2 concentration of 15 mg/ml, exhibiting outstanding water repellency with a contact angle of 165 degrees and a wetting angle of 2 degrees. The prepared paper maintained its water repellency under extreme conditions and could be used for efficient water-oil mixture separation with a repeatable efficiency above 90% for at least 20 times.
MATERIALS CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yao Pang, Zongxue Yu, Legang Chen, Haidong Chen
Summary: This paper introduces a new material prepared by loading modified sepiolite powder onto polyurethane sponge, which exhibits excellent hydrophobicity and oil absorption capacity. The adsorption capability, cyclic stability, and mechanical properties of the prepared sponge were tested, showing promising results for potential applications in oil spill cleanup and environmental protection.
COLLOIDS AND SURFACES A-PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND ENGINEERING ASPECTS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
J. -f. Meng, B. -y. Song, F. Li, T. -h Li
Summary: It is highly important to develop materials with simple and cost-effective synthetic methods for the treatment of large-scale oil spills and environmental pollution caused by illegal discharge of oily wastewater. In this study, polyurethane hydrophobic sponges (PU) interconnected by chemical bonds were prepared using cerium metal-organic framework (Ce-MOF), per-fluorodecyltrimethoxysilane (PFOTS), and cellulose as raw materials to enhance their physical properties. The resulting sponge exhibits excellent superhydrophobicity, high mechanical strength, and oil absorption capacity. It can efficiently separate immiscible oil-water mixtures and water-in-oil emulsions. These characteristics make it a promising material for practical applications in oil-water separation.
MATERIALS TODAY CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Chunhua Liu, Yun Peng, Conglin Huang, Yuzhen Ning, Jiaoping Shang, Yibao Li
Summary: This study presents a novel method to construct Janus copper foam by combining superhydrophobicity and superhydrophilicity. The resulting Janus foam exhibits superior oil/water separation efficiency and repeatability. This design and fabrication method offers a new avenue for practical applications in liquid transportation, sensor devices, energy materials, and oil spills.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Paper & Wood
Yuan Yang, Xiaowen Zhao, Lin Ye
Summary: In this study, a novel one-step silanization strategy was used to fabricate superhydrophobic cellulose paper. The paper exhibited remarkable superhydrophobicity and durability, making it suitable for oil-water separation. The proposed method has advantages in terms of cost, simplicity, and scalability, making it promising for real-world applications.
Article
Polymer Science
Chun-Hua Liu, Jiao-Ping Shang, Xing Su, Shuang Zhao, Yun Peng, Yi-Bao Li
Summary: Water is a crucial resource for biological and social development. Oily wastewater pollution has become a serious global challenge. Researchers have successfully fabricated a bamboo cellulose foam with special wetting characteristics and excellent oil-absorption performance using a simple and environmentally friendly method. The foam has a high oil absorption capacity and recyclability, as well as resistance to acid and alkali corrosion. Due to the biodegradable and low-cost nature of bamboo cellulose, this superhydrophobic/superoleophilic foam has great potential for oily wastewater treatment.
Article
Thermodynamics
Farhan Arshad, Tanveer ul Haq, Adnan Khan, Yousef Haik, Irshad Hussain, Falak Sher
Summary: In this work, three-dimensional nanostructured porous NiCo bimetallic foams were synthesized on Cu foil electrodes using a simple and fast dynamic bubbles templating electrodeposition method. The porous NiCo foam exhibited remarkable electrocatalytic activity for hydrogen evolution reaction, oxygen evolution reaction, and methanol oxidation-assisted hydrogen production. Moreover, the NiCo foam demonstrated good selectivity for methanol oxidation and displayed bifunctional activities for overall water splitting and methanol-assisted water splitting. The interconnected metallic porous networks, bimetallic synergistic effect, and high surface area of this electrocatalyst contribute to the advancement of more effective electrocatalysts for water splitting and energy-saving hydrogen production.
ENERGY CONVERSION AND MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
N. U. Nazir, S. R. Abbas, H. Nasir, I Hussain
Summary: In this study, electrochemical detection of limonene using monolayer thiolated gold nanoparticles was successfully performed, showing high sensitivity and specificity. The sensor was also able to accurately detect limonene in the real breath sample of clinical patients.
JOURNAL OF ELECTROANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Ibrahim Alatawi, Tayyab Subhani, Mohamed M. Z. Ahmed, Umar F. Alqsair, A. S. Abdullah, Mohamed Elashmawy
Summary: Water scarcity and desertification pose a real threat to many countries. Solar water desalination is a suitable solution for the future, but more research effort is needed. This study investigated the effect of adding vertical fins with wicks to a tubular solar still integrated with a parabolic concentrator solar tracking system. Field experiments in Saudi Arabia showed that this strategy significantly increased the device's yield and efficiency while reducing the production cost per liter of freshwater.
Article
Polymer Science
Asim Jilani, Syed Zajif Hussain, Ammar A. Melaibari, Nidal H. Abu-Hamdeh
Summary: Photocatalysts play a crucial role in water treatment and hydrogen production. This study focuses on the photocatalytic degradation of CIP and H-2 production using novel silver-nanoparticle ternary-nanocomposites. The optimized ratio of thiolated reduce-graphene oxide in the nanocomposites enhances activity by increasing charge carriers' movements and reducing charge-recombination ratios. Under optimized conditions, AgNPs-S-rGO(2%)@g-C3N4 shows a CIP degradation rate of 95.90%. The chemical and morphological analysis supports the role of thiolation in this enhancement, assisted by the surface plasmon resonance of AgNPs. The proposed mechanism involves the photo-excited electrons reacting with water moieties to generate H-2.
Article
Optics
Wenbin Zhang, Ritika Dagar, Philipp Rosenberger, Ana Sousa-Castillo, Marcel Neuhaus, Weiwei Li, Sharjeel A. Khan, Ali S. Alnaser, Emiliano Cortes, Stefan A. Maier, Cesar Costa-Vera, Matthias F. Kling, Boris Bergues
Summary: Molecular adsorbate reactions on nanoparticles are crucial in nano-photocatalysis, atmospheric, and astrochemistry. By manipulating field localization and enhancement on the nanoparticle surface, these reactions can be induced, enhanced, and controlled. The study demonstrates all-optical nanoscopic control of surface reaction yields by tailoring the near fields on nanoparticles with waveform-controlled linear and bicircular two-color laser pulses. This work paves the way for reliable all-optical control of photocatalytic chemical reactions on nanoscale surfaces.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Farhan Arshad, Aleena Tahir, Tanveer Ul Haq, Akhtar Munir, Irshad Hussain, Falak Sher
Summary: This review discusses the uniqueness of dynamic bubble-templating electrochemical deposition techniques for controlling nanostructured metallic foam, as well as the progress and future prospects in this field. It also summarizes modifications of porous metallic foams and their applications in electrochemical water splitting and alcohol oxidation reactions.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Farhan Arshad, Akhtar Munir, Aleena Tahir, Syed Zajif Hussain, Asim Jilani, Aamir Hussain, Najeeb Ullah, Falak Sher, Irshad Hussain
Summary: In this study, a core-shell nanostructured electrocatalyst, NiFe LDH@CuxO, was designed and synthesized by decorating vertically oriented NiFe LDH ultra-thin nanosheets on CuxO support via a microwave-assisted hydrothermal reaction. The NiFe LDH@CuxO catalyst demonstrated promising electrocatalytic performance for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), with an onset potential of 1.43 V and an overpotential of 270 mV at 10 mA cm-2. It outperformed pristine NiFe LDH and iridium oxide (IrO2) in terms of electrocatalytic activity, durability, and Faradaic efficiency. The unique core-shell 3D structure effectively prevented aggregation and restacking of the NiFe LDH nanosheets, enhancing the electrochemical stability.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Irfan Ullah, Tanveer ul Haq, Aqeel Aslam Khan, Abid Inayat, Muhammad Shoaib, Ali Haider, Murtaza Saleem, Syed Mustansar Abbas, Michael A. Pope, Irshad Hussain
Summary: This study presents the development of a hierarchically nanostructured cathode material by encapsulating sodium decavanadate Na6V10O28 in the scaffold of manganese-based metal-organic framework. The uniform distribution of NaDV in the pores of Mn-BTC enables multielectron redox properties, while the diverse 3D diffusion channels and flexible architecture of Mn-BTC ensure high intercalation capacity. The NaDV@Mn-BTC cathode material exhibits a high reversible capacity of 137 mAh/g at 1 C rate, suggesting its potential as a high-energy cathode material for aqueous batteries.
JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Aleena Tahir, Farhan Arshad, Tanveer ul Haq, Irshad Hussain, Syed Zajif Hussain, Habib ur Rehman
Summary: This review discusses the role of transition metal oxides as active and supported sites for electrochemical water splitting. Different perspectives for the rational design of TMO-based electrode materials are proposed, including electronic state modulation, modification of surface structure, acceleration of charge and mass transport, and stability in harsh environments. The relationship among catalytic activity, challenges, research directions, and perspectives of OER and HER electrocatalysis is systematically discussed.
ACS APPLIED NANO MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Aleena Tahir, Tanveer ul-Haq, Usman Zubair, Faria Rafique, Akhtar Munir, Yousef Haik, Irshad Hussain, Habib Ur Rehman
Summary: Electrochemical water splitting for hydrogen production has gained significant attention due to its potential in cost-effective solutions for energy crises. This study presents a scalable method for developing a thin film of Au@TiO2 on FTO, which efficiently catalyzes both oxygen and hydrogen evolution reactions. By sensitizing mesoporous TiO2 with a minimal amount of Au, the catalyst exhibits sustainable behavior for over 60 hours with low overpotential. This facile and scalable approach provides insights for designing more efficient electrode materials for electrochemical water splitting processes with minimal use of precious metals.
Article
Engineering, Mechanical
Sharjeel Ahmed Khan, Joao Oliveira, Fabio Ferreira, Nazanin Emami, Amilcar Ramalho
Summary: The use of diamond-like carbon (DLC) coatings in dry machining of difficult-to-machine materials is becoming popular due to their high inertness, low coefficient of friction, and high hardness. However, the effect of surface roughness on the tribological properties of DLC coatings is often overlooked in the analysis of their performance. This article focuses on studying the impact of substrate surface roughness on the load-bearing capacity and tribological properties of DLC coatings deposited by High Power Impulse Magnetron Sputtering (HiPIMS) in Ne-Ar gas plasma. The results show that high surface roughness leads to increased wear rate, potential delamination of the coatings, and severe damage to the counterbody.
TRIBOLOGY TRANSACTIONS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Wei-Wei Fang, Gui-Yu Yang, Zi-Hui Fan, Zi-Chao Chen, Xun-Liang Hu, Zhen Zhan, Irshad Hussain, Yang Lu, Tao He, Bi-En Tan
Summary: This study develops a phosphine-based conjugated hypercrosslinked polymer (PPh3-CHCP) photocatalyst for efficient large-scale photoinduced copper-catalyzed atom transfer radical polymerization (Cu-ATRP). The photocatalyst enables near-quantitative conversions of monomers including acrylates and methyl acrylates under a wide range of radiations or sunlight directly. It can be easily recycled and shows great potential for industrial applications.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Huang Ouyang, Kunpeng Song, Irshad Hussain, Bien Tan
Summary: CO2 cycloaddition with epoxides is an important process for CO2 conversion to generate cyclic carbonates. However, the catalytic efficiency of porous organic polymers (POPs) for this process is typically low and requires severe conditions or prolonged reaction time. In this study, amine-impregnated porous organic polymers (HCP-TPP-Co-EDA-10 and HCP-TPP-Co-PEI-5) were developed to enhance the interaction with CO2 and improve catalytic efficiency. These catalysts exhibited strong binding affinity with CO2 and high catalytic yield under mild conditions. The turnover number (TON) and turnover frequency (TOF) achieved were among the highest reported so far. Additionally, the catalysts showed excellent recyclability and stability for CO2 conversion. The use of amines as chemisorption sites for CO2 provides a simple strategy for designing highly efficient functionalized hyper-cross-linked polymers (HCPs) for CO2 capture and chemical conversion.
ACS APPLIED POLYMER MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Irfan Ullah, Roheen Saeed, Abid Inayat, Muhammad Zubair, Xianyong Wu, Hatice Duran, Ali Haider, Irshad Hussain
Summary: This study presents an in-situ integration of ultra-small PBAs cubes into carbon-doped manganese oxide nanorods, forming a continuous conductive architecture. The hierarchical configuration effectively buffers the lattice expansion and improves the structural stability of NiCoPBA. The developed composite shows promising performance in both aqueous and non-aqueous electrolytes.
JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Arshad Ali, Muhammad Tahir Haseeb, Muhammad Ajaz Hussain, Ume Ruqia Tulain, Gulzar Muhammad, Irfan Azhar, Syed Zajif Hussain, Irshad Hussain, Naveed Ahmad
Summary: A drug delivery system (SSH-co-MAA) based on the mucilage from seeds of Salvia spinosa (SSH) and methacrylic acid (MAA) was developed for controlled release of venlafaxine HCl. The structure of SSH-co-MAA was confirmed through Fourier transform infrared and solid-state CP/MAS C-13-NMR spectroscopy. The concentration of SSH, MAA, and MBA influenced the gel conversion, porosity, and drug release of SSH-co-MAA.
