Strategy to combine two functional components: Efficient nano material development for iodine immobilization

The development of effective radioactive iodine adsorption materials from nuclear waste remains a significant challenge due to the drawbacks of the previous technologies such as complex synthesis process, high cost, and low stability. In this work, a Metal Oxidation-Carbon (MOC) composite material was designed and synthesized to solve this problem. The structure, composition, and physicochemical properties of this MOC were characterized to reveal its mesoporous material properties. Experiment results showed that this MOC material contain great physical and chemical adsorption efficiency towards iodine vapor, the adsorption capacity could up to 2647.54 mg/g. And the average desorption rate of 86.57% (in absolute ethanol) further proved its advanced recyclability. Moreover, this mesoporous material has great prospects in industrialization due to its simple one-step synthesis method, well-defined adsorption mechanism, and competitive application property.

Soft-Matter Nanotubes: A Platform for Diverse Functions and Applications

Self-assembled organic nanotubes made of single or multiple molecular components can be classified into soft-matter nanotubes (SMNTs) by contrast with hard-matter nanotubes, such as carbon and other inorganic nanotubes. To date, diverse self-assembly processes and elaborate template procedures using rationally designed organic molecules have produced suitable tubular architectures with definite dimensions, structural complexity, and hierarchy for expected functions and applications. Herein, we comprehensively discuss every functions and possible applications of a wide range of SMNTs as bulk materials or single components. This Review highlights valuable contributions mainly in the past decade. Fifteen different families of SMNTs are discussed from the viewpoints of chemical, physical, biological, and medical applications, as well as action fields (e.g., interior, wall, exterior, whole structure, and ensemble of nanotubes). Chemical applications of the SMNTs are associated with encapsulating materials and sensors. SMNTs also behave, while sometimes undergoing morphological transformation, as a catalyst, template, liquid crystal, hydro-/organogel, superhydrophobic surface, and micron size engine. Physical functions pertain to ferro-/piezoelectricity and energy migration/storage, leading to the applications to electrodes or supercapacitors, and mechanical reinforcement. Biological functions involve artificial chaperone, transmembrane transport, nanochannels, and channel reactors. Finally, medical functions range over drug delivery, nonviral gene transfer vector, and virus trap.

Fabrication of Porous Nanonetwork-Structured Carbons from Well-Defined Cylindrical Molecular Bottlebrushes

Atom transfer radical polymerization was utilized to prepare well-defined cylindrical molecular bottlebrushes which were employed as building blocks and transformed into porous nanonetwork-structured carbons (PNSCs) via hypercross-linking chemistry and shape-regulated carbonization. The as-prepared PNSCs exhibited a unique nanomorphology-tunable characteristic by simply varying carbonization conditions. Because of their three-dimensional network nanomorphologies with well-developed hierarchical porous structures and conductive carbon framework, the PNSCs demonstrated excellent electrochemical performance in lithium-sulfur batteries.

Cellulose Nanofiber Biotemplated Palladium Composite Aerogels

Noble metal aerogels offer a wide range of catalytic applications due to their high surface area and tunable porosity. Control over monolith shape, pore size, and nanofiber diameter is desired in order to optimize electronic conductivity and mechanical integrity for device applications. However, common aerogel synthesis techniques such as solvent mediated aggregation, linker molecules, sol⁻gel, hydrothermal, and carbothermal reduction are limited when using noble metal salts. Here, we present the synthesis of palladium aerogels using carboxymethyl cellulose nanofiber (CNF) biotemplates that provide control over aerogel shape, pore size, and conductivity. Biotemplate hydrogels were formed via covalent cross linking using 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) with a diamine linker between carboxymethylated cellulose nanofibers. Biotemplate CNF hydrogels were equilibrated in precursor palladium salt solutions, reduced with sodium borohydride, and rinsed with water followed by ethanol dehydration, and supercritical drying to produce freestanding aerogels. Scanning electron microscopy indicated three-dimensional nanowire structures, and X-ray diffractometry confirmed palladium and palladium hydride phases. Gas adsorption, impedance spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry were correlated to determine aerogel surface area. These self-supporting CNF-palladium aerogels demonstrate a simple synthesis scheme to control porosity, electrical conductivity, and mechanical robustness for catalytic, sensing, and energy applications.

Hypercrosslinked porous polymer materials: design, synthesis, and applications

Hypercrosslinked polymers (HCPs) are a series of permanent microporous polymer materials initially reported by Davankov, and have received an increasing level of research interest. In recent years, HCPs have experienced rapid growth due to their remarkable advantages such as diverse synthetic methods, easy functionalization, high surface area, low cost reagents and mild operating conditions. Judicious selection of monomers, appropriate length crosslinkers and optimized reaction conditions yielded a well-developed polymer framework with an adjusted porous topology. Post fabrication of the as developed network facilitates the incorporation of various chemical functionalities that may lead to interesting properties and enhance the selection toward a specific application. To date, numerous HCPs have been prepared by post-crosslinking polystyrene-based precursors, one-step self-polycondensation or external crosslinking strategies. The advent of these methodologies has prompted researchers to construct well-defined porous polymer networks with customized micromorphology and functionalities. In this review, we describe not only the basic synthetic principles and strategies of HCPs, but also the advancements in the structural and morphological study as well as the frontiers of potential applications in energy and environmental fields such as gas storage, carbon capture, removal of pollutants, molecular separation, catalysis, drug delivery, sensing etc.

Cellulose Sponge Supported Palladium Nanoparticles as Recyclable Cross-Coupling Catalysts

Robust and flexible cellulose sponges were prepared by dual-cross-linking cellulose nanofiber (CNF) with γ-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTMS) and polydopamine (PDA) and used as carriers of metal nanoparticles (NPs), such as palladium (Pd). In situ growth of Pd NPs on the surface of CNF was achieved in the presence of polydopamine (PDA). The modified sponges were characterized with FT-IR, XRD, EDX, SEM, TEM, and TGA. XRD, EDX, and TEM results revealed that the Pd NPs were homogeneously dispersed on the surface of CNF with a narrow size distribution. The catalysts could be successfully applied to heterogeneous Suzuki and Heck cross-coupling reactions. Leaching of Pd was negligible and the catalysts could be conveniently separated from the products and reused.

Pd–ZnO nanowire arrays as recyclable catalysts for 4-nitrophenol reduction and Suzuki coupling reactions

Hybrid Pd–ZnO nanowire arrays for catalysis: Pd–ZnO@Zn nanowire arrays have been found to be applicable as recyclable catalysts for 4-nitrophenol reduction and Suzuki coupling reactions.

Fe-Porphyrin functionalized microporous organic nanotube networks and their application for the catalytic olefination of aldehydes and carbene insertion into N–H bonds

Fe-Porphyrin functionalized microporous organic nanotubes networks were synthesized by an in situ hyper-crosslinking reaction between bottlebrush copolymers and meso-tetraphenylporphyrin iron(iii) chloride.

Synthesis of magnetic microporous organic nanotube networks for adsorption application

Magnetic microporous organic nanotube networks (Fe₃O₄-MONNs) are successfully synthesized by an in situ hyper-cross-linking reaction between magnetic nanoparticles and core–shell bottlebrush copolymers.

Synthesis of triphenylphosphine-based microporous organic nanotube framework supported Pd catalysts with excellent catalytic activity

A novel synthesis of triphenylphosphine-based microporous organic nanotube frameworks (MONFs-PPh₃) as a platform for Pd catalyst (MONFs-PPh₃@Pd) is reported.

Functionalized microporous organic nanotube networks as a new platform for highly efficient heterogeneous catalysis

A novel amino-functionalized microporous organic nanotube networks (NH₂-MONNs) as heterogeneous base catalyst was successfully synthesized by combination of hyper-cross-linking and molecular templating of multicomponent bottlebrush copolymers.