Current Issue : July-September Volume : 2026 Issue Number : 3 Articles : 5 Articles
The solar-driven direct conversion of methanol to ethylene glycol, formaldehyde and simultaneous H2 generation is an appealing strategy for converting sunlight to chemical energy. However, the low efficiency and stability of the photocatalyst remain critical bottlenecks hindering the practical implementation of this reaction. Herein, we synthesized the Cu3P quantum dots/Cu-doped ZnIn2S4 p-n junction for efficient methanol oxidation and synchronous H2 generation. The highly dispersed Cu3P quantum dots promote electron–hole separation and furnish abundant catalytic sites. Moreover, the constructed p-n junction with a tight interface boosts the electron transfer, avoiding the serious photocorrosion of ZnIn2S4. Benefiting from these synergistic effects, the 2Cu3P/Cu0.5ZIS composite exhibits the highest photocatalytic conversion efficiency of methanol, yielding H2, formaldehyde, and ethylene glycol with 10.34 mmol·g−1·h−1, 10.35 mmol·g−1·h−1 and 8.84 mmol·g−1·h−1 yields, which are 3.01, 3.05 and 3.10 times those of pure ZnIn2S4, respectively. A series of characterizations including X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy are employed to analyze the structure, composition, and photoelectrochemical properties of the materials. This work demonstrates a novel catalyst design paradigm for the high-efficiency solar lightdriven photocatalytic activation of methanol enabling the co-production of value-added C1/C2 oxygenates and clean H2 fuel simultaneously....
This study explored, for the first time, the simultaneous dyeing and functionalization of textiles using enzymatically synthesized mixtures of phloridzin and esculin oligomers. Initial screening using multifiber fabric containing diacetate, cotton, polyamide, polyester, polyacrylonitrile, silk, viscose, and wool revealed that the oligomers successfully imparted color and high antioxidant activity to cotton, polyamide, and viscose. These three materials were therefore selected for determination of key process parameters’ influence, including temperature (35 ◦C and 75 ◦C), reaction time (6 h and 19 h), and oligomers’ concentration (1.5 and 3.0 mg/mL). Treated fabrics were evaluated for color strength (K/S), antioxidant activity, and prebiotic capacity (in vitro stratum corneum model), with all properties assessed before and after washing. The results showed that several functionalized fabrics retained coloration and functionality after washing, while fabrics functionalized with esculin oligomers’ mixture showed strong prebiotic capacity. Overall, the polyamide that functionalized with 3.0 mg/mL esculin oligomers for 19 h at 35 ◦C was identified as a promising candidate for reusable colored textiles, including dermatology-oriented garments for sensitive or atopic skin, sportswear, protective workwear, and daily use functional items such as hygienic pads or cloth liners. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of developing textiles with targeted prebiotic functionality....
The dynamic physicochemical environment of healing wounds provides valuable diagnostic information, with pH serving as a key biomarker for infection, inflammation, and tissue regeneration. However, the development of flexible, biocompatible, and stable pH sensors that can be seamlessly integrated into wearable platforms remains challenging. Here, we report a strategy to fabricate electrically conductive, pH-responsive bioelectronic sensors based on ultrathin polypyrrole (PPy) films deposited via oxidative chemical vapor deposition (oCVD). The resulting flexible sensors enable monitoring of physiologically relevant pH changes (4–9) and exhibit modulation of electrical conductivity up to two orders of magnitude, reaching 304 S.cm−1 (pH 4). Grazing-incidence wide-angle X-ray scattering reveals enhanced structural order and efficient π–π stacking with increasing dopant concentration, leading to improved charge transport. Complementary spectroscopic analyses demonstrate that reversible protonation-deprotonation of the PPy backbone, governed by dopant counterion exchange, underlies the pH-dependent electrical response. The all-polymer pH sensors display high sensitivity, stability, and repeatability. Moreover, the substrate-independent nature of oCVD enables the fabrication of pH-sensing patches and spatially patterned micro-islands, facilitating seamless integration into smart wound dressings for spatiotemporally resolved bioelectronic monitoring. This work advances the design of flexible, wearable pH sensors and provides opportunities for real-time wound-healing monitoring....
Precise control over chemical reactivity remains a central challenge in synthetic chemistry, where reactions are typically governed by random molecular encounters in homogeneous solutions. By contrast, biological systems achieve exceptional efficiency and selectivity under dilute conditions by relying on self-organization: folded biomacromolecules and dynamic assemblies confine reactive groups, modulate local environments, and enhance effective molarity. Inspired by these strategies, supramolecular selfassembly has emerged as a powerful platform for regulating chemical transformations through spatial and temporal organization. Ordered microstructures and nanostructures formed through noncovalent interactions can bring reactive species into close proximity, orient them productively, and introduce cooperative or catalytic effects. Recent advances extend beyond static architectures toward dynamic and out-of-equilibrium assemblies capable of adapting their structure and function in response to stimuli or chemical fuels. This Perspective highlights emerging approaches that integrate chemical reactivity with dynamic supramolecular organization, emphasizing mechanisms of reaction acceleration—including increased effective molarity, emergent catalysis, and microenvironment modulation—and outlining design principles for constructing adaptive systems that emulate nature’s precision in controlling chemical processes....
This position paper was collaboratively written during the international expert symposium “EU Chemicals Assessment - Risk- or Hazard-based?” that was organised by the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) in Berlin on November 27th and 28th 2025. Twenty experts from several institutions and European countries considered the scientific merits of both hazard-based and risk-based approaches to chemical safety assessment. While hazard information is essential, it does not reflect real-world exposure conditions that determine the likelihood of harm. On balance, we support a risk-based approach because it enables more proportionate, transparent and scientifically grounded regulatory decisions....
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