The complexity of industrial wastewater and the diversity of emerging pollutants have imposed higher demands on adsorption materials. Biochar has been widely used in pollutants adsorption due to its renewability and modifiability. However, it is difficult for biochar with only the basic properties to meet practical requirements, with modification becoming the breakthrough strategy. Herein, the activation modification approaches for biochar (including chemical modification, metal/non-metal doping, surfactant modification, and plasma modification) and the regulatory mechanisms on pollutant adsorption performance were systematically reviewed. The adsorption efficiencies of modified and activated biochar toward novel pollutants in industrial wastewater, such as dyes, heavy metals, fluoride, antibiotics, microplastics, and phenolic compounds was specifically analyzed, followed by clarification on the synergistic effects between pore structure optimization and surface chemical modification. Furthermore, technological bottlenecks in regeneration processes and green solutions were discussed. Finally, the future development directions of biochar in pollutant adsorption application were prospected and should be focused on implementing collaborative modification strategies to achieve targeted pollutant removal, developing coupled systems to achieve adsorption enrichment and in-situ pollutant degradation, and developing green and low-carbon preparation technology to reduce carbon emissions.

Nitrogen and phosphorus co-doped activated carbon-supported iron catalyst (Fe/AC-NP) was synthesized from dicyandiamide, NaH₂PO₄ and FeCl₃•6H₂O via two-step impregnation-evaporation method, and subsequently employed for the catalytic degradation of piperazine in aqueous solution. The microstructure, chemical composition and textural properties of Fe/AC-NP were characterized by XRD, SEM, XPS and BET. The effects of raw materials ratio and heteroatom doping type on the chemical oxygen demand (COD) and ammonia nitrogen contents of the catalytic piperazine oxidation degradation by Fe/AC-NP were investigated, while the possible reaction mechanism was analyzed through radical quenching experiments, water contact angle measurements and XPS analyses. The results showed that the Fe/AC-NP prepared with n(C₂H₄N₄)∶n(NaH₂PO₄)=2∶1 displayed the best properties, with a high specific surface area of 699.647 m²/g, a crystal lattice spacing of 0.0169 nm, and a uniform distribution of iron species without the formation of large agglomerates. The Fe species were successfully loaded and coordinated with N and P atoms, predominantly existing in the forms of Fe(Ⅱ) and Fe(Ⅲ). The optimal reaction conditions of Fe/AC-NP for piperazine degradation were temperature 230 ℃, pressure 1.2 MPa, catalyst dosage (mass concentration, the same below) 1.25 g/L, under which, COD was completely removed within 70 min, and the ammonia nitrogen removal efficiency reached > 88.7% after 150 min. Even after five successive recycles, the COD and ammonia nitrogen removal efficiencies remained high at 96.3% and 84.2%, respectively. The synergistic contribution of graphitic and pyrrolic nitrogen functionalities enhanced oxygen adsorption. The catalytic degradation process was primarily driven by hydroxyl radical chain reactions and facilitated by electron transfer between the carbon support and metal sites. Furthermore, phosphorus doping modulated the surface acidity/basicity and stabilized Fe—N bonds, enabling the N-P co-doped carbon matrix to maintain catalytic activity via electronic regulation throughout the reaction cycles.

To enhance the charge separation and transport efficiency of perylene diimide (PDI)-based organic polymer photocatalysts, three PDI-dominated polymeric photocatalysts (PDI-1, 5NDA, PDI-1, 4NDA and PDI-PDA) were synthesized via a facile polymerization method using 1,5-diaminonaphthalene, 1,4-diaminonaphthalene and p-phenylenediamine as linkers, respectively. The three PDI materials were characterized by FTIR, ¹³CNMR, XRD, XPS, UV-Vis, and photoluminescence spectrometer, evaluated for their photonic quantum efficiency, charge transfer resistance, and separation/transport efficiency of photogenerated carriers through photoelectrochemical experiments, and analyzed for their photocatalytic performance for H₂O₂ production in isopropanol aqueous solution under visible light. The results revealed that PDI-1, 5NDA and PDI-1, 4NDA crystallized in monoclinic systems but exhibited distinct unit cell parameters, while PDI-PDA adopted a triclinic crystal structure. All three materials demonstrated two-dimensional layered architectures and full-spectrum absorption within the visible light region, with PDI-1, 5NDA and PDI-1, 4NDA showing prominent absorption between 600~800 nm. PDI-PDA, PDI-1, 4NDA, and PDI-1, 5NDA were all typical n-type semiconductors, exhibiting photocurrent intensities of 3.0×10⁻⁷, 6.0×10⁻⁷ and 1.2×10⁻⁶ A, respectively, and corresponding photoelectrochemical impedances of 1.21×10⁶, 6.22×10⁵ and 4.23×10⁵ Ω, respectively, with PDI-1, 5NDA displaying the highest photogenerated charge carrier transport and separation efficiency. Under visible light irradiation, PDI-1, 5NDA achieved an exceptional H₂O₂ production rate of 113.485 μmol/(g·h), which was 1.3-fold and 2.2-fold those of PDI-1, 4NDA and PDI-PDA, respectively. This enhanced photocatalytic performance was attributed to the synergistic advantages of PDI-1, 5NDA's asymmetric structural features and extended π-conjugated system, which promoted the separation and transport of photogenerated carriers, thereby boosting H₂O₂ generation efficiency.

Extensive accumulation of waste tires, which is hard to decompose naturally, have led to serious resource waste and environmental pollution. Carbon element, primarily contained in waste tire, making them an ideal precursor for the synthesis of carbon dots. N-doped carbon dots (N-CDs) were synthesized by acid-free one-step hydrothermal synthesis method using waste tires powder pyrolysic carbon black (CBp) as carbon source and ammonium persulfate (APS)-triethanolamine (TEA) oxidation-reduction system as oxidant and N element as doping agent, respectively. The synthesis conditions of N-CDs were optimized by orthogonal experiments, while the composition, structure and fluorescence properties of N-CDs were characterized by FTIR, XPS, TEM and steady-state fluorescence spectrometer. A fluorescent ink for anti-counterfeiting was further prepared from N-CDs and evaluated for its performance. The results showed that N-CDs exhibited a basic spherical structure with a particle size of 3~6 nm. Under excitation at 325 nm, N-CDs displayed a maximum fluorescence emission intensity at 410 nm, indicating its wavelength-dependent fluorescence emission property. The photoluminescence quantum yield of N-CDs was 5.14%, which was 12.5 times higher than that of carbon dots (CDs) synthesized by chemical oxidation method using nitric acid as oxidant. The anti-counterfeiting fluorescent ink emitted blue-green fluorescence under a 365 nm UV light, and luminescence phenomenon still remained stable and obvious after 7-day storage.

Silicon-based anodes are very promising anode materials for next-generation lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) due to their high theoretical capacity, low working voltage, and high natural abundance. However, practical implementation is severely hindered by intrinsic drawbacks including significant volume expansion, low electrical conductivity, and unstable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) films, collectively leading to poor cycling stability. Herein, the fundamental principles governing volume expansion and SEI formation in silicon anodes were reviewed, followed by in-depth discussion on the expansion mechanism. The dual failure modes (mechanical and chemical instability) was analyzed, while the detrimental consequences of cycling degradation was expounded. The modification research on silicon-based anodes in recent years were elaborated from the perspective of multi-dimensional nano-silicon structure design, including the design, preparation, advantages and disadvantages of 0D (silicon nanoparticles, silicon quantum dots, etc.), 1D (silicon nanowires and silicon nanotubes), 2D (silicon nanosheets, silicene), and 3D (porous silicon, silicon nanosponges) nano-silicon materials, as well as the differences in structure, performance and application of other silicon-based anode materials (pure Si anode, SiO_X anodes, Si/C composite anodes). Finally, the critical needs for innovative technologies, fundamental understanding in mechanism, in-situ characterization, and synergistic modification strategies were emphasized. Future research directions and application prospects for high-performance silicon anodes were outlined.

Coal gangue-based water-retaining agent (CG-WRG) was prepared using coal gangue-based humic acid (CG-HA), sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC-Na), sodium alginate (SA), and acrylic acid (AA) as raw materials, potassium persulfate (KPS) as initiator, and N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) as crosslinking agent, and then characterized by FTIR and SEM. The influence of KPS dosage, MBA dosage, neutralization degree of AA and m(AA)∶m(SA)∶m(CMC-Na)∶m(CG-HA) on the water absorbency and water retention of CG-WRG was evaluated through single-factor experiments, followed by exploration on the environmental adaptability of CG-WRG under different environmental conditions (temperature, pH, type and mass concentration of metal cations). The water and fertilizer retention effects were further studied through leaching experiments and water-fertilizer evaporation experiments in saline-alkali soil. The results showed that under the optimal CG-WRG preparation conditions of KPS dosage 0.25 g, MBA dosage 0.06 g, 65% neutralization AA 9.00 g, and m(AA)∶m(SA)∶m(CMC-Na) ∶m(CG-HA)=9∶1∶1∶1, the water absorbency of CG-WRG reached 370.1 g/g, and the water retention was 94.1 g/g. CG-WRG exhibited good water retention effects at temperatures ranging from 5 to 60 ℃, with a higher water absorbency (228.6 g/g) in the alkaline environment pH=11 than in the acidic environment pH=3 (154.4 g/g). The water retention of saline-alkali soil with 2% CG-WRG (based on the mass of saline-alkali soil）was 55%. After being buried in soil for 16 and 20 d, the degradation of CG-WRG was 10.3% and 15.8%, respectively. When the CG-WRG dosage was increased from 0.05% to 0.20%, the cumulative loss of potassium decreased by 37.1%~58.8%, and the loss of nitrogen decreased by 15.7%~30.4%. When the CG-WRG dosage reached 0.20%, the soil water content increased by 4.67% compared with the control group. When the CG-WRG dosage was 0.05%, the contents of and in the soil reached the maximum (7.935 and 1.529 mg). The seedling germination with CG-WRG addition was 90%, and the average root length was 2.7 cm, higher than that with no CG-WRG, which was 50% and 1.0 cm, respectively. In addition, the germination index of the CG-WRG addition group was 486%.

A lotus seed protein peptide (LSP)/tea saponin (TS) coated diosmetin (Dios) nanoemulsion (Dios-NE) based on a natural emulsifier system formulated with LSP and TS was prepared by dispersing and encapsulating the lipophilic active ingredient Dios in rapeseed oil, and characterized by FTIR, SEM, nanoparticle size analyzer and polarizing microscopy. The effects of m(LSP)∶m(TS), volume ratio of dispersed phase to deionized water (oil-to-water ratio) and homogenization pressure on the particle size of Dios-NE were investigated through response surface experiment. The in vitro antioxidant activity of Dios-NE was evaluated using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical and 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)diammonium salt (ABTS) cation radical scavenging assays, while the gradient sustained-release performance and bioaccessibility of Dios-NE were assessed through simulated digestion experiments. The results indicated that, under the optimal preparation conditions of mass ratio of m(LSP)∶m(TS)=3∶20, oil-to-water ratio 5∶95, homogenization pressure 172.375 MPa, Dios-NE showed a particle size of (138.8±0.2) nm, with Dios stably embedded within the emulsion core by hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonding. Dios-NE maintained stable particle size and Zeta potential across a wide range of conditions, including pH (2~11), NaCl concentration (0~50 mmol/L), and temperature (30~90 ℃). The controlled-release properties of Dios-NE and the synergistic antioxidant effects of LSP/TS significantly enhanced the scavenging abilities for DPPH radical and ABTS⁺ radical, reaching 99% at a mass concentration of 24 mg/L. Dios-NE could delay the degradation of Dios in gastric fluid (retention rate 87%) and achieve targeted release in intestinal fluid through micellization, with a bioaccessibility of 57%.

In order to explore the application of photodynamic antimicrobial technology in the field of personal health protection, PCL/D-M/BSA membranes were synthesized from bovine serum albumin (BSA) modification on PCL/D-M membranes, which were prepared via electrospinning technology using polycaprolactone (PCL) as base material and 4′,5′-bis(2,6-dimethyl-4-pyranylidene malononitrile)-2′,7′-dichlorofluorescein (DCF-MPYM) as photosensitizer, and characterized by SEM. The effects of DCF-MPYM and BSA mass fraction on the hydrophilicity, mechanical properties and antimicrobial properties of nanofiber membranes were investigated by contact angle measurement, electronic fabric strength tester and Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) antimicrobial test. The optimized PCL/D-M/BSA membrane was finally compounded with activated carbon mask to obtain functional textile with good breathability and antibacterial performance. The results indicated that the PCL/15D-M membrane with a mass fraction of 0.034% DCF-MPYM displayed ideal fiber diameter, excellent mechanical properties and good hydrophilicity, showing an average fiber diameter of (120±56) nm, a maximum breaking strength of 252.35 cN, a maximum elongation at break of 46.74%, and a water contact angle of 123.13°. The PCL/D-M/BSA membrane prepared with a mass fraction of 0.166% BSA exhibited an average diameter of (96±26) nm, a maximum breaking strength of 382.39 cN, a maximum elongation at break of 84.18%, and a water contact angle of 62.07°. The bacterial inhibition rates of PCL/D-M/BSA membrane against E. coli and S. aureus reached 95.0%±2.0% and 99.0%±1.0%, respectively, while the prepared composite functional textile exhibited a gas permeability of 113.45 nm/s and an antibacterial rate of 95.0%±1.0%.

To investigate the influence of distillation time on the extraction yield, chemical composition and antioxidant activity of essential oil from Pogostemon cablin (Blanco) Benth., essential oil from Pogostemon cablin (Blanco) Benth. growing in Guangxi with the 0~10, 10~30, 30~60, and 60~360 min distillation were obtained through hydrodistillation, analyzed by GC-MS for chemical composition, and evaluated via 1,1-diphenyl-2-trinitrophenylhydrazine free radical (DPPH•) and diammonium 2,2'-azino-bis(3-thylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) cationic free radical (ABTS⁺•) scavenging assay for the antioxidant capacity. The results showed that the essential oil collected at 0~10, 10~30, 30~60 and 60~360 min distillation periods exhibited an extraction rate of 0.14%±0.01%, 0.18%±0.01%, 0.20%±0.02%, and 0.57%±0.03%, respectively, while displayed same main components belonging to sesquiterpenoids, including patchouli alcohol, patchoulone, α-bulnesene and seychellene. Among them, patchouli alcohol was of the highest relative content, with the relative content in the four distillation periods of 49.22%, 50.82%, 50.47%, and 39.07%, respectively. The median inhibition concentration (IC₅₀) of essential oils for DPPH•were 21.75, 12.45, 12.03, and 3.54 g/L, while those for ABTS⁺• were 13.91, 8.62, 8.00, and 3.02 g/L, respectively. The essential oil from Pogostemon cablin (Blanco) Benth collected at 60~360 min exhibited the strongest DPPH• and ABTS⁺• scavenging capacities among the four distillation periods, while that collected at 0~10 min showed the weakest.

Inspired by nitroreductase and the electron transfer process of its metabolite nitroaromatic or nitroheterocyclic compounds, dye 2,7-dichlorofluorescein, which was ring-opened through solvent-assisted ligand incorporation to form carboxylic acid ligand groups, was loaded into the channels of iron-porphyrin metal-organic framework PCN-222(Fe) for synthesis of DCF@PCN-222(Fe). The DCF@PCN-222(Fe) was characterized by ¹HNMR, XRD, SEM, EDX, UV-Vis, fluorescence spectrometer and XPS, and evaluated for its electrochemical properties via cyclic voltammetry (CV). With DCF@PCN-222(Fe) photo-catalyzing nitrobenzene reduction to aniline as a model reaction, the reaction conditions were optimized, the nitroaromatic hydrocarbon substrate was expanded and the cycling stability of the catalyst was evaluated. The results showed that DCF@PCN-222(Fe) still maintained the PCN-222(Fe) parent framework with a molar ratio of DCF to iron porphyrin ligand 1.6∶1, with its formula speculated as C₈₀H_46.4Cl_4.2FeN₄O_22.4Zr₃ and a relative molecular mass of 1878.47. DCF@PCN-222(Fe) exhibited UV-Vis absorption and fluorescence emission peaks at the same positions as DCF (532 and 556 nm, respectively), indicating electron transfer within the framework which can simulate the electron transfer process of nitroreductase. Under light irradiation, excited DCF transferred electrons to the iron-porphyrin center, from which the generated low-valent iron center transferred electrons to other electron acceptors, enabling the efficient reduction of nitrobenzene substrates. Under the optimal reaction conditions of room temperature, with 532 nm LED as light source, 2.5 μmol DCF@PCN-222(Fe) as photocatalyst, 1 mL methanol as solvent, catalytic reduction of 0.1 mmol nitrobenzene for 2 h, the aniline yield was 82% and reduced to 77% when the catalyst was used continuously for three times. Under the optimum reaction conditions, the reduction of nitrobenzene substrates with different para substituents catalyzed by DCF@PCN-222(Fe) showed yields from 64% to 91%.