With the increasingly severe global water shortage problem, finding alternative freshwater resources needs to be addressed urgently. Atmospheric water harvesting (AWH) technology, a method for obtaining water from the atmosphere, holds great potential in alleviation on the global water shortage problem. The main methods of collecting water from the atmosphere include fog collection, condensation-based AWH, membrane-assisted AWH, and adsorption-based AWH. Herein, the principles of different water collection methods and their respective advantages as well as disadvantages were discussed. The characteristics of different types of adsorbents in adsorption-based AWH technology were compared, and the research progress on composite adsorbents was specifically introduced. At the same time, the optimization and regulation strategies in the processes of water absorption, storage/transportation, and water release were systematically expounded. Finally, the development trends in improving the performance of water collection materials, optimizing water quality, innovating preparation technologies, and expanding intelligent applications were prospected, with the aim to provide useful references and inspirations for further development and application of adsorbents.

Nitrite has been widely used in many fields, and its accurate detection is crucial due to the fact that excessive intake of nitrite is hazardous to human health. Traditional detection methods have disadvantages such as high cost and long detection time. Electrochemical sensors have become a research hotspot due to their advantages of low detection limit, rapid response and low cost. Herein, the research progress on electrochemical sensors modified with carbon nanomaterials in nitrite detection was reviewed. The unique advantages of carbon-based materials such as graphene, carbon nanotubes, carbon nanofibers, carbon dots, nanoporous carbon, metal-organic frameworks and biochar were emphatically analyzed, and their large specific surface area, excellent electrical conductivity and surface active sites significantly enhanced the electrocatalytic activity and electron transfer kinetics of the sensor. Functionalization strategies such as heteroatom doping, metal nanoparticle loading and polymer composite further endowed the material with specific recognition ability, making the detection limit generally reach the μmol level. Some sensors demonstrated good recovery rates and anti-interference capabilities in the detection of actual samples, such as water samples and food. However, these technologies are still facing challenges such as complex preparation processes, easy shedding of active materials, significant ionic interference in complex matrices, and insufficient long-term stability. Future research should focus on constructing multi-dimensional composite systems, developing controllable synthesis technologies such as in-situ growth and laser engraving, combining molecular imprinting techniques to enhance selectivity, and promoting cross-integration with artificial intelligence and sustainable materials to break through performance bottlenecks and provide efficient and reliable technical support for food safety monitoring and environmental pollution prevention and control.

Electrically conductive adhesive, a special functional adhesive, has been widely used in the fields of integrated circuit bonding, light-emitting diode manufacturing, chip packaging, and solar panel production due to its excellent line resolution, environmental friendliness, and simple operation process. In recent years, with the rapid development of electronic products, 5G, artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies, preparation of high-performance electrically conductive adhesives has become a key research direction and industry development trend in the field of electronic materials today. Herein, the basic composition, types as well as advantages and disadvantages of electrically conductive adhesives were reviewed, followed by introduction on the conductive mechanism. The improvement strategies for the mechanical bonding performance of electrically conductive adhesives were then elaborated for the aspects of modified resin matrix and doped nanomaterials, while strategies for electrical conductivity enhancement were summarized from regulation on the type, size and morphology of conductive fillers, nanoparticle addition, surface modification of conductive fillers, doping of low-melting-point alloys and optimization of curing conditions. Finally, the current development status and the existing problems of domestic conductive adhesives were pointed out and their future development trends were discussed.

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.

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.

A series of Cr³⁺ doped BiVO₄ (Cr-BiVO₄) and palygorskite (PGS)/Cr-BiVO₄ composite materials were prepared by hydrothermal method using Bi(NO₃)₃•5H₂O, NH₄VO₃, Cr₂O₃ and PGS as raw materials, and characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM and UV-Vis for analyses on structure, composition, morphology and optical performance. The thermochromic behavior of the composite materials was evaluated, with the color change mechanism speculated. The results indicated that the doping of Cr³⁺and PGS showed no effect on the monoclinic phase of BiVO₄ but widened the absorption range of the material in the visible light region. The maximum absorption edge of 30% Cr-BiVO₄ with a Cr³⁺ doping content (based on the mass of BiVO₄, the same below) redshifted from 536 nm to 634 nm and the absorbance was enhanced. Both Cr-BiVO₄ and PGS/Cr-BiVO₄ displayed reversible thermochromic properties at 20~500 ℃. Compared with that of BiVO₄ (from bright yellow to red, r.t.~300 ℃), the color changing temperature of 30% Cr-BiVO₄ decreased 100 ℃ and achieved reversible change between dark orange and red at r.t.~200 ℃. 30% Cr-BiVO₄ could repeat reversible thermochromic behavior more than 12 times at 20~500 ℃. Meanwhile, the water-based coating from 20% PGS/30% Cr-BiVO₄ composite materials prepared with 20% mass fraction of PGS exhibited reversible thermochromic between orange yellow to red. The phase transition between the monoclinic and tetragonal phases of BiVO₄ in the composite material was the fundamental cause for its reversible thermochromic property.

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%.

3D spherical visible light catalyst ZIF-8/BiOI composites was prepared from Bi(NO₃)₃•5H₂O, KI and self-made metal-organic framework material ZIF-8 by ethylene glycol solvothermal method, characterized by XRD, FTIR, SEM, EDS, BET and UV-Vis, and evaluated for its performance in activating peroxymonosulfate (PMS) oxidation to remove sodium 4-(2-hydroxy-1-naphthalenazo) benzenesulfonate (Orange Ⅱ) under light conditions. The effects of ZIF-8 addition amount (based on the mass of BiOI, the same below) and reaction conditions on the degradation rate of Orange Ⅱ were investigated, while the mechanism of Orange Ⅱ oxidative removal by activated PMS with ZIF-8/BiOI composites was speculated. The results showed that ZIF-8/BiOI composites exhibited good visible light response performance. Under the conditions of 500 mg/L ZIF-8/BiOI with 10% ZIF-8 as catalyst, 350 W xenon lamp simulated illumination, 0.5 mmol/L PMS, 100 mg/L Orange Ⅱ, adjust initial pH of solution 7.0, and 60 min, the degradation rate of Orange Ⅱ reached as high as 95.4%. The reaction process conformed to the first-order kinetic model. and showed a significant effect while , Cl⁻, and displayed almost no influence on the reaction system. The 10%ZIF-8/BiOI also showed good reusability, with the degradation rate of Orange Ⅱ at 60 min still could reach 83.2% after 4 recycles. Hydroxyl radicals, singlet oxygen and holes were the main active substances in the degradation process, with sulfate radicals playing an auxiliary role. During the degradation process, the holes and electrons of BiOI and ZIF-8 were transferred to each other, enhancing the separation efficiency of photogenerated electron-hole pairs. With the synergistic coupling effect of type Ⅰ band structure heterojunctions and PMS, ZIF-8/BiOI accelerated the generation of free radicals in the degradation system.

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.

A phosphorus-amine ionic liquid, 1-(3-amino-3-oxopropyl)-3-propyl-imidazolium phosphate (IL) was prepared by quaternization reaction and ion exchange method using acrylamide, imidazole, 1-bromopropane, and sodium hypophosphite as raw materials, characterized via FTIR, ¹HNMR and HRMS, and then used as curing agent to obtain epoxy resin (EP) composites. The effect of IL mass fraction on the properties of EP composites was analyzed through SEM characterization, tensile strength, impact strength tests, limiting oxygen index, horizontal/vertical burning, thermal analysis and conical calorimetry experiments. The results showed that the addition of IL improved the mechanical properties of EP composites. When the mass fraction of IL was 6.4%, the impact strength of the prepared EP composites (EP-2) increased by 46.16% compared with that of pure EP (EP-0). Meanwhile, the addition of IL broadened the decomposition temperature range of EP composites, increased the residual carbon content, and significantly reduced the maximum heat release rate (PHRR) and total heat release (THR). When the mass fraction of IL was 8.4%, the PHRR of the prepared EP composites (EP-3) was 664.95 kW/m², a decrease of 27.86% compared with that of EP-0 (921.72 kW/m²), while THR decreased from 119.27 kJ/m² of EP-0 to 86.39 kJ/m², a decrease of 27.57%. The ultimate oxygen index reached 30.6%, and the horizontal/vertical combustion level reached V-0 level.