Zhimin Zhao, Liyun Feng, Dongsheng Song, Ming Zhang^*

Journal of Polymer Materials, Vol.42, No.4, pp. 929-957, 2025, DOI:10.32604/jpm.2025.074529 - 26 December 2025

Abstract Global water pollution is becoming increasingly serious, and compound pollutants such as heavy metals and organic dyes pose multidimensional threats to ecology and human health. Metal-organic skeleton compounds (MOFs) have been proven to be highly efficient in capturing a variety of pollutants by virtue of their large specific surface area, adjustable pore channels, and abundant active sites. However, the easy agglomeration of powders, the difficulty of recycling, and the poor long-term stability have limited their practical applications. Cellulose, as the most abundant renewable polymer in nature, has the characteristics of a three-dimensional network, mechanical flexibility,… More >

Jia-Nan Ma^1,2,*, Yuan Liu¹, Jia-Hui Zhang², Qian Zhao², Ling Wang^1,*

Journal of Polymer Materials, Vol.42, No.4, pp. 909-927, 2025, DOI:10.32604/jpm.2025.071607 - 26 December 2025

Abstract MXene (Ti₃C₂Tx) is known for its excellent hydrophilicity, electrical conductivity, and dispersibility. It is a promising candidate for the fabrication of moisture-responsive actuators due to the strong interaction between MXene sheets and water molecules. Inspired by natural organisms, a variety of moisture-actuated soft robots have been successfully developed through the systematic integration of MXene-based actuators. This minireview summarizes recent advances in the preparation and applications of MXene-based moisture-responsive actuators. The hydrophilic properties of MXene, along with design principles, working mechanisms, current progress, and applications of MXene-based actuators, are discussed. The future prospects and developmental directions of More >

A. S. Alqarni^a,, S. N. Alamri^b,

Chalcogenide Letters, Vol.22, No.5, pp. 493-506, 2025, DOI:10.15251/CL.2025.225.493

Abstract Abundant and environmentally friendly solar cells materials Cu₂AlSnS₄ (CATS) thin film successively prepared by electron beam deposition system. The impact of various deposition times and post-annealing at 450 °C under nitrogen gas atmosphere on the structures, morphologies, and spectroscopic characteristics of the obtained CATS films were investigated. Both deposition time variation and annealing process were found to significantly affect the crystallinity, bonding vibration, surface morphology, energy band gaps, and Urbach energy of the CATS films. EDX spectra of the films disclosed the existence of all constituents’ elements. XRD analysis of the post-annealed films verified their multiple More >

F. F. Tong^a,*, J. L. Han^b

Chalcogenide Letters, Vol.22, No.8, pp. 719-733, 2025, DOI:10.15251/CL.2025.228.719

Abstract In this study, hierarchical ZnS–CNT hybrids were synthesized via a solvothermal reaction at 180 °C for 48 h, producing ∼200 nm ZnS spheres uniformly anchored onto oxidized multiwalled carbon nanotubes. Structural analyses by XRD confirmed the cubic sphalerite phase, while SEM and TEM revealed a “pearl-necklace” morphology and effective nanoparticle dispersion. XPS spectra verified Zn²⁺ and oxygen-containing surface groups on the composite. Nitrogen adsorption–desorption measurements showed that incorporating CNTs transformed the material’s isotherm from type III to type IV, increasing the BET surface area from 68 to 155 m² /g and introducing mesoporosity. When drop-cast onto More >

Hsiao-Chun Han¹, Der-Chen Huang^1,*, Chin-Ling Chen^2,*

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.145, No.1, pp. 67-126, 2025, DOI:10.32604/cmes.2025.070944 - 30 October 2025

Abstract This study presents a systematic review of applications of artificial intelligence (abbreviated as AI) and blockchain in supply chain provenance traceability and legal forensics cover five sectors: integrated circuits (abbreviated as ICs), pharmaceuticals, electric vehicles (abbreviated as EVs), drones (abbreviated as UAVs), and robotics—in response to rising trade tensions and geopolitical conflicts, which have heightened concerns over product origin fraud and information security. While previous literature often focuses on single-industry contexts or isolated technologies, this review comprehensively surveys these sectors and categorizes 116 peer-reviewed studies by application domain, technical architecture, and functional objective. Special attention More >

Mengting Huang, Meiting Lu, Li Yang, Jiwen Long, Li Zhou^*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.13, No.10, pp. 2077-2090, 2025, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2025.02025-0122 - 22 October 2025

Abstract Peach gum polysaccharide (PGP), a readily available natural polysaccharide, boasts substantial potential across diverse applications, yet its practical utility is severely limited by its vulnerability to bacterial growth and limited antioxidant activity. Herein, we introduced a simple and effective method to enhance the antibacterial and antioxidant properties of PGP by conjugating it with salicylic acid (SA). Cytotoxicity evaluation results confirmed that the resulting PGP-SA retains the excellent biocompatibility of PGP. Notably, PGP-SA demonstrates outstanding antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive (S. aureus) and Gram-negative (E. coli) bacteria, outperforming non-modified PGP. Its antibacterial mechanism is hypothesized to stem from… More > Graphic Abstract

Yao Xia¹, Yuxiang Huang^1,*, Shifeng Zhang², Yanglun Yu¹

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.13, No.10, pp. 1881-1898, 2025, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2025.02025-0068 - 22 October 2025

Abstract Bamboo parenchymal cells (PCs) represent an underutilized resource with significant potential as a sustainable and versatile bio-based material. Despite the extensive research on bamboo fibers, PCs, comprising a considerable portion of bamboo, have been largely overlooked. This review examines the multi-scale structure of bamboo PCs, including their microcapsules, multi-wall layers, and pits, which provide the structural foundation for diverse applications. Various physical and chemical isolation methods, impacting the properties of extracted PCs, are also discussed. Notably, the review explores the promising applications of bamboo PCs, highlighting their use as filler materials in formaldehyde-free composites, as More > Graphic Abstract

Yunsheng Ruan^*, Li Chen, Zibin Cao, Lina Xu, Chao Han, Qianlu Sun

Journal of Psychology in Africa, Vol.35, No.3, pp. 319-325, 2025, DOI:10.32604/jpa.2025.068970 - 31 July 2025

Abstract This study investigated proactive personality effects on employment preparation and the mediating roles of self-efficacy and career exploration behaviors in this relationship. The study sample comprised 445 university students (68.3% female; aged 20 to 24) from a university in central China. The participants completed measures to assess proactive personality, employment preparation, self-efficacy, and career exploration behaviors. Structural equation modeling analysis results indicated that proactive personality predicted higher employment preparation; Self-efficacy and career exploration behaviors partially mediated this relationship. Specifically, career exploration behaviors had a stronger mediating effect than self-efficacy on the total effect (34.71% vs. More >

Haoquan Xue¹, Yujie Zhang¹, Zhuang Zhao¹, Haoran Gao¹, Wanlin Bao¹, Jiaxuan Li², Zhiheng Zhang², Qi Wang¹, Qiang He^1,*

Journal of Polymer Materials, Vol.42, No.2, pp. 379-409, 2025, DOI:10.32604/jpm.2025.066695 - 14 July 2025

Abstract Nanocellulose, derived from abundant lignocellulosic biomass, has emerged as a transformative material with unparalleled versatility across industries. This review systematically analyzes its sources, extraction methods, and multidimensional applications. Key findings include: (1) Plant fiber hierarchy dictates nanocellulose properties, with wood-derived cellulose offering high crystallinity and agricultural waste enabling cost-effective production. (2) Acid hydrolysis remains dominant for cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), while mechanical methods yield high-aspect-ratio cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs). (3) Nanocellulose’s mechanical strength, biocompatibility, and tunable surface chemistry drive innovations in energy storage (e.g., supercapacitors), biosensors (e.g., glucose monitoring), and biomedical engineering (e.g., 3D-printed scaffolds). Challenges in More >

Jun-Jie Yang¹, Ran An¹, Jing-Heng Nie¹, Hao-Miao Ma¹, Yu-Qing Yan¹, Yuan-Ru Guo^1,*, Qing-Jiang Pan^2,*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.13, No.5, pp. 885-900, 2025, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2025.02024-0066 - 20 May 2025

Abstract To achieve the sustainable development and carbon neutral target, biomass chitosan (CS) was used to prepare N,S-doped biochar (NSB) with the assistance of sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS). The synthetic route was developed, which does not require the activation that is frequently-used for active carbon materials. By manipulating their interaction, SDBS was deposited with CS in neutral and basic conditions. Subsequent calcination successfully has access to NSB. It features with hierarchical porous structure and abundant functional groups. The dually-doped NSB bears excellent adsorption performance towards chlortetracycline (CTC). The adsorption capacity reaches 101.3 mg g⁻¹ within 4 More >