Creation of Wood-Based Hierarchical Superstructures via In Situ Growth of ZIF-8 for Enhancing Mechanical Strength and Electromagnetic Shielding Performance

High-Durability Cellulose-Based Composite Paper with Superior Electromagnetic Interference Shielding

Highly efficient electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials are critical for portable hardware and flexible electronics, where mechanical durability often poses challenges. Here, the excellent wear resistance and flexibility of thermoplastic polyurethane are utilized to provide a "protective layer" for EMI equipment. A carbon nanotube/cellulose/thermoplastic polyurethane (CNT/paper/TPU) composite paper with a three-layer structure was prepared using a coating method. Strong hydrogen bonds between CNTs, cellulose, and TPU ensured robust integration. The composite, with a thickness of 0.54 mm and conductivity of 1040 S/m, achieved exceptional EMI shielding effectiveness of 69.0 dB. It demonstrated durability against water, solvents, bending, and friction while maintaining shielding performance. Furthermore, its excellent mechanical properties and fatigue resistance significantly enhance equipment lifespan. Therefore, it is expected that this work will open a simple strategy for developing materials with excellent durable EMI shielding properties.

Biomass Solid-State Electrolyte with Abundant Ion and Water Channels for Flexible Zinc-Air Batteries

Flexible zinc-air batteries are the leading candidates as the next-generation power source for flexible/wearable electronics. However, constructing safe and high-performance solid-state electrolytes (SSEs) with intrinsic hydroxide ion (OH-) conduction remains a fundamental challenge. Herein, by adopting the natural and robust cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) as building blocks, the biomass SSEs with penetrating ion and water channels are constructed by knitting the OH--conductive CNFs and water-retentive CNFs together via an energy-efficient tape casting. Benefiting from the abundant ion and water channels with interconnected hydrated OH- wires for fast OH- conduction under a nanoconfined environment, the biomass SSEs reveal the high water-uptake, impressive OH- conductivity of 175 mS cm-1 and mechanical robustness simultaneously, which overcomes the commonly existed dilemma between ion conductivity and mechanical property. Remarkably, the flexible zinc-air batteries assemble with biomass SSEs deliver an exceptional cycle lifespan of 310 h and power density of 126 mW cm-2. The design methodology for water and ion channels opens a new avenue to design high-performance SSEs for batteries.

Self-assembly of metal-polyphenolic network on biomass for enhanced organic contaminant capturing from water with a high cost-to-benefit ratio

Nanomaterials present a vast potential as functional materials in environmental engineering. However, there are challenges with nanocomplex for recyclability, reliable/stable, and scale-up industrial integration. Here, a versatile, low-cost, stable and recycled easily metal-polyphenolic-based material carried by wood powder (bioCar-MPNs) adsorption platform was nano-engineered by a simple, fast self-assembly strategy, in which wood powder is an excellent substrate serving as a scaffold and stabilizer to prevent the nanocomplex from aggregating and is easier to recycle. Life cycle analysis highlights a green preparation process and environmental sustainability for bioCar-MPNs. The metal-polyphenolic nanocomplex coated on the wood surface in bioCar-MPNs presents a remarkable surface adsorption property (1829.4 mg/g) at a low cost (2.4 US dollars per 1000 g bioCar-MPNs) for organic dye. Quartz crystal microbalance analysis (QCM) demonstrates an existing strong affinity between polyphenols and organic dyes. Furthermore, Independent Gradient Model (IGM) and Hirshfeld surface analysis reveal the presence of the electrostatic interactions, π-π interactions, and hydrogen bonding. Meanwhile, adsorption efficiency of bioCar-MPNs maintains over 95% in the presence of co-existing ions (Na+, 0.5 M). Importantly, the reasonable utilization of biomass for water treatment can contribute to achieving the high-value and resource utilization of biomass materials.