This review focuses on the advances and outlook of integrated Ni-based MOFs (Metal-Organic Framework) and LDHs (Layered Double Hydroxides) photo(electro) catalysts, and addresses the pivotal gap in water splitting for sustainable energy generation application. MOFs and LDHs are two classes of materials with high potential for applications in photo(electro)catalytic water splitting reaction. However, challenges such as limited intrinsic activity, low electrical conductivity of a single material, lack of more exposed active sites, weak mass transport ability, and poor crystalline structure remain. State-of-the-art strategies including doping, the development of composites, nano-structuration are used to solve these issues. Machine learning and artificial intelligence-assisted advanced in situ characterization techniques are proposed as unavoidable tools to address these challenges and optimize the catalyst design. This review outlines the key parameters involved in the assessment of the electrocatalytic and photocatalytic performance of water-splitting catalysts. The importance of density functional theory in Ni-based MOFs and LDHs for electrocatalytic water splitting is emphasized. Details about the balance of high activity along with long-term stability as a crucial requirement for large-scale applications are provided. This review will propel the knowledge and know-how in using Ni-based MOFs/LDHs as electro(photo)catalysts for hydrogen (H-2) production, and guide the researchers in the field.

Transition to a sustainable energy future demands the development of alternative battery technologies beyond lithium-ion batteries, which are challenging for large-scale implementation due to inherent safety concerns and resource scarcity. Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) are a promising solution; however, improvement of the cathode is essential for their widespread adoption. This study investigates the structural modification of zinc hexacyanoferrate (ZnHCF) as cathode materials using ball-milling and the addition of carbon black (Vulcan XC-72R). The improved electroactivity is attributed to the phase transition from cubic to rhombohedral, the conversion of Prussian blue analogue to Prussian white analogue phases, and the synergistic effect produced by the presence of carbon material. These changes lead to the formation of [Fe(CN)₆] vacancies, which draw water molecules into interstitial sites. Carbon material plays a crucial role in preserving the crystalline structure of ZnHCF and enhancing the electrochemical performance. The sample milled in presence of carbon material (BM-ZnHCF@C sample) demonstrates superior results compared to the samples unmilled and milled samples without carbon material, achieving a capacity close to 100 mAh g⁻¹ at a current density of 0.5 A g⁻¹. However, after 50 cycles, the capacity decreases by 53.3%, but is restored by replacing the Zn anode while retaining the same cathode. The zinc anode is the primary factor hindering the long-term performance of the assembled battery, as demonstrated by the evolution of the electrode potential over time in the ZIB using a T-type electrochemical cell.

Marine corrosion is a longstanding issue for underwater materials and structures, where the interlinked challenges of corrosion and biofouling require new approaches to source increasing needs of the marine resources. Herein we introduce environment-friendly chitosan coatings immobilized with corrosion inhibitor of 2-mercaptobenzothiazole (MBT) for active corrosion protection with antifouling properties against marine organisms. The molecular interaction between chitosan and MBT on corrosion resistance and antifouling performance was studied with the coatings where MBT was entrapped, physically associated, or chemically linked to chitosan. The physical association is achieved by the non-covalent π-π stacking between MBT and chitosan-benzophenone-3 (CS-BP-3) copolymer, which improved loading efficiency of MBT and formed a smoother coating. For the first time, MBT was chemically linked to chitosan confirmed by infrared spectroscopy. Electrochemical measurements revealed that both physical association and chemical linkage strategies can enhance the corrosion inhibition dramatically, where the chemical linked coating has a significantly higher corrosion resistance. The corrosion current of the physically associated coatings is a magnitude lower than that of MBT-entrapped coatings, while the coatings formed by chemical linking is even better, about one fifth compared to physically associated coatings. Antifouling activity of these coatings were evaluated against marine mussels (Mytilus coruscus), where chemically linked CS-MBT coating exhibits 10 % settlement after 48 h, compared to 20 % settlement on coatings prepared by physical association. The findings in this work provide a new route to construct coatings that are effective in corrosion inhibition and have long-term antifouling properties.

Pork is rich in protein, but its high moisture content leads to microbial spoilage, and rapid post-harvest quality degradation. Natural biopolymer-based coatings have emerged as a promising solution for preserving the food. In this research, edible coatings composed of chitosan (CH), gelatin (GL), Aloe vera gel (AVG), and nanoemulsified carvacrol (CNE) were developed to extend shelf life of vacuum-packaged pork stored at 4 °C. Five coatings i.e., CH/GL, CH/GL/AVG, CH/GL/AVG/CNE-1 (1 % CNE), CH/GL/AVG/CNE-2 (2 % CNE), and CH/GL/AVG/CNE-5 (5 % CNE) were tested. The addition of A. vera gel and CNE significantly boosted the coatings' antimicrobial efficacy, reducing mesophilic and psychrotrophic bacteria, yeast, and mold counts by 3–4 log CFU/g in the CH/GL/AVG/CNE-2 and CH/GL/AVG/CNE-5 coated samples compared to the uncoated control. Moreover, the coatings effectively slowed total volatile bases-nitrogen (TVB-N) and thiobarbituric acid (TBA) formations maintaining quality of the vacuum-packed pork for up to 16 days compared to 10 days in case of the control. The CH/GL/AVG/CNE-2 coated pork also had a sensory score above 7.8 throughout the storage period, while that for the uncoated meat dropped below 5. Overall, CH/GL/AVG/CNE-2 was effective edible coating that extended the shelf life of vacuum-packaged pork by 6 days in refrigerated conditions.

Domestic, industrial and agricultural activities require large amounts of water. This necessitates the need for an effective solution to meet the increasing water demand worldwide. A Huge amount of wastewater is generated daily and when this is left untreated, the contaminants present in these effluents may be harmful to the environment. There are various treatment techniques for the abatement of the contaminants present in these wastewaters. Conventional approaches often employed are the biological, physical and chemical methods. Zerovalent metals (ZVMs) such as zero-valent iron, zero-valent zinc, zero-valent aluminium to mention a few have emerged as promising candidates for wastewater treatment applications due to their unique reactivity and ability to facilitate the removal of various contaminants. In this report, a comprehensive review of the mechanisms, efficiency, and emerging technologies associated with ZVM-based water treatment is provided. The underlying objectives for which the review aimed to address include (i) providing an understanding of the ZVMs used in water treatment applications and their properties, (ii) reviewing the mechanisms employed by ZVMs to sequestrate contaminants, (iii) evaluating the efficiency of ZVMs in the removal of contaminants and (iv) exploring the various emerging technologies used in ZVM-based water treatment and to provide some recommendations for future research. It was concluded from the work that ZVMs abate contaminants found in wastewater through an interplay and synergy of physical, chemical and catalytic mechanisms. ZVMs, when used with other treatment techniques, provide better benefits in the treatment of diverse contaminants. To help achieve the full scale utilization of ZVMs potential, sustained research efforts combined with innovative approaches are needed for sustainable and efficient water treatment solutions. The review offers insights into technologies needed to eliminate diverse contaminants from wastewater, addressing important considerations regarding sustainability and future directions of ZVM-based water treatment technologies.

Salt removal from seawater and brackish water by Capacitive deionization (CDI) is an emerging technology that has a potential to contribute to solving global shortages of freshwater. Upon the application of an external voltage to a pair of nanostructured carbon electrodes, ions are removed by electrosorption in the electrical double layer (EDL) of the capacitor. The physical limitation due to repulsion of co-ions can be reduced using intercalation materials that are less sensitive to ion concentration variations. Herein, we report a hollow-concave high-entropy Prussian blue analogue (HEPBA) enhanced electrodes for superior electrochemical and capacitor performances. The half-cell of hollow-concave HEPBA has a high cycling stability of 1000 cycles at a current density of 1 A g−1. Lower energy consumption for desalination estimated over 90 cycles is due to an enhancement of salt adsorption capacity of HEPBA (∼ 26.2 mg g−1). The observed improvement in the electrochemical property is due to synergistic effects from multi-elemental composition that lead to the high entropy and specific surface area. Hollow-concave HEPBA are structurally stable with negligible changes in the lattice parameters during extensive charging and discharging cycles. This simple method offers an opportunity to modify the structure and morphology of PBAs for real-life applications.

For a sustainable future, the search for biodegradable materials to replace conventional petroleum-based polymers for food packaging has received much attention because of the need to reduce plastic pollution in the environment. Biopolymers are generally biodegradable, renewable, nontoxic, and easily available in nature and can be effective potential alternatives to synthetic plastics. However, the inherent limitations of biopolymers in terms of poor mechanical and barrier properties, as well as inadequate thermal stability, have hindered their widespread adoption in the food packaging industry. With the advent of nanoscience, new avenues for innovation in novel food packaging materials with enhanced functional attributes have been realized. Upon dispersion in a biopolymer matrix, inorganic or organic nanofillers, which possess certain physical and chemical properties at the nanoscale, make these composites useful as packaging materials; tailored mechanical, barrier, thermal, and optical properties have been reported to meet specific requirements for food preservation and packaging. This review discusses the effects of the reinforcement of different types of nanofillers on the mechanical, barrier, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of biopolymeric matrices used for food packaging applications. The importance of standardized regulations for the safe use of nanomaterials in food packaging has also been discussed in detail.

Mandarin oranges are susceptible to senescence and decay, primarily due to postharvest quality loss and fungal infections. This study aim to develop edible and active coatings using carnauba and shellac incorporated with carvacrol nanoemulsion (CNE), and to examine the synergistic effects of the coating on the quality parameters and shelf-life of the mandarin oranges during ambient storage. Nanoemulsion of carvacrol with average droplet size of 348.8 nm was prepared, showing a polydispersity index value of 0.211, showed excellent antifungal activities. Five coating formulations were developed and applied on the mandarin oranges. The coating containing 2 %, v/v CNE exhibited the lowest weight loss (19.23 %), maintaining highest firmness (12.06 N), and total soluble solids of 16.1°Brix, and a titratable acidity of 1.56 % even after 30 days of storage. The application of the coating on the mandarin oranges-maintained quality up to 30 days doubling the shelf-life in the ambient.

Background: The physical and chemical synthesis methods of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) often require high energy or involve toxic reagents producing hazardous byproducts. Plant-mediated synthesis of ZnONPs, in retrospect, is a sustainable synthetic approach with significant potential for novel applications. Bioactive compounds of plant extracts act as reducing and stabilizing agents, offering an eco-friendly alternative to the conventional chemical and physical synthesis techniques. Plant-mediated ZnONPs exhibit comparable functional properties, including potential antimicrobial properties, exceptional UV-light barrier capabilities, and controlled release kinetics, making them ideal for enhancing the performance of biopolymer-based food packaging films. Scope and approach: This review highlights synthesis of plant-mediated ZnONPs for application in biopolymeric packaging materials i.e., films and coatings, and their effects on the mechanical, thermal, antimicrobial, and other functional properties of the biopolymer matrix. Moreover, applications of ZnONPs incorporated biopolymer-based active films and coatings in packaging and shelf-life extension of perishable foods like fruits and vegetables, muscle foods, dairy products, etc. are also elaborated. Key findings and conclusions: Biopolymer-based nanocomposite films have demonstrated efficacy in preserving the freshness and quality of perishable food products including fresh fruits, vegetables, muscle foods, and dairy items by inhibiting microbial growth and extending shelf-life. Additionally, their ability to serve as high-tensile, biodegradable packaging materials aligns with the global push toward reduction of synthetic plastics usage. The integration of plant-mediated ZnONPs offers a sustainable solution for food packaging and preservation challenges while minimizing environmental impact.

Single-atom catalysts (SACs) are becoming increasingly recognized as highly promising catalytic materials, distinguished by their exceptional atomic efficiency, superior selectivity, and elevated activity levels. This review offers a detailed and comprehensive overview of the recent advancements in SACs, focusing on synthesis strategies, photocatalytic energy conversion applications, and advanced characterization techniques. Various synthetic approaches for fabricating atomically dispersed catalysts are elaborated concisely, emphasizing the importance of achieving precise atomic regulation on compatible supports to ensure strong metal–support interactions. Furthermore, the advanced characterization techniques by analytical tools are illustrated for a deep exploration of catalytic activity and mechanistic insights into uniformly dispersed SACs. Specifically, different kinds of support materials such as metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), their subset zeolitic imidazolate frameworks, and graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) with diverse coordination and electronic environments are examined. Further, advances in computational techniques and machine learning are transforming SACs development by improving predictive accuracy and reducing trial-and-error methods, thereby accelerating the discovery of stable and active catalysts. Finally, current challenges and prospects of SACs based on MOFs, and g-C3N4 are addressed, providing valuable insights for the continued development and application of these catalysts in various industrial processes and environmental remediation efforts.