Ziyang Qiu^1,2, Hanjun Yang^1,2,*

Journal of Polymer Materials, Vol.41, No.4, pp. 329-340, 2024, DOI:10.32604/jpm.2024.057953 - 16 December 2024

Abstract Hydrogels are emerging as promising candidates for solar-driven interfacial evaporation in water purification. Our research introduces a graphite polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel (GPVA) evaporator designed as a photothermal conversion interface, showcasing high performance with an evaporation rate of 2.43 kg m⁻² h⁻¹ and an efficiency of 91.9% under solar irradiance of 1 kW m⁻². The layered graphite structure of the GPVA hydrogel enhances its ion and dye adsorption capabilities, effectively removing fluoride, iodine, and other contaminants from water. In cyclic evaporation tests, the GPVA hydrogel evaporator demonstrated remarkable stability and long-term durability, maintaining an evaporation rate of 2.43 More >

Jiangyi Zhou, Bin Cao, Sivakumar Esakkimuthu, Mao Mu^*, Shuang Wang^*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.12, No.12, pp. 2069-2078, 2024, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2024.054905 - 20 December 2024

Abstract Seaweed, as a third generation of biomass energy, has significant potential to replace non-renewable fossil fuels. Among various conversion technologies, hydrothermal liquefaction can effectively convert seaweed into bio-oil. However, most current research on hydrothermal liquefaction products focuses on the oil phase and solid phase, with little attention given to the utilization of the aqueous phase by-product. In this study, the large seaweed Enteromorpha prolifera was selected as the raw material. The aqueous phase containing organic components was prepared through hydrothermal liquefaction at different temperatures, which was then mixed with the polymer polyvinyl alcohol to produce high-value… More >

Xianzhi Chen¹, Dong Niu^1,*, Hongtao Gao¹, Mu Du^2,3,*

Frontiers in Heat and Mass Transfer, Vol.22, No.6, pp. 1743-1760, 2024, DOI:10.32604/fhmt.2024.058274 - 19 December 2024

Abstract Thermosensitive hydrogel can integrate vapor molecular capture, in-situ liquefaction, and thermal-induced water release for freshwater capture. This study aimed to examine the dynamic behavior of poly (N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) single chain and cross-linking thermosensitive hydrogel through molecular dynamics simulation. Specifically, the impact of lower critical solution temperature (LCST) on the conformation of polymer chain and the interaction between water and polymer chain were also investigated. The polymer chain conformation underwent a transition from coil to globule when the temperature exceeded the LCST, indicating the temperature responsiveness of PNIPAM. Additionally, thermosensitive hydrogel samples with different cross-linking degrees (DOC) More > Graphic Abstract

Junxiao Qiu^1,2, Sanmei Liu^3,4,*

Journal of Polymer Materials, Vol.41, No.4, pp. 315-327, 2024, DOI:10.32604/jpm.2024.057951 - 16 December 2024

Abstract Integration of solar-driven interfacial evaporation and photocatalysis is one of the most promising technologies for generating fresh water and removing pollutants. In this work, TiO₂/g-C₃N₄ photocatalysis is loaded on a hydrogel containing single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT). Due to the excellent water evaporation channel of hydrogel and the excellent photothermal conversion performance of SWCNT, as well as the good visible light absorption ability of TiO₂/g-C₃N₄, TiO₂/g-C₃N₄/SWCNT hydrogel exhibits good hydrothermal evaporation and photocatalytic activity. The optimum water evaporation rate of 1.43 kg m⁻² h⁻¹. In particular, the optimized TiO₂/g-C₃N₄/SWCNT hydrogel can also remove more than 90% methylene blue (MB) More > Graphic Abstract

Xiaojuan He¹, Chanyuan Li¹, Shaokang Wang¹, Jingyi Zhu¹, Yabin Zhang^1,*, Zhen Guo², Lihua Wu^3,*

Journal of Polymer Materials, Vol.41, No.4, pp. 263-279, 2024, DOI:10.32604/jpm.2024.055821 - 16 December 2024

Abstract Eye drops are the usual method to treat eye diseases, and gel polymer provides the carrier which could be used for ophthalmic drug delivery. However, the stable and sustained release is the main issue for the ophthalmic drug and is concerned by many researchers. In this study, composite hydrogels were prepared using 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), and N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone (NVP) used for ophthalmic drug loading and release. According to the results of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), the disappearance of the C=C bond in hydrogel indicated that the copolymerization reaction between HEMA and NVP was successful. The… More > Graphic Abstract

Ray Rui Zhong Chong¹, Yangbo Guo^1,*, Andy Yew², Kenon Chua², Victor P.W. Shim¹

The International Conference on Computational & Experimental Engineering and Sciences, Vol.31, No.3, pp. 1-1, 2024, DOI:10.32604/icces.2024.011768

Abstract Arthritis, caused by degeneration and wear of articular cartilage, affects millions of patients worldwide. It can result in chronic pain, swelling, stiffness, and significantly affect the mobility of patients. Hence, identifying a material as an artificial alternative to replace damaged cartilage is of great benefit. Hydrogel, because of its high water content and similarity with the extracellular matrix of cartilage, has been explored for potential use as artificial cartilage. In this investigation, Polyvinyl Alcohol-Polyethylene Oxide (PVA/PEG) hydrogel with similar mechanical properties to human articular cartilage (e.g. compressive modulus, stress-strain response) was fabricated using a freeze-thaw… More >

Isamu Riku^1,*, Arisa Fukatsu¹, Koji Mimura¹

The International Conference on Computational & Experimental Engineering and Sciences, Vol.31, No.3, pp. 1-1, 2024, DOI:10.32604/icces.2024.011356

Abstract Pt-DNA hydrogel is formed by cross-linking the DNA strands with Pt-ions and the resultant three-dimensionally cross-linked DNA strands’ network is expected be used as a biocompatible polymeric carrier, i.e. the drug delivery platform for in situ tissue repair due to its high toughness. On the other hand, as another essential qualification for the drug delivery platform, the stability of the microstructure of the platform is indispensable.
To evaluate the stability of the microstructure of Pt-DNA hydrogel, in this study, we at first employ the nonaffine molecular chains’ network model to reproduce the experimental results of the More >

Denis Miroshnichenko¹, Vladimir Lebedev², Katerina Lebedeva², Аnna Cherkashina², Sergey Petrushenko^3,4,*, Olena Bogoyavlenska¹, Аnzhela Olkhovska⁵, Ihor Hrubnyk⁶, Liudmyla Maloshtan⁶, Natalja Klochko⁷

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.12, No.10, pp. 1691-1713, 2024, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2024.054769 - 23 October 2024

Abstract The main goal of the article is the creation and study of thermosensitive and wound-healing gelatin-alginate biopolymer hydrogels modified with humic acids. Their rheological properties, swelling and contraction behavior were experimentally investigated, elucidated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and used to achieve the physiological melting point, which is necessary for successful drug delivery. It has been shown that in the gelatin-alginate-humic acid biopolymer hydrogels systems, it is possible to obtain a gel-sol transition temperature close to the physiological temperature of 37°C, which is important for drug delivery in the treatment of wounds. By changing the… More > Graphic Abstract

Binbin Guo^1,2, Hui Ying Yang^1,*, Jiaming Bai^2,*

The International Conference on Computational & Experimental Engineering and Sciences, Vol.29, No.4, pp. 1-1, 2024, DOI:10.32604/icces.2024.012673

Abstract Due to excellent electrical conductivity, stretchability, and biocompatibility, electrically conductive hydrogels have been widely used in flexible wearable strain sensors. Generally, conductive fillers need to be integrated with the hydrogel matrix to impart electrical conductivity. According to the method of composite formation between electronic conductive fillers and hydrogel matrix, conductive hydrogels can be classified into embedded conductive and coated conductive hydrogels. Additionally, due to the intrinsic chemical and physical crosslinking networks, traditional hydrogels are not degradable, resulting in severe environmental pollution problems. Herein, we designed electrically conductive and degradable hydrogels for the epidermal strain sensor… More >

Borhan Albiss^*, Asala Saleh

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.12, No.7, pp. 1219-1236, 2024, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2024.050685 - 21 August 2024

Abstract In this work, the fabrication and characterization of the nanocomposite hydrogel, as a solid electrode in electrochemical cell and gel electrolyte material using Indium titanium oxide/polyethylene terephthalate (ITO/PET) flexible substrate for double-layer supercapacitors have been reported. The nanocomposite hydrogel composed of Arabic gum (AG), Acrylic acid (AA), reduced graphene oxide (RGO), and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) was fabricated via a physical cross-linked polymerization reaction, in which the ascorbic acid was used as a reducing agent to generate AgNPs and to convert Graphene oxide (GO) to RGO during the polymerization reaction. The morphology and structural characteristics of… More > Graphic Abstract