Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are energy-storage devices with a high-energy density in which the separator provides a physical barrier between the cathode and anode, to prevent electrical short circuits. To meet the demands of high-performance batteries, the separator must have excellent electrolyte wettability, thermotolerance, mechanical strength, highly porous structures, and ionic conductivity. Numerous nonwoven-based separators have been used in LIBs due to their high porosity and large surface-to-volume ratios. However, the fabrication of multi-functional fibers, the construction of nonwoven separators, and their integration into energy-storage devices present grand challenges in fundamental theory and practical implementation. Herein, we systematically review the up-to-date concerning the design and preparation of nonwoven-based separators for LIBs. Recent progress in monolayer, composite, and solid electrolyte nonwoven-based separators and their fabrication strategies is discussed. Future challenges and directions toward advancements in separator technologies are also discussed to obtain separators with remarkable performance for high-energy density batteries.
Widespread reliance on fossil fuels, and the resulting imbalance between energy supply and demand have emerged as significant obstacles to achieving sustainable development. Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) offer a viable solution to this problem. Among the various materials used in TENGs, fabrics with geometric structures have attracted considerable interest because of their advantageous properties, such as their light weight, breathable structures, favorable softness, and excellent breathability. This review provides a comprehensive introduction to fabric geometric (fabric structure with yarn as the basic unit, including woven fabrics formed by warp and weft yarns and knitted fabrics formed by yarn coils, etc.) TENGs, including their definition, working principle, and mechanisms, and explores the recent progress in TENGs based on one-, two-, and three-dimensional structures, classifying them into woven and knitted fabrics according to the fabrication method. We summarize the advantages and disadvantages of TENGs with different dimensions. Considering the intrinsically limited conductivity of the fiber and fabric, progress in improving the comprehensive output performance of TENGs via combination with other conductive materials and surface modification is discussed. Finally, this review concludes with a discussion of the challenges, opportunities, and potential applications related to TENGs based on fabric geometric structures. This study is expected to provide readers with new strategies and conceptual ideas to improve the performance of TENGs constructed with fabrics, particularly through the optimization of their structures.
Developing polymeric adsorbents for uranium harvesting from high-salinity environments remains a daunting challenge due to the ‘polyelectrolyte effect’-induced conformational collapse compromising the ligand availability. A catalyst-free, visible light-controlled radical polymerization has been presented here for the tailor-made synthesis of zwitterionic block copolymers (BCPs) bearing uranophilic ligands. The novel anti-polyelectrolyte uranium harvesters exhibited significant salinity resistance. The facile and robust photosynthetic strategy offers a significantly high monomer conversion (α > 95%) that facilitates “one-pot” chain extension to develop the BCPs. Metal catalyst residues, as found in conventional controlled radical polymerizations, are avoided and promoted to synthesize fascinating polymeric materials. We also highlight the first study, by integrating computational modeling with QCM-D analysis, on the interplay between polymer conformational dynamics and chemical adsorption behaviors. With zwitterionic polymer segments as conformational regulators, the BCPs exhibit remarkable ‘anti-polyelectrolyte effect’ by maintaining stretched conformations in saline solutions. Improved ligand accessibility and promotion of diffusional mass transfer are achieved, enabling a high adsorption capacity toward uranium with remarkably fast kinetics in spiked natural seawater and salt lake brines.
A catalyst-free, visible light-regulated RAFT polymerization method is established to develop zwitterionic block copolymers bearing uranophilic ligands as new-generation uranium harvesters adaptable in high-salinity environments.
Despite tremendous effort, continuous fabrication of high-performance conductive polymer fibers for electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding applications remains a daunting technical challenge. In the current study, we report an efficient strategy for continuous surface metallization of polyimide fibers used in textile-substrate electromagnetic shielding applications. Polyimide fibers with pendent carboxyl groups (PIC) were first fabricated, and a conductive nickel layer was continuously coated on the PIC surface by electroless metal deposition (ELD). The carboxyl groups introduced onto the fiber surface acted as binding sites for the Ni2+ ions, and the complexation reactions greatly increased the Ni2+ adsorption capacity and efficiency of the PIC fibers during the ELD process and ensured continuous fabrication. Through judicious control of the plating time, a series of nickel-layer-coated PIC fibers (Ni-PIC) were constructed with Ni loadings ranging from 20 to 230 wt%. The resultant Ni-PIC fiber containing 65 wt% Ni exhibited conductivity of 223 S cm− 1, and the corresponding fabric exhibited an EMI shielding effectiveness (EMI SE) of 44 dB in the X-band. The corresponding EMI SE was further improved to 83 dB after the fiber was treated at 300 °C for 1 h because of the crystallization of the Ni layer. The prepared Ni-PIC fibers and fabrics were also used in pressure sensors and electrothermal conversion, which demonstrated outstanding adaptabilities to various temperatures and mechanical properties. Overall, this work provides an efficient route for developing high-performance conductive polyimide fibers for EMI shielding applications, especially for use in military and aerospace equipment and in other harsh environments.
An electroless metal deposition (ELD) process was used for continuous surface metallization of polyimide fibers for textile-substrate electromagnetic shielding applications. The pendent carboxyl groups in the polyimide chains increased the capacity and efficiency for Ni2+ adsorption by PIC fibers during the ELD process and ensured continuous fabrication of the Ni-coated polyimide fibers. Accordingly, the resulting textiles containing the Ni-coated polyimide fibers exhibited an excellent EMI shielding property.
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Human-induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived cardiac patches have been extensively used for treating myocardial infarction and have shown potential for clinical application. However, the limited patch thickness can hamper its therapeutic effect. We previously developed a fibrous scaffold that allowed the formation of well-organized cardiac tissue constructs. In the present study, based on the above technology, we developed a three-dimensional multilayer fibrous scaffold with dynamic perfusion, on which approximately 20 million hiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes (CMs) could be seeded in a single step and organized into 1 mm thick and viable tissue. The multilayer cardiac tissue demonstrated enhanced contractile properties and upregulated cytokine secretion compared with the control group. Notably, when used on the myocardial infarction model, the multilayer group showed improved functional recovery and less fibrosis. These results indicated that the appropriate hiPSC-CM dose requires careful evaluation in developing clinical therapy. The multilayer cardiac tissue group demonstrated significant improvement than the control group, indicating that higher doses of transplanted cells may have improved therapeutic effects in treating myocardial infarction.
In this work, a light-stimulated artificial synaptic transistor based on one-dimensional nanofibers of gallium-doped indium zinc oxides (IGZO) is demonstrated. The introduction of gallium into the nanofiber lattice can effectively alter the morphology and crystallinity, leading to a wider regulatory range of synaptic plasticity. The fabricated IGZO synaptic transistor with the optimal gallium concentration and low surface defects exhibits a superior photoresponsivity of 4300 A·W−1 and excellent photosensitivity, which can detect light signals as weak as 0.03 mW·cm−2. In particular, the paired-pulse facilitation index reaches up to 252% with over 2 h of enhanced memory retention exhibiting the long-term potentiation. Furthermore, the simulated image contrast and image recognition accuracy based on the newly designed IGZO synaptic transistors are successfully enhanced. These remarkable behaviors of light-stimulated synapses utilizing low-cost electrospun nanofibers have potential for ultraweak light applications in future artificial systems.
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and particulate matter (PM) are both frequently present in air as contaminants, posing serious health and environmental hazards. The current filtration of VOCs utilizes entirely different materials compared with PM filtration, adding complexity to air cleaning system. Herein, we design a pitch-based activated carbon ultrathin fibers (PACUFs) for bifunctional air purification. The PACUFs, with fiber diameter of ∼1.2 µm and specific surface area of 2341 m2 g−1, provide both high VOCs adsorption capacity (∼706 mg g−1) and excellent efficiency of ∼97% PM0.3 filtration with low pressure drop. In contrast, traditional activated carbon fibers exhibit VOCs adsorption capacity of ∼448 mg g−1 and PM0.3 removal efficiency of only ∼36% at an equal area density of ∼190 g m−2. Theoretical investigations reveal the filtration mechanism of the high-performance bifunctional fibrous PACUFs, considering full advantages of the high surface area, small pore size, and significant micropore volume.
The utilization of textile-based triboelectric nanogenerators (t-TENGs) offers great potential for providing sustainable and wearable power. Nevertheless, the current designs of t-TENGs present limitations in terms of low electrical outputs and less developed, straightforward batch processing techniques. Herein, a facile bottom-up foaming-combined coaxial extrusion method is developed for the massive fabrication of liquid metal/polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) core–shell porous fibrous TENG, which can be directly woven to form t-TENGs. Ink designs are studied for high-fidelity fibrous TENG manufacturing and porosity-controlled micropore formation. Furthermore, porous fibrous TENGs are applied to integrate different woven structures, and the electrical and mechanical performances of the t-TENGs are optimized. Compared with plain surface fibrous TENG, the porous fibrous TENG achieves a ~ fivefold improvement in the open-circuit voltage (VOC) and a ~ sevenfold improvement in the short-circuit current (ISC). These outcomes indicate that we can prepare a range of polymers for t-TENGs with enhanced output performance even though they do not demonstrate great triboelectrification. This work also demonstrates successful integration for sustainably powering miniature electronics. These results can contribute to human motion energy harvesting for wearable self-powered sensors.
As one of the most common forms of skin injuries, skin burns are often accompanied by edema pain, suppuration of infection, slow tissue regeneration, and severe scar formation, which significantly delay wound healing as well as affect the quality of life. We prepared multifunctional electrospun poly(L-lactide-co-glycolide)/gelatin (P/G)-based dressings to synergistically harness the therapeutic benefits of peppermint essential oil (T), burn ointment (B), and Oregano essential oil (O) (P/G@TBO) for skin regeneration in punch and burn injury models. The P/G@TBO can afford the sustained release of bioactive cues for up to 72 h as well as remarkably promote cell migration (ca. P/G@TBO, 89% vs. control group, 51%) at 24 h. The P/G@TBO membranes also showed significant angiogenic effect as well as antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties than that of the control group in vitro. Moreover, P/G@TBO dressings enabled fast wound healing (ca. P/G@TBO, 100% wound closure vs. control group, 95%) in a full-thickness excisional defect model up to 14 days in rats. Further evaluation of membranes in different animal models, including tail wagging model, facial itch model, and hot burn injury model showed significant pain relieve effect as well as itching and swelling relief functions during earlier stages of wound healing. Membranes were next transplanted into a scalded wound model in rats and an ear punch wound model in rabbits, which manifested antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties and promoted re-epithelialization to achieve scarless wound healing percentage wound closure at day 28: P/G@TBO, 96% vs. control group 66%. Taken together our approach of simultaneously harnessing T, B, and O to enable multifunctionality to fibrous dressings may hold great promise for burn wound healing applications and other related disciplines.
Arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) are a vital form of AV access for patients requiring hemodialysis, but they link to overall morbidity and mortality when they fail to mature. The most common cause of AVF non-maturation is neointimal hyperplasia (NIH). To minimize the deleterious effects of NIH, a perivascular wrap composed of polycaprolactone (PCL), rosuvastatin (ROSU), and gold nanoparticles (AUNPs) was constructed. This study assessed the impact of ROSU-eluting, radiopaque resorbable perivascular wraps on pathologic NIH in a chronic kidney disease (CKD) rodent model of AVF. Electrospun PCL wraps containing AuNPs and/or ROSU were monitored for in vitro tensile strength, AuNP release, ROSU elution, and effect on cellular viability. The wraps were then implanted around an AVF in a CKD rodent model for in vivo ultrasound (US) and micro-computed tomography (mCT) imaging. AVF specimens were collected for histological analyses. Cell viability was preserved in the presence of both AuNP- and ROSU-containing wraps. In vitro release of ROSU and AuNPs correlated with in vivo findings of decreasing radiopacity on mCT over time. AuNP-loaded wraps had higher radiopacity (1270.0–1412.0 HU at week 2) compared with other wraps (103.5–456.0 HU), which decreased over time. The addition of ROSU decreased US and histologic measurements of NIH. The reduced NIH seen with ROSU-loaded perivascular wraps suggests a synergistic effect between mechanical support and anti-hyperplasia medication. Furthermore, AuNP loading increased wrap radiopacity. Together, our results show that AuNP- and ROSU-loaded PCL wraps induce AVF maturation and suppress NIH while facilitating optimal implanted device visualization.
Uncontrollable Zn dendrites and side reactions seriously downgrade the cycling stability of the Zn anode, and restrict the commercialization of aqueous zinc ion batteries. Here, PAN-based (PAN, PAN/PMMA) nanofiber membranes with uniform “zincophilic-hydrophobic” sites have been in-situ electrospun on Zn to effectively prevent harmful side reactions and control Zn plating/stripping behavior. The abundant highly-negative functional groups (C≡N and C=O) of PAN/PMMA have strong coordination interactions with Zn2+, which can accelerate Zn2+ desolvation and increase the Zn2+ migration number. Furthermore, the even distribution of zincophilic sites can help create a uniform Zn deposition environment and enable horizontal Zn deposition. Simultaneously, the inherent “hydrophobicity” of the nonpolar carbon skeleton in PAN/PMMA can prevent Zn corrosion and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) side reactions, thus improving the cycling stability of the Zn anode. As a result, PAN/PMMA@Zn symmetric cells demonstrated remarkable rate performance and long cycling stability, sustaining efficient operation for over 2000 cycles at 10 mA cm− 2 with a low polarization voltage below 65 mV. This Zn anode modification strategy by in-situ constructed PAN-based nanofiber membrane has the advantages of simple-preparation, one-step membrane construction, binder-free, uniform distribution of functionalized units, which not only provides a specific scheme for developing advanced Zn anode but also lays a certain research foundation for developing “separator-anode” integrated Zn-based batteries.
Graphene aerogel fibers (GAFs) combine the advantages of lightweight, high specific strength and conductivity of graphene, showing great potential in multifunctional wearable textiles. However, the fabrication and application of GAF textiles are considerably limited by the low structural robustness of GAF. Here, we report a plastic-swelling method to fabricate GAF textiles with high performance and multi-functionalities. GAF textiles were achieved by plastic-swelling, the prewoven graphene oxide fiber (GOF) tow textiles. This near-solid plastic-swelling process allows GAFs in textiles to maintain high structural order and controllable density, and exhibit record-high tensile strength up to 103 MPa and electrical conductivity up to 1.06 × 104 S m−1 at the density of 0.4 g cm−3. GAF textiles exhibit high strength of 113 MPa, multiple electrical and thermal functions, and high porosity to serve as host materials for more functional guests. The plastic-swelling provides a general strategy to fabricate diverse aerogel fiber textiles, paving the road for their realistic application.
Soft electronics, which require mechanical elasticity, rely on elastic materials that have both a small Young’s modulus and a large elastic strain range. These materials, however, are prone to damage when stress accumulates, presenting a significant challenge for soft electronics. To address this issue, the integration of self-healing functionality into these materials appears to be a promising solution. Dynamic covalent bond chemistry has been utilized to design high-strength polymers with controllable reversibility. Nonetheless, the temperature needed to trigger self-healing may induce thermal damage to other parts of the device. In contrast, if the self-healing temperature is reduced, the device might suffer damage when exposed to temperatures exceeding the self-healing point due to the low stability of the polymer at high temperatures. These challenges highlight the need for materials that can self-heal at low temperatures while maintaining thermal stability at high temperatures. In response to this challenge, we propose a novel approach that involves forming a microfibrous network using polycaprolactone (PCL), a material with a low melting temperature of 60 °C that is widely utilized in shape memory and self-healing materials. We fabricated the conductive fiber by encapsulating a microfiber PCL network with MXene nanosheets. These MXene nanosheets were seamlessly coated on the PCL fiber’s surface to prevent shape deformation at high temperatures. Furthermore, they exhibited high thermal conductivity, facilitating rapid internal heat dissipation. Consequently, the MXene/PCL microfiber networks demonstrated self-healing capabilities at 60 °C and thermal stability above 200 °C. This makes them potentially suitable for stretchable, self-healing electronic devices that need to withstand high temperatures.
MXene-decorated textile composites have attracted tremendous attention, due to their possible applications in wearable sensing electronics. However, the easy oxidation, low strain sensitivity and poor water-proof performance restrict the applications of MXene-based smart textiles. Here, we developed a flexible and hydrophobic polymer nanofibrous composite with a screw-like structure by assembling MXene nanosheets onto a prestretched polyurethane (PU) nanofiber surface and subsequent fluorination treatment. The thin hydrophobic fluorosilane layer can greatly prevent the MXene shell from being oxidized and simultaneously endow the nanofiber composite with good hemostatic performance. The wrinkled MXene shell with the screw-like structure enhances the sensitivity of MXene@PU nanofiber composite (HMPU) toward strain, and the hydrophobic strain sensor exhibits a high gauge factor (324.4 in the strain range of 85–100%), and can detect different human movements. In virtue of its excellent water-proof performance, HMPU can function normally in corrosive and underwater conditions. In addition, the resistance of HMPU exhibits a negative temperature coefficient; thus, HMPU shows potential for monitoring temperature and providing a temperature alarm. The multifunctional HMPU shows broad application prospects in smart wearable electronics.
With the increasingly urgent demand for clean water resources and the growing emission of oily wastewater, high-flux oil/water separation materials with the special wettability are progressively desired. Cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) from renewable biomass has been utilized to fabricate oil/water separation membranes, but it is limited to enhancing mechanical properties. Herein, a wrinkled structure with abundant –OH is constructed on polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibers via the CNC hybridization process. And then, a super-hydrophilic nano-TiO2 shell is anchored tightly on the surface of the fiber by wrinkles and –OH. The CNC promotes significantly the in situ growth of TiO2, with the TiO2 loading ratio of up to 5.3%. The nano-TiO2 shell endows the obtained film with super-hydrophilicity and underwater super-oleophobicity, resulting in a visible increase of the permeation flux for the oil/water mixture from 1483 to 11,023 L m−2 h−1. Interestingly, the hierarchical structure facilitates the demulsification for oil-in-water emulsion stabilized by surfactant, allowing the obtained membrane to exhibit eminent antifouling property and high emulsion permeability of about 3,278 L m−2 h−1. This design strategy develops next-generation anchors for targeted modification on the non-reactive substrates and provides a novel pathway for fabricating oil/water separation membranes.
Polymer semiconductors with highly crystalline forms, such as crystalline nanowires and fibers, are critical for charge carrier transport in organic field-effect transistors (OFET). However, the highly crystalline form usually requires high-quality molecular orderliness, which still remains a great challenge, especially in single fibers of extremely high-molecular-weight semiconducting polymers. In this study, we present an anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) template-assisted method to fabricate highly crystalline N-alkyl diketopyrrolopyrrole dithienylthieno[3,2-b]thiophene (DPP-DTT) single fibers. Grazing-incidence X-ray diffraction and selected area electron diffraction show obvious diffraction patterns for single-crystal-like characteristics, indicating the highly ordered molecular chains and highly crystalline structures of the single DPP-DTT fibers. OFET based on the single-crystal-like DPP-DTT fiber exhibits the highest charge carrier mobility of up to 14.2 cm2 V−1 s−1 and an average mobility of approximately 7.8 cm2 V−1 s−1, which is significantly improved compared with DPP-DTT thin film-based devices. Besides, the fiber-based OFET also exhibit a high light responsivity of 4.0 × 103 A W−1. This work demonstrates a facile and effective method for fabricating single-crystal-like fibers of high-molecular-weight polymer semiconductors and corresponding high-performance OFET devices. Furthermore, it also expands application of AAO template method for achieving crystalline semiconducting polymer fibers and provide a new perspective for the study on polymer crystallization.
Two-dimensional transition metal carbide/nitride (MXene)-based textiles have been developed in many fields; however, the high sensitivity to oxidation and weak interfacial bonding hinder their applications. Herein, we present a strategy for the preparation of a highly antioxidative MXene@gallic acid (MXene@GA, MG) hybrid dispersion, and further covalently grafted it onto carboxylated cotton fabric through interaction with metal ions (Fe3+) for fabricating wearable multifunctional textiles. Due to the cross-linking effect of Fe3+ and the remarkable antioxidant activity of natural polyphenol GA, the MG coatings firmly adhere to the textile surfaces and can withstand conventional washing, exhibiting favorable service stability and potential application prospects. Moreover, the obtained MG-decorated textile has the inherent characteristics of good breathability, moisture permeability, flexibility, and biocompatibility of the original fabric, which are conducive to the wearability of smart devices. Furthermore, by utilizing the outstanding conductivity (~ 330 S/m) and photothermal convertibility of the MG coating, the functional textile achieves high electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding efficiency (~ 35 dB), excellent dual-driven (Joule and solar) heating warmth retention, and infrared thermal camouflage. Due to the green and scalable preparation process, favorable durability, excellent comfort, and multifunctionality, the MG-decorated textiles are anticipated to be promising candidates for the next generation of smart wearable personal protective clothing.
Smart fabrics have made remarkable progress in the field of wearable electronics because of their unique structure, flexibility and breathability, which are highly desirable with integrated multifunctionality. Here, a superhydrophobic smart fabric has been fabricated by decorating conductive MXene on nylon fabric modified by polydopamine (PDA), followed by spraying hydrophobic materials (SiO2 and FOTS). The hydrophobic layer not only provides the fabric with superhydrophobicity, but also protects MXene from oxidation. Highly conductive MXene-wrapped fibers endow the fabric with adjustable conductivity and many satisfactory functions. Commendably, the smart fabric possesses sensing performances of ultralow detection limit (0.2% strain), fast response time (60 ms), short recovery time (90 ms), and outstanding sensing stability (5000 cycles). These sensing performances allow the smart fabric to accurately detect body respiratory signals in the running state, exercise state and sleep state, thus keeping track of respiratory health information. Moreover, the smart fabric also exhibits outstanding EMI shielding effectiveness (66.5 dB) in the X-band, satisfactory photothermal performance (68.6 °C at 100 mW/cm2), and excellent electrothermal conversion capability (up to 102.3 °C at 8 V). Therefore, the smart fabric is extremely promising for applications in EMI shielding, thermal management, and respiratory monitoring, and is an ideal candidate for smart clothing and as a medical diagnostic tool.
It is of great significance to develop smart fabric with outstanding mechanical robustness and environmental stability under harsh conditions for its practical applications. A superhydrophobic fabric has been fabricated with integrated sensing capacity, EMI shielding effectiveness, electrothermal performance and photothermal performance, which enable the smart fabric to work in harsh conditions, indicating an ideal candidate for smart clothing.
The rapid development of radar antenna systems to meet requirements for high integration and precision places stringent requirements on the dielectric properties, mechanical properties and heat resistance of wave-transparent composite paper. In this paper, poly(p-phenylene-2,6-benzobisoxazole) (PBO) fibers are first dissolved by trifluoroacetic acid/methyl sulfonic acid to obtain PBO nanofibers (PNF), and the amino polysilsesquioxane (NH2-POSS) is dispersed uniformly inside the PNF via ultrasonic-assisted and deprotonation. The POSS-PNF composite paper is fabricated by the method of “suction filtration and hot-pressing”. Because of the uniformly dispersion of NH2-POSS, the POSS-PNF composite paper has a low dielectric constant (ε, 2.08) and dielectric loss tangent (tanδ, 0.0047), and the wave-transparent coefficient (|T|2) is 96.7% (1 MHz), which is higher than that of PNF paper (95.5%, 1 MHz). Additionally, the POSS-PNF composite paper possesses excellent tensile strength of 163.3 MPa, tensile modulus of 6.9 GPa, toughness of 9.1 MJ/m3, outstanding flame retardancy and excellent UV aging resistance. According to a simulation of the radome honeycomb panel, POSS-PNF composite paper has low loss and reflections of electromagnetic waves in the X-band (8.4 ~ 12.4 GHz), and wide angle of incidence (0°–80°), which favor high |T|2. The results indicate that the POSS-PNF composite paper has excellent potential for applications in the fields of aerospace, wearable flexible electronic devices and 5G communication.
Developing efficient separation materials for recovering metal resources from aqueous environments is crucial for the sustainable water–food–energy nexus, which addresses the interdependence between energy production, water production, and energy consumption. Various material-based separation processes have demonstrated outstanding performance. However, electric energy and chemicals are used to frequently replace the separation materials used in such processes owing to their short life span. This study presents a methodology for designing the self-regenerable fiber (SRF) according to the types of metals through a self-regeneration model. The SRF can semi-permanently recover the metal resources from water through a repetitive adsorption–crystallization–detachment process of metal ions on its surface. The ionic metal resources are adsorbed and crystallized with the counter-anions on the SRF surface. Next, the metal crystals are self-detached from the SRF surface by the collision between the crystals and curvature and non-sticky surface of the SRF. Thus, a module containing the SRF maintains its metal recovery capability even during continuous injection of the metal solution without its replacement. These findings highlight the significance of interfacial engineering and further guide the rational design of energy/environmentally friendly resource recovery modules.