With the increasing demand for stable membrane separation materials with potential for industrial applications, extensive research has been conducted on advanced synthesis strategies for zirconium-based metal-organic framework mixed-matrix membranes (Zr-MOF MMMs). Traditional MMMs synthesis strategies face significant challenges, including balancing high loading capacity with mechanical performance, poor interfacial compatibility, low overall uniformity, and high mass transfer resistance, which collectively limit their performance. In this perspective, we summarized a series of advanced synthesis strategies for Zr-MOF MMMs that enhance the upper limit of Zr-MOF loading capacity while maintaining mechanical performance, improving interfacial compatibility and overall uniformity, and reducing mass transfer resistance. Furthermore, we discuss and provide insights into future directions for the synthesis and design of Zr-MOF MMMs.

The mesoporous polydopamine and its derived carbon (MPDC) exhibit considerable potential for applications in separation, adsorption, sensing, energy storage, catalysis, and biomedicine. The development of flexible synthesis strategies for MPDC and the exploration of precise control of their morphology can further stimulate their potential for application. This paper reviews the advancements made in the synthesis of MPDC utilizing the soft template self-assembly technique over the past decade, with a particular focus on the fine control of its morphology. Furthermore, the potential applications of MPDC in energy-related fields, such as energy storage and electrocatalysis, are discussed. Additionally, the current challenges and future development directions of MPDC are outlined, providing a reference point for researchers in related fields.

Metal-hydride (M-H) species typically exhibit high reactivities and distinctive chemical properties, which have prompted extensive investigations within the field of catalysis. Metal hydrides possess abundant M-H species within their structural composition, which can serve as extra hydrogen sources for chemical reactions in many cases. Additionally, they exhibit distinctive hydrogen absorption and desorption properties, making them a promising class of catalysts for hydrogenation and dehydrogenation reactions. In this Review, the mechanism and characterization of M-H species in catalytic reactions for M-H particles, molecular metal hydrides and hydride-doped metal nanoclusters were reviewed and compared. When metal oxides are used as catalysts, H₂ can generally crack at the surface to produce highly M-H species to promote the reaction. Nevertheless, the intricate surface configuration of the catalyst and the transient nature of M-H intermediates have presented significant challenges in terms of detecting and characterizing them. A fundamental understanding of the reaction mechanisms and dynamic changes of M-H species could help design highly efficient catalysts for chemical reactions involving hydrogen.

Organic cages are an emerging subclass of crystalline porous materials with structural tunability, modularity, and processibility, having exhibited potential in applications such as molecular recognition, gas adsorption, catalysis, and other fields. Fluorescence can be easily introduced into organic cages by incorporating fluorescent building blocks. The diversity of fluorescent building blocks and well-developed cage construction methods allowed the booming of fluorescent organic cages. More importantly, incorporating fluorescent properties into organic cages can further expand their application areas, especially in fields such as biological imaging and luminescent devices. The cavity of organic cages endows them with extra confined space to accommodate bioactive species or drugs compared to fluorescent small molecules. Compared to their framework counterparties, organic cages with well-characterized structures exhibit better processability, allowing their use in applications beyond solutions. In this review, we summarize the latest progress on fluorescent organic cages, focusing on their construction methods and the recent advances in their applications.

The issue of water pollution caused by heavy metal ions has been receiving increasing attention, particularly in the case of Hg²⁺ ions, which can significantly amplify their biological toxicity through bioaccumulation and stepwise magnification in the food chain. This review systematically summarizes and discusses common construction strategies for functional materials along with their applications in mercury ion recognition and detection. In addition to exploring the construction strategies, this review also delves into the diverse applications of these materials in mercury ion recognition and detection. Whether in environmental monitoring, where rapid and accurate detection of Hg²⁺ is critical for preventing contamination, or in biomedical research, where sensitive detection methods are essential for understanding the role of mercury in biological systems, these materials have demonstrated their versatility and effectiveness.

Fast-charging batteries that can be charged in minutes and store enough energy are highly desired in the electric vehicle and grid storage, but are usually limited to the electrodes with lower carrier diffusion. Herein, self-limited 1, 2, and 3 monolayers SnS₂ on the graphene were fabricated as fast-charging anodes for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). The tunable atomically-thin SnS₂ compound was confirmed using synchrotron high-pressure powder X-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy, and low-dose transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The 1, 2, and 3 atomic-layer SnS₂ showed ultra-high phase contact of discharged products; thus, high bulk Na⁺/electronic conductivity was acquired. Simultaneously, ultra-thin and NaF, Na₂CO₃-riched solid-electrolyte interphase (6 nm, Cyro-TEM) was oriented construction in ester electrolyte. Benefiting from the synergistic effect of bulk phase and solid-electrolyte interphase, the obtained 3-monolayer SnS₂ anode achieved a fast-charging capacity of 300 mAh·g^-1 at 30 A·g^-1 within 36 s, exhibiting new height of fast-charging ability in SIBs. Meanwhile, it demonstrated long-cycling stability with negligible capacity decay for 600 cycles. The assembled pouch cell with Na₃V₂(PO₄)₂F₃ cathode showed a high-energy density of about 187.5 Wh·kg^-1. The atomic-layer leveled regulation method paves the way for precise synthesis of materials at the atomic level and oriented design of fast-charging rechargeable batteries.

The primary challenge in hydrogenation reactions is the trade-off between selectivity and activity. Many factors including the nanoparticle geometry, chemical composition, metal-support interaction, and electronic interaction can significantly influence the catalytic properties of metal active sites. A novel strategy involving bimetallic active sites with different distances (spatially intimate and spatially isolated) has shown remarkable enhancements in both activity and selectivity for a wide range of selective hydrogenation. Advances in synthesis methodologies and characterization tools allow correlation at molecular/atom levels. In this review, the electronic and geometric structures will be discussed on bimetallic active sites with tightly intimated and spatially separated structures. Meanwhile, we will discuss in detail the construction methods, synergistic effects, and hydrogenation mechanisms of bimetallic active sites. Finally, this perspective illustrates the developments and challenges associated with bimetallic active sites in hydrogenation and provides valuable insights through successful cases to guide the design of highly efficient hydrogenation catalysts.

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) offer a sustainable and effective strategy for lignin fractionation from biomass, improving the efficiency of enzymatic hydrolysis. However, the downstream utilization of the lignin extracted in high yield through DES is a difficult problem. Herein, this work employed a novel acidic DES with phenolic modifiers to investigate their dual role in lignin extraction and structural modification, aiming to optimize the production of phenolic compounds via pyrolysis. The result showed that the choline chloride/formic acid/phenol DES with a molar ratio of 1:2:0.05 exhibited an excellent lignin extraction efficiency when pretreated at 120 °C for 6 h, and the recovered lignin maintained a high β-O-4 content, decreased molecular weight, and low char yield. High yield and selectivity of alkyl phenols were obtained by pyrolysis of the regenerated lignin extracted under the optimal pretreatment conditions. The low-condensed lignin easily generated phenolic compounds after pyrolysis. After five cycles of reuse, the recycled DES maintained a superior delignification effect but significantly decreased pyrolysis efficiency compared to the fresh DES. This indicated that the highly condensed lignin with a large molecular weight is not favorable for producing phenolic compounds by pyrolysis. These highlight the potential of DES-based strategies for the efficient extraction and structural tailoring of lignin to maximize the production of value-added phenolic compounds.

Renewable electricity powered N₂ electroreduction provides a clean strategy for sustainable NH₃ production, of which the fabrication of electrocatalysts with excellent performance, stability, and cost-effectiveness is vital for its real applications. Herein, we for the first time confined Fe species to the coal tar pitch derived nitrogen-doped porous carbon (denoted as Fe₂O₃/FeNC) by pyrolyzing a uniform mixture of medium temperature coal tar pitch, FeCl₃·6H₂O, urea and NaCl. The obtained Fe₂O₃/FeNC exhibits an excellent N₂ electroreduction activity in neutral media, evidenced by an NH₃ yield of 38.17 ± 0.88 μg·h^-1·mg_cat^-1 at -0.5 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode (vs. RHE) in 0.1 M Na₂SO₄ with a Faradaic efficiency of 22.01% (-0.3 V vs. RHE), surpassing most Fe-based N₂ reduction electrocatalysts reported to date. The detailed electrochemical investigations indicate that the improved N₂ electroreduction performances are mainly due to the following reasons. One is the highly dispersed Fe species provide sufficient active sites for N₂ electroreduction. Another is the existence of both pyridinic-N and pyrrolic-N species facilitates N₂ adsorption. In addition, the interconnected porous carbon matrix accelerates the electron and mass transfer during the electrolysis. Importantly, the in-situ formation of Fe-N-C and Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles on carbon substrate prevents the aggregation and leaching of the Fe species and increases the stability of Fe₂O₃/FeNC. This work presents an ingenious strategy for the mass fabrication of metal-based electrocatalyst for N₂ electroreduction, enabling the high value utilization of coal tar pitch.

Nuclear energy, known for its low carbon emissions and high energy density, is considered one of the most promising future energy sources. However, the generation of nuclear waste and depletion of uranium resources make the development of simple, efficient, and cost-effective uranium extraction methods critical for the sustainable development of nuclear energy and environmental recovery. Photocatalytic uranium extraction, as a straightforward, highly efficient, and low-cost technique, has attracted increasing attention from researchers. Herein, we provide a comprehensive overview of the mechanisms behind photocatalytic uranium extraction, summarizing the evolution of materials used in this process. It also evaluates the experimental progress in extracting U(VI) from real uranium-containing wastewater and seawater. Moreover, the review highlights the challenges currently faced by photocatalytic uranium extraction technologies, such as the stability and scalability of photocatalysts, and discusses future development directions. Additionally, modification strategies to enhance the photocatalytic performance of catalysts are summarized, with comparisons drawn between the strengths and limitations of various materials used for U(VI) extraction. This review concludes with an evaluation of the potential of photocatalytic technologies for large-scale applications and their role in addressing environmental concerns related to uranium extraction.

Developing new porous polymers with higher connectivity can improve their pore structure and increase functional group density, thereby enhancing their performance. Herein, we used tröger’s base (TB) groups as linkers to synthesize a novel 12-connected porous triptycene network (12-TB-PTN). The obtained 12-TB-PTN displayed high iodine capture capacity (515 wt%) and a relatively rapid adsorption rate (1.37 g·h^-1) because of the high proportion of TB units in the porous polymer. This strategy has a great scientific importance for the development and preparation of rapid and efficient adsorbents for iodine vapor and other toxic pollutants.

Photocatalytic conversion of O₂ and H₂O provides a green and low-cost route for H₂O₂ synthesis; however, most reaction systems involve sacrificial agents, and achieving efficient photosynthesis of H₂O₂ in pure water remains a challenge. In this work, a Z-scheme Bi₂S₃/ZnIn₂S₄ heterojunction with rich sulfur defects was prepared by a one-step hydrothermal method. The combination of Bi₂S₃ with ZnIn₂S₄ greatly enhanced visible-light absorption. The intimate heterojunction interface bonded through sulfur bridge efficiently promoted the separation and migration of photogenerated carriers. Moreover, the enlarged specific surface area, the existence of sulfur defects and the increase of surface hydrophobicity facilitated the oxygen reduction reaction. As a result, the H₂O₂ production rate of the Bi₂S₃/ZnIn₂S₄ heterojunction in pure water under visible light reached 1,634 μmol·g^-1·h^-1, which was 5.3 and 43.0 times that of ZnIn₂S₄ and Bi₂S₃, respectively. This work provides new ideas for the construction of novel heterojunction photocatalysts for H₂O₂ production.

The fabrication of porous materials possessing ultrahigh specific surface areas remains a significant challenge. We report the synthesis of two novel porous aromatic frameworks, PAF-336 and PAF-337, constructed from 6- and 8-connected building blocks with triangular prismatic and cuboid geometries, respectively. PAF-336 demonstrates an ultrahigh specific surface area (~5,210 m²·g^-1) and large pore volume (3.5 cm³·g^-1). This high porosity translates to high hydrogen storage capacity and state-of-the-art methane storage performance, positioning PAF-336 as a potential material for clean energy storage.

Selective oxidation of methane (SOM) offers a sustainable pathway for energy conversion and chemical synthesis. This review critically compares noble metal (Au, Pd, Ru, Rh) and non-noble metal (Fe, Cu, Cr, Zn, Ni) catalysts for methane activation at low temperatures, evaluating their performance under H₂O₂ and O₂ as oxidants in environments, with CO as a promoter. Through a detailed analysis of the structure of typical systems, we have established key design principles involving active site engineering, metal-support interactions, and reactive oxygen species. Advanced characterization and density functional theory studies reveal that metal-oxygen interfaces govern methane activation mechanisms, where dynamic oxygen species, such as O*, OH*, and OOH*, dictate reaction pathways. Catalyst dimensionality, such as single-atom vs. clusters, and electronic modifications are shown to critically influence C–H bond cleavage energetics and methanol desorption. While noble metals excel in oxygen activation, modified non-noble catalysts achieve comparable efficacy by optimizing their coordination environments. This review summarizes recent advances in the SOM under mild conditions, providing a systematic qualitative and quantitative kinetic comparison of noble metal and non-noble metal catalysts across various oxidant systems. It offers valuable insights into reaction pathways and mechanisms in different catalytic environments, contributing to a deeper understanding of methane activation and functionalization. It is anticipated that this review will provide a useful guide to chemists and materials scientists attempting to design better metal catalysts for the SOM.

Phosphine-containing porous organic polymers are candidate materials that could realize heterogenization of the homogeneous phosphine-metal catalysts. However, their succinct synthesis from the commercialized phosphines directly is still a challenge. This work pioneers a Brønsted acid-catalyzed molecular Lego assembly, enabling modular construction of fluorinated phosphine-containing polymers (FPPs) from commercial building blocks - aryl phosphines or their metal complexes - in one step. By simply introducing a third molecular-Lego module with rigid skeleton (e.g., spirobifluorene, triptycene), the porosity of FPPs can be precisely engineered while maintaining good to high yields (60%-98%), demonstrating the plug-and-play versatility of this strategy. This work presents the synthesis of 18 different structures of FPPs with distinct structures. Among them, the Ru complex-derived FPPs-10 shows excellent CO₂ uptake capability (1.15 mmol·g^-1 at 0 °C) and exhibits exceptional performance in N-formylation reaction: high activity (turnover number up to 1.41 × 10⁵), and good stability (reused at least for 5 cycles), while maintaining broad alkylamine compatibility. Overall, this work establishes a molecular Lego-like assembly paradigm for the on-demand design and regulation of phosphine-based heterogeneous catalysts.