Efficient recycling of real-world polyester plastics faces challenges such as separating products from impurities and additives, as well as slow hydrolysis at ambient temperatures. Recently, a research paper proposed a synergistic strategy combining photothermal depolymerization and reforming to overcome these limitations. With a Pt/TiO₂ catalyst, both commercial polylactic acid (PLA) granules and real-world PLA products can be efficiently converted into easily separable H₂, CO and CH₄.

How can we precisely control microscale surfaces using magnetic fields?

Researchers from Sun Yat-sen University, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and others propose a unified framework for designing magnetically responsive microstructured surfaces (MRMFSs).

Published in International Journal of Extreme Manufacturing, this review outlines advances in structure, fabrication, and actuation, with future potential in micro-manipulation, soft robotics, sensing, and smart materials.

Scientists created dye-based molecules that self-assemble into ring-shaped structures, mimicking nature’s light-harvesting systems. These stacked rings allow electrons and energy to circulate freely, demonstrating a phenomenon called toroidal conjugation. The work could inspire new materials for solar energy, optoelectronics and next-generation electronic devices.

The formation of humins during lignocellulosic biomass refining is a key factor causing low efficiency and separation challenges. This study systematically analyzes the mechanism and influencing factors of humins formation, proposes targeted inhibition strategies and value-added utilization pathways, offering important guidance for the development of humins chemistry.

In a study published in National Science Review, a research team led by Professor YAO Huajian from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) revealed the significant impact of tidal forces on the changes in seismic wave speeds in the fault fracture zone by monitoring the temporal changes in seismic wave speeds.

A research team led by Prof. KANG Yanbiao from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has developed a supercapacitor (SC)-assisted electrophotocatalysis for the efficient defluorination of the polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) at low temperatures. They incorporated the strength of both electrochemical and photochemical energy, providing more possibilities for solving environmental problems caused by PTFE and PFASs. The study was published in Angewandte Chemie International Edition.