Organic Chemistry I Learning with AI Tools
Welcome to Organic Chemistry. This workbook will help you understand the basic principles of Organic Chemistry. This workbook can also be used as part of a Peer-Led Team Learning workshop. The workshop part of an Organic Chemistry course can provide a small group setting that will complement the larger lecture setting. The workshop component will be led by a peer leader, an undergraduate student who has demonstrated a strong command of Organic Chemistry and who is trained for this leadership position. This resource book helps you and the workshop peer leaders conduct each week's activities. Both the lecture and the workshop are guided by the instructor; the workshop is led by the peer leader. Workshops are designed to reinforce lecture topics through practice, discussion, and small group activities.
Advances in Nanostructured Electrode Materials
With the growing energy demand and the urgent need to face global climate change and environmental pollution issues, the development of nanostructured electrode materials has become a key research hotpot for advanced energy technologies. The unique and outstanding features of these materials, arising from the ability to suitably tailor their structural and functional properties, are pivotal to optimizing performance, durability, efficiency, environmental sustainability and scalability for commercial applications.This Reprint presents a curated collection of research articles highlighting recent progress in the synthesis, fabrication, functionalization and technological applications of nanostructured electrode materials. Topics include advanced fabrication methods, green synthesis approaches, in-depth studies on the properties and performance of electrode materials and their electrochemical applications in electrocatalysis, energy conversion, energy storage and thermoelectric materials. The advances and insights presented here contribute to the progress in the field of nanostructured electrode materials and provide a valuable reference for researchers, scientists, and engineers, providing cutting-edge solutions to meet the growing demand for efficient and sustainable energy technologies.
Advances in Analytical Strategies to Study Cultural Heritage Samples, 2nd Edition
This Reprint presents a collection of recent advances in analytical strategies applied to cultural heritage materials, highlighting how modern chemistry, spectroscopy, and data-driven approaches can provide insight into the composition, degradation, and conservation of artworks and historical artefacts. The contributions span a wide variety of materials and case studies, demonstrating the versatility of contemporary analytical methods.Several articles highlight the potential of vibrational spectroscopy, including attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), external-reflection FTIR, and multivariate analysis, for the characterization of dyes, binders, photographic prints, and paint alteration phenomena. Other studies address the formation of metal soaps in alkyd paints, the identification of lipid binders in wall paintings using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) combined with chemometric tools, and the investigation of environmental volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by historical books.This Reprint also includes research on nanocomposite hydrogels for paper cleaning and protective materials functionalized with metal-oxide nanoparticles, underscoring the role of materials science in conservation. Finally, analytical chemistry is extended to forensic-heritage contexts, with a study of personal items recovered from mass graves.
Amphiphilic Molecules, Interfaces and Colloids
Colloids, such as emulsions, foams, sols, and gels, play an integral role in living organisms, the natural environment, resource extraction, pharmaceuticals, cleaning products, processing industries, and basically, in almost all aspects of our everyday life. To a large extent, colloid stability and functionality are determined by the properties of interfaces between dispersed and continuous phases and by the surface forces acting at micro- and nanoscale levels. It is the amphiphilic molecules that are capable of altering colloidal system properties, thus changing the overall system behavior. This is why a comprehensive understanding of the amphiphile molecular structure and the respective interactions taking place at the interfaces ensures effective control over colloidal system properties. The contributions included in this Reprint highlight the relation between amphiphile molecular structure, self-assembly in solutions, molecular arrangements at interfaces, specific interactions at micro- and nanoscales, and the properties displayed by the colloidal systems. The included research spans from fundamental studies on the physicochemical behavior of colloidal systems to the design of innovative solutions for practical applications.
Advanced Carbon-Based Materials for Next-Generation Batteries and Supercapacitors
With the development of society and technology, the excessive energy harvested from fossil fuels has brought about resource and environmental issues. The increased exploration of new-energy and the rapid development of the electric vehicle industry have led to the rapid development of electrochemical energy-storage technology. Batteries and supercapacitors offer both a high energy density and a high power density, and have a promising future in the field of energy storage. Carbon-based materials have always been at the forefront of this field due to their unique advantages of low density, chemical stability, good processability, and diverse morphologies. This Reprint will approach the rational design of carbon-based composite materials and their latest uses in rechargeable batteries and supercapacitors, exploring manufacturing processes, the materials used (carbon nanotubes, graphene, biomass carbon, MOF-derived carbon, etc.), microstructural design (porous structures, core/shell structures, hollow structures, three-dimensional structures, etc.), and component optimization, and also report their practical applications in electrochemical energy storage and studying their energy-storage mechanisms in detail. We aim to contribute toward creating a new generation of functional carbon-based materials for rechargeable batteries and supercapacitors. This Reprint aims to play a guiding role in research into functional carbon-based materials and composites, contributing to a broadening of the field's scope and making significant progress in the field.
Manufacturing Processes of Metallic Materials
This Special Issue aims to platform the most recent advances in the manufacturing processes of metallic materials and to identify the direction of both experimental and numerical research, including the requirements for sustainable technologies and processes. A key aspect emphasized throughout is proper process design, necessary to guarantee the compliance of the final product with the intended functionality, while simultaneously minimizing resource usage.
Current Directions and Prospects of Hydrogels for Biomedical Applications
Hydrogels are versatile biomaterials that combine a high water content with tunable physical and chemical properties, making them ideal for a wide range of biomedical applications. Modern hydrogel research focuses on enhancing mechanical strength, biocompatibility, and functionality through innovative design strategies, including the incorporation of nanomaterials, self-healing capabilities, and responsiveness to external stimuli such as temperature, pH, light, or enzymes. These advancements have enabled hydrogels to support tissue engineering, drug delivery, wound healing, and other therapeutic applications more effectively than traditional single-component systems.This Reprint highlights cutting-edge research and comprehensive reviews on the development, characterization, and application of hydrogels. It showcases recent innovations in smart and responsive hydrogel systems, nanocomposite hydrogels, and multifunctional materials that advance the performance and versatility of hydrogels in biomedical contexts.
Carbon-Based Electrochemical Materials for Energy Storage
This Special Issue focuses on the latest advancements in carbon-based electrochemical materials for energy storage, specifically highlighting their synthesis, performance, and applications. The primary impetus for this research stems from the escalating global demand for high-performance power sources across diverse technological sectors, ranging from portable electronics to electric vehicles and grid-scale storage. Furthermore, the global transition toward sustainable energy systems underscores the critical need for materials possessing enhanced energy storage and delivery capabilities to effectively integrate intermittent renewable sources such as solar and wind. Significant advances in nanoscience and nanotechnology have facilitated the development of novel energy storage architectures with improved efficiency and power density, specifically enabling next-generation batteries, supercapacitors, and fuel cells. Among the numerous materials under investigation for these demanding applications, carbon-based materials are distinguished due to their distinctive combination of inherent advantages. These include high natural abundance (enabling scalability), low cost, good biocompatibility and highly tunable electrochemical properties achievable through structural manipulation at the nanoscale. Consequently, carbon nanostructures such as graphene and carbon nanotubes are intensively studied as essential electrode components in various devices, demonstrating high specific capacity and superior long-term cycle stability.
Advances in Molecular Modeling in Chemistry, 2nd Edition
Molecular modeling has revolutionized the ways in which we understand, predict, and manipulate chemical systems, from simple molecules to complex biological macromaterials and functional nanomaterials. By bridging theory and experiment, computational approaches provide unprecedented insights into atomic-scale interactions, reaction mechanisms, and material properties, accelerating discovery across chemistry, biochemistry, and materials science.This Reprint of the Special Issue entitled "Advances in Molecular Modeling in Chemistry" aims to showcase cutting-edge developments in computational chemistry and molecular simulation. The Special Issue highlights innovative methodologies, algorithms, and applications in areas such as quantum chemical calculations, molecular dynamics and Monte Carlo simulations, machine learning and artificial intelligence in chemical modeling, etc. The studies published within this Reprint explore areas such as molecular dynamics simulations of oil adsorption behavior, the antifoaming mechanisms of surfactants, density functional theory calculations of catalytic mechanisms, drug discovery, and the evaluation of combustion mechanisms using reactive molecule force fields, among other topics.By bringing together diverse expertise, this Special Issue seeks to foster interdisciplinary dialog and inspire the next generation of computational strategies.
Advances in Biocompatible and Biodegradable Polymers, 4th Edition
This Reprint compiles nine studies on sustainable, biocompatible, and biodegradable polymer systems, covering design, processing, functionalization, and applications from molecular to material scales. Key matrices include poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB): PLA/PHB composites with inorganic filler balanced flame retardancy and biodegradation, while steam sterilization and recycling of 3D-printed PLA affected mechanical reliability and surface morphology. Solvent-free extrusion of isotactic PHB blends widened processing windows and improved ductility, enabling greener production. Natural and waste resources were valorized: biochar and artichoke cellulose enhanced PLA composites' thermal stability and stiffness; avocado seed starch films reinforced with nanocrystals improved mechanical and barrier properties and disintegrated rapidly in compost. Functional materials included cross-linked PMMA nanocomposites with melamine, CuO nanoparticles, and activated carbon, showing superior thermal stability and antibacterial behavior. Extracellular polymeric substances from Rhodococcus were analyzed as lipid- and polysaccharide-rich matrices supporting biofilm formation and hydrocarbon resistance. The Reprint concludes with a review of strategies for synthesizing and functionalizing biodegradable, biocompatible polymers, highlighting smart systems and sustainable uses in medicine, packaging, and environmental remediation. Collectively, these works advance eco-efficient, high-performance materials merging biodegradability, biocompatibility, and functionality.
Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence in Fluid Mechanics
Fluid mechanics research has evolved during the past few years towards the direction of exploiting massive amounts of data generated from knowledge gathered insofar, either from experimental measurements or simulations. The application of novel machine learning (ML) techniques is currently the latest trend in the field and has almost reached standardization. Computational boosting, advanced turbulence modeling, bridging among scales, hybrid simulation schemes, and flow feature extraction are concepts that scientists and engineers must deal with. This Reprint joins together data science methods and advanced artificial intelligence (AI) and ML techniques, in order to apply them to popular fluid mechanics problems, in an alternative though effective and accurate manner, strictly bound to the physical problem. Detailed reviews on the AI/CFD intersection and the future of ML in fluid dynamics can be found in this Reprint, along with novel research papers on topics related to scientific ML, physics-informed neural networks, intelligent fluid dynamics, industrial applications of AI, and explainable and trustworthy AI.
Hydrogels with Appropriate/Tunable Properties for Biomedical Applications
Initially, hydrogels mainly attracted attention from biomaterial scientists due to their porosity, high water ratio, and soft consistency, which closely simulates natural living tissue. In addition to these features, more properties have been and are being developed to increase their potential for use in biomedical applications, including high mechanical strength, controllable degradation, bioadhesion properties, stimulation responsiveness, and so on.Although much work has been done to endow hydrogels with different properties, it seems that excessive attention has been paid to increasing the 'intensity' of their different properties. Appropriate properties vary in importance based on the specific application. Moderate but not high adhesion strength for bioadhesive-based wound dressings will allow the re-change or re-exposure of wounds to occur more easily. For hydrogel scaffolds, a proper degradation speed that matches the tissue healing speed will lead to a better outcome. For applications in different tissues, hydrogels are needed with various mechanical strengths, rather than just high strength. Additionally, stretchable, light-responsive, and conductive hydrogels are appreciated in flexible and smart devices.Fabricating hydrogels with appropriate/tunable properties is vital to expanding their applications in the biomedical field.
Advances in Rock and Mineral Materials
Material sciences support society by means of research and development of new, advanced, environmental and health-friendly materials that we all use for everyday activities. Among them are mineral raw materials, like iron and ferro-alloy metals, non-ferrous metals, precious metals, industrial minerals, mineral fuels, and materials for the construction industry. These "primary" raw materials are extracted from the earth and are precursors for various engineered materials, which are used for a vast number of different products that we use in everyday life, including products for construction, transportation, energy production and supply, telecommunications, home appliances, products for green transition, packaging, etc. To safeguard primary raw materials, the use of "secondary" raw materials has been gaining increased importance. The "secondary" raw materials are recycled raw materials that can be used in manufacturing processes instead of or alongside virgin raw materials.This Reprint presents recent advancements in geo- and material science, focusing on studies related to clays, development of new forms of cements and their applications, new advancements in mineralogy and metal recovery, as well as the mechanical properties of rocks.
Materials in Cultural Heritage
This Special Issue contains selected studies in the field of cultural heritage, from analytical studies on metallic and other materials to studies on the preservation of artifacts. These include analyses of archaeological ceramics, glass, and organic materials such as archaeological bones, as well as building materials and metals. Conservation topics include applying special materials for the long-term preservation of artifacts, such as aerogels and ethanol mist.
Advanced 2D Materials for Emerging Applications
The properties of materials are significantly dependent on not only their composition, crystal phase, and facets, but also their dimensionality. Normally, three dimensions (0D, 1D, and 2D) of materials are defined and reported. Specially, 2D materials are anticipated to be serious contenders for high-volume semiconductor manufacturing within the next decade. The typical applications of 2D material cover catalysis, energy conversion and storage, photonics, optics, electronic devices, and diagnostics.This Special Issue of Nanomaterials, entitled "Advanced 2D Materials for Emerging Applications", seeks to present state-of-the-art research statues and advances in this rapidly evolving area. Contributions are on topics covering the general principles and applications of 2D materials in a wide range of devices, including supercapacitor, reconfigurable electronics, zinc-ion battery, radiofrequency device.
Unlocking the Potential of Agri-Food Waste for Innovative Applications and Bio-Based Materials
This Reprint collects contributions focused on innovative and sustainable processes for the valorization of agri-food waste within the framework of the circular economy. Agriculture and food production generate large quantities of residues, including crop by-products, food processing waste, and surplus or expired food materials. The articles included in this Reprint explore strategies to transform these resources into value-added products rather than treating them as waste.The published works address a wide range of applications, such as biodegradable materials, biocomposites, textiles, nutraceuticals, animal feed, and sustainable agricultural inputs. Particular attention is given to emerging and hybrid technologies that enable the conversion of residual biomass into functional products, helping to bridge the gap between waste generation and resource recovery.Overall, this Reprint highlights technological solutions aimed at improving resource efficiency, reducing environmental impacts, and supporting more sustainable agricultural and agri-food systems. The collected studies provide an overview of current advances and future perspectives in waste biomass valorization, contributing to the development of circular and environmentally responsible practices.
Adsorbents in Treatment of Pollutants
The main objective of this Special Issue is to highlight the recent advances in the development and design of new adsorbents with superior adsorption ability for the removal of various pollutants in the environment, which may involve new preparation methods, material designs, characterization techniques, analyses of the adsorption mechanisms, and the adsorption capacity of various pollutants.
Optical and Quantum Electronics
This Reprint collects research articles and reviews on optical and quantum electronics, comprising advances in the properties and performance of a wide range of materials. These include theoretical calculations of electronic and phonon properties, experimental results on low-dimension materials such as nanowires, atomic clusters, Langmuir-Blodgett films, heat-and-charge transport including hot carriers, applications of photonic upconversion, and results on devices such as transparent RRAMs and perovskite solar cells.
Crystallization of High Performance Metallic Materials (2nd Edition)
The Special Issue (SI) entitled 'Crystallization of High Performance Metallic Materials (2nd Edition)' has collected ten research papers focusing on different aspects of crystallization of metallic materials, e.g., solidification and continuous casting, crystal plasticity and recrystallization during deformation, laser cladding of the composite coatings, and non-metallic inclusions, as well as mechanical properties evolution of different engineering materials, e.g., non-oriented silicon steels (3 papers), stainless steels, Inconel alloys, aluminum alloys, etc. Both experimental and simulation studies relating to crystallization topics have been reported among the contributions. In addition, two review articles on crystal plasticity and antibacterial properties of magnesium alloys are presented in this Special Issue. This editorial summary aims to highlight the state of the art in the development of crystallization behaviors in different metallic materials.
Lithium-Ion and Next-Generation Batteries Recycling
The progressive expansion of electromobility will lead to an increasing demand for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) in the future and thus inevitably to a drastically increased demand for raw materials for battery materials. The recycling and reuse of the individual components therefore serves as an important link in achieving a circular economy, whereby the dependence on geographically unevenly distributed elements and the associated costs can be reduced and the sustainability within the value chain improved.Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and upcoming cell chemistries like sodium-ion or lithium-sulfur batteries are and will be an integral part of our modern way of life, particularly in portable electronic devices and the emerging field of electric mobility. Ongoing research in the field, with the overarching aim of achieving higher energy densities and enabling lower material costs, has led to the continuous development of new cell chemistries specifically adapted to different requirements. The resulting high complexity of battery systems in combination with varying battery lifetimes leads to a heterogeneous flow of used end-of-life cells. In view of this, the establishment of universal, flexible, and robust recycling processes remains a major challenge, which is why it is crucial to thoroughly analyze and optimize the current state of the art and adapt it to future types and cell chemistries.
Advances in the Experimentation and Numerical Modeling of Material Joining Processes (Second Edition)
Nowadays, structural design is facing major challenges in the associated joining processes, such as material selection, different thermal coefficients and melting points, multi-material joining, the joining of thin-walled structures, traditional process effectiveness for new materials, cost-efficiency and ecological issues. To provide a strong, reliable and lightweight solutions for a given application, designers should either consider hybrid joining or choose from a large variety of available processes, such as welding, brazing, riveting, mechanical fastening, adhesive bonding, clinching, friction stir welding, laser welding and diffusion welding, amongst others. These joining processes have evolved towards optimization and cost reduction in the early design stages in terms of their implementation and industrialization, destructive and non-destructive testing and either analytical or numerical modeling. Numerical modeling is particularly effective for simulating complex geometries, different load scenarios and materials with plasticity or anisotropy. The finite element method, together with fracture mechanics techniques, is a powerful and common approach employed in the scientific community, but less applied for the study of complex loads, such as high strain rates, fatigue or impact, and it is seldom used in the industry. To develop state-of-the-art techniques and disseminate the recent advances in all types of joining, either experimental or numerical, this Reprint brings together a significant number of high-quality contributions to this field of research through innovative and original works.
Experimental Testing, Manufacturing and Numerical Modelling of Composite and Sandwich Structures (Second Edition)
Composite materials can be used in a wide range of applications, including aerospace, automotive, construction, sports equipment, and electronics. These materials have a high strength-to-weight ratio, excellent fatigue and corrosion resistance, and low thermal expansion. However, there are still issues that need to be solved, including high production costs, difficulty in repairing damage, susceptibility to delamination and other types of damage, and characterization/modelling difficulties. Recent research has focused on issues such as advanced manufacturing techniques (including 3D printing and digital manufacturing), nanocomposites (to improve strength and stiffness, or thermal and electrical conductivity), sustainable composites (using renewable or recycled materials), multifunctional composites (taking advantage of shape memory alloys, piezoelectric materials, and carbon nanotubes), bioinspired composites (spider silk, seashells, and bone, and their unique properties' replication in synthetic materials), and numerical modelling (new approaches to simulate complex behaviour). Composite sandwich structures are widely used in various industries, such as aerospace, automotive, marine, and construction, due to their high strength-to-weight ratio, stiffness, and durability. To advance the state-of-the-art and spread the recent advances in all composite-related matters, this Reprint gathers a significant number of contributions in this area through high-quality original or review works.
Development of Boron-Based Materials
This Special Issue Reprint, "Development of Boron-Based Materials", compiles recent advances in the design, synthesis, characterization, and theoretical modeling of boron-based compounds. Boron, with its unique electron-deficient bonding, gives rise to diverse materials including clusters, sheets, glasses, and bulk ceramics with remarkable mechanical, thermal, and electronic properties. The nine contributions, together with the editorial, highlight both fundamental and applied aspects of boron-based materials science. Covered topics include low-dimensional boron allotropes such as borophenes, boron-rich carbides and borides, cluster-based composites, oxyhalide borate glasses, and borometallic molecular structures. The Reprint also addresses emerging applications in areas such as superconductivity, superhard coatings, radiation shielding, and chemical sensing. By combining theoretical and experimental perspectives, this Reprint offers an updated resource for scientists working in chemistry, physics, and materials engineering.
Battery Management in Electric Vehicles
Li-ion batteries (LiBs) are central to the global transition toward zero-carbon energy and the achievement of the COP26 target of net-zero emissions by mid-century. However, their rapid adoption presents a range of challenges. As demand for LiBs increases, especially in electric vehicles (EVs), concerns about their environmental impact and the stability of supply chains are mounting. The key materials used in LiBs are finite and concentrated in specific regions, heightening the risk of supply disruptions. Additionally, the eventual disposal of large quantities of battery waste introduces further complications. To address these challenges, the implementation of advanced battery management techniques in electric vehicles is essential. These strategies can enhance battery performance, extend their lifespan, enable secondary applications, and promote the recycling and reuse of EV batteries, thereby mitigating both environmental and supply chain risks. This Reprint seeks to update the scientific community on the latest advancements and future trends in EV battery management. It encompasses a broad spectrum of developments, ranging from foundational battery research to cutting-edge approaches like electro-thermal modeling, state-of-health estimation, thermal runaway analysis, aging and degradation studies in lithium batteries, and the development of modular battery management system (BMS) topologies. These innovations aim to optimize battery performance, improve efficiency, and ensure the long-term reliability of EV batteries.
Environmental Catalysis in Advanced Oxidation Processes, 2nd Edition
The reprint, 'Environmental Catalysis in Advanced Oxidation Processes, 2nd Edition', presents a comprehensive collection of eleven high-quality contributions addressing recent advances in catalytic and photocatalytic technologies for environmental remediation. This reprint highlights the design, synthesis, and characterisation of novel heterogeneous catalysts and their application in advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) for the degradation of persistent organic pollutants and wastewater treatment. The featured studies cover diverse approaches, including photo-Fenton systems, peroxydisulfate activation, catalytic wet air oxidation, and semiconductor-based photocatalysis, with emphasis on both radical and non-radical oxidation pathways. Innovative reactor concepts, such as 3D-printed and rotating photo-disc reactors, are explored alongside investigations of noble and non-noble metal catalysts, biochar-based materials, and metal-free systems. Collectively, the contributions provide mechanistic insights and demonstrate how process intensification, material engineering, and light management can enhance pollutant removal efficiency. This reprint is intended for researchers, engineers, and students in catalysis, environmental chemistry, and process engineering, offering a timely overview of state-of-the-art strategies to address global environmental challenges.
Electric Arc Furnace Steelmaking
Electric arc furnace (EAF) steelmaking is one of the most important steelmaking routes and currently accounts for approximately thirty percent of worldwide crude steel production. The share of scrap-based EAF steelmaking is expected to continue rising in the coming decades. In addition, EAF steelmaking provides the basis for plans to melt direct reduced iron (DRI) produced using hydrogen reduction. Accompanied by an editorial, this Reprint presents eight peer-reviewed articles from the Special Issue "Electric Arc Furnace Steelmaking", published in the journal Metals.
Application of Microfluidic Technology in Bioengineering
Microfluidic technology, commonly referred to as lab-on-a-chip technology, represents a state-of-the-art research domain. It primarily centers on the manipulation and precise control of minute volumes of fluids within micrometer-sized channels. This innovative field has captured substantial attention on account of its distinctive characteristics. These features, such as miniaturization, integration, high precision, automation, and remarkable versatility, endow it with the status of a potent instrument for fluid manipulation and sample analysis across a wide spectrum of applications. These applications span multiple disciplines, including biomedical engineering, chemistry, materials science, and environmental sciences. The Special Issue under discussion is dedicated to the application of microfluidic technology in bioengineering. It encompasses a collection of 13 papers, comprising one Editorial, nine Research Articles, and three Reviews. These papers comprehensively cover the latest advancements in microfluidics, including single-cell manipulation and detection, liquid biopsy, molecular diagnosis, interface design, and simulation modeling. The contributions to this Special Issue come from researchers affiliated with 26 institutions in China, the United States, and Germany.
Advances in Functional Polymers and Composites
Polymers and composites offer significant advantages such as cost-effectiveness, lightweight properties, design flexibility, and manufacturing adaptability. They are widely applied across aerospace, transportation, sustainable energy, construction, and other sectors. The production of polymer and composite components involves multiple steps, including structural design, preform shaping, curing and forming, machining and assembly, and inspection and analysis - each exerting a direct and significant influence on the final performance and reliability of the structure. With the growing use of these materials in high-end applications, composite components are increasingly developed at for large scale and integrated structures, with greater complexity and multifunctionality. These trends present new challenges in the design and manufacturing of advanced functional polymers and composites.This Reprint aims to showcase recent advances and cutting-edge research in this field, covering topics such as structural design, mechanics, molding processes, machining and assembly techniques, defect detection, and functional evaluation. Both original research articles and reviews are included, and through this collection, editors seek to promote the development of scientific theories and methodologies, and to support the broader application of advanced functional polymers and composites in high-performance equipment and interdisciplinary fields.
Recent Advances in Photocatalytic Treatment of Pollutants in Water
The pervasive contamination of water resources by persistent and emerging pollutants-including pharmaceuticals, industrial dyes, pesticides, and heavy metals-represents one of the most critical global environmental and public health challenges. Conventional water treatment methods often prove inadequate, inefficient, or costly for achieving the complete mineralization of these complex, non-biodegradable contaminants. With pollutants posing significant environmental threats, developing environmentally benign, efficient, and cost-effective treatment technologies is paramount. Photocatalysis stands at the forefront of this shift, offering a "green chemistry" pathway for water purification. In this Reprint, we focus on cutting-edge research on the application of photocatalysis for water treatment.
Advanced Studies on High-Performance Metal-Ion Capacitors
This Special Issue, "Advanced Studies on High-Performance Metal-Ion Capacitors: Technologies, Systems and Applications", highlights recent progress in hybrid electrochemical energy storage systems that integrate the merits of both batteries and supercapacitors. This Special Issue brings together research articles and reviews that address the challenges involved in the construction of metal-ion capacitors from multiple perspectives, including electrode structure engineering, heteroatom doping, electrolyte design and innovative cell configurations. This Reprint provides a comprehensive overview of emerging technologies and future directions for metal-ion capacitors, offering valuable insights for designing next-generation high-performance and sustainable electrochemical energy storage systems.
Advances in Hybrid Supercapacitors
Hybrid supercapacitors (HSCs) are an emerging class of energy storage devices that combine the high power density of supercapacitors with the high energy density of batteries, offering a unique set of advantages that make them ideal for a wide range of applications. By pairing a faradaic electrode-where charges are stored through reversible redox, intercalation, or conversion reactions-with a non-faradaic or pseudocapacitive electrode that relies on surface ion adsorption, HSCs can provide higher energy density while still maintaining a high level of power output in short bursts, making them well-suited for applications that require rapid charging and discharging, such as in electric vehicles during acceleration, regenerative braking, or start-stop events; cordless power tools that must drive screws or drill masonry without voltage sag; grid-tied buffers that smooth short-term fluctuations from renewables; and even wearable or IoT devices that harvest intermittent energy and must transmit data bursts. This preprint features eleven research and review papers that focus on the recent advances in the field of hybrid supercapacitors, covering topics such as carbon-based and transition metal oxides electrode materials, electrolytes and additives, Zn-ion hybrid capacitors, hybrid energy storage systems, and control algorithms for supercapacitors. Research from over 40 authors from China, the United States, the United Kingdom, Romania, the Republic of Korea, Greece, and other countries and regions contributed to this preprint.
Lithium-Ion Batteries
This Reprint, titled "Lithium-Ion Batteries: Design, Preparation, Reaction Mechanisms of Electrode Materials, and Battery Life Evaluation," collates cutting-edge research focused on overcoming the performance limitations of current energy storage systems. This collection addresses critical challenges in the field, from the development of next-generation silicon and composite anodes to the engineering of high-capacity cathodes and stable interfacial architectures. A significant emphasis is placed on elucidating the complex reaction mechanisms and degradation pathways that govern cell performance and longevity. Advanced preparation techniques and innovative electrode design strategies are explored to enhance ionic conductivity, mechanical stability, and cycling durability. Furthermore, this Reprint highlights the application of sophisticated in situ and operando characterization methods, alongside robust modeling frameworks, for precise state-of-health monitoring and accurate battery life prediction. By integrating fundamental material insights with practical engineering solutions, this compilation serves as a vital resource for developing more efficient, reliable, and commercially viable lithium-ion batteries for the future of electrified transportation and grid storage.
Artificial Intelligence-Based State-of-Health Estimation of Lithium-Ion Batteries
Lithium-ion batteries have a wide range of applications, but one of their biggest problems is their limited lifetime, which is due to performance degradation during usage. It is, therefore, essential to determine the battery's state of health (SOH) so that the battery management system can control the battery, enabling it to run in the best state, and thus prolonging its lifetime. Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies possess immense potential in inferring battery SOH, and can extract aging information (i.e., SOH features) from measurements and relate them to battery performance parameters, avoiding a complex battery modeling process. Therefore, this Special Issue showcase manuscripts showing efficient SOH estimation methods using AI which exhibit good performance, such as high accuracy, high robustness against the changes in working conditions, good generalization, etc.
Engineering Sustainability Goals
According to Socrates, "The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new." The new includes healthier living and sounder engineering. Specifically, we strive to generate cleaner energy and spread to to all corners of the world; improve understanding and care for the land, sea, and air; transform waste into useful resources; implement more eco-friendly agriculture and farming; and invigorate humans' minds, bodies, and souls. The emphasis is on bettering tomorrow in an integrated manner, through the knowledge of the interlinkages among technologies, social and behavioral perspectives, the environment and ecology, and policies and governances. The volume provides the first go-to reference for everyone who wishes to brighten tomorrow by thriving through change. It shows how to capitalize change and hasten the transition into a sustainable tomorrow from various perspectives. To sustainably thrive, we adapt cradle-to-cradle engineering. This closed cycle engineering ensures the end of a product, or an operation, is the beginning of a new one. The book is essential for researchers including students, professionals, policy makers, and tomorrow's leaders.
Polymers, Colloids, and Surface Chemistry
Polymers, colloids, and surface chemistry are interconnected areas that play significant roles in the development and functionality of various products and technologies. The book helps to address issues related to material performance, stability and interactions. It begins with an introduction to polymers, covering their history, classification, nomenclature, molecular weight, and industrial significance. The chemistry of polymerization is then discussed in detail, including the mechanisms and kinetics of free radical, cationic, anionic, step-growth, and coordination polymerization, along with industrial techniques. The book also delves into polymer solutions, emphasizing thermodynamics, solubility, phase behavior, and applications in industries such as plastics, coatings, and biomedical fields. Moving to colloid chemistry, it explores colloidal systems, their comparison with true solutions and suspensions, types, preparation methods, and industrial relevance. The properties of colloids, including optical, kinetic, and electrical properties such as the Tyndall effect, Brownian motion, and electrophoresis, are discussed alongside suspensions, emulsions, and their practical applications. The surface chemistry of colloids is examined through interfacial phenomena, surface potential, Langmuir-Blodgett films, electrical aspects, and colloidal stability. Furthermore, the applications of colloids in petroleum, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, water purification, and environmental science are highlighted, demonstrating their interdisciplinary significance. The book concludes with an in-depth study of surface chemistry, focusing on adsorption phenomena, types of adsorption, adsorption isotherms, and industrial applications in catalysis, chromatography, pollution control, and biological systems. With a structured approach, real-world examples, and a focus on industrial and scientific relevance, this book serves as a valuable resource for students aiming to master the fundamental and applied aspects of polymers, colloids, and surface chemistry.
Forensic Chemistry Fundamentals
Fundamentals of Forensic Chemistry strives to help scientists & lawyers, & students, understand how their two disciplines come together for forensic science, in the contexts of analytical chemistry & related science more generally, and the common law systems of Canada, USA, UK, the Commonwealth. In this book, forensics is considered more generally than as only for criminal law; workplace health & safety, and other areas are included. And, two issues of Canadian legal process are argued as essays in the final two chapters.
Inorganic Electrode Materials in High-Performance Energy Storage Devices
This Reprint focuses on the innovation, optimization, and application of inorganic electrode materials for high-performance energy storage, addressing key challenges in advanced energy storage technologies. It covers a diverse range of systems, including lithium-sulfur batteries, lithium-ion batteries, aqueous zinc-ion batteries, sodium-ion batteries, hybrid supercapacitors, and methanol-mediated water splitting. Featured research highlights cutting-edge strategies: structural engineering (hollow architectures, carbon nanofiber encapsulation, porous nanosheets), composition regulation (bimetallic synergistic effects, heteroatom doping, high-entropy alloying), and simplified scalable synthesis (EDTA-based synchronous carbonization-doping, two-step thermal annealing). The collected works report remarkable performance breakthroughs-such as long-cycle stability for sodium-ion battery anodes, high-rate capability for lithium-ion battery electrodes, and low overpotential for water-splitting catalysts-while elucidating critical structure-performance relationships. This Reprint serves as a concise, authoritative resource for researchers and engineers, facilitating knowledge exchange on inorganic electrode materials and accelerating the translation of fundamental research into practical, sustainable energy storage solutions.
Advances in Computation and Modeling of Materials Mechanics
This Reprint compiles the published articles from the Special Issue "Advances in Computation and Modeling of Materials Mechanics" in the journal Materials. The collection features cutting-edge research contributions in materials mechanics, covering experimental characterization and computational modeling of composite materials, simulation of irradiation effects in nuclear materials for enhanced performance and safety, multi-scale material mechanics simulations, and innovative machine learning approaches for material property prediction and design. The articles highlight significant advancements in computational methodologies, including multi-scale modeling, high-performance computing, and data-driven techniques, which enable a deeper understanding of complex material behavior under diverse conditions. By providing insights into the latest developments, this Reprint serves as a valuable resource for researchers and engineers in materials science and engineering, fostering further innovation in the design and application of advanced materials for critical sectors.
Theoretical and Computational Chemistry
The mathematical structure of gauge theory is a union of many modern algebraic concepts. The book provides the background to understand gauge theory and use it in computational chemistry. It introduces two powerful methods used in modern computational chemistry: The Diffusion Monte Carlo algorithm and Ring Polymer Molecular Dynamics. Gauge theory is used to derive a convergent version of the ground state probability amplitude approach for the simulation of excited states. Contains some recent advances in theoretical and computational chemistry. Clear, coherently written explanation of the various background mathematical concepts. Accessible to undergraduate students with many exercises for readers to achieve mastery of the subjects.
Topoisomerases as Targets for Novel Drug Discovery
Topoisomerases play a crucial role in controlling DNA topology and have long been established as the therapeutic targets of several clinically successful antibacterial and anticancer drugs. Despite decades of clinical use, topoisomerase-targeting agents still face several limitations, including antibiotic resistance, off-target toxicity, the induction of secondary malignancies, cardiotoxicity, and limited tumor selectivity. These challenges have driven extensive research toward elucidating novel inhibitory mechanisms, designing more selective or multitarget topoisomerase inhibitors, and developing combination strategies that enhance therapeutic efficacy and reduce toxicity.Topoisomerases as Targets for Novel Drug Discovery is a Reprint of the Special Issue in Pharmaceuticals and contains a collection of review and research articles highlighting recent progress made in overcoming these challenges. The contributions explore the discovery and development of new topoisomerase inhibitors, innovative strategies to improve therapeutic selectivity and safety, and novel insights into the management of chemotherapy-induced toxicities. Overall, these articles highlight emerging trends in topoisomerase research and emphasize the importance of interdisciplinary approaches that connect structural biology, chemistry, and pharmacology to advance the next generation of topoisomerase-targeting therapies.
Recent Researches in Polymer and Plastic Processing
This Reprint, entitled "Recent Researches in Polymer and Plastic Processing", presents a curated selection of ten scientific articles from the journal Materials, offering a comprehensive overview of current trends and innovations in polymer science. Under the guiding theme of Polymers Reimagined-From Surface Engineering to Sustainable Recycling, this publication explores the following: Plasma-based surface treatments to enhance coating adhesion; The inkjet printability of biodegradable starch-based films; The impact of infill density reduction on the mechanical properties of 3D-printed PLA structures within a circular economy framework; The optimization of injection molding parameters using BP neural networks and NSGA-II algorithms; The strengthening of SGFRP-BMC composites through fiber shortening and electron beam irradiation; The use of asphalt as a low-cost plasticizer in polyacrylonitrile-based synthetic fiber production; The development of hydrogels incorporating plant-based ashes for internal curing in cementitious materials; UV-assisted degradation of PET using nonmetallic dibasic ionic liquids; Advanced recycling techniques for recovering EVA, PVDF, and PET from end-of-life photovoltaic modules.This volume is an essential resource for researchers, engineers, and students interested in advanced polymer processing, sustainable materials, and industrial applications. It highlights the transformative potential of polymers in shaping a more efficient and environmentally responsible future.
Multifunctional Application of Electrospun Fiber
This Special Issue compiles collective contributions that comprehensively reflect the versatile applications and cutting-edge advancements of electrospun nanofibers across diverse fields. These include biomedicine and drug delivery, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, environmental remediation and adsorption materials, air filtration and protective technologies, antibacterial and antifungal applications, and flexible electronics and energy devices. Each study offers a distinct perspective, which deepens the scientific and engineering insights into the design and fabrication of next-generation electrospun materials. It is anticipated that through the industry-academia-research collaborative model of "scientific breakthroughs led by universities and industrialization practices driven by enterprises", more electrospun nanofiber materials will transition from laboratory-scale research to real-world market applications. This will ultimately facilitate the full realization of the industrial value inherent in electrospun nanofibers.
Polymeric Materials in Energy Conversion and Storage, 2nd Edition
This reprint provides a comprehensive overview of the current advancements and emerging roles of polymer-based materials in energy conversion and storage technologies. Each chapter highlights recent findings on the design, synthesis, and functional optimization of novel polymers and polymer composites exhibiting superior electrical, mechanical, and thermal properties. The discussed materials demonstrate significant potential for applications in sensors, energy harvesting systems, batteries, supercapacitors, and various electronic devices. Emphasis is placed on understanding the structure-property-performance relationships that govern the efficiency and stability of these systems. Collectively, the contributions in this volume offer valuable insights into the development of next-generation polymeric materials for sustainable and high-performance energy technologies.
Surface Science
The Reprint of the Special Issue "Surface Science: Polymer Thin Films, Coatings and Adhesives" in the journal Surfaces gathers cutting-edge original research articles discussing how mastering surface and interface properties and phenomena allow the development of new polymer-based thin films, coatings and adhesives. Dedicated articles address topics related to new chemical (nanoimprinting coupled to controlled graft polymerization) and physical (plasma activation) surface treatments to prepare surface-functionalized polymer-based films and fibres or to enhance corrosion protection. Wettability challenges are also highlighted in this Reprint, demonstrating how Marangoni flow drives self-assembling of hydrogels. The core of the Reprint concerns the development of advanced coatings with original articles on new polyurethane preventive coatings, functional polyacrylate textile coatings and waterborne acrylic coatings. Finally, the chosen articles discuss the enhancement of ultimate properties (fracture toughness, wear), performances and sustainability of polymer films and coatings.
Molecular Simulations of Energy Materials
The continuous rise in global energy demand, together with the depletion of conventional resources, places increasing pressure on the scientific community to develop materials that enable clean, efficient, and sustainable energy generation, storage, and utilization. The phenomena underlying these processes are inherently complex, often occurring simultaneously across multiple spatial (from atomic to macroscopic) and temporal (from femtoseconds to years) scales. While experimental investigations remain fundamental to the study of energy and environmental systems, our understanding of material behavior under extreme conditions-particularly at the microscopic level-remains limited. Computational molecular science has therefore become an indispensable complement, offering powerful tools to analyze and describe the mechanisms governing these phenomena.Molecular simulations, including static calculations, Molecular Dynamics, and Monte Carlo methods, rely on intra- and intermolecular forces determined at quantum, classical, or coarse-grained levels. These approaches provide essential insights into the structure and dynamics of energy materials and help interpret experimental data. The integration of particle-based and continuum methods within multiscale frameworks further enhances our ability to capture the hierarchical nature of processes in energy and environmental materials. Collectively, these computational methodologies form a vital foundation for understanding, predicting, and optimizing the behavior of energy materials.
Polymer Thin Films
The use of polymer thin films is currently implemented in almost every aspect of modern life, due to their cost-efficiency, lightness, flexibility, and unique physical and chemical properties. The reason for focusing research into polymer thin films is to understand the mechanisms that affect interfacial interactions, flow behavior, film formation, and relationships between deposition process parameters and the film structure, as well as other advanced functional properties.This Special Issue highlights and discusses studies on the development and characterization of functional polymer coatings and films for various applications. In summary, the studies focus on the contribution of nano- and microfillers embedded in polymer matrices for enhancement of thermal and mechanical stability. It also covers the preparation and use of coated microcapsules, which effectively enhance antibacterial properties, and highlights the role of natural additives in improving performance. One study examines coatings for reducing foodborne pathogens on blackberries. Furthermore, the examination of different polyols in polyester-based polyurethane coatings demonstrates their influence on functional properties, while the layer-by-layer self-assembly technique for antistatic polyester fibers presents innovative approaches to modifying surface characteristics. Lastly, the synthesis and evaluation of bio-sourced plasticizer thin films highlight improvements in eco-friendly materials, as well as the use of a silicone coupling reagent for the preservation of oracle bones.
Sustainable Cementitious Materials for Civil and Transportation Engineering
Since its invention, concrete has become the most widely used construction material. Growing concerns over the greenhouse emissions profile of the Portland cement and concrete industry have led to a very high level of recent interest in the development of low-carbon construction materials. The requirements of raw materials for cement and concrete, such as natural minerals, stones, and river sand, have been increasing, especially in developing countries where massive amounts of infrastructure are being built. This trend promotes the requirements of sustainable cementitious materials with low carbon emissions for civil and transportation engineering. The development of low-carbon construction materials has been recognized as a means of reducing the carbon footprint of the Portland cement and concrete industry in response to growing global concerns over natural-material shortages and CO2 emissions from the construction sector. The concrete and cement industry has been under pressure to shift towards sustainability by developing alternative low-carbon cement and concrete materials. However, many fundamental mechanisms in this field require further elucidation. In addition, industrial applications are still scarce due to the gap existing between the fundamental research and industrial use in this area.
Properties and Applications of Nanoparticles and Nanomaterials
Nanomaterials have rapidly developed, and attention surrounding their use has increased in recent years. The emergence of various nanomaterials, i.e., nanoparticles, nano-grained alloys, and gradient nanostructures, is expected to make it possible for materials with super or very special properties to be applied in unusual practical contexts. There is a wide range of applications for nanomaterials in biochemistry or molecular medicine, fuel cells or metal-ion batteries, and flexible electronics, as well as in various components related to energy. The physical and chemical properties of nanostructures are determined by their chemical composition and structure and are also affected by the formation process, which is critical for their reliability and their use in practical applications.
