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Ionic liquid lignins are prepared from sodium lignosulfonate by a cation exchange reaction and display glass transition temperatures as low as −13 °C. Diethyleneglycol‐functionalized protic cations inhibit lignin aggregation to produce a free‐flowing “ionic liquid lignin”, despite it being a high‐molecular‐weight polyelectrolyte. Through this approach, the properties of both lignin and ionic liquids are combined to create a dispersant and binder for cellulose+gluten mixtures to produce small microphases. Biocomposite testing pieces are produced by hot‐pressing this mixture, yielding a material with fewer defects and improved toughness in comparison to other lignins. The use of unmodified lignosulfonate, acetylated lignosulfonate, or free ionic liquid for similar materials production yields poorer substances because of their inability to maximize interfacial contact and complexation with cellulose and proteins., Hot off the press: Lignosulfonate is functionalized to create an ionic liquid with a glass transition temperature (T g) of −13 °C. After mixing with cellulose+gluten and hot‐pressing, composite materials are produced and have fewer defects and improved toughness in comparison to other lignins.

Hydrogels constitute an important class of polymeric materials, mainly due to their promising applications in the biomedical field. Particularly, mechanical properties are a limiting factor for applications, and reinforcement and improved wear resistance are major directions in current research. In here, graphitic carbon nitride (g-CN)-based hydrogels are presented. The hydrogels are formed in a two-step procedure. In the first step, a prepolymer is synthesized that leads to a significantly improved g-CN dispersibility and stability of g-CN dispersions. Hence, the g-CN content in the final hydrogels can be increased to obtain tough hydrogels. More importantly, hydrogels from charged monomers can be formed as well, which leads to lubricant properties. As such, the investigated route opens up new opportunities to fabricate functional hydrogels with significant toughness, compressibility and lubricity.

This study investigates the electronic configuration of titanium nitride-nickel (TiN-Ni) nanocomposites, in order to explain the high stability and activity of this hydrogenolysis catalyst. TiN-Ni is compared to a titanium oxide-nickel reference (TiO2-Ni). Strong metal support interactions are observed between the TiN and Ni. Scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) illustrate that the Ni distributes more homogeneously on the nitride support. Computational comparison of TiN Ni and TiO2-Ni provides evidence of preferential Ni adsorption onto nitrogen sites of the nitride support. DFT calculations also predict a charge polarization between Ti and Ni atoms. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) corroborates computational analysis by revealing a suppression of surface nitride species upon deposition of Ni onto TiN. Shifts in Ti 2p and Ni 2p binding energy positions are also evident, which indicate an electronic perturbation between TiN and Ni. We conclude that the presence of nitrogen in the nitride support influences the electronic and structural properties of TiN-Ni and is partly responsible for the beneficial catalytic properties reported for this nanocomposite.

A high-throughput composite catalyst is prepared from porous carbon with an unconventional nanocube morphology decorated by nickel nanoparticles. Due to the advantageous properties of the designed carbon support, the composite combines a high surface area and a hierarchical pore structure with high functionality. Furthermore, the regularly shaped nanocubes allow for a good packing of a fixed-bed flow reactor, while the internal transport pores cannot be blocked and stay open for efficient column performance. The composite is employed as catalyst in the hydrogenation of 5 hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) to 2,5-dimethylfuran showing good catalytic performance and overcoming the conventional problem of column blocking.

Waste lignocellulosic biomass is sustainable and an alternative feedstock to fossil resources. Among the lignocellulosic derived compounds, 2,5-dimethylfuran (DMF) is a promising building block for chemicals, e.g., p-xylene, and a valuable biofuel. DMF can be obtained from 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) via catalytic deoxygenation using non-noble metals such as Ni in the presence of H2. Herein, we present the synthesis of DMF from HMF using 35 wt.% Ni on nitrogen-doped carbon pellets (35Ni/NDC) as a catalyst in a continuous flow system. The conversion of HMF to DMF was studied at different hydrogen pressures, reaction temperatures, and space times. At the best reaction conditions, i.e., 423 K, 8.0 MPa, and space time 6.4 kgNi h kgHMF&minus, 1, the 35Ni/NDC catalyst exhibited high catalytic activity with HMF conversion of 99 mol% and 80 mol% of DMF. These findings can potentially contribute to the transition toward the production of sustainable fine chemicals and liquid transportation fuels.

A non-ionic surfactant system is synthesized by standard grafting of poly(ethylene oxide) from renewable lignin fragments and used for the emulsion polymerization of styrene. The lignin precursors are formed by hydrogenolysis and utilized as initiator for the oxyanionic polymerization of ethylene oxide leading to amphiphilic polymers, very similar to standard nonionic surfactant synthesis. Subsequently, the formed amphiphilic polymers are employed as stabilizers in the heterophase polymerization of styrene with various initiators. Poly (styrene) latexes with solids contents of up to 21% depending on stabilizer concentration have been obtained. Stabilizer efficiencies and performances were nicely comparable with those of nonylphenol-based, non-ionic industrial performance surfactants.

Extremely compressible hydrogels are fabricated in one pot via sulfonic-acid-modified graphitic carbon nitride (g-CN-AHPA) as a visible light photoinitiator and reinforcer. The hydrogels show unusual compressibility upon applied stress up to 12 MPa, presenting temporary physical deformation, and remain undamaged after stress removal despite their high water content (90 wt%). Cyclic compressibility proves the fatigue resistance of the covalently and electrostatically reinforced system that possesses tissue adhesive properties, shock resistance, cut resistance, and little to no toxicity.

Lignin is one of the most important candidates for the procurement of renewable aromatics. The development of successful strategies for the production of building blocks from lignin implies the design of effective depolymerization protocols. Here we propose a continuous flow approach for the hydrogenolysis of Kraft lignin utilizing a TiN-Ni heterogeneous catalyst. The refining of commercial Kraft lignin was evaluated, showing that the catalyst can facilitate the partial depolymerization of this sulfur-containing material under very mild conditions and with short residence times. The process restitutes lignin in the form of oligomers in combination with an array of valuable single-ring aromatic compounds.

High concentration formulations of graphitic carbon nitride (g-CN) are utilized as photoinitiator and reinforcer for hydrogels. In order to integrate significant amounts of g-CN, ethylene glycol (EG) is employed as a co-solvent for the gel formation, which enables stable dispersion of up to 4 wt% g-CN. Afterwards, EG can be removed easily via solvent exchange to afford pure hydrogels. The diverse gels possess remarkably high storage moduli (up to 650 kPa for gels and 720 kPa for hydrogels) and compression moduli (up to 9.45 MPa for 4 wt% g-CN EG gel and 3.45 MPa for 4 wt% g-CN hydrogel). Full recovery without energy loss is observed for at least 20 cycles. Moreover, gel formation can be performed in a spatially controlled way utilizing photomasks with desired shapes. Therefore, the suggested method enables formation of hybrid gels by optical lithography with outstanding mechanical properties very similar to natural cartilage and tendon, and opens up opportunities for future applications in photocatalysis, additive manufacturing of biomedical implants and coating materials.

In the quest for biocompatible nanocarriers for biomedical applications, a great deal of effort is put on engineering the nanocomposites surface in order to render them specific to the particular purpose. We developed biocompatible PLGA-b-PEG-based nanoparticles carrying a double functionality (i.e., carboxylic and acetylenic) able to serve as flexible highly selective grafting centers for cancer diagnosis and treatment. As a proof of concept, the nanocarrier was successfully functionalized with a tailored fluorescent molecule by means of click chemistry and with a targeting agent specific for glioblastoma multiforme via amidic bond formation.