Jiansheng Guo

Disposable diapers are an essential component of infant and incontinent individual care, providing superior urine absorption. However, achieving a key goal for high-performance diapers is rapid urine penetration concurrent with surface self-drying. This assertion is substantiated by the prevalence of diaper dermatitis, which afflicts 29% of affected individuals. In this study, we designed rapid urine-penetrating, self-drying materials (RIPPING materials) by the synergy between the meshed pore hydrophobic top layer and superabsorbent middle layer. It is noteworthy that the meshed pores of the hydrophobic top layer facilitated expeditious urine absorption by the subjacent superabsorbent middle layer (0 g urine run-off). Furthermore, the urine would be retained on the surface of the diaper by the mesh, due to the material’s inherent hydrophobic properties. Following the systematic optimization of the structure of RIPPING materials, superior self-drying diapers with a wetness of 0.06 ± 0.01 g were achieved after urine absorption by preventing the direct contact between the skin and superabsorbent materials. The breathability of disposable diapers is attributed to the use of breathable materials, while its high-performance back layer exhibits efficacy in resisting hydrostatic pressure. Consequently, the present study proposes a high-performance RIPPING diaper that simultaneously achieves outstanding breathability without compromising leak resistance.

Rapid unidirectional liquid transport and persistent surface dryness are critical for advanced sanitary products. Traditional sanitary products utilizing hydrophilic nonwovens often suffer from moisture retention. Herein, we report a novel three‐tier composite architecture diaper comprising a 3D‐printed hydrophobic mesh surface (HMS), a superabsorbent core, and a breathable hydrophobic back layer. The 3D‐printed HMS utilizes a tailored pore hierarchy to facilitate immediate fluid penetration via gravitational and capillary forces and prohibit the backflow with its intrinsic hydrophobic barriers. Furthermore, compared with conventional diapers, the HMS diaper showed a 200‐fold enhancement in breathability and a 50‐fold improvement in surface dryness. By effectively reducing skin‐interface liquid retention and increasing vapor permeability, the HMS diaper established an advanced solution for next‐generation, high‐efficiency fluid‐managing textiles.

A facile and efficient method for preparing a protective layer on the Zn anode is highly desirable in rechargeable aqueous zinc metal batteries. This coating layer should meet the requirements for suppressing dendritic Zn proliferation and inhibiting parasitic side reactions. We engineer an artificial SEI composed of a metal ion-tannic acid (TA) complex on the Zn anode. The synergistic effect of TA and metal ions enables a dual confinement mechanism with abundant zincophilic sites, thereby enhancing the ability to capture Zn ions and facilitating rapid ion transfer. This complex layer can suppress the hydrogen evolution reaction and have anticorrosion properties. Theoretical calculations demonstrate that the protective coating exhibits a high affinity for Zn2+, significantly reducing the nucleation barrier. Furthermore, it regulates Zn²⁺ flux to enhance uniform Zn deposition and restrain dendritic growth. As a result, Zn symmetric cells using the metal ion-TA complex coating exhibit exceptional stability and a lifespan of 2300 h at 1 mA cm^-2/1 mAh cm^-2, significantly exceeding that of pristine Zn. Furthermore, coupled with a vanadium-based cathode, the cell retains ∼100% of its initial specific capacity (176.75 mAh g^-1) at 5 A g^-1 through 2500 cycles without observable degradation. This work proposes a promising method for protecting Zn metal anodes with a large-scale implementation potential.

Environmental concerns and the over‐exploitation of natural resources have driven the search for eco‐friendly materials. Agro/industrial waste, often discarded, can be repurposed as fillers in biocomposites. However, bio‐fibers present challenges such as poor compatibility, high moisture absorption, and variable mechanical properties. This study examines various fiber surface modification techniques, including NaOH, silane, alkali‐silane, and pectinase enzyme treatments on enset fiber (EF) to produce sustainable reinforced poly(lactic acid) (PLA) composites. Untreated EF/PLA composites were fabricated for comparison. Results showed that the applied EF surface treatments, especially using pectinase enzyme, significantly enhanced mechanical, thermal, and thermomechanical properties. Pectinase‐treated EF/PLA composites displayed increased tensile strength by 55.99%, elongation at the break by 39.49%, tensile modulus by 32.59%, impact strength by 51.50%, flexural strength by 51.85%, flexural modulus by 60.90%, and improved thermal stability as compared to untreated composite. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses verified better fiber‐matrix interaction with clarity due to reduced non‐cellulosic components. Pectinase enzyme treatment emerged as the most effective, eco‐friendly method, enhancing the enset fiber's potential in polymer biocomposites, suitable for automotive interiors and packaging industries, reducing synthetic plastic pollution, and utilizing agricultural waste. Highlights: Enset fibers were modified by NaOH, silane, NaOH/silane, and pectinase enzyme The modified enset/PLA composites were prepared by compression molding Surface treatments enhanced the enset‐PLA matrix interaction Pectinase‐modified enset/PLA composite showed superior properties Improved properties of enset composites make it ideal for various applications

Hot compression molding was used to produce biocomposites from ramie plain‐woven fabric‐reinforced polylactic acid (PLA). Prior to composite fabrication, alkali and dipodal silane (bis(3‐trimethoxysilylpropyl) amine) (BAS) were applied to improve fiber‐matrix adhesion. Mechanical tests revealed improvements in tensile and flexural strength due to interfacial adhesion. The flexural strength of ramie PLA composite samples treated only with silane (SR‐PLA) was the highest, at 136.35 MPa. Young's modulus was 7.51 GPa. BAS treatment was crucial for ensuring strong adhesion between the fabric and the PLA matrix. In combined alkali‐BAS‐treated composites (ASR‐PLA), the glass transition and crystallization temperatures disappeared completely, affecting PLA morphology. The maximum heat of absorption (373°C) was found in SR‐PLA composites, suggesting electrostatic interactions created a three‐dimensional network. In conclusion, the initial incorporation of dipodal silane resulted in the formation of six silanol linkages with ramie fabric, leading to enhancements in the mechanical and thermal characteristics of ramie–PLA composites.Highlights: Alkali and BAS treated Fabrics ironed to remove treatment‐induced wrinkles. Carded PLA fiber with consistent density and weighted in four equal portions. Fabric and PLA lay alternatively in warp direction before compression molding. SR‐PLA composites exhibited improved thermal and mechanical properties.

With the variety of fibers and fabrics, the studies of the surface structure of the textile yarns, the weave fabric, and their surface wettability are still potential factors to improve and optimize the fog harvesting efficiency. In this work, inspired by the fog harvesting behavior of the desert beetle dorsal surface, a wavy–bumpy structure of post-weave yarn (obtained from woven fabric) was reported to improve large droplet growth (converge) efficiency. In which, this study used tetrabutyl titanate (Ti(OC₄H₉)₄) to waterproof, increase hydrophobicity, and stabilize the surface of yarns and fabric (inspired by the feather structure and lotus leaf surface). Moreover, PDMS oil was used (lubricated) to increase hydrophobicity and droplet shedding on the yarns (inspired by the slippery surface of the pitcher plant) and at the same time, enhance the fog harvesting efficiency of the warp yarn woven fabric (Warp@fabric). In addition, a three-dimensional adjacent yarn structure was arranged by two non-parallel fabric layers. The yarns of the inner and outer layers were intersected at an angle decreasing to zero (mimicking the water transport behavior of Shorebird’s beaks). This method helped large droplets quickly form and shed down easily. More than expected, the changes in fabric texture and fiber surface yielded an excellent result. The OBLWB-Warp@fabric’s water harvesting rate was about 700% higher than that of the original plain weave fabric (Original@fabric). OBLWB-Warp@fabric’s water harvesting rate was about 160% higher than that of Original–Warp@fabric. This shows the great practical application potential of woven fabrics with a low cost and large scale, or you can make use of textile wastes to collect fog, suitable for the current circular economy model. This study hopes to further enrich the materials used for fog harvesting.