Jiali Yu

Zirconia is a material that mimics human teeth and has been extensively studied and applied. This study investigated the surface modifications of dental zirconia induced by two UV-C wavelengths (222 and 254 nm). A total of 72 zirconia specimens were prepared and divided into groups for irradiation at varying distances (1, 6, 12 cm) and durations (40, 120, 480 and 1440 min), with three specimens retained as untreated controls. Surface changes were assessed by measuring colour difference (ΔE) and water contact angle, and by analyzing surface morphology and elemental composition using SEM and EDX, and XRD was employed to determine the crystalline structure. The results showed that both wavelengths induced clinically perceptible colour changes (ΔE > 2.0), with the most pronounced effect at 6 cm for 222 nm and 1 cm for 254 nm. WCA decreased significantly with irradiation time, showing a linear correlation with log(time), and 222 nm irradiation yielded lower WCA than 254 nm. While SEM revealed no morphological changes, both UV treatments significantly increased the Zr/O ratio compared to the control. XRD tests confirmed that UV-C irradiation does not damage the zirconium oxide crystal structure. It is concluded that both UV-C wavelengths can alter the colour and enhance the wettability of zirconia; these modifications are particularly relevant for dental restorative applications, specifically in the fabrication of anterior tooth crowns, where achieving a natural tooth-like appearance is desired.

The remediation of complex industrial wastewater—characterized by the coexistence of emulsified oils, soluble organic micropollutants, and pathogenic bacteria—necessitates a paradigm shift from passive filtration to active, multifunctional interface engineering. To address this, a novel biomimetic “flower-on-fiber” Janus nanofibrous membrane was engineered via a sequential electrospinning and spray-deposition strategy. The membrane features a rationally designed asymmetric architecture, integrating a hydrophobic Z-scheme photocatalytic top-layer (BiOBr/ZnO/TiO2@PVDF) with a hydrophilic substrate (PAN@PEG). Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations theoretically corroborated that water cohesive energy dominates over interfacial adhesion on the BiOBr lattice, confirming the thermodynamic basis for the robust “liquid diode” effect. Consequently, the membrane achieved high-efficiency separation (>99%) of surfactant-stabilized water-in-oil emulsions with a superior flux of 2120 L m−2 h−1. Beyond physical separation, the constructed direct Z-scheme heterojunction significantly broadened visible-light absorption and suppressed charge recombination. This endowed the membrane with exceptional “active” defense capabilities: a 97.4% degradation efficiency for tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH) and a 99.99% antibacterial rate against E. coli via a synergistic “physical puncture-photocatalytic oxidation” dual-mode mechanism. This work establishes a versatile “all-in-one” paradigm for designing next-generation smart membranes that couple structural biomimicry with bandgap engineering for holistic water purification.

The textile industry encounters serious environmental challenges from wastewater with persistent organic pollutants, demanding sustainable solutions for remediation. Herein, we report a novel green synthesis of flexible BiOBr@PZT nanocomposite membranes via electrospinning and successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) for visible-light-driven photocatalytic degradation. The hierarchical structure integrates leaf-like BiOBr nanosheets with PAN/ZnO/TiO₂ (PZT) nanofibers, forming a Z-scheme heterojunction. This enhances the separation of photogenerated carriers while preserving mechanical integrity. SILAR-enabled low temperature deposition ensures eco-friendly fabrication by avoiding toxic precursors and cutting energy use. Optimized BiOBr@PZT-5 shows exceptional photocatalytic performance, achieving 97.6% tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH) degradation under visible light in 120 min. It also has strong tensile strength (4.29 MPa) and cycling stability. Mechanistic studies show efficient generation of O₂⁻ and OH radicals through synergistic light absorption, charge transfer, and turbulence-enhanced mass diffusion. The material’s flexibility allows reusable turbulent flow applications, overcoming rigid catalyst limitations. Aligning with green chemistry and UN SDGs, this work advances multifunctional photocatalytic systems for scalable, energy-efficient wastewater treatment, offering a paradigm that integrates environmental remediation with industrial adaptability.

Textile‐based structurally colored materials have emerged as a captivating field of research and innovation, presenting unparalleled prospects to revolutionize the realm of textiles and their diverse applications. This review paper provides a comprehensive overview of the progress made in the manufacturing methods and applications of structurally colored textiles. Based on the principles of Bragg diffraction and its extended theorems, the mechanisms behind the generation of structural colors in textiles are explored, revealing the underlying principles that enable coloration. The versatile and effective strategies adopted for the fabrication of textile‐based structurally colored materials, such as gravity sedimentation, spray coating, vertical deposition, screen printing, shear‐induced assembly, additive manufacturing or three‐dimensional (3D) printing, dip coating, electrophoretic deposition, and electrospinning methods are discussed. The applications of textile‐based structurally colored materials are discussed, with a specific focus on anti‐counterfeiting measures, the biomedical field, and radiative cooling applications. This review aims to drive the progress of fabricating and functionalizing textile‐based structurally colored materials, with the ultimate goal of expanding their applications in diverse fields.

This study investigates the feasibility of using biodegradable secondary alcohol ethoxylate (SAE) non-ionic surfactant as a building block for the formation of reverse micelles, functioning as reactive dye carriers for the dyeing of cotton fabric in non-aqueous octane medium. Ten dyeing parameters were optimised, by a one-factor-at-a-time approach, namely: (i) effect of colour fixation agent; (ii) surfactant-to-water mole ratio; (iii) surfactant-to-co-surfactant mole ratio; (iv) volume of soda ash; (v) volume of dye; (vi) solvent-to-cotton ratio; (vii) dyeing temperature; (viii) dyeing time; (ix) fixation time; (x) soda-ash-to-cotton ratio. The colour properties, fastness properties and physical properties of SAE-dyed samples were experimentally compared with the conventional water-dyed samples. The optimised condition was found when SAE samples were dyed as follows: (a) 1:20 surfactant-to-water ratio; (b) 1:8 surfactant-to-co-surfactant ratio; (c) 10:1 solvent ratio; (d) 40 min dyeing time; (e) 60 min fixation time; and (f) 70 °C dyeing and fixation temperature. The results showed that SAE-dyed samples have better colour strength, lower reflectance percentage and comparable levelness, fastness and physical properties than that of water-dyed samples. SEM images revealed that the dyed cotton fibres had no severe surface damage caused by an SAE-based reverse micellar dyeing system. The TEM image depicts that the reverse micelle was of nanoscale, spherical-shaped and had a core–shell structure, validating the presence of reverse micelle as a reactive dye carrier and the potential of an SAE-based reverse micellar system for dyeing of cotton fabrics.