Silicon monoxide (SiO) is highly attractive as an anode material for high-energy lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) due to its significantly higher specific capacity. However, its practical application is hindered by substantial volume expansion during cycling, which leads to material pulverization and an unstable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer. Inspired by the natural root fixation in soil, we designed a root-like topological structure binder, cassava starch-citric acid (CS-CA), based on the synergistic action of covalent and hydrogen bonds. The abundant -OH and -COOH groups in CS-CA molecules effectively form hydrogen bonds with the -OH groups on the SiO surface, significantly enhancing the interfacial interaction between CS-CA and SiO. The root-like topological structure of CS-CA with a high tolerance alleviates the mechanical stress generated by the volume changes of SiO. More encouragingly, the hydrogen bond action among CS-CA molecules produces a self-healing effect, which is advantageous for repairing damaged electrodes and preserving their structural integrity. As such, the CS-CA/SiO electrode exhibits exceptional cycling performance (963.1 mA h g-1 after 400 cycles at 2 A g-1 ) and rate capability (558.9 mA h g-1 at 5 A g-1 ). This innovative, topologically interconnected, root-inspired binder will greatly advance the practical application of long-lasting micron-sized SiO anodes. (c) 2025 Science Press and Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Published by Elsevier B.V. and Science Press. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.

There is currently a growing interest in biopolymers, such as bacterial cellulose and thermoplastic starch, which are renewable and abundantly available in nature. This study investigated the multilayer sandwich composite with thermoplastic starch and bacterial cellulose, using water (TPS/BC-w) and glycerol (TPS/BC-g) as coupling agents. The composites produced by compression molding resulted in a homogeneous, transparent and flexible structure. TPS/BC-w showed superior mechanical property and better adhesion compared to TPS/BC-g. Therefore, the permeability, biodegradation, hydrothermal aging and stability analyses were conducted only for TPS/ BC-w. The water vapor permeability of TPS/BC-w is 6.7 times lower than that of thermoplastic starch, indicating better barrier performance. Thermoplastic starch and bacterial cellulose degraded in about 9 days, and TPS/BCw degraded in 60 days. Biodegradation analysis by COQ release confirmed the complete biodegradation process, with COQ emissions of 57 %, 42.5 % and 39.6 % after 120 days for thermoplastic starch, bacterial cellulose and TPS/BC-w, respectively. TPS/BC-w remained intact for more than a year, in an environment without direct contact with soil or water. These results indicate that TPS/BC-w composed of natural macromolecules may exhibit functional properties and is useful for applications such as short-shelf-life packaging, particularly for dry products, due to its barrier properties and controlled biodegradability.

BackgroundUrea-based fertilizers are essential for agricultural productivity but contribute to environmental degradation by releasing soil nitrogen (N) through N leaching and runoff. To address these issues, this study develops and characterizes slow-release composites of thermoplastic starch (TPS) and epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) that incorporate 46-0-0 fertilizer. TPS, recognized for its moisture sensitivity and biodegradability, was blended with ENR to enhance matrix compatibility and optimize nutrient release from the fertilizer. The blending process included different fertilizer concentrations (6.9, 10, 15, and 20 wt%) within various components of the composite.ResultsThe characterization included evaluation of mechanical properties, water absorbance, biodegradability in soil, ammonium release, and ammonium leaching. The TPS/ENR composites exhibited a two-stage decomposition, with TPS dissolving first to provide an initial nutrient boost, followed by the biodegradation of ENR to ensure sustained nutrient delivery. Ammonium release assays demonstrated that TPS/ENR composites delayed nutrient dissolution compared to conventional fertilizers, significantly reducing nitrogen loss through leaching. Notably, the TPS/ENR composite with 6.9 wt% of 46-0-0 fertilizer exhibited the highest efficiency, achieving sustained ammonium release and enhancing soil nitrogen retention while mitigating phytotoxicity in lettuce and maize germination assays.ConclusionsThese findings highlight the potential and environmental benefits of delivering fertilizer in TPS/ENR composites to improve nitrogen fertilizer efficiency in agricultural systems. The slow-release mechanism provides both initial and sustained nutrient supply, addressing the dual challenges of early crop nutritional needs and long-term environmental sustainability.

This research investigated the production of biodegradable plastic films made from a blend of carrageenan and corn starch biopolymers. The procedure included producing bioplastic resin pellets using a single screw extrusion at a 110 degrees C temperature, followed by hot compression at a temperature of 160 degrees C to form a biodegradable plastic film. The project aimed to develop a continuous biodegradable plastic production method, particularly made from carrageenan, which is more adaptable for commercial-scale production. The carrageenan/corn starch films were prepared with various compositions, ranging from formulations dominated by carrageenan (56:14% w/w) to those dominated by corn starch (14:56% w/w), with the addition of a constant amount of glycerol (30% w/w) as a plasticizer. After the films were obtained, each of the samples was evaluated for their physico-mechanical properties, chemical structure, water sensitivity, and soil biodegradability. In general, an increase in corn starch content within the film matrix led to an enhancement of the overall properties of the resulting film. The film with the highest corn starch content exhibited tensile strength and elongation at break values that were 49% and 163% higher, respectively, compared to the film with the lowest corn starch content. Additionally, these samples demonstrated improved thermal stability, with a 12% increase in the thermal decomposition temperature, and enhanced barrier properties, as evidenced by a 6% reduction in water vapor permeability and a 72% decrease in water uptake. This is mainly due to the inherent molecular structure of corn starch, particularly due to its long straight-glucose chains. On the other hand, carrageenan increased the biodegradability rate of the films. These findings demonstrate the potential of carrageenan/corn starch blends as promising candidates for future packaging materials.

Recently, there has been an increasing interest in biodegradable films for extending food's shelf life. This study developed pectin-potato starch-based films incorporating varying pyrogallol concentrations and evaluated shelf life their physical, antioxidant, mechanical, optical, antibacterial, structural, biodegradation, and shelf-life properties. Among the tested films (F1, pectin; F2, pectin + potato starch; F3, pectin + potato starch + 0.5%pyrogallol; and F4, pectin + potato starch + 1%pyrogallol), F4 exhibited superior antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (42 mm), Klebsiella pneumoniae (20.5 mm), and Escherichia coli (25.5 mm), antioxidant activity (AA) (95% (diphenylpicrylhydrazyl), 76% (metal chelating activity), and 87% (hydroxyl radical scavenging assay)), mechanical, and soil biodegradation. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy confirmed biocompatibility, whereas differential scanning calorimetry studies showed thermal stability. Shelf-life studies on tomatoes at 30 degrees C demonstrated that F4 film coating extended shelf life to 21 days by reducing weight loss (14.5%), total phenolic content (25 mg/100 g), AA (53.5%), firmness (46 N), and titratable acidity (0.38%) while maintaining the total soluble solids, pH, lycopene content, color, and microbial inhibition. This study introduces a novel active biodegradable film with enhanced antimicrobial, mechanical, and antioxidant properties for sustainable food packaging applications.

Conventional biochar-based fertilizers, which typically consist of a mixture of biochar, chemical fertilizers, and additives, offer benefits but often exhibit rapid nutrient release, limiting their long-term effectiveness. Herein, we explored the enhancement of slow-release performance in biochar-based compound fertilizers by incorporating a kaolinite-infused polyvinyl alcohol/starch (K-PVA/ST) coating, resulting in a new formulation denoted as KPVA/ST-BCF. The results demonstrated that, compared to traditional NPK fertilizers, nitrogen leaching from KPVA/ST-BCF in soil column leaching tests was reduced to 19.1 % over 29 days, while phosphorus and potassium leaching were reduced to 48.5 % and 72.3 %, respectively. Mechanistic investigations revealed that the inclusion of kaolinite in the PVA/ST matrix reduces swelling, improves water retention, and enhances mechanical properties, leading to a more gradual and sustained release of nutrients. Field trials on reclaimed land showed that KPVA/ST-BCF increased wheat yield by up to 100 % compared to conventional NPK treatment. It also enhanced soil nitrogen content and organic matter, with organic matter reaching 22.7 g/kg at grain maturity. The economic assessment indicated that despite higher initial production costs compared to conventional NPK fertilizers, K-PVA/ST-BCF offers higher nutrient use efficiency, reduced management costs, and a net profit increase of $1525.86 per hectare.

The increasing issue of plastic waste necessitates improved solutions, and biodegradable food packaging is a promising alternative to traditional plastic. In this study, we prepared packaging films using cassava starch (CV), chitosan (CT) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), with glycerol as a plasticizer. However, these films require modifications to enhance their mechanical properties. Therefore, we modified the films by adding vanillin as the crosslinking agent and gingerol extract stabilized silver nanoparticles. The films were fabricated using the filmcasting method and characterized by FTIR, XRD, SEM, TGA, mechanical property test, biodegradability test, antibacterial test and food packaging evaluation test. Among these films, CT/CV/V/CMC/Gin-AgNPs1 exhibited superior mechanical properties and demonstrated excellent anti-bacterial property both for gram-positive (S. aureus) and gram-negative (E. coli) bacteria and biodegradability, losing over 50% of its weight after 21 days of burial in soil and effectively preserved grapes at 4 degrees C for 21 days.

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cultivation faces significant challenges: highland cultivation leads to soil erosion and fertility degradation, while medium-land cultivation is constrained by suboptimal temperature and humidity conditions. Processing potatoes into starch improves shelf life and economic value, however, native potato starch has limited food applications due to heat sensitivity, high viscosity, and its propensity for retrogradation and syneresis. This study investigated the effects of cultivation altitude and modification methods on the physicochemical and functional properties of potato starch from 'Medians' cultivar, comparing samples from medium-land (765 m above sea level) and highland (1312 m above sea level) locations. Starch modifications included Heat Moisture Treatment (HMT), crosslinking with Monosodium Phosphate (MSP), and a combined treatment (CLM-HMT). A factorial randomized complete block design was employed to analyze physicochemical characteristics, functional properties, and pasting behavior, with statistical significance determined using two-way ANOVA and Duncan's Multiple Range Test (p < 0.05). Results revealed significant effects of cultivation altitude, modification method, and their interaction on starch properties. Highland-grown modified starch exhibited superior characteristics in color properties and thermal stability. Modification methods improved starch thermal stability and minimized retrogradation, with the combined CLM-HMT treatment yielding optimal results. This study provides valuable insights into optimizing potato starch production and modification techniques, contributing to sustainable agriculture and broadening its applications in the food industry.

Insufficient hydrophobicity and mechanical properties pose significant challenges in the development of starchbased degradable films. This study prepared modified (crosslinked, acetylated, and crosslinked & acetylated) cassava starch films, and different concentrations of strengthening agents (polyvinyl alcohol, sodium alginate, gelatin, and hyaluronic acid) were added to produce modified starch composite films. The physical properties, structure characteristics, and degradability of these films were systematically evaluated. The dual-modified (crosslinked & acetylated) starch film exhibited superior hydrophobic properties (contact angle = 90.04 degrees), and the addition of strengthening agents significantly enhanced the tensile strength of the composite films (p < 0.05). Fourier transform infrared spectra confirmed that the strengthening agents interacted with starch through hydrogen bonding. Additionally, the hyaluronic acid-starch composite film exhibited the most rapid degradation in soil (53 % weight loss after 30 days of storage) and achieved the highest comprehensive score for physical properties. This film combined exceptional hydrophobicity and mechanical properties, making it an ideal candidate for food packaging applications. These findings suggest that the hyaluronic acid-starch composite film has broad potential applications in the field of degradable food packaging films.

Melt-processed starch-based film formulations with market-competitive qualities and scalability for commercialization are developed in this study, unlike solvent casting, which has major technical and operational restrictions. First, a computational approach was utilized to understand the plasticization effect at molecular level and the same was validated with the experimental approach. The experimental process involved varying of glycerine content in the formulations (15-25 wt%) along with melt processing temperature (80 degrees C-140 degrees C), to deliver superior properties without the use of secondary fillers and additives. In comparison to other compositions, the starch-based system with 15 % glycerine and a processing temperature of 140 degrees C demonstrated the best properties in terms of mechanical (tensile strength: 20.5 MPa) and wettability (contact angle similar to 93.8 degrees). The thermal stability of films declined as the glycerine level was increased. It is noteworthy that the films underwent similar to 94 % weight loss within 30 days in soil compost admixture under ambient conditions. This study would facilitate future development of starch-based low-cost, high-value packaging products.