Heterogeneous photocatalysis emerges as an exceptionally appealing technological avenue for the direct capture, conversion, and storage of renewable solar energy, facilitating the generation of sustainable and ecologically benign solar fuels and a spectrum of other pertinent applications. Heterogeneous nanocomposites, incorporating Covalent Triazine Frameworks (CTFs), exhibit a wide-ranging spectrum of light absorption, well-suited electronic band structures, rapid charge carrier mobility, ample resource availability, commendable chemical robustness, and straightforward synthetic routes. These attributes collectively position them as highly promising photocatalysts with applicability in diverse fields, including but not limited to the production of photocatalytic solar fuels and the decomposition of environmental contaminants. As the field of photocatalysis through the hybridization of CTFs undergoes rapid expansion, there is a pressing and substantive need for a systematic retrospective analysis and forward-looking evaluation to elucidate pathways for enhancing performance. This comprehensive review commences by directing attention to diverse synthetic methodologies for the creation of composite materials. And then it delves into a thorough exploration of strategies geared towards augmenting performance, encompassing the introduction of electron donor-acceptor (D-A) units, heteroatom doping, defect Engineering, architecture of Heterojunction and optimization of morphology. Following this, it systematically elucidates applications primarily centered around the efficient generation of photocatalytic hydrogen, reduction of carbon dioxide through photocatalysis, and the degradation of organic pollutants. Ultimately, the discourse turns towards unresolved challenges and the prospects for further advancement, offering valuable guidance for the potent harnessing of CTFs in high-efficiency photocatalytic processes.

Oil-contaminated soil posed serious threats to the ecosystems and human health. The unique and tunable properties of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) enable new technologies for removing and repairing oil-contaminated soil. However, few studies systematically examined the linkage between the change of physicochemical properties and the removal efficiency and environmental functions (e.g., potential risk) of ENMs, which is vital for understanding the ENMs environmental sustainability and utilization as a safety product. Thus, this review briefly summarized the environmental applications of ENMs to removing petroleum oil from complex soil systems: Theoretical and practical fundamentals (e.g., excellent physicochemical properties, environmental stability, controlled release, and recycling technologies), and various ENMs (e.g., iron-based, carbon-based, and metal oxides nanomaterials) remediation case studies. Afterward, this review highlights the removing mechanism (e.g., adsorption, photocatalysis, oxidation/reduction, biodegradation) and the impact factor (e.g., nanomaterials species, natural organic matter, and soil matrix) of ENMs during the remediation process in soil ecosystems. Both positive and negative effects of ENMs on terrestrial organisms have been identified, which are mainly derived from their diverse physicochemical properties. In linking nanotechnology applications for repairing oil-contaminated soil back to the physical and chemical properties of ENMs, this critical review aims to raise the research attention on using ENMs as a fundamental guide or even tool to advance soil treatment technologies.

Carbon-based nanozymes are synthetic nanomaterials that are predominantly constituted of carbon-based materials, which mimic the catalytic properties of natural enzymes, boasting features such as tunable catalytic activity, robust regenerative capacity, and exceptional stability. Due to the impressive enzymatic performance similar to various enzymes such as peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and oxidase, they are widely used for detecting and degrading pollutants in the environment. This paper presents an exhaustive review of the fundamental design principles, catalytic mechanisms, and prospective applications of carbon-based nanozymes in the environmental field. These studies not only serve to augment the comprehension on the intricate operational mechanism inherent in these synthetic nanostructures, but also provide essential guidelines and illuminating perspectives for advancing their development and practical applications. Future studies that are imperative to delve into the untapped potential of carbon-based nanozymes within the environmental domain was needed to be explored to fully harness their ability to deliver broader and more impactful environmental preservation and management outcomes.

Siderophores are a class of small molecules renowned for their high iron binding capacity, essential for all life forms requiring iron. This article provides a detailed review of the diverse classifications, and biosynthetic pathways of siderophores, with a particular emphasis on siderophores synthesized via nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) and non-NRPS pathways. We further explore the secretion mechanisms of siderophores in microbes and plants, and their role in regulating bioavailable iron levels. Beyond biological functions, the applications of siderophores in medicine, agriculture, and environmental sciences are extensively discussed. These applications include biological pest control, disease treatment, ecological pollution remediation, and heavy metal ion removal. Through a comprehensive analysis of the chemical properties and biological activities of siderophores, this paper demonstrates their wide prospects in scientific research and practical applications, while also highlighting current research gaps and potential future directions.

Due to its designable nanostructure and simple and inexpensive preparation process, electrospun nanofibers have important applications in energy collection, wearable sports health detection, environmental pollutant detection, pollutant filtration and degradation, and other fields. In recent years, a series of polymer-based fiber materials have been prepared using this method, and detailed research and discussion have been conducted on the material structure and performance factors. This article summarizes the effects of preparation parameters, environmental factors, a combination of other methods, and surface modification of electrospinning on the properties of composite nanofibers. Meanwhile, the effects of different collection devices and electrospinning preparation parameters on material properties were compared. Subsequently, it summarized the material structure design and specific applications in wearable device power supply, energy collection, environmental pollutant sensing, air quality detection, air pollution particle filtration, and environmental pollutant degradation. We aim to review the latest developments in electrospinning applications to inspire new energy collection, detection, and pollutant treatment equipment, and achieve the commercial promotion of polymer fibers in the fields of energy and environment. Finally, we have identified some unresolved issues in the detection and treatment of environmental issues with electrospun polymer fibers and proposed some suggestions and new ideas for these issues.

Semiconductor photocatalysis has great potential in the fields of solar fuel production and environmental remediation. Nevertheless, the photocatalytic efficiency still constrains its practical production applications. The development of new semiconductor materials is essential to enhance the solar energy conversion efficiency of photocatalytic systems. Recently, the research on enhancing the photocatalytic performance of semiconductors by introducing bismuth (Bi) has attracted widespread attention. In this review, we briefly overview the main synthesis methods of Bi/semiconductor photocatalysts and summarize the control of the micromorphology of Bi in Bi/semiconductors and the key role of Bi in the catalytic system. In addition, the promising applications of Bi/semiconductors in photocatalysis, such as pollutant degradation, sterilization, water separation, CO2 reduction, and N2 fixation, are outlined. Finally, an outlook on the challenges and future research directions of Bi/semiconductor photocatalysts is given. We aim to offer guidance for the rational design and synthesis of high-efficiency Bi/semiconductor photocatalysts for energy and environmental applications.

Biomass-derived carbonaceous materials with graphene/graphene-like structures (BGS) have attracted tremendous attention in the field of environmental remediation. The introduction of graphene/graphene-like structures into raw biochars can effectively improve their properties, such as electrical conductivity, surface functional groups, and catalytic activity. In 2021, the International Organization for Standardization defined graphene as a \"single layer of carbon atoms with each atom bound to three neighbours in a honeycomb structure\". Considering this definition, several studies have incorrectly referred to BGS (e.g., biomass-derived few-layer graphene or porous graphene-like nanosheets) as \"graphene\". The definitions and classifications of BGS and their applications in environmental remediation have not been assessed critically thus far. Comprehensive analysis and sufficient and robust evidence are highly desired to accurately determine the specific structures of BGS. In this perspective, we provide a systematic framework to define and classify the BGS. The state-of-the-art methods currently used to determine the structural properties of BGS are scrutinized. We then discuss the design and fabrication of BGS and how their distinctive features could improve the applicability of biomass-derived carbonaceous materials, particularly in environmental remediation. The environmental applications of these BGS are highlighted, and future research opportunities and needs are identified. The fundamental insights in this perspective provide critical guidance for the further development of BGS for a wide range of environmental applications.

Nanozymes, next-generation enzyme-mimicking nanomaterials, have entered an era of rational design; among them, Co-based nanozymes have emerged as captivating players over times. Co-based nanozymes have been developed and have garnered significant attention over the past five years. Their extraordinary properties, including regulatable enzymatic activity, stability, and multifunctionality stemming from magnetic properties, photothermal conversion effects, cavitation effects, and relaxation efficiency, have made Co-based nanozymes a rising star. This review presents the first comprehensive profiling of the Co-based nanozymes in the chemistry, biology, and environmental sciences. The review begins by scrutinizing the various synthetic methods employed for Co-based nanozyme fabrication, such as template and sol-gel methods, highlighting their distinctive merits from a chemical standpoint. Furthermore, a detailed exploration of their wide-ranging applications in biosensing and biomedical therapeutics, as well as their contributions to environmental monitoring and remediation is provided. Notably, drawing inspiration from state-of-the-art techniques such as omics, a comprehensive analysis of Co-based nanozymes is undertaken, employing analogous statistical methodologies to provide valuable guidance. To conclude, a comprehensive outlook on the challenges and prospects for Co-based nanozymes is presented, spanning from microscopic physicochemical mechanisms to macroscopic clinical translational applications.

Photocatalytic production of H2 O2 has drawn significant attention in recent years, but the yield rate of current photocatalytic systems is still unsatisfactory. Moreover, the presence of various components in actual water bodies will consume the photogenerated charges and deactivate the catalyst, severely limiting the real applications of photocatalytic H2 O2 production. Herein, a cyano-modified polymer photocatalyst is synthesized by Knoevenagel condensation with subsequent thermal polymerization. The introduction of cyano group and sulfer (S), oxygen (O) elements modulates the microstructure and energy band of the polymer catalyst, and the cyano group sites can effectively adsorb and activate O2 , realizing the generation of H2 O2 in the two-step single-electron oxygen reduction process. The reported system achieves high H2 O2 generation rate up to 1119.2 µmol g-1 h-1 in various water bodies including tap water, river water, seawater, and secondary effluent. This simple and readily available catalyst demonstrates good anti-interference performance and pH adaptability in photocatalytic H2 O2 production in actual water bodies, and its photodegradation and sterilization applications are also demonstrated. This study offers new insights in developing polymer catalysts for efficient photocatalytic production of H2 O2 in various water bodies for practical application.

Geobacter species, exhibiting exceptional extracellular electron transfer aptitude, hold great potential for applications in pollution remediation, bioenergy production, and natural elemental cycles. Nonetheless, a scarcity of well-characterized genetic elements and gene expression tools constrains the effective and precise fine-tuning of gene expression in Geobacter species, thereby limiting their applications. Here, we examined a suite of genetic elements and developed a new genetic editing tool in Geobacter sulfurreducens to enhance their pollutant conversion capacity. First, the performances of the widely used inducible promoters, constitutive promoters, and ribosomal binding sites (RBSs) elements in G. sulfurreducens were quantitatively evaluated. Also, six native promoters with superior expression levels than constitutive promoters were identified on the genome of G. sulfurreducens. Employing the characterized genetic elements, the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats interference (CRISPRi) system was constructed in G. sulfurreducens to achieve the repression of an essential gene-aroK and morphogenic genes-ftsZ and mreB. Finally, applying the engineered strain to the reduction of tungsten trioxide (WO3 ), methyl orange (MO), and Cr(VI), We found that morphological elongation through ftsZ repression amplified the extracellular electron transfer proficiency of G. sulfurreducens and facilitated its contaminant transformation efficiency. These new systems provide rapid, versatile, and scalable tools poised to expedite advancements in Geobacter genomic engineering to favor environmental and other biotechnological applications.