Sichuan Normal University

In this study, konjac glucomannan (KGM) was acetylated, followed by the investigation of its corresponding structural and physicochemical properties. Spectroscopic analyses, including FTIR and NMR, confirmed the introduction of acetyl groups. Rheological measurements found a decrease in both viscosity and gel strength of the acetylated KGM (AKGM), attributing to weaker intermolecular interactions. The current study also revealed that the acetylation of KGM led to reduced gut microbiota fermentation kinetics, followed by a lower short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) generation, which may be due to the stearic hindrance raised from the introduction of acetyl groups onto its macromolecules. Interesting, although both two types of polysaccharides (before and after acetylation) improved gut microbiota profile in term of enriched probiotics profile, AKGM even generated a lower ratio of Firmicutes/Bacteroidota compared to that of KGM, which was negatively correlated with the degree of acetylation of KGM. Importantly, this was the first time to reveal that Prevotella_9 was selectively promoted in AKGM, followed by a greatly depressed growth of pathogens, such as Escherichia-Shigella compared to KGM. Nevertheless, this study demonstrated that the change in the molecular structure of the polysaccharides targets the promotion of specific bacteria, which may highlight their potent application for individual healthy intervention.

Photocatalytic fuel cell (PFC) provides a promising method for environmental remediation and energy recovery. However, how to efficiently generate, extract, and utilized charge carriers is a crucial concern for PFC. A CdS@ZnO/ITO photoanode was well-designed for sulfide (S^2-) oxidation reaction (SOR) and a nitrogen-doped graphite felt (GF-N) cathode was designed for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). The CdS@ZnO/ITO had a layered structure where ZnO nanosheets were inserted between CdS and ITO, forming a stepwise energy level alignment at the CdS/ZnO interface. At the junction of CdS and ZnO, a robust internal electric field modulated Type-II heterojunction with an interfacial O-Zn-S bond acted as a charge transfer bridge, promoting the extraction and quick transfer of photogenerated electrons. On the other hand, GF-N possesses a pore structure and abundant N-active sites, favoring the catalysis toward the two-electron route of ORR. Benefiting from the clever design of the electrodes, a PFC system through SOR coupled with ORR was used for the purification of S^2--rich wastewater. In the PFC, 89.0 % sulfur recovery, 10.8 mmol/L H₂O₂ yield, and 23.0 W/m² P_max were simultaneously achieved under simulated sunlight (light intensity: 100 mW/cm²) for 4 h at an initial S^2- concentration of 500 mg/L. Furthermore, the novel PFC system exhibits a good potential for the purifying of shale gas and leather wastewater.

The development of aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) is severely restricted by the instability of Zn metal anodes, primarily caused by unchecked Zn dendrite proliferation and parasitic reactions involving active water molecules. These issues are fundamentally associated with the solvation structure of Zn²⁺ ions and the interfacial characteristics between the electrode and electrolyte. Here, we introduce 1-(2-chloroethyl)piperidine hydrochloride (CPH) as a multifunctional electrolyte additive and proposed a novel dual-regulation strategy. Comprehensive characterizations and theoretical calculations reveal that CPH modulates the solvation structure of Zn²⁺ via Cl^- and reconstructs the electrode/electrolyte interface through its adsorption capability, thereby effectively protecting the Zn anode. As a result, the Zn||Zn symmetric cell with CPH achieves excellent cycling stability, operating for over 2900 h at 5 mA cm^-2 and 1 mAh cm^-2. Additionally, the Zn//VO₂ full cell demonstrates significantly enhanced rate performance and cycling durability, retaining 90.15 % of its capacity after 1000 cycles. This work provides significant insights into collaborative electrolyte design for advancing sustainable energy storage systems.