NEW ARTICLE: Programmable oil/water separation performance of wood-based membranes via structural anisotropy and delignification

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A new article from Ning Yan’s lab has been published in the Journal of Cleaner Production written by Kaiwen Chen, Cheng Hao, Luyao Chen, Fengze Sun, Yujing Tan, Wenjuan Zhao,
Hui Peng, Tianyi Zhan, Jianxiong Lyu and Ning Yan.

You can find the article here.

Abstract

Wood-based membranes offer a promising, sustainable platform for oil/water separation due to their intrinsic porosity, renewability, and structural anisotropy. However, current approaches often require complex chemical modifications and lack a systematic understanding of how structural and processing parameters govern separation performance. This study introduced a simple yet robust strategy leveraging intrinsic structural anisotropy of natural wood to fabricate high-performance membranes without synthetic coating or surface functionalization. By altering the cutting direction, two distinct membrane architectures were obtained: cross-section membranes with longitudinal channels enabled the gravity-driven separation of light oil/water mixtures, while longitudinal membranes with interconnected transverse pores facilitated vacuum-assisted separation of oil-in-water emulsions. Quantitative analysis revealed that delignification time and thickness jointly governed wetting and transport behavior. Increasing delignification reduced the water contact angle from ∼115° to <40°, enabling tunable flux (∼90–1000 L m−2·h−1) and efficiency (75–99.9 %). For CW membranes, flux decreased and efficiency increased with thickness—thinner samples (0.5–1 mm) exhibited the highest flux (∼995 L m−2·h−1) but moderate efficiency (85–95 %), while thicker ones (∼3 mm) achieved up to 99.8 % efficiency at lower flux. For LW membranes, a similar trade-off was observed: thinner membranes (0.5–1 mm) offered higher flux (75–95.9 % efficiency), intermediate thickness (1–2 mm) balanced both (up to 99.1 %), and thicker membranes (∼3 mm) provided the highest efficiency (98.9–99.9 %) but reduced flux. Through systematic characterization, this study established a clear structure–property–performance relationship, revealing how processing parameters (cutting orientation, thickness, and lignin content) govern key structural features and, in turn, separation efficiency and flux. This work not only provides a sustainable route for fabricating high-performance membranes using natural materials but also delivers quantitative mechanistic insights and predictive design principles for liquid–liquid separation, with broad relevance for environmental remediation and resource recovery.

NEW ARTICLE: Biobased Bionic Spider Silk via Electrostatic Complexation for Simultaneously Harvesting Atmospheric Water and Triboelectric Energy

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A new article from Ning Yan’s lab has been published in the Advanced Functional Materials written by Qin Chen, Araz Rajabi-Abhari, Tongtong Fu, Haonan Zhang, Siqi Huan, Liang Chen, Jinchao Li, Cheng Hao, Yaping Zhang and Ning Yan

You can find the paper here.

Abstract

Atmospheric water harvesting has emerged as a sustainable solution for overcoming water and energy shortages. Herein, an entirely biobased bionic spider silk (chitosan–sodium alginate filament [CSF]) is prepared using an interfacial, aqueous, and straightforward polyelectrolyte complexation with a continuous drawing technique, simultaneously harvesting water and triboelectric energy from ambient humidity. CSF exhibits a periodic spindle-shaped structure resembling spider silk, with surface roughness conducive to atmospheric water harvesting. The success of the electrostatic complexation technique for CSF is confirmed by water solubility, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analyses. The production yield of CSF reaches the maximum of 99.36% by controlling the substrate type and polyelectrolyte mass ratio. Moreover, fog-harvesting efficiency peaks at 1552.83 mg cm−1 h−1 (1.0 wt.% polyelectrolyte concentration), demonstrating concentration-dependent performance. Subsequently, CSF is woven into a bionic spider web (CSW) for simultaneous water and energy harvesting. Through parametric optimization, the CSW-based droplet triboelectric nanogenerator system achieves 180 V and 72.25 µW output. When deployed in a high-humidity greenhouse, the system powers 80 light-emitting diodes, a hygrometer (thermometer), and a stopwatch. This study presents a straightforward, effective, and green strategy for simultaneously harvesting water and energy from the ambient environment, providing fresh water and renewable energy to enhance sustainability.

Congratulations to Dr. Cheng Hao on Winning Best Paper Award!

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We are thrilled to share that our very own post-doctoral fellow, Dr. Cheng Hao, has received the Best Paper Award at the 2025 Polyurethanes Technical Conference (PolyCon 2025).

Cheng’s presentation, “Lignin-Derived Flame Retardant for Enhancing Fire Safety of Polyurethanes,” was recognized for its innovation and industrial relevance among professionals from across the globe. Congratulations, Cheng!

To read the official announcement and learn more, visit Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry’s website.

Congratulations and Farewell to Dr. Nicole Tratnik!

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We’re raising a coffee cup (and a slice of cake) to Nicole!

After an amazing nine years in our lab at U of T, Nicole is moving on. It’s hard to imagine the lab without her, but we’re thrilled to see her take this next step.

Nicole joined us back in 2016 and has been a key part of the team ever since, completing her Master’s, PhD, and a Post-doc all with our group. We’ve been so lucky to have her as a colleague.

The industry is lucky to get her. We wish her the best of luck!

New Article: Bacterial cellulose as green matrix material for environmental-friendly electronic devices

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A new article from Ning Yan’s lab has been published in the Carbohydrate Polymers written by Sanming Hu, Zhijun Shi, Kun Chen, Xiao Chen, Hongfu Zhou, Ning Yan, Guang Yang,

You can find the paper here.

Abstract

The proliferation of electronic devices has led to a substantial increase in non-degradable electronic waste (e-waste), posing significant environmental challenges. Consequently, biodegradable natural polymers have garnered considerable attention as sustainable alternatives to conventional non-degradable materials in electronic applications. Bacterial cellulose (BC), a natural polymer characterized by abundant hydroxyl groups and a three-dimensional (3D) nanonetwork structure, exhibits exceptional properties including high purity, superior mechanical strength, excellent water retention capacity, non-toxicity, renewability, and complete biodegradability. These unique attributes, coupled with its distinctive structural features, render BC as a promising green matrix material for developing functional composites in eco-friendly electronic devices. This review provides a systematic analysis of various eco-friendly composite materials derived from BC, covering conductive, piezoelectric, magnetoelectric, and thermoelectric composites. Additionally, the fabrication methodologies for BC-based composites, including in-situ chemical synthesis, ex-situ incorporation, and biosynthesis techniques, are comprehensively analyzed. Furthermore, the applications of BC-based composites was explored in diverse fields such as sensors, energy storage systems (batteries and supercapacitors), and energy harvesting devices (nanogenerators). Finally, we deliver a critical evaluation of the current challenges and future research directions for BC-based composites in the development of sustainable electronic devices.

New Article : One-step dual process strategy for holey graphite towards scalable and stable lithium-ion battery anodes

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A new article from Ning Yan’s lab has been published in the Journal of Materials Chemistry A written by Keerti Rathi, Viktoriya Pakharenko, Otavio Augusto Titton Dias, Colin van der Kuur, Ning Yan and Mohini Sain

You can find the paper here.

Abstract

Our research demonstrates a one-step dual-process acid treatment approach for modifying graphite, which increases its interlayer distance and generates nanoscale holes, thereby effectively shortening the lithium-ion diffusion pathway without the need for heteroatom doping. Compared with pristine graphite (PG), the expanded holey graphite (EG) produced by this process achieves significantly enhanced electrochemical performance while maintaining structural integrity. The EG shows excellent electrochemical performance, reaching a specific capacity of 179.45 mAh g−1 and retaining 89.3% of its capacity after 300 cycles in a full pouch cell combined with a commercial NMC523 cathode. High coulombic efficiency (approximately 93.8%) and improved cycling stability confirm the durability of the etched graphite. Beyond mere performance considerations, the study elucidates the degradation mechanisms inherent in commercial lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), thereby offering dependable guidance for electrode surface engineering and the optimization of cycling protocols. With this scalable and impurity-free approach to modification, purified etched graphite emerges as a promising candidate for next-generation LIB anodes, satisfying the high energy requirements and durability necessary for electric vehicles and advanced energy storage systems.

Congratulations on your retirement Tony!

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Today we celebrate Tony Ung’s retirement, a staple of the Faculty of Forestry who has helped keep things running in the Earth Science Center. Whenever we had an issue or a question, Tony was always there to give us guidance. He was never too busy to lend a hand even though he had many, many responsibilities. Our lab would look a lot different without his help. He will be sorely missed. Congratulations on your retirement Tony!