Professor Chen Chaoji's team from the School of Resource and Environmental Sciences (SRES) at Wuhan University (WHU) has made significant progress in the field of biomass-based functional materials, with their research being published in prestigious journals, including Nature Communications, Advanced Materials (two papers), and Science Bulletin.

In collaboration with Professor Jin Yongcan's team at Nanjing Forestry University, the research team proposed a "bottom-up" solution-interface induced self-assembly strategy to create a non-covalent supramolecular crosslinked network. This strategy led to the successful development of strong, tough, recyclable, and biocompatible organic hydrogels, offering new insights for the development of green, high-performance load-bearing materials. The results were published in Nature Communications.

Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-55530-1

Construction and advantages of chitosan-lignosulfonate-gelatin supramolecular organic hydrogels.

In collaboration with Guangdong University of Technology and South China University of Technology, the team introduced a supramolecular-scale hydrophilicity regulation strategy. This addressed the challenges of drying and forming nanocellulose, resulting in high-strength, flame-retardant bulk materials. This study provides a new solution for replacing traditional plastics with nanocellulose. The findings were published in Advanced Materials.

Link to paper: https://advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adma.202415313

Supramolecular-scale hydrophilicity regulation facilitates the rapid dehydration of nanocellulose and the construction of high-performance bulk structural materials.

The team also collaborated with Zhejiang University and other institutions to develop a hydrogel enhancement strategy based on interconnected natural fiber networks. Adjusting the water-cellulose-copolymer interactions significantly improved the hydrogel's mechanical properties, providing a new path for the industrial application of high-strength hydrogels. The results were published in Science Bulletin.

Link to paper: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scib.2025.01.013

Cross-scale enhancement construction strategy and demonstration of P(AA-AM)/Cel hydrogels.

Professor Chen's team worked with the University of the Basque Country in Spain to evaluate biomass-based polymer electrolytes' electrochemical performance and environmental impact. The research, published in Advanced Materials, provides a solution for the environmental sustainability of lithium-ion batteries.

Link to paper: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/adma.202416733

Environmental impact of biopolymer electrolytes from raw materials to electrolyte design and fabrication.

Research team website: https://biomass.whu.edu.cn/index.htm