Oil spill clean-up is a long-standing challenge for researchers to prevent serious environmental pollution. A new kind of oil-absorbent based on silicon-containing polymers (e.g., poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS)) with high absorption capacity and excellent reusability was prepared and used for oil-water separation. The PDMS-based oil absorbents have highly interconnected pores with swellable skeletons, combining the advantages of porous materials and gels. On the other hand, polymer/silica composites have been extensively studied as high-performance functional coatings since, as an organic/inorganic composite material, they are expected to combine polymer flexibility and ease of processing with mechanical properties. Polymer composites with increased impact resistance and tensile strength without decreasing the flexibility of the polymer matrix can be achieved by incorporating silica nanoparticles, nanosand, or sand particles into the polymeric matrices. Therefore, polymer/silica composites have attracted great interest in many industries. Some potential applications, including high-performance coatings, electronics and optical applications, membranes, sensors, materials for metal uptake, etc., were comprehensively reviewed. In the first part of the review, we will cover the recent progress of oil absorbents based on silicon-containing polymers (PDMS). In the later details of the review, we will discuss the recent developments of functional materials based on polymer/silica composites, sand, and nanosand systems.

Prepolymers containing isocyanates must be prevented from curing when exposed to moisture, which can be achieved by blocking the isocyanate groups with a suitable agent. The study carefully examines several blocking agents, including methyl ethyl ketoxime (MEKO), caprolactam, and phenol, and concludes that methyl ethyl ketoxime is the best choice. Spectroscopic and thermal analyses, as well as oven curing studies, are conducted with various blocking agents and isocyanate prepolymer to castor oil ratios, revealing MEKO to be the most effective blocking agent which gets unblocked at higher temperatures.

Cobalt-ion batteries are considered a promising battery chemistry for renewable energy storage. However, there are indeed challenges associated with co-ion batteries that demonstrate undesirable side reactions due to hydrogen gas production. This study demonstrates the use of a nanocomposite electrolyte that provides stable performance cycling and high Co²⁺ conductivity (approximately 24 mS cm⁻¹). The desirable properties of the nanocomposite material can be attributed to its mechanical strength, which remains at nearly 68 MPa, and its ability to form bonds with H₂O. These findings offer potential solutions to address the challenges of co-dendrite, contributing to the advancement of co-ion batteries as a promising battery chemistry. The exceptional cycling stability of the co-metal anode, even at ultra-high rates, is a significant achievement demonstrated in the study using the nanocomposite electrolyte. The co-metal anode has a 3500-cycle current density of 80 mA cm⁻², which indicates excellent stability and durability. Moreover, the cumulative capacity of 15.6 Ah cm⁻² at a current density of 40 mA cm⁻² highlights the better energy storage capability. This performance is particularly noteworthy for energy storage applications where high capacity and long cycle life are crucial. The H₂O bonding capacity of the component in the nanocomposite electrolyte plays a vital role in reducing surface passivation and hydrogen evolution reactions. By forming strong bonds with H₂O molecules, the polyethyne helps prevent unwanted reactions that can deteriorate battery performance and efficiency. This mitigates issues typically associated with excess H₂O and ion presence in aqueous Co-ion batteries. Furthermore, the high-rate performance with excellent stability and cycling stability performance (>500 cycles at 8 C) of full Co||MnO₂ batteries fabricated with this electrolyte further validates its effectiveness in practical battery configurations. These results indicate the potential of the nanocomposite electrolyte as a valuable and sustainable option, simplifying the development of reliable and efficient energy storage systems and renewable energy applications.

A novel composite material based on polymers (polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl butyral) and liquid crystal (4-n-pentyl-4’-cyanobiphenyl) has been developed and studied. Configuration transformations of point defects in nematic droplets under the influence of an electric field, caused by localized changes in the concentration of NLC within the polymer matrix, have been discovered and analyzed. The boundary conditions necessary for achieving a nematic structure with homogeneous alignment of the director both within the droplet and at its surface have been established, optimizing the anisotropy of light transmission in polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) films. Additionally, polarization effects inside nematic droplets under the application of an electric field have been identified.

In the present work, a series of butyl methacrylate/1-hexene copolymers were synthesized, and their efficiency as viscosity index improvers, pour point depressants, and shear stabilizers of lube oil was investigated. The effect of 1-hexene molar ratio, type, and concentration of Lewis acids on the incorporation of 1-hexene into the copolymer backbone was investigated. The successful synthesis of the copolymers was confirmed through FTIR and 1H NMR spectroscopy. Results obtained from quantitative 1H NMR and GPC revealed that an increase in the molar ratio of 1-hexene to butyl methacrylate, along with concentration of Lewis acids led to an increase in 1-hexene incorporation and a reduction in Mn and Ð. Similar trends were observed when the Lewis acid changed from AlCl₃ to organometallic acids. The maximum 1-hexene incorporation (26.4%) was achieved for sample BHY3, with a [1-hexene/BMA] ratio of 4 mol% and a [Yb(OTf)₃/BMA] ratio of 2.5 mol%. Evaluation of the synthesized copolymers as lube oil additives demonstrated that the viscosity index was more significantly influenced by samples with higher molecular weight. Sample BHA13 represents maximum VI of 137. The copolymer containing Yb(OTf)₃ as a catalyst exhibited superior efficiency as a pour point depressant. Furthermore, sample BHY3 showed the lowest shear stability index (6.4).

Three-dimensionally cross-linked polymer nanocomposite networks coated nano sand light-weight proppants (LWPs) were successfully prepared via ball-milling the macro sand and subsequently modifying the resultant nano sand with sequential polymer nanocomposite coating. The modified nano sand proppants had good sphericity and roundness. Thermal analyses showed that the samples can withstand up to 411 ℃. Moreover, the proppant samples’ specific gravity (S.G.) was 1.02–1.10 g/cm³ with excellent water dispersibility. Therefore, cross-linked polymer nanocomposite networks coated nano sand particles can act as potential candidates as water-carrying proppants for hydraulic fracturing operations.