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The mixing on a single-particle level of chemically incompatible nanoparticles is an outstanding challenge for many applications. Burgeoning research activity suggests that entropic templating is a potential strategy to address this issue. Herein, using systematic computer simulations of model nanoparticle systems, we show that the entropy-templated interfacial organization of nanoparticles significantly depends on the stiffness of tethered chains. Unexpectedly, the optimal chain stiffness can be identified wherein a system exhibits the most perfect mixing for a certain compression ratio. Our simulations demonstrate that entropic templating regulated by chain stiffness precisely reflects various entropic repulsion states that arise from typical conformation regimes of semiflexible chains. The physical mechanism of the chain stiffness effect is revealed by analyzing the entropic repulsion states of tethered chains and quantitatively estimating the resulting entropy penalties, which provides direct evidence that supports the key role of entropic transition in the entropic templating strategy, as suggested in experiments. Moreover, the model nanoparticle systems are found to evolve into binary nanoparticle superlattices by remixing at extremely high stiffness. The findings facilitate the wide application of the entropic templating strategy in creating interfacially reactive nanomaterials with ordered structures on the single-nanoparticle level as well as mechanomutable responses.

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BACKGROUND Low oxygen content and high density of airborne fine particulates in closed environments are serious problems threatening people's health. Herein a novel concept of using microalgae for air purification is proposed, and approaches, including the construction of a condensed microalgae film and the use of hydrogel, to realize this concept in a real‐world application are discussed. RESULTS The results demonstrated that moisture loss, which limited O2 production and fine particulates removal, is a serious technical barrier to the durable use of this air purifier. With the addition of hydrogel, moisture loss of microalgae film in 8 h was reduced to 24.76%. Comparison of the contributions of hydrogel and microalgae indicated that in this air purifier, microalgae mainly contributed to fine particulates removal while hydrogel enhanced the performance of microalgae film by alleviating the moisture loss. Studies on the mechanisms proved that fine particulates removal by microalgae film is mainly driven by negative surface charge on microalgae cells. CONCLUSIONS This study showed that qa microalgae‐film based air purifier performed well in oxygen production and fine particulates removal. In a real‐world application, to properly operate this air purifier, moisture content and pH value of the microalgae film should be strictly controlled. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry

Bioregenerative life support system (BLSS) plays a key role in the long‐duration manned space mission. Microalgae‐based BLSS was proposed decades ago but it had a variety of technical problems hindering its application in space mission. However, in recent years, a lot of effort has been devoted to this field and great progresses have been achieved in the research of microalgae‐based BLSS. Therefore, the main aim of this work is to summarize the previous progress and find the challenges faced by microalgae‐based BLSS technology. In this regard, this works introduces the concept of microalgae‐based BLSS and presents its development paths in the past decades. Additionally, technology updates in the aspects of microalgae‐based oxygen generation, value‐added biomass production as food alternative, and wastes treatment by microalgae are summarized. Challenges faced by microalgae‐based BLSS and potential solutions are discussed. This work provides a deep understanding of microalgae‐based BLSS and that it would be beneficial for promoting implementation of this novel technology in manned space missions. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry