Nanomechanical evolution of biodegradable and non-degradable nanoplastics during photoaging: An atomic force microscopy and density functional theory study

AFM Investigation of Surface Morphological Changes in Microplastics under Photocatalytic Decomposition

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Researchers reviewed how atomic force microscopy can quantify surface roughness, particle size, Young's modulus, and adhesion changes as plastics degrade under photocatalysis, then proposed a composite Integral Degradation Index that collapses those parameters into a single metric for comparing catalytic performance.

Adsorption behavior and mechanism of bisphenol S on photo-oxidatively aged polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride microplastics: A combined experimental and density functional theory study

A one-dimensional micromechanical model of elastic-microplastic damage evolution

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A one-dimensional micromechanical model based on Dugdale microcracks predicts elastic-microductile damage evolution, capturing both macroscopic hardening and softening behavior during loading and continuous damage accumulation during unloading. This physically-based damage model provides a foundation for predicting progressive failure in ductile materials subjected to monotonic loading.

Microplastic Degradation and Management Via Nanomaterials

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Researchers reviewed nanomaterial-based strategies for microplastic degradation and management, covering photocatalysis, adsorption, and membrane filtration approaches that exploit the high surface area and reactivity of engineered nanomaterials. These methods offer a path toward actively breaking down microplastics rather than simply capturing them, which is critical for reducing the long-term accumulation of plastic particles in ecosystems and human bodies.