The aim of this research is to investigate the relationship between enterprise technological innovation, export product quality, and the upgrading of the manufacturing value chain. The study is based on panel data from Chinese manufacturing enterprises between 2000 and 2013 and uses a multi-dimensional fixed-effect method to analyze the moderating effect of enterprise export product quality on the relationship between technological innovation and the upgrading of the manufacturing value chain. The results show that technological innovation significantly promotes the upgrading of the manufacturing value chain. The regression analysis indicates that a 1% increase in enterprise technological innovation leads to a 0.28% increase in the upgrading of the manufacturing value chain. Similarly, the study demonstrates that improving the quality of exported products significantly enhances the manufacturing industry’s status in the global value chain. The regression analysis reveals that a 1% increase in the quality of exported products leads to a 0.14% increase in the upgrading of the manufacturing value chain. Moreover, the research identifies a threshold value of 0.4438 for the moderating effect of enterprise export product quality on the impact of technological innovation on the upgrading of the manufacturing value chain. When the quality of exported products is below the threshold value, it has a strong positive regulatory effect on technological innovation, promoting the upgrading of the manufacturing value chain. However, once the quality of exported products exceeds the threshold value, its regulatory effect becomes insignificant. The study’s findings have important implications for enterprises looking to overcome the “dilemma of scientific and technological innovation” and promote the intelligent development of the manufacturing industry. The research conclusions have strong reference value for promoting the combination of technology innovation and business model innovation in manufacturing enterprises. This will allow for climbing the high-end links of the global value chain and achieving sustainable development.

In this work, the novel rod‐like ZnO microtubes were successfully synthesized via one‐step simple, non‐toxic, fast and economical hydrothermal route. The as‐obtained microtubes were characterized in detail with X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, UV–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, steady‐state photoluminescence spectrum and surface photovoltage spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activity of the as‐obtained microtubes was evaluated by degradation of methylene blue. The results indicated that the ZnO microtubes, exhibited higher photodegradation efficiency of 95% under UV light irradiation ( λ ≤ 420 nm) for 20 min. The photodegradation could be described as the pseudo‐first‐order kinetics with apparent rate constant of 0.126 min ^‐1 , which was based on the unique morphology of ZnO. Moreover, ZnO microtubes maintained a good photostability after three consecutive cycles. Unique microtubes can be applied practically for dye waste‐water treatment.