SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4275-3
Electrochemical in-situ production of active chlorine (AC) via chlorine evolution reaction (CER) can alleviate hull corrosion and residual chlorine overage, which is a highly reliable disinfectant for sewage and ballast water. Nonetheless, the primarily competitive oxygen evolution reaction and gradual anode passivation hinder its practical application. Herein, we employed the in-situ hydrothermal strategy to synthesize Ru/TiO2-x to realize high activity and selectivity of CER. The robust interaction of Ru sites and TiO2-x achieved via a one-step hydrothermal synthesis strategy, the structural and valence state characterizations confirm that Ti3+ stabilizes Ru solely in the metallic state (Ru0) via structural confinement effects, effectively inhibiting catalyst oxidation. As a result, the Ru/TiO2-x requires only an overpotential of 33 mV to reach 10 mA cm−2, and possess strong catalytic durability, sustaining continuous operation for 100 h with negligible current decay. Further integration with a triboelectric nanogenerators successfully realizes the generation of AC, which demonstrates a >99.9% inactivation efficiency against Escherichia coli in simulated seawater environments, while also effectively degrading ammonia nitrogen and urea contaminants in domestic wastewater.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4238-2
Infrared nonlinear optical (IR NLO) materials are critical for laser frequency conversion, yet their performance is often constrained by a trade-off between second harmonic generation (SHG) efficiency and laser-induced damage threshold (LIDT). Here, we report a new ternary diamond-like compound, AlGaS3, which successfully balances these competing demands. AlGaS3 crystallizes in a noncentrosymmetric structure composed of wide HOMO-LUMO gap [AlS4] tetrahedra and NLO-active [GaS4] tetrahedra. The compound exhibits a wide experimental optical band gap of approximately 3.38 eV, which is significantly larger than that of the benchmark AgGaS2 (AGS, ~2.70 eV). This wide band gap contributes to a high laser-induced damage threshold (LIDT) of approximately 6.0 times that of AGS, as determined by powder-based measurements. Notably, AlGaS3 also demonstrates a phase-matching SHG response of approximately 0.5 times that of AGS at a fundamental wavelength of 2.09 μm, with particle size-dependent behavior confirming phase-matchability. The combination of wide band gap, high LIDT, and moderate SHG response positions AlGaS3 as a promising candidate for high-power IR NLO applications. This work provides a viable strategy for designing IR NLO materials with enhanced laser damage resistance by incorporating wide-gap tetrahedral units.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4295-5
Carbon nanomaterials (CNMs), including carbon nanotubes, graphene, and fullerenes, exhibit exceptional promise in precision biomedicine due to their tunable biocompatibility, programmable surface chemistry, large specific surface area, and quantum confinement effects. However, their clinical translation is hindered by aggregation, poor physiological dispersibility, and limited targeting specificity. This review systematically elaborates on surface engineering strategies—covalent functionalization, non-covalent assembly, and heteroatom doping—to optimize the multifunctionality, biocompatibility, and targeting capabilities of CNMs at the nano-bio interface. We explore how engineered interfaces enable advanced applications in biosensing, stimuli-responsive drug delivery, multimodal bioimaging, antibacterial therapy, and regenerative tissue engineering. The review also addresses challenges such as scalability, long-term toxicity, and regulatory hurdles, and proposes future directions to expedite clinical adoption. By providing a comprehensive framework for rational surface design, this work aims to bridge the gap between fundamental materials science and clinical needs, offering a roadmap for developing next-generation carbon-based theranostics.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4269-4
Self-assembled molecular interlayers (SAMs) are promising hole-selective contacts for high-efficiency organic solar cells (OSCs) due to their well-defined energy alignment and minimal parasitic absorption. However, their intrinsically limited mechanical robustness often leads to structural degradation and performance loss under mechanical deformation, restricting their application in flexible devices. Here, we report a nanoparticle-reinforced self-assembled composite interface that simultaneously enhances mechanical reliability and optoelectronic performance. Uniformly dispersed SiO2 nanoparticles are introduced as high-modulus reinforcing building blocks without disturbing molecular self-assembly. In contrast to NiOx nanoparticles, which suffer from aggregation and parasitic absorption, SiO2 nanoparticles exhibit excellent dispersion and optical transparency, enabling formation of a structurally compatible hybrid interface. Mechanistic studies reveal that SiO2 nanoparticles redistribute interfacial stress and form dynamic hydrogen-bond networks with phosphonic acid groups of 2PACz, providing efficient energy dissipation during cyclic deformation. Meanwhile, modulation of interfacial polarity extends the crystallization time window of the active layer, resulting in enhanced molecular ordering and improved charge transport. As a result, devices based on the SiO2/2PACz composite interface achieve a power conversion efficiency of 20.14% for rigid devices and 19.30% for flexible devices, placing the flexible devices among the highest-performing flexible OSCs reported to date, while retaining over 90% of their initial efficiency after repeated bending cycles. This work establishes a general strategy for overcoming the trade-off between electronic selectivity and mechanical robustness in ultrathin self-assembled molecular interfaces, providing design insights for high-performance flexible organic optoelectronics.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4350-4
Flexible wearable sensors have transformed motion tracking, soft robotics, and human-machine interfaces by enabling precise movement detection and adaptability to curved surfaces. However, conventional composite sensors often face challenges such as limited sensitivity, detection range, linearity, and durability. In this study, we propose a stretchable auxetic sensing textile with a negative Poisson’s ratio (NPR) structure, incorporating reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and carbon nanotubes (CNT) by micro-crack engineering to enhance its mechanical durability and sensing performance. Integrating macro-scale NPR with micro-scale wrinkles, this innovative design achieves a high sensitivity of 11.2 within a wide detection range (0-100%), a more linear sensing range with an R2 value of 0.998, an ultra-low detection limit of 0.5%, and exceptional durability, outperforming conventional wearable sensors. Additionally, the textile sensor boasts excellent moisture permeability (32.7 g m⁻² h⁻¹) and a remarkable NPR value of -0.25, ensuring comfort and adaptability for various wearable applications. Integrated with deep learning algorithms, the auxetic sensing textile demonstrates 98% accuracy in recognizing soft robotic movements at various bending angles. It is capable of capturing both small-scale physiological signals, such as electrocardiograms, and large-scale movements, offering significant freedom of movement and adaptability to complex surfaces.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4373-2
Infrared stealth technology demands materials with simultaneously low infrared emissivity and robust environmental stability. Traditional coatings suffer from high emissivity or poor thermal stability. Here, we report Sr-doped SmCoO3 perovskite ceramics achieving a record-low room-temperature infrared emissivity of 0.12 in the 8–14 μm atmospheric window. Systematic doping (x = 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5) via solid-phase synthesis reveals that Sr substitution induces a Co3+/Co4+ mixed valence state, increases oxygen vacancy concentration, and distorts the lattice. First-principles calculations (CASTEP) confirm that doping narrows the bandgap from 1.8 eV to 0.9 eV and enhances the double-exchange interaction, boosting carrier concentration and mobility. The optimized composition (x = 0.3) exhibits an electrical conductivity of 1.2×10^3 S/cm and a carrier density of 3.5×10^21 cm^-3, leading to strong infrared reflection. The material maintains emissivity below 0.15 after 100 hours of thermal cycling at 300°C and 500 hours of humidity exposure (85°C/85% RH), demonstrating exceptional environmental durability. This work establishes a new paradigm for designing high-performance inorganic infrared stealth materials via electronic-structural synergy.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3828-y
The rapid development of halogen-free solvent-processed organic solar cells (OSCs) has been enabled by side-chain modification on small molecular acceptors, yet the structure-property relationship between inner/outer chain lengths and device performance remains unclear. This study systematically investigates five non-fullerene acceptors (NFAs) with varied side-chain positions and architectures, clarifying the effects of inner versus outer modifications on energy level distribution, film morphology, and carrier dynamics. Notably, longer alkyl chains are not always superior; excessive solubility reduces molecular packing order. The optimized PM6:BTP-TO12 blend achieves a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 18.2%. Furthermore, ternary OSCs incorporating BTP-TO12 as a guest material reach a remarkable PCE of 19.5%, enhancing the performance of L8-BO-based devices processed with green solvents. This improvement is attributed to the low energy loss and well-controlled aggregation behavior of BTP-TO12 in environmentally friendly toluene. These findings establish a design guideline for side-chain engineering in green-solvent-processed OSCs, achieving state-of-the-art performance and advancing scalable, eco-compatible photovoltaic technologies.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3676-3
Perovskite solar cells (PerSCs) have achieved remarkable efficiencies, yet their performance is limited by defect states and non-radiative recombination. Here, pyromellitic diimide (PD) is introduced as an additive to passivate bulk defects in perovskite films. PD forms hydrogen bonds with formamidinium (FA+) ions and coordinates with Pb2+ ions, effectively suppressing non-radiative recombination and reducing energy loss. The PD-treated perovskite films exhibit enhanced crystallinity and uniformity. Consequently, 1.55 eV PerSCs achieve a high open-circuit voltage (VOC) of 1.193 V and a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 25.79%. Moreover, unencapsulated PD-treated devices retain 96% of their initial efficiency after 2000 h under nitrogen atmosphere, whereas control devices retain only 74%. Under ISOS-D-2I accelerated aging (65±5°C in N2), PD-treated devices show less than 5% PCE attenuation after 288 h, compared to ~30% for controls. This work provides a viable strategy for defect passivation in perovskite solar cells, enhancing both efficiency and stability.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3615-1
Stretchable electronics are pivotal for bio-integrated devices, soft robotics, and wearables, yet their development is constrained by single-layer architectures that limit integration density and by mechanical mismatch between rigid components and soft substrates, which curtails service life. Here, we introduce a LEGO-like modular assembly strategy to construct multilayer three-dimensional (3D) stretchable electronics. Electronic components (ECs) and self-healing polyurethane (SPU) substrates patterned with liquid metal (LM) circuits serve as the modular blocks. This design simplifies fabrication and markedly enhances 3D integration density. The combination of LM circuits and self-healing elastic substrates enables devices to withstand diverse deformations and to autonomously heal after mechanical damage. Notably, the devices can undergo multiple recycling and reuse cycles without significant performance loss. This methodology offers a new paradigm for advanced flexible electronics, addressing critical bottlenecks in integration density, mechanical robustness, and sustainability.
New Carbon Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5805(25)61033-X
Carbon-based materials have gained significant attention in anticancer treatment due to their exceptional biocompatibility, yet critical challenges persist in establishing definitive correlations between their porous structures and functional performance. We report the use of a silica template to guide pore formation in the design of mesoporous carbon spheres (mC) with tailored pore structures for improved combined photothermal-chemotherapy. The mesopore size of mC was adjusted by kinetic control of resin polymerization and silica hydrolysis. Structural characterization showed that 4.4 nm mesopores enabled an exceptional gemcitabine loading of 228 mg g−1 and a sustained pH/thermal dual-responsive release with >70% drug release under near-infrared (NIR) irradiation. Finite element analysis demonstrated pore size-dependent heat transfer dynamics, with the improved mC achieving a superior photothermal conversion efficiency of 62% by a combination of N-doping and defect engineering. In vitro evaluations confirmed outstanding biocompatibility with >95% cell viability at 200 μg mL−1 and potent tumor suppression in pancreatic and biliary cancer models with an ~5% cell viability at 25 μg mL−1 where combined therapy showed a 3.7-fold increased cytotoxicity over monotherapy. The improved structure of mC facilitated cascade therapeutic effects with enhanced tumor permeability derived from NIR-triggered hyperthermia and prolonged therapeutic exposure due to pH-responsive drug release. This pore engineering strategy establishes a structure-function process for next-generation theranostic platforms, addressing the critical limitations of conventional pancreatic and biliary cancer therapies through spatiotemporal control of multimodal treatment.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3669-1
Halide perovskite light-emitting diodes (PeLEDs) have advanced rapidly due to their high photoluminescence quantum yield, tunable bandgap, and color purity. However, conventional perovskites exhibit small exciton binding energies, which weaken radiative recombination and limit external quantum efficiency (EQE). Strong spatial confinement strategies, such as thin films, small grains, or quantum-confined structures, have boosted EQE beyond 20% but introduce Auger recombination and ion migration, causing efficiency roll-off and instability. This commentary highlights a novel approach by Xiao et al. (Nature, 2025) that employs weakly space-confined all-inorganic CsPbBr3 perovskites, synthesized using sacrificial additives hypophosphorous acid (HPA) and ammonium chloride (NH4Cl). This method yields highly oriented monocrystalline domains exceeding hundreds of nanometers with no observable grain boundaries, contrasting with control films (submicrometre grains with abundant boundaries) and strongly confined systems (~20 nm crystallites with organic ligands). The reduced grain boundaries lower defect density and block ion migration, while controlled crystallization suppresses vacancies and lattice distortions, enhancing carrier mobility and raising the ion migration energy barrier. The strategy achieves record-breaking performance and stability, addressing EQE roll-off and operational lifetime limitations. This approach offers a versatile framework for other all-inorganic perovskite systems, advancing PeLEDs toward practical high-brightness displays and lighting.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3764-5
Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are ubiquitous in portable electronics and electric vehicles, yet their flammable liquid electrolytes pose safety hazards and limit energy density. All-solid-state batteries (ASSBs) with solid-state electrolytes (SSEs) offer enhanced safety and higher energy density. Among SSEs, metal chloride SSEs (Li aMCl b, M = In, Y, Er) combine high ionic conductivity, mechanical deformability, and compatibility with high-voltage cathodes. However, their ionic conductivity and anode stability require improvement. Here, we introduce pentavalent Ta5+ doping into Li3InCl6 (LIC) to engineer Li+ vacancies via charge compensation, yielding Li3−2xIn1−xTaxCl6 (LITxC, 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.6). Ta5+ incorporation efficiently increases Li+ vacancy content without disrupting the cubic close packing (ccp) structure. The optimized composition, Li2.4In0.7Ta0.3Cl6 (LIT0.3C), achieves an ionic conductivity of 2.19 mS cm−1 at 30 °C and a low activation energy of 0.273 eV, balancing vacancy concentration and Li+ content. Ta5+ doping also enhances kinetic stability against the anode. ASSBs with LIT0.3C demonstrate excellent cycling stability: Ni90 cathodes retain 72.3% capacity after 1000 cycles at 0.5 C, while NCM523 cathodes retain 84.1% after 500 cycles at 0.2 C and 80.7% after 1000 cycles. These results highlight a practical strategy for improving chloride SSE performance, offering new insights for high-performance ASSB design.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3757-2
β-Ga2O3 is a promising candidate for solar-blind ultraviolet photodetection owing to its suitable bandgap of approximately 4.9 eV, excellent photoresponse characteristics, and high stability. However, the lack of a sufficient driving force within the material leads to extensive bulk charge recombination, limiting its photocurrent and thus posing significant challenges in designing high-performance Ga2O3-based photodetection. In this study, we propose a gradient doping strategy to achieve a Sn-doping concentration gradient along the β-Ga2O3 film thickness. By combining sol–gel synthesis with rapid thermal annealing, a spatially graded band structure with a full-space built-in electric field is constructed, which increases the width of band bending over a large region and is crucial for significantly enhancing carrier separation and transport in the bulk. The resulting gradient Sn-doped β-Ga2O3 enables exceptional photoelectric performance without an external bias under 254 nm irradiation, including a superior responsivity of 66.88 mA W−1, a high detectivity of 8.12 × 10^11 Jones, and a fast rise/decay time of 79/65 ms, outstanding most existing similar reported photoelectrochemical (PEC) type optoelectronic devices. Additionally, the device exhibits excellent long-term stability and enables high-resolution underwater ultraviolet imaging. This study demonstrates that the gradient doping strategy provides a feasible approach for enhancing the PEC performance of β-Ga2O3 photoelectrodes.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3693-0
The development of catalysts with highly efficient oxygen evolution performance and low-Ir loading is key to scaling up the application of proton exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolysis technology. Here, an Ir-skin catalyst (Ir@KM) is realized on a potassium-manganese oxide (K0.25MnOx (KM)) using an ion-exchange method. The Ir-skin over the prepared Ir@KM has a low Ir–Ir atomic distance, endowing an energetically favorable oxide path mechanism to allow a low theoretical overpotential of 0.13 V. Ir@KM offers a low overpotential of ~280 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm−2 and provides a high mass activity of up to 18,500 A gIr−1 at a cell voltage of 1.8 V in PEM, which is 17.6 times higher than that of IrO2, demonstrating a significant advantage in reducing the cost of the membrane electrode. The presented Ir-skin concept represents a promising strategy to fabricate low-Ir catalyst with high activity and durability for practical applications of PEM.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3883-2
Tensile stress annealing (TSA) is an effective strategy for tailoring magnetic anisotropy and high-frequency performance in nanocrystalline soft magnetic alloys. Here, we systematically investigate the influence of TSA on the microstructure, magnetic domain evolution, and permeability stability of Fe69.5Co3Nb2Mo1.5Si14B9Cu1 nanocrystalline alloys. Across all applied stresses (0–300 MPa), the alloys retain an ultrafine grain size (≤11 nm), yet the induced uniaxial anisotropy constant (Ku) rises sharply from 22.5 to 665 J/m3. This increase in Ku refines the magnetic domain structure, reducing average domain width from 110 to 36 μm, and shifts the magnetization mechanism from domain-wall displacement to rotation-dominated reversal. Quantitative correlation between Ku, domain structure, and effective permeability (μe) reveals that higher stress suppresses μe at low frequencies but yields exceptional frequency stability: μe ≈ 2330 is maintained up to 1 MHz at 50 MPa, and μe ≈ 585 remains constant from 1 kHz to 10 MHz at 300 MPa. These findings demonstrate that stress-induced anisotropy is a decisive factor in governing high-frequency magnetic response, offering both mechanistic insight and a practical framework for designing next-generation soft magnetic materials for precision current transformers, EMC filters, and MHz-class power electronics.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3681-6
Brominated butyl rubber (BIIR) is widely used in tires and biomedical products due to its excellent elasticity and gas barrier properties, but recycling end-of-life BIIR remains challenging because of its covalent cross-linked network. Here, we report a direct upcycling strategy for unmodified waste BIIR via nanoparticle-mediated interfacial crosslinking, avoiding chemical modification or degradation of the polymer structure. Pyridyl-functionalized silica nanoparticles (SiO2-Py) were synthesized and used to crosslink bromine atoms in waste BIIR with those of fresh BIIR, reconstructing the crosslink network without altering the original sulfur-vulcanization network. The resulting composites exhibit a dual interpenetrating network comprising the sulfur-vulcanized network and a bromine-pyridinium crosslinked silica-rich network, providing exceptional strength and toughness. Using discarded bicycle inner tubes as waste BIIR source, the upcycled composites achieved a tensile strength of ~14 MPa, toughness of ~60 MJ m−3, and ultra-low air permeability of 8.78×10−15 cm3 cm/(cm2 s Pa), significantly outperforming the original inner tube material. This work presents a scalable and effective solution for BIIR waste recycling, advancing sustainable development in the rubber industry.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202507111
This study investigated the effects of a ring-shaped pulsed electric field (PEF) (1.5 V, 4 h on-time per cycle) on nitrogen removal performance and microbial community structure of anammox granular sludge (AnGS). Two anaerobic sequencing batch reactors (R1 control, R2 with PEF) were operated under stepwise increasing nitrogen loading rates (NLR). At NLR below 1,155 mg·(L·d)−1, R2 exhibited total nitrogen removal efficiency (TRE) 7.5%–17.0% higher than R1, with biomass, specific anammox activity (SAA), and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) increased by 5%–7%, 21%–71%, and 54%–77%, respectively. However, at NLR above 1,320 mg·(L·d)−1, the toxic effect of nitrite dominated, and PEF enhancement diminished or even reversed to inhibition. Microbial community analysis revealed that at low-to-moderate NLR, PEF increased the relative abundance of Planctomycetes and key anammox bacteria (Candidatus Brocadia and Candidatus Jettenia), along with enhanced community richness (Chao1) and diversity (Shannon/Simpson indices). At high NLR, PEF decreased microbial richness compared to R1. Principal component analysis and redundancy analysis indicated that PEF was the key factor driving community differences at low-to-moderate NLR, whereas nitrite concentration became the dominant factor at high NLR. This study provides theoretical support for enhancing the resilience and engineering application of anammox processes.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202507054
In many Chinese wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), residual chlorine is still manually monitored at low frequencies, leading to imprecise disinfectant dosing. This study systematically compared four machine learning models—backpropagation (BP) neural network, long short-term memory (LSTM) neural network, random forest (RF), and support vector regression (SVR)—for predicting chlorine consumption (i.e., the difference between chlorine dose and residual chlorine) during non-monitoring periods under different residual chlorine monitoring frequencies (every 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 h). Using data from Plant A (equipped with online residual chlorine monitoring) and Plants B and C (manual monitoring every 6 h and 8 h, respectively), input variables included online water quality indicators (temperature, flow, NH3-N, CODCr, TP, TN) and chlorine dose. Results showed that at 1-h intervals, LSTM achieved the highest prediction accuracy; at 2–4-h intervals, RF performed best; at 6-h or lower frequencies, BP was superior; SVR performed worst across all frequencies. Validation on Plants B and C confirmed BP's optimal performance under low-frequency conditions, and particle swarm optimization (PSO) significantly improved its accuracy. These findings provide a basis for selecting appropriate machine learning models for chlorine consumption prediction under varying monitoring frequencies, particularly low-frequency manual monitoring, thereby supporting precise disinfectant dosing control.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202507021
The accumulation of heavy metals in soil around municipal solid waste landfills poses potential risks to human health. This study selected a municipal solid waste landfill and monitored the concentrations of eight heavy metals (Zn, Pb, Cd, Ni, Hg, Cu, As, Cr) in surrounding soil. The geo-accumulation index method was used for pollution assessment, and a health risk assessment model recommended by the USEPA, combined with Monte Carlo uncertainty analysis, was employed to evaluate the pollution status and health risks to nearby residents. Results showed that among the eight metals, Pb, Ni, and Cd exceeded risk screening values at 4.26%, 6.38%, and 4.26% of sampling points, respectively. Geo-accumulation indices indicated overall clean conditions (mean < 0), but slight pollution by Pb, Zn, Ni, Hg, and Cd at some points. Probabilistic risk assessment based on Monte Carlo simulation revealed that for both adults and children, the cumulative non-carcinogenic risk was negligible, while carcinogenic risk was acceptable. However, there was a very low probability (approximately 0.2%) of non-carcinogenic risk for children, and probabilities of unacceptable carcinogenic risk were 0.64% for adults and 3.21% for children. Nickel was the primary contributor to carcinogenic risk, and children faced higher health risks than adults. These findings provide a reference for pollution prevention and health risk management of soil around municipal solid waste landfills.
The Chinese Journal of Process Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12034/j.issn.1009-606X.225221
The proliferation of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) in portable electronics and electric vehicles has generated a pressing need for sustainable recycling of spent batteries. Conventional pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical routes suffer from low metal recovery efficiencies or require additional precipitants. This study introduces a clean and efficient process for recovering lithium (Li) and cobalt (Co) from spent LiCoO2 cathode materials using a choline chloride-oxalic acid-water (ChCl-OA-H2O) deep eutectic solvent (DES). The method exploits selective precipitation of Co as cobalt oxalate dihydrate (CoC2O4·2H2O) followed by water-content-regulated recovery of Li as lithium oxalate (Li2C2O4) via evaporation crystallization, eliminating the need for external precipitants. Under optimized conditions (molar ratio 1:1:8, solid-liquid ratio 100 g/L, 90 °C, 6.5 h), the leaching efficiency of Li reached 99.4%, with recovery efficiencies of 88.3% for Li and 97.8% for Co. The DES system demonstrated robust cycling stability, maintaining Li and Co recoveries of 78.1% and 92.8% after six regeneration cycles. This work provides a low-pollution, economically viable pathway for LIB recycling, contributing to resource sustainability and offering significant industrial potential.
Journal of Fuel Chemistry and Technology•2026•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5813(25)60622-0
Photocatalytic production of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) from sustainable biomass-derived carbon catalysts offers a renewable route to valuable chemicals, yet the regulatory role of surface functional groups on reaction kinetics remains underexplored. Here, hydrothermal carbon spheres (CS) rich in oxygen-containing functional groups demonstrated a remarkably high H2O2 production rate of 653 μmol/(g·h) in both pure water and actual seawater, without any sacrificial agent. The catalyst also exhibited outstanding activity in visible-light-driven photocatalytic oxidation of benzylamine to imines, achieving 92% conversion and >99% selectivity. Comprehensive analysis revealed that CS was rich in surface oxygen-containing functional groups, a feature strongly associated with its high photocatalytic efficiency. The observed positive Zeta potential of CS in seawater likely diminished electrostatic repulsion against positively charged intermediates, facilitating their accumulation at the liquid-solid interface. This work proposes a strategic framework for developing metal-free photocatalysts from biomass, offering a sustainable pathway for photocatalytic applications.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2025083003
To obtain freshwater from saline water and seawater, a double-layer evaporator consisting of carbon spheres and corn stalks was fabricated (abbreviated as CC). Corn stalks served as the evaporator substrate, and a mixed hydrogel of carbon spheres and polyvinyl alcohol functioned as the photothermal conversion layer. The solar-driven interfacial evaporation and desalination performance of the CC evaporator was investigated. The glucose-derived carbon spheres exhibited a uniform morphology and achieved 95% light absorption across 200–2500 nm. Under 1 sun (1 kW·m−2) irradiation, the CC with 3 cm height (CC-3) reached an exceptional evaporation rate of 3.55 kg·m−2·h−1 with a remarkable energy efficiency of 97.53%. When different wind speeds (1.5, 2, and 2.5 m·s−1) were applied, the evaporation rates further increased to 7.17, 8.92, and 10.41 kg·m−2·h−1, respectively. The evaporation rate of CC-3 for 3.5% saline was 3.46 kg·m−2·h−1. A 5-day long-time experiment exhibited stable desalination and excellent salt tolerance. Under a wind speed of 2.5 m·s−1, the evaporation rate reached 9.56 kg·m−2·h−1. In an outdoor natural light within a closed system and 2.5 m·s−1 of wind speed, the maximum evaporation rate and cumulative evaporation amount for seawater were 9.59 kg·m−2·h−1 and 66.0 kg·m−2, with no salt crystallization observed on the CC surface. These results demonstrate the potential practical application of the CC evaporator in seawater desalination.
Journal of Environmental Engineering Technology•2026•DOI: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202605019
The utilization of food waste as a fermentation substrate can effectively reduce the substrate cost of lactic acid production industrialization, and synergistic fermentation with leachate could promote lactic acid production. However, the effect of magnesium ions in leachate on lactic acid production, metabolic processes, and key functional bacterial communities remains unclear. This study investigated the effect of adding magnesium ions on lactic acid fermentation using food waste as substrate. Results showed that the optimal magnesium ion dosage was 750 mg/L, achieving a lactic acid yield of (37.4±0.5) g COD/L and L-lactic acid optical activity of (96.3±0.9)%. Mechanistic studies revealed that magnesium ions accelerated substrate dissolution, significantly enhanced the activities of key hydrolytic enzymes (α-glucosidase, amylase, protease) and L-lactic acid producing enzymes, thereby increasing hydrolysis and lactate production rates. Simultaneously, the relative activity of lactate-consuming enzymes decreased, slowing lactate consumption. At 750 mg/L Mg2+, the relative abundances of Enterococcus and Streptococcus were 65.0% (2.2 times the Blank) and 18.7% (37.8% of the Blank), respectively, with a total of 83.7%, enhancing lactic acid yield and L-lactic acid optical activity. Metabolic pathway prediction and functional gene analysis further indicated that magnesium ions increased the relative abundance of carbohydrate metabolism pathways and genes encoding lactate dehydrogenase. This study provides technical support for food waste resource utilization.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3938-0
Chirality is a fundamental property ubiquitous in nature, playing a pivotal role across physics, chemistry, biology, and materials science. With the advent of nanotechnology, chiral research has extended to the nanoscale, where chiral quantum dots have attracted attention due to high photoluminescence quantum yields and stability. However, conventional II–VI quantum dots often contain toxic heavy metals, exhibit poor water solubility and biocompatibility, and require complex preparation. Carbon dots (CDs), a novel class of carbon-based nanomaterials under 10 nm, offer low toxicity, straightforward synthesis, and excellent biocompatibility. Chiral carbon dots (Ch-CDs) combine the advantages of CDs with intrinsic chirality, endowing them with circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) and distinctive photophysical and chemical properties. This review systematically refines and summarizes construction strategies for Ch-CDs, including one-step synthesis, surface modification, and assembly methods. It comprehensively elaborates on recent advances in optical properties, focusing on tunable multicolor CPL, CPL enhancement, and triplet-state emission, addressing a gap in reviews on triplet-related chiral functionalities. The challenges and future perspectives for diversified applications are proposed. Ch-CDs have been extensively applied in photoelectric detection, optical devices, biomedicine, information anti-counterfeiting, and encryption. This review aims to summarize current achievements and stimulate further research, fostering rapid development in the Ch-CDs field.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3877-7
Circularly polarized (CP) photodetectors are pivotal for optical communication, polarization imaging, and target recognition. Chiral organic materials offer structural tunability, solution processability, and compatibility with flexible substrates, yet their development is hindered by synthetic challenges, enantiomeric separation difficulties, and intrinsically weak chiroptical responses. Recent advances in molecular design and solid-state assembly have markedly enhanced device performance. This review summarizes developments in chiral organic materials for CP photodetection, focusing on molecular design and supramolecular engineering. It highlights strategies such as chiral non-fullerene acceptors, cooperative supramolecular polymerization, and chiral 2D supramolecular organization in single crystals, which amplify dissymmetry factors and enable high-performance detection across UV to near-infrared regions. Potential applications in spin-encoded communication, biological sensing, and quantum computing are discussed. The review aims to deepen understanding and foster interdisciplinary research in this emerging field.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3897-6
Decoding the nature of catalytically active sites is an essential prerequisite for the rational design of catalysts for electrochemical H2O2 synthesis, but faces significant challenges, particularly for controversial cobalt single-atom catalysts (Co SACs). Herein, we report trace Co single-atom sites embedded within pyridinic N-rich carbon nanospheres (Co1-NNH3-C), synthesized via a self-assembly coupled surface-coating strategy. The Co1-NNH3-C catalyst demonstrates remarkable H2O2 selectivity (99%) and activity at current density of −3.5 mA cm−2 in 0.1 M H2SO4. Through a combined approach of molecular probe experiments, surface modification, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, we disclose that pyridinic N, rather than Co single atoms, serves as the direct active site for 2e− oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). The trace Co (0.05 wt%) indirectly facilitated pyridinic N formation during pyrolysis but exhibits negligible direct catalytic involvement. DFT reveals pyridinic N sites optimize OOH intermediate adsorption (ΔG*OOH = 4.0 eV) and minimize reaction overpotential of 0.20 V, enabling scalable H2O2 production (907.5 mmol gcat−1 h−1). This work redefines the role of trace metal in SACs, providing a paradigm for designing metal-induced carbon catalysts for sustainable electrosynthesis for H2O2.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202509080
Plastic pollution poses a global environmental challenge, and developing efficient, low-cost pyrolysis catalysts is crucial for resource recovery from plastic waste. This study investigates ex-situ catalytic pyrolysis of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) over ZSM-5 (Si/Al = 25) modified with Zn and Fe at loadings of 5% and 10% via impregnation. Catalysts were characterized by XRD, FT-IR, XPS, SEM, TEM, and BET. TGA was used to assess thermal behavior, and catalytic pyrolysis experiments were conducted in a tube furnace at 450 °C, with product analysis by GC-MS. Results show that metal incorporation preserved the ZSM-5 framework while modifying acid site distribution and surface morphology, enhancing cracking and dehydrogenation. All modified catalysts increased light gasoline-range hydrocarbon yield and reduced heavy fractions compared to non-catalytic runs. Among them, 10% Zn/ZSM-5 exhibited the best performance, boosting light gasoline hydrocarbons to 74.77%, approximately three times that of the non-catalytic case, significantly improving oil quality. This study demonstrates the potential of low-cost metal-modified zeolites for efficient and economical plastic waste pyrolysis.
Journal of Fuel Chemistry and Technology•2026•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5813(26)60636-6
Polyoxymethylene dimethyl ethers (DMMx) are promising clean diesel additives. Compared to the traditional aldol condensation route, the one-step oxidative method for producing DMMx directly from methanol is a green synthesis route offering significant advantages. However, due to the complexity of the reaction, a balance must be struck between oxidation depth and C–O chain growth efficiency. This imposes specific requirements on the design of catalysts with multifunctional active sites: the catalyst should possess appropriate oxidative activity, suitable acid strength distribution, and effective synergy between these two functions. To address these challenges, this study designed a sulfuric acid-modified molybdenum-doped NASICON catalyst, which demonstrated favorable catalytic performance in the one-step oxidative synthesis of DMMx from methanol. Over the NSC-Mo-0.5-30% catalyst, methanol conversion rate of 81.3% and the DMMx selectivity of 58.7% were achieved, along with the formation of heavier molecules, as evidenced by the DMM2–6 selectivity of 11.3%. The NH3-TPD, Py-IR and XPS results indicate that the introduction of molybdenum increases the number of weak Lewis acid sites, while sulfuric acid impregnation not only generates gradient-distributed Brønsted acid sites but also promotes the formation of Mo5+/Mo6+ redox pairs. The cooperation of the two types of active sites significantly enhances catalyst performance.
Journal of Fuel Chemistry and Technology•2026•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5813(26)60652-4
The performance of industrial zeolite catalysts, exemplified by fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) catalysts, is governed by microscopic behaviors including mass transfer, acidity, and coking. Conventional characterization techniques such as XRD, N2 physisorption, and TPD provide bulk-averaged or static ex situ information, failing to resolve dynamic processes under realistic reaction conditions. Recent advances in super-resolution fluorescence imaging enable nanoscale visualization of these key processes. This review systematically summarizes three critical applications: (1) Mass transfer diffusion: heterogeneous diffusion of reactant molecules within hierarchical pore networks is revealed, quantifying diffusion barriers and tortuosity. (2) Acid site accessibility: nanoscale localization of acid sites and their accessibility is achieved, correlating with catalytic activity. (3) Coking behavior: spatiotemporal evolution of coke species is identified, linking coke precursors to deactivation. The review elaborates how super-resolution imaging deepens understanding of fundamental catalytic mechanisms, providing theoretical support for rational design of high-performance catalysts through pore structure optimization, acid site regulation, and coking suppression. Current challenges and future directions are discussed, emphasizing the need for in situ correlation with catalytic performance.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2025021805
This study analyzed 75 precipitation samples collected from August 2017 to August 2018 in the Meili Snow Mountain region of the Hengduan Mountains. The chemical characteristics of inorganic ions and their seasonal variations between monsoon and non-monsoon periods were examined. The volume-weighted mean total ion concentration was 246.2 μeq·L–1, with higher concentrations in the non-monsoon season and lower in the monsoon season. The dominant water chemistry type was HCO3–-Ca2+. Principal component and partial correlation analyses indicated that Ca2+, Mg2+, HCO3–, and SO42– mainly originated from local sedimentary rock dust, while Na+ and Cl– were primarily marine during the monsoon, with reduced marine influence in the non-monsoon period. NO3– was largely attributed to South Asian pollution emissions, with significant contributions from biomass burning to K+, Na+, and Cl– in the pre-monsoon phase. PMF source apportionment confirmed that during the monsoon, approximately 70% of Cl– and Na+ were from sea salt, whereas in the non-monsoon, over half came from biomass burning. NO3– was almost entirely from fossil fuel combustion during the monsoon (96%), decreasing to 72% in the non-monsoon. Ca2+ and Mg2+ were mainly from carbonate dust in the monsoon and weathered dust in the non-monsoon. Backward trajectory analysis showed that the non-monsoon period was dominated by westerly transport (60%), while the monsoon was dominated by southwest monsoon transport (81%). These findings provide scientific basis for understanding atmospheric pollution and background values in the region.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3898-7
Platinum (Pt) is the benchmark catalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) in acidic electrolytes, but its performance in alkaline media is limited by excessively strong hydrogen binding energy (HBE). Here, we report oxygen-modified ultrasmall RuCu nanocrystals (RuCu/C-200) as an efficient catalyst for both alkaline HER and HOR. The RuCu/C-200 catalyst exhibits excellent HER activity with an overpotential of 9 mV at 10 mA cm−2 and a Tafel slope of 19.7 mV dec−1. For HOR, it achieves a 4.2-fold higher exchange current density than the unannealed sample. Mechanistic studies reveal that the optimized HBE, hydroxyl binding energy (OHBE), and strongly hydrogen-bonded interfacial water, induced by oxygen modification, are the intrinsic determinants of the improved catalytic activity. This work underscores the potential of combining nanoscale structural design with oxygen modification to develop high-performance Ru-based electrocatalysts for both alkaline HER and HOR.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3810-y
Amorphous metal-organic frameworks (aMOFs), with abundant defects and unsaturated coordination sites, are ideal precursors for investigating electrocatalytic reconstruction mechanisms. However, systematic understanding of how different modulation strategies affect reconstruction pathways and final active species remains lacking. Here, an amorphous MOF constructed from 3,4,9,10-pyrene-tetracarboxylic acid (PTA) serves as a controllable precursor to compare doping and alloying effects on structural reconstruction and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) performance. Doping promotes preferential reconstruction into Fe-rich (oxy)hydroxides with more exposed active sites, whereas alloying yields Fe-Co mixed (oxy)hydroxides with limited site exposure. The doped system FeCo0.05-PTA exhibits outstanding OER activity in alkaline conditions, with overpotentials of 208 and 248 mV at 50 and 100 mA cm−2, respectively, and a low Tafel slope of 36.2 mV dec−1. In situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) captures the OOH* intermediate, confirming the adsorbate evolution mechanism. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations show the doped system has the lowest free-energy barrier (ΔG = 0.59 eV) at the rate-determining step. This study underscores the decisive role of precursor design, elucidates distinct effects of doping and alloying on reconstruction pathways and final properties of amorphous MOF-derived (oxy)hydroxides, and provides insights for designing related electrocatalysts.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3858-8
High-quality β-Ga2O3 membranes are pivotal for fabricating high-performance memristive devices. Here, vertical Ag/β-Ga2O3/Pt memristors built on high-crystalline-quality β-Ga2O3 membranes via lattice epitaxy engineering and a sacrificial-layer-assisted exfoliation strategy are reported. The resulting β-Ga2O3-based device demonstrates a high ON/OFF ratio exceeding 10^8, low SET/RESET voltages of 0.13 V/−0.11 V, low programming current of 10^-10 A, stable data retention beyond 4 × 10^4 s, and excellent subthreshold characteristics of ~0.47 mV/dec. Adjustable compliance current enables the coexistence of volatile and non-volatile switching modes. Additionally, the resistive switching versatility is predominantly governed by the migration of Ag ions, as supported by electrical characterizations and first-principles calculations. Furthermore, a β-Ga2O3 memristor-based circuit that functions as a reconfigurable and non-volatile exclusive OR (XOR) logic gate has been designed and simulated, enabling both image encryption/decryption and edge detection. This work not only demonstrates lattice-engineered, high-quality β-Ga2O3 membranes for fabricating advanced memristors but also extends their applicability to digital logic and reconfigurable image processing.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3769-2
Proton exchange membrane water electrolyzers (PEMWEs) are pivotal for sustainable hydrogen production, yet the corrosion-induced TiOx on porous transport layers (PTLs) introduces Schottky contact barriers and pinch-off effects, severely impeding charge transfer and efficiency. Here, a cost-effective MoIrOx coating via spray deposition and thermal treatment on Ti felts is proposed. The coating forms a conductive interlayer that establishes a Schottky barrier staircase, reducing the effective electron transfer barrier and isolating TiOx from the ionomer to mitigate the pinch-off effect. The optimal PTL achieves a current density of 3.27 A cm−2 at 2 V, surpassing uncoated Ti felts by 59.5%. The MoIrOx interlayer suppresses localized electron accumulation at the interface, enabling stable operation with ultra-low catalyst loadings by preventing direct ionomer-TiOx contact. This work demonstrates a scalable strategy to enhance PEMWE efficiency and durability while minimizing precious metal reliance, offering critical insights into interface engineering for electrolyzers.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202510060
Wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent is a significant pathway for emerging contaminants (ECs) to enter natural water bodies. This study investigated the removal of ECs by two field-scale gravel-based constructed wetlands: a horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland (QL-CW) and a surface flow constructed wetland (BL-CW), both treating actual WWTP effluent. The influence of operation mode and wetland plant type on EC removal was examined. Using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, principal component analysis, and ecological risk assessment, the removal efficiencies and mechanisms for various ECs were explored. In QL-CW, biodegradation was more pronounced, particularly via ammonia-oxidizing bacteria co-metabolism, favoring ECs with benzyl, secondary amine, secondary amide, tertiary amide, halogenated, and carboxyl functional groups. In BL-CW, electrostatic attraction and hydrophobic interactions were more significant, with plant and root-microorganism uptake and adsorption playing key roles. Surface flow mode achieved significantly higher removal of antibiotics (45.3% vs. 34.1%) compared to horizontal subsurface flow, while no significant differences were observed for non-antibiotic pharmaceuticals (66.6% vs. 64.4%) and pesticides (49.8% vs. 34.2%). Planting Cyperus alternifolius (windmill grass) was more beneficial for antibiotic removal (43.6% vs. 30.1%) than planting Ipomoea aquatica (water spinach). The wetlands effectively reduced the ecological risks of most ECs to marginal levels. This study provides insights into the deep treatment of ECs in WWTP effluent by constructed wetlands.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202510034
Phosphonate wastewater, characterized by stable C–P bonds, poses significant environmental risks due to its resistance to degradation and potential to contribute to eutrophication. This study developed a chloride-enhanced Fe(II)/PMS/H2O2 system for the oxidative degradation of 2-phosphonobutane-1,2,4-tricarboxylic acid (PBTC) and simultaneous recovery of phosphorus as iron phosphate (FePO4). Under optimal conditions (0.1 mmol/L PBTC, 1.0 mmol/L Fe(II), 0.5 mmol/L PMS, 0.5 mmol/L H2O2, 10 mmol/L NaCl, initial pH 3.0, 60 min), total phosphorus (TP) removal reached 100%, with phosphorus nearly completely recovered as FePO4 precipitate. Increasing NaCl concentration and temperature enhanced TP removal, while pH significantly influenced removal efficiency and product speciation; acidic conditions (pH < 4.3) favored FePO4 precipitation. Coexisting Ca2+ and Mg2+ had negligible effects, whereas HCO3− and humic acid (HA) inhibited TP removal in a concentration-dependent manner. Radical quenching and electron spin resonance (ESR) analyses identified hydroxyl radicals (•OH), ferryl ion (Fe(IV)=O), sulfate radicals (SO4•−), and chlorine radicals (Cl•) as primary reactive species, with •OH playing a dominant role. Chloride introduction promoted the generation of multiple reactive species, and Cl• and its derivative Cl2•− directly attacked the C–P bond and phosphonate group, facilitating phosphorus release as PO43− and subsequent FePO4 formation. The system's feasibility was validated using actual industrial circulating cooling water. This study provides a novel approach for phosphonate wastewater treatment and phosphorus recovery.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202510029
Low hydrolysis efficiency is a core bottleneck in anaerobic digestion (AD) of lignocellulosic agricultural residues, limiting methane production and resource utilization. This study optimized thermal hydrolysis pretreatment (THP) of corn straw (CS) using response surface methodology (RSM) to enhance methane yield. The optimal conditions were determined as solid-to-liquid ratio of 51.0–57.5 mg·mL−1, pretreatment time of 74–81 min, and temperature of 182.5–197.5 °C. Under the optimal combination (52.3 mg·mL−1, 78.4 min, 191 °C), cumulative methane yield increased from 218.0 to 362.9 mL·g−1 VS, a 66.7% improvement over untreated CS. Characterization via XRD, FTIR, and SEM revealed that THP disrupted the lignocellulosic structure, reducing lignin content from 21.5% to 8.3% and crystallinity index (CrI) from 70.83% to 61.95%. Inhibitory derivatives generated during THP included furfural (1.69 mg·mL−1), 5-methylfurfural (2.44 mg·mL−1), and phenol (23.14 mg·L−1), with a theoretical combined inhibition rate of 7.26%. The promotion effect on methane production (66.7%) far exceeded the theoretical inhibition (7.26%), indicating that THP under optimized conditions is effective and environmentally controllable. This study provides a systematic framework for optimizing THP parameters to maximize methane production from agricultural residues.
Journal of Fuel Chemistry and Technology•2026•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5813(26)60643-3
The adsorption behavior and electron transfer mechanism of CO on Ptn/γ-Al2O3 catalysts (n = 4, 13) were systematically investigated using density functional theory (DFT) calculations, complemented by infrared (IR) spectroscopy, electron difference density (EDD), and charge decomposition analysis (CDA). The study reveals that Pt cluster size critically governs the adsorption configuration, electron transfer, and C–O vibrational frequency. For small Pt4 sub-nanometric clusters, highly unsaturated Pt atoms exhibit strong d-electron back-donation, leading to substantial filling of CO π* antibonding orbitals, significant weakening of the C–O bond, and a redshift in IR frequency. Conversely, large Pt13 clusters, characterized by dense structures and electron delocalization, exhibit weakened back-donation, enhanced C–O bonding, and a blueshift. The electron transfer intensity follows the order: linear < bridge < multi-terminal adsorption. Bridge adsorption is most sensitive to cluster size, displaying an IR blueshift of 81 cm−1 when Pt atoms increase from 4 to 13. Multi-terminal adsorption shows stable frequencies due to a 'saturation effect'. This study establishes a comprehensive correlation among Pt size, electronic structure, adsorption properties, and infrared response, providing atomic-scale theoretical guidance for designing efficient Pt-based catalysts with optimized CO adsorption strength and resistance to poisoning.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2025040705
Chromium is a common environmental metal pollutant. Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 can generate extracellular electrons, facilitating the reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III), thereby mitigating its toxicity. Both biochar and electroactive dissolved organic matter (e-DOM) regulate extracellular electron transfer during Cr(VI) bioreduction. In practice, surface DOM on biochar can detach and enter the environment, while the biochar matrix (BCM) remains the predominant form and coexists with e-DOM. However, the combined effects of BCM and e-DOM on microbial Cr(VI) removal are unclear. This study investigated the individual and combined impacts of biochar matrix and AQDS (a model e-DOM) on Cr(VI) reduction by S. oneidensis MR-1. Results showed that biochar matrix or AQDS alone promoted Cr(VI) removal, primarily by accelerating electron transfer during the fast reduction phase. However, when both were added, an antagonistic effect was observed, attributed to increased repulsive forces between the biochar matrix-AQDS complex and the bacterial cells, which inhibited electron transfer to Cr(VI). This research elucidates the electrochemical interactions between biochar matrix and e-DOM, providing a theoretical basis for biochar applications in environmental remediation and risk assessment.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3967-x
Metal-halide perovskites exhibit exceptional optical gain, narrow emission linewidths, and high emission efficiency, positioning them as promising candidates for next-generation lasers. Thermal evaporation, a mature semiconductor fabrication technique, offers scalability, yet monitoring phase distribution during deposition remains challenging. This study systematically investigates and regulates thermally evaporated FAxCs0.8PbBr3 perovskite films by tuning formamidinium (FA) content to optimize phase distribution. At intermediate FA content, films achieve a balanced distribution of n=2 to n=5 quantum-well phases, facilitating ultrafast carrier transfer (<0.31 ps) and suppressing nonradiative recombination. FA+ actively incorporates as an A-site cation, promoting ordered crystallization and reducing defect densities. The optimized films exhibit a net modal gain of 1041 cm−1 and a gain lifetime of 129 ps. Benefiting from efficient internal scattering, the threshold for cavity-free random lasing is reduced to below 5 μJ/cm2 at room temperature. The low spatial coherence of random lasing enables speckle-free imaging with a speckle contrast as low as 0.011 and improved contrast-to-noise ratios across all spatial frequencies. This work provides a scalable strategy for perovskite composition-phase engineering, advancing speckle-free laser imaging systems compatible with semiconductor-grade, large-area manufacturing.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-4000-1
Formamidine lead-based perovskites (FAPbI3) exhibit significant potential in optoelectronic applications. Nevertheless, they encounter challenges related to δ-phase instability and reliance on toxic solvents. In this study, we present a green solvent-additive synergy strategy that employs γ-valerolactone (GVL) in conjunction with reductive acids like oxalic acid (OA), to stabilize α-FAPbI3 single crystals (SCs). GVL enhances the stability of the precursors through the formation of FA+-GVL hydrogen bonds and high-valence [PbIx]2−x clusters, resulting in ambient-stable α-phase SCs, yielding a marked improvement in stability compared to SCs prepared with the toxic solvent γ-butyrolactone (GBL). Additive modulation demonstrates that H+ and reductive groups play a critical role in regulating crystallization, suppressing the δ-phase by promoting FA+ dissociation and inhibiting MA+ deprotonation. A solvent-involved intermediate, δ-FAPbI3-GVL, has been identified; this intermediate evolves into α-FAPbI3 at a low temperature of 60 °C, thereby reducing the energy barriers associated with the α to δ phase transition. In contrast, non-reductive acids and reductive ionic liquids do not inhibit δ-phase formation, with the latter even promoting the crystallization of pure δ-FAPbI3. By utilizing low-volatility OA as an additive, optimized FA0.9MA0.1PbI3 single crystal thin films exhibit a low defect density of 8.3 × 10^11 cm−3. Subsequently, a photodetector was fabricated. Under zero bias voltage and 780 nm illumination, the device exhibited a responsivity of 14.5 mA/W, a detectivity of 3.75 × 10^10 Jones, and a response speed of 149/65 μs. Moreover, without any encapsulation, the device’s performance diminished by only 17% after 30 days of storage in ambient conditions, indicating remarkable stability.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202509120
The 'Zero-Waste City' initiative, centered on source reduction, resource utilization, and safe disposal of solid waste, aims to minimize environmental impact. To quantitatively assess its carbon reduction contribution, this study took Mianyang as a case, systematically collecting data on solid waste generation, utilization, and disposal across industrial, agricultural, and other sectors from 2021 to 2024. Employing an improved WARM model and emission factor method, and incorporating generation, utilization, and disposal intensities, the carbon reduction benefits before (2021–2022) and after (2023–2024) the initiative were evaluated. Results show that despite significant improvements in comprehensive utilization and safe disposal rates, total solid waste generation increased, leading to a net negative carbon effect of -127.6×10^4 tCO2eq based on absolute quantities. However, after stripping economic and population growth factors, intensity-based accounting revealed a cumulative reduction of 10.8×10^4 tCO2eq, demonstrating significant synergistic benefits. The industrial sector contributed the most, with a reduction of 40.2×10^4 tCO2eq, driven by green transformation and enhanced utilization capacity. Conversely, the rising intensity of domestic solid waste generation resulted in a negative benefit of -46.1×10^4 tCO2eq, highlighting a key area for future improvement. The study underscores the necessity of considering both intensity and absolute quantity dimensions in evaluating rapidly developing cities. These findings provide practical evidence and reference pathways for advancing 'Zero-Waste City' construction and synergistic pollution reduction and carbon mitigation under the 'dual carbon' goals.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202511094
Brewer's spent grain (BSG), a major byproduct of the brewing industry, is produced in large quantities globally, yet its high-value utilization remains limited. This study investigated the effects of fermentation temperature (35, 40, 45, 50, and 55 °C) on volatile fatty acid (VFA) production and fungal community structure during anaerobic fermentation of BSG. Results showed that mesophilic temperatures significantly enhanced VFA yields, with the highest production at 35 °C, reaching 344.22 mg/g COD converted, and a peak VFA concentration of 14,267 mg/L after 5 days. Acetic acid dominated the VFA profile (95.6%–98.9%) across all temperatures. Protein and carbohydrate degradation rates were highest under mesophilic conditions, while lipid degradation peaked at 55 °C. Fungal community analysis revealed that at peak acid production, cellulose-degrading fungi were predominant, with Oligophagozyma being the dominant genus at 35 °C (90.07%) and 40 °C (55.31%). Higher temperatures increased fungal diversity and evenness. Mantel tests indicated that carbohydrates and lipids promoted fungal growth, whereas total dissolved solids, nitrate, and phosphate inhibited it. These findings provide insights into the role of fungi in VFA production from BSG and support its resource utilization.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2026022702
This study systematically investigated the occurrence and vertical distribution of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in solid waste, leachate, and surrounding groundwater at a municipal solid waste landfill in Fuyang City, Anhui Province, China. A total of 23 PFAS were detected in solid waste, with total concentrations (∑PFAS) ranging from 7.95 to 172.28 ng·g⁻¹. Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), an ultrashort-chain PFAS, was ubiquitous, contributing on average 59% to the total PFAS mass. PFAS composition varied with depth: long-chain PFAS dominated in middle and upper layers, while short-chain and ultrashort-chain PFAS were more abundant in deeper layers, indicating enhanced downward migration of shorter-chain compounds. Sulfonic acid PFAS exhibited increasing relative abundance with depth. Leachate ∑PFAS concentration was 14.35 μg·L⁻¹, dominated by short-chain compounds such as PFPrS and PFBS, consistent with the composition in bottom-layer waste. Groundwater surrounding the landfill contained multiple PFAS, with concentrations decreasing with distance from the landfill, confirming the landfill as a source of PFAS to the surrounding environment. Multivariate analyses (PCoA and Bray–Curtis dissimilarity) revealed that some groundwater samples closely resembled leachate in PFAS composition, suggesting direct impact via leachate migration. These findings underscore the role of landfills as significant reservoirs and sources of PFAS, particularly ultrashort-chain compounds, and highlight the need for improved leachate management to mitigate groundwater contamination.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-4027-0
Microneedle (MN)-based transdermal delivery systems enhance skin permeability by creating microscale conduits through the stratum corneum, enabling controlled and sustained release of therapeutics. Nevertheless, conventional MN designs predominantly rely on passive diffusion, resulting in shallow drug penetration depth and limited spatial distribution range, which significantly restricts their therapeutic efficacy in complex biological environments. Emerging advancements have integrated gas therapy into MN platforms to overcome these limitations. The released therapeutic gases facilitate deeper drug penetration via propulsion and also exhibit inherent bioactivity, contributing to synergistic treatment outcomes. This review summarizes the mechanisms, design strategies, and applications of gas-releasing MN systems, while highlighting key scientific and translational challenges, including the precise regulation of gas release, the development of multi-gas synergistic systems, the extension to deep-tissue therapy, and the assurance of biosafety. Future directions emphasize the construction of intelligent, stimuli-responsive MNs, the integration of interdisciplinary technologies to enhance delivery depth, and the establishment of standardized, scalable manufacturing frameworks. Collectively, this work aims to advance gas-releasing MN technology toward precise, efficient, and controllable therapeutic applications, bridging the gap between laboratory research and clinical translation.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-4004-3
The development of efficient and stable oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalysts is critical for clean energy technologies, yet conventional cobalt-based spinel catalysts often suffer from insufficient activity and structural instability under operating conditions. To address these challenges, this study proposes and constructs a cation-ordered spinel-like catalyst (HVI Metal-CoMoO4/NF). The unique crystalline framework induces significant Jahn-Teller distortion and pre-stabilizes a Co2+/Co3+ mixed-valence state at the cobalt active centers via asymmetric Co–O–Mo bridges, effectively optimizing bulk charge transport. Electrochemical tests demonstrate that its performance significantly surpasses that of benchmark materials, requiring only an overpotential of 307 mV to drive a current density of 100 mA cm−2 in 1.0 M KOH, with a Tafel slope of 63.13 mV dec−1, maintaining stable operation for over 320 h at high current density. Crucially, our structural and in situ characterization results clearly reveal a stable and well-crystallized reconstruction behavior from the surface into the bulk of the spinel-like pre-catalyst during the OER. This work fundamentally addresses the challenges of disordered reconstruction and unstable active phases in traditional spinel catalysts, providing a paradigm for regulating the dynamic evolution of electrocatalysts through precise structural design.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-4037-1
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) poses a therapeutic challenge due to its anatomical complexity and the limitations of conventional treatments in achieving precise targeting and sufficient efficacy. Here, we report a multifunctional platform based on heat-triggered electrospray self-healing porous poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microspheres encapsulating indocyanine green (ICG), sequentially coated with a tannic acid-Fe3+ (TAF) metal-phenolic network and fibronectin (FN) for targeted photothermal/chemodynamic combination therapy. The resulting functional microspheres (PI-TAF@FN) exhibit an average size of 1.9 μm, excellent colloidal stability, heat-induced self-healing performance, and a high photothermal conversion efficiency of 51.4%. These microspheres specifically target NPC cells via FN-mediated integrin recognition, enabling ICG/TAF-mediated photothermal therapy under 808-nm laser irradiation and TAF-mediated chemodynamic therapy, leading to enhanced cancer cell apoptosis in vitro. In a mouse NPC model, the combined photothermo-chemodynamic therapy achieved effective tumor treatment with minimal systemic toxicity. Furthermore, the dual TAF and ICG components allow multimode FN-targeted T1-weighted magnetic resonance/fluorescence/thermal imaging for precision NPC management. This electrospray self-healing porous microsphere platform offers a unique theranostic strategy that can integrate diverse therapeutic and diagnostic components for precision oncology.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-4029-4
Chemical sensing technology is pivotal in modern industry and daily life, with sensor performance critically reliant on nanomaterials. While sensors based on traditional nanomaterials, such as inorganic semiconductors and organic conductive polymers, have achieved commercialization, they face persistent challenges. As an emerging subclass, conductive metal-organic frameworks (c-MOFs) not only inherit the core advantages of traditional MOFs—high specific surface area, porosity, and tunable composition/structure—but also offer adjustable electrical conductivity, rendering them ideal for sensing applications. This review systematically elucidates the construction and properties of c-MOFs across microscopic crystalline and macroscopic micro-nano structural scales. Special emphasis is placed on the structural design and regulation of c-MOFs for analytical sensing, and the intrinsic structure-performance relationship is clarified to achieve higher sensitivity, selectivity, response speed, and long-term stability, as well as other performance metrics. Finally, we comprehensively summarize the typical applications of c-MOFs-based sensors, covering environmental and safety monitoring, photoelectric detection, and health monitoring and diagnosis. At the same time, the key challenges existing in this field, such as the controllable preparation of high-quality single-crystal materials, the theoretical analysis of intrinsic electrically conductive mechanisms, and the balance between macroscopic material stability and the processing performance of devices, were evaluated. The future research directions should focus on developing new ligands and metal combinations to optimize the band structure, deepening the exploration of the mechanisms of emerging physical effects such as piezoelectricity, and promoting the integration and application of materials in practical scenarios such as flexible electronics and wearable devices.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-4067-4
Confined growth of metal halide perovskite quantum dots (QDs) in porous matrices yields improved stability and sensitivity for their implementation in luminescent chemical sensing applications. Here, we realized the synthesis of highly stable (water, photo, and thermal) and luminescent CsPbX3 QDs within nanoporous glass (NG). This is achieved by a nano-confined aqueous synthesis of CsPbBr3 QDs in Pb-anchored NG. Benefiting from strong Pb–O–Si chemical bonding between the perovskite QDs and the NG matrix, the stability of the encapsulated perovskite QDs is significantly enhanced. The emission of the perovskite NG can be tuned from 440 to 760 nm. By integrating green- and red-emitting perovskite NG onto a blue LED chip, stable WLEDs were successfully fabricated. This facile approach enables the integration of ultra-stable perovskite QDs within transparent porous monoliths toward diverse luminescent chemical sensing applications.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4146-8
The conventional trial-and-error approach for the research and development (R&D) of high-performance super-hydrophilic coatings presents long-standing challenges, including data scarcity, unclear structure-activity relationships, and lack of design guidelines. In this study, an innovative multi-model framework that synergistically integrates a specialized polymer large language model (PolyLLM) and a polymer machine learning model (PolyML) for intelligent R&D of super-hydrophilic coating systems is designed and demonstrated. During the hydrophilic polymer research phase, the multi-model leverages the domain-specific insights and chemical tool capabilities of the fine-tuned PolyLLM to systematically screen 852 hydrophilic monomers and generate 3880 hypothetical polymer architectures. By utilizing the PolyML, the multi-model enables precise performance predictions and quantitative evaluations of feature importance to facilitate efficient high-throughput screening of optimal structures from the generated polymer database. Experimental validation confirms that the multi-model achieves a mean absolute error (MAE) below 10% across various polymer property prediction tasks compared to experimental data. This approach leads to the rapid discovery of hydrophilic polymers with exceptional anti-swelling and wear-resistance. In developing super-hydrophilic coatings, the multi-model effectively combines PolyLLM's guidance for large-scale synthesis with PolyML's capabilities for precise formulation optimization and curing parameter adjustments. The effectiveness of multi-model is demonstrated by the accelerated development of high-performance anti-fogging coatings for swim goggles and optical films with outstanding water- and wear-resistance that significantly outperform leading commercial products. This multi-model offers a flexible approach for advanced polymer coatings, leading to a seamless connection between laboratory research and industrial development.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-4024-1
Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) faces limited efficacy due to robust antioxidant systems in tumors that scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS). To overcome this, we developed a pH/ultrasound-responsive theranostic nanoplatform, Mn-CaCO3@NGQDs/PAA, via self-assembly of nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dots (NGQDs), Mn-doped CaCO3, and polyacrylic acid (PAA). This platform synergistically combines SDT with calcium overload. Under ultrasound irradiation, it generates abundant singlet oxygen (1O2), while the acidic tumor microenvironment triggers sustained Ca2+ release, inducing calcium overload. The combined effects amplify oxidative stress, suppressing tumor growth. Additionally, the nanoplatform exhibits dual-mode T1/T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) performance, enabling tumor localization. In vivo studies demonstrated significant tumor inhibition and apoptosis, with no notable toxicity. This integrated strategy maximizes therapeutic efficacy, offering a promising approach for enhanced tumor therapy.