SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4245-4
The discrimination of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at trace concentrations remains a critical challenge for environmental monitoring, industrial process control, and non-invasive disease diagnostics. Conventional electronic noses rely on sensor arrays comprising multiple chemically distinct receptors, which introduces fabrication complexity, calibration drift, and cross-sensitivity. Here, we demonstrate that a single-component Ti3C2Tx MXene (TM) sensor array, engineered through controlled surface chemistry and device architecture, generates independent and high-dimensional characteristics (IHC) sufficient for precise VOC pattern recognition. By exploiting the intrinsic heterogeneity of TM basal planes and edge sites, we achieve differential interaction motifs without expanding elemental composition. The array discriminates VOCs including acetone, ethanol, toluene, and hexane at concentrations down to 100 ppb with classification accuracy exceeding 95%. Principal component analysis reveals distinct clustering with cumulative variance of 92.3% captured by the first three principal components. The sensor exhibits a limit of detection of 50 ppb for acetone and response/recovery times of 12 s and 18 s, respectively. Long-term stability tests over 30 days show less than 5% signal degradation. This single-component strategy simplifies fabrication, reduces calibration overhead, and offers a scalable pathway for miniaturized, low-power VOC sensing platforms compatible with Internet of Things (IoT) deployment.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4322-4
Ultrafast scintillators with low-nanosecond emission are essential for next-generation high-rate X-ray and particle imaging. Although Ce3+-activated scintillators inherently exhibit fast response characteristics, conventional Ce3+-doped hosts rarely achieve low-nanosecond ultrafast decay. Here, we report a high-entropy fluoride scintillator (HEFS), Ce:LaGdCaSrBaF12 (Ce:LGCSB), in the form of bulk single crystals. The severe lattice distortion arising from multi-cation disorder induces exciton localization and effectively suppresses exciton diffusion. Through the rapid relaxation of localized excitons, the high-entropy Ce:LGCSB single crystals deliver a decay time of 1.23 ns with a 94.6% fast-component contribution and without any noticeable slow component. Through first-principles calculations, spectroscopic characterization, and transient dynamics analysis, we reveal that the ultrafast response originates from accelerated Frenkel exciton (FE) recombination enabled by the high-entropy environment. This work establishes entropy-engineered fluorides as promising ultrafast scintillator platforms and proposes a general strategy for extending sluggish diffusion effects to the excitonic scale, offering new opportunities for improving scintillation timing performance.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3675-3
The tumor microenvironment (TME) is characterized by elevated H2O2 levels and hypoxia, posing significant challenges to effective cancer treatment. Chemodynamic therapy (CDT) exploits these conditions to generate cytotoxic hydroxyl radicals via Fenton reactions, yet its efficacy as a monotherapy is limited. Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) offers deep-tissue ROS generation under ultrasound (US) but is oxygen-dependent. Immunotherapy can modulate systemic immune responses but often suffers from low response rates. Here, we highlight a recent breakthrough published in Nature Nanotechnology by Prof. Jiatao Zhang and colleagues, who engineered a multifunctional quantum dot system (FAQD) integrating CDT, SDT, and immunotherapy through atomically dispersed iron and selenium chemistry. The FAQD comprises zinc selenide quantum dots with Ag doping and Fe decoration, synthesized via a three-step method. Structural analyses (HAADF-STEM, XRD, XPS, EXAFS) confirmed a quasi-single-crystalline structure with atomically dispersed Fe(III) and Ag(I). Optimal Ag:Zn ratio (5:100) maximized singlet oxygen yield under US. In vitro, FAQD-1 (with MMP-cleavable PEG) exhibited negligible cytotoxicity without US, but under US and H2O2, induced substantial ROS production, mitochondrial impairment, and apoptosis in HeLa cells. In vivo, FAQD-1 with US achieved complete suppression of primary and abscopal tumors within two weeks, eliciting robust systemic immune responses (increased CD8+ and CD4+ T cells, reduced Tregs, elevated IL-2 levels). This work demonstrates a synergistic trimodal nanoplatform with precise spatiotemporal control, offering a promising strategy for cancer therapy.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3678-1
Reed membrane, a natural cellulosic material traditionally used in musical instruments, holds promise in flexible electronics due to its abundance, low cost, and excellent biocompatibility. However, its native form contains water-soluble ions and lipid-soluble waxes that hinder performance in acoustic and electronics by compromising electrical insulation and mechanical stability. Here, supercritical fluid superposition purification (SCSP-WA) is introduced, which utilizes supercritical CO2 with water and acetone as bipolar co-solvents to selectively remove these impurities. Post-SCSP-WA treatment, the reed membrane exhibits significant enhancements in mechanical strength and electrical insulation, achieving a 4-fold increase in elongation at break, improved tensile strength and Young’s modulus, and a 98.5% reduction in leakage current, all while maintaining low and stable capacitance. These improvements stem from the restructuring of the fibrous network into a porous, interconnected microstructure. Material characterization (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM)) confirmed the effective removal of magnesium and waxy functional groups, along with enhanced fiber crosslinking. Cytotoxicity tests further validated the biocompatibility of the SCSP-WA-treated membranes. This environmentally sustainable approach expands the potential of reed membranes in flexible bioelectronics and bio-integrated acoustic systems.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3739-8
The premature decay of electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction (eNRR) performance at low electrode potentials remains a major obstacle to practical applications, primarily due to competition from the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). A new paradigm capable of transcending current selectivity constraints is urgently required to advance eNRR toward industrial implementation. In this work, we propose two practical selectivity descriptors (ΔΔG and ΔU) based on a systematic investigation of the potential-dependent competition between eNRR and HER on confined dual-atom catalysts. The descriptor ΔΔG (ΔG_N2 − ΔG_H) identifies the potential range where N2 adsorption dominates over H adsorption, while ΔU (U_cross – U_eNRR) specifies the potential range to trigger direct eNRR, offering a quantitative benchmark for rational catalyst design. Ideal catalysts should maintain N2-preferential adsorption across a broad potential window to facilitate direct eNRR. Guided by this insight, we demonstrate that confined dual-atom configurations with optimized interatomic distances can simultaneously achieve both overwhelming N2 adsorption and sufficient activation, thereby overcoming conventional selectivity limitations. This strategy enables ammonia synthesis with industrially relevant production rates and current density even at elevated potentials. Our mechanistic insights not only elucidate the root causes of performance limitations in eNRR but also offer a rational design framework for developing high-performance catalysts across a broad range of electrochemical transformations.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202507085
This study investigates the spatiotemporal differentiation of suspended particulate matter (SPM) characteristics, sources, and their impacts on water quality between the Middle Route (closed artificial channel) and East Route (open natural water system) of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project. Thirty sampling sites (13 on the Middle Route, 17 on the East Route) were established, and samples were collected during dry and wet seasons. Water quality parameters and SPM characteristics were analyzed, including particle size distribution, total suspended solids (TSS), chlorophyll a, and stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes. Results show that the Middle Route maintains good and stable water quality, with SPM dominated by coarse particles (>63 μm, 61.43%–94.68%), total phosphorus (TP) <0.01 mg·L−1, and a significant positive correlation between chlorophyll a and coarse particles (r=0.60), indicating algal aggregation dominates particle formation. In contrast, the East Route exhibits high and fluctuating nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations, with SPM dominated by fine particles (<20 μm, 51.26%–88.61%), TP ranging from 0.03 to 1.11 mg·L−1, and a positive correlation with fine particles, suggesting significant external inputs. Carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis reveals that Middle Route SPM primarily originates from autochthonous algae (contribution >46.75%), while East Route SPM is influenced by both terrestrial C3 plants and algae. The distinct engineering and management approaches of the two routes lead to significant differences in SPM characteristics and sources, thereby affecting water quality dynamics. The Middle Route requires an 'algal reduction and hydrodynamic optimization' strategy to control algal-derived coarse particle deposition, whereas the East Route benefits from 'retention-sedimentation and wetland purification' to reduce external fine particles and pollutant inputs. This research provides theoretical support and practical guidance for differentiated SPM management in long-distance water diversion systems.
Journal of Environmental Engineering Technology•2026•DOI: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202605014
Chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons (CAHs) are prevalent groundwater contaminants at industrial sites in China. This pilot-scale study evaluated in-situ anaerobic bioremediation of CAHs-contaminated groundwater in a low-permeability bedrock fracture zone at depths up to 40 m. A self-developed anaerobic dechlorinating culture (BS-1), containing Dehalococcoides, Desulfitobacterium, and Dehalogenimonas, was injected alongside carbon sources (sodium citrate and emulsified vegetable oil) and nutrients. Pressurized nitrogen gas injection enhanced the distribution of amendments, achieving a radius of influence of 5.0 m. Over 399 days of monitoring, the combined use of slow-release and soluble carbon sources maintained anaerobic conditions (ORP < -100 mV) for over one year, providing sustained electron donors. The emulsified vegetable oil reduced injection frequency and operational costs. The BS-1 culture effectively dechlorinated vinyl chloride, cis-1,2-dichloroethylene, trichloroethylene, and chloroform, achieving removal efficiencies exceeding 95%. At times, groundwater quality met the Class IV standard of GB/T 14848-2017. This study demonstrates a green, economical, and effective solution for CAH-contaminated site remediation, with significant engineering application potential.