SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4428-0
Passive radiative thermal management is reframed as a device-level engineering problem for thermoelectric generators (TEGs) rather than a spectral-material optimization exercise. The surface temperature difference (ΔT) generated by photothermal (PT) absorbers and passive daytime radiative cooling (PDRC) emitters is not equivalent to the effective junction ΔT that drives carrier transport under load; parasitic heat leakage, contact thermal/electrical resistance at electrodes and interfaces, and nonuniform heat spreading systematically degrade the usable gradient. Spectral selectivity sets the upper bound of attainable ΔT, while module architecture, interfacial resistance, and heat-transfer path matching determine whether that bound is preserved as continuous electrical output. The Perspective identifies a critical metrology gap: most reports cite surface ΔT or peak open-circuit voltage without reporting the ΔT-transfer ratio under load, obscuring where thermal losses occur. Because both open-circuit voltage and internal electrical resistance vary with ΔT, external load must be dynamically matched across day-night and weather cycles; night-time reversal of heat-flow direction through the PDRC/PT stack necessitates DC polarity-conversion circuitry, and compact energy storage must buffer intermittent output. The authors argue that fill-factor reduction can preserve junction ΔT by raising thermal resistance but simultaneously increases electrical resistance and suppresses current. Credible assessment criteria are proposed: outdoor 24 h energy density, load-matched power, day-night continuity, and cycle-to-cycle repeatability, rather than peak voltage alone. Near-term deployment targets building-envelope sensors, structural-health monitors, wearables, and distributed IoT nodes where wiring or battery replacement dominates lifetime cost.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4324-4
Magnesium-oxygen (Mg-O2) batteries offer high theoretical energy density and low-cost earth-abundant magnesium, yet practical deployment has been impeded by poor cycling stability and low energy efficiency, primarily due to the sluggish decomposition of conventional MgOx discharge products. Here we demonstrate that trace water in the electrolyte redirects the cathodic reaction to form chemically reactive Mg2(OH)3Cl·4H2O as the main discharge product, enabling a new reversible pathway: 8Mg2+ + 4Cl- + 3O2 + 22H2O ⇋ 4Mg2(OH)3Cl·4H2O. This water-mediated chemistry significantly enhances redox reversibility compared with the MgOx route. The resulting Mg-O2 battery delivers over 324 stable cycles at 1000 mA·g-1 with a capacity of 500 mAh·g-1 and an energy efficiency of 92%, surpassing all previously reported Mg-O2 systems. The electrolyte comprises 0.25 M magnesium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (Mg(TFSI)2) and 0.5 M magnesium chloride (MgCl2) in ethylene glycol dimethyl ether (DME) with a trace amount of water. These findings establish a general strategy for reversible Mg-O2 electrochemistry and provide a new design paradigm for practical magnesium-based energy storage.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3603-2
Conventional glass fiber/epoxy (GF/EP) composites, while structurally competent, are hindered by poor interlaminar toughness, low thermal conductivity, and electromagnetic transparency. This study transforms GF/EP composites into advanced structural multifunctional materials by embedding Ti3C2Tx MXene/poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) aerogels (TPA) as integral interlayers. Hybrid composites with tailored architectures—aligned (GFAM_A) and random (GFAM_R) TPA/GF/EP laminates—were fabricated via unidirectional and isotropic freeze-casting, respectively. The integrated aerogel phase promotes crack deflection and distributed energy dissipation, leading to notable enhancements in interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) and fracture toughness. The continuous Ti3C2Tx MXene network within the aerogel creates efficient through-thickness thermal conduction pathways and imparts strong microwave absorption properties. Notably, GFAM_A achieves simultaneous increases of approximately 52% in ILSS, 78% in toughness, and 42% in thermal conductivity, along with effective microwave absorption: a minimum reflection loss of −23.47 dB and a maximum effective bandwidth of 2.70 GHz. This study demonstrates that precision aerogel engineering provides a powerful strategy for upgrading conventional glass fiber composites into advanced multifunctional structural materials.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3805-1
The sluggish kinetics of oxygen reduction and evolution reactions (ORR/OER) at the air electrode impede the practical deployment of fiber zinc-air batteries (FZABs) for wearable electronics. Conventional bifunctional catalysts suffer from an inherent activity trade-off due to the distinct mechanisms of ORR and OER. Here, we propose a spatial decoupling strategy to overcome this limitation by engineering isolated Fe single atoms and Fe–Ir dual-atom pairs on a nitrogen-doped carbon matrix (Fe/FeIr-NC). In this architecture, Fe single atoms serve as ORR centers, while Fe–Ir pairs with tunable spacing are tailored for OER, enabling complete functional separation and independent optimization. The catalyst exhibits an ORR half-wave potential of 0.91 V and an OER overpotential of 250 mV at 10 mA cm−2, yielding a record-low bifunctional gap (ΔE = 0.57 V) that outperforms all reported single- and dual-atom catalysts. A flexible fiber zinc-air battery based on this catalyst delivers a peak power density of 3920 W kg−1, along with a 1.4-fold increase in energy efficiency and a 2.6-fold extension in cycle life compared to the commercial Pt/C + IrO2 benchmark. This work not only breaks the traditional activity trade-off in bifunctional catalysis but also offers a promising route toward high-performance power sources for wearable electronics.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202506005
The escalating generation of medical waste, driven by healthcare expansion and frequent medical activities, poses significant environmental and public health risks. Under the framework of ecological civilization, China is developing a comprehensive policy system for medical waste treatment and disposal, yet the current framework remains nascent and exhibits inconsistencies between national and local policies. This study systematically analyzes the status of national and local policies from 2003 to 2024, collecting 413 policy documents (166 from national ministries and 247 from provincial governments). The analysis examines temporal evolution, regional distribution, and policy focus, alongside the influence of medical waste output, treatment technologies, facility infrastructure, and major epidemic responses. Findings reveal distinct policy phases: initial self-disposal, exploratory management, foundational system building, and rapid development. Regional disparities are pronounced, with eastern coastal areas showing more advanced policies due to greater technical and financial resources. The surge in medical waste, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, underscores the need for enhanced regulatory guidance. Non-incineration technologies are gaining traction for their environmental and cost benefits, and facility coverage has improved but remains uneven. The study proposes five policy principles to foster technological innovation and industrial upgrading, ensuring safe medical waste management and environmental protection.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202507036
This study addresses the deficiencies in material and structural stability and the singular evaluation system in iron tailings pond pollution remediation. Based on an integrated design-construction-evaluation concept, we developed a three-dimensional anti-seepage system incorporating iron tailings sand-bentonite mixtures and a composite liner structure. The system was applied to an actual remediation project in Qichun County, Hubei Province, China, covering an area of 18.72×10^4 m^2 with 43.42×10^4 m^3 of tailings. Theoretical calculations of leachate generation, material testing, and structural optimization were performed. The optimized mixture achieved a permeability coefficient (k) reduction from 10^-4 cm/s to 10^-8 cm/s as bentonite content increased from 0% to 9%, meeting the engineering standard of k≤10^-7 cm/s. A novel 'pre-embedded pipe + expansion bolt' technique enhanced sealing at structural nodes. Post-remediation monitoring showed significant reductions in heavy metal concentrations in surrounding farmland soil (11.14%–72.41% decrease), all below risk screening values. Iron (Fe) and chromium (Cr) interception rates reached 97.17% and 96.76%, respectively. The Nemerow comprehensive pollution index dropped from 2.39 (moderate pollution) to 0.62 (no pollution), and the potential ecological risk index decreased from 288.50 (moderate risk) to 148.73 (slight risk), representing a reduction of 1–3 pollution levels. The project achieved a 2.78% increase in tailings resource utilization and a 4.71% reduction in engineering cost. This integrated technical system provides a viable approach for tailings pollution control and sustainable waste management.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2024112703
This study investigated air pollution and associated health risks in two underground parking garages located in educational and commercial districts of Nanjing, China. Concentrations of non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHC), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carbon monoxide (CO), and nitrogen oxides (NOx) were monitored. NMHC levels ranged from 0.35–0.55 mg·L−1 (as C) in Garage A and 0.36–1.75 mg·L−1 (as C) in Garage B, peaking during evening rush hours. A total of 23 VOC species were identified, including benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes, dichloromethane, and 1,2-dichloroethane. Benzene series compounds constituted over 90% and 70% of total VOCs (TVOCs) in Garages A and B, respectively. Daily average TVOC concentrations were 146.0 μg·m−3 (weekday) and 49.7 μg·m−3 (weekend) in Garage A, and 2398.1 μg·m−3 and 3401.6 μg·m−3 in Garage B. Maximum CO concentrations reached 10.1 mg·m−3 and 12.6 mg·m−3, exceeding the Chinese indoor standard of 10 mg·m−3 (1-h). NOx levels also exceeded standards. Non-carcinogenic hazard indices (HI) were 0.03 and 0.18, below the EPA threshold of 1. However, carcinogenic risks reached Level II and III, with primary contributors being benzene, 1,2-dichloroethane, and naphthalene in Garage A, and ethylbenzene, benzene, and 1,2-dichloroethane in Garage B. The findings indicate potential health threats to garage users, necessitating enhanced ventilation and exposure mitigation.
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.
The Chinese Journal of Process Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12034/j.issn.1009-606X.225162
The effects of tempering temperature on the microstructure, strength-toughness balance, and precipitates of a quenched Cu-Cr-Ni ultra-high strength weathering steel were systematically investigated. The steel was austenitized at 920°C, quenched, and then tempered at 500°C, 550°C, and 600°C. Microstructural characterization was performed using optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), while mechanical properties were evaluated via tensile and low-temperature impact tests. Results showed that as the tempering temperature increased from 500°C to 600°C, the microstructure transformed from lath-shaped tempered sorbite to a non-lath morphology. The fraction of rod-like cementite decreased, while spheroidized cementite increased, and the size of MC (M = Ti, Nb, V, Mo) precipitates decreased from an average of 12.2 nm to 9.9 nm. Consequently, yield strength and tensile strength decreased from 935 MPa and 958 MPa to 866 MPa and 888 MPa, respectively, whereas total elongation and impact energy at -40°C increased continuously, reaching maximum values of 5.0% and 280 J at 600°C. When tempered at 550°C, the steel exhibited a yield strength of 895 MPa, tensile strength of 921 MPa, elongation of 4.3%, and impact energy of 271 J at -40°C, demonstrating an optimal combination of strength and toughness. This improvement is primarily attributed to the spheroidization of cementite and the uniform dispersion of fine MC precipitates, which alleviate stress concentration, along with the softening of the acicular ferrite matrix during tempering.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3717-6
Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)-based all-solid-state polymer electrolytes (SPEs) hold significant promise for high-specific-energy and high-safety Li batteries, yet suffer from poor mechanical robustness and low Li+-conducting efficiency. Aramid nanofibers (ANFs), with exceptional mechanical strength and abundant intramolecular/intermolecular interactions, are effective additives, but their strictly symmetric interchain interactions generate a highly ordered hydrogen-bond network, producing inert aggregates that compromise electrolyte stability. Here, we construct a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-mediated asymmetric interaction between ANF chains. PEG chains introduce weaker H-bonding acceptor sites, higher steric hindrance, and abundant lithiophilic groups, simultaneously disrupting strong symmetric ANF-ANF interactions and creating rapid Li-ion channels. The resulting electrolyte maintains excellent mechanical properties (yield stress of 3.25 MPa) and enables stable cycling of Li||Li symmetric cells for over 1600 h with low polarization voltage. In LCO||Li cells, the electrolyte achieves a capacity retention of 82.7% after 300 cycles at 1 C, markedly higher than the unmodified counterpart (35.5%). This synergistic optimization of interfacial compatibility and mechanical performance demonstrates a practical route toward safe, high-energy-density all-solid-state polymer batteries.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3835-0
The development of high-performance CO2 separation membranes is critical for advancing carbon capture technologies. Two-dimensional (2D) material membranes, with tunable interlayer nanochannels functionalized by nanomaterials (e.g., metal ions), are promising for CO2 capture. However, achieving uniform nanomaterial distribution without compromising separation performance remains a challenge. Here, we propose a multifunctional molecular immobilization strategy to fabricate a metal ion intercalated graphene oxide (GO) membrane with enhanced CO2 capture performance. The multifunctional molecule sodium p-aminobenzenesulfonate (SPABS) enables in situ and uniform distribution of Na+ in the interlayer channels of the GO membrane. The amino groups of SPABS undergo nucleophilic addition reactions with epoxy groups on GO sheets, resulting in stable interlayer channels. Meanwhile, the hydrophilic sulfonic acid groups enhance water adsorption capacity in the GO interlayer channels, synergizing with Na+ to form active sites that facilitate fast and selective transport of CO2 over N2. The resulting membrane exhibits enhanced CO2 capture performance. A large-sized membrane (15 cm × 20 cm) fabricated by scalable blade-casting shows reproducible performance. This work provides insights and a tool for tailoring nanochannels of 2D material membranes for molecular separation.
Journal of Environmental Engineering Technology•2026•DOI: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202607016
Lead (Pb) is a highly toxic heavy metal that poses severe risks to environmental and human health, particularly affecting children's neurological development. This study investigates the adsorption performance and mechanisms of biochars derived from pyrolysis of Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum), food waste digestate, and their mixtures for Pb²⁺ removal from aqueous solutions. Biochars were prepared at different mass ratios, and the optimal material (HP3SD1-B, Napier grass:digestate = 3:1) exhibited a maximum equilibrium adsorption capacity of 306.45 mg/g and a theoretical Langmuir maximum capacity of 447.62 mg/g, significantly outperforming pure digestate biochar and lower-ratio blends. Adsorption kinetics followed a three-stage profile: rapid liquid-film diffusion (0–180 min), intraparticle diffusion (180–360 min), and equilibrium at 360 min. The adsorption process was well described by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model (R² > 0.99) and the Langmuir isotherm, indicating monolayer chemisorption. Characterization via FTIR, XPS, SEM-EDS, and Zeta potential revealed that Pb²⁺ immobilization occurs primarily through surface precipitation (Pb₃(CO₃)₂(OH)₂ and PbO), complexation with hydroxyl, ether, and aromatic C=C groups, and auxiliary mechanisms including electrostatic attraction and K⁺/Mg²⁺ ion exchange. Optimal adsorption occurred at pH 6, correlating with the point of zero charge (PZC ≈ 2). This study demonstrates that co-pyrolysis of agricultural and organic solid wastes offers a cost-effective, high-performance biochar for heavy metal remediation, aligning with circular economy principles.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3901-2
This work presents a cracked template and vacuum metal evaporation strategy for fabricating structurally randomized copper (Cu) mesh films. Regulating the internal stress distribution within the coating during template cracking enables controlled fabrication of Cu mesh films with varying discrete degrees of mesh aperture area and distinct probability distributions of metal line inclination. The influence of structural parameter randomization on properties was systematically investigated, encompassing higher-order diffraction energy homogenization, optoelectronic performance, and electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness (EMI SE). Results demonstrate that increasing structural randomization effectively suppresses higher-order diffraction energy, achieving a reduction to −3.93 dB in normalized higher-order diffraction energy. Furthermore, the Cu mesh film exhibited minimal degradation on imaging system performance, with resolution decreasing only marginally from 80.6 to 71.8 lp/mm. Simultaneously, the most randomized Cu mesh film demonstrates an ultra-low sheet resistance (3.31 Ω/sq), high visible light transmittance (88.7% at 550 nm), an exceptional figure of merit (FoM=913.69), and robust EMI SE within the X-band (average SE of 33.18 dB). These findings underscore that metal mesh films incorporating structural randomization offer an effective strategy for enhancing EMI shielding in high-performance optoelectronic imaging systems.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3948-7
High-performance thermoelectric materials are typically narrow-band gap semiconductors. Here, by decoupling charge and heat transport in BaZrS3 with a band gap of about 1.9 eV, we made the emerging chalcogenide perovskite a high-performance thermoelectric material with only earth-abundant elements. Our first-principles calculations indicate that the high ionicity of BaZrS3 renders the electrons to propagate mainly through the Zr-4d orbitals, so that isovalent alloying Se on S sites minimally affects its charge transport while effectively suppressing lattice thermal conductivity. Using a flux-assisted solid-state method, we synthesized single-phase BaZrS3(1−x)Se3x samples with 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.25. As an indicator of decoupled charge and heat transport, the electron mobility is found barely degraded with increasing Se content, while the thermal conductivity is significantly reduced from 2.07 to 0.99 W m−1 K−1 at room temperature. This results in a record-high ZT of 0.81 at 750 K, a value never achieved for materials with band gaps greater than 1.5 eV, and the highest among all perovskite materials. Our work not only underscores the potential of wide band gap semiconductors as high-performance thermoelectric materials, but also demonstrates the strategy of decoupling the charge and heat transport for enhancing their thermoelectric performance.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3895-7
Flexible transparent electrodes are vital for next-generation electronics, but conventional silver nanowire (AgNW) networks suffer from non-uniform current and “hot spots” due to their random arrangement. To address this, we present a facile rubber pressure treatment that enables the controlled self-assembly of ordered AgNW micromesh (Ag NMs) on hydrophilic surfaces. This simple physical treatment simultaneously modifies surface energy and topography through molecular chain transfer from the rubber, creating optimal wetting conditions for coffee-ring assembly. This dual modification transforms droplet evaporation from constant contact angle to constant contact radius mode, enabling the universal fabrication of well-defined Ag NMs on diverse substrates like glass, polymers, and even curved surfaces. The resulting Ag NMs/colorless polyimide (CPI) electrodes (2 cm × 2 cm, ~30 Ω/sq), fabricated via single-step transfer and embedding, demonstrate desirable uniform sheet resistance distribution (<5% variation), outstanding mechanical durability, and environmental stability. These electrodes exhibit superior performance in practical applications, including stable electrical heating (159 ± 3°C at 8 V) with uniform temperature distribution and excellent electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding (26.4 dB), while maintaining high optical transparency (~78%). This scalable approach offers a promising platform for advanced flexible electronics.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2025041405
Microplastics, as a class of emerging environmental contaminants, pose global concerns due to their potential ecological and human health impacts. Accurate identification and quantification of microplastics in environmental matrices are essential for assessing their environmental fate and ecological risks. Pyrolysis-based analytical methods, which decompose macromolecules into smaller fragments followed by gas chromatographic separation and mass spectrometric detection, offer high sensitivity and accuracy, making them significant for microplastic analysis. Despite these advantages, their application remains nascent, with limited comprehensive understanding of their applicability across diverse environmental media. This review systematically compares three pyrolysis-based techniques—pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC-MS), thermogravimetry-differential scanning calorimetry (TGA-DSC), and thermal extraction-desorption gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (TED-GC-MS)—for microplastic detection in various matrices. The effectiveness of each method is evaluated in terms of sensitivity, selectivity, and matrix compatibility. Critical challenges, including lack of standardized protocols, complex sample pretreatment requirements, and limitations in quantifying mixtures, are identified. Future research directions emphasize the need for standardization, optimization of pretreatment for complex matrices, and integration with complementary techniques such as FTIR and Raman spectroscopy to enhance comprehensive microplastic characterization. This review provides a critical framework for selecting appropriate pyrolysis-based methods and highlights areas requiring further methodological development.
Journal of Environmental Engineering Technology•2026•DOI: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202608014
Fluoride pollution poses a serious threat to public health worldwide, particularly in dispersed residential areas where high-fluoride groundwater is the primary drinking water source. Electroflocculation-based defluorination is a preferable treatment option, but its environmental and economic impacts vary with the water supply scheme. This study established three schemes: centralized undifferentiated (S1), centralized differentiated (S2), and distributed differentiated (S3). Life cycle environmental impact and life cycle cost assessments were conducted. Results show that S1 has the largest negative environmental impact, with indicators ranging from 1.4 to 6.7 times those of S2 or S3, primarily due to electrode consumption and electricity usage. S3 exhibits the lowest water supply cost, achieving a 62% cost reduction compared to S1. The distributed differentiated scheme (S3) offers both lower life cycle environmental impact and the lowest life cycle cost, making it the most advantageous option for dispersed residential areas. This study provides a systematic basis for selecting optimal water supply schemes, promoting the practical application of electroflocculation defluorination in such regions.
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/s40843-025-4144-y
Developing efficient strategies for electrically manipulating two-dimensional magnetism at room temperature is a key challenge in contemporary spintronics. In this study, we demonstrate giant electromechanical control over the magnetism of the room-temperature van der Waals ferromagnet Fe3GaTe2 by integrating it with the ferroelectric α-In2Se3. Modest gate voltages lead to an almost complete suppression of the coercive field by 96.5%, corresponding to a remarkable peak modulation sensitivity of ~8.1 mT V−1, which stands out among existing van der Waals magnetoelectric systems. Importantly, this substantial magnetoelectric response is predominantly unaffected by voltage polarity, as both positive and negative gate voltages induce similar magnetic modulation effects. To elucidate the underlying mechanism, we tracked the voltage-induced Raman spectral changes, revealing a peak shift of 1.7 cm−1 that accurately represents an effective in-plane tensile strain of ~1.42% under an equivalent bias, demonstrating polarity independence as well. The synchronized magnetic response and strain variation unequivocally indicate that the induced tensile strain serves as the fundamental physical driver behind the magnetic modulation. Additionally, density functional theory calculations corroborate that the reduction in magnetic anisotropy induced by tensile strain results in a decrease in the coercive field. Our work establishes a novel and efficient approach for achieving voltage control of magnetism at room temperature in van der Waals multiferroic heterostructures, highlighting their significant potential for applications in ultra-low-power magnetic logic and sensing technologies.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3489-5
Artificial synaptic devices for neuromorphic computing must reduce energy consumption to approach biological femtojoule levels. This work reports a SiC/SiO2@Ag nanowire network (NWN) device that emulates both ultraviolet visual and electrical synaptic functions under biased electric field and zero-bias photoexcitation. The NWN architecture and Ag nanoparticle-induced localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) enable substantial synaptic responses at ultra-low currents. The device achieves energy consumption of 0.471–0.218 pJ per synaptic event, significantly lower than conventional artificial synapses. In a musical classification task using a spiking neural network with hardware-implemented spike-timing-dependent plasticity (STDP), the system reaches >95% accuracy within 20 training epochs, surpassing software-based STDP and backpropagation after 10 epochs. The SiC NWN structure ensures robust synaptic performance and high precision. These results demonstrate a scalable, energy-efficient hardware foundation for neuromorphic music information processing, with potential for spiking neural networks that mimic biological operational principles.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3352-6
The relentless scaling of silicon transistors below 5 nm gate lengths has exposed fundamental limits: dangling-bond-induced interface scattering exacerbates short-channel effects, including direct source-drain tunneling and drain-induced barrier lowering, degrading power consumption, signal integrity, and reliability. Gate-all-around field-effect transistors (GAAFETs) mitigate these effects by fully enclosing the channel, but silicon's surface chemistry remains problematic. Two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors offer dangling-bond-free surfaces, atomic-level thickness uniformity, and high electron mobility, enabling sub-1-nm gate lengths without short-channel effects. Their van der Waals layered structure further permits monolithic 3D (M3D) integration for high-density, low-power circuits. Despite theoretical promise, 2D GAA devices face critical bottlenecks in source-drain contacts, gate dielectrics, and interface engineering. The deposition of high-quality, atomically uniform, low-trap-density high-k dielectrics on 2D surfaces is particularly challenging. Tang et al. addressed this by forming layered oxide Bi2SeO5 (k = 21) on Bi2O2Se via ultraviolet-assisted intercalative oxidation, creating an atomically smooth, lattice-matched van der Waals interface. The resulting fully encapsulated 2D Bi2O2Se/Bi2SeO5 GAA heterostructure enabled GAAFETs with equivalent oxide thickness below 0.5 nm, subthreshold swing of ~62 mV dec-1 over five orders of magnitude, electron mobility exceeding 280 cm2 V-1 s-1, and stable operation at 0.5 V with on-current exceeding 1 mA μm-1. These metrics demonstrate superior electrostatic control compared to silicon and other 2D GAAFETs, providing a viable route to M3D circuits beyond silicon.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3499-6
Biomass-derived hard carbons (HCs) are promising anodes for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) due to their low cost, renewable nature, and structural stability, yet their practical application is hindered by a low initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE) and inadequate rate capability. Herein, we report a tri-functional nitric acid treatment coupled with one-step carbonization to synthesize a hard carbon with a sp2-C-dominated structure. The process not only eliminates impurities but also selectively dissolves lignin in the biomass, thereby promoting the alignment of graphite microcrystals. At the same time, edge-N and C=O groups are grafted onto the carbon skeleton, which together produce an HC with an optimized interlayer spacing and abundant closed micropores. These structure modifications collectively increase Na+ adsorption kinetics in the sloping region and enable efficient sodium storage in the low-voltage plateau region, yielding a high ICE of 91.69% and a remarkable rate capability, with 83.9% capacity retention at 600 mA g−1. A full SIB cell using this HC anode with a Na3V2(PO4)3 cathode delivers an energy density of 213.14 Wh kg−1, demonstrating its practical potential. This work offers a simple and scalable engineering strategy to overcome the performance vs. manufacturing cost dilemma in developing HC anodes.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3527-x
Heteroatom occupancy is pivotal for modulating specific material regions by introducing foreign elements into the host matrix, yet its spatial dimension remains underexplored. We introduce a 'satellite atom-spinel crystal' concept by synthesizing model catalysts with Fe atoms positioned at two distinct spatial locations of spinel Co3O4: satellite-Fe at Co3O4 (Fe(Sat)-Co3O4) and Fe-doped Co3O4 (Co3Fe(In)O4). Multidimensional in situ spectroscopies reveal that Fe(Sat)-Co3O4 overcomes the crystal field potential energy (FeSat–O > FeSat–O–CoOh) and exhibits 1% (Fe atom) lower impedance than Co3Fe(In)O4 due to a resistance-free electron delocalization layer formed in Fe(Sat)-Co3O4. This results in tens of times increase in turnover frequency and mass activity, and a 120 mV reduction in overpotential for the electrochemical oxygen evolution reaction compared to Co3Fe(In)O4. Density functional theory calculations dynamically elucidate the mechanisms governing electron itinerancy modulation. This study provides valuable insights into the impact of heteroatomic spatial positioning on material properties and significantly expands our understanding of atomic manipulation.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3587-4
Unstable zinc interfaces arising from dendrite growth and parasitic reactions impede the practical deployment of rechargeable aqueous zinc-ion batteries. This study introduces 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol (PAN) as a parts-per-million (ppm) level electrolyte additive to stabilize the Zn anode. Theoretical and experimental analyses reveal that PAN undergoes parallel adsorption on the Zn surface, establishing strong π-π interactions between adjacent molecules that efficiently repel water. The OH, pyridine N, and azo N groups in PAN chelate Zn2+, modulating Zn2+ diffusion and promoting uniform deposition while suppressing dendrite formation. A 10 ppm (0.04 mM) PAN addition extends the lifespan of a symmetrical cell to 1500 h at 2 mA cm−2 and 1 mAh cm−2. The Zn||Cu half-cell achieves a Coulombic efficiency of 99.91% over 3500 cycles at 5 mA cm−2 and 1 mAh cm−2. Full cells with NH4V4O10 and MnO2 cathodes exhibit enhanced cycling stability. Notably, a Zn||NH4V4O10 pouch cell retains 71.1% capacity after 250 cycles at 0.8 A g−1. This work demonstrates a viable strategy for selecting high-efficiency additives for aqueous metal-based batteries.