SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3788-9
Fabrication of large-area perovskite solar modules under ambient air conditions remains a critical challenge due to air sensitivity of perovskite intermediate phases during crystallization. Here, we introduce 2-iodoimidazole (IIZ) into the perovskite precursor, enabling the formation of an air-stable pure δ-phase intermediate, which, upon annealing, fully transforms into a highly oriented α-phase perovskite film with reduced defects and variability. Leveraging this approach, we achieve a stabilized power conversion efficiency of 20.9% for 927.5 cm2 perovskite solar modules with high reproducibility. The encapsulated modules meet stringent international photovoltaic testing standards (IEC61215:2021), demonstrating excellent stability under continuous operation, thermal cycling (−40 to 85 °C) and damp heat (85 °C and 85% relative humidity).
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202506020
The rotary kiln roasting of lepidolite for lithium extraction faces challenges of unstable lithium conversion rates and high energy consumption. To address this, a multi-objective optimization method coupling improved neural network simulation with a multi-objective genetic algorithm was proposed, targeting the synergistic optimization of lithium conversion rate (TRLi) and natural gas consumption intensity (EIng). Using long-term industrial time-series data of batching parameters and kiln operating variables, back-propagation (BP) neural network and its particle swarm optimization (PSO) improved variant were developed to model TRLi and EIng. The PSO-BP model demonstrated superior accuracy in capturing the complex nonlinear relationships, reducing mean absolute percentage errors (MAPE) to 0.278 and 0.284 for TRLi and EIng, respectively. Subsequently, the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA-II) was employed to construct a multi-objective optimization model, yielding a Pareto-optimal set of process parameters that maximize TRLi and minimize EIng. The results revealed that under NSGA-II optimized conditions, TRLi could be stabilized between 82.45% and 87.96%, an average increase of 3.61 percentage points over baseline operations, while EIng could be reduced to 53.7 m3 per ton of clinker. For an annual processing capacity of 3.2×105 tons of lepidolite concentrate and sulfate mixture, this corresponds to an additional 127.1 tons of lithium metal recovery, a reduction of 1,964,912 m3 in natural gas consumption, and a decrease of 3,763.84 tons in CO2 emissions annually. This study provides theoretical and technical support for the green, high-quality, and low-carbon supply of critical raw materials for the lithium battery new energy industry.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202511004
To address nitrate nitrogen accumulation in aquaculture tailwater, a core-shell encapsulated immobilized denitrifying bacterial capsule containing lychee seed powder and denitrifying activated sludge was developed. The capsule's micro-morphology, bacterial activity recovery, growth, community structure changes, and diffusion coefficient dynamics during acclimation were investigated. The capsule shell exhibited a honeycomb porous structure with an average pore size of (0.25 ± 0.063) μm. Denitrifying bacterial activity recovered rapidly, with nitrate nitrogen removal efficiency stabilizing at 83.61% by day 21. Biomass within the capsules increased progressively, reaching (21.96 ± 0.28) mg·(g-pellet)−1 on day 30. The effective diffusion coefficient decreased with biomass growth, dropping to 0.232 × 10−9 m²·s−1 by day 30. Organic carbon source and encapsulation acclimation environment altered the microbial community structure; after acclimation, dominant genera were Methylobacterium (22.8%), Brevibacillus (18.1%), and Azospirillum (17.3%). Denitrifying bacteria containing nirS- and nirK- genes predominantly belonged to Proteobacteria (>99%). Genera involved in organic carbon metabolism and denitrification, including Bosea, Bradyrhizobium, Rhizobacter, and Alicycliphilus, increased in abundance. The encapsulated denitrifying bacteria exhibited short activity recovery time and excellent denitrification performance, making them suitable for denitrification of aquaculture tailwater or other low C/N ratio wastewater.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-4083-9
Metal additive manufacturing (AM) enables the fabrication of arbitrary three-dimensional structures with unprecedented design freedom. However, components must withstand extreme in-service conditions, including high temperatures, fatigue, and creep, necessitating materials with multifunctional properties. Metal matrix composites (MMCs), comprising reinforcing particles embedded in metallic matrices, offer promising solutions for such harsh environments. Nevertheless, the non-equilibrium nature of AM processes introduces complex phase diffusion, reactions, and melt flow dynamics, making microstructural design and production challenging. This review focuses on the fatigue and creep resistance of additively manufactured MMCs under in-service conditions, emphasizing how composite strategies influence these properties. The underlying mechanisms responsible for property enhancements via AM are interpreted and discussed. Key findings indicate that AM enables refined microstructures, improved particle dispersion, and the formation of in-situ reinforcing phases, which collectively enhance fatigue life and creep resistance. For instance, TiC-reinforced steels exhibit improved wear resistance after heat treatment, and boron-phosphorus interactions in Inconel 718 enhance creep properties. The review provides insights into future directions for developing AM MMCs for critical applications, highlighting the need for tailored microstructures and process optimization to achieve balanced mechanical performance.