SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3947-3
Fiber photodetectors (FPDs) with high deformability, flexible designability, and seamless integrability with everyday textiles hold tremendous potential for next-generation wearable optoelectronics. Inorganic semiconductors (ISCs) are considered ideal building blocks to design and govern the functions of FPDs owing to their superior electrical and optical properties. Recent developments in wearable technology of ISCs, especially in fiber form factor, have driven the creation of various FPDs with smart capabilities, from light sensing, information interfacing, to sophisticated logic operating, revolutionizing human-machine interaction paradigms in many emerging fields. Herein, we present a comprehensive review of recent progress of ISC-based FPDs. Firstly, key design principles for ISC-based FPDs are explored, encompassing material selection, fabrication technologies, device architectures, and textile integration strategies. Then, how defect engineering, alignment engineering, and heterojunction engineering of ISCs can control the optoelectronic performance of FPDs is examined. Following this, potential wearable applications of ISC-based FPDs in optical communication, image sensing, and health monitoring are analyzed. Finally, the challenges and perspectives for the design of high-performance ISC-based FPDs are outlined.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3728-5
Biological intelligence achieves exceptional energy efficiency and environmental adaptability, exemplified by the human brain's ~20 W resting power consumption. A key strategy is the use of multi-ions as signal carriers for transduction and processing. Iontronics, employing ions instead of electrons, offer a promising route to low-energy, heat-dissipation-free devices for memory, sensing, and neuromorphic computing. However, conventional iontronics require external voltage bias to drive ion motion, complicating miniaturization and integration. Here, we highlight a recent breakthrough by Guo et al. reporting a bias-free iontronic memory sensor ('memsensor') that operates by controlling surface ion migration. The device couples vanadium dioxide (VO2) with a low-work-function indium (In) patch. Upon immersion in NaCl solution, In3+ ions generated electrochemically within the Debye length are driven by the intrinsic surface electric field to diffuse into the VO2 surface, inducing an insulator-to-metal phase transition and a measurable, non-volatile change in surface conductance. This conductance state correlates with NaCl concentration and can be reversibly restored by H2O2 treatment. The memsensor emulates the gustatory plasticity of C. elegans, mimicking the response dynamics of ASEL and ASER neurons. In a proof-of-concept, a model boat equipped with the memsensor exhibits adaptive chemotaxis: after 'starvation' training in high NaCl concentration, it avoids high-concentration zones; conversely, after training in low concentration, it migrates toward high-concentration zones. This work demonstrates a bias-free strategy for programmable memory and sensing, potentially advancing autonomous microsystems and bioinspired electronics.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202507059
Anaerobic digestion sludge (ADS) contains recalcitrant organic matter and exhibits poor dewaterability, posing challenges for disposal. This study evaluated the immobilization of white rot fungi (WRF) on four carriers—polyvinyl alcohol, cotton thread, wood chips, and sodium alginate—for ADS treatment. Cotton thread immobilization yielded the earliest and most sustained enzyme activity, highest biomass retention, and minimal biomass loss. WRF treatment achieved a 10.09% removal of total chemical oxygen demand (TCOD) and significantly disrupted extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), selectively degrading soluble EPS. To maintain fungal activity, periodic carrier replacement was required. Compared to the control, the experimental group showed an 8.9 mg·L−1 reduction in total protein and polysaccharide content in soluble EPS, a 27.33% decrease in capillary suction time (CST), and improved sludge dewaterability. These results demonstrate the potential of WRF for ADS treatment.
Journal of Fuel Chemistry and Technology•2026•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5813(26)60647-0
Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting offers a direct route to convert solar energy into clean hydrogen fuel. CuBi2O4, a p-type semiconductor with a bandgap of 1.5–1.8 eV, exhibits visible-light responsiveness and good stability, yet its performance is limited by high interfacial resistance and severe charge carrier recombination. This study introduces a CuO interlayer between fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) and CuBi2O4 to construct CuO/CuBi2O4 photocathodes, aiming to improve interfacial charge transfer. The optimized CuO/CuBi2O4-200 photocathode achieved a photocurrent density of −1.71 mA/cm² at 0 V vs. RHE, more than 3.5 times that of bare CuBi2O4. Incident photon-to-current efficiency (IPCE) at 365 nm reached ~13%, and the maximum applied bias photon-to-current efficiency (ABPE) was 0.17%. Water splitting experiments yielded 2.05 μmol/cm² of hydrogen, significantly surpassing the unmodified photoelectrode. Mechanistic studies indicate that the CuO layer establishes favorable band alignment, promotes hole transport toward the FTO substrate, and suppresses interfacial carrier recombination. This work demonstrates a simple and efficient interfacial engineering strategy, offering insights for the design of high-performance semiconductor-based PEC photoelectrodes.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2025102801
This study develops a multivariate time-series forecasting model for water quality in the Lhasa River, focusing on four key indicators: water temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, and turbidity. Data preprocessing integrated multiple missing-value imputation strategies and interquartile range (IQR) outlier removal. Boxplots and relative standard deviation (RSD) assessed data distribution and dispersion, while autocorrelation and Pearson correlation analyses revealed periodic patterns and inter-variable relationships. Four representative algorithms—Support Vector Regression (SVR), Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), CNN-BiLSTM-Attention, and TCN-Transformer—were optimized via Bayesian hyperparameter tuning. Model performance was evaluated using MAE, MSE, RMSE, and R². The study systematically compared the effects of different missing-value handling methods, both independently and combined with IQR outlier removal. Results indicate that CNN-BiLSTM-Attention excels in water temperature prediction, suitable for relatively stable and simple patterns. In contrast, TCN-Transformer demonstrates superior performance for pH, dissolved oxygen, and turbidity, which exhibit strong nonlinearity and long-term dependencies, effectively capturing temporal dependencies and coupling relationships. The findings provide a viable technical route and theoretical reference for river water quality monitoring and intelligent early-warning systems.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3920-1
Lead-free halide perovskites are promising scintillators due to strong X-ray attenuation and high internal quantum efficiency (IQE), but their application is hindered by moisture sensitivity. Here, CsSrCl3:Eu2+ nanocrystals were grown in situ in a specially designed inorganic glass matrix. By employing [PO4]-modification and controlled crystallization, a transparent CsSrCl3:Eu2+ glass-ceramic (GC) scintillator was obtained, combining high crystallinity (15.9%) with excellent optical transparency (85.3% at 432 nm). The GC exhibits outstanding photoluminescence (PL) performance, including a high IQE of 87.6% and superior thermal stability (74% intensity retention at 493 K relative to 303 K). Benefiting from the robust glass matrix, the GC retains 99% of its initial PL intensity after 14 days of water immersion. Under X-ray excitation, it shows blue X-ray excited luminescence (XEL), with peak and integrated intensities reaching 117% and 25.1% of those of Bi4Ge3O12 crystal, respectively. The scintillator achieves a high spatial resolution of 20 lp mm−1 and an X-ray detection limit of 3.7 μGy s−1. Furthermore, it demonstrates exceptional operational stability in humid environments, maintaining clear X-ray image contrast even after 48 h of water submersion. This study provides an effective strategy for stabilizing hygroscopic halide scintillators in a durable [PO4]-modified fluoroaluminate glass matrix and demonstrates the potential of CsSrCl3:Eu2+ GC for high-resolution and stable X-ray imaging.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3915-8
Reactive oxygen species (ROS)-based antibiofilm therapy is limited by short ROS lifetime, restricted diffusion, and biofilm barriers. We designed a bacteria-targeted piezoelectric heterostructure (U-B/F) comprising boronic acid-functionalized UiO-66(Hf) (U-B) and carboxylated fullerene (C70-COOH). Boronic acid groups enable selective bacterial binding. Under ultrasound (US), the Z-scheme heterojunction enhances piezoelectric response and charge separation, amplifying sonocatalytic ROS generation. Fullerene acts as a peroxidase mimic, converting endogenous H2O2 into cytotoxic hydroxyl radicals (•OH). Additionally, favorable band alignment allows US-induced electron transfer from bacteria to U-B/F, disrupting bacterial electron transport and energy metabolism. Transcriptomic profiling confirmed bioenergetic collapse and oxidative stress. In vitro, U-B/F achieved 99.99% elimination of planktonic methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and 92.41% removal of mature biofilms. In MRSA-infected diabetic mice, U-B/F under US irradiation accelerated wound healing by eradicating infection, alleviating inflammation, and promoting tissue regeneration. This work provides a rational strategy for designing multifunctional nanomaterials integrating bacterial targeting, dual ROS catalysis, and electron transfer interference to combat biofilm-associated infections.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2025111403
Sediments from the Hengyang reach of the Xiangjiang River were analyzed for concentrations, chemical fractions, and sources of 14 heavy metals (As, Se, Cd, Sb, Pb, Tl, Bi, Co, Ni, Mn, Zn, V, Cr, Cu). Mean concentrations of As, Se, Cd, Sb, Pb, Tl, and Bi exceeded local background values, with Cd, Se, Bi, and As showing pronounced enrichment. Spatial heterogeneity was marked, with higher levels downstream; overall concentrations were lower than previously reported. Sequential extraction revealed that Sb, Bi, Se, Tl, Cu, As, V, Cr, and Ni were predominantly in the residual fraction (F4), while Zn, Cd, Pb, and Mn had higher extractable fractions (F1+F2+F3), with bioavailable fractions generally elevated downstream. Geo-accumulation index (Igeo) indicated no contamination by Co, Zn, V, or Cr, but varying degrees of contamination by Mn, Ni, As, Se, Cd, Sb, Pb, Tl, Bi, and Cu, with pollution severity order: Se>Cd>Bi>As>Sb>Pb>Tl>Ni>Cu>Mn>Zn>Cr>Co>V. Enrichment factors showed significant enrichment for Cd, Sb, and Bi, moderate for Pb, and low for others. Potential ecological risk index (RI) revealed Cd as the primary contributor (87.49% of total risk), with overall moderate risk at downstream sites and slight risk across the entire section. Source apportionment using PCA and PMF identified three sources: industrial and traffic mixed source (57.60%), natural source (16.00%), and industrial-natural mixed source (26.40%). These findings enhance understanding of heavy metal pollution mechanisms in the Hengyang section and recommend priority control of industrial and traffic emissions, with focus on Cd mobility, to support sediment remediation strategies.
Journal of Environmental Engineering Technology•2026•DOI: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202608006
Organic waste is a potential phosphorus reservoir, and understanding the dynamics of available phosphorus (AP) during its resource utilization is critical for efficient phosphorus recovery. Composting, a key route for organic waste valorization, involves complex transformations of phosphorus alongside organic matter degradation and humification. However, the long duration and high cost of composting experiments, coupled with multifactorial influences, hinder efficient elucidation of AP dynamics via conventional methods. This study compiled data from 33 publications, constructing a dataset of 647 samples. Data preprocessing included iterative imputation, one-hot encoding, and standardization. A stacking ensemble learning model was developed to predict AP generation during composting. The optimal ensemble comprised XGBoost and SVR as base learners and ElasticNet as the meta-learner, achieving R² values of 0.954 and 0.928 on training and test sets, respectively, with low overall error. SHAP analysis revealed that key factors influencing AP content, in descending order of importance, were feedstock type, bulking agent type, turning interval, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and C/N ratio. Notably, livestock manure as feedstock and straw-based bulking agents contributed positively to AP predictions. Partial dependence plots indicated that lower pH and C/N ratios generally favored AP accumulation throughout composting. During the initial stage, higher moisture content and lower EC enhanced AP; in the thermophilic phase, higher temperatures corresponded to higher AP; and during cooling and maturation, maintaining moisture below 48% and C/N below 14, while extending composting beyond 43 days, promoted AP accumulation. This study demonstrates accurate AP prediction via stacking ensemble learning and identifies critical factors, offering support for optimizing phosphorus management in composting engineering.
Journal of Environmental Engineering Technology•2026•DOI: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202608015
Inter-basin water diversion projects can profoundly alter the water quality dynamics of receiving basins. Taking the Qincun Reservoir and its downstream reaches in the Huangze River Basin as a case study, this research quantitatively evaluates water-quality responses under multiple coordinated management measures. An integrated Environmental Fluid Dynamics Code-Soil and Water Assessment Tool (EFDC-SWAT) modeling framework was established, coupling a two-dimensional hydrodynamic-water-quality model for the reservoir with a hydrology-water-quality model for the downstream reaches. Seven management scenarios were designed to reflect various combinations of point- and non-point-source pollution control strategies. Simulations focused on spatiotemporal variations in key indicators—total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N), and permanganate index (CODMn)—and assessed pollution-load reduction effectiveness. Comparative analysis using the comprehensive water quality identification index (CWQII) revealed that under Scenario 3 (highest pollution-control standards with lowest diversion volume), TN and TP concentrations in the reservoir decreased by 80% and 50%, respectively, achieving Class II water-quality standards. Downstream TN and TP levels declined by 36% and 33%, and the CWQII improved from 4.211 to 3.410. Land consolidation contributed 77% and 45% to TN and TP load reductions in the reservoir, respectively, while a 20% reduction in diversion volume was most effective in improving downstream TN (>50%). These results demonstrate that the coupled EFDC-SWAT model effectively elucidates mechanisms through which inter-basin water diversion influences water quality in supply areas. Moreover, synergistic point- and non-point-source controls exhibit a nonlinear enhancement effect on overall water-quality improvement.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-4013-y
Multicolor fluorescent polymer materials (MFPMs) are of significant value in biomaterials and display technologies due to their rich color palette. Traditional construction methods rely on incorporating multiple fluorescent molecules of different colors, which introduces complexities in structural design, synthesis, purification, and practical operability. To overcome these challenges, a strategy employing a single fluorophore that exhibits multiple fluorescent colors has been developed and integrated into MFPMs. This approach has advanced fields such as information anti-counterfeiting and optoelectronic materials. This review summarizes recent developments in MFPMs based on a single fluorescent molecule, elucidates preparation methods and color conversion mechanisms, and analyzes application prospects. Key mechanisms include aggregation-induced emission (AIE), excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT), and twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT), which enable color tuning through environmental stimuli or assembly. The review highlights the potential of this strategy to simplify fabrication processes while achieving tunable emission colors. It provides guidance for designing novel multicolor fluorescent materials and fosters progress in fluorescent materials, polymer science, and materials science.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3977-8
Single quantum well (single-QW) two-dimensional (2D) perovskites are poised to revolutionize optoelectronic devices owing to their superior stability and optoelectronic properties. However, solution-processed 2D perovskites typically suffer from disordered multiple-QW structures, leading to inconsistent device performance. Here, we introduce a solvent-hydrolysis-driven method to control crystallization kinetics, yielding highly ordered single-QW 2D perovskite films. Dimethylamine (DMA), generated from the hydrolysis of N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), serves as a critical mediator, preventing cluster aggregation and ensuring a uniform colloidal distribution. This approach circumvents the formation of a heterogeneous intermediate phase, thereby promoting the formation of a homogeneous (DMA,MA)PbI3 phase, which is essential for single-QW film development. The resultant photodetector exhibits outstanding performance, with a responsivity of 1153 mA/W and a detectivity of 6.98 × 10^12 Jones, along with excellent photostability under ambient conditions. These attributes render it ideal for photoelectric imaging sensors and large-scale integration. Our findings establish a scalable, solution-processed strategy for high-performance 2D perovskite materials, opening new avenues for advanced optoelectronic applications.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-4085-9
Bone defects remain a prevalent clinical challenge, and regenerative medicine based on bone tissue engineering offers promising solutions. Traditional osteogenic materials rely on bioactive macromolecules like growth factors, which suffer from poor stability and stringent storage requirements. From a structural perspective, bone tissue resides in a phosphorylated microenvironment, with 65–70% of inorganic components composed of hydroxyapatite. Inorganic phosphorylated materials induce osteogenic differentiation but exhibit high stiffness, brittleness, slow degradation, and limited mechanical tunability. Synthetic phosphorylated polymers with excellent mechanical properties and biocompatibility have been developed to address these issues. In this work, we developed a series of phosphorylated polymers derived from poly(glycerol sebacate) (PGS), a biocompatible and biodegradable material. Leveraging the hydroxyl-rich backbone of PGS, we demonstrated an efficient method for controllable phosphorylation of PGS side chains, enabling synthesis of PGS-based phosphorylated (PGS-P) polymers with tunable phosphorus contents. The optimized phosphorylated polyester, PGS-P4, exhibited strong ability to promote osteogenic differentiation of rat BMSCs, and its porous three-dimensional scaffolds showed favorable properties for bone regeneration. BMSCs cultured for one week and observed by fluorescence microscopy showed enhanced BSP protein expression on PGS-P2, PGS-P4, and PGS-P6 groups compared with PLGA and PGS, with PGS-P4 displaying the most intense signal. In summary, we present a simple and controllable method for preparation of functionalized polyesters and their porous scaffolds with tunable phosphorus content, validating its effectiveness in promoting osteogenic differentiation of rat BMSCs. All phosphorylated polyesters exhibit enhanced differentiation-promoting effects compared to non-phosphorylated PGS; however, the degree of enhancement does not increase monotonically with phosphorus content. PGS-P4, containing an optimal phosphorus level, shows the most pronounced biological functions.
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.