SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4258-0
High-entropy noble-metal-based catalysts (HENCs) have emerged as a frontier in electrocatalysis, leveraging the synergistic effects of high-entropy alloys and noble metals to achieve exceptional atomic utilization, tunable electronic structures, and vast compositional space. Their anisotropic architectures confer superior dissolution resistance, rapid electron/mass transfer, and abundant active sites. This review systematically categorizes advanced structural regulations—grain boundary engineering, single-atom alloys, intermetallic compounds, amorphous structures, and core@shell configurations—and evaluates their impact on electrocatalytic performance. By modulating surface electronic states and lattice strain, these strategies optimize reaction kinetics and durability. Notable applications include oxygen reduction (ORR), oxygen evolution (OER), hydrogen evolution (HER), and CO2 reduction (CO2RR). Despite progress, challenges persist in scalable synthesis, mechanistic understanding, and long-term stability. This review underscores the potential of HENCs to bridge laboratory innovation and industrial deployment, providing a roadmap for future catalyst design.
Journal of Fuel Chemistry and Technology•2026•DOI: 10.3724/2097-213X.2025.JFCT.0029
Pingshuo coal ash, characterized by high silicon-aluminum content (Si+Al >85%) and low Si/Al ratio (<1.5), exhibits ash fusion temperatures (AFTs) exceeding 1550 °C, rendering it unsuitable for entrained-flow gasifiers. This study investigates the effect of calcium-sodium composite flux on ash fusibility and mineral transformation. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and FactSage thermodynamic simulations were employed to analyze mineral evolution, while molecular dynamics (MD) simulations revealed the underlying melting mechanism. Results show that adding 20% composite flux (CaO/Na2O) lowers AFTs more effectively than equivalent additions of CaO or Na2O alone, indicating a synergistic effect. At a CaO/Na2O ratio of 3:7, the flow temperatures (FT) of two Pingshuo coal ashes decreased to 1377 °C and 1279 °C, respectively. The composite flux promotes reactions between quartz and Na2O/CaO, forming low-melting-point minerals such as nepheline, albite, and gehlenite, while inhibiting mullite formation. Additionally, Na+ disrupts the silicate network, inducing Ca2+ to preferentially coordinate with [AlO4]5- tetrahedra, further breaking Si-O-Si bonds. MD simulations show that atomic diffusion, quantified by mean square displacement (MSD), is significantly enhanced below 1600 K with composite flux addition compared to single fluxes. These findings provide a mechanistic basis for optimizing flux formulations to enable efficient gasification of high-AFT coals.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2026021202
To investigate the sources and health risks of heavy metals in PM2.5 during winter in Xi'an, hourly concentrations of eight heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Ni, Cr, etc.) were measured using an Amms-100 online analyzer at the Xi'an International Horticultural Exposition site from November 2024 to March 2025. The positive matrix factorization (PMF) model was applied for source apportionment, and the U.S. EPA health risk assessment model was used to evaluate carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks for different populations. Results showed that PM2.5 concentrations varied significantly across pollution levels, with an average of 173.5 μg·m−3 during heavy pollution, 4.1, 1.9, and 1.3 times higher than during non-pollution, light, and moderate pollution periods, respectively. Concentrations of Pb, Mn, and Cu increased with pollution level, indicating a combined effect of coal combustion and unfavorable dispersion. PMF identified five sources during non-pollution periods (industrial metallurgy, crustal dust, metal processing, etc.) but only four during polluted periods, with Cu contribution increasing significantly, suggesting a shift to traffic-related mechanical wear. Health risk assessment indicated that carcinogenic risks were highest in adult males, followed by adult females and children. Non-carcinogenic risks (HQ) for Zn and Cu were below 1, but Pb and Mn posed non-carcinogenic risks, with Mn being significant. The incremental lifetime cancer risks (ILCR) for As and Cr exceeded 10−4, identifying them as primary carcinogenic metals. This study provides scientific evidence for targeted air pollution control in Xi'an, emphasizing the need to strengthen controls on coal combustion, traffic, and industrial emissions during heating periods.