SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4360-7
Polarization-sensitive photodetection is critical for advanced optical communication and imaging systems, yet conventional photodetectors suffer from low on-off ratios and limited polarization discrimination. Here, we report gate-tunable PdSe2/WSe2 van der Waals heterostructures that achieve ultrahigh light on-off ratio and polarization-sensitive photodetection. The heterostructure forms a type-II band alignment, enabling efficient charge separation and self-powered operation. By applying a gate voltage, the photoresponse can be modulated, achieving an on-off ratio exceeding 10^6 under illumination. The device exhibits a high responsivity of 1.2 A/W and a specific detectivity of 10^12 Jones at room temperature. Polarization-sensitive measurements reveal a linear dichroism ratio of 2.1 at 532 nm, attributed to the anisotropic crystal structure of PdSe2. The photodetector operates over a broad spectral range from visible to near-infrared (400-1000 nm) with fast response times (rise/fall < 100 μs). The gate-tunable capability allows dynamic control of the photocurrent, enabling adaptive sensing applications. These results demonstrate that PdSe2/WSe2 heterostructures are promising candidates for high-performance, polarization-sensitive photodetectors, offering a pathway for next-generation optoelectronic devices.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2025010203
The production and disposal of lithium batteries release not only hazardous metals and particulates but also substantial amounts of harmful organic pollutants. This study focuses on N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) to investigate the environmental release and human exposure of organic pollutants throughout the lithium battery lifecycle. Using liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS), NMP was quantified in environmental samples from battery production and dismantling facilities, as well as in pyrolysis products from simulated thermal recovery of mainstream lithium batteries. Key release stages were identified: slurry mixing and coating/drying during production; shredding, electrolyte volatilization, and high-temperature pyrolysis during disposal. In unprotected occupational settings, estimated NMP exposure via dust ingestion exceeded reference doses, underscoring the need for health impact assessments and evaluation of protective measures. This research provides critical insights into the environmental release and population exposure of organic pollutants across the lithium battery lifecycle, informing health policy for vulnerable populations.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3470-6
Inkjet printing of two-dimensional transition metal chalcogenides (TMDs) is promising for low-cost, large-scale flexible electronics, yet challenges persist due to poor crystallinity and toxic solvents. Here, we report a green ink formulation using zwitterionic cocamidopropyl betaine (CAB) as a dispersant and surfactant for liquid-phase exfoliation of single-crystalline TMDs in water and isopropanol (IPA). The dispersions contain no additives or binders, enabling direct production of stable (over one month) and concentrated (2 mg/mL) inks for MoS2, MoTe2, WS2, WSe2, and WTe2. Fully-printed MoSe2/CAB humidity sensors exhibit superior sensitivity (ΔI/I0 = 468.1) and rapid response/recovery times (27 s/0.42 s) under bending. Inkjet-printed WTe2/CAB pads on 6-μm-thick substrates demonstrate exceptional mechanical stability, with resistance variations of 1.4% under single bending and 2% after 1,000 cycles, and acquire high-quality electrocardiogram (ECG) and electromyography (EMG) signals. This strategy enables scalable fabrication of TMD-based flexible electronics, advancing industrial integration.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3889-6
Photocatalytic hydrogen production is fundamentally limited by inefficient charge separation and asynchronous supply of electrons and protons to active sites. Here, we designed a ZnIn2S4/ZnCo2S4 (ZIS/ZCS) heterojunction with an atomically coherent interface achieved via an ultralow lattice mismatch of 0.05%. This unique structure promotes rapid electron transfer through a built-in electric field and facilitates continuous proton migration via a hydrogen spillover effect, thereby synchronizing electron and proton delivery at the catalytic interface. This dual regulation of electrons and protons synergistically promotes proton-coupled electron transfer, resulting in a high hydrogen evolution rate of 70.3 mmol g−1 h−1 and selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol to aldehyde (39.3 mmol g−1 h−1) with 93.6% selectivity. This work demonstrates the critical importance of lattice match and dual charge-proton management in designing efficient photocatalysts for complex redox reactions.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3965-5
Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) have emerged as a promising material platform for soft robotics, effectively integrating programmable molecular orientation with the inherent flexibility of elastomers. This unique combination enables significant, reversible deformations responding to external stimuli, including heat, light, electric, and magnetic fields. Due to these characteristics, LCEs serve as an ideal material system for bridging biological principles with engineered soft robotic applications, enabling the development of adaptive and multifunctional systems with enhanced biomimetic capabilities. However, the mechanisms of bioinspired motion and the effective integration of biomimetic functions in LCE-based robots remain insufficiently explored. This review systematically examines recent advances in LCE-based biomimetic soft robots, focusing on multimodal actuation strategies, including contraction, crawling, rolling, jumping, swimming, and plant-inspired motions. It highlights integrated functional enhancements achieved via innovative material compositions, structural designs, and advanced manufacturing techniques. These developments have enabled novel robotic functionalities, including programmable actuation, self-healing and recycling, color morphing and camouflage, and tunable bioinspired surface characteristics.