SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4273-3
Freestanding membranes have driven a profound evolution of strain engineering by fundamentally overcoming the substrate clamping effect. This structural degree of freedom enables the introduction of spatially complex, reversible, and giant strain fields into the membranes via mechanical manipulations such as stretching, bending, and interfacial twisting, ultimately facilitating the modulation of diverse physical properties. This review systematically discusses recent experimental and theoretical advances in the field, highlighting the modulation of physical properties via uniaxial/biaxial strain, strain gradients, and oxide twist. These mechanical strain strategies substantially broaden the range of achievable material properties, furthermore provide fundamentally new pathways for realizing unconventional mechanical behaviors, inducing emergent polar topological structures, and exploring correlated electronic states. Finally, this review summarizes current methodologies for implementing emergent strain engineering of oxide membranes, delves into the profound impacts of spatially complex strain on the fundamental physical properties of freestanding oxides, and offers a forward-looking perspective on the tremendous opportunities and challenges in this rapidly evolving field.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3881-y
One-dimensional (1D) and quasi-1D platinum diselenide (PtSe2) exhibit enhanced quantum confinement and surface effects, leading to distinctive electronic and optical properties. However, efficient synthesis of high-quality quasi-1D PtSe2 with controlled dimensionality and orientation remains challenging. Here, we report the first successful synthesis of quasi-1D PtSe2 via a carrier-gas-assisted chemical vapor deposition (CVD) approach. By optimizing hydrogen concentration, we achieved highly oriented and crystalline quasi-1D PtSe2, which exhibits exceptional thermodynamic stability along the (110) crystal plane. Electrical characterization reveals that 2D few-layer PtSe2 exhibits p-type semiconductor properties, while quasi-1D multilayer PtSe2 displays semimetallic behavior. Due to quantum confinement effects, both materials exhibit similar carrier mobilities. In photodetection at 1550 nm, 2D PtSe2 exhibits conventional positive photoresponse with a maximum responsivity of 97.0 A/W. In contrast, quasi-1D PtSe2 demonstrates unique negative photoresponse, achieving a maximum responsivity of 194.2 A/W, attributed to its semimetallic nature and significant surface traps. Temperature-dependent photoresponse measurements at various power levels further confirm that the negative response originates from a defect-assisted photogating effect, the strength of which exhibits significant temperature dependence under high-power illumination. This work not only fills a gap in the synthesis of 1D PtSe2 but also provides a novel material platform for developing advanced infrared optoelectronic devices.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2025010902
The extensive agricultural application of organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs) has established them, alongside nitrogen and phosphorus nutrients, as core pollutants in agricultural non-point source contamination, necessitating urgent clarification of their composite ecological effects on aquatic ecosystems. This study systematically investigated the concentration gradient effects and ecological risk mechanisms of malathion, a heavily utilized OPP, on the bloom-forming cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa. Results demonstrated a pronounced concentration-dependent biphasic effect: high concentrations (100 mg·L−1) suppressed algal growth, reducing cell density to 8% of the control group, whereas low concentrations (0.01 mg·L−1) markedly stimulated algal proliferation (47% cell density increase) through photosynthetic system activation (51% chlorophyll-a elevation), metabolic enhancement (98% ATP content increase), and mild oxidative stress induction. Regarding microcystin regulation, low-concentration exposure upregulated microcystin synthesis genes (mcyA, mcyB), elevating intracellular microcystin production to 1.6-fold of controls. Conversely, high concentrations triggered microcystin release via severe membrane integrity disruption (>80% membrane damage). Risk assessment demonstrated that environmentally relevant malathion levels (0.01 mg·L−1) pose dual threats: exacerbating ecological risks by promoting algal blooms and amplifying health hazards through intensified microcystin synthesis and release. These findings provide critical theoretical insights for evaluating OPP ecotoxicity and formulating cyanobacterial bloom control strategies in agricultural non-point source pollution management.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-4008-2
Lung cancer, particularly non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality, with conventional therapies hampered by poor tumor specificity, low drug accumulation, and suboptimal efficacy. To address these challenges, we rationally designed a tumor-targeted, ferrocene-bearing, covalently immobilizable theranostic probe, dIR-CDF, for near-infrared (NIR) imaging-guided photodynamic-ferroptosis synergistic therapy. The probe exploits the overexpression of sulfenated proteins in the tumor microenvironment to specifically target integrin αvβ3-positive NSCLC cells and undergo covalent anchoring via the reaction between 1,3-cyclohexanedione and sulfenic acid, thereby enhancing tumor accumulation and retention. Under 808 nm irradiation, dIR-CDF generates singlet oxygen (1O2) for photodynamic therapy (PDT), while the sustained release of ferrocene catalyzes Fenton reactions to produce hydroxyl radicals (·OH), inducing ferroptosis. The synergistic action of PDT and ferroptosis amplifies lipid peroxidation and disrupts antioxidant defenses, leading to efficient suppression of NSCLC tumors in living mice. This work presents a universal and powerful theranostic platform for precise cancer diagnosis and treatment, with the covalent targeting strategy offering enhanced specificity and retention.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4208-8
Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are emerging as a cost-effective alternative to lithium-ion batteries due to the abundance of sodium resources. Among cathode materials, P2-type layered oxides (Na_xTMO_2) offer high ionic conductivity and rate capability but suffer from low initial sodium content and Na+/vacancy ordering, leading to structural degradation and capacity fading. This study proposes a synergistic strategy combining high sodium content with Li/Mg co-doping to enhance the cycling stability of P2-type cathodes. The high sodium content increases the sodium reservoir, reducing the depth of desodiation for a given capacity, while Li/Mg co-doping mitigates Na+/vacancy ordering and stabilizes the crystal structure. The optimized cathode exhibits significantly improved cycling performance, retaining 82.3% of its initial capacity after 500 cycles at 1C, compared to 65.4% for the undoped counterpart. Furthermore, the co-doped material demonstrates enhanced rate capability, delivering 112 mAh/g at 5C, and suppressed phase transitions, as evidenced by in-situ X-ray diffraction. This work provides a rational design pathway for high-performance P2-type cathodes, addressing key bottlenecks in SIB commercialization.