SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4272-3
Ruthenium (Ru)-based alloys are promising alternatives to commercial Pt/C catalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) owing to their low cost and favorable hydrogen adsorption properties. However, the sluggish water dissociation on Ru catalysts remains a major kinetic bottleneck in alkaline solutions. Herein, we report a rare earth (RE) dilute alloy strategy by incorporating a trace amount of cerium (Ce, ~1 at%) into a RuCu alloy to promote interfacial water activation. The oxophilic Ce sites strengthen H2O adsorption and reduce the energy barrier for water dissociation, thereby accelerating the Volmer step during alkaline hydrogen evolution. Consequently, the RuCuCe catalyst delivers 10 mA cm−2 at an overpotential of only 18 mV in 1.0 M KOH and maintains stable operation for over 100 h at 500 mA cm−2 in a membrane electrode assembly. In situ electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and pH-dependent measurements verify the facilitated Volmer process induced by Ce incorporation. Temperature-dependent analysis further shows that the apparent activation energy decreases from 47.4 kJ mol−1 for RuCu to 26.4 kJ mol−1 for RuCuCe, consistent with enhanced water dissociation kinetics. This work establishes RE dilute metal alloys as an effective platform for boosting the intrinsic activity of Ru-based alloy catalysts, in which RE incorporation promotes water dissociation while inducing charge redistribution in the alloy matrix.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4244-0
Near-infrared perovskite light-emitting diodes (NIR-PeLEDs) suffer from poor operational stability, largely due to interfacial reactions at the electron-transport layer (ETL)/perovskite interface. Here, we introduce a zinc ion (Zn2+)-chelated hybrid ETL derived from a Zn2+-chelated polyethylenimine ethoxylated (PEIE) complex, which partially retains the surface properties of ZnO but exhibits significantly reduced oxygen defects and surface-adsorbed hydroxyl groups. This well-modulated surface promotes perovskite crystallization and mitigates interface-induced deprotonation of organic cations during device operation. Consequently, NIR-PeLEDs employing this hybrid ETL achieve a peak external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 20.1%, a high radiance of 652 W sr-1 m-2, and an exceptional T50 lifetime of 270.7 hours at a high current density of 100 mA cm-2, which is over five times that of devices based on conventional ZnO nanocrystal (NC) ETLs. Our results present an effective ETL strategy for operationally stable NIR-PeLEDs and thoroughly reveal the critical role of regulating interfacial reactions in stabilizing buried interfacial contacts. These findings provide valuable insights for advancing perovskite optoelectronic devices that suffer from interface-induced performance degradation.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4260-5
Lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs) are recognized as a leading candidate for next-generation energy storage due to their high theoretical specific capacity (1675 mAh g⁻¹). However, the shuttle effect of lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) severely limits cycle life and energy efficiency. Here, we report a multi-interface engineering strategy employing a MnO₂-TiO₂@Ti₃C₂ MXene (MT@MX) heterojunction, synthesized via a facile redox reaction between MXene and KMnO₄, to modulate bidirectional polysulfide conversion. The 2D structure with high conductivity and abundant heterogeneous interfaces facilitates fast ion/electron transfer, reduces reaction energy barriers, and enhances adsorption via d-band center effects. The stepped built-in electric field (BIEF) in MT@MX lowers the migration energy barrier of LiPSs from catalytic MXene to TiO₂ and then to adsorptive MnO₂, enabling reversible migration across multi-interfaces. Optimized heterointerfaces synergistically integrate adsorption, diffusion, and catalytic conversion, yielding excellent cycling stability even at a high sulfur loading of 6.4 mg cm⁻². This work demonstrates that constructing heterojunctions with stepped BIEF offers a feasible approach to modulate interfacial diffusion and provides a new design strategy for high-performance LSB electrocatalysts.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4359-0
Organic solar cells (OSCs) require cathode interlayers (CILs) that combine high charge transport, defect passivation, and thickness insensitivity for scalable manufacturing. Here, we report the synthesis of a novel A-D-A-A'-type polymer, PDPP2F-NDI-N, via the green and efficient direct arylation polymerization (DArP) method. The multiple electron-deficient units in the backbone confer strong electron-withdrawing character, effective work function modulation, enhanced built-in potential, high crystallinity, and ordered molecular packing. PDPP2F-NDI-N exhibits a high electron mobility of 1.01 × 10⁻³ cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹ and electrical conductivity of 3.13 × 10⁻³ S m⁻¹, facilitating efficient charge extraction and transport. Its interfacial modification capability suppresses interfacial defects and reduces non-radiative recombination losses. In ternary OSCs, PDPP2F-NDI-N achieves a high power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 20.44%, with outstanding thickness insensitivity retaining 92.8% of peak PCE at a 30 nm CIL thickness, and a T80 lifetime exceeding 1700 hours under photo-thermal aging. This work demonstrates that poly(A-D-A-alt-A') backbone design combined with DArP synthesis provides an effective strategy for developing high-performance, thickness-insensitive, and stable polymeric CILs, advancing efficient, stable, and scalable OSC applications.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4277-1
Two-dimensional (2D) magnetic materials hold promise for next-generation spintronics, yet most exhibit Curie temperatures (Tc) far below room temperature, limiting practical applications. Here, we report the realization of room-temperature ferromagnetism in CuCrSe2 nanosheets via controlled anion removal achieved by post-synthetic vacuum annealing. Raw CuCrSe2 shows a low Tc of ~120 K, whereas annealed CuCrSe2 (A-CuCrSe2) nanosheets exhibit robust ferromagnetic ordering above 300 K. Structural and compositional analyses, including transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray absorption spectroscopy, confirm that A-CuCrSe2 retains the original layered crystal structure with an estimated Se vacancy concentration of approximately 10%. Magnetic measurements reveal room-temperature ferromagnetism in exfoliated nanosheets, corroborated by magnetic imaging and electric transport measurements. Anomalous Hall effect (AHE) measurements uncover the coexistence of two ferromagnetic phases within the same sample: one with low Tc (~120 K) and another with high Tc (>300 K), indicating spatially heterogeneous magnetic ordering driven by anion removal distribution. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations elucidate the microscopic mechanism, suggesting that Se vacancies modulate the magnetic exchange interactions, enhancing Tc. This work demonstrates that anion modulation is an effective intrinsic strategy to achieve room-temperature ferromagnetism in 2D materials, potentially advancing spintronic applications.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4192-y
Electrochemical water splitting is pivotal for scalable green hydrogen production, yet its practical deployment hinges on cost-effective electrocatalysts with high activity and durability. This study introduces a low-cost, three-dimensional (3D) nanoporous ZrVFeCoNi material fabricated via chemical dealloying, at merely 0.16% of the cost of Pt. The structure-activity relationship between its microstructure and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) performance was systematically explored. Lattice defect effects from multiphase intermetallic compounds, combined with multi-metal synergy, optimize H+ adsorption energy and electron transfer kinetics. The 3D nanoporous architecture provides a high electrochemical surface area with abundant active sites, enhancing electrolyte penetration and reducing interfacial mass transfer resistance. Consequently, the ZrVFeCoNi electrode exhibits outstanding HER performance, requiring only a 38 mV overpotential to reach 10 mA cm−2 and maintaining stable operation for 1000 h at 500 mA cm−2. Integrated into a full water electrolyzer (ZrVFeCoNi || IrO2/Ni), the system achieves a cell voltage of 1.60 V at a current density of 400 mA cm−2. Advanced characterization and density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that interfacial interactions and charge transfer at heterointerfaces drive catalytic activity, showcasing the potential of 3D nano-structured multiphase intermetallic compounds as high-performance electrocatalysts for green hydrogen systems.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3547-7
Inorganic perovskite solar cells (IPSCs) have attracted significant attention due to their excellent light and thermal stability and potential in tandem applications. However, their efficiency and stability are often limited by residual lattice stress and defects at interfaces and within the bulk, causing severe nonradiative recombination. Here, we introduce a zero-dimensional supramolecular complex, (ETP)2SbCl5, as a dual-interface and bulk modifier to regulate CsPbI3 film growth. The modifier exhibits spatial segregation: ETP+ cations anchor at the buried interface, passivating defects on TiO2 and perovskite surfaces; Sb3+ and Cl− ions diffuse into the bulk during annealing, relieving residual stress; and Cl− accumulates on the top surface, passivating cation defects. Consequently, the modified CsPbI3 solar cell achieves a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 21.71% and an open-circuit voltage (VOC) of 1.27 V, retaining 97.4% of initial efficiency after 500 h of maximum power point (MPP) tracking. This work demonstrates a synergistic strategy to simultaneously address interfacial and bulk defects, advancing high-performance and stable inorganic photovoltaics.
New Carbon Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5805(25)61029-8
Zinc-ion supercapacitors (ZISCs) are promising energy storage devices due to their low cost, high safety, and minimal environmental impact. However, their low energy density and poor cycling performance hinder practical application. This study presents a simple electrochemical exfoliation method to reconstruct the surface of carbon paper, introducing oxygen functional groups that enhance pseudocapacitance. The resulting binder-free electrode (EECP) exhibits a large surface area and rapid charge transfer, leading to a dominant capacitive-type charge storage mechanism with 78.8% capacitive contribution at 10 mV/s. The EECP electrode delivers a maximum specific capacitance of 252.5 F/g at 1 A/g and retains 81.7% of its capacitance after 10,000 cycles. A full ZISC device, assembled with EECP as the cathode, Zn as the anode, and 1 mol L−1 ZnSO4 aqueous electrolyte, achieves a capacitance of 186.22 F/g at 1 A/g, a capacitance retention of 97.01% after 10,000 cycles, and an energy density of 46.6 Wh/kg at a power density of 500.4 W/kg. These results demonstrate that EECP is a promising cathode material for high-rate, next-generation zinc-ion supercapacitors.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3712-2
Electrochemical potential and ion diffusion of electrode materials restrain the energy and power densities of lithium-ion batteries, and these challenges also remain in the intercalation-type Li3VO4 (LVO). In this work, the local [VO4] coordination symmetry in LVO is broken by a higher concentration of oxygen vacancies (Vö), resulting in an increased average V–O bond length and a larger ligand field splitting. These alterations reduce the energy level of the lowest unoccupied orbitals (e*) and lift the electrochemical potential, resulting in a higher voltage output. Additionally, the broken local symmetry in Vö-LVO is found to reduce the band gap and expand the ion transport channels, which favors enhancing electronic conductivity and facilitates ion diffusion, thereby improving the electrochemical kinetics in the energy storage process. The local symmetry broken sample (Vö-LVO) achieves a significantly improved capacity of 532 mAh/g at 0.1 A/g in comparison with 394 mAh/g of pristine LVO, and long cycling stability with retained capacity of 398 mAh/g at 1 A/g over 500 cycles compared with 236 mAh/g of the pristine LVO. The fundamental understanding paves the way to exploit high-performance electrodes via ligand field engineering for next-generation rechargeable batteries.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3672-8
Pore-tuning engineering is an effective strategy for designing catalysts for energy storage and conversion. Here, we report a rhombic dodecahedral iron and nitrogen co-doped carbon (Fe-N-C) material with hierarchical micro-mesoporous structures, synthesized using mesoporous silica as both pore template and iron source. The resulting catalyst (m-Fe/NC) exhibits significantly enhanced oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity, with half-wave potentials of 0.81 V and 0.88 V in acidic and alkaline media, respectively. When employed as a cathode in zinc-air batteries, m-Fe/NC delivers a superior specific capacity of 815 mAh g_Zn^-1 and a stable cell voltage of 1.31 V at a current density of 10 mA cm^-2. Advanced characterization and theoretical calculations reveal that the mesoporous structure not only increases active site exposure but also induces a curvature-induced strain effect on concave surfaces, which enhances intrinsic activity. This work provides insights for developing innovative nanoporous electrocatalysts.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3727-0
Lead halide perovskites are promising scintillators for X-ray imaging due to high X-ray absorption efficiency, excellent luminescence, and facile synthesis. However, their ionic nature challenges simultaneous high photoluminescence efficiency and environmental robustness. This work introduces a multilevel encapsulation strategy: CsPbBr3 quantum dots (QDs) are sequentially coated with Cs4PbBr6, SiO2, and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). Cs4PbBr6 passivates surface defects, while SiO2 and PDMS provide barriers against moisture, heat, and radiation. The resulting CsPbBr3@Cs4PbBr6/SiO2/PDMS flexible films exhibit a photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of 85%, outstanding mechanical flexibility, and durability under stretching, bending, and compressing. Films retain emission stability under elevated temperatures, prolonged X-ray irradiation, and extended water immersion. X-ray imaging demonstrates spatial resolution of 12 lp/mm, enabling distortion-free imaging of curved objects; superior water resistance allows long-term underwater imaging. This work highlights hierarchical encapsulation in balancing luminescence efficiency and stability, offering a pathway toward practical flexible perovskite scintillators.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3838-5
Air-permeable and ultrathin conductive electrodes are essential for next-generation soft electronics, including breathable wearables, on-skin devices, and bio-integrated electronics. However, conventional metallization strategies, such as sputtering and ink-printing, often suffer from severe vertical charge leakage due to the porous and ultrathin characteristics of nanofibrous networks, leading to device short-circuiting, operational failure, and limited vertical integration. Here, we present a solvent-selective dissolution-assisted transfer printing strategy to achieve surface-confined metallization of ultrathin, lightweight, and gas-permeable nanofibrous networks, enabling lateral conductivity while maintaining vertical insulation. This transfer printing process facilitates not only the rapid formation of conductive patterns on the surface of nanofibrous networks but also mechanical reinforcement through solvent evaporation-induced interlocked fiber-fiber welding. Meanwhile, the strategy preserves the high permeability of the nanofibrous networks and imparts a unique combination of surface conductivity (2 Ω cm) and vertical insulativity (10^11 Ω cm). The resulting anisotropic conductive networks enable low-voltage wearable heaters, high-sensitive pressure sensors, and ultralight temperature sensors. A pressure-temperature dual-modal sensing patch is further fabricated for intelligent grasping classification. The proposed surface-confined metallization strategy enables rapid fabrication of an anisotropic conductive network as a building block to construct air-permeable, ultrathin, and lightweight wearable electronics.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2024112104
Carboxyl-modified polystyrene microplastics (PS-COOH) are negatively charged particles formed by surface oxidation and functional group modification of polystyrene microplastics (PS), widely used in biomedical and analytical chemistry. However, studies on their neurotoxic effects on aquatic organisms are scarce. This study employed zebrafish (Danio rerio) as a model organism, exposing embryos to environmentally relevant concentrations (0.1, 1, 10, 100 μg·L−1) of PS and PS-COOH. Neurotoxic effects were assessed by measuring tail coiling frequency at 24 hpf and swimming velocity under alternating light/dark cycles at 120 hpf. Results demonstrated that both PS and PS-COOH induced neurotoxicity, with PS-COOH significantly reducing tail coiling frequency and average swimming speed compared to PS (P<0.05). Exposure to 10 μg·L−1 PS-COOH disrupted neurotransmitter homeostasis, altering levels of acetylcholine (ACh), serotonin (5-HT), and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Transgenic zebrafish Tg(huc:EGFP) fluorescence assays revealed that PS-COOH (0.1–100 μg·L−1) caused damage to central neurons. These findings indicate that PS-COOH exposure impairs cholinergic, serotonergic, and GABAergic neurotransmission, induces neuronal damage, and exerts neurotoxic effects on zebrafish larvae. This study provides a theoretical basis for assessing the ecological and health risks of modified microplastics.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2024121201
A method for the simultaneous determination of 19 sulfonamide antibiotics in environmental aqueous samples was developed by integrating solid-phase extraction (SPE) and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) with ultra-performance liquid chromatography–triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). Aqueous samples were filtered through 0.45 μm membranes, adjusted to pH 6, and treated with Na2EDTA at 2.5 mg·L−1 to mitigate matrix effects. Analytes were enriched on Oasis HLB cartridges, purified by GPC, and separated on a Hypersil GOLD C18 column (2.1 mm ID × 100 mm, 1.9 μm) using gradient elution with 0.05% (V/V) formic acid in water and methanol. Detection was performed in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode with internal standard quantification. Under optimal conditions, limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) ranged from 0.7–4.4 ng·L−1 and 2.8–17.6 ng·L−1, respectively. Recoveries from spiked real samples at 10, 200, and 400 ng·L−1 were 44.5%–102%, 47.7%–97.5%, and 51.4%–115%, with relative standard deviations (RSDs) of 1.8%–10%, 0.64%–5.9%, and 0.71%–4.6%, respectively. The method was applied to three surface waters and three municipal wastewater treatment plant effluents, detecting five sulfonamides at concentrations ranging from 1.82 to 3864 ng·L−1. The combined SPE-GPC cleanup effectively reduced matrix suppression, offering high sensitivity, precision, and robustness for routine monitoring of sulfonamide antibiotics in environmental waters.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2024112102
Based on the 2022 activity data of non-road mobile sources in Hebei Province, this study employed the emission factor method recommended by the Guidelines to estimate emissions of CO, HC, NOx, PM2.5, PM10, and SO2. A comprehensive emission inventory was established, followed by spatial and uncertainty analyses. Scenario analysis, aligned with the 14th Five-Year Plan policies, was used to project emissions for 2030. The results indicate that non-road mobile sources in Hebei emitted 76.1×10^3 t of CO, 20.6×10^3 t of HC, 164.0×10^3 t of NOx, 8.5×10^3 t of PM2.5, 9.0×10^3 t of PM10, and 2.4×10^3 t of SO2. Agricultural machinery was the dominant contributor to CO, HC, PM2.5, and PM10, accounting for over 60.0% of CO emissions. Railway locomotives were the primary source of NOx, contributing 50.9%. For SO2, agricultural machinery and railway locomotives contributed 39.0% and 44.4%, respectively. The highest emitting cities were Tangshan (21.3%), Shijiazhuang (15.7%), Cangzhou (11.6%), and Handan (11.6%). Ship emissions were concentrated in Tangshan Port; civil aviation emissions were mainly in Shijiazhuang, Tangshan, Qinhuangdao, and Handan; railway emissions were distributed in Shijiazhuang, Baoding, and Handan. Under the updated emission standard scenario, NOx and PM10 emissions in 2030 could be reduced by approximately 35.0%. The phase-out of old machinery yielded the largest reduction in CO (36.0%), while both electrification and phase-out scenarios significantly impacted HC emissions.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2024112106
Selective synergistic catalytic elimination (SSCE) of CH3SH and CO2 represents a significant approach towards achieving green chemistry objectives. In this study, a series of Al2O3 catalysts with different surface hydroxyl coordination states were designed and fabricated through a simple water bath strategy. The performance of the corresponding catalysts for selective synergistic catalytic elimination of CH3SH and CO2 was systematically evaluated. The catalysts were comprehensively characterized by BET, XRD, XPS, NMR and CO-DRIFTS techniques. The experimental results revealed that the synthesized samples exhibited uniform specific surface areas (150 m2·g−1) and pore sizes (12 nm), while demonstrating varying hydroxyl coordination states, which significantly affects the surface acidity of W-Al2O3 catalyst. Notably, W80-Al2O3, synthesized at 80 °C via water bath heating, displayed the highest proportion of μ1-type hydroxyl coordination. This unique structural feature endowed the catalyst with enhanced Brønsted acidity and superior CO adsorption capacity compared to other catalysts, which significantly promotes the further hydrogenation of CO to CH4 in the SSCE process. As a result, the SSCE performance of W80-Al2O3 was significantly improved, achieving complete conversion of CH3SH (100%) and a CH4 product concentration of 1326 μmol·g−1, which is significantly higher than that of Al2O3 (56 μmol·g−1) and W-Al2O3 (54 μmol·g−1). This work provides a new strategy for the synergistic reduction of typical sulfur-containing odorous pollutants and carbon dioxide.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3640-3
Cancer immunotherapy, particularly small-molecule immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), offers low cost and high tumor diffusion but suffers from limited efficacy and systemic toxicity. Here, we engineered non-pathogenic Escherichia coli MG1655 for tumor-targeted and synergistic photothermal immunotherapy. Polydopamine (PDA) was coated onto the bacterial surface via in situ polymerization, followed by noncovalent attachment of the IDO-1 inhibitor NLG919, yielding MG1655@PDA-NLG. The functionalized bacteria retained viability and bioactivity while exhibiting outstanding photothermal conversion. In a murine CT26 colon tumor model, intravenous injection led to effective tumor accumulation within 12 h and complete clearance from major organs by 72 h, with negligible hematological toxicity, confirming hypoxic tumor-targeting and biosafety. Under near-infrared irradiation, the engineered bacteria inhibited tumor growth by over 90%, combining photothermal effect and immunogenic cell death (ICD) to promote dendritic cell maturation. This synergized with suppression of tryptophan metabolism, enhancing CD4+ and CD8+ T cell infiltration. This work demonstrates a simple, safe strategy for surface engineering of bacteria with multiple therapeutic agents, offering a promising approach for precise and combined cancer immunotherapy.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202510089
Microplastics (MPs) are frequently detected in various water bodies, posing increasing environmental risks. This study synthesized magnetic Fe3O4@MIL-100(Fe) microspheres via an in-situ one-step hydrothermal method and investigated their adsorption removal mechanisms for polystyrene (PS) and polylactic acid (PLA) microplastics. The composite exhibited a core-shell structure with a high specific surface area of 848.6 m2·g−1. Adsorption kinetics showed that PLA followed a pseudo-second-order model, while PS fitted both pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order models. Equilibrium data for both MPs were well described by the Freundlich isotherm. Removal efficiencies for PLA and PS increased from 58.18% and 49.66% to 98.90% and 98.58%, respectively, as pH decreased, and from 64.24% and 21.58% to 97.05% and 94.63% with increasing ionic strength. The removal mechanism involved synergistic physical-chemical interactions: hydrogen bonding dominated for PLA, with some complexation, while π–π interactions and hydrogen bonding were primary for PS. The material demonstrated excellent reusability over multiple cycles. These findings highlight the potential of Fe3O4@MIL-100(Fe) for efficient removal of MPs from water, offering a novel approach for controlling emerging contaminants.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202507095
This study investigates the optimization of CO2 mineralization curing on the performance of a ternary cementitious system comprising steel slag, fly ash, and Portland cement. Specimens were fabricated with varying residual water-to-cement ratios (r/w), steel slag and fly ash contents, curing pressures, and durations, then subjected to standard curing and CO2 mineralization curing. Compressive strength and carbon sequestration rate were measured, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were employed to analyze mineral composition and microstructural evolution. Results indicate that compressive strength first increases then rapidly decreases with increasing residual water-to-cement ratio, with an optimal r/w below 0.15. Both compressive strength and carbon sequestration rate increase with higher steel slag content; the 50% steel slag + 10% fly ash formulation exhibited the highest values. Microstructural analyses revealed that CO2 mineralization primarily consumes hydration products such as Ca(OH)2, C-S(Al)-H, and AFt, generating abundant calcium carbonate that densifies the pore structure, thereby enhancing mechanical properties. Lower residual water-to-cement ratios, higher steel slag content, or extended curing durations increase the content and crystallinity of calcium carbonate. SEM observations confirmed the presence of densely packed, well-crystallized rhombohedral calcite in specimens with lower water-to-cement ratios and higher steel slag content. These findings provide a mechanistic basis for the engineering application of CO2 mineralization curing in ternary solid-waste cementitious materials.
Journal of Environmental Engineering Technology•2026•DOI: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202605002
The single-phase partial nitrification and anammox (SPN/A) process has seen limited widespread application due to its slow startup and difficulties in enriching anaerobic ammonium-oxidizing bacteria (AnAOB). This study utilized high-ammonia nitrogen wastewater to initiate and enhance the SPN/A process in a pilot-scale integrated fixed-film activated sludge (IFAS) reactor. By establishing an IFAS-SPN/A coupled system based on the symbiotic relationship between biofilm and sludge, rapid startup and efficient AnAOB enrichment were achieved. An innovative sludge inoculation strategy was employed: first, conventional nitrifying sludge was inoculated to initiate shortcut nitrification and allow ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) to colonize blank carriers; subsequently, anammox sludge was inoculated to promote efficient AnAOB enrichment on the AOB biofilm. The influent was low-temperature shift condensation water from a synthetic ammonia workshop, with an average ammonium nitrogen concentration of 2300 mg/L and COD ranging from 50 to 200 mg/L. The 180-day experiment comprised three stages: shortcut nitrification startup, SPN/A startup, and load intensification. The system successfully started up SPN/A within 120 days, achieving total nitrogen removal efficiency and removal load of (90.21±2.18)% and (0.31±0.07) kg/(m³·d), respectively, through synergistic biofilm and suspended microorganisms. During load intensification, AnAOB relative abundances in biofilm and flocs reached 18.8% and 35.3%, respectively, and removal load increased to (0.64±0.11) kg/(m³·d). Stable influent quality is a prerequisite for efficient and stable nitrogen removal; a surge in influent ammonium concentration caused nitrite accumulation imbalance and deteriorated performance. Adding an equalization tank before the aeration tank mitigates water quality fluctuations, and a 'dilution-reconstruction' strategy for low-ammonia wastewater facilitates rapid recovery after performance deterioration.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3822-y
Precise control over supramolecular chirality and circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) is achieved through fluorene-content engineering of alkylated fluorene-quinoxaline copolymers. By systematically varying the fluorene ratio, three polymers (F8QX, F8QX-II, F8QX-III) are synthesized and co-assembled with a chiral inducer (R/S-5011). Thermal annealing induces highly ordered, crosslinked superstructures with strong chiroptical activity, where the dissymmetry factor (g_lum) decreases with increasing fluorene content. The optimal system, (F8QX)0.7-(R/S-5011)0.3, achieves a high |g_lum| of 0.52. Structural analyses and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations reveal that lower fluorene ratios facilitate tighter π–π stacking and more efficient chirality amplification. This system further serves as an excellent host for a narrowband multi-resonance thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) emitter (DBN-ICZ) via Förster resonance energy transfer, yielding ternary co-assemblies with narrowband green emission (FWHM = 25 nm) and strong CPL with g_lum of 0.43. Circularly polarized organic light-emitting diodes (CP-OLEDs) based on (F8QX)0.7-(R/S-5011)0.3-(DBN-ICZ)0.005 exhibit yellow circularly polarized electroluminescence with |g_EL| value of 0.12. This work provides a comprehensive strategy integrating molecular design, hierarchical assembly, and energy transfer toward high-performance chiral optoelectronic materials.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202509078
The rapid expansion of photovoltaic (PV) installations and the impending retirement of early-stage modules have made the recycling of end-of-life PV modules an urgent issue. This review systematically examines the types and structures of retired PV modules, with a focus on crystalline silicon (c-Si) and thin-film technologies. It critically evaluates the principles, processes, and pros and cons of physical, chemical, pyrolysis, biological, combined, and emerging methods for recovering c-Si modules. The current status of silicon, metal, and valuable component recovery processes is summarized. For thin-film modules, the core technologies for recovering valuable components via pyrometallurgical, hydrometallurgical, biological, and novel approaches are analyzed in depth. Results indicate that conventional methods (physical, chemical, pyrolysis) remain dominant but suffer from high energy consumption, pollution, and chemical usage. Emerging technologies such as biological and green leaching are identified as key research directions, though they face challenges of low technical maturity and high costs. Finally, policy orientations and existing challenges are discussed, and future development directions are proposed, providing significant guidance for the sustainable and large-scale green development of the PV industry.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202509080
Plastic pollution poses a global environmental challenge, and developing efficient, low-cost pyrolysis catalysts is crucial for resource recovery from plastic waste. This study investigates ex-situ catalytic pyrolysis of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) over ZSM-5 (Si/Al = 25) modified with Zn and Fe at loadings of 5% and 10% via impregnation. Catalysts were characterized by XRD, FT-IR, XPS, SEM, TEM, and BET. TGA was used to assess thermal behavior, and catalytic pyrolysis experiments were conducted in a tube furnace at 450 °C, with product analysis by GC-MS. Results show that metal incorporation preserved the ZSM-5 framework while modifying acid site distribution and surface morphology, enhancing cracking and dehydrogenation. All modified catalysts increased light gasoline-range hydrocarbon yield and reduced heavy fractions compared to non-catalytic runs. Among them, 10% Zn/ZSM-5 exhibited the best performance, boosting light gasoline hydrocarbons to 74.77%, approximately three times that of the non-catalytic case, significantly improving oil quality. This study demonstrates the potential of low-cost metal-modified zeolites for efficient and economical plastic waste pyrolysis.
Journal of Fuel Chemistry and Technology•2026•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5813(25)60618-9
Aromatic hydrocarbons, essential chemical feedstocks for fuels, synthetic fibers, and pharmaceuticals, are predominantly derived from petroleum refining. The catalytic conversion of lignin, a major lignocellulosic component, offers a renewable route to these chemicals. This review systematically examines the influence of pyrolysis methods, catalysts, and reaction conditions on the catalytic pyrolysis of lignin to aromatic hydrocarbons. Key parameters include catalyst acidity and pore structure, which govern selectivity and yield. Reaction temperature, catalyst-to-lignin ratio, and residence time critically affect product distribution. The review outlines catalytic mechanisms, such as deoxygenation, cracking, and aromatization, and highlights the role of zeolite catalysts, particularly HZSM-5, in enhancing monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbon yields. Metal modification (e.g., Fe, Ni, Ga) and pretreatment strategies (e.g., torrefaction) are discussed for improving efficiency. Challenges remain in catalyst deactivation due to coking and the complexity of lignin structure. Future research directions include developing robust catalysts, optimizing reactor designs, and integrating processes for industrial viability. This review provides theoretical and technological guidance for advancing lignin-to-aromatics conversion.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3790-5
Near-infrared (NIR) phosphors with high quantum efficiency (QE) and thermal robustness are critical for phosphor-converted light-emitting diodes (pc-LEDs). Here, a Cr3+-activated Lu2BaAl4SiO12 (LBASO) garnet phosphor is engineered via chemical unit cosubstitution of [Ba2+-Si4+] for [Lu3+-Al3+] in Lu3Al5O12 (LuAG), inducing a strong crystal field that yields NIR emission at 705 nm. The optimized LBASO:0.07Cr3+ exhibits an internal quantum efficiency (IQE) of 84.82% and external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 46.02%. Notably, it demonstrates anti-thermal quenching (ATQ) with 126.03% of its initial intensity at 498 K under 442 nm excitation, attributed to a wide band gap, weak electron-phonon coupling, defect trap energy levels, high structural rigidity, and optimized electron population distribution. A NIR pc-LED fabricated with this phosphor achieves an output power of 134.99 mW and photoelectric conversion efficiency of 11.4% at 100 mA drive current. These results underscore the potential of LBASO:Cr3+ for applications in plant lighting, night vision, and nondestructive analysis.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3890-6
Photothermal catalysis offers a sustainable route for CO2 conversion to value-added chemicals, yet precise control of active sites and light-harvesting materials remains challenging. Here, we report the rational integration of three-dimensional ordered macroporous (3DOM) CeO2 with positively charged (Niδ+)n clusters to construct efficient photothermal catalysts for the reverse water gas shift (RWGS) reaction. The 3DOM architecture enhances light absorption, improves access to active sites, and provides a confined environment for reactant enrichment. Engineering (Niδ+)n clusters within 3DOM CeO2 not only affords highly active sites for H2 adsorption and dissociation but also modulates the local structure of CeO2 to promote CO2 adsorption and activation. Furthermore, the (Niδ+)n clusters significantly enhance light-harvesting capability across the UV-vis-NIR spectrum, generating a pronounced photothermal effect that accelerates reaction kinetics. The optimized (Niδ+)n/CeO2 catalyst exhibits outstanding photothermal catalytic performance, achieving a CO production rate of 63.36 mmol g−1 h−1 in a flowing reaction with CO selectivity of 93% under simulated solar irradiation (2.6 W cm−2). Theoretical calculations reveal that the (Niδ+)n/CeO2 catalyst reduces the thermodynamic energy barrier for *COOH formation in CO2 hydrogenation. This study offers valuable insights into the design of photothermal catalysts, highlighting the significant potential of active-site engineering in promoting efficient CO2 conversion for practical solar-to-fuel production.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3783-x
The synergistic strategy combining chemotherapy and immunotherapy has recently demonstrated significant promise in cancer treatment. However, the substantial physicochemical disparities between chemotherapeutic agents and small-molecule immune adjuvants pose considerable challenges for co-delivery strategies. In this study, we designed a reactive oxygen species-responsive paclitaxel prodrug, PTX-PBA, which markedly enhanced drug encapsulation stability and dual-drug loading efficiency by various polymeric delivery systems. The resultant nanosystem (NanoPR) exhibited excellent physicochemical properties and ROS-triggered release profiles, effectively inducing immunogenic cell death in tumor cells while promoting dendritic cell maturation and CD8+ T cells activation. In murine models of 4T1 breast cancer and CT26 colon carcinoma, NanoPR achieved significant tumor growth inhibition and elicited durable immune memory responses. Collectively, this work provides an innovative molecular design strategy for the co-delivery of chemotherapeutics and immunomodulators, offering a robust foundation for the clinical translation of chemo-immunotherapy.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202505103
This study evaluated the drought resistance of seven dominant plant species from the Inner Mongolia desert steppe during seed germination to identify suitable species for ecological restoration of arid mining dumps. Seeds were subjected to soil moisture gradients ranging from 2.56% to 12.77% to simulate drought stress. Germination percentage, growth parameters, germination index, simplified vigor index, and drought resistance index were measured. A multi-dimensional evaluation system was constructed using the membership function method. Results showed that with increasing water stress, germination parameters generally declined nonlinearly. Under severe drought (soil moisture 5.11%), Lolium perenne and Melilotus officinalis exhibited significantly higher germination rates than other species (P<0.05). Comprehensive evaluation ranked drought resistance as: Lolium perenne > Melilotus officinalis > Setaria viridis > Elymus dahuricus > Medicago sativa > Astragalus adsurgens > Artemisia oxycephala. These findings indicate that Lolium perenne, Melilotus officinalis, and Setaria viridis possess strong drought resistance and can serve as pioneer species for vegetation reconstruction in mining areas. Furthermore, a soil moisture content of 5.11% (40% of field capacity) was identified as the lower threshold for seed germination, providing a quantitative basis for water management in arid mining ecological restoration.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202511098
A highly sensitive analytical method for the determination of 2-bromostyrene in tap water and surface water was developed and optimized using headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The extraction conditions were systematically optimized via single-factor experiments and an L9(34) orthogonal array with range analysis. The optimal conditions were: sample volume 10 mL, extraction time 30 min, extraction temperature 30 °C, stirring rate 1000 r·min−1, and 2.5 g NaCl as salting-out agent. The method exhibited good linearity over the range 100–5000 ng·L−1 (R² = 0.9994), with a detection limit of 13.8 ng·L−1 and a quantification limit of 55.3 ng·L−1. Recoveries from spiked tap water and surface water samples ranged from 90.2% to 102.2%, with relative standard deviations between 5% and 11%. Statistical tests (normal distribution, F-test, t-test) all yielded P > 0.05, confirming the method's reliability. The method is simple, sensitive, and exhibits minimal matrix effects, making it suitable for routine monitoring of trace 2-bromostyrene in drinking water and surface water.
Journal of Fuel Chemistry and Technology•2026•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5813(26)60678-0
Improper disposal of plastic waste represents both the loss of valuable resources and significant environmental threat. This study investigates the thermal liquefaction of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) using low-pressure superheated methanol. It systematically evaluates the effects of reaction temperature and the ratio of reactant to methanol on liquefaction efficiency and product characteristics. Results indicate that complete conversion of HDPE can be achieved in low-pressure superheated methanol (<0.5 MPa) at a minimum external heating temperature of 260 °C. Under this condition, oil yield reached 77.1% with alkanes comprising 62.3% of the product alongside minor oxygenated compounds. As temperature increased, the average carbon number of hydrocarbons gradually decreased. Below 260 °C, HDPE conversion decreased significantly, and products were primarily waxy. At 290 °C, the proportion of gasoline-like fractions (C6–C12) increased markedly from 16.6% to 80.9%. Furthermore, reactant ratio plays a critical regulatory role; extremes in ratio—either too high or too low—diminish heat transfer efficiency and reduce conversion. Mechanistically, liquefaction primarily involved cleavage of secondary C−C bonds, where resulting oligomers further cracked into free radicals to form diverse hydrocarbons through secondary reactions. This work demonstrates that low-pressure superheated methanol liquefaction is a mild, efficient, and pretreatment-free method to upcycle polyethylene into valuable fuels. Optimizing these process parameters can pave the way for industrial application, aiding in both plastic pollution management and sustainable resource recovery.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2026020207
Although the production and use of hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs) have been completely banned in China since December 2021, historical production activities may still leave high-concentration residual contamination in localized areas. This study investigated a typical legacy site of historical HBCDs production in eastern China. Surface and core soil samples were systematically collected both inside and outside the former plant area to characterize the occurrence, spatial distribution, and environmental burden of HBCDs, and to evaluate associated human health risks. Results showed that HBCD concentrations in soils outside the plant area ranged from below detection limit to 6.90×10² ng·g⁻¹ dw, while those inside the plant area were substantially higher, reaching up to 1.18×10⁶ ng·g⁻¹ dw. γ-HBCD was the dominant isomer; however, its relative abundance was lower than that reported in commercial HBCD mixtures and in previous studies conducted near production facilities. Outside the plant, HBCDs concentrations in soil generally decreased with increasing distance from the site, yet remained detectable at a distance of approximately 10 km (15.2 ng·g⁻¹ dw). Within the plant area, HBCDs concentrations in soil cores decreased with depth, declining from 1.08×10⁴–1.18×10⁶ ng·g⁻¹ dw in surface soils to 1.05–93.5 ng·g⁻¹ dw at depths of about 4 m. Analysis of the relative cumulative environmental burden indicated that although HBCDs loads were highest in the near-source area, they gradually accumulated over a broader spatial scale. Approximately 23.7%, 40.1%, 60.0%, and 87.1% of the total estimated burden accumulated within 2 km, 2.81 km, 4 km, and 6 km from the site, respectively. Health risk assessment indicated that oral ingestion of soil was the primary exposure pathway for different populations. Localized high-contamination zones within the plant area contributed significantly to non-carcinogenic risks, while overall risks for children outside the plant area were at acceptable levels.
Journal of Environmental Engineering Technology•2026•DOI: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202607023
The rapid population growth and accelerating urban development have made the comprehensive utilization of municipal sludge (MS) an urgent challenge. MS contains substantial organic matter and essential nutrients for crop growth, making it a promising soil amendment for the ecological restoration of mine waste rock. However, research evaluating the impact of MS application on soil health and ecological safety from a soil microbiology perspective remains understudied. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of MS and composted municipal sludge (CMS) on the ecological restoration of mine waste rock soil through pot experiments. High-throughput sequencing technology was employed to analyze changes in soil microbial community structure and diversity. Finally, network analysis and correlation heatmaps were utilized to elucidate the microbial driving mechanisms. The results indicated that after MS and CMS application, organic matter content increased from 20.38 g/kg (Level 3) to 38.52 g/kg (Level 2). The levels of available nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium rose from Level 4, 6, 2, to Level 1, 4, 1, respectively. Fresh weight, aboveground height, root length, and stem diameter of ryegrass all increased significantly. Venn diagram and heatmap analyses indicated that lower application rates (<1.5 kg/m²) enhanced microbial community richness and diversity. This study confirms municipal sludge as an effective amendment for mine waste rock soil. It is recommended to limit application rates below 1.5 kg/m² in practical mine ecological restoration projects, with particular attention to long-term dynamics of heavy metals and salinity to ensure safe and sustainable land reuse.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3984-5
Rechargeable aluminum batteries (RABs) are promising for large-scale energy storage due to high theoretical capacity, inherent safety, and abundant aluminum reserves. However, conventional AlCl3-based ionic liquid electrolytes suffer from high cost, uncontrolled dendrite growth, and severe anode corrosion. Here, a molecular-level ligand engineering strategy is proposed, employing nitrogen-containing cyclic amides with tunable N–H functionalities to modulate the coordination environment of deep eutectic electrolytes (DEEs). Combined experimental and theoretical investigations reveal that the α-pyrrolidone-based DEE (PDEE) possesses a wider electrochemical window, higher ionic conductivity, and lower polarization. Precise N–H regulation optimizes cationic ligand and chloroaluminate anion interactions, accelerating ion transport to facilitate uniform Al deposition without dendrites. The amine functionalities enable in situ construction of a uniform inorganic-organic bilayer solid electrolyte interphase, mitigating anode corrosion and enhancing long-term interfacial stability. As a result, Al//Al symmetric batteries with PDEE achieve stable cycling for over 2000 hours, while Al-graphite full batteries demonstrate negligible capacity decay after 6000 cycles. This study establishes that ligand molecular engineering offers an effective strategy for optimizing DEEs, enabling durable and high-performance RABs.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202512064
With increasingly stringent discharge standards for fluoride-containing wastewater, there is an urgent need for cost-effective, easily operable adsorbents capable of rapid adsorption and separation for deep defluorination. In this study, a novel adsorbent, Ce-FMSY, was successfully prepared by co-precipitation of cerium (Ce) and Fe3O4 onto Y-type molecular sieve (MSY). The effects of Ce/Fe mass ratio, adsorption time, initial solution pH, and coexisting anions on adsorption performance were systematically investigated. Results showed that at a Ce loading of 1.0% and Ce/Fe mass ratio of 2:1, Ce-FMSY rapidly adsorbed 86.2% of F− within 30 min, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 4.139 mg·g−1. The saturated magnetization of Ce-FMSY was 13.4 emu·g−1, enabling rapid solid-liquid separation. The adsorbent maintained a stable fluoride removal rate of 77.1%–96.8% over an initial pH range of 3–9. Adsorption kinetics and isotherm fitting indicated that F− adsorption onto Ce-FMSY followed pseudo-second-order kinetics and the Freundlich model, suggesting chemisorption as the dominant mechanism, involving rapid diffusion, surface complexation, and valence transformation reactions. After five adsorption-desorption cycles, the adsorption capacity slightly decreased and then stabilized, with F− removal efficiency maintained at approximately 72.3% of the initial value. This study provides data support and theoretical reference for deep fluoride removal from wastewater.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-4015-5
Mechanochromic photonic crystals are promising for smart optical materials due to their tunable photonic stop band. Here, we report interface-engineered transparent and mechanochromic non-close-packed photonic crystals (NPCs) by incorporating polystyrene@vinyl-modified SiO2 (PS@V-SiO2) nanospheres (n_PS=1.59, n_V-SiO2=1.46) into a photocurable phenoxypolyethylene glycol acrylate (PEGPEA) matrix (n_PEGPEA=1.52). The nanospheres formed solvation-mediated liquid NPCs in the precursor. Ultraviolet (UV) curing promoted copolymerization between surface C=C bonds of nanospheres and the matrix, which reduced interfacial scattering and enabled highly transparent NPC films. Meanwhile, non-uniform polymer shrinkage led to variations in the ordering of nanospheres, especially in structures with a low volume fraction (φ ≤ 0.23). Under external strain (ε: 0–64%), the film exhibited a dynamic color response. Initially, stretching enhanced the ordering of the nanospheres and the reflection intensity of NPCs, thereby activating the structural color. Further deformation, however, introduced defects and reduced the reflectivity. A blue shift of ~213 nm was achieved in an NPC (φ = 0.23) fabricated by 170 nm of PS@V-SiO2 nanospheres, accompanied by a color gradient from red to blue. Comparisons across SiO2–poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA, n_PEGDA=1.45), SiO2–PEGPEA, and PS@V-SiO2–PEGDA NPC systems highlighted the key role of interfacial scattering, which is affected by the synergistic effects of interfacial covalent polymerization, refractive index matching between the elastomer matrix and nanospheres, and the crosslinking density. This work demonstrates spectrally tunable mechanochromism via size control and patterned anti-counterfeiting labels, thereby providing insights for designing advanced anti-counterfeiting materials applicable in flexible electronics and displays.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-4007-x
Hydrogels, with their hydrophilicity, flexibility, and environmental friendliness, are highly desirable for moisture-electric generators (MEGs) that harness ubiquitous moisture to generate electrical energy. As the active material layer in MEGs, hydrogels play a crucial role in absorbing atmospheric moisture and converting chemical potential energy into electricity. However, the relatively low output current of the device and the instability of hydrogels pose challenges to the development of high-performance hydrogel-based MEGs. Herein, we introduce a straightforward, feasible, cost-effective, and versatile two-step solvent displacement strategy to overcome the barrier associated with the development of MEGs. Through tunable solvent interactions of glycerol and water, the moisture absorption capability and stability of the hydrogel can be improved, while promoting favorable ion migration. Such an effective processing route not only significantly boosts the output performances but also greatly improves the long-term durability of hydrogel-based MEGs. Notably, the current output and power density of the treated MEGs can increase by up to two orders of magnitude. The mechanisms behind the intriguing observation are investigated by various characterizations and theoretical calculations. This universal strategy holds promise to be extended to various hydrogel-based MEGs. Moreover, the MEGs can be used for energy harvesting, self-powered respiratory monitoring, and non-contact humidity detection. This work offers new opportunities for advancing green energy and self-powered technologies.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4072-3
All-inorganic, hole-transport-material-free (HTM-free), carbon-based perovskite solar cells (C-PSCs) have attracted significant attention due to their exceptional stability and low cost. However, their performance and commercial potential are constrained by poor interfacial contact, insufficient crystallinity, and energy level misalignment. In this work, we address these challenges via a molecular engineering strategy by introducing tetrakis(4-ethynylphenyl)methane (TEPM) as a multifunctional additive. The alkynyl moiety (C≡C) in TEPM coordinates with Pb2+ ions in perovskite precursors, synergistically slowing crystallization kinetics to regulate crystal growth and passivate deep-level defects. Consequently, CsPbI3 films exhibit larger grain sizes, improved crystallinity, and lower defect densities. Devices modified with TEPM achieved a record power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 20.01% (certified 19.58%). Additionally, unencapsulated devices retained 87.6% of their initial efficiency after 1080 h under ambient conditions (25 °C, 30% relative humidity), and maintained 94.0% of their initial efficiency after 730 h of continuous AM 1.5G illumination in air. This work sets a new efficiency benchmark for inorganic HTM-free C-PSCs and provides a versatile molecular engineering strategy for developing high-performance, stable perovskite photovoltaics.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3388-0
LiNiO2 (LNO) is a high-energy-density, cobalt-free cathode candidate, yet its commercial viability is constrained by Li/Ni disordering, layered-structure degradation, and oxygen loss during cycling. Lanthanide (Ln) doping has experimentally improved high-nickel cathode stability, but first-principles studies of LNO+Ln systems suffer from severe convergence failures and multiple metastable states, attributed to strong Coulomb interactions and diverse 4f electronic configurations. This work establishes a ground-state search method using the 4f electron magnetic moment as a feature in cutoff-energy convergence diagrams. By correlating specific Ln 4f magnetic moments with converged energies, the protocol rapidly identifies the true ground state, reducing computational cost. The ground-state crystal and electronic structures of LNO+Ln (La–Gd) were obtained, and Li/Ni disordering formation energies and oxygen vacancy formation energies were calculated. Ln doping generally enhances structural stability, suppresses Li/Ni disordering, and improves oxygen stability. Among the series, LNO+Ce exhibits the most stable structure, the highest Li/Ni disordering formation energy, and the highest oxygen vacancy formation energy, with a c/a ratio approaching that of LiCoO2 (4.99), indicating strong layered ordering. These computational findings align with experimental reports on Ce-doped high-nickel materials. The workflow provides Uf value recommendations for Ln ions in VASP and offers a stable technical route for simulating lanthanide-doped layered materials, significantly reducing computational resource consumption.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3445-x
MXene exhibits notable piezoelectric properties, making it a promising material for high-performance piezoelectric nanogenerators (PENGs) in next-generation smart wearable devices and bioelectronics. However, current MXene-based PENGs face challenges such as insufficient mechanical robustness, low piezoelectric response, and limited long-term functionality. These limitations primarily stem from the small effective area and low strain levels of MXene nanosheets. Here, we constructed a high-entropy TiVCrMoC3Tx MXene composite film by leveraging strong hydrogen bonding interactions between MXene and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), which was further developed into a self-powered flexible nanogenerator. The resulting device exhibited a significant piezoresponse with output signals of 500 mV and 790 pA under a compressive force of 3.47 N, along with considerable long-term functionality over 1500 cycles. Moreover, a hydrofluoric-free etching approach was employed to synthesize the high-entropy MXene nanosheets, which ensures the safety and biocompatibility for bioelectronics applications. This work highlights the potential of high-entropy MXene for sustainable applications in wearable electronics and energy harvesting.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3424-6
Two-dimensional ferroelectrics with high Curie temperature (Tc) enable stable ferroelectricity at the nanoscale, critical for miniaturized nonvolatile memory and in-memory computing. However, wafer-scale growth of 2D ferroelectric films with controlled thickness remains a bottleneck. This work reports a two-step vapour deposition method to grow wafer-scale 2D CuCrS2 ferroelectric films with uniform thickness from 2 to 10 nm. The films exhibit a non-centrosymmetric 3R stacking sequence, confirmed by second-harmonic generation (SHG) showing six-fold rotational symmetry. Ferroelectric polarization is demonstrated via hysteresis loops that strengthen with increasing temperature, attributed to ionized Cu movement above 200 K. The Tc exceeds room temperature, ensuring ferroelectric stability. Vertical memristor devices fabricated with 200 nm Au electrodes exhibit typical LRS-LRS memristor characteristics and robust hysteresis loops across multiple locations. The method is extended to CuCrSe2 films (7.8 nm thick) with Raman peaks at ~146 and 220 cm−1, confirming reproducibility. This work establishes a scalable route for integrating 2D ferroelectrics into next-generation electronic devices.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3320-3
The development of ductile inorganic semiconductors has gained traction for flexible electronics and thermoelectrics, yet achieving metal-like processability remains a challenge. This work demonstrates that Ag2Te1−xSx (0.3 ≤ x ≤ 0.6) exhibits exceptional room-temperature ductility and processability, enabling low-cost fabrication of Ag2(S,Te)-based inorganic semiconductors. The study builds on prior discoveries of plastic inorganic semiconductors such as Ag2S, InSe, and Mg3Bi2, and addresses the need for materials that combine high thermoelectric performance with mechanical deformability. By tuning the S/Te ratio, the authors achieve a balance between ductility and semiconductor functionality. The findings shed light on the design of other plastic inorganic semiconductors and open avenues for flexible thermoelectric devices. The paper was received on 21 February 2025, accepted on 7 March 2025, and published online on 24 April 2025 in Science China Materials (August 2025, Vol. 68, No. 8, p. 2992).
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3593-5
Organic ultrathin crystals, comprising monolayers or a few molecular layers, exhibit outstanding optoelectronic properties and have shown great promise for constructing advanced functional neuromorphic devices. However, scalable growth of high-quality organic ultrathin crystals and their seamless concurrent integration with charge trapping layers for multi-mode neuromorphic devices, that required in future high-density neuromorphic integration, remain challenging. Here, we present a scalable one-step fabrication strategy based on solution shearing, where spontaneous vertical phase separation of a small-molecule/polymer (Ph-BTBT-10/PS) blend enables the simultaneous formation of high-quality ultrathin Ph-BTBT-10 crystals and an electret PS charge-trapping layer. The PS electret layer serves a dual function: it facilitates the formation of ultrathin, highly ordered Ph-BTBT-10 crystals; meanwhile, its gate-tunable electron-trapping capability enables dynamic switching between photo-switching and photo-synaptic modes within a single device. As a photodetector, the device exhibits exceptional performance, including a responsivity of 4.7 × 10^4 A/W, specific detectivity of 2.2 × 10^17 Jones, and photosensitivity of 1.5 × 10^8. Under negative gate bias, light-triggered switching behavior enables logic gate demonstration, while under positive gate modulation, photonic synaptic behavior successfully emulates key biological functions, including excitatory post-synaptic current (EPSC), paired-pulse facilitation (PPF), short-term plasticity (STP) to long-term plasticity (LTP) transition, dynamic learning-forgetting processes, and image processing. Moreover, the system exhibits excellent compatibility with low-voltage flexible substrates and further demonstrates its application in low-consumption flexible neuromorphic devices. This work provides a scalable route toward high-performance, multifunctional neuromorphic optoelectronics based on organic ultrathin crystals, and advances the integration of flexible electronics and brain-inspired computing.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3453-y
Organic semiconductor single-crystal (OSSC) arrays are pivotal for high-performance integrated electronics, yet the fundamental principles governing molecular design for one-dimensional (1D) crystalline nanostructures and the role of intermolecular interactions in solution self-assembly remain unresolved. This study introduces a molecular engineering strategy employing hetero-buckybowl trichalcogenasumanenes to direct the self-assembly of OSSC arrays. The distinctive concave-convex architecture promotes 1D crystal formation via directional π-π interactions while suppressing intercolumnar coupling, thereby enhancing structural anisotropy and charge transport. Centimeter-sized OSSC arrays were fabricated on various substrates through solution self-assembly. Organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) based on these arrays exhibited hole mobility up to 0.89 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹ (average 0.65 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹), with minimal device-to-device variation, surpassing previous buckybowl-based devices. The six butoxy groups in molecule 4 improve solubility and stabilize molecular morphology against strain, yielding flexible OFETs with outstanding bendable durability. This strategy significantly enhances crystallinity and uniformity, offering a pathway for high-performance, large-area organic electronics.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3555-y
The integration of photochromism and photoluminescence in a single material platform remains constrained by insufficient photostability, slow response kinetics, and limited reversibility. This work reports sodium-doped and sodium/boron co-doped carbon dots (CDs) that exhibit dual-mode photochromic luminescence via a radical-mediated photoinduced electron transfer (PET) mechanism. Na-CDs display a 180 nm red-shift in emission from 450 to 630 nm under 365 nm excitation. Na,B-CDs achieve blue-shifted multicolor emission progressing from orange to yellow and green within 30 s of UV irradiation. The photochromic states spontaneously revert to their initial configurations without external stimuli, and the process remains reversible over multiple cycles. The phenomenon originates from PET between pristine CDs and light-generated anionic radicals. Exploiting these properties, the authors demonstrate reversible anti-counterfeiting systems, information encryption platforms, daylight-responsive UV detection, and plant cell imaging. Na-CDs-PVA films exhibit rapid darkening under sunlight (UV index = 6) and recover after sunset. Na,B-CDs serve as cryptographic security inks for monochrome printing, enabling message decryption through photochromic color changes. Fluorescence imaging of mung bean sprout cells shows blue-to-orange transitions under 365 nm irradiation. These results establish CDs as viable candidates for optoelectronic devices, security labeling, and bioimaging, though long-term photostability and scalable manufacturing remain to be validated.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3513-6
Perovskite lasers suffer from pump-density-induced wavelength shifts, limiting their use in interferometry and quantum information systems. This study demonstrates a wavelength-stable laser using mixed-phase MAPbI3 nanoplatelets. At 293 K, the tetragonal phase exhibits a blueshift of ~0.4 nm μJ⁻¹ cm² with increasing pump density, while at 80 K, the orthorhombic phase shows a redshift of ~1 nm μJ⁻¹ cm². By stabilizing the nanoplatelets in a mixed orthorhombic-tetragonal phase at 163 K, the pump-induced wavelength shifts are completely suppressed. The lasing threshold decreases from 18.4 μJ cm⁻² at room temperature to 4.5 μJ cm⁻² at 163 K. Finite element simulations confirm the opposite shift directions: tetragonal phase resonance shifts from 780.86 nm at 296.62 K to 779.66 nm with a 10.70 K temperature rise, while orthorhombic phase shifts from 794.78 nm to 796.50 nm with a 1.69 μJ cm⁻² pump increase. The thermo-optic coefficient is estimated at 7.5 × 10⁻⁴ K⁻¹. This mixed-phase engineering strategy offers a viable route to pump-insensitive wavelength stability in micro/nano lasers.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3534-0
Lithium metal anodes (LMAs) offer a theoretical capacity of 3860 mAh g−1 and a redox potential of −3.04 V vs. SHE, yet uncontrolled dendrite growth and infinite volume expansion during plating/stripping degrade cycling stability, particularly at high current densities. This study introduces a three-dimensional lithiophilic host fabricated by incorporating ZnO/ZnSe heterostructures onto brass fibers (ZnO/ZnSe@Brass). The hierarchical architecture mitigates volume expansion and reduces local current density during lithiation. The uniformly distributed ZnO/ZnSe acts as a lithiophilic skin, promoting smooth and dense Li deposition. In situ formed solid electrolyte interphase (SEI), enriched with Li2Se and Li2O, provides high ionic conductivity and mechanical robustness, accelerating ion transport and charge transfer kinetics. Symmetric cells with the ZnO/ZnSe@Brass host exhibit cycling stability exceeding 10,000 cycles at 20 mA cm−2 and 1 mAh cm−2, and sustain fast charging at an ultra-high current density of 80 mA cm−2. When paired with LiFePO4, full cells deliver >500 cycles at 2 C and superior rate capability. The ZnO/ZnSe@Brass host design offers a viable pathway for advanced LMAs in fast-charging lithium metal batteries.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3753-y
Deep learning-enhanced pressure sensors that integrate signal processing with sensing capabilities offer transformative potential for wearable electronics. However, current implementations predominantly rely on petroleum-based polymers for sensing/encapsulating layers and metallic electrodes, resulting in limited biodegradability, poor biocompatibility, and insufficient breathability. This work presents an all-textile pressure sensor that combines conductivity-modulable polypyrrole (PPy) textiles for both electrode and sensing layers with real-time artificial intelligence algorithms. Eliminating metallic electrodes and petroleum-based polymers yields a device with excellent biocompatibility, biodegradability, and breathability. The textile sensing layer's structure ensures pressure-induced conductivity, contributing to high sensitivity and a wide detection range. The integrated deep learning model, a one-dimensional convolutional neural network (1D-CNN), achieves 99.6% classification accuracy on human motion datasets after 16 training epochs. Under Gaussian noise with standard deviations of 150 and 200, accuracy remains at 97.3% and 93.8%, respectively. Spraying 0.1 mL water on sensor surfaces yields 98.6% accuracy, demonstrating robustness to environmental disturbances. The system enables health monitoring, software/hardware control, and complex human motion analysis. These results confirm that the deep learning-enhanced fabric sensor can achieve accurate real-time human motion recognition, showing potential for immersive motion capture and intelligent feedback systems. This work provides a sustainable, breathable, and biocompatible platform for next-generation smart textiles.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3515-0
Near-infrared mechanoluminescent (ML) materials enable nondestructive stress detection and biological imaging, but practical deployment is constrained by narrow emission bandwidth, ultraviolet preirradiation requirements, and high stress thresholds. This study introduces Cr3+ into the simple, earth-abundant oxide host MgO to achieve self-recoverable broadband NIR ML. The optimized composition MgO:0.008Cr3+ exhibits a dominant ML peak at 809 nm with a full width at half maximum of 209 nm, and detectable emission under a 1 N stress threshold. The ML mechanism is attributed to localized piezoelectricity induced by Cr3+ incorporation. The material enables nondestructive wine quality assessment and demonstrates superior tissue penetration in a simulated biological stress imaging model. These results expand the library of self-recoverable NIR ML materials and provide a cost-effective pathway for practical NIR ML technologies.